A. D. 61. their lying in wait, he went and entred into the castle, and told Paul.

17. Then Paul cal-
led one of the centu-

rions unto him, and
faid, Bring this young
man unto the chief

captain: for he hath

a certain thing to tell
him.

and a Nephew of Paul's having some Intimation of it, went into the Castle and told him of it,

17 & 18. Upon which Advice, Paul fent for the Centurion that guarded him, and begged of him to carry his Nephew to the Captain, for he had fomething of

confiderable Moment to impart to him; who accordingly did so.

18. So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say unto thee.

19. Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him afide privately, and asked him, 20. And he said, The Jews have agreed to defire thee, that thou wouldst bring

19. The Captain took the young Man into a private Room, and demanded his Business; What is it that thou hast to tell me?

20 & 21. Who discovered the whole Particulars of the Sadducees Plot against Paul, and earnestly requested him not to bring him any more into Court, and so defeated their mutinous Design,

down Paul to morrow
into the council, as
though they would
enquire somewhat of him more perfectly.

21. But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now they are ready, looking for a promife from thee.

22. So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged him, See

22. The Captain assur'd him he would take care of it, but charged the young Man to keep the Secret, for fear he should by any tumultuous Affaults be hindred from preventing it.

rions, saying, Make ready two hundred foldiers to go to Cafarea, and horfemen

threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night.

vide a Guard of Four hundred A. D. 61.
and feventy Horse and Foot to
go to Cafarea that Night at nine
a-Clock, and conduct Paul thi-
ther, and deliver him to Felix
the Roman Procurator of Judea,
who kept his Residence in that
Town.

24. And provide
them beafts, that they may fet Paul on, and bring him fafe
unto Felix the governor.

25, 26 & 27. And by them fent Felix a Letter, in which he acquaints him, That the Person he had fent him under this Guard, was lately taken up by the Jews in the Temple, and had like to have been murdered in a most riotous Manner, if he had not re

scued him by a Band of his Sol

diers, which he thought himself

bound to do, both to keep the
Peace, and to preserve the Life of
a Roman Free-man, as Paul was.

28 & 29. But that however to
do the Jews Justice, he had gi-
ven the Man a Tryal before their
High-Priest and Council, where
he could find nothing but Quar-
rels and Disputes between the
Members of it, about Niceties of
their own Religion, and not any
thing proved against the Prisoner
that amounted to Death, or fo
much as Imprisonment by the
Roman Law, nor indeed by their
own neither.

30. Next Day (faith he) I found fome of the Sadducces had laid a Plot to murder him, which I have taken Care to prevent, by fending

M 4

172

A. D. 61. fent ftraitway to thee, ~ and gave command ment to his accusers alfo, to say before thee what they had against him. Farewel.

32. On the morrow they left the horsemen

31 & 32. The Guard took Paul and carried him that Night seventeen Miles, as far as Antipatris, and next Morning the Foot left him to be conveyed by the Horse to Cæfarea, and return'd back to their Officer at Jerufalem.

to go with him, and returned to the castle.

33. Who when they came to Cæfarea. and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before

34. And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia;

35. I will hear thee, said he, when thine accufers are alfo come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's judgment hall.

33. The Horse arrived, and delivered their Letter with their Prisoner to Felix.

him.

34. As foon as Felix had read it, he asked Paul what Province he belonged to, and where his Freedom lay; he told him at Tarfus in Cilicia.

35. Well, fays Felix, the HighPriest and Council shall be summon'd hither, and you shall have a fair Tryal before me. And in the mean time ordered him to be kept in one of the Apartments of Herod's Court of Justice.

CHAP

CHAP. XXIV.

The CONTENTS.

Paul's Tryal at Cæfarea, before Felix and the Jewish Council. Tertullus opens the Cause against him. Paul's Defence of himself. Felix defers the Sentence, and treats Paul with Humanity in his Confinement. Felix fends for Paul, to give him a private Account of his Religion. Paul's Discourse to Felix. The Effect it had on him. He leaves Paul, in Confinement, to his Successor Festus,

ND after five

A days, Ananias

the high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul.

I.

FILE

IVE Days after Paul was put into Felix's Custody at Cæfarea (Chap. xxiii. 33, &c.) The High-Prieft, and several of the great Council (especially such of the Sadducees as were most inveterate against him) came thither to attend upon Felix, and to follow their Prosecution; bringing with them one Tertullus a Roman Lawyer, and a famous Pleader, to manage for them.

2. And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse bim, saying, Seeing that by thee we en

joy 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, with all thankfulness.

2 & 3. The Court being set, and Paul called to the Bar, Tertullus began to open the Charge with a flattering Oration in Praise of Felix, the Happiness they enjoyed under his Management and Government, with all Expressions of Gratitude for it; the better to biass him in Favour of his Cause: Wherein he acted a most fulfom and hypocritical Part; for though Felix had done some good Actions in the Beginning of his Government, be

had

* Ver. 2. Very worthy Deeds, or Καλορθωμάζων γινομένων Regulations made-See Jofephus as quoted below.

A. D. 61.

A. D. 61. had been ever fince a notorious Oppressor of the People, and

was accused for it to Nero.*

4. Notwithstanding,

that I be not further
tedious unto thee, I
pray thee, that thou

wouldst hear us of
thy clemency a few
words.

5. For we have

found this man a pe

stilent fellow, and a

6. Who also hath trary to the Law. gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law.