Acts 24:1-27
If someone were to bribe you to do a favor for them, what's the most effective incentive they could use: A return favor? Your favorite meal? Free babysitting? Money? Flattery? Other?
#God #People #Time #Place #Obedient
faith #Sin #Key Idea
Acts 24:1-27
Paul Before Felix at Caesarea
1And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus. They laid before the governor their case against Paul. 2And when he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying:
“Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight, most excellent Felix, reforms are being made for this nation, 3in every way and everywhere we
accept this with all gratitude. 4But, to detaina you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly. 5For we have found this man a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the
sect of the Nazarenes. 6He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him.b 8By examining him yourself you
will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him.”
9The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that all these
things were so.
10And when the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul replied:
“Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense. 11You can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem, 12and they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or in the city. 13Neither can they prove to you
what they now bring up against me. 14But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, 15having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept,
that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. 16So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man. 17Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings. 18While I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult.
But some Jews from Asia— 19they ought to be here before you and to make an accusation,
should they have anything against me. 20Or else let these men
themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council, 21other than this one thing that
I cried out while standing among them: ‘It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.’”
Paul Kept in Custody
22But Felix, having a rather accurate knowledge of the Way, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case.” 23Then he gave orders to the centurion that he should be kept in custody but
have some liberty, and that none of his friends should be prevented from
attending to his needs.
24After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. 25And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming
judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present.
When I get an opportunity I will summon you.” 26At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him. 27When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.
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#Paul
#Jews
#Ananias – high priest
#some elders
#Tertullus – a spokesman
#The governor
#Felix (wife Drusilla)
#Nazarenes
#Prophets
#the council
#Lysias
# Porcius Festus
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#temple or in the synagogues
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#resurrection
#the Way
#trial
#reasoned
- God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
- We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
- Felix had a reputation of violently suppressing rebellions against Rome. How might Tertullus hope that would compensate for the lack of evidence he can offer?
- What difference can you see in the style Tertullus uses in verses 2-4, to present his case to Felix compared to Paul's style?
- How would all the charges in verses 5-6 seem true to Ananias and Tertullus? What does their reference to Christians as the "Nazarene sect show about their view of Christianity?
- How then does Paul defend himself in verses 11-19?
- Put yourself in the place of Felix. In light of the riot in Jerusalem over Paul (if you only had Lysias letter (23:26-30), the accusations of the Jews, and Paul's word to go on). what would you do?
- What do you learn about Felix from verses 22-26? Why does he merely put Paul under house arrest?
- In light of Acts 23:11, what must Paul be feeling as time wears on and no progress at all Is made?
- I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
- How has your desire to serve Christ been misunderstood by others? How did you feel then?
- What's the difference between being well acquainted with the Way" (v. 22) and being a true believer? How long were you well acquainted" before you became a believer?
- Have you ever felt there was a period in your life that was “dead time” -- when nothing seemed to be happening at all (as seems to be the case with Paul)? Why do you think God allows such times in our lives?
- Consider verse 25. When have discussions on righteousness, self-control and judgment troubled you? Why?
- You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
NO MORE THAN
TWELVE DAYS AGO, ACTS 24:11
By
Mark Moore
Days
1 2 3 4
Events:
|
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
Arrival in
Jerusalem, 21:17 |
|
2 |
|
|
|
2 |
Went to
meet James, 21:18 |
|
3 |
|
|
1 |
3 |
Went up to the Temple to Pay for
Purification vows, 21:26 |
|
4–9 |
1–7 |
|
2–3 |
4–9 |
Almost
Seven Days, 21:27 |
|
10 |
|
1 |
4 |
10 |
Paul
Arrested, 21:27 |
|
11 |
|
2 |
5 |
11 |
Trial before
the Sanhedrin, 22:30 |
|
12 |
|
3 |
6 |
12 |
Assassination
plot and Paul's escape, 23:12 |
|
13 |
|
4 |
7 |
|
Paul's
arrival in Caesarea, 23:33 |
|
14–17 |
8–11 |
5–8 |
8–11
|
|
Paul waits
for Tertullus |
|
18 |
12 |
9 |
12 |
|
Paul's
Trial before Felix, 24:1 |
Solutions:
1.
Count only the days that Paul spent waiting. There were seven days waiting for the
purification to be complete and five days waiting for Tertullus to arrive. That makes for good math but poor
exegesis. It does not account for all the
other important days in this scenario.
2.
Begin counting the twelve days at Paul's arrest. This solution leaves three extra days but
still fits Paul's words, "No more than 12 days ago . . ." However, it does not accurately describe when
Paul went up to Jerusalem.
3.
Begin counting the twelve days when Paul first went up to
worship in the temple (i.e. when he paid for the purification vows,
21:26). This is a better description of
Paul's words "went up to Jerusalem to worship" (24:11). However, it leaves only 2–3 days for what
Paul calls "nearly seven days" (21:27).
4.
Count only the days that Paul was in Jerusalem. Granted, these would be the only days germane
to the charges—that he stirred up trouble and defiled the temple in Jerusalem
(24:5–8). But that is somewhat of a
loose interpretation of 24:11 since it overlooks the last five days.
