Paul Kretzmann Commentary - Acts 24:10 - 24:13

Online Resource Library

Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | Download

Paul Kretzmann Commentary - Acts 24:10 - 24:13


(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)

This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

Paul denies the charges:

v. 10. Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself,

v. 11. because that thou mayest understand that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship.

v. 12. And they neither found me in the Temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city;

v. 13. neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me.

Paul's position in this matter was very unpleasant, for he was suddenly, by the beckoning hand of the governor, placed face to face with the necessity of answering to charges of a very grave nature, some of which, in fact, were serious enough, if sustained, to result in severe, punishment, if not in death. But he relied upon the promise of the Lord for mouth and wisdom, Luk_21:16. His answer is conspicuously free from the fawning flattery that had been the outstanding feature of the speech of Tertullus. He relied upon the fact, which he knew to be true, that Felix had for many years been a judge to this people, that he had been the highest judicial authority in the country for some time, and had thus acquired a personal knowledge of its public affairs and some insight into the religious customs of the Jews. Felix had now been procurator of Judea some six or seven years, a comparatively long period as governorships went in that country, and was bound to have been in constant touch with Jewish life and manners. This fact therefore gave Paul the necessary courage to make his defense with all openness and confidence. As his first point Paul stated, since Felix therefrom could gain accurate knowledge of the situation, that it was not more than twelve days since he had gone up to Jerusalem to worship. This statement may easily be justified in various ways, as a number of historians have shown, the exact sequence of events being immaterial. Two facts stand out in this sentence, namely, that the express purpose of Paul in going to Jerusalem was to worship, and that the shortness of the time would not possibly have permitted him to foment an uprising. And therefore he flatly denies the charges which had been preferred by the Jews through their attorney. They had not found him disputing, arguing, quarreling with any one; they hub not come upon him in the act of inciting an uprising of the people, neither in the synagogues nor in any part of the city. They could not offer or furnish any proofs to the governor concerning any of the charges which they were now bringing against him. Paul's simple assertion of the truth was not only a general denial of the charge that he had been an agitator among the Jews in all parts of the empire, but it, incidentally challenged the opponents to bring proofs of their accusations. Thus Paul had disposed of the opening charges of Tertillus in a form of self-evident truthfulness which could not fail of making a deep impression. If the same methods are followed by the Christians in our days, they will usually aid their cause better than by cowering fear and false submission.