The Bible Story Part 274

But Felix, having more exact knowledge concerning the Way, deferred them, saying, "When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will determine your matter."

And he gave order to the centurion that Paul should be kept in charge, and should have indulgence; and not to forbid any of his friends to minister unto him.

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But after certain days, Felix came with Drusilla, his wife, who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ Jesus. And as he reasoned of righteousness, and self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was terrified, and answered, "Go thy way for this time; and when I have a convenient season, I will call thee unto me."

He hoped moreover that money would be given him by Paul: wherefore also he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him. But when two years were fulfilled, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; and desiring to gain favor with the Jews, Felix left Paul in bonds.

VII

A NEW EXAMINATION BEFORE GOVERNOR FESTUS

"_I Appeal unto Caesar_."

Festus therefore, having come into the province, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. And the chief priests and the princ.i.p.al men of the Jews informed him against Paul; and they besought him, asking as a favor that he would send for him to Jerusalem; laying a plot to kill him on the way. Howbeit Festus answered, that Paul was kept in charge at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to depart thither shortly. "Let them therefore," said he, "who are influential among you, go down with me, and if there is anything amiss in the man, let them accuse him."

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[Ill.u.s.tration]

"FAIR HAVENS," ISLAND OF CRETE.

From an old print in the possession of the Springfield Public Library, and used by kind permission.

It was in the small harbor that Paul's ship anch.o.r.ed, and where he wished the captain to remain all winter. It was in the island of Crete that the famous labyrinth of King Minos, with its minotaur, was fabled to exist.

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And when he had tarried among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down unto Caesarea; and on the morrow he sat on the judgment seat, and commanded Paul to be brought. And when he was come, the Jews which had come down from Jerusalem stood round about him, bringing against him many and grievous charges, which they could not prove; while Paul said in his defense, "Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I sinned at all."

But Festus, desiring to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paul, and said, "Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?"

But Paul said, "I am standing before Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou also very well knowest. If then I am a wrong-doer, and have committed anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if none of those things is true, whereof these accuse me, no man can give me up unto them.

"I Appeal Unto Caesar."

Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, "Thou hast appealed unto Caesar: unto Caesar shalt thou go."

VIII

PAUL MAKES HIS DEFENSE BEFORE KING AGRIPPA AND QUEEN BERNICE.

"_This Man Doeth Nothing Worthy of Death or of Bonds_."

Now when certain days were pa.s.sed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea, and saluted Festus. And {456} as they tarried there many days, Festus laid Paul's case before the king, saying, "There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix: about whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, asking for sentence against him. To whom I answered, 'that it is not the custom of the Romans to give up any man, before the accused have the accusers face to face, and have had opportunity to make his defense concerning the matter laid against him.' When therefore they were come together here, I made no delay, but on the next day sat down on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought. Concerning whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no charge of such evil things as I supposed; but had certain questions against him of their own religion, and of one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. And I, being perplexed how to inquire concerning these things, asked whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters. But when Paul had appealed to be kept for the decision of the emperor, I commanded him to be kept till I should send him to Caesar."

And Agrippa said unto Festus, "I also could wish to hear the man myself." "To-morrow," saith he, "thou shalt hear him."

So on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and they were entered into the audience room, with the chief captains, and the princ.i.p.al men of the city, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. And Festus said, "King Agrippa, and all men who are here.

present with us, ye behold this man, about whom all the {457} mult.i.tude of the Jews made suit to me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying that he ought not to live any longer. But I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death: and as he himself appealed to the emperor I determined to send him. Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord.

Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, King Agrippa, that, after examination, I may have something to write. For it seemeth to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to signify the charges against him."

And Agrippa said to Paul, "Thou art permitted to speak for thyself."

Then Paul stretched forth his hand, and made his defense:--

"I think myself happy, King Agrippa, that I am to make my defense before thee this day touching all the things whereof I am accused by the Jews: especially because thou art expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently. My manner of life then from my youth up, which was from the beginning among mine own nation, and at Jerusalem, know all the Jews; having knowledge of me from the first, if they are willing to testify, how that after the straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. And now I stand here to be judged for the hope of the promise made of G.o.d unto our fathers; unto which promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving G.o.d night and day, hope to attain. And concerning this hope I am accused by the Jews, O king! Why is it judged incredible with you, if {458} G.o.d doth raise the dead? I verily thought myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And this I also did in Jerusalem: and I both shut up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, and when they were put to death, I gave my vote against them. And punishing them oftentimes in all the synagogues, I strove to make them blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto foreign cities.

"Whereupon as I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests, at midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them that journeyed with me. And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice saying unto me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the goad.' And I said, 'Who art thou, Lord?' And the Lord said, 'I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. But arise, and stand upon thy feet: for to this end have I appeared unto thee, to appoint thee a minister and a witness both of the things wherein thou hast seen me, and of the things wherein I will appear unto thee; delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom I send thee, to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto G.o.d, that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.' Wherefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: but declared both to them of Damascus first, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judaea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to G.o.d, doing works worthy of repentance.

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[Ill.u.s.tration]

THE SHIP OF PAUL WHEN CAUGHT IN THE EUROCLYDON.

From an old print in the possession of the Springfield Public Library, and used by kind permission.

This picture attempts to show the ship of Paul just as the wind has changed and threatened disaster. The crew is furling the heavy mainsail, and the boat, which was afterward taken aboard with great difficulty, is still being towed behind. Mt. Ida is shown at the left of the picture. It was soon after this that the ship, being unable to make the harbor of Phenice, got under the lea of the small island of Clauda, and the crew was able for a short time to make some preparations for the terrible experience before them.

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For this cause the Jews seized me in the temple, and tried to kill me.

Having therefore obtained the help that is from G.o.d, I stand unto this day testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses have said should come; how that the Christ must suffer, and how that he first by the resurrection of the dead should proclaim light both to the people and to the Gentiles."

And as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, "Paul, thou art mad; thy much learning hath made thee mad."

But Paul said, "I am not mad, most excellent Festus; but speak forth words of truth and soberness. For the king knoweth of these things, unto whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things is hidden from him; for this hath not been done in a corner. King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest."

And Agrippa said unto Paul, "With but little persuasion thou wouldest make me a Christian."

And Paul said, "I would to G.o.d, that whether with little or with much, not thou only, but also all that hear me this day, might become such as I am, except these bonds."

And the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them: and when they had withdrawn, they spoke one to another, saying, "This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds." And Agrippa said unto Festus, "This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar."

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THE CAPTAIN OF THE NEW FAITH IN THE CAPITAL OF THE CAESARS.

I

PAUL'S VOYAGE TO ROME.