God places people in our life to help us, protect us and to reveal the truth and show us the way. Their entry provides us the freedom and the means to fulfill God’s will for our lives.
Felix missed his chance at forgiveness and redemption in his encounter with Paul.
We must not let our past stop us from our future life in Christ.
How did Felix know about the Christian faith? His wife Drusilla was Jewish. She was the great-granddaughter of Herod the Great, who had tried to kill the baby Jesus. She was the great-niece of the Herod who killed John the Baptist. Her father was the man who had the apostle James put to death. Also, Felix was well acquainted with Christianity from having governed Judea and Samaria for six years.
Felix had taken Drusilla from her former husband, the king of Emesa in Syria. She was Felix’s third wife. His first wife was the granddaughter of Mark Antony and Cleopatra. His second wife was a princess whom he also divorced. When Paul talked about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix must have been reminded of his immoral life. He refused to talk any more about the Way because of the guilt he felt.
Acts 24:23-24
22 But when Felix heard these things, having more accurate knowledge of the Way, he adjourned the proceedings and said, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will make a decision on your case.” So he commanded the centurion to keep Paul and to let him have liberty, and told him not to forbid any of his friends to provide for or visit him.24 And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.
16 So when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their ambush, he went and entered the barracks and told Paul.
Acts 23:16
3 And the next day we landed at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him liberty to go to his friends and receive care.
Acts 27:3
16 Now when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard; but Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him.
Acts 28:16
15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:15
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10:9
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