²⁴But some days later Felix arrived with Drusilla, his wife who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁵But as he was discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for the present, and when I find time I will summon you.” ²⁶At the same time too, he was hoping that money would be given him by Paul; therefore he also used to send for him quite often and converse with him. ²⁷But after two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul imprisoned.

Luke goes beyond personal interest details and gives us the possible reason Felix treated Paul with some respect. Prisoners were not usually afforded the courtesy of some freedom and access to friends. Tertullus, the Jews’ prosecuting lawyer, had previously told Felix that Paul was a “ringleader” of the Nazarene sect of the Jews. As a politician, he knew how to treat significant influencers of the people he governed. Further, we see that Felix’s wife was Jewish, and though such a marriage was an abomination to orthodox Jews, she had apparently maintained her interest in her people, and was curious about the thinking of this “ringleader” of a new way of Jewish thought.

So Felix and his wife frequently called Paul out of his place of incarceration to discuss “faith in Christ Jesus.” Paul’s message, when spoken away from the Jewish antagonists, found an interested audience even with rulers. Whether it was the message about Christ or the “entertainment” of learning from an intellectual like Paul, we do not know. There was probably a mix. The discussions encompassed various moral issues, but when the subject of judgment came up, Felix backed off—apparently, the conversation came too close to home and Felix’s personal guilt.

At the same time, we see Felix’s mixed motives become apparent as Luke interprets events. The governor knew he had power over Paul and hoped the continued conversations would naturally lead Paul to bribe his way out of the situation, as was common in Roman times—local governors and other ruling authorities padded their lifestyles through such extortions. Out of respect for Paul, Felix did not demand such a bribe, but simply hoped Paul would offer it. Of course, Paul would not even consider such an offer, even after two years of imprisonment.

We learn from Paul to resist humanly devised means to accomplish what God had promised He would do, in this case, to have Paul testify in Rome. Little did Paul realize how God was going to achieve that!

Lord, help me not resort to sub-spiritual methods to accomplish Your will.