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A Frightening Conversation (Part 1)

by Chris Simmons

As Paul had the opportunity to defend himself before Felix and Drusilla in Acts Chapter 24, he used that time to discuss some spiritual topics that left Felix “frightened” (verse 25) and unwilling to continue to listen to Paul’s inspired discourse any further. The word for “frightened” in the Greek simply means to be “alarmed” (Strong) or “terrified” (Thayer). The man who reigned with a cruelty and severity designed to instill fear in others, now found himself feeling as so many did under his heavy hand. It’s interesting to note the manner in which Paul brought about this terrified response, in that he didn’t yell, scream, or threaten but instead simply “reasoned” (ASV; ESV) with him regarding some very important topics. The word for “reasoned” really has to do with simply challenging the thinking of others as Thayer says of the word, “to think different things with oneself, mingle thought with thought to ponder, revolve in mind.” This was Paul’s practice to reason, persuade, and give evidence for those things he proclaimed and taught (Acts 17:2-3; 18:4, 13, 19; 19:8-9, 26) and yet it’s impressive to note that such an approach could elicit the frightening response we see in Felix. What was it that Paul reasoned with Felix that provoked this response? There were three things as recorded by Luke in Acts 24:25: “righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come” that Paul discussed that we need to meditate on. The first to discuss in this article today is: “righteousness.”

W. E. Vine simply defines righteousness as “the character or quality of being right or just.” Strong adds an important aspect to understanding righteousness when he says “in the broad sense, the state of him who is such as he ought to be.” That’s important because no doubt Paul made it clear to Felix that he was not as he ought to be. In fact, Felix was a very wicked man as Nelson’s Bible Dictionary says of him, “Felix was an unscrupulous ruler. In addition to having three wives, he considered himself capable of committing any crime and avoiding punishment because of his influence with the courts.” Fausset’s Bible Dictionary notes, “Tacitus writes of Felix, ‘he exercised the authority of a king with the disposition of a slave in all cruelty and lust.’ He and Cumanus were tried before Quadratus for winking at robbery and violence and enriching themselves with bribes (note Acts 24:26, CS), according to Tacitus, and Felix was acquitted and reinstated. Having the powerful support of his brother Pallas, Claudius’ freedman and favorite, he thought he could do what he liked with impunity.” As Paul reasoned with him about righteousness, he would have to deal with these very public sins of Felix and point out to him that he is not living as he ought to be. How appropriate for Paul to address this topic with Felix as it was part of his job to determine justice between men and he and his administration were not known for that virtue while habitually circumventing the righteous path. Felix was not as he ought to be and Paul owed it to him to point that out, as he did wherever he preached the gospel such as in the city of Corinth in I Corinthians 6:9-10.

What about us? Are we as we ought to be in the sight of God? Is righteousness THE most important thing in our lives? It ought to be! We need to commit to memory Matthew 6:33 where Jesus taught, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Jesus requires that His righteousness” be THE priority which leads to our citizenship in His kingdom. Not our own righteousness but “His righteousness” as Paul said in Philippians 3:9, “not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith.” We also read in I Corinthians 1:30 that “by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption.” Are we willing to be relentlessly diligent (I Timothy 3:16) in seeking the righteousness that comes by faith in the word of God? In Romans 1:16-17, Paul declared that the “power of God for salvation” is found in the gospel in which the “righteousness of God is revealed.” Many, including Felix, find a divinely established standard of righteousness and holiness, as revealed in the scriptures, to be frightening when compared to how we truly are.

To realize our sinful condition, as compared to the righteousness and holiness of God, should frighten every one of us! Isaiah, upon seeing the glory and righteousness of God upon His throne in Isaiah chapter 6, and being overwhelmed with his “ruined” (or “undone”; ASV) spiritual condition, declared “Woe is me!” which Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew lexicon describes as a “passionate cry of grief or despair.” Peter upon recognizing the divinity of Jesus because of the miracle performed and his own sinful condition said in Luke 5:8, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”

The obedience of many to the gospel of Jesus Christ has been prompted when they reflect on their sinful condition and the righteousness of God (realizing they are not as they ought to be) and are frightened or terrified of dying in a lost condition. There are many however who, like Felix, also become frightened by the same things and simply go away and do nothing about it. Which will define our lives?

May we all diligently and honestly seek the righteousness of God through Jesus Christ and allow our fear of being eternally lost to exhort us unto faithful and loving obedience all the days of our lives in the service of Him who died that we might be made right with God.

(Lord willing, in subsequent articles, we will address the other two topics of Paul’s conversation with Felix regarding self-control and the judgement to come.)

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