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 ]