Acts Bible Study: Acts 24:22-27
Notes
Transcript
[Recap]:
Acts 20 Paul was headed to Jerusalem from the 3rd Missionary Journey, while being persecuted on and off by the Asian Jews along the way.
Acts 21 Paul finally makes it to Jerusalem where he meets with the other Apostles and ends up taking four Nazarites to the temple to complete their vows when some of the Asian Jews who followed him there stir up the crowd, seize Paul, and start brutally beating him. As they were in the process of trying to kill him the Romans get called in and take Paul into their custody, rescuing him from the angry mob. The Romans initially thought Paul was a known Egyptian that caused riots in the past.
Acts 22 Paul is given the chance by the Romans to address the angry mob and make a defense. Paul shares his testimony and in the process he lets the crowd know that God had called him to ministry to the Gentiles. Hearing that he was friendly toward the Gentiles stirred the crowd up again and they tried to rush him so the Romans had to get him out of there. They decided to flog him to get him to explain to them who he really was and that’s when Paul lets the soldiers know that he wasn’t just a Jew, he was also a Roman citizen. So things change for Paul there and the Romans stop seeing him as a problem and instead provide for him protection because he has rights as a Roman citizen that are being violated.
Acts 23 The leader of the Roman cohort, Claudius Lysias, decides to have Paul go before the Jewish Counsel so that they can question him and then the Romans can learn what exactly his alleged crime is without violating Paul’s rights. It becomes clear to Romans that Paul’s only crimes were against Jewish religious law and Paul is most likely innocent of any Roman crimes. But, the Jews conspire to murder Paul. In order to protect Paul, Claudius Lysias had Paul escorted to Caesarea by 470 Romans soldiers. They carried a letter with them from Lysias that explained Paul’s situation and his take that Paul was innocent and hadn’t committed any Roman crimes. He sent Paul there because that’s where Felix, the Roman military governor over Judea, was stationed. Felix’s authority meant he would have the final say on Paul’s fate. This would ensure Paul’s protection and a fair trial.
Acts 24:1-21 Some of the Jews from Jerusalem made their way to Caesarea to accuse Paul in front of Felix. They lied and tried to manipulate Felix with rhetoric and persuasive speech, even claiming Paul was the leader of a religious extremist group (those Nazarite Christians). Paul was then able to make a defense, but made sure to preach the Gospel at the same time. Felix had read the letter from Claudius Lysias and heard both Paul’s accusers and Paul’s defense. What comes next is Felix’s response. That’s where we are going to pick up.
Acts 24:22–27 (NASB)
22 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.” 23 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. 24 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. 25 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.” 26 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. 27 But after two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul imprisoned.
[Summarize the events of this text]:
Felix tries to appease the Jews by telling them he will wait for Claudius Lysias to come (But Lysias wasn’t coming, and Felix knew that, remember, he already recieved the official letter from him in Acts 23:23-35.
Then Felix took Paul back into custody, but he didn’t treat Paul like a guilty prisoner. He gave him a lot of freedom in the facility, allowed him to have unlimited visits from his friends, and also allowed him to be brought whatever he needed any time he needed it.
Felix was intrigued by Paul and Paul sort of became his entertainment. And Paul used that as an opportunity to preach the good news to Felix and all those present.
This went on for about two years until Felix was removed as governor and Festus took his place. But instead of giving Paul justice and setting him free. Felix left Paul imprisoned.
Felix: (v. 22-24a)
22 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.” 23 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. 24 But some days later Felix arrived with Drusilla, his wife who was a Jewess...
To get a better understanding of what all happened in this last part of Acts 24, we need the full context. Let’s start with Felix.
What do we know about Felix?
His name was Marcus Antonius Felix. He was procurator of Judea, or as it is most often translated, “governor” (Acts 23:24). This is the same role that was previously held by Pontus Pilate (26-36 AD) (Luke 3:1).
Felix was the highest ranking military official in the region and had command of a legion of Roman soldiers (about 4,800 men). He was governor of Judea from (52-59 AD). He was hand picked and appointed by Claudius Caesar to squash the Jewish rioting that was often taking place. According to Jewish and Roman historian, Josephus, Felix was heavy handed and the most cruel and violent governor of Judea up to that point in history. In contrast, Josephus had high praise for Festus, who succeeded Felix.
There were a few governors between him and Pilate… Marcellus (36-37 AD), Marullus (37-41 AD), King Agrippa (41-44 AD), Fadus (44-46 AD), Tiberius (46-48 AD), Cumanus (48-52 AD) and then Felix. Notice that none of them lasted more than a few years. That was because tensions were high in Judea and Rome kept trying to find a governor that would keep things under control and Caesar thought Felix was that guy. He was governor for 8 years, the longest tenured governor of Judea since Pilate, whose tenure had begun 26 years earlier and lasted 10 years.
According to Luke, he was well versed in “the Way”, (Acts 22:4; Acts 24:14) Meaning, he knew a good bit about the Christian faith.
Acts 9:1–2 (NASB)
1 Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, 2 and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
Acts 19:9–10, 21-23 (NASB)
9 But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the people, he withdrew from them and took away the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. 10 This took place for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks...
21 Now after these things were finished, Paul purposed in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem after he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” 22 And having sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while. 23 About that time there occurred no small disturbance concerning the Way.
Felix’s “more excellent knowledge of the Way” may have come from his predecessor, Pilate, or he may have had this knowledge due to who lived Caesarea.
Acts 10:1 (NASB)
1 Now there was a man at Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian cohort...
Acts 18:22 (NASB)
22 When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church...
Acts 21:8 (NASB)
8 On the next day we left and came to Caesarea, and entering the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we stayed with him.
We can rightly suspect he knew much about the Way through his wife and his in-laws, and probably the others we mentioned too.
His wife was Drusilla (v. 24), a jew, and the great grand daughter of King Herod the Great. That’s right, her great grandfather was the King Herod that tried to kill the infant Jesus and slaughtered all the male children in Bethlehem 2 years old and younger (Matthew 2). Her great uncle was Herod Antipas, the king that had John the Baptist beheaded (Luke 23:6-12). Her father was Herod Agrippa, the king that had the Apostle James put to death (Acts 12:1-2). Her brother, King Agrippa II, was is the King Agrippa that Paul appears in front of in Acts 25, 26).
***QUESTIONS***:
What do y’all think about Drusilla, Felix’s in-laws and how all of those family connections play a part, not just in Paul’s story, but also the entirety of the New Testament narratives?
Felix and Paul: (v. 24b-26)
24 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. 25 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.” 26 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.
(v. 24) ...[Felix] heard him [Paul] speak about faith in Christ Jesus.
Acts 20:18–21 (NASB)
18 And when they had come to him, he said to them, “You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time, 19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews; 20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, 21 solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Timothy 4:2 (NASB)
2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season...
(v. 25a) “But as he was discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come...”
Paul on “Righteousness”:
Philippians 3:8–9 (NASB)
8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith...
Paul on “Self-Control”:
Galatians 5:19–23 (NASB)
19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Paul on “the Judgement to Come”:
1 Corinthians 4:2–5 (NASB)
2 In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy. 3 But to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself. 4 For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord. 5 Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God.
(v. 25b) .“...Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for the present, and when I find time I will summon you.”
***The Greek word for frightened here is “emphobos”. It is really two words Em, which means inside on internal, and the word phobos, which where we get our word “phobia”. It is used 5 times in the NT. Twice is is translated “frightened” but the other times it is translated “terrified” and “much” or “greatly alarmed”.
Felix wasn’t just unforgettable with what Paul was saying, it scared him to death. The Holy Spirit was convicting Felix through the truth and power of the Gospel and I think Luke is making it clear that Felix knew he was headed for hell. Remember, he knew a lot about the Christian faith.
But even though God was working, Felix refused to trust in Christ and be saved. Instead, he sent Paul away and tried to silence the conviction he was feeling from the Spirit of God.
Even so, he did summon Paul often and hear the Gospel preached often.
(v. 26) “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.”
***QUESTIONS***:
What do you think? Was Felix becoming open to the Gospel or was he just hoping for some ransom money for Paul? Or was is a bit of both?
Felix and the Jews: (v. 27)
27 But after two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul imprisoned.
If Felix had not injured the Jews, he needed not to have done this to please them; but, when he had done it, it seems he did not gain his point. The Jews, notwithstanding this, accused him to the emperor, and some historians say he was sent bound to Rome by Festus; and, if so, surely his remembering how light he had made of Paul’s bonds would help to make his own chain heavy. Those that aim to please God by doing good will have what they aim at; but so will not those that seek to please men by doing evil.
According to Josephus, from his Jewish Antiquities, in his entry for 58 AD:
“Now Porcius Festus was sent as successor to Felix by Nero, after the principal of the Jewish inhabitants of Cesarea went up to Rome, to accuse Felix. And he had certainly been brought to punishment, unless Nero had yielded to the importunate solicitations of his brother Pallas, who, by giving him a great sum of money, to disanul that equality of the Jewish privileges of citizens which they hitherto injoyed. So Burrus, by his solicitations, obtained leave of the Emperor, that an epistle should be written to that purpose. This epistle became the occasion of the following miseries that befel our nation. For when the Jews of Cesarea were informed of the contents of this epistle, they were more disorderly than before; till a war was kindled.”
So it makes sense why Felix left Paul in prison.
(v. 27b) ...wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul imprisoned.
It wasn’t that he was taking the side of the Jews over Paul, Felix was trying to not only save his job, he was trying to win the Jews back over in order to save his life. And if it wasn’t for his wealthy brother buying his freedom from Nero, Felix would have been executed.
Romans 12:18–19 (NASB)
18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. 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.
Wrapping up Acts 24…
...Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus...
Festus, who succeeded Felix, was governor of Judea from (59-61 AD). Festus and King Agrippa II are a big part chapters 25 and 26. They are the two that agree to send Paul to Rome to go before Nero Caesar for a final appeal.
(BTW, a little side note: Albinus, who succeeds Festus in 61 AD, is the govenor that has James put to death. That’s James, the half brother of Jesus, the author of the book of James and the same James that we read about in Acts 21:18, who recommended Paul go to the temple, which is what led to all the events recorded the the rest of the book of Acts.)
Discussion Questions:
How does the historical context impact your understanding of this passage?
What do you think about Paul’s actions here?
What about Felix overall? What do we think about him?
Where else do you see God at work in this text?
Any other thoughts, observations or questions?