Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem. Ver. 1. _Now when Festus_] Who succeeded Felix in the government, as after Festus came Albinus, and after him Florus, under whom Jerusalem was sacked and ruined. That heavy curse was executed upon t... [ Continue Reading ]
Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him, Ver. 2. _Informed him against Paul_] ενεφανισαν, they gave him private intelligence (so the word signifies, saith Erasmus), they buzzed false reports into his ears: an old practice of persecutors. _Proprie s... [ Continue Reading ]
And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him. Ver. 3. _Desired favour_] Or a good turn, χαριν : such was their impudence.... [ Continue Reading ]
But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly _thither_. Ver. 4. _That Paul should be kept, &c._] How easily can God defeat the most cunning contrivances of his Church's enemies! He sees and smiles, he looks and laughs. Commit we therefore ourse... [ Continue Reading ]
Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, go down with _me_, and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him. Ver. 5. _That are able_] Or well appointed, well provided of moneys and other necessaries for such an enterprise. He that prosecutes another need be well underlaid.... [ Continue Reading ]
And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto Caesarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought. Ver. 6. _Commanded Paul to be brought_] This is now the third time: and what if it had been the thirtieth? Cato (the very best of the Romans... [ Continue Reading ]
And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove. Ver. 7. _Laid many and grievous complaints against Paul_] Whereby to take away his precious life: which because they could not, they had l... [ Continue Reading ]
While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all. Ver. 8. _Neither against the law of the Jews_] _Quam multa quam paucis!_ how much, how little, said Cicero of Brutus' laconical epistle: and the... [ Continue Reading ]
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? Ver. 9. _Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem?_] Irreligious persons that are not acted by the Spirit of God, we see how flexible and inclinable they are to c... [ Continue Reading ]
Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest. Ver. 10. _I stand at Coesar's judgment seat_] We may safely make our just defence when falsely accused, and take the benefit of the law. Ambrose would be judge... [ Continue Reading ]
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 Caesar. Ver. 11. _I appeal to Coesar_] Who though a lion, 2 Timothy 4:17, yet I hope to be _tutus s... [ Continue Reading ]
Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go. Ver. 12. _Hast thou appealed, &c._] _Elegans loquendi forma, _ saith Piscator: such as are those, 1Co 7:18; 1 Corinthians 7:21; 1Co 7:27 Romans 13:3. A cutted kind of speech, sa... [ Continue Reading ]
And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus. Ver. 13. _King Agrippa and Bernice_] Son and daughter to that Herod mentioned Acts 12:1. They were known, saith Josephus, to live in detestable incest. It pleased God that his faithful servant Paul should plead for... [ Continue Reading ]
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: Ver. 14. _A certain man left in bonds_] Wherein he glorieth more than others in their gold chains,Ephesians 3:1; Philemon 1:1. _Non ita beatum Paulum puto, _ sa... [ Continue Reading ]
About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed _me_, desiring _to have_ judgment against him. Ver. 15. _To have judgment against him_] _Damnationem, _ saith Beza. This was the favour they craved of Festus, Acts 25:3. So a writ came down while the Lady Eli... [ Continue Reading ]
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 crime laid against him. Ver. 16. _Have the accusers face to face_] Here was no oath _ex officio_ to... [ Continue Reading ]
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 forth. Ver. 17. _Without delay_] This was well; judges should dismiss timely those whom they cannot presently despatch, as Jethro adviseth,Exodus 18:13,26. It is re... [ Continue Reading ]
Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed: Ver. 18. _Of such things as I supposed_] They accused Paul of sedition; but because they failed in the proof, he makes it nothing. This is said by the historian (Tacitus) to be the _commune crimen eo... [ Continue Reading ]
But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. Ver. 19. _But had certain questions_] See how basely this profane fellow speaketh of God's true service. These cocks on the dunghill know not the price of that pearl, a... [ Continue Reading ]
And because I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked _him_ whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters. Ver. 20. _And because_] He tells not Agrippa, that to gratify the Jews (who in all likelihood had bribed him) he asked, whether he would go up to Jerusalem; but p... [ Continue Reading ]
But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar. Ver. 21. _Send him to Caesar_] That is, to Nero. But for memory of their two first emperors, Caesar and Augustus, all their successors bore these two names. Many other... [ Continue Reading ]
Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him. Ver. 22. _I would also hear the man_] More for his mind's sake, and to see what he would say for himself, than out of any desire to learn from him. So Herod desired to see Christ, as a man woul... [ Continue Reading ]
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 Festus' commandment Paul was brought forth. Ver. 23. _With great pomp_] Gr. μετα πολλης φαντασιας, with great fantasy, or vai... [ Continue Reading ]
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 any longer. Ver. 24. _That he ought not to live any longer_] All malice is bl... [ Continue Reading ]
But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him. Ver. 25. _Nothing worthy of death_] What an honour and comfort was this to the apostle! Lysias acquits him, so doth Felix, and now Festus; neither doth Agrip... [ Continue Reading ]
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 have somewhat to write. Ver. 26. _To write unto my lord_] Κυριος signifieth one that hath rule or dominion, being a w... [ Continue Reading ]
For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes _laid_ against him. Ver. 27. _For it seems to me unreasonable_] And should not God's people be as careful to perform unto him a reasonable service, Romans 12:1, such as whereof they can render a sound and int... [ Continue Reading ]