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CHRONOLOGY
ACTS
EPISTLES
80
OF
AND
Paul was brought into close touch with several Roman rulers upon the occasion of his imprisonment. Let us see
whether we can find another date similar to A.D. 44. The apostle was arrested at Jerusalem, sent to Caesarea,
imprisoned by Felix and detained by him for two years. Felix was succeeded by Festus, who heard Paul's defence,
as did also King Agrippa. Felix was Procurator of Jud -a in A.D. 52 or 53 (Jos. Ant. xx: 7,1; Bell. Jud. ii: l2,8).
Eusebius assigns A.D. 51 as the date of his appointment (Chron. ii., p. 271). Whichever of these dates may be the
true one, we know from Acts 24:10 that Felix had been `many years' Procurator when Paul stood before him.
When Tertullus accused Paul before Felix, he introduced his charge with the compliment, `seeing that by thee we
enjoy great quietness', as though this were an outstanding feature of Felix's administration. This also had some
bearing upon the nature of the charge brought against Paul. When Paul was delivered from the Jewish mob by
Roman soldiers, it is evident from the words of the chief captain that he had been mistaken for the false prophet, an
Egyptian who led 30,000 fanatical Jews to the Mount of Olives to see Jerusalem fall. Felix routed them, but the
Egyptian had escaped. As another small link the word `murderers' in Acts 21:38 is in the original sikarion. Now
Josephus tells us of these sicarii who murdered people in broad daylight, and that they arose during the reign of
Nero. Nero began his reign, October 13th, A.D. 54.
The `great quietness' referred to by Tertullus ensued upon the capture of Eleazer, and upon his being sent to
Rome after twenty years' defiance and rebellion, and also upon the rout of the false prophet - the Egyptian for whom
Paul was mistaken by Claudius Lysias, the chief captain. The numerous events that go to make up the
administration of Felix fully account for three years. These, added to the earliest possible date of the `sicarii', would
bring us to A.D. 57. Paul arrived some time after this date, for the Egyptian had been routed `before these days'.
Felix was recalled to Rome to answer charges of misrule; and he was followed by accusing Jews. It was for this
reason he left Paul bound, `willing to show the Jews a pleasure' (Acts 24:27). Josephus tells us that Felix was saved
from the due punishment of his deeds by the intervention of his brother Pallas. Now Pallas died A.D. 62 (Tacit. Ann.
xiv. 65); therefore Felix must have been recalled not later than A.D. 61 in order to arrive in Rome in time for his
brother's influence to have been of any avail.
Another clue is given by a note of Josephus, that a dispute arose between Festus and the Jews, and that the
Jewish deputation was considerably helped by the influence of Nero's wife Poppoea, who was married to him in
A.D. 62. Yet one more testimony. When Paul arrived at Rome he was delivered into the custody of the prefect of
the `praetorian guard' to strato pedarche (Acts 28:16).
The minute accuracy of Scripture enables us to fix another boundary line. One prefect is mentioned here. In A.D
62 two Prefects were appointed, Burrhus holding that office singly up to the time of his death, February, A.D. 62.
We know that Paul wintered at Malta (Acts 28:1-11); the sea was not open to navigation until February, and
consequently Burrhus would have been dead before Paul reached Rome, if we make his arrival as late as A.D. 62.
We must therefore put it back to A.D. 61 as the latest date. Some time after the Fast, which was September 24th (if
in A.D. 60), we find the apostle at Fairhavens. This places the embarkation of Paul (Acts 27:2) as about August of a
year not later than A.D. 60. We have already seen that somewhere between A.D. 57 and 58 must be placed the latest
date of his arrest.
Many expositors of note have unhesitatingly placed the date of Paul's embarkation for Rome as A.D. 60. One
later testimony, however, must be heard before we reach our conclusion. The testimony of Eusebius must not be
lightly set aside; and Harnack, accepting his dates, places the embarkation of Paul at A.D. 56. C. H. Turner subjected
the problem to a careful examination, and brings the date forward to A.D. 58. The solution he suggests is that
Eusebius, in making out his calendar, could not be continually commencing a fresh year at the month in which each
new king ascended the throne: and as he commenced his year with September, the first regnal year of an Emperor
was dated from the September next after his actual succession. C.H. Turner reckons A.D. 58 for Paul's trial before
Festus and Agrippa.
lt will be seen that while there is a little uncertainty as to the precise date, there are certain limits beyond which it
cannot be placed. If we accept A.D. 60 for the embarkation for Rome, this will mean that Paul was liberated in the
spring of A.D. 63, and was therefore free of Rome before the fierce persecution broke out. If we accept the earlier
date, A.D. 58, Paul would have been liberated in A.D. 61, and would have had time to revisit the churches, and upon