Observe here, How Ananias the high-priest, with the elders or heads of the Jewish council at Jerusalem, travel from thence to Cesarea,. great many miles, to inform the governor against St. Paul; AFTER FIVE DAYS ANANIAS DESCENDED, &C. The devil's drudges stick at no pains, spare for no cost, in doin... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, St. Paul the prisoner being called forth, Tertullus, the orator, began to show his art by. flattering insinuation, which mightily prevails with men of mean and corrupt minds. There is no cause so foul and bad, but some will be found to plead it; yea, to justify and defend it. And if so... [ Continue Reading ]
Tertullus having prepared the judge, presently falls upon the matter, and charges St. Paul with being. pestilent fellow,. seditious person,. disturber of the nation,. profaner of the temple,. ring-leader of the sect of the Nazarenes. And adds, that out of mere zeal to the Jewish religion, they had... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle, being accused of three notorious crimes, namely, SEDITION, HERESY, and PROFANATION of the temple, answers distinctly to every one of them. Where observe, 1. How undaunted innocency is in. good person, and in. good cause; St. Paul was so far from being daunted by the greatness of his en... [ Continue Reading ]
Here the apostle answers the second part of the charge brought against him; namely, the charge of heresy, and being the ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. Where note, That although the apostle would not, out of his great modesty, take upon himself to be one of the heads or chiefs among them,.... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle had made. free and open profession of his religion in the foregoing verse, AFTER THE WAY CALLED HERESY DO. WORSHIP THE GOD OF MY FATHERS. Here at the 15th verse he asserts the doctrine of the resurrection, which was. principal article both of the Jewish and the Christian religion; I HAV... [ Continue Reading ]
The apostle had vindicated himself from the charge and imputation of sedition and heresy before: he comes now to clear himself of the third charge, namely, the profanation of the temple; in order whereunto he declares, that he had not been. long time at Jerusalem before this journey: and that he now... [ Continue Reading ]
The sense of this is, "When Felix understood and discerned how things went, he would not pass any sentence in the case at present; but put them off, saying, WHEN. HAVE GOT. MORE PERFECT KNOWLEDGE OF THIS WAY OF CHRISTIANITY, and when. have spoken with Lysias, and understand the truth concerning the... [ Continue Reading ]
This chapter now concludes with the apostle's famous sermon before Felix his judge, in which we have considerable, the preacher, the hearers, the text or subject preached upon, and the successful effect of the sermon. Observe, 1. The preacher, St. Paul; AS PAUL REASONED. The apostle now was in bond... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, What small success the apostle's preaching had, it found and left Felix. bad man; covetousness and bribery were his sins before, and they are so still; HE HOPED THAT MONEY SHOULD BE GIVEN HIM OF Paul. THAT IS, HE EXPECTED. BRIBE FOR SETTING THE APOSTLE AT LIBERTY, CONTRARY TO THE LAW... [ Continue Reading ]