Acts 24:26 kjv
He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him.
Acts 24:26 nkjv
Meanwhile he also hoped that money would be given him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore he sent for him more often and conversed with him.
Acts 24:26 niv
At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.
Acts 24:26 esv
At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him.
Acts 24:26 nlt
He also hoped that Paul would bribe him, so he sent for him quite often and talked with him.
Acts 24 26 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
| Deut 16:19 | You shall not pervert justice. You shall not show partiality, and you shall not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the cause of the righteous. | Direct prohibition against accepting bribes. |
| Ex 23:8 | And you shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and subverts the cause of those who are in the right. | Old Testament law condemns bribery and its corrupting influence. |
| Ps 15:5 | ...who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved. | Characteristics of one who dwells with God, including refusal of bribes. |
| Prov 17:23 | The wicked accepts a bribe in secret to pervert the ways of justice. | Describes the characteristic action of the wicked in perverting justice. |
| Eccl 7:7 | Surely oppression makes a wise man foolish, and a bribe corrupts the heart. | Bribery's corrosive effect on a person's moral character. |
| Isa 1:23 | Your princes are rebels and companions of thieves. Everyone loves a bribe and chases after gifts. They do not bring justice to the fatherless, and the widow's cause does not come to them. | Condemnation of leaders who are corrupted by bribes and neglect justice. |
| Mic 3:11 | Its heads give judgment for a bribe; its priests teach for a price; its prophets practice divination for money; yet they lean on the Lord and say, “Is not the Lord in the midst of us? No disaster shall come upon us.” | Prophetic judgment against Israel's corrupt leaders motivated by greed. |
| 1 Sam 8:3 | But his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after gain. They took bribes and perverted justice. | Example of Samuel's sons, whose corrupt leadership through bribery was a reason for Israel demanding a king. |
| Matt 6:24 | “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money." | Jesus' teaching on the impossibility of serving God and material wealth simultaneously, applicable to Felix's conflicting motivations. |
| 1 Tim 6:10 | For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil... | The underlying sin that fueled Felix's actions. |
| Tit 1:11 | ...They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. | Warning against those who use ministry for dishonest gain, paralleling Felix's use of his position. |
| 2 Pet 2:3 | And in their greed these will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from of old has not been idle, and their destruction is not asleep. | Warning against those driven by greed, exploiting others. |
| Acts 24:25 | And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for now. When I have an opportunity I will summon you again.” | Immediate preceding context, showing Felix's initial fear and avoidance, which shifts to mercenary hope. |
| Acts 28:30-31 | He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance. | Shows Paul's unwavering commitment to the gospel despite unjust imprisonment, contrasts with Felix's motivations. |
| Phil 1:12-14 | I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ... | Paul's perspective that his imprisonment, even with Felix's corruption, furthered the gospel. |
| Mk 6:20 | for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly. | Similar to Felix, Herod hears a man of God but is held back by other considerations (fear, oath, personal desires). |
| Jer 22:17 | But your eyes and heart are only on your dishonest gain, for shedding innocent blood, and for doing violence and oppression. | Prophetic condemnation of rulers consumed by personal gain and injustice. |
| Is 33:15 | He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, who despises the gain of oppressions, who shakes his hands, lest they hold a bribe, who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed and shuts his eyes from looking on evil; | Characteristics of a righteous person, a stark contrast to Felix's actions. |
| Jn 3:19 | And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. | Felix, confronted with the light (Paul's message), retreats into the darkness of his corrupt practices. |
| Heb 4:7 | Again, he limits a certain day, "Today," saying through David so long afterward, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts." | Felix's continued delay and hardening of his heart, missing opportunities. |
| Rom 1:29 | They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. | Covetousness (pleonexia) here aligns with Felix's desire for gain. |
Acts 24 verses
Acts 24 26 Meaning
Acts 24:26 reveals the corrupt motivation behind Governor Felix's continued engagement with Paul. While seemingly allowing Paul to remain in his custody with some liberty, Felix harbored the self-serving hope that Paul or his associates would offer him a bribe in exchange for Paul's release. This corrupt expectation influenced his actions, leading him to summon Paul frequently for discussions, not primarily for spiritual enlightenment, but for personal financial gain, ultimately deferring a just judgment.
Acts 24 26 Context
Acts 24 narrates Paul's trial before Governor Felix in Caesarea. Paul, accused by Jewish leaders (specifically Tertullus) of being a plague, stirring up riots, and desecrating the temple, presents his defense. Paul clarifies his purpose was to bring alms and offerings to his nation, emphasizes his blameless life according to the Law, and proclaims his faith in the resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous (Acts 24:10-21). Felix, "having a rather accurate knowledge concerning the Way" (Christianity), adjourned the hearing but kept Paul under guard, allowing him some liberty and access to his friends (Acts 24:22-23). Verse 26 then provides the motivation for Felix's actions, following an intense discussion where Paul reasoned with Felix and Drusilla about "righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment" (Acts 24:25), which caused Felix to tremble. Despite this momentary fear, Felix's underlying corruption and avarice surfaced, revealing his true hope: financial gain from Paul. This personal vice of Felix, historically corroborated by figures like Tacitus and Josephus who describe him as a cruel and corrupt ruler, explains why Paul remained imprisoned for two years under his governance without a just verdict.
Acts 24 26 Word analysis
He hoped also (ἐλπίζων καὶ)
- He hoped (ἐλπίζων - elpizōn): This participle usually means "hoping" or "expecting" and can carry a positive or spiritual connotation in other New Testament contexts (e.g., hope in Christ). However, here, it carries a negative, mercenary expectation. Felix was "expecting" or "looking for" a bribe, indicative of his corrupt character, rather than genuine, spiritual hope. This shows hope twisted for selfish ends.
- also (καὶ - kai): Implies that this financial hope was an additional or primary motive alongside perhaps a curiosity or partial knowledge of Paul's teachings. It wasn't merely the delay of judgment, but active pursuit of personal gain.
that money would be given him (χρήματα δοθήσεται αὐτῷ - chrēmata dothēsetai autō)
- money (χρήματα - chrēmata): Refers to possessions, wealth, riches, or specifically "money." In Roman provincial governance, gifts or "gratifications" were a common but officially prohibited means of influence. Felix, knowing Paul received support from brethren (implied from Acts 24:23 "friends could attend to his needs"), might have estimated Paul's financial connections and potential.
- would be given (δοθήσεται - dothēsetai): Future passive indicative, signifying Felix's active expectation that money "would be given" to him. This was not a vague hope but a calculated expectation.
- him (αὐτῷ - autō): Direct emphasis on Felix as the recipient of the desired illicit payment.
by Paul (ὑπὸ τοῦ Παύλου - hypo tou Paulou)
- Indicates Felix's specific target for the bribe. While the money might come from Paul's supporters or family, the text places the onus on Paul as the one whose liberty could be bought, demonstrating Felix's pressure point. Paul's integrity, however, would prevent him from complying.
so he sent for him more often (διὸ καὶ πυκνότερον μετεπέμπετο αὐτὸν - dio kai pyknoteron metapempéto auton)
- so (διὸ - dio): A strong connective indicating consequence. Felix's corrupt hope directly caused his subsequent actions.
- more often (πυκνότερον - pyknoteron): Comparative adverb, meaning "more frequently" or "repeatedly." This wasn't a one-off curiosity but a pattern of persistent interaction driven by his financial expectation. This highlights Felix's exploitation of Paul's captivity.
- he sent for him (μετεπέμπετο αὐτὸν - metapempéto auton): Imperfect tense of the verb "to send for." This emphasizes a continuous, repeated action of summoning Paul, not just one meeting.
and conversed with him (ὡμίλει αὐτῷ - hōmilei autō)
- conversed (ὡμίλει - hōmilei): Imperfect tense of "to converse with," "to be in company with," "to associate with." This also indicates ongoing dialogue and interaction. While ostensibly conversing about "righteousness" and "judgment" as in v.25, the motivation underlying Felix's summoning shifted significantly to bribery, corrupting the very act of discussion. These conversations provided continued opportunities for Paul to share the gospel, even if the hearer's motives were impure.
Words-group Analysis
- "He hoped...by Paul": This phrase paints a clear picture of Felix's deep-seated corruption. His "hope" is not for justice or spiritual understanding, but for financial gain through illicit means. It underscores the profound moral decay of a man in power who prioritizes avarice over his judicial duty. This is an explicit exposure of the true nature of Felix's character, revealing his avarice to the readers.
- "so he sent for him more often and conversed with him": This illustrates how corruption manipulates conduct. Felix’s actions are a direct consequence of his corrupt expectation. The repeated summoning provided him with a prolonged "waiting game" for the bribe and served as continued opportunities, ironically, for Paul to present the Gospel, regardless of Felix's hardened heart or underlying motives. It shows Paul's prolonged imprisonment as a tactic of judicial extortion rather than legitimate detention.
Acts 24 26 Bonus section
- Historical Context of Roman Governance and Bribery: The Roman Empire, while having official laws against bribery (Lex Repetundarum), often saw its provincial governors engaging in it. Figures like Felix, having gained their positions through patronage or family connections, frequently sought to enrich themselves during their terms, viewing governorship as a lucrative venture rather than solely public service. Tacitus, a Roman historian, describes Felix as someone who "practiced every kind of cruelty and lust, wielding the power of a king with the instincts of a slave." This corroborates Luke's portrayal and gives further depth to Felix's character in this verse. His hope for a bribe was not unusual for his time and position but directly opposed to righteous governance.
- Divine Sovereignty Amidst Human Corruption: This verse highlights a recurring theme in Acts and the Bible: God's sovereign hand using even the unrighteous motives and actions of people to further His divine purposes. While Felix was consumed by greed, his actions ultimately kept Paul in a strategic location (Caesarea) for an extended period, allowing Paul to eventually appeal to Caesar and reach Rome, furthering the gospel's spread to the heart of the empire (Acts 25:10-12, 28:16-31). God transforms human malice into opportunities for divine glory.
Acts 24 26 Commentary
Acts 24:26 serves as a sharp exposé of Felix's character and the pervasive corruption within the Roman legal system of the time. While Paul preached with power on righteousness, self-control, and judgment, provoking initial fear in Felix, the governor quickly reverted to his inherent vice: the love of money. His continued summoning of Paul was not out of spiritual curiosity or a genuine desire to hear the gospel, but a calculated strategy to extort a bribe for Paul’s release. This verse powerfully illustrates that spiritual truth, though convicting, can be resisted and overshadowed by deep-seated personal sin, particularly greed. Felix’s actions demonstrate how unrighteous motives can lead individuals to suppress the truth (Rom 1:18) and exploit their positions. Yet, in God's providence, Felix's venal motives ironically extended Paul's platform, allowing the apostle continued opportunities to bear witness to Christ, even to those whose hearts were closed by corruption.