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This chapter now concludes with the apostle's famous sermon before Felix his judge, in which we have considerable, the preacher, the hearers, the text or subject preached upon, and the successful effect of the sermon.
Observe, 1. The preacher, St. Paul; As Paul reasoned. The apostle now was in bonds, yet had liberty to preach, and he preached with liberty, with great boldness and freedom of speech, though under great disadvantages; his person imprisoned, his reputation blotted and defamed, loaded with calumnies and odious imputations: yet under all these disadvantages the apostle preaches.
Observe, 2. His hearers, Felix and his wife Drusilla; Felix, a bad man, guilty of bribery, & c. Drusilla, a vile woman, forsook her own husband, and lived in adultery with Felix, as Josephus says.
Here were a pair of hopeful hearers! yet St. Paul boggles not to preach to them, as bad as they were, hoping to make them better.
Learn thence, That the gospel must be preached by us, when we are lawfully called thereunto, whatever the persons be that make up the auditory; we know not what persons, or in what hour, God may call.
Observe, 3. The text or subject-matter preached upon: righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come. Where the wisdom of the preacher appears by the suitableness of the subject; the apostle chose a very proper subject for them both.
Felix was guilty of bribery, or at least was ready to commit it; for the next verse tells us, That he hoped to have money given him by Paul to release him: therefore to him he preaches of righteousness.
Drusilla was guilty of incontinence and adultery; to her he preaches of temperance, and to both of a judgment to come.
Happy were it, if great offenders had such wise admonishers near them; but too often they meet with flattering parasites, instead of faithful preachers.
Observe, 4. The success or effect of the sermon: Felix trembled. He trembled, but not believed; he trembled at the guilt of sin, and at the apprehensions of the wrath of God due unto sin; but his trembling did not arise from a holy dread and reverence of the majesty of God speaking to him in and by his word: the word of God can make the proudest and stoutest sinner in the world to quake and tremble.
Observe, lastly, How Felix's trembling fit, or sick qualm of conscience, soon went over; he dismisses the preacher for that time, and tells him he will call for him at a more convenient season. But we never read of any such opportunity taken afterwards for that purpose: so dangerous is it to stop our ear at the present call and command of God; if to-day we will not, tomorrow God may say, ye shall not, hear my voice.