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Nazarene Commentary 2000©

21^st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures© –
21^st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures© [NCMM]

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR:
DEFENSE BEFORE FELIX THEN TWO-YEAR IN CUSTODY

[“Hope of the Resurrection”]
Key word: Examination

Acts 24:1-2a – Testimony against Paul

AC24:1 Now five days later Ananias the high priest came down [to Caesarea] with the [Jewish] elders and also a certain orator named Tertullus 1012 who made a statement against Paul.

1012	Tertullus: An orator, pubic speaker, attorney. The Jews bring in someone gifted as a speaker in the hope he will win the day against Paul.

AC24:2a When Paul was summoned, Tertullus began to indict 1013 him as follows:

1013	Indict: Or, accuse, impeach, charge, prosecute.

Acts 24:2b-8 – Accused as Leader of the Nazarenes

AC24:2b “Seeing that we enjoy great peace because of you, and that through your providence 1014 excellent reforms have been brought about in this nation,

1014	Your providence: The lead attorney for the prosecution spends considerable breath praising the judge and no evidence at all against Paul.

AC24:3 and we all everywhere welcome these, your Excellency Felix, with gratefulness. AC24:4 However, while I do not wish to bore you with lengthy explanations, I entreat you that you would hear us in as few words as possible in your customary fairness. AC24:5 For we have discovered this fellow to be a public pest 1015 and someone who stirs up insurrection 1016 among all the Jews throughout the Roman world. 1017 He is the chief leader 1018 of the heresy of the Nazarenes, 1019

1015	Public pest: Or, pestilent fellow, source of mischief, veritable plague. Though he charges this he gives no evidence to prove the charge.

1016	Stirs up insurrection: Or, sedition, disturber of the peace, stirs up disputes, fomenter of discord. This is merely an opening speech to the judge without judicial evidence.

1017	All the Jews throughout the Roman world: He seems to think that by a mere presence of Jewish authority and sweeping charges their case will have some merit.

1018	Chief leader: Or, spearhead, ringleader, chief mover.

1019

The heresy of the Nazarenes: Or, sect, society. The Greek is HAIRESEOS. See notes elsewhere on the original meaning of this word. The use of the designation “Nazarenes” indicates the wide knowledge of this term for the Christians, while the other name “Christians” is avoided all together. Christianity began as what these types of men would today call a “Cult.”

AC24:6 who has also gone about profaning the Temple. 1020 We have already arrested him and intended to judge him according to our Law.

1020	Profaning the Temple: A false charge brought up before and explained by Luke.

AC24:7 However, the military tribune Lysias rushed upon us and took him away 1021 from our custody with considerable force,

1021	Lysias rushed upon us and took him away: Verse 7 is missing from the Westcott and Hort Greek Text. Most modern versions have it.

AC24:8 and commanded that we his accusers appear before you, 1022 and by your own examination you may learn the truth of all these charges 1023 against him.”

1022	Commanded that we his accusers appear before you: An inference of a complaint against the Roman tribune.

1023	Learn the truth of all these charges: As though there was abundant evidence to prove the Jews’ charge.

Acts 24:9-10 – Jews Attack as Paul Speaks

AC24:9 In addition, the Jews all joined in the attack, 1024 affirming that all these things were true.

1024	The Jews all joined in the attack: It is clear, as in the case of Jesus, it was the Jews and their leadership who were the first persecutors against the Christian Church.

AC24:10a Next Paul, after the governor had motioned for him to speak, answered:

Acts 24:11-21 – Judged Regarding the Resurrection

AC24:10b “Knowing as I do that for many yeas you have acted as judge to this nation, I am very happy to make my defense before you. AC24:11 Because you can easily verify the fact that it has been only twelve days 1025 since I recently went up to Jerusalem to worship. 1026

1025	Only twelve days: How could Paul cause all this trouble in less than two weeks?

1026	Worship: As Jesus himself taught, one need not go to Jerusalem to worship. [John 4:22-24] Paul mentions this to prove he is no threat against Jewish worship.

AC24:12 These men here never discovered me in the temple courtyard debating with anyone, nor trying to cause a riot among the people – not in the synagogues or throughout the city. AC24:13 Nor can they prove any of these accusations against me. AC24:14 However, this I openly acknowledge to you, that I do follow the Way 1027 that they call a heresy. Just so I continue to worship The God of my forefathers, believing all the things written in the Law and the Prophets.

1027	I do follow the Way: Paul uses the oldest known designation for the Nazarene’s disciples.

AC24:15 I have a hope in The God – a hope some of these also accept – that there will be a future resurrection of the dead, 1028 both the righteous and the unrighteous. 1029

1028	A future resurrection of the dead: Paul raises the issue by which he divided the Jewish court. The Greek includes ESESTHAI [to be in future].

1029

Righteous and the unrighteous: That is, “There will be a future resurrection of both the law-abiding and the lawless.” Or, BAR: good and bad; KJV: just and unjust; RIE: the good and the wicked. Paul believes everyone will be resurrected and then judged. He has already written such in 1 Corinthians 15:20-23. [Compare Acts 17:30, 31]

AC24:16 So I continue earnestly to always hold a conscience free of any offence against The God or men. AC24:17 Now after many years of absence I came to [Jerusalem] bringing a charitable gift 1030 to my nation 1031 and to also present offerings [at the Temple]. 1032

1030	Charitable gift: Or, alms, sum of money, help. Perhaps that mentioned in 2 Corinthians 8:4.

1031	To my nation: Paul does not reveal that this charity was aimed primarily to the poor among the Christian Church in Jerusalem. The charity from the non-Jewish Christians does benefit those Jews in Judaea.

1032

Present offerings [at the Temple]: Or, WEY: make sacrifices. Those mentioned earlier in regard to the plan of James to dismiss accusations of apostasy against Paul. One can now see why the Master permitted this charade of worship at the Temple in Jerusalem. It not only precipitated this situation, but now also aids in Paul’s defense against the Jewish accusations, and paves the way for a defense of Christianity in Rome itself.

AC24:18 It was at this time this that certain Jews from Asia [Minor] 1033 discovered me during a period of purification in the temple courtyard 1034 – not among a riotous mob.

1033	Jews from Asia [Minor]: Outside troublemakers not present here to act as witnesses, a point he will bring up.

1034

Period of purification in the temple courtyard: Or, KJV: purified in the temple; TCN: after completing a period of purification; WMS: completed my rites of purification. Further proof Paul is not causing an insurrection among the Jews. Unlike the Jewish prosecutor, Paul provides evidentiary fact in his defense.

AC24:19 These [Jewish accusers from Asia] ought to be here before you and make their charge 1035 if they have anything against me.

1035	Ought to be here before you and make their charge: The initial instigators are absent, an unexpected weakness in the Jewish charge.

AC24:20 Or, let these men here state whether they have found me guilty of some crime 1036 when I stood before their Sanhedrin.

1036	Found me guilty of some crime: Paul appeals to the previous trial which produced no facts against Paul and thus there is a legal precedent.

AC24:21 Unless it was that one statement 1037 I made standing before them: ‘I am being judged regarding the resurrection of the dead!’”

1037	One statement: From the Sanhedrin court transcript, confirmed by the tribune in his letter, the real issues were religious and doctrinal ones.

Acts 24:22-23 – Under House Arrest

AC24:22 Now after Felix heard these matters, now having full information regarding the facts, he adjourned the trial, and said: “When Lysias the military tribune arrives 1038 I will determine the matter.”

1038	When Lysias the military tribune arrives: As far as we know this never happens, or if it does, it is not reported. The very thought a Roman tribune may testify against the Jews in the matter must have been something of a set back.

AC24:23 And so he commanded a centurion to put Paul in his custody 1039 and permit him to have a measure of freedom, 1040 and not to forbid any of his acquaintances from attending to his needs. 1041

1039	Custody: Or, kept in charge, kept safely, under open arrest. As occurs later in Rome, Paul is under house arrest.

1040

Permit him to have a measure of freedom: Or, liberty, relaxed regulations, relaxed rigor, reasonable liberty. Paul will remain in these forced by relaxed circumstances for two years. We can only imagine the letters he wrote from his confinement, or the research preparations he undertook in the foundation for other works.

1041

Acquaintances from attending to his needs: Or, friends to minister to him, looking after him. Relieving the cost on Felix and allowing for a considerable coming and going of visitors from all over the world. Even from this house arrest Paul can continue his spiritual encouragements, enlightened education, and church leadership.

Acts 24:24-27 – Two Years of Confinement

AC24:24 Some time later, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, 1042 a Jewess, he sent for Paul and listened to him concerning faith in Christ. 1043

1042

Drusilla: The third and youngest daughter of Herod Agrippa I, born about 38 AD and so about 20 here. She married Felix about 54 AD against Jewish law. Her son later died under Vesuvius. We may assume she knew quite a bit about Judaism as well as details regarding Jesus and his disciples. She may have been present during later conversations between Paul and Felix.

1043	Faith in Christ: It would seem Felix gets a considerable testimony from Paul.

AC24:25 But as Paul reasoned 1044 with him about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, 1045 Felix became frightened, 1046 and said: “You may leave for now! When it is convenient for me I will summon you again.”

1044	Reasoned: Or, speaking at length, argued, talked of, discussed, discourse.

1045

Righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment: Or, justice, morality, uprightness, purity of life, goodness, the good life, questions of morals. The Greek is DIKAIOSYNES [righteousness] KAI EGKRATEIAS [self-control] KAI TOU KRIMATOS [judgment]. It is interesting what is omitted in this brief list of discussion points. On these matters compare the Nazarene himself on what the pneumatic Helper would teach. [John 16:8 – righteousness, sin, judgment] These are fundamental themes in Christian doctrine.

1046	Felix became frightened: Or, trembled, terrified, alarmed. Even some Christians refuse to discuss the Biblical theme of judgment, though it is part of the “first principles of Christ’s doctrine.” [Hebrews 6:1]

AC24:26 Felix had been hoping that Paul might give him money as a bribe, 1047 so for this reason he sent for him more frequently and conversed with him.

1047	Bribe: Or, PME: nursed a secret hope that Paul would pay him money. Something common in the world of litigation and court justice. Felix probably observed the coming and goings of many of Paul’s friends and thought he was important indeed.

AC24:27 But after two years passed Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. 1048 Now Felix, wishing to gain the Jews’ favor, kept Paul in house arrest.

1048	Porcius Festus: Though there are a variety of opinions on the precise date, one view is between 58-61 AD. [Young’s Analytical Concordance to the Bible (page 342)] This would have been an appointment by Nero.

Review Questions on Chapter Twenty-four