“Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way, adjourned the proceedings. ‘When Lysias the commander comes,’ he said, ‘I will decide your case.’ He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs.” (Acts 24:22-23 NIV)

Felix was the Roman procurator of Judea. He had been in this office for six years when Paul was brought before him. He was known for his cruelty and his willingness to accept bribes. He had even arranged the assassination of the Jewish High Priest, Jonathan, because he was outspoken critic of Felix.

Paul gave Felix an outline of why he had been taken prisoner: “It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today” (Acts 24:21). Felix, well acquainted with “the way” would have known the beliefs of Christians. It would seem that he knew there were no legitimate charges against Paul because he allowed him some freedom and access to his friends but still under guard. Whether Lysias ever came – or if Felix even sent for him – is not known, as Paul was kept as a prisoner for the next two years.

“Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, ‘That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.’ At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.” (Acts 24:24-26)

Felix wasn’t really interested in finding Paul innocent and setting him free. What he was hoping for was a bribe, so it was in his interest not to hear Paul’s case but to instead hope that he would be offered something to release Paul. In their frequent meetings Paul took the opportunity to talk to Felix about faith in Jesus, but his message of “righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come” put fear in Felix. Why would the procurator of Judea be in such fear of this message? Because all of these would have spoken directly to him.

Felix was far from a righteous or just person – he was known for his cruelty. He was known for his lack of self-control and indulging his every whim – he had taken his current wife Druscilla from the King of Emesa (Druscilla was Herod Agrippa’s daughter). He was not living a life in preparation for any type of judgment in the future, whether on earth or before God. He was summoned to Rome two years later to answer for abuses during his rule in Judea and only escaped execution through the influence of his brother Pallas who had influence with the Roman emperor Nero.

Despite his fear of Paul’s message Felix still frequently sent for him in hope that he would be offered a bribe to set Paul free.

“When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favour to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.” (Acts 24:27)

What does the message of Jesus install in us? Is it a message of hope or one which instills fear, as it did in Felix? Even Felix could have changed his life, obeyed the message, and his sins would have been washed away taking away any fear. But it would seem he was so entrenched in sin that he wasn’t willing to contemplate any change in what he was doing. How sad! But how sad that people today are still the same way.

We need to declare the good news of Jesus like Paul did, in its simplicity and without compromise.

Photo by Jon Galloway of ruins of Herod’s Palace in Caesarea Maritima.

Readings for next week: Acts 24-28; Hebrews 1-2