A Frightening Conversation (Part 2)
by Micky Galloway
Acts 24:24-25, “But after certain days, Felix came with Drusilla, his wife, who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ Jesus. And as he reasoned of righteousness, and self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was terrified, and answered, Go thy way for this time; and when I have a convenient season, I will call thee unto me.”
As Paul made his defense before Felix and Drusilla in Acts 24, they obviously did not hear what they wanted to hear. Thayer tells us they were “thrown into fear, terrified or affrighted.” Chris observed last week that Paul “reasoned” with them. “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).” He challenged them with evidence, “to think different things with oneself, mingle thought with thought, to ponder, resolve in mind” (Thayer).
Felix had originally been a slave who had been freed by Claudius Caesar. He was the husband of three queens or “royal ladies.” Tacitus declares that during his governorship in Judea he indulged in all kinds of cruelty and lusts, exercising regal power with the disposition of a slave; and in his Annals (11:54), he represents Felix as considering himself licensed to commit any crime, relying on the influence that he possessed at court. Drusilla was no better. She was Herod Agrippa the First’s youngest daughter and Agrippa the Second’s sister. She married the king of a small region in Syria, but at the age of sixteen divorced him at Felix’s instigation to marry him instead. Drusilla was, therefore, living in adultery with him. Both Felix and Drusilla were grossly immoral and this was probably the reason why Paul emphasized in his discourse before Felix “self-control,” or chastity.
In this second part of the study, let us discuss “self-control.” The world in which we live is not so unlike the world of Felix and Drusilla where marriage and divorce for any reason is tolerated and, perhaps, the practice of living together to gratify the lusts of the flesh is the norm. Thayer defines “self-control” as “(the virtue of one who masters his desires and passions, especially his sensual appetites): Acts 24:25; Gal 5:23 (22); 2 Peter 1:6.” Merriam-Webster defines self-control as a key element of character; the “restraint exercised over one’s own impulses, emotions, or desires.” The importance of this quality is seen in many areas of life.
Self-control over anger. “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: neither give place to the devil” (Ephesians 4:26-27). A person who is slow to anger is wise, but the impulsive person shows himself to be a fool. Proverbs 14:29, “He that is slow to anger is of great understanding; But he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.” Proverbs 29:11, “A fool uttereth all his anger; But a wise man keepeth it back and stilleth it.”
Self-control over your tongue. James 1:19-20, “Ye know (this), my beloved brethren. But let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” Proverbs 17:27-28, “He that spareth his words hath knowledge; And he that is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; When he shutteth his lips, he is (esteemed as) prudent.” Proverbs 29:20, “Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? There is more hope of a fool than of him.” Whether it is crude jokes, profanity, or gossip (tale-bearing), self-control will guard your tongue from sin (Ephesians 4:29; 5:4).
Self-control is necessary for moral purity. Paul said, “Flee fornication” (I Corinthians 6:18); “But flee youthful lusts, and follow after righteousness, faith, love, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (II Timothy 2:22); “For this is the will of God, (even) your sanctification, that ye abstain from fornication; that each one of you know how to possess himself of his own vessel in sanctification and honor” (I Thessalonians 4:3-4). There are so many areas to which this extends: modest clothing (I Timothy 2:9-10), modern dance (I Peter 4:3), etc. The New International Version states it plainly, “I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God” (I Timothy 2:9-10).
Yes, we need to be “terrified” when sin is identified in our lives. How many of us, though disturbed for a while, will answer like Felix, “Go thy way for this time; and when I have a convenient season, I will call thee unto me” (Acts 24:25).