From a prison at the Roman barracks in Jerusalem Paul travelled under cover of darkness 40 miles with 200 troops to protect him. His destination would afford him favorable accommodations, for not only would he have better protection from the assassin zealots but he would be put up at the Governors palace. Which is where we find Paul at the start of Acts 24.

Paul’s defense was simple and straightforward:

1. He didn’t do anything wrong,

2. His accusers cannot bring evidence that he did anything wrong,

3. He wasn’t in town long enough to organize a rebellion as they alleged,

4. He did have time to ritually purify himself thus proving his piety.

He then iterated that he was on trial because of his belief in the resurrection of the dead.

We are told that Felix had knowledge about Christianity that surpassed what the high priest had told him. How he came to this knowledge is uncertain, but it may have been through his wife Drusilla (mentioned in verse 24) who was not only Jewish but the daughter of King Agrippa and the ex-wife of a king in Syria. About 20 years old, she was on her second husband and was Felix’ third wife. It is likely she had extensive knowledge of the Way. Regardless, Felix decided to delay any kind of decision about Paul’s case until he could hear testimony from the commander of the Roman fort in Jerusalem where Paul was first held prisoner on this matter.

Paul was still a prisoner, but held somewhere on the palace grounds. He had a single guard assigned to him as Paul was not perceived to be a flight risk. Furthermore, Felix instructed the men to permit Paul’s friends to attend to his needs. One needed friends in Roman prisons, even those at palaces, for the Roman government did not provide food, clothing, bedding or any other comforts. These things would have been provided by friends and family.

But Paul was on friendly terms with Felix, and they talked frequently about matters of faith and righteousness. Felix kept believing that one day Paul would offer a bribe for his freedom, an arrangement Felix would gladly accept, but Paul never stooped to such measures. Two years passed this way, and one can only imagine the fate of the 40 men who vowed to kill Paul in 40 days. Certainly no one else would step forward to make such a claim, especially now that Paul was the “guest” of such a high official and on well-guarded grounds.

Old hatred dies hard, however, and after Felix was succeeded by Festus the high priests asked the new ruler to deliver Paul to them there in Jerusalem to stand trial. It is noted that they intended to ambush and kill Paul along the way, just as they had planned years earlier. But Festus was not deceived and did not want the death of a Roman citizen on his hands. He was looking for a way out, and so invited the chief priests and others to come to Caesarea for the trial. They acquiesced and accompanied him a week later.

When Festus asked Paul his thoughts on going to Jerusalem to stand trial, Paul wisely reminded Festus that his fate as a Roman was to be determined by a Roman and appealed to Caesar. Festus was only too happy to accommodate the request as it nicely absolved him of making any decision at all. Unfortunately for Festus, the time of year made travel to Rome difficult and perilous so he kept Paul at the palace until such a time as he could send him on his way.