sufferer, and would prove by the fact that he rose from the dead that he was qualified to bring light to the world." For the importance that Paul attached to the Resurrection as proving the Divine mission of Christ, compare the speech at Antioch in Pisidia (chap. xiii.; see especially n. on xiii. 33).

PAUL BEFORE KING AGRIPPA—(continued). III. THE EFFECT OF PAUL'S DEFENCE (Acts xxvi. 24-32).

24 And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth 25 make thee mad. But he said, I am not mad, most noble

Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. 26 For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a 27 corner. King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I 28 know that thou believest. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, 29 Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. And Paul

said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such 30 as I am, except these bonds. And when he had thus

spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, 31 and they that sat with them: and when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man 32 doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds. Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Cæsar.

Paul's defence produced different effects on the minds of Festus and Agrippa. Festus regarded him as mad. There was very little in his address

that the Procurator could understand. Paul seemed to him an eccentric fanatic talking nonsense. Agrippa, on the other hand, understood Paul, and seems to have been impressed by his moral earnestness. Both agreed, however, that he was no criminal, and might have been acquitted but for his appeal to Cæsar.

24. much learning doth make thee mad. R.V., "thy much learning doth turn thee to madness." Festus, who seems to have been a good example of the cool, level-headed, practical Roman, thought that Paul's learning had destroyed his common sense and that religious excitement had unhinged his mind.

26. Paul turns from Festus to Agrippa, and appeals to the latter's knowledge of the facts. He feels that it is hopeless to attempt to make Festus believe in the Resurrection of Christ. But Agrippa is different. He was acquainted with what had happened in Jerusalem. He must have heard the story of Christ's Crucifixion and Resurrection. believed, too, in the prophets, and they were on Paul's side.

He

28. Almost thou persuadest me, etc. It is not easy to determine the exact force and significance of Agrippa's remark. One thing, however, is quite clear: the translation of the A.V. is absolutely wrong. The words rendered "almost cannot have that meaning, but must be translated "with little trouble." The best MSS., too, read "to make," instead of "to become," a Christian. The R.V. translates, "With but little persuasion thou wouldest fain make me a Christian," and this is probably the most accurate interpretation of the Text. The import of the passage seems to be as

"Do

follows:-Paul is attempting to cross-examine Agrippa and extract an admission from him which would have been damaging to his opponent. you believe the prophets?" he asks. "I know you do." If Agrippa had assented, Paul would have at once proceeded to build up an argument to prove that belief in the prophets involved the acceptance of Jesus as Messiah. Agrippa saw through the design, and at once parried the question and stopped the argument. "You are making a mistake," he says to Paul, "in supposing that it will only need a little persuasion to make me a Christian. I am not to be convinced by any 'short argument' of yours."

29. both almost and altogether. The change in the translation of ver. 28 necessitates an alteration here. The R.V. renders, "that whether with little or with much, not thou only, but all that hear me this day, might become such as I am.” "Whether by little persuasion or much," says Paul, "whether by short argument or by long, I would to God that I could convince you and all my hearers of the truth of my belief."

30. when he had thus spoken. This phrase is omitted in the R.V.

32. This man might have been set at liberty. Agrippa, looking at the matter from the Jewish standpoint, confirms the opinion of the Roman procurator that from a legal point of view there was no case against Paul. Roman and Jewish law, therefore, were at one in declaring Paul's innocence.

Acts xxvii. 1-xxviii. 16.

PAUL'S VOYAGE TO ROME.

I. THE FIRST STAGE OF THE VOYAGE (Acts xxvii. 1–8).

And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one 2 named Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band. And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; one Aristarchus, a Macedonian 3 of Thessalonica, being with us. And the next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh him4 self. And when we had launched from thence, we sailed 5 under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary. And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia 6 we came to Myra, a city of Lycia. And there the cen

turion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy; and 7 he put us therein. And when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce were come over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over against 8 Salmone; and, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called The fair havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.

Under the escort of a centurion named Julius, Paul in company with some other prisoners commenced his eventful voyage to Rome on a coasting vessel which conveyed the travellers from Cæsarea to Myra. At Myra the party changed vessels and took a ship which was bound for Italy. With some difficulty they reached Fair Havens, in the south of Crete.

1. of Augustus' band. R. V., "of the Augustan band." The exact meaning of the phrase "Augustan band" is difficult to determine. It may have been

a cohort which had received the title "Augustan or "Imperial" for some achievement in war, Sir W. Ramsay thinks that the name is a popular title for a particular cohort specially detached for Imperial service.

2. a ship of Adramyttium. Probably a coasting vessel, trading between Adramyttium and Cæsarea. Adramyttium was a seaport in Mysia, opposite to the island of Lesbos. The vessel was returning home for the winter.

Aristarchus. See n. on xix. 29. Cp. xx. 4. 3. Sidon. See n. on xi. 20.

courteously entreated Paul. R.V., "treated Paul kindly."

4. we sailed under Cyprus. R.V., "we sailed under the lee of Cyprus," i.e., between Cyprus and the mainland, to escape the force of the wind. 5. sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia. Literally, as in the R.V., "the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia.' For Cilicia see vi. 9, and for

Pamphylia xiii. 13.

Myra. A port on the south of Lycia, at the mouth of the river Andriacus.

6. found a ship. At Myra the party had what seemed to be the good fortune to find a vessel, probably a corn-ship, from Alexandria bound direct for Italy. Otherwise they would have been bound to continue the coasting voyage and join the Via Egnatia, in the north of Greece, whence they could proceed overland to Rome.

7. Cnidus. The extreme south-west point of Asia Minor. Owing to the wind, the ship had been compelled to hug the coast from Myra to Cnidus, instead of steering a straight course for Cythera, the island on the south of Greece.