After such a defence, it would have seemed impossible to find any plea for detaining the Apostle a prisoner, but Felix only put the matter off, promising to enquire further into it at the coming of Lysias. Hoping that the Apostle would purchase his freedom, Felix remanded him to a somewhat light imprisonment, which continued two years. One day the governor sent for St. Paul, that he and his wicked wife Drusilla might hear so famous a teacher speak about his faith. 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. {115} 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. {116} 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. Then Festus cried, "Hast thou appealed to Cæsar? To Cæsar shalt thou go;" meaning that he should be sent to Rome for trial. {117} Soon after these proceedings, the young King Agrippa, with his sister Bernice, came upon a visit to the governor of Cæsarea, and hearing of St. Paul's case, said that he would himself pronounce judgment upon it. The great hall of audience was filled with the royal court, the tribunes and all the chief men were assembled; and St. Paul took this opportunity to preach the Gospel to them. He told the story of his life, of his conversion and subsequent work amongst men; but when he said that Christ had come to be a light to the Gentiles as well as to the Jews, a loud cry broke from Festus, "Paul, thou art beside thyself, much learning hath made thee mad." {118}