25 safe unto Felix the governor.*

.

And he 26 wrote a letter after this manner: Claudius Lysias, unto the most excellent governor 27 Felix, greeting. This man was taken by the Jews, and would have been killed by them: then I came with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman. 28 And when I would have known the cause for which they accused him, I brought him forth 29 into their council: Whom I found to be

accused concerning questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge deserving of 30 death, or of bonds. And when it was told me that there was a conspiracy of the Jews against the man, I sent immediately to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also, to say any thing against him before thee. Farewell. 31 Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to Anti32 patris. On the morrow they left the horsemen

to go with him, and returned to the castle; 33 who, when they came to Cæsarea, and deliv

ered the epistle to the governor, presented 34 Paul also before him. And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he 35 was of Cilicia :† I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's judg

ment-hall.

*Felix was at this time governor of Judea under the emperor of Rome, to whom the Jews were in subjection.

Cilicia was a province of Asia Minor, in which Tarsus was situated.

CHAP. XXIV.

1 AND after five days, Ananias the high priest came down with the elders, and one Tertullus an orator, who informed the governor 2 against Paul. And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Since by thee we enjoy great tranquillity, and very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy 3 superintendance; we accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thank4 fulness. But lest I should intrude too much upon thee, I entreat that thou wouldest hear us 5 of thy clemency, only a few words. For we have found this man to be very turbulent, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of 6 the Nazarenes:† Who also hath attempted to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law. 7 But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of 8 our hands, commanding his accusers to come unto thee: by examining of whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things of 9 which we accuse him.. And the Jews also assented, saying, that these things were so.

*That is, from Jerusalem to Cæsarea.

The same unfounded charge which was brought against Jesus, for the purpose of exciting the jealousy and hatred of the Romans, viz. that the Christians were enemies to the authority of the emperor.

10

Then Paul, after the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation,* I do the more cheerfully 11 make my apology. As thou mayest know, that there are yet but twelve days since I went 12 up to Jerusalem to worship. And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither exciting the people to revolt, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city: 13 Neither can they prove the things of which they 14 now accuse me. But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so I worship the God of my fathers; believing all things which are written in the law 15 and the prophets: And have hope in God, which they themselves also expect, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the 16 just and unjust. Therefore I exercise myself

to have always a conscience void of offence 17 toward God, and men. Now after many years

I came to bring alms and contributions to my 18 nation. Whereupon certain Jews from Asia

found me purified in the temple, neither with 19 multitude, nor with tumult: who ought to

have been here before thee and object, if they 20 had any thing against me. Otherwise let these

*Felix had been governor of Judea about five years. This was about the year 60 of the Christian æra.

Which was, that he profaned the temple, and moved the people to sedition.

The original word, rendered heresy, does not imply any thing erroneous or false, but signifies merely a sect, or different mode of belief and worship.

same here say, if they have found any crime 21 in me, while I stood before the council: except it be for this one speech which I uttered when standing among them, "Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question 22 by you this day." And when Felix heard this (knowing fully the things of that way of religion) he deferred them, saying, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I 23 will judge of the matter between you. And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to serve him, or come unto him. 24 And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the 25 faith in Christ. And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come,† Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have leisure, I will call for 26 thee. He hoped also that money would have been given him of Paul that he might release him : Therefore he sent for him very often, 27 and conversed with him. But after two years

* She was a daughter of Herod, and had been married before; but separated from her husband for the sake of being the wife of the Roman governor.

+ From this statement, it appears that Paul did not only teach that Jesus was the Messiah, and the necessity of faith in him as such; but proceeded to discuss the subject of a future state of retribution, and to insist on the importance of temperance, sobriety, justice and purity; virtues but little regarded by dissolute heathens.

Porcius Festus came into Felix's room

and

Felix, willing to shew favor to the Jews, left
Paul bound.

CHAP. XXV.

1 NOW when Festus was come into the province, after three days, he went up from 2 Cæsarea to Jerusalem.* Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews, informed him con3 cerning Paul; and they entreated him, and requested a favor of him, that he would send for Paul to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way 4 to kill him. But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Cæsarea, and that he himself 5 would depart shortly thither. Let them therefore, he said, who among you are able, go down with me, and acccuse this man, if there 6 be any thing in him. And when he had resided among them more than ten days, he went down to Cæsarea: and the next day sitting in the judgment-seat, commanded Paul to be 7 brought. And when he was come, the Jews who came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and alleged many heavy complaints against Paul, which they could not prove; 8 while he answered for himself, saying,. Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the

* The Greeks, Romans, and other nations, when going to the capital of the country, used the term ascended, or, went up and when going from the capital, into the coun try, said they were going down.

;