278
The Acts of the Apostles
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 against him, he plainly showed that not one of them
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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 of the resurrection of the dead. And he further declared that
the ruling purpose of his life was to “have always a conscience void of
offense toward God, and toward men.”
In a candid, straightforward manner he stated the object of his
visit to Jerusalem, and the circumstances of his arrest and trial: “Now
after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings.
Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple,
neither with multitude, nor with tumult. Who ought to have been here
before thee, and object, if they had aught against me. Or else let these
same here say, if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood
before the council, except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing
among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in
question by you this day.”
The apostle spoke with earnestness and evident sincerity, and his
words carried with them a weight of conviction. Claudius Lysias, in
his letter to Felix, had borne a similar testimony in regard to Paul’s
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conduct. Moreover, Felix himself had a better knowledge of the Jewish
religion than many supposed. Paul’s plain statement of the facts in
the case enabled Felix to understand still more clearly the motives by
which the Jews were governed in attempting to convict the apostle