In last week’s blog we mentioned that Paul’s collection for the church in Jerusalem was good for the church but not so good for Paul personally. Trophimus bringing the collection from Ephesus and being with Paul would bring suspicion that Paul had brought him into the Temple and caused Paul to be arrested. We learn this week from Acts 24:17 and 24:26 that Felix learned about the collection Paul had brought to Jerusalem and kept Paul in custody hoping for a bribe. Thinking no doubt that Paul had access to the money. The Roman historian Tacitus and the Jewish historian Josephus did not think highly of Felix, but he was able to remain in power from A.D. 52-60 when he was recalled by the emperor Nero.
Felix was known for his cruelty. Josephus does give him credit for capturing a number of bandits or robbers that had preyed on the populace for years. He apprehended their leaders and sent them to Rome for punishment and crucified the members of their gangs. Josephus also tells us that Felix used a terrorist group to kill the High Priest Jonathan. When a local uprising in Caesarea between Greeks and Jews arose and the local police couldn’t get it under control Josephus says that Felix used the Roman military to stop it, killing many Jews in the process. With this background on Felix, we should not be surprised when we read in Acts 24:25 about his response to Paul’s preaching, ‘25 Now as he spoke about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix became afraid and replied, “Leave for now, but when I have an opportunity I’ll call for you.’”1 Josephus discusses Felix in his Antiquities Book 20 Chapter 5 and his Wars of the Jews Book 2 Chapter 13.
Felix was married to Drusilla who was the youngest daughter of Herod Agrippa I and the sister of Herod Agrippa II and Bernice whom we will also read about this week. Drusilla and her son by Felix appear to have been killed in A.D. 79 when Mt. Vesuvius erupted. She would have been in her early twenties when she heard Paul’s message. She and her sister Bernice were said to be very beautiful. Felix was her second husband. She had been promised at the age of six to the son of Antiochus IV but that marriage fell through because the groom would not agree to be circumcised. She was then married to King Aziz of Emesa who agreed to be circumcised. Her marriage to King Aziz lasted about a year when she divorced him to marry Felix. See Josephus Antiquities Book 20 chapter 7.
Luke informs us that the High Priest Ananias and a lawyer brought the charges against Paul before Felix. In the Old Testament the High Priest was to be a descendant of Aaron, Moses’ brother. However, things changed in the ‘Intertestamental Period.’ The High Priest became a political appointee. Ananias had been appointed as the High Priest by Herod Agrippa II the brother of Drusilla and Bernice. He served as High Priest from about A.D. 47 to A.D. 58 when he was also removed by Herod Agrippa II. His charges against Paul would have occurred in A.D. 57. A good source for understanding what took place with the High Priesthood from the ‘Intertestamental Period’ through the ‘New Testament Period’ is New Testament History by F.F. Bruce chapter 5 titled ‘The High Priests.’ (Available in the Church Library.)
Herod Agrippa II and Bernice had a long and sordid history. Bernice was about 8 years older than Drusilla. Her second marriage was to her Uncle Herod of Chalcis, her father’s brother. She had two sons by her uncle. When he passed away, she moved in with her brother Herod Agrippa II. It was generally believed that they had an incestuous relationship. All of this would probably have been known by Luke’s first readers as well as Paul. Bernice would later marry the King of Cilicia for a short time but then return to her brother. More information on Bernice may be found in your Bible Dictionary.
1Christian Standard Bible. 2020. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
Felix was known for his cruelty. Josephus does give him credit for capturing a number of bandits or robbers that had preyed on the populace for years. He apprehended their leaders and sent them to Rome for punishment and crucified the members of their gangs. Josephus also tells us that Felix used a terrorist group to kill the High Priest Jonathan. When a local uprising in Caesarea between Greeks and Jews arose and the local police couldn’t get it under control Josephus says that Felix used the Roman military to stop it, killing many Jews in the process. With this background on Felix, we should not be surprised when we read in Acts 24:25 about his response to Paul’s preaching, ‘25 Now as he spoke about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix became afraid and replied, “Leave for now, but when I have an opportunity I’ll call for you.’”1 Josephus discusses Felix in his Antiquities Book 20 Chapter 5 and his Wars of the Jews Book 2 Chapter 13.
Felix was married to Drusilla who was the youngest daughter of Herod Agrippa I and the sister of Herod Agrippa II and Bernice whom we will also read about this week. Drusilla and her son by Felix appear to have been killed in A.D. 79 when Mt. Vesuvius erupted. She would have been in her early twenties when she heard Paul’s message. She and her sister Bernice were said to be very beautiful. Felix was her second husband. She had been promised at the age of six to the son of Antiochus IV but that marriage fell through because the groom would not agree to be circumcised. She was then married to King Aziz of Emesa who agreed to be circumcised. Her marriage to King Aziz lasted about a year when she divorced him to marry Felix. See Josephus Antiquities Book 20 chapter 7.
Luke informs us that the High Priest Ananias and a lawyer brought the charges against Paul before Felix. In the Old Testament the High Priest was to be a descendant of Aaron, Moses’ brother. However, things changed in the ‘Intertestamental Period.’ The High Priest became a political appointee. Ananias had been appointed as the High Priest by Herod Agrippa II the brother of Drusilla and Bernice. He served as High Priest from about A.D. 47 to A.D. 58 when he was also removed by Herod Agrippa II. His charges against Paul would have occurred in A.D. 57. A good source for understanding what took place with the High Priesthood from the ‘Intertestamental Period’ through the ‘New Testament Period’ is New Testament History by F.F. Bruce chapter 5 titled ‘The High Priests.’ (Available in the Church Library.)
Herod Agrippa II and Bernice had a long and sordid history. Bernice was about 8 years older than Drusilla. Her second marriage was to her Uncle Herod of Chalcis, her father’s brother. She had two sons by her uncle. When he passed away, she moved in with her brother Herod Agrippa II. It was generally believed that they had an incestuous relationship. All of this would probably have been known by Luke’s first readers as well as Paul. Bernice would later marry the King of Cilicia for a short time but then return to her brother. More information on Bernice may be found in your Bible Dictionary.
1Christian Standard Bible. 2020. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
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