But Felix, having a rather accurate knowledge of the Way, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case.” Then he gave orders to the centurion that he 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 came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.” At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him. When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.
but have some liberty - "Paul was under a relatively loose military confinement." (Ryrie)
"There were three forms of custody for uncondemned prisoners under Roman law 1.) custodia publica, or confinement in the public jail, 2.) custodia militaris, or military custody, under a soldier or soldiers responsible with their lives for the prisoner's safe keeping, and 3.) custodia libera, or free custody under the supervision of some notable person. The first was the most severe and the third so mild that the accused could go free at the custodian's assurance that he would appear for trial. The second is evidently the one which, on several occasions, applied in Paul's case." (Stam)
Felix came with his wife Drusilla - "Youngest of the three daughters of Herod Agrippa I (Acts 12:1), her elder sisters being Berehice (Acts 25:13) and Mariamne. She was only six years old when her father died in A.D. 44, and so was now about nineteen years of age. She had been married, when only aged fourteen, to Azizus, king of Emesa. Felix, as Josephus tells us (Antiq. 20. 7. 2), became enamoured of her beauty and employed a Cyprian sorcerer named Simon to persuade her to forsake her husband and marry him. She bore him one son, Agrippa, who perished, in the company either of his wife or his mother, in an eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in the reign of the emperor Titus." (Walker)
"This harmonizes with historical accounts which indicate that it was about this time that the wicked Felix, with the aid of Simon, a magician from Cyprus (supposed by some to the Simon Magus of Acts 8), succeeded in enticing the beautiful Drusilla away from Azizus, king of Emesa, whom she had some six years previous, married at the age of fourteen. Now about twenty, she already had an infamous past. She was the daughter of Herod Agrippa I (of Acts 12) the sister of Herod Agrippa II (of Acts 26) and was a little girl at the time her father had accepted worship as a god and had been suddenly struck dead (Acts 12:22,23)." (Stam)
he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment - "Some have carelessly concluded that Paul was preaching 'kingdom' truth here, that this address was not compatible with 'the gospel of the grace of God.' But such overlook the fact that we have here another of the interrupted discourses of the Book of Acts. What Paul had been saying formed the introduction to the gospel of the grace of God, for still today, no man truly proclaims grace who does not proclaim it against the background of the righteous wrath of God against sin. Any who may question this should consider prayerfully such passages as Eph. 2:1-10 and the early chapters of Romans. Paul had hoped that, having shown Felix his need, he could now show him God's gracious provision for that need, but the governor would listen no further. Here he stands in sharp contrast to the Philippian jailor who, trembling also, asked: 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?' (Acts 16:29,30) with the result that he was gloriously saved. But Felix, trembling sent the man of God away, promising to hear him further when he should find an opportunity. In this he has had multitudes of followers who, convicted by the Spirit of their sin and need, have resisted instead of yielding, hoping for another chance." (Stam)
Felix was alarmed - "Felix had stolen Drusilla from her first husband. He also was corrupt as a governor (v. 26), and Paul may have challenged him concerning his low morality." (Ryrie)
When two years had elapsed - "That is, dating from St. Paul's trial. He was thus detained in custody two years in Caesarea. During this period, the party jealousies which constantly existed between the Jews and Syrians of that city culminated in an open fight. When the Jewish faction refused to disperse, Felix sent soldiery who slew some of them and plundered their houses. He was accused at Rome in consequence, and had to proceed thither to answer the charges lodged against him." (Walker)
Porcius Festus - "... was Felix's successor. The change came ca. A.D. 58. A Roman magistrate could decide when a case would be called; often the delays were long, as here." (Ryrie)
"There is considerable doubt about the date of his assuming office, but it was probably in A.D. 59. His procuratorship was a of comparatively brief duration, as he died, most probably, in A.D. 61-2, being succeeded by Albinus. Josephus gives him a fairly good character, and he was certainly more upright in every way than Felix. He rigorously put down the Sicarii. The chief events of his term of office were (1) the emperor's decision in favour of the Syrians at Caesarea, as against the Jews,—and (2) grave disturbances at Jerusalem because of the building of a wall at the temple to intercept the view from Agrippa's palace. He was a typical Roman official, indifferent to the religious tenets and disputes of the Jews." (Walker)
Felix left Paul in prison - "After two years, in which Felix conversed with the apostle many times, he was still as unscrupulous as ever. Vacating his office in favor or Porcius Festus, he still left Paul bound though it was customary on such occasions to release uncondemned prisoners. He did this to 'show the Jews a pleasure' (though he hate them roundly) for, if history is correct, he was being called to account by Nero for maladministration of his government, and he would need as much Jewish friendship as he could win. Thus he sacrificed an innocent man's liberty at the altar of his own selfishness." (Stam)
but have some liberty - "Paul was under a relatively loose military confinement." (Ryrie)
"There were three forms of custody for uncondemned prisoners under Roman law 1.) custodia publica, or confinement in the public jail, 2.) custodia militaris, or military custody, under a soldier or soldiers responsible with their lives for the prisoner's safe keeping, and 3.) custodia libera, or free custody under the supervision of some notable person. The first was the most severe and the third so mild that the accused could go free at the custodian's assurance that he would appear for trial. The second is evidently the one which, on several occasions, applied in Paul's case." (Stam)
Felix came with his wife Drusilla - "Youngest of the three daughters of Herod Agrippa I (Acts 12:1), her elder sisters being Berehice (Acts 25:13) and Mariamne. She was only six years old when her father died in A.D. 44, and so was now about nineteen years of age. She had been married, when only aged fourteen, to Azizus, king of Emesa. Felix, as Josephus tells us (Antiq. 20. 7. 2), became enamoured of her beauty and employed a Cyprian sorcerer named Simon to persuade her to forsake her husband and marry him. She bore him one son, Agrippa, who perished, in the company either of his wife or his mother, in an eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in the reign of the emperor Titus." (Walker)
"This harmonizes with historical accounts which indicate that it was about this time that the wicked Felix, with the aid of Simon, a magician from Cyprus (supposed by some to the Simon Magus of Acts 8), succeeded in enticing the beautiful Drusilla away from Azizus, king of Emesa, whom she had some six years previous, married at the age of fourteen. Now about twenty, she already had an infamous past. She was the daughter of Herod Agrippa I (of Acts 12) the sister of Herod Agrippa II (of Acts 26) and was a little girl at the time her father had accepted worship as a god and had been suddenly struck dead (Acts 12:22,23)." (Stam)
he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment - "Some have carelessly concluded that Paul was preaching 'kingdom' truth here, that this address was not compatible with 'the gospel of the grace of God.' But such overlook the fact that we have here another of the interrupted discourses of the Book of Acts. What Paul had been saying formed the introduction to the gospel of the grace of God, for still today, no man truly proclaims grace who does not proclaim it against the background of the righteous wrath of God against sin. Any who may question this should consider prayerfully such passages as Eph. 2:1-10 and the early chapters of Romans. Paul had hoped that, having shown Felix his need, he could now show him God's gracious provision for that need, but the governor would listen no further. Here he stands in sharp contrast to the Philippian jailor who, trembling also, asked: 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?' (Acts 16:29,30) with the result that he was gloriously saved. But Felix, trembling sent the man of God away, promising to hear him further when he should find an opportunity. In this he has had multitudes of followers who, convicted by the Spirit of their sin and need, have resisted instead of yielding, hoping for another chance." (Stam)
Felix was alarmed - "Felix had stolen Drusilla from her first husband. He also was corrupt as a governor (v. 26), and Paul may have challenged him concerning his low morality." (Ryrie)
When two years had elapsed - "That is, dating from St. Paul's trial. He was thus detained in custody two years in Caesarea. During this period, the party jealousies which constantly existed between the Jews and Syrians of that city culminated in an open fight. When the Jewish faction refused to disperse, Felix sent soldiery who slew some of them and plundered their houses. He was accused at Rome in consequence, and had to proceed thither to answer the charges lodged against him." (Walker)
Porcius Festus - "... was Felix's successor. The change came ca. A.D. 58. A Roman magistrate could decide when a case would be called; often the delays were long, as here." (Ryrie)
"There is considerable doubt about the date of his assuming office, but it was probably in A.D. 59. His procuratorship was a of comparatively brief duration, as he died, most probably, in A.D. 61-2, being succeeded by Albinus. Josephus gives him a fairly good character, and he was certainly more upright in every way than Felix. He rigorously put down the Sicarii. The chief events of his term of office were (1) the emperor's decision in favour of the Syrians at Caesarea, as against the Jews,—and (2) grave disturbances at Jerusalem because of the building of a wall at the temple to intercept the view from Agrippa's palace. He was a typical Roman official, indifferent to the religious tenets and disputes of the Jews." (Walker)
Felix left Paul in prison - "After two years, in which Felix conversed with the apostle many times, he was still as unscrupulous as ever. Vacating his office in favor or Porcius Festus, he still left Paul bound though it was customary on such occasions to release uncondemned prisoners. He did this to 'show the Jews a pleasure' (though he hate them roundly) for, if history is correct, he was being called to account by Nero for maladministration of his government, and he would need as much Jewish friendship as he could win. Thus he sacrificed an innocent man's liberty at the altar of his own selfishness." (Stam)
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