vices, and to enlist them in its service, it becomes, like the proselyte of the Pharisee, in the words of our Lord, tenfold more the child of hell.

This very sensible Pagan captain writes to his superior, the exarch, according to the form of an ancient letter, "Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix, sendeth greeting." He gives him an account of the whole treatment that Paul had received, and of the peril he was in; that he did not understand the matter in dispute, that it appeared to be some question of their law; and he thought the best way, therefore was to give it in charge to him. The infantry went some distance with Paul; the cavalry accompanied him all the way, about sixty miles, to Cæsarea; and the reason of sending so large a force to protect this prisoner was, that the forty Jews who had banded themselves together were the representatives of a large and powerful party; and it needed, therefore, a very strong force to guard the prisoner, that he might be conveyed to the Roman governor, and, as a Roman citizen, have a fair trial, and an open field, and a just and righteous sentence.

CHAPTER XXIV.

TERTULLUS AND HIS ACCUSATION-PAUL'S REPLY AND DEFENCEHIS WORSHIP OF THE GOD OF HIS FATHERS-THE ADJOURNMENT.

You will remember that, in the previous chapter, Paul was in the greatest peril, from Jewish assassins lying in wait for him to destroy him; and that it was only through the interposition of Lysias the chief captain that he was saved from being torn in pieces, or destroyed by the traitors that lay in wait to kill him. Having been sent, by the command of Claudius Lysias, to the excellent governor Felix, he appears at the tribunal of Felix, the competent and lawful judge.

In this

memorable chapter, the trial begins. One Tertullus, a rhetorician-whose conscience was in his tongue, and who, beyond his own interests, had no sympathy with truth, and probably no antipathy to error-came forward and "informed," or, as it might be translated, pleaded before, the governor against Paul. You will notice how this orator begins his address; it is full of the most unbecoming compliments to Felix, flattering him in the highest degree, and expecting, no doubt, to propitiate his favour by the very rich and eulogistic compliments which he paid him. "Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness,"—which was utterly untrue, as history informs us," and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy pro

we

vidence"-which was precisely the reverse of fact—“ accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness;" regarding thee as our great benefactor, and taking from thee, with great gratitude, whatever in thy liberality thou art pleased to bestow. And then, lest even flattery should be too tedious, he says, "Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words." After this introduction he makes his charge; a charge contrary to fact, unsustained by a single particle of evidence. "We have found this man," Paul, "a pestilent fellow"-the very severest and bitterest epithet he could apply-" and a mover of sedition among the Jews," which he never was; " and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes." That he was a distinguished preacher of the Christians is true; that he was the ringleader of a revolutionary sect was contrary to fact; "who also hath gone about to profane the temple," which, so far from doing, he showed the utmost deference and respect for. "Whom we took, and would have judged according to our law. But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands." Now notice how this conceals and suppresses the truth. Paul was taken out of the hands of forty assassins, who had bound themselves, by a solemn vow, that they would take away his life before they had tasted their next meal. But Tertullus, with all the skill of a sophist, with all the special pleading of a partisan, conceals the fact that he was snatched from assassins and brought to Cæsarea in order to have fair play. Whereas, he says, "He was taken from our just judgment by Lysias the chief captain; and he was carried away to

you, where it was unnecessary to carry him, except that he was a very disorderly person, a ringleader and a revolutionist, and that some extraordinary step was needed in order to bring him to justice."

After this Paul rose and replied to what had been said. The governor beckoned to him; and Paul said, in language not in the least complimentary, but with all the courtesy and deference that was due to a supreme judge representing the majesty of the Roman emperor, "Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation"-without a single compliment except the fact that he was well acquainted with all their customs- "I do the more cheerfully answer for myself;" that is to say, you are not ignorant of our customs, you have great experience in our debates, controversies, and disputes; I, therefore, with the greater confidence appeal to you for justice. "Because," he says, "that thou mayest understand, that so far from having been what the speech of Tertullus would lead you to suppose, an inveterate revolutionist, creating great uproar and disturbance; it is only twelve days," he says, "since I went up to Jerusalem to worship. And, contrary to what Tertullus has stated, they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man;" that is the place for worship, not for dispute; "neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues making a disturbance, nor in the city." And then he appeals in the strongest terms: "Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me."

You observe the

charge was made that he was guilty of sedition, that he had created great civic disturbance, that he had profaned the sacred places of the Jews. Now it was sufficient for Paul to say, "All this is literally and strictly

untrue;" and it was not the duty of Paul to prove the negative, which was in some degree impossible; but it was the duty of those that charged him with the crime to bring forward witnesses who could testify to the truth and accuracy of their charge. But you notice Tertullus advances no evidence, brings forward no witnesses, states no corroborative facts, attempts no searching cross-examination of Paul; but makes a charge the impudence and the falsehood of which were its only recommendations, and leaves Paul to reply to it as he best could.

The reply of Paul has all the dignity of one who respected himself, and all the propriety of one who felt that he was unjustly and unfairly dealt with. He, therefore, says, "If these charges be true, they are capable of proof." Every man, even in the empire of Rome, was assumed to be innocent till he was proved by clear evidence to be guilty. And Paul, therefore, says, "I leave them to prove what they have adduced against me. And I confess to you, Felix, the sum total of what I am conscious of having done, if that sum total be in any shape against the laws of the empire; I confess to you that after the way which they call heresy," Tertullus had said that he was a ringleader of the sect; the same Greek word is, or as elsewhere translated, "heresy ;" and Paul, referring to the charge of Tertullus, says, "After the way which they call heresy, but which I regard as everlasting truth, so do I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets." And you will notice in that single touch an exquisite foree, when he says, "I worship the God of my fathers." In the Roman empire every man was respected for the