Matthew Poole and continuators on Acts 25

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

So the Romans called any Countrey which they had conquered with their Arms, and unto which they sent a Governor, which at this time was Festus, being now set over Iudea in Felix his room.

Cesarea had been the place of Residence for the Roman Governors, by reason of its strength and scituation, Chap. 23.23.

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

The same who are called the Elders, Chap. 24.1.

Continued their Accusation and Prosecution of Paul. So restless is the Rage and Enmity the Adversaries of Truth have against the Professors of it.

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

Tho it seems to have been but Justice, that they might be allowed to try Paul for such Crimes as were within their Cognizance; yet that they might the easilier obtain their desire, they beg it as a Favour.

Which did worse become Magistrates and Priests, than any men, to act thus against the Law of Nature, and to be sure also against the Law of the Land, to hire Ruffians to assassinate Paul.

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

It is most probable, that Festus had been informed by Felix of the Iews Malice against Paul: For Felix having been accused by the Iews unto the Emperor, might be supposed to have recriminated wheresoever he had any opportunity: And in all the time of his Government they were not guilty of a worse Fact than their design against Paul, it being Sedition, and intended Murder of one who had the priviledg of a Roman Citizen.

The Governors kept their Courts wheresoever they came.

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.

Fit to prosecute Paul in your behalf; as Tertullus was, whom the Iews had carried with them formerly, Chap. 24.1.

Because Ierusalem was in a Mountainous part of the Countrey, and much of it built upon an Hill.

The word properly signifies a foolish thing; but it is also taken for a wicked thing; all Sin being Folly, and Grace Wis [illegible: 3 letters]; as they are frequently called in Scripture, tho the World hath another Opinion of them, many abhorring to be accounted Fools, and yet care not tho they appear most wicked.

6 And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto Cesarea, and the next day sitting in the judgment-seat, commanded Paul to be b[illegible: 1 letter]ought.

The Margin gives an account of a divers reading, unto which might be added another, viz. Eight or Ten days; which reading many follow, and is according unto the usual expression of such a short space of time, which need not to be exactly set down. Thus tho God hath provided so, as there is little or no variety in setting down those Truths or Doctrines in Scripture which concern faith and manners, or our believing and holy living; yet in Circumstances which (tho they pertain to compleat the History of Genealogies in Scripture) are not necessary to be so exactly known, God left them not so designed, to exercise us in this state, wherein we know but in part, 1 Cor. 13.9. Fundamental Truths are not of such a depth but a Lamb may wade or walk in them; but there are less material things of such a profundity, that an Elephant may swim in them, and men of the highest understanding and deepest reach must cry out, [non-Latin text not transcribed].

Marginal references: Or, as some Copies read, no [illegible: 1 word] than eight [illegible: 1 word] ten days.

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;

The Judg sat, and the Prisoner brought.

His Accusers, which were many, and came with a full cry against him, stood round about

What these Accusations were, appears in the next Verse by Paul's Answer.

But they could not demonstrate them, or make them evident. And if it were sufficient to accuse, no man could be innocent.

him, or about the Judgment-seat.

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

Paul answers unto the Three Crimes which he was charged with

1. He had not offended against the Law, having been always a Religious Observer of it: Nor, 2. Against the Temple, which he went into devoutly, and upon a Religious account: Nor, 3. Against Cesar; having never taught any Rebellion, nor said or done any thing against his Government.

Marginal references: Chap. 24.12. and 28.17.

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?

As his Predecessor, Felix, before him, Chap. 24.27. to gain popular applause, and the good will of that Nation; especially Felix having▪ been displaced upon the Complaint of the Iews against him.

Answered, or spake to Paul; as Chap. 3.12.

Festus apparently inclines to favour the Iews, tho he does not command, but ask this of Paul; he being priviledged as a Roman, could not against his will be forced to acknowledg the Iews for competent Judges.

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

Paul might justly suspect his Judges, and the place where they would have him judged, and also his Journey thither, knowing with what difficulty, and not without a great Guard, he came from thence.

He was now before Cesar's Tribunal, whose Vice-gerent Festus was; and he only ought to judg a Roman Citizen.

Festus might know that Paul had done the Iews no wrong, from the Relation Felix had made unto him; as also from such as were with Felix when Paul's Case was heard.

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 deliver me unto them . I appeal unto Cesar.

If I have injured the Iews, and my fault be

such as by Law deserves Death, I beg no favour.

According to Law (which the Romans did punctually observe) before Sentence was passed. It was lawful for any that had that Priviledg of the Roman Citizens, to appeal: Neither might they be tried against their wills in any Province out of Rome. Now Paul might appeal unto Cesar; 1. To make Cesar more favourable unto himself, and to other Christians. 2. Because he thought it more safe for himself and for the Church. 3. He was in part admonished to do it by Christ himself, Chap. 23.11. who had told him, that he must bear witness of him at Rome.

such as by Law deserves Death, I beg no favour.

Marginal references: Chap. 18.14.

12 Then Festus when he had conferred with the counci[illegible: 1 letter], answered ▪ Hast thou appealed unto Cesar? unto Cesar shalt thou go.

Either of the Iews, and those of the Sanhedrim, that he might inform them of the Law or Custom of the Romans; and how that he could not but admit of St. Paul's Appeal, or with his own council; it being usual for the Roman Presidents to do nothing of moment without the Advice of their Council, or Assistants.

Or without an Interrogation, thou hast appealed unto Cesar; which Festus was glad of, that without danger on the one hand, or [illegible: 1 letter]ll-will on the other, he might get rid of that difficult business.

13 And after certain days, king Agrippa and Bernice, came unto Cesarea to salute Festus.

This Agrippa is called by Iosephus, the younger, and was the Son of Herod Agrippa, or Agrippa the Great; who in this Book of the Acts is called Herod, whose Death is mentioned, Chap. 12.23. But his Agrippa was Brother to Drusilla and Bernice here spoken of, and lived in Incest with her, whom Iuvenal in his Satyr speaks of: Barbarus incestae dedit hunc Agrippa Sorori.

14 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:

Either amongst common Discourse, or matter of Novelty and for the strangeness of it, or for his advice about it. Howsoever, by this means the wickedness of the Iews was published, and the safety of St. Paul provided for, and God's design of publishing the Gospel at Rome its self furthered.

Marginal references: Chap. 24 27.

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

To wit, Judgment of Death upon Paul, that he might be sentenced according to the Crimes they had laid against him; [non-Latin text not transcribed] being put for [non-Latin text not transcribed]. Neither do they at all matter that St. Paul's Case was not yet heard; they would rather have had him condemned unheard, as they had gotten our Saviour to be condemned, tho the Judg declared, that he found no fault in him, Luke 23 4. which their unjust desire appears by Festus his Answer.

16 To whom I answered, It is not the manner [illegible: 1 letter]f the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused, have the accusers face to face, and have license to answer for himself concerni[illegible: 1 letter]g the crime laid against him.

To condemn any man indictâ causâ, without sufficient cause alledged and proved, is not only against the Laws of the Romans, but of the Iews, Deut. 21.4. Nay, against the Law of Nature and of all Nations. Yet Malice had so far blinded the Enemies of St. Paul, that they go about such things as an Heathen reproves, and the very light of Nature condemns.

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.

Festus had gratified the Iews in what lawfully he might, not detaining them at Charges from their habitations: And that not only commends Festus his own Justice, but Paul's Innocence: For if Paul had not appeared guiltless, he would have left him to the Rage of the Iews, whom he desired to gratifie what he could.

18 Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed.

For Festus knowing how Paul had been prosecuted by the Iews before Felix; and what Charge they had been at, and what Journeys they had made about him, could not think less than that he was a Capital Offender.

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

So this Heathen Governor prophanely calls the Religion and Worship of God's own Institution, and that in the presence of Agrippa and Bernice, who were both Iews, or at least, brought up amongst them.

To have been raised again from the dead; acknowledging with them, that he had been indeed dead.

Marginal references: Chap 23.29.

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.

Festus pretends, that he knew not by what Rule those Cases were to be decided, nor before what Judges; whether before himself or the Iewish Sanhedrim. But this is only his pretension: The true Cause why he would not acquit Paul, tho he knew him to be innocent, we read, verse 9. viz. that he might do the Iews a pleasure.

He asked Paul this question, Whether he would go to Ierusalem, but with a Resolution to have sent him whether he would or no, had he not appealed; but then he durst not: For in certain Cases none could hinder Appeals, from any Judg, to the People in the former times, or to their Emperor in the latter times.

Marginal references: Or, I was doubtful how to enquire hereof.

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 Cesar.

The Emperor who now reigned, and to whom Paul appealed, was Nero, who was called Augustus; this Title being at first appropriated to Octavius, who succeeded Iulius Cesar; but out of honour unto him, or because of its signification, it became an Appellative, and was given unto all the Emperors successively: Nay▪ the Emperor of Germany to this day is called Semper Augustus.

As from Octavius, the Emperors of Rome had the Name of Augustus, so from the first Emperor Iulius, they have the Name of Cesars. This word Cesar, which was the proper Name of the first Emperor, is, in acknowledgment of him, made an Appellative to all his Successors.

Marginal references: Or, Iudgment.

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

Agrippa being well acquainted with the Iewish Religion, if not a Iew, could not but have heard of our Saviour, his Doctrine, Death and Resurrection; and yet makes this desire but out of Curiosity; as Herod desired to hear Iohn Baptist, Mark 6.20. and to see our Saviour, Luke 23.8.

Marginal references: See Chap. 9.15.

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

The State, Attire, and Retinue used in this Solemnity is much undervalued by the term the Holy Ghost here gives it ([non-Latin text not transcribed]); intimating, that all worldly glory is but in opinion and appearance meerly; and that as a shew it passeth away.

Here is a great difference indeed between these great persons thus adorned and accompanied on the one side, and Paul, the Prisoner ([non-Latin text not transcribed], the chained, as he is called, Chap. 23.18.) on the other side: Yet Holy Paul, with great Reason▪ prefers his Condition before theirs. He does not desire to partake with them in their ease and splendor, but with Christ in his disgrace and sufferings, Phil. 3.10.

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.

Well might Paul be agast, to be friendless in so great a multitude, and to be shewn and pointed at as a Monster, being made a spectacle to the world, and to angels and men; as 1 Cor. 4.9. But he found surely the benefit and efficacy of that promise, Mat. 28.20. I am with you unto the end of the world.

25 Bet 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.

The Calumny of the Iews adds to the Reputation of St. Paul: So many Enemies▪ and so long in finding or making a Fault that might reach his Life, and yet to be disappointed! Paul and his Religion are vindicated by the Testimony of Lysias, the Chief Captain, Chap. 23.29. and of Felix, the Governor, Chap. 24.25. and here by Festus, as afterwards by Agrippa too, Chap. 26.32. So mighty is Truth and Innocence, that they do prevail sooner or later.

Marginal references: Chap. 23.9.

26 Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my Lord. Wherefore I have brought him sorth before you, and specially before thee , O king Agrippa, that after examination had, I might have somewhat to write.

Nero, the present Emperor, whose Deputy Festus was in this Province▪ tho some of the former Emperors refused this Name, as savouring of too much Arbitrariness; the latter did accept of it.

Agrippa being brought up in the knowledg of the Iewish Law, tho it was not his business to judg Paul's Case, yet he might instruct and inform the Judg about it.

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

So great a clamour, so hot a Pursuit, and yet after all this the Judg (who would willingly have condemned Paul, and gratified the Iews) knows not wherefore all this stir had been: But the more must he have been self-condemned that durst not absolve or free a Prisoner who was detained only by the power and multitude of his Adversaries.