Drusilla, the governor’s wife, was the daughter of King Herod Agrippa, about whose terrible death we read in chapter twelve. This woman was very beautiful, and had been married to a king of Syria. But Felix, employing a trick through a Jewish sorcerer, had separated her from her husband and taken her for himself. History states that she died in A.D. 79 in the Vesuvian eruption and was burnt by its molten materials.
She urged her husband while she was in Caesarea to bring the exciting prisoner, so that they might be amused by his mystical divinity. What a wonderful opportunity for the apostle to work toward freeing himself, with Felix, the cunning and relaxed rich man, laying on his pillow, with his erotic, adulterous, and beautiful woman beside him. Paul, the prisoner, stood before them, bearing the marks of blows and stones on his body, inside him a spiritual impetus burning like a fiery volcano to save humanity. Did Paul give in at the hour of temptation, and flatter the couple? No, for he had not thought one minute of saving himself. Instead, he saw the two poor people before him, immersed in lust with their corrupt conscience. His heart was eager for their salvation. As the good physician does not superficially massage the tumor, but instead cuts it out at once with a dissecting knife, so Paul, stabbed the unjust governor immediately because of his unrighteous behavior, and showed him that God seeks truth, justice, and righteousness. He testified to the woman about her need of self-control and purity, for adulterers are not admitted into the kingdom of God. After the imprisoned apostle had awakened the conscience of those who lay before him, he stood them before the just judgment of God, and declared to them the wrath of the Holy One. Paul did not seek to destroy them, for God himself had unveiled to them His shining light. Felix, whose name meant “happy”, became frightfully afraid. No one until that moment had dared to tell him the truth openly. The woman was probably angry and hated the messenger of God, for he had uncovered the lying in her life that had incensed her husband thereafter not to set Paul free. Regarding his conscience, Felix appeared hesitant. He tried to take a moderate position and occupy an intermediate state. He did not reject God’s call to repentance, but at the same time did not obey the voice of his conscience, adjourning the decision of his own salvation as he had adjourned the decision of releasing Paul.
Furthermore, he perceived the smell of money, for Paul had already spoken about the donations brought to the people of Jerusalem. The governor hoped to have offered a big ransom from the ringleader of the church. Undoubtedly the churches were prepared to collect any amount of money to free the apostle of the nations. But Paul would have nothing to do with any such thoughts, not only for the sake of his own conscience, but also to save Felix from his greed, before whom he stood as an example of honesty in life. In fact, the governor could not rid himself of the effect the apostle of truth had on him. He continued consulting him in both human and divine matters. All his retinue had flattered him with lying. Now, however, he had before him the truth of God represented in Paul, who had by his truthful words penetrated his conscience time after time. But the governor did not humble himself before God, in spite of all the spiritual revelations. We do not read that he ever believed or was saved.