Acts 24

Acts 24:10-21

We left Paul a prisoner at Cefarea; in this chapter we have his arrangement and tried before Felix the governor. Here is, 1. The appearing of the prisoners against him, and the setting of the prisoner to the bar, ver. 1, 2. 2. The opening of the indictment against him by Tertullus, ver. 2—8. 3. The corroborating of the charge by the testimony of the witnesses, or rather the prosecutors themselves, ver. 9. 4. The prisoner’s defence, in which, with all due deference to the governor, ver. 10. he denies the charge, and challenged them to prove it, ver. 11—13. when the truth, and makes an unexceptionable profession of his faith, which he declares was it that they hated him for, ver. 14—16. and gives a more particular account of what had passed from their best feeling of him, challenging them to influence in any ill that they had found in him, ver. 17—21. 5. The adscurrying of the cause, and the continuing of the prisoner in aphale, ver. 22, 23. 6. The private conversation that was between the prisoner and the judge, by which the prisoner hoped to do good to the judge, and the judge thought to get money by the prisoner, but both in vain, ver. 24—26. 7. The lengthening out of Paul’s imprisonment for two years, till another governor came, ver. 27.

1. AND after five days, Ananias the high priest defended with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul. 2. And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seizing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence, 3. We accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. 4. Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee, that thou wouldst hear us of thy clemency a few words. 5. For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the left of the Nazarenes; 6. Who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law. 7. But the chief captain Lyras came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands. 8. Commanding his accusers to come unto thee: by examining of whom, thyself mayeth take knowledge of all these things whereof we accuse him. 9. And the Jews also assented, saying, that these things were so.

2. 1—9. Lyras no doubt informed the chief priests and elders what he had done, and referred them to Felix, if they chose further to prosecute Paul. Whereupon,

3. Without loss of time, after five days, reckoning from the time they left apprehended him, they came down to Cefarea, with Ananias the high priest at their head; and appearing in a body before Felix, to give the greater weight to their cause, they desired to be heard against Paul, and had engaged an artful and plausible counsellor, one Tertullus, to plead for them. Note, Inveterate makes against the gospel will sometimes make the most reverend characters stoop to the meanest actions.

4. Paul being brought forth, Tertullus, with many oratorial flourishes, and a most flattering address to the judge, opens his speech against the prisoner at the bar.

[1.] He compliments the governor on his administration. Though universally known to be one of the most oppressive, covetous, and cruel, that had ever ruled over Judea; yet, to court his favour, and win him to their party, he, as one that pleaded not for truth but for hire, doubts thick his adulations. Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence, penetration, and prudent care; we accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness; professing the deepest sense of our obligations for such singular favours, and emboldened thereby to hope more confidently for the justice we demand against the prisoner. But that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee, that thou wouldst hear us of thy clemency a few words; the cats being in clear, that it can take up very little of your Excellency’s time, to be convinced of the prisoner’s guilt.

It was well known how the Jewish nation in general, and the elders in particular, hated Felix and his government; but now, when they have a point to carry, they literally sifted at his feet their flattering applause.

[2.] He comes to the point, and boldly alledges many grievous crimes, with which he charges the innocent prisoner. We found this man a pestilent fellow, propagating his pernicious tenets like a plague; the very pell of society, and a motor of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, exciting tumult-

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wherever he goes against the Roman government; and a ring-leader of the left of the Navarene; a promoter of that detectable herely, for which, and his notoriously seditious principles, the first author of it, one Jesus of Nazareth, was crucified some years ago. Who also hath gone about to prepose the temple, with daring impiety introducing those who were by the law forbid admittent there.

All these charges are a tiffier of fallhoods. All the pestilence Paul carried with him was the gospel of salvation, doing good to men’s bodies and fouls wherever he came. Far from sedition, he taught the most conscientious obedience to the railing powers. The tumults complained of, were made not by him, but by his accusers themselves. He fit himself up for no head of a bird, nor attempted to draw any man to his standard, but to his divine Master: and so far from prosinning the temple, none could behave with greater piety, fet衍ment, and conformity to the law, than he had done. Note, (1) The purest innocence is no protection from the chiefh afaritions. They who make no conscience of lies, with solemn afforances, and repeated fallhoods, will strive hard but they will blacken the hurrel character. (2) The charge against the gospel and its mindless hath often been, that they raise disturbances and riots; when in fact the very persons who lay this actualism against them, are the very persons who raise the tumults; like Nero, who let Rome on fire, and then persecuted the Christians for that atrocious deed: but there is now who lents and paignets.

(3.) He insinuates the equity with which they were proceeding against the prisoner, by a fair trial according to the law; when Lytas, the chief captain, interrupting the course of justice, by violence feared the prisoner, and carried him off, obliging them to all this trouble and expense, by bringing the cause hither: but he hopes now at least justice will be done, and that the governor, fully satisfied of Paul’s guilt, will pronounce sentence against him.

Nothing could be more false and invidious than this assertion; but Lytas was not here to dispose it, and he hoped the weight of evidence which he brought with him would prevail.

3. The high priests and elders added their solemn attestation to the truth of Tertullian’s harangue: nor is it a marvel, that they who wanted to murder Paul by affaiblation, should now attempt to carry their point by the blacked perjury.

4. Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hath been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself: 11. Because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship. 12. And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city. 13. Neither can they prove the things whereof they now excise me. 14. But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call bereft, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and the prophets: 15. And have hope towards God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. 16. And herein do I exercise myself to have always a conscience void of offence toward God and reward men. 17. Now after many years, I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings. 18. Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult. 19. Who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had ought against me. 20. Or else let these same here say, if they have found any evil-doing in me, while I stood before the council, 21. Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, “Touching the resurrection of the dead, I am called in question by you this day.

How different is the spirit which breathes in the defence of Paul, from that which actuated the plausible orator, Tertullian. He is not exasperated with the fallhounds which were advanced, or in a heat to reply, but waited the governor’s promotion to speak; which when Felix had signified, he rose with conscious integrity, to pour confusion on the charges of his adversaries.

1. With deep respect for his judge, which was consistent with that severe regard to truth which became him, he opens his abstract; Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself: Felix well knew the spirit and temper of the Jews by his long acquaintance with them, and could not wonder at the malice of these furious araons: had half the things been true

which they alledged, the governor had, no doubt, heard of Paul before.

2. He flatly denies the charges of sedition, of which he was accused. It was but twelve days since he came to Jerusalem, not to prepose the temple, but, with high respect of that sacred place, to worship there, where they neither found him disputing with any man, either about religion or government, nor fomenting the left disturbance in the synagogues or the city, but demeaning himself with all peaceableness; and he defies his accusers to prove one of the charges which they so preemptorily alledged. Now, It is in every villain’s power to propagate fallhood, and to bring the heaviest charges against the noblest characters; but every solate bearer and upright judge will not rest in his affections, but requires proof of the facts.

3. He owns and glorifies in the acknowledgement, that after the way which they disguaranteed as herself, to worshipped be the God of his fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and the prophets; the divine authority of the precepts, and the accomplishment of the promises, and his hope towards God, and preaching, were in exact correspondence with the fundamental doctrine of the orthodox faith which they themselves held, that there should be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and of the unjust; who must witness before the eternal judge, that divine Mestiah, Jesus of Nazareth, whom the Jews had crucified. And herein do I exercise myself, persuaded of this solemn day’s approach, and expelling to stand before the great Judge of all, endeavouring to keep a conscience void of offence toward God and reward men. Note, (1) The Scriptures are the only rule of faith and practice; to them we must cleave. (2) As there will be a resurrection of the just and of the unjust, it is a matter of useful consideration to enquire, which character is ours. (3) Hope towards God, is an anchor which will keep the soul fledfall in every flame. (4) A good confidence is our best friend. Perfection is not attainable in this world; but that in simplicity and godly sincerity we desire to have our conversation, this is our rejoicing.

4. As to his prosinning the temple, this was of a piece with the other fallhounds advanced; the very contrary was evident. He had, after a considerable absence from Jerusalem, returned with chantable contributions for the poor faints who dwelt there; and having a religious vow, had brought his own offerings to the temple, where certain Jews of Asia saw him, purifying himself according to the law, and/or with assistance we must invade; only four persons who had vows, like himself, were with him, demeaning themselves with all possible quatuents and regularity; and as to the supposed offence of having brought Greeks into the temple, which was suggested as the occasion of the riot which was raised, he challenges them to produce these men of Asia who raised this report, and ought to be here, if they had any thing to object. Or since they were absent, he appeals to his accusers themselves, if on examination before the council, any one misdemeanour was so much as proved against him, except they reckoned his declaration concerning the resurrection of the dead to be such, wherein he had been supported and countenanced by the most respectable part of that assembly.

A defence so clear, so ingenuous, so convincing, as carried its own evidence along with it, and demonstrated his innocence of every crime they had alledged against him.

22. And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and said, when Lytas the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter. 23. And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to muster, or come unto him. 24. And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife, Drisfilla, which was a Jewels, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 25. And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. 26. He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him; wherefore he sent for him the officer, and communed with him. 27. But after two years, Porcius Feltus came into Felix room: and Felix willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.

Acts 24:22-27

Felix patiently heard the parties, but deferred pailing judgment upon the cause.

1. He put off the determination till the arrival of Lytas, on whom they formed to reflect, when he could more thoroughly examine into the circumstances; and probably, though unwilling to disoblige the chief men of the nation, he was little apprehensive of any danger of sedition from the predileges of chathamism, having more perfect knowledge of that way. As Cornelius, a centurion, long ago had been converted to the Christian faith at Casta-rea, and many others, Felix was no doubt well acquainted with

their