ACC ~ Acts 24 v22 - 27

OVERVIEW:

Except for a few remarks about Felix’s character as deftly portrayed by Luke, modern commentators find little to remark upon in this passage. The Fathers take interest in the characters: the source of Felix’s knowledge of the faith, the type of woman Drusilla was, why Felix wanted her present. Chrysostom builds a picture of Felix as a man corrupted by greed.

24:22 | Accurate Knowledge of the Way

FELIX’S FAITHLESS KNOWLEDGE. AMMONIUS: It must be noticed that Felix thoroughly knew the faith, as he had been taught the things concerning Christ from the Old Testament. Even so he did not dismiss Paul so that he might please men, as did his successor, as the following words indicate, “Wanting to please the Jews,” and with the hope to get money from him. And still [Felix] knew the faith, thanks to having a Jewish spouse, from whom he often heard these things. CATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 24.22.

24:24 | Felix and His Wife, Drusilla

DRUSILLA. AMMONIUS: She, being a Jew, was wed, contrary to the law, to a pagan. Although she was a Jew, perhaps on marrying she became a Gentile, and for this reason also revealed to him her faith. Or because she was Jewish, she also spoke in order to convert her husband. Or because she had transgressed the law, she transgressed it to this point. CATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 24.24.

THEY SHOW PAUL HONOR. CHRYSOSTOM: The wife also listens, along with the governor. This seems to me to show great honor. He would not have brought his wife to the hearing, unless he thought great things of Paul. It seems to me that she too longed for this. HOMILIES ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 51.

24:26 | Felix Hoped Paul Would Give Him Money

FELIX DID NOT WISH TO BELIEVE. CHRYSOSTOM: He sent for him frequently, not because he admired him, or because he praised his words or even because he wished to believe. Then why? “He hoped,” it says, “that money would be given him.” Look how [Luke] does not hide the mindset of the judge here. And yet if he had condemned him, he would not have done this or wished to listen to a condemned wretch. And look at Paul, although he is talking with a ruler, he says none of those things that are likely to amuse, but rather he speaks “about justice,” it says, “and future judgment” and about the resurrection. And such was the force of his words that they even alarmed the governor. HOMILIES ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 51.

24:27 | Felix Left Paul in Prison

FELIX’S STUPIDITY. CHRYSOSTOM: See his stupidity: after hearing these things, [Felix] expected that money would have been obtained from [Paul]; and not only this, but as he was at the end of his tenure, he left him in chains, in order to please the Jews, so that he did not only desire money but fame too. How can you, scoundrel, look for money from a man who preaches the opposite? It is clear that he left him in chains because of what he did not gain, whereas he would have freed him, if he gained it. CATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 24.25-26.