October 13

Acts xxv. — 1. Now, when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Cesarea to Jerusalem.

2. Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him,

3. And desired favor against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.

4. But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Cesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly thither.

5. Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, go down with me, and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him.

6. And, when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto Cesarea, and the next day, sitting on the judgment-seat, commanded Paul to be brought.

7. And, when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid

many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove;

8. While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Cæsar, have I offended any thing at all.

9. But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?

10. Then said Paul, I stand at Cæsar's judgment-seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest.

11. For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die; but, if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Cæsar.

12. Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Cæsar? unto Cæsar shalt thou go.

A special interest attaches to this narrative, because it shows how Paul was taken to Rome as a prisoner. At Jerusalem a mob had been raised against him, and the Roman commandant had taken him into custody. Learning of a plot against the prisoner's life, he sent him by night to Cesarea, some sixty miles distant, upon the sea-coast, which was the residence of the governor-general of Syria. The corrupt and time-serving Felix, finding that he could make no personal interest or gain out of Paul, on retiring from office left him a prisoner, though convicted of no offence. Festus, his successor, a straight forward man, was importuned by the Jewish leaders at Jerusalem to bring Paul once more within their power; but he insisted upon looking into the case for himself.

Though he desired to ingratiate himself into the favor of the Jews, he respected the rights of his prisoner, and gave him the option of a trial at Jerusalem. Paul, suspecting some plot against his life, used his right as a Roman citizen of appealing to the emperor in person. The appeal, at the moment, saved his life from his Jewish enemies; yet, afterwards, Festus would have released him but for this very appeal to Cæsar. And so Paul went to Rome, which he had long desired to see, but went there as a prisoner. Perhaps his preaching was even more effective because of his bonds; and the churches owe to his long confinement at Rome several of his choicest epistles.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 77, 81, 108.

O Lord, who by the example of thy blessed apostle Paul hast taught us to forget those things which are behind, and to reach forth unto those things that are before! give us grace this day that we may press toward the mark for the prize of our high calling of thee in Christ Jesus. May we lay aside every weight, and the sins which so easily beset us, and run with patience the race set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith! As he for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising the shame; even so may we ever have before us our heavenly reward, and in like manner not fear what men can do unto us, if we may only acceptably serve thee.

From all idleness and carelessness; from all self-conceit, and love of praise; from all confidence in our own powers, and neglect of seeking thy grace, — Lord, preserve and keep us.

From all want of love to one another; from all lack of charity in thinking and speaking of men;

from all undue cleaving to our own likings and opinions, — Lord, preserve and keep us.

From all unsocial and selfish feelings; from taking advantage of the weakness or the ignorance of others; from slighting any one, or inwardly despising any one, — Lord, preserve and keep us.

In the constant sense of our membership of Christ; in the unfailing thought that we are his soldiers and servants; in the love for our Father's house, and the blessed hope of our eternal home, — Lord, preserve and keep us.

For the mercies of the past night; for the health and comfort with which we begin the day; for the provision for our wants; for means of improvement, of enjoyment, and of usefulness, — we humbly thank thee, the Giver of all good. Bless all dear to us; multiply the preachers of thy gospel; turn opposers and persecutors into witnesses for thee; and subdue all hearts unto thyself, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.