Acts 24:24-27
Righteousness, Self-Control, and Judgment
Read the passage
24After several days, Felix returned with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.
25As Paul expounded on righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, “You may go for now. When I find the time, I will call for you.”
26At the same time, he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe. So he sent for Paul frequently and talked with him.
27After two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
Felix and Drusilla hear Paul speak about faith in Christ Jesus. That conversation includes righteousness, self-control, and coming judgment. Faith concerns how a person lives before God, including a governor who presently holds power over the speaker.
Felix becomes frightened and sends Paul away until a more convenient time. But he does not stop seeing Paul. He sends for him frequently, hoping to receive a bribe. There is repeated conversation without a reported turning from the greed Luke names.
At the end of two years, Felix leaves Paul imprisoned to please the Jews. His choices reveal the difference between being disturbed by truth and responding to it. The fear was real; so were the money he hoped to gain and the favor he wanted to keep.
Paul is the prisoner in this scene, but Felix is also answerable to a higher authority. The coming judgment does not depend on whether he finds time to think about it. Hearing about Jesus is a serious opportunity to turn to him, not a way to keep postponing the response his word calls for.
Questions
1 Who came to hear Paul?
AnswerFelix came with his Jewish wife Drusilla to hear Paul speak about faith in Christ Jesus.
2 What subjects did Paul address?
AnswerHe addressed righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, subjects that confronted both Felix’s conduct and his authority.
3 How did Felix respond?
AnswerHe became frightened and sent Paul away, postponing a response even though the message had reached his conscience.
4 What did Felix hope Paul would offer?
AnswerHe hoped Paul would offer a bribe, so he repeatedly sent for Paul and conversed with him while still leaving him imprisoned.
What This Means for Us
We can return to the same lesson many times while avoiding the thing it asks of us. Perhaps we know we need to apologize, stop a dishonest habit, or give back what is not ours. We can ask God for forgiveness and begin that change today. Another conversation about doing right is useful when it helps us actually do it.
Prayer
God, give us courage to respond when your truth exposes us. Make us people of righteousness and self-control, and keep us from delaying repentance. Amen.