Acts 24:24-25 And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul… (text and Acts 16:27-31): — Let us mark — I. THE POINTS OF RESEMBLANCE. 1. They were wicked men when the apostle became acquainted with them. 2. They were hearers of the gospel. Ungodly though they were, they did not refuse to hear God's Word. This was well. Gospel was and is the very thing for sinners. "I came not to call the righteous," says the Saviour, "but sinners to repentance." 3. They had a desire to know the gospel. This was a farther step. The gospel is, to many of its so-called hearers, an object of complete indifference. 4. They trembled from spiritual conviction. 5. They were delivered from their fears. Before the night had passed the jailer was rejoicing with all his house; and Felix did not tremble long. Thus far the cases correspond and have a hopeful aspect. II. THE POINTS OF CONTRAST. They differed as to — 1. The motives which induced them to hear the gospel. The jailer's motive was anxiety to be saved. Did Felix ever ask, "What must I do to be saved?" Never. Curiosity to hear of the new faith from so famous a teacher may have had an influence. But venality was at the bottom of what he did. He wanted a bribe, and he became a gospel hearer, to give Paul opportunity and encouragement to offer it. Here our thoughts naturally turn to the motives by which people are induced to hear the gospel among ourselves. Remove from our congregations all those who come to gratify an idle curiosity — all who come to acquire a name of respectability, by which their temporal interests may be served — and all who come without any anxious desire to be saved, and how many will remain? 2. As to the nature of their convictions. Both were in deep alarm. Felix saw that God would punish sin. But that was all. He did not see that God was just in doing so. His heart clung to sin, while his spirit was quaking at the thought of the Almighty wrath to which sin exposed him. The jailer saw whence the danger came, and what it was that had brought him to the brink of perdition; that it was sin that was his enemy, rather than God. 3. As to the tendency of their convictions. Felix trembled and Bent Paul away; turned his back upon God's ordinance of preaching, and rejected the instrumentality that might have led to the salvation of his soul. The jailer trembled to better purpose. His convictions brought him to the apostle's feet. Hearers of the Word! are any of you awakened? Do not turn your back upon the ordinances that have disturbed your slumbers. This difference farther appears with regard to sin. The convictions of Felix produced no change upon his life; but the jailer became a new man. 4. As to the issue of their convictions. The heart of Felix was hardened; the jailer's was broken. 5. In the mode of deliverance from their fears. The fears of Felix were overcome by unbelief: those of the jailer were banished by faith. 6. In important particulars of their conduct. (1) In their treatment of the gospel. The jailer embraced it; Felix rejected it. (2) In their treatment of Christ. Christ stood at the door and knocked. Felix answered not, and showed a desire to be let alone, and that Christ should not knock again. Far other entertainment was given by the jailer. He received the Saviour without delay. (3) In their treatment of the servants of Christ. Felix sought to turn Paul to account, and, failing in that, he persecuted him to get popularity with his enemies. The jailer honoured Paul and Silas, did what he could to lessen their sufferings, and supplied their temporal wants. 7. In fine, if Felix died as he lived, which we have no reason to doubt, there is a crowning difference now. The terrors of Felix have returned; the jailer is with Jesus in paradise, awaiting the redemption of the body. (Andrew Gray.) Parallel Verses KJV: And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. |
    |