Acts 24

Devotional by Stephanie Chase

Read Acts 24

Acts 24

Paul Before Felix at Caesarea

24 And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus. They laid before the governor their case against Paul. 2 And when he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying:

“Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight, most excellent Felix, reforms are being made for this nation, 3 in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude. 4 But, to detain you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly. 5 For we have found this man a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6 He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him. 8 By examining him yourself you will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him.”

9 The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that all these things were so.

10 And when the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul replied:

“Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense. 11 You can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem, 12 and they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or in the city. 13 Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me. 14 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, 15 having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. 16 So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man. 17 Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings. 18 While I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult. But some Jews from Asia— 19 they ought to be here before you and to make an accusation, should they have anything against me. 20 Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council, 21 other than this one thing that I cried out while standing among them: ‘It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.’”

Paul Kept in Custody

22 But Felix, having a rather accurate knowledge of the Way, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case.” 23 Then he gave orders to the centurion that he should be kept in custody but have some liberty, and that none of his friends should be prevented from attending to his needs.

24 After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.” 26 At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him. 27 When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.

Devotional

Imagine 40 angry men are prepared to kill you. They’ve taken an oath to neither eat nor drink until you are dead because a group of religious people made false accusations against you.

In the middle of the night, 200 soldiers, hundreds of spearmen, and horses appear at your door to lead you to safety. Taking you before the governor, you’re expected to state your case against the lies of the religious.

The governor nods his head. It’s time for your confession. What will you say?

In Acts 24:14-16, Paul stands before Felix, governor in Rome, and confesses his deepest conviction.

• I worship the God of our fathers.

• I believe everything written in the law and prophets.

• I have a hope in God that there will be a resurrection.

What about you?  Standing before your neighbors. Standing in the office, in your school, or before your family?

Is your life an act of worship to God?

Do you live God’s Word because you truly believe it?

Is all your hope in God because you trust in the resurrection of Jesus?

Jesus did. Religious leaders accused him falsely. Satan was on mission to destroy him. Before a governor and on a cross, Jesus made his confession. He worshipped his father in obedience by dying to save you. He not only had hope in God for the resurrection, but he was the resurrection, and he is alive today. Live today in worship to God, believing in the Word and the resurrection!

26 thoughts on “Day Twenty-Four | The Book of Acts”

  1. Thank You Lord for Your “Resurrection Power”
    My life is in Your hands and I TRUST and LOVE You with every fiber of my being. Please give me the BOLDNESS to ALWAYS tell others WHO YOU ARE and WHAT YOU’VE DONE
    🙏🏾❤️

  2. God’s Word is ever-present in my life. Just as Jesus died on the cross for our sins, he knew the road of the nailing on the cross that lay before him. Paul up to this point has God’s Word ever-present in his life as well. Whatever comes his way, he makes it through with God’s Word in his life. His religious conversion made him a true believer in his strong faith. Whatever circumstances and untruths were told about him, he stood boldly and professed his strong conviction. Christ also knew his path before him: pain, mockery, anguish, humiliation, and mistreatment. But he did it all to save us from our sins with his death, burial, and resurrection, and fulfilling God’s Word. We, as believers, must boldly confess our strong convictions as Christians and do all that we can to bring more followers to his path fulfilling God’s Word. This is also done by how we live our daily lives so that others can see our actions and want that what we have in their lives as well.

  4. Paul in consistent in his message and does not waver I pray for strength like him to be bold for Christ at all times, to focus on the cross and resurrection of Christ. To follow Jesus with such fervor that no one can doubt who I worship. I pray that others will come to know Jesus in a personal and powerful way. I pray for our children and youth that they follow Jesus and grow close to him daily, so that this next generation may bring a revival to our nation.

  5. Two verses jumped out to me today:
    16: I always take pains to have a clear conscience towards both God and man

    27: when two yrs had elapsed…

    First, Paul’s consistent pursuit of godliness.
    Second, God fulfilled his words to Ananias in 9:7 & shows us that at times the innocent suffer, the Christ-follower is treated unfairly; that just because my walk with Jesus is strong/consistent that doesn’t equate to ease

  6. This passage also reminds me to pray for our brothers and sisters in countries around the world who are being dragged out of their homes by angry men, who are being challenged under threat of beating or death to confess Christ, who are imprisoned falsely and their children who have to watch and bear it to. Lord give us undivided hearts to speak You!

  8. Lord open our eyes and ears to the truth. Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. Your stories of Paul and his boldness is something I want to achieved. Not to be swayed by mob thinking. But to speak Your truths. For You Jesus are the Resurrection and Life. The Way. Hallelujah Amen.

  10. The same thing jumped out to me as did Pastor Jeff: Vs27 – “two years later”. WOW, he sat in prison for 2 years without even being found guilty of anything. Just waiting for the opportunity to defend himself. I might have gone stir-crazy. But, the other verse that jumped out to me was Vs26b “… so he sent for him often and conversed with him”. Not all opportunities present themselves in the same way, but when they do, we must be ready to present the Gospel.

  11. Thank you lord for committing Jesus to the cross to save us from our sins. I pray that I would one day be as bold as Paul to testify of the lord. Lord forgive me my weekness to always look for you in every phase of our journey on earth.

  13. In 1980, I was working for a food product company covering the Houston San Antonio, and Corpus Christi territory. One of the things I was required to provide my customers was entertaining with alcohol. God had me under deep conviction about this until one Sunday, the pastor preached a passage from the Old Testament about Abraham leaving behind Ishmaelites due to his disobedience to God’s will. The pastor emphasized the fact that decisions we make can have long lasting effects on people we service.
    That afternoon, I called my boss in Dallas and resigned my job over the phone. He asked me to stay for another month until they could find my replacement. As I visited each of my customers and explained the reason i was leaving, not one of them sneered and castigated me. Instead, they were kind and understanding. thirty days later I found a new job, and God set me on a different path of ministry.

  14. Father God I worship you, Holy Spirit I believe you, Jesus I have hope & eternal life in you.

  15. Extremely grateful for the examples of endurance found in Christ and Paul. Both had an unwavering allegiance to God and circumstances didn’t cause them to be influenced to turn away. No matter what goes on around me or who I stand before, I pray for a commitment to declare His truth and to live my life solely by the power of His Spirit.

  16. Thank you Lord Jesus for you sacrifice. I pray that I may stand firm in you in your holy name amen .🙏

  17. “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12: 9-10

  18. I connect so much with this chapter.
    I have experienced being falsely accused by people that should know better; no proof but they set out to destroy. They want to break you to a level you give up your beliefs.

    GOD always shows up to save HIS own at the right time.

    GOD give us the strength to withstand all temptation and stand firm on Your word. In Jesus Christ name, Amen’

  19. I think about those who listened as Paul spoke to Felix..What words did they capture in their hearts…Were their lives changed in any way…
    Bystanders watch us from the sidelines every day. I pray that my words and actions always show my faith in My Heavenly Father!

  20. I believe in the fact that the first part is the sign of being a lukewarm Christian and God makes the ultimatum of a lukewarm Christian (Revelations 3:16).

    I do, because God is coming to reclaim his rightful throne.

    Yes, because the third day was to teach us about the importance of how God has shed his blood and as a act of freedom and kindness.

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