Felix Was Alarmed (But He Wasn't Saved)

In Acts 23, Paul had been taken into custody in Jerusalem. After a plot to kill him was uncovered, the Romans whisked him away to Caesarea by night for safe keeping until a hearing before the Roman Governor Felix.

Felix was Marcus Antonius Felix, a Roman procurator (governor) of Judea from approximately AD 52 to 59. In human history, he is known for his corruption, cruelty, and ambition, which led to constant unrest in Judea and earned him the criticism of historians like Tacitus and Josephus. He is famously known for detaining the Apostle Paul and for his marriage to Drusilla, daughter of Herod Agrippa I

After Paul’s initial defense before Felix, which countered charges from Jews from Jerusalem, Felix declares a continuance of the hearing: Acts 24:22-23 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." 23 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.

Then in Acts 24:24-26 (ESV) After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.” 26 At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him.

Felix heard Paul speak about faith in Christ Jesus. The word “heard” indicates to hear with understanding (a????´? with the Genitive). Why was he alarmed? Because he understood! Paul reasoned about…

I) Righteousness

A) The reality of righteousness is that there are moral absolutes that we are accountable to live by.

B) Righteousness is defined and expressed by God's law

1) 1 John 3:4 " Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.".

2) Psalm 119:142 "Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and your law is truth."

3) Romans 7:12 (ESV) "So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good."

C) To be right we must do right – conform to God’s law as opposed to committing lawlessness.

1) 1 John 3:7 "Little children, let no one deceive you. The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as he is righteous."

2) Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

3) Matthew 7:24-27 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

D) While God graciously offers forgiveness when we do not do right, the obligation to do right is undimmed. Romans 6:1-2 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?

II) Self-control

A) Moral progressiveness always drifts toward a disregard for self-control. In nearly every age, self-control is counter cultural. 2 Timothy 3:2-4 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

1) Did Felix have vices he was unwilling to let go.

2) History indicates that his carnal political aspirations involved corruption, cruelty, and unbridled ambition.

(a) His lust for money was one of the motives for dragging out justice for Paul

(b) Acts 24:26 “…he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him.”

3) He hated and feared the light because his deeds were evil. John 3:19-20 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.