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. Ver. 1. _With a certain orator_] One of those _sordida poscinummia_ (as Plautus phraseth it), those _leguleiorum faeces decem drachmariae, _... [ Continue Reading ]
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, Ver. 2. _Tertullus began to accuse him_] _Prosperior Afro Oratori eloquentia quam morum fama, _ saith Tacitus.... [ Continue Reading ]
We accept _it_ always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. Ver. 3. _We accept it always_] So they say, the sooner to ingratiate; when in truth they worthily hated Felix for his oppression and cruelty. _Nota hypocrisin cum assentatione, _ saith Beza. "In his estate shall stan... [ Continue Reading ]
Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words. Ver. 4. _That I be not further tedious unto thee_] Gr. ινα μη επι πλειον σε εγκοπτω, that I hinder thee not in thine haste to other businesses; that I put not a stop to thy... [ Continue Reading ]
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: Ver. 5. _A pestilent fellow_] Gr. λοιμον, a botch, _sicut Scelus pro scelerato: Tubulus quidam, paulo supra Ciceronem, Praetor fuit, hom... [ Continue Reading ]
Who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law. Ver. 6. _To profane the temple_] A loud lie: but innocence is no target against calumny.... [ Continue Reading ]
But the chief captain Lysias came _upon us_, and with great violence took _him_ away out of our hands, Ver. 7. _Took him out of our hands_] Wherein he did well, though he hear ill; as public persons must look to do.... [ Continue Reading ]
Commanding his accusers to come unto thee: by examining of whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him. Ver. 8. _By examining of whom_] By this outfacing boldness, and these specious pretences, they hoped to have swayed the governor to deliver up the prisoner to th... [ Continue Reading ]
And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so. Ver. 9. _And the Jews assented_] With what face could they do it, but that their faces were hatched with impudence; and they had taken an order with their consciences not to trouble them: "Trouble me not, for I am in bed," as he in the G... [ Continue Reading ]
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: Ver. 10. _Forasmuch as I know, &c._] Paul was a stately orator when he listed, as here. Porphyry s... [ Continue Reading ]
Because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship. Ver. 11. _There are yet but twelve days_] And therefore in so short a time I could surely do no such great matters as they charge me with.... [ Continue Reading ]
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: Ver. 12. _And they neither found me in the temple_] As he had argued from the circumstance of time, Acts 24:11; (to disprove their empty allegations), so here o... [ Continue Reading ]
Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me. Ver. 13. _Neither can they prove the things_] And if to be barely accused be sufficient to make a man guilty, no man shall be innocent. It is happy if we can write (as the Lady Elizabeth did in Woodstock windows), "Much alleged against... [ Continue Reading ]
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: Ver. 14. _Which they call heresy_] _Haeresis est vex Eccleslae peculiaris. Antiquitus enim dicebatur, In hac haeresi su... [ Continue Reading ]
And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. Ver. 15. _And have hope toward God, which themselves also allow_] The Jews generally believed no article of the faith more than this,John 12:24; Acts 23:8. The pr... [ Continue Reading ]
And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and _toward_ men. Ver. 16. _And herein_] Or, meanwhile (εν τουτω, _i.e._ χρονω, ασκω), for this cause do I exercise myself: or, I use diligence, skill, and conscience; I lay my policy, or bend my wit, I discipl... [ Continue Reading ]
Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings. Ver. 17. _To bring alms to my nation_] And therefore should have been better welcomed; a present makes room for a man,Proverbs 18:16. But it is God alone that fashioneth men's opinions and affections: and therefore, Romans 15:31... [ Continue Reading ]
Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult. Ver. 18. _Purified in the temple_] Therefore surely not profaning of it: unless they will say of me, as Diogenes did of Antipater (who being vicious, wore a white cloak, the ensign of innocenc... [ Continue Reading ]
Who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had ought against me. Ver. 19. _Who ought to have been here before thee_] For those that are here to accuse me, speak but by hearsay, which is _tam ficti pravique tenax quam nuntia veri, _ a loud liar, for the most part.... [ Continue Reading ]
Or else let these same _here_ say, if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the council, Ver. 20. _Or else let these same here say_] This is the best defence, that is thus fetched from the accusers themselves, who are apt to make the worst of everything and to aggravate faults... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 21. _Except it be, &c._] And if this be a fault in true account, why are not all the whole nation of the Pharisees faulted, that hold the same thing... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 22. _He deferred them, and said_] Truly and timely spake the orator, _De vita hominis nulla saris... [ Continue Reading ]
And he commanded 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. Ver. 23. _And to let him have liberty_] This shows that Felix himself found that it was malice, more than matter, that moved the Jews to prosecu... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 24. _With his wife Drusilla_] The sister of King Agrippa, and wife of Abidus, king of Emesenes, whom she had basely forsaken, and came and joined... [ Continue Reading ]
And as he 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. Ver. 25. _Of righteousness, temperance, &c._] Whereas Felix did many things there tyrannously and had greater regard... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 26. _He hoped also, &c._] _Fuit Felix inexplebilis gurges, _ as Tacitus testifieth. He trembled, and yet gaped after money. A man may as soon find... [ Continue Reading ]
But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix' room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound. Ver. 27. _Willing to show the Jews, &c._] Politicians care not to gratify others and serve their own turns with the loss of right and good conscience. In the reign of Henry II... [ Continue Reading ]