the acts of the apostles-第79章
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also presenting a letter with which he had been entrusted by the chief
captain：
〃Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting。
This man was taken of the Jews； and should have been killed of them： then
came I with an army； and rescued him； having understood that he was a Roman。
And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him； I brought
him forth into their council： whom I perceived to be accused of questions of
their law； but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of
bonds。 And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man； I
sent straightway to thee； and gave commandment
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to his accusers also to say before thee what they had against him。
Farewell。〃
After reading the communication； Felix inquired to what province the
prisoner belonged； and being informed that he was of Cilicia； said： 〃I will
hear thee 。 。 。 when thine accusers are also come。 And he commanded him to
be kept in Herod's judgment hall。〃
The case of Paul was not the first in which a servant of God had found among
the heathen an asylum from the malice of the professed people of Jehovah。 In
their rage against Paul the Jews had added another crime to the dark
catalogue which marked the history of that people。 They had still further
hardened their hearts against the truth and had rendered their doom more
certain。
Few realize the full meaning of the words that Christ spoke when； in the
synagogue at Nazareth； He announced Himself as the Anointed One。 He declared
His mission to comfort； bless； and save the sorrowing and the sinful； and
then； seeing that pride and unbelief controlled the hearts of His hearers；
He reminded them that in time past God had turned away from His chosen
people because of their unbelief and rebellion； and had manifested Himself
to those in heathen lands who had not rejected the light of heaven。 The
widow of Sarepta and Naaman the Syrian had lived up to all the light they
had； hence they were accounted more righteous than God's chosen people who
had backslidden from Him and had sacrificed principle to convenience and
worldly honor。
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Christ told the Jews at Nazareth a fearful truth when He declared that with
backsliding Israel there was no safety for the faithful messenger of God。
They would not know his worth or appreciate his labors。 While the Jewish
leaders professed to have great zeal for the honor of God and the good of
Israel； they were enemies of both。 By precept and example they were leading
the people farther and farther from obedience to Godleading them where He
could not be their defense in the day of trouble。
The Saviour's words of reproof to the men of Nazareth applied； in the case
of Paul； not only to the unbelieving Jews； but to his own brethren in the
faith。 Had the leaders in the church fully surrendered their feeling of
bitterness toward the apostle； and accepted him as one specially called of
God to bear the gospel to the Gentiles； the Lord would have spared him to
them。 God had not ordained that Paul's labors should so soon end； but He did
not work a miracle to counteract the train of circumstances to which the
course of the leaders in the church at Jerusalem had given rise。
The same spirit is still leading to the same results。 A neglect to
appreciate and improve the provisions of divine grace has deprived the
church of many a blessing。 How often would the Lord have prolonged the work
of some faithful minister； had his labors been appreciated！ But if the
church permits the enemy of souls to pervert the understanding； so that they
misrepresent and misinterpret the words and acts of the servant of Christ；
if they allow themselves to stand in his way and hinder his usefulness； the
Lord
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sometimes removes from them the blessing which He gave。
Satan is constantly working through his agents to dishearten and destroy
those whom God has chosen to accomplish a great and good work。 They may be
ready to sacrifice even life itself for the advancement of the cause of
Christ； yet the great deceiver will suggest to their brethren doubts
concerning them which； if entertained； would undermine confidence in their
integrity of character； and thus cripple their usefulness。 Too often he
succeeds in bringing upon them； through their own brethren； such sorrow of
heart that God graciously interposes to give His persecuted servants rest。
After the hands are folded upon the pulseless breast； when the voice of
warning and encouragement is silent； then the obdurate may be aroused to see
and prize the blessings they have cast from them。 Their death may accomplish
that which their life has failed to do。
（419）
Chapter 39
The Trial at Caesarea
Five days after Paul's arrival at Caesarea his accusers came from Jerusalem；
accompanied by Tertullus； an orator whom they had engaged as their counsel。
The case was granted a speedy hearing。 Paul was brought before the assembly；
and Tertullus 〃began to accuse him。〃 Judging that flattery would have more
influence upon the Roman governor than the simple statements of truth and
justice； the wily orator began his speech by praising Felix： 〃Seeing that by
thee we enjoy great quietness； and that very worthy deeds are done unto his
nation by thy providence； we accept it always； and in all places； most noble
Felix； with all thankfulness。〃
Tertullus here descended to barefaced falsehood； for the character of Felix
was base and contemptible。 It was said of him；that 〃in the practice of all
kinds of lust and cruelty； he exercised the power of a king with the temper
of a slave。〃
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Tacitus； History； ch。 5； par。 9。 Those who heard Tertullus knew that his
flattering words were untrue； but their desire to secure the condemnation of
Paul was stronger than their love of truth。
In his speech； Tertullus charged Paul with crimes which； if proved； would
have resulted in his conviction for high treason against the government。 〃We
have found this man a pestilent fellow；〃 declared the orator； 〃and a mover
of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world； and a ringleader of the
sect of the Nazarenes： who also hath gone about to profane the temple。〃
Tertullus then stated that Lysias； the commandant of the garrison at
Jerusalem； had violently taken Paul from the Jews when they were about to
judge him by their ecclesiastical law； and had thus forced them to bring the
matter before Felix。 These statements were made with the design of inducing
the procurator to deliver Paul over to the Jewish court。 All the charges
were vehemently supported by the Jews present； who made no effort to conceal
their hatred of the prisoner。
Felix had sufficient penetration to read the disposition and character of
Paul's accusers。 He knew from what motive they had flattered him； and he saw
also that they had failed to substantiate their charges against Paul。
Turning to the accused； he beckoned to him to answer for himself。 Paul
wasted no words in compliments； but simply stated that he could the more
cheerfully defend himself before Felix； since the latter had been so long a
procurator； and therefore had so good an understanding of the laws and
customs of the Jews。 Referring to the charges brought
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against him； he plainly showed that not one of them was true。 He declared
that he had caused no disturbance in any part of Jerusalem； nor had he
profaned the sanctuary。 〃They neither found me in the temple disputing with
any man；〃 he said； 〃neither raising up the people； neither in the
synagogues； nor in the city： neither can they prove the things whereof they
now accuse me。〃
While confessing that 〃after the way which they call heresy〃 he had
worshiped the God of his fathers； he asserted that he had always believed
〃all things which are written in the law and in the prophets；〃 and that in
harmony with the plain teaching of the Scriptures； he held the faith
