Felix’s state of mind

As we studied previously, Felix was placed in a delicate position. He understood that the charges against Paul were religious in nature and that Paul was innocent. Delivering a verdict would mean intervening in the theological dispute of the Jews. If he declared Paul innocent, he would risk offending the Jewish leaders, which he was determined to avoid. His only option was to postpone the trial. This was Felix’s state of mind at that moment.

Postponement of the trial

“But Felix, having quite accurate knowledge about the Way, adjourned them, saying, ‘When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case.’ He gave orders to the centurion for Paul to be kept in custody and yet have some freedom, and not to prevent any of his friends from providing for his needs.” (1) Felix had considerable knowledge about “the Way.” (a) He had a Jewish wife, Drusilla. She is the daughter of Herod Agrippa I. It is highly likely that she provided Felix with information about “the Way.” (b) Additionally, Romans and Jews who came from Judea could have been sources of information. (c) Furthermore, people living in other regions of the Roman Empire may have also contributed to his knowledge. (2) Felix prioritized maintaining peace with the Jews over declaring Paul innocent. (a) He announced that the trial would be postponed until the commander arrived. (b) However, Felix had no intention of summoning the commander to Caesarea, as he already knew from the commander’s letter that Paul was innocent. (c) As a result, the trial was indefinitely delayed. (d) This marked the beginning of Paul’s two-year imprisonment in Caesarea. (3) Paul was separated from the Jews. (a) As a Roman citizen, Paul was granted a certain degree of freedom. (b) His friends took care of him. Aristarchus, Luke, and Philip the evangelist, likely were among those who served him. Paul’s plan to go to Rome seemed to have been thwarted, but God’s plan was steadily moving forward. In God’s time and by God’s way, Paul would indeed reach Rome. The same is true in our lives. What God has promised us will be fulfilled in His time and in His way.