Bible Commentaries
Acts 24

Verse 1

1 Act 24:1. The word descended is used with reference to direction, as to or from Jerusalem, in view of its importance. Thayer defines the original word, "To come down," then explains it to mean, "as from the temple at Jerusalem, from the city of Jerusalem." Ter-tullus was a professional speaker whom the Jews employed to argue their case against Paul before Felix. What his nationality was is not clearly shown in the history, but he was acquainted with the procedure of courts.

Verse 2

4 Act 24:2-4. Tertullus, like many court lawyers of our day, was not scrupulous in handling the truth, or in his manner of treating a serious case that pertained to the personal rights of a citizen. This paragraph is devoted to pure flattery of the governor, for the purpose of prejudicing him against Paul. I do not think this part of his speech needs any further comments.

Verse 5

5 Act 24:5. An orator is supposed to make his speech before a court after the accusers and witnesses have said their part. But Tertullus acted both as accuser and witness, before the legal accusers were even present, like the unprincipled lawyer that he was. The most of this verse is false, but, the part pertaining to Paul's leadership among the Nazarenes is true. And that was the chief grievance the Jews had against Paul, because they had previously had that feeling against Jesus, the founder of the sect of the Nazarenes. The last word was applied to Christians by the Jews, in reference to Jesus who had lived at Nazareth.

Verse 6

7 Act 24:6-7. This was a falsehood. (See chapter 21:30-34.)

Verse 8

8 Act 24:8. By examining of whom was an admission that the court had not heard any testimony furnished by Paul's accusers, thereby convicting himself (and the court) of gross injustice.

Verse 9

9 Act 24:9. Assented means the Jews agreed with what Tertullus had said; yet they did not even pretend to have any witnesses to present to Felix.

Verse 10

0 Act 24:10. Paul began his speech with remarks that were respectful and complimentary, but not in the nature of flattery. Having been in a public position over Judea for many years, Felix could appreciate the truths Paul intended stating before him.

Verse 11

1 Act 24:11. But twelve days. The events to which Paul refers had occurred so recently, that it would be easy to find testimony to the contrary if any doubt was felt by Felix.

Verse 12

3 Act 24:12-13. This paragraph is a general denial of all the charges of disorder made against Paul, and he challenged his accusers to present their testimony.

Verse 14

4 Act 24:14. To confess does not mean to admit any wrongdoing; it is only an admission of certain facts of which he was not ashamed, but which were objectionable to his critics. Paul does not admit that he is worshiping God through heresy, but, that he is serving Him with the system that his accusers called by such a name. He further states that the law (of Moses) and the prophets had taught that same system to be coming sometime.

Verse 15

5 Act 24:15. In this verse the apostle expressed the real subject that was the motive for their objection to him, namely, a belief in the resurrection. Which they themselves also allow. The Pharisees professed to believe in the resurrection, but denied that it was through Jesus whom they had crucified (chapter 4:2).

Verse 16

6 Act 24:16. Conscience is from SUNEI-DESIS and Thayer's main definition is, "The soul as distinguishing between what is morally good and bad, prompting to do the former and shun the latter, commending the one, condemning the other." This definition states the action of the conscience, but it can act on improper information as well as proper. When Paul was persecuting Christians his conscience commended him for it, because his information (which was erroneous) was to the effect that the disciples of Christ were evildoers. In our present verse he means he had always exercised himself in a way that he thought would be right regarding both God and man. His good conscience while persecuting Christians was due to the improper information that he had received. The popular idea is not true that the conscience is "A creature of education," for it is a part of every human being. However, it is true that the conscience may be educated, and it depends on the character of that education whether it will commend or condemn what it should.

Verse 17

7 Act 24:17. The alms refers to the collections that were made by the various churches (Rom 15:25-31; 1Co 16:1-4). The offerings were according to some Jewish customs that Paul still had the right to perform as a Jew, since they were both secular and religious, and Paul did them as the former.

Verse 18

0 Act 24:18-20. This paragraph is explained at chapter 21:27-29.

Verse 21

1 Act 24:21. See the comments on verses 14 and 15.

Verse 22

2 Act 24:22. Felix now had a somewhat clearer view of the situation, to the extent that he wanted to see the case through after the other parties to it appeared. He promised Paul to hear the whole matter when the captain arrived. It might be stated, however, that so far as the record shows, neither Lysias nor witnesses ever appeared.

Verse 23

3 Act 24:23. Paul was detained as a prisoner, but the soldier who was made responsible for his keeping was commanded to let him have many liberties usually not given.

Verse 24

4 Act 24:24. Felix came. He was not residing outside the community; the second word means, "to make a public appearance," according to the lexicons. His interest had been aroused by Paul's speech to the extent he wished to hear more about the faith he was preaching. We will hear more about his wife in the next verse.

Verse 25

5 Act 24:25. The subjects of this verse are in response to the request in the preceding one, to discuss the faith in Christ, which shows that the Gospel contains more than just the "first principles." These subjects were especially appropriate at this time, for both Felix and his wife were very unrighteous people. He had induced her to desert her former husband to marry him, for no other motive than lust on the part of each. Thayer defines the original word for temperance, "Self-control," then explains it to mean "the virtue of one who masters his desires and passions, especially his sensual [fleshly or carnal] appetites." Judgment to come is defined by Thayer, "The last or final judgment." Being a judge himself and acquainted with the dignity of judicial sentences, Felix could feel the weight of Paul's prediction and was made to tremble, which is defined in the lexicon "to be terrified." A convenient season. The second word does not appear in the original Greek as a separate term. The phrase is from KAIROS which Thayer defines "opportune or seasonable time." The word has been translated in the King James Version by the single word "time" in 63 places.

Verse 26

6 Act 24:26. The "convenient season" never appeared as far as the record informs us, for the same purpose that Paul had been called the first time. However•, Felix was so depraved as to think the apostle would try to bribe the court into releasing him, and for that purpose he did call for him frequently.

Verse 27

7 Act 24:27. After two years Felix was replaced by Festus because he had incurred the displeasure of the Romans. During those two years Paul was kept as a prisoner, his accusers never having appeared. In spite of this situation, to gratify the hatred of the Jews toward him, Felix kept Paul bound when he relinquished his office to Festus.