The Trial at Caesarea

We should never pass up opportunities to forsake our sin and turn to Christ.

In this chapter, we find out that after leaving Jerusalem, Paul was brought to Caesarea, and some days after his arrival there he was brought before the Roman governor Felix. Paul's accuser, Tertullus, not surprisingly stated that Paul was guilty of bogus charges, and after he had said his piece, Felix asked Paul to respond.

. . . Paul's plain statement of the facts in the case enabled Felix to understand still more clearly the motives by which the Jews were governed in attempting to convict the apostle of sedition and treasonable conduct. The governor would not gratify them by unjustly condemning a Roman citizen, neither would he give him up to them to be put to death without a fair trial. Yet Felix knew no higher motive than self-interest, and he was controlled by love of praise and a desire for promotion. Fear of offending the Jews held him back from doing full justice to a man whom he knew to be innocent. He therefore decided to suspend the trial until Lysias should be present, saying, "When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter." pg. 422

Not long after this Paul was summoned to a private interview with Felix and his wife Drusilla.

Paul regarded this as a God-given opportunity, and faithfully he improved it. He knew that he stood in the presence of one who had power to put him to death or to set him free; yet he did not address Felix and Drusilla with praise or flattery. He knew that his words would be to them a savor of life or of death, and, forgetting all selfish considerations, he sought to arouse them to a sense of their peril. pgs. 423, 424

 Felix and Drusilla were convicted of their wrongdoing, and although they had slightly different responses (Drusilla let her hatred of Jesus get in the way, while Felix listened more earnestly), the end result was still the same.

But instead of permitting his convictions to lead him to repentance, he sought to dismiss these unwelcome reflections. The interview with Paul was cut short. "Go thy way for this time," he said; "when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee." pg. 426

After that, nothing consequential happened for two years. Paul remained under house arrest (he was given some freedom, but not too much). Felix unsuccessfully tried to secure a bribe from Paul to be released, but he didn't have the money and wouldn't have paid it if he did.

Felix was finally summoned to Rome because of gross wrongs committed against the Jews. Before leaving Caesarea in answer to this summons, he thought to "show the Jews a pleasure" by allowing Paul to remain in prison. But Felix was not successful in his attempt to regain the confidence of the Jews. He was removed from office in disgrace, and Porcius Festus was appointed to succeed him, with headquarters at Caesarea. pg. 427

Like the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem, E.G. White had a sobering epitaph for Felix as well.

A ray of light from heaven had been permitted to shine upon Felix, when Paul reasoned with him concerning righteousness, temperance, and a judgment to come. That was his heaven-sent opportunity to see and to forsake his sins. But he said to the messenger of God, "Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee." He had slighted his last offer of mercy. Never was he to receive another call from God. Ibid

 May something like this be never written about us. Let us take hold of every opportunity to turn away from our sins and turn to Christ.