22 At that point Felix, who was quite familiar with the Way, adjourned the hearing and said, “Wait until Lysias, the garrison commander, arrives. Then I will decide the case.” 23 He ordered an officer[d] to keep Paul in custody but to give him some freedom and allow his friends to visit him and take care of his needs.

24 A few days later Felix came back with his wife, Drusilla, who was Jewish. Sending for Paul, they listened as he told them about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 As he reasoned with them about righteousness and self-control and the coming day of judgment, Felix became frightened. “Go away for now,” he replied. “When it is more convenient, I’ll call for you again.” 26 He also hoped that Paul would bribe him, so he sent for him quite often and talked with him.

27 After two years went by in this way, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And because Felix wanted to gain favor with the Jewish people, he left Paul in prison.

Acts 24:22-27 (NLT) 中文

Paul on Trial

Paul is being persecuted as prophesied. He’s been accused of religious crimes and arrested in Jerusalem. This presented an opportunity to share his testimony and his call to the gentiles – which enraged the Jewish crowd. He has testified before the Jewish religious council in Jerusalem. God intervened to foil another plot to kill him. Now he’s in Caesarea for a trial before Roman Governor Felix. His accusers have presented their case. Paul has presented his defense. Now the ball is in Felix’s court to decide.

Felix punts, Paul persists

Felix could have made a decision to release Paul. The evidence was clearly in Paul’s favor. And, as Luke tells us, Felix was quite familiar with the way (as Christianity was first called). Probably, in part, because his wife, Drusilla, was Jewish.  But, as we see in verse 27, he was more concerned about pacifying the Jews than justice so he punted. His excuse was he needed to wait for the commander (Lysias) to come before he would make a decision. As a result, we see that Paul persisted in custody for 2 years!

Too close for comfort

Felix was interested in this religion of Paul so brought Paul before him often to listen to his teaching. Of course he was also looking for a bribe from Paul to let him out of prison. Power corrupts and money talks. But as Paul preached and taught Felix, verse 25 tells us, “Felix became frightened”. It seems the Spirit was convicting him of sin and righteousness. It was too close for comfort so he dismissed Paul lest he decide to repent and believe what Paul was preaching. Paul addressed the sin he was aware of in Felix, and did so quite boldly, under the direction of the Spirit we can presume.

RЯeflection

• “Many respond to the gospel in this way; they express their rejection through delay, by delaying their decision to commit to Jesus Christ – but it is rejection none the less. The Bible tells us to come to Jesus in repentance and faith today: Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2).” (enduringword.com) If this is you, click here.
• Paul did not hold back on preaching the truth of the gospel – founded on the need to preach sin and the need to repent to be saved. It’s an encouragement, no, an admonition to us to do likewise. So many water down the gospel to, “believe in Jesus to ‘have your best life now’” and avoid repentance from sin.