Thoughts for the Day

Paul before Felix at Caesarea

Five days later the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and an attorney, a certain Tertullus, and they reported their case against Paul to the governor. When Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying:

‘Your Excellency, because of you we have long enjoyed peace, and reforms have been made for this people because of your foresight. We welcome this in every way and everywhere with utmost gratitude. But, to detain you no further, I beg you to hear us briefly with your customary graciousness. We have, in fact, found this man a pestilent fellow, an agitator among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. He even tried to profane the temple, and so we seized him. By examining him yourself you will be able to learn from him concerning everything of which we accuse him.’

The Jews also joined in the charge by asserting that all this was true.

Paul’s Defence before Felix

When the governor motioned to him to speak, Paul replied:

‘I cheerfully make my defence, knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation. As you can find out, it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem. They did not find me disputing with anyone in the temple or stirring up a crowd either in the synagogues or throughout the city. Neither can they prove to you the charge that they now bring against me. But this I admit to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our ancestors, believing everything laid down according to the law or written in the prophets. I have a hope in God—a hope that they themselves also accept—that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. Therefore I do my best always to have a clear conscience towards God and all people. Now after some years I came to bring alms to my nation and to offer sacrifices. While I was doing this, they found me in the temple, completing the rite of purification, without any crowd or disturbance. But there were some Jews from Asia—they ought to be here before you to make an accusation, if they have anything against me. Or let these men here tell what crime they had found when I stood before the council, unless it was this one sentence that I called out while standing before them, “It is about the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.”’

But Felix, who was rather well informed about the Way, adjourned the hearing with the comment, ‘When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case.’ Then he ordered the centurion to keep him in custody, but to let him have some liberty and not to prevent any of his friends from taking care of his needs.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Let's unpack today's passage of the Acts of the Apostles. The High Priest, Ananias, some elders and a lawyer have arrived at the seat of Government in Caesarea to attend a court in front of the Governor, Felix. Paul is charged with a number of offences, though some have been invented by his accusers. Felix had put down several insurrections with such brutality that he earned for himself the horror of the Jewish population but as a Roman citizen Paul might find favour.

Notice the sycophantic opening sentences from Tertullus, the lawyer, and his lies. The tribune Lycias had intercepted a crowd about to kill Paul, but the lawyer aims to blame the commotion on Paul himself; he calls him the ring-leader of the "Nazarenes" (an entirely different sect); and one who has defiled the Temple by taking in an uncircumcised man. Tertullus' aim is to keep in with the High Priestly party of Sadducees who collaborated with Rome.

Paul makes his case from the facts - he was observing the ritual laws and had attended the Temple to offer sacrifices and to bring the money he had raised for the poor. He has been confused with another person and those men should be present so he could refute them. Here we also get seemingly for the first time the term "The way" for the Christian movement.

Felix avoids making a decision under the pretence of waiting for more evidence from the Roman Tribune Lysias, though he clearly had enough evidence to make a decision in Paul’s favour being 'rather well informed about the Way'. He then places Paul under arrest but gives him generous conditions.

Lord God,
may we learn to be as open and honest
about our faith when we are challenged,
as was Saint Paul.
Forgive us the times we have fudged knowing You,
or failed to stand up for You,
and give us courage to be different in future.
Amen,