The name that is transliterated as “Felix” in English means “delusive,” “happy,” “prosperous.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )
In Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) it is translated with a sign that signifies the fact that he was a governor (of Judea) and corrupt (see Acts 24:26), and also to the clothes worn by politicians at the time. (Source: Missão Kophós )
The term that is transliterated as “Paul” in English means “little.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )
In American Sign Language it is translated with a sign that signifies the many letters he wrote. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Paul” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with a sign depicting putting away a sword, referring to his conversion from a persecutor of Christians to a Christian leader. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
In Hungarian Sign Language it is translated with a sign that is based on contemporary depictions and refers to the presumed baldness of the top of his head. The description originates from the 2nd-century apocryphal text titled Acts of Paul and Thecla , which represents the earliest and most detailed physical characterization of the apostle in Christian tradition (see also the icon below). (Source: Jenjelvi Biblia and HSL Bible Translation Group)
“Paul” in Hungarian Sign Language — note that only the first part refers to “Paul,” the second part refers to “apostle” (source )
Orthodox Icons are not drawings or creations of imagination. They are in fact writings of things not of this world. Icons can represent our Lord Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the Saints. They can also represent the Holy Trinity, Angels, the Heavenly hosts, and even events. Orthodox icons, unlike Western pictures, change the perspective and form of the image so that it is not naturalistic. This is done so that we can look beyond appearances of the world, and instead look to the spiritual truth of the holy person or event. (Source )
The following is a contemporary stained glass window from the Messiah Episcopal Church in St. Paul, Minnesota by Peter Dohmen. Individual glass pieces were made in Germany in accordance with Dohmen’s design, using a technique first developed by Irish monks in the 9th and 10th centuries.
“This window is dedicated to St. Paul, the great apostle and missionary, for whom our city is named. At the top of the window is a ship which symbolizes the many missionary journeys of Paul — the Church is our ship, which carries us over the way of life. In the lower section we see Paul on the road to Damascus when he saw a great light and heard our Lord’s voice, which called him to discipleship.”
Stained glass is not just highly decorative, it’s a medium which has been used to express important religious messages for centuries. Literacy was not widespread in the medieval and Renaissance periods and the Church used stained glass and other artworks to teach the central beliefs of Christianity. In Gothic churches, the windows were filled with extensive narrative scenes in stained glass — like huge and colorful picture storybooks — in which worshipers could ‘read’ the stories of Christ and the saints and learn what was required for their religious salvation. (Source: Victoria and Albert Museum )
Click or tap here to see a short video clip about Paul (source: Bible Lands 2012)
Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 24:27:
Uma: “Feliks wanted to please [lit., take the hearts of] the Yahudi people, that is why he left Paulus jailed for two years. After those two years, Feliks was replaced, and Perkius Festus became/was the new governor.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “After two years, Porkiyus Pestus took the place of Pilik as governor. Pilik wanted to please the Yahudi, that’s why he detained Paul yet in prison.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And after two years had passed, Porcius Festus replaced Felix as governor. And as for Felix, since it was his desire that the Jews would have no breath towards him, he did not free Paul.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “When two years were then finished, Porcius Festus replaced Felix to-be-governor. But upon Felix’s leaving, he left Pablo in prison in order that the Jews would like him.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “When two years had now passed, he was replaced. Porcio Festo replaced him as governor. And well, since Felix wanted to do something to please the Jews, he just left Pablo still imprisoned.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
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 .
Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:
Porcius Festus succeeded Felix as governor (Good News Translation)
succeeded: This verb refers to taking the job of the previous person. First Felix was governor. Then Caesar removed Felix as governor and made Porcius Festus governor. Other ways to translate this word are:
Porcius Festus became governor in place of Felix. (Contemporary English Version) -or-
Felix was replaced by Porcius Festus as governor. (New Century Version) -or-
Caesar replaced Felix with Porcius Festus ⌊as governor⌋.
24:27b–c
And wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison: The word And introduces the reason for leaving Paul in prison. In some languages it is more natural to have the conjunction between the two clauses to be connected. In that case, the conjunction “so” is needed. For example:
Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews so he left Paul in prison.
24:27b
wishing to do the Jews a favor: The phrase do…a favor refers to doing something that would make someone else happy at no cost to that person. The person doing this would not explicitly ask for something in return, but a favor from the other person may be implied. Other ways to translate this clause are:
desiring to do the Jews a favor (Revised Standard Version) -or-
Felix wanted to do something to please the Jews -or-
Felix wanted to please the Jews, so he left Paul in prison
Living Water is produced for the Bible translation movement in association with Lutheran Bible Translators. Lyrics derived from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®).
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