Page 118 - Acts Student Textbook

manifests itself outwardly. There will be so many people who are doing good works but will not be
saved because they lacked faith in the person of Jesus, His teaching and His finished work on the
cross.

How did Felix respond to Paul’s message?

Felix postponed obedience saying he would call for Paul when he had “a convenient season” (v25).
He apparently understood what Paul said and it terrified him. But he did not obey because it was not
convenient at that time. So it is for many today. Jesus requires personal sacrifice, not personal
convenience (Romans 12:1, 2). We must be willing to inconvenience ourselves for Him [Acts 14:22;
Matthew 7:13, 14]. Many people today follow the same pattern as Felix. They hear the gospel and
recognize the consequences, but their desire to be right is not strong enough to motivate them to
exercise self-control to prepare for judgment. They are not willing to inconvenience themselves to
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fully serve Jesus, so they postpone obedience.

How was Felix attitude toward Paul? (24:26, 27)

In spite of the effect of Paul’s message, Felix continued to listen to it during the following months.
However, he had an ulterior motive. He hoped that Paul would give him a bribe so he could be
released. He should have released Paul because it was unjust to hold him in prison, but he was more
interested in money. It also shows us the character of Paul that he would not offer a bribe even if
necessary to obtain his own release from prison. Two years later Felix was replaced as governor by
another man, Porcius Festus. Felix left Paul in prison as a favor to the Jews. Note again that it was not
a matter of what was just or right but a matter of pleasing people. Josephus adds that the reason
Felix wanted to please the Jews was that he left office in disgrace and he hoped they would testify
favorably on his behalf when his case came up in Rome.

Paul gets the message out even when he has said it before (25:1-26:18)

Chapter 25

Paul’s Defense before Festus (25:1-12)

How do we know that the Jews continued to Plan to kill Paul? (25:1-5)

When Festus visited Jerusalem, he met the Jewish leaders who asked him to bring Paul to Jerusalem
for trial. This was possibly a continuation of their plans to ambush Paul on his way to Jerusalem
which they failed earlier (23:14). They apparently thought they might accomplish it with a new and
uninformed ruler. Surely it is clear now that these Jewish leaders were willing, not just to cooperate
with murder, but even to help plot and arrange it (see on 23:14ff). But Festus did not agree to bring
Paul to Jerusalem. He instead wanted the Jews to go to Caesarea, reasons best known to himself. So
the Jews again fail in their plots.

How was Paul’s trial before Festus? (25:6-8)

Upon his return to Caesarea, Festus promptly fulfilled his promise to the Jews for a hearing regarding
Paul. The very next day Paul was commanded to be brought, and the Jews came to make accusations
against him. The scene was repeated much as it had occurred before Felix (see chap. 24). The Jews
made all kinds of accusations against Paul, but they had no proof. Paul simply denied the claims and
pointed out the lack of evidence. Paul asserts that he was innocent of all charges against, the Law of

65 Ibid, (p. 363).
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