Acts 25:24

25:13-27 Agrippa had the government of Galilee. How many unjust and hasty judgments the Roman maxim, ver. 16, condemn! This heathen, guided only by the light of nature, followed law and custom exactly, yet how many Christians will not follow the rules of truth, justice, and charity, in judging their brethren! The questions about God's worship, the way of salvation, and the truths of the gospel, may appear doubtful and without interest, to worldly men and mere politicians. See how slightly this Roman speaks of Christ, and of the great controversy between the Jews and the Christians. But the day is at hand when Festus and the whole world will see, that all the concerns of the Roman empire were but trifles and of no consequence, compared with this question of Christ's resurrection. Those who have had means of instruction, and have despised them, will be awfully convinced of their sin and folly. Here was a noble assembly brought together to hear the truths of the gospel, though they only meant to gratify their curiosity by attending to the defence of a prisoner. Many, even now, attend at the places of hearing the word of God with great pomp, and too often with no better motive than curiosity.

And though ministers do not now stand as prisoners to make a defence for their lives, yet numbers affect to sit in judgment upon them, desirous to make them offenders for a word, rather than to learn from them the truth and will of God, for the salvation of their souls But the pomp of this appearance was outshone by the real glory of the poor prisoner at the bar. What was the honour of their fine appearance, compared with that of Paul's wisdom, and grace, and holiness; his courage and constancy in suffering for Christ! It is no small mercy to have God clear up our righteousness as the light, and our just dealing as the noon-day; to have nothing certain laid to our charge. And God makes even the enemies of his people to do them right.

Well might Paul be aghast, to be friendless in so great a multitude, and to be shown and pointed at as a monster, being made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men, as 1 Corinthians 4:9 . But he found surely the benefit and efficacy of that promise, Matthew 28:20 , I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.

Acts 25:24 . Ἡμῖν , with us ) with me and Agrippa.— ἄνδρες , men ) Festus spares (does not mention) Bernice, in order not to (seem to) present the prisoner before a woman.— θεωρεῖτε ) Indicative: ye see . With this comp. ch. Acts 3:16 , “This man whom ye see;” Acts 19:26 , Acts 21:20 .

23. when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp—in the same city in which their father, on account of his pride, had perished, eaten up by worms [Wetst]. with the chief captains—(See on [2113]Ac 21:32). Josephus [Wars of the Jews, 3.4.2] says that five cohorts, whose full complement was one thousand men, were stationed at Cæsarea. principal men of the city—both Jews and Romans. "This was the most dignified and influential audience Paul had yet addressed, and the prediction (Ac 9:15) was fulfilled, though afterwards still more remarkably at Rome (Ac 27:24; 2Ti 4:16, 17) [Webster and Wilkinson].

Verse 24. - Saith for said , A.V.; behold for see , A.V.; made suit to we for have dealt with me , A.V.; here for also here , A.V. That he ought not to live ( Acts 22:22 ). This had evidently been repeated by the Jews before Festus himself (ver. 7), and is implied by Paul's words in ver. 11. Acts 25:24

Acts 25:24-25 . Θεωρεῖτε ] Indicative. πᾶν τὸ πλῆθος ] appears to conflict with Acts 25:2 ; Acts 25:15 , and is at all events an exaggeration. But how natural is it to suppose that the persons there named were accompanied by an impetuous crowd! Hence also ἐπιβοῶντες . On ἐνέτυχόν μοι , they have approached me , in a hostile spirit towards him, comp. 1Ma 8:32 ; 1Ma 10:61 ; 2Ma 4:36 . On ἐνθάδε , comp. Acts 25:17 . καὶ αὐτοῦ δὲ τούτου ] and, on the other hand ( καὶ … δέ , as in Acts 22:29 ; see on John 6:51 ), this person himself (itemque ipse ille ).

24 . have dealt with me] Rev. Ver . “made suit to me.” In all other places of the N. T. this word is used of “making intercession” to God. and also here ] No doubt the Sadducees from Jerusalem had been able in the course of two years to work up a great deal of feeling against Paul among their party in Cæsarea. So when Festus came he was appealed to by the great men of the residential city as well as by those from Jerusalem.

(24) Have dealt with me. —The general term, “held communication with me,” is chosen to cover the proposal of Acts 25:2-3 , as well as the direct accusation of Acts 25:7 . It would seem from the addition, “and also here,” that the Jews of Cæsarea had also taken part in the proceedings, and that they too had been clamouring for a capital sentence.

Acts 25:24 . βασιλεῦ , see above on p. 495.— συμπαρόντες : only here in N.T., cf. Wis 9:10 , Tob 12:12 [395] [396].— πᾶν τὸ πλ .: the statement is not in the least inconsistent with Acts 25:2 ; Acts 25:7 ; Acts 25:15 . In Jerusalem at all events it is easily intelligible that a noisy crowd would second the actual accusers, cf. Acts 17:5-6 , while in connection with Cæsarea we know from the latter years of the government of Felix how bitter the Jews were against the Gentiles, and how natural it would be for them to oppose the Apostle of the Gentiles, Jos., B. J. , ii., 13, 7; Ant. , xx., 8, 7.— ἐνέτυχόν μοι : “made suit to me,” R.V., Wis 8:20 , 3Ma 6:37, so in Plut., Pomp. , 55, cf. Polyc., Martyr. , xvii., 2, with dative only; it is used also of those making complaint before some authority, 1Ma 8:32 ; 1Ma 10:61 ; 1Ma 11:35 , 2Ma 4:36 , see Westcott on Hebrews 7:25 . The verb with the exception of Hebrews 7:25 and text is only found in Romans 8:27 ; Romans 8:34 ; Romans 11:2 , in each place of making supplication to God. For its use cf. ἔντευξις and ἐντυχία , of making request to one in authority, cf. Deissmann, Bibelstudien , i., pp. 117, 118, 143, 144, e.g. , the frequent formula on the papyri, ἔντευξις εἰς τὸ τοῦ βασιλέως ὄνομα . Clemen regards the whole speech of Festus to Agrippa, Acts 25:24-27 , as an interpolation on account of the repetition of Acts 25:21 in Acts 25:25 , and of the contradiction supposed to exist between Acts 25:27 ; Acts 25:19 .