In brief
Felix is the Roman governor of Caesarea before whom the apostle Paul is brought, under armed escort, after a plot by the Jews of Jerusalem. He hears the accusation of the high priest Ananias, then Paul's defense. He knows the Christian Way fairly well and talks with Paul and his wife Drusilla, but becomes afraid when Paul speaks of righteousness, self-control and the coming judgment. He leaves Paul in prison for two years, until he is succeeded by Porcius Festus.
What does the name Felix mean?
Felix is the Latin name Felix, usually linked to the word meaning happy or fortunate. The Bible gives no explanation of this name: it simply presents it as that of a Roman governor.
The world of Felix
Felix is the Roman governor before whom Paul is brought. He sits at Caesarea, a coastal city where Herod’s palace serves as a place of custody. The events belong to the middle of the first century, according to the usual landmarks, at a time when the gospel is proclaimed to Jews and Gentiles. Paul, after his third journey, has gone up to Jerusalem. In the temple, Jews from Asia accuse him, the crowd tries to kill him, and the Roman commanding officer Lysias rescues him from his attackers. Before the council, Paul divides the assembly by speaking of the resurrection. More than forty men bind themselves under a curse to neither eat nor drink until they have killed him. Paul’s sister’s son warns the commanding officer, who sends the apostle by night to Caesarea, under heavy escort, with a letter for Felix. Paul’s story now passes from a Jewish court to a Roman one. Felix is the man who must decide: he knows the Way rather well, he is married to a Jewish woman, and he has the power to free a man whom the officer found guilty of nothing worthy of death or imprisonment.
The story of Felix
Paul arrested in the temple
Acts 21:27-36Paul is in the temple at Jerusalem, after a purification, when Jews from Asia see him. They stir up the whole multitude, crying out that he teaches everywhere against the people, the law and this place, and that he has brought Greeks into the temple. They had seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city and supposed that Paul had brought him in. The crowd drags him out of the temple and tries to kill him. The commanding officer runs down with soldiers and has him bound with two chains. The multitude follows, crying out, “Away with him!” This arrest is the origin of everything that will bring Paul before Felix.
A plot and a promise
Acts 23:11-22On the night after his appearance before the council, the Lord stands by Paul: “Cheer up, Paul, for as you have testified about me at Jerusalem, so you must testify also at Rome.” In the morning, more than forty Jews bind themselves under a curse to neither eat nor drink until they have killed Paul, and they ask the chief priests and elders to have him brought down to the council again. Paul’s sister’s son hears of the ambush and tells Paul, then the commanding officer. The officer listens to the young man and charges him to tell no one that he has revealed these things.
Paul taken to Caesarea
Acts 23:23-35The commanding officer, Lysias, has two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred men armed with spears made ready to leave at the third hour of the night, with animals for Paul, to bring him safely to Felix the governor. His letter explains that Paul was rescued from men who were about to kill him, that he was accused about questions of their law, and that he was not charged with anything worthy of death or of imprisonment. The soldiers take Paul as far as Antipatris, then the horsemen go on to Caesarea. Felix reads the letter, learns that Paul is from Cilicia and promises to hear him when his accusers arrive. Paul is kept in Herod’s palace.
The accusation of Tertullus
Acts 24:1-9After five days, the high priest Ananias comes down with elders and an orator named Tertullus. He begins with flattery, saying to Felix, “Seeing that by you we enjoy much peace.” Then he accuses Paul of being “a plague,” an instigator of insurrections among all the Jews throughout the world, a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes, and a man who tried to profane the temple. He also presents the intervention of the commanding officer Lysias as an act of great violence. The Jews join in the accusation, asserting that these things are so.
Paul’s defense
Acts 24:10-21Paul speaks with confidence, recalling that Felix has been a judge of this nation for many years. He states that no more than twelve days ago he went up to Jerusalem to worship, and that no one found him arguing or stirring up a crowd. He admits openly that he serves the God of his fathers according to the Way, which they call a sect, believing everything written in the law and the prophets, with the hope of a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. He explains that he came to bring gifts for the needy of his nation and to present offerings, and that the Jews from Asia, his true accusers, are not present.
A judgment put off
Acts 24:22-23Felix, who knew the Way rather accurately, adjourns the matter. He says he will decide the case when Lysias the commanding officer comes down. He does not dispute Paul’s defense, but he does not pronounce an acquittal either. He orders the centurion to keep Paul in custody while allowing him some liberty, and he forbids none of his friends to attend to his needs. This delay, presented as temporary, becomes lasting: the text reports no visit from Lysias and no decision by Felix after this promise.
Frightened by the truth
Acts 24:24-26Some days later, Felix comes with Drusilla, his wife, who is Jewish, and sends for Paul. He hears him concerning faith in Christ. Paul does not merely set out a doctrine: he speaks about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, subjects that question the conduct of the listener. Felix becomes afraid and answers that for now Paul may go, and that when he finds a convenient time he will call for him. He also hopes that Paul will give him money, and so he sends for him often and talks with him. The conversations repeat, but the decision remains postponed.
Two years, then Festus
Acts 24:27; 25:1-12Two years pass. Felix is succeeded by Porcius Festus, and, wishing to gain favor with the Jews, Felix leaves Paul in prison. Three days after arriving in the province, Festus goes up to Jerusalem, where the chief priests ask him as a favor to summon Paul, plotting to kill him on the way. Festus answers that Paul is being kept at Caesarea. Some days later, the accusers bring many grievous charges against Paul which they cannot prove. Paul says he has not sinned at all, then appeals to Caesar, and Festus answers, “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you shall go.”
Felix's family
- wife
- Drusilla Acts 24:24
What Felix teaches us
- Hearing the gospel is not enough: we must respond when God speaks, without putting it off.
- The truth about righteousness, self-control and the coming judgment can be frightening, but it leads to repentance when it is welcomed.
- Wanting to please people or to gain money can smother conviction and leave an innocent man in prison.
- Paul remains faithful before the authorities: he testifies with confidence and keeps a clear conscience before God and people.
Key verses
Paul tells Felix that he always strives to have a clear conscience before God and people. This conduct sheds light on his testimony, even before a judge who is unjustly holding him.
Felix is afraid when Paul speaks of righteousness, self-control and the coming judgment, and he puts the matter off. This verse shows the danger of delaying our answer to God's call.
Two years pass, Felix is succeeded by Festus, and he leaves Paul in prison to please the Jews. The account ends on a decision driven by the favor of people rather than by justice.
Bible verses to meditate on
Frequently asked questions
Who was Felix in the Bible?
Felix is the Roman governor before whom Paul is brought at Caesarea after a plot in Jerusalem. He hears the accusation of the Jews and Paul's defense, then talks with him about faith in Christ. In the end he leaves Paul in prison for two years, until Festus arrives.
Why was Felix afraid when he listened to Paul?
Paul was speaking about righteousness, self-control and the coming judgment. Felix, afraid, told him to go away for now, promising to call for him later. The text adds that he also hoped to receive money. So he shrank back from the call to repentance.
Where can I find the story of Felix in the Bible?
The story of Felix is found in the book of Acts. Paul is brought to him in Acts 23:23-35, his hearing before him fills all of chapter 24, and the beginning of chapter 25 shows his successor Festus taking up Paul's case after hearing the accusers.
Who was Drusilla, the wife of Felix?
Acts 24:24 gives only one detail: Drusilla is Felix’s wife and she is Jewish. She comes with him when he sends for Paul to hear him concerning faith in Christ. The text reports no word from her, no reaction and no opinion. It is therefore impossible to say whether she believed, hesitated or refused. Her presence shows only that Paul’s teaching on faith in Christ is heard, that day, by a couple holding power. Anything beyond these few words belongs to sources other than the Bible, and we stay with the text.
Why did Felix keep Paul in prison for two years?
The text gives three clues. Felix first adjourns the case until the commanding officer Lysias comes down (Acts 24:22), a visit the text never reports. He then hopes that Paul will give him money, which explains why he sends for him often (v. 26). Finally, when he leaves office, he leaves Paul in prison, wishing to gain favor with the Jews (v. 27). None of these reasons is a charge against Paul: the letter of Lysias said he was not charged with anything worthy of death or of imprisonment (23:29). Felix chooses self-interest over justice.
Who was Porcius Festus?
Porcius Festus is the successor of Felix as governor (Acts 24:27). Soon after arriving, he goes up to Jerusalem, where the Jewish leaders ask him to summon Paul, plotting to kill him on the way (25:2-3). Festus refuses and returns to Caesarea, where he hears accusations the accusers cannot prove. Wishing to gain favor with the Jews, he asks Paul whether he is willing to go up to Jerusalem to be judged there (v. 9), but Paul appeals to Caesar. Festus later admits that he has no certain thing to write to his lord about the prisoner (v. 26) and brings him before King Agrippa.
Who was Tertullus?
Tertullus is the orator who accompanies the high priest Ananias and the elders before Felix (Acts 24:1). He speaks on behalf of the accusers. His speech begins with flattery: “Seeing that by you we enjoy much peace, and that prosperity is coming to this nation by your foresight.” He then accuses Paul of being “a plague,” of stirring up insurrections, of being a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes and of trying to profane the temple. The Bible says nothing else about him. We notice that Paul does not answer with flattery: he speaks with confidence and relies on facts that his accusers cannot establish.
Did Felix convert?
The Bible does not say. After the conversations with Paul, it reports that Felix became afraid, put things off and hoped for money (Acts 24:25-26). The last words about him are that he left Paul in prison to gain favor with the Jews (v. 27). No passage says that he believed, nor that he finally refused. The text shows a real fear before the coming judgment, but an answer put off. Felix’s final destiny belongs to God alone. For the reader, the account serves as a warning: being convinced is not enough, we must answer when God speaks.
What did Felix know about Christianity?
The text says that Felix was rather accurately informed about the Way (Acts 24:22). The accusers speak of “the sect of the Nazarenes” (v. 5), while Paul speaks of the Way (v. 14), which he follows in serving the God of his fathers. Felix then summons Paul with his wife and hears him concerning faith in Christ (v. 24). He was therefore not ignorant: he had knowledge even before receiving Paul’s message. That knowledge did not lead him to a decision, and this is what the account stresses.