Acts 24

1 And after five days, Ananias, prince of priests, came down with some elder men, and Tertullus, a fair speaker [and Tertullus, some orator, or advocate], which went to the president against Paul.

2 And when Paul was summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, and said, When in much peace we do by thee, and many things be amended by thy wisdom, [And Paul summoned, Tertullus began to accuse, saying, When in much peace we do by thee, and many things be amended by thy providence, or wisdom,]

3 evermore and every where, thou best Felix, we have received with all doing of thankings.

4 But lest I tarry thee longer, I pray thee, shortly hear us for thy meekness.

5 We have found this wicked man stirring dissension to all [the] Jews in all the world, and author of dissension of the sect of Nazarenes; [+We have found this man bearing pestilence and stirring sedition, or dissension, to all the Jews in all the world, and author of sedition of the sect of Nazarenes;]

6 and he also endeavored to defoul the temple; whom also we took, and would deem, after our law.

7 But Lysias, the tribune, came above with great strength, and delivered him from our hands; [+Soothly Lysias, the tribune, came with great strength above, and delivered him out of our hands;]

8 and commanded his accusers to come to thee [commanding his accusers to come to thee], of whom thou deeming, mayest know of all these things, of which we accuse him.

9 And Jews put to, and said, that these things had them so. [Forsooth and Jews casted to, saying that these things had them so.]

10 And Paul answered, when the president granted [to] him to say, Of many years I know thee, that thou art doomsman to this folk, and I shall do enough for me with good reason.

11 For thou mayest know, for to me be not more than twelve days [for to me be no more than twelve days], since I came up [for] to worship in Jerusalem;

12 and neither in the temple they found me disputing with any man, neither making concourse of the people, neither in the synagogues, neither in city;

13 neither they be able to prove to thee, of the which things they now accuse me. [neither they may prove to thee, of which things they now accuse me.]

14 But I acknowledge to thee this thing, that after the sect which they say heresy, so I serve to God the Father, believing to all things that be written in the law and prophets;

15 and I have hope in God, which also they themselves abide, the again-rising to coming of just men and wicked. [+having hope into God, which and they themselves abide, the again-rising to come of just men and wicked.]

16 In this thing [and] I study without hurting, to have conscience to God, and to men evermore.

17 But after many years, I came to do almsdeeds to my folk, and offerings, and avows [and offerings, and vows];

18 in which they found me purified in the temple, not with company, neither with noise. And they caught me, and they cried, and said [And they caught me, crying, and saying], Take away our enemy. And some Jews of Asia,

19 which it behooved to be now present at thee [whom it behooved to be now present at thee], and accuse, if they had any thing against me,

20 either these themselves say [or these themselves say], if they found in me any thing of wickedness, since I stand in the council,

21 but only of this [one] voice, by which I cried standing among them, For of the again-rising of dead men I am deemed this day of you [For of the again-rising of dead I am deemed this day of you].

22 Soothly Felix delayed them, and knew most certainly of the way [Soothly Felix deferred them, most certainly he knowing of the way], and said, When Lysias, the tribune, shall come down, I shall hear you.

23 And he commanded to a centurion to keep him, and that he had rest [+And he commanded to a centurion to keep him, and to have rest], neither to forbid any man to minister of his own things to him.

24 And after some days Felix came, with Drusilla his wife, that was a Jewess, and called Paul, and heard of him the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

25 And while he disputed of rightwiseness, and chastity, and of doom to coming [and of doom to come], Felix was made trembling, and answered, That pertaineth now, go; but in time opportune I shall call thee [soothly in time covenable I shall call thee].

26 Also he hoped, that money should be given to him of Paul; for which thing again he called him [for which thing and oft he called him], and spake with him.

27 And when two years were filled, Felix took a successor, Porcius Festus; and Felix would give grace to the Jews, and left Paul bound. [+Soothly two years fulfilled, Felix took a successor, Porcius Festus; forsooth Felix willing to give grace to Jews, left Paul bound.]

Acts 24 Commentary

Chapter 24

The speech of Tertullus against Paul. (1-9) Paul's defence before Felix. (10-21) Felix trembles at the reasoning of Paul. (22-27)

Verses 1-9 See here the unhappiness of great men, and a great unhappiness it is, to have their services praised beyond measure, and never to be faithfully told of their faults; hereby they are hardened and encouraged in evil, like Felix. God's prophets were charged with being troublers of the land, and our Lord Jesus Christ, that he perverted the nation; the very same charges were brought against Paul. The selfish and evil passions of men urge them forward, and the graces and power of speech, too often have been used to mislead and prejudice men against the truth. How different will the characters of Paul and Felix appear at the day of judgement, from what they are represented in the speech of Tertullus! Let not Christians value the applause, or be troubled at the revilings of ungodly men, who represent the vilest of the human race almost as gods, and the excellent of the earth as pestilences and movers of sedition.

Verses 10-21 Paul gives a just account of himself, which clears him from crime, and likewise shows the true reason of the violence against him. Let us never be driven from any good way by its having an ill name. It is very comfortable, in worshipping God, to look to him as the God of our fathers, and to set up no other rule of faith or practice but the Scriptures. This shows there will be a resurrection to a final judgment. Prophets and their doctrines were to be tried by their fruits. Paul's aim was to have a conscience void of offence. His care and endeavour was to abstain from many things, and to abound in the exercises of religion at all times; both towards God. and towards man. If blamed for being more earnest in the things of God than our neighbours, what is our reply? Do we shrink from the accusation? How many in the world would rather be accused of any weakness, nay, even of wickedness, than of an earnest, fervent feeling of love to the Lord Jesus Christ, and of devotedness to his service! Can such think that He will confess them when he comes in his glory, and before the angels of God? If there is any sight pleasing to the God of our salvation, and a sight at which the angels rejoice, it is, to behold a devoted follower of the Lord, here upon earth, acknowledging that he is guilty, if it be a crime, of loving the Lord who died for him, with all his heart, and soul, and mind, and strength. And that he will not in silence see God's word despised, or hear his name profaned; he will rather risk the ridicule and the hatred of the world, than one frown from that gracious Being whose love is better than life.

Verses 22-27 The apostle reasoned concerning the nature and obligations of righteousness, temperance, and of a judgment to come; thus showing the oppressive judge and his profligate mistress, their need of repentance, forgiveness, and of the grace of the gospel. Justice respects our conduct in life, particularly in reference to others; temperance, the state and government of our souls, in reference to God. He who does not exercise himself in these, has neither the form nor the power of godliness, and must be overwhelmed with the Divine wrath in the day of God's appearing. A prospect of the judgment to come, is enough to make the stoutest heart to tremble. Felix trembled, but that was all. Many are startled by the word of God, who are not changed by it. Many fear the consequences of sin, yet continue in the love and practice of sin. In the affairs of our souls, delays are dangerous. Felix put off this matter to a more convenient season, but we do not find that the more convenient season ever came. Behold now is the accepted time; hear the voice of the Lord to-day. He was in haste to turn from hearing the truth. Was any business more urgent than for him to reform his conduct, or more important than the salvation of his soul! Sinners often start up like a man roused from his sleep by a loud noise, but soon sink again into their usual drowsiness. Be not deceived by occasional appearances of religion in ourselves or in others. Above all, let us not trifle with the word of God. Do we expect that as we advance in life our hearts will grow softer, or that the influence of the world will decline? Are we not at this moment in danger of being lost for ever? Now is the day of salvation; tomorrow may be too late.