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    Acts Chapter 23:26-24:9
    Lesson 275
    ​
    Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

    In this lesson: 
     
    At the end of lesson 274, Claudius Lysias was writing to Governor Felix.
     
    Claudius' letter (23:26-30). 
     
    Paul reaches Felix in Caesarea. 

    The trial begins (24:1-9). 

    For the rest of Acts, Paul teaches the Romans.   

    Lawyer Tertullus pleas his case to Felix.
    (Unknown artist) ​
    Study Tip:
     
    Read both the Old and New Testaments.
     
    "Nothing less than a whole Bible can make a whole Christian."
    Aiden Wilson Tozer (1897-1963).     ​

    The Acts of the Apostles

    The King James Bible    ​



    Acts 23:26-24:9
    Paul stands trial

    ​26 Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting.

    27 This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman.

    28 And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council:

    29 Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.

    30 And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what they had against him. Farewell.

    31 Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris.

    32 On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:

    33 Who, when they came to Caesarea and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him.

    34 And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia;

    35 I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's judgment hall.

    Acts: 24:1-9

    1 And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul.

    2 And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence,

    3 We accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.

    4 Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words.

    5 For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:

    6 Who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law.

    7 But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands,

    8 Commanding his accusers to come unto thee: by examining of whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him.

    ​9 And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so.

    *The blue text above is not included in all copies of the Greek manuscripts.     

    ​
    Margin notes:
     
    "Then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman." (23:27) - "Then I came with soldiers and rescued him (Paul) because I knew he was a Roman."  Claudius Lysias is protecting himself with a lie and an omission.  Yes, he rescued Paul (21:30-33), but he did not know he was a Roman citizen until after he rescued and illegally chained him.  Also, Claudius forgets to tell Felix that he planned to whip Paul (22:25-29).
     
    "I brought him forth into their council." (23:28) - Remember, Claudius brought Paul to the Jewish High Council in verse 22:30.
     
    "Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law." (23:29) - Since Paul is accused of breaking Jewish and not civil law (18:13-15), Felix will have little interest.  Paul's accusers must convince Felix that Roman laws were violated. 
     
    "Nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds." (23:29) - In other words, Claudius believes Paul is innocent of any civil crime.
     
    "I sent straightway to thee." (23:30) - "I sent him (Paul) immediately to you." 
     
    "Antipatris." (23:31) -  A City and Roman military base located between Jerusalem and Caesarea.  The city was built by Herod the Great and named after his father, Antipater.
     
    "On the morrow." (23:32) - "The next day."
     
    "When they came to Caesarea." (23:33) - Paul left Caesarea just a week earlier.  You may recall he stayed at Philips house and was forewarned by Agabus that trouble waited for him in Jerusalem (Acts 21:8-15).
     
    "Delivered the epistle." (23:33) - "Delivered the letter."
     
    "Herod's judgment hall." (23:35) - A part of King Herod's palace.  The Romans called it the Praetorium.  A Praetorium was any Roman headquarters, from an ornate palace to a simple tent on the battlefield.  In Jerusalem, it was Herod's palace.  The Roman Governor lived and worked there whenever he was in Jerusalem.  Thirty-five years earlier, Jesus stood trial in this same "hall of judgment" (John 18:28).
     
    "Ananias the high priest descended with the elders." (24:1) - Ananias, the high priest, came down (from Jerusalem) with the religious leaders."
     
    "A certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul." (24:1) - Means "a certain lawyer named Tertullus laid out the charges against Paul to the governor."  Tertullus was hired by the Jewish high council to plead their case against Paul.  He was probably a Roman and familiar with Roman court proceedings. 
     
    "Thy providence." (24:2) - "Your foresight."
     
    "Pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition." (24:5) - Means, "A troublemaker and rebel."
     
    "Sect of the Nazarenes." (24:5) - This is a derogatory name for Christians, so named because Jesus was a Nazarene and Nazarenes were looked down on (John 1:46).
     
    "Profane the temple." (24:6) - "Desecrate the Temple."
     
    "The chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands." (24:7) - Tertullus is accusing Claudius Lysias of "police brutally."
     
    "And the Jews also assented." (24:9) - "And the Jews agreed." 


                                                  New Living Translation 
     

    Acts 23:26-24:9                 
     
    26 "From Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings!

    27 "This man was seized by some Jews, and they were about to kill him when I arrived with the troops. When I learned that he was a Roman citizen, I removed him to safety.

    28 Then I took him to their high council to try to learn the basis of the accusations against him.

    29 I soon discovered the charge was something regarding their religious law-certainly nothing worthy of imprisonment or death.

    30 But when I was informed of a plot to kill him, I immediately sent him on to you. I have told his accusers to bring their charges before you."
     
    31 So that night, as ordered, the soldiers took Paul as far as Antipatris.

    32 They returned to the fortress the next morning, while the mounted troops took him on to Caesarea.

    33 When they arrived in Caesarea, they presented Paul and the letter to Governor Felix.

    34 He read it and then asked Paul what province he was from. "Cilicia," Paul answered.
     
    35 "I will hear your case myself when your accusers arrive," the governor told him. Then the governor ordered him kept in the prison at Herod's headquarters.
     
    Acts 24: 1-9
    ​    Paul Appears before Felix
     
    1 Five days later Ananias, the high priest, arrived with some of the Jewish elders and the lawyer Tertullus, to present their case against Paul to the governor.

    2 When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented the charges against Paul in the following address to the governor:
     
      "Your Excellency, you have provided a long period of peace for us Jews and with foresight have enacted reforms for us.

    3 For all of this we are very grateful to you.

    4 But I don't want to bore you, so please give me your attention for only a moment.

    5 We have found this man to be a troublemaker who is constantly stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the cult known as the Nazarenes.

    6 Furthermore, he was trying to desecrate the Temple when we arrested him.

    8 You can find out the truth of our accusations by examining him yourself."

    ​9 Then the other Jews chimed in, declaring that everything Tertullus said was true.

    ​This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible.  However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
    Today's Question:
     
    1.     What charges did Tertullus layout against Paul? (24:2)



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    Answer: (Do you agree?) 
    ​
    1. Tertullus accused Paul of three separate crimes.

    1) Of creating civil unrest throughout the empire, a crime punishable by death.
    2) Of spreading an unapproved religious cult ("sect of Nazarenes").  The Romans were tolerant of the established religious practices of  their conquered subjects and protected their right to worship, but they frowned on the introduction of new religions, gods, or cults.
    3) Of defiling the Temple, a crime which the Jews were allowed to punish without Roman interference.

    Tertullus and his clients hoped that Felix would find Paul guilty and have him executed or turn him over to them.
    Application thought for the day: 
     
    What spiritual applications can you find in this segment? 
    Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course the "King James Bible."  All were critical in putting these lessons together.
    ​    © 2022 evolke  ​