A More Convenient Season
Acts 24:25 “And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgement to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.”
Felix was the Roman governor of Israel. He lived in Caesarea, near the sea.
Paul had caused a riot in Jerusalem, when he preached that the gospel of Christ was given to the Gentiles also. (Acts 22:21-22). He had then been taken by Roman soldiers, and though there was no charge, he was kept in the jail house; because they did not know what to do with him. They were afraid to let him go, to cause another riot.
Normally they would never send a prisoner to the governor, except under extreme conditions: but this seemed to be one.
Paul’s nephew had come and told the Roman chief captain, of a plot to kill Paul, even under Roman guard. (Acts 23:16-22). This would have caused the captain a lot of trouble, maybe even death, so he sent Paul to Felix the governor, for review.
Felix had heard both sides of the accusation by the chief priests against Paul.
He understood that it was about this new way of religion; about Jesus Christ.
Realizing that there was really nothing to judge, Felix held off judgement.
He knew that Paul had done no harm, that it was really a matter of who believed what.
But he also wanted to pacify the chief priests; so he kept Paul in prison, but let him have visitors. (Acts 24:22-23)
On one occasion, he called for Paul to come and talk to him and his wife concerning the faith in Christ.
Acts 24:24-25 “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.
And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgement to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.”
But when is a “convenient season” to be born again? When could be a better time, than now?
Was Felix afraid of believing in Christ because his wife was there? Or in front of his soldiers?
Or was it because he was “someone” of importance, and was afraid to submit to God?
Though Felix often heard Paul, the more convenient season never came.
Acts 24:26-27 “He (Felix) 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.
But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix’ room: and Felix, willing to show the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.”
How many times we have heard the gospel message: Christ Jesus came to earth to save sinners.
Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Born of a virgin, born under the law to redeem us; that we might receive the adoption of sons. (Galatians 4:4-5)
We are to believe and receive Him into our hearts and lives.
John 1:12 “But as many as receive Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:”
We have heard, let us also confess Jesus as Lord and Savior.
Romans 10:8-9,13 “For what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
For Felix, the convenient season never came. He left: afraid to confess Christ, afraid to let Paul go, afraid to anger the chief priests.
Have we received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior? Have we come to that convenient season to believe?
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 