Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Acts: Chapter 24]
\diadechomai\, to receive in succession (\dia, duo\, two) and
occurs here alone in the N.T. Deissmann (_Bible Studies_, p. 115)
gives papyri examples where \hoi diadochoi\ means "higher
officials at the court of the Ptolemies," probably "deputies," a
usage growing out of the "successors" of Alexander the Great
(Moulton and Milligan's _Vocabulary_), though here the original
notion of "successor" occurs (cf. Josephus, _Ant_. XX. 8, 9).
Luke does not tell why Felix "received" a successor. The
explanation is that during these two years the Jews and the
Gentiles had an open fight in the market-place in Caesarea. Felix
put the soldiers on the mob and many Jews were killed. The Jews
made formal complaint to the Emperor with the result that Felix
was recalled and Porcius Festus sent in his stead. {Porcius
Festus} (\Porkion Ph•ston\). We know very little about this man.
He is usually considered a worthier man than Felix, but Paul
fared no better at his hands and he exhibits the same insincerity
and eagerness to please the Jews. Josephus (_Ant_. XX. 8, 9) says
that "Porcius Festus was sent as a successor to Felix." The
precise year when this change occurred is not clear. Albinus
succeeded Festus by A.D. 62, so that it is probable that Festus
came A.D. 58 (or 59). Death cut short his career in a couple of
years though he did more than Felix to rid the country of robbers
and _sicarii_. Some scholars argue for an earlier date for the
recall of Felix. Nero became Emperor Oct. 13, A.D. 54. Poppaea,
his Jewish mistress and finally wife, may have had something to
do with the recall of Felix at the request of the Jews. {Desiring
to gain favour with the Jews} (\thel•n te charita katathesthai
tois Ioudaiois\). Reason for his conduct. Note second aorist
(ingressive) middle infinitive \katathesthai\ from \katatith•mi\,
old verb to place down, to make a deposit, to deposit a favour
with, to do something to win favour. Only here and 25:9 in
N.T., though in some MSS. in Mr 15:46. It is a banking figure.
{Left Paul in bonds} (\katelipe ton Paulon dedemenon\). Effective
aorist active indicative of \kataleip•\, to leave behind. Paul
"in bonds" (\dedemenon\, perfect passive participle of \de•\, to
bind) was the "deposit" (\katathesthai\) for their favour. Codex
Bezae adds that Felix left Paul in custody "because of Drusilla"
(\dia Drousillan\). She disliked Paul as much as Herodias did
John the Baptist. So Pilate surrendered to the Jews about the
death of Jesus when they threatened to report him to Caesar. Some
critics would date the third group of Paul's Epistles
(Philippians, Philemon, Colossians, Ephesians) to the
imprisonment here in Caesarea, some even to one in Ephesus. But
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