Acts 24:19

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. …

(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. …

82. While matters were proceeding thus we withdrew from them, as from an assembly of treacherous men, for whatsoever they pleased they did, whereas there is no man in the world but knows that ex parte proceedings cannot stand good. This the divine law determines; for when the blessed Apostle was suffering under a similar conspiracy and was brought to trial, he demanded, saying, ‘The Jews from Asia ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had aught against me.’ On which occasion Festus also, when the Jews wished to lay such a plot against him, as these men have now laid against me, said, ‘It is not the manner of Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accuser face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.’ But Eusebius and his fellows both had the boldness to pervert the law, and have proved mo …