by Steve Hale
"Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was aftaid and answered, 'Go away for now;
when I have a convenient time I will call for you.' Meanwhile he also hoped that money would be given him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore he sent for him
more often and conversed with him. But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix; and Felix, wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound" ( Acts 24:25-27, NKJV).
Feli)es name is actually Antonius Claudius, and was a Greek subject. He was made free by Caesar Claudius ( Acts 18:1-2), and was given the surname Felix (which means 'happy,' probably in reaction to receiving his freedom from Claudius). Because he and his brother, Pallas, were favorites of Claudius and later Nero, he thought he could do as he pleased. Tacitus said of Felix: "...he revelled in cruelty and lust, and wielded the power of a king with the mind of a slave.'
Felix was an immoral man who flippantly went from one wife to another in order to advance his power. He thought he was incapable of prosecution due to his influence with the courts, and his profane behavior is well documented. His greed is evident as he hoped that Paul would pay him a bribe ( Acts 24:26). He was replaced by Porcius Festus, and far better and more able man.
Yet, even this immoral rascal trembled at the preaching of the gospel! Having Paul in custody afforded Felix to improve his already accurate knowledge about the Way. When his wife Drusilla came, they listened more intently to Paul. Drusilla was the youngest daughter of Herod Agrippa I, and even by this time (A.D. 57) was not yet 20 years old. As a small girl, she had been betrothed to the Crown Prince of Commagene in Asia Minor, but the marriage did not happen because the Prince would not embrace Judaism.
Her brother, Herod Arippa II, gave her to the king of Emesa ... she was not yet 16 years old. When she was 16, Felix convinced her to leave her husband and become his wife. She was Felix's third wife, and she gave Felix a son who they named Agrippa. This Agrippa died in the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in A.D. 79.
Given their sordid personal lives, Paul's preaching was pointed and practi . No doubt, what he said made them very uncomfortable. Given their sins, this preaching about 'righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come' had particular impact. Felix knew that Christianity was the fulfillment of Judaism. He knew Jesus had to be the promised Messiah, and that Paul's words were truthful. No wonder he was afraid!