II. Paul's Imprisonment in Caesarea (continued) (24:1-26:32)
C. The case continued (vv. 22,23)
v.22 Felix seemed to know more about Christianity than the Jews gave him credit for knowing. He knew Paul was innocent, so the tactic of waiting on the chief captain to arrive was just to conciliate the Jews. We will see that Paul was also detained for a more personal motive. Did Lysias ever arrive?
v.23 Felix allowed Paul some freedom while he was a prisoner, including open visitation by his companions.
D. Paul preaches to Felix and Drusilla (vv. 24-27)
v.24 Drusilla is the daughter of Herod Agrippa I, the murderer of James the apostle. She was not the legal wife of Felix in that he had taken her away from her husband, Aziz, king of Emesa. Her great uncle had John beheaded and her great grandfather had the babies killed. It seems that their inquiries concerning Christ were earnest.
v.25 Paul preached on upright conduct, self-control and the judgement to come. Felix was guilty of unrighteousness and lack of self-control. No wonder he was terrified. History tells us that the convenient season never came.
v.26 Felix's underlying motive for keeping Paul imprisoned: money. This ransom or bail was probably the subject of their frequent communions.
v.27 Two years pass. Paul is still waiting for the completion of his hearing. Because of complaints against Felix, he is recalled to Rome by Nero about AD, 60 and replaced by Festus.
E. Paul's Trial before Festus (25:1-12)
v.1 Compared to Felix, Festus was honest and straightforward. He ruled in Judea two years and died.
v.2,3 When Festus arrived in Jerusalem, the Jews begin informing him against Paul. They asked for Paul to be returned to Jerusalem to be tried. Their true motive was to kill Paul as he made the journey to Jerusalem. A plot similar to Acts 23:12. Did Festus know of this plot?
v.4 Festus tells the Jews that Paul is a prisoner in Caesarea and that is where he is presently going, so it would be more convenient to leave Paul there.
v.5 Festus calls for the Sanhedrin to send witnesses against Paul to Caesarea and accuse him there. Why would the Jews wait two years to rekindle this fire against Paul?
v.6 Staying in Jerusalem another ten days, Festus returned to Caesarea and began Paul' s trial the next day.
v.7 The Jews who had come from Jerusalem brought many charges against Paul, but could prove none of them.
v.8 Even though we do not know the specific charges brought against Paul, judging from his response they must have been in these three categories: 1) against the law of Moses, 2) against the temple, and 3) against Roman law. He denies the charges. Compare these charges to the ones brought up in the trial before Felix (24:10-21).
v.9 Festus wanted to be in good graces with the Jews, but realized he could not convict Paul when no evidence had been presented. Perhaps a trial at Jerusalem would bring out more evidence.
v.l0 Paul knew that he would not receive justice in Jerusalem. It was obvious that Festus was not going to give him his freedom either, Paul forcefully maintains that he is innocent and that Festus knows it.
v.11 If he is guilty, Paul was ready to suffer the consequences, conversely, if he was innocent he wanted freedom. By appealing to Caesar, Paul removed the case from Festus' hands. All Roman citizens had the right to appeal their case to Caesar. What conclusions can we draw about the Christians attitude toward capital punishment?
v.12 The council here is Festus' government officials, not the Sanhedrin. Paul said he wanted to go to Rome, Festus makes his wish come true. Nero is Caesar at this time.