Chapter XXIV
Ver. 1-27. Paul, Accused BY A Pkofessionai. Pleader BKFORE Felix, makes his Defence, and is Ri;manded FOK A Further Hearing. At a Private Interview Felix Trembles under Paul's Preaching, bdt keeps HIM Prisoner FOR Two Years, when he was Succeeded BY Festus. 1. after live days—or, ou the lifth day from their departure from Jerusalem. Ananias. . . witli tlie elders-a deputation of the Sanhedrim, a certain orator —one of those Roman advocates who trained tliemselves
to another sect, or religious section of the nation, wliicli from its Head they call . Nazarenes : for this reason, and this alone, am I hated. (2.) The Roman law allows every nation to worship its own deities; I claim protection under that law, worshipping the God of my ancestors; even as tliey, only of a ditl'erent sect of the common re-
ligion, believing all, &c.—Here, disowning all opinions at variance with the Old Testament Scriptures, he challenges for the Gospel wliich he preached the authority of the God of their fathers. So much for tlie charge of
for tlie Ivigher practice of the metropolis by practising in the provinces, where the Latin language, employed in tlie
fiernsy. and have hope ... as themselves alloiv, that there shall be a resui-rectlon, &c.—Tills appeal to the
court.s, was but imperfectly understood and Roman forms were not familiar, informed . . . against Paul—'laid information,' i. e., put in tlie charges. ^-4. Seeing tUat by thee we enjoy great quietness, &c.—In this fulsome
faith of his accusers shows that they were chielly of the
Pharisees, and that the favour of that party, to which he owed in some measure his safety at the recent council (ch.
23. 6-9), had been quite momentary. 16. And herein—' On this account,' ' accordingly ;' q. d., looking forward to that awful day (cf. 2 Corinthians 5. 10). I exercise myself—The "1" here is emphatic; g. d., 'Whatever they do, this is my study.' to have always a conscience void of oftence^ &c.—See ch. 2:3. 1; 2 Corinthians 1. 12, 2. 17, &c.; q. d., ' Tliese are the great principles of my life and conduct—how different from turbulence and sectarianism!' 17. Now after many (' several') years (absence from Jerusalem) I came to bring alms to my nation—referring to the collection from the churches of Macedonia and Greece, which he had taken such pains to gather. This only allusion in the Acts to what is dwelt upon so frequently in his own Epistles (Romans 15. 25, 26; 1 Corinthians 16. 1-4 ; 2 Corinthians 8. 1-4), throws a beautiful light on the truth of this History. (See Paley's -fforce PauimcE.) and (to present) offerings—connected with his Jewish vow : see next verse. 18-ai. found me purified in the temple—not polluting
flattery there was a semblance of truth: nothing more. Felix act»id with a degree of vigour and success in suppressing lawless violence. [Josephus. Antiquities, xx. S.
4; confirmed by Tacitus, Ann.xU.Cii]. by tliy providence—a phrase applied to the administriition of the emperors. 5-8. a pestilent fellow ('a plague,' or ' pest') and a mover of sedition among all the Jews (by exciting disturbances among them) throngliout the worldSee on Luke 2. 1. This was the first charge; and true only
in the sense explained on ch. 16. 20. a ringleader of the
sect of tlie Nazarenes—the second charge ; and true enough, hath gone about (' attempted') to profane the temple—the third charge; and entirely false, we . . . would have Judged according to our law. But . . . Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him out of our hands-^a wilful falsehood and calumnious charge against a puljllc officer. He had commanded the Sanhedrim to meet for no other purpose than to "Judge him according to their law ;" and only when, instead of doing so, they fell to disputing among themselves, and the prisoner was in danger of being "pulled
it, therefore, by my own presence, and neither gathering a crowd nor raising a stir : If then these Asiatic Jews have any charge to bring against me in justification of their arrest of me, why are they not here to substantiate it? or else let these . . . here say—'Or, passing from all that preceded my trial, let those of the Sanhedrim here present say if I was guilty of aught there,' &c. No doubt his hasty speech to the high priest might occur to them, but the provocation to it on his own part was more than they would be willing to recall. Except . . . this one voice
In pieces of them" (ch. 23. 10)—or as his own letter says "killed of them" (ch. 23. 27)—did he rescue him, as was his duty, "by force" out of their hands, commanding bis accusers to come unto thee—Here they insinuate
that, instead of troubling Felix with the case, he ought to have left it to be dealt with by the Jewish tribunal; in wliich case his life would soon have been taken, by examining whom (Lysias, as would seem, v. 22) thyself mayest, (fcc—referring all, as if with confidence, to Felix. The Jews assented, <fec.—See on ch. 23. 15. 10. thou hast been many years a Judge to this nation—He had been In this province for six or seven years, and in Galilee for a longer period. Paul uses no flattery, but simply expresses his satisfaction at having to plead before one whose long official experience of Jewish matters would enable him the better to understand and appreciate what be had to say. 11. thou mayest luiderstand (canst
. . . Touching the resurrection, &c.—Tills would recall to the Pharisees present their own inconsistency, in befriending him then and now accusing him. 3:2, 33. having more perfect knowledge of tliat ('the') way—See on ch. W. 23; and on u. 10. when Lysias . . . shall come
... 1 will know, &c.—Felix might have dismissed tlie case as a tissue of unsupported charges. But if from his interest In the matter he really wished to have the presence of Lysias and others involved, a brief delay was not unworthy of him as a Judge. Certainly, so far as recorded, neither Lysias nor any other parties appeared again in the case. Verse 23, however, seems to show that at that lima his prepossessions in favour of Paul were strong 34:, 35. Felix . . . with his wife Drusilla ... a Jewess—This beautiful but infamous woman was the third daughter of lierod Agrippa I., who was eaten of worms (see on ch. 12.
eivsily learn) that there are but twelve days since I urent up Jerusalem—viz., 1. The day of his arrival in Jerusalem (ch. 21. 15-17) ; 2. The interview with James (ch.
21. 18, dec.) ; 3. The assumption of the vow (ch. 21. 20) ; 4, 5, 6. Continuance of the vow, Interrupted by the arrest (ch. 21.
27, &c.); 7. Arrest of Paul (ch. 21. 27); 8. Paul before the' Sanhedrim (ch. 22. 30 ; 23. 1-10); 9. (Jonsplracy of the Jews aud defeat of it (ch. 23. 12, &c.), and despatch of Paul from
1), and a sister of Agrippa XL, before whom Paul pleaded, ch. 26. She was 'gi'veu in marriage to Azizus, king of UM
fdix Disappointed as to a Bribe. ACTS XXV. Paul Accimed before Festus.
REA— On Festus asking the apostle if he would go TO Jerusalem for another hearing before him, he IS constrained in justice to his cause TO APPEAL TO THE Emperor. 1-3. Festus . . . after titree days ascended
Emesenes, who had consented to be circumcised for the Bake of the alliance. But this marriage was soon dis.s<)lved, after this manner: When Festus was procurator of Judea, he saw her, and being captivated witlj her beauty, persuaded her to desert her husband, transgress tlie laws of her country, and marry himself.' [Joseph us, Antiquities, XX. 7. 1, 2.] Such was this "wife" of Felix, he sent for Paul an«l heard him coucerning tl»e faith in {Jlirist— Perceiving from what he had heard on the trial that the new sect which was creating such a stir was represented by its own advocates as but a particular development of the Jewish faith, he probably wished to gratify the curiosity of his Jewish wife, as well as his own, by a more particular account of it from this distinguished champion. And no doubt Paul would so far humour this desire as to present 'o them the great leading features of the Gospel. But from v. 25 it is evident that his discourse took an entirely practical turn, suited to the life which his two auditors were notoriously leading. And as he reasoned of righteousness (with reference to the pufc/tc character of Felix), temperance (with reference to his immoral life), and judgment to come (when he would be called to an awful account for both), Felix trembled—and no wonder. For, on the testimony of Tacitus, the Roman Annalist (v.
. . . to Jerusalemto make himself acquainted with the great central city of his government without delay. Then the Iiigli priest—a successor of him before whom Paul had appeared (ch. 23. 2). and tlie cliief of the Jews—and "the whole multitude of the Jews," v. 24, clamorously, informed liim against Paul . . . desired favour (in v. 15, "judgment") against liim—It would seem that they had the insolence to ask him to have the prisoner executed even without a trial («. IG). laying wait ... to kill him —How deep must have been their liostility, when two years after the defeat of their former attempt, they thirst as keenly as ever for his blood ! Their plea for having
tlie case tried at Jerusalem, where the alleged offence took place, was plausible enough ; but from t;. 10 it would seem that Festus had been made acquainted with their causeless malice, and that in some way which Paul was privy to. 4-6. answered . . . tliat Paulsliould be kept (rather, ' is in custody') at Cresarea, and himself would depart shortly thither. I^et them . . . whicli among you are able, go down—'your leading men.' tlie Jews
. . . from Jerusalem — clamorously, as at Jerusalem, see V. 24. many and grievous complaints against Paul —From his reply, and Festus' statement of the case before Agrippa, tliese charges seem to have been a jumble of political and religious matter which they were unable to substantiate, and vociferous cries tliat he was unfit to live. Paul's reply, not given in full, was probably little more than a challenge to prove any of their cliarges, whether political or religious. 9, 10. Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure (to ingratiate himself \(^th them), said. Wilt tlioii go up to Jerusalem, and . . . be Judged
9; xii. 54), he ruled with a mixture of cruelty, lust, and ser-
vility, and relying on the influence of his brother Pallas at court, he thought himself at liberty to commit every sort of crime with impunity. How noble the tidelilj' and courage which dared to treat of such topics in such a presence, and what withering power must have been in those
appeals which made even a Felix to tremble! Go tliy way for this time ; and when I have a convenient season I will call for thee—Alas for Felix! This was his golden opportunity, but like mMlitudes still—he missed it. Convenient seasons in abundance he found to call for Paul, but never again to " liear him concerning the faith in Christ," and writhe under the terrors of the wrath to come. Even in tliose moments of terror lie had no thought of submission to the Cross or a change of life. The Word discerned the thoughts and intents of his heart, but that heart even then clung to its idols; even as Heroti, who "did many things and heard John gladly," but in his best moments was enslaved to his lusts. How many Felixes have appeared from age to age ! He hoped . . . titat money sliould have been given him . . , wlierefore lie gent for liim tiie oftener, and conimuned tvltli liim Bribery in a judge was punishable by the Roman law, but the spirit of a slave (to use the words of Tacitus) was in
. . . before me (or 'under my protection'). If this was meant in earnest, it was teinporiiiing and vacillating. But, possibly, anticipating Paul's refusal, he wi.shed merely to avoid the odium of refusing to remove the trial to Jerusalem. Tlien said Paul, 1 stand at Csesar'a judgment-seat— i. e., I am already before the proper tribunal. This seems to imply that he understood Festus to propose handing him over to the Sanhedrim lor judgment (and see on v. II), with a mere promise of protection from him. But from going to Jerusalem at all he was too well justified in shrinking, for thei'e assassination had been quite recently planned against him. to tlie Jews Iiave I done no wrong, as thou knowest very well
all his acts, and his " communing with Paul "—as if he cared for either him or his message—simply added hypocrisy to meanness. The position in life of Paul's Christian visitors might beget the hope of extracting something from them for the release of their champion; but the apostle would rather lie in prison than stoop to this! after two years, &c.—What a trial to this burning missionary of Christ, to suffer such a tedious perioil of inaction! How mysterious it would seem ! But this repose would be medicine to his spirit ; he would not, and could not, be entirely Inactive, so long as he was able by pen and message to communicate with the churches; and he would doubtless learn the saluta.ry truth that even he was not essential to his Master's cause. That Luke wrote his Gospel during this period, under the apostle's superintendence, is the not unlikely conjecture of able critics. Porelus Festus— Little
Ji7., ' better,' i. e. (perhaps), better than to press such a proposal, if there be none of these things . . . no man may deliver me unto them—The word signifies to 'surrender in order to gratify' another. I appeal to Cwsar The right of appeal to the supreme power, in case of life and death, was secured by an ancient law to every Roman citizen, and continued under the empire. Had Festus shown any disposition to pronounce fiiuil judgment, Paul, strong in the consciousness of his Innocence and the justice of a Roman tribunal, would not have made this appeal. But when the only other alternative offered him was to give his own consent to he lransfcrre<l to the great hotbed of plots against his life, and to a tribunal of unscrupulous and bloodthirsty ecclesiastics whose vociferous cries for his death had scarcely subsided, no other course was open to him. I'i. Festus (little expecting such an appeal, but bound to respect it) having conferred with the eouiiell (his assessors in judgment, as to the admissibility of the appeal), said, Hast Uioii (lor 'thou hast'; . . . to C'resar shalt tlioii go—as if he would add (perhaps) 'and see if thou fare better.'
Is Icnown of him. He died a few years after tliis. [JosEPHUS, Antiquities, XX. 8. 9, to 9. 1.] came into Felix' roomHe was recalled, oh accusations against him by tlie Jews of Ca^sarea, and only acquitted tli rough the intercession of his brotlier at court. [Josephus, Antiquities, xx. 8, 10.] Felix, willing to show tltc Jews a pleasure—'to earn the thanks of tlie Jews,' which he did not. left Paul boiuid (ch. 26. 29)—which does not seem to have been till then.
lA-'S,. Herod Agrippa II., on a visit to Fkstus, BEINO CONSULTED 1!Y HIM ON I'AUL'S C ASE, J)ES] R ES TO HEAR THE APOSTLE, WHO IS ACCOKDINGLV HUOUTH'P FORTH. 13. King Agrippa—great grandson of Hcroli the Great, and Drusilla's brother (see on ch. 24.24). On his