Acts

24:1-27

The gospel reaches Rome, 21:1-28:31

ix] Paul's defence before Felix

Paul now finds himself in custody in Caesarea, awaiting trial. As arranged by the commander Lysias, the Jewish authorities travel from Jerusalem to Caesarea to present their case against Paul before Felix, the governor. They obviously give the case a high priority because the high priest is in attendance, as well as a professional advocate. Their charge is both civil and religious - Paul is an anarchist and he has profaned the temple. Paul argues that it is the Jews from the province of Asia who are the anarchists, he, on the other hand, is a devout law-abiding Jew. Felix ends proceedings, seeking further information from Lysias, the commander of the Jerusalem cohort. Over the next two years, Felix meets with Paul, seeking to understand the teachings of the Way, although Luke suggests that Felix has a more sinister motive - he is after a bribe.

"The gospel makes it possible for Jews and Gentile to please and honour God together in the eschatological era", Peterson Gk.

i] Context: See 21:1-16.

ii] Background:

iii] Structure: Paul's defence before Felix:

iv] Interpretation:

v] Homiletics: A Simple Gospel Presentation - Acts 24:25

Paul's defence before Felix, v1-27: The Jewish authorities mount their case against Paul, v1-9. Luke calls Tertullus an rJhtwr, "orator", although in this context he serves as a legal representative / silk. It is unclear whether he is a Jew, or a secular advocate. The employment of such a person indicates the importance of the case for the religious authorities.

meta + acc. "later" - [but/and] after [five days]. Temporal use of the preposition serving to introduce a temporal clause.

Terullou (oV) gen. "[named] Tertullus" - [the high priest came down with some elders and an orator / advocate, a certain] tertullus. The genitive phrase "a certain Tertullus" stands in apposition to "orator / advocate", genitive after the preposition meta, "with"; "with an advocate called Tertullus", Barclay.

tw/ hJgemoni (wn onoV) dat. "the governor" - [who explained to, informed] the governor. Dative of direct object after the en prefix verb "to explain to".

kata + gen. "against" - against [paul]. Here expressing opposition; "came down to present their evidence against Paul to the governor", Berkeley.

The opening address presents to our ears as false flattery, although it is typical of an opening affirmation before someone in authority. Felix has indeed established peace throughout Syria, although, when it came to the Jews, Josephus, in Jewish War, claims he was barbarous in the extreme.

The sentence covers two verses with the vocative of address, "most excellent Felix", placed at the end for emphasis.

klhqentoV (kalew) gen. aor. pas. part. "when [Paul] was called in" - [but/and he] having been called. The genitive participle and its genitive subject autou, "he" (presumably Paul), forms a genitive absolute construction, temporal, as NIV.

kathgoreiV (kathgorew) pres. inf. "[presented his case]" - [tertullus began] to accuse him. Complementary infinitive completing the sense of the verb "to begin".

legwn (legw) pres. part. "-" - saying. Attendant circumstance participle, redundant, serving to introduce direct speech, cf., legonteV, 1:6.

tugcanonteV (tugcanw) pres. part. "we have enjoyed" - [most excellent felix, both in all and everywhere, we acknowledge, with all gratitude] having attained. Given the main verb apodecomeqa in v3, "we acknowledge", The participle probably serves to introduce a dependent statement of perception / indirect speech, expressing what the delegation acknowledges; "Most noble Felix, at all times, and indeed everywhere, we acknowledge, with deep appreciation, that we owe to you this remarkable peace we are enjoying, and this because of the improvements initiated through your foresight ("provident care", REB) for this nation". It is often treated as causal; "since through you ....", ESV, so Culy and Kellum.

eirhhnhV (h) gen. "[a long period] of peace" - of [much] peace [through you]. Genitive of direct object after the participle "having attained" - the verb "to attain, obtain, experience" takes a genitive of persons or things.

ginomenwn (ginomai) gen. pres. part. "[your foresight] has brought" - [and reforms] becoming. The genitive participle, and its genitive subject "improvements = reforms", forms a genitive absolute construction, probably causal, "and this because of the reforms initiated through your foresight for this nation". The coordinative kai, "and", is most likely epexegetic, "namely". "You have made it possible for your people to live in peace and tranquility for a long time", Junkins.

dia + gen. "-" - through [the foresight of you]. Instrumental, expressing agency.

tw/ eqnei (oV) dat. "in [this] nation" - in [this] nation. Possibly local, as NIV, or expressing interest, advantage; "for this nation".

Johnson makes the point that an advocate is required to keep his speeches short, often timed with a water clock. Although an ideal of ancient rhetoric, it was "more often praised than practiced". Nothing changes!!

For emphasis, the sentence ends with a legal term, "in your indulgence / reasonableness / fairness", which, in English, we would place at the beginning of the sentence for the same affect. The main verb, "I beg", is followed by a dependent statement of indirect speech, and then a negated purpose clause expressing what Tertullus does not want to happen; "In your kind indulgence, I beg that you give us a hearing as I briefly state our case, for I do not want to bother you unduly".

iJna + subj. "in order" - [but/and] that [not hinder you]. Introducing a negated purpose clause "expressing something he did not want to happen", Kellum.

epi + acc. "further" - upon [much]. Adverbial use of the preposition, temporal, used with pleion, "much", to express an extension of time; "any length of time", Barclay.

th/ ... epieikeia/ (a) dat. "[you be] kind enough" - [i beg,] in [your] kindness, forbearance. The dative is adverbial, modal, expressing manner; "in your customary graciousness", Cassirer.

akousai (akouw) aor. inf. "to hear" - [you] to hear [us]. The infinitive introduces an object clause / dependent statement of indirect speech expressing what Tertullus begs of Felix; "I beg ..... that you hear us". The accusative subject of the infinitive is se, "you". The genitive hJmwn, "us", is a genitive of direct object after the infinitive "to hear".

suntomwV adv. "briefly" - briefly. The adverb is a hapax legomenon, usually taken to mean "briefly", serving to modify the infinitive "to hear"; "I beg ... that you hear briefly us" = "give us a brief hearing" = "that you give us a hearing as I briefly state our case".

Tertullus presents three charges against Paul; sedition, he is the ringleader of an illegal association; and he is involved in the desecration of religious sites. These charges transgress Roman law. As well as coming down hard of disruptive assemblies, the authorities were wary of the formation of associations, religious or otherwise. Even the formation of a local fire-fighting unit required approval. Judaism was an approved religion and the early church included themselves under that banner, while the Jewish authorities did everything to disassociate themselves from the Nazarene sect. The desecration of religious shrines was also punishable under Roman law. These crimes are serious, and we can imagine that Tertullus, along with the Jewish authorities present, did everything they could to tie Paul to them.

The Greek sentence covers v5-8. The introductory gar, "for", is more reason than cause, probably reflecting the opening of a legal charge against someone, "For we charge that .....; "The fact is, ...", Moffatt. "We charge that we have found (having found) this man a pestilence and an instigator of insurrection among (in) all the Jews throughout the Empire (world), and a leader of the illegal Nazarene sect, a man who also attempted to desecrate the temple, and whom we apprehended, a man from whom you will be able to find out (know) the things of which we accuse him, by examining (having examined) him yourself concerning all these things"

euJronteV (euJriskw) acc. aor. part. "we have found" - [for we charge] having found [this man]. The function of this accusative participle is disputed - attendant circumstance; adverbial, temporal; the first element in a combined double accusative construction. Given that gar probably serves as a technical function in the introduction of a charge, "for we charge, assert, ...", the participle likely introduces an object clause / dependent statement of indirect speech, expressing the elements of an assumed verb like "we charge"; "For we charge that we have found this man ....."; "The simple fact is that we have found this man a pestilential disturber of the peace among the Jews all over the world", Phillips.

kinounta (kinew) acc. aor. part. "stirring" - [pestilent and] the one moving = inciting [riots in = among all the jews]. The participle serves as a substantive, coordinated by kai with the noun "pestilent", serving as the second accusative complement of the direct object "this man", standing in a double accusative construction and asserting a fact about the object "this man".

toiV dat. art. "[all over]" - the ones [throughout the world]. The article serves as an adjectivizer, turning the prepositional phrase "throughout the world" into an attributive modifier of "Jews"; "who are throughout the world". In this context, the preposition kata + acc. expresses extension of distance.

thV .... aiJresewV (iV ewV) gen. "of the [Nazarene] sect" - [and a ringleader] of the sect. The genitive is adjectival, descriptive, idiomatic / subordination; "a ringleader over the sect of the Nazarene".

twn Nazwraiwn (oV) gen. "Nazarene" - of the nazarene. The genitive is adjectival, descriptive, idiomatic / identification; "the sect known as the Nazarene"

The Western text adds the reason why they "arrested" Paul, namely to judge him according to their law, and then in what became v7 in the English text, how Lysias violently intervened. A slur against the commander of the Jerusalem cohort would be an unlikely ploy for someone advocating before a Roman governor, although it does make the point that the Jewish authorities are responsible for order in the Temple complex. It is unclear whether Lysias acted beyond his remit.

bebhlwsai (bebhlow) aor. inf. "to desecrate" - [a man who and = also tried] to desecrate, profane, abominate [the temple and whom we took hold of = apprehended]. Complementary infinitive completing the sense of the verb "to tempt = to try".

As Barrett points out, if v7 were to stand as read, then the relative pronoun ou| would refer to Lysias, rather than Paul, but from the perspective of the Jewish authorities, Felix needs anakrinw, "to examine, interrogate", Paul - with force if necessary.

para + gen. "-" - from [whom]. This preposition + gen. expresses source / origin.

anakrinaV (anakrinw) aor. part. "by examining" - having examined him. The participle is adverbial, instrumental, expressing means, as NIV.

enignwnai (epiginwskw) aor. part. "to learn" - [you will be able yourself] to know, decide. Complementary infinitive, completing the sense of the verb "to be able".

peri + gen. "about" - concerning [all these things]. This preposition + gen. expresses reference / respect; "with respect to all these things".

w|n gen. pro. "-" - of which [we we accuse]. The genitive is probably adjectival, partitive / wholative, limiting "all these things", or simply genitive in agreement. Note the emphatic use of the personal pronoun hJmeiV, "we".

autou gen. pro. "him" - of him. Genitive of direct object after the kata prefix verb "to make an accusation against".

The Jewish authorities act to give supporting testimony to that of Tertullus. The use of military term like epitiqhmi, "to join in an attack upon an enemy", serves to remind the reader how Paul is viewed by the authorities.

faskonteV (faskw) pres. part. "asserting" - [the jews and = also joined in the attack] claiming, asserting, affirming. The participle is adverbial, modal or instrumental, expressing manner or means; "The Jews gave their full support to the indictment, insisting that the facts were as stated", Cassirer.

ecein (ecw) pres. inf. "that [these thing] were [true]" - [these things] to have = to be [in this way]. The infinitive introduces an object clause / dependent statement of indirect speech expressing what the Jews asserted. The verb ecw,"to have", when used with the demonstrative adverb ou{twV, "thus, in this way", expresses a state of being, "to be", Zerwick, cf., 7:1, 17:11, ; "they affirmed these things to be thus"; "alleged that these charges were true", Barclay.

ii] Paul defends himself, v10-21. Paul begins his defence with the usual complementary address (captatio), although not as fulsome as Tertullus. If Felix was appointed in AD 52, then he has only served as Procurator for some four years at this stage, but he did serve earlier in Samaria, in both administrative and legal duties, so he would be well aware of the religiopolitical situation in Judea, which knowledge would give Paul some confidence in a fair trial. Felix's wife was also a Jew with some knowledge of Jewish sectarian disputes, given her royal heritage.

te "-" - and. Coordinative, here with a tighter function than de, "but/and", or kai, "and".

neusantoV (neuw) gen. aor. part. "when [the governor] motioned" - [and the governor] having moved (a hand gesture, or nod). The genitive participle, and its genitive subject "the governor", forms a genitive absolute construction, temporal, as NIV.

autw/ dat. pro. "for him" - to him. Dative of indirect object.

legein (legw) pres. inf. "to speak" - to speak. The infinitive introduces an object clause / dependent statement of cause expressing the intention of the governor's motion, namely, "that he (Paul) speak". "The governor motioned to Paul that it was now his turn", Peterson.

epigtamenoV (epistamai) pres. part. "I know" - [i make my defence cheerfully concerning the things of me] knowing. The participle is adverbial, probably causal, "because I know"; "As I know you have administered justice in this nation for a number of years", Moffatt. The position of the main verb, "to defend oneself", at the end of the sentence, gives rhetorical emphasis. In English we would place it first; "I confidently make my defence, with respect to these charges, for I know that you have been the judicial authority over this province for many years (aware of all the comings and goings)".

o[nta pres. part. "that" - [you] being [a judge]. The classification of this participle is disputed, eg., adverbial, causal, so Rogers Gk. Like a recitative infinitive, it is usually treated as introducing an object clause / dependent statement of perception expressing what Paul knows, namely, "that for many years you have been a judge over this nation", so Kellum, Barrett, ..... It does seem to function this way, although Culy points out that structurally the participial clause serves as an object complement, accusative complement of the object se, "you", standing in a double accusative construction and asserting a fact about the object of the participle "knowing".

ek gen. "for [a number of years]" - that from [many years]. Temporal use of the preposition, expressing extension of time from a point; "for many years"

tw/eqnei (oV) dat. "over [this] nation" - to [this] nation. Dative of indirect object / interest, advantage; "for this nation".

Paul next addresses the charge of sedition, although his first point is unclear. Given the two day journey to Caesarea, the five days wait for the trial to begin, we are left with only a few days in Jerusalem. Maybe this is the point; how can Paul foment an insurrection in a matter of a few days? The "no more than twelve days" is best viewed as "a Lukan approximation", Barrett, given that Paul's time in Jerusalem seems longer than a few days, but then it all depends on the timing of Paul's 7 days of purification - the riot begins when the seven days emellon, "were about" to be completed. Paul's time in Jerusalem could amount to a day with the saints and a day or two at the temple.

"The facts are these: I have been back in the country for about a fortnight, during which time I attended the festival of Pentecost; Nobody can say that on this visit they saw me fomenting insurrection, either in the temple, or the local synagogues, or in the city itself; Nor can they present any witnesses to confirm the charges they bring against me".

dunamenou (dunamai) pres. part. "[you] can easily [verify]" - [you] being able [to know]. The genitive participle, completed by a complementary infinitive, and its genitive subject sou, "you", forms a genitive absolute construction, probably causal. The phrase probably serves as introductory legalese for an evidentiary statement, and so is best viewed as introducing a new sentence, contra Barrett, etc. "The facts of the case are easily ascertained:", Cassirer.

oJti "that" - that. Introducing an object clause / dependent statement of perception express what the governor is able to learn / ascertain.

moi dat. pro. "-" - [there are] to me. Possessive dative

proskunhswn (proskunew) fut. part. "to worship" - [not more than twelve days from which i went up] worshipping [into jerusalem]. The participle is adverbial, final, expressing purpose; "in order to worship in Jerusalem".

If Paul's first piece of evidence against the charge is logical (you can't foment an insurrection in a couple of days), the second is evidential; the Jewish authorities have not been able parasthsai, "to provide evidentiary proof" of the charge of sedition. No witnesses have been provided to testify to the fact that Paul was fomenting insurrection in the temple, or in the synagogues throughout Jerusalem, or in the city itself. Paul's claim is that he came to Jerusalem "to worship", ie., attend a religious festival.

ou[te ... ou[te .... ou[te "or ... or" - [and] neither ......, neither ...., nor. Coordinating construction. The construction extends to v13, oude, "Neither can they prove ......."

proV + acc. "with [anyone]" - [in the temple did they find me] toward [anyone]. Again, Luke used this preposition to introduce an indirect object instead of a dative, although here, the dative's sense of association or addressee is prominent, so "with anyone".

dialegomenon (dialegomai) pres. part. "arguing" - disputing [or causing a coming together of a crowd] This participle, along with "doing = causing", serves as the complement of the direct object me, "me", standing in a double accusative construction and asserting two facts about the object "me". The two facts amount to fomenting an insurrection / riot. The first, "arguing, disputing, agitating ", probably implies inflammatory speeches, and the second "doing, making = causing (participle) pressure = a coming together (object) of a crowd (subjective genitive)", probably implies the formation of a belligerent mob.

kata + acc. "anywhere else" - [nor in the synagogues, nor] according to = throughout [the city]. Here with a distributive sense, "throughout".

parasthsai (paristhmi) aor. inf. "prove" - [neither are they able] to present. Complementary infinitive, completing the sense of the verb "to be able". It is likely that in this context, "to be able to present" is legalese for "to provide evidentiary proof"; "They cannot produce any evidence to support the charges", Barclay.

soi dat. pro. "to you" - to you. Dative of indirect object.

peri + gen. "-" - concerning [which now]. Expressing reference / respect; "which they are now bringing against me", Barclay.

mou gen. pro. "me" - [they are accusing] me. Genitive of direct object after the kata prefix verb "to accuse".

Having challenged the charges brought against him, Paul moves to present his own reading of the facts. First, in v14-16, he argues that as a member of the Jewish party known as the Way, he is a conservative Jew holding to the fundamental beliefs of Judaism. The implication is that Christianity (the party of the Way) is a legal association under Roman law. Paul will go on in v17-21 to argue that the so-called riot was nothing more than a religious dispute over the resurrection of the dead.

The Greek sentence covering v14-15 is somewhat complicated by the addition of the modifying relative clause "which they call a sect", necessitating a resumptive ou{twV, "thus", before the main verb "I serve"; "I confess to you that according to the way - which they call a sect / school / party - according to this way (ou{twV, "thus") I serve ....."

"On the other hand, before you I do freely acknowledge the following facts: I serve / am committed to / devoted to / give myself to the God of our ancestors, and this shaped by the teachings of the Way - a party / school of thought in Judaism recognised by the religious authorities. I serve this God by believing in all the teachings found in the Law of Moses and in the books of the Prophets, and by having the same hope in God as some of these have (ie., referring to Pharisees), namely that there will be a resurrection of the just and the unjust".

soi dat. pro. "-" - [but/and i do confess this] to you. Dative of indirect object. Again, Paul uses legalese to introduce his account of the facts of this case; oJmologw, "to acknowledge, confess" = "This I do admit to", Barclay;

oJti "that" - that [i serve the ancestral god of Israel]. Introducing an object clause / dependent statement of indirect speech expressing what Paul confesses. The main verb latreuw, "I serve", is often translated as "I worship", but if Luke meant "adoration" he would have used the verb proskunew.

kata + acc. "as a follower" - according to [the way]. Expressing a standard, "in accordance with the way".

h}n pro. "which" - which [they call a sect]. The relative pronoun introduces a relative modifier of the noun "the way". It is very unlikely that Paul would classify the Way as an unofficial, sectarian, heretical association, given the importance of including the Christian movement under the legal umbrella of Judaism. So, it is likely that Paul is not using the noun aiJresiV, "sect", with a negative sense ("heresy"), but rather with the sense "party, school". The Pharisees and Sadducees are "parties" within Judaism, and the association of the Way is rightly classified as such. Whether legousin, "they (the religious authorities) call = classify", the Way as such, may be a bit of a stretch, but then a good advocate stretches the facts as far as possible.

pisteuwn (pisteuw) pres. part. "I believe" - believing. The function of this participle, and "having [hope]", v15, is disputed, but it does seem that both are adverbial, instrumental, expressing the means by which Paul offers his service to the God of his fathers.

toiV dat. art. "[everything] that is ........ that is ......" - [all having been written] the things [according to the law and] the things [according to the prophets]. If we take the participle gegammenoiV, "having been written", as a substantive modified by the adjective pasi, "all", dative of direct object after the verb "to believe in", then the two dative articles, toiV, serve as adjectivizers, turning the two prepositional phrases "according to (kata) the law", and "in (en) the prophets", into attributive modifiers of the participle; "I believe in all the writings of the law and of the prophets", Berkeley. There are, of course, other ways to treat this clause, eg., see Culy.

"I serve the God of my ancestors by believing ........ and by possessing a hope in God which they themselves hold, namely that there will be a resurrection of the just (for reward) and the unjust (for punishment)". Paul will go on in v17-21 to identify this "hope" as the cause of the dispute.

ecwn (ecw) pres. part. "I have [the same hope]" - having [hope toward god]. The participle is adverbial, probably instrumental expressing the means by which Paul offers his service to God; "by having a hope ...."

kai "-" - and = [which] also. Adverbial, adjunctive.

autoi pro. "[these men] themselves" - [these ones] them = themselves. Intensive use of the pronoun.

prosdecontai (prosdecomai) pres. "-" - receive. Probably here with a sense like "accept" - to accept a message for oneself and to act accordingly*.

mellein (mellw) pres. inf. "that [there will be]" - to be about [to be a resurrection]. The infinitive "to be about", completed by the complementary infinitive of the verb to be, is epexegetic, specifying the noun elpida, "hope"; "having a hope ........ that there will be a resurrection .....", ESV.

dikaiwn adj. "of [both] the righteous" - of [both] righteous [and unrighteous]. The adjective serves as a substantive with the genitive being adjectival, limiting "resurrection", possibly verbal, objective, "that there will be a resurrection from the dead for good and bad alike", Cassirer, or descriptive, idiomatic, "a resurrection which includes both the just and unjust". There is some question as to whether Pharisees believed in a resurrection of the unjust, along with the just.

"In consideration of this fact / all this, I do my best, at all times, to live with a clear conscience before God and man."

en dat. "so" - in [this and = also]. Here a causal use of the preposition, "because of this", although the referent of the demonstrative pronoun toutw/, "this", is unclear. It is probably backward referencing to the resurrection of the just and unjust, given the natural incentive askew, "to strive after" (a word related to sport), reward rather than punishment. The broader topic covered in v14-15 is also possible.

autoV pro. "-" - he = myself. Intensive use of the personal pronoun serving to emphasise the subject of the verb "I strive"; "I myself strive".

eceiV (ecw) inf. "to keep [my conscience clear]" - to have [a blameless conscience toward god and men]. The infinitive introduces an object clause / dependent statement of cause expressing what Paul strives after. Other possible classifications include complementary or purpose.

dia + gen. "always" - through [all]. Temporal use of the preposition, through in time, which with the adjective "all, every" produces the idiomatic sense "always".

Paul now goes on in v17-21 to explain how the issue of the resurrection of the dead is the cause of this dispute, ie., the dispute is a religious one, not civil.

de "-" - but/and. Transition, introducing a step in the discourse.

di (dia) + gen. "after an absence of [many years]" - through [many years]. Temporal use of the preposition, as NIV.

eiV + acc. "to [Jerusalem]" - [i came] into [the nation of me]. The NIV takes the preposition here as spatial, and this seems likely, but it is possible that the prepositional phrase serves as the object of "doing alms", with eiV expressing advantage; "I was practising charity for my people and bringing offerings", Berkeley.

poihswn (poiew) fut. part. "to bring" - doing [alms and sacrifices]. The participle is adverbial, probably final, expressing purpose; "I came in order to offer alms and sacrifices".

Paul claims that he was not a member of a crowd causing a disturbance; he was going about his own business in private devotions when he was set upon by some Jews from Asia.

hJgnismenon (aJgnizw) perf. mid. part. "I was ceremonially clean" - [in which they found me] having been purified [in the temple]. The participle serves as the accusative complement of the direct object me, "me", standing in a double accusative construction and asserting a fact about the object; "they found me in a state of ceremonial purity". The prepositional phrase en ai|V, "in which", is temporal, with the pronoun ai|V backward referencing to Paul's offering of alms and sacrifices; "While I was offering alms and sacrifices, some Jews from Asia found me in the temple in a state of ceremonial purity".

ou .... oude "no [crowd with me] nor" - not [with a crowd,] nor [with a tumult]. Introducing a negated correlative construction; "neither .... nor"; The preposition meta, "with", expresses association / accompaniment.

In the Greek sentence covering v19-21, Luke tangles up his grammar. It's an interesting example of an anacoluthon, because it is just the type of messy statement a person makes in an excited state when they are trying to make too many unconnected points in a single sentence. In this case, there are three points: Paul was set upon by Jews from Asia; they should be present to make their charge against him; they were present when Paul was before the Sanhedrin and the only charge offered then was Paul's own assessment of the issue at hand, namely the resurrection of the dead. So, is Luke actually conveying something of the jumbled nature of Paul's final statement, or has Luke himself lost track of his grammar? All this reminds me of many a sermon I have had to endure, and sadly, some of them I delivered myself. It's a disturbing feeling when one leaves the pulpit in a confused state.

"It was some Jews from Asia who started all this trouble. If, in the remotest of possibilities, they have something against me, then they should be present in this court to make their accusation".

de "but" - but/and [some jews from asia who]. Probably transitional, indicating a step in the discourse. The use of the conjunction here presumes the beginning of a new sentence, but the nominal phrase "certain Jews from Asia" presents with no obvious verb. This may mean that de is serving as an intersentence conjunction, so Barrett, possibly contrastive, syntactically linking the phrase with v18. None-the-less, it seems likely that we do have a independent elliptical statement building on Paul's claim that he was not involved in any "tumult"; "It was some Jews from Ephesus who started all this trouble", Peterson. See Kellum who nicely outlines three technical solutions for the opening statement.

ei + opt. "if" - if, as a remote possibility, [they may have something toward = against me, then]. This construction serves to introduce an irregular 4th class conditional clause where the proposed condition has only a remote possibility of coming true in the future. In classical Greek the apodosis is formed by a[n + optative. The apodosis "to be present (in order) to make an accusation before you is necessary" is irregular in form. It is possible for ei + a potential optative to introduce an indirect statement, although here it would be more like an aside or qualification; "they should be brought here in your court to make their accusations; that's of course, if they actually have something to charge me with".

pareinai (pareimi) pres. inf. "-" - [who = they] to be present [and to make accusation before you is necessary]. The infinitive introduces a nominal phrase subject of the impersonal verb, "it is necessary". Technically, the accusative subject of the infinitive is ou}V, "who = they", backward referencing to "certain Jews from Asia", but it is at this point where the Greek sentence goes haywire. The second infinitive, kathgorein, "to make an accusation", is adverbial, final, expressing purpose; "they ought to be here in your court in order to make their accusation".

"Failing that, maybe these gentlemen would like to lay out the specific crimes they found me guilty of when I appeared before them at the Sanhedrin". Paul's point, of course, is that he was not found guilty of any crime.

autoi pro. "[these who are here]" - [or these men] they [let them tell what crime they found]. The personal pronoun is intensive, "let these men themselves say ..".

stantoV (iJsthmi) gen. aor. part. "when I stood" - [me] having stood [before the sanhedrin]. The genitive participle and its genitive subject mou, "me", forms a genitive absolute construction, temporal; "when I was confronting the Council", Cassirer. The genitive absolute construction is prompted here by the change in subject from the religious authorities to Paul, whereas in v21 the adverbial participle eJstwV, "having stood", is nominative, given that Paul is the subject of the clause - also probably temporal.

"The only thing they have on me is that one sentence I shouted out in the council: 'It's because I believe in the resurrection that I've been hauled into this court!' Does that sound to you like grounds for a criminal case?" Peterson.

eJstwV (iJsthmi) perf. part. "as I stood" - [or concerning this one voice = spoken word which i cried out in = among them] having stood. The participle is adverbial, best treated as temporal; "while I was standing among them".

oJti "-" - that. Introducing a epexegetic clause specifying the fwnhV, "voice / spoken word / declaration".

nekrwn (oV) gen. "[the resurrection] of the dead" - [it is concerning the resurrection] of the dead [i am being judged today upon = by you]. The genitive is adjectival, limiting "resurrection", usually classified as verbal, objective, but possibly idiomatic, describing the type of resurrection in mind, "a resurrection which brings the dead to life".

iii] Paul is held on remand, v22-23. Two legal terms are used regarding Paul's case: anaballw, "to defer, adjourn", and diagnwskw, "to decide" (this verb can also mean "investigate", but is probably used here in the sense of ruling on Paul's case). Waiting for the personal testimony of Lysias is understandable, but why Felix's decision to defer the case has anything to do with his knowledge of the Way is unclear. This knowledge would come from his wife, given that she was a Jewess, and from his previous administrative and legal duties in Samaria before he became Procurator in AD 52. The adverb akribeseteron, "more accurately", is a comparative, but it surely doesn't mean that Felix knows more about the Way than Israel's religious leaders. Bruce Gk. suggests that it is elative; "pretty accurately". Given that Luke is probably only summarising what Paul said, it is possible that Felix is now more informed (comparative) about the Way than he was originally, and so he puts the trial on hold while he takes in all the new information.

eidwV (oida) perf. part. "who was well acquainted" - [but/and felix deferred them] having known [more precisely the things concerning the way]. The participle is often treated as adverbial, modifying the verb "to defer, adjourn". As Culy notes, its sense depends on how we take the comparative adverb "more accurately". If elative, it is probably causal, "because Felix had a rather accurate knowledge of the Way, he reserved his judgment"; if comparative, it is probably temporal, "Felix, now that he had a more accurate knowledge of the Way, ....", Culy. The participle is also often treated as adjectival, modifying / limiting "Felix", as NIV; "Upon this, Felix, who had a fair knowledge of the New Way, adjourned the hearing", Cassirer.

eipaV (legw) aor. part. "he said" - saying. Attendant circumstance participle, redundant, serving to introduce direct speech; see legonteV, 1:6.

oJtan + subj. "when" - when [lysias, the commander, may come down]. This construction introduces an indefinite temporal clause, future time.

ta "[your] case" - [i will decide] the things [according to you]. The article serves as a nominalizer, turning the prepositional phrase "according to you" into a substantive, object of the verb "I will decide". The preposition kata here probably expresses reference / respect. The phrase is usually treated as a legal one, as NIV; "I shall pronounce my decision in your case", Cassirer, or simply, "As soon as Colonel Lysias arrives, I will give you my decision", Phillips.

The Roman justice system allowed family and friends to provide daily necessities for a person in prison awaiting their trial and punishment, given that feeding prisoners was not something the Roman authorities tended to budget for. When it came to punishment, it involved fines, whipping, etc., through to execution, but not imprisonment. While Paul was on remand awaiting his sentencing, he was allowed extra anesiV, "relaxation", in his confinement. Given this freedom, and the coming and going of friends and colleagues, Johnson makes the point that these two years of confinement would provide the perfect opportunity for Paul to write at least some of his later epistles, eg., Colossians, Ephesians, ....

diataxamenoV (diatassw) aor. mid. part. "he ordered" - having given orders. Translators often treat this participle as if a finite verb (technically, a periphrastic construction with the verb to-be assumed). It may align with the attendant participle eipaV, having said, v22, expressing action accompanying the main verb "he adjourned [them] / put [them] off"; "Felix ...... put them off / adjourned the trial saying / and said ....... and he gave orders to the centurion ...." Attendant circumstance participles usually precede the main verb, but participles of saying that introduce a dependent statement usually follow the main verb. One thing we can say is that the participle is not modifying the main verb "to adjourn" (adverbial). Most translations start a new sentence, as NIV, "Then he gave orders", ESV.

tw/ ekatontarch/ (hV ou) dat. "the centurion" - to the centurion. Dative of indirect object.

threisqai (threw) pres. mid. inf. "to keep [Paul] under guard" - to guard [him and to have relaxation and to prevent]. The infinitive, along with the infinitive "to have relaxation" and "to prevent", introduces an object clause / dependent statement of indirect speech expressing what Felix ordered. "He should have freedom from restrictions", Cassirer.

twn idiwn adj. "his friends" - [no one] of the ones own = his own. The adjective serves as a substantive, the genitive being adjectival, partitive.

uJphretein (uJphretew) pres. inf. "to take care of" - to serve. Kellum suggests that the infinitive here is adverbial, final, expressing purpose, but we are probably best to follow Culy who classifies it as complementary, completing the infinitive "to prevent". Given that the infinitive "to prevent" serves as an object of the participle "having given orders", we could classify the infinitive "to serve" as epexegetic, specifying what no one is "to prevent", namely "to serve him". "And that no one was to stop his friends from rendering him any service", Barclay.

autw/ dat. pro. "his [needs]" - him. Dative of direct object after the uJper prefix verb "to serve".

iv] An extended adjournment lasting two years, v24-27. Luke now records Paul switching from the role of a shrewd apologist, one who is forced to answer baseless charges, to that of an apostle / evangelist / witness to Christ Jesus. In v25 Luke outlines Paul's gospel message, and in v24 he gives it the title of "faith in Christ Jesus" (Pauline terminology, contra Barrett) = reliance / dependence / resting, eiV (object of the exercise of ones' faith) in / upon / on "Christ" (ie., God's promised messiah / anointed one), appositionally identified as "Jesus"; "Faith in the Messiah, Jesus". As Fitzmyer notes, "Christ Jesus" is a common Pauline variant of "Jesus Christ".

The Western text seeks to explain why Felix would want to have Paul explain the Christian faith to him; it was all down to his wife Drusilla - she "asked to see Paul and hear him speak; so wishing to satisfy her, he summoned Paul". As Dunn notes, here adultery can either be a characteristic, or an aberration ("all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God"). She ended here betrothal of Antiochus, king of Commagene, because he wouldn't convert to Judaism, and her marriage to Azizus only went ahead because he agreed to be circumcised. So, maybe this young woman (she was in her early 20s when she married Felix) is a person with religious sensibilities, possibly even leaning toward the New Way, and so she wants to find out more from its most prominent leader. We can only guess!

de "-" - but/and. Transitional, indicating a step in the narrative.

meta + acc. "[some days] later" - after [certain = some days]. Temporal use of the preposition, as NIV.

paragenoumenoV (paraginomai) aor. part. "came" - [felix] came. Attendant circumstance participle expressing action accompanying the main verb "to send for"; "Felix came ...... and sent for ...."

th/ ... gunaiki (h koV) dat. "[his] wife" - [with drusilla,] the [one's own] wife. Dative in apposition to "Drusilla". "Drusilla" is dative after the preposition sun, "with", expressing association / accompaniment; "Felix arrived with his wife Druscilla".

oush/ (eimi) dat. "who was" - being [a jewess]. The participle is adjectival, introducing an attributive modifier of "wife", dative in agreement; "who was a Jewess".

autou gen. pro. "[listened to] him" - [he sent for paul and heard] him. Genitive of direct object after the verb "to hear".

peri + gen. "as [he spoke]" - concerning. Reference / respect, "with respect to, about".

eiV "[faith] in" - [the faith] into [christ jesus]. Spatial, identifying the object of the faith.

Luke summarises Paul's gospel presentation with three key words:

Felix is obviously troubled by what Paul said, and ends the interview; "Felix felt things getting a little too close for comfort and dismissed him", Peterson.

dialegomenou (dialegomai) gen. pres. part. "as [Paul] talked" - [but/and, he] discussing, arguing [concerning righteousness, and self-control]. The genitive participle and its genitive subject autou, "he", forms a genitive absolute construction, temporal.

tou mellontoV (mellw) gen. part. "[judgment] to come" - [and the judgment] the one coming. The participle is adjectival, attributive, limiting "judgment"; "the judgment which is coming" = "the coming judgment".

genomenoV (ginomai) aor. part. "was afraid" - [felix] having become [afraid answered]. Attendant circumstance participle expressing action accompanying the main verb "to answer".

to nun econ (ecw) "That's enough for now! [You may leave]" - having the now, [be going]. The article to serves as a nominalizer turning the adverb nun, "now", into a noun, object of the participle econ, "having". We would expect the participle to be nominative, but it is accusative, indicating that it serves within an idiomatic temporal phrase, something like "for the present", ESV. "Leave me for the present", Barclay.

metalabwn (metalambanw) aor. part. "when I find [it convenient]" - having found [time i will send for you]. The participle is adverbial, usually treated as temporal, as NIV; "I will send for you again when opportunity arses", Cassirer.

Like all of us, Felix is a complex character, on one hand, obviously fascinated by Paul and his beliefs and so is happy to converse with him puknoteron, "more frequently / often / regularly", but on the other hand, he is quick to angle for a bribe. Provincial governors were prohibited by law from taking bribes, but none-the-less, the topping up of their funds for retirement was common practice. Paul, being the pragmatist that he is, would probably pay a bribe if he had the money (When in Rome ..., eg., Matt.17:24-27), but it is likely that the collection for the saints has already been donated. Felix is obviously aware of the collection and assumes that Paul is cashed up.

elpizwn (elpizw) pres. part. "he was hoping" - [together = at the same time, and = also] hoping. Again, Luke uses a participle, neither attendant on, nor modifying a verb, neither limiting, nor standing as a substantive. Rogers Gk., opts for adverbial, causal, but Culy and Kellum follow Robertson Gk., who classifies it as a coincidental participle, in this case expressing action coincident with the action of the verb "to answer", v25. Possibly just a paraphrastic construction with the verb to-be assumed, although in Semitic style, Luke does sometimes lean toward using a participle of saying or thinking when introducing a dependent statement, even with oJti. Whatever the classification, it functions as a finite verb.

oJti "-" - that. Introducing an object clause / dependent statement of perception expressing what Felix hoped.

autw/ dat. pro. "him" - [money will be given] to him. Dative of indirect object.

uJpo + gen. "-" - by [paul]. Instrumental, expressing agency.

dio "so" - therefore [and = also]. Inferential conjunction, drawing a logical conclusion.

metapempomenoV (metapempw) pres. mid. part. "he sent" - [more frequently] sending for [him, he was talking]. Attendant circumstance participle expressing action accompanying the verb "to talk, converse, associate".

autw/ dat. pro. "with him" - with him. The dative here expresses association / accompaniment.

Felix was no fan of the Jewish authorities, and so by not dealing with Paul's case, he was obviously attempting to win their favour. So, Paul found himself confined in Caesarea for some two years until Felix was replaced by Festus around AD 59 / 60.

plhrwqeisnV (plhrow) aor. pas. part. "when [two years] had passed" - [but/and, two years] having been fulfilled [felix received a seccessor, porcius festus]. The genitive participle, and its genitive subject "two years", forms a genitive absolute construction, temporal.

qelwn (felw) pres. part. "because [Felix] wanted" - [and] wanting. Attendant circumstance participle expressing action accompanying the verb "to leave", but it may be treated as adverbial, causal, as NIV"; as Felix wanted to ingratiate himself with the jews he left Paul still in custody", Moffatt.

kataqesqai (katatiqhmi) aor. mid. inf. "to grant" - to gain, obtain [a favour, gratitude, gift]. Usually classified as a complementary infinitive, completing the sense of the verb "to will", but of course, the infinitive can be viewed as introducing an object clause / dependent statement of perception, expressing what Felix desired, namely "to curry favour with the Jews", Berkeley.

toiV IoudaioiV (oV) dat. "to the Jews" - with the jews. The dative is adverbial, reference / respect; "with respect to the Jews".

dedemonon (dew) perf. mid. part. "in prison" - [felix left paul] having been bound. The accusative participle serves as the complement of the direct object "Paul" standing in a double accusative construction and asserting a fact about the object; "Felix ....... left Paul behind as a prisoner", Cassirer.

Acts Introduction

Exegetical Commentaries

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