Bible Commentaries
Acts 24

Verses 1-27

XXIV 1-XXVI 32 St Paul at Caesarea, A.D. 58-60.

XXIV 1-9 The Accusation before Felix —1. The highpriest hired ’Tertullus an advocate, and these laid their plea against Paul before the Governor’.

2. As to the praise of Felix for maintaining peace and because ’reforms are introduced through thy foresight on behalf of this nation’, see on 23:24. From his reference to ’this nation’ Tertullus seems not to have been a Jew.

5. The political accusation will appeal to Felix. ’Author’ should be ’Ringleader’.

6-8. Much is omitted in the best MSS. ’He also tried to profane the temple, but we apprehended him. By examining him thyself thou canst learn from him about all these things of which we accuse him’.

10-21 St Paul’s Defence —10. In Judaea the Procurator could not take up the attitude of Gallio 18:15. St Paul appeals to him confidently. He had ruled Judaea since a.d. 52, and Samaria before that, hence he was conversant with Jewish problems.

14. The Way is not a heresy, for in it St Paul serves ’the God of our Fathers, believing all that is according to the Law, and written in the Prophets’, namely the Messianic hope; see on: 21:21 and cf.Romans 3:31; Romans 10:4.

15. He also shares the Jewish hope of a resurrection. The Sadducees who denied it, were a small minority. This seems to be the only reference in St Paul to the resurrection of the unjust; cf. F. Prat, The Theology of St Paul, II ( 1945) 360. 16. ’And hence’, in view of the belief just stated.

17. . . .’to offer alms to my nation and sacrifices’. The alms for the church. Omit ’and vows’. 21. See 23:6.

22-23 The Case adjourned —22. In view of Lysias’ letter, the hearing just concluded, and his knowledge of the Way, Felix ought to have released St Paul. But he was anxious not to offend the Sanhedrin, and since it was impossible to hand over to them an innocent Roman citizen, he fell back on the expedient of an adjournment.

23. St Paul was under Custodia Militaris. The prisoner was chained to a soldier, but not in a public prison, and sometimes even in a private house, as in 28: 16. At Caesarea he remained in Herod’s Palace.

24-27 The Interview with Felix and Drusilla —24. Drusilla was the youngest daughter of Herod Agrippa I. She was married at the age of 14, but abandoned her husband after two months and became the third wife of Felix, who was a pagan.

25. St Paul like the Baptist speaks of the virtues the couple flagrantly rejected. Not only his Jewish wife, but Felix too was familiar with the new faith, 22, long peacefully established at Caesarea. 26. Cf. 21:26.

27. The change of Procurators took place about the middle of a.d. 60. Felix was recalled to answer Jewish complaints of his misrule, hence his anxiety to please them.