Acts 24:25
New International Version
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.”

New Living Translation
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.”

English Standard Version
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.”

Berean Standard Bible
As Paul expounded on righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, “You may go for now. When I find the time, I will call for you.”

Berean Literal Bible
And of him reasoning concerning righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix, having become frightened, answered, "Go away for the present, and having found opportunity, I will call for you."

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.”

New American Standard Bible
But as he was discussing righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and responded, “Go away for now, and when I have an opportunity, I will summon you.”

NASB 1995
But as he was discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for the present, and when I find time I will summon you.”

NASB 1977
And as he was discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for the present, and when I find time, I will summon you.”

Legacy Standard Bible
But as he was discussing righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and answered, “Go away for the present, and when I find time I will call for you.”

Amplified Bible
But as he was discussing righteousness, self-control [honorable behavior, personal integrity], and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for now, and when I find [a convenient] time I will send for you.”

Christian Standard Bible
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.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Now as he spoke about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix became afraid and replied, “Leave for now, but when I find time I’ll call for you.”

American Standard Version
And as he reasoned of righteousness, and self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was terrified, and answered, Go thy way for this time; and when I have a convenient season, I will call thee unto me.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And as he was speaking with them of righteousness, of holiness and of the judgment that was to come, Felix was afraid and he said, “Go now, and when I have a space I will send for you.”

Contemporary English Version
But Felix was frightened when Paul started talking to them about doing right, about self-control, and about the coming judgment. So he said to Paul, "That's enough for now. You may go. But when I have time I will send for you."

Douay-Rheims Bible
And as he treated of justice, and chastity, and of the judgment to come, Felix being terrified, answered: For this time, go thy way: but when I have a convenient time, I will send for thee.

English Revised Version
And as he reasoned of righteousness, and temperance, and the judgment to come, Felix was terrified, and answered, Go thy way for this time; and when I have a convenient season, I will call thee unto me.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
As Paul discussed the subjects of God's approval, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became afraid and said, "That's enough for now. You can go. When I find time, I'll send for you again."

Good News Translation
But as Paul went on discussing about goodness, self-control, and the coming Day of Judgment, Felix was afraid and said, "You may leave now. I will call you again when I get the chance."

International Standard Version
As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became afraid and said, "For the present you may go. When I get a chance, I will send for you again."

Literal Standard Version
and he reasoning concerning righteousness, and self-control, and the judgment that is about to be, Felix, having become afraid, answered, “For the present be going, and having time, I will call for you”;

Majority Standard Bible
As Paul expounded on righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, “You may go for now. When I find the time, I will call for you.”

New American Bible
But as he spoke about righteousness and self-restraint and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, “You may go for now; when I find an opportunity I shall summon you again.”

NET Bible
While Paul was discussing righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, "Go away for now, and when I have an opportunity, I will send for you."

New Revised Standard Version
And as he discussed justice, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for the present; when I have an opportunity, I will send for you.”

New Heart English Bible
As he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was terrified, and answered, "Go your way for this time, and when it is convenient for me, I will summon you."

Webster's Bible Translation
And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, depart for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.

Weymouth New Testament
But when he dealt with the subjects of justice, self-control, and the judgement which was soon to come, Felix became alarmed and said, "For the present leave me, and when I can find a convenient opportunity I will send for you."

World English Bible
As he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was terrified, and answered, “Go your way for this time, and when it is convenient for me, I will summon you.”

Young's Literal Translation
and he reasoning concerning righteousness, and temperance, and the judgment that is about to be, Felix, having become afraid, answered, 'For the present be going, and having got time, I will call for thee;'

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Verdict Postponed
24After several days, Felix returned with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. 25As Paul expounded on righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, “You may go for now. When I find the time, I will call for you.” 26At the same time, he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe. So he sent for Paul frequently and talked with him.…

Cross References
Jeremiah 36:16
When they had heard all these words, they turned to one another in fear and said to Baruch, "Surely we must report all these words to the king."

Acts 10:42
And He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the One appointed by God to judge the living and the dead.

Galatians 5:23
gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Titus 1:8
Instead, he must be hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.

Titus 2:12
It instructs us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives in the present age,

2 Peter 1:6
and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;


Treasury of Scripture

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

he.

Acts 17:2
And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,

1 Samuel 12:7
Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before the LORD of all the righteous acts of the LORD, which he did to you and to your fathers.

Isaiah 1:18
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

righteousness.

Acts 24:15,26
And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust…

2 Samuel 23:3
The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.

Job 29:14
I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.

temperance.

Proverbs 31:3-5
Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings…

Ecclesiastes 10:16,17
Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning! …

Isaiah 28:6,7
And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate…

judgment.

Acts 10:42
And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.

Acts 17:13
But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.

Psalm 50:3,4
Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him…

Felix.

Acts 2:37
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

Acts 9:6
And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

Acts 16:29
Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,

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Afraid Alarmed Argued Convenient Dealt Depart Discoursed Fear Felix Filled Find Future Great Judgement Judging Judgment Justice Leave Opportunity Paul Present Reasoned Reasoning Right Righteousness Season Self-Control Soon Subjects Summon Talking Temperance Terrified That's Time Trembled Way You
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Afraid Alarmed Argued Convenient Dealt Depart Discoursed Fear Felix Filled Find Future Great Judgement Judging Judgment Justice Leave Opportunity Paul Present Reasoned Reasoning Right Righteousness Season Self-Control Soon Subjects Summon Talking Temperance Terrified That's Time Trembled Way You
Acts 24
1. Paul being accused by Tertullus the orator,
10. answers for his life and doctrine.
24. He preaches Christ to the governor and his wife.
26. The governor hopes for a bribe, but in vain.
27. Felix, succeeded by Festus, leaves Paul in prison.














(25) Righteousness, temperance, and judgment.--The first word, like our English "justice," includes in Greek ethics the duties which man owes to man. "Temperance" answers to a term with a somewhat wider sense than that which now attaches to the English word, and implies the state in which a man exercises control over all the passions that minister to sensuality, while he yet falls short of a perfect harmony between Reason and Emotion (Aristot. Eth. Nicom. vii. 7-10). What has been said of Felix shows how faulty his character was in both these respects. The selection of the unwelcome topics shows how little St. Paul belonged to the class of those who "compassed sea and land to make a proselyte" (Matthew 23:15). It would apparently have been easy to bring about this result with Felix and his wife, had the preacher been content to speak smooth things and prophecy deceits, to put the patch of a ceremonial Judaism on the old garment of a sensual life; but instead of this he presses home the truths which their state needed, and seeks to rouse conscience to something like activity. His own experience (Romans 7:7-23; Philippians 3:7-8), had taught him that, without this, neither doctrine nor ritual availed to deliver the soul from its bondage to evil, and bring it into the kingdom of God. But he does not confine himself, as a merely ethical teacher might have done, to abstract arguments on the beauty or the utility of "justice" and "temperance." Here, also, his own experience was his guide, and he sought to make the guilty pair before whom he stood feel that the warnings of conscience were but the presage of a divine judgment which should render to every man according to his deeds. It will be noted that there is no mention here of the forgiveness of sins, nor of the life of fellowship with Christ. Those truths would have come, in due course, afterwards. As yet they would have been altogether premature. The method of St. Paul's preaching was like that of the Baptist, and of all true teachers.

Felix trembled, and answered . . .--Conscience, then, was not dead, but its voice was silenced by the will which would not listen. Felix treats St. Paul as Antipas had treated the Baptist (Mark 6:20). He does not resent his plainness of speech; he shows a certain measure of respect for him, but he postpones acting "till a more convenient season," and so becomes the type of the millions whose spiritual life is ruined by a like procrastination. Nothing that we know of him gives us any ground for thinking that the "convenient season" ever came.

Verse 25. - And temperance for temperance, A.V.; the judgment for judgment, A.V.; was terrified for trembled, A.V.; and when for when, A.V.; call thee unto me for call for thee, A.V.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
[As]
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

[Paul]
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

expounded
διαλεγομένου (dialegomenou)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 1256: To converse, address, preach, lecture; I argue, reason. Middle voice from dia and lego; to say thoroughly, i.e. Discuss.

on
περὶ (peri)
Preposition
Strong's 4012: From the base of peran; properly, through, i.e. Around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time.

righteousness,
δικαιοσύνης (dikaiosynēs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 1343: From dikaios; equity; specially justification.

self-control,
ἐγκρατείας (enkrateias)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 1466: Self-mastery, self-restraint, self-control, continence. From egkrates; self-control.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

the
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

coming
μέλλοντος (mellontos)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 3195: A strengthened form of melo; to intend, i.e. Be about to be, do, or suffer something.

judgment,
κρίματος (krimatos)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 2917: From krino; a decision ('crime').

Felix
Φῆλιξ (Phēlix)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5344: Of Latin origin; happy; Phelix, a Roman.

became
γενόμενος (genomenos)
Verb - Aorist Participle Middle - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1096: A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.

frightened
ἔμφοβος (emphobos)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1719: Full of fear, terrified. From en and phobos; in fear, i.e. Alarmed.

[and] said,
ἀπεκρίθη (apekrithē)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 611: From apo and krino; to conclude for oneself, i.e. to respond; by Hebraism to begin to speak.

“You may go
πορεύου (poreuou)
Verb - Present Imperative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4198: To travel, journey, go, die.

for
Τὸ (To)
Article - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

now.
νῦν (nyn)
Adverb
Strong's 3568: A primary particle of present time; 'now'; also as noun or adjective present or immediate.

[When]
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

I find
μεταλαβὼν (metalabōn)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3335: From meta and lambano; to participate; genitive case, to accept.

the time,
καιρὸν (kairon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2540: Fitting season, season, opportunity, occasion, time. Of uncertain affinity; an occasion, i.e. Set or proper time.

I will call for
μετακαλέσομαί (metakalesomai)
Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 3333: Mid: I summon to myself, send for. From meta and kaleo; to call elsewhere, i.e. Summon.

you.�
σε (se)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.


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Acts 24:24
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