Written by Yahusha's Student: LUKE (the Doctor) ...
1 Five days later Ananias, the High Priest, went to the city of Caesarea. He brought with him some of the Jewish Elders and a hired speaker named Tertullus ...
(A HIGHLY TRAINED & TALENTED SOPHIST OF PHILOSOPHY & POETRY ETC). WITHIN THE ROMAN LEGAL SYSTEM HIS JOB WAS NOT TO PRESENT A FORMAL LEGAL CASE TO THE JUDGE (IN THIS CASE THE JUDGE WAS FELIX) IN THE PROPER PROTOCOL COMPLETE WITH LAVISH PRAISE HEAPED UPON THE JUDGE.
They went to Caesarea to make charges against Paul before the Governor. 2-3 Paul was called into the meeting, and Tertullus began to make his accusations against Paul. Tertullus said, “Most Honorable Felix, our people enjoy much peace because of you, and many wrong things in our country are being made right through your wise help. For this we all continue to be very thankful. 4 But I don’t want to take any more of your time. So I will say only a few words. Please be patient. 5 This man is a leader of the Natsarim Sect and a plague, causing trouble and argument with the Jews everywhere in the world. 6-8 Also, he was trying to make our Temple unclean, but we stopped him. We wanted to judge him by our own Law. 7 But the officer Lysias came and used great force to take him from us. 8 And Lysias ordered those who wanted to accuse Paul to come to you. So you can decide if all this is all true. Ask him some questions yourself.”
9 The other Jews agreed and said this was all true. 10 So the Governor signalled for Paul to speak. So Paul answered, “Governor Felix, I know that you have been a judge over this nation for a long time. So I’m more than happy to defend myself before you. 11 I went up to worship in Jerusalem only twelve days ago, which you can prove for yourself. 12 These Jews who are accusing me did not find me arguing with anyone at the Temple or making trouble with any of the people. And I was not causing disturbance or arguing in the Synagogues or any other place in the city. 13 These men cannot prove the things they are saying against me now.
14 “But I will tell you this: I do worship the Alahim of our fathers as a follower of the Way, which these Jews call `a sect’, stating it’s not the right way. And I believe everything that is taught in the Law of Moses and all that is written in the books of the prophets. 15 I have the same expectation in Alahim that these Jews have - the hope that all people, obedient and disobedient, will be resurrected from the dead. 16 This is why I always try to do what I believe is right before YAHUSHA and before everyone.
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. I had not made any trouble, and no one was gathering around me. 19 But some Jews from Asia were there. They’re the ones that should be standing trial here today, not me. If I have really done something wrong, they are the ones who should accuse me. For 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 be resurrected from the dead!’”
SO PAUL IS SAYING THAT HE BELIEVES, OR AGREES, WITH EVERYTHING WRITTEN IN THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS. AND WHEN THE TWO TERMS LAW AND PROPHETS ARE USED TOGETHER, TIED TOGETHER, IT HAS A SPECIFIC MEANING; IT IS SPEAKING DIRECTLY OF ALL SET-APART SCRIPTURE. THE LAW (THE TORAH) AND THE PROPHETS ARE 2 OF THE 3 NAMED SECTIONS (TORAH, PROPHETS, AND WRITINGS) OF THE SET-APART SCRIPTURE AS DEFINED BY THE JEWS.
22 Felix already understood a lot about `the Way’. So 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. 24 After a few days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jew. Felix asked for Paul to be brought to him. He listened to Paul talk about his belief in Messiah YAHUSHA. 25 But Felix became afraid when Paul spoke about obedient behaviour, self-control, and the judgment that will come in the future. And he said, “Go away for now, and when I have more time, I’ll call for you.” 26 But Felix had another reason for talking with Paul. He hoped Paul would pay him a bribe of silver to get our of prison, so he sent for Paul often and talked with him. 27 But after two years, Porcius Festus succeeded Felix as the Governor, but he still left Paul in prison to please the Jews.
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