Interview with Felix and His Wife.
"A CITY that is set on a hill cannot be hid." So it was impossible that so brilliant a light as the "apostle to the Gentiles" should be called into such a conspicuous place without attracting attention and making some impression. Sufficient interest was awakened in the minds of Felix and Drusilla, his wife, to seek a private interview with the prisoner. Here was their golden opportunity, and Paul seemed to realize the situation. This interview was the work of the Spirit, and the apostle faithfully performed his duty. Here was a fulfillment of the Master's words to Ananias at Damascus, regarding Paul: "He is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings." Acts 9:15. Also Matt. 10:18-20: "Ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak; for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak; for it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you." On this interview, we find the following in "Horne's Introduction to the Scriptures":— "In St. Paul's discourse to Felix (Acts 24), he had for his hearer a Roman governor, who was remarkable for his lust and injustice; a man who was very unlikely to bear, much less to reform by, a pointed reproof from his own prisoner. This, then, was a case which required great art as well as great courage; and accordingly we find our apostle mingling the wisdom of the serpent with the innocence of the dove. He had honesty enough to rebuke the sins, and yet prudence enough not to offend the sinner. He had the courage to put even his judge in mind of his crimes; yet with so much address as not to offend his person,—an example the most worthy of our imitation, as it would greatly contribute to make the bitter portion of reproof, if not palatable, at least salutary and successful. How artfully, then, does St. Paul insinuate himself into the soul of this great sinner, and shake his conscience at the remembrance of his vices! not by denouncing vengeance against him for his lust and injustice, but by placing in the strongest point of light the opposite virtues, showing their reasonableness in themselves, and their rewards at the day of Judgment. For he reasoned, not of unrighteousness, not of incontinence, but of righteousness and chastity; and by holding forth a beautiful picture of these necessary virtues, he left it to Felix to form the contrast, and to infer the blackness of his own vices. A masterly stroke! and it effectually succeeded; for, as the prisoner spake, the judge trembled."