Post by Lee on May 7, 2015 1:58:39 GMT
(Acts 24.).—The dates of the various happenings in the Acts of the Apostles are all calculated from two historical facts; 1, the recall of Felix to Rome, about two years after Paul’s trial in A.D. 60; and 2, the death of Herod Agrippa, A.D. 44.
Felix was a slave of the Emperor Claudius. He was made governor of Samaria, and afterwards of Judea, through the influence of his brother, Pallas. Pallas was a favourite of Nero. Felix was recalled to Rome to answer a charge of conniving at the massacre of the Jews at Cæsarea; his brother’s influence obtained his acquittal. Drusilla was the wife of Azizus, the King of Emesa. He had been circumcised that he might marry her, yet she left him, and went through the form of marriage with Felix. Both she and her son by Felix perished in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, when Pompeii and Herculaneum were destroyed by the ashes and lava of the volcano. This is the man to whom Paul spoke of self-control, and retribution. The Apostle’s trial seems to us very unfair. A host of enemies who affirmed things of which they knew nothing (verses 9, 18, 19); the absence of those whom Paul should have been allowed to cross-examine; a professional orator willing to truckle to a hated Roman official in order to obtain the death of a righteous, law-abiding Christian. The laws of ancient Rome were good, though often administered by scoundrels. See how the law protected Paul, he being a Roman citizen. 1, At Philippi the magistrates had to apologise for their cruelty, they were afraid. 2, At Corinth, Gallio would not listen to the Jews, Paul had not transgressed the Roman law. 3, At Jerusalem, the Roman soldiery rescued him (21:31–35). 4, Being a Roman, he was saved from torture and scourging (22:25, 29). 5, He was saved from the council (23:10). 6, From the forty assassins, verses 12–21. 7, Now saved from Felix. Keeping him bound was quite illegal, and the word of God was not bound. 8, As soon as there was a change of governors, the Jews tried to get at Paul again (25:3–5). Festus refused. 9, At Cæsarea, another trial, Paul saved (verse 9) by appealing to Cæsar. His enemies baffled at every turn. God’s purpose carried out, and the truth proclaimed even in Rome itself.
(1913). The Christadelphian, 50(electronic ed.), 96.