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money

to hear more, but stopped the discourse, saying, When I have a convenient season I will send for thee 5. Unfortunately, however, he dis missed his prisoner, and his good thoughts together. "He sent for him" indeed afterwards, "and communed with him;" but this was not done for any religious motive, but merely from avarice. He had heard St. Paul say, that he came to bring alms to his nation, and offerings;" and thinking, therefore, that he could not lack money for his own uses and occasions, "he hoped also that should have been given him of Paul "." Instead of inquiring for salvation, "he sent for him, and communed with him," seeking to obtain a bribe, for which he would have released him from prison; but, as he failed in that attempt, he kept him still in custody: and, even after two years, when he was recalled from his government, Paul was still "bound," merely that he might recommend himself to the Jews'. Nero had been already Emperor six or seven years, when Porcius Festus succeeded Felix, and now found the province in desolation, the country laid waste, the people forced from their habitations, and at the mercy of some vagabond freebooters; all this sorely exasperated the people against his government. Felix thought to have pacified them, by leaving Paul a prey to their Bp. Newton.

Abp. Sumner.

1 Dr. Robinson.

greedy malice: but they were by no means grateful to him for this; for, as soon as he was recalled, they went to Rome to prefer their complaints against their late Governor, who narrowly escaped the consequences.

SECT. CCXLIV.-Paul appealeth unto Cæsar.-Acts xxiv. 27; xxv. 1-12.

BUT Paul still remains in prison. He whom we have so long followed through his many journeyings and labourings, he whom we have seen escaping from one persecution only that he might encounter another; never at ease but when employed about his Master's business, he is all this time shut up in prison, and, as far as appears from his historian, unable to "speak or to teach in the name of the Lord Jesus"." Paul had to comfort him his vision in the castle of Antonia, at Jerusalem, "Be of good cheer, Paul;" he had also the example and the resignation of God's servants in former times,

men, like Joseph and Daniel, innocent of crime, yet suffering for that trial of resignation to the will of God; from which example we may also derive continual comfort, and the assurance that, painful soever as it may be, we must likewise "be of good cheer." St. Paul remained a prisoner at Cesarea; but, during this long period, the rage of his enemies had so little subsided, that, upon the first arrival of Festus • Mant and D'Oyly. Archbishop Sumner.

at Jerusalem to assume the government, "the High Priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul." They petitioned that he might be sent for to Jerusalem, intending, as before, to "lay wait in the way to kill him'." Festus, evidently aware of the motive of the Jews, influenced possibly by God, whose care is always more watchful to preserve, than the wrath and malice of the evil one to injure, disappoints their design: "Go down with me. to Cesarea, said he, and accuse this man if there be any wickedness in him ".

When they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow, he "sat on the judgmentseat, and commanded Paul to be brought;" but, as soon as Festus found that he was not brought before him for any offence against law, but rather of matters appertaining to “their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive, he said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?" The answer of the Apostle admirably guarded both his safety and his character; no artifice or conscious guilt of imposture marks his behaviour; nor does he betray the folly of any idle enthusiasm: "I stand at Cæsar's judgment-seat, where I ought to be judged," and have a final trial. I am an innocent man, and have done 'Dr. Robinson. 3 Dr. Graves.

2 Archbishop Sumner.

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prove, no man I will no longer

the pleasure of may be willing to do

no wrong; I am also a Roman, who ought to be judged, not by the Jews, but at the tribunal of Cæsar, and by the Roman laws. If these men assert what they cannot may deliver me unto them "." submit to be a sacrifice for every Governor, who " the Jews a pleasure; I appeal unto Cæsar." Paul knew that he should have no fair and equitable dealing at the hands of any Governor, when once he came to be scourged by the Jews, his sworn and inveterate enemies, and, therefore, availed himself of a privilege, so often, so plainly settled by the Roman laws, that Festus durst not deny his demand". It was the right and privilege of every freeman of Rome, in a criminal cause, to appeal from the governing magistrate of the province to the Emperor the effect of which was, that the person who appealed was sent to Rome, and had his cause there tried by persons acting for that purpose under a commission from the Emperor. Cæsar was the general title assumed by all the Roman emperors, whatever might be their proper name. He to whom Paul now appealed was Nero'.

desire of visiting the eternal

Thus his own

city, and the

Divine assurance made him for his comfort, that he "must bear witness also at Rome,"

Dr. Whitby. 5 Dr. Cave.

Bp. Pearce.

7

Bp. Mann.

were fulfilled, though probably in a different way from what he expected; but, before he stood in the presence of the Emperor, another opportunity was given him for declaring the truths of the Gospel before the Jews, even to persons of exalted rank: and on that occasion he bore, as usual, an honourable testimony 9.

SECT. CCXLV.-Paul before Agrippa.-Acts xxv. 13-27; xxvi. 1-32.

AGRIPPA, the son of Herod Agrippa, was at this time king of Chalcis; but he had other dominions in Judæa, by the favour of successive Roman Emperors, having been resident at Rome, and in imperial favour at the time of his father's death at Cesarea. Bernice was his sister; and so was Drusilla, the wife of Felix, the late governor; but the terms on which he lived with Bernice, although she had been twice married, and had a husband living, were so far suspected as to be marked by the Roman satirist. These two now came together to Cesarea "to salute Festus," who made them acquainted with the cause of the Apostle; because, not only was Agrippa expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews," in Paul's own estimation, but as King of Judæa, he was at this time resident at Jerusalem, by permission of the Roman Emperor, and had, as such, the Bishop Pearce.

Dr. Robinson.

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9