Bible Commentaries
Acts 24

Verse 1

Verse 1

Descended; to Cesarea.--Orator, advocate. Tertullus, judging from his name, was a Roman: and he was employed probably on account of his acquaintance with the language and forms of procedure used at the Roman tribunals.

Acts 24:2,Acts 24:3. Contemporaneous history represents Felix as base and tyrannical, though efficient in his government. The obsequiousness of this orator's introduction contrasts strongly with the honest dignity of that of Paul. (Acts 24:10.)

Verse 11

Verse 11

Twelve days. In carefully reckoning the days enumerated in the course of the narrative, from the time of Paul's arrival at Jerusalem, we make more than twelve, unless we consider the five mentioned Acts 24:1 as commencing, not at the time of Paul's arrival at Cesarea, but at that of his apprehension by Lysias.

Verse 12

Verse 12

This is in reply to the charge made by Tertullus. (Acts 24:5.)

Verse 17

Verse 17

After many years; after an absence of many years.

Verse 18

Verse 18

Purified; engaged in the duties pertaining to ceremonial purification.

Verse 19

Verse 19

Who ought, &c.; meaning the Jews from Asia who made the original charge.

Verse 22

Verse 22

Having more perfect knowledge of that way. The connection of this expression with the other clauses of the verse is not apparent even in the original.

Verse 23

Verse 23

To let him have liberty; that is, not to keep him in close confinement.--To minister--unto him; to attend upon him, and administer to his comfort.

Verse 24

Verse 24

Drusilla; the daughter of Herod Agrippa. Felix had enticed her away from her husband, who was still living, as is related by the historians of those times.

Verse 26

Verse 26

Communed with; conversed with;--intimating to him, in these conversations, that he or his friends, by paying a sum of money, might secure his release.

Verse 27

Verse 27

Into Felix's room; as his successor in the government.