THE APOSTLE OF THE RECONCILIATION 15

The date of the crucifixion of the Lord is now accepted as A.D. 29-31, which is the date of the opening chapter

of Acts. We have therefore the date of the first twelve chapters, A.D. 29-31 to 44.

Let us now seek evidence to place a date for the last chapter. The narrative leaves Paul a prisoner, but residing

in his own hired house for two years, receiving all who came, teaching them freely and without reserve, `no man

forbidding him'. These closing words of the Acts indicate a period wherein the Roman Power was tolerant to the

new sect. Indeed, throughout the Acts up to the closing chapter, the Roman Government is seen in a favourable

light, the persecutions detailed in the narrative coming from the Jews.

The great fire which broke out in Rome took place on July 19th, A.D. 64. If we have any knowledge at all of the

awful persecution of the Christians which immediately followed, we shall find it impossible to conceive of Paul

remaining unmolested in his own hired house while his followers and converts were being burned as torches or

thrown to the lions. A.D. 64, therefore, is the furthest bound of the story of the Acts. It is not necessary that the Acts

reaches so far, but it is practically certain that it does not extend beyond.

Paul was brought into close touch with several Roman rulers upon the occasion of his imprisonment. Let us see

whether we can find another date similar to A.D. 44. The apostle was arrested at Jerusalem, sent to Caesarea,

imprisoned by Felix and detained by him for two years. Felix was succeeded by Festus, who heard Paul's defence,

as did also King Agrippa. Felix was Procurator of Judaea in A.D. 52 or 53 (Jos. Ant. xx. 7, 1; Bell. Jud. ii. 12, 8).

Eusebius assigns A.D. 51 as the date of his appointment (Chron. ii., p. 271). Whichever of these dates may be the

true one, we know from Acts 24:10 that Felix had been `many years' Procurator when Paul stood before him.

When Tertullus accused Paul before Felix, he introduced his charge with the compliment, `Seeing that by thee

we enjoy great quietness', as though this were an outstanding feature of Felix's administration. This also had some

bearing upon the nature of the charge brought against Paul. When Paul was delivered from the Jewish mob by

Roman soldiers, it is evident from the words of the chief captain that he had been mistaken for the false prophet, an

Egyptian who had led 4,000 fanatical Jews to the Mount of Olives to see Jerusalem fall. Felix routed them, but the

Egyptian had escaped. As another small link the word `murderers' in Acts 21:38 is in the original sikarion. Now

Josephus tells us of these sicarii who murdered people in broad daylight, and that they arose during the reign of

Nero. Nero began his reign October 13th, A.D. 54.

The `great quietness' referred to by Tertullus ensued upon the capture of Eleazar, and upon his being sent to

Rome after twenty years' defiance and rebellion, and also upon the rout of the false prophet - the Egyptian for whom

Paul was mistaken by Claudius Lysias, the chief captain.  The numerous events that go to make up the

administration of Felix fully account for three years. These, added to the earliest possible date of the `sicarii', would

bring us to A.D. 57. Paul arrived some time after this date, for the Egyptian had been routed `before these days'.

Felix was recalled to Rome to answer charges of misrule; and he was followed by accusing Jews. It was for this

reason he left Paul bound, `willing to show the Jews a pleasure' (Acts 24:27). Josephus tells us that Felix was saved

from the due punishment of his deeds by the intervention of his brother Pallas. Now Pallas died A.D. 62 (Tacit.

Ann. xiv. 65); therefore Felix must have been recalled not later than A.D. 61 in order to arrive in Rome in time for

his brother's influence to have been of any avail.

Another clue is given by a note of Josephus, that a dispute arose between Festus and the Jews, and that the

Jewish deputation was considerably helped by the influence of Nero's wife Poppoea, who was married to him in

A.D. 62.

Yet one more testimony. When Paul arrived at Rome he was delivered into the custody of the Prefect of the

`Praetorian guard', to stratopedarche (Acts 28:16).

The minute accuracy of Scripture enables us to fix another boundary line. One Prefect is mentioned here. In

A.D. 62 two Prefects were appointed, Burrhus holding that office singly up to the time of his death, February, A.D.

62. We know that Paul wintered at Malta (Acts 28:1-11); the sea was not open to navigation until February, and

consequently Burrhus would have been dead before Paul reached Rome, if we make his arrival as late as A.D. 62.

We must therefore put it back to A.D. 61 as the latest date. Some time after the Fast, which was September 24th (if

in A.D. 60), we find the apostle at Fairhavens. This places the embarkation of Paul (Acts 27:2) as about August of a