Acts 24 Footnotes

24:1 Luke’s report of the case against Paul followed standard Roman legal procedure. Included in this was the prosecution brought by a lawyer (a rhetor). Tertullus (a well-known Roman name) may have been a Jew (v. 6), although he referred to the Jews (in vv. 5,9) objectively. He delivered his speech, abbreviated by Luke, with the conventional concessions to Felix.

24:5-7 Tertullus accused Paul of far more than simply bringing a Gentile into the temple: he was, the Jews charged, an agitator of Jews throughout the empire, a ringleader of the Nazarene sect (on this, see 3:1), and a desecrater of the temple. Although the first two would have aroused a Roman governor’s curiosity and suspicion, only the last would carry any real significance. Tertullus implied that the Jewish authorities in Jerusalem would have been able to handle the situation if the Roman commander, Lysias, had not interfered. Perhaps so, but this claim clearly glossed over Paul’s innocence and that he would have been unfairly convicted by a lynch mob.

24:11 The twelve days Paul mentioned did not include the time he spent in Caesarea.

24:14 “The Way” is used throughout Acts as a self-designation by Christians (9:2; 19:9,23; 24:22), while Jews apparently referred to them as a sect of Judaism. The spread of Christianity to the Gentiles eventually led to its independent from and rejection by the Jews.

24:17 The charitable gifts and offerings Paul brought to his nation probably refer to the collection he had been gathering for the Jerusalem church. Although the collection is significantly mentioned in Paul’s letters (e.g., Rm 15:25-6; 1Co 16:3; 2Co 8:1–9:15; see Gl 2:10), it is not emphasized in Acts.

24:22 How Felix gained his knowledge of Christianity is uncertain—perhaps through his wife, Drusilla, the daughter of Herod Agrippa (v. 24). We cannot be sure, but it’s possible that he heard about the new movement over his five years as procurator.

24:25 Felix was not known for his righteous practices; he took Drusilla from her first husband, Azizus. Paul possibly focused his comments regarding righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment specifically on Felix.

24:26 Further evidence of Felix’s corruption was his desire for a bribe—even though he was both attracted to and repulsed by what Paul told him. Though bribery was illegal according to Roman law, it nonetheless occurred in many cases.

24:27 Paul remained in Roman custody (particularly Felix’s) for two years. Given the reason he was relieved of office (23:26), Felix understandably wanted to curry Jewish favor. As a result, he left Paul (who committed no punishable offense) in prison. Festus became the new proconsul ca AD 59–62.