23. And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto him. 24. And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 25. And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. 1 Acts 27: 3; 28: 16. hand Paul over to the Sanhedrim, which might be dangerous, and would certainly be unjust; but at the same time he did not wish to offend these important personages. He therefore postponed the trial on the ground of the absence of Lysias, who was a material witness, promising, however, to give a final decision whenever he came down to Cesarea. — Farrar. 23. He commanded a centurion to keep Paul. The verb only conveys the idea of safe keeping, not of severe detention.- - Cambridge Bible. The favorable impression made on Felix is shown by the unusual leniency with which the prisoner was treated. - Plumptre. Let him have liberty. This language implies that he was not bound. A form of military custody in which the soldier kept watch of his prisoner, but was not chained to him, was recognized by the law. Because Felix left Paul bound (ver. 27) when he resigned the administration of the province into the hands of Festus, it does not follow that he kept him bound during his own administration. Abbott. Forbid none of his acquaintance to come. This was a precious boon to him. Philip, the evangelist, resided there with his family; Cornelius, the centurion, if still there, may have been quartered in the barracks of the Prætorium; the beloved Timothy was always by his side, except when away on some errand to a distant church; and as we find Luke and Aristarchus with him at the time of his embarkation for Rome, it is supposable that they had been at Cesarea all the time of his detention. - Kitto. So the word of God was not bound. Freely and abundantly did Paul preach the faith in Christ. And this state of things continued for two years. So that we may regard Cesarea as another great working-centre of Paul, to be classed with Antioch, Corinth, Ephesus, and afterward Rome. - Butler. V. Paul Preaching to Felix. — Vers. 24-27. 24. When Felix came. Felix did not always reside in Cesarea. After the first hearing of St. Paul's cause he had gone away for a time, but on his return he sent for the apostle to question him on his doctrine. Perhaps those words about the resurrection of the just and the unjust had made him uneasy. - Cambridge Bible. With his wife Drusilla. Drusilla was the second daughter of Herod Agrippa I., an account of whose death we have in Acts 12. Her brother, Herod Agrippa II., gave her in marriage to Azizus, the king of Emesa, who for her sake embraced the Jewish religion. This marriage, however, was of short duration; for, when Felix saw her, he became enamored with her beauty, and employed Simon, a Cyprian magician, who persuaded her to forsake her husband Azizus, and to marry Felix. She bore him a son named Agrippa, and both mother and son perished at the eruption of Vesuvius in the reign of Titus (Joseph. Ant. xx. 7. 2, 3). — Gloag. He sent for Paul, and heard him. Drusilla's curiosity probably led to this audience, in which Paul did not preach a sermon, but explained "the new religion, of which Christ is the centre, the foundation, and the topstone, and a personal faith in him its only method of salvation."— Alexander. The procurator and his wife were apparently in the first stage of an earnest inquiry which might have led to a conversion. - Plumptre. THE APPEAL. 25. And as he reasoned of righteousness. Righteousness here is justice, a word embracing those varied duties which every upright citizen owes to another. Temperance. The Greek word has a far broader significance than the English temperance; it denotes especially "self-control," the power of conquering one's own passions and lusts. -Schaff. How artfully does St. Paul here insinuate himself into the soul of this great sinner, and shake his conscience at the remembrance of his vices; not by denouncing vengeance against him for his lust and injustice, but by placing in the strongest point of light the opposite virtues; showing their reasonableness in themselves, and their rewards at the 26. He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him. 27. But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix' room and Felix, 2 willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound. 1 Ex. 23: 8. THE EFFECT OF THE APPEAL. unto me. He hoped withal that 26 money would be given him of Paul: wherefore also he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him. But when 27 two years were fulfilled, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; and desiring to gain favour with the Jews, Felix left Paul in bonds. 2 Ex. 23:2. Acts 12: 3; 25:9, 14. Day of Judgment. For he reasoned, not of unrighteousness, not of incontinence, but of righteousness and chastity; and, by holding forth a beautiful picture of these necessary virtues, he left it to Felix to form the contrast, and to infer the blackness of his own vices. A masterly stroke! and it effectually succeeded: for, as the prisoner spoke, the judge trembled. T. H. Horne. And judgment to come. The certainty that for all infractions of these principles he must receive the due reward. Now was the time to repent and escape. No doubt Paul showed how Christ enabled men to live righteously, and to be forgiven for all past sins, and so be ready for the judgment when it came.-P. It was a bold thing for Paul to do; for the aged reprobate before him had his life in his hands, and to irritate his savage temper would be to bring down upon himself certain vengeance. McDuff. Felix trembled. The expression is much stronger. It implies that he was filled with fear. Therefore the Rev. Ver. gives was terrified. Well might such a man be full of fear at the thought, as St. Paul would urge it home, of the judgment after death.- Cambridge Bible. Go thy way for this time. Fear sent away, not the sin, but the preacher. When I have an opportunity. Not a convenient time for repentance, for there is no indication of any penitent feeling in Felix, but an opportunity for further hearing. Abbott. When I have a convenient season. He postpones acting till a more convenient season, and so becomes a type of the millions whose spiritual life is ruined by a like procrastination. Nothing that we know of him gives us any ground for thinking that the convenient season ever came. Singularly enough, after two years, Felix, accused by the Jewish people, was summoned to Rome to give an account of his Judean stewardship to the emperor. Schaff. His chance was gone; forfeited by himself and sinned away. He proceeded on his downward course. - Vaughn. The great lesson of the verse is not that the "convenient season "" never comes, but that, while Christian truth commends itself even to a heathen conscience, the love of money and of sin can deaden its impulses, and drive away its terrors. A frightened conscience does not imply genuine repentance. Postponement of the claims of the truth allays its fright, and sin keeps on in full sway. — Riddle. Even Felix had two full years of God's long-suffering. - Wordsworth. 26. He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul. Anything could be purchased at their hands, even immunity from the penalties of crime. There is no doubt that, in the case of the apostle, the Roman governor had heard with interest that the special object of Paul's journey to Jerusalem on this occasion was the distribution among the Jewish poor of sums of money collected in Macedonia and Achaia. He was also well aware of the devoted love which existed between the members of this strange new sect, and had heard that Paul was one of their most distinguished leaders; these circumstances gave him good ground for hoping a substantial bribe would in the end be offered for the life and liberty of the accused. Schaff. Wherefore he sent for him the oftener. It is not difficult to represent to ourselves the character of these interviews, the suggestive hintshalf-promises and half-threats-of the procurator, the steadfast refusal of the prisoner to purchase the freedom which he claimed as a right, his fruitless attempts to bring about a change for the better in his judge's character. -Plumptre. 27. But after two years (A.D. 58-60). The remainder of Felix's governorship. THE EFFECT UPON PAUL. (1) This delay must have been a severe trial to the apostle. No deliverance was wrought for him as had been for St. Peter. (2) Norris suggests that after his incessant exertions this interval of quiet may have been good for the apostle's health. Cook. (3) As Paul might need the repose of preparation in Arabia, before he entered on his career, so his prison at Cesarea might be consecrated to the calm meditation, the less interrupted prayer, which resulted in a deeper experience and knowledge of the power of the Gospel.-C. and H. (4) Nor need we assume that his active exertions for others were entirely suspended. "The care of all the churches" might still be resting on him; many messages, and even letters, of which we know nothing, may have been sent from Cesarea to brethren at a distance. And a plausible conjecture fixes this period and place for the writing of Luke's Gospel under the superintendence of the apostle of the Gentiles. - C. and H. Luke, also, was probably engaged with Paul in collecting materials for the Acts of the Apostles. For he came with Paul to Jerusalem (21: 17), and sailed with him from Cesarea (27: 1), and hence was probably at hand during the two years of Paul's imprisonment. See Plumptre. Festus. See next lesson. Felix' room. Place, gov ernorship. Willing to show the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound. This was still selfish, for he was recalled on account of charges against him, and the Jews could easily follow him to Rome and substantiate those charges. LIBRARY REFERENCES. Arnot's Church in the House, chaps. 92, 93; The Church of the First Days, by C. J. Vaughn, iii., chaps. 13-15; Speeches of the Holy Apostles, Donald Fraser, chap. 12; Lives of Paul, by Lewin, Farrar, Taylor, Conybeare and Howson; Westminster Sermons, R. C. Trench; Spurgeon's Sermons, series 4; Monday Club Sermons, 1877; Butler's Analogy, chap. 5, on "Weakening of Passive Impressions by Repetition"; Butler's Three Sermons on Human Nature, on Conscience"; Lange in Acts has an exhaustive note on the hope of a resurrection among the Jews. I. 2. 3. Ver. I. PRACTICAL. The Christian should be gentlemanly and courteous even to the worst men. The world will often speak evil of the church, and make false charges against it. But every such charge can be answered by simply showing the facts. 4. My friends, the resurrection must be either the hope, or the fear, of each one of us. And which? which of the two? a hope, or a fear? for you? for me?- Vaughn. 5. This hope inspires us (1) with courage and wisdom in our labors; (2) with patience and strength in our afflictions; (3) with steadfastness and joy in the hour of death. Lange. 6. Ver. 16. The Christian must exercise himself, train himself in right doing. It is a commonplace in military economy that a soldier cannot be made in a day. No one can become perfect in any art or pursuit without long and severe training. 7. Vers. 24, 25. From Paul's discourse we may gather: (1) Paul in his preaching had no respect of persons, as the Word of God has not; he urges the same convictions and instructions on the Roman governor that he did on other people; (2) he aimed at the consciences of men, and came close to them; sought not to please their fancy or gratify their curiosity, but led them to a sight of their sins and a sense of their duty and interest; (3) that he preferred the serving of Christ and the saving of souls before his own safety; (4) that he was willing to take pains, and run hazards in his work, even when there was little probability of doing good. — Henry. 8. Paul sought to overcome evil by the good. His sermon appears not so much a denunciation of wrong as a holding up the good; that the evil-doers, seeing themselves in this mirror, would be convinced of their sin and impelled to a better life. 9. The folly of waiting for a convenient season for doing what ought to be done now. 10. The devil cozens us of all our time by cozening us out of the present time. II. It is a true parable. Every man has his opportunity, and if he misses it, it comes not again. Ours is the present; let us grasp it, and use it, and live by it while we may ! 12. Even in prison one can be useful, and gain power for the future. SUGGESTIONS TO TEACHERS. REVIEW the last lesson so as to bring out clearly the circumstances of to-day's lesson. PICTURE OUT THE SCENE as given in the intervening verses. The pretorium, or judgment-hall of Herod; Felix on the judge's seat; Paul, the prisoner at the bar; Ananias and leading members of the Sanhedrim from Jerusalem as accusers of Paul, with a bright, unscrupulous Roman lawyer to plead their cause. Note the flattery with which he begins. THE CHARGES brought against Paul by him were three, as given in the notes. The first part of the lesson to-day is Paul's answer to these charges against him. THE CONTRAST. We have in this lesson two contrasted characters, both brought before a judgment-seat, both charged with guilt, Paul before Felix' judgment-seat, Felix before the bar of his own conscience, and we are to study the lessons taught by each. I. AN APPROVING CONSCIENCE. (1) Paul's answer to the FIRST CHARGE,- of SEDITION. Illustration. Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, describing Faithful and Christian in Vanity Fair, with the charges brought against them. (2) Paul's answer to the SECOND CHARGE, of HERESY innovation in religion, bringing in a new religion. Study the five answers given to this in the notes. NOTE the hopefulness and comfort of the Christian in view of the future, as contrasted with Felix's terror in view of the same.. NOTE too the care and pains Paul takes to live a right life. Illustration from any work your scholars may be interested in, as learning music, as speaking a language, or learning a trade. There is no perfection without careful practice. In all cases a simple statement of the facts was enough. And yet Paul was not released. But Felix, afraid to do right, and not willing to do a gross wrong without sufficient motive, regarded Paul as innocent, but yet deferred giving judgment in his favor. (3) Paul's answer to the THIRD CHARGE, of PROFANING THE TEMPLE. II. A CONDEMNING CONSCIENCE. PICTURE the interview of Paul with Felix and Drusilla in private. NOTE the bad character of both. PAUL'S DISCOURSE convinced them of sin by holding up a picture of what was right. Illustration. We see the faults in a picture by comparing it with a perfect picture. We see how small we are by standing beside those much larger. So Christ convicts men of sin by his perfect life. So all good men convict bad men of sin, and hence are hated by them. DWELL on righteousness and temperance. THE APPLICATION was by means of the judgment to come. FELIX TREMBLED, for he saw himself a sinner without hope. He ought to tremble. All sinners should tremble. Paul found joy in the same judgment to come, because his sins were forgiven by Jesus Christ; he had repented, and was striving after perfect holiness. PUTTING OFF DUTY to a more convenient season. Illustration from the oft observed fact that if we neglect to obey the alarm clock that awakes us in the morning, it soon ceases to wake us. So conscience disobeyed. See also Southey's poem of the Inchcape Bell. Illustration. Paul's long imprisonment, and the good that may have resulted from it, may be illustrated by Bunyan's long imprisonment, that seemed so evil, and yet was the means of giving the Pilgrim's Progress to the world, which has done more good than the twelve years of preaching could have done. GOLDEN TEXT. And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. — ACTS 26:15. TIME. First of August, A.D. 60. Two years after the last lesson. PLACE.Cesarea, 47 miles north-west of Jerusalem; one of the residences of the Roman governor of Judea. RULERS. Nero, emperor of Rome (7th year from Oct. 13). Porcius Festus, governor of Judea (1st year). Herod Agrippa II., king of Trachonitis and the country east of the Sea of Galilee and the upper Jordan. PASSOVER was April 4; Pentecost, May 25; Tabernacles, Sept. 29. CONTEMPORARY EVENTS. A contest between the Jews and Syrians takes place in the summer of A.D. 59, at Cesarea, and Felix commits an indiscriminate massacre of the Jews. Felix is recalled, in the spring of A.D. 60, to Rome, and is accused by the Cesarean Jews of the massacre at Cesarea. Festus is appointed to succeed Felix as governor of Judea, and sails, according to the Roman law, by April 15; arrives in June (June 24). INTERVENING HISTORY: Festus arrived at Cesarea about June 24. Journey to Jerusalem (2 days), June 29. Return to Cesarea (2 days), July 13. sian. 1 Hearing of Paul, July 14 (Acts 25:6). days" (say 10), July 24 (Acts 25:13). PRONUNCIATIONS. — Agrip'pă; Běrni'cě; INTRODUCTION. Paul had lain two years in prison at Cesarea when a new governor was sent from Rome to Judea. As soon as he reached Jerusalem the leading Jews went to him about Paul, and desired that he be sent to Jerusalem for trial, intending to murder him on the way. But the governor would make no promises till he knew more about the case. On his return to Cesarea he summoned Paul to the court-room, where the Jews made many bitter accusations against him. Paul denied them all. Then the governor, in order to please the Jews, proposed that as the complaints against him pertained to the Jewish religion, he go up to Jerusalem to be tried. — P. But Paul was on his guard. He had in his power a certain means of averting the danger of the governor's compliance, the appeal to Cæsar, which was the ultimate safeguard of the Roman citizen. We can but suppose that a sudden inspiration opened his eyes to the path by which he might be carried to the long desired goal of his hopes at Rome. He asserted his rights, and Festus, after consulting with his assessors, had only to declare, "Thou hast appealed unto Cæsar. Unto Cæsar shalt thou go." The case before the procurator was now at an end, and it only remained to send the prisoner to Rome. While waiting for an oppor tunity, Festus had to draw up an account of the charge on which Paul was sent for trial, and it was no easy matter to place a mere question of Jewish "superstition" before Nero in a satisfactory form. He was in this difficulty when Agrippa and his sister Bernice arrived at Cesarea to congratulate the new governor. Several days were spent in ceremony and festivity before Festus mentioned the case of Paul to Agrippa, who, being informed by the governor of all that had passed, expressed a desire to hear the man. — Wm. Smith. It was at this hearing that Paul made the address which is the subject of to-day's lesson. EXPLANATORY. I. The Trial Scene. - Ver. 1. THE PLACE. Herod's judgment-hall at Cesarea. THE PRISONER. Paul, aged 58, the world-wide known apostle of Christianity to the Gentiles, now standing chained to a Roman soldier. THE JUDGES. Porcius Festus, governor of Judea. Josephus gives him a good character. Herod Agrippa II., king of the country east of the upper Jordan and the Sea of Galilee. He was on a visit to Festus. He had a palace at Jerusalem, and was professedly a Jew, and versed in Jewish customs. Roman satirists are busy with the terrible scandals of his private character. Bernice, the sister and wife of Agrippa. Bernice was first married to her uncle, Herod, king of Calchis. After his death she lived under circumstances of great suspicion with her own brother, this king Agrippa. She was a second time married, to Ptolemon, king of Cilicia; but soon left him, and returned to her brother. She afterwards lived in unholy union with the emperor Vespasian, and with his son, the emperor Titus. - Vaughn. THE AUDIENCE. But besides these royal personages there was a large and brilliant assemblage. By their side was the procurator (governor), probably in some official uniform; the principal inhabitants of the city were present in great numbers; magistrates, in their "furred gowns and flowing robes," and military officers in all the glitter of their martial accoutrements were there. Great was the blaze of glory and the pageantry of parade. And yet the noblest man in all that throng was the meanest looking in the crowd; for yonder, chained to a Roman soldier, the apostle is led in. — Wm. M. Taylor. THE QUESTION STATED. Festus arose before this brilliant assembly, and stated the object of their coming together. The prisoner had been vehemently accused as one worthy of death. He had appealed to Cæsar, and must be sent to Rome. But Festus, not being well acquainted with Jewish laws and customs, could not make out any definite charge 1. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth his hand, and answered for himsel And Agrippa said unto 1 Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth his hand, and made his defence: against him that would be a reasonable excuse for sending him as a prisoner to Rome. "Now," he said, "you who are well acquainted with these things find out what charges should be made against him." I. Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. But he does not; he speaks for Christ, and for those whom he addresses, preaching the Gospel. — Abbott. The promise was now fulfilled that he should bear the name of Jesus before kings (Acts 9:15). The prisoner |