Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 24:3
We accept [it] always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.
3. we accept it always [Better, in all ways ] and in all places ] The word rendered “in all ways” is only found here in N. T. and does not mean “always.” Some would join “in all ways and in all places” with the former part of the sentence thus: “evils are corrected for this nation in all ways and in all places.” “We accept it” means “we acknowledge and are glad of it.”
most noble [ R. V. excellent ] Felix ] The adjective is the same title which was given to Felix in the letter from Claudius Lysias, and which is afterwards given to Festus by St Paul (Act 26:25).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
We accept it always – We admit that it is owing to your vigilance, and we accept your interposition to promote peace with gratitude.
Always, and in all places – Not merely in your presence, but we always acknowledge that it is owing to your vigilance that the land is secure. What we now do in your presence, we do also in your absence; we do not commend you merely when you are present (Wetstein).
Most noble Felix – This was the title of office.
With all thankfulness – In this there was probably sincerity, for there was no doubt that the peace of Judea was owing to Felix. But at the same time that he was an energetic and vigilant governor, it was also true that he was proud, avaricious, and cruel. Josephus charges him with injustice and cruelty in the case of Jonathan, the high priest (Antiq., book 20, chapter 8, section 5), and Tacitus (History, book 5, chapter 9) and Suetonius (Life of Claudius, chapter 28) concur in the charge.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 3. We accept it always, and in all places] We have at all times a grateful sense of thy beneficent administration, and we talk of it in all places, not only before thy face, but behind thy back.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
We accept it; we commend and admire it. It is most certain, that inferiors enjoy many benefits by the means of their governors, who bear the burden for the people, watching and caring for them; and that a bad government is better than none; and therefore not only Tertullus, (who may well be thought to speak out of flattery), but St. Paul himself, Act 24:10, speaks with great respect unto Felix.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
We accept it always, and in all places,…. The sense is, that the Jews observed with pleasure the provident care the governor took of their nation, and at all times spoke well of him; and wherever they came commended his conduct, and owned the favours they received from him, and the blessings they enjoyed under his government: and then giving him his title of honour,
most noble Felix; Tertullus adds, that this the Jews did
with all thankfulness; as sensible of the obligations they were under to him; but this was all a farce, mere artifice, and wretched flattery.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
In all ways and in all places ( ). , old adverb of manner only here in N.T. also old adverb of place, several times in N.T. But these adverbs most likely go with the preceding clause about “reforms” rather than as here translated with “we accept” (). But “with all gratitude” ( ) does naturally go with .
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Very worthy deeds [] . From katorqow, to set upright. Hence, a success consequent on right judgment; a right action. The best texts, however, read diorqwmatwn, settings right; amendments. Thus the sentence reads, literally, obtaining much peace through thee, and amendments taking place for this nation through thy providence, we accept, etc.
Providence [] . Forethought. Previdentia Augusti (the providence of the emperor) was a common title on the coins of the emperors.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “We accept it always, and in all places,” (pante te kai pnatachou apodechometha) “We welcome it (as deeply religious elders) both in everything and everywhere,” your influence and reforms, changes for better reach. In this flattering opening where was a measure of truth, for Felix had put down certain bandit gangs of robbers that infested the country, but himself dealt in every license and excess, according to Josephus the historian.
2) “Most noble Felix,” (kratiste pheliks) “Most excellent Felix,” a title of nobility conferred on him, who was formerly said to have been a slave.
3) “With all thankfulness.” (meta pases eucheristias) “With all kind of thankfulness,” more than I can tell you in feeble words. What pious hypocrisy and fickle flattery this orator Tertullus lay on thick! Concerning such flattery Solomon advised, “He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favor than he that flattereth with his tongue,” Pro 28:23.
Even children seem to recognize fickle hypocrisy and insincerity in an exaggerated veneer of over compliments. Of such Job 17:5 reads, “He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail,” will not be able to face or countenance it.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
3 We accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.
Ver. 3. We accept it always ] So they say, the sooner to ingratiate; when in truth they worthily hated Felix for his oppression and cruelty. Nota hypocrisin cum assentatione, saith Beza. “In his estate shall stand up a vile person,” Dan 11:21 , that is, Antiochus Epiphanes. And yet Josephus reports that the Samaritans writing to him, because he tormented the Jews, to excuse themselves that they were no Jews, styled him, by flattery, Antiochus the mighty God. Romani, propter omnia quae a Nerone fiebant etiam scelera, quasi gratias agentes, sacra faciebant: such was their baseness, and such were these Jews.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
3. . ] belongs to ., not to , in which case they would naturally precede the participle, We receive, &c., not only here in thy presence, but also at all times and in all places . A refinement of flattery.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Act 24:3 . . .: the governors specially prided themselves on keeping peace in their provinces (Wetstein). On the phrase see Mal 4:6Mal 4:6 ; 2Ma 14:10 . : “very worthy deeds,” A.V., the word might mean “successes,” cf. Polyb., i., 19, 12, or it might mean recte facta , cf. Cic., De Fin. , iii., 14 (see also in Wetstein; the word is found in 3Ma 3:23 , R); but , see critical note, in Arist., Plut. = corrections, reforms ( cf. R.V.), so in Polyb., Vulgate, multa corrigantur . In LXX is used of amending, Jer 7:3 ; Jer 7:5 : foresight, cf. Rom 13:14 , nowhere else in N.T.; cf. for a close parallel to its use here Mal 4:6Mal 4:6 , referred to above (Lumby). It is possible that the word may be a further proof of the sycophancy of the orator; twice the Latin providentia , A. and R.V. “providence,” was used of the emperors on coins, and also of the gods (Humphry on R.V.), “hoc vocabulum spe diis tribuerunt,” Bengel, in loco . ., so A. and R.V., “non in os solum laudamus” (Wetstein); but Meyer joins . . . with what precedes (Lach.), and in this he is followed by Weiss, Wendt, Page and Blass. For similar phrases in Plato, Artistotle, Philo, Josephus, see Wetstein. : only here in N.T., but cf. Sir 50:22 , Mal 4:1Mal 4:1 , cf. Friedrich, p. 5, on Luke’s fondness for and kindred words. , see above on Act 24:1 and also Act 24:10 . If he had been a Jew Wetstein thinks that he would have said , but see Blass, in loco , on “in sermone elegantiore et coram alienigenis”. .: only in Luke and Acts; for its meaning here cf. Act 2:41 , 1Ma 9:71 ( al [377] ), so in classical Greek. .: except Rev 4:9 ; Rev 7:12 , elsewhere in N.T. only in St. Paul’s Epistles (frequent); the word is also found in Esth. (LXX) Act 8:13 , Sir 37:11 , Wis 16:28 , 2Ma 2:27 , and for other references see Kennedy, Sources of N.T. Greek , p. 73, and Grimm-Thayer, sub v. There was very little, if anything, to praise in the administration of Felix, but Tertullus fastened on the fact of his suppression of the bands of robbers who had infested the country, Jos., B.J. , ii., 13, 2, Ant. , xx., 8, 5, “ipse tamen his omnibus erat nocentior” (Wetstein). His severity and cruelty was so great that he only added fuel to the flame of outrage and sedition, Jos., Ant. , xx., 8, 6, B.J. , ii., 13, 6, whilst he did not hesitate to employ the Sicarii to get rid of Jonathan the high priest who urged him to be more worthy of his office. In the rule of Felix Schrer sees the turning-point in the drama which opened with the death of Herod and terminated with the bloody conflict of A.D. 70. The uprisings of the people under his predecessors had been isolated and occasional; under him rebellion became permanent. And no wonder when we consider the picture of the public and private life of the man drawn by the hand of the Roman historian, and the fact trading upon the influence of his infamous brother Pallas he allowed himself a free hand to indulge in every licence and excess, Tac., Hist. , Act 24:9 , and Ann. , xii., 54, Schrer, Jewish People , div. i., vol. ii., p. 177 181, E.T.
[377] Alford’s Greek Testament .
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
accept = receive. Greek. apodechomai. See note on Act 2:41.
always = in every case. Greek. pante. Only here.
in all places = everywhere. Greek. pantachou.
most noble. Same as “most excellent”, in Act 23:26.
thankfulness. Greek. eucharistia. In the other fourteen occurances rendered “thanksgiving”, “thanks”, or “giving of thanks”.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
3. . ] belongs to ., not to , in which case they would naturally precede the participle,-We receive, &c., not only here in thy presence, but also at all times and in all places. A refinement of flattery.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Act 24:3. , great quietness) A speech utterly unlike that of Paul, which was true, modest, and solid, without any varnish. Felix was a man of flagitious character, and hateful to the Jews.-) Peace, a blessing most of all to be desired in a state.-) A word grand in itself; which Tertullus borrowed from the philosophers: and for this reason there is no epithet added. There follow others in the same clause.-, thy providence) This term they often attributed to the gods.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
most: Act 23:26,*Gr: Act 26:25, Luk 1:3,*Gr.
Reciprocal: Job 32:21 – flattering Psa 15:4 – a vile Act 23:24 – Felix Act 24:26 – hoped
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Act 24:3. We accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix. Not only here in thy presence and at this moment do we acknowledge our deep debt of gratitude as a nation to thee; but also at all times and in all places do we speak in grateful terms of thee,thus adding to the gross words of flattery already used, a most transparent falsehood. The name of Felix was among Jews everywhere a byword for cruelty, lust, and greed.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
See notes on verse 2