Study From the Book of Acts,24

Study From the Book of Acts,24

Today we study the twenty-fourth chapter of the Book of Acts and we choose two biblical principles and their lessons which are useful in Biblical Counselling.

There were three basic charges against Paul: political treason, religious heresy, and temple desecration. His opponents argued that Paul had been causing riots throughout the empire, that he spoke against the Law of Moses, and that he brought a Gentile into the Jewish temple courts.

Paul first addressed the charge of sedition, knowing that if he was found guilty it would mean his life. He demonstrated how ridiculous the charge was in that it had only been twelve days since he had come to Jerusalem. This was hardly enough time to incite riots or start revolutions in Judea.

Paul openly admitted that he was a follower of the “Way,” but he contended that he still believed the Law and the Prophets. That is, he was a follower of Judaism, a religious protected by Rome.

The reference to Jews from Asia indicted to Felix that Paul real accusers were not present, creating some suspension about the charges against the apostle.

How did Felix know about the Christian faith? His wife Drusilla was Jewish. She was the great-granddaughter of Herod the Great, who tried to kill the baby Jesus. She was the great-niece of Herod who killed John the Baptist. Her father was the man who had the apostle James put to death. Also, Felix was well acquainted with Christianity from having governed Judea and Samaria for six years.

Felix had taken Drusilla from her former husband, the king of Emesa in Syria. She was Felix’s third wife. His first wife was the granddaughter of Mark Antony and Cleopatra. His second wife was a princess whom also divorced. When Paul talked about the righteousness, self-control, and the coming Judgement, Felix must have been reminded of his immoral life. He refused to talk any more about the “Way” because of the guilt he felt.

Felix may have hoped that Paul had money from the Gentile churches or that perhaps Paul’s friends would pay a ransom for him. Felix wanted to talk about a payoff; Paul wanted to talk about righteousness. After two years during which Paul was in prison by Felix to please the Jews, another riot broke out in Caesarea. Felix crushed it with such force that he was removed as a governor around A.D 60.

Structure:

Verses 1-21: accused of sedition.

Verses 22-26: Felix procrastinates.

Principle 47: verse 24:14----"I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets.”

Lesson 47: Paul did not see the Christian faith as an alternative to his Jewish upbringing, but as the fulfilment of it. He worshiped the same God he always had. And had complete faith in the same Scripture.

Principle 48 verse 24:25:” Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self -control, and the judgement to come, Felix was afraid----.”

Lesson 48: It is one thing to discuss theology when it remains abstract, theoretical and academic; it is quite another when it becomes concrete, close to home, and deeply personal.27/07/2025.