FELIX THE PROCRASTINATOR

Posted by Pastor Greg Allen on September 6, 2023 under AM Bible Study |

AM Bible Study Group: September 6, 2023 from Acts 24:22-27

Theme: Those who keep waiting for a more ‘convenient’ opportunity to turn from sin and to trust in Jesus may find that the opportunity never comes.

(All Scripture is taken from The New King James Version, unless otherwise indicated).

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In our study of Acts today, we encounter a very sad story. It’s the story of the Roman governor Felix. He was the official before whom Paul the apostle gave his defense in Acts 24. He was a man who had been given a great opportunity to make the decision to believe on Jesus Christ and be saved. And yet, he lost his opportunity because of his own sinful tendency to keep putting that decision off.

His story of procrastination picks up where the story of the apostle Paul’s defense before him left off. Paul had been charged by the Jewish officials with being a creator of dissension, the ringleader of a false religion, and a defiler of the temple of God. Paul had given his defense against those charges before Governor Felix in Acts 24:10-21; and he did so in a way that absolutely proved his innocence. Governor Felix should have set him free then and there.

But verses 22-27 go on to tell us;

But when Felix heard these things, having more accurate knowledge of the Way, he adjourned the proceedings and said, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will make a decision on your case.” So he commanded the centurion to keep Paul and to let him have liberty, and told him not to forbid any of his friends to provide for or visit him. 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.” 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 24:22-27).

And can you think of any more consequential words than these? “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.” For Felix the Procrastinator, that more convenient time never came.

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Before we look closer into this passage, let’s take a moment to consider this man Felix. His full name was Antonius Felix; and he had been made the Roman procurator (or governor) of Judea by the emperor Claudius. He came from a family that was notorious for enjoying special favors from the emperor and for corruption. “Felix was an unscrupulous ruler. In addition to having three wives, he considered himself capable of committing any crime and avoiding punishment because of his influence with the courts” (Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 1986, p. 382). The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia tells us;

Although he suppressed the robbers and murderers who infested Judaea, … yet [according to the ancient historian Josephus] “he himself was more hurtful than them all.” When occasion offered, he did not hesitate to employ the sicarri [a group of Jewish revolutionaries, whose name means 'assassins']… for his own ends. Trading upon the influence of his brother at court, his cruelty and rapacity became continuous, and marked a distinct stage in the outbreak of 70 AD [which eventuated in the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans] (ISBE, 1939, vol. 2, pp. 1105-6).

And then, consider his wife. Luke tells us in verse 24 that she was Jewish. Everett Harrison writes;

Drusilla was the daughter of Herod Agrippa I, mentioned in chapter 12 [of Acts], and the sister of Herod Agrippa II, about to be mentioned in chapter 25. According to Josephus [Antiquities 20.7.1-2], Drusilla was given in marriage by her brother to the king of Emesa, a small domain on the Orontes River, but was lured from her husband and persuaded to marry Felix, who was attracted by her great beauty. This alliance, made when she was still in her middle teens, was contrary to Jewish law, seeing that Felix had not agreed to become a Jew (Everett F. Harrison, Interpreting Acts, 1986, pp. 386-7).

So; Felix was a corrupt and immoral man—comparable to a gangster—who engaged in thuggery and put hit jobs on his enemies. After several marriages, he entered into an immoral marriage by lustfully taking another man’s wife away from him and causing her to violate the commandments of the God of her people. In addition—as this passage shows us—he was also a greedy man who was willing to keep someone in prison in the hopes that they might try to buy their way out.

And yet, God could have saved him … if he would have only embraced the message of the gospel that he already knew, and believed on Jesus when he had the opportunity to do so. But he kept putting the opportunity off. His example of procrastination teaches us an important spiritual lesson: Those who keep waiting for a more ‘convenient’ opportunity to turn from sin and to trust in Jesus may find that the opportunity never comes.

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The ugly story of Felix’s procrastination begins with …

1. HIS PROCRASTINATION IN FULFILLING OFFICIAL DUTIES (vv. 22-23).

After having heard Paul’s amazing defense in verses 10-21, we’re told—in verse 22;

But when Felix heard these things, having more accurate knowledge of the Way, he adjourned the proceedings and said, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will make a decision on your case’” (v. 22).

Lysias, as you may remember, was the name of the Roman commander who had sent Paul to Caesarea to Felix in the first place (Acts 23:26). Commander Lysias had requested that Felix examine Paul’s case and make a decision concerning him—which would have been Paul’s legal right as a Roman citizen.

Note that Felix would have been very qualified to have made an informed and just decision in Paul’s case. We’re told that he had “more accurate knowledge of the Way”—that is, he had a clear understanding of the Christian faith that Paul was proclaiming. Being the husband of a Jewish wife, Felix also would have been familiar with the prophetic promises in the Jewish Scriptures concerning the promised Messiah. And he would have also known what Christians believed about Jesus; and would have been very familiar with what sincere faith in Him demanded. But Felix himself had not personally embraced it.

So he commanded the centurion to keep Paul and to let him have liberty, and told him not to forbid any of his friends to provide for or visit him (v. 23).

The matter of the charges against Paul seemed to have been temporarily dropped. We have no record that Felix actually called for Lysias, or that Lysias ever came. And besides that, it wouldn’t have been necessary for Lysias to come in order for Felix to make a decision, because the reason Lysias had sent Paul to Felix in the first place was so that the Roman govern could himself make a decision. And because Felix effectively dropped Paul’s case by this neglect, the Jewish leaders who had come to make accusations against him would have had no choice but to leave and head back to Jerusalem.

Here, we see something of Felix’s character beginning to show itself. To have kept Paul in a state of liberty at Herod’s headquarters in Caesarea (see 23:35)—and to even allow him to have visits and care provided to him by his many believing friends in Caesarea (see 21:8-14)—would have been a powerful testimony that Felix didn’t believe the charges that had been made against him. He didn’t consider Paul an insurrectionist, or a leader of a false religion, or a defiler of the temple. And yet, he didn’t decide for Paul or set him free. He procrastinated in doing his duty.

When a man has this kind of character flaw in the outward performance of duty, then it isn’t a surprise that he’d also have it in his inner being toward God. And so, we also see …

2. HIS PROCRASTINATION IN MAKING A SPIRITUAL DECISION (vv. 24-26).

We’re told that a fascinating thing began to happen outside of Felix’s official duties. Verse 24 tells us;

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 (v. 25).

It would be hard to find greater personal evidence than this that Felix knew Paul was innocent of the charges against him. And what’s more, he and Drusilla also demonstrated an interest in—at least—learning more about the Christian faith. What an exciting opportunity this would have been for Paul! We can be sure that Paul spoke to this couple warmly and respectfully; but we can also be equally sure that Paul didn’t hold back anything, or try to soften the message of the gospel in order to gain favor with the governor. He would have answered their questions forthrightly and would have presented the call of the gospel clearly.

We can see something of the content of Paul’s conversation with them in verse 25; where we’re told that “he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come …” Those would have been pretty bold topics to share with a ruler who was corrupt, impulsive, and manifestly immoral—sitting there with a wife that he shouldn’t have. But they are the kinds of topics that the Lord Jesus described in John 16:8-11. He spoke of the promise of the coming of the Holy Spirit; and said;

And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged (John 16:8-11).

And it’s clear that as Paul was reasoning with Felix and Drusilla about these things, the Holy Spirit was also bringing conviction to Felix’s heart. Verse 25 says;

Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid … (v. 25a).

But then comes the spiritual procrastination;

Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you” (v. 25b).

Many people are like that. They’re willing to talk about ‘religion’ or ‘morality’ or ‘faith’—so long as it doesn’t get too convicting, or require any personal commitment or action. But as soon as the Holy Spirit begins to bring conviction to their hearts—as soon as they have to look at their own sins and realize that they have to repent of them in order to be right with God—as soon as the demand “Repent and believe the gospel” becomes clear to them—the conversation is brought to an end. When it comes to making a decision and trusting Jesus, procrastination is a horrible sin. It basically denies the reality of the claims of the gospel, and puts a love for sin over a response of faith.

Now; as we read on, we find that the conversation was picked up again—apparently several times. But Felix’s procrastination began to corrupt his heart. We’re told;

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 (v. 26).

It may have been that—along the way—Paul explained to Felix that he had originally come to Jerusalem to bring a gift to the Jewish Christians from their brothers and sisters in the Gentile world. Perhaps Felix was hoping that Paul would prove to be as corrupt as he was, and would use that relief fund to bribe his way to freedom. Or it may have been that Felix was hoping that Paul’s many believing friends—who were coming to visit him—would gather up a collection to post Paul’s bail. At any rate, Felix was reduced to having frequent consultations with this great evangelist, missionary, and theologian—a man from whom he could have learned the path to eternal life—only so that he could get some money out of him.

Temporal riches in preference for eternal salvation! What an ugly picture of procrastination!

And this leads us to one more demonstration of his character; and it’s shown in …

3. HIS PROCRASTINATION IN BRINGING ABOUT JUSTICE (v. 27).

We’re told an amazing thing in verse 27. Felix retained Paul in custody—and apparently kept up these personal meetings—and hopes for bribe money—for two whole years! (That was the same amount of time that Joseph—in the Book of Genesis—had to wait in prison before he was set free.) That’s a long time to keep putting the decision off!

And look at what his procrastination led to. Verse 27 tells us;

But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix; and Felix, wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound (v. 27).

Apparently, Felix’s corrupt and brutal behavior had become such a problem—and the condition of Judea under his rule had become so disordered—that he was removed from the governorship by Nero. Festus—who we will read about in Chapters 25-26—replaced him as governor. We hear nothing more about Felix except that—even though he knew Paul was innocent—he left him bound in custody like a criminal in order to appease those who were accusing him falsely. When Paul is finally brought before Festus, he is brought in chains (Acts 26:29).

Felix perhaps wanted to “do the Jews a favor” in order to please his wife. Or perhaps it was to make up—in some small way—for the mess he had made of things in Judea. But it would be hard to find a more vivid demonstration of this sinful procrastination than to have left the very man in bonds—an innocent man—who had been urging him to receive the gift of eternal life.

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History tells us nothing more about this man Felix the Procrastinator. But we should learn an important lesson from him. We can put off a decision for Jesus only so long—and then the opportunity is gone. And in the process, we only compound our guilt further and further—and harden our hearts more and more. We show our contempt for the gospel when we procrastinate in this way. As it says in Hebrews 10:26-31—in words that could have been written down and handed to Felix;

For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:26-31).

If we’re hearing the call of the Holy Spirit today to put our trust Jesus and follow Him, then let’s not delay! Procrastination can lead to eternal loss!

AE