Act 24:1 ¶ And after five days Ananias the High Priest descended with the elders, and [with] a certain orator [named] Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul. COMMENT: his is the third Ananias in the book of Acts. It obviously was a common name in those days, but there was only one High Priest. This was the High Priest who ordered Paul struck in the mouth against the law of Moses. He took his time in coming to make sure he came armed with a certain orator which can be compared to our big case lawyers today. He was the spokesman for the the Sanhedrin against Paul.

Act 24:2 And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse [him], saying, "Seeing that by you we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by your providence, COMMENT: The orator begins by pointing out what GREAT QUIETNESS the Israelites were enjoying under the rulership of governor Felix while in fact they were rioting in their attempt to kill Paul. But had Felix brought that fact into the hearing, the orator would have been able to say the riot was Paul's fault. He went on to say:

Act 24:3 "We accept [it] always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. COMMENT: The orator proceeds in his flattery to lie to Felix suggesting the Jewish people accepted the Roman yoke which they did not.

Act 24:4 "Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto you, I pray you that you would hear us of your clemency a few words. COMMENT: To cover himself, he refers to his introduction as being tedious for Felix to hear; and moves into his fabricated case against Saint Paul:

Act 24:5 "For 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: COMMENT: The orator uses exceedingly strong language in calling Paul "pestilent" which is a word we associate with flies getting on our food, and in calling Paul "a mover of sedition" which means he is accusing Paul of stirring up the Jews to riot, and in calling Paul "a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes" he chooses the kind of word we would use for criminal activities.

You can also see the orator has framed the whole problem Paul is made out to be in an empire wide context saying he is causing problems "throughout the world."

Act 24:6 Who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law. COMMENT: The orator goes on however, after his first shotgun blast of accusations; to say Paul has gone even further in going about "to profane the temple" which means Paul is accused of corrupting the temple by letting a Gentile in, but the orator has to be careful because he is talking to a Gentile.

Act 24:7 But the Chief Captain Lysias came [upon us], and with great violence took [him] away out of our hands, COMMENT: The orator continues making a very powerful case in falsely accusing Paul with the use of language that already presumes his guilt. Now he implicates the Commander of the Roman garrison in the matter saying he ought not to have come upon the Israelites who were in the process of killing Paul. So they are making out the Commander to be part of the problem.

Act 24:8 Commanding his accusers to come unto you: by examining of whom yourself may take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him. COMMENT: And so the orator closed his case against Paul having made him guilty of many things without presenting any evidence at all. So the case of the Sanhedrin against Paul was totally dependent on Felix being as bigoted as they were against the truth.

Act 24:9 And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so. COMMENT: The High Priest and those with him agreed with the orator openly before Governor Felix.

Act 24:10 ¶ Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, "Forasmuch as I know that you have been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself:" COMMENT: Paul unlike the orator does not offer any flatteries to Governor Felix but is glad to answer for himself.

Act 24:11/12 Because that you may understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship. And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city: COMMENT: Paul makes it clear he caused no sedition in the twelve days he was in Jerusalem nor did he dispute with any man.

Act 24:13 Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me. COMMENT: Paul defeats their case by pointing out they have no evidence to support their accusations.

Act 24:14 But this I confess unto you, 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: COMMENT: Paul is finished with his worldly case. He has already dismissed their accusations as unsubstantiated. He now speaks as a preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ instead of passing up the opportunity to reach the ear of Governor Felix and all those present.

Act 24:15 And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a Resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. COMMENT: Paul refers to the two Resurrections. The first is for the just. The second at the end of the thousand year reign of Christ is for the unjust.

Act 24:16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and men. COMMENT: Paul makes it clear he will not do anything that would injure his own conscience.

Act 24:17 Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings. COMMENT: Paul has been occupied in the ministry of the Lord for "many years," possibly from A.D. 34 to A.D. 57 which is twenty four years.

Act 24:18 Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult. COMMENT: Paul points out the Jews from Asia were his accusers.

Act 24:19 Who ought to have been here before you, and object, if they had ought against me. COMMENT: Paul makes it clear his accusers are absent from the proceedings.

Act 24:20 Or else let these same [here] say, if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the council, COMMENT: Paul is referring to the hearing outside of the castle in Jerusalem where he divided the Pharisees and the Saduccees.

Act 24:21 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. COMMENT:

Act 24:22 ¶ 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. COMMENT: The Governor put the matter on hold to hear from Lysias the Chief Captain who had been accused by the orator in his accusations against Paul.

Act 24:23 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. COMMENT: Felix kept Paul in custody, but let him have liberty to come and to go, and to receive visitors freely.

Act 24:24 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. COMMENT: This was a private meeting between Paul and the Governor who wanted to know more of the faith in Christ the Apostle was preaching. You can be sure the word was out to the rulers that miracle workers were about the business of the Lord in the Middle East and beyond.

Act 24:25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, "Go your way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for you." COMMENT: Felix took in all he could of the gospel truth and dismissed Paul because the message made him tremble.

Act 24:26 He 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. COMMENT: But being a corrupt governor, Felix called for Paul often in the hope of receiving a bribe from him, but Paul refrained from buying his freedom.

Act 24:27 But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix' room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound. COMMENT: So Paul remained in custody for two years with freedom until A.D. 59 when Festus became governor. Then Felix being an unjust steward, left Paul bound in custody so that would be the way Felix found him as he took over the governorship.