Chapter 24

Chapter 23 closed with the Tribune transferring Paul by night to Governor Felix in Caesarea, to prevent the conspiracy to kill him from succeeding.

As this chapter opens, it is five days later, Ananias the High Priest has come down, and his spokesmen Tertullus - his DA - is there to do the talking.  Briefly, they say Paul is a "plague", stirring up Jews all over the world, and that he tried to profane the Temple itself but was stopped.  Many other Jews present assent to these charges.  Then Paul is given leave to speak. 

2024 - Note that verse 7, where the "lawyer" throws some shade on the Centurion..or Tribune...Lysias, that kept Paul from being killed by the mob at the temple, is not included in early manuscripts.  I don't see that it really adds or subtracts from the story, but one has to wonder why it would be included later, but not when the story was first written down?  Perhaps at first, Lysias was still in charge of keeping the peace in Jerusalem and they feared reprisal for this "lie" they told about him to Felix.  Surely it is possible that Lysias' career was somewhat diminished in that they imply that if he had just left them alone, they wouldn't now be bothering Felix.  This Tertullus was very devious, leaving no stone unturned to incite ill will toward Paul from the Governor.

Paul says he was in Jerusalem 12 days before his arrest by the Jews.  During that time, was he preaching in the streets, disputing in the temple, or in any way causing a disturbance?  In fact, he wasn't making a disturbance when they beat him in the temple, but was recognized by Jews from another part of the world - Jews not present to lay their charges before Felix for consideration - and it was they who stirred everything up.  But of one thing Paul pleads guilty - He follows the Way, and he serves God, and he believes in a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.

Felix knows about The Way.  So he decides to put off a judgement until Lysias, the Tribune, comes down.  Felix puts Paul under limited custody, and his friends are allowed to visit him.  MSB fills in some background.  Felix knows about the Way perhaps because his wife Drusilla is Jewish.  Since the original accusers didn't bother to show up, and since Paul had broken no Roman laws in Jerusalem, Felix hasn't heard any evidence of a crime, so his verdict would have had to be not guilty.  This would have infuriated the Jews.  So Felix decides to wait on more information from Lysias, who had already sent a letter saying Paul had committed no crime.  That is, Felix was more interested in keeping peace in the province than doing justice to Paul. 

Paul remains in prison in Caesarea for two years!  They converse often, and Paul presents the gospel to him many times.  To no avail apparently.  Felix is hoping Paul will offer him money for his release.  It doesn't happen.  After the two years, Felix is succeeded by Porcius Festus.  Again, to "do the Jews a favor" Felix leaves Paul in prison for Festus to deal with.