Matthew Henry's Complete Bible Commentary

Acts 24

We left Paul a prisoner at Caesarea, in Herod’s judgment-hall, expecting his trial to come on quickly; for in the beginning of his imprisonment his affairs moved very quickly, but afterwards very slowly. In this chapter we have his arraignment and trial before Felix the governor at Caesarea; here is, I. The appearing of the prosecutors against him, and the setting of the prisoner to the bar, Acts 24:1, 24:2. II. The opening of the indictment against him by Tertullus, who was of counsel for the prosecutors, and the aggravating of the charge, with abundance of compliments to the judge, and malice to the prisoner, Acts 24:2-24:8. III. The corroborating of the charge by the testimony of the witnesses, or rather the prosecutors themselves, Acts 24:9. IV. The prisoner’s defence, in which, with all due deference to the governor (Acts 24:10), he denies the charge, and challenges them to prove it (Acts 24:11-24:13), owns the truth, and makes an unexceptionable profession of his faith, which he declares was it that they hated him for (Acts 24:14-24:16), and gives a more particular account of what had passed from their first seizing him, challenging them to specify any ill they had found in him, Acts 24:17-24:21. V. The adjourning of the cause, and the continuing of the prisoner in custody, Acts 24:22, 24:23. VI. The private conversation that was between the prisoner and the judge, by which the prisoner hoped to do good to the judge and the judge thought to get money by the prisoner, but both in vain, Acts 24:24-24:26. VII. The lengthening out of Paul’s imprisonment for two years, till another governor came (Acts 24:27), where he seems as much neglected as there had been ado about him. MHBCC 1043.1