Trial By Felix

iii. She has a tragic story. She was married to a Syrian prince when a magician, secretly working for Felix, told her she should marry Felix. Enamored with the occult, Drusilla, at the age of nineteen, left her husband to become Felix’s third wife.

iv. Talk about dysfunction junction. These two had it. But, they wanted to hear about Jesus, they have that going for them, let’s read on.

v. 25 Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, "Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you."

vi. It’s been said that the worst thing that anyone can do with the gospel, is sit on it. That was Felix and Drusilla’s decision. They probably didn’t mind hearing about the faith, the Bible, and the miracles.

vii. Most people don’t have a problem with that. But they did have a problem with righteousness, self-control, and judgment. People don’t want to change their lives for the gospel.

viii. Righteousness is God’s standard for us. Self-control is the application of that standard, and the judgment to come is the consequences of not applying this standard to our lives.

ix. Felix was afraid because he knew what fate awaited him. He knew this because Paul explained it clearly to him and Drusilla. Paul reasoned with Felix and Drusilla. Why? Because the Christian faith is reasonable. Any reasonable person would come to the conclusion that the Word of God is true, and that we need to apply it to our lives.

x. Felix didn’t want to be reasonable though. He wanted to think about it, and that just gave the Enemy to ammunition he needed. He said to go away, and come back when it was convenient.

xi. Many people today do this. They want to wait to give their life to Christ. They say, well, after I finish school, I’ll follow Jesus, or, after, I get married, or, after I have my first child.

xii. Guys, the Bible tells us that today is the day of Salvation and that the appointed time is NOW. Do not harden your hearts, but accept what the Spirit is ministering to you. If that’s you this morning, you need to make that decision before you leave here today. We aren’t told in the Bible, but I would guess that Felix died without Jesus. I don’t want you to make that same mistake. Let’s finish up with our last two verses.

xiii. 26 Meanwhile he also hoped that money would be given him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore he sent for him more often and conversed with him.

xiv. Felix knew that Paul had friends in Jerusalem, and that he had friends all over the Roman Empire. So, instead of letting Paul go, he held on to Paul, hoping to extract some kind of bribe out of the church.

xv. But, the church doesn’t pay it, probably because Paul won’t hear of it, and Paul gets the chance to witness to Felix and Drusilla more, and his Roman guards. Paul got to rest in the seaside resort, for the next two years. Verse 27 says -

xvi. 27 But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix; and Felix, wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound.