Godbey's Commentary - Acts - Romans - Enter His Rest

16-20. Paul proceeds simply to tell Felix about his arrival at Jerusalem only twelve days ago on
the philanthropic errand of bringing the benefactions of the Gentile churches to the poor saints at
Jerusalem, and his participation in the simple ceremonies of temporary Nazaritish vows and
sacrifices peculiar to his people since the days of Moses, during which they assaulted him in the
temple, on accusation of stirring up sedition, which was utterly untrue, and they had signally failed
to prove their charges when he stood before the Sanhedrim in Jerusalem in the custody of Lysias,
and he now challenges them to prove their charges.
22, 23. As their prosecution proves an utter failure for two reasons —
(a) They have actually charged him with nothing criminal in Roman law but simply leadership
in the Nazarene sect [when the Roman Empire was notorious for tolerating all religions], and
(b) for stirring up sedition, which they had signally failed to prove —
therefore Felix dismisses the case out of court, notifying them that when Lysias the kiliarch may
come down, they shall have a new hearing; meanwhile he treats Paul leniently, extending full
privileges of gospel grace to him and all who come to him, either for philanthropic or evangelical
purposes.
PAUL PREACHES TO FELIX AND DRUSILLA.
24-27. During Paul’s trial, he managed to get in so much straight gospel truth as to at least arouse
the governor’s curiosity “concerning the faith which is toward Christ”; consequently, in a few days
he avails himself of the opportunity to hear his prisoner preach the gospel with all possible freedom,
spiritual and physical.
25. “And while he reasoned concerning righteousness [i.e., justification], temperance [i.e.,
egkrateia, from ego, I, and kratos, government; hence that beautiful self-government in perfect
harmony with the Divine law, which is but another name for entire sanctification, showing up the
practical side], and judgment to come.” This was an astounding revelation to that avaricious,
ambitious, licentious Oriental potentate, not only awfully corrupt in his administration, swindling
his subjects for paltry pelf, but debauched in his private life, at that time living in adultery with his
wife Drusilla, a royal Jewish Herodian, celebrated for her beauty, the wife of Azizus, the king of
Emesa, whom Felix had maneuvered to seduce and leave her royal husband, elope with him and
become his wife. To this corrupt and debauched royal train, Paul’s sermon on justification,
sanctification and final judgment was a thunder-clap of trepidation and dismay from beginning to
end. How wonderful the power of the gospel! Here you see the prisoner in chains standing on the
lofty pinnacle of Divine truth and inflexible justice, his regal prosecutors in tears, trembling at his
feet! Sorry to say, the record of Felix is anything but good. Though he trembled and quaked under
the first gospel sermon of Paul, he wore off his convictions, heard Paul ever and anon two whole
years, only hardening under his ministry, like multiplied millions who tremble with an earthquake
conviction when they first hear some powerful preacher of the Sinai gospel. Unfortunately they pass
the gracious opportunity, resist the Spirit, wear off their conviction, become immovable and finally
drop into hell. With such, who have actually passed the dead line, this old wicked world is rapidly