7. many and grievous complaints. In addition to the former charges of (1) teaching contrary to the Law, (2) profaning the Temple, the Jews seem to have tried to strengthen their case by accusing Paul of high treason against Cæsar (compare Paul's reply in ver. 8).

10. I stand at Cæsar's judgment seat. Paul claims the right, as a Roman citizen, of being tried before a Roman tribunal, and declines to return to Jerusalem.

11. I appeal unto Cæsar. Every Roman citizen had the right, in the last resort, of carrying his case to Rome and placing it before the Emperor as the final court of appeal.

12. conferred with the council. I.e., with the chief members of his staff, who acted as assessors in the Procurator's Court.

Acts xxv. 13-22.

FESTUS CONSULTS KING AGRIPPA.

13 And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto 14 Cæsarea to salute Festus. And when they had been there

many days, Festus declared Paul's cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix: 15 about whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have 16 judgment against him. To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the 17 crime laid against him. Therefore, when they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the

judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought 18 forth. Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed: 19 but had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul 20 affirmed to be alive. And because I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked him whether he would go to 21 Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters. But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send 22 him to Cæsar. Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To-morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.

An opportune visit of King Agrippa 11. to Cæsarea afforded Festus an opportunity of consulting the highest Jewish authority with regard to the case of Paul. Festus laid the whole matter before Agrippa, and the king expressed a desire to see and hear Paul.

13. Agrippa. Herod Agrippa II. was the son and successor of Herod Agrippa 1. (see introductory note to chap. xii. and n. on xii. 1). He was only seventeen years old when his father died in 44 A.D., and pressure was brought upon the Emperor Claudius to refuse him the throne. The whole of Palestine, therefore, passed under direct Roman government for the first time. Later on, however, Agrippa received the title of King, and had allotted to him certain districts on the N.E. of Palestine (Gaulonitis and Trachonitis). Subsequently, too, he also received certain cities of Galilee. His authority, however, was never more than a mere shadow of that possessed by his father.

Bernice. A daughter of Agrippa 1., and consequently sister of Agrippa 11. and Drusilla. The

worst rumours are found both in Jewish and Roman historians as to the immoral relations which existed between Bernice and her brother. She had previously been married to Herod of Chalcis. She has been described as a "Jewish Cleopatra on a small scale." Her later life was full of low intrigues, in which the Emperor Titus was the most prominent associate.

15. desiring to have judgment. R.V., “ asking for sentence against him.'

16. to deliver any man to die. R.V. omits the last two words, and translates, "to give up any man."

19. of their own superstition. R.V., "religion." The Greek word may mean either "religion" or "superstition," but it is scarcely likely that Festus would have described the Jewish religion as a superstition to Agrippa.

20. because I doubted of such manner, etc. The meaning of this expression is made clear by the R. V., "And I, being perplexed how to inquire concerning these things, asked," etc.

21. unto the hearing of Augustus. “Augustus is the official title borne by the Roman Emperor. R.V., " for the decision of the emperor."

Acts xxv. 23-xxvi. 32.

PAUL BEFORE KING AGRIPPA.

I. FESTUS OPENS THE COURT (xxv. 23–27). 23 And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and was entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city, at

24 Festus' commandment Paul was brought forth. And

Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, crying that he ought not to live 25 any longer. But when I found that he had committed

nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed 26 to Augustus, I have determined to send him. Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, O king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might 27 have somewhat to write. For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him.

In response to Agrippa's request, Festus held a special meeting of the Court to re-examine Paul and hear his defence. The trial was quite informal. The Court could not override Paul's appeal to Rome. It was held in order to gratify Agrippa's curiosity rather than to serve the interests of justice, though Festus made the excuse that its purpose was to obtain the necessary facts for his official report to the Emperor.

23. with great pomp. A love of display was one of the most marked characteristics of the Heriodian family, and reached its climax in Agrippa and Bernice.

24. have dealt with me. R.V., "made suit to me."

and also here. The Jews in Jerusalem had evidently stirred up their kinsmen in Cæsarea, thinking no doubt that the leading citizens in the seat of Roman government would be able to influence the mind of Festus against Paul.

25. appealed to Augustus. See n. on ver. 11.

26. Of whom I have nothing certain to write. Paul's case had obviously baffled Festus, as it had baffled other Roman administrators. No charge had been brought which was actionable under Roman law, yet so much popular prejudice had been aroused that it was hardly possible to take what seemed to be the clear course and acquit the prisoner. Hence Festus felt the utmost difficulty in stating the grounds of Paul's appeal in a way which would be intelligible at Rome.

PAUL BEFORE KING AGRIPPA-(continued). II. PAUL'S DEFENCE (Acts xxvi. 1-23).

Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, 2 and answered for himself: I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the 3 Jews: especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: where4 fore I beseech thee to hear me patiently. My manner of

life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own 5 nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews; which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. 6 And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the 7 promise made of God unto our fathers: unto which

promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king 8 Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews. Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise