GOLDEN TEXT: So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. — Ps, xc. 12.

1. What did you learn about Paul in the last Lesson? 2. Where was he sent as a prisoner when he had been in Jerusalem a short time?

He was sent to Cesarea.

3. Will you point out Cesarea on the map?

4. Why was Paul sent to Cesarea?

That he might be brought for trial before Felix, the Roman governor, who lived there.

5. Who came from Jerusalem to Cesarea soon after Paul arrived there?

Ananias the high priest, and an orator named Tertullus.

6. Of what did they accuse Paul before Felix?

They accused him of being "a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among the Jews throughout the world, and a ring-leader of the sect of Nazarenes."

7. What did Paul say in defence of himself?

He said that they could not prove the things of which they accused him.

8. What did Felix say when he had heard what Paul and his accusers had to say?

He said, "When Lysias the chief captain shall come down I will know the uttermost of your matter."

9. What did Felix do one day while Paul was a prisoner at Cesarea?

He sent for him and heard what he had to say about the religion of Christ.

10. What is said of Felix as Paul reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come?

He trembled.

11. What did he say to Paul?

"Go thy way for this time, and when I have a convenient season I will call for thee."

1. Where did we leave Paul in the last Lesson?

2. Will you give an account of his arrest at Jerusalem? 3. How did he escape scourging? Acts xxii. 24–29.

4. What did the chief captain do the following day? 30. 5. How did Paul create dissension among his accusers? xxiii. 6-9.

6. What did the chief captain then do?

7. Where did he send him soon after? 23, 24.

8. What letter concerning him did he send to Felix? 25-30. 9. What did Felix say and do when Paul and the letter had been delivered to him? 34, 35.

10. What took place soon after? xxiv. 1.

11. What accusation was brought against Paul? 2-8.

12. What did he reply? 10-21.

13. What did Felix do when he had heard both sides? 22, 23.

14. What did he do when Paul had been some time a prisoner? 24.

15. What effect did Paul's reasoning produce on Felix? 25. 16. What did he hope Paul would do? 26.

17. Who succeeded Felix when Paul had been a prisoner two years? 27.

18. Why did Felix, on going out of office, leave Paul bound?

NOTES. Acts xxiii. 6. I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee.

"The

son of Pharisees." Revised Translation. As some of Paul's accusers were Pharisees and others Sadducees, he created dissension among them by claiming that he was a Pharisee. Perhaps he was a Pharisee rather than a Sadducee, but in reality he was neither, and the morality of the trick here ascribed to him is questionable. "We cannot imagine his Divine Master ever saying under any circumstances, 'I am a Pharisee.' Moreover, the device, besides being questionable, was not even politic. It added violence to a yet more infuriated reaction in men who felt that they had been the victims of a successful stratagem."— Farrar.

23. Cesarea. This city was on the coast of Palestine, sixty-eight miles north-west of Jerusalem. It was the residence of the Roman procurators of Judea, and the head-quarters of the military forces of the province. It was a magnificent city, built at great expense by Herod the Great. It should not be confounded with Cesarea Philippi.

24. Felix the governor. Felix was procurator of Judea from A.D. 53 to A.D. 60. He was guilty of every form of cruelty and excess, and "wielded the authority of a prince with the soul of a slave."

XXIV. 1. After five days. Probably five days after Paul's departure from Jerusalem is meant, although some think the meaning is five days after his arrest, and others five days after his arrival at Cesarea. — A certain orator named Tertullus. "Nothing is known of him except the mention here. His name indicates that he was a Roman ... Paid advocates were employed both in the Greek and the Roman courts, and, in criminal actions, both for the prosecution and the defence. The time of the speaker was limited by the court. Both parties were usually allowed to make two speeches, the complainant beginning, the defendant following; the complainant replying, and the defendant closing the case. As a general rule, the accused, even when his case was conducted by a paid advocate, was expected to address the court himself; for the judges liked to form an opinion of him from his voice, look, and demeanor. The description of Tertullus here as an 'orator,' indicates that he was a paid advocate. It was common for young Roman lawyers to qualify themselves for practice in the Roman courts by provincial practice."- Abbott.

23. The leniency with which Paul was treated while at Cesarea shows that a favorable impression had been made on Felix. The apostle was kept in military custody, but not until Felix was about to surrender his authority to Festus was he bound to the soldier having him in charge.

24. Porcius Festus came into Felix's room. "Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus."- Revised Translation.

REFERENCES. Conybeare and Howson (Chs. XXI., XXII.); Farrar (Chs. XL., XLI.); Renan's "St. Paul" (Chs. XIX., XX.); "Bible for Learners" (Vol. III., Chs. X., XI.); "Footsteps of St. Paul" (Chs. XVIII., XIX.); "A Year with St. Paul" (Sundays XLIV.-XLVI.). For a fuller list of references see Lesson V.

LESSON XIX.

PAUL BEFORE FESTUS AND AGRIPPA.

Acts XXV. 1-XXVI. 3.

We were made to love, revere,

Him who made and placed us here;
Made to study and fulfil

All his good and holy will.

GOLDEN TEXT: Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. - PROV. xx. 11.

1. What did you learn about Paul in the last Lesson?

2. What did you learn about Felix?

3. When Paul had been a prisoner at Cesarea two years, who was appointed governor of Judea instead of Felix?

Festus.

4. Did Felix before going out of office set Paul at liberty? He did not, but left him bound.

5. What did the Jews do as soon as Festus became governor?

They made many complaints against Paul.

6. What did Paul say when Festus asked him to go to Jerusalem to be tried?

"I appeal unto Cesar."

7. What did he mean by this?

That he demanded a trial before the Roman emperor.

8. What did Festus answer?

"Unto Cesar shalt thou go."

9. What long voyage must Paul make to be tried before the Roman emperor ?

A voyage from Cesarea to Rome.

10. What was the name of the Roman Emperor at that time?

His name was Nero.

11. Why were the Roman Emperors called Cæsars?

Because that was the title by which they were known.

1. In what condition did Felix, on going out of office, leave Paul?

2. Who succeeded Felix as governor of Judea?

3. How long had Paul been a prisoner at this time?

4. Where did Festus go three days after his arrival at Cesarea? xxv. 1.

5. What favor did the high-priest and other Jews ask of him? 2, 3.

6. What did Festus reply? 4, 5.

7. What did he do on his return to Cesarea? 6.

8. What is said of the accusations of the Jews? 7.

9. What did Paul answer?

8.

10. What did Festus then ask Paul? 9.

11. What was Paul's reply? 10, 11. 12. What did Festus then say? 12.

13. Why had Paul a right to appeal to Cesar? 14. Who came to Cesarea soon after this?

15. Of what was Agrippa king?

16. Had he any authority in Paul's case?

13.

17. What did Festus say to Agrippa about Paul? 14-21. 18. What did Agrippa answer? 22.

19. What took place the next day? 23-xxvi. 3.

20. What did Agrippa say when he had heard Paul? 32.

NOTES. Acts xxv. 1. Festus. Porcius Festus was made procurator of Judea, A.D. 60, and died in office about two years after. Lewin remarks that "the new procurator had a straightforward honesty about him, which forms a strong contrast to the mean rascality of his predecessor."

10. I stand at Cesar's judgment seat. The tribunal of the Roman governors in the provinces was held in Cesar's name, and regarded as Cesar's tribunal.

11. I appeal unto Cesar. This was one of Paul's privileges as a Roman citizen. "No written appeal was required. The pronunciation of the single word, appello, I appeal, suspended all further proceedings. There were, however, certain cases of great crime, where there was no doubt as to the facts, in which the appeal might be disallowed; e. g., in the case of bandits or pirates taken in the act. Hence, here Festus confers with his council before allowing the appeal."

13. King Agrippa. This was Herod Agrippa II. He was the only son of Herod Agrippa I., the king whose terrible death is recorded in Acts xii. 20-23, and the great-grandson of Herod the Great. Claudius, A.D. 53, bestowed on him the tetrarchies of Philip and Lysanias, including Batanea,