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Expanded Comments |
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| 1 And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with certain elders, and with an orator, one Tertullus; and they 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, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy much peace, and that by thy providence evils are corrected for this nation, |
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 in all ways and in all places, most excellent 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 But, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I entreat thee to 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 insurrections 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 moreover assayed to profane the temple: on whom also we laid hold: |
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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| 8 from whom thou wilt be able, by examining thyself, to take knowledge of all these things whereof we accuse him. |
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| 9 And the Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that these things were so. |
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| 10 And when the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, Paul answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I cheerfully make my defence: |
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 seeing that thou canst take knowledge that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship at Jerusalem: |
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| 12 and neither in the temple did they find me disputing with any man or stirring up a crowd, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city. |
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| 13 Neither can they prove to thee 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 a sect, so serve I the God of our fathers, believing all things which are according to the law, and which are written 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 having hope toward God, which these also themselves look for, that there shall be a resurrection 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 Herein I also exercise myself to have a conscience void of offence toward God and men always. |
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 some 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 amidst which they found me purified in the temple, with no crowd, nor yet with tumult: but there were certain Jews from Asia, |
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 to make accusation, if they had aught against me. |
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| 20 Or else let these men themselves say what wrong-doing they found when 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 before 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 But Felix, having more exact knowledge concerning the Way, deferred them, saying, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will determine your matter. |
Felix – The Roman Governor. R932:1, 1564:5
Lysias – Who made the arrest. R4500:1
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| 23 And he gave order to the centurion that he should be kept in charge, and should have indulgence; and not to forbid any of his own people to attend to him. |
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| 24 But after certain days, Felix came with Drusilla, his wife, who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ Jesus. |
His wife Drusilla – Who was really the wife of King Azizus. R3195:4
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| 25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, and self-control, and the condemnation to come, Felix was terrified, and answered, Go thy way for this time; and when I have a convenient season, I will call thee unto me. |
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 withal that money would be given him of Paul: wherefore also 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 when two years were fulfilled, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; and desiring to gain favor with the Jews, Felix left Paul in bonds. |
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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