A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Acts · Chapter 25
CHAP. XXV.
NOw when Feſtus was come into the province, after three days he aſcended from Ceſarea to Jeruſalem. 2. Then the high prieſt, and the cheif of the Jews informed him againſt Paul, and beſought him, 3. And deſired favour againſt him, that he would ſend for him to Jeruſalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.
1, 2, 3. The malicious Prieſts and Rulers continue their murderous deſign, and cannot get a heathen Ruler to be ſo bad as they.
4. But Feſtus anſwered, that Paul ſhould be kept at Ceſarea, and that he himſelf would depart ſhortly thither. 5. Let them therefore, ſaid he, which among you are able, go down with me, and accuſe this man, if there be any wickedneſs in him. 6. And when he had tarried among them more then ten days, he went down unto Ceſarea, and the next day ſitting in the Judgment-ſeat, commanded Paul to be brought.
4. After ten days he went down and they with him.
7. And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jeruſalem, ſtood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints againſt Paul, which they could not prove; 8. While he anſwered for himſelf, Neither againſt the law of the Jews, neither againſt the Temple, nor yet againſt Ceſar, have I offended any thing at all.
7. The Diaboliſts did pretend that he broke their Law, profaned their Holy Temple, and diſturbed the peace as a ſeditious breaker of Caeſar's Law: All which he denyed and they could not prove.
Note, Its ſtrange that the Devil had not attained to what he hath done in this age, to enable them to prove any thing by perjured Witneſſes!
9. But Feſtus willing to do the Jews a pleaſure, anſwered Paul, and ſaid, Wilt thou go up to Jeruſalem, and there be judged of theſe things before me?
9. The pleaſing of the Prieſts and Multitude being more of the Rulers carnal Intereſt, than doing Juſtice for one poor Man, he would thus have ſacrificed him to them.
10. Then ſaid Paul, I ſtand at Ceſars Judgment-ſeat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knoweſt. 11. For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuſe not to die: but if there be none of theſe things whereof theſe accuſe me, no man may deliever me unto them. I appeal unto Ceſar.
10. Note, Having the Roman priviledges, he might appeal to the Roman Laws, which then had not condemned Chriſtianity. But doubtleſs the Jews would call this Hetheniſh, for him to chooſe rather to be ſaved by Heathens, than to be murdered by Jews. As at this day he that had rather be ſaved from murder by a Mahometan than Murdered or Tormented by a Papiſt ſhall be ſaid to be for Mahometiſm. And here let them that grudge at Chriſt, for requiring us to deny our lives for him and for the Heavenly reward, conſider that even Church-Tyrants require as much, and that for nothing without any ſuch reward: If under their Inquiſitions, or other perſecutions, Men do but as every living Creature will do, ſtrive to eſcape their malice and to live, and do not die without any reluctancy, they call them Rebells; yea, if they do but groan and complain, it goeth for Sedition to feel when they are hurt; when it is the holy Church that doth it: Chriſt doth not thus condemn ſenſe and natural Love of Life, in his hardeſt laws of ſelf-denyal.
12. Then Feſtus, when he had conferred with the Council, anſwered, Haſt thou appealed unto Ceſar? unto Ceſar ſhalt thou go.
12. Note, They might have conſtrained him to be judged there: but God over ruled it, to ſpread abroad the Goſpel.
13. And after certain days, King Agrippa and Bernice came unto Ceſarea to ſalute Feſtus. 14. And when they had been there many days, Feſtus declared Pauls cauſe unto the King, ſaying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix: 15. About whom, when I was at Jeruſalem, the cheif prieſts and the Elders of the Jews informed me deſiring to have Judgment againſt him.
13. Note. This Agrippa was the Son of that Herod that was eaten to death by Worms, and Bernice was his Siſter, the Wife of Polemon King of Cilicia, who left her Husband and lived with his Brother.
16. To whom I anſwered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accuſed, have the accuſers face to face, and have licence to anſwer for himſelf concerning the crime laid againſt him.
16. The Jewiſh Religious Tyrants had overcome and caſt off this Law of Nature, which the Heathens kept.
17. Therefore when they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow I ſat on the Judgment-ſeat, and I commanded the man to be brought forth. 18. Againſt whom when the accuſers ſtood up, they brought none accuſation of ſuch things as I ſuppoſed: 19. But had certain queſtions againſt him of their own ſuperſtition, and of one Jeſus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
17, 19. Note, Theſe things he made light of as not underſtanding them.
20. And becauſe I doubted of ſuch manner of queſtions, I asked him whether he would go to Jeruſalem, and there be judged of theſe matters. 21. But when Paul had appealed to be reſerved unto the hearing of Auguſtus, I commanded him to be kept till I might ſend him to Caeſar.
20. I would have had him tryed by the Jews who underſtood their own Law, &c.
22. Then Agrippa ſaid unto Feſtus, I would alſo hear the man my ſelf. To morrow, ſaid he, thou ſhalt 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 cheif Captains and Principal men of the city, at Feſtus commandment Paul was brought forth. 24. And Feſtus ſaid, King, Agrippa, and all men which are here preſent with us, ye ſee this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jeruſalem, and alſo here, crying, that he ought not to live any longer.
24. Note, The lives of Gods beſt Servants are a grief to the Malignants.
25. But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himſelf hath appealed to Auguſtus, I have determined to ſend him.
25. Note, what an odious ſcandal did theſe Prieſts caſt on Gods Law, to make it ſeem worſe then Heathens Laws.
26. Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my Lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and ſpecially before thee, O King Agrippa, that after examination had, I might have ſomewhat to write. 27. For it ſeemeth to me unreaſonable to ſend a priſoner, and not with all to ſignifie the crimes laid againſt him.
26. Note, Juſtice is a part of the Law of Nature known to all.