{He hoped withal} (hama kai elpiz(936e)). "At the same time
also hoping." Paul had mentioned the "alms" ( 24:17 ) and that
excited the avarice of Felix for "money" (chr(886d)ata). Roman law
demanded exile and confiscation for a magistrate who accepted
bribes, but it was lax in the provinces. Felix had doubtless
received them before. Josephus (_Ant_. XX. 8, 9) represents Felix
as greedy for money. {The oftener} (puknoteron). Comparative
adverb of puknos, old word, in N.T. only here and  Lu 5:33 
which see and  1Ti 5:23 . Kin to pugm(885c) ( Mr 7:3 ) which see
from puk(935c), thick, dense, compact. Paul kept on not offering a
bribe, but Felix continued to have hopes (present tense
elpiz(936e)), kept on sending for him (present tense
metapempomenos), and kept on communing (imperfect active
h(936d)ilei from homile(935c), old word as in  Ac 20:11  Lu 24:14 ,
which see, only N.T. examples of this word). But he was doomed to
disappointment. He was never terrified again.