_When Festus was come into the province_ And had taken possession of
the government; _after three days he ascended from Cesarea_ The usual
residence of the Roman governors; _to Jerusalem_ The capital city;
probably, both that he might gratify his curiosity in the sight of so
celebrated a place, and... [ Continue Reading ]
_But Festus_ Knowing their design; _answered, that Paul should be kept
at Cesarea_ So Festus's care to preserve the imperial privileges was
the means of preserving Paul's life! By what invisible springs does
God govern the world! With what silence, and yet with what wisdom and
energy! Nevertheless,... [ Continue Reading ]
_And when he had tarried there more than ten days_ A short time for a
new governor to stay at such a city as Jerusalem; _he went down to
Cesarea_ As he had said, several of the Jews attending him, as being
determined to lose no time, but to prosecute the affair in the most
strenuous manner they poss... [ Continue Reading ]
_But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure_ To ingratiate himself
with them by a popular action, at the beginning of his government; to
gratify the prosecutors rather than the prisoner, as far as he could
go with safety against one that was a citizen of Rome; _answered Paul,
Wilt thou go up to J... [ Continue Reading ]
_And after certain days_, &c. We have here the preparation that was
made for another hearing of Paul before King Agrippa, not in order to
his giving judgment upon him, but in order to his giving advice
concerning him, or rather, only to gratify his curiosity. Christ had
said concerning his disciples... [ Continue Reading ]
_When they had been there many days_ Among other subjects of discourse
which occurred, _Festus declared Paul's cause unto the king_ For, as
the crime of which he was accused related wholly to the Jewish
religion, in which the king was very knowing, Festus wished to have
his opinion upon it; and for... [ Continue Reading ]
_Against whom, when the accusers stood up_ And offered what they had
to say; _they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed_
From the general clamour they had made against him, as a seditious and
dangerous person, they would have done. He had inferred, from the
eagerness of their prosecu... [ Continue Reading ]
_And because I doubted of such manner of questions_ Whether they were
dangerous to the state and punishable, and whether I was a competent
judge of them; _I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem_ I
proposed that the cause should be adjourned to the Jewish courts, as
best able to take cognizance... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then Agrippa said, I would also hear the man myself_ That I may learn
from his own mouth what it is that he maintains, and on what
principles he proceeds. This demand the king made because he was well
acquainted with the religious tenets, disputes, and expectations of
the Jews, and because many won... [ Continue Reading ]
_On the morrow_, &c. Festus, accordingly, performed his promise to the
king; _and when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp_ Of
apparel, attendants, guards, &c.; Greek, μετα πολλης
φαντασιας, _with great show_, or _splendour._ But all this
pomp and show was far outshone by the real glory o... [ Continue Reading ]