- FEAST as a mark of hospitality (Genesis 19:3; 2 Samuel 3:20; 2 Kings
6:23); on occasions of domestic joy (Luke 15:23; Genesis 21:8); on
birthdays (Genesis 40:20; Job 1:4; Matthew 14:6); and on the occasion of
a marriage (Judges 14:10; Genesis 29:22).
Feasting was a part of the observances connected with the offering up of
sacrifices (Deuteronomy 12:6, 7; 1 Samuel 9:19; 16:3, 5), and with the
annual festivals (Deuteronomy 16:11). “It was one of the designs of the
greater solemnities, which required the attendance of the people at the
sacred tent, that the oneness of the nation might be maintained and
cemented together, by statedly congregating in one place, and with one
soul taking part in the same religious services. But that oneness was
primarily and chiefly a religious and not merely a political one; the people
were not merely to meet as among themselves, but with Jehovah, and to
present themselves before him as one body; the meeting was in its own
nature a binding of themselves in fellowship with Jehovah; so that it was
not politics and commerce that had here to do, but the soul of the Mosaic
dispensation, the foundation of the religious and political existence of
Israel, the covenant with Jehovah. To keep the people’s consciousness
alive to this, to revive, strengthen, and perpetuate it, nothing could be so
well adapated as these annual feasts.” (See FESTIVALS.)
- FELIX happy, the Roman procurator of Judea before whom Paul
“reasoned” (Acts 24:25). He appears to have expected a bribe from Paul,
and therefore had several interviews with him. The “worthy deeds”
referred to in 24:2 was his clearing the country of banditti and impostors.
At the end of a two years’ term, Porcius Festus was appointed in the
room of Felix (A.D. 60), who proceeded to Rome, and was there accused
of cruelty and malversation of office by the Jews of Caesarea. The
accusation was rendered nugatory by the influence of his brother Pallas
with Nero. (See Josephus, Ant. xx. 8, 9.)
Drusilla, the daughter of Herod Agrippa, having been induced by Felix to
desert her husband, the king of Emesa, became his adulterous companion.
She was seated beside him when Paul “reasoned” before the judge. When
Felix gave place to Festus, being “willing to do the Jews a pleasure,” he left
Paul bound.
- FELLOWSHIP (1.) With God, consisting in the knowledge of his will
(Job 22:21; John 17:3); agreement with his designs (Amos 3:2); mutual