Acts 24:19–21

There will always be those who disagree with our beliefs as Christ followers. Fear not, Jesus has already procured our place in His Kingdom. Live a life without offense and in peace knowing that Jesus has conquered sin and death! God protected Paul for His purposes…to bring Christianity to the gentiles.

Jesus also knows what it feels like to endure deep despair. Darkness both literally and figuratively surrounded Him when He hung on the cross, abandoned by His Father (Mark 15:34;  Luke 23:44). But Jesus did not remain in that place. He conquered death and darkness when He rose from the grave (Romans 6:9).

No matter what circumstances we face or how prolonged our pain, we can hold on to hope because Jesus is alive (Hebrews 6:19-20). He knows our needs and our weaknesses, and He prays for us (Romans 8:34;  Hebrews 7:25). His victorious presence in our lives gives us the strength we need to persevere while we live on this earth (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). First5 

Acts 24:19–21

17 “Now after many years I came to bring alms and offerings to my nation, 18 in the midst of which some Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with a mob nor with tumult. 19 They ought to have been here before you to object if they had anything against me. 20 Or else let those who are here themselves say if they found any wrongdoing in me while I stood before the council, 21 unless it is for this one statement which I cried out, standing among them, ‘Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged by you this day.’ ” The New King James Version

Those who brought the charges against Paul actually caused the near riot (21:27–28). Faithlife Study Bible

The reference to Jews from Asia indicated to Felix that Paul’s real accusers were not present, creating some suspicion about the charges against the apostle.

How did Felix know about the Christian faith? His wife Drusilla was Jewish. She was the great-granddaughter of Herod the Great, who had tried to kill the baby Jesus. She was the great-niece of the Herod who killed John the Baptist. Her father was the man who had the apostle James put to death. Also, Felix was well acquainted with Christianity from having governed Judea and Samaria for six years. 

Felix had taken Drusilla from her former husband, the king of Emesa in Syria. She was Felix’s third wife. His first wife was the granddaughter of Mark Antony and Cleopatra. His second wife was a princess whom he also divorced. When Paul talked about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix must have been reminded of his immoral life. He refused to talk any more about the Way because of the guilt he felt. Felix may have hoped that Paul had money from the Gentile churches or that perhaps Paul’s friends would pay a ransom for him. Felix wanted to talk about a payoff; Paul wanted to talk about righteousness. The NKJV Study Bible

Acts 23:6 But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!”

Acts 23:30 And when it was told me that the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent him immediately to you, and also commanded his accusers to state before you the charges against him.Farewell.

Acts 24:15 I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.