Acts 24 24

Acts 24:24 kjv

And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.

Acts 24:24 nkjv

And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.

Acts 24:24 niv

Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus.

Acts 24:24 esv

After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.

Acts 24:24 nlt

A few days later Felix came back with his wife, Drusilla, who was Jewish. Sending for Paul, they listened as he told them about faith in Christ Jesus.

Acts 24 verses

Acts 24 24 Meaning

Acts 24:24 describes an important private meeting where Felix, the Roman governor of Judea, along with his Jewish wife Drusilla, called for the imprisoned Apostle Paul. In this intimate setting, Paul presented his message, focusing specifically on "the faith in Christ." This encounter highlights Paul's consistent evangelistic witness to authorities, even while in chains, and sets the stage for the Gospel's challenge to Roman power and individual conscience, especially one influenced by Judaism yet entangled in a corrupt lifestyle.

Acts 24 24 Context

Chapter 24 details Paul's legal proceedings before the Roman governor Felix in Caesarea. Following accusations by Jewish leaders and their orator Tertullus, Paul offers a compelling defense, asserting his innocence regarding any disturbance of the peace or defiling the Temple. He openly acknowledges his belief in the God of his ancestors and "the Way," confessing his hope in the resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. Felix, familiar with "the Way," postpones judgment, intending to await the arrival of the tribune Lysias. However, he keeps Paul in light custody, allowing him considerable freedom and access to friends. This specific verse (24:24) recounts a later, more private interaction where Felix and his wife Drusilla call for Paul, driven by mixed motives.

Historically, Felix was a ruthless and unjust governor, known for his corrupt practices and sexual immorality, having enticed Drusilla away from her previous husband. Drusilla, a member of the Herodian dynasty and a Jewess, despite her actions, likely held an interest in Jewish religious matters. This meeting places Paul, an apostle proclaiming a radical new "faith in Christ," directly before a corrupt Roman official and a Jewish aristocrat living outside the Law, presenting a striking confrontation between divine truth and worldly power and morality.

Acts 24 24 Word analysis

• And after certain days (Μετὰ δέ τινας ἡμέρας - Meta de tinas hēmeras): This phrase indicates a significant, but unspecified, passage of time after Paul's initial defense and the adjournment of his trial. It shows deliberation on Felix's part, not an immediate or impulsive action. The delay could suggest Felix was mulling over Paul's case, considering political implications, or perhaps had his interest piqued.
• when Felix came (Φῆλιξ παραγενόμενος - Phēlix paragenomenos): This denotes Felix's arrival or presence, emphasizing that it was his initiative to convene this meeting. Felix was the Roman Procurator, holding ultimate judicial and administrative authority in Judea.
• with his wife Drusilla (σὺν Δρουσίλλῃ τῇ γυναικὶ αὐτοῦ - syn Drousillē tē gynaikì autou): Drusilla's presence is specifically noted. She was daughter of Herod Agrippa I and sister to Agrippa II, making her part of the influential Herodian royal family. Her inclusion signals either her personal curiosity or Felix's desire for her input given her Jewish background.
• which was a Jewess (οὔσῃ Ἰουδαίᾳ - ousē Ioudaia): This direct descriptor highlights her ethnic and religious identity. Despite her scandalous marriage to Felix (having abandoned her previous husband, Azizus of Emesa), she retained her Jewish identity, which is key to understanding why Felix might have included her in hearing Paul discuss a figure like Christ, whom the Jews both awaited and largely rejected.
• he sent for Paul (μετεπέμψατο τὸν Παῦλον - metepempsato ton Paulon): This is an official summoning. Though Paul was imprisoned, he was not entirely cut off, and Felix had direct control over his access. This was a private meeting, distinct from a public court hearing, yet it underscores Paul's continued availability as a witness.
• and heard him (ἤκουσε - ēkouse): Felix listened. This term signifies not merely perceiving sounds but attentively giving audience. The Greek implies an active engagement with Paul's discourse, even if the heart remained closed.
• concerning the faith (περὶ τῆς πίστεως - peri tēs pisteōs): This clearly identifies the topic of Paul's discussion. He wasn't discussing political subversion or general philosophy, but foundational religious truth.
• in Christ (εἰς Χριστόν - eis Christon): This phrase specifies the object and content of the faith. Paul was presenting Christ — His person, His saving work, and the resulting call to belief and commitment to Him. This is the heart of the Gospel message that Paul consistently preached.

Words-group Analysis

• Felix with his wife Drusilla: This pairing is critical. It unites Roman civil authority with Herodian Jewish aristocracy. Drusilla, being Jewish, provides a link through which Felix might seek to better understand the "Jewish sect" that Paul represented. Her own immoral lifestyle (being married to Felix who enticed her from her lawful husband) stood in stark contrast to the ethical demands of the "faith in Christ" that Paul would preach.
• He sent for Paul, and heard him: This shows a deliberate, sovereign action by Felix. Despite being in custody, Paul retained the ability to be heard by those in power. It highlights Paul's consistent opportunity to proclaim the Gospel to people from all strata of society, as divinely ordained. This was not a trial, but a personal investigation, perhaps fueled by curiosity, potential bribery, or a deeper, if unrecognized, spiritual searching.
• Concerning the faith in Christ: This precisely identifies the core subject of Paul's discourse. It demonstrates that Paul did not dilute or divert his message. He continued to testify about Jesus as the Messiah, the one in whom true saving faith resides, establishing the essential truth of Christianity before a pagan governor and a nominal Jewess. This underscores the unyielding centrality of Christ in Paul's evangelism.

Acts 24 24 Bonus section

• The detail of Drusilla being "a Jewess" underscores the ongoing tension and interaction between nascent Christianity and Judaism. Paul always sought to witness to "the Jew first" (Rom 1:16), and this occasion, albeit unconventional, fit that pattern. Her Jewish heritage would have made her understand the prophecies and the cultural context of Paul's message, intensifying her responsibility to respond.
• Felix's decision to call Paul implies that Paul’s message was not easily dismissed as merely a trivial Jewish sect. There was a substance to it that commanded the attention of even Roman officials.
• The incident here fulfills the prophecies Jesus made about his followers testifying before rulers (Matt 10:18), demonstrating God's sovereign hand in placing Paul in such high-stakes witnessing opportunities despite his imprisonment.
• The account implicitly critiques the corrupt lifestyle of Felix and Drusilla. Paul likely continued with discussions of righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, as described in the very next verse (Acts 24:25), highlighting the contrast between their way of life and the demands of Christ.

Acts 24 24 Commentary

Acts 24:24 serves as a powerful testament to the unstoppable nature of the Gospel and Paul's unwavering commitment to his apostolic calling. Even under Roman custody, Paul was not silenced but was providentially positioned to speak before key figures of authority and influence. The meeting, instigated by Felix and featuring his Jewish wife Drusilla, offered a unique platform. Felix's motivations were complex; likely a mixture of political curiosity, financial opportunism (Acts 24:26), and perhaps an undeveloped spiritual interest nudged by Drusilla. Drusilla, a Herodian Jewess, despite her scandalous private life, would have been acutely aware of messianic expectations and the debates surrounding Christ. This verse succinctly captures Paul's unwavering focus: "the faith in Christ." He seized the moment not to defend himself politically, but to present the Person of Jesus, His atoning work, and the call to faith as the only way to reconciliation with God. This encounter, therefore, represents the universal appeal and uncompromising challenge of the Christian message to individuals of all backgrounds, positions, and moral conditions. It highlights the Spirit's work through Paul to confront worldly power and human conscience with the saving truth of Jesus Christ.