Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 24:27
But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix’ room: and Felix, willing to show the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.
27. But after two years ] More literally the Rev. Ver. “But when two years were fulfilled;” and it may be that St Luke would indicate by his expression, that it was not a reckoning of time such as was usual among the Jews, where portions of a year were sometimes counted for a whole, but that the Apostle’s detention endured for two years complete.
Porcius Festus came into Felix’ room ] Festus was made governor by Nero probably in a.d. 60 and died in about two years. Josephus ( B.J. ii. 14. 1) gives him a far better character than his predecessor, but he had the same kind of difficulties to deal with in the outbreaks of the populace and the bands of assassins with which the country was infested. (Jos. Ant. xx. 8. 10) The Rev. Ver. “Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus” comes nearer to the literal rendering “Felix received Porcius Festus as a successor,” but does not make the meaning clearer, and to put “Felix” as the subject in this sentence and in that which immediately follows gives an awkward sound to the English, which was neatly avoided in A.V.
and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure ] The literal sense is “to store up for himself favour with the Jews,” therefore the Rev. Ver. gives the proper rendering, “and desiring to gain favour with the Jews.” Of course it may be said that if he shewed favour to them he would gain favour with them. But what he particularly desired at this time was to blunt the anger which the Jews (especially those of Csarea) felt against him, that they might be less bitter in their charges against him on his recall. And so he used Paul as his “Mammon of unrighteousness” and left him detained that he might make himself friends thereby.
left Paul bound ] [ R. V. in bonds.] This seems to indicate that before his departure Felix withdrew the indulgence which had been previously granted to Paul, and put him in bonds, so as to give to his successor the impression, which the Jews desired, that he was deserving of punishment. It would be very interesting to know what St Paul did during the two years that he was kept at Csarea. Various conjectures have been ventured on, but none with any ground of certainty. Some, accepting St Paul as the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews, point to this period as the time of its composition. Others assign to this imprisonment those letters of the Apostle which speak so much of his bonds, viz. to the Ephesians, the Philippians, the Colossians and Philemon, but the evidence in favour of Rome as the place whence they were written seems far to outweigh all that can be said on behalf of Csarea. Our only reflection on such a gap as this in the history of St Paul’s work must be that the Acts was not intended to be a narrative of any man’s labours, but how God employed now this servant, now that, for the establishment of the Kingdom of Christ. The remembrance of this will prevent us seeking from the book what it was not meant to give.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
But after two years – Paul was unjustly detained during all this time. The hope of Felix seems to have been to weary his patience, and induce him to purchase his freedom.
Came into Felix room – As governor.
And Felix, willing to show the Jews a pleasure – Desirous of pleasing them, even at the expense of justice, This shows the principle on which he acted.
Left Paul bound – Left him in custody to the charge of his successor. His object in this was to conciliate the Jews; that is, to secure their favor, and to prevent them, if possible, from accusing him for the evils of his administration before the emperor. The account which Luke gives here coincides remarkably with what Josephus has given. He says that Porcius Festus was sent as successor to Felix by Nero. He does not, indeed, mention Paul, or say that Felix sought to conciliate the favor of the Jews, but he gives such an account as to make the statement by Luke perfectly consistent with his character while in office. He informs us that Felix was unpopular, and that there was reason to apprehend that the Jews would accuse him before the emperor; and, therefore, the statement in the Acts that he would be willing to show the Jews a favor, is in perfect keeping with his character and circumstances, and is one of those undesigned coincidences which show that the author of the Acts was fully acquainted with the circumstances of the time and that his history is true.
The account in Josephus is, that when Porcius Festus was sent as successor to Felix by Nero, the principal inhabitants of Caesarea went up to Rome to accuse Felix; and he had been certainly brought to punishment unless Nero had yielded to the importunate solicitations of his brother Palias, who was at that time had in the greatest honor by him (Antiq., book 20, chapter 8, section 9). The plan of Felix, therefore, in suppressing the enmity of the Jews, and conciliating their favor by injustice to Paul, did not succeed, and is one of those instances, so numerous in the world, where a man gains nothing by wickedness. He sought money from Paul by iniquity, and failed; he sought by injustice to obtain the favor of the Jews, and failed in that also. And the inference from the whole transaction is, that honesty is the best policy, and that men in any office should pursue a course of firm, constant, and undeviating integrity.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 27. After two years] That is, from the time that Paul came prisoner to Caesarea.
Porcius Festus] This man was put into the government of Judea about A.D. 60, the sixth or seventh year of Nero. In the succeeding chapter we shall see the part that he took in the affairs of St. Paul.
Willing to show the Jews a pleasure] As he had not got the money which he expected, he hoped to be able to prevent the complaints of the Jews against his government, by leaving Paul, in some measure, in their hands. For it was customary for governors, c., when they left, or were removed from a particular district or province, to do some public, beneficent act, in order to make themselves popular. But Felix gained nothing by this: the Jews pursued him with their complaints against his administration, even to the throne of the emperor. Josephus states the matter thus: “Now when Porcius Festus was sent as successor to Felix, by Nero, the principal of the Jewish inhabitants of Caesarea went up to Rome, to accuse Felix. And he certainly would have been brought to punishment, had not Nero yielded to the importunate solicitations of his brother Pallas, who was at that time in the highest reputation with the emperor.”-Antiq. lib. xx. cap. 9. Thus, like the dog in the fable, by snatching at the shadow, he lost the substance. He hoped for money from the apostle, and got none he sought to conciliate the friendship of the Jews, and miscarried. Honesty is the best policy: he that fears God need fear nothing else. Justice and truth never deceive their possessor.
1. Envy and malice are indefatigable, and torment themselves in order to torment and ruin others. That a high priest, says pious Quesnel, should ever be induced to leave the holy city, and the functions of religion, to become the accuser of an innocent person; this could be no other than the effect of a terrible dereliction, and the punishment of the abuse of sacred things.
2. Tertullus begins his speech with flattery, against which every judge should have a shut ear; and then he proceeds to calumny and detraction. These generally succeed each other. He who flatters you, will in course calumniate you for receiving his flattery. When a man is conscious of the uprightness of his cause, he must know that to attempt to support it by any thing but truth tends directly to debase it.
3. The resurrection of the body was the grand object of the genuine Christian’s hope; but the ancient Christians only hoped for a blessed resurrection on the ground of reconciliation to God through the death of his Son. In vain is our hope of glory, if we have not got a meetness for it. And who is fit for this state of blessedness, but he whose iniquity is forgiven, whose sin is covered, and whose heart is purified from deceit and guile!
4. We could applaud the lenity shown to St. Paul by Felix, did not his own conduct render his motives for this lenity very suspicious. “To think no evil, where no evil seems,” is the duty of a Christian; but to refuse to see it, where it most evidently appears, is an imposition on the understanding itself.
5. Justice, temperance, and a future judgment, the subjects of St. Paul’s discourse to Felix and Drusilla, do not concern an iniquitous judge alone; they are subjects which should affect and interest every Christian; subjects which the eye should carefully examine, and which the heart should ever feel. Justice respects our conduct in life, particularly in reference to others: temperance, the state and government of our souls, in reference to God. He who does not exercise himself in these has neither the form nor the power of godliness; and consequently must be overwhelmed with the shower of Divine wrath in the day of God’s appearing, Many of those called Christians, have not less reason to tremble at a display of these truths than this heathen.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
After two years, either from Pauls being in bonds, which history St. Luke is here setting down; or, as others, after Felix had been governor two years over Judea; for that St. Paul speaks, Act 24:10, is not thought to have been true as to this place, though he had governed the neighbouring parts some years before.
The Jews had accused Felix unto the emperor for his barbarous cruelty and exactions, insomuch that had it not been for his brother Pallas (a great favourite) he had lost his life: yet he did not wholly escape punishment, but was sent bound by Festus, his successor, unto Nero. Sic transit gloria mundi; and, Man being in honour continueth not.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
27. after two yearsWhat atrial to this burning missionary of Christ, to suffer such a tediousperiod of inaction! How mysterious it would seem! But this reposewould be medicine to his spirit; he would not, and could not, beentirely inactive, so long as he was able by pen and message tocommunicate with the churches; and he would doubtless learn thesalutary truth that even he was not essential to his Master’s cause.That Luke wrote his Gospel during this period, under the apostle’ssuperintendence, is the not unlikely conjecture of able critics.
Porcius FestusLittleis known of him. He died a few years after this [JOSEPHUS,Antiquities, 20.8.9-9.1].
came into Felix’ roomHewas recalled, on accusations against him by the Jews of Csarea, andonly acquitted through the intercession of his brother at court[JOSEPHUS, Antiquities,20.8,10].
Felix, willing to show theJews a pleasure“to earn the thanks of the Jews,”which he did not.
left Paul bound (Ac26:29) which does not seem to have been till then.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
But after two years,…. Not of Felix’s government, for he had been judge many years in that nation, but of the apostle’s confinement at Caesarea:
Porcius Festus came in Felix’s room; was made governor of Judea by Nero in his stead; who having had many and loud complaints against him for malpractice, moved him: and so Josephus f says, that Festus succeeded Felix in the government of Judea, and calls him as here, Porcius Festus; in the Arabic version he is called Porcinius Festus, and in the Vulgate Latin version Portius Festus, but his name was not Portius, from “porta”, a gate, but “Porcius”, a porcis, from hogs; it was common with the Romans to take names from the brute creatures; so Suillius from swine, Caprarius and Caprilius from goats, Bubulcus from oxen, and Ovinius from sheep. The famous Cato was of the family of the Porcii; his name was M. Porcius Cato, and came from Tusculum, a place about twelve miles from Rome, where there is a mountain which still retains the name of Porcius; we read also of Porcius Licinius, a Latin poet, whose fragments are still extant; whether this man was of the same family is not certain, it is very likely he might: his surname Festus signifies joyful and cheerful, as one keeping a feast; this was a name common with the Romans, as Rufus Festus, Pompeius Festus, and others:
and Felix, willing to show the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound; he had done many injuries to their persons and properties, he had greatly abused them, and incensed them against him; and now he was sent for to Rome, to answer for his maladministration; wherefore, to gratify the Jews, and to oblige them, in hopes that they would not follow him with charges and accusations, at least would mitigate them, and not bear hard upon him, he leaves Paul bound at Caesarea, when it was in his power to have loosed him, and who he knew was an innocent person: but this piece of policy did him no service, for the persons he had wronged, the chief of the Jews at Caesarea, went to Rome, and accused him to Caesar; and he was sent by his successor thither, to appear before Nero, and answer to the charges exhibited against him; and had it not been for his brother Pallas, who was in great authority at court, he had been severely punished g.
f De Bello Jud. l. 2. c. 14. sect. 1. & Antiqu. l. 20. c. 7. sect. 9. g Joseph. Antiqu. l. 20. c. 7. sect. 9.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
But when two years were fulfilled ( ). Genitive absolute first aorist passive of , common verb to fill full. , late word in LXX and Philo, common in the papyri, in N.T. only here and Ac 28:30. Compound of , two (, ) and , year. So Paul lingered on in prison in Caesarea, waiting for the second hearing under Felix which never came. Caesarea now became the compulsory headquarters of Paul for two years. With all his travels Paul spent several years each at Tarsus, Antioch, Corinth, Ephesus, though not as a prisoner unless that was true part of the time at Ephesus for which there is some evidence though not of a convincing kind. We do not know that Luke remained in Caesarea all this time. In all probability he came and went with frequent visits with Philip the Evangelist. It was probably during this period that Luke secured the material for his Gospel and wrote part or all of it before going to Rome. He had ample opportunity to examine the eyewitnesses who heard Jesus and the first attempts at writing including the Gospel of Mark (Lu 1:1-4).
Was succeeded by ( ). Literally, “received as successor.” is an old word from , to receive in succession (, , two) and occurs here alone in the N.T. Deissmann (Bible Studies, p. 115) gives papyri examples where means “higher officials at the court of the Ptolemies,” probably “deputies,” a usage growing out of the “successors” of Alexander the Great (Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary), though here the original notion of “successor” occurs (cf. Josephus, Ant. XX. 8, 9). Luke does not tell why Felix “received” a successor. The explanation is that during these two years the Jews and the Gentiles had an open fight in the market-place in Caesarea. Felix put the soldiers on the mob and many Jews were killed. The Jews made formal complaint to the Emperor with the result that Felix was recalled and Porcius Festus sent in his stead.
Porcius Festus ( ). We know very little about this man. He is usually considered a worthier man than Felix, but Paul fared no better at his hands and he exhibits the same insincerity and eagerness to please the Jews. Josephus (Ant. XX. 8, 9) says that “Porcius Festus was sent as a successor to Felix.” The precise year when this change occurred is not clear. Albinus succeeded Festus by A.D. 62, so that it is probable that Festus came A.D. 58 (or 59). Death cut short his career in a couple of years though he did more than Felix to rid the country of robbers and sicarii. Some scholars argue for an earlier date for the recall of Felix. Nero became Emperor Oct. 13, A.D. 54. Poppaea, his Jewish mistress and finally wife, may have had something to do with the recall of Felix at the request of the Jews.
Desiring to gain favour with the Jews ( ). Reason for his conduct. Note second aorist (ingressive) middle infinitive from , old verb to place down, to make a deposit, to deposit a favour with, to do something to win favour. Only here and 25:9 in N.T., though in some MSS. in Mr 15:46. It is a banking figure.
Left Paul in bonds ( ). Effective aorist active indicative of , to leave behind. Paul “in bonds” (, perfect passive participle of , to bind) was the “deposit” () for their favour. Codex Bezae adds that Felix left Paul in custody “because of Drusilla” ( ). She disliked Paul as much as Herodias did John the Baptist. So Pilate surrendered to the Jews about the death of Jesus when they threatened to report him to Caesar. Some critics would date the third group of Paul’s Epistles (Philippians, Philemon, Colossians, Ephesians) to the imprisonment here in Caesarea, some even to one in Ephesus. But the arguments for either of these two views are more specious than convincing. Furneaux would even put 2Ti 4:9-22 here in spite of the flat contradiction with Ac 21:29 about Trophimus being in Jerusalem instead of Miletus (2Ti 4:20), a “mistake” which he attributes to Luke! That sort of criticism can prove anything.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Porcius Festus came into Felix ‘s room [ ] . Rev., better, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. The Greek idiom is, Felix received Porcius Festus as a successor.
To shew the Jews a pleasure [ ] . Lit., to lay up thanks for himself with the Jews. Rev., correctly, to gain favor with the Jews.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “But after two years,” (dietias de plerotheistes) “Then after two years had been completed,” had passed, during which time it is believed Luke stayed near, conferred with him, and attended to many of Paul’s needs. Here too, during this time of two years in Caesarea, it is believed also that Luke wrote the gospel of Luke.
2) “Porcius Festus came into Felix’ room: (eleben diadochon ho Pheliks Porkian Pheston) “Felix received Porcius Festus, a successor as governor,” about whom, beyond this, little is known, Act 25:1.
3) “And Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure,” (thelo te charita katathesthai tois loudaiois ho Pheliks) “And Felix, wishing deeply to show a favor to the Jews,” to incur their good will and favor, more than minister justice to an accused and imprisoned innocent. person. Festus later followed the same policy, Act 25:9; Act 25:14. He desired popularity more than justice and at the price of justice.
4) “Left Paul bound.” (katelipe ton Paulon dedemenon) “Left Paul bound,” bound under bonds or chains, with restrictions of humiliation, for two full years, during which time he repeatedly tried to extract a bribe from Paul for his release, Act 24:26. When he could not, he had Paul again bound with chains on both hands, to ingratiate himself with the Jews, and kept him that way until he was later brought before King Agrippa, Act 26:29.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
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27. And when two years were expired. Seeing Paul knew that the judge who did gape for gain would be favorable to him so soon as he should offer him money, and seeing he had sufficient time to gather the same; it is likely that he did not only bear with the brethren, − (597) but also detest such bribery, wherewith the holiness of civil order is shamefully polluted. Now, whereas governors use to let loose such prisoners as they know are not guilty when they go from the province, Felix took the contrary way to win favor. The Jews had often complained of his filthy gain, of his extortion, cruelty, and unruly government. Claudius Caesar being wearied with so many complaints, did call him out of Judea; to the end the Jews may not spite him so sore, he leaveth Paul bound; so that he maketh the guiltless servant of God, as it were, an offering for his evil deeds, that he may therewithal appease the priests.
(597) −
“
Pepercisse fratribus,” spare the brethren.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(27) After two years Porcius Festus came into Felix room.The English states the same fact as the Greek, but inverts the order. Literally, When a period of two years was accomplished, Felix received Porcius Festus as his successor. We can, of course, only conjecture how these years were spent. Some writers who maintain the Pauline authorship of the Epistle to the Hebrews have assigned it to this period: others have supposed that the Epistles to the Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon were written from Csarea; but there is no adequate evidence in support of either hypothesis. It is better to confine ourselves to the thought of the Apostles patient resignation, learning obedience by the things he sufferedof his intercourse with Philip, and other members of the Church of Csarea, as comforting and refreshing to him. We may venture, perhaps, to think of St. Luke, who had come with him to Jerusalem, and who sailed with him from Csarea, as not far off from him during his imprisonment. Attention has already been called (see Introduction to St. Lukes Gospel and to the Acts) to the probable use made by the Evangelist of these opportunities for collecting materials for his two histories.
The change of administration was caused by the complaints which the Jews brought against Felix, and which led Nero to recall him. The influence of his brother Pallas availed, however, to save him from any further punishment. His successor, Festus, who came to the province in A.D. 60, died in his second year of office. Josephus (Wars, ii. 14, 1) speaks of him as suppressing the outrages of the robbers who infested the country, and maintaining the tranquility of the province. Felix, with characteristic baseness, sought by his latest act to court the favour of the Jews, and left the Apostle in prison as a set-off against the many charges which were brought against him.
Willing to shew the Jews a pleasure.Literally, to deposit a favour. The boon conferred was not to be without return. It was, so to speak, an investment in iniquity.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
27. Two years Two full years of confinement were thus apparently taken out of the apostle’s mature life. There is no record of action or epistle by him at this time. We cannot suppose that his faithful servitors, Luke, Timothy, and others, left him in neglect. Philip the evangelist, and his prophetic family, and perhaps Cornelius the centurion, were still at Cesarea.
Show the Jews a pleasure As Felix obtained no bribe from Paul, so he determined to make Paul a bribe to the Jews. But he incurred all the meanness of the act without any compensation. The Jews followed him to Rome with charges; but the influence of his brother Pallas at court saved him.
Paul bound The expression intimates that Paul was found by Festus in the prison apartments of his palace at Cesarea, bound with a chain fastened to the wrist of a Roman soldier.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘But when two years were fulfilled, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and desiring to gain favour with the Jews, Felix left Paul in bonds.’
So time passed by until two years were up. And then Felix was called back to Rome and replaced. He continued to reveal the kind of man he was to the end. Being recalled by Nero he deliberately left Paul in custody, and removing the liberty that he had given him put him in bonds (so he had not been previously tied up), so as to try to pacify the Jews over his own bad behaviour towards them (described above). He was mean-minded and mean-spirited to the end.
But Luke has made it quite clear that this was all in the will of God. God was continuing to fulfil his purpose through Paul. By now it was c 59/60 AD.
What a sad picture we have in Felix. The slave who had risen to freedom, rising through favouritism, brutal and lascivious but at some stage learning of ‘the Way’ and being intrigued. It stirred something in his brutal soul and he wondered whether there could be anything there for him. Could he through it obtain a greater freedom? And then he was brought into contact with Paul and he sought to learn more of Jesus Christ and of the Way. And as he heard from him of righteousness, and self-control and judgment, his own sin and unrighteousness were brought home to him, together with the fear of judgment to come. And he was ‘filled with fear’. He was faced up with the claims of Christ, crucified and risen. But he delayed and procrastinated, leaving it for a ‘more convenient season’. It was attractive but he must have time to think, and it was not convenient at present. And then suddenly it was too late. Still he heard the same message but greed had now taken over, and he no longer saw Paul as the herald of what he had heard of so long ago, he no longer considered the Way, but he saw him as a means of gaining more wealth through bribery. Instead of hope dancing before his eyes there was money. Now when he saw Paul it was not ‘meaning to life’ he was seeking but ‘Mammon’. And finally, because his sin had continued to grow and harden his heart and mind, when at last he said farewell to Paul he mean-spiritedly had him put in chains and left him there to his enemies. His opportunity had gone. The love of Christ had still reached out to him, but it was now unnoticed. His heart was irreparably hardened. All he could now think of was how to get out of the trouble that his sin had got him into, while leaving to his fate the man who had so lovingly and so continually sought to reveal to him the truth.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Act 24:27 . .] namely, from the commencement of the imprisonment at Caesarea.
On the time of the accession of Festus (61), see Introd. 4. [156]
(see the critical remarks) , to lay down (deposit) thanks for himself, i.e. to earn for himself thanks (Act 25:9 ), to establish claims to their gratitude. An old classical expression (Herod. vi. 41). See Krger on Thuc. i. 33. 1. Grotius aptly says: “Est locutio bene Graeca quales locutiones non paucas habet Lucas, ubi non alios inducit loquentes, sed ipse loquitur, et quidem de rebus ad religionem non pertinentibus.” The form , only here and in Jud 1:4 in the N.T., is also found in classical poets and prose writers, although less common than .
] According to what was remarked on Act 24:23 , Paul had not hitherto been released from chains; and therefore we have not to suppose that Felix on his departure changed the captivity of the apostle, which was previously free from chains (but see on Act 24:23 ), into the custodia militaris allowable even in the case of Roman citizens, in which the prisoner was bound by a chain to the soldier who kept him. This period of two years in the life of the apostle, we may add, remains to us, as far as the Book of Acts goes, so completely unknown, that we are not in a position (with Ewald and Otto) to maintain that no letters of his from that interval could be in existence.
Of Porcius Festus, the better successor of Felix, little is known except his energetic measures against the sicarii. See Joseph. Antt . xx. 8. 9 f. to xx. 9. 1, Bell . ii. 14. 1. He died in the following year, and was succeeded by Albinus, whose knavery was yet surpassed by that of his successor, Gessius Florus.
[156] What Wieseler has further urged in favour of the year 60 in his most recent learned investigation ( Beitr. z. Wrdig. d. Evang . p. 322 ff.) does not remove the chief objection that, according to Josephus, Poppaea, about the time ( ) that Festus succeeded, was no longer the mistress, but the wife of Nero. Especially when the discourse is of an empress , is least of all to be lightly passed over; on the contrary, it is to be presumed that the expression is meant, and is to be understood, strictly.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
REFLECTIONS
READER! dismiss not this chapter without taking one short view more of this mock court of pretended justice, before whom the Apostle Paul was brought to answer for his life. Behold, on the one side, Tertullus hired for this purpose, that by his eloquence he might lead the minds of his hearers from what was right; and Ananias the high priest, to give weight by his presence to the accusations against Paul, and the whole body of the Jews with open mouth forming a clamorous cry to criminate the Apostle! On the other hand, behold the poor defenseless prisoner, while hearing their violent abuse, standing silent, and not presuming to open his mouth, until commanded by the governor. And, behold this time-serving prince presiding at such a court, whose object was to get money, and not administer justice! And where are the different parties now? What is become of the oratory of Tertullus? What are his present views of the sect of the Nazarenes, or of Paul, the ringleader? And what hath Felix, and all the characters of his complexion found of judgment, when from the trembling at the representation only, they have now entered into the full manifestation of it in reality, in the eternal world?
Blessed Lord Jesus! how sweet to the souls of all thy redeemed ones, is the recollection that thou art judge of the quick and dead! And amidst all the unjust decisions, and painful perversions, thy people are not unfrequently brought under, in the present time-state of the Church, the thought of thy righteous judgment brings relief to every case. He that is the believer’s judge, is in the same moment his advocate and brother. He will vindicate the cause of his people, and finally and fully restore perfect order among all the works of God.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
27 But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix’ room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.
Ver. 27. Willing to show the Jews, &c. ] Politicians care not to gratify others and serve their own turns with the loss of right and good conscience. In the reign of Henry II of France, A. D. 1554, many were there burnt for religion, not without the indignation of honest men, who knew that the diligence used against these poor people was not for piety or religion, but to satiate the covetousness of Diana Valentina, the king’s mistress, to whom he had given all the confiscation of goods made in the kingdom for cause of heresy. (Hist. of Council of Trent.)
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
27. ] viz. of Paul’s imprisonment.
] Festus appears to have succeeded Felix in the summer or autumn of the year 60 A.D.: but the question is one of much chronological difficulty. It is fully discussed in Wieseler, Chron. d. Apost.-g. pp. 91 99. He found the province (Jos. Antt. xx. 8. 10) wasted and harassed by bands of robbers and sicarii, and the people the prey of false prophets. He died, after being procurator a very short time, from one to two years. Josephus (B. J. ii. 14. 1) contrasts him, as a putter down of robbers, favourably with his successor Albinus.
On the deposition, &c., of Felix, see note, ch. Act 23:24 .
] See reff. ‘Est locutio bene Grca, Demostheni quoque usitata et Xenophonti: quales locutiones non paucas habet Lucas, ubi non alios inducit loqueutes, sed ipse loquitur, et quidem de rebus ad religionem non pertinentibus.’ Grot. The reading , brought into the text by the evidence of the best MSS., has apparently been a correction to suit the context, only one such act being spoken of. The plural would describe the wish of Felix to confer obligations on the Jews, who were sending to complain of him at Rome, and so win their favour.
] There was no change in the method of custody, see note on Act 24:23 . He left him in the ‘ custodia militaris ’ in which he was.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Act 24:27 . .: on the question of chronology see below, cf. Act 20:30 , and for , Act 20:31 ; on in inscriptions see two instances in Deissmann, Neue Bibelstudien , p. 86. .: perhaps indicating that two full years are meant. Weizscker throws doubt upon the historical character of this imprisonment, and thinks that the episode is merely introduced by the writer of Acts, who in his ignorance of the name of the procurator doubles the incident before Felix and Festus; but Wendt declines to value so lightly the definite notices and accounts in Acts, and adds that the delay of the trial under a procurator devoid of a sense of duty was no improbable event. The recall of Felix has been assigned to very varying dates, Lightfoot naming 60, Wendt (1899) 61, Schrer, at the earliest 58, at the latest 61, probably 60, Ramsay 59, whilst McGiffert, following the Chronology recently advocated by O. Holtzmann (with a few earlier writers), places it as early as 55 (Harnack 55 56, following Eusebius, whilst Blass has also defended the Eusebian date). Both McGiffert and Holtzmann fix upon 55 because before the end of this year Pallas, the brother of Felix, was in disgrace; and yet, according to Josephus, Felix escaped the accusations brought against him by shielding himself behind his brother Pallas, whom Nero was then holding in special honour, Jos., Ant. , xx., 8, 9, Tac., Ann. , xiii., 14. “Either Josephus is in error,” says O. Holtzmann, Neutest. Zeitgeschichte , p. 128, “or Festus went to Palestine in 55”. But there is good reason for thinking that Josephus was in error in stating that Felix escaped by his brother’s influence, then at its height, Jos., u. s. It is no doubt true that the influence of Pallas may have been very substantial long after his fall from court favour; but if the intervention of Pallas was subsequent to his fall, what becomes of the synchronism between his disgrace and the recall of Felix? But further, Pallas, according to the statement of Tacitus, Ann. , xiii., 14, was disgraced before the fourteenth birthday of Britannicus, in Feb. 55, but, if so, how could Felix have reached Rome at such an early period of that year? Nero came to the throne on 13th Oct., 54, and we have to suppose that the order for recall was sent and the return journey of Felix to the capital accomplished in spite of the winter season which made a sea voyage impossible (Ramsay, Zahn, Bacon); “one can therefore no longer base the chronology of an Apostle’s life upon the dismissal of a court favourite”. But are there no chronological data available? Albinus, the successor of Festus, was already procurator in 62. How long he had been in office we cannot say, but he was certainly procurator in the summer of that year (Schrer, Jewish People , div. i., vol. ii., p. 188, E.T.; Biblical World , p. 357, 1897). From Jos., Ant. , xx., 9, 1, we learn that there was an interval of some few months full of disturbance and anarchy between the death of Festus and the arrival of Albinus in Jerusalem, so that we seem justified in inferring that Festus died probably in the winter of 61 62; and whilst the events of his procuratorship can scarcely have extended over five years (as would be demanded by the earlier chronology) for in this case Josephus would surely have given us more information about them it seems equally difficult to suppose that the events which Josephus does record could have been crowded into less than a year, or portions of two (Schrer). The entrance of Festus upon his office might thus be carried back to 59 60, and St. Paul’s departure for Rome would fall probably in 60. But a further contribution to the subject has been made by Mr. Turner, “Chronology of the N.T.,” Hastings’ B.D., pp. 418, 419, and he argues for the exclusion of a date as late as 60 for the accession of Festus, and for placing the recall of Felix in 57 59, i.e. , between the earlier and later dates mentioned above; or, more definitely still, in 58, cf. p. 420. With this date Dr. Gilbert agrees, Student’s Life of Paul , p. 252, 1899. See further Zahn, Einleitung , ii., 634; Wendt (1899), p. 56; Expositor , March, 1897, Feb., 1898; “Festus” (A. Robertson), Hastings’ B.D. and B.D. 2 . , Sir 46:1 ; Sir 48:8 . In 2Ma 4:29 ; 2Ma 14:26 , the meaning of successor is doubtful, and it would seem that the title rather denoted a high office about the court of the Ptolemies, cf. Deissmann, Bibelstudien , p. 111. In classical Greek it is used as here for successor, cf. Jos., Ant. , xx., 8, 9, so successorem accepit , Plin., Epist. , ix., 13. : we know nothing of him except from the N.T. and Josephus. The latter, however, contrasts him favourably with his successor Albinus: “et Albinum cum ei dissimillimum fuisse tradit, scelestum hominem, simul illum laudat” (Blass). So far as our information goes, Festus also contrasts favourably with his predecessor; he acted with promptness to rid the country of robbers and sicarii , and amongst them of one impostor whose promises were specially seductive, Ant. , xx., 8, 9, 10, and B.J. , ii., 14, 1. But although, as Schrer says, he was disposed to act righteously, he found himself unable to undo the mischief wrought by his predecessor, and after a short administration death prevented him from coping further with the evils which infested the province. For his attitude towards St. Paul as his prisoner see notes below. Two other events marked his procuratorship: (1) the quarrel between the priests and Agrippa, because the latter built on to his palace so as to overlook the Temple, and the priests retaliated by building so as to shut off his view. Festus sided with Agrippa, but allowed the priests to appeal to Rome. (2) The decision of the emperor in favour of the Syrian against the Jewish inhabitants of Csarea, which caused a bitterness provoking in A.D. 66 the disturbances in which Josephus marked the beginnings of the great War, Ant. , xx., 8, 9. .: “desiring to gain favour with the Jews,” R.V., literally to lay down or deposit a favour with the Jews as a deposit for which a due return might be expected, cf. 1Ma 10:23 R.; Jos., Ant. , xi., 6, 5, so too in classical Greek, Thuc., i., 33, 128; Herod., vi., 41, etc. The policy of Felix was to gain popularity with the Jews in view of the accusations which followed him on his return to Rome, Jos., Ant. , xx., 8, 9. That the pursuit of such a policy was not alien to the character of Roman officials see Jos., Ant. , xx., 9, 5, where we learn that Albinus, desiring to gain the gratitude of the Jews, took money of all those in prison for some trifling fault, by which means the prisons indeed were emptied, but the country was full of robbers. In B.J. , ii., 14, 1, we learn that the same system was pursued by Albinus, the successor of Festus, until no one was left in the prisons but those who gave him nothing. According to [387] text Felix leaves Paul in prison to please his wife, but, as Blass points out, both reasons may be true. (W.H [388] , R.V.) only (in N.T.) in Jude, Act 24:4 , cf. Act 25:9 A; found in classics, though rarer than , Winer-Schmiedel, p. 88; in LXX, Zec 6:14 .: this does not at all imply that Paul had been quite free, and was now rebound, cf. Act 24:23 . did not mean perfect freedom, and the custodia militaris might still continue. Nsgen thinks that the word in its position at the end of the verse indicates a severer form of custody, but this is by no means necessary, although as the last word of the episode, and as the result of all the intercourse with Felix, it has a dramatic force and pathos. Zeller, Acts , ii., p. 83, E.T., although he thinks it remarkable that Felix and Festus are represented as acting from the same motive, as Pilate for a similar reason had consented to the execution of Jesus, is constrained to admit that conduct such as that of the two procurators is too natural for its repetition to be surprising; unscrupulous officials are always ready by complaisance at the expense of others to appease those to whom they have given just cause for complaint.
[387] R(omana), in Blass, a first rough copy of St. Luke.
[388] Westcott and Hort’s The New Testament in Greek: Critical Text and Notes.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
after two years. Literally a space of two years (Greek. dietia, only here and Act 28:30) having been fulfilled (Greek. pleroo. App-125.)
Porcius, &c. Literally Felix received Porcius Festus as successor (Greek. diadochos. Only here. Compare the verb in Act 7:45).
willing = wishing. Greek. thelo. App-102.
shew = lay up with the Jews. Greek. katatithemi, to deposit. Here; Act 25:9. Mar 15:46.
pleasure. Greek. charis. App-184.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
27. ] viz. of Pauls imprisonment.
] Festus appears to have succeeded Felix in the summer or autumn of the year 60 A.D.: but the question is one of much chronological difficulty. It is fully discussed in Wieseler, Chron. d. Apost.-g. pp. 91-99. He found the province (Jos. Antt. xx. 8. 10) wasted and harassed by bands of robbers and sicarii, and the people the prey of false prophets. He died, after being procurator a very short time,-from one to two years. Josephus (B. J. ii. 14. 1) contrasts him, as a putter down of robbers, favourably with his successor Albinus.
On the deposition, &c., of Felix, see note, ch. Act 23:24.
] See reff. Est locutio bene Grca, Demostheni quoque usitata et Xenophonti: quales locutiones non paucas habet Lucas, ubi non alios inducit loqueutes, sed ipse loquitur, et quidem de rebus ad religionem non pertinentibus. Grot. The reading , brought into the text by the evidence of the best MSS., has apparently been a correction to suit the context, only one such act being spoken of. The plural would describe the wish of Felix to confer obligations on the Jews, who were sending to complain of him at Rome,-and so win their favour.
] There was no change in the method of custody, see note on Act 24:23. He left him in the custodia militaris in which he was.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Act 24:27. , after two years) during which the imprisonment continued. The time of the government of Felix began a year before Pauls imprisonment; although it was by successive steps that he attained to the government of Judea: whence Paul, in Act 24:10, could with correctness say, that he was for many years a judge of this people. Comp. Ord. Temp., p. 285.-, received) against his will, as may be inferred from Act 24:10; Act 24:24.- , to gratify, to show a pleasure to) in order that the favour of the Jews might follow him in leaving the government. So , ch. Act 25:9 : 1Ma 10:23. Worldly men, in order to gratify one another, stretch out their hands against those things which are GODS: ch. Act 25:9.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
But after But when two years were fulfilled, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; and desiring to gain favour with the Jews, Felix left Paul in bonds.
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
two: Act 28:30
Porcius Festus: Porcius Festus was put into the government of Judea in the sixth or seventh year of Nero. He died about two years afterwards, and was succeeded by Albinus. Act 25:1, Act 26:24, Act 26:25, Act 26:32
willing: Act 12:3, Act 25:9, Act 25:14, Exo 23:2, Pro 29:25, Mar 15:15, Luk 23:24, Luk 23:25, Gal 1:10
Reciprocal: Jer 37:21 – Thus Dan 6:16 – the king Mat 27:2 – bound Mat 27:15 – General Mar 15:6 – General Luk 3:1 – Pontius Pilate Act 12:11 – all Act 21:11 – So shall Act 24:2 – Seeing 2Co 6:5 – imprisonments 2Co 11:23 – in prisons Heb 11:36 – bonds
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
7
Act 24:27. After two years Felix was replaced by Festus because he had incurred the displeasure of the Romans. During those two years Paul was kept as a prisoner, his accusers never having appeared. In spite of this situation, to gratify the hatred of the Jews toward him, Felix kept Paul bound when he relinquished his office to Festus.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Act 24:27. But after two years. It was in the summer or autumn of A.D. 60 that Felix was recalled to Rome. Two years he seems to have been from time to time in company with St. Paul; but the words of the apostle as far as we know, made no impression on that cold, hard heart. Did they, in the providence of God, meet again in Rome? On the two years, Wordsworth strikingly comments: Even Felix had two full years of Gods long-suffering; Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it bear fruit, well; and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down (Luk 13:8-9).
Porcius Festus came into Felix room. We know nothing of the previous history of the procurator, whose memory has been preserved owing to his meeting with Paul, whom he found languishing a prisoner in Csarea. Neither Tacitus nor Suetonius mention him in their histories. Josephus, however, tells us that he governed his stormy province with a wise, firm rule, putting down the Sicarii (assassins), and other predatory companies, who were then harassing Juda. The Jewish historian finds no fault with this Festus: he seems to have been both just and upright. His rule was unfortunately prematurely cut short by death, before he had completed his second year of office. He was succeeded by Albinus, another corrupt and evil governor (A.D. 62).
And Felix, willing to show the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound. Felix was recalled owing to grave complaints made against him at headquarters. He was only acquitted through the influence of his brother Pallas at the imperial court of Rome. Leaving his province, then, under a cloud, he was base enough to endeavour to conciliate his enemies among the Jews, by leaving behind him in their power an innocent man whom he knew they hated. The conduct of Felix in this matter was followed by Albinus, who, two years later, filled Felix office. When he heard that Gessius Floras had been appointed to succeed him, in order to conciliate the Jews, he liberated most of the state prisoners at Jerusalem (Josephus, Antiquities).
It has been asked, How was it allowed by the overruling providence of the Most High, that, in the busy, successful life of the apostle, two years at this most eventful period of the early Churchs history should have been thus spent by St. Paul in seclusion at Csarea? At Rome, during the long captivity, there was the great and growing church to influence and to assist in organising; but what was there to do at Csarea, a comparatively unimportant military station, where surely the presence of an apostolical man like Philip was amply sufficient for the work there? It is at first thought strange, too, that none of the Pauline Epistles appear to have been written during the long Csarean captivity. Now, on several occasions in his writings, Paul makes mention of My Gospel. Several of the most venerated of the fathers (Irenus, Origen, Jerome) tell us Paul was accustomed to mention the Gospel of Luke as a work written by him. Is it not more than probable, that this pause in his lifes restless labours was used by him to re-castpossibly to set in order, and to add tomemories which he had already collected of the Life of Lives,memories which he had already frequently used in his preaching and teaching. Where could a more favourable spot be found than Csarea?than that quiet prison there, to which we are aware his friends had ready access? Philip, we know, lived at Csarea; it was, besides, near the Holy City, in the vicinity too of those places made for ever sacred by the presence and acts of the Master. May we not in all reverence suggest, that there,in that prison-room of the palace of Herod and Felix, with an impassive Roman legionary (perhaps chained to him) watching him, and listening puzzled and wondering,the Virgin Mother herself, under the guardianship of the beloved apostle, came and visited the famous servant of her Divine Son, and dictated to him, for his Gospel, that wondrous story in the picturesque Aramaic-coloured Greek so different to the other chapters, which forms the introduction (chap. Act 1:5-26 and it) to what we call the Gospel according to St. Luke?
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
See notes on verse 26
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
Verse 27
Into Felix’s room; as his successor in the government.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
24:27 {7} But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix’ room: and Felix, willing to {p} shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.
(7) With an evil mind, that is guilty in itself, and although sometimes there is some show of fairness, yet eventually the conscience will be extinguished: but in the meanwhile we have need of continual patience.
(p) For he had behaved himself very wickedly in the province, and had it not been for favour of his brother Pallas, he would have died for it: so that we may gather by this why he would have pleased the Jews.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
The two years to which Luke referred were evidently the years of Paul’s detention in Caesarea. Felix’s superiors relieved him of his position because he had handled a conflict in Caesarea between the Jewish and Gentile residents too harshly. Too many Jews had died or been mistreated. [Note: Ibid., 2:13:7; Idem, Antiquities of . . ., 20:8:7.] His replacement, Portius Festus, served as procurator of Judea from A.D. 59-61. [Note: Bruce, Commentary on . . ., p. 474; cf. Gill, p. 25.] To appease the Jews, Felix left Paul in prison. The apostle had become a political pawn in the will of God.
It is quite likely that if Luke was with Paul at this time he used these two years to do some of the research to which he referred at the beginning of his two-part work (i.e., Luke-Acts; cf. Luk 1:3; Act 1:1). He may even have written his Gospel then and some of Acts. A minority of scholars believes that Paul wrote some or all of his Prison Epistles during his Caesarean imprisonment. One expositor believed Luke wrote the Book of Hebrews under Paul’s tutelage during this time. [Note: Morgan, p. 394.] This is quite unlikely.