Acts 26:25

But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speake foorth the words of trueth and sobernesse. Acts 26:25 (KJV)

“And as he [Paul] reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.” This verse records the moment when the Apostle Paul, defending himself before the Roman governor Felix (Acts 24), spoke about three pivotal themes: righteousness, temperance, and the judgment to come.

Righteousness in Scripture denotes a right standing before God. It encompasses both the positional righteousness granted through faith in Jesus Christ and the lived righteousness that reflects God’s standards in our conduct. Paul would have emphasized that this righteousness is a gift of grace, received through faith, not earned by works (cf. Ephesians 2:8‑9).

Temperance is the virtue of self‑control and moderation. Paul likely highlighted the necessity of disciplined living, urging believers to master their desires and avoid excess in thoughts, speech, and actions. The Holy Spirit empowers Christians to exhibit temperance as part of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22‑23).

The judgment to come points to the future divine judgment that all humanity will face. Paul warned that this judgment includes both the consequences of earthly conduct and the eternal assessment before God. He often taught about the resurrection and the certainty that every person will appear before the throne of Christ (Acts 17:30‑31; 2 Corinthians 5:10).

Felix’s reaction—trembling at Paul’s words—shows the conviction that truth can provoke a visceral response. Yet Felix chose to postpone any decisive response, telling Paul to depart for the time being and promising to call him at a more convenient season. This postponement serves as a cautionary example: acknowledging truth without immediate obedience can lead to missed opportunity.

The account reminds believers to respond to the Gospel with urgency, not to delay repentance or obedience. It also underscores the importance of discussing righteousness, temperance, and judgment in our conversations about faith, for these topics address core aspects of the Christian message. While Scripture does not record Felix’s ultimate decision, the passage challenges us to examine our own response to the truth presented by Paul.