Paul’s Trial before Felix: Acts 25

In our previous reading in Acts we learn of a plot to kill Paul by staging what amounts to a false trial before Felix, the Governor. After a few days Ananias the high priest came down with the elders and a certain orator named Tertullus, a skilled lawyer to present their case before Felix. Tertullus began by flattering Felix saying,

“Seeing that through you we enjoy great peace, and prosperity is being brought to this nation by your foresight, we accept it always and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. Nevertheless, not to be tedious to you any further, I beg you to hear, by your courtesy, a few words from us.”

Oddly, the picture drawn by the Roman historian Tacitus of Felix’s public and private life is not a pretty one.  Trading on the influences of his infamous brother, Pallas, a favorite of the emperor Claudius, he indulged in every license and excess, thinking ‘that he could do any evil act with impunity’.

Felix began life as a slave.  His brother Pallas was a friend of the emperor Claudius; through such influence, he rose in status as a free man became the first slave in history to become a governor of a Roman province.  But his slave mentality stayed with him; Tacitus, the Roman historian, describes Felix as “a master of cruelty and lust who exercised the powers of a king with the spirit of a slave”

In reality he - Felix - had put down several insurrections with such barbarous brutality that he earned for himself the horror, not the thanks, of the Jewish population.

How aware are we of the danger of flattery? Poking around a bit I found these references:

i. Romans 16:18 speaks to us of who do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.  Jude 1:16 speaks of those who mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage.
 
ii. Four different times, the book of Proverbs connects flattery with the sin of sexual immorality.  How many people have been seduced into immorality through simple flattery?
 
iii. Proverbs 20:19 says, He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; there for do not associate with one who flatters with his lips.  We aren’t to make flatterers our close friends!
 
iv. Psalm 78:36 says we can even flatter God: Nevertheless they flattered Him with their mouth, and they lied to Him with their tongue.  When you give God insincere praise, it is flattery, and God doesn’t want it.

The charges against Paul were essentially that he was a politically dangerous ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes and that he had profaned the temple. Paul decides to answer for himself. He makes it clear that he has not abandoned the God of my fathers or the Law and the Prophets; instead he is acting in fulfillment of them both. The basis of Paul’s belief is founded on something accepted by a large segment of devout Jews: The resurrection of the dead (specifically, the resurrection of Jesus). Also, Paul reminds Felix that there is no eyewitness testimony to prove the charges of Paul’s accusers.

The result was that Felix postponed his decision, remanding Paul to custody, but with limited priviledges. 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.”

We can surmise that Paul spoke to Felix and Drusilla about the righteousness that is our in Jesus Christ; about the need for Christian ethics (self-control) and about our eternal accountability before God (the judgment to come). Hearing the gospel made Felix afraid; knowing his life, at least we can say that he probably understood it! The gospel should make those who are intent on rejecting Jesus afraid. In the end, the evil motive of Felix’s heart is revealed: greed. He wanted a ransom for Paul's freedom and it was not forthcoming. As a result, under Roman law, the type of custody Paul was in was could only last two years. Felix showed a blatant disregard for this by keeping Paul for an extended period. Felix refused to release Paul, knowing his innocence, for the same reason Pilate condemned Jesus while knowing His innocence. They both acted out of pure political expediency to placate the Jews.

People like Felix and Pilate are the most guilty of those who reject Jesus Christ. They know what is right but refuse to do right purely out of the fear of man. They have an eternally fatal lack of courage.

Are we flattering God with sometimes our insincere praise? Are we sometimes trying to "get in good with God" for the same personal gain Felix pursued? Food for thought.