^24:24Some days later, when Felix⁸⁵ arrived with his wife Drusilla,⁸⁶ who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him speak⁸⁷ about faith in Christ Jesus.⁸⁸^24:25While Paul⁸⁹ was discussing⁹⁰ righteousness, self-control,⁹¹ and the coming judgment, Felix⁹² became⁹³ frightened and said, “Go away for now, and when I have an opportunity,⁹⁴ I will send for you.” ^24:26At the same time he was also hoping that Paul would give him money,⁹⁵ and for this reason he sent for Paul⁹⁶ as often as possible⁹⁷ and talked⁹⁸ with him.

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Footnotes

85 See the note on Antonius Felix in .
86 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, 19.9.1 [19.354], 20.7.2 [20.141–144]). As a member of Herod’s family, she probably knew about the Way.
87 The word “speak” is implied; ἀκούω 1.c has “ἤκουσεν αὐτοῦ περὶ τῆς … πίστεως he heard him speak about faith Ac 24:24.”
88 Or “Messiah Jesus”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”
89 Grk “he”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
90 Or “speaking about.”
91 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. 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.
92 See the note on Felix in .
93 Grk “becoming.” The participle γενόμενος (genomenos) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
94 Or “when I find time.” μεταλαμβάνω 2 has “καιρὸν μ. have an opportunity = find time … Ac 24:25.”
95 Grk “he was hoping that money would be given to him by Paul.” To simplify the translation, the passive construction has been converted to an active one. Would give him money. That is, would offer him a bribe in exchange for his release. Such practices were fairly common among Roman officials of the period (Josephus, 2.12.3 [2.272–274]).
96 Grk “him”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
97 “As often as possible” reflects the comparative form of the adjective πυκνός (puknos); see BDAG 897 πυκνός, which has “Neut. of the comp. πυκνότερον as adv. more often, more frequently and in an elative sense very often, quite frequently … also as often as possible … Ac 24:26.”
98 On this term, which could mean “conferred with him,” see ὁμιλέω.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

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. And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.” At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

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. As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Several days later, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and listened to him on the subject of faith in Christ Jesus. Now as he spoke about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix became afraid and replied, “Leave for now, but when I have an opportunity I’ll call for you.” At the same time he was also hoping that Paul would offer him money. So he sent for him quite often and conversed with him.

NLTNew Living Translation

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. As he reasoned with them about righteousness and self-control and the coming day of judgment, Felix became frightened. “Go away for now,” he replied. “When it is more convenient, I’ll call for you again.” He also hoped that Paul would bribe him, so he sent for him quite often and talked with him.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

And after some days, when Felix arrived with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and listened to him concerning faith in Christ Jesus. And while he was discussing about righteousness and self control and the judgment that is to come, Felix became afraid and replied, “Go away for the present, and when I have an opportunity, I will summon you.” At the same time he was also hoping that money would be given to him by Paul. For this reason also he sent for him as often as possible and talked with him.

KJV 1900King James Version

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. And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. 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.

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