Felix
Happy, the Roman procurator of Judea before whom Paul “reasoned” (Acts 24:25). He appears to have expected a bribe from Paul, and therefore had several interviews with him. The “worthy deeds” referred to in 24:2 was his clearing the country of banditti and impostors.
At the end of a two years’ term, Porcius Festus was appointed in the room of Felix (A.D. 60), who proceeded to Rome, and was there accused of cruelty and malversation of office by the Jews of Caesarea. The accusation was rendered nugatory by the influence of his brother Pallas with Nero. (See Josephus, Ant. xx. 8, 9.)
Drusilla, the daughter of Herod Agrippa, having been induced by Felix to desert her husband, the king of Emesa, became his adulterous companion. She was seated beside him when Paul “reasoned” before the judge. When Felix gave place to Festus, being “willing to do the Jews a pleasure,” he left Paul bound.
Family
- Spouse
- Drusilla
Family tree
Events
- AD 56Paul sent to Felix
Mentioned in
Unearthed
Caesarea Maritima and its harbourConfirmed by the ground22–10 BC
The administrative capital Acts moves Paul to was a real Roman harbour city, and its praetorium, theatre and breakwaters have been excavated.
Josephus on Herod, the high priests and John the BaptistNamed outside the Biblec. AD 93–94
A first-century Jewish historian independently describes the rulers, priests and executions the Gospels and Acts are set among — including the death of John the Baptist.