Dialogue Instead of Decision
By Bob Deffinbaugh
24 Some days later, when Felix arrived with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 While Paul was discussing righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for now, and when I have an opportunity, I will send for you.” 26 At the same time he was also hoping that Paul would give him money, and for this reason he sent for Paul as often as possible and talked with him (Acts 24:24-26).
Both Paul (Acts 24:10) and Luke (Acts 24:22) have already told us that Felix was well informed concerning Judaism and Christianity (“the Way”). One reason for his understanding of Judaism is that his wife, Drusilla, was a Jewess (Acts 24:24). This was a most interesting woman:
“Drusilla was the youngest daughter of Herod Agrippa I, and at this time was not yet twenty years old. As a small girl she had been betrothed to the crown prince of Commangene, in eastern Asia Minor, but the marriage did not take place because the prospective bride-groom refused to become a proselyte to Judaism. Then her brother Agrippa II gave her in marriage to the king of Emesa (modern Homs), a petty state in Syria. But when she was still only sixteen, Felix, with the help (it is said) of a Cypriot magician called Atomos, persuaded her to leave her husband and come to be his wife, promising her (with a play on his name) every ‘felicity’ if she did so. Accordingly, she joined Felix as his third wife, and bore him a son named Agrippa, who met his death in the eruption of Vesuvius in A. D. 79.”15
“She was one of three daughters of Herod Agrippa I (Drusilla, Mariamne, Bernice). Her father murdered James, her great-uncle Herod Antipas slew John the Baptist, her great-grandfather (Herod the Great) killed the babes of Bethlehem.”16
What a legacy this woman had! Felix and Drusilla arrived some time later and called for Paul. Good old Paul, old “one note” Paul. His message was always simple and clear: “Jesus Saves.”
21 For since in the wisdom of God the world by its wisdom did not know God, God was pleased to save those who believe by the foolishness of preaching. 22 For Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks ask for wisdom, 23 but we preach about a crucified Christ, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles. 24 But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength (1 Corinthians 1:21-25, emphasis mine).
Our Lord told His disciples that the Spirit would convict the lost of “sin, righteousness, and judgment” (John 16:8-11). And so what do we find is the substance of Paul’s message to Felix and his wife? It is not: “I’ve been framed! I’m innocent!” It is, “righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment” (Acts 24:25). No wonder Felix became frightened (Acts 24:25), and (so it would seem) Drusilla never came back for any more of Paul’s preaching. Only Felix seems to have done this, frequently. He had some kind of fascination with Paul and his message, not unlike Herod (Drusilla’s great-uncle) had with John the Baptist (Mark 6:20).
I have to confess a thought that popped into my mind as I was reading this text about Felix calling for Paul to hear him preach and also with the hope of receiving a bribe. When summoned by Felix, Paul consistently gave him the same message. It was not the message Felix wanted to hear. It was a message about righteousness, self-control, and judgment. It was a message that frightened Felix. Felix needed to be saved from his sins. It wasn’t Paul who needed to be delivered by Felix; it was Felix who needed to find deliverance from sin and guilt through faith in Jesus. Paul’s message was right on target.
I have to wonder what some of the smiley-faced, “God can’t wait to bless your socks off (as soon as you send in your check),” preachers would say to Felix. Might it be a broad, flashing smile, and the promise of good things, if Felix would only first make his “seed faith” contribution? Shame on me for thinking such thoughts. No, shame on them. Shame on anyone whose gospel excludes righteousness, self-control, and judgment.
Knowing God through His Word ... Day by Day 