A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Acts · Chapter 24
CHAP. XXIV.
ANd after five days, Ananias the high Prieſt deſcended with the Elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the Governour againſt Paul.
1. Note, Tertullus was the malignant Lawyer or Orator, who was to plead their charge againſt Paul, if not of mere ma…ice, at leaſt for his Fee. The Accuſation is given in and hotly proſecuted by the High Prieſt and Elders: Dr. Hummond thought that the word [Elders] in the Chriſtian Church never ſignifyed any but Biſhops (ſuch as we now call Dioceſane] And it is undoubted that the Church borrowed that Title from the Jews Elders, and therefore meant ſome ſimilitude of Offices (allowing the difference of materials and Law) And then it would follow that the Jews Elders that made their Council, were the Jewiſh Biſhops of ſeveral diſtant Cities gathered together at Jeruſalem: And ſo that it was the Jews Archbiſhop and all the Biſhops under him, that were theſe malignant Diabolica Accuſers and Perſecutors: But the Jewiſh Elders were not ſuch City Biſhops, but a Conjunction of Laymen and Prieſts in a ſupreme Council at Jeruſalem, and inferior Councils in Cities, where were Synagogues.
2. And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuſe him, ſaying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietneſs, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence, 3. We accept it always, and in all places, moſt noble Felix, vvith all thankfulneſs.
2, 3. To win the Judge by flattery, hath ever by falſe Accuſers been taken for the ſureſt way for ſucceſs.
4. Notwithſtanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee, that thou vvouldeſt hear us of thy clemency a fevv words. 5. For vve have found this man a peſtilent fellovv, and a mover of ſedition among all the Jevvs throughout all the world, and a ringleader of the Sect of the Nazarene:
5. We have found this Man a very plague, &c.
Note, This part of the Accuſation is, 1. In general that he was a very walking Peſtilence O what Diaboliſm is it to judge thus of the Preachers of Love, and Mercy and Salvation! 2. Particularly. 1. a mover of Sedition among all the Jews through the Roman Empire: So Chriſtian Reformation muſt be called Sedition, to ſtir up Rulers againſt it, as Defenders of the common Peace: And this to Faelix was a Potent argument, for he had been put to conquer and deſtroy one Eleazar, that came out of Egypt as a pretended Prophet, and gathered an Army of Seditious Cut throats that endangered the Peace. 2. The ſecond accuſation was, that he was a Leader of a Sect or Schiſm, calling the Chriſtians Nazarens in ſcorn, from Nazareth where Chriſt dwelt.
6. Who alſo hath gone about to profane the Temple: vvhom vve took, and would have judged according to our law.
6. The third part of the Accuſation was prophaning the Tepmle: Note, Would not theſe infidels be thought Holy Men: They were zealous for Temple, Law and Ceremonies, againſt Chriſtianity, Holineſs, Innocency, and the lives of the beſt of Men.
7. But the cheif Captain Lyſias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands.
7. N. To ſave the innocent from the violence of wicked Prieſts, is accuſed a… violence even in a Governour.
8. Commanding his accuſers to come unto thee: by examin…ng of whom, thy ſelf mayeſt take knowledge of all theſe things whereof we accuſe him. 9. And the Jevvs alſo aſſented, ſaying, That theſe things vvere ſo.
8, 9. Note, Seeing the judgments of Men are ſo contrary, that he is a ſeditious Plague and Sectary to one, that is, one of the beſt on earth to another, alaſs, How ſhall the People know who to believe? The Hiſtory of Lyars are ſtufft with lies: And how can Strangers and Poſterity know who were the Lyars? This is a great ſhake to the credit of moſt Hiſtory. But the haters of Holyneſs are ſeldom to be believed.
10. Then Paul, after that the Governour had beckned unto him to ſpeak, anſvvered, Foraſmuch as I knovv that thou haſt been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully anſwer for my ſelf: 11. Becauſe that thou mayeſt underſtand, that there are yet but tvvelve days ſince I vvent up to Jeruſa;lem for to vvorſhip.
10. Thou knoweſt their cuſtoms, had I been ſuch a one as they accuſe me to be, what ſhould move me to come ſo far from other Countries but twelve days ago, to keep the Feaſt of Pentecoſt, and to worſhip at Jeruſalem.
12. And they neither found me in the Temple diſputing with any man, neither raiſing up the people, neither in the Synagoue, nor in the city: 13. Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuſe me.
12. I was only worſhipping in the Temple, and deny that I did any thing to move Sedition, as they accuſe me-
14. But this I confeſs unto thee, that after the way which they call hereſie, ſo worſhip I the God of my Fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and the Prophets.
14. I am not aſhamed to own it, that I worſhip God as a Chriſtian, in the way that they call a Hereſie… or Sect; for I believe the Law and the Prophets who teach it me.
15. And have hope towards God, which they themſelves alſo allow, that there ſhall be a reſurrection of the dead, both of the juſt and unjuſt.
15. The Reſurrection of Chriſt confirmeth my belief of the Reſurrection of the dead, &c.
Note, 1. The Doctrine of a Reſurrection of the juſt only was not then owned by the Jews, 2, It ſeems by this time the Phariſees joyned in his Perſecution▪ though before they excuſed him in contention with the Sadducees.
16. And herein do I exerciſe my ſelf to have always a conſcience void of offence toward God, and toward men.
16. And in this hopes of a Reſurrection and the Chriſtian Faith, my dayly care and exerciſe is, to keep my ſelf from offending God or Man by any ſin, that my conſcience may not be my Accuſer.
17. Now after many years, I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings.
17. To bring Alms and Offerings is no prophaneneſs or ſedition, &c.
18. Whereupon certain Jews from Aſia, found me purified in the Temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult. 19. Who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had ought againſt me.
18, 19. Theſe Aſian Jews falſly thought that I had brought Trophinus into the Temple: And it being they that are the firſt Accuſers and Witneſſes, they ſhould have been here.
20. Or elſe let theſe ſame here ſay, if they have found any evil-doing in me, while I ſtood before the council, 21. Except it be for this one voice, that I cried ſtanding among them, Touching the Reſurrection of the dead, I am called in queſtion by you this day.
20. As to any thing that I did in the Council let them witneſs what they can againſt me? They have nothing to charge me with, but that I ſaid, touching the Reſurrection of the dead, I am accuſed: I meant Chriſts Reſurrection as the cauſe and pledge of ours.
Note, Some think that Paul here confeſſeth it a fault, that he equivocated to ſet them together by the Ears, as being an act of Carnal Wiſdom, and an obſcuring of his confeſſion of Chriſt. But moſt expoſitors rather think that he ſpake this ironically, as if he had ſaid, unleſs they will make it a fault, that I ſaid I am called in queſtion about the Reſurrection, they can charge me with none there.
22. And when Felix heard theſe things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and Said, When Lyſias the cheif Captain ſhall come down, I will know the uttermoſt of your matter.
22. He ſaid, when I have got a more perfect knowledge of this way of Chriſtianity, and how far it is againſt your Law, and when I have ſpoke with Colonel Lyſias of the tumults, I will judge the cauſe, which yet I cannot do.
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.
23. To ſecure him as a Priſoner at large.
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.
24, 25. Note, Foelix is noted by the Hiſtorians of thoſe times to be ſpecially guilty of two crimes; Injuſtice through Covetouſneſs and Incontinence, taking another Mans Wife. (This Druſilla the Niece of Anthony and Cleopatra) And ſo the Subject moved his conſcience to make him tremble.
Note, O the ſtrength of ſin, that will live, even when Men tremble for fear of judgment.
46. He hoped alſo that money ſhould have been given him of Paul, that he might looſe him: wherefore he ſent for him the oftner, and communed with him.
26. Note, All his trembling overcame not the love of Money. Money is the worldlings great Mediator.
27. But after two years, Porcius Feſtus came into Felix room: and Felix willing to ſhew the Jews a pleaſure, left Paul bound.
27. His carnal reſpects to Man and Fame, and to pleaſe the malicious Jews, prevailed againſt his Conſcience, and leaves Paul a Priſoner to be judged by Feſtus his Succeſſor, when Paul had been two years kept a Priſoner.