Acts 24 is a court report. On the surface, there is only one trial. Again, Paul and the Christian faith are challenged and vindicated before a Roman magistrate.
But, on closer inspection, there is another trial in Acts 24:1–27. As Paul confesses Christ “before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15)—and before us—God’s word becomes the prosecutor and we are on trial.
Paul on Trial
From the start, fair-minded people will doubt the integrity of the Jews’ case against Paul. Their lawyer Tertullus copiously praises the Judean Governor Felix. His superlatives make us suspicious. In reality, Felix was cruel, reckless, and open to bribes (see Acts 24:26). His rule was marked by increased crime and civil feuds, which he squelched with severity. Emperor Nero recalled Felix from his office under a cloud of controversy. Felix was not a man of peace. But flattery is sometimes sweeter than facts.
The lawyer’s actual argument featured two themes. First, Tertullus attacked Paul’s character: “We have found this man a plague.” This is an ad hominem argument—an attack against a person’s reputation, not their positions which you oppose. Character assassination is often the sign of poor morals or ignorance of facts and how to engage them fairly. We shouldn’t argue this way. Paul’s speech is different; it focused on the issues, making true and valid arguments.
Second, Tertullus twisted the facts to play on fear. He claimed that Paul was a rioter and a sect-leader. After boasting about Felix’s peaceful rule, the lawyer’s point is plain: this man jeopardizes the peace of Rome. Paul was truly a victim of riots. But it would better serve the Jews’ purpose if Felix viewed him as an enemy of the state. This is also why Tertullus claimed that Paul had “tried to profane the temple” (Acts 24:6). In general, Rome tried to keep peace by respecting local religious expression. Felix may not have been pious, but for civic reasons he would have frowned on religious agitators. The Jews walked back the claim that Paul “defiled this holy place” (Acts 21:28), now saying that he “tried to profane the temple.” The truth was against the prosecutors, and they seemed to know it. By contrast, we should trust truth to do its job.
Paul’s defense is simple: “They cannot prove to you what they now bring up against me” (Acts 24:13). Further, Christianity and its hope in the resurrection is simply Judaism carried to its completion. Instead of being distracted by the charges, Paul heralded the biblical faith, deftly putting his audience on the defensive.
Paul’s Hearers on Trial
True to his calling, Paul testified that the Law and the Prophets teach “a resurrection of both the just and the unjust” (Acts 24:14–15). The wicked “will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (Matt. 25:46). After the trial, Paul privately reasoned with Felix “about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment” (Acts 24:25). The righteous God created people to be like him. But, lacking self-control, we cave to the illicit desires that war within us (James 4:1–2). Because of the curse of the law against sinners, we die and face the judgment (Heb. 9:27). That message demands a verdict. Paul’s meetings with Felix tell us how not to respond to Scripture’s message.
Don’t Be Agnostic
It may feel sophisticated to remain neutral about God, claiming a lack of information. But it’s never true. It wasn’t true for Felix; he had “a rather accurate knowledge of the Way” (Acts 24:22). Still, he wavered between two opinions. For us, too, even God’s self-revelation in nature renders our unbelief inexcusable (Rom. 1:20).
Don’t Be Distracted
Felix continued listening to Paul’s sermons for all the wrong reasons—he hoped for a bribe and wanted to please the Jews (Acts 24:26, 27). He failed to focus on what mattered most—the care of his soul. Felix is like everyone “who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful” (Matt. 13:22).
Don’t Delay
When Paul’s preaching became too personal, Felix grew “alarmed and said, ‘Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you’” (Acts 24:25). Tragically, Felix adopted the devil’s favorite word: later. God calls for a decision now. “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts” (Ps. 95:7–8). On religious matters, stalling causes spiritual hardening.
So, how should we respond to the Bible’s message? Start by believing what alarmed Felix. The righteous God will condemn everyone who fails to control themselves and keep his holy law. Felix rightly sensed that “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31).
But that wasn’t Paul’s only message. He also spoke about “faith in Christ Jesus” (Acts 24:24). Jesus is the righteous one; he “fulfill[ed] all righteousness” (Matt. 3:15). He practiced perfect self-control, sticking to his mission to glorify the Father. So only Jesus is qualified “to judge the world in righteousness” (Acts 17:31). And the gospel teaches us to place our trust in him. This judge will have mercy on guilty sinners who claim him as their righteousness. By trusting in Jesus, the judge’s return isn’t terrifying but hope-giving (Acts 24:15).
