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. Acts 24:24
In 1851, a missionary to Africa, named Samuel Crowther, returned to England to gather support for the missionary work in the areas of Sierra Leone and Nigeria where he was serving. The missionary work had already received considerable attention in England, and Crowther preached to large audiences there. He was even invited to speak before Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, where he not only told them of the missionary work in Africa, but also preached the Gospel to them. It was a great opportunity and privilege for anyone to present the Gospel to any of the world’s great rulers, as Queen Victoria was. These people need the Gospel as much as anyone, and God arranges at times for them to hear it. Just as he arranged for Felix to hear it as our text relates.
Felix was not a king, but as a Roman governor seated in Caesarea, he had as much authority as many kings of that era had. Certainly he was very powerful, and it is highly unlikely that any Christians had been able to approach him to witness to him of Christ. But Paul, even though he was a prisoner, was given that opportunity. This was surely part of what God had promised him shortly after he was saved, when the Lord revealed to Ananias that Saul of Tarsus was to bear His Name before Gentiles and kings (Acts 9:15). It appears that Felix actually requested to hear from Paul, and arranged for the Gospel to be presented to himself and his wife. We know, of course that Felix never was saved. In fact, his excuse of waiting for a convenient season remains on record as a dire warning to sinners today. But Felix and Drusilla his wife would not have been alone with Paul, in fact, the gathering would have been fairly large. Servants and soldiers would have been in attendance, along with other members of the governor’s court. And they all heard the Gospel. We will never know until eternity whether any in that audience trusted Christ, or whether any did so in any of the many later meetings between Paul and Felix. But the Gospel was sounded forth in high places, in a way that not even Paul could have imagined. God does not allow His Gospel to be hidden from people who need to hear it.
How does the Gospel reach new audiences today? How does it reach rulers and leaders? Is the Gospel outreach limited to the handing out of a few calendars or tracts, or the inviting of a neighbour or a workmate to a Gospel meeting? Are new areas reached only by having the preachers go door-to-door during a series of meetings? Can God reach beyond our little efforts and place His Word in the hands of people we least expect to hear it? It is necessary for us to do our part, for sure. But we must never limit God when it comes to those who will be reached with the Gospel. -Jim MacIntosh