19 Who G3739 ought G1163 G1163 to have been here G3918 before G1909 thee, G4675 and G2532 object, G2723 if G1536 they had G2192 ought G1536 against G4314 me. G3165
And G1161 when it was told G3377 me G3427 how that G5259 the Jews G2453 laid wait G1917 G3195 G1510 for G1519 the man, G435 I sent G3992 straightway G1824 to G4314 thee, G4571 and gave commandment G3853 to his accusers G2725 also G2532 to say G3004 before G1909 thee G4675 what they had against G4314 him. G846 Farewell. G4517
To G4314 whom G3739 I answered, G611 G3754 It is G2076 not G3756 the manner G1485 of the Romans G4514 to deliver G5483 any G5100 man G444 to G1519 die, G684 before G4250 that G2228 he which is accused G2723 have G2192 the accusers G2725 face to face, G2596 G4383 G5037 and have G2983 licence G5117 to answer for himself G627 concerning G4012 the crime laid against him. G1462
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Acts 24
Commentary on Acts 24 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 24
We left Paul a prisoner at Caesarea, in Herod's judgment-hall, expecting his trial to come on quickly; for in the beginning of his imprisonment his affairs moved very quickly, but afterwards very slowly. In this chapter we have his arraignment and trial before Felix the governor at Caesarea; here is,
Act 24:1-9
We must suppose that Lysias, the chief captain, when he had sent away Paul to Caesarea, gave notice to the chief priests, and others that had appeared against Paul, that if they had any thing to accuse him of they must follow him to Caesarea, and there they would find hi, and a judge ready to hear them-thinking, perhaps, they would not have given themselves so much trouble; but what will not malice do?
Act 24:10-21
We have here Paul's defence of himself, in answer to Tertullus's charge, and there appears in it a great deal of the spirit of wisdom and holiness, and an accomplishment of Christ's promise to his followers that when they were before governors and kings, for his sake, it should be given them in that same hour what they should speak. Though Tertullus had said a great many provoking things, yet Paul did not interrupt him, but let him go on to the end of his speech, according to the rules of decency and the method in courts of justice, that the plaintiff be allowed to finish his evidence before the defendant begins his plea. And when he had done, he did not presently fly out into passionate exclamations against the iniquity of the times and the men (O tempora! O mores!-Oh the degeneracy of the times!) but he waited for a permission from the judge to speak in his turn, and had it. The governor beckoned to him to speak, v. 10. And now he also may have leave to speak out, under the protection of the governor, which was more than he could hitherto obtain. And, when he did speak, he made no reflections at all upon Tertullus, who he knew spoke for his fee, and therefore despised what he said, and levelled his defence against those that employed him. And here,
Act 24:22-27
We have here the result of Paul's trial before Felix, and what was the consequence of it.