Felix and Drusilla made for quite a pair. Felix governed the region around Jerusalem for Rome, with Drusilla his Jewish wife always close at hand. She left her first husband for Felix, drawn to power and ruthlessness. Curious, or perhaps merely bored, they pulled Paul (their prisoner) out of his cell for an interview.

Not much for chit-chat, Paul dove right in, speaking about faith in Christ Jesus. As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgement to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.”

In his few minutes with this power couple Paul reached for their jugulars. Neither lived a life of self-control or righteousness and the idea of a coming judgement unnerved them. When Felix later met with Paul, he fished for bribes more than he listened. Neither Felix or Drusilla showed any hint of embracing the Way.

Paul spent two years in house arrest under Felix. It must have been agonizing for a man filled with determination and energy to sit and listen to the self-absorbed Felix diesel on and on. If Paul had any hair he pulled it out.

For some unknown reason, the Lord put Paul under Felix’s thumb. Even while Drusilla and Felix turned away, I wonder if members of their household or the Roman guard followed Jesus as a result of time with Paul? Perhaps this period allowed Luke to work uninterrupted on his two volume series we know as Luke & Acts?

I don’t know why God puts us in seemingly endless situations, trapped by our circumstances. But I do know that the Lord works beyond my sight. I need to maintain faith, knowing that more good happens behind the scenes than I realize.

Acts 24 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Jon Tyson