The Governor, Felix, was said to be a
person that was well versed with Christianity, known as the Way, in verse 22. But
where and how he received his knowledge was not mentioned. Despite his
familiarity with Christianity, he refused to make a judgment call for Paul. He was
indecisive, choosing to put off the judgment using the impending arrival of
Lysais as an excuse. Meanwhile
he ordered Paul to be placed under custody but given a degree of freedom. The
apostle’s friends were allowed to visit or minister to him. This was normally
accorded to a Roman Citizen, whose crime had not been proven. There was no
further mention of Lysais arrival. He could have come and gone but still Felix
didn’t make a concrete judgment for Paul.
Verse
24 introduces us to his wife, Drusilla. Who was she? History reveals that she
was a Jewess and the youngest daughter of King Agrippa I. Drusilla was engaged
to the crown prince of Commangene in eastern Asia Minor. But the intended
marriage did not take place because the prospective groom refused to be a
proselyte to Judaism. Her brother, Agrippa II, then gave her in marriage to the
king of Emesa, the modern Homs, a little state in Syria. When Drusilla was just
16 years of age, Felix, assisted by a magician from Cypriot, persuaded her to
be his wife. Drusilla became Felix’s third wife and bore him a son, named
Agrippa, who died in AD 79.
We
are also told in verse 24 that some days later, Felix and Drusilla sent for
Paul. So the apostle came before them sharing about faith in Jesus Christ.
Three subjects were being discussed as Paul expounded about the faith:
righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come. Paul’s message was not
only convincing it must have been very compelling too. So much so that it took a
very uncomfortable turn for Felix. A great fear came over Felix. Frightened, he
asked Paul to “Go away for the present,
and when I find time I will summon you.”
The
reason Felix trembled was probably because the subjects Paul dealt with had
moral and ethical implications, especially so for this couple. Besides, Felix
was also harboring hope that Paul would bribe him. We are also told that for
this same reason he had been sending for Paul to converse with him. Apparently
Felix never did make a judgment on this matter. And when two years had lapsed,
he was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix
left Paul in jail.
At
the start, Felix could have genuinely sought to know more from Paul since he
was well acquainted with Christianity. So he had frequently sent for him to
hear the apostle’s testimony. Evidently, he came so close to the point of
conviction but did not take the necessary step to plunge into faith in Christ. Finally,
it was his greed, lust and power that ruled the day and he lost out on a divine
opportunity. The implication for us in these verses is the Lord’s call to stay
pliable to the wooing of His Spirit. Don’t be found being so near yet so far.
It is said that opportunity may not knock twice. So strike while the iron is hot,
especially so when it has to do with our spiritual advancement!
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