b Ps. cxix. 60.
Paul's vindication of himself before felix.
Acts xxiv. 14, 15. But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and the Prophets: and have hope toward God, which they them- selves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
IN the chapter before us we have a striking in- stance of the confidence inspired by the consciousness
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of truth. St. Paul had been seized under the mistaken idea that he had introduced a heathen into the temple, and profaned the temple. Had there been no other ground of animosity against him, it is pro- bable that he would soon have convinced his adver- saries of their mistake ; but he was the great Apostle of the Gentiles, and therefore very obnoxious to the whole Jewish nation. Hence a prejudice existed against him, as hostile to the temple and the law : and the moment a cry was raised against him, though on quite a mistaken ground, it excited an universal tumult. From the enraged populace he was rescued by the Roman soldiers : and an opportunity was thus afforded him of vindicating himself before the Roman Governor at Cesarea. Ananias, the high-priest, with the elders of the Jewish people, went down, with a famous orator named Tertullus, to accuse him. Tertullus, anxious only to obtain judgment against him, omitted nothing whereby he might gain his cause. He complimented Felix on the equity and acceptableness of his government ; when it was uni- versally complained of as most iniquitous : and he charged Paul with the profanation of the temple, of which he had not been in the least guilty ; and with exciting the tumult, which the Jews themselves had raised. But, in the midst of all, Paul stood like a rock, unmoved by the waves that dash upon it. When permitted to speak, he followed his accuser through the various articles of the charge. In his introduc- tion, he shewed the difference between the artful compliments of a courtier, and the respectful address of a Christian : and, in the remainder of his short apology, he refuted every accusation that was brought against him. There was one part indeed of the charge, which, in a less obnoxious form, he acknow- ledged. He was accused of being " a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes :" " This," says he, " I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers."
Now from this acknowledgment of his we shall take occasion to shew,
1807.] Paul's vindication before felix. 549
I. In what way the Christian serves his God —
We have not here to consider the Christian's ex- perience at large ; but simply to advert to his faith and hope —
[The Christian " believes all things that are written in the law and the prophets." Whatever God has told him, whether it accord with his pre-conceived notions or not ; yea, whether he can comprehend it or not ; he does not presume
to gainsay it, but receives it upon the authority of God
But the things to which the Apostle more especially alluded in the text, were those which relate to Christ and his Gospel3; such as the prophecies which predicted his advent, the repre- sentations which shadowed forth his work and offices ; and the promises made to his obedient followers ; all of which are embraced by the Christian with faith unfeigned.
This is the foundation on which the Christian builds his hope. He expects assuredly, that " there shall be a resurrec- tion both of the just and unjust," when " every one shall receive according to that he hath done, whether it be good or evil." To the ungodly this period is an object of fear and terror; but to the Christian, of joyful hope. He " knows in whom he has believed ; and is presuaded, that what He hath promised, he is able also to perform :" to that day therefore he looks forward, as the completion of all his wishes, and the consum- mation of all his joys ]