Commentari biblici

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

Now when Festus — Who succeeded Felix in the government, as after Festus came Albinus, and after him Florus, under whom Jerusalem was sacked and ruined. That heavy curse was executed upon this wretched people, Leviticus 26:17 ; "If ye still trespass against me, I will set princes over you that shall hate you," mischievous, odious princes; odious to God, oppressive to the people. After the revolt of the ten tribes, they had not one good king. And a Popish writer complains, that for many successions the see of Rome non merita est regi nisi a reprobis, had deserved to be ruled by none but reprobates. When Phocas had slain Mauricius, there was an honest poor man (saith Cedrenus) who was wonderfully importunate at the throne of grace, to know a reason why that wicked man prospered so in his design; he was answered again by a voice, that there could not be a worse man found, and that the sins of Christians did require it.

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

Informed him against Paul — ενεφανισαν , they gave him private intelligence (so the word signifies, saith Erasmus), they buzzed false reports into his ears: an old practice of persecutors. Proprie significat tacite et clam indicare. Truth seldom goes without a scratched face. The Arminians endeavoured to persuade the States of Holland that the orthodox pastors sought to diminish the authority of the civil magistrates, and to affect and arrogate to themselves a power collateral or equal to their power. a

a Act. Synod. Dordrecht. proefatione.

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

Desired favour — Or a good turn, χαριν : such was their impudence.

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

That Paul should be kept, … — How easily can God defeat the most cunning contrivances of his Church’s enemies! He sees and smiles, he looks and laughs. Commit we therefore ourselves to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator, 1 Peter 4:19 .

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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.

That are able — Or well appointed, well provided of moneys and other necessaries for such an enterprise. He that prosecutes another need be well underlaid.

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

Commanded Paul to be brought — This is now the third time: and what if it had been the thirtieth? Cato (the very best of the Romans) as he was thirty-two times accused, so he was thirty-two times cleared and absolved.

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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.

Laid many and grievous complaints against Paul — Whereby to take away his precious life: which because they could not, they had little comfort of their own. Some of their own Talmudists have observed that the devil was as much wounded with that restraint that he should not take away Job’s life, as Job was with all those wounds that the devil inflicted on his body.

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

Neither against the law of the Jews — Quam multa quam paucis! how much, how little, said Cicero of Brutus’ laconical epistle: and the same may I say of this defence, How much in a little! See Trapp on " Acts 24:12 "

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