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24

:

27

“

But two years having been completed, Felix received Porcius Festus as successor, and wishing to acquire for himself favor with the Jews, Felix left Paul imprisoned.

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Greek: Transliteration:
two years A period of two years, two years; according to ancient practice this means any period between one and two years. N-GFS H1333 Διετίας dietias
Analysis:

Two: Two divergent opinions

The classic example for the number "two" is found in Matthew chapter 26. There, Yeshua says to His disciples,

"You know that after two days comes the Passover, and the Son of Man will be given over for crucifixion."  Matthew 26:2

The phrase "after two days" is somewhat meaningless because after two days can mean three or more days. The period is unspecified. The reason for such ambiguous language is because the purpose of the number two in this passage is not solely numerical. This means that the text is not intending to provide the reader with some definite information concerning a time period. Rather, the purpose of the number two in this context is one of the numerological meanings of the number two.  Often the number two relates to two divergent opinions. In the aforementioned verse, the author wants to inform the reader that there are two very different understandings for this coming Passover. Yeshua wants to emphasize that He is going up to Jerusalem in order to die as the true Passover sacrifice. Even though Yeshua states this emphatically, the disciples did not receive this. In fact, the disciples did not perceive at all what was going to take place during Passover in regard to Yeshua. In other words, Yeshua and the disciples have two divergent opinions concerning the Passover.

This same principle is also found in the Hebrew Bible (Old Covenant). In the book of Amos one reads,

"Can two walk together without them having agreed" Amos 3:3

The word which was translated into English with the phrase "them having agreed" is נועדו. The root of this word is יעד, which relates to a specific destination. The word which precedes this word is בלתי and in this context the word implies a change to the condition. In other words, had there not been a change in the condition, then the two could not walk together, i.e. they could not have arrived at the common destination.

The concept of divergent or different is also seen in the book of Genesis. In speaking about the sun and moon one reads, "And God made two great lights…" (Genesis 1:16). Obviously the sun and moon are very different, as one is a source of light, while the latter just reflects light. Also in the book of Genesis, one encounters the account of the flood. Here Noah is commanded to bring onto the ark two sorts of each type of animal. In this passage, the two relates to two different (or divergent) kinds of the same sort, i.e. male and female. 

Likewise, two angels came to Sodom, demonstrating that the people of Sodom had a very different way of living from that of the Law of God. Once again, the reader should not assume that every occurrence of the number two in the Bible demands this interpretation. However, one will find in a great majority of Biblical passages, the reader will be assisted in arriving at the proper interpretation, when he considers this divergent quality for the number two. 

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having been completed, To fill, fulfill, complete. V-APP-GFS H4137 πληρωθείσης plērōtheisēs
Felix Felix, third name of (Marcus) Antonius Felix, procurator of the Roman province until A.D. 59. N-NMS H5344 Φῆλιξ phēlix
- The, the definite article. N-AMS H1240 διάδοχον diadochon
Porcius Porcius, the middle (gentile) name of the procurator Festus. N-AMS H4201 Πόρκιον porkion
Festus Festus. N-AMS H5347 Φῆστον phēston
wishing To will, wish, desire, to be willing, intend, design. V-PPA-NMS H2309 θέλων thelōn
to acquire for himself (a) to lay down, deposit, (b) to lay down or deposit a favor, with the view of receiving one in return, seek favor. V-ANM H2698 καταθέσθαι katathesthai
Jews, Jewish. Adj-DMP H2453 Ἰουδαίοις ioudaiois
favor (a) grace, as a gift or blessing brought to man by Jesus Christ, (b) favor, (c) gratitude, thanks, (d) a favor, kindness. N-AFS H5485 χάριτα charita
Felix Felix, third name of (Marcus) Antonius Felix, procurator of the Roman province until A.D. 59. N-NMS H5344 Φῆλιξ phēlix
and And, both. V-AIA-3S H2641 κατέλιπεν katelipen
Paul Paul, Paulus. N-AMS H3972 Παῦλον paulon
But A weak adversative particle, generally placed second in its clause; but, on the other hand, and. V-RPM/P-AMS H1210 δεδεμένον dedemenon

Parallel Verses

Removed text
Added text
Berean Bible But two years having been completed, Felix received Porcius Festus as successor, and wishing to acquire for himself favor with the Jews, Felix left Paul imprisoned.
King James Bible But after two years having been completed, Felix received Porcius Festus as successor, came into Felix' room: and wishing Felix, willing to acquire for himself favor with shew the Jews, Felix Jews a pleasure, left Paul imprisoned.bound.
Hebrew Greek English But after two years having been completed, had passed, Felix received was succeeded by Porcius Festus as successor, Festus, and wishing to acquire for himself favor with do the Jews, Jews a favor, Felix left Paul imprisoned.
New American Standard Bible 1995 But after two years having been completed, had passed, Felix received was succeeded by Porcius Festus as successor, Festus, and wishing to acquire for himself favor with do the Jews, Jews a favor, Felix left Paul imprisoned.