took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, irned to the caftle: 33. Who when they came to and delivered the epiftle to the governour, prefentalfo before him. 34. And when the governour had · letter, he asked of what province he was. And when rftood that he was of Cilicia; 35.I will hear thee,faid. en thine accufers are alfo come. And he commandto be kept in Herods judgment-hall.

is CHA P.

XXIV.

VD after five days, Ananias the high prieft de fcended with the elders, and with a certain orator, Tertullus, who informed the governour against Paul. 1 when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accufe aying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietnefs, hat very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by rovidence, 3. We accept it always, and in all places, oble Felix, with all thankfulness. 4. Notwithstand hat I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that wouldft hear us of thy clemency a few words. 5. For ve found this man a peftilent fellow, and a mover of fe1 among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringer of the feet of the Nazarenes: Who alfo hath about to profane the temple whom we took, and d have judged according to our law. . But the captain Lyfias came upon us, and

6th great violence

him away out of our hands, 8. Commanding his accu to come unto thee: by examining of whom, thy felf ft take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accufe 9. And the Jews alfo affented, faying, that these gs were fo 10. Then Paul, after that the governour had,

I

Pp

had beckned unto him to fpeak, anfwered, Forafmuch as I know that thou haft been of (1) many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully anfwer for my felf: 11. Because that thou mayft underftand, that there are yet but twelve days f fince I went up to Jerufalem for to worship. 12. And they neither found me in the temple difputing with any man, neither raifing up the people, neither in the fynagogues, nor in the city: 13. Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accufe me. 14. But this I confefs unto thee, that after the way which they call herefe, fo worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and the prophets. 15. And have hope towards God, which they themselves alfo allow, that there shall be a refurrection of the dead, both of the juft and unjuft. 16. And herein do I exercife my felf to have always a m confcience void of offence toward God and toward men. 17. Now after many years, I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings. 18. Whereupon certain Jews from Afia P found me purified in the temple, neither with multi

f Acts 21. 26. Then Paul took the Men, and the next Day purify ing himself with them, entred into the Temple.

Acts 6. 13. And fer up falfe s And fet up falfe Witneffes, which faid, This Man [Stephen] ceafeth not to fpeak blafphemous Words against Mofes and a gainst God. t Acts 25. 8. Neither against the Law of the Jews, ro neither against the Temple, nor yet, against Cefar, have I offended any thing at all. † Acts 28. 17. Though I have committed nothing against the People or Customs of our, Fathers, yet was I delivered Pri foner from Jerufalem into the Hands of the Romans.

h See on Acts 19. 9.

2 Tim. 1.3. I thank God, whom I ferve from my Forefathers with pure Confcience. See on

Mat. 22.32.

kActs 26..22. Saying none

15

come. Acts 28.23.-Perfwading them concerning Jefus, both out of the Law of Mofes, and out of the Prophets.

Dan. 2.2. Many that fleep in the Duft of the Earth fhall awake, fome to everlafting Life, and fome to Shame and everlasting contempt. Joh. 5. 28, 29. The Hour is coming, in the which all that are in the Graves fhall hear his Voice, and fhall come forth, they that have done good, to the Refurrection of Life; and they that have done evil, unto the Refurrection of Damnation. 2 Tim. 1. 3. Heb. 13. 18. See on Acts 23. 1.

n

Acts 29. 16. -He [Paul] hafted, if it were poffible for him, o to be at Jerufalem at the Day of Pentecoft.

of Rom. 15. 25. Gal. a. 10. See on Acts 11.29.

pActs 21. 26, 27. Then Paul

other things than thofe which the 25 took the Men, and the next day Prophets and Mofes did fay fhould

(1)

purifying

Felix was made Procurator over Judea in the Year of our Lord 53.

9

multitude, nor with tumult. 19. Who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had ought against me. 20. Or elfe, let thefe fame here fay, if they have found any evil-doing in me, while I ftood before the council, 21. Except it be for this one voice, that I cried ftanding among them, Touching the refurrection of the dead, I am called in queftion by you this day. 22. And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and faid, When Lyfias the chief captain hall come down, I will know the uttermoft of your matter. 23. And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty, and that he fhould forbid none of his acquaintance to minifter or come unto him. 24. And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drufilla, which was a Jewels, he fent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Chrift. 25. And as he reafoned of righteoufnefs, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and anfwered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient feafon, I will call for thee. 26. He hoped alfo that money fhould have been given him of Paul, that he might loofe him: wherefore he fent for him the oft ner, and communed with him. 27. But after two years, Porcius Feftus came into Felix room and Felix willing to fhew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.

Year of our

Lord 62.

CHAP

berty to go unto his Friends to refresh himself. + Acts 28. 16.Paul was fuffered to dwell by himfelf, with a foldier that kept him. $ Job 15. 34. Fire fhall confume the Tabernacles of Bribery. Pfal. 25. 10. Their right Hand is full of Bribes. 1 Tim. 6. 10. The Love of Money is the Root of 10 all Evil.

*+ Acts 27.3. Julius courteously Entreated Paul, and gave him li-15

u † A&s 25. 9, 14. A&ts 12. Because he [Herod] faw it pleafed the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter alfo.

CHA P. XXV.

4

OW when Feftus was come into the province, after three days he afcended from Cefarea to Jerufalem. 1. Then the high prieft, and the chief of the Jews inform ed him against Paul, and befought him,3. And defired favour against him, that he would fend for him to Jerufalem, laying walt in the way to kill him. 4. But Feftus answered, that Paul fhould be kept at Cefarea, and that he himself would depart fhortly thither. 5. Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, go down with me, and accufe this man, if there be any wickedness in him. 6. And when he had tarried among them (1) more than ten days, he went down unto Cefarea, and the next day fitting in the judg ment-feat, commanded Paul to be brought. 7. And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerufalem, ftood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove; 8. While he anfwered for himself, * Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Cefar, have I of fended any thing at all. 9. But Feftus willing to do the Jews a pleafure, anfwered Paul, and faid, Wilt thou go up to Jerufalem, and there be judged of thefe things before me? 10. Then faid Paul, I ftand at Cefars judgment-feat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong; as thou very well knoweft. 11. For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refufe not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof thefe accufe me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Cefar. 12. Then Feftus when he had conferred with the council, anfwered, Haft thou appealed unto Cefar? unto Cefar fhalt thou go. 13.. And after certain days, king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Cefarea to falute Feftus. 14. And when they had been there many days, Feftus declared Pauls caufe unto the king, faying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix 15. About whom,when I was at Jerufalem,

b

a.

Acts 6. 13. † 28. 17. See

on Acts 24. 12.

b See on Acts 24. 27.

ct A&ts 18. 14. -Gallio faid

unto the Jews, If it were a matter 5

с

e

the

of Wrong, or wicked Lendness, O ye
Jews, reafon would that I should
bear with you.

d. Acts 26. 3.,
• A&ts 24. 27.

(1) Or, as fome Copies read, no more than eight or ten Days.

XXV. the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, defiring to have judgment against him. 16. To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accufed, have the accufers face to face, and have license to anfwer for himself concerning the crime laid against him. 17. Therefore when they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow I fat on the judgment-feat, and I commanded the man to be brought ༥༠ས, forth. 18. Againft whom when the accufers ftood up, they brought none accufation of fuch things as I fuppofed: 19. But had certain queftions against him of their own fuperstition, and of one Jefus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. 20. And because I doubted of fuch manner of questions [Or, I was doubtful how to enquire hereof, I asked him whether he would go to Jerufalem, and there be judged of thefe matters. 21. But when Paul had appealed to be referved unto the hearing [Or, iudgment of Auguftus, I commanded him to be kept till I might fend him to Cefar. 22. Then Agrippa faid unto Feftus, I would alfo hear the man my felf. To morrow, faid he, thou fhalt hear him. 23. And on the morrow when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and was entred into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city, at Feftus commandment Paul was brought forth. 24. And Feftus faid, King Agrippa, and all men which are here prefent with us, ye fee this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerufalem, and alfo here, crying that he ought not to live any longer. 25. But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed to Auguftus, I have determined to fend him. 26. Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and fpecially before thee, O king Agrippa, that after examination had, I might have Pp 3 fcme

I

chofen Veffel unto me, to bear my Name before the Gentiles, and Kings, and the Children of Ifrael.

h. Acts 22. 22.Away with fuch a Fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he fhould live. Acts 24.5.

See on Acts 23.9. *Acts 26. 3.