III. CLAUDIUS FELIX, the Successor of Cumanus in the Government of Judæa. Felix found means to sollicit Drusilla, In the year of the vulg. Æra 53.young Agrippa’s Sister,1 to leave her Husband Azizus King of the Emessenians, and marry him. Drusilla consented, and was divorced from Azizus. Felix sent to Rome Eleazar, the Son of Dinæus, Captain of a band of Robbers, who committed great Ravages in Palestine2: He likewise procured the death of Jonathan the High-Priest, who took the liberty sometimes to represent his duty to him3. He defeated a body of three thousand Men, which an Egyptian, a false Prophet, had got together in the Mount of Olives4. Lastly, S. Paul being brought to Cæsarea, the place where Acts xxiii. 26, 27, &c. xxiv. 1, 2, 3, &c. In the year of the vulg. Æra 58.Felix kept his usual Residence, he treated him very well, and permitted his friends to see him, and do him what services they pleased, hoping that S. Paul would procure his Redemption with a sum of Money. He did not think it convenient either to condemn him, or to set him at liberty, when the Jews accused him; but chose rather to adjourn the determination of this Affair till the arrival of Lysias, who commanded the Troops at Jerusalem, where he had taken Paul into custody, and who was expected at Cæsarea.
Felix being one day with his Wife Drusilla, who was of the Jewish Religion, sent for S. Paul, and desired him to explain Acts xxiv. 24.to him the Religion of Jesus Christ. S. Paul on this occasion spoke with his usual boldness; and as he discoursed to him concerning Justice, Chastity, and the last Judgment, Felix was terrified, and sent Paul back to the place of his Confinement. He had S. Paul thus brought to him from time to time, and heard him, as if he were disposed to receive some benefit from his Instructions. For this reason he detained S. Paul two years at Cæsarea, without terminating his affair, and besides was glad of this opportunity to oblige the Jews, who were otherwise extreamly dissatisfied with him. He was recalled to Rome in the year of J. C. 60, and many of the Jews going thither to complain of the Extortions, and several acts of violence committed by him in Judæa, he had certainly been executed, if the credit of his Brother Pallas, who had been Claudius’s Slave, and was made free by him, had not preserved him.5 Felix was succeeded by Pontius Festus.
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