Acts 24
Paul Before Felix at Caesarea
How many days passed before the high priest Ananias, some elders, and Tertullus came? (verse 1)
Who was Tertullus? (Verse 1)
Who began accusing Paul? (verse 2)
What is Tertullus' opening remarks? (Verse 3-8)
When did Paul give his reply? (verse 10)
What was Paul's reply? (Verse 10-21)
What was Paul's conclusion? (Verse 21)
Paul Kept in Custody
What did Felix have a rather accurate knowledge of? (Verse 22)
When did Felix say he would decide the case? (verse 22)
What orders did Felix give concerning Paul? (Verse 23)
When did Felix come with his wife Drusilla and send for Paul? (Verse 24)
When was Felix alarmed? (verse 25)
What did Felix hope would be given to him by Paul? (Verse 26)
Why did Felix send for Paul often and converse with him? (Verse 26)
How many years elapsed in when Felix was succeeded by Porches Festus? (Verse 27)
Why did Felix leave Paul in prison? (verse 27)
Thoughts
The Biblical meaning of the name Tertullus is: Third.
“Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight, most excellent Felix, reforms are being made for 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 a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him. By examining him yourself you will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him.”
correlation
Revelation 12:4King James Version (KJV)
4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
“Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight(not giving credit to God), most excellent Felix(added praise), reforms are being made for this nation, in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude(over-emphasizing and maybe lying). But, to detain you no further(hoping to move things along in the direction he wishes), I beg you in your kindness(labeling Felix as being kind to his side) to hear us briefly(reminding him that Tertullus wishes to move things along). For we have found this man a plague(labeling/bad-branding/slandering), one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world(lying) and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes(also not completely true). He even tried to profane the temple(false), but we seized him(taking credit for stopping Paul and inferring that it was a good and noble thing). By examining him yourself(suggesting a course of action not necessarily hoping Felix would take it) you will be able(if he is "not able" he would remember this phrase and look for that outcome) to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him.” There is a lot more about this opening statement which is twisted. Tertullus' name is fitting of him.
“Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense. You can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem, and they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or in the city. Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me. But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man. Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings. While I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult. But some Jews from Asia— they ought to be here before you and to make an accusation, should they have anything against me. Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council, other than this one thing that I cried out while standing among them: ‘It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.’” - Paul's response
Proverbs 29:2King James Version (KJV)
2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.
“Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense. (confidence in Felix' experience in Judging people) You can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem, and they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or in the city. (Appeals to Felix's experience of Paul's stay) Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me. But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets(this may be more for the benefit of those accusing Paul), having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection(appeal to Pharisees and pointing at truth) of both the just and the unjust. So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man. Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings. While I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult. But some Jews from Asia— they ought to be here before you and to make an accusation, should they have anything against me. Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council, other than this one thing that I cried out while standing among them: ‘It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.’” - Paul's response
Drusilla is an English female given name coming from the Roman Drusus which itself derived from the Greek drosos (dew). It has the meaning "fruitful" or "dewy-eyed". As a name appearing in the Bible it was adopted by English speakers in the 17th century.
"After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus." - verse 24
I wonder what the conversations and things were that lead Felix and his wife to seek Paul's words?
When was Felix alarmed? (Verse 25) Why?
Acts 24English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul Before Felix at Caesarea
24 And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus. They laid before the governor their case against Paul.2 And when he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying:
“Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight, most excellent Felix, reforms are being made for this nation, 3 in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude. 4 But, to detain[a] you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly. 5 For we have found this man a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6 He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him.[b] 8 By examining him yourself you will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him.”
9 The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that all these things were so.
10 And when the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul replied:
“Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense. 11 You can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem, 12 and they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or in the city. 13 Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me. 14 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, 15 having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. 16 So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man. 17 Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings. 18 While I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult. But some Jews from Asia— 19 they ought to be here before you and to make an accusation, should they have anything against me. 20 Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council,21 other than this one thing that I cried out while standing among them: ‘It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.’”
Paul Kept in Custody
22 But Felix, having a rather accurate knowledge of the Way, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case.” 23 Then he gave orders to the centurion that he should be kept in custody but have some liberty, and that none of his friends should be prevented from attending to his needs.
24 After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.”26 At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him. 27 When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.
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