23. “And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto him.”
Protection, liberty, care and fellowship all were given Paul, though he was kept as a prisoner of the Romans. How lovingly, graciously and perfectly our Father controls every circumstance of His children’s lives.
24. “And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.”
A religious outcast and prisoner one who had seen a glorified Christ stands before the heathen Gentile ruler and his Jewish wife. What a solemn occasion in their fleeting moment of time! Enjoying the best a political, social, religious present world offered, they were to hear of something infinitely better—what faith in a rejected Christ offered.
25. “And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.”
Paul spoke three truths to these two who indulged themselves in the world to the “lust of the flesh” he presented righteousness, to the “lust of the eyes,” temperance, and to the “pride of life,” judgment to come. Paul’s words of truth brought fear to Felix, but the “pleasures of sin for a season” caused him to reject them.
26. “He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him.”
Even though Felix trembled when he heard the truth of God, it did “not profit... not being mixed with faith.” How often Felix must have heard the truth in those times he spoke with Paul. Yet the covetousness of his heart blinded his eyes and, as far as we know, that “convenient season” when the “light of the glorious gospel of Christ” might have shone into his dark heart never happened. The Lord Jesus said, “If thine eye be evil... how great is that darkness!”
27. “But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix’ room: and Felix, willing to show the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.”
How true the words of the Lord Jesus: “By their fruits ye shall know them”! Though Felix was so deeply affected by the truth that he trembled, his dark heart craved the fleeting wealth and favor of this life more, and he knowingly left an innocent man prisoner. Truly, “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” (Jer. 17:99The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9)). Blessed is the one to whom God has given “a new heart... and a new spirit” (Ezek. 36:2626A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. (Ezekiel 36:26)) through faith in the Lord Jesus.
Chapter 25
1-3. “Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Cæsarea to Jerusalem. Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him, and desired favor against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.”
What a favor these hardened Jewish leaders desired their Roman master to give them the death of an innocent man who loved their nation and told them the truth! Religion, which makes something of man and of his efforts to gain favor with God, is an implacable foe of the grace of God which offers the very best to those who repent, owning that they deserve judgment. May we more enjoy and embrace God’s wonderful free grace shown to lost, sinful man!
4-5. “But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Cæsarea, and that he himself would depart shortly thither. Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, go down with me, and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him.”
Though it seems Festus displayed some conscience in not giving in to the Jews’ wicked desire, it was God who moved all He had ordained concerning Paul’s going to Rome. The Jews well knew that they could prove no wickedness against Paul; thus they desired to kill him rather than accuse him. Yet all of man’s efforts can never thwart God’s purposes. May that give us rest and peace in our pathway.
6-7. “And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto Cæsarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought. And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove.”
Time was given the Jews (more than ten days), by the ordering of God, for them to sense their awful guilt and solemn responsibility in seeking to stamp out the blessed name of Jesus and the gospel His servant Paul preached. But it seemed of no avail. Their accusations were born of hatred of, rather than love for, the truth. Religion is ever at enmity with the grace of God. Let us always speak (hold) “the truth in love [that we] may grow up to Him in all things.”
8. “While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Cæsar, have I offended anything at all.”
There is a most solemn character to Paul’s simple answer. (The truth needs no embellishment.) He does not say the law of Moses, for it had become a series of meaningless traditions to the Jews. He does not say the house of God, for it had been left desolate to the unbelieving Jews, nor does he say against God, for the disobedient nation was under Gentile domination. He takes them up according to their sad condition, proving himself innocent of their false charges.
9. “But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?”
We need not expect justice from a world which crucified its Creator. Festus was no more upright than Felix. He did the “politically correct thing” to gain favor with the Jews, but he lost for eternity! It is no different today: “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you” (John 15:1818If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. (John 15:18)).
10. “Then said Paul, I stand at Cæsar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest.”
Paul defends himself against the injustice rendered, but how unlike the Lord Jesus, who did not defend Himself before Pilate. May we know more of that lovely, divine spirit of meekness and submission.
11. “For if I be an offender, or have committed anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Cæsar. ”
Those who have free access to the throne of grace need not appeal to the world for justice.
Ed.