Paul Stands Trial Before Governors and Kings
(Acts 23-24)

After Paul was arrested in Jerusalem, a group of more than forty men made a secret promise. They said they would not eat or drink until they had killed Paul. They planned to ask the Roman commander to bring Paul to the Jewish council one more time. But their plan was not secret to God. Paul's nephew heard about the plot and told Paul. Paul sent his nephew to tell the Roman commander. The commander was very smart. He decided to move Paul to a safer place.

That very night, the commander gathered two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen. They took Paul out of Jerusalem under the cover of darkness. They brought him to Caesarea, a city by the sea, where the Roman governor lived. The commander wrote a letter to Governor Felix, explaining that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had done nothing wrong. He said Paul was only in trouble because of arguments about the Jewish law.

Five days later, the high priest Ananias came to Caesarea with some other religious leaders. They brought a lawyer named Tertullus to speak against Paul. Tertullus gave a fancy speech, accusing Paul of being a troublemaker. He said Paul was a leader of the Nazarenes and that he tried to profane the temple in Jerusalem. He said Paul made trouble all over the world. But these accusations were not true.

Then it was Paul's turn to speak. Governor Felix gave Paul permission to answer. Paul said, "I joyfully make my defense." He showed that he had only been in Jerusalem for twelve days. He had not been arguing with anyone in the temple or stirring up crowds. He said, "I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way." He explained that he believed everything written in the Law and the Prophets. He said he had the same hope as the Jewish leaders-that there would be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.

Paul said that he always tried to keep his conscience clear before God and people. He had come to Jerusalem to bring gifts for the poor and to worship. The Jews from Asia who started the trouble were not even there to speak against him. Paul reminded Felix that the only real issue was his belief in the resurrection. He said, "I am on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead."

Felix had a good understanding of the Way. He put off making a decision. He said he would wait until the commander Lysias came to hear the case. Felix told the soldiers to keep Paul in custody but to let his friends visit him and take care of him. Many days later, Felix came back with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him talk about faith in Christ Jesus. As Paul spoke about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix became afraid. He said, "Go away for now. When I have a convenient time I will call for you."

Felix hoped that Paul would give him money to set him free. So he sent for Paul often and talked with him. But two years passed, and Felix was replaced by Porcius Festus. Felix left Paul in prison to do a favor for the Jewish leaders. Paul had done nothing wrong, but he remained in chains. Yet through all of this, God was in control. Paul's courage and faithfulness showed that the hope of the resurrection was worth any cost. His trial gave him a chance to speak about Jesus to rulers and leaders, just as God had promised.