And (1) after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders, and [with] a certain orator [named] Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul. (1) Hypocrites, when they can not do what they want to do by force and deceit, at length they go about to accomplish it by a show of law.... [ Continue Reading ]
And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse [him], saying, Seeing that (a) by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very (b) worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence, (a) Felix ruled that province with great cruelty and covetousness, and yet Josephus records that he di... [ Continue Reading ]
For we have found this man [a] (c) pestilent [fellow], and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a (d) ringleader of the sect of the (e) Nazarenes: (c) Literally, "a plague". (d) As one would say, a ringleader, or a flag bearer. (e) So they scoffingly called the Christi... [ Continue Reading ]
And the Jews also (f) assented, saying that these things were so. (f) Confirmed what Tertullus said.... [ Continue Reading ]
(2) Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of (g) many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself: (2) Tertullus, by the devil's rhetoric, begins with flattery and finishes with lies: but P... [ Continue Reading ]
Neither can they (h) prove the things whereof they now accuse me. (h) They cannot lay forth before you and prove with good reasons.... [ Continue Reading ]
(3) But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call (i) heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: (3) Paul proceeds in the case of religion from a conjectural state to a practical state, not only admitting of... [ Continue Reading ]
(4) Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings. (4) Paul in conclusion tells the things thing which was truly done, which Tertullus before him had corrupted in various ways.... [ Continue Reading ]
(k) Whereupon certain Jews from (l) Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult. (k) And while I was occupied with those things. (l) By this it is evident that these from Asia were Paul's enemies, and the ones that stirred up the people against him.... [ Continue Reading ]
Or else let these same [here] say, if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the (m) council, (m) Where the tribune brought me.... [ Continue Reading ]
(5) And when Felix heard these things, having more (n) 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. (5) The judge suspends his sentence because the matter is doubtful. (n) Felix could not judge... [ Continue Reading ]
(6) 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. (6) God is a most faithful keeper of his servants, and the power of the truth is wonderful, even amongst men who are otherwise profane.... [ Continue Reading ]
And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife (o) Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. (o) This Drusilla was Agrippa's sister of whom Luke speaks afterwards, a harlot and very licentious woman, and being the wife of Azizus king of the... [ Continue Reading ]
(7) But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix' room: and Felix, willing to (p) shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound. (7) With an evil mind, that is guilty in itself, and although sometimes there is some show of fairness, yet eventually the conscience will be extinguished: but in the m... [ Continue Reading ]