Daily Thoughts from Acts: God’s Will Frustrating? (Acts 24:1-27)

And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus. They laid before the governor their case against Paul. And when he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying:

“Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight, most excellent Felix, reforms are being made for this nation, in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude. But, to detain you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly. For we have found this man a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him. By examining him yourself you will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him.”

The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that all these things were so.

And when the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul replied:

“Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense. You can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem, and they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or in the city.  Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me. But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man. Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings. While I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult. But some Jews from Asia—they ought to be here before you and to make an accusation, should they have anything against me. Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council, other than this one thing that I cried out while standing among them: ‘It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.’”

But Felix, having a rather accurate knowledge of the Way, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case.”  Then he gave orders to the centurion that he should be kept in custody but have some liberty, and that none of his friends should be prevented from attending to his needs.

After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.” At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him. When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.  (Acts 24:1-27 ESV)

No witnesses are brought by the delegation of the Jews and Tertullus, the lawyer, makes baseless claims hoping only, it seems, that Felix will not want to displease a large contingency among the Jews.  Because Felix has lived long in Israel Paul knows that he is acquainted with their customs and even with Christianity and so he preaches his beliefs.  Felix claims he wants to hear from Lysias, the tribune who arrested Paul, but as we already know the tribune knows nothing as to why the Jews attacked Paul.  It becomes apparent that Paul is not going to get anywhere with Felix, either spiritually, as Felix comes under conviction, or in terms of justice, as he puts Paul off and Paul’s case for two years until he is succeeded by Festus.  It is during this time that we may suppose that Luke takes the opportunity to research for his Gospel and for the book of Acts that he is writing.

It is hard to imagine anything more frustrating than to be held unjustly and to be subject to the whims of a corrupt official, knowing that if you come up with the bribe money you might be able to get free.  But Paul will not pay a bribe and it is apparent that he is able to bear witness to Jesus in this situation.  Did he write letters to his churches from this jail?  Most likely.  We don’t know if they were any of our letters in the New Testament (probably not) but we cannot imagine Paul failing to continue encouraging the believers throughout the world whom he reached with the gospel.  Frustrating or not, he is in the middle of God’s will.

Are you frustrated?