24:1 With dogged persistence, Paul's adversaries seek and follow him to ensure his demise. Paul endured. The apostles were not without enemy, as by now, you well know; rather than being without adversity, they endured an abundance of it. Opposition did not thrive in their physical periphery's, it confronted them face to face consistently. Yet opposition did exist in the the periphery of their spirits, meaning that they were uninfluenced by it. Their strength of faith enabled them to persevere through and in the midst of turbulence.
This is instructive to us because we must learn that our strength is in action. Allow ourselves to be hindered or even halted by adversity is a debilitating weakness we impose on ourselves. God has shown and told us that if we are willing to walk, He will always provide the path; a path not without barrier but constructed with avenues with which to overcome barrier. Our walk is symbolic of our life's journey and experience and we have to be active participants in it, constantly creating ourselves to be better, stronger, more faithful, more compassionate, more perceptive, more wise. We cannot make progress if we wallow as self-decided victims. Paul is unconcerned that many with authority are plotting against him because he knows that their "authority" is child's-play compared to God's authority over all things, people, ideas and universes.
24:2-4 They "butter-up" this high priest. They boast of his "greatness" hoping and calculating that their flattery will earn them the outcome they are salivating for: Paul's demise. Manipulation is all around us, people telling us or pretending to us that they are more than they actually are. It is our job to become observant and perceptive thereby impenetrable. Be humble, your pride might secure you to people and circumstances that are toxic beneath their veneer.
24:5 They twist Paul's actions in order to shift people's perception of Paul's work. This is why we must always employ common-sense, common-logic, our own logic to any situation. It is clear to observe that these men hate Paul but their hatred is not equal to the crimes he is committed of. Moreover, disagreement is inevitable but not deserving of death. Therefore, we must be able to discern ulterior motives. Think: Why would a person work so hard to make me believe something rather than allow me the time and opportunity to create my own beliefs? They have an ulterior motive.
25:6-9 And always, there comes a point when we are responsible for our own reactions, our own beliefs, and determinations. These men have laid out their accusations against Paul's character and actions and have thereby coated the perspective of his judges. By the judge in this matter must be able to (and you must be able to) disentangle ulterior motives from truth. You must be able to examine people's actions and character without the added context of other people.
24:10 This is Paul's opportunity to speak for himself. You must be able to articulate yourself well enough to proclaim your truth. In order to be articulate, you must be organized and purposeful. When you are organized and purposeful, your thoughts and your actions are ordered and familiar to you. You know precisely why you do or believe things and therefore you can defend and promote them with clarity and confidence, with peace of mind.
24:11-12 Paul calls his accusers out on their bulls... lies. That is why we must always examine all sides of people, arguments, and ideas. Even if one side seems blatantly wrong, we must hear it to know for sure, to determine for ourselves, informed and fair.
24:13 Paul reminds those about to judge him that his supposed crimes cannot be proven, and therefore he casts a shadow of doubt that they were ever true at all.
24:14 Moreover, Paul explains that rather than denying their beliefs, he derives his faith from the same scripture. Yet Paul's construction of the meaning within those beliefs is clear, focused and divinely guided by God. Jesus' ministry and the apostles work had enhanced rather than rejected the Old Testament. Those who are against the apostles work are quite simply, hypocritical against the scripture they claim to believe in. The message had not changed, violence and deception were never acceptable, yet they commit both.
24:15 Paul expresses his faith in God that each individual soul will ultimately and intimately be confronted, through God's masterful hand, with their thoughts and actions on the earth. Any punishment we will face will be delivered both by and to ourselves. The unjust will be ashamed and the just joyful.
24:16 Therefore, Paul explains, he lives and works with good conscious: with compassion, purposefulness, truth and justice. Paul knows that he is responsible for himself and reminds each of the crowd that they also are responsible for themselves. This life is not a game; our actions directly affect the world and humanity. Paul's words encourage us to be meaningful as well as logical and compassionate. The end of our lives on earth are a culmination; we enter this planet un-molded but we leave very much defined. We are responsible for our definition.
24:17-18 Paul explains that he traveled and arrived places with goodness, rather than tumult or negative intention.
24:19-20 Again injecting logic into the situation, Paul inquires why his accusers did not immediately seek officials when he was supposedly doing all of the wrong they claim he was doing. Why did they wait? If Paul came in violently and aggressively, why was there no word of it? No commotion? There is no evidence to corroborate their argument, not surprising to us: we know they are lying. Nevertheless, we don't know now whether someone is speaking the truth or lies until we examine it for ourselves, use of perception in listening to each side.
24:21 Paul explains the the only reason he can think of that might have angered them in this time-frame of his being captured is that he spoke of resurrection. If that is the accusation against him, surely it does not warrant all of this commotion.
24:22-26 Felix has his own ulterior motives. Felix has determined that likely Paul is not actually guilty of his crimes but before releasing him for nothing, Felix tries to manipulate Paul into paying for his freedom. This is ironic because money dirt to God, less than dirt and He does not deal with, through or because of it. God grants freedom without price. We are each freely given freedom. Recognize these schemers in the world and remember that your most pure, humble, and just friend is your creator, who grants all and many gifts to you without price or ulterior motive.
24:27 Felix is replaced, never having gotten any money from Paul. Paul did not need to pay for freedom, he was already free (yet he was one of the only ones to realize this). God does not negotiate with terrorists. As we have read multiple times in this book, God releases the apostles from the chains men impose on them when there is another place they are meant and needing to be. Although we are not privy to it yet, there was reason for every moment in Paul's life, including this time of imprisonment. There is reason in every moment of our lives when we give God control and when we devote ourselves to purposefulness and compassion.
The freedom God gives us supersedes anything that any person could give us, no matter how much authority they have. Paul did not need to pay for something he already had. Paul was at God's mercy, always, and our God is so merciful; protecting and filling our minds with resilience and wisdom no matter what exists around us. Paul's imprisonment makes the statement that God is freedom and is truly free. Paul makes it clear where we should place our trust and simultaneously teaches us that dealings with money is greedy and calculated, chaotic and unjust. He shows us what freedom truly means; never have to purchase it.
