A whole host of enemies were assembled in the place. How full of malice they felt when they saw the poor prisoner, who had escaped out of their hands a few days before!

They had brought with them a man who could speak well; he was called an orator, or speaker. His name was Tertullus.

The Jews promised to pay him well for making a fine speech against Paul. Tertullus began his speech by praising Felix. He continued it by abusing Paul. He pretended that Paul had gone about the world trying to make the Jews rebel; and that he had come to Jerusalem to profane the Temple.

When Tertullus had finished his speech, Felix made a sign for Paul to speak.

The prisoner declared he had done nothing wrong, and that no one could prove anything against him, except this one thing, that he had said,

'There will be a resurrection of the dead!'

When Felix had heard Paul's answer, he did not know what to say. He thought that Paul was innocent. Why, then, did he not let him go? For the same reason that Pontius Pilate would not let Jesus go. He feared to displease the Jews. Still he was afraid to condemn a Roman citizen such as Paul. So he said to the Jews, 'I will wait till I know more of this matter ; perhaps the captain may come down and tell me more.'

The Jews were very much disappointed by this answer; for they wanted to get Paul down to Jerusalem. But they were obliged to go home without him.

Felix liked Paul better than before, since he had heard his speech. He desired a centurion to take care of him, and to be kind to him, and to make him comfortable. He desired that Paul

might be allowed to see his friends, and to have them stay with him.

This was a great delight to Paul. His friends were very dear to him. He might see Philip, who lived in Cæsarea. His daughters might come and bring him any food or clothes that he might want.

His friends at Jerusalem could easily come down and see him. Thirty-six miles is not a long journey. Perhaps the apostle James came down-perhaps Peter-perhaps John.

It is certain that Luke was often with Paul. Some think that he wrote his history of Jesus while sitting by Paul's side.

Timothy was sure to come; he was like a son to Paul, and was his greatest earthly comfort. There were many more who loved to be with the apostle. Would not Silas come and sing psalms with him, as he once did in a worse prison, a long while ago?

Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with. them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.' -Heb. xiii. 3.

LV.

THE TREMBLING JUDGE.

Acts, xxiv. 24 to end.

DAY after day passed away, and Paul continued in his pleasant prison.

Sometimes Felix went away for a while. Once he returned, bringing with him a beautiful young lady, whom he had just married.

Her name was Drusilla. She was a Jewess. She was the daughter of that Herod who put Peter in prison, and who was eaten by worms.

Yet, though a Jewess, she had just

married a heathen, and she had committed many crimes; for though so young, she had been married before, and she had left her husband to be the wife of Felix. The husband she had left was a king.*

It is reported that Simon Magus, whom Peter rebuked, had managed by his acts to set her against her right husband, and to turn her to like Felix.

When Felix brought Drusilla to Cæsarea, he told her of the wonderful prisoner he was keeping there. He told her how well Paul spoke about Jesus Christ, and His power to save those who believed in Him.

Felix thought that Drusilla would like to see this Jew, as she was a Jewess. So he desired the centurion to bring Paul out of prison into his room.

Paul was glad to speak of his Saviour to very great sinners. He knew that he stood before a wicked Gentile Azizus, king of the Emesenes.

*