Paul and Civil Authorities: Paul Before Felix Acts 24:1 – 23 – JSS3 Christian Religious Studies Lesson Note (Third Term)

Paul before Felix is the account in Acts 24:1-23 of Paul defending himself before the Roman governor Felix against charges brought by the Jewish leaders.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. state the accusations the Jews made against Paul before Felix;
2. explain how Paul defended himself;
3. describe what Felix did with Paul’s case and why;
4. state the moral lessons from Paul’s trial before Felix.

Who were the people in Paul’s trial before Felix?

The main people in the trial were Paul, Felix, the Jewish leaders and their lawyer, Tertullus.

• Paul: the apostle, held as a prisoner at Caesarea and charged by the Jews.
• Felix: the Roman governor who heard the case and had the power to judge it.
• Ananias: the high priest who came down from Jerusalem with some elders to accuse Paul.
• Tertullus: the orator (lawyer) who spoke for the Jews and presented the charges.
• Lysias: the Roman commander in Jerusalem whom Felix said he would wait for.
• Porcius Festus: the governor who later took over from Felix.

What were the accusations against Paul?

The Jews accused Paul of three main offences: causing trouble, leading a sect and trying to profane the temple.

• Troublemaker: Tertullus called Paul a pest who stirred up riots among the Jews all over the world.
• Ringleader: he said Paul was a leader of the sect of the Nazarenes, meaning the Christians.
• Profaning the temple: he said Paul tried to make the temple in Jerusalem unclean.

• Flattery: Tertullus began by praising Felix for peace and reforms, hoping to win his favour.

How did Paul defend himself?

Paul defended himself by denying each charge, stating his faith openly and challenging his accusers to give proof.

1. Felix allowed Paul to speak, and Paul said he was glad to defend himself before a governor with long experience of Jewish matters.
2. He said it was only twelve days since he went up to Jerusalem to worship.
3. He said nobody found him arguing or stirring up a crowd in the temple, the synagogues or the city.
4. He said his accusers could not prove what they charged him with.
5. He admitted he worshipped the God of his fathers as a follower of “the Way”, which the Jews called a sect.
6. He said he believed all that is written in the Law and the Prophets.
7. He said he shared the Jewish hope that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.
8. He said he came to Jerusalem to bring gifts for his people and to offer sacrifices, and he was found quietly in the temple.
9. He said the Jews from Asia who first accused him were not present, so they should have come to speak.
10. He ended by saying he was on trial because he believed in the resurrection of the dead.

How did Paul answer each charge?

What did Felix do with Paul’s case?

Felix did not give a judgment, but he adjourned the case and kept Paul in custody.

• Delay: Felix said he would decide the case when Lysias the commander came down.
• Custody: he ordered a centurion to keep Paul, but allowed him some freedom.
• Visitors: Paul’s friends were allowed to visit and care for him.
• No guilty verdict: Felix did not declare Paul guilty, yet he did not set him free.
• Bribe: Acts 24:26 says Felix hoped Paul would give him money.
• Succession: Paul stayed in prison until Porcius Festus succeeded Felix as governor.

What are the moral lessons from Paul’s trial before Felix?

The trial teaches honesty, courage in faith and respect for justice.

1. False accusation: we should not accuse people falsely, as the Jews did.
2. Truthfulness: we should always speak the truth, as Paul did.
3. Courage: Christians should be ready to state their faith openly, even before rulers.
4. Bribery and corruption: Christians should never take or give bribes. Felix delayed justice because he hoped for money.
5. Justice: leaders should judge cases fairly and quickly, without favour.
6. Clear conscience: Paul lived so that he could face accusers with a clear conscience.

Evaluation

1. Who was Felix?
2. State two accusations the Jews made against Paul.
3. What reason did Paul give for being tried?
4. Why did Felix not set Paul free?
5. Who succeeded Felix as governor?

Assignment

In your notebook, write a short account of how Paul defended himself before Felix. State two lessons Christians can learn from the event.