And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter.
Felix knew the Way better than those Jews gave him credit for, having lived among Christians like Cornelius; he saw they were honest men, not seditious. He put off judgment, wanting to hear from Lysias himself, an impartial witness. God often shields His people through the very indifference of their enemies, if those enemies have but some glimmer of the truth.
AI summary
Commenting on Acts 24:22-27
And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul,.... In custody, to watch and guard him, and look after him, that he went not away, since he was neither condemned nor acquitted; and therefore must be retained a prisoner, till one or other was done: and to let him have liberty; not to go where he pleased, or out of the place of confinement, for then...
Verse 22. Having more perfect knowledge of that way. Our translation of this verse is very obscure, and critics are divided about the proper interpretation of the original. Many (Erasmus, Luther, Michaelis, Morus, etc.) render it, "Although he had a more perfect knowledge of the Christian doctrine than Paul's accusers had, yet he deferred the hearing of the cause till Lysias had come down." They...