a king with the temper of a slave, and was a harsh and greedy ruler.

In five days time arrived Ananias the high priest, and several of the Sanhedrim, accompanied by Tertullus, one of the Romans trained in law and rhetoric, who made a living by managing the cases of persons in the provinces who had to go to law before the tribunals of their Roman masters. He made a speech on behalf of the Sanhedrim, beginning with a compliment that Felix did not at all deserve, and that the Jews would never have made, save for their own purposes. Then he accused St. Paul on three grounds,—first, of stirring up rebellion against the Empire; secondly, of being a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes; and thirdly, of profaning the Temple. Then slurring over the truth, the advocate pretended that the prisoner was in course of being lawfully judged according to the Jewish law, when Lysias had interfered, and with great violence, rescued him, sending him away to Felix, who was thus entreated to deliver him up to the proper authorities of his own nation.

Then, at a sign from Felix, Paul made his reply. It was but twelve days, he said, since he had passed through Cæsarea before, on his way to keep the accustomed feast at Jerusalem. He had not been found in any public place, either holding an argument, or causing a disorderly concourse. He owned that he held opinions of which these Jews disapproved, but he did fully believe all the Law and the Prophets, and maintained the doctrine of the Resurrection, which was held likewise by the Pharisees. After many years he had come to visit his own country, bringing alms and offerings, and had been found in the Temple fulfilling the rites of the Law, doing nothing but what any private person would there do. There some Jews from Asia had fallen on him. If they had any ground for accusing him, they should have been there themselves. Or was he to be found guilty of an offence for his cry in the Sanhedrim, "Touching the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question"? Felix knew enough of the Jews to understand that this was the watchword of the Pharisees. He did not venture any decision, so he broke up the proceedings, putting them off till Lysias should come down. Afterwards he and his wife saw St. Paul in private, hoping it seems for a bribe, but

on

instead of offering one, the prisoner so spoke of "righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come," that the unjust, greedy, and luxurious freedman trembled, and put off the interview to a time that never came. For two years Paul was kept in captivity, Felix afraid either to punish or release him, and still hoping for a bribe. It may have been in God's Providence that His saint should have this rest, after the labours and perils that had severely taxed both body and mind. There is every reason likewise to suppose that during this time Luke collected materials for his Gospel, and wrote it under Paul's superintendence, while he himself had free intercourse with the Christians of Cæsarea, and could go into Judea to collect other materials. After two years Felix was recalled. Twelve years later, Drusilla and her son perished in the great eruption of Mount Vesuvius which destroyed Pompeii. When the black darkness and shower of ashes overwhelmed her, she may have thought too late of one who had reasoned of judgment to come.

LESSON LXXVIII.

FESTUS AND AGRIPPA.

A.D. 62.-ACTS xxv. I-22.

Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Cæsarea to Jerusalem.

Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him,

And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.

But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Cæsarea, and that he himself would depart shortly thither.

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.

And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto Cæsarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought.

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.

While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Cæsar, have I offended any thing at all.

But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said,

VOL. V.

Y

Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?

Then said Paul, I stand at Cæsar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest.

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 deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Cæsar.

Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Cæsar? unto Cæsar shalt thou go.

And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Cæsarea to salute Festus.

And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul's cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix :

About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him.

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.

Therefore, when they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth. Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed:

But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

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.

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 Cæsar.

Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.

COMMENT. Porcius Festus, the new Governor sent out to Cæsarea, found Paul a prisoner. He had so been left by Felix, in the hopes of securing the good word of the Jews, in case accusations of the Governor should be sent to Rome. As soon as Festus went to visit Jerusalem, he was met by the leading men of the Sanhedrim, with a request that the prisoner should be brought to Jerusalem to be tried, meaning that the former plot should take effect, and that he should be murdered on his way. Festus however had been put on his guard against the fierce hatreds of the Jewish population, and replied that the prisoner was at Cæsarea, whither he himself was about to return, and that the trial must take place there, the accusers coming down thither. He did not choose, in fact, that one party should take advantage of his being new in office to make him their tool, and Cæsarea being neutral ground,

it was the proper place for the trial. He therefore obtained the assistance of " a council," which here means assessors, i.e. men understanding the laws by which he meant to judge, who could instruct him, though they might not themselves deliver a judgment. After ten days then he returned to Cæsarea, and the next day the trial took place, when all the charges on which the Jews declared the prisoner to be guilty of death, fell to the ground.

Still Festus perceived that the offence was something connected with the Jewish religion, which he could not understand, so he asked Paul if he would go up to Jerusalem and be tried by the laws of his own nation. Paul knowing that this was death to him, and guided by the words of the Lord that he must also see Rome, then made his appeal to Cæsar. He had done nothing that was against the laws of the Jews, as had just been shown by the failure of their accusations; and as to the offence alleged against Rome, he used his right as a citizen to appeal to the Emperor, the judge of all the Romans.

Festus willingly allowed and accepted this appeal, and the baffled Jews departed. It is the last time we meet them. They were within ten years of their fearful punishment.

Still Festus was in a difficulty, for he had to send his prisoner to Rome, and he did not know what charge to mention against him, However, he hoped to discover this through Agrippa, the last of the Herods. This prince was only sixteen at the time of the dreadful death of his father, and he had remained at Rome till the year 48, when, on the death of his kinsman Herod, King of Chalcis, he was made king of that little district, as a tributary to the Romans. He professed to be a Jew, and was well instructed in the Law; but he and his sisters were voluptuous, luxurious people, holding loosely to their religion. Drusilla had married Felix, and Bernice was beloved less honourably by Titus Vespasianus, afterwards the conqueror of Jerusalem. But when Agrippa and Bernice came to pay their respects to the new Governor, Festus caught at the opportunity of having the mysterious offence of his prisoner explained to him, and the brother and sister were equally glad to see a man whom they knew to be remarkable, and whom Drusilla had several times heard.

LESSON LXXIX.

ST. PAUL BEFORE AGRIPPA.

A.D. 62.--ACTS xxv. 23-27, xxvi.

And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and was entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city, at Festus' commandment Paul was brought forth.

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.

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.

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.

For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him.

Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:

I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:

Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently. My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;

Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:

Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused

of the Jews.

Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?

Here follows an account of his conversion, and he continues—

Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly

vision:

But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judæa, and then to the Gentiles, that they should pent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.