Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible · Acts Kabanata 25

Acts 25:1. Now, when Festus was came, &c.— That is, When Festus entered upon his government, after three days he went up, &c. This was in conformity to the Roman law, and in order to make himself acquainted with the present state of their public affairs.

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Acts 25:3. And desired favour,— That is, desired this favour. Instead of laying wait, &c. Dr. Doddridge reads and paraphrases the passage thus: "Laying an ambush of desperate wretches for him, who they knew would readily undertake to intercept his journey, and to kill him by the way." These assassins were probably some of the sicarii, mentioned ch. Acts 21:38. The high priests about this time were, according to the account that Josephus gives of them, such monsters of rapine, tyranny, and cruelty, that it is not to be wondered at that such adesign should be favoured by him who now bore the office.

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Acts 25:4. Festus answered— It certainly was extraordinary that Festus, who, as a new governor and a heathen, could not but incline to make himself popular, should deny this request, when it had the appearance of being so reasonable, and came from persons of such eminent rank in the Jewish nation. But when we consider, how much edification to the churches depended on the continuance of St. Paul's life; and how evidently, under God, his life depended on this resolution of Festus; it must surely lead us to reflect by what invisible springs the Almighty God governs the world; with what silence, and yet at the same time with what wisdom and energy!

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Acts 25:12. Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council,— It was customary for a considerable number of persons of some distinction to attend the Roman praefects into their provinces, with whom they were used to consult, especially in matters of judicature.

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Acts 25:13. King Agrippa and Bernice— This Agrippa was son to Herod Agrippa, whose tragical death is related ch. 12: He was by profession a Jew, had the power of the temple and the sacred treasury, and could likewise dispose of the high-priesthood as he thought proper. Bernice, his sister, was the eldest daughter of Herod Agrippa, and had been contracted in her infancy by Claudius Caesar to Mark, the son of Alexander Lysimachus, the Alabarch; but he dying before the marriage was consummated, her father married her to his own brother Herod, king of Chalcis, though that was contrary to the law of Moses. After his death she went and lived with her brother Agrippa, with whom she was suspected of an incestuous commerce; of which Josephus speaks, and to which Juvenal is supposed to refer, in a celebrated passage, Sat. 6: ver. 154, &c. To wipe off this aspersion, she endeavoured to marry again, offering herself to Polemon, king of Cilicia, upon condition that he would become a proselyte of righteousness to the Jewish religion. Polemon, who had more regard to the riches than to the character of the lady, consented to be circumcised, and actually married her. But Bernice did not continue long with her husband, which occasioned his castingoff the Jewish religion; and notwithstanding the scandal which she had formerly lain under, she went and lived where she pleased, not only continuing her criminal acquaintance (as there is too great reason to fear) with her brother Agrippa, but afterwards insinuating herself so far into the affections of Titus Vespasian, as to occasion much discourse; for she was of great beauty, and remarkably liberal: nay, she had even the prospect of being empress, had not the murmurs of the people of Rome prevented it. See Suetonius in Tito, 100: 7. Tacit. Hist. 50. 2: 100. 2 and 81. Joseph. Antiq. b. 19: 100. 5.

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Acts 25:16. It is not the manner of the Romans, &c.— According to the Roman law, accusations were never to be heard in the absence of the accused person—a rule, which has justly gained to the Roman people the highest approbation of the best writers, and of all good men; a rule, which as it is now happily common to almost all nations, so ought it to direct our proceedings in all affairs, not only in public, but private life. It evidently appears from hence, that the judgment which they demanded against St. Paul, Act 25:15 was not a trial, but a sentence upon a previous conviction, which they falselyand wickedly pretended; and probably it was the knowledge which Festus had of St. Paul's being a Roman citizen, that engaged him to determine to try the cause himself.

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Acts 25:19. Of their own superstition,— Of their own religion. See on ch. Acts 17:22. As Agrippa was a Jew, and now come to pay a visit of respect to Festus on his arrival at his province, it is improbable that he would use so rude a word as superstition; so that this text affords a further argument, that the word δεισιδαιμονια will admit a milder interpretation; and it is remarkable, not only that the Jewish religion is spoken of by this word inseveral edicts reported by Josephus, which were made in its favour, but that Josephus himself uses it in the same sense too, Jewish War, lib. 2: 100. 9. We may just observe from this, as well as many other places in the Acts, that St. Luke has generally given us no more than the substance of the speeches; for there is nothing of what is mentioned in this verse related in the place where he speaks of what passed when the apostle made his first apology before Festus.

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Acts 25:21. Of Augustus,— Of our august emperor. As Augustus was not properly one of the names of Nero, though it was of Titus, the above version more justly expresses the import of Σεβαστος, which was plainly a complimental form of speaking.

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Acts 25:22. I would also hear the man myself.— No doubt but Agrippa had learned from his father (by whom, it is to be remembered, St. James had been put to death, and St. Peter imprisoned, ch. Acts 12:2-3.), and from many others, something of the historyof Christianity; so that he would naturally have a curiosity to see and discourse with so eminent a Christian teacher as St. Paul; who, on account of what he had been in his unconverted state, was certainly more regarded and talked of by the Jews, than any other of the apostles.

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Acts 25:23. With great pomp,— Dr. Hammond has shewn by a variety of quotations, that the word φαντασιας, here, signifies train, or retinue;—with a numerous and splendid train, making a most pompous and magnificent appearance. When they were seated, Festus gave orders that Paul should be brought forth; who came presently, in his humble garb, and, as it should seem, with his chains on; but his inward integrity was more honourable, and of greater excellence, than all their external pomp and grandeur.

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Acts 25:24. Have dealt with me,— Have pleaded with me. Doddridge.

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