Acts 23

Acts 23:23

Paul, for the preservation of his life from the conspiracy of the Jews, is sent by night from Jerusalem to Caesarea, where he is presented to Felix, and quickly after is accused by Tertullus in the name of the Sanhedrim. Acts XXIII. 23, to the end. XXIV. 1—9.

Acts XXIII. 23.

lii IN the last section it was shewn, how the conspiracy which the Jews had formed against Paul’s life had been discovered to the Roman tribune: Now as this officer was a very equitable and worthy person, he was determined to consult the safety of his prisoner, whose innocence he was the more convinced of, from such base methods taken to destroy him; and finding it necessary for this purpose to remove him from Jerusalem, he called to him two of the centurions in whom he could particularly confide, and said to them, Prepare immediately the two hundred soldiers under your command, that they may be ready to go directly to Caesarea; and take with them a further guard of seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen, and let them begin their march

Acts XXIII. 23.

AND he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night.

es an account of him in a letter to Felix.

y the third hour of the night; (that is, at nine in the evening;) And provide beasts, to set Paul upon, if a change should be necessary, and see that you conduct him in safety, and with all convenient expedition, to Felix, the governor of the province.

And he also wrote an epistle to Felix on this occasion, the contents of which are expressed in this copy. “Claudius Lysias, the commander of a body of Roman soldiers at Jerusalem, to his excellency Felix, the governor of this province, [sendeth] greeting with the sincerest wishes of health and prosperity. This comes to inform you, that as this man, who is called Paul, was seized by a multitude of the Jews, who made a sudden insurrection on his account, and had like to have been slain by them, I came upon them with a party of soldiers, and rescued him from their furious assault: And I am the better pleased I had an opportunity of doing it, as I have since learnt that he is a Roman citizen: And desiring so much the more on this account to know particularly what was the crime of which they accused him, I brought him before their Sanhedrim; imagining that was the most proper tribunal to discuss a cause of such a nature, as, from general circumstances, I apprehended this must be. And after they had examined him, I found he was accused of no great crime, and that a cry was raised against him, only concerning some nice questions of their law; but that nothing was charged upon him, of which, if there had been sufficient proof to have convicted him, he would have been worthy of death, or even of bonds: Nevertheless, I chose to keep him

And I have since learnt that he is a Roman.] As it appears from the preceding story, that, when Lysias first rescued Paul out of the hands of the populace, he did not so much as imagine him to be a Roman, it is plain, that μυθωτ here (as Grotius well observes,) is put for και ημυθωτ, according to the turn given in the paraphrase; and consequently, no shadow of an argument can be drawn from hence to prove, that the Jews had then a power of putting those of their countrymen to death, who were not Roman citizens, as Dr. Lardner has well argued in his

large, and I think very conclusive, examination of this question, Credib. Book I. chap. 2. (See especially § 10, Vol. I p. 144-146.) Beza thinks, Lysias represents the fact a little unfairly, and would have made Felix believe, that he knew Paul was a Roman before he rescued him; but his conduct appears in the main so honourable, that I rather think, he only means in the general to intimate, that he had on the whole been more solicitous to provide for Paul’s security, ou of regard to his being a Roman citizen.

The soldiers take Paul to Cæsarea, and deliver him

confined for a few days, that I might not too much exasperate the people by dismissing him immediately. But when during this time it was signified to me, that an ambush would be laid by the Jews for the unfortunate man, with an intention to assassinate him; and with this view a scheme was formed to have him brought down from the castle to the Sanhedrim, on a pretence of farther examination, that they might kill him by the way; I thought it my duty immediately to provide for the security of his life, and therefore have sent [him] under a guard to thee, commanding his accusers also, who by these unwarrantable measures have rendered themselves much suspected, to come and declare before thee what they have to allege against him. And so, with all due respect, I bid thee most heartily farewell.

*The soldiers therefore, as it was commanded them, taking up Paul, and mounting him according to the kind provision which Lysias had made, brought him by night marches through Nicopolis and Lydda to Antipatris,*ᵇ a city within the borders of the tribe of Manasseh, which lay not far from the Mediterranean sea, about thirty eight miles distant from Jerusalem. And the next day after their arrival at that city, as they concluded he was now pretty secure from danger, the two companies of foot returned with the spearmen to the castle at Jerusalem, leaving the seventy horsemen to go with him to the end of his journey; Who accordingly guarded him

ᵇ Brought him by night to Antipatris.] Very different accounts are given of the situation of Antipatris, which must however have been northwest of Jerusalem, as it was in the way from thence to Cæsarea. Its ancient name was Capharsalama, (1 Macc. vii. 31; and Joseph Antiq. lib. xii. cap. 10, [al. 17.] § 4,) or Chabarzaba; (Joseph Antiq. lib. xiii. cap. 15, [al. 23.] § 1;) but Herod the Great rebuilt it, and gave it the name of Antipatris, in honour of his father Antipater. (Joseph Bell. Jud. lib. i. cap. 21, [al. 16.] § 9; & Antiq. lib. xvi. cap. 5, [al. 9.] § 2.) Some have supposed, it was but eighteen or twenty miles from Jerusalem; but Mr. Biscoe (whose account is followed in the ara hraze.) has

shown, it was something more than thirty eight of our miles, which must have been too far for one night’s march; he therefore very well observes, it is not necessary to conclude, that Paul was carried thither in one night, or that the soldiers returned in one day. It is only said, that they travelled by night, which they might do, and rest by the way; nor is it probable, they too? Paul with them from Jerusalem at night, and reached Cæsarea the next day, when it appears from Josephus, that from Jerusalem to Cæsarea was six hundred furlongs, or near seventy miles. (Bell. Jud. lib. i. cap. 3, § 5; & Antiq. lib. xiii. cap. 11, [al. 12.] § 2.) See Mr. Biscoe at Boyle’s Lect. chap. 10, p. 388—391.

and the elders go and appear against him.

the rest of the way, and entering with him into Cæsarea, which was about thirty miles from Antipatris, acquitted themselves of their trust; and delivering the epistle they had brought from Lysias to Felix the governor, they presented Paul also before him, and so completed the affair with which they had been charged.

And when the governor had read [the letter,] and understood that Paul was sent as one accused of the Jews, that he should try his cause, he presently asked of what province he was: And being informed that he was of Cilicia, I will hear thee, said he, and thoroughly examine into this matter, when thine accusers are also come; which I suppose will be in a few days. And in the mean time he commanded him to be kept bound in Herod’s prætorium, where a body of soldiers was quartered, under whose guard prisoners were often detained.

And according to the expectation of Felix, it was not long before he had occasion to call for Paul again; for after he had been but five days at Cæsarea, the high priest Ananias, apprehending the matter to be of the utmost importance, came down in person, with several of the elders, who were members of the Sanhedrim; and they brought along with them a certain orator [called] Tertullus, whose business it was to open the cause, and to harangue the governor in the most agreeable manner that he could: And they all made their appearance in form before the governor, and advanced a general accusation against Paul, on which they desired to be more particularly heard. And he being called to hear his charge, and make his defence, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, with more regard to interest than truth,

May it please your excellency, as we enjoy great peace by your means,* and many illustrious

• Herod’s prætorium.] This was a palace and court, built by Herod the Great, when he rebuilt and beautified Cæsarea. Probably, some tower belonging to it might be used as a kind of state prison, as is common in such places.

• Tertullus began to accuse him.] Almost every word of this oration is false; the accusation of Paul, the encomium of the government of Felix, and the declaration of a

lawful intention in what they had done and attempted.

• We enjoy great peace by your means.] He probably refers to what Felix had done to clear the country of robbers and impostors; for all historians agree, that he was a man of so bad a character, that his government was a plague to all the provinces over which he presided; and as for Judea, its state under Felix was so far

Tertullus makes a flattering oration

ECT. deeds are happily done to this whole Jewish na- lii. contin, and many disorders rectified, by the continual care and vigilance of your prudent administration; We accept [it] always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all imaginable thankfulness; and it grieves us to be under this unfortunate necessity of troubling you with our complaints, though we are well assured of your generous disposition to remedy them. 4 Nevertheless, it is impossible that the wisest governors should prevent some troubles arising to the State under their care, while so much sedition and wickedness remain in those who ought to behave as orderly subjects; and therefore that I may not trouble you further with any laboured introduction, I humbly beseech you to hear us what we have to offer in a few words, according to your well known goodness and humanity, with your [usual] candour, and to bear with me while I briefly open the charge against this notorious offender, whom we are obliged to pursue even to this august tribunal. For indeed to speak with that plainness which truth and justice require on such an occasion, we have found this man a most pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world; and to give the completest idea of his malignity that a few words can express, he is not only a member, but even a ringleader, of the detestable sect of the Nazarenes; than which none has ever sprung up amongst us more dishonourable to the law of the Jews, or more dangerous to the government of the Romans. It would be easy to allege many gross instances of his impiety,

from being what Tertullus here represents, that Josephus (besides what he says of the barbarous and cowardly assassination of Jonathan the high priest by his means,) declares, that the Jews accused him before Nero of insufferable oppressions, and had certainly ruined him, if his brother Pallas had not interposed in his favour. (Joseph. Antiq. lib. xx. cap. 8, [al. 6, 7,] § 5, 7, 9.) See also Tacit. Histor. lib. v. § 9, & Annal. lib. xii. § 54

Illustrious deeds are happily done, &c.] Elsner (Observ. Vol. I. p. 472, 473,) proves this to be the exact sense of the words κατ’ 9ωμεῖν γυρισται, illustrious undertak-

ings happily accomplished, and shews the compliment was here the higher, as it was usual, even at this time, among the Romans, at least in public discourses, to refer such events to divine Providence, rather than human efforts, of which he brings many remarkable instances, which shew either the piety, or the policy, of the great men of antiquity who made use of such language. On the other hand, apparent slights put upon religion by persons in public stations are proofs of a weak understanding, that cannot fail of making them contemptible, not only among all religious, but all prudent men.

and accuses Paul before Felix.

one about to proane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law.

which they who have known his conduct abroad fail not to testify; but it is needless to insist on any other facts, against a criminal who has been so audacious, that but very lately he attempted also to profane the temple, by bringing uncircumcised persons within the sacred boundaries from which they are excluded, even by your authority as well as by our law, on pain of death. As he is one therefore who has rendered himself on such a variety of accounts obnoxious and odious to our whole nation, and

against whom we have so many accusations, we seized him a few days ago as a notorious offender, and would have judged him according to our law, which in such a case as this, it is well known, we had a right to execute in its fullest extent, and might have done it even on the spot. But Lysias the tribune, commander of the Roman garrison in Jerusalem, coming upon us with a great and armed force, took him away out of our hands, and so interrupted the course of our just and regular proceedings against him: Nor had we troubled you with hearing us on this occasion, had not he sent him hither, commanding his accusers to come to you, if they intended to prosecute the affair any farther; by which means you might yourself, on a proper examination, take cognizance of all these things of which we accuse him. We promise ourselves therefore, from the known wisdom, equity, and goodness of your excellency, that as we can all aver the truth of these facts on which we ground our charge, you will please to consider the importance of the case, in which the national honour, safety, and religion are so nearly concerned, and will either punish this notorious criminal as he deserves, or order him back again to Jerusalem, and in-

¶ Has attempted also to profane the temple.] Tertullus artfully mentions this, as the most express fact he had to charge upon him, as he knew that the Romans allowed the Jews a power of executing, even without forms of law, any person who should be found in such an act of profanation, and seems to have intended to make a merit of their moderation, that they intended nevertheless fairly to have tried him, and not to have destroyed him on the spot, as Lysias has justly charged them with attempting to do. And it is observable, that

he no where expressly avows so much as a design to have put Paul to death, though it was undoubtedly intended; so that I cannot but wonder, that this story should ever have been urged to prove, that the Jewish courts had the power of executing capital punishments without a warrant from the Romans. The phrase, which Tertullus afterwards uses of the accusers being commanded to come to Felix, (ver. 8,) though the high priest himself was known to be one of the … s’ws plainly to what subjectio they were reduced.

Reflections on the charge advanced against Paul.

sec. terpose your authority, which is here supreme, lii. to prevent any farther opposition to the legal proceedings of the Sanhedrim against him.

Acts And when Tertullus had concluded his smooth xxiv. and flattering oration, the Jews also who were present gave their assent to all that he had urged, saying to Felix, that it was true, that all these things were so as he had alleged in his discourse, and that he had truly represented the eause which had now brought them to Cæsarea.

And on this Felix ordered Paul to offer any thing which he had to urge in his own defence, of which, with the issue of the cause, an account will be given in the next section.

And the Jews also assented, saying, that these things were so.

IMPROVEMENT.

Acts To hear the most amiable goodness injured by false and viruxxiv. lent accusations, is what we have been accustomed to, in the 2-9 perusal of this sacred history, in which we have now advanced so far. The surprise of it therefore is abated. But who would not lament, to see the great talent of eloquence, in itself so noble, and capable of such excellent use for the public good, abused to such infamous purposes, on the one hand to varnish over crimes, and on the other to render innocence suspected, and virtue itself odious! Had that of Tertullus been much greater, than it appears by this specimen, it would only have served to perpetuate his own shame to posterity for the mean flattery he addressed to Felix, and the cruel and unjust invectives which he poured out against Paul. But history is juster than panegyric or satire, and has left us the character of the one, and the other, painted in its true colours: And much more evidently shall every character appear in the justest light before the tribunal of a righteous God, where Paul, and Felix, and Tertullus, and Ananias, are to meet again. There may we, with the apostle, have honour and praise, whatever eloquence may now arraign, whatever authority may now condemn us!

In the mean time, where we enjoy great peace under the mag- 2, 3 istrates which Providence has set over us, and worthy deeds are done by them for the honour of God and the good of mankind, 5 let us always thankfully accept it, and take care ourselves to be quiet in the land. Should they, who call themselves the followers of Jesus, be indeed pestilent fellows and movers of sedition, they would act not only beneath their character as Christians, but directly contrary to it, and in a manner which must by necessary consequence forfeit it; nor should they affect to be ringleaders in sects and parties. Their master is the Prince of peace: In his service let them exert themselves, but always in the spirit of love,

makes his defence before Felix, and pleads

meekness of their tempers, and the usefulness of sact. nce, and if possible to shame, the clamours of lii. malicious enemies.