From: July 6, 2023
“A few days later Felix came back with his wife, Drusilla, who was Jewish. Sending for Paul, they listened as he told them about faith in Christ Jesus” (Acts 24:24 NLT).
Paul was held prisoner by the Roman procurator of Judea, Marcus Antonius Felix for two years. Felix understood the religious culture of Judea better than most Romans, having married the daughter of Herod Agrippa I, Drusilla. Both of them divorced their first spouses in order to be together.
Paul’s captivity during these two years was not in a prison, but under the custody of a Roman officer who was instructed by Felix to give him some freedom and to allow his friends to visit and attend to his needs. During this time, Felix often sent for Paul at his official residence in Caesarea Maritima, so that he and Drusilla could hear more about Paul’s faith in Christ. As Paul reasoned with them about righteousness and self-control and the coming day of judgment, Felix often became frightened and sent Paul away until another time.
After two years, Felix was recalled to Rome. Some time later Drusilla and their son were visiting Pompeii, where they died in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Felix remarried a third time, and later died of tuberculosis.
One has to wonder what affect the two years of regular conversations with Paul had on Felix and Drusilla. As for Paul, his patience to share the gospel even while in chains, showed his singular focus on the Lord’s calling.
PRAYER: Lord, help us to be faithful in our witness, always talking about our faith in Christ even when we are in difficult circumstances. For You are always at work and we are often called to places where You want to offer the gospel through us. Strengthen us to be obedient during these times. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: July 6, 2022
DO YOU WEAR THE NAME OF THE NAZARENE?
Some of the Jewish leaders who had accused Jesus before Pontius Pilate, now traveled to Caesarea to bring accusation against the apostle Paul before the Roman governor, Marcus Antonius Felix. This time, they hired a Roman orator and attorney named Tertullus to represent their case. He began his accusation by complimenting “noble” Felix and the Romans for the Pax Romana that they had brought to Judea. And in contrast, he named Paul, with ad hominem disdain, a “plague,” a pestilence, among the Jews throughout the Roman world. Yet, his climatic charge was that Paul was a “ringleader of the cult known as the Nazarenes,” using the same name that they had given Jesus, namely, Jesus of Nazareth.
The Greek word translated “cult” is the origin of our word for “heresy.” So, the Jews called the followers of Jesus of Nazareth, a heretical cult called “Nazarenes.”
Muslims learned this name and have called Christians by this same name since their invasion of Christian lands in the 7th century. In recent years, Christians in the Middle East were labeled with the Arabic letter “ن ” (“Nun” or “N” in our alphabet) by members of ISIS to show that they were “Nazarenes,” a name meant to shame them, but instead worn as a mark of faith by those so labeled.
The apostle Paul was essentially marked with the letter “N” for Nazarene. Yet he too, wore it not with shame, but with humble faith in the One who was first called the Nazarene, Jesus Christ.
PRAYER: Dear Father, what the world means for shaming, we see as glory. For we are humbled to wear the name of the Nazarene. Strengthen us to carry the name of Jesus to every nation, tongue, and tribe. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: July 6, 2016
Paul’s defense before the Roman governor Felix was simple, yet profound. While it was aimed at showing that he affirmed the same Scriptures and God that his accusers did, it also had the effect of elevating even the governor’s awareness that there was a court higher than Rome’s. Paul’s hope was in God. Not in Rome, nor Jerusalem. But in God alone. The only judge in whom he hoped to find favor was the Lord and his hope was secured in Christ as his advocate.
From: July 6, 2015
Paul’s defense before the Roman governor Felix was simple, yet profound. While it was aimed at showing that he affirmed the same Scriptures and God that his accusers did, it also had the effect of elevating even the governor’s awareness that there was a court higher than Rome’s. Paul’s hope was in God. Not in Rome, nor Jerusalem. But in God alone. The only judge in whom he hoped to find favor was the Lord and his hope was secured in Christ as his advocate.
From: July 6, 2014
For the remaining two years of his term, the Roman governor Felix kept Paul in custody at Caesarea. He often sent for Paul, so that he and his Jewish wife, Drusilla, could hear him talk about faith in Christ. What a strange time this must’ve been for Paul. The Scripture ascribes mixed motives to Felix. On the one hand, it mentions that Felix wanted a bribe and that he wanted to gain favor from the Jews. On the other hand, he gave Paul freedom and allowed his friends to visit. Felix also became very frightened when Paul talked to him. Yet Paul didn’t waver. When others would’ve become disheartened by being caught up in such political intrigue, Paul kept sharing his testimony and preaching the gospel. In this way, the elite ruling class of Caesarea heard his witness.