Acts 24:11

Friday, 2 February 2024

“because you may ascertain that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship. Acts 24:11

More literally, the verse reads, “You, being able to know that there are not to me more than twelve days from which I went up to worship in Jerusalem” (CG).

Paul had just presented his opening words of defense, beginning with an acknowledgment that Felix was the duly appointed judge for the matter. With that, he next says, “You, being able to know.”

The meaning is that Felix has the means at his disposal (the verb is a present participle) to readily ascertain if what Paul says is true or not. Each thing he will say can be searched out and verified. Therefore, it would be the mark of a truly corrupt person to attempt to make a claim that was untrue. Understanding that, he says, “that there are not to me more than twelve days.”

It is a specific amount of time that is so short and precise that retracing the steps would take almost no effort at all. Considering that several of those days were spent under Roman guard, the events preceding that are condensed even more.

As the timeframe can easily be corroborated, Paul’s words bear the mark of either total honesty or a loony desire to be incarcerated. To assist in the verification of his claims, he specifically notes that those twelve days were “from which I went up to worship in Jerusalem.”

What he says here and in the coming verses are given to challenge the three charges made against him by Tertullus, which are sedition, heresy, and profaning the temple.

Concerning sedition, he implies that it would be impossible to form a party and act in a seditious manner because it was just twelve days earlier that he arrived in Jerusalem. Five of those days were in Caesarea, two were on the journey, and the rest were in Jerusalem, where he went to worship and was subsequently incarcerated. If he were there to worship, he could then not be a heretic. He was obviously following the customs of Jews who came for exactly this purpose. 

The Pulpit Commentary divides the 12 days in this manner -

(1) arrival at Jerusalem (Acts 21:15); 
(2) Visit to James and the elders (Acts 21:18); 
(3) first day of purification (Acts 21:26); 
(4) second day of purification; 
(5) the third day; 
(6) the fourth day; 
(7) the fifth day, when the tumult took place (Acts 21:27); 
(8) Paul brought before the Sanhedrim; 
(9) the conspiracy of the forty Jews, Paul leaves Jerusalem for Caesarea - the first of the five days mentioned in Acts 24:1; 
(10) arrival of St. Paul" next day" at Caesarea, and lodged in the pretorium - second of the five days (Acts 23:32, 35); 
(11) Paul in Herod's judgment hall - third of the five days; 
(12) ditto - fourth of the five days; 
(13) the current day, being also the fifth day of those mentioned in Acts 24:1. The mention of the brief time of twelve days shows the narrow limits of time within which the crime must have been committed, while the adroit mention of the purpose of his visit, to worship, would show how unlikely it was that he should have gone with any evil intent.

All of these could be supported by eyewitnesses if necessary.

Life application: Paul’s words directly challenge the accusation against him. He doesn’t waste a lot of time with superfluities, and he refrains from any verbal attacks on those accusing him. He is calm, cool, and collected in his address.

And more, he understands the process of what is going on around him. It is important to remember that if you don’t have the same demeanor, or if you are unaware of how to properly navigate such things, it is a good idea to have someone skilled in what you are involved in assist you. If it is a legal matter, a lawyer is a good idea, if it is a financial problem, a certified accountant can help, and so forth.

The world is there trying to trip you up. Being ready to defend yourself with the right people around you. This is always a good idea.

O God, the world in which we live can be a complicated place. Governments exist that often heap burdens upon their people that require a lot of attention, without which all kinds of trouble can result. Help us to be wise in our actions and interactions regarding such things. May we live rightly and peaceably in our societies, honoring You with the lives we lead. Amen.