Felix: Happy, the Roman procurator of Judea before whom Paul "reasoned"
(Acts 24:25) He appears to have expected a bribe from Paul, and
therefore had several interviews with him. The "worthy deeds"
referred to in
(Acts 24:2) was his clearing the country of banditti
and impostors. At the end of a two years' term, Porcius Festus was
appointed in the room of Felix (A.D. 60) who proceeded to Rome, and
was there accused of cruelty and malversation of office by the Jews of
Caesarea. The accusation was rendered nugatory by the influence of his
brother Pallas with Nero. (See Josephus, Ant. xx. 8-9) Drusilla, the
daughter of Herod Agrippa, having been induced by Felix to desert her
husband, the king of Emesa, became his adulterous companion. She was
seated beside him when Paul "reasoned" before the judge. When Felix
gave place to Festus, being "willing to do the Jews a pleasure," he
left Paul bound.
