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JULY 24
of which some Jews from Asia found me puri-
fied in the temple, neither with a mob nor with
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tumult. They ought to have been here before
24:3 Felix. Governor of Judea from A.D. 52 to you to object if they had anything against me.
59. Felix was a former slave whose brother (a 20 Or else let those who are here themselves say
favorite of Emperor Claudius) had obtained if they found any wrongdoing in me while I
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for him the position as governor. He was not stood before the council, unless it is for this
highly regarded by the influential Romans of one statement which I cried out, standing
his day and accomplished little during his among them, ‘Concerning the resurrection of
term as governor. He defeated the Egyptian the dead I am being judged by you this day.’ ”
and his followers (21:38), but his brutality 22 But when Felix heard these things, having
angered the Jews and led to his ouster as gov- more accurate knowledge of the Way, he
ernor by Emperor Nero two years after Paul’s adjourned the proceedings and said, “When
hearing (v. 27).
Lysias the commander comes down, I will
make a decision on your case.” So he com-
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manded the centurion to keep Paul and to let
began his accusation, saying: “Seeing that him have liberty, and told him not to forbid
through you we enjoy great peace, and pros- any of his friends to provide for or visit him.
perity is being brought to this nation by your 24 And after some days, when Felix came
foresight, we accept it always and in all with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he
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places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. sent for Paul and heard him concerning the
4 Nevertheless, not to be tedious to you any faith in Christ. Now as he reasoned about
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further, I beg you to hear, by your courtesy, a
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few words from us. For we have found this
man a plague, a creator of dissension among
all the Jews throughout the world, and a ring- 24:24 Drusilla. The youngest daughter of
leader of the sect of the Nazarenes. He even Agrippa I (12:1) and Felix’s third wife. Felix,
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tried to profane the temple, and we seized struck by her beauty, had lured her away from
him, and wanted to judge him according to her husband.At the time of Paul’s hearing,she
our law. But the commander Lysias came by was not yet 20 years old.
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and with great violence took him out of our
hands, commanding his accusers to come to 24:25 righteousness, self-control, and the
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you. By examining him yourself you may judgment. God demands “righteousness” of
ascertain all these things of which we accuse all men, because of His holy nature (Matt. 5:48;
him.” And the Jews also assented, maintain- 1 Pet.1:15,16).For men and women to conform
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ing that these things were so. to that absolute standard requires “self-con-
10 trol.”The result of failing to exhibit self-control
Then Paul, after the governor had nodded
to him to speak, answered: “Inasmuch as I and to conform oneself to God’s righteous
know that you have been for many years a standard is (apart from salvation) “judgment.”
Felix was afraid. Living with a woman he had
judge of this nation, I do the more cheerfully lured away from her husband, Felix obviously
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answer for myself, because you may ascer- lacked “righteousness” and “self-control.” The
tain that it is no more than twelve days since I realization that he faced “judgment” alarmed
went up to Jerusalem to worship. And they him, and he hastily dismissed Paul. when I
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neither found me in the temple disputing with have a convenient time.The moment of con-
anyone nor inciting the crowd, either in the viction passed, and Felix foolishly passed up
synagogues or in the city. Nor can they prove his opportunity to repent (2 Cor. 6:2).
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the things of which they now accuse me. But
this I confess to you, that according to the
Way which they call a sect, so I worship the righteousness, self-control, and the judgment
God of my fathers, believing all things which to come, Felix was afraid and answered, “Go
are written in the Law and in the Prophets. I away for now; when I have a convenient time I
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have hope in God, which they themselves also will call for you.” Meanwhile he also hoped
accept, that there will be a resurrection of the that money would be given him by Paul, that
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dead, both of the just and the unjust. This be- he might release him. Therefore he sent for
ing so, I myself always strive to have a con- him more often and conversed with him.
science without offense toward God and men. 27 But after two years Porcius Festus suc-
“Now after many years I came to bring
17 ceeded Felix; and Felix, wanting to do the
alms and offerings to my nation, in the midst Jews a favor, left Paul bound.
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