Gospel Warning of Judgment: Living in Righteousness — Acts 24:24-25:5 Daily Word

Paul warned Felix about righteousness, self-control, and God’s coming judgment. Discover how the Gospel calls us to urgent repentance and a life prepared for divine judgment.

The Gospel That Warns of Judgment, and a Life of Righteousness and Self-Control

[Scripture]

Acts 24:24–25:5 (ESV)

[24] After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. [25] And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.” [26] At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him. [27] When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison. [1] Now three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. [2] And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews laid out their case against Paul, and they urged him, [3] asking as a favor against Paul that he summon him to Jerusalem—because they were planning an ambush to kill him on the way. [4] Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea and that he himself intended to go there shortly. [5] “So,” said he, “let the men of authority among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them bring charges against him.” (Acts 24:24–25:5, ESV)

[Daily Word]

Felix Hears the Gospel in the Face of Judgment

Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and listened to Paul speak about Jesus. On that occasion, Paul spoke specifically about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment. The only way to escape the wrath of God is to be made righteous by faith in Jesus Christ, to obey the Lord and live a life of self-control, and to repent and believe immediately upon hearing the gospel.¹The ‘righteousness, self-control, and coming judgment’ that Paul reasoned about were not merely moral teachings, but the very heart of the gospel given in Jesus Christ. Righteousness points to justification — receiving Christ’s righteousness through faith; self-control points to sanctification — the fruit of the Holy Spirit; and the coming judgment underscores the urgency of responding to the gospel.

However, Felix, though he was frightened by these words, put off repenting of his sins and believing in the Lord. In fact, among the many people who attend church, there are not a few who hear the gospel yet treat church life as a kind of insurance policy for their lives in this world. But if we know that God’s judgment is soon to come, what should we do? We must surely come to our senses, turn back, and live our lives in preparation for that judgment.

Felix, Who Craved Worldly Gain Over the Gospel

Even after this, Felix continued to summon Paul frequently for conversation. However, this was not because he desired to hear more of the gospel. As the words of verse 26 make clear, it was because he was hoping to receive a bribe from Paul.²It was common practice for Roman governors of the time to accept bribes throughout the empire. Felix is particularly noted in historical records as an especially greedy governor (cf. Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, Book 20). Furthermore, he kept Paul imprisoned for two years in order to curry favor with the Jews. The desire to gain worldly benefit and satisfaction through Paul never left him, right up until the time he was removed from his post as governor.

Even though God continued to speak through Paul, Felix took no delight in the gospel, but instead craved only material gain and power, showing no self-restraint. He kept on doing what was displeasing to God. If one continues to live according to the old self even while hearing the gospel, there is no escaping judgment.

The New Governor Festus and the Conspiracy of the Jews

After two years had passed, the governorship changed from Felix to Festus. Festus, upon taking up his post as the new governor, visited Jerusalem—the heart of the Jewish region—just three days after his arrival (25:1), in order to gain political support from the Jewish people. It was at this very occasion that the chief priests and the leading men of the Jews brought charges against Paul once again.

They requested that Festus reopen Paul’s trial in Jerusalem. However, their true intention was to ambush and assassinate Paul along the road as he was being escorted to Jerusalem.³A similar assassination plot also appears in Acts 23:12-15. The Jewish leaders repeatedly devised schemes to eliminate Paul, yet each time their plans were thwarted by God’s providence. In response, Festus proposed that since he himself would shortly be going down to Caesarea, they should come and bring their charges against Paul there (vv. 4–5). From Festus’s perspective, he was eager to resolve the case of Paul, which had been handed over to him by his predecessor Felix, as quickly as possible.

Our Lives Before the Gospel and Judgment

Those who do not believe the gospel actively live their lives apart from it. Festus was such a person, and so were the Jewish leaders. Before God’s judgment, there is no middle ground. Those who do not turn back to God cannot escape His judgment.

The power of righteousness and self-control that the gospel imparts is available to those who believe in God’s gospel. And those who follow the gospel live under God’s grace and blessing. Therefore, our hope is that we who live in this world would, by faith, visibly demonstrate what it looks like to live under God’s blessing each day — becoming a joy to God and making His fragrance known to those who have yet to come to know the Lord.

Originally published in Korean at bible2u.com