It is difficult to determine precisely what time is referred to in the clause after two years had passed. It is most naturally taken to refer to the amount of time that Paul was in prison before Festus succeeded Felix, though others take it to mean that Felix was removed after two years in office. After two years had passed is rendered “two years later” or “this took place for a period of two years, then Porcius Festus took the place of Felix.”

Porcius Festus took the place of Felix as Governor may be rendered as “Porcius Festus became governor; Felix was no longer governor,” “Porcius Festus occupied Felix’s place as governor,” or “Felix no longer sat in the seat of the governor, but Porcius Festus sat there.” In some languages there are, of course, idiomatic expressions referring to the transfer of “the ruler’s fan,” “the ruler’s stool,” or even “the ruler’s boar’s teeth.”

The Greek of this sentence apparently means to gain favor with the Jews (so most modern translations) rather than “to do the Jews a favor.” The same expression appears in 25.9. In this type of context, to gain favor may be translated as “to make them his friends,” “to cause them to like him,” or “to cause them to say, Festus is a good governor.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .