When I Have A Convenient Season
Acts 24:22-27
22 And
when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he
deferred them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will
know the uttermost of your matter. 23 And he commanded a centurion
to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of
his acquaintance to minister or come unto him. 24 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. 25 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. 26 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. 27 But after two years Porcius Festus came
into Felix’ room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul
bound.
Outline:
I. Judgment Deferred (24:22-23)
II. Conviction Resisted (24:24-25)
III. Release Postponed (24:26-27)
I. Judgment Deferred (24:22-23)
22 And
when Felix heard these things,[1]
having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and said, When
Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your
matter. 23 And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him
have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or
come unto him.
1. The Response of Felix (24:22)
2. The Disposition of Paul (24:23)
1. The Response of Felix (24:22)
1) The Nature of the Response of Felix
2) The Basis for the Response of Felix
3) The Explanation for the Response of Felix
1) The Nature of
the Response of Felix — he deferred them
Other translations: “put them off,” and “adjourned the
hearing/proceedings.”
2) The Basis for
the Response of Felix — having more perfect knowledge of that
way
What is not clear at this point is whether or not the
members of the Sanhedrin were aware of this! If they were, then they would have
realized what an uphill battle they faced in attempting to convince Felix of
their false accusations against Paul. This would suggest on the fact of it that
Felix saw right through them, and their tactics before they even began!
3) The Explanation
for the Response of Felix — When Lysias the chief captain shall
come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter.
Here is Felix’ delaying tactic. This was unnecessary
given the written communication he already had in his possession from Claudius
Lysias to him that had been brought with Paul and his military escort five days
before. The only explanation for this would be what Tertullus had testified to
before Felix about Lysias’ actions (Acts 24:6b-8a) — if, that is, we follow the
text of the Byzantine and Majority editions of the Greek New Testament! And,
again, it does not seem likely that Tertullus or the rest of those from the
Sanhedrin accompanying Ananias were aware of this written communication from
Lysias. With that false accusation against Lysias they unwittingly set up this
delaying tactic, somehow assuming that Felix would take their word for it,
rather than use it to keep Paul with him.
2. The Disposition of Paul (24:23)
1) The Responsibility for the Disposition of Paul
2) The Nature of the Disposition of Paul
3) The Provision for the Disposition of Paul
1) The
Responsibility for the Disposition of Paul — he commanded a centurion to keep
Paul
Further incarceration pending final disposition is ordered.
2) The Nature of
the Disposition of Paul — and to let him have liberty
Though in prison Felix mandates that this is to be
without restraints such as chains indicating that Paul is not perceived as a
dangerous or violent threat, or a flight risk.
3) The Provision
for the Disposition of Paul — and that he should forbid none of his
acquaintance to minister or come[2] unto
him
Felix, allows Paul to have visitors, and to receive
gifts, although with an ulterior motive as
it becomes apparent later.
II. Conviction Resisted (24:24-25)
24
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. 25
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.
1. Paul’s Private
Opportunity with Felix and Drusilla (24:24)
2. Felix’
Reaction to Paul’s Witness (24:25)
1. Paul’s Private Opportunity with Felix and Drusilla
(24:24)
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
after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess
The background of Felix and Drusilla, his third wife, including
her relationship to the Herodian line, Felix’ character, and his relations with
the Jews in Palestine are significant for how this situation was handled.[3]
he
sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ
This must be connected to “the Way of the Nazarene” (Acts
24:5, 22), along with what follows in the next verse.
2. Felix’ Reaction to Paul’s Witness (24:25)
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.
The inspired account of this incident is the highpoint of
Paul’s two year long imprisonment at Caesarea under Felix.
1) The Gospel Truths that provoke Felix’ Reaction
2) The Physical Nature of Felix’ Reaction
3) The Delaying
Tactic in Felix’ Reaction
1) The Gospel Truths
that provoke Felix’ Reaction — And as
he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come
What Paul teaches Felix and Drusilla concerning “the
faith in Christ” is outlined by Christ Himself in His discourse in the upper
room to the disciples —
“7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It
is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will
not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove
the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
10 Of righteousness, because I go to my
Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of
judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.” (John 16:7-11)
These
three subject areas address the entire ground of the Gospel of salvation in
Jesus Christ:
(1)
Justification: The condemnation of sin addressed at the Cross by imputation
Christ, and the imputation of Christ’s righteousness to believers.
Absolute
condemnation is the only other alternative for those left in their sin.
(2)
Sanctification: The power of sin nullified by the indwelling Holy Spirit of
Christ.
Increasing
abomination is the inevitable path of those void of Holy Spirit power and
enslaved to sin.
(3)
Glorification: The presence of sin removed by the resurrection power of Christ.
Eternal
rejection is the end of those who pass from this world to the throne of God
without Christ, and without hope.
2) The Physical Nature
of Felix’ Reaction — Felix
trembled
This is impressive! What is even more impressive is when
an entire nation trembles!
(1) Israel trembled!
“And it came to pass on the third day in the
morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the
mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that
was in the camp trembled.” (Exodus 19:16)
Israel trembled at the
voice of God at Sinai, and then went on to create an idol, to rebel, and to
complain against God.
“Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble…”
How impressive is it when
even the mountains tremble?
(2) The mountains tremble!
“The mountains saw thee, and
they trembled: the overflowing of the water passed by: the deep uttered his
voice, and lifted up his hands on high.” (Habakkuk
3:10)
“Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble…”
What about when the earth
itself trembles? Is this merely a natural occurrence having nothing to do with
God Almighty? Has anyone experienced an earthquake? How were the explanations
of scientists working for you during that experience?
(3) The earth trembles!
Ps 18:7 — Then the earth shook and trembled; the
foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.
Ps
60:2 — Thou hast made the earth to tremble; thou hast broken it: heal the
breaches thereof; for it shaketh.
Ps
77:18 — The voice of thy thunder was
in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and
shook.
Ps
97:4 — His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.
Ps
104:32 — He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and
they smoke.
Ps
114:7 — Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of
the God of Jacob;
“Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble…”
(4) The demons respond like Felix!
“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils
also believe, and tremble.” (James 2:19)
“Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble…”
(5)
Indeed, we are commanded to join with Israel, the mountains, the earth itself,
and the fallen angels to tremble before the Lord as the King of creation, and
the Judge of all!
Ps
99:1 — The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be
moved.
Ps
119:120 — My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy
judgments.
“Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble…”
(6) The blessing of the
Lord is on those who tremble at His Word with true spiritual poverty and
contrition!
“1 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is
my footstool: where is the house that
ye build unto me? and where is the
place of my rest? 2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite
spirit, and trembleth at my word. 3 He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that
sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off
a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, as
if he offered swine's blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and
their soul delighteth in their abominations. 4 I also will choose
their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called,
none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine
eyes, and chose that in which I
delighted not. 5 Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his
word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said,
Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be
ashamed.” (Isaiah 66:1-5)
“Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble…”
As impressive as this may seem to some, a word of caution
is in order, based on what is exemplified in the entirety of this episode
between Paul and Felix.
Physical responses to the Gospel may be quite impressive
to fellow humans. God is not so easily impressed. Men, women, and children may
tremble, and weep gushers of tears. They may wail, and gnash their teeth as in
agony, and convince all around them that their repentance for sin is genuine
with such impressive displays. God searches the thoughts and intents of the
heart.
“12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful,
and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of
soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the
thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any creature
that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”
(Hebrews 4:12-13)
Conversion may be faked. Regeneration cannot be. If
someone is truly born again by the spirit of God, then they will have the new
nature of a true child of God. This supernatural internal change wrought by
God’s power will be sustained far beyond any initial visible, physical and
emotional reactions.
3) The
Delaying Tactic in Felix’ Reaction — and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient
season, I will call for thee.
There appears to be a chiasm here in the English
translations[4] where
the “A” elements address Felix’ control of Paul’s comings and goings, and the
“B” elements speak of Felix’ control of the temporal determinations:
(1) Go thy
way — A
(2) for this time
— B
(3) when I
have a convenient season — B
(4) I will
call for thee — A
However, this is not found in the structure of the Greek that
is being translated here, which is actually B—A—B—A.
In either case, the emphasis on both of these two elements
is telling regarding who perceives himself to be in control here, and what he imagines
is under his control.
Paul himself wrote by the inspiration of the Spirit of
God concerning the frightening fallacy of Felix at this moment!
“1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you
also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. 2 (For
he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation
have I succoured thee: behold, now is
the accepted time; behold, now is the
day of salvation.)”
(2 Corinthians 6:2)
We may well ask, “A ‘time accepted’ by who?” We may also
ask, “What ‘day of salvation’?”
The answers better be: “A ‘time accepted’ by God,” and, “His
‘day of salvation’!”
There is no convenient season! The times are not in your
hand. You are not in control of tomorrow. You may have been placed in a
position of great political power, authority and responsibility by the Roman
government, but you must answer to One on a Throne who will judge your every
thought, word and deed. Your times are in his absolute control. He rules not
just today, but yesterday and tomorrow. He rules eternity. All authority on
earth, and in heaven is His, and His alone. There is no convenient season!
“…behold, now is
the accepted time; behold, now is the
day of salvation”!
“7 Wherefore (as the Holy
Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, 8 Harden
not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the
wilderness: 9 When your fathers tempted
me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. 10
Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway
err in their heart; and they have not
known my ways. 11 So I sware in my
wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) 12
Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of
unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is
called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”
(Hebrews 3:7-13; cp. Hebrews 3-4)
“…behold, now is
the accepted time; behold, now is the
day of salvation”!
How many are like Esau?!?! How serious is the warning we
are confronted with in the Word of God based on his terrifying example?!?!
“15 Looking diligently
lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up
trouble you, and thereby many be
defiled; 16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel
of meat sold his birthright. 17 For ye know
how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected:
for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.”
(Hebrews
12:15-17)
“…behold, now is
the accepted time; behold, now is the
day of salvation”!
III. Release Postponed (24:26-27)
26
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. 27
But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix’ room: and Felix,
willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.
1. The Motivation of Felix (24:26)
2. The Replacement of Felix (24:27)
1. The Motivation of Felix (24:26)
He hoped also that money should have
been given him of Paul, that he might loose him:[5]
wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him.
“For the love of money is
the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the
faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” (1 Timothy 6:10)
“No man can serve two
masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will
hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
(Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13)
2. The Replacement of Felix (24:27)
But after two years Porcius Festus came
into Felix’ room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul
bound.
1) Felix had an ample amount of time to repent
2) Felix goes away hardened in his sin
1) Felix had an
ample amount of time to repent — But
after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix’ room
2) Felix goes away
hardened in his sin — and
Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.
Too late! We only hear of Felix once more in the inspired
narrative, and that is when Festus brings King Agrippa up to date with Paul’s
case history in Acts 25:14.
Complete outline:
I. Judgment Deferred (24:22-23)
1. The Response of Felix (24:22)
1) The Nature of the Response
of Felix
2) The Basis for the Response
of Felix
3) The Explanation for the
Response of Felix
2. The Disposition of Paul
(24:23)
1) The Responsibility for the
Disposition of Paul
2) The Nature of the
Disposition of Paul
3) The Provision for the
Disposition of Paul
II. Conviction Resisted (24:24-25)
1. Paul’s Private Opportunity with Felix and Drusilla (24:24)
2. Felix’ Reaction to Paul’s Witness (24:25)
1) The Gospel Truths that
provoke Felix’ Reaction
2) The Physical Nature of
Felix’ Reaction
3) The Delaying Tactic in Felix’ Reaction
III. Release Postponed (24:26-27)
1. The Motivation of Felix
(24:26)
2. The Replacement of Felix
(24:27)
1) Felix had an ample amount of
time to repent
2) Felix goes away hardened in
his sin
[Sermon preached 29
MAR 2015 by Pastor John T. “Jack” Jeffery at Wayside Gospel Chapel, Greentown,
PA.]
Appendix 1 — Resources
cited in Notes
Barbara Aland,
Kurt Aland, Matthew Black, Carlo M. Martini, Bruce M. Metzger, and Allen
Wikgren, The Greek New Testament,
4th rev. ed. (Stuttgart, FRG: United Bible Societies and Deutsche
Bibelgesellschaft, 1993, 1994).
Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible, eds. W. A. Elwell and B. J.
Beitzel (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1988).
The Classic Bible Dictionary, ed. Jay P. Green, Sr. (Lafayette, IN: Sovereign
Grace Trust Fund, 1988).
A Dictionary of the Bible, Dealing with
its Language, Literature, and Contents, Including the Biblical Theology, ed. James Hastings, 5 vols. (Peabody, MA:
Hendrickson Publishers, n.d.; 1988 reprint ed. of 1898 orig. by T&T Clark,
Edinburgh); on Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) at http://www.ccel.org/ccel/hastings [accessed
6 APR 2015].
The Greek New Testament According to the Majority
Text, 2nd ed., ed. Zane C. Hodges,
Arthur L. Farstad, et al. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1985).
M. W. Holmes, Apparatus
for the Greek New Testament: SBL Edition (Logos Bible Software, 2010).
The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, 1915 ed., ed. J. Edwin Orr (Albany, OR:
Ages Software, 1999); on International
Standard Bible Encyclopedia Online at http://www.internationalstandardbible.com/ [accessed
6 APR 2015].
Bruce M. Metzger and United Bible Societies, A Textual Commentary on the Greek New
Testament, Second Edition, A Companion Volume to the United Bible Societies'
Greek New Testament (Fourth Revised Edition) (Stuttgart, FRG: Deutsche
Bibelgesellschaft/German Bible Society, 1994; United Bible Societies, 1971).
Bruce M. Metzger and United Bible Societies, A Textual Commentary on the Greek New
Testament, Second Edition, A Companion Volume to the United Bible Societies'
Greek New Testament (Fourth Revised Edition) (Stuttgart, FRG: Deutsche
Bibelgesellschaft/German Bible Society, 1994; United Bible Societies, 1971).
The New Bible Dictionary, eds. J. D. Douglas, F. F. Bruce, J. I.
Packer, R. V. G. Tasker, and D. J. Wiseman (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans
Publishing Co., 1962).
Novum Testamentum
Graece, eds. Eberhard and Erwin Nestle, 27th ed., eds. Barbara
and Kurt Aland, Johannes Karavidopoulos, Carlo M. Martini, and Bruce M. Metzger
(Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 1898, 1993).
Maurice Robinson,
Elzevir Textus Receptus (1624): With
morphology (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2002).
Maurice A. Robinson and William G. Pierpont, The New Testament in the Original Greek:
Byzantine Textform 2005 (Southborough, MA: Chilton Book Publishing, 2006).
Scrivener’s Textus Receptus (1894): With
morphology (Bellingham, WA:
Logos Bible Software, 2002).
Stephen’s 1550 Textus Receptus: With
morphology (Bellingham, WA:
Logos Bible Software, 2002)
The Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary, gen ed. Merrill C. Tenney, rev. ed. (Grand
Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1963, 1964, 1967).
Appendix 2 — Resources
on Acts
G. K. Beale and D. A. Carson, eds., Commentary on the New Testament Use of
the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007), pp. 513-606.
Paul Barnett, The
Birth of Christianity: The First Twenty Years, After Jesus, Vol. 1 (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing
Co., 2005).
Darrell L. Bock, Acts,
Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New
Testament, eds. Robert W. Yarbrough and Robert H. Stein (Grand Rapids:
Baker Academic, 2007).
F. F. Bruce, The Acts of the Apostles: The Greek Text
with Introduction and Commentary, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans
Publishing Co., 1951, 1952).
Dennis E. Johnson, The Message of Acts in the History of
Redemption (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 1997).
I. Howard Marshall, Acts:
An Introduction And Commentary, Vol. 5 in Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, gen. ed. Leon Morris (Downers
Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1980; 2008 reprint).
David G. Peterson, The
Acts of the Apostles, in The Pillar
New Testament Commentaries, gen. ed. D. A. Carson (Grand Rapids: William B.
Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2009).
John B. Polhill, Acts,
Vol. 26 in The New American Commentary,
gen. ed. David S. Dockery (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, Publishers,
1992).
Eckhard J. Schnabel, Acts,
Vol. 5 in the Zondervan Exegetical
Commentary on the New Testament, gen. ed. Clinton E. Arnold (Grand Rapids:
Zondervan, 2012).
W. C. van Unnik, “The ‘Book of Acts’ the Confirmation of
the Gospel,” in Novum Testamentum 4:1
(OCT 1960), pp. 26-59; reprinted in The
Composition of Luke’s Gospel: Selected Studies from Novum Testamentum,
compiled by David E. Orton, Vol. 1 of Brill’s
Readers in Biblical Studies (Leiden: Brill, 1999), pp. 184-218.
William H. Willimon, Acts,
in Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for
Teaching and Preaching, series ed. James Luther Mays, New Testament ed.
Paul J. Achtemeier (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2010).
Appendix 3 — Resources on Paul
Kenneth E. Bailey, Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes: Cultural
Studies in 1 Corinthians (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2011).
F. F. Bruce, Paul:
Apostle of the Heart Set Free (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing
Co., 1977).
D. A. Carson, The
Gagging of God: Christianity Confronts Pluralism (Grand Rapids: Zondervan,
1996), pp. 496-501.
W. J. Conybeare and J. S. Howson, The Life, Times and Travels of St. Paul, 2 vols. in 1, unabridged
American ed. (New York: E. B. Treat U Co., 1869); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=Bn1CAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
[accessed 12 FEB 2013].
Adolf Deissmann, Paul:
A Study in Social and Religious History, 2nd ed., trans. William E. Wilson
(New York: Harper Torchbooks, n.d.).
F. W. Farrar, The Life
and Work of St. Paul (New York: E. P. Dutton and Co., 1889); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=RB2KeCSM6KsC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
[accessed 12 FEB 2013].
Bruce N. Fisk, “Paul: Life and
Letters”, in The Face of New Testament
Studies: A Survey of Recent Research, ed. Scot McKnight and Grant R.
Osborne (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2004), pp. 283-325.
Richard B. Gaffin, Jr.,
"Acts and Paul", 46 lectures (MP3 format), WTS Resources Media Center
on Westminster Theological Seminary
at http://wts.edu/resources/media.html?paramType=audio&filterTopic=5&filterSpeaker=10&filterYear=2005 [accessed 20 MAR 2013].
Frank J. Goodwin, A
Harmony of the Life of the St. Paul According to the Acts of the Apostles and
the Pauline Epistles (New York: American Tract Society, 1895); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=YgpEAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false [accessed
12 FEB 2013].
Richard N. Longenecker, The
Ministry And Message Of Paul (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1971).
Richard N. Longenecker, Paul,
Apostle Of Liberty (New York: Harper & Row, 1964).
Richard N. Longenecker, ed., The Road From Damascus : The Impact Of Paul's Conversion On His Life,
Thought, And Ministry (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997).
Richard N. Longenecker, Studies
In Paul, Exegetical And Theological (Sheffield : Sheffield Phoenix Press,
2004).
J. Gresham Machen, The
Origin of Paul's Religion: The James Sprunt Lectures Delivered at Union
Theological Seminary in Virginia (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing
Co., 1925).
Leon Morris, The
Apostolic Preaching of the Cross (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing
Co., 1955).
John Pollock, The Apostle:
A Life of Paul, 3rd ed. (Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 1969, 2012); also
published as The Man Who Shook the World
(Wheaton: Victor Books, 1972; originally The
Apostle: A Life of Paul, New York: Doubleday, 1969).
Stanley E. Porter, Paul
in Acts, in Library of Pauline
Studies, gen. ed. Stanley E. Porter (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers,
Inc., 1999; 2001 reprint of The Paul of
Acts: Essays in Literary Criticism, Rhetoric and Theology, in Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen
Testament 115, by Mohr Siebeck, Tubingen).
W. M. Ramsay, The
Cities of St. Paul: Their Influence on his Life and Thought (New York: A.
C. Armstrong and Son; London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1908); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=JryEbmKool0C&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
[accessed 13 FEB 2013].
W. M. Ramsay, Pauline
and Other Studies in Early Christian History (New York: A. C. Armstrong and
Son, 1906); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=-1ZJAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
[accessed 13 FEB 2013].
W. M. Ramsay, St. Paul
the Traveler and the Roman Citizen, 10th ed. (London: Hodder and Stoughton,
1907); on Christian Classics Ethereal
Library (CCEL) at http://www.ccel.org/ccel/ramsay/paul_roman.html [accessed
13 FEB 2013].
W. M. Ramsay, The
Teaching of Paul in terms of The Present Day: The Deems Lectures in New York
University (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1914); on Internet Archive at http://ia600404.us.archive.org/2/items/teachingofpaulin00rams/teachingofpaulin00rams.pdf
[accessed 13 FEB 2013].
A. T. Robertson, Epochs
in the Life of Paul: A Study of Development in Paul's Character (Grand
Rapids: Baker Book House, 1974).
Eckhard J. Schnabel, Paul The Missionary: Realities, Strategies
And Methods (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic,
2008).
Udo Schnelle, Apostle
Paul: His Life and Theology, trans. M. Eugene Boring (Grand Rapids: Baker
Academic, 2003; trans. from Paulus: Leben
und Denken, Berlin: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co., n.d.).
Thomas R. Schreiner, Paul,
Apostle of God's Glory in Christ: A Pauline Theology (Downers Grove, IL:
IVP Academic, 2001).
James Stalker, The
Life of St. Paul, (Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1885; rev. ed. 2010 by
Kessinger Publishing from 1912 ed.); on Google
Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=vT0HAAAAQAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
[accessed 7 FEB 2013].
End Notes:
[1]
There is a textual difference in the beginning of this verse between the
Byzantine/Majority and the Nestle-Aland/UBS editions of the Greek New Testament
involving the word order and the omission of two words in some of the
manuscripts that is reflected in translation differences.
[2]
There is a textual difference here at the end of this verse between the
Byzantine/Majority and the Nestle-Aland/UBS editions of the Greek New Testament
involving the omission of two words in some of the manuscripts that is
reflected in translation differences.
[3] On Felix see:
H. L. Ellison, “Felix, Marcus
Antonius,” in The Classic Bible
Dictionary, ed. Jay P. Green, Sr. (Lafayette, IN: Sovereign Grace Trust
Fund, 1988), pg. 423.
“Felix,” unsigned article in The Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary,
gen ed. Merrill C. Tenney, rev. ed. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House,
1963, 1964, 1967), pg. 282.
“Felix,
Antonius,” unsigned article in Baker
Encyclopedia of the Bible, eds. W. A. Elwell and B. J. Beitzel (Grand
Rapids: Baker Book House, 1988), pp.788-789.
E. M. B. Green, “Felix, Marcus
Antonius,” in The New Bible
Dictionary, eds. J. D. Douglas, F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, R. V. G. Tasker,
and D. J. Wiseman (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1962), pg. 421.
C. M. Kerr, “Felix, Antonius,” in The International Standard Bible
Encyclopedia, 1915 ed., ed. J. Edwin Orr (Albany, OR: Ages Software, 1999);
on International Standard Bible
Encyclopedia Online at http://www.internationalstandardbible.com/F/felix-antonius.html [accessed
6 APR 2015].
Archibald Robertson, “Felix,”
in A Dictionary of the Bible,
Dealing with its Language, Literature, and Contents, Including the Biblical
Theology, ed. James Hastings, 5 vols. (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers,
n.d.; 1988 reprint ed. of 1898 orig. by T&T Clark, Edinburgh), 2:1-2;
on Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) at http://www.ccel.org/ccel/hastings/dictv2/Page_1.html [accessed
6 APR 2015].
On Drusilla see:
E. M. Blaiklock, “Herod,”
in The Zondervan Pictorial Bible
Dictionary, gen ed. Merrill C. Tenney, rev. ed. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan
Publishing House, 1963, 1964, 1967), pg. 352.
J. D. Douglas, “Drusilla,”
in The New Bible Dictionary,
eds. J. D. Douglas, F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, R. V. G. Tasker, and D. J.
Wiseman (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1962), pg. 327.
Henry E. Dosker, “Herod,”
in The Classic Bible Dictionary,
ed. Jay P. Green, Sr. (Lafayette, IN: Sovereign Grace Trust Fund, 1988), pg. 527.
“Drusilla,” unsigned
article in Baker Encyclopedia of the
Bible, eds. W. A. Elwell and B. J. Beitzel (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House,
1988), pg.643.
“Drusilla,” unsigned article
in The Zondervan Pictorial Bible
Dictionary, gen ed. Merrill C. Tenney, rev. ed. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan
Publishing House, 1963, 1964, 1967), pg. 229.
Arthur Cayley Headlam,
“Herod,” in A Dictionary of the
Bible, Dealing with its Language, Literature, and Contents, Including the
Biblical Theology, ed. James Hastings, 5 vols. (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson
Publishers, n.d.; 1988 reprint ed. of 1898 orig. by T&T Clark, Edinburgh),
2:361; on Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) at http://www.ccel.org/ccel/hastings/dictv2/Page_361.html [accessed
6 APR 2015].
C. M. Kerr, “Drusilla,”
in The International Standard Bible
Encyclopedia, 1915 ed., ed. J. Edwin Orr (Albany, OR: Ages Software, 1999);
on International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Online at http://www.internationalstandardbible.com/D/drusilla.html [accessed
6 APR 2015].
John B. Polhill, Acts, Vol. 26 in The New American Commentary, gen. ed. David S. Dockery (Nashville,
TN: Broadman & Holman, Publishers, 1992), pg. 486.
[4] Τὸ νῦν ἔχον πορεύου· καιρὸν δὲ μεταλαβὼν μετακαλέσομαί σε.
Among the modern translations only the NIV retains the word order of the Greek.
The NASB, ESV, HCSB, and NLT preserve the English order of the KJV where this
chiasm is observed.
[5]
There is a textual difference here between the Byzantine/Majority and the
Nestle-Aland/UBS editions of the Greek New Testament involving the omission of
this last clause — which is three words in the original — that is reflected in
translation differences.
