Acts 24:27Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Then he receives a successor, and leaves Paul in bonds, though he ought not to have done so. He should have finished the case, but he leaves him thus in order to please the Jews.

They were so persistent that they again attacked him as they had attacked no other apostle. Yet after attacking the others, they later withdrew.

This was arranged by God so that Paul, dealing with such beasts, might depart from Jerusalem. Yet they again ask that he be brought there for trial.

But here also God so arranged matters that He did not allow the governor to do this. As one who had recently received authority, he might have resolved to please the Jews. But God did not permit it.

Felix did not wish to enter into the domestic disputes of the Jews. Though he did not consider the accused guilty, he nevertheless did not wish to grant him justice without money. Paul did not wish to buy his freedom in so unprofitable a way, one that would cast suspicion on his very cause. Therefore Felix, in order to make amends to the Jews for his offenses when taking leave of them, left Paul in prison. Paul remained in this condition for two years, until Felix’s successor, Porcius Festus, arrived.

Later, Felix’s conversations with Paul about matters of religion and morality disposed the procurator still more favorably toward the apostle. Yet the avaricious Felix kept Paul in bonds for two years in vain, expecting money from him. Finally, wishing to do the Jews a favor, he left Paul in bonds even when he was recalled and replaced by Porcius Festus.

But Felix himself was soon overtaken by the fate he deserved. A year after the apostle was imprisoned in Caesarea, a bloody clash occurred between the Greeks and the Jews.

Since victory remained with the Jews, who resolved to take cruel vengeance on their enemies, Felix sent his army against them and carried out a terrible massacre.

After a complaint against him was sent to Rome, he was recalled from his office. In order to extricate himself from difficulty, he had to spend the greater part of his unjustly acquired wealth.

Porcius Festus was appointed procurator in Caesarea in his place. Under him the case of the Apostle Paul was again examined.

“After two years.” In the year 60 or 61 after Christ, from the time of Paul’s imprisonment, Felix was recalled from the procuratorship of Judea and replaced by Porcius Festus.

Little is known about Festus, though what is known is favorable. He governed briefly and died the following year. Albinus was sent in his place.

“Wishing to do the Jews a favor.” More precisely, wishing to place the Jews under obligation to himself by gratitude, and to leave a good memory behind him.

He did not attain this, however, because as soon as he was recalled, the Jews sent a deputation to Rome with a complaint against him to the emperor.

“He left Paul in bonds.” Although the guard over the apostle was not harsh, the chains were nevertheless not removed from him. He was under trial, though a Roman citizen, and though Felix himself considered him innocent.

Felix’s desire to receive a bribe from the apostle shows his deep baseness and cruelty.

“See how the writer holds to the truth,” says Saint John Chrysostom. “Felix often summoned Paul not because he admired him, approved his words, or wished to believe. Why then? He hoped that Paul would give him money.

Do you see how he does not conceal the judge’s intention here? If Felix had considered Paul guilty, he would not have acted this way. He would not have wished to hear a guilty and criminal man.”

“Even from such a man, whom he considered innocent and whose speech had made him afraid, he hoped to receive a bribe in order to release him. This was despite the strict prohibition of bribery for detention or release under the Julian law.