On to chapter 24. Five days following the end of chapter 23 Ananias the high priest arrived with some Jewish elders and a lawyer (or orator) named Tertullus who presented the case against Paul to Felix.
He began by complimenting Felix on his handling of the Jewish people and expressed their gratitude. He said Paul was a troublemaker who constantly stirred up riots among the Jewish people worldwide. He called him the ringleader of a cult named the Nazarenes and also accused him of desecrating the Temple. Once the charges were expressed Ananias and the elders expressed their agreement before Felix.
Paul was then given the opportunity to speak. He complimented Felix on his fair judgement of the Jews. He spoke to Felix that he could easily discover Paul had arrived in Jerusalem 12 days ago to worship at the Temple and that those who were accusing him never saw him arguing with anyone there nor saw him stirring up riots in any synagogue anywhere nor in the city streets. He told him his accusers could not prove one word of what they charged him with.
Paul continued by admitting he was a member of the Way, which to the priests was considered a cult. He declared he worshipped the God of their ancestors, believed in Jewish law and the writings of the prophets. He spoke of having the same beliefs the others have that God would one day raise the righteous and unrighteous and that in all this he had a clear conscience before God and man.
He described he had been away from Jerusalem for several years and had just returned with money to aid his people and to offer sacrifices to God. He was in the Temple completing a purification ceremony when his accusers saw him. He told him there was no crowd or arguing going on around him. However, there were some Jews from Asia there and if they had issues with Paul they should have come to present their charges. He told Felix to ask his accusers, the high counsel, what crimes he had committed other than shouting at the high priest once. He said he believed he was on trial simply because he believed in the resurrection of the dead.
Felix was quite familiar with the Way and adjourned the session stating he would render his decision once Lysias, the garrison commander returned. (Perhaps he was concerned of a riot following his decision) He kept Paul in custody but with some freedom and allowed his friends visit him and care for him.
A few days later, Felix and his wife Drusilla (a Jew herself) sent for Paul who spoke to them about faith Jesus Christ. He spoke to them about living a life of righteousness and self control and also about the day of judgement which was to come. These things frightened Felix and he sent Paul away also hoping Paul would offer a bribe for his freedom. Felix brought him back often and talked with him. This went on for two years at which time Felix was replaced by Porcius Festus. Felix, wanting to gain favor with the Jews, left Paul in prison.
(So Paul having returned from Jerusalem to bring financial aid to his people and worship in the Temple was in prison for years having committed no crime. The once persecutor was now being persecuted. He, just as the Christians he persecuted, was being persecuted in the very same way. In all that, however, he had been given many opportunities to share the Gospel with many people including those in high places. He was indeed spreading the Good News of Christ even though imprisoned.)