“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.” — Acts 24:25 (KJV)
The Proconsul of Judea
Antonius Felix was the Roman procurator of Judea (reigned c. AD 52–60). According to the Roman historian Tacitus, Felix was a man who “exercised the power of a king with the mind of a slave.” He was originally a freedman (a former slave) who rose to high political office through the influence of his brother Pallas, a favorite of the Emperor Claudius.
His tenure was marked by cruelty, greed, and a recurring struggle to suppress the rising tide of Jewish nationalism and the Sicarii (assassins). He was married to Drusilla, the daughter of Herod Agrippa I, whom he had enticed to leave her previous husband—a detail that adds weight to the Apostle Paul’s choice of “temperance” (self-control) as a sermon topic.
The Trial of Paul
Felix is most prominent in the New Testament for presiding over the trial of the Apostle Paul at Caesarea. After Paul was rescued from a riot in Jerusalem, he was sent to Felix under heavy guard.
The trial featured the orator Tertullus, who used flattery to gain Felix’s favor, accusing Paul of being a “pestilent fellow.” However, Felix, having a “more perfect knowledge of that way” (the Christian movement), deferred the judgment. He held Paul in a state of “loose” confinement for two years, partly because he hoped Paul’s friends would offer a bribe for his release (Acts 24:26).
The Man Who Trembled
The defining spiritual moment of Felix’s life occurred during a private hearing with Paul and Drusilla. As Paul spoke of the coming judgment, the powerful Roman governor trembled.
However, instead of repenting, Felix dismissed the conviction, seeking a “convenient season” that history suggests never arrived. He eventually fell out of favor with the Jews and was recalled to Rome by Emperor Nero, leaving Paul in prison as a political favor to the Jewish leadership.
The Theological Significance
Felix serves as the ultimate biblical example of Procrastination and the Hardening of the Heart:
- The Conviction of the Spirit: Felix proves that even a corrupt, power-hungry official can be reached by the “trembling” power of the Holy Spirit.
- The Danger of Delay: His response, “Go thy way for this time,” is the classic cry of the person who intends to deal with God “later,” only to find that their heart grows harder with every delay.
- The Contrast of Freedom: Felix was a free man who was a slave to his lusts and greed, while Paul was a prisoner who was truly free in Christ.
Summary
Felix was a ruler who had the Truth standing directly in front of him but chose the fleeting comforts of his office over the eternal “judgment to come.” He is a sobering reminder that a “convenient season” for salvation is never promised; the only season God guarantees is “Now.”