Felix brings his wife, who was Jewish, to hear Paul’s faith concerning Jesus Christ.

Acts 24:24-25

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“And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 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 24:24-25

“And after some days…” includes after Felix spoke to the Roman commander, who arrested Paul and was a witness to how riled the Jewish culture became at Paul’s presence among them. Now, Felix brought in his Jewish wife, seeking to understand why the Jewish culture would be so stirred up against Paul’s preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Today, it would make worldly sense that if anyone wanted to understand the Bible, and the followers of Jesus Christ, a knowledgeable member of one of the churches would be brought in to hear the views of someone spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. However, that would be like one member of today’s atheistic culture being asked why the Gospel of Jesus Christ is offensive to the entire atheistic culture. That’s because the churches of today have formed a partnership with the secular community culture.

Paul was very, very knowledgeable of the Roman customs and way of life, being born a Roman citizen and not converted to Christianity until he was about 30 years of age. Also, Paul was very, very knowledgeable of the laws of Judaism, being a Pharisee of all Pharisees and studying under one of the greatest Pharisees of all time, Gamaliel [Acts 22:3]. Paul was also very, very experienced in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, having a personal born-again experience when he saw the great Light of our Lord Jesus Christ. So, what did Paul speak about? Something to impress the Jewish wife of Felix? Something to appeal to the customs of the Romans? Something to lift up the name of our Lord Jesus Christ?

Led by the Holy Spirit, Paul spoke about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, which would have certainly been very meaningful to the Roman and Jewish customs. We already know how righteousness, self-control, and judgment apply to Christianity, but how do those qualities affect the Roman culture? [Felix was a Roman citizen]. The paragraphs below describe this.

Righteousness was very important within the Roman culture. Righteousness related to being a mature man according to the rules of law and being honorable. This was a main focus to Roman ethics. This involved knowing good from evil, establishing boundaries, restraining desires, having loyalty, mutual trust among Roman citizens, and being a person of their word. Obviously, Felix was not living up to those standards of being a Roman citizen because the Holy Spirit convicted him of his spiritual sin, “Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.”

Self-control was very important within the Roman culture. The Romans believed that self-control contributed to the harmony and order of the community and was a social necessity. Self-control was part of a person’s civic duty. Obviously, Felix was falling short in this area as well, along with falling short in righteousness. The Holy Spirit was convicting Felix of his spiritual shortcomings, “Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.”

Probably what we all know about the Romans is that judgment was very important to them. The Roman’s sense of judgment was to validate their use of force to uphold law and order. The Romans were brutal in their judgment against non-Romans and against those Roman citizens who violated the code of brotherhood. The Roman’s sense of punishment was public, often severe, and the death penalty by crucifixion on the cross was standard practice. Felix already felt convicted of not living up to the Roman brand of righteousness and self-control. He would have felt very fearful of the judgment to come at the hands of the Romans, “Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.

Paul spoke about righteousness, self-control, and judgment in the context of his faith in Jesus Christ, but in a way that any Roman citizen or Jewish person could relate to. I believe that the Jewish wife of Felix must have either loved the words of Paul or was deeply humiliated, angered, and even convicted by the Holy Spirit.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we have to reach people where they are, in a way that the Gospel of Christ is understood in their terms. Today’s culture has an appearance of Godliness, mirroring the righteousness, self-control, and judgment of the Romans, but they deny the life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ. They serve the beast with two horns like a lamb, Revelations 13:11-12, which is Satan’s version of the Holy Spirit. When they hear the Gospel of Christ, they move immediately to their worldly brand of judgment. They serve the atheistic entity that gives them what to speak, do, feel, and think and their heart, mind, and soul are hardened against the presence of the Holy Spirit. Only through the Holy Spirit can one say that Jesus Christ is Lord.

When Jesus Christ came, He brought the Holy Spirit with Him, and He convicts of sin, righteousness, and judgment. Jesus said, “And when [Holy Spirit] has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me…” John 16:8

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:1