Acts Chapter 24 in Simple English

Updated on October 1, 2026

Read Acts Chapter 24

1Five days later Ananias the high priest came down with the elders, and with a speaker named Tertullus. They brought their charges against Paul before the governor.

2When Paul was called in, Tertullus began to accuse him. He said, "Because of you we enjoy great peace, and by your foresight very good things are done for this nation."

3"We accept this always and in every place, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness."

4"But so that I do not tire you any longer, I beg you to be kind and listen to us for a few words."

5"We have found this man to be a troublemaker. He stirs up rebellion among all the Jews throughout the world, and he is a leader of the sect of the Nazarenes."

6"He even tried to make the temple unclean. So we took hold of him, and we would have judged him by our law."

7"But Lysias the chief captain came and took him out of our hands with great violence."

8"He commanded his accusers to come to you. If you question him yourself, you can learn about all these things we accuse him of."

9The Jews agreed, saying that these things were so.

10Then the governor made a sign for Paul to speak, and Paul answered, "I know that you have been a judge over this nation for many years. So I gladly speak in my own defence."

11"You can find out that it is only twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship."

12"They did not find me arguing with anyone in the temple, nor stirring up the people, either in the synagogues or in the city."

13"They cannot prove the things they now accuse me of."

14"But this I admit to you. I worship the God of my fathers in the way that they call heresy. I believe all the things written in the law and in the prophets."

15"I have hope toward God, a hope which they themselves also hold, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust."

16"So I train myself always to keep a clear conscience before God and before men."

17"After many years I came to bring gifts for the poor of my nation, and offerings."

18"While I was doing this, certain Jews from Asia found me in the temple, purified. There was no crowd with me, and no uproar."

19"They ought to be here before you and make their charge, if they have anything against me."

20"Or let these men here say what wrong they found in me when I stood before the council,"

21"unless it is this one thing I called out while I stood among them: 'It is about the resurrection of the dead that I am judged by you this day.'"

22When Felix heard these things, he knew quite well about that way. He put them off and said, "When Lysias the chief captain comes down, I will decide your case."

23He commanded a centurion to guard Paul, and to let him have some freedom, and not to stop any of his friends from coming to him or caring for him.

24Some days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him about faith in Christ.

25As Paul spoke about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid. He answered, "Go away for now. When I have a suitable time, I will call for you."

26He also hoped that Paul would give him money to set him free. So he sent for him often and talked with him.

27But after two years Porcius Festus took the place of Felix. Felix wanted to please the Jews, so he left Paul in prison.

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Explanation

Acts 24

In short

Paul is arrested and brought before the Roman governor Felix. Jewish leaders accuse him of stirring up trouble and profaning the temple. Paul defends himself by saying he worships according to the Way, which he sees as faithful to Jewish law and belief, and denies causing any disturbance. The governor keeps him in custody for two years without resolving the case.

Context

Paul has been arrested in Jerusalem after a riot at the temple. He is now in Caesarea, where the Roman governor Felix holds his hearing. The Jewish high priest Ananias and some elders have come to press charges against him, bringing a professional speaker named Tertullus to present their case. This is a formal trial before Roman authority.

What the text says

Tertullus opens the accusation, flattering the governor and then claiming Paul is "a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition" who leads the sect of the Nazarenes and has tried to profane the temple (verses 2-5). He says they arrested Paul but were interrupted by the chief captain Lysias, and he calls on the governor to examine witnesses (verses 6-8). The Jewish leaders agree with these charges (verse 9).

Paul responds that only twelve days have passed since he went to Jerusalem to worship, and that no one found him disputing or stirring up crowds in temple or synagogue (verses 10-12). He admits he follows "the way which they call heresy," but says this means worshipping the God of his fathers according to the law and prophets, with belief in the resurrection that "they themselves also allow" (verses 14-15). He states his conscience is clear before God and men (verse 16). The Jews from Asia who caused the initial trouble are not even present to testify against him (verses 18-19). His only real offense, he argues, was speaking about the resurrection at the council (verse 21).

Felix, who knows something of the Way already, postpones judgment until Lysias comes down (verse 22). He orders Paul kept in custody but with liberty and permission to receive visitors (verse 23). Later, Felix hears Paul again with his wife Drusilla, but when Paul speaks about righteousness and judgment to come, Felix becomes uncomfortable and dismisses him (verses 24-25). The text states Felix hoped Paul would offer him a bribe to release him, so he summoned him often (verse 26). After two years, a new governor, Festus, arrives, and Felix leaves Paul imprisoned to curry favor with the Jews (verse 27).

Takeaways

Paul's defense rests on showing that his beliefs fit within Jewish law and the prophets, not outside them.
The case reveals a difference between Jewish religious law and Roman civil authority: Felix can postpone judgment indefinitely.
Paul remains imprisoned not because of evidence, but because of political convenience.

Acts 24 - Simple English