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Acts xxiv. 22-27.

PAUL AND FELIX.

22 And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the 23 uttermost of your matter. And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come 24 unto him. And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, 25 and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 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 26 thee. He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for 27 him the oftener, and communed with him. But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix' room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.

Felix, after hearing the arguments of both parties, adjourned the case on the pretext that in the absence of Claudius Lysias the evidence was incomplete. As a matter of fact, however, Felix himself was in a dilemma. He knew enough of the history of the Christian movement to be able to see that there was no real case against Paul, Moreover, there can be little doubt that there was something about Paul which fascinated him. Profligate and licentious though he was, Paul's moral earnestness appealed to him. Yet Felix dared not follow his own convictions and acquit the prisoner. He was far too cowardly to face the storm of Jewish hatred which would be aroused if

the case were dismissed. So he let "I dare not " wait upon "I would," and kept Paul a prisoner at Cæsarea for two years, granting him occasional interviews, and showing a readiness to listen to, though not to follow, his teaching.

22. having more perfect knowledge of that way. R.V., "having more exact knowledge concerning the Way." See n. on ver. 14.

know the uttermost. R.V., "I will determine your matter."

23. let him have liberty. R.V., "should have indulgence." Paul was allowed access to his friends, who were permitted to provide him with food, books, writing materials, etc. This was a very considerable concession, since Paul had many friends in Cæsarea-notably, of course, Philip the Evangelist.

24. with his wife Drusilla. The story of the relations between Felix and Drusilla is one of the most disgraceful episodes of the time. Drusilla was the youngest daughter of Agrippa 1., and sister of the Bernice who is mentioned in xxv. 13. She had been married to Azizus, King of Emesa, but she was induced by Felix to leave her husband and become his wife. Felix himself had been married twice before, and has the unenviable notoriety of having been "the husband of three queens." Some scholars think that the intrigue took place at this time, and is referred to in the phrase "when Felix came with his wife;" but the chronological data are so uncertain that it is impossible to prove or disprove the conjecture. The hypothesis certainly adds vividness to the scene.

25. And as he reasoned, etc. In speaking to Gentiles, Paul usually dwelt upon that aspect of the gospel which they would be most likely to

appreciate (compare the speech at Athens), viz., its ethical teaching and its promise of a future life. The special circumstances connected with the career of Felix must, however, have added dramatic effect to his words in the present case. Righteous

ness! How strangely the words of Paul must have sounded in the ears of the man who thought that "he could do any evil act with impunity"! Temperance! (the word is used with its widest meaning, in the sense of self-control). How Felix, fresh from his intrigue with Drusilla, must have writhed under the lash of Paul's denunciation ! Judgment to come! What a sting there must have been in Paul's language for Felix, who felt himself absolutely secure as long as his brother Pallas was in power at Rome! The judge and the prisoner had changed places. Paul sat on the bench, Felix stood at the bar. The only parallel is to be found in the equally dramatic scene in which John the Baptist denounced the sin of Herod Antipas (Matt. xiv. 1-12).

Felix trembled. R.V., "was terrified." Paul's home thrusts had touched his conscience and made him uneasy, though he was too weak to break away from his sin.

26. He hoped that money would be given. A Roman governor, if he were unscrupulous, had many opportunities of making money by illegitimate means, and Felix evidently, in addition to his other crimes, was guilty of corruption.

27. Porcius Festus came. Felix was recalled to Rome in disgrace. His successor, Festus, was a finer type of man, and his administration was not disgraced by the crimes which characterised the rule of Felix. The date at which the change of

governors took place cannot, unfortunately, be settled. Some authorities place it as early as 55, others as late as 61. The uncertainty affects the whole chronology of Acts and Paul's life.

Acts xxv. I-12.

THE TRIAL BEFORE FESTUS, AND
PAUL'S APPEAL TO CÆSAR.

Now when Festus was come into the province, after three 2 days he ascended from Cæsarea to Jerusalem. Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against 3 Paul, and besought him, and desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in 4 the way to kill him. But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Cæsarea, and that he himself would 5 depart shortly thither. Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, go down with me, and accuse this 6 man, if there be any wickedness in him. And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto Cæsarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment 7 seat commanded Paul to be brought. And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against 8 Paul, which they could not prove. While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Cæsar, have I offended 9 any thing at all. 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 11 thou very well knowest. 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 12 Cæsar. Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Cæsar? unto Cæsar shalt thou go.

The prompt action of Festus stands out in striking contrast to the dilatoriness of Felix, who had kept Paul under surveillance at Cæsarea for two years without attempting to settle the matter. The case passes rapidly through the following stages: (1) Upon the occasion of Festus' visit to Jerusalem, immediately after taking office, the Jews make an appeal to him to send Paul back to Jerusalem. This request Festus refuses to grant, but arranges that the trial shall take place immediately at Cæsarea. (2) The trial takes place. The accusers fail to prove their indictment. (3) Festus, anxious to shift the responsibility on to other shoulders, asks Paul whether he is willing to go to Jerusalem and stand a trial before the Council. Paul refuses, and exercises his right of appeal to the Emperor.

2. Then the high priest, etc. R.V., "And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews." Ver. 15 shows that the phrase "principal men" is equivalent to "elders."

4. should be kept at Cæsarea. This translation scarcely gives the force of the original, which states that "Paul was kept in charge at Cæsarea."

5. which amongst you are able. The ambiguity of this expression is removed by the translation of the R.V., "Let them which are of power among you."

6. more than ten days. The best MSS. read, "not more than eight or ten days."

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