STUDIES IN ACTS

LESSON 101

PAUL DEFENDS HIMSELF BEFORE FELIX PART 2

Acts 24:17-23 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

^17-18 “I was away from Jerusalem for many years. I went back there to take money to help my people. I also had some gifts to offer at the Temple. I was doing this when some Jews saw me there. I had finished the cleansing ceremony.^[a] I had not made any trouble, and no one was gathering around me. ¹⁹ But some Jews from Asia were there. They should be here, standing before you. If I have really done anything wrong, they are the ones who should accuse me. They were there! ²⁰ Ask these men here if they found any wrong in me when I stood before the high council meeting in Jerusalem. ²¹ I did say one thing when I stood before them and shouted, ‘You are judging me today because I believe that people will rise from death!’” ²² Felix already understood a lot about the Way. He stopped the trial and said, “When commander Lysias comes here, I will decide what to do with you.” ²³ Felix told the army officer to keep Paul guarded but to give him some freedom and to let his friends bring whatever he needed.

1.   PAUL’S STORY V. 17-21

Ø  V. 17-18 PAUL EXPLAINS WHY HE HAD COME TO JERUSALEM

Ø  V. 19 NAMES ACTUAL ACCUSERS

Ø  V. 20-21 THE CHALLENGE

2.   FELIX’S REACTION V. 22-23

Ø  V. 22 FELIX UNDERSTOOD ‘THE WAY’

Ø  V. 22B DELAYED JUDGEMENT

Ø  V. 23 PAUL’S STATE

OUR DEFENSE IS GUIDED BY THE LORD AND IS RIGHT.