Acts 24:1-27

(Acts 24:1-27)

And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul.  And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence We accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.  Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words. For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes: Who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law. But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands, Commanding his accusers to come unto thee: by examining of whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him.  And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so.  Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself: Because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship.  And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city:  Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me.  But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:  And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.  And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.  Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings.  Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult.  Who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had ought against me.  Or else let these same here say, if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the council,  Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day. And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter.  And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto him.  And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.

 

This content shows Paul's trial process. Ananias, the high priest, accompanied some elders and a lawyer named Terdullo, came to Caesarea, where the governor Felix was, and sued Paul. To the Jewish religious leaders, including Ananias, the fact that the high priest came himself over a very long distance of more than 100 km, and that he brought a man named Durdullo, who was thought to have been a very good speaker, who knows both Jewish and Roman law. It shows how great a stumbling block Paul is, and how they are willing to get rid of him.

 

With the words of flattery, Dudullo accused Paul. There are three contents of the accusation. First, Paul is the one who makes all the Jews scattered under the earth riot, and he is like a plague. Just as a disease transmitted through one person can spread out of control and cause a fatal blow to many, just as Paul is like an infectious disease that can hit Rome, a fire of soaring. To the governor Felix, who had been plagued by the frequent spikes of Jews, it was usually a sensitive statement to say that he had an infectious disease that was like a surge of fire. Dudulo is cleverly unfolding: that person, who should never be tolerated, is Paul.

The second accusation is that Paul is the head of the heresy of Nazareth. The word heresy as used here has two meanings. For the Jews, it is contrary to their orthodox doctrine, and for the Romans, it means that they are impure, that is, a group capable of causing political escalation. Dudullo argues: In this case, too, Paul is bound to be a person who must be punished, which he can never tolerate.

 

The third accusation is that Paul was trying to defile the temple. At that time, the priests were Sadducees, who had a close relationship with Rome and enjoyed many privileges under the protection of Roman power. They regarded not following themselves as priests as desecrating the temple, and not cooperating with them as soon as opposed to Rome. With these very subtle and subtle content, the Jews joined forces in the accusation of Durdullo, claiming that it was all true. However, the governor did not execute the judgment solely on the accusations of these people, and gave Paul the opportunity to argue.

 

Paul calmly refuted the contents of the accusations made by Durdullo and argued. First of all, regarding the charges against the unrest, Paul had only been up to Jerusalem for 12 days, and this time was not enough time to agitate the Jews. He argued that Paul's visit to Jerusalem was not for political intent, but for worship, and that no one who accused Paul had ever seen Paul stir up the crowd, so there would be no evidence to present. Regarding the accusation as a behemoth of the heresy of the Nazarene, Paul says that he purely believes in God, and that his hope for God is the hope that the same people who accused him also look forward to.

 

Thus, he argues that Paul himself is neither politically impure, nor is he a heresy. Regarding the accusations of trying to defile the temple, the accusers said they only saw themselves performing a cleansing ceremony in the temple according to procedures, but did not see them causing commotion. If there were any eyewitnesses, it would have been obvious that the accusation would have been made, but that is not to say that their accusations are false.

 

When Felix heard the arguments of the two, he delayed the trial and ordered the centurion to keep Paul, giving him freedom, and his friends to take care of him. There was an incident that showed Paul's heart and life well. A few days later, when Felix came with his wife, Drusilla, a Jewish woman, to hear from Paul about their faith in Christ Jesus, perhaps Felix and his wife came to hear something that would bring them peace. However, Paul courageously preached to Felix, full of unrighteousness and greed, about righteousness, temperance, and the coming judgment, which made Felix fearful.