Acts 24:1
Ananias — Who would spare no trouble on the occasion, with several of the elders, members of the sanhedrim.... [ Continue Reading ]
Ananias — Who would spare no trouble on the occasion, with several of the elders, members of the sanhedrim.... [ Continue Reading ]
Tertullus began — A speech how different from St. Paul's; which is true, modest, solid, and without paint. Felix was a man of the most infamous character, and a plague to all the provinces over which he presided.... [ Continue Reading ]
But that I may not trouble thee any farther — By trespassing either on thy patience or modesty. The eloquence of Tertullus was as bad as his cause: a lame introduction, a lame transition, and a lame conclusion. Did not God confound the orator's language?... [ Continue Reading ]
Knowing — for several years thou hast been a judge over this nation — And so not unacquainted with our religious rites and customs, and consequently more capable of understanding and deciding a cause of this nature. There was no flattery in this. It was a plain fact. He governed Judea six or seven y... [ Continue Reading ]
After the way which they call heresy — This appellation St. Paul corrects. Not that it was then an odious word; but it was not honourable enough. A party or sect (so that word signifies) is formed by men. This way was prescribed by God. The apostle had now said what was sufficient for his defence; b... [ Continue Reading ]
Both of the just and of the unjust — In a public court this was peculiarly proper to be observed.... [ Continue Reading ]
For this cause — With a view to this, I also exercise myself — As well as they.... [ Continue Reading ]
Who ought to have been present before thee — But the world never commit greater blunders, even against its own laws, than when it is persecuting the children of God.... [ Continue Reading ]
Unless they think me blamable for this one word — Which nevertheless was the real truth. Acts 23:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
After I have been more accurately informed — Which he afterward was; and he doubtless (as well as Festus and Agrippa) transmitted a full account of these things to Rome.... [ Continue Reading ]
He commanded the centurion to let him have liberty — To be only a prisoner at large. Hereby the Gospel was spread more and more; not to the satisfaction of the Jews. But they could not hinder it.... [ Continue Reading ]
And after Paul had been kept some days in this gentle confinement at Cesarea, Felix, who had been absent for a short time, coming thither again, with Drusilla, his wife — The daughter of Herod Agrippa, one of the finest women of that age. Felix persuaded her to forsake her husband, Azizus, king of E... [ Continue Reading ]
And as he reasoned of justice, temperance, and judgment to come — This was the only effectual way of preaching Christ to an unjust, lewd judge. Felix being terrified — How happily might this conviction have ended, had he been careful to pursue the views which were then opening upon his mind! But, li... [ Continue Reading ]
He hoped also — An evil hope: so when he heard his eye was not single. No marvel then that he profited nothing by all St. Paul's discourses: that money would be given — By the Christians for the liberty of so able a minister. And waiting for this, unhappy Felix fell short of the treasure of the Gosp... [ Continue Reading ]
But after two years — After St. Paul had been two years a prisoner, Felix desiring to gratify the Jews, left Paul bound — Thus men of the world, to gratify one another, stretch forth their hands to the things of God! Yet the wisdom of Felix did not profit him, did not satisfy the Jews at all. Their... [ Continue Reading ]