Acts 24:25

And as he reasoned … and judgment[R. V.the judgement] to come It was to be no barren faith which St Paul commended, but was to have its fruits in the life. Felix perhaps expected some philosophical dissertation on the subject of the resurrection, and the life after death. His own conduct, of which Tacitus (Ann. xii. 54, Hist. Acts 24:9) speaks as mean and cruel and profligate, would make the subjects on which St Paul addressed him peculiarly disturbing. For what if this man's teaching should be true?

Felix trembled The expression is much stronger. It implies that he was filled with fear. Therefore the Rev. Ver.gives "was terrified." It can hardly be conceived that St Paul was ignorant of the character of those to whom he was speaking. Felix had been in office long enough to be well known. And the Apostle's themes were exactly those by which he could find the joints in the governor's harness. Of "righteousness" his life's history shews no trace, and for temperance, i.e. self-control, the presence of Drusilla by his side proved that he had no regard. Well might such a man be full of fear at the thought, as St Paul would urge it home, of the judgment after death. But the influence of his terror passed away, for we do not read that the Apostle ever beheld such signs of penitence as led him to quiet the terror, by preaching Christ as the atonement for sin.

when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee] [Rev. Ver. call thee unto me]. The convenient season never arrived. Felix did not change his conduct. When two years more of his rule were ended and he was superseded by Festus, the Jews in Cæsarea brought an accusation against him before Nero, and had it not been for his brother Pallas" influence he would have been punished for his cruelty and injustice. We have no record of how long he lived after his recall from Cæsarea.