Blessed Are The Meek

Acts 24:24–37

“Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him. When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.”

The sharp contrast between the opulent and opportunistic way of the world and the humble way, the truth, and the life that is Christ, we see once more in a court scene of the Apostle Paul facing the governor Antonius Felix and his Jewish wife Drusilla daughter of Herod Agrippa. “What a contrast. On the throne sat Felix, the faded and withered pagan. A former slave. He became a favorite of Claudius, and by that emperor was exalted to high rank. Greed, cruelty and lust were stamped upon his countenance. His administration as procurator of Judea had been marked by injustice, extortion and violence. By his side sat the lovely Jewess Drusilla, a daughter of Herod Agrippa. She had first married a Gentile, who to please her, had become a Jew. Then Felix, with the aid of a sorcerer's incantations, had won her from her husband and was living with her in sin and shame. All that was dishonorable in mankind was represented by that combination of Felix and Drusilla as they sat on the throne awaiting the address by Saint Paul. Before them, with chains on his arms and his body scarred with the marks of his sufferings for Christ's sake, and his coarse garment, which his own hands had woven, contrasting with the velvet and purple of Felix and his paramour, stood the lonely ambassador for Christ. (Macartney 1974).” St. Paul brought home the point to governor Felix that faith in Christ involved “righteousness, self-control”, both of which are wanting in the governor’s life and reputation, and Paul spoke of “the judgment to come” and Felix shuddered in fear, convicted and confronted by God (vv. 24–26). God confounds the world as He encounters His fallen, rebellious, broken creation and in His sovereignty, He uses the humble to shame the proud. The Apostle James reminds us of the importance of humility and that God “gives us more grace” because of this and this is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble (Jam 4:6).” In the end, the creation once renewed will be given to the innocent, to the poor in spirit, to the humble at heart, the LORD said, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth (Matt 5:5),” and in this current world even, the promise to the humble is lasting richness of life, “they will spend their days in prosperity, and their descendants will inherit the land (Psa 25:13).”