The governor of the region was named Felix. Though a Roman, he had married a Jewish woman named Drusilla. Felix was not a believer in the true God, though he must have known about Jehovah, the God of Israel, because we are told that he had “perfect knowledge of that way.”
The Jewish leaders had hired an orator who condemned Paul before Felix. Paul’s answer was such that Felix realized that Paul was innocent. However, because he was hoping that someone would offer him a bribe to release Paul, he kept him in prison.
Later Felix and his wife heard Paul reason out of the Scriptures about righteousness, temperance and coming judgment. Though these things caused Felix to tremble, he sent Paul away until he had a more “convenient” time to hear him. We have no Scriptural account to tell us that Felix ever believed Paul’s message in his heart.
1. Felix knew about the righteousness of God and he evidently realized that he was not walking righteously before God. Even though he trembled at Paul’s message, he did nothing about it. What are the three characteristics of the “kingdom of God”? Romans 14:___
2. Tertullus the orator, hired to condemn Paul, spoke with smooth words and in an eloquent fashion. However, all that he said was a lie. What kind of words did Paul use in preaching the message of truth that God had given to him?
1 Corinthians 2:___
3. Paul reasoned with Felix and his wife concerning faith in Christ. How does the world view the “preaching of the cross”? 1 Corinthians 1:___
4. The desire for money led Felix to keep Paul in prison unrighteously for over two years. What does God tell us about the love of money? 1 Timothy 6:___
5. Felix often listened to Paul while he was a prisoner. But his motive was not because of an honest desire to hear the Word of God. The message of salvation sadly appears to have been hid to Felix’s eyes because of his greed and covetousness. Who is it that blinds the eyes of men so they cannot receive the light of the gospel message? 2 Corinthians 4:___