Acts 24

Paul stands trial before the Roman governor Felix at Caesarea. The Jewish leaders bring a lawyer who flatters Felix and accuses Paul. Paul answers calmly, saying his only real offense is his hope in the resurrection. Felix hears the gospel, trembles, puts it off, and leaves Paul in prison for two years.

Acts 24:1

Five days after Paul reached Caesarea, the high priest Ananias came down from Jerusalem with elders. They brought a hired speaker, Tertullus, to argue their case before the governor. The whole leadership of the nation had come against one man.

BSA: lawyer (“orator, spokesman”): Tertullus was a skilled public speaker hired to make the case sound persuasive before a Roman court.

Acts 24:2-3

Tertullus begins with heavy flattery. He credits Felix with peace and reforms, though Felix’s rule was in fact marked by unrest and harshness. Smooth words are used here to win a verdict, not to tell the truth.

BSA: foresight (“providence, wise planning”): He praises Felix as a wise planner, language meant to soften the judge before the accusations begin.

Acts 24:4

Tertullus promises to be brief and asks for a kindly hearing. It is a courtroom courtesy that adds still more flattery. The speech that follows is short on proof and long on charges.

BSA: indulgence (“gentleness, clemency, kindness”): He asks Felix for a mild, patient hearing, appealing to the judge’s good nature rather than to evidence.

Greek: ἐπιεικείᾳ (epieikeia, G1932) — “gentle fairness, graciousness.” The word describes a yielding, reasonable spirit. Tertullus uses it as a way to manipulate the judge.

Acts 24:5-6

Three charges are made: Paul stirs up trouble among Jews everywhere, he leads the Nazarene sect, and he tried to defile the temple. The first was a political charge, the kind Rome took seriously. They call Christ’s followers ‘Nazarenes’ as a label of contempt.

BSA: pestilence (“pestilent fellow, plague”): They paint Paul as a contagious disease spreading through the Jewish world.

Greek: λοιμόν (loimon, G3061) — “plague, pest.” It was the word for a deadly epidemic. They call Paul a plague to be stamped out, when he was in fact carrying healing to the nations.

Acts 24:8-9

Tertullus tells Felix to question Paul himself and learn the truth. The Jewish leaders then chime in to say it is all true. Agreement from many voices is offered in place of actual evidence.

BSA: concurred (“agreed, assented”): The leaders add their voices in support, but they bring no witnesses.

Acts 24:10

At Felix’s nod, Paul begins with simple courtesy and no flattery. He notes only that Felix has long known Jewish affairs, so he can judge fairly. Paul speaks gladly and with confidence, because he has a clear conscience.

BSA: defense (“give an account of myself, apologize”): Paul is not apologizing for wrongdoing. He is giving a reasoned account of himself.

Greek: ἀπολογοῦμαι (apologoumai, G626) — “I speak in defense.” This is the root of our word ‘apologetics.’ It means making a reasoned case, not saying sorry.

Acts 24:11-13

Paul answers the charges with facts. Only twelve days earlier he had gone up to worship. No one found him arguing in the temple, stirring a crowd, or causing a riot. His accusers cannot prove any of it, since the burden of proof rests on them.

BSA: prove (“demonstrate, show evidence”): Paul insists that accusation alone is not proof. They must put real evidence before the judge.

Acts 24:14

Paul openly admits what is true. He follows the Way, which they call a sect, and he serves the same God as his fathers. He believes all the Law and the Prophets. Following Jesus is not a break from Israel’s faith but its fulfillment.

BSA: worship (“serve, minister to”): Paul’s worship is not just a ceremony. It is the service of a whole life given to God.

Greek: ὁδόν (hodon, G3598) — “road, path, way.” The early believers were called people of ’the Way,’ a life walked daily in following Jesus, who called himself the way.

See also: John 14:6.

Acts 24:15

Paul shares with his accusers the hope that God will raise the dead, both the righteous and the wicked. This is no new teaching but old Israelite faith. It also means everyone will give account to God.

BSA: resurrection (“standing up again from death”): The Greek word pictures the body standing up again, not merely a spirit living on.

See also: Daniel 12:2; John 5:28-29.

Acts 24:16

Because he believes in the coming resurrection and judgment, Paul works hard at keeping a clear conscience toward both God and people. Hope about the future shapes how he lives now.

BSA: strive (“exercise myself, train diligently”): A clear conscience is something Paul trains for, like an athlete, and does not simply drift into.

Greek: ἀσκῶ (askō, G778) — “I practice, I train.” This is the word behind our word ‘ascetic.’ It carries the sense of steady, disciplined effort.

Acts 24:17-18

Paul explains why he went to Jerusalem: to bring gifts for the poor of his nation and to offer sacrifices. He was in the temple ceremonially clean, with no crowd and no uproar. The trouble began only because of others.

BSA: ceremonially clean (“purified, set apart”): Paul had properly completed purification according to the Law, so the charge of desecrating the temple was false.

See also: Acts 21:26-27; Romans 15:25-26.

Acts 24:19-21

Paul points out that the Jews from Asia who started the uproar are absent. Without them there is no case. The men who are present can only name one thing he said before the Sanhedrin: that he was on trial for the resurrection of the dead.

BSA: resurrection (“standing up again from death, revival”): Paul shows that the real dispute is about God raising the dead, which is a matter of faith and not a crime against Rome.

See also: Acts 23:6.

Acts 24:22

Felix already knew a good deal about the Way, so he saw that the charges were weak. Yet he did not release Paul. He put off the decision, saying he would wait for Lysias the commander. It was a delay that sounded reasonable.

BSA: adjourned (“deferred, put off”): Felix postponed the verdict, a habit that shows up again when he hears Paul speak about Christ.

Greek: ἀνεβάλετο (anebaleto, G306) — “he put off, postponed.” The word means to throw back or push away a matter. Felix’s delay becomes his pattern with the gospel.

Acts 24:23

Felix kept Paul in custody but eased the conditions. He allowed his friends to care for him. God was using even a Roman prison to protect Paul and keep him provided for.

BSA: freedom (“rest, relief”): Paul’s confinement was relaxed, giving him some relief and room to receive visitors.

Acts 24:24

Some days later Felix and his Jewish wife Drusilla sent for Paul. They wanted to hear about faith in Christ Jesus. Paul now has a chance to speak the gospel to a governor and his wife, though he is still a prisoner.

BSA: faith (“confidence, trust”): Paul spoke of trust in Christ as personal confidence in a person, not merely agreement with ideas.

Acts 24:25

Paul did not give Felix a soft message. He spoke about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, which touched Felix’s own life. Felix grew afraid and dismissed him, saying he would call again when convenient. Conviction stirred him, but he did not respond.

BSA: self-control (“mastering one’s desires”): Paul spoke of mastering one’s desires, which was a direct challenge to Felix’s way of living. frightened (“afraid, terrified”): Felix felt real fear as he faced the thought of God’s judgment.

Greek: ἐγκρατείας (enkrateias, G1466) — “self-mastery, control over one’s desires.” The word means holding oneself in check. It was an uncomfortable topic for a man ruled by his appetites.

See also: Acts 17:31.

Acts 24:26

Felix kept talking with Paul, but his motive was money. He hoped Paul would offer a bribe for his release. He heard the truth often, yet his heart stayed on his own gain.

BSA: bribe (“money, a gift to influence a decision”): Felix saw Paul as a source of money, not as a messenger from God.

Acts 24:27

After two years Felix was replaced by Porcius Festus. To please the Jewish leaders as he left, he left Paul in prison. Felix chose a favor to men over justice and over the gospel he had heard.

BSA: favor (“grace, graciousness”): Felix wanted to win the goodwill of the Jewish leaders, a favor that cost Paul his freedom.