Acts 24:10
Then Paul answered, (the governor making a sign to him to speak:) Knowing that for many years thou hast been judge over this nation, I will with good courage answer for myself.
Open Acts 24:10 in the Motif Searcher, word by word across all five texts →Show on the spiral →The verse in its languages
- Vulgate (Clementine)
- Respondit autem Paulus (annuente sibi præside dicere) : Ex multis annis te esse judicem genti huic sciens, bono animo pro me satisfaciam.
- Greek New Testament (SBLGNT)
- Ἀπεκρίθη τε ὁ Παῦλος νεύσαντος αὐτῷ τοῦ ἡγεμόνος λέγειν· Ἐκ πολλῶν ἐτῶν ὄντα σε κριτὴν τῷ ἔθνει τούτῳ ἐπιστάμενος εὐθύμως τὰ περὶ ἐμαυτοῦ ἀπολογοῦμαι,
Haydock's commentary
In the apostle's speech we observe nothing of the flattery, which characterized the opposite party. It would have been unworthy of his just cause. (Calmet)
He observes he had been governor of the province many (eight or nine) years, to insinuate, that had he been a seditious man, as he was accused, Felix would not have failed to have heard of his misdeeds before. (Menochius)
From Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary, 1859, in the transcription made by Todd Easton and kept online by John Paul Wohlschied at johnblood.gitlab.io/haydock.
The Fathers on this verse
St John Chrysostom A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles, Homily L on Acts xxiii. 31-33
Like some king whom his body-guards escort, so did these convey Paul; in such numbers too, and by night, for fear of the wrath of the people. Now then you will say that they have got him out of the city, they desist from their violence? No indeed. But (the tribune) would not have sent him off with such care for his safety, but that while he himself had found nothing amiss in him, he knew the murderous disposition of his adversaries. “And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia; I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come.” Already Lysias has spoken for his exculpation; (but the Jews seek to) gain the hearer beforehand. “And he ordered him to be kept in custody in Herod’s prætorium” ( v. 34, 35 ): again Paul is put in bonds. …
St John Chrysostom A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles, Homily L on Acts xxiii. 31-33
(Recapitulation.) “Then the soldiers,” etc. ( v. 31-33 .) ( a ) This also made Paul famous in Cæsarea, his coming with so large a force. “But,” says Tertullus, “that I be not further tedious,” ( e ) showing that (Felix) does find him tedious ( ἐγκόπτεται ): “I beseech thee,” he does not say, Hear the matter, but, “hear us of thy clemency.” ( ch. xxiv. 4 .) Probably it is to pay court, that he thus lays out his speech. ( g ) “For having found this man, a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world” ( v. 5 ): how then, it might be said, if he did this elsewhere (and not here)? No, says he; among us also he has profaned the Temple; “attempted,” says he, “to profane it:” but the how, he leaves untold. “Whom also we took.” etc. “But the tribune,” etc. …
The Fathers are given as they wrote. Where a passage lays the Passion on the Jewish people, the Church teaches that it cannot be charged against all the Jews then living, nor against the Jews of today, and that all sinners were its authors (CCC 597, 598).