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therefore leave the question of how far Paul was right or wrong in his attitude to the
council, and would seek rather to "consider our own selves, lest we also be tempted".
In verse 16, against the general background of tension and strife, a gentler note is
introduced. "Paul's sister's son" discovers a conspiracy against the Apostle, and comes
forward to warn the chief captain--a homely touch that the lonely captive would fully
appreciate. This further plot apparently helped Lysias to make up his mind, and he
summons two centurions, commanding them to make ready a bodyguard of horse
soldiers, to conduct Paul safely to Felix. The letter that accompanied the prisoner was
ingeniously worded so that any charges that might be preferred against the writer for his
illegal handling of a Roman citizen would be obviated. These, and other points, we shall
hope to consider in subsequent articles.
#50.
From Jerusalem to Rome (22: 1 - 28: 22).
Paul before Felix and Festus (24: and 25:).
pp. 69 - 75
According to Roman law, it was necessary that a prisoner who had been sent with an
elogium should, wherever possible, be tried within three days. In this case, however,
Felix had to communicate with Jerusalem, and command the presence of the High Priest
and elders--which would occupy at least two days--and it is therefore not surprising that
the case against Paul was not heard until "after five days" (Acts 24: 1). The priests and
elders, not being eloquent in Latin, procured the services of an orator named Tertullus.
Conybeare and Howson cite at length the Latin passage in Valerius Maximus from which
it is inferred that all pleadings, even in Greek provinces, were conducted before Roman
magistrates in Latin. Lewin, however, draws attention to the introduction of Greek, in
spite of this law, even at Rome itself.
Roman law permitted the accuser and the accused to plead in person, and we find Paul
using this right. Frequently, however, advocati (Gk. rhetores, as in Acts 24: 1) were
employed--generally young lawyers who served in this way in the provinces, in order to
obtain experience.
In Acts 24: Tertullus follows the usual custom, and opens his address with a
captatio benevolentię:
"Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done
unto this nation by thy providence: we accept it always, and in all places, most noble
Felix, with all thankfulness" (Acts 24: 2, 3).
The use of the word "providence" here is an indication of the Latin persuasion of the
speaker. A coin of Commodus is known, bearing the inscription Provid. Aug., and
Providentia Cęsaris is a common phrase on coins of the emperors. With regard to the
implications of verses 2 and 3, it is certainly true that Felix had suppressed bandits in the