Day 287: Acts 24:22–27

As [Paul] spoke about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix became afraid and replied, “Leave for now, but when I find time I’ll call for you” (v. 25).

As we begin today’s reading, my mind drifts back over the many stops we’ve made with the apostle Paul. I suppose none of us wants to trade times, places, and lives with him; but each of us must admit that Paul’s tenure on this earth was extremely fascinating. He could write about “the breadth, and length, and depth, and height” (Eph. 3:18 kjv) because he experienced each of those extremes. This man we’re studying in God’s Word was flesh and blood. But he was extraordinary.

Acts 24 unfolds with Paul incarcerated in Caesarea after being escorted by a grand cavalry. Ananias the high priest arrived with an entourage, including a lawyer named Tertullus who brought the charges against Paul before the governor. Few things are more disgusting than a political spiel that bears no resemblance to the truth. Tertullus began by flattering Felix, the governor. Judging by the lawyer’s words, Felix deserved his own holiday for being a peacemaker, a reformer, a tireless officer, and a noble man! Tertullus knew better. Felix was vile and incompetent. Nero had him recalled only two years later. He was a former slave who had cunningly gained favor with the imperial court, “known for his violent use of repressive force and corrupt self-aggrandizement.”60

After blatantly flattering Felix, Tertullus delivered his charges against Paul. He said that Paul was a troublemaker who stirred up riots among the Jews and that he had tried to desecrate the temple (see vv. 5–8). Paul responded to the charges with a forthright description of his journey to Jerusalem and the events there.

Felix obviously viewed the conflict as a no-win situation. The size of the Jewish community and the Roman citizenship of Paul left Felix in a dilemma. He lacked the wisdom to make an appropriate decision, so he did nothing. He left Paul in prison. God, however, was clearly up to something. Several days after the hearing, God gave Paul an interesting opportunity. He sent the preacher to a congregation of two: Felix and Drusilla. Drusilla was the third wife of the governor, and both of them had deserted previous spouses to marry. God equipped Paul with a tailor-made lesson for the two. Verse 25 tells us Paul “discoursed,” which means “to speak back and forth or alternately, to converse with.” He didn’t just give a sermon. He led Felix and Drusilla in an interactive study. The core of Paul’s message was “faith in Christ Jesus” (v. 24).

The apostle’s message contained three points: “righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come.” We could summarize his message like this: salvation by grace teaches us to live self-controlled lives. Paul risked bodily harm when he preached such a forceful message to Governor Felix and his wife. Christ had assured the apostle he would go to Rome, so he knew he wouldn’t be killed; but torture can be a more difficult prospect than death! You can be sure Paul didn’t bring the message Felix was expecting. He and Drusilla, a Jewess, most likely expected a message of mystical divinity. Instead they got a message of practical clarity, and every point stuck.

Felix was not amused by the outspoken preacher. Verse 25 tells us he “was afraid and said, ‘That’s enough for now! You may leave.’” I see some irony in his choice of words. History describes him as a man with a gross lack of self-control.61 I have a feeling he rarely applied the words “That’s enough for now” to himself. Felix told Paul he would send for him at a more convenient time.

I’m not sure confrontation with personal sin is ever convenient. Some of the messages I’ve needed to hear most were those I wanted to hear least. Like Felix, we in our human natures often resist what is best for us. But unlike Felix, we can dare to accept a truth and find freedom.

While Felix felt fear, Luke tells us of no reaction from Drusilla. We might surmise she was also convicted and frightened, but Scripture only tells us Felix was afraid. I would like to offer a different theory. Perhaps Drusilla simply did not humble herself enough to be afraid. She had quite an interesting heritage—one plagued with pride.

Remember Herod Agrippa I from Acts 12:19–23? He was Drusilla’s father. He bestowed on himself the glory due only to God. As a result he was eaten by worms and then died. You might think having a father who was eaten alive by worms would have some impact. Instead, Drusilla led an adulterous life in spite of all she knew about morality and reverence for God from her Jewish heritage. The generational bondage of pride could have been broken with her father’s dreadful demise. Instead she resisted the message, willingly picked up the chain of pride, and carried on.

God in His mercy reaches out to the immoral, ill-tempered, and boastful. Many hear but run the other way. Others hear but never apply. But some listen and are set free. God not only sent Felix and Drusilla a fitting message, He sent them a fitting messenger. Paul could not stand before them as one who had never experienced a terrible lack of self-control. He was once puffed with pride. His only righteousness was in the law. Then one day Jesus confronted him in the middle of his sin. He’d been running straight to Him ever since.