PAUL AND FELIX

PAUL AND FELIX

Acts 24.26

This is very interesting verse depicting how Felix expected from Paul some money, perhaps for his release, basically a bribe for his freedom. Surprisingly this does not happen, may be because Paul has no money being confined for 2 years and was out of work.

Of course, friends of Paul or Apostles in Jerusalem could collect money for Paul and guaranteed his release, but this is also did not happened.

Most likely the reason why ransom had not been paid for Paul's freedom is because there is no will of GOD was for that. As it was destined for Paul, he must go to Rome and appear there before Caesar and propagated the Way (the Gospel of GOD) to all to whom GOD intended it.

On the other side, Felix like listen Paul and conversed with him regularly. It is very similar relation between John the Baptist and Herod who also liked to listen to the John the Baptist, but it did not stop him to execute him.

It is similar how Felix also treated Paul, who liked to listen to Paul and knew that he was innocent, but kept Paul imprisoned in order to please the Jews.

But again, the seed of the Gospel already been spread and planted by Paul in Asia and now in Europe and will be no excuse for all those who listen Paul and his Gospel and did not accept, their guilt will remain on them.

~ Felix (Gr. Phelix, happy). Born Antonius Claudius, a Greek subject, he was made a freeman by Claudius, the emperor from 41 to 54 A.C, and given the surname Felix, probably in congratulation. He and his brother Pallas were favorites of Claudius and later of Nero (54-68), and so Felix evidently thought that he could do as he pleased.

Tactius said of him that "he reveled in cruelty and lust and wielded the power of a king with the mind of a slave." His very title of "procurator" hints at his fiscal duties of procuring funds for Rome, which he seems to have accomplished with all sorts of tyranny. He began his career as procurator of Judea by seducing Drusilla, the sister of Agrippa II and wife of the king of Emesa (modern Homes) and marrying her. Because she was Jewish (at least in part), he learned much of Jewish life and customs.

The New International Dictionary of the Bible. J. D. Douglas, Merrill C. Tenney.