Welcome and thank you for taking a bible break to test your knowledge of God's word.
This week's question:

When Claudias Lysias, the commander who ordered Paul be detained in the barracks for scourging to understand the reason the Jews shouting against him (Acts 22:24), learned of a plot to kill him whereby the Jews would ask Lysias to have Paul sent before the Council so they could inquire of him privately, but forty have taken an oath to neither eat nor drink until they have killed him (Acts 23:17-21). So Lysias sent soldiers by night and brought Paul safely to Felix the governor with a letter that said, "Claudius Lysias, to the most excellent governor Felix, greetings. When this man was arrested by the Jews and was about to be slain by them, I came upon them with troops and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman. And wanting to ascertain the charge for which they accused him, I brought him down to their Council; and I found him to be accused over questions about their Law, but under no accusation deserving of death or imprisonment. And when I was informed that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, also instructing his accusers to bring charges against him before you." (Acts 23:26-30). When Felix got the letter and read it, he had Paul placed in Herod's Praetorium until his accusers arrived.

That bring us to our question, "Who succeeded Felix?". When Paul's accusers arrived five days later with the high priest Ananias, some elders and an attorney named Tertullus, they charged Paul saying, "For we have found this man a real pest and a fellow who stirs up dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. And he even tried to desecrate the temple; and when then we arrested him. And we wanted to judge him according to our own Law. But Lysias the commander came along, with much violence took him out of our hands, ordering his accusers to come before you. And by examining him yourself concerning all these matters, you will be able to ascertain the things of which we accuse him." And the Jews also joined in the attack, asserting that these things were so." (Acts 24:5-9).

Paul rebuffed the charges by saying, "Knowing that for many years you have been a judge of this nation, I cheerfully make my defense, since you can take note of the fact that no more than twelve days ago I went un to Jerusalem to worship. And neither in the temple, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city itself did they find me carrying on a discussion with anyone or causing a riot. Nor can they prove to you the charges of which they now accuse me. But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call the sect I do serve the God of our Fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law, and that is written in the Prophets; having a hope in God , which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men. Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings; in which they found me occupied in the temple, having been purified, without any crowd or uproar. But there were certain Jews from Asia-who ought to have been present you, to make accusation, if they should have anything against me. Or else these men themselves tell what misdeed they found when I stood before the Council, other than this one statement which I shouted out while standing among them, 'For the resurrection of the dead I am on trial before you today.'" (Acts 24:11-21). Felix put them off and had Paul put in custody with some freedom and be able to have his friends visit him.

And so for the answer to our question, we turn and read, "But some days later, Felix arrived with Drusilla, his wife who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul, and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. And as he was discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, 'Go away for the present, and when I find time, I will summon you.' At the same time too, he was hoping that money would be given him by Paul; therefore he also used to send for him quite often and converse with him. But after two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; and wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul imprisoned." (Acts 24:24-27). So there we have the answer to our question as it was Porcius Festus who succeeded Felix!

May we too have the same conviction as Paul to make a defense for our Faith in Jesus Christ and cherish the hope in Him for life as Paul states, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but to all who have loved His appearing." (1 Timothy 4:7-8)