The Way
The Words That Frightened Felix
Righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come
Story
Five days later the high priest Ananias came down to Caesarea with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus. Tertullus brought charges against Paul before Governor Felix. He said, “This man is like a plague. He stirs up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene sect, and he even tried to defile the temple.”
Paul answered, “It is no more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship. No one found me arguing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, in the temple or in the synagogues. But I do worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. And I have the hope that both the righteous and the wicked will rise again.” Felix put off the case, saying he would decide when Lysias the commander came down.
A few days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and sent for Paul. As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix became afraid and said, “That's enough for now. Go. When I find time, I will send for you again.” Felix hoped Paul would give him a bribe, so he sent for him often and talked with him. Two years went by like this. Then Felix, wanting to please the Jews, left Paul in prison when he stepped down as governor.
Walk this scene on the map →Words of the Lord and of Paul
Like them, I have put my hope in God that both the righteous and the wicked will rise again.
So I always try to keep my conscience clear before God and people.
That's enough for now. Go. When I find time, I will send for you again.
The sayings are fresh renderings of the original meaning in today's language. Text: Acts 24:1–27
Background
The Roman historian Tacitus says that Felix was a freed slave who rose to become governor. His wife Drusilla was the daughter of Herod Agrippa I and the sister of King Agrippa and Bernice, who appear in the next scene. This high priest Ananias is a different person from Ananias the disciple in Damascus.
Pause and Reflect
Do I know what I need to repent of, yet keep putting it off?