_PAUL, BEING ACCUSED BY TERTULLUS THE ORATOR, ANSWERETH FOR HIS LIFE AND DOCTRINE: HE PREACHETH CHRIST TO THE GOVERNOR AND HIS WIFE. THE GOVERNOR HOPETH FOR A BRIBE, BUT IN VAIN. AT LAST GOING OUT OF HIS OFFICE, HE LEAVETH PAUL IN PRISON._ _Anno Domini 61._... [ Continue Reading ]
ANANIAS—DESCENDED— Or, _Went down._... [ Continue Reading ]
TERTULLUS BEGAN TO ACCUSE HIM,— Almost every word of this oration is false,—the accusation of St. Paul, the encomium on the government of Felix, and the declaration of a lawful intention in what they had done and attempted. When he says, _We enjoy great quietness by thee,_ he probably refers to what... [ Continue Reading ]
NOTWITHSTANDING,— Or, _But._... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO ALSO HATH GONE ABOUT TO PROFANE THE TEMPLE:— Tertullus artfully mentions this as the most express fact he had to charge upon him, well knowing that the Romans allowed the Jews a power of executing, even without forms of law, any person who should be found in any such act of profanation; and he s... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN PAUL—ANSWERED, FORASMUCH, &C.— It was now about _seven years_ since Felix entered on his government. The three articles of Tertullus's charge were _sedition,—heresy,_—and a _profanation of the temple._ St. Paul's answer exactly corresponds to each of these. As to the first he suggests, that he... [ Continue Reading ]
SO WORSHIP I THE GOD OF MY FATHERS,— This was a very proper plea before a Roman magistrate, as it proves that he was under the protection of the Roman laws, since the Jews were so; whereas, had he introduced the worship of new gods, he had forfeited that protection.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HEREIN— Εν τουτω, that is, _in this work do I employ myself;_ or, as others render it; "In the mean time, whilst I am in this world;" or as others, (I think most probably,) _"for this cause,_ or _on this account,_ because I believe a resurrection, _therefore,_ I have a conscientious care of my l... [ Continue Reading ]
NEITHER WITH MULTITUDE, NOR WITH TUMULT:— If the apostle had disturbed other people in their religious worship, whether Jews or Gentiles, invaded their civil rights, or made any tumult, sedition, or insurrection, the Roman law would have condemned him: but as there were already several sects among t... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVING MORE PERFECT KNOWLEDGE, &C.— Dr. Heylin, after many learned expositors, translates this verse thus: _Felix, having heard both parties, put them off to another time, saying, When I shall be better informed concerning this sect, and the chief captain Lysias shall be here, I will inquire more na... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT HE SHOULD FORBID NONE OF HIS ACQUAINTANCE— This was a circumstance graciously ordered by divine Providence, which would make St. Paul's confinement much lighter than it could otherwise have been, and gave him an opportunity of much greater usefulness. The word Υπηρετειν, rendered _minister,_ so... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS WIFE DRUSILLA,— She was the daughter of Herod Agrippa, and sister of the king Agrippa mentioned in thenext chapter. She had been married to Azizus king of the _Emessenes;_ but Felix, being struck with her beauty which was remarkably great, made use of the agency of one Simon, a wicked Jew, who p... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AS HE REASONED OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, &C.—. How suitable this discourse was to the character and circumstances of the persons to whom it was addressed, appears sufficiently from the former note, and from the note on Acts 24:2 but see more in the _Inferences._ It may be proper here to obviate some mis... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HOPED ALSO THAT MONEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN HIM— This stroke finishes the character of Felix, and shews still more plainly how far off she was from reallyreceiving the gospel. Felix might indulge such expectations, from considering that St. Paul was a Roman citizen, and a principal of the sect o... [ Continue Reading ]