ACC ~ Acts 24 v9 - 21

OVERVIEW:

Paul’s third defense speech, on the contrary, is straightforward and summarizes his activity in Jerusalem and points to Tertullus’s lack of proof. Felix postpones a decision, perhaps through weakness: moderns quote Tacitus, who describes Felix as someone who “with all cruelty and lust wielded the power of a king with the mentality of a slave.” This is the first time since Paul’s arrival in Palestine that Luke makes mention of the collection made for the poor of Jerusalem. Jerome’s comment (Acts 24:17) needs some explanation. This brief passage comes from a polemical work against Vigilantius, a former friend of Jerome. Vigilantius had lived with Jerome in Bethlehem but suddenly left without explanation and returned to Gaul. Years later, Jerome learned that he had begun to spread criticisms not only of lavish expenditures on reliquaries and vestments but also of the sending of alms to the Jerusalem church, which he thought should be kept for the poor in the local communities. Jerome’s argument, as his own journey in life, reflects the cultural process of the sacralization of space, the creation of the sense, fully flourishing by his day, of Palestine as the Holy Land. Chrysostom takes up an analysis of Paul’s character as portrayed in this speech, and, as usual, finds much to praise. Ammonius sees here an argument for the unity of the Father and the Son.

24:14 | Everything Laid Down by the Law

IT IS PAUL WHO BELIEVES ALL. CHRYSOSTOM: He did not say that they believed “everything written in the prophets.” For [Paul] was the one who believed everything, not they. To show how he believed in “everything” would take a long speech, and nowhere does he mention Christ. Here by the word believing [Paul] introduces the things relating to Christ. But for the present he dwells on the subject of resurrection, a doctrine shared by them, and so removes their suspicion of the whole sect. HOMILIES ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 50.

WORSHIPING THE SAME GOD. AMMONIUS: [Paul] calls the faith or tradition “the Way.” It must be noticed that the Nazarenes believe in their ancestral God, the precepts of the law, the prophets and the resurrection of the dead. Paul shows this from what he says: “I worship the God of our ancestors,” that is, he believes in Christ and does not worship another God but him who is one with the Father, who was preached in the law and by the prophets. He shows also that all those believing in Christ, just as himself, accept the law of Moses and the prophets. CATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 24.14.

24:16 | A Clear Conscience

THE PERFECTION OF VIRTUE. CHRYSOSTOM: “To have a clear conscience,” he says, “toward God and toward people.” This is the perfection of virtue, when we give no cause for grudge to people and strive to give no offense to God. HOMILIES ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 50.

24:17 | Alms and Offerings

THE POOR OF THE HOLY PLACES. JEROME: Could he not have distributed the gifts he had received from others in some other part of the world and in the infant churches he was training in his own faith? But [Paul] longed to give to the poor of the holy places, who abandoned their own meager possessions for the sake of Christ and turned with all their heart to the service of the Lord. AGAINST VIGILANTIUS 13.

24:20 | What Wrongdoing Did They Find?

PAUL KEEPS FROM SPEAKING EVIL. CHRYSOSTOM: Did you notice his gentleness in the midst of dangers? Did you notice how he kept his tongue from speaking evil? How he sought one thing only, to do away with charges against himself, and not to place charges against them, except in so far as he was forced to defend himself? HOMILIES ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 50.

24:21 | The Resurrection of the Dead

READINESS TO GIVE ACCOUNT TO ALL. CHRYSOSTOM: This is ample justification that [Paul] did not flee from his accusers but was ready to give account to all. “With respect to the resurrection of the dead I am on trial before you this day.” And not a word did he say of what he could have said, that they conspired against him, detained him and imprisoned him. For these things can justly be said of the tribune, and yet they were not said by Paul, even though he was in danger. Instead, he is silent and only defends himself, when there was much he could have said. HOMILIES ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 50.