Paul’s Roman Citizenship, Governor Felix, and Bribery
What do Paul’s Roman citizenship, Governor Felix, and bribery have to do with the Bible’s authenticity? M. Antonius Felix was the 4th Roman governor of Judea, from 52-60 CE, and well known for taking bribes and other corruption. The apostle Paul, who was in custody, came before him in “trial”, and after hearing both sides of the issue, “Felix . . . postponed the trial” (Acts 24:21,22 NAB). Why?
“Felix . . . hoped that a bribe would be offered him by Paul, and so sent for him very often and conversed with him. Two years passed” (Acts 24:25,26 NAB). Felix’ hope for a bribe from Paul seems highly unusual, not because of any honesty on Felix’s part, but because of Paul’s poverty. To support himself, Paul, at times, did manual labor as a part-time ‘tentmaker’ (Acts 18:3). Due to his intense focus on spreading the gospel and his itinerant travel, at times he didn’t even have the basic necessities of life (2 Corinthians 11:27).
