Kisah Para Rasul 24:24-25

Paul Speaks Repeatedly to Felix

24:24 Some days later, when Felix ¹  arrived with his wife Drusilla, ²  who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him speak ³  about faith in Christ Jesus. ⁴  24:25 While Paul ⁵  was discussing ⁶  righteousness, self-control, ⁷  and the coming judgment, Felix ⁸  became ⁹  frightened and said, “Go away for now, and when I have an opportunity, ¹⁰  I will send for you.”

[24:24]  ¹ sn See the note on Antonius Felix in 23:24.

[24:24]  ² sn It is possible that Drusilla, being Jewish, was the source of Felix’s knowledge about the new movement called Christianity. The youngest daughter of Herod Agrippa I and sister of Agrippa II, she would have been close to 20 years old at the time. She had married the king of a small region in Syria but divorced him at the age of 16 to marry Felix. This was her second marriage and Felix’s third (Josephus, Ant. 19.9.1 [19.354], 20.7.2 [20.141-144]). As a member of Herod’s family, she probably knew about the Way.

[24:24]  ³ tn The word “speak” is implied; BDAG 32 s.v. ἀκούω 1.c has “ἤκουσεν αὐτοῦ περὶ τῆς…πίστεως he heard him speak about faith Ac 24:24.”

[24:24]  ⁴ tn Or “Messiah Jesus”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”

[24:25]  ⁵ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[24:25]  ⁶ tn Or “speaking about.”

[24:25]  ⁷ tn Grk “and self-control.” This καί (kai) has not been translated since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more.

[24:25]  sn The topic of self-control was appropriate in view of the personal history of both Felix and Drusilla (see the note on “Drusilla” in the previous verse), and might well account for Felix’s anxiety.

[24:25]  ⁸ sn See the note on Felix in 23:26.

[24:25]  ⁹ tn Grk “becoming.” The participle γενόμενος (genomenos) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[24:25]  ¹⁰ tn Or “when I find time.” BDAG 639 s.v. μεταλαμβάνω 2 has “καιρὸν μ. have an opportunity = find time…Ac 24:25.”