Here is a teaching on chapter 24 of the book of Acts. If you want to check out previous Bible studies and chapters going forward, join our group here. Once you get added into that Facebook group, you can go to the "units" tab and you'll see all of the chapters and their study guides as they are being taught.
First I want to say a quick prayer... Lord, I pray that you lift up every single person reading this right now. Please give us knowledge and understanding to know exactly what it is that we're reading and the wisdom to implement it in our daily lives. Lord, I pray that whatever it is that you want us to get out of this Bible study, that it is revealed to us. Please show us the truth, help us to see the truth, know the truth, discern the truth, and live by the truth. I love you with every ounce of my being. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Acts Chapter 24:
1 Five days later the high priest Ananias went down to Caesarea with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought their charges against Paul before the governor. 2 When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented his case before Felix: "We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation. 3 Everywhere and in every way, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with profound gratitude. 4 But in order not to weary you further, I would request that you be kind enough to hear us briefly.
5 "We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene sect 6 and even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him. 8 By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him."
9 The Jews joined in the accusation, asserting that these things were true.
10 When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: "I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nation; so I gladly make my defense. 11 You can easily verify that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple, or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city. 13 And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me. 14 However, I admit that I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that agrees with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, 15 and I have the same hope in God as these men, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. 16 So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.
So in verse 5 when Tertullus says "the Nazarene sect," that's Christianity, and Paul calls it the Way, but it's people that believe in Jesus Christ and in "the Way," which is Jesus Christ. So in verses 5-9, Tertullus was making these accusations about Paul, but he had no real evidence to back them up. In verses 10-14, Paul made it clear that he didn't abandon the God of his fathers or the Law and the Prophets, but he acted in fulfillment of both. Paul came in peace to worship in Jerusalem, and as we've seen in our past Bible studies, he knew that he was going to face hardships in Jerusalem.
In chapter 9 of the book of Acts, the Lord told him to leave Jerusalem because the people wouldn't listen to him, and he went to the Gentiles. Then in the last few Bible studies that we've seen, Paul was guided by the Holy Spirit to come back to Jerusalem. Paul came in peace to worship there, he didn't argue or stir up a crowd or anything like that, but Tertullus and these people were saying that he was a troublemaker and he was stirring up riots all over the world, and that wasn't the case at all. Other people and the Jews were stirring up riots because of their hatred and their jealousy towards Paul, them being zealous, and not believing in what Paul was preaching. But Paul came in peace and he didn't try to stir up a riot or anything like that.
Paul was fully submitted to the will of God, and so wherever he went he testified about Jesus Christ, spread the gospel of Jesus, and let other people know all of the amazing things that God and Jesus had done through him. In verse 15, Paul believes in the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the resurrection when Jesus comes back for his people. I'm just going to go into John 5:28-29 really quick, it says: "Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out-- those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned." This verse is what Jesus says. So in verse 15, when Paul says there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked, this is what he's referring to here.
17 "After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings. 18 I was ceremonially clean when they found me in the temple courts doing this. There was no crowd with me, nor was I involved in any disturbance. 19 But there are some Jews from the province of Asia, who ought to be here before you and bring charges if they have anything against me. 20 Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin-- 21 unless it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in their presence: 'It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.' "
22 Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way, adjourned the proceedings. "When Lysias the commander comes," he said, "I will decide your case." 23 He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs.
24 Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, "That's enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you." 26 At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.
27 When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.
Alright so those are all the verses of chapter 24 of the book of Acts, but I'm gonna discuss these verses with you guys here. So in verses 17-21, the Jews from the province of Asia are the ones who stirred up the crowd and they weren't even there to bring charges against Paul, because he didn't do anything wrong. So they didn't have any evidence to bring charges against him. In verse 21, Paul said this in Acts chapter 23 verse 6 and it caused a divide between the Pharisees and the Sadducees. So Paul had said in verse 20 that they should state what crime they found against him when he stood in the Sanhedrin unless it was the one thing that he shouted while he was in their presence, and that's the thing that he said in Acts chapter 23 verse 6.
In verses 23-24, Felix didn't want to make a decision until he had more evidence from the commander Lysias. Felix had knowledge of the Way (or of Christianity,) and he had enough evidence to make a decision in Paul's favor, but he didn't. Felix did give Paul some freedom while he was in custody because he knew that he was innocent, but Felix wanted to stay neutral. He didn't want to side with Paul's gospel and with the Christians, so he made no decision and he kept him in custody. In verses 24-26, as Paul spoke about faith in Christ Jesus, righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix became afraid. When we're purposely rejecting Jesus Christ and we hear things like this, it would make us afraid because we know that we're not living the way we're supposed to. So Felix said that it was enough for now and when he found it convenient then he would send for Paul. Then in verse 27, two years had passed and Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but he had left Paul in prison because he wanted to grant a favor to the Jews.
Acts Ch 24 Study Guide
In verse 5, what is the Nazarene sect?
Why did Paul go to Jerusalem?
In verse 15, what is Paul referring to here?
Why do you think that Felix gave Paul some freedom while he was in custody?
In verse 25, why was Felix afraid?
What happens when we purposely reject the gospel of Jesus?
What is your biggest takeaway from this Bible study?
So we will see next week in our Bible study in chapter 25 the trial that Paul had before Festus. Now that concludes our Bible study on chapter 24 of the book of Acts. Make sure you stay tuned for chapter 25 next week.
I love you guys so much.
Never forget to choose faith over fear.
-Lorena Camille (Faith Fuels My Fire)
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Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
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