Free Bible Commentary
“Acts 24:10-27”
Categories: Acts“When the governor had nodded for him to speak, Paul responded: ‘Knowing that for many years you have been a judge to this nation, I cheerfully make my defense, since you can take note of the fact that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. Neither in the temple, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city itself did they find me carrying on a discussion with anyone or causing a riot. Nor can they prove to you the charges of which they now accuse me. But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets; having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men. Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings; in which they found me occupied in the temple, having been purified, without any crowd or uproar. But there were some Jews from Asia—who ought to have been present before you and to make accusation, if they should have anything against me. Or else let these men themselves tell what misdeed they found when I stood before the Council, other than for this one statement which I shouted out while standing among them, “For the resurrection of the dead I am on trial before you today.”’ But Felix, having a more exact knowledge about the Way, put them off, saying, ‘When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case.’ Then he gave orders to the centurion for him to be kept in custody and yet have some freedom, and not to prevent any of his friends from ministering to him. But some days later Felix arrived with Drusilla, his wife who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. But as he was discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, ‘Go away for the present, and when I find time I will summon you.’ At the same time too, he was hoping that money would be given him by Paul; therefore he also used to send for him quite often and converse with him. But after two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul imprisoned.”
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I love the depiction of the Lord’s church as being “The Way” (verses 14 & 22). As Paul made his defense before Governor Felix, he readily admitted that he served God “according to the Way which they call a sect.” The church of Christ is not just another one of the many religious sects in the world. Through it alone is The one and only Way to worship and serve and please God (Ephesians 3:20-21). Just as Jesus called himself The Way (and the Truth and the Life), and that no one can come to God the Father but through Him (John 14:6); it only stands to reason that people can only access the Father in heaven through the church that Jesus died for and purchased with His own precious blood. There is only one church that Jesus died for and claimed to be His very own (Matthew 16:18).
After Tertullus, the lawyer hired by the Jewish council, made his groveling, exaggerated appeal; the Apostle Paul presented his own defense to Felix in a polite, factual and straight-forward manner. When Paul finished speaking, the governor “put them off” and deferred the trial until the commander who had “rescued” Paul and delivered him to Caesarea should arrive (verse 22). It is apparent that Claudius Lysias never made an appearance because Felix kept Paul in custody for two full years. The text says he did so as a “favor to the Jews” (verse 27), but Felix obviously had selfish motives for doing so as well, often visiting Paul and hoping to receive a bribe from him (verse 26). Even though Paul had been wrongly accused and imprisoned, he had pleasant accommodations and access to the company and assistance of his friends (verse 23). The Lord was still taking care of him and opening doors for him to preach the Gospel to the lost.
After “some days later, Felix arrived with Drusilla, his wife” and Paul had a private audience with them (verse 24). As the apostle was “discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened” (verse 25). When you learn about the character of Antonius Felix, you quickly understand why he would “shudder” when hearing about God’s Eternal Judgment upon unrighteous sinners who refuse to control their fleshly urges and impulses. Smith’s Bible Dictionary says of the man that, “He ruled the province in a mean, cruel and profligate manner. His period of office was full of troubles and seditions.” The ATS Bible Dictionary adds, “He is described by the historian Tacitus as cruel, licentious, and base. In Judea he married Drusilla, sister of the younger Agrippa, having enticed her from her second husband Azizus.”
Drusilla was the daughter of Herod Agrippa, the ruler who executed the Apostle James and was soon after struck down by God for his pomp and vanity (Acts 12:1-2; 20-23). Josephus wrote the following about her in Jewish Antiquities: “While Felix was procurator of Judea, he saw this Drusilla, and fell in love with her; for she did indeed exceed all other women in beauty; and he sent to her a person whose name was Simon, a Jewish friend of his, by birth a Cypriot, who pretended to be a magician. Simon endeavored to persuade her to forsake her present husband, and marry Felix; and promised, that if she would not refuse Felix, he would make her a happy woman. Accordingly she acted unwisely and, because she longed to avoid her sister Berenice's envy…was prevailed upon to transgress the laws of her forefathers, and to marry Felix.”
Felix and Drusilla were a very privileged couple who denied themselves no indulgence of the flesh that caught their fancy, and their lives are condemnable. But if we are not careful, we might be led to believe that God is only targeting the extremely sinful and perverse people of the world with his appeal to the pursuance of righteousness and self-control in light of Eternal Judgment. 2 Corinthians 5:10 tells us clearly that, “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”
No one will escape Final Judgment, and there is no hope of heaven for any of us unless we have Jesus as our Advocate. If we want to be acquitted of all wrong-doing on that day, we must be certain that our sins have been washed away by the blood of Christ and that we live a life of obedient faith in Him. Let’s make sure that we have given our lives to Christ, and then let’s focus on being the kind of righteous people that God wants us to be. “Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous” (1 John 3:7).
Please read Acts 25:1-12 for tomorrow.
Have a blessed day!
-Louie Taylor
