After paul was arrested in jerusalem, he was sent to caesarea for judgment by felix. Jesus, spirit, paul, theophilus, peter, john, king herod, james, ananias, sapphira, stephen, philip, barnabas, governor felix, governor festus, king agrippa. Marcus antonius felix as his full name is usually taken to have been was a man of servile birth, who owed his unprecedented advancement to a post of honor usually reserved for the equestrian order to the influence which his brother pallas exercised at the imperial court under claudius. I can remember back when we were studying the book of hebrews.
Pauls trial before felix five days later the high priest ananias went down to caesarea with some of the elders. The acts of the apostles, often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth book of the new testament. Paul before felix, scenes and incidents in the life of the. It describes the coming of the holy spirit at pentecost in acts 2, the spread of the gospel outside of jerusalem in acts 8 and to the gentiles in acts 10, how the church made decisions in regards to doctrine acts 15, and more. And in fact, the apostle paul is back in jerusalem again. Lets take a look at some of the most intriguing things in acts and develop a new appreciation for this fascinating book. The book of acts provides a bridge for the writings of the nt. Take your bible, if you will, and turn to the 24th chapter of acts. In many ways, its a shorter and much more readable version of middlemarch, and, being the book which directly precedes it, can be read as its predecessor. Using prayerful reflection, outstanding biblical scholarship, and an engaging presentation style, your guide, fr.
This commentary on acts 24 treats the adjudication of pauls case by. He called two centurions and assigned them the task of escorting paul to the palace of felix, roman governor of the. A retreat with the gospel of john combines an insightful examination of all of the chapters of johns gospel with a powerful retreat experience. He listened to pauls witness about christ in the hope that paul would offer him a bribe to gain his freedom rather than because he belief pauls testimony. Felix had the disposition of a slave and the power of a tyrant. Luke himself tells of felix, but in a particularly nicer way than other writers. The jews accused him of desecrating their temple acts 21. Luke illustrated tertullus approach with these words as the introduction of his. Actus apostolorum, often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth book of the new testament. It will help to keep the whole of the book before you as you work your way through each section. The testimony of acts as to the evil character of felix is fully corroborated by the writings of josephus bj, ii, xiii. We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight.
The case against paul was managed by tertullus, who accused paul of committing rebellion against the romans, among other things. Besides linking the gospel narratives on the one hand and the apostolic letters on the. And after five days ananias the high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator named tertullus, who informed the governor against paul. Theres never been much contention about the authorship of acts. He wants to please the jews because they are an influential group of the city. She joined felix after he enticed her to leave her first husband, the king of emesa a small kingdom in syria 29. Acts and the gospel of luke make up a twopart work, lukeacts, by the same anonymous author, usually dated to around 8090 ad. Acts 24 niv pauls trial before felix five days bible gateway. Intro to acts biblica the international bible society. The naming of the beasts is the 5th book in the felix castor series, and its just as good as the previous four. Robertson, word pictures in the new testament nashville. Last week, we read about his arrival, and then he almost got lynched. Quizlet flashcards, activities and games help you improve your grades.
In acts 24 paul is transferred to the governor felix for protection from the jews. Felix is representative of many people who are intrigued by the gospel but recognize that surrendering to it means loss of status, power, or control of their own lives. He has created an alternate london full of ghosts, zombies not of the brain eating kind, loupgarous, demons, and other supernaturals that lovers of urban fantasy and noir will want to visit again and. As a second volume to lukes gospel, it joins what jesus began to do and to teach 1. They went to festus to ask him for custody of paul. Jesus had shown himself alive by many proofs for 40 days.
Like felix, many know on a deep level that what they are hearing is truth, yet their stubborn pride refuses to accept it. The acts of the apostles, abbreviation acts, fifth book of the new testament, a valuable history of the early christian church. According to the acts of the apostles, the christian teacher paul was put on trial, but felix never pronounced sentence, because he was hoping. It is another in a multitude of evidences that the book of acts is dependable history. The book was in a very bad condition, the nice and funny parte is the letters that felix, the main character s writing and the book aint no one. Felix was the governor of judea and samaria when the apostle paul was arrested in jerusalem for preaching the gospel acts 23. Felix was a freed slave and because of this claudius believed he had a connection with the people and leadership skills. Although only about twenty years old, 28 drusilla was in her second marriage. A while later, felix and drusilla summoned paul to explain further his faith in jesus christ. This he did notwithstanding his poor administration tacitus annals xii. But some days later felix arrived with drusilla, his wife who was a jewess, and sent for paul and heard him speak about faith in christ jesus. Paul refuted each of the charges, and felix postponed his judgement. Paul before felix, scenes and incidents in the life of the apostle.
Bruce, the book of acts, revised edition grand rapids. Felix, the procrastinating governor acts 24 delaying. Pauls trial before felix english jesus film project. The bribe never comes, and felix leaves paul in custody for two years acts 24. Felix, festus, agrippa, and paul from jerusalem to pennsylvania. Several days later felix came back into court with his wife drusilla, who was a jewess. The book of acts gives a unique glimpse into the life and practice of the early church. The importance of the book of acts the importance of this second of lukes twovolume work can. Although he suppressed the robbers and murderers who infested judea, and among them the egyptian to whom lysias refers acts 21. A list of sermons in the book of acts leadership resources. He listened to paul talk about believing in christ jesus. They said, this man is a disease to the jewish people. Felix just, sj, phd, expertly takes you through an unforgettable retreat experience. The radical is one of eliots finer works and a great 19c.
Read paul before felix of scenes and incidents in the life of the apostle paul from. Ever since the resurrection of our lord the pharisees have taken a more retiring position in jewish effort to oppose the gospel. Felix became the procurator by the petition of his brother. Acts 24 new international version niv pauls trial before felix. Acts 24 net the accusations against paul after bible. But ye shall receive power, after that the holy ghost is come upon you. In acts 24, we see felix a governor, he was a wellknown man.
Drusilla, it would seem, had been informed by felix of the case, and being a jewess, she, as agrippa did afterwards acts xxv. Acts was apparently written in rome, perhaps between ad 70 and 90, though some think a slightly earlier date is also. The first part, the gospel of luke, tells how god fulfilled his plan for the worlds salvation through the life, death, and. Marcus antonius felix was the roman governor of judea, when paul was accused of creating a revolt among the jews in the temple. He sent for paul and listened to him as he talked about faith in christ jesus. Emperor claudius appointed felix governor in about 52 ad. Acts concerns the very vital period in christian history between the resurrection of jesus and the death of the apostle paul, the time when christian ideas and beliefs were. Felix governed judea until about 5960 ad when he was recalled to rome to answer for disturbances in the province and irregularities in his rule. She was about twentytwo years of age when she appeared at felixs side, during st. Some passages in the scripture are very theological. Some thoughts on the book of acts and pauline theology. The event which led to the introduction of felix into the narrative of acts was the riot at jerusalem.
A history of the early church gene taylor2an outline of the book i. Felixs cruelty, coupled with his accessibility to bribes see book of acts 24. Because a mob was planning to kill paul before he could come to trial, the roman commander hustled paul away in the night, accompanied by two hundred soldiers, to caesarea so that his case could be heard by governor. They presented their case against paul before felix the governor. And because there was a plot against his life, the local roman chiliarch claudius lysias transported him to caesarea, to stand trial before felix acts 23.
He was empowered by the emperor claudius, who believed in him because of his background. He exercised the power of a king with the mind of a slave the book of acts, page 437. Acts 24 new english translation net bible the accusations against paul. Felix was a freed slave and because of this claudius believed he had a connection with the people and leadership. The jewish leadership meet festus in jerusalem and ask that he bring paul from caesareatheir purpose was to ambush paul and kill him on the way. Suetonius, and josephus, as well as by luke in the acts of the apostles for. An overview of the book of acts the life of the early church is recorded and preserved for us in the book of acts and the epistles. This commentary on acts 23 treats pauls appearance before the sanhedrin and his removal from jerusalem to save him from assassins. When felix asked tertullus to present his case, he began with the usual flattery. The book of acts, which continues the narrative that luke began in his gospel, is especially important because it was the first written history of the christian church. The following outline is intended to be used while studying the book.
Felix is best known for his encounter with paul acts 23. Acts was written in greek, presumably by the evangelist luke, whose gospel concludes where acts begins, namely, with christs ascension into heaven. The period of his rule was marked by internal feuds and disturbances, which he put down with severity. Festus succeeds felix as governor, and pauls pending case is one of his first concerns. The book of acts is an adventure thrill ride from start to finish, but we tend to skip over a lot of the incredibly compelling details. Felix thought that he could do any evil act with impunity 5 and practised every kind of cruelty and lust, wielding the power of king with all the instincts of a slave. Pauls trial before festus introduction of luke jesus taken up into heaven matthias chosen to replace judas the holy spirit comes at pentecost.
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