Felix, Jonathan and Theophilus

[Originally posed on July 10, 2008.]

Dan Barag and David Flusser, in their article concerning an ossuary bearing the names “Yehohanah” and “Theophilus”, write, “After playing an important role in public life during the time of Cumanus (50-52 C.E.), he [Jonathan, Theophilus' brother] was murdered at the instigation of the prefect Felix” (D. Barag and D. Flusser, “The Ossuary of Yehohanah Granddaughter of the High Priest Theophilus”, Israel Exploration Journal, 36 [1986], 43n.19; they reference Schurer, The History of the Jewish People in the Age of Jesus Christ, rev. ed. [Vermes and Millar], 230).

Is this perhaps why Luke casts Felix in such a wicked light in Acts? Felix is said to have expected a bribe from Paul (Ac24.26). If indeed Felix was responsible for the murder of Theophilus’ brother Jonathan, then his holding of Paul (cf. Ac24.27) might very well be (spiteful?) motivation for Theophilus to intervene on Paul’s behalf. Perhaps Luke, knowing of Felix responsibility in Jonathan’s death, hoped to instigate intervention on the part of Theophilus.

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Since the above entry was written, I learned from Josephus (Ant. 20.5 [160ff.]) that the Sicarii were directly responsible for Jonathan’s murder. But they were initiated by a friend of Jonathan’s, named Doras, who was bribed by Felix. That Luke demonstrates Felix’s corruption in hoping to receive a bribe from Paul may be an effort to prompt Theophilus to intervene on Paul’s behalf, for Theophilus surely would have noticed the similarity in demise between Paul and Jonathan in the hands of Felix.