to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me? Then said Paul, I stand at Cæsar's judgment-seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest. For if I be guilty, and have done any thing deserving of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be nothing in the things of which these persons accuse me, no man has power to give me up to them to please them. I appeal unto Cæsar.* Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed to Cæsar? to Cæsar shalt thou go.

And after certain days, king Agrippa and Bernicet came unto Cesarea to salute Festus. And when they had been there some time, Festus told Paul's case to 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

* I appeal to Cæsar. The old Roman law was, that Roman citizens had a right to appeal from magistrates to the people, and, in that case could not be punished by the magistrate till the people had pronounced on the case. But after the emperors had assumed absolute power, the appeal was not to the people, but to Cæsar.

+ Agrippa and Bernice.-Agrippa was son of that Herod who put James the Apostle to death, who imprisoned Peter with a similar intention, and was smitten by an angel with a loathsome disease for his arrogance, of which he died. Agrippa had been a favourite with the reigning emperor of Rome, who gave him that part of the dominions of his fathers, which lay on the east of the Jordan. He seems to have visited Festus to welcome him on his coming to the procuratorship of Judea.

Bernice was his sister, daughter of the same Herod: she seems to have been an attractive, but abandoned woman. She had been married to her own uncle. On his death, she married Polemon, king of Pontos and part of Cilicia, but did not live long with him. She returned to Judea to live with her brother Agrippa, under suspicious circumstances. She and her brother, being partly Jews by descent, were educated in the corrupt Judæism of that age.

elders of the Jews gave information, desiring to have sentence against him. But I answered them, It is not the custom of the Romans to give away the life of any man, before he who is accused have the accusers face to face, and have liberty to answer for himself concerning the accusation. Therefore, when they were come hither, without any delay, I, the next day, took my place on the judgment-seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth. But when his accusers stood up, they brought forward no charge concerning him, such as I suspected: but had certain questions against him, about their own religion, and about one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. And as I knew not what to do, when the question was of such a kind, I asked him whether he were willing to go to Jerusalem, and there be judged concerning these things. But when Paul had appealed to be kept for the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I should send him to Cæsar. Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I was wishing to hear the man myself. To-morrow, said Festus, thou shalt hear him.

On the morrow, therefore, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and were entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains and principal men of the city, Paul, at Festus' commandment, was brought forth. And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all who are here present with us, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have made application to me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, shouting aloud that he ought not to live any longer. But when I found that he had done nothing deserving of death, and as he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I determined to send him. But to write about him any thing certain to our sovereign lord, I have no power. Wherefore I have brought

him forth before you, and specially before thee, O king Agrippa, that after examination held, I might have somewhat to write. For it appears to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the accusations against him.

Then Agrippa said unto Paul, thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth his hand, and began to answer for himself:

I think myself happy, king Agrippa, that on every point on which the Jews accuse me, I have to defend myself before thee this day; especially as thou art acquainted with all the customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently. My way of life from my youth, that it was from the first passed among mine own nation, at Jerusalem, all the Jews know; for they know me from the beginning, (if they would testify,) that after the strictest sect of our religion, I lived a Pharisee. And now I stand and am tried for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers. To which promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God day and night, hope to come: and for this hope, king Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews.

What is it deemed a thing incredible by you, that God should raise the dead? I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And this also I did in Jerusalem: and many of the people of God did I shut up in prison, having received the authority of the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. And I punished them often in every synagogue, to compel them to blaspheme

*To compel them-not, and compelled them, as if he had succeeded in driving any of them to apostacy. This Paul does not say, but that he was compelling them, or using compulsion with them for that purpose.

[Christ]: and, being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities. For which objects, as I was going to Damascus, with the authority and commission of the chief priests, at midday, O king, I saw, as I was on my way, a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me, and those who were journeying with me. And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against the goad. And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest. But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared to thee for this purpose, to appoint thee a minister and a witness both of the things which thou hast seen, and of the things in which I shall be revealed to thee; delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, to whom now I send thee, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among those who are sanctified by that faith, which is towards me. Whereupon, Ö king Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision: but first to those of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the regions of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I declared that they should repent and turn to God, and do works worthy of their repentance. For these causes the Jews seized me in the temple, and attempted to kill me. Having thus obtained aid from God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should take place: That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that

* Kick against the goad.-See Lesson VII. note.

should rise from the dead, and should shew light to the people, and to the Gentiles.

And, as he thus spoke for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; thy much learning makes thee mad. But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, dost thou believe the prophets? I know that thou believest. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were almost, and altogether such as I am, except these chains.

And, when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them. And, when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man is doing nothing worthy of death, or of chains.

Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not ap> pealed to Cæsar.

WORDS, &C. TO BE EXPLAINED IN LESSON XXIII.

WHEN Festus went to Jerusalem, what request was made

to him, and by whom?

Did Festus grant the request

What directions did he give?

What did the Jews do?

?

How did Paul defend himself?

What proposal did Festus make to him?

What reply did Paul make to it?