BRUCE C WEARNE, in his commentary on Acts, looks at Paul’s appearance before the Roman Governor Felix…
And then, after five days, the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus. They laid their case against Paul before the governor; and on being called, Tertullus began his accusation, saying: “Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your provision, most excellent Felix, reforms are introduced on behalf of this nation, in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude. But, to detain you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly. For we have found this man to be dangerous, sowing sedition amongst all Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of Nazarenes. He was attempting to profane the temple when we apprehended him. And when you have examined him you will fully understand our accusations and why we have accused him.”
The Jews joined in the charge, affirming that this was all true. Paul then spoke, the governor having motioned to him to speak: “Realising that you have been judge over this nation for many years, I happily defend myself. You can easily prove that it was only 12 days ago that I went up to worship at Jerusalem; they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up any crowd, neither in the temple nor in synagogues, nor in the city. And they cannot prove to you what they now allege against me. But I will admit this to you, that I worship the God of our fathers, according to the Way, which they call a sect, believing everything laid down by the law or written in the prophets, having a hope in God which these accusers of mine also accept, that there will be a resurrection for the just and the unjust. I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward God and toward men. Now, after some years, I arrived to bring my nation alms and offerings. As I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult. But it is a group of Jews from Asia who ought to be here before you to make their accusation, if indeed there is anything to their allegations against me. Or else let these same men that stand here tell you what wrong they found when I stood before the council. I admit one thing however – I cried out while standing among them, ‘With respect to the resurrection of the dead I am on trial before you this day.'” – Acts 24:1-21/transliteration by Bruce C Wearne
Paul was brought before Governor Felix at a hearing in Caesarea following his arrest in Jerusalem. PICTURE: Dogancan Ozturan/Unsplash
IN A NUTSHELL
The religious leaders hired a prominent lawyer to present their case. They accused Paul of profaning the temple and sedition. But Paul did not try to justify his mission to the Gentiles. He argued as a loyal Jew of strict conscience who believed in the resurrection.
Felix, the Governor, had been a slave in a household close to the Emperor. His third wife, Drusilla, was the youngest daughter of Herod Agrippa the elder and a sister of Bernice and Agrippa II. Shortly after these encounters with Paul, he was recalled to Rome because of riots between Jews and Gentiles in Caesarea.
In this account of a trial that heard the Jewish accusations against Paul, Luke again reminds us of Jesus’ trial before the Sanhedrin. In their Jewish court, Jesus was convicted of blasphemy; before Pilate the charge became sedition. Now, before Felix, they accused Paul of being a terrorist agitator who was stirring strife in Jewish communities around the empire. In their council examination, before Lysias saved him from their violence, a significant group (the Pharisees in the Sanhedrin) had already found him not guilty.
Now, before Felix, they tried to pin sedition on him. Paul easily rebutted the prosecution case. He, a conscientious Jew had come to Jerusalem to fulfil vows, bringing money to assist fellow countrymen. He explained to Felix the hope of the resurrection and why it had become a problem for the Sanhedrin.
And so, by speaking in this way, Paul as a fellow Roman citizen, gave advice about “Jewish affairs”, helping the Emperor’s representative to understand the inner turmoil in the Sanhedrin.
OPEN BOOK – HINTS FROM THE SPIRIT OF HOLINESS: THE HEARING IN CAESAREA
BRUCE C WEARNE, in his commentary on Acts, looks at Paul’s appearance before the Roman Governor Felix…
And then, after five days, the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus. They laid their case against Paul before the governor; and on being called, Tertullus began his accusation, saying: “Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your provision, most excellent Felix, reforms are introduced on behalf of this nation, in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude. But, to detain you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly. For we have found this man to be dangerous, sowing sedition amongst all Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of Nazarenes. He was attempting to profane the temple when we apprehended him. And when you have examined him you will fully understand our accusations and why we have accused him.”
The Jews joined in the charge, affirming that this was all true. Paul then spoke, the governor having motioned to him to speak: “Realising that you have been judge over this nation for many years, I happily defend myself. You can easily prove that it was only 12 days ago that I went up to worship at Jerusalem; they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up any crowd, neither in the temple nor in synagogues, nor in the city. And they cannot prove to you what they now allege against me. But I will admit this to you, that I worship the God of our fathers, according to the Way, which they call a sect, believing everything laid down by the law or written in the prophets, having a hope in God which these accusers of mine also accept, that there will be a resurrection for the just and the unjust. I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward God and toward men. Now, after some years, I arrived to bring my nation alms and offerings. As I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult. But it is a group of Jews from Asia who ought to be here before you to make their accusation, if indeed there is anything to their allegations against me. Or else let these same men that stand here tell you what wrong they found when I stood before the council. I admit one thing however – I cried out while standing among them, ‘With respect to the resurrection of the dead I am on trial before you this day.'” – Acts 24:1-21/transliteration by Bruce C Wearne
Paul was brought before Governor Felix at a hearing in Caesarea following his arrest in Jerusalem. PICTURE: Dogancan Ozturan/Unsplash
IN A NUTSHELL
The religious leaders hired a prominent lawyer to present their case. They accused Paul of profaning the temple and sedition. But Paul did not try to justify his mission to the Gentiles. He argued as a loyal Jew of strict conscience who believed in the resurrection.
Felix, the Governor, had been a slave in a household close to the Emperor. His third wife, Drusilla, was the youngest daughter of Herod Agrippa the elder and a sister of Bernice and Agrippa II. Shortly after these encounters with Paul, he was recalled to Rome because of riots between Jews and Gentiles in Caesarea.
In this account of a trial that heard the Jewish accusations against Paul, Luke again reminds us of Jesus’ trial before the Sanhedrin. In their Jewish court, Jesus was convicted of blasphemy; before Pilate the charge became sedition. Now, before Felix, they accused Paul of being a terrorist agitator who was stirring strife in Jewish communities around the empire. In their council examination, before Lysias saved him from their violence, a significant group (the Pharisees in the Sanhedrin) had already found him not guilty.
Now, before Felix, they tried to pin sedition on him. Paul easily rebutted the prosecution case. He, a conscientious Jew had come to Jerusalem to fulfil vows, bringing money to assist fellow countrymen. He explained to Felix the hope of the resurrection and why it had become a problem for the Sanhedrin.
And so, by speaking in this way, Paul as a fellow Roman citizen, gave advice about “Jewish affairs”, helping the Emperor’s representative to understand the inner turmoil in the Sanhedrin.
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