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Acts 24:25
Verse
Context
The Verdict Postponed
24After several days, Felix returned with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.25As Paul expounded on righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, “You may go for now. When I find the time, I will call for you.”26At the same time, he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe. So he sent for Paul frequently and talked with him.
Sermons






Summary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
As he reasoned of righteousness - Δικαιοσυνης; The principles and requisitions of justice and right, between God and man; and between man and his fellows, in all relations and connections of life. Temperance - Εγκρατειας, Chastity; self-government or moderation with regard to a man's appetites, passions, and propensities of all kinds. And judgment to come - Κριματος του μελλοντος; The day of retribution, in which the unjust, intemperate, and incontinent, must give account of all the deeds done in the body. This discourse of St. Paul was most solemnly and pointedly adapted to the state of the person to whom it was addressed. Felix was tyrannous and oppressive in his government; lived under the power of avarice and unbridled appetites; and his incontinence, intemperance, and injustice, appear fully in depriving the king of Emesa of his wife, and in his conduct towards St. Paul, and the motives by which that conduct was regulated. And as to Drusilla, who had forsaken the husband of her youth, and forgotten the covenant of her God, and become the willing companion of this bad man, she was worthy of the strongest reprehension; and Paul's reasoning on righteousness, temperance, and judgment, was not less applicable to her than to her unprincipled paramour. Felix trembled - "The reason of Felix's fear," says Bp. Pearce, "seems to have been, lest Drusilla, who was a Jewess, and knew that what she had done was against the law of Moses, might be influenced by Paul's discourse, and Felix's happiness with her disturbed. What is said of Felix, Act 24:26, seems to show that he had no remorse of conscience for what he had done." On the head of Drusilla's scruples, he had little to fear; the king of Emesa, her husband, had been dead about three years before this; and as to Jewish scruples, she could be little affected by them: she had already acted in opposition to the Jewish law, and she is said to have turned heathen for the sake of Felix. We may therefore hope that Felix felt regret for the iniquities of his life; and that his conscience was neither so seared nor so hardened, as not to receive and retain some gracious impressions from such a discourse, delivered by the authority, and accompanied with the influence, of the Spirit of God. His frequently sending for the apostle, to speak with him in private, is a proof that he wished to receive farther instructions in a matter in which he was so deeply interested; though he certainly was not without motives of a baser kind; for he hoped to get money for the liberation of the apostle. Go thy way for this time - His conscience had received as much terror and alarm as it was capable of bearing; and probably he wished to hide, by privacy, the confusion and dismay which, by this time, were fully evident in his countenance.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
And as he reasoned of righteousness--with reference to the public character of Felix. temperance--with reference to his immoral life. and judgment to come--when he would be called to an awful account for both. Felix trembled--and no wonder. For, on the testimony of TACITUS, the Roman Annalist [Annals, 9; 12.54], he ruled with a mixture of cruelty, lust, and servility, and relying on the influence of his brother Pallas at court, he thought himself at liberty to commit every sort of crime with impunity. How noble the fidelity and courage which dared to treat of such topics in such a presence, and what withering power must have been in those appeals which made even a Felix to tremble! Go thy way for this time; and when I have a convenient season I will call for thee--Alas for Felix! This was his golden opportunity, but--like multitudes still--he missed it. Convenient seasons in abundance he found to call for Paul, but never again to "hear him concerning the faith in Christ," and writhe under the terrors of the wrath to come. Even in those moments of terror he had no thought of submission to the Cross or a change of life. The Word discerned the thoughts and intents of his heart, but that heart even then clung to its idols; even as Herod, who "did many things and heard John gladly," but in his best moments was enslaved to his lusts. How many Felixes have appeared from age to age!
John Gill Bible Commentary
He hoped also that money would have been given him of Paul,.... For he observed from his own defence, that he came up to Jerusalem to bring alms and offerings; and he perceived by Tertullus's indictment, that he was at the head of a large body of men; that he was some considerable person, at least who was in great esteem among some sort of people, and whose life and liberty were valuable: and he might hope if Paul had not money of his own, yet his friends would supply him with a sufficiency to obtain his freedom; and it may be that it was with this view that he ordered that they should have free access to him and minister to him, that so he might have to give to him: that he might loose him; from all confinement, and set him at entire liberty: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him; but not about religious matters, but about his civil affairs; suggesting he would release him for a sum of money, which the apostle did not listen to, being unwilling to encourage such evil practices, or to make use of unlawful means to free himself.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
24:25 Paul’s words about righteousness, self-control, and coming divine judgment frightened Felix, who was notably corrupt (24:26-27; see study notes on 23:24; 24:24).
Acts 24:25
The Verdict Postponed
24After several days, Felix returned with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.25As Paul expounded on righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, “You may go for now. When I find the time, I will call for you.”26At the same time, he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe. So he sent for Paul frequently and talked with him.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
Revival (Joseph)
By Leonard Ravenhill5.9K1:20:50RevivalGEN 6:9GEN 37:28PSA 33:2ISA 66:2JHN 10:10ACT 24:25JUD 1:14In this sermon, the preacher talks about the harsh treatment of slaves in the past, where they were chained and made to work as human horses. He emphasizes the importance of bringing life and not just truth in preaching the word of God. The preacher highlights the seriousness of living in the present world and the need to have a personality, brain, heart, emotions, and life. He emphasizes that our purpose is not to amuse ourselves but to spread life and joy through praising God.
Broken or Brokenness
By Leonard Ravenhill4.4K57:02BrokennessJER 8:22ZEC 1:4MAT 6:33JHN 12:41ACT 24:25In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of prayer and intercession. He mentions how young people are leaving their careers to go to the mission field because of the power of prayer. The preacher also highlights the corruption in the nation and the holiness of God, referencing the book of Isaiah. He encourages the audience to have a deep understanding of God and His sovereignty. The preacher also criticizes the lack of prayer and devotion among Christians, comparing it to the time spent on entertainment and worldly pursuits. He concludes by expressing concern about the future and the need for the church to be informed and instructed in order to navigate the challenges ahead.
Evils of Postponed Living
By A.W. Tozer3.3K49:54EvilPSA 119:11MAT 6:33LUK 11:28ACT 24:252CO 6:22TI 2:15JAS 1:22In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of having a heart that is willing to give and be generous. He shares a story of a man who withheld his money from a missionary offering out of fear of not having enough for himself, but later had his money stolen. The preacher uses this story to illustrate the principle that if we don't give to God, the devil will take it. He then urges the listeners to not procrastinate in their spiritual growth and to take time out to prioritize their relationship with God. The sermon concludes with a warning about the consequences of losing one's soul and the importance of not delaying in accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior.
(Demonology) How to Overcome - Part 2
By Willie Mullan1.8K1:11:07DemonologyMAT 19:21MRK 10:17MRK 10:21JHN 3:1ACT 24:25In this sermon, the preacher shares a personal story about a man who was paralyzed and could only move his throat slightly. Despite his physical limitations, the man praised the Lord and inspired others. The preacher then reflects on the parallels between this man's situation and the challenges faced by believers in the spiritual realm. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the tactics of the kingdom of darkness and the need for the light of the gospel to shine in people's lives. The sermon concludes with a call to sing a hymn that celebrates God's triumph over evil.
The Present Effects of Trembling at the Wrath of God
By John Piper1.1K41:30MAT 28:19JHN 3:16ACT 24:25ROM 3:23ROM 12:17EPH 2:8REV 19:15In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of sharing the gospel with others. He highlights that no one can be saved without the gospel, which includes the concepts of God's holiness, our sinfulness, the cross of Jesus, and the need for faith. The speaker encourages believers to share the gospel in various ways, whether it be through a short conversation, a written message, or a longer sermon. He also references the apostle Paul's example of reasoning about righteousness, the cross, self-control, and coming judgment when sharing the gospel. The sermon concludes by emphasizing the preciousness of Jesus and his sacrifice for our sins.
Itching Ears
By Michael L. Brown98445:24PSA 119:105PRO 3:18ISA 30:8ISA 30:11JER 23:29ACT 24:25In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of love and warning others. He quotes Robert Lernick Shane, who suggests that if we truly loved others, we would warn them about the dangers they face. The preacher also highlights the need for sound doctrine and warns against the temptation to follow teachings that cater to our own desires. He mentions the concept of holding revivals, particularly in the American context, and suggests that there may be more to the gospel message that people need to hear. The sermon concludes by discussing the importance of the gospel message to both lost sinners and the church, emphasizing the need for individuals to recognize their own lostness and turn to faith in Christ Jesus.
(Acts) Righteous, Self Control, and Judgement
By Brian Brodersen61959:43MRK 4:14ACT 23:11ACT 24:14ACT 24:16ACT 24:18ACT 24:25ACT 26:16In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of scattering the seed of the word of God and trusting God to bring about the results. He shares a testimony of a group of people who shared the gospel at their workplace, and as a result, some employees got saved and attended church. The speaker also shares another testimony of a young man who overhears a plot against the apostle Paul and saves his life by informing him and the commander. The main point is that God often works supernaturally through natural means, and we should not always expect dramatic supernatural manifestations.
Trembling at God's Righteousness
By Joshua Daniel61950:49DEU 2:25PSA 99:1PRO 8:13ACT 24:252CO 6:2REV 22:20This sermon focuses on the importance of not deferring obedience to God, using the example of Felix delaying his decision to follow Christ. It emphasizes the need for humility, righteousness, and temperance in our lives, urging listeners to prioritize their relationship with Jesus above all else and to be prepared for His return. The message highlights the significance of immediate obedience and the dangers of procrastination when it comes to responding to God's call.
The Crown of Righteousness
By E.L. Bevir0ACT 19:10ACT 20:24ACT 20:29ACT 20:32ACT 24:25ACT 28:16ACT 28:302TI 4:8E.L. Bevir preaches about the apostle Paul's unjust imprisonment and impending death, highlighting the lack of justice he faced from both the Roman Empire and fellow Christians. Despite being deserted and neglected by many, Paul remained devoted to the Lord, exemplifying the heavenly virtues he preached. The sermon emphasizes the importance of staying true to the Christian path, even in the face of unjust treatment, as the ultimate reward and crown of righteousness come from the righteous Judge, Jesus Christ.
A Silly Gospel
By David Servant0MAT 5:45JHN 8:44JHN 16:8ACT 24:25ROM 2:4ROM 11:22EPH 2:1HEB 12:29JAS 2:132PE 3:91JN 3:10David Servant addresses the misconception that God's father-heart extends to all, emphasizing that God is only the Father of those who have repented and believed in Jesus, while others remain spiritually children of Satan. He highlights the danger of idolizing the 'father-heart of God' and neglecting other aspects of God's character, such as His holiness and wrath. Servant challenges the trend of focusing solely on God's love for sinners, stressing the importance of preaching about holiness, judgment, and repentance, even if it is unpopular. He warns against accommodating sinners with a watered-down gospel, advocating for a message that convicts of sin, righteousness, and judgment, as exemplified by Jesus, John the Baptist, and the apostles.
Redeem the Time
By Peter Hammond0PSA 90:12PRO 9:10ECC 12:1MAT 13:30MRK 1:15LUK 1:20ACT 24:252CO 6:2GAL 6:9EPH 5:15HEB 9:27Peter Hammond preaches on the importance of valuing time as a precious commodity, emphasizing that time is life itself and more valuable than money. He delves into the Biblical view of time using the Greek words Chronos, Kairos, and Eschatos, highlighting the significance of seizing decisive opportunities and understanding the times we live in. The sermon stresses the urgency of recognizing moments for repentance, not missing opportunities, and investing in eternity, urging believers to live in the light of eternity and prioritize their tasks wisely.
The Wise and Foolish Virgins. (Matt. 25:13)
By George Whitefield0MAT 7:21MAT 22:11MAT 24:42MAT 24:44MAT 25:6MAT 25:10MAT 25:12ACT 24:25HEB 9:27George Whitefield preaches a powerful sermon on the importance of being prepared for the return of Jesus Christ, emphasizing the uncertainty of the day and hour of His coming. He warns against self-righteousness and mere outward morality, urging listeners to have a living faith in Jesus Christ and to be born again by the Holy Spirit. Whitefield calls for vigilance, prayer, and a constant readiness to meet the bridegroom, Jesus Christ, with a wedding garment of true faith and righteousness.
Sinners Delay Concerns the Soul
By Jonathan Edwards0JOB 20:12PRO 27:1ISA 55:6MAT 6:33ACT 24:25Jonathan Edwards preaches on sinners delaying concerns of the soul, focusing on how individuals often postpone addressing their spiritual needs for what they perceive as a more convenient time, exploring the reasons behind this delay and the detrimental effects it has on their lives. He highlights the wickedness and foolishness of such procrastination, emphasizing the risks and dangers involved in continuously putting off seeking God and salvation, urging listeners to heed the warning and not fall into the trap of delaying their spiritual well-being.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
As he reasoned of righteousness - Δικαιοσυνης; The principles and requisitions of justice and right, between God and man; and between man and his fellows, in all relations and connections of life. Temperance - Εγκρατειας, Chastity; self-government or moderation with regard to a man's appetites, passions, and propensities of all kinds. And judgment to come - Κριματος του μελλοντος; The day of retribution, in which the unjust, intemperate, and incontinent, must give account of all the deeds done in the body. This discourse of St. Paul was most solemnly and pointedly adapted to the state of the person to whom it was addressed. Felix was tyrannous and oppressive in his government; lived under the power of avarice and unbridled appetites; and his incontinence, intemperance, and injustice, appear fully in depriving the king of Emesa of his wife, and in his conduct towards St. Paul, and the motives by which that conduct was regulated. And as to Drusilla, who had forsaken the husband of her youth, and forgotten the covenant of her God, and become the willing companion of this bad man, she was worthy of the strongest reprehension; and Paul's reasoning on righteousness, temperance, and judgment, was not less applicable to her than to her unprincipled paramour. Felix trembled - "The reason of Felix's fear," says Bp. Pearce, "seems to have been, lest Drusilla, who was a Jewess, and knew that what she had done was against the law of Moses, might be influenced by Paul's discourse, and Felix's happiness with her disturbed. What is said of Felix, Act 24:26, seems to show that he had no remorse of conscience for what he had done." On the head of Drusilla's scruples, he had little to fear; the king of Emesa, her husband, had been dead about three years before this; and as to Jewish scruples, she could be little affected by them: she had already acted in opposition to the Jewish law, and she is said to have turned heathen for the sake of Felix. We may therefore hope that Felix felt regret for the iniquities of his life; and that his conscience was neither so seared nor so hardened, as not to receive and retain some gracious impressions from such a discourse, delivered by the authority, and accompanied with the influence, of the Spirit of God. His frequently sending for the apostle, to speak with him in private, is a proof that he wished to receive farther instructions in a matter in which he was so deeply interested; though he certainly was not without motives of a baser kind; for he hoped to get money for the liberation of the apostle. Go thy way for this time - His conscience had received as much terror and alarm as it was capable of bearing; and probably he wished to hide, by privacy, the confusion and dismay which, by this time, were fully evident in his countenance.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
And as he reasoned of righteousness--with reference to the public character of Felix. temperance--with reference to his immoral life. and judgment to come--when he would be called to an awful account for both. Felix trembled--and no wonder. For, on the testimony of TACITUS, the Roman Annalist [Annals, 9; 12.54], he ruled with a mixture of cruelty, lust, and servility, and relying on the influence of his brother Pallas at court, he thought himself at liberty to commit every sort of crime with impunity. How noble the fidelity and courage which dared to treat of such topics in such a presence, and what withering power must have been in those appeals which made even a Felix to tremble! Go thy way for this time; and when I have a convenient season I will call for thee--Alas for Felix! This was his golden opportunity, but--like multitudes still--he missed it. Convenient seasons in abundance he found to call for Paul, but never again to "hear him concerning the faith in Christ," and writhe under the terrors of the wrath to come. Even in those moments of terror he had no thought of submission to the Cross or a change of life. The Word discerned the thoughts and intents of his heart, but that heart even then clung to its idols; even as Herod, who "did many things and heard John gladly," but in his best moments was enslaved to his lusts. How many Felixes have appeared from age to age!
John Gill Bible Commentary
He hoped also that money would have been given him of Paul,.... For he observed from his own defence, that he came up to Jerusalem to bring alms and offerings; and he perceived by Tertullus's indictment, that he was at the head of a large body of men; that he was some considerable person, at least who was in great esteem among some sort of people, and whose life and liberty were valuable: and he might hope if Paul had not money of his own, yet his friends would supply him with a sufficiency to obtain his freedom; and it may be that it was with this view that he ordered that they should have free access to him and minister to him, that so he might have to give to him: that he might loose him; from all confinement, and set him at entire liberty: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him; but not about religious matters, but about his civil affairs; suggesting he would release him for a sum of money, which the apostle did not listen to, being unwilling to encourage such evil practices, or to make use of unlawful means to free himself.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
24:25 Paul’s words about righteousness, self-control, and coming divine judgment frightened Felix, who was notably corrupt (24:26-27; see study notes on 23:24; 24:24).