Verse 25: Paul’s
preaching of Christ and his reasoning of “righteousness,
temperance, and judgment to come”
caused Felix to tremble.[i]
It touched something in his soul and brought a physical reaction. Nevertheless,
he delayed and deferred, saying “Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.” No season
is more convenient to respond to the gospel than “now.” “Behold, now is the day
of salvation… To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” Let
all hearers consider (and not defer), “It the message of Christ and his
righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come be true, what will become of me?”
Felix’s delay allowed him to harden his heart, and repurpose his reason for
hearing Paul.
Verse 26: “He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul,” reveals something of Felix’s character. Felix hoped that Paul or someone associated with Paul would pay him to release Paul. What Felix should have done because it was right, he would have done if the price was right. Notice also that, for that reason, Felix often called for Paul to come in to talk over things with him. This increasing frequency might offer more opportunities for Paul to ask if he might buy his way out of custody. He did “call for” but never found “a convenient season” to receive the things “concerning the faith in Christ” preached by Paul.
Verse 27: Ultimately, despite his personal hopes (money) and feelings
(that Paul was no threat), Felix kept Paul in custody as a political favor to
the Jews. Felix might outwardly justify his dubious detention of Paul as a
favor to the Jews, and even good for Paul’s own safety. However, it was ultimately
his inward ravening that kept Paul imprisoned. Paul had been held by Felix in Cæsarea
for two years when Porcius Festus replaced him as governor.
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