RAV PAULOS, ACCUSED BY A PROFESSIONAL PLEADER BEFORE Phelix, MAKES HIS DEFENSE, AND IS REMANDED FOR A FURTHER HEARING. AT A PRIVATE INTERVIEW Phelix TREMBLES UNDER PAUL'S PREACHING, BUT KEEPS HIM PRISONER FOR TWO YEARS, WHEN HE WAS SUCCEEDED BY Phestos.
In Kaisareia
24:1 And after five days Chananyah the Kohen HaGadol descended with the Zekenim (Elders), and [with] a certain orator [named] Tertullos, who informed the governor against Paulos.
24:2 And when he was called forth, Tertullos began to accuse [him], saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence,
24:3 We accept [it] always, and in all places, most noble Phelix, with all thankfulness.
24:4 Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words.
Tertullos then proceeded to specify four distinct charges against
Paulos. 5-8
24:5 For we have found this man [a] pestilent [fellow], and a mover of sedition among all the Yehudim throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Natzratim:
24:6 Who also hath gone about to profane Beit HaMikdash: whom we took, and would have shophetd according to our law.
24:7 But the chief captain Lusias came [upon us], and with great violence took [him] away out of our hands,
24:8 Commanding his accusers to come unto thee: by examining of whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him.
24:9 And the Yehudim also assented, saying that these things were so.
24:10 Then Paulos, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a shophet unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself:
24:11 Because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Yerushalayim for to worship.
24:12 And they neither found me in Beit HaMikdash disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city:
24:13 Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me.
24:14 But this I Ani modeh (confess) unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the Elohim of my ahvot, believing all things which are written in Ha Torah and in the Neviim:
24:15 And have tikvah (hope) toward Elohim, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a Techiyas (resurrection) of the dead, both of the Tzaddikim (just) and Resha'im (unjust.)
24:16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward Elohim, and [toward] men.
24:17 Now after many years* I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings.
24:18 Whereupon certain Yehudim from Asia found me purified in Beit HaMikdash, neither with multitude, nor with tumult.
24:19 Who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had ought against me.
24:20 Or else let these same [here] say, if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the Sanhedrin,
24:21 Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.
24:22 And when Phelix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of [that] way, he deferred them, and said, When Lusias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter.
24:23 And he commanded a centurion to keep Paulos, and to let [him] have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto him.
Phelix AND Drousilla
24:24 And after certain days, when Phelix came with his wife Drousilla, who was a Yehudite, he sent for Paulos, and heard him concerning the faith in Moshiach.
24:25 And as he reasoned of tzedakah, temperance (self control), and mishpat (judgment) to come, Phelix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
24:26 He tikvah also that money should have been given him of Paulos, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him.
24:27 But after two years Porkios Phestos came into Phelix' room: and Phelix, willing to shew the Yehudim a pleasure, left Paulos bound.
Heresy Both Traditional Judaism and Christianity will always consider Nazarene Yisraelites heretics. Even pagans will see fit to pass some kind of judgment
Cross References 1 (Romans 15:25,26, 1 Corinthians 16:1-4, 2 Corinthians 8:1-4)
of righteousness--with reference to the
public character of Phelix.
temperance--with reference to his immoral life.
judgment to come--when he would be called to an awful account
for both.
Porcius Phestos (Porkios Phestos) was procurator of Yehudah from about AD 58 to 62, succeeding Antonius Phelix. His exact time in office is not known. He inherited all of the problems of his predecessor in regard to the Roman practice of creating civic privileges for Jews. Only one other issue bedeviled his administration, the controversy between Agrippas II and the kohenim in Yerushalayim regarding the wall erected at the temple to break the view of the new wing of Agrippas's palace.
During his administration, Jewish hostility to Rome was greatly inflamed by the civic privileges issue. Feelings were aroused which played an important part in the closely following Jewish War of AD 66.
It was before Phestos that Paulos had his final hearing. Phestos sought to induce Paulos to go to Yerushalayim for trial; Paul appealed to the Emperor. The appeal resulted in Paulos being deported to Rome in the autumn of AD 58 (Acts 25-26).
Drousilla / Drusilla - Daughter of Agrippa I. and Cypros (Josephus, "Ant." xviii. 5, § 4; idem, "B. J." ii. 11, § 6); born in 38. She was only six years old at her father's death (44), and was subjected to the insult of having the portraits of herself and two sisters, Berenice and Mariamne, carried into the houses of ill-fame of Cęsarea by the Roman soldiers, who rejoiced over Agrippa's death ("Ant." xix. 9, § 1). ... More She was first engaged to Epiphanes, prince of Comagena, but was afterwards married to Azizus, King of Emessa, whom Felix persuaded her to abandon so she could become his wife. This was done through a sorcerer, Simon of Cyprus. She was present at the hearing of the Apostle Paul before her husband at Caesarea.