By the fame righteous judgement of Him who makes even the wicked execute his purpofes, it seems to have been ordered, that those who were fent in these days from Rome, to prefide in Judea, were more fit to have been leaders to a herd of banditti, than civil magistrates, to adminifter with juftice the affairs of a nation.

The orator Tertullus complimented Felix, as the author of peace'; and he did, indeed,

who was then at Rome, the Jews had a fair hearing, and the emperor gave judgement in their favour (A. J. L. XX. c. v. §. 2, 3.) Hereupon we may fuppofe, though Jofephus does not particularly mention it, Ananias returned to Jerufalem, and prefided afterwards at the trial of St. Paul, whether in the capacity of high priest or not, it seems not material to determine. In these days of confufion, when there was a new high priest every year or oftener, the title was continued to those who had once held the office, as Ananias certainly had (A. J. L. XX. c. iv. §. 2.) and perhaps given to fome who never had that honour. (See A. J. L. XX. c. vii. §. 8. c. viii. §. 2. 4.) Josephus fays expressly (Ibid. c. viii. §. 2.) speaking of a time fubfequent to St. Paul's trial, "The high priest Ananias daily increased in reputation and honour and the good will of the citizens; for he used means [and those as the fequel there fhews the most unjuft and oppreffive] to get money, and daily conciliated Albinus and the high priest with gifts;" to connive, no doubt, at his iniquitous practices. This note was the more neceffary, because Whitby on Acts xxiii. 3. speaks as if Ananias was depofed and fent bound to Rome after St. Paul's imprisonment, whereas it was in fact as stated above, feveral years before.

t Acts xxiv. 2.

when

when he came into the province, fupprefs the robbers, who had for a long time infested it. But alas! what availed this fpecious beginning, when foon after, by one complicated act of iniquity and ingratitude, he made affaffins of thofe, who before were but robbers? The high priest then in power, by his interest at Rome, had been inftrumental to the арpointment of Felix; and, on the merit of this fervice, he prefumed to recommend to him an equitable and falutary administration. But the pride of the Roman could brook no advice from his benefactor and friend. therefore fuborned certain men among the robbers to dispatch the obnoxious high priest; and this bloody deed being suffered to go unpunifhed, the affaffins increased daily in audacity, and in numbers".

He

And here, if for a moment we might be indulged in a digreffion, we might well afk, What was it that, under fuch a governor, faved Paul from deftruction? for He likewise preached to Felix on the fubject of justice, and on certain other topics by no means pleafing to a guilty confcience. What then, it may be asked, protected the prifoner, when,

" A. J. L. XX. c. vii. §. 5. B. J. L. II. c. xiii. §. 2,3.

in a fimilar cafe, the high priest perished? It is true, St. Paul was a Roman; but this plea would probably, before fuch a judge*, be little regarded. A fucceffor of Felix chaftifed and even crucified men who were not only Romans, but of equestrian dignity". It is not likely therefore, that the governor would for this reason have spared Paul; especially as his death would have pleased the Jews, whofe good will, when it was for his intereft, he was folicitous enough to conciliate. But he was reftrained, in this inftance, from gratifying their wishes, by a higher cause, though to him unknown.

When the apostle was firft imprisoned, "the Lord," even Jefus, in whom he be

Felix-Judææ impofitus, et cunéta malefacta fibi impune ratus, tanta potentia fubnixo. Tacit. Ann. L. xii. c. 54. It is said (A&s xxii. 29.) that the chief captain was afraid upon finding that Paul was a Roman; and fo he had reason to be; for He was amenable for his conduct to the governor, who very poffibly would have punished in another the offence, which he himself would have committed without remorse. But the authority of the governor in his province was absolute; and the death of Paul would not have been, in the eyes of the Jews, a grievance for which they would have fought redress from the prefident of Syria, whofe ufual refidence was at Antioch (A. J. L. XVII. c. v. §. 7) nor would it have been added to the charges which were afterwards exhibited against Felix at Rome. See A. J. L. XX. c. vii. §. 9.

y B. J. L. II. c. xiv. §. 9.

lieved,

lieved, "stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul; for as thou haft testified of me in Jerufalem, fo muft thou bear witness alfo at Rome." Shielded by this promise he efcaped the conspiracy, which the Jews formed against him; and by this was he fafe, when in the hands of the governor; and Felix, though he trembled, durft not fmite.

The fame holy promife was the apostle's protection under the fucceffor of Felix; of whom indeed, as he lived not long, no memorable act of injuftice is recorded, except his not releafing him whom Felix, with wanton but interested cruelty, left in chains.

But if Feftus was remifs in the business of depredation, his fucceffor Albinus made ample amends. He plundered individuals, and oppreffed the state. Thofe, who were imprifoned for crimes, he fet free for hire; and they alone were confined, who were not able to bribe. He licensed for reward the leaders of fedition; and omitted, in a word, no fpecies of frauda.

Yet even this monster, if compared with his fucceffor, would appear, fays the histo

B. J. L. II. c. xiv. §. 1.

z Acts xxiii, 11.

K 2

rian,

rian, a pattern of virtue'. Diffimulation in Albinus, in Florus was triumph; and if the one robbed families, the other spoiled cities. He refembled an executioner armed to inflict punishment, rather than a magistrate sent to govern. Where he should have blushed, he was most impudent; and where he should have had compaffion, he was most cruel. Under him therefore the war broke out; and that with fome circumftances fo remarkable, that they must not here be paffed over in filence.

By the law of Mofes, the Jews were commanded to worship the Lord, in one place, at three public feasts; and as the country would, at thofe times, be in a defenceless state, to the precept was added a particular promise, that no man should defire their land, when they went up to appear before the Lord. But now they had forfaken the rock of their falvation, and the things, which aforetime were their glory and their ftrength, proved unto them an occasion of falling.

b

↳ B. J. L. II. c. xiv. §. 2. απέδειξεν αγαθώτατον κατα

συγκρισιν.

c Exod. xxxiv. 24. with xxiii. 27. xv. 15, 16. Deut. xi. 25. and fee Jofh. ii. 9. v. 1. 2 Chron. xiv. 14. but particularly 2 Chron. xvii. 10. Comp. alfo Gen. xxxv. 5. Act. xviii. 10.

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