The Trial Before Felix – Bible Story for Kids

This is a simplified version of the Bible story found in Acts 24:1-24, written for children to understand. For the original version, please refer to the Bible passage.

One day, some people accused Paul of doing bad things and causing trouble. They went to a man named Felix, who was like a judge, and told him that Paul was a troublemaker.

Tertullus, the spokesman for the accusers, said to Felix, “We are very thankful for the peace and reforms that you have brought to our nation. But, we don’t want to take up too much of your time. This man, Paul, is causing a lot of trouble. He is leading a group of people called the Nazarenes and making them riot all over the world. He even tried to disrespect the temple, but we stopped him. You can ask him about these things to find out the truth.”

The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that all these things were so.

When it was his turn to speak, Paul said to Felix, “I am happy to defend myself in front of you, who have been a judge for many years. I went to Jerusalem just 12 days ago to worship God, and I didn’t cause any trouble at the temple, synagogues or in the city. The people who accused me cannot prove that I did anything wrong.

I follow a way of living that some people call a sect, but I worship the God of our ancestors and believe in everything that the Law and Prophets teach. I have faith in God and believe that all people, good and bad, will be brought back to life someday. I always try to have a clear conscience with God and other people.

I came to Jerusalem to give money and offerings to my people. While I was in the temple, some Jews from Asia saw me, but they should be here if they have anything to accuse me of. If not, these people who accuse me can’t prove I did anything wrong, except for saying that I believe in the resurrection of the dead.”

Felix listened to both sides and decided to keep Paul in a safe place until he could figure things out. Felix said, “When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case.” Then he gave orders to the centurion that Paul should be kept in custody but have some liberty, and that none of his friends should be prevented from attending to his needs.

After some days, Felix and his wife Drusilla talked to Paul more about his faith in Jesus.

Even though Paul was accused of doing bad things, he stayed true to his beliefs and tried to tell others about Jesus.

Biblical Lessons

False accusations can happen to anyone, but we should always stay truthful and defend ourselves with integrity.
We should be patient and trust in God’s plan, even when we are in difficult situations or facing false accusations.
Just as Felix listened to both sides of the story before making a decision, we should seek to understand all perspectives before making judgments.
God can use even difficult circumstances to bring about good, as we see in how Paul used his time in custody to share his faith with Felix and his wife.
We should not be afraid to share our faith with others, even when it is unpopular or could lead to trouble.

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