Acts Bible Study: Acts 24:1-21

Jackie Hill

Acts Bible Study • Sermon • Submitted a year ago • Presented a year ago

Acts 24:1–21

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Acts 24:1–21 (NASB)

1 After five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders, with an attorney named Tertullus, and they brought charges to the governor against Paul. 2 After Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying to the governor, “Since we have through you attained much peace, and since by your providence reforms are being carried out for this nation, 3 we acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness. 4 “But, that I may not weary you any further, I beg you to grant us, by your kindness, a brief hearing. 5 “For we have found this man a real pest and a fellow who stirs up dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6 “And he even tried to desecrate the temple; and then we arrested him. We wanted to judge him according to our own Law. 7 “But Lysias the commander came along, and with much violence took him out of our hands, 8 ordering his accusers to come before you. By examining him yourself concerning all these matters you will be able to ascertain the things of which we accuse him.” 9 The Jews also joined in the attack, asserting that these things were so. 10 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, 11 since you can take note of the fact that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 “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. 13 “Nor can they prove to you the charges of which they now accuse me. 14 “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; 15 having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. 16 “In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men. 17 “Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings; 18 in which they found me occupied in the temple, having been purified, without any crowd or uproar. But there were some Jews from Asia— 19 who ought to have been present before you and to make accusation, if they should have anything against me. 20 “Or else let these men themselves tell what misdeed they found when I stood before the Council, 21 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.’ ”

The Accusers and the Accusation: (v. 1-9)

The High Priest Ananias

(v. 1a) After five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders...

Acts 23:1–3 (NASB)

1 Paul, looking intently at the Council, said, “Brethren, I have lived my life with a perfectly good conscience before God up to this day.” 2 The high priest Ananias commanded those standing beside him to strike him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to try me according to the Law, and in violation of the Law order me to be struck?”

According to the Jewish/Roman historian Josephus, Ananias was appointed as High Priest by Herod Agrippa II in 48 AD. He was know as a harsh and ruthless man that conspired with the Romans in order to gain more power and influence. He was “violently opposed to the Way”.

Ananias was a Sadducee and Sadducees were very sympathetic towards Rome and embraced the Hellenistic lifestyle. That’s why pretty much every High Priest during Roman rule were Sadducees.

Also, a reminder, I mentioned this a couple weeks ago. He was slaughter during the Jewish Zealot rebellion. Some Zealots found him hiding in Herod’s palace and the drug him out of the house and cut him to pieces.

Romans 12:19 (NASB)

19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

Tertullus

(v. 1-2a) 1 After five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders, with an attorney named Tertullus, and they brought charges to the governor against Paul. 2 After Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him...

The Greek word for “attorney” here is “rhetor”. It literally means “public speaker” or “orator”. It is where we get our English word rhetoric.

So Tertullus was not an attorney as we would understand it today. He was a persuasive public speaker that was planning to use rhetoric and deception to wrongly accuse Paul in order to get him wrongly convicted.

Ancient rhetorical handbooks, such as Aristotle’s Rhetoric and Quintilian’s Institute of Oratory, provide us samples of the type of training Tertullus would have received to become an orator. And you can see it in the way Tertullus addresses Felix. His opening comments are an ancient rhetorical device known as the "capital benevolence”. It is the method by which you praise and compliment someone at the beginning of your speech in order to build rapport. It was a specific, strategic and effective form of flattery.

The Real Accuser: Satan

Revelation 12:10 (NASB)

10 ...the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night.

Zechariah 3:1 (ESV)

1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.

The Opening Statement

(v. 2b-4) ...saying to the governor, “Since we have through you attained much peace, and since by your providence reforms are being carried out for this nation, 3 we acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness. 4 “But, that I may not weary you any further, I beg you to grant us, by your kindness, a brief hearing.

Notice how he addresses Felix: “...most excellent Felix...”

Notice how he attributes the peace (much peace) to Felix, “…we have, through you, attained much peace...”

Notice how he praises Felix’s leadership: “....since by your providence reforms are being carried out for this nation...”

Notice also the flattery at the end: “But, that I may not weary you any further, I beg you to grant us, by your kindness, a brief hearing. This is more rhetoric from this rhetor. It is flattering, but clearly unnecessary request because the hearing wasn’t for them, it was for Paul. Paul is a Roman citizen and is entitled to a hearing.

Acts 23:35 (NASB)

35 he said, “I will give you a hearing after your accusers arrive also,” giving orders for him to be kept in Herod’s Praetorium.

(v. 1-2) 1 After five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders, with an attorney named Tertullus, and they brought charges to the governor against Paul. 2 After Paul had been summoned...

The Meat of their Message

(v. 5-6) 5 “For we have found this man a real pest and a fellow who stirs up dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6 “And he even tried to desecrate the temple; and then we arrested him. We wanted to judge him according to our own Law.

Paul is a “pest”

Paul instigates riots. “stirs us dissension”

Paul is a ringleader of a Jew Extremists. “sect of the Nazarenes”

Paul attempted to desecrate the temple. “tried”

They admit to wrongly arresting him. “we arrested him”

They admit his crimes were not against Rome. “we wanted to judge him according to our own Law.”

Paul went to the temple with four JEWISH men who had taken a Nazarite vow. Just as they were to go and complete their own vows through washing, shaving and sacrifice, Paul would do the same to demonstrate his love and respect for the Law of God. This took 7 days.

Acts 21:20–26 (NASB)

20 And when they heard it they began glorifying God; and they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the Law; 21 and they have been told about you, that you are teaching all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs. 22 “What, then, is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. 23 “Therefore do this that we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow; 24 take them and purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads; and all will know that there is nothing to the things which they have been told about you, but that you yourself also walk orderly, keeping the Law. 25 “But concerning the Gentiles who have believed, we wrote, having decided that they should abstain from meat sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication.” 26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day, purifying himself along with them, went into the temple giving notice of the completion of the days of purification, until the sacrifice was offered for each one of them.

They assumed Paul brought Greeks to the Temple but he didn’t. He was there with 4 Nazarenes. V. 29 makes it clear this was a false assumption based on who they has seen Paul with earlier in the previous week.

Acts 21:27–29 (NASB)

27 When the seven days were almost over, the Jews from Asia, upon seeing him in the temple, began to stir up all the crowd and laid hands on him, 28 crying out, “Men of Israel, come to our aid! This is the man who preaches to all men everywhere against our people and the Law and this place; and besides he has even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” 29 For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.

The Jews that are accusing Paul were actually the ones that caused the riot...

Acts 21:30–31 (NASB)

30 Then all the city was provoked, and the people rushed together, and taking hold of Paul they dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the doors were shut. 31 While they were seeking to kill him, a report came up to the commander of the Roman cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion.

Paul’s rights as a Roman citizen had been violated intentionally violated by the Jews and unintentionally violated by the Romans.

Acts 22:23–29 (NASB)

23 And as they were crying out and throwing off their cloaks and tossing dust into the air, 24 the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks, stating that he should be examined by scourging so that he might find out the reason why they were shouting against him that way. 25 But when they stretched him out with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman and uncondemned?” 26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and told him, saying, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman.” 27 The commander came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman?” And he said, “Yes.” 28 The commander answered, “I acquired this citizenship with a large sum of money.” And Paul said, “But I was actually born a citizen.” 29 Therefore those who were about to examine him immediately let go of him; and the commander also was afraid when he found out that he was a Roman, and because he had put him in chains.

The Closing Argument: (v. 7-9)

7 “But Lysias the commander came along, and with much violence took him out of our hands, 8 ordering his accusers to come before you. By examining him yourself concerning all these matters you will be able to ascertain the things of which we accuse him.” 9 The Jews also joined in the attack, asserting that these things were so.

He throws Claudius Lysias under the bus. (v. 7-8a)

He attempts to flatter Felix again, (v. 8b)

The Jewish elders who came from Jerusalem with Ananias and Tertullus add on their false testimony and try to sell the lies.

The Advocate and the Appeal: (v. 10-21)

10 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, 11 since you can take note of the fact that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 “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. 13 “Nor can they prove to you the charges of which they now accuse me. 14 “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; 15 having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. 16 “In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men. 17 “Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings; 18 in which they found me occupied in the temple, having been purified, without any crowd or uproar. But there were some Jews from Asia— 19 who ought to have been present before you and to make accusation, if they should have anything against me. 20 “Or else let these men themselves tell what misdeed they found when I stood before the Council, 21 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.’ ”

Paul is serving as his own advocate here and makes an appeal to Felix based on the facts, but his appeal is a major contrast to the accusation style of Tertullus. Not just that Paul’s is true, but Paul’s doesn’t flatter nor engage in any sort of rhetoric. Paul talks about this kind of approach in one of his letters to the Church in Thessalonica

1 Thessalonians 2:3–6 (NASB)

3 For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit; 4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts. 5 For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness— 6 nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority.

And Paul didn’t need to try and manipulate Felix into being sympathetic toward him because even though Paul is his own lawyer here, he isn’t completely alone.

Mark 13:9–11 (NASB)

9 “But be on your guard; for they will deliver you to the courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them. 10 “The gospel must first be preached to all the nations. 11 “When they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit.

And Jesus is ultimately his advocate

1 John 2:1 (NASB)

1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;

Paul pokes holes in their arguments by pointing to his reputation prior to the uproar. (v 11-12, 14-16)

“...you can take note of the fact that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 “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.”

14 “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; 15 having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. 16 “In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men.

He continues to poke holes in their false accusations by pointing out that the supposed witnesses of his supposed crimes are not even there to testify against him. So the only eye witness testimony is that of Paul. (v. 13, 17-20)

13 “Nor can they prove to you the charges of which they now accuse me.

17 “Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings; 18 in which they found me occupied in the temple, having been purified, without any crowd or uproar. But there were some Jews from Asia— 19 who ought to have been present before you and to make accusation, if they should have anything against me. 20 “Or else let these men themselves tell what misdeed they found when I stood before the Council,

Lastly and masterfully, at the end of his defense he makes sure to point to the Gospel. He claims the issue was about his final statement to the Jews before Claudius Lysias got him out of town, when Paul pointed out the matter was about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. (Acts 21:1-11)

21 ...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 the real reason they wanted Paul dead was because they hated the Gentiles and thought he brought Gentiles into the Temple.

Plus, when the riot got reignited, it was also about Gentiles.

Acts 22:21–22 (NASB)

21 “And He said to me, ‘Go! For I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ” 22 They listened to him up to this statement, and then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he should not be allowed to live!”

They cannot be honest about that with Felix, because Felix is Roman, a Gentile, and this is a Gentile court. Paul knew this and so he made sure to make the matter all about the Gospel. He could have brought up the real problem, but instead he brought up A problem them had with him because that was what he wanted to talk about and what God had called him to do.

Paul saw this whole thing as an opportunity to preach the Gospel to a captive audience.

1 Peter 3:15 (NASB)

15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;

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