Lesson 30 : Paul’s Defense Before Felix & Two-Year Imprisonment in Caesarea (24:1-27)

1. Lesson 30:Paul’s Defense Before Felix & Two-Year Imprisonment in Caesarea (24:1-27)

2. I. Overview of the Passage & Helpful Facts for Further Bible Study • Paul was brought before Felix and accused of insurrection (24:1-9). • Ananias (the high priest) and the elders traveled 60 miles to falsely accuse Paul (24:1). • They brought their attorney, Tertullus (probably their legal counsel in Roman affairs). • Tertullusbrought forth the “legal charge” against Paul before Felix (24:2-8). • First, Tertullus lavished Felix with flattery, filled with exaggerations (24:2-4). • Then, Tertullus leveled wild accusations against Paul, with zero evidence (24:5-8). • When Tertullus concluded, the Jews picked up his lie and kept on affirming it (24:9).

3. II. • Significant Truths from this Passage for Our Understanding • Christianity is not a “sect” and it does not have any “sects” within it! • Three times in Acts, Christianity was called a “sect” (24:5, 14; 28:22), but not by God. • The Greek word for “sect” is hairesis (heresy), indicating “parties, factions, divisions.” • The opponents of Christianity saw it as a “sect” (perhaps of Judaism), but God did not! • Christianity is the ONE and ONLY WAY set out and acceptable to God to save man! • It is not a sect! It is not made up of sects (cf. 1 Cor. 1:10)! It is ONE (Eph. 4:1-6).

4. I. Overview of the Passage & Helpful Facts for Further Bible Study • Paul made his defense (Gk, apologeomai) cheerfully before Felix & accusers (24:10-21). • Felix had been serving as the procurator/governor of that region for about 7 years. • Paul first argued that none of their accusations against him could be proven (24:11-13). • Paul then testified the truth about himself—his life was focused on God (24:14-16). • Paul summarized the events and the facts worth Felix’s attention (24:17-21).

5. II. • Significant Truths from this Passage for Our Understanding • There is a direct correlation between the prophecies of the OT & the realities of the NT! • Paul believed, taught and defended “the Way,” which is N.T. Christianity (24:14)! • What Paul believed, taught and defended was “written in the Law and prophets”! • “The OT is the NT concealed; the NT is the OT revealed” (see Gal. 3:19-25).

6. II. • Significant Truths from this Passage for Our Understanding • There will be only one resurrection of the dead—both of the just and the unjust (24:15)! • The righteous and the unrighteous will be raised at the same hour (John 5:28-29). • There will not be two resurrections separated by one thousand years. • There will not be a resurrection of only the righteous. All raised at the same hour.

7. I. Overview of the Passage & Helpful Facts for Further Bible Study • Felix refused to properly handle (dismiss) Paul’s case but kept him imprisoned (24:22-27). • After Paul’s defense, Felix “deferred” (ASV), “put off” (NASB), lit. “threw up” (24:22). • Felix met with Paul frequently, hoping that he might receive bribe money (24:26). • Felix & his wife, Drusilla, had a meeting with Paul, perhaps from curiosity (24:24-25). • Paul remained in prison in Caesarea for two years, until Festus succeeded Felix (24:27).

8. II. • Significant Truths from this Passage for Our Understanding • There is no more convenient time to obey God than right now! • Felix put off obeying the gospel, and to our knowledge, he never did obey. • Salvation is too precious and life is too precarious to delay obedience to God!

9. III. Practical Points of Application for Our Lives • Others may/will try to stop us, but let us never back down from preaching Jesus! • Let us serve God, put our hope in God and strive to have a clear conscience toward God! • We need to give careful attention to righteousness, self-control & the judgment to come! • We must take responsibility for our salvation and not put it off or make excuses!