Chap 24_Acts

OOOOOOOOOOOO Acts 24:1–9 (HCSB) The Accusation against Paul 24 After five days Ananias the high priest came down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus. These men presented their case against Paul to the governor. 2 When he was called in, Tertullus began to accuse him and said: “Since we enjoy great peace because of you, and reforms are taking place for the benefit of this nation by your foresight, 3 we acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, with utmost gratitude. 4 However, so that I will not burden you any further, I beg you in your graciousness to give us a brief hearing. 5 For we have found this man to be a plague, an agitator among all the Jews throughout the Roman world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes! 6 He even tried to desecrate the temple, so we apprehended him [and wanted to judge him according to our law. 7 But Lysias the commander came and took him from our hands with great force, 8 commanding his accusers to come to you.] By examining him yourself you will be able to discern all these things we are accusing him of.” 9 The Jews also joined in the attack, alleging that these things were so.

We are now seeing the culmination of the statement that the Lord made to overcome the hesitancy of Ananias Acts 9:15–16 (HCSB)15 But the Lord said to him, “Go! For this man is My chosen instrument to take My name to Gentiles, kings, and the Israelites. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for My name!” Over this period at Caesarea Paul will testify to Felix, Drusilla, Festus, Herod Agrippa II and Bernice[sister of Herod Agripa II ]. Both Roman and Jewish aristocracy.

The Jewish leadership is taking this very seriously. They acted quickly- hired a professional lawyer and started the 2-3 day trip within a day-two days of finding that Paul had escaped their ambush.

The case seemed to start almost immediately. First the Jewish leadership presented their case- we don’t know what was exactly said. But since they took off so soon after Paul’s nighttime escape, they probably had little time to prep with their lawyer for the case. It was an urgent sloppy effort.

The typical approach of both Roman and Jewish courts was for the prosecution to present the case first. The accused would follow with his statements.

Luke writes a distilled history of this case - there would have been a large amount of speaking in a real legal inquiry under the gaze of a Roman governor.

Tertullas - name was Greek or Roman - not shown that he was Jewish. Probably selected because a non-Jew might carry more weight in a Roman court.

The lawyer begins with the advice found in rhetorical training. “captatio benevolentia “, flatter the judge - get him on your side. The Jews are trying to bend Paul’s crime into a insult to Rome and using a Roman approach to the hearing.... it was also typical that a lawyer would apologize for cutting short the praise for the judge. Adequate praise was beyond their rhetorical skills and just take more time.

But even in the flattery they are showing how grateful they are we enjoy great peace because of you, and reforms are taking place for the benefit of this nation by your foresight .noting that Felix he is a man of peace- implying that Paul is the opposite - Paul brings with him chaos - everywhere that he goes

There is also an interesting twist- a not so timid attempt to shape the narrative. This is seen in Turtullus words in V5 5 For we have found this man to be a plague, an agitator among all the Jews throughout the Roman world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes!

Paul is accused of being an agitator - a promotere of riots throughout the Roman empire. There had been some rebellions, the assianations in Jerusalem

Tertullus before Antonius Felix makes the first recorded use of the plural "Nazarenes" (the plural form of the Iesous ho Nazoraios "Jesus of Nazareth") to refer to Christians, even though the use of the term "Christians" is already used at Antioch, and by Herod Agrippa II in the next trial of Paul before Porcius Festus ...[6] Acts 26:28 (HCSB) 28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Are you going to persuade me to become a Christian so easily?” Tertullus' use of the Greek term Nazoraioi has continuity with the Hebrew term Notzrim found in later rabbinical literature.[5] Tertullus presumably could not use the Antioch term Christianoi (Hebrew Meshiykhiyyim משיחיים) since Christianoi from Greek Christos (literally "Anointed One", "Messiah") might imply Tertullus' recognition of Jesus of Nazareth as a Davidic "Anointed One," or "Messiah."

It seems that they did not think about the term Nazarene Matthew 2:22–23 (HCSB) 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned in a dream, he withdrew to the region of Galilee. 23 Then he went and settled in a town called Nazareth to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets, that He will be called a Nazarene.

The paraphrase is based on Jesus’ boyhood home, Nazareth, and a similar-sounding Hebrew word netser, which is translated as “sprout,” “shoot,” or “branch.”

Isaiah 11:1–2 (HCSB)Reign of the Davidic King 11 Then a shoot will grow from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit. 2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him —

a Spirit of wisdom and understanding, a Spirit of counsel and strength, a Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.

Same thing in Jeremiah 23:5 (HCSB) The Righteous Branch of David 5 “The days are coming” —this is the Lord’s declaration— “when I will raise up a Righteous Branch of David. He will reign wisely as king and administer justice and righteousness in the land.

Again in Jeremiah 33:14–15 (HCSB) 14 “Look, the days are coming”— this is the Lord’s declaration— “when I will fulfill the good promises that I have spoken concerning the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 15 In those days and at that time I will cause a Righteous Branch

to sprout up for David, and He will administer justice and righteousness in the land.

Compare the lawyers statements with earlier ones :

1st charge -Acts 21:26–29 (HCSB) 26 Then the next day [after meeting with James, elders, and the brothers] , Paul took the men, having purified himself along with them, and entered the temple, announcing the completion of the purification days when the offering for each of them would be made. 27 As the seven days were about to end, the Jews from Asia saw him in the temple complex, stirred up the whole crowd, and seized him, 28 shouting, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people, our law, and this place. What’s more, he also brought Greeks into the temple and has profaned this holy place.” 29 For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him,

2nd telling of the event Acts 23:26–29 (HCSB) 26 Claudius Lysias, To the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings. 27 When this man had been seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, I arrived with my troops and rescued him because I learned that he is a Roman citizen. 28 Wanting to know the charge they were accusing him of, I brought him down before their Sanhedrin. 29 I found out that the accusations were about disputed matters in their law, and that there was no charge that merited death or chains.

3rd version = OOOOOOOOOOOO Acts 24:10–13 (HCSB)Paul’s Defense before Felix 10 When the governor motioned to him to speak, Paul replied: “Because I know you have been a judge of this nation for many years, I am glad to offer my defense in what concerns me. 11 You are able to determine that it is no more than 12 days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem. 12 They didn’t find me disputing with anyone or causing a disturbance among the crowd, either in the temple complex or in the synagogues or anywhere in the city. 13 Neither can they provide evidence to you of what they now bring against me.

OOOOOOOOOOOO 14 But I confess this to you: I worship my fathers’ God according to the Way, which they call a sect, believing all the things that are written in the Law and in the Prophets. 15 And I have a hope in God, which these men themselves also accept, that there is going to be a resurrection, l both of the righteous and the unrighteous. 16 I always do my best to have a clear conscience toward God and men. 17 After many years, I came to bring charitable gifts and offerings to my nation, 18 and while I was doing this, some Jews from Asia found me ritually purified in the temple, without a crowd and without any uproar. 19 It is they who ought to be here before you to bring charges, if they have anything against me. 20 Either let these men here state what wrongdoing they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin, 21 or about this one statement I cried out while standing among them, ‘Today I am being judged before you concerning the resurrection of the dead.’ ”

OOOOOOOOOOOO 22 Since Felix was accurately informed about the Way, he adjourned the hearing, saying, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case.” 23 He ordered that the centurion keep Paul under guard, though he could have some freedom, and that he should not prevent any of his friends from serving him.

24 After some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and listened to him on the subject of faith in Christ Jesus. 25 Now as he spoke about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix became afraid and replied, “Leave for now, but when I find time I’ll call for you.” 26 At the same time he was also hoping that money would be given to him by Paul. For this reason he sent for him quite often and conversed with him.

27 After two years had passed, Felix received a successor, Porcius Festus, and because he wished to do a favor for the Jews, Felix left Paul in prison.

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