The Jewish
leadership (Ananias the high priest and the elders) bring a man
named Tertullus - a skilled lawyer to present their case at the court
of Felix, with the following accusations: (24:1-6)
"For we have found this man a plague, a creator
of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the
sect of the Nazarenes. He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him,
and wanted to judge him according to our law."
Paul is given
the opportunity to speak in his defense and explains his ministry (24:14-19) and
why he was arrested (24:20-21): ‘For the resurrection of
the dead I am on trial before you today.”
“But when Felix heard these things, having
more accurate knowledge of the Way, he adjourned the proceedings and said,
"When Lysias the commander comes down, I will make a decision on your
case." So he commanded the centurion to keep Paul and to let him have
liberty, and told him not to forbid any of his friends to provide for or visit
him.”
It is clear
that Felix knew Paul was innocent, yet he did not want to identify himself with
Paul's gospel and the people of the Way. So he made no decision and kept Paul
in custody.
"Several days later Felix came with his wife [e]Drusilla, who was a
Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him talk about faith in Christ Jesus. But
as he was discussing righteousness, self-control [honorable behavior, personal
integrity], and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, “Go
away for now, and when I find [a convenient] time I will send for you.” (24:24-25)
What was Felix afraid of?
- Was
he afraid of becoming a follower of Jesus himself?
- Was he afraid of Jesus’s judgment,
understanding he was living a sinful life?
Before making a final
decision: for him (accepting God’s Salvation), and for Paul (his liberation),
he asked Paul to leave and to wait for a more convenient time.
In 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 Paul exhorts
us: “Working
together with Him, we strongly urge
you not to receive God’s grace in vain [by turning away from sound doctrine and
His merciful kindness]. 2 For He says, “At the acceptable time (the time of grace) I listened to you, And I helped you on the day of salvation.” Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation”
Has it ever
happened to you, that when you are witnessing to someone about your faith in
Jesus they suddenly interrupt you telling you they have to go, that they’ll
chat with you LATER on a more convenient time? How about you: when someone shared
about Jesus and His Salvation, how did you react?
"Thou
sayest, 'Another time.' How knowest thou that thou wilt ever feel again as thou
feelest now? This morning, perhaps a voice is saying in thy heart, 'Prepare to
meet thy God.' Tomorrow that voice will be hushed. The gaieties of the ball-room
and the theatre will put out that voice that warns thee now, and perhaps thou
wilt never hear it again. Men all have their warnings, and all men who perish
have had a last warning. Perhaps this is your last warning."
(Spurgeon)
As we continue
reading, we find the true motives in Felix’s heart:
” 26 At
the same time he was also hoping to get money from Paul [as a bribe]; so he
continued to send for him quite often and talked with him.” (24:26)
Though Felix met often with Paul, there was something
he was really hoping for: to be paid off with a bribe in order to release him! Imagine
all this precious time with Paul being wasted, for the love of money! Exchanging
His Grace for money! Sadly this is also happening with so many people we know:
their hearts are filled with the cares of this world (Matt. 6:19-21) and they
have no place for God’s Word and His Salvation through Jesus Christ!
27 But after two years
had passed, Felix was succeeded [in office] by [f]Porcius
Festus; and wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul imprisoned.” (24:27)
I will close today’s
study with the words of M. Henry:
“Sinners often
start up like a man roused from his sleep by a loud noise, but soon sink again
into their usual drowsiness. Be not deceived by occasional appearances of
religion in ourselves or in others. Above all, let us not trifle with the word
of God. Do we expect that as we advance in life our hearts will grow softer, or
that the influence of the world will decline? Are we not at this moment in
danger of being lost forever? Now is the day of salvation; tomorrow may be too
late.”
Please join me
in prayer for all those whom we’ve shared the Gospel to and have not made their
final decision for Jesus our Savior!!
Blessings,
Mary
