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ACTS - In the Triumphal Procession of Christ
Studies in the Acts of the Apostles
PART 2 - Reports About Preaching Among the Gentiles and the Foundation of Churches From Antioch to Rome - Through the Ministry of Paul the Apostle, Commissioned by the Holy Spirit (Acts 13 - 28)
E - Paul's Imprisonment in Jerusalem and in Caesarea (Acts 21:15 - 26:32)

10. Paul Alone With the Governor and His Wife (Acts 24:24-27)


ACTS 24:24-27
24 But after some days, Felix came with Drusilla, his wife, who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ Jesus. 25 As he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was terrified, and answered, “Go your way for this time, and when it is convenient for me, I will summon you.” 26 Meanwhile, he also hoped that money would be given to him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore also he sent for him more often, and talked with him. 27 But when two years were fulfilled, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and desiring to gain favor with the Jews, Felix left Paul in bonds.

Drusilla, the governor’s wife, was the daughter of King Herod Agrippa, about whose terrible death we read in chapter twelve. This woman was very beautiful, and had been married to a king of Syria. But Felix, employing a trick through a Jewish sorcerer, had separated her from her husband and taken her for himself. History states that she died in A.D. 79 in the Vesuvian eruption and was burnt by its molten materials.

She urged her husband while she was in Caesarea to bring the exciting prisoner, so that they might be amused by his mystical divinity. What a wonderful opportunity for the apostle to work toward freeing himself, with Felix, the cunning and relaxed rich man, laying on his pillow, with his erotic, adulterous, and beautiful woman beside him. Paul, the prisoner, stood before them, bearing the marks of blows and stones on his body, inside him a spiritual impetus burning like a fiery volcano to save humanity. Did Paul give in at the hour of temptation, and flatter the couple? No, for he had not thought one minute of saving himself. Instead, he saw the two poor people before him, immersed in lust with their corrupt conscience. His heart was eager for their salvation. As the good physician does not superficially massage the tumor, but instead cuts it out at once with a dissecting knife, so Paul, stabbed the unjust governor immediately because of his unrighteous behavior, and showed him that God seeks truth, justice, and righteousness. He testified to the woman about her need of self-control and purity, for adulterers are not admitted into the kingdom of God. After the imprisoned apostle had awakened the conscience of those who lay before him, he stood them before the just judgment of God, and declared to them the wrath of the Holy One. Paul did not seek to destroy them, for God himself had unveiled to them His shining light. Felix, whose name meant “happy”, became frightfully afraid. No one until that moment had dared to tell him the truth openly. The woman was probably angry and hated the messenger of God, for he had uncovered the lying in her life that had incensed her husband thereafter not to set Paul free. Regarding his conscience, Felix appeared hesitant. He tried to take a moderate position and occupy an intermediate state. He did not reject God’s call to repentance, but at the same time did not obey the voice of his conscience, adjourning the decision of his own salvation as he had adjourned the decision of releasing Paul.

Furthermore, he perceived the smell of money, for Paul had already spoken about the donations brought to the people of Jerusalem. The governor hoped to have offered a big ransom from the ringleader of the church. Undoubtedly the churches were prepared to collect any amount of money to free the apostle of the nations. But Paul would have nothing to do with any such thoughts, not only for the sake of his own conscience, but also to save Felix from his greed, before whom he stood as an example of honesty in life. In fact, the governor could not rid himself of the effect the apostle of truth had on him. He continued consulting him in both human and divine matters. All his retinue had flattered him with lying. Now, however, he had before him the truth of God represented in Paul, who had by his truthful words penetrated his conscience time after time. But the governor did not humble himself before God, in spite of all the spiritual revelations. We do not read that he ever believed or was saved.


11. The Second Hearing of Paul’s Trial Before the New Governor (Acts 25:1-12)


ACTS 25:1-12
1 Festus therefore, having come into the province, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. 2 Then the high priest and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul, and they begged him, 3 asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem; plotting to kill him on the way. 4 However Festus answered that Paul should be kept in custody at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to depart shortly. 5 “Let them therefore,” said he, “that are in power among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong in the man, let them accuse him.” 6 When he had stayed among them more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea, and on the next day he sat on the judgment seat, and commanded Paul to be brought. 7 When he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing against him many and grievous charges which they could not prove, 8 while he said in his defense, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I sinned at all.” 9 But Festus, desiring to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paul and said, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem, and be judged by me there concerning these things?” 10 But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you also know very well. 11 For if I have done wrong, and have committed anything worthy of death, I don’t refuse to die; but if none of those things is true that they accuse me of, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar!” 12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you shall go.”

There was an arrangement in the Roman Empire in which the officials were transferred from time to time to other places, in order to prevent them from prostituting their offices for the purpose of gain, which might have happened in the event of their remaining for a long time in one region.

The happy Felix, with his sick conscience, in the last term of his office chose to gain favor with the Jews in return for their interceding to Caesar for him, rather than to adjudicate the matter according to the will of God and set Paul free. So he who coveted money and promotion in government rank also rushed quickly toward the coming judgment of God.

Festus, the new governor, came with activistic vigor, and wanted to settle all the outstanding matters of his predecessor. So he traveled at once to the Jewish center, Jerusalem, where the cunning leaders, seizing the opportunity, asked him, as a favor, to send Paul to Jerusalem, so that together they might judge him for violating the law. Their demand was a deception, for they intended to kill Paul on the road.

Festus hoped, in skillful manner, to draw the rabbis to his house in Caesarea. He demanded a delegation from them which would be able to clarify the matter. When he went down some days later to his capital on the seaside, he held an official hearing. The Jews came with heavy accusations, complaining that Paul had moved the foundations of the world, polluted the temple, defamed the truth of the Law, and even acted against Caesar, by calling Christ Lord, and King of kings.

Paul replied to these complaints, stating that all these charges were but devious tricks and obvious lies. He was not acting unjustly toward any Jew. Paul was prepared to die if he had committed any injustice. But the prosecutors could not prove any civil offence against him.

The governor soon recognized that the matter was purely of religious nature. He suggested to Paul that he accept being placed on trial in Jerusalem under his presidency, so that the mysterious questions and accusations surrounding the center of his religion might be clarified to the governor. Paul was not afraid of a theological discussion regarding the Law and the Gospel, but was well aware of his enemies’ spite, hatred, and fanatical determination to kill him, whatever the cost. Also, he knew they were not prepared for a just trial. Therefore, he demanded an objective Roman judgment, and rejected the bigotry and stubbornness of the Jews in their call for his destruction. The highest council of the Jews was undoubtedly against Jesus of Nazareth and his followers, as was obvious during the thirty years from Christ’s crucifixion to the present trial of Paul.

When Paul noticed that the governor, desirous to establish a harmonious beginning and ensure the cooperation of his citizens, was prepared to deliver him up to the highest council of the Jews, he took hold of his last resource, one which God had given him since birth … his Roman citizenship! This might be used to save himself from destruction. He had used this right once before in Philippi, when the prison was opened wide by an earthquake, and also before his scourging in Jerusalem. Now, he was prepared to use it again, in order to stop the governor from offering him up to be tried by his enemies in Jerusalem. Thus, he boldly spoke forth his request, demanding his right to be tried before Caesar in person. No one could deny him this right to justice as a Roman citizen.

At that time, the licentious and cruel Nero had come to power in Rome. Festus smiled, as he confirmed to Paul that he would indeed send him to be judged by this tyrant Caesar. In Rome, he would experience corruption, fluidity, deceit, and lying in the highest centers of the state. He would see and experience the maddening delay of treatments and formalities in the judicial departments. Paul expected a long imprisonment, but certainly felt in his heart that his Lord had guided him to Rome. He did not choose this way. Instead, it was His Lord who purposed to bring His ambassador into the capital, not as an acquitted victor, but rather as a prisoner. So Paul preferred to go to Rome bound, rather than lose long years under a weak governor who, because of cooperation with his enemies, was unwilling to either make a decision or give attention to Paul’s case.

PRAYER: O Lord Jesus Christ, teach me wisdom, truth, courage, and humility, that I may not choose a crooked way in troubled times to save myself, but instead that I may train myself in patience to not hide thy truth, and testify to Your name with all other believers.

QUESTION:

  1. Which of Paul’s behaviors most impressed you while he was imprisoned under the two Roman governors?

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