The Apostle had the gift of making his addresses exactly applicable to those who listened to him; and as he knew the sinful life of Felix, he was not afraid to speak out openly of that purity of life which the Gospel law enjoins.
He spoke also of the judgment to come, in such forcible words that the governor's conscience was awakened, and he trembled.
Still,—like so many wicked people of later times,—he was not ready to give up his sinful pleasures, but only wished to be rid of the thought of God's future punishment. "For this time go thy way;" he said, "when I have a convenient time I will send for thee."
Thus did Felix close his heart to the influence of the Holy Spirit, and resist God's grace; nor do we read that he ever had another opportunity for repentance.
At the close of the two years during which St. Paul was a prisoner, another governor was appointed in place of Felix, whose name was Festus.
Scarcely had he come to Cæsarea than he went to visit Jerusalem, and the Jews took the occasion as a favourable time to ask that Paul might be tried there, but this request was not granted.
When Festus returned to Cæsarea, he had the Apostle brought up before him in the presence of the accusers, and St. Paul replied to the charges against him in much the same words he had used two years before.
Festus was perplexed, for it was evident to him that the prisoner had not created any disturbance against the government; still he feared the Jews, and therefore asked St. Paul if he would not like to go up to Jerusalem for trial. But the Apostle replied that he stood before Cæsar's judgment-seat, and he appealed to Cæsar.