Acts 24:21-24

 

Acts 24:21 (KJB)

Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.

 

Touching - Concerning

 

Here is a showing of the honest nature of Paul which was also a wise legal move. Paul states that there was only one thing the priests and elders were witness of and that is when he stood before the Sanhedrin and cried out or spoke loudly about the resurrection. He was willing to be accused of that. Since Paul was really witnessing for Christ at this point, he needed to bring both Felix and the high priest back to what the real central point in the promises of God was and that was the resurrection. The Jews had answered nothing to this charge because they knew it was futile. Paul had shown Felix that he was being accused by the Jews for the purpose of teaching the resurrection and not for any sedition against Rome.

 

Acts 24:22 (KJB)

And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter.

 

Felix makes the same mistake Pontius Pilate made years earlier. The fact that there was no concrete evidence against Paul should have resulted in his release. Felix does not release Paul instead he wants to speak with Lysias concerning the matter. Felix obviously did not want to enflame the Jews because it could result in an uprising and if peace is not kept, then his job would be on the line, just like Pilate’s. Felix kept Paul in protective custody because he did not want to let him go free because he knew the oath the forty plus men took was still valid. There was no evidence that Felix ever sent for Lysias. He had probably hoped that time passing would mollify the situation. Felix was Governor long enough to know the ways of the thousands of Jewish Christians which lived under his authority

 

Acts 24:23 (KJB)

And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto him.

 

Felix did treat Paul nicely as he was commended to a centurion for safe keeping and not arrest as that of a criminal. Paul was allowed to have visitors come to him and also to minister to him. This may have been one way of Felix knowing that Paul was guilty of nothing and that the charges were bogus. The local Christians would probably have bought him food and raiment while he was staying there. Many Christians from the churches which Paul established would enter Palestine on their way to Jerusalem and would come through the city of Caesarea so you know Paul had many coming to him to visit and minister.

 

Acts 24:24 (KJB)

And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.

 

Part of Paul’s mission was to testify before rulers. (Acts 9:15 KJV) But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: Paul was still in Caesarea under protective custody and after a period of time, Felix had come with his wife Drusilla. They probably wanted to know about what faith in Christ was and why this was so reprehensible to the Jews. So without any interference from the Jews, Paul was able to witness about the Lord Jesus Christ. Drusilla was the youngest daughter of Herod Agrippa I and was the sister of Herod Agrippa II. Felix and Drusilla had a son which died in the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in Pompeii in 79 A.D. Herod Agrippa I was the one who had James arrested and put to death and no doubt Drusilla knew of Christianity and maybe wanted to hear from Paul.

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