Acts 24:26

“He hoped also that money would have been given him of Paul, etc.] For he observed from his own defence, that he came up to Jerusalem to bring alms and offerings; and he perceived by Tertullus’s indictment, that he was at the head of a large body of men; that he was some considerable person, at least who was in great esteem among some sort of people, and whose life and liberty were valuable: and he might hope if Paul had not money of his own, yet his friends would supply him with a sufficiency to obtain his freedom; and it may be that it was with this view that he ordered that they should have free access to him and minister to him, that so he might have to give to him: that he might loose…”

“He hoped . . . that money should have been given him . . . wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him--Bribery in a judge was punishable by the Roman law, but the spirit of a slave (to use the words of TACITUS) was in all his acts, and his communing with Paul"--as if he cared for either him or his message--simply added hypocrisy to meanness. The position in life of Paul's Christian visitors might beget the hope of extracting something from them for the release of their champion; but the apostle would rather lie in prison than stoop to this!”

“He hoped also - He thought that by giving him access to his friends, and by often meeting him himself, and showing kindness, Paul might be induced to attempt to purchase his freedom with a bribe. That money should have been given him of Paul - That Paul would give him money to procure a release. This shows the character of Felix. He was desirous of procuring a bribe. Paul had proved his innocence, and should have been at once discharged. But Felix was influenced by avarice, and he therefore detained Paul in custody with the hope that, wearied with confinement, he would seek his release by a bribe. But Paul offered no bribe. He knew what was justice, and he would not be guilty, therefore, of…”

“He hoped also - An evil hope: so when he heard his eye was not single. No marvel then that he profited nothing by all St. Paul's discourses: that money would be given - By the Christians for the liberty of so able a minister. And waiting for this, unhappy Felix fell short of the treasure of the Gospel. Acts 24:27”

“24:26-27 Felix kept Paul in custody hoping for a bribe. When this failed and his own term ended, he left Paul in prison to gain favor with the Jewish people.”

“hoped: Act 24:2, Act 24:3; Exo 23:8; Deu 16:19; Sa1 8:3, Sa1 12:3; Ch2 19:7; Job 15:34; Psa 26:9, Psa 26:10; Pro 17:8, Pro 17:23, Pro 19:6, Pro 29:4; Isa 1:23, Isa 33:15, Isa 56:11; Eze 22:27; Eze 33:31; Hos 4:18, Hos 12:7, Hos 12:8; Amo 2:6, Amo 2:7; Mic 3:11, Mic 7:3; Co1 6:9; Eph 5:5, Eph 5:6; Ti1 6:9, Ti1 6:10; Pe2 2:3, Pe2 2:14, Pe2 2:15 wherefore: Act 24:24 Acts 24:27”