The cause of Paul was prejudiced, and his life was imperiled, by his being placed on trial before a judge of such a cruel and immoral character as that of Felix. However, the historian gives no description of this Roman governor, and allows his character to reveal itself only in part as the chapter draws to a close. The intention of Luke is to reveal the innocence of Paul, as well as to highlight the increasing shame of his false accusers.
The latter are represented by the high priest and the other rulers of the Jews; and they bring with them, as their spokesman, a silver-tongued orator named Tertullus. The endeavor of the Jews is to prove Paul to be a criminal, and thereby to show themselves innocent in rejecting the Gospel which he preaches. How eagerly do people seek for an excuse for rejecting Christ; and yet by such rejection, they are already self-condemned!
The speech of Tertullus opens with such empty bluster that it is really quite ludicrous! He praises the “most excellent Felix” for the quietness and good order which his government has secured – despite the fact that he knew perfectly well that greater abuses had never been allowed to exist; and that although it was true that the governor had suppressed a few bandits, it was only because he had coveted their booty for himself. The lying orator then designates Paul as a man of evil character and brings three indictments against him. First, he declares him guilty of sedition, then of heresy, and lastly of sacrilege.
After the Jewish witnesses perjure themselves in swearing to the truth of the false charges of Tertullus, Paul defends himself by arguments which are clear and convincing. He pays the only possible compliment which an honest man could offer to Felix – namely, that the governor has had ample opportunity to become acquainted with Jewish law and customs. This is a subtle hint that the charges against him concern such matters, and involve no real crime. Paul disdains to notice the slander against his character which was made by Tertullus, but he answers his three charges in the order in which they have been made. As to sedition, it was absurd to suppose Paul guilty, for he had been in Jerusalem for less than a week; and in that short time, he had addressed no assembly and gathered no crowd. So there was not a shred of evidence to support that charge. As to heresy, he frankly confesses that he is a Christian; but as such, he accepts the entirety of the Old Testament – the Scriptures which were held sacred by the Jews. He holds the glorious hope that is therein set forth; and in its power, he has kept his conscience void of offense. As to the last charge, he shows that instead of treating the Jewish Holy Place as profane, he had come to Jerusalem to bring alms to the people and offerings to the Temple, where he was engaged in performing the most sacred ceremonies when he was falsely accused and arrested. Moreover, he points out that those persons who ought to have accused him if he truly was guilty are not now present. The Jews who are accusing him are not competent witnesses; they have already investigated his case in their own chief tribunal, and they have found that his only fault is his professed belief in the doctrine of the resurrection – which many of the members of that tribunal believed in anyway!
The argument was unanswerable; even Felix could not question its force. Yet because he wished to please the Jews, he pretended to withhold his decision until the arrival of Claudius Lysias from Jerusalem. But in fact, he already had the favorable testimony of this chief captain; and in giving Paul the largest possible liberties under the circumstances, he virtually acquitted the Apostle.
When Paul was given a further hearing before Felix and his sinful wife Drusilla, he reasoned powerfully on the subjects of “righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come.” And as he did so, the guilty Felix was terrified, and declared that he would hear Paul further at a more convenient time. This, of course, was merely a flimsy excuse for not reforming his own life, and for denying justice to Paul. His real cause of delay and indecision was his enslavement to sin, and his hope that his delay would result in the offer of a bribe by the friends of the Apostle. Thus Paul was kept a prisoner for two years, until Felix was succeeded as governor by Porcius Festus.
Thank You, Lord, that amidst all the unjust decisions and painful perversions which Your people frequently experience in the present state of the Church, yet the thought of Your righteous judgment brings relief to every case! Amen.
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