Acts 24.1-27 tells us about how the Jews assemble after five days and present their case; Paul exposes the weakness of their case against him; Felix avoids making a judgment because his motive for holding Paul was greed.
v 1…And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders, with a certain attorney (trained in Roman law and a prosecutor) named Tertullus; and they brought charges to the governor against Paul.
v 2…And 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 (changes for the better-he is flattering him),
v 3…we acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix (he ruled from 52-60 AD) with all thankfulness.
v 4…But, that I may not weary you any further, I beg to grant us, by your kindness, a brief hearing.
v 5…For we have found this man a real pest and a fellow who stirs up dissension (sedition, a serious crime with the Romans-at this time the Zealots and the Sicarii were stirring up trouble; he is trying to associate Paul with some of it) among the Jews throughout the world (where Rome ruled), and a ringleader of the sect (party) of the Nazarenes (“Notzrim” also known as “Ha Derech” or “the Way”-24.14).
v 6…And he even tried to desecrate the Temple (trying to show he is doubly guilty with Rome and Israel); and then we arrested him and wanted to judge him according to our own Law (Torah, Oral Law).
v 7…But Lysias the commander came along, and with much violence, took him out of our hands (now he attacks the commander of the forces at the fortress Antonio),
v 8…ordering his accusers to come before you, and by examining him yourself concerning all these matters, you will be able to ascertain the things of which we accuse him.”
v 9…And the Jews also joined in the attack (of unsustained charges), asserting that these things were true (to be factual, but offering no factual witnesses).
v 10…And when the governor had nodded for him to speak, Paul responded: “Knowing that for many years you have been a judge to this nation (he had experience with the Jewish nation) I cheerfully make my defense,
v 11…since you can take note of the fact that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship (not enough time for all this activity he is being accused of; he arrives in Jerusalem, meets with James, his vow, days 4-7 he is under arrest and he appears before the Sanhedrin, then the conspiracy, then he is taken to Caesarea on day 10, and the remaining period there).
v 12…And neither in the Temple, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city did they find me carrying on a discussion with anyone causing a riot.
v 13…Nor can they prove to you the charges of which they now accuse me.
v 14…But this I admit to you, that according to the Way (the Notzrim or Nazarenes in a Torah-based faith in Yeshua) which they call a sect (of the Jewish religion) I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance (not contrary to) with the Law (Torah) and that is written in the Prophets (notice he doesn’t say the Oral Law here, although he was trained in it-Acts 22.3-this is a good example for us),
v 15…having a hope in God (biblical hope is not “I wish” but it is based on facts and that it will certainly happen as God has said), which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.
v 16…In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience before God and before men (this should be our goal).
v 17…Now after several years (out of Judea) I came to bring alms (collections, and not to appear before God empty-handed-Exo 23.14-17; Deut 16.16) and to present offerings (“korbanot” in Hebrew, Greek “prosphoras” meaning either blood or bloodless offerings; these were offerings given when coming out of a Nazarite vow-Num 6.14-15; Acts 18.18, 21.24),
v 18…in which they found me in the Temple, having been purified (having come from outside Israel he would have been sprinkled with the ashes of the red heifer on the third and seventh day) without crowd or uproar (not inciting a riot; he was alone doing business with God). But certain Jews from Asia (who knew Paul from Asia, and did not like him, stirred up the riot like they had done before in Asia)-
v 19…who ought to have been present before you, and to make accusation, if they should have anything against me (their absence weakened their case).
v 20…Or else let these men themselves tell what misdeed they found when I stood before the council (offer solid evidence before the Sanhedrin),
v 21…other than for this one statement which I shouted out when standing among them, ‘For the resurrection of the dead I am on trial before you today.’ “
v 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.”
v 23…And he gave orders to the centurion for him to be kept in custody and have freedom (from his bonds), and not to prevent any of his friends from ministering to him (he did this partly because he was a Roman, and he believed him to be innocent).
v 24…But some days later, Felix arrived with Drusilla his wife (granddaughter of Herod the Great, daughter of Herod Agrippa I who was eaten by worms in Acts 12.23; Felix enticed her away from King Gaius Aziz of Emessa to marry him; she was about 22 years old here; Felix and Drusilla had a son named Agrippa who perished in the eruption of Vesuvius) who was a Jewess and sent for Paul, and heard him speak about faith in Messiah Yeshua (she understood Paul).
v 25…And as he was discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come (as defined in the Torah), Felix became frightened (his conscience accused him) and said, “Go away for the present, and when I find time I will summon you (he needed time to lull his senses and his conscience back to sleep).”
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 (he knew Paul had brought alms and offerings so he thought he had some money, and he knew he was a considerable person among his people so that a ransom of bribe might be offered);
v 27…But after two years (from about 58 to 60 AD) had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; and wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul imprisoned (Felix abused his power against the Jews and was relieved of his post and sent to Rome to answer for his administration, hoping to please the Jews and not have them follow him to Rome with accusations, he leaves Paul in Caesarea).
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