17 “After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings. 18 I was ceremonially clean when they found me in the temple courts doing this. There was no crowd with me, nor was I involved in any disturbance. 19 But there are some Jews from the province of Asia, who ought to be here before you and bring charges if they have anything against me. 20 Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin— 21 unless it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in their presence: ‘It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.’”
22 Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way, adjourned the proceedings. “When Lysias the commander comes,” he said, “I will decide your case.” 23 He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs.
24 Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” 26 At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.
27 When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.
NOTES:
24:5 Nazoreans: that is, followers of Jesus of Nazareth.
24:7 The Western text has added here a verse (really Acts
24:6b–8a) that is not found in the best Greek manuscripts. It reads, “and would
have judged him according to our own law, but the cohort commander Lysias came
and violently took him out of our hands and ordered his accusers to come before
you.”
24:10–21 Whereas the advocate Tertullus referred to Paul’s
activities on his missionary journeys, the apostle narrowed the charges down to
the riot connected with the incident in the temple (see Acts 21:27–30;
24:17–20). In his defense, Paul stresses the continuity between Christianity
and Judaism.
24:24, 25 The way of Christian discipleship greatly
disquiets Felix, who has entered into an adulterous marriage with Drusilla,
daughter of Herod Agrippa I. This marriage provides the background for the
topics Paul speaks about and about which Felix does not want to hear.
24:27 Very little is known of Porcius Festus who was a
procurator of Judea from A.D. 60 to 62.
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