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| 1 And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul. |
Tertullus – A Roman lawyer; by his skill they hoped to prove that Paul was a dangerous character--a sort of anarchist. R4499:2, 3194:3
Governor – Felix; of not too savory a reputation, he was the judge--there were no jurors. R4499:1,3, 2
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| 2 And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence, |
By thee we enjoy – Flattery of this kind, undeserved praise, is extremely reprehensible; totally contrary to the principles which govern the Lord's followers. It is dishonesty, hypocrisy. R3194:2
Great quietness – Shrewdly the Roman attorney complimented the governor along the lines of his efficiency in preserving the peace and putting down every form of insurrection. R4499:2
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| 3 We accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. |
Most noble Felix – Felix, one of the most corrupt and oppressive rulers ever sent by the Romans into Judea. R3194:2, 1564:5
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| 4 Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words. |
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| 5 For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes: |
This man – The lawyer requested that the governor should continue his praiseworthy course and rid the land of an obnoxious trouble-maker, the Apostle. R4499:2
A pestilent fellow – All who endeavor to withstand error in its popular forms must expect to bear the same reproach. R577:5
Mover of sedition – Raiser of tumults. R3194:3
Disloyalty to the Roman government. R1564:2
The valiant for the truth have always been considered enemies by the nominal mass. R577:5
Throughout the world – It was claimed that the Apostle made trouble the whole world over amongst both Jews and Greeks. R4499:2, 3194:3
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| 6 Who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law. |
Profane the temple – He charged that the prisoner was guilty of sacrilege--that he had defiled the Temple, and the inference was deducible that he had caused rioting within the holy sanctuary. R4499:2
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| 7 But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands, |
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| 8 Commanding his accusers to come unto thee: by examining of whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him.
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| 9 And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so. |
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| 10 Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself: |
To speak – The Apostle neither upbraided nor reproved him; nor did he utter any words of flattery. R3194:2
It is no more obligatory for the Lord's people to denounce every wrongdoer they meet than to tell all homely persons of their lack of beauty. R3194:2
Many years a judge – Paul opened his defense by remarking that he was gratified that his judge was well acquainted with Jewish customs. R4499:2
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| 11 Because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship. |
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| 12 And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city: |
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| 13 Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me. |
Neither can they prove – Paul challenged his accusers to produce proofs of their charges--denying their ability to prove them. R3194:5
No witness had testified, nor was it true, that he was found in the Temple even disputing or gathering a crowd. R4499:3
They now accuse me – His answer was logical and complete. R4499:3
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| 14 But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: |
I – Paul. F665
Thee – Felix. F655
They – Many. R1570:6
Heresy – It was necessary for the Apostle to explain that the Jews had an antipathy against him, because of his different belief and not because of any wrong doing. R4499:3
He denied that it was heresy against the Jewish religion, and a sect or split-off party. R3194:5
Truth is generally classed as heresy, yet all that is termed heresy is not truth. R1564:2, 3792:4
Those who deny the Bible's testimony are recognized as orthodox, while those who teach and expound the Bible faithfully are recognized as heretics. R3792:3
Paul's kind of heresy is the kind all the saints should have. R1564:2
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| 15 And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. |
They themselves – The Pharisees. R2611:3
There shall be – The Word of the Lord standeth sure. SM53:1
This hope was made meaningless when the idea prevailed that the Church was to gain her reward at death. HG267:6
A resurrection – Greek, anastasis; means a full, complete raising up out of death conditions into perfection of life conditions. R3195:1, 1512:4, 413:3, 384:5; HG228:6
The Apostle was declaring not only his faith that Christ Jesus was not dead, but also his faith that God would in due time grant the world a resurrection. R3195:1
This is the age of generation, and the one to follow is the age of re-generation. (Matt. 19:28) R351:1
A gradual resurrection which will require the entire thousand years. R4989:5; Q818:4
That will be the time for the precious merit of Jesus' sacrifice to bring its blessed results of restitution to whosoever will receive the same. NS804:2
In all the Apostle's preaching he laid special stress upon this doctrine. R4499:5
Of the dead – Dead souls, beings. R1510:3
It is not the resurrection of the body that the Bible teaches, but a resurrection of the soul, and that "God will give it a body," (1 Cor. 15:38) at the time of awakening. R4499:6, 5017:5
A resurrection of the dead implies that they are dead. SM101:T; R5017:4, 4521:3, 3854:5, 2611:3
The error of supposing men are alive when they are dead lies close to the foundation of every theological error. R5131:3, 4521:3
Not believing in anybody's being dead it would be impossible for them to believe in the resurrection of the dead. R3194:6
The basis of this hope is Jesus only, who is "The resurrection and the life." (John 11:25) R822:6*
"If there is no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen; then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished." (1 Cor. 15:13, 18) A60; C117; E345
God intends that those in the tomb shall have an awakening. R5108:3; F664
The moment of their awakening will be their next moment of consciousness following their decease. NS519:1
God's Word stands pledged for a future life for humanity. HG646:2
The entire human race. R1213:5*, 1043:5
All men will eventually be raised from the first death to the second life. R1436:6*
St. Paul held to the fundamental Jewish doctrine of a resurrection of the dead, whereby God's blessing will ultimately come to Israel, and through Israel to all the families of the earth. R4499:3
The awakening time will be the morning, as the present is the night-time of sin and darkness. OV139:3
The Scriptures never suggested the absurdity of the resurrection of the living. R3854:5
A dead man is dead, and knows nothing; his only hope is in the divine arrangement through Christ, by a resurrection of the dead. R5131:6
The theory of the everlasting torment of the wicked, based upon the theory that the human soul cannot die, is contrary to both the Old and the New Testament. R2611:4
Both – The Apostle refers both to the Church and the world. NS837:6
The resurrection is in this text divided into two parts. Similarly the prophet Daniel, speaking of the matter, divides it into two parts. (Dan. 12:2) HG228:4
"All that are in the graves shall hear the voice of the Son of man and shall come forth; they that have done good unto the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of judgment." (John 5:27-29) R1618:2, 1374:1, 1359:2, 1248:2, 1213:5*, 1018:1*; HG685:5; 228:5; NS556:5; SM35:2
Of the just – Souls, beings. R1510:3
Those in a justified condition. R5608:5, 4989:1, 3195:2, 1508:5; NS316:4
The elect few of the Jewish age, and the elect few of this age. OV146:4; R4989:1
Those who will have part in the first resurrection; they shall come forth to life-resurrection. R4989:3, 1512:1; SM30:1, 35:1; NS556:5
The first resurrection is at the second coming of Christ, and only the saints of the Gospel age share in it. R4118:6
The Church class will come forth to glory, honor, and immortality. R5446:1, 5017:5, 4534:1, 4527:5
First for the Church, and subsequently for the world. R4527:5, 4534:1
And unjust – Souls, beings. R1510:3
The souls of both good and bad slept. R5611:5
Those not yet justified. R5608:5, 3915:2, 1508:5
The Apostle's faith in a resurrection is not only for those now justified, but includes a hope of perfecting many now ignorant, sinful, unjustified. R1512:1; NS283:2
The sacrifice of Christ secures for all mankind, however vile, an awakening from death. R2612:4
Including the Sodomites. R1618:2
To judgments, disciplines, rewards and punishments. R5446:1, 5017:6, 1512:1; SM30:1, 35:1
The world of mankind will come forth from the tomb imperfect, as they went into it and will have a test to prove whether they are worthy of eternal life. SM40:1; R5446:1, 4989:5
The object of their awakening being to give them a favorable opportunity to secure everlasting life. R2596:2, 4500:1, 1359:2, 721:6
This signifies an opportunity of rising up out of sin and death conditions to human perfection. HG720:5
An everlasting continuance of life may be had only upon the condition of full obedience to the divine requirements. R1642:5, 2612:4, 1043:5*
The entire human race will be given a full knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:4), and full ability to live R1213:5*
Vast multitudes of them will be saved. R4118:6
The hope for the world does not lie in any "ray of divinity" inherent in man. R822:6*
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| 16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men. |
Void of offence – A conscience that is clear. R2671:2
Striving to do that which would be pleasing to the Lord, in full harmony with our covenant of sacrifice. R5425:2, 2671:2
"Having our heart sprinkled from a conscience of evil." (Heb. 10:22) R2671:3
And toward men – Justly have the approval of righteous men. R5425:2
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| 17 Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings. |
Alms to my nation – The offerings of Gentiles. R4499:5
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| 18 Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult. |
Purified in the temple – According to the Jewish ceremonial, which symbolized full consecration to God. R1564:5
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| 19 Who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had ought against me. |
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| 20 Or else let these same here say, if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the council, |
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| 21 Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day. |
The resurrection – One of the most important doctrines of the New Testament. R1508:6
Judgment-resurrection, a perfecting obtainable only through judgments, discipline, etc. R1512:1; SM30:1
The only adequate rallying cry for the Church of the living God. R1436:6*
Called in question – The primary question was whether or not Jesus had risen from the dead. NS282:6
"When they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked." ( Acts 17:32) HG347:4
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| 22 And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter. |
Felix – The Roman Governor. R932:1, 1564:5
Lysias – Who made the arrest. R4500:1
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| 23 And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto him. |
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| 24 And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. |
His wife Drusilla – Who was really the wife of King Azizus. R3195:4
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| 25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. |
He reasoned – Felix was not a Christian, so Paul did not speak of the Christian's higher hopes and privileges. R932:1, 653:4
He took what truth Felix already admitted and showed the reasonable deductions. R932:4
Of righteousness – The righteousness of the Law, the inability of the fallen man to keep its requirements except in and through Christ, and thus the necessity of accepting Christ. R3195:3
Temperance – Self-government in view of the judgment to come. R722:1
Self-restraint and opposition to natural tendencies. R3195:3
The wisest course for any man to pursue. R932:4
Judgment to come – Or trial, for the world of mankind--the Millennial day. R4500:1
The obedient shall be blessed, uplifted, raised up to perfection; the willfully disobedient shall be destroyed in the second death. R4500:1
In which righteousness shall surely triumph. R2099:5*
In which all deflections from righteousness will be rewarded with stripes proportionate to knowledge. R3195:3
A coming time when "the holy Spirit will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness and of judgment." (John 16:8) A309
Eternal destinies are not fixed, as a result of the present life. R4500:1
There was no attempt on this or any other occasion to scare the unbeliever with threats of eternal torment. R932:2, 4500:4
The deeds of the present life will have much to do with the future. R4500:1, 722:1
There is another order of judgment going on now in which the rulership of this world is being judged, and is about to be cast out. R527:1*
Felix trembled – He was conscience stricken. R4500:4
Realizing that according to the standards presented he would have many stripes to bear in the future. R3195:4, 4500:4, 1564:5, 756:3*
A convenient season – A time when sin will make no objection to being ousted. R3195:3
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| 26 He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him. |
He hoped also – As a result of Paul's statement in his defense, that he had come to Jerusalem with alms for the Jewish people. (vs. 17) R3195:3
Felix considered that in Paul he had a good opportunity for receiving a bribe for the performance of justice. R3195:3
Money – To sell his talents for money. R4499:4
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| 27 But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix' room: and Felix, willing to show the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound. |
Two years – Paul remained a prisoner two years, comfortably provided for, preparing for the further services of his important life, and writing several epistles. R4500:4,3
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