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The Early Church · New Testament

Acts 24

Acts 24: Tertullus accuses, Paul answers, and Felix defers for two years

General context

After five days Ananias the high priest comes down with elders and an orator named Tertullus, who informs the governor against Paul. Tertullus thanks Felix for quietness and worthy deeds, then calls Paul a pestilent fellow, a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes, says he went about to profane the temple, and says the chief captain Lysias took him out of their hands with great violence. The Jews assent. Paul answers that there are but twelve days since he went up to worship, that they found him neither disputing in the temple nor raising the people, and that they cannot prove their charges. He confesses that after the way which they call heresy he worships the God of his fathers, believing all things written in the law and the prophets, with a hope of a resurrection of the just and unjust which they also allow. He says he came to bring alms and offerings, was found purified in the temple without multitude or tumult, and that the Jews from Asia ought to be present to object. Felix, having more perfect knowledge of that way, defers the matter until Lysias comes down and has a centurion keep Paul with liberty. Later Felix comes with his wife Drusilla, a Jewess, and hears him concerning the faith in Christ; as Paul reasons of righteousness, temperance and judgment to come, Felix trembles and sends him away until a convenient season. The narrator says Felix also hoped for money and sent for him the oftener. After two years Porcius Festus succeeds him, and Felix leaves Paul bound to please the Jews.

Cited passages: Acts 24:1, Acts 24:2, Acts 24:3, Acts 24:4, Acts 24:5, Acts 24:6, Acts 24:7, Acts 24:8, Acts 24:9, Acts 24:10, Acts 24:11, Acts 24:12, Acts 24:13, Acts 24:14, Acts 24:15, Acts 24:16, Acts 24:17, Acts 24:18, Acts 24:19, Acts 24:20, Acts 24:21, Acts 24:22, Acts 24:23, Acts 24:24, Acts 24:25, Acts 24:26, Acts 24:27

Acts 24 (KJV)

1And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul.

2And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence,

3We accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.

4Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words.

5For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:

6Who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law.

7But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands,

8Commanding his accusers to come unto thee: by examining of whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him.

9And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so.

10Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself:

11Because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship.

12And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city:

13Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me.

14But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:

15And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.

16And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.

17Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings.

18Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult.

19Who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had ought against me.

20Or else let these same here say, if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the council,

21Except 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.

22And 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.

23And 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.

24And 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.

25And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.

26He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him.

27But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix’ room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.

This page shows the King James Version. In the app, reading opens in the Berean Standard Bible unless you have chosen another translation. The reader includes five translations: the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), the King James Version (KJV), the World English Bible (WEB), the Bible in Basic English (BBE), and the American Standard Version (ASV). Search covers three of them: Berean Standard, King James, and World English. Basic English and American Standard readers search the King James words.

Historical context

Tertullus is identified only as an orator who informed the governor, and his charges are quoted as his own words rather than as the narrator's account. His statement that Lysias took Paul out of their hands with great violence does not match the earlier narrative, where soldiers stopped a beating and the chief captain's own letter says he rescued him. Paul's twelve days are counted from his arrival at Jerusalem to this hearing, and the two years at the end are counted to the change of governor; neither is dated. Felix's motives are supplied twice by the narrator, that he hoped money would be given him and that he was willing to shew the Jews a pleasure. Drusilla is named as his wife and described as a Jewess, with nothing further stated. The chapter records a deferral and no verdict, and the promised hearing after Lysias comes down is never reported.

Cited passages: Acts 24:1, Acts 24:5, Acts 24:6, Acts 24:7, Acts 24:11, Acts 24:22, Acts 24:24, Acts 24:26, Acts 24:27, Acts 21:32, Acts 23:27

Literary context

Two speeches are set against each other and both begin with courtesy to the governor. Tertullus builds from flattery to three charges and a complaint about the chief captain; Paul answers point by point, first with a count of days, then with the absence of proof, then with what he will confess. The chapter then drops the courtroom and shows the governor in private, and the register changes: a man who trembles at the reasoning and still asks for a convenient season, and who sends for the prisoner often while hoping for money. The last sentence leaves the case exactly where the trial left it, with the accused bound and the officials changing.

Cited passages: Acts 24:2, Acts 24:3, Acts 24:5, Acts 24:10, Acts 24:11, Acts 24:13, Acts 24:14, Acts 24:21, Acts 24:22, Acts 24:25, Acts 24:26, Acts 24:27

Key moments

  1. Tertullus opens the case (Acts 24:5). The orator calls Paul a pestilent fellow and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.
  2. Twelve days counted (Acts 24:11). Paul answers that only twelve days have passed since he went up to worship.
  3. What he does confess (Acts 24:14). Paul says he worships the God of his fathers after the way they call heresy.
  4. Felix defers (Acts 24:22). The governor puts the matter off until the chief captain Lysias comes down.
  5. Felix trembles (Acts 24:25). At reasoning about judgment to come Felix trembles and asks for a convenient season.
  6. Hoping for money (Acts 24:26). The narrator says Felix hoped money would be given him and sent for Paul the oftener.
  7. Left bound after two years (Acts 24:27). Festus succeeds Felix, who leaves Paul bound to shew the Jews a pleasure.

For reflection

Felix trembles as Paul reasons of judgment to come, then asks him to go his way until a convenient season. What is the difference between being moved by something and acting on it?

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