THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST
SPREADING THE SOUL-SAVING MESSAGE OF JESUs
“The Non-Conversion of Felix”
Introduction by narrator accompanied by a cappella singing:
THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. Spreading the soul-saving message of Jesus. And now, James Gravelle.
“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’” (Acts 24:25). Welcome to THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. We often speak about conversions in the Book of Acts. By “conversion,” we mean that when someone is taught or hears the Gospel, the seed of the kingdom (the Word of God) is planted or sown in a good and honest heart, and that person then has the proper reaction to the Gospel plan of salvation, he or she obeys the Gospel. As we look through the Book of Acts, we see 3,000 in Acts 2 who obeyed the Gospel. Then, 5,000 more were added in Acts 5. The number was multiplied in Acts 6. In Acts 8 we read about the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch as Philip helped him to understand and obey the Gospel. In Acts 9 we see the Lord appearing to Saul and giving him instructions to go into the city of Damascus where he would be told what he needed to do. We then see Ananias coming to Saul to tell him what to do to be saved. The first time a Gentile was converted is recorded for us in Acts 10. As we follow through the remainder of the Book of Acts, we see Paul’s missionary journeys and his voyage to Rome, as well as numerous counts of conversion along the way. But do we ever talk about “conversion failures”? That is what this lesson is all about. I would like to discuss with you the non-conversion of Felix.
As we look at the background that leads up to Paul’s discussion of the Gospel with Felix, we see that, in Acts 21, Paul has completed his third missionary journey and is now back in Jerusalem. Acts 21:28 tells us that Jews from Asia had stirred up the people in the temple. In Acts 21:30, we see Paul being seized by the Jews so that they could beat and kill him. Paul is saved by the Romans (vss. 31-32). He then is taken before the council by the Roman commander, and there is a tremendous uproar. Paul was probably somewhat fearful because on the one hand there were the Jews, who wanted to kill him outright (which, by the way, was not according to Roman law). On the other hand there were the Romans, who had both the authority and the power to put him to death. Thus, he was in a tug-of-war between the two forces. Paul was given a divine message that is recorded in Acts 23:11, where the text says, “But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, ‘Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.’” Paul then understood that his life was not going to come to an end in the city of Jerusalem at that time. Again, however, the Jews planned to kill him. They laid traps so that they could catch him in any way whatsoever in order to put him to death.
Paul, however, was sent by night to Felix in Caesarea by Lysias, the commander of the Roman garrison. Lysias prepared a letter to be sent along with Paul, which is described in Acts 23:25-30—
“Claudius Lysias, to the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings. This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them. Coming with the troops I rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman. And when I wanted to know the reason they accused him, I brought him before their council. I found out that he was accused concerning questions of their law, but had nothing charged against him deserving of death or chains. And when it was told me that the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent him immediately to you, and also commanded his accusers to state before you the charges against him. Farewell.”
Thus ended the letter to Felix. Paul then was taken by the Romans to the port city of Caesarea, where he stood before the governor, Felix. Acts 23:34-35 records:
“And when the governor had read it [the letter], he asked what province he was from. And when he understood that he was from Cilicia, he said, I will hear you when your accusers also have come.’ And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s Praetorium.”
Now we see the charges that are made against Paul, as recorded in Acts 24:1-9. In verse one we read, “Now after five days Ananias the high priest came down with the elders and a certain orator named Tertullus. These gave evidence to the governor against Paul.” Tertullus was what we today would call “the prosecuting attorney.” He was the one who would officially make the charges. He was a hired pleader whose services were necessary to ensure that the case for the Jews could be stated in a proper form. Although he bore a Roman name, he was not necessarily a Roman. His speech before Felix was marked by considerable ingenuity. It began with praise for the governorship of Felix, but was not exactly accurate according to historical records. The subsequent argument is an example of how a strong case may apparently be made by the skillful manipulation of half truths. Verses 2-4 state:
“And when he was called upon, Tertullus began his accusation, saying: ‘Seeing that through you we enjoy great peace, and prosperity is being brought to this nation by your foresight, we accept it always and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. Nevertheless, not to be tedious to you any further, I beg you to hear, by your courtesy, a few words from us.’”
Notice the flowery language that Tertullus used as he tried to flatter Felix. Verses 5-9 continue:
“’For we have found this man a plague, a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him, and wanted to judge him according to our law. But the commander Lysias came by and with great violence took him out of our hands, commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him.’ And the Jews also assented, maintaining that these things were so.”
Paul is being charged with four different things. In verse 5 he is said to be three things: “a plague, a creator of dissension among the Jews, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.” In verse 6, he is accused of being a profaner of the temple.
At this point, the scene changes to Paul, and Felix beckons him to make his defense (Acts 24:10-21).
“Then Paul, after the governor had nodded to him to speak, answered: ‘Inasmuch as I know that you have been for many years a judge of this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself, because you may ascertain that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship. And they neither found me in the temple disputing with anyone nor inciting the crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city. Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me. But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets. I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men. Now after many years I came to bring alms and offerings to my nation, in the midst of which some Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with a mob nor with tumult. They ought to have been here before you to object if they had anything against me. Or else let those who are here themselves say if they found any wrongdoing in me while I stood before the council, unless it is for this one statement which I cried out, standing among them, “Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged by you this day.”’”
Paul made a very good speech that contained no flowery words. It was merely the facts. He denied the charges, but did concede that “according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers.” He also admitted that he had hope in the resurrection of both the just and the unjust. At this point, Felix refused to make a decision regarding the trial. He wanted to wait for Lysias to come testify. Paul, then, is once more ordered to be taken into custody, but is given liberal freedoms, including the ability to have his friends visit him. In verse 24, we are told that Paul is recalled to Felix after a certain number of days. Felix had been sent by Claudius Caesar to serve as governor of Judea. His wife Drusilla had a colorful background. She was the daughter of Herod Agrippa I who, according to Acts 12, had murdered James. She was the great-niece of Herod Antipas who, according to Mark 6, had beheaded John the Immerser. She was the great-granddaughter of Herod the Great, who, according to Matthew 2, had the infants in Bethlehem murdered. Josephus says of Drusilla that she, at an early age, had been given in marriage to Azizus, king of Emesa. Felix wanted her, and so, by means of a magician, induced her to leave her husband and come live with him. We are given some of the motives behind Felix’s reason for calling Paul to return to stand before him. One of those reasons, according to Acts 24:24, was to hear Paul “concerning the faith in Christ.” Another motive is found in verse 26, which notes that Felix “hoped that money would be given him by Paul, that he might release him.” At this point, as Paul stands before Felix, let’s look at the message he delivers. Verse 25 states that Paul “reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come.” “Reason” can be defined as to “discuss, discourse, discuss, or argue.” Thus, as Paul’s manner was, he contended earnestly for The Faith.
First, Paul “reasoned concerning righteousness” (right doing, as prescribed by God). In Psalm 119:172 the psalmist wrote, “My tongue shall speak of Your word, for all Your commandments are righteousness.” We understand from this that being right with God means that we follow His commandments. Those who obtain God’s approval work righteousness. Notice what Peter said in Acts 10:35—“But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.” In preaching on righteousness (about keeping God’s commandments), Paul must have told Felix what he needed to do to be saved. In other words, Paul explained to him God’s plan for man’s salvation. Paul would have told Felix that he needed to hear the Gospel. Hebrews 11:6 states, “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” This verse tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God. But whence comes faith? Romans 10:17 tells us that faith comes by hearing the Word of God. Therefore, without hearing the Word of God, one cannot have faith. In James 2:24, James said, “You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.” There are many people around us in the religious world today who teach that it is possible to go to Heaven merely by “having faith.” But James emphatically denied that. He said that it was not by faith only. In fact, in James 2:26 he said, “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” There must be a combination of faith and obedience to God. We must do what God has said for us to do. Paul would have explained that to Felix.
He also would have told Felix that he needed to believe in Jesus. In John 8:24, Jesus Himself said, “If you do not believe that I am He [the Son of God], you will die in your sins.” Paul also would have told Felix that he needed to repent of his past sins. Jesus said in Luke 13:3, “I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” Repentance is a change of mind that leads to a change in lifestyle. In Matthew 10:32, Jesus also said, “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.” We find another command in Acts 2:38. Peter said, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.”
This is God’s plan of salvation. It was not something that Paul “just made up on his own.” Nor is it something that we today have “picked and chosen” out of the Bible regarding things that we would like to do. This is the Word of God! These are His commands, and those who obey these commands—and all others—are those who “work righteousness.”
In point two of his lesson, Paul reasoned about self-control. Self-control is the ability to keep oneself in check. It is the ability to rein in lust. It is the ability to not do those things that we are told not to do. People are capable of exercising mastery over themselves. This discipline, in fact, is listed among the “fruits of the Spirit” in Galatians 5:22-23—“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” In 2 Peter 1:5-8, Peter also mentioned self-control:
“But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Paul then turned to the third point, where he reasoned about “the judgment to come.” He used the coming judgment to persuade others. In 2 Corinthians 5:10, he said,
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.”
From Romans 3:23 we learn that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” In Romans 6:23 we see that “the wages of sin is death.” That death, as recorded in Revelation 21:8, is eternal separation from God. Romans 6:23 also tells us, however, that “the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.” If we sin, we die. However, God has provided a plan for us to follow so that we might, through His grace, have eternal life. One’s appointment at the judgment is just as certain as one’s death, according to Hebrews 9:27—“It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.”
Notice in Acts 24:25 Felix’s reaction. “Felix was afraid.” The King James Version says that he “trembled.” I like the American Standard Version here, which says that Felix was “terrified.” He was terrified at the ethical implications. He knew that he would have to give account of himself to God, so he trembled at Paul’s words regarding self-control. The presence of Drusilla was probably enough to make Felix afraid. Everyone knew of his uncontrolled lust for her and how he had obtained her. The two were living in open adultery. Felix trembled at Paul’s words concerning a coming judgment. Felix and Drusilla were living as if they would never have to give an account of their deeds to anyone. But Paul impressed upon them that a day was coming in which they would have to suffer the consequences of their sins. Notice what Paul said in Romans 14:11-12—“For it is written: ‘As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.’ So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.” It may not be in this life that we confess the name of God. But before the final judgment is over, every knee shall bow to Him. In Hebrews 10:31, the writer said, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” In Acts 17:30-31, we read,
“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”
One would think that the terror that seized Felix would lead to repentance. However, Felix said, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you” (Acts 24:25). There is no evidence—sacred or secular—that this “convenient season” ever came for Felix. He is an example to all who have delayed their obedience to the Gospel. Only foolishness can be seen in such actions. Let me give you three reasons why this is the case.
First, death may occur. We have already read in Hebrews 9:27 that “it is appointed unto men once to die.” In James 4:13-14, James said,
“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit’; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”
Second, one’s heart may become so hardened by sin that the Word of God has no chance to take root. Warnings are given in Scripture regarding this very thing. In Hebrews 3:13, the writer said, “Exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”
Third, Jesus might return at any time. The date of His return is unknown to us. Because of that, we, at all times, should be prepared for His coming. Notice what Peter said in 2 Peter 3:9-10.
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.”
Let’s notice the lessons that we today can learn from Paul’s discussion with Felix. First, we see that Paul taught the Word of God. Paul spoke words that were given to him by the Holy Spirit. They were inspired words. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 2:13, “These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” Paul spoke words that had been inspired by God. He did everything humanly possible to persuade Felix to obey the Gospel—and he had divine help in doing so. If there were words that could have reached Felix, God would have seen to it that Paul had them at his disposal.
Second, we see that Felix had a grand opportunity to hear the Gospel—and, to his credit, he took it. He had the proper reaction to what he heard because he was convicted of sin, which should have led to repentance. But he did not follow through and repent. It cost Jesus everything He had to come into this world and to take upon Himself the form of a human being—just so He could become the sacrifice for our sins. In the Old Testament, there were hundreds of thousands of animals that were sacrificed, but they could not take away sin. Yet, without making those sacrifices, the people who lived under the Old Law would have had no absolutely no opportunity to be saved. Jesus came into this world to die. He became the sacrifice for the sins of the world. As Jesus said in Matthew 26:28, “This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” Have you been a partaker of His blood? Have you had your sins forgiven? Please join us again as we continue to study the Gospel of Christ.
Narrator accompanied by a cappella singing:
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1. According to Acts 24:25, to whom was Paul speaking in that section of Scripture?
2. What was responsible for Paul receiving his unexpected opportunity to speak to the person mentioned in question #1?
3. According to Acts 24:25, what three things did Paul discuss with the person to whom question #1 refers?
4. According to Acts 23:26, who sent Paul to Caesarea to appear before the man mentioned in question #1?
5. Who is mentioned in Acts 24:1 as being the orator sent to make the case against Paul?
6. According to Acts 23:34-35, what initial decision regarding the disposition of Paul’s case was reached by the man before whom Paul had been commanded to appear?
7. According to Acts 24:5-6, what were the charges brought against Paul?
8. To what did Paul confess in Acts 24:14?
9. In what did Paul express his hope, according to Acts 24:15?
10. According to Acts 24:21, what was the issue that had landed Paul in Caesarea in the first place?
11. What, according to Acts 24:24, was one of the reasons that the governor in Caesarea wanted to hear Paul speak?
12. What, according to Acts 24:26, was the reason that the governor in Caesarea delayed in making a decision regarding the charges against Paul?
13. How did the psalmist (Psalm 119:172) describe all of God’s commandments?
14. According to Acts 10:35, who is acceptable to God?
15. What is the message of Hebrews 11:6?
16. What is the message of John 8:24?
17. According to James 2:24, by what are we not saved?
18. According to 1 Corinthians 2:13, where did Paul get the words that he spoke to the Roman governor?
19. In Acts 24:25, what did the governor of Judea say to Paul?
20. Is there any evidence that the governor of Judea ever became a Christian?
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