Imatges de pàgina
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CHAPTER XXIV.

APRIL 27, August 26, Dec. 24.

3 This was in the usual strain of flattery, adopted by the Roman

orators.

Notwithstanding, that I I pray thee that thou wouldThe christian must prepare himself not for injury only, but for insult and contempt.

AND after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul. And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence, we accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. be not further tedious unto thee, est hear us of thy clemency a few words. For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes: who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law. But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands, commanding his accusers to come unto thee by examining of whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him. And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so. Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself: because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to wor ship. And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city: neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me. 14 But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets : and have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that

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14 St. Paul persists in the fact, that he worshipped the God of his fathers: considering the Gospel & glorious completion of the Mosaic dispensation. It was important to establish this point, in testimony of his innocence before a Roman tribunal-the Romans allowing no nee object of worship.

15 The Pharisees did allow a resur rection from the dead.

there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. And herein do I 16 This is said, not boastfully but exercise myself, to have al- candidly.

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ways a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men. Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings. Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult. 19 Who ought to have been 19 Thus the Christian, though ready here before thee, and object, to bear all things patiently, is yet if they had ought against justified in appealing to the laws, me. Or else let these same when he is oppressed and injured. here say, if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the council, except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day. And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter. And he commanded

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23 God's providence ever finds means to alleviate the sufferings of his servants, even though he may

not see fit at once to remove them.

a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto him. And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 25 And as he rea

25 The only convenient season is the present.

soned 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. He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him. "But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix'room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.

27 A love of popularity so naturally tempts to injustice and dishonour, that those, whose high station lays them open to the temptation, should arm themselves against it by christian principle, and a constant endeavour to please God rather than

man.

CHAPTER XXV.

APRIL 28, AUGUST 27, Dec. 28.

Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Cæsarea to Jerusalem. Then the high priest

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and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him, and desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him. But Festus an

3 This secret evil was seen by Him, whose eye never slumbereth or sleepeth ! So enemies may plot secretly against thee! Rememberthe same God is thy God.

swered, that Paul should be kept at Cæsarea, and that he himself would depart shortly thither. Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, go down with me, and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him. And when he

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had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto Cæsarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought. And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove. While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Cæsar, have I offended any thing at all. But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me? Then said Paul, I stand at Cæsar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou well very 11 Rulers are a terror to evil doers knowest. For if I be an only. The honest man looks to the offender, or have committed laws, as his sure and proper safety. any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Cæsar. Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Cæsar? unto Cæsar shalt thou go. And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Cæsarea to salute Festus. And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul's cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix: about whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him. 16 To whom I answered, It is not

8 Religion and loyalty go hand in hand. Therefore St. Paul disclaims any offence against Cæsar-nay, in verse 11, he appeals to Cæsar for protection *.

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16 This noble principle of equity continued to characterise the Roman power, till vice, and pride, and an

Each emperor was entitled "Cæsar." Nero was the emperor to whom this appeal was made.

the manner of the Romans impatience of the laws brought the to deliver any man to die, empire to its fall. (See ch. xxii. 28.) before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him. Therefore, when they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth. Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed: 19 but had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. 20 And

19 Well might St. Paul adhere to the glorious truth-"Jesus is alive." In heaven, He, Jesus, doth ever live, making intercession for us.

20 Roman justice required all this care on behalf of the accused.

because I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters. 21 But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send

21 The emperor Augustus had been long dead; but his successors were often honoured with the title; in token of that ceneration, which the Roman word-Augustus-implied.

him to Cæsar. Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear

23 It befitted a king to 66 appear in a kingly manner;" when he came to

execute the laws*.

him. 23 And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and was entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city, at Festus' commandment Paul was brought forth. And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, crying that he ought not to live any longer. But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him. Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and especially be

Agrippa thus indicated that he there sat for judgment, not as an individual merely, but as the representative of justice, and clothed in the majesty of the law, whose minister he was. The same principle is observed by those who judge in our own land; the robes of office significantly instructing us that the law, not the individual-principle, not passion-regulates the course of justice. A disregard therefore of these outward observances would lower national character, and argue rather a debasing pride than an acceptable humility.

fore thee, O king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might have somewhat to 27 Again, a sense of justice prevails in write. 27 For it seemeth to favour of the faithful servant of God. me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him.

CHAPTER XXVI.

APRIL 29, AUGUST 28, Dec. 29.
CONVERSION OF ST. PAUL, evening.

able attention.

THEN Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself: I think myself 2 Agrippa was a Jew. St. Paul, happy, king Agrippa, because with great prudence, wins his favourI shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews: especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently. My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews; which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: unto which promise our twelve tribes in

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6 The apostle argues, that his brethren the Jews have a vital interest in the very work, for doing which they accused him that work being, to declare the ancient hope of God's people Israel.

stantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For
which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.
Why should it be thought
a thing incredible with you,

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that God should raise the

minute, is a mystery-yet men be-
8 The continuance of life, minute by
lieve life to be so continued by the
power and providence of God. Why
should they doubt that the same God

can restore life?

dead? I verily thought with
myself, that I ought to do
many things contrary to the
name of Jesus of Nazareth. Which thing I also did in Jeru-
salem and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having
received authority from the chief priests; and when they were
put to death, I gave my voice against them. And I punished
them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme;
and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them
even unto strange cities. Whereupon as I went to Damascus
with authority and commission from the chief priests, at mid-
day, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the

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