Act 24:26 | KingComments | STEP | Felix was embarrassed. He knows that Paul has done nothing for which Roman law holds him guilty. He knows ‘the Way’ quite well, of which he will have been informed by his wife Drusilla, who is a Jewess ( ). However, if he would admit that Paul is innocent, he would feel the anger of the Jews, and to him their favor is more important than the law. That is why he resorts to a way out and says he is holding on to the matter in order to investigate it more closely. He would wait until Lysias came. This is a worthless excuse, for when would he come? You can be familiar with ‘the Way’, yet not go that Way. His way out means that Paul remains imprisoned. In addition he is given a considerable degree of freedom which shows that Felix does not see him as an enemy of the state. Pilate was also convinced of the innocence of the Lord, but he did not release Him. After a few days Paul is given the opportunity to speak to the governor alone. This was done at the request of Felix, who returned to Caesarea with his wife Drusilla. Surely he wants to hear more from Paul about the faith in Jesus Christ. Paul speaks about this and appeals to Felix’s conscience. Fearless, he tells the wicked Felix what must affect his conscience. He talks to him about “righteousness”, which refers to his life in connection with others. In this he is certainly not righteous and still acts unjustly. He tramples underfoot the rights of others with the greatest ease, if it is to his advantage. In the same way he has appropriated his wife Drusilla who belongs to another man. Also “self-control” is a subject about which Paul speaks. Self-control has to do with one’s own person. He has no self-control whatsoever, but gives in to his lusts and is already married to the third princess. Finally, Paul presents “the judgment to come” to him as something he should take into account. The judgment places Felix in his relationship toward God. But he does not want to take God into account either. Felix does not care that it is “now … the acceptable time” ( ). Paul places all this in the perspective of faith in the Lord Jesus. Felix can escape the judgment on his unrighteousness and the unbridled life in sin by believing in Him. Felix feels himself in the presence of God. His conscience speaks, while Paul has said nothing of his depraved way of life. Paul has only made God’s Word shine in power and that does its work. But Felix does not want the light and sends Paul away. Many have undoubtedly been afraid when they stood before Felix, but here the roles are reversed. Christendom is too expensive for Felix. He doesn’t want to give up his life of sin. He would have to sacrifice too much for it which is not what he would like to do. Felix responds in the same way many people have responded and still do. Luke notices another hindrance for Felix to accept the gospel and that is his greed for money. Love of money is a root of all sorts of evil ( ). He hopes that Paul will give him money to let him go. Every time he talks to Paul, it is from that motive. That keeps him from making a choice for Christ. Thus, two years pass. We now are in the year 60. Then Felix is succeeded by Porcius Festus. Although Felix is convinced of Paul’s innocence and he has the opportunity to set him free, he still leaves him prisoner. This also has to do with the fact that the accusers have still not appeared. But he doesn’t care about justice. Money and public opinion are more important to him. Paul has been imprisoned for more than two years. Yet he doesn’t make use of the opportunity to buy himself free. And why is he imprisoned? Because of a humanly unfortunate cause he has imposed on himself. But God uses it. Because of this, governors like Felix (means ‘happy’) and Festus (means ‘feast’) come into contact with the gospel. If they would accept it, they would become truly happy and could really feast. As far as we have their history in Scripture, it seems that they have let the opportunity of a lifetime pass by.

‏ Acts 24:26

Felix and Paul

Felix was embarrassed. He knows that Paul has done nothing for which Roman law holds him guilty. He knows ‘the Way’ quite well, of which he will have been informed by his wife Drusilla, who is a Jewess (Acts 24:24). However, if he would admit that Paul is innocent, he would feel the anger of the Jews, and to him their favor is more important than the law. That is why he resorts to a way out and says he is holding on to the matter in order to investigate it more closely. He would wait until Lysias came. This is a worthless excuse, for when would he come?

You can be familiar with ‘the Way’, yet not go that Way. His way out means that Paul remains imprisoned. In addition he is given a considerable degree of freedom which shows that Felix does not see him as an enemy of the state. Pilate was also convinced of the innocence of the Lord, but he did not release Him.

After a few days Paul is given the opportunity to speak to the governor alone. This was done at the request of Felix, who returned to Caesarea with his wife Drusilla. Surely he wants to hear more from Paul about the faith in Jesus Christ. Paul speaks about this and appeals to Felix’s conscience. Fearless, he tells the wicked Felix what must affect his conscience.

He talks to him about “righteousness”, which refers to his life in connection with others. In this he is certainly not righteous and still acts unjustly. He tramples underfoot the rights of others with the greatest ease, if it is to his advantage. In the same way he has appropriated his wife Drusilla who belongs to another man.

Also “self-control” is a subject about which Paul speaks. Self-control has to do with one’s own person. He has no self-control whatsoever, but gives in to his lusts and is already married to the third princess.

Finally, Paul presents “the judgment to come” to him as something he should take into account. The judgment places Felix in his relationship toward God. But he does not want to take God into account either. Felix does not care that it is “now … the acceptable time” (2Cor 6:2b).

Paul places all this in the perspective of faith in the Lord Jesus. Felix can escape the judgment on his unrighteousness and the unbridled life in sin by believing in Him. Felix feels himself in the presence of God. His conscience speaks, while Paul has said nothing of his depraved way of life. Paul has only made God’s Word shine in power and that does its work.

But Felix does not want the light and sends Paul away. Many have undoubtedly been afraid when they stood before Felix, but here the roles are reversed. Christendom is too expensive for Felix. He doesn’t want to give up his life of sin. He would have to sacrifice too much for it which is not what he would like to do. Felix responds in the same way many people have responded and still do.

Luke notices another hindrance for Felix to accept the gospel and that is his greed for money. Love of money is a root of all sorts of evil (1Tim 6:10). He hopes that Paul will give him money to let him go. Every time he talks to Paul, it is from that motive. That keeps him from making a choice for Christ.

Thus, two years pass. We now are in the year 60. Then Felix is succeeded by Porcius Festus. Although Felix is convinced of Paul’s innocence and he has the opportunity to set him free, he still leaves him prisoner. This also has to do with the fact that the accusers have still not appeared. But he doesn’t care about justice. Money and public opinion are more important to him.

Paul has been imprisoned for more than two years. Yet he doesn’t make use of the opportunity to buy himself free. And why is he imprisoned? Because of a humanly unfortunate cause he has imposed on himself. But God uses it. Because of this, governors like Felix (means ‘happy’) and Festus (means ‘feast’) come into contact with the gospel. If they would accept it, they would become truly happy and could really feast. As far as we have their history in Scripture, it seems that they have let the opportunity of a lifetime pass by.