Tertullus Prosecutes Paul 1 And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a certain orator, Tertullus, who made a representation to the governor against Paul.
John Chrysostom · AD 407 And after five days came down the high priest Ananias with the elders. See how for all this they do not desist; hindered as they were by obstacles without number, nevertheless they come, only to be put to shame here also. And with an orator, one Tertullus. And what need was there of an orator? Which persons also informed the governor against Paul.
Cassiodorus · AD 585 "And after five days the high priest Ananias came down," etc. After five days, the Jews came to the judge Felix against Paul, with the orator Tertullus […] Then, the parties having been presented, the orator Tertullus, overconfident in human eloquence, began maliciously to attack Paul: the latter, he said, wanted to cause disorder among peaceful Jews around the world with new p…
Theophylact of Ohrid · AD 1107 Again, something is lacking in the words "they complained to the governor about Paul" for the completeness of the thought, which should be as follows: they presented a written accusation against Paul.
2 And when he was invited, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: “Attaining great peace through you, and excellent reforms being done to this nation through your foresight,
John Chrysostom · AD 407 See how this man also from the very outset with his praises seeks to gain the judge beforehand. 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, we accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.
Theophylact of Ohrid · AD 1107 "To you… we owe much peace." You see how from the very first he predisposes the judge in his favor with praises, and how he tries to portray Paul as an innovator and troublemaker.
3 in every way and everywhere we gladly accept it, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness.
John Chrysostom · AD 407 See how [Tertullus] approaches the judge with praises from the start and wants to hand Paul over as a revolutionary and a rebel. Then, notice how he hastens as if he has many things to say.
4 But in order that I may not be a hindrance to you any longer, I implore you in your kindness to hear us briefly.
John Chrysostom · AD 407 Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words. For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world. As a revolutionary and seditious person he wishes to deliver him up. And yet, it might be answered, it is ye that have done this.
5 For having found this man a pest and stirring insurrections among all the Jews in the world, and a leader of the sect of the Nazarenes,
Bede · AD 735 And the author of the sedition of the sect of the Nazarenes. At that time Christians were called Nazarenes as a reproach; later indeed among the Jews a heresy arose called that of the Nazarenes, who believe in Christ, the Son of God, born of the virgin Mary, and say he who suffered under Pontius Pilate and rose again, in whom we also believe.
Theophylact of Ohrid · AD 1107 To be numbered among the Nazarenes was a matter of disgrace; therefore Tertullus was demeaning Paul from this angle as well, since Nazareth was an insignificant city. He calls the Nazarenes heretics, as though such a sect also existed among the Jews. But Tertullus was a Greek, which is precisely why he was the one delivering the oration or accusing Paul.
6 who even attempted to profane the temple, whom also we seized —
John Chrysostom · AD 407 Who also hath gone about to profane the temple; whom we took, and would have judged according to our law. See how they insult even the Law; it was so like the Law, forsooth, to beat, to kill, to lie in wait! And then the accusation against Lysias: though he had no right, say they, to interfere, in the excess of his confidence he snatched him from us.
Bede · AD 735 Whom we also apprehended. From whom you will be able, by judging all these things, to know. In this place, some of our Codices have several verses which read in Greek as follows: Whom we also apprehended, and according to our law wished to judge.
7 [But Lysias the commander, having come up, with great violence carried him away out of our hands,]
John Chrysostom · AD 407 Then comes the accusation against Lysias. "It was not right for him," he says, "to drag him away with great violence." … "He tried," he says, "to profane the temple," but [Tertullus] does not say how. He also magnified what concerned Paul, but see how he diminished what concerned him.
8 From him you will be able yourself, having examined him, to know concerning all these things of which we ourselves accuse him.”
John Chrysostom · AD 407 By examining of whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things, where of we accuse him. And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so. See, as witnesses also of the things spoken, the accusers, the same persons themselves both witnesses and accusers.
9 And the Jews also agreed, declaring these things to be so.
Paul’s Defense to Felix 10 And Paul answered, when the governor signalled to him to speak: “Knowing you as being judge to this nation for many years, I present a defence concerning myself with encouragement,
John Chrysostom · AD 407 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 just judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself. This is not the language of flattery, his testifying to the judge's justice: no, the adulation was rather in that speech of the orator, By thee we enjoy great quietness.
Cassiodorus · AD 585 "Then Paul answered (the governor making a sign to him), saying." When the orator Tertullus had made the claims he wanted, Paul, after first saying things that might win him the goodwill of the judge, responded thus: when he had come to Jerusalem following the custom of his nation to adore the Lord and bring alms to his nation, he had neither gathered a multitude nor caused any…
11 you being able to know that there are not more than twelve days to me from which I went up to worship in Jerusalem.
John Chrysostom · AD 407 Because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship. And what is this? It means, that I could not immediately have raised a commotion. Because the accuser had nothing to show as done in Jerusalem, observe what he said: among all the Jews throughout the world.
Theophylact of Ohrid · AD 1107 So far, says Paul, am I from stirring up disturbances, that I came to Jerusalem to worship. He dwells on this point because it presented a strong proof of his innocence.
12 And neither in the temple did they find me reasoning with anyone or making an obstruction of a crowd, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city;
John Chrysostom · AD 407 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; which in fact was the truth. And the accusers indeed use the term ringleader, as if it were a case of fighting and insurrection; but see how mildly Paul here answers.
13 nor are they able to prove to you the things of which they now accuse me.
14 But I confess this to you, that according to the Way which they name a sect, so I serve the ancestral God, believing in all things written throughout the law and in the Prophets,
John Chrysostom · AD 407 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 the Prophets: 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.
Bede · AD 735 But I confess this to you, that according to the sect which they call a heresy, so I serve my Father God. It is better read in Greek: That according to the way which they call a heresy, so I serve the Father God. For what consistency is there for him who spoke Greek, to say: According to the sect which they call a heresy, since the same in Latin, sect, means heresy in Greek?
Theophylact of Ohrid · AD 1107 "I truly serve the God of my fathers, believing." When, after being called to be Christ's apostle, Paul says that he serves the God of his fathers, he shows by this that the God of the Old and New Testaments is One and the Same.
15 having a hope in God, which they themselves also await, that a resurrection is to ensue, both of the just and of the unjust.
Lucius Caecilius Firmianus Lactantius · AD 325 Not all men, however, shall then be judged by God, but those only who have been exercised in the religion of God. For they who have not known God, since sentence cannot be passed upon them for their acquittal, are already judged and condemned, since the Holy Scriptures testify that the wicked shall not arise to judgment.
16 In this I myself also strive to have a conscience without offence toward God and men through all times.
John Chrysostom · AD 407 And in this, do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God and toward men. This is the perfection of virtue, when even to men we give no handle against us, and are careful to be void of offence with God. Having, he says, a conscience void of offence both toward God, and toward men.
Theophylact of Ohrid · AD 1107 We show perfect virtue when we both give people no occasion for stumbling and strive to be blameless before God.
17 Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings,
John Chrysostom · AD 407 Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings. In which they found me purified in the temple, not with multitude, neither with tumult. Why then camest thou up? What brought thee hither? To worship, says he; to do alms. This was not the act of a factious person. And for the cause of his going up, I came, he says, to bring alms to my nation and offerings.
Bede · AD 735 However, after many years, I came to my nation to give alms and make offerings and vows. Alms pertain to those things which he had brought for the use of the saints, of which he makes frequent mention in his Epistles; offerings and vows, however, to those things which, at the urging of James and the elders, he offered to God in the temple.
18 during which certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, not with a crowd nor in tumult,
19 who it was necessary to appear before you and to make accusation, if they would have anything against me.
John Chrysostom · AD 407 Then also he casts out their person: but, says he, they that found me, were certain Jews from Asia, who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had ought against me. He also does well to challenge his accusers who were from Asia, Who ought to accuse before thee, etc., but he does well also not to reject this either.
Bede · AD 735 But some Jews from Asia. Join this to the preceding, that is, these are the ones who found me in the temple.
20 Otherwise let these themselves say what unrighteousness they found when I was standing before the Council,
John Chrysostom · AD 407 Or else let these same here say, if they have found any evil doing in me while I stood before the council, 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. For this is justification in superabundance, not to flee from his accusers, but to be ready to give account to all.
Theophylact of Ohrid · AD 1107 "Let these same men say what wrong they found in me." They found wrong at the assembly, when an inquiry was made. And that I speak the truth, my very accusers themselves testify to this. Not to avoid one's accusers, but to be ready to give an answer to everyone, is a sign of undoubted righteousness.
21 other than concerning this one voice which I cried out standing among them: ‘Concerning the resurrection of the dead I myself am judged this day by you.’”
Cassiodorus · AD 585 "And after some days, Drusilla, Felix's wife, who was a Jew." After some days, Felix, at the request of his wife Drusilla, had Paul brought before her.
Theophylact of Ohrid · AD 1107 At first they were even offended that I preached the resurrection, because after this preaching it was easy to add also what pertains to Christ — that He rose from the dead.
The Verdict Postponed 22 And Felix, knowing more precisely the things concerning the Way, deferred them, having said, “When Lysias the commander may have come down, I will examine the things as to you” —
John Chrysostom · AD 407 See how much close investigation is made by the many in a long course of time, that it should not be said that the trial was hurried over. For, as the orator had made mention of Lysias, that he took him away with violence, Felix, he says, deferred them.
Oecumenius · AD 550 "Felix postponed them, knowing more precisely." It should be noted that Felix knew of the faith, having been thoroughly instructed from the Old Testament concerning Christ, and he did not release Paul out of favor for the Jews, or perhaps because of bribery, as the following account showed.
Theophylact of Ohrid · AD 1107 He intentionally postponed the case – not in order to investigate it, but to get rid of the Jews and give relief to Paul, since he did not want to punish him for their sake.
23 having commanded the centurion to keep him, and to let him have ease, and not to forbid any of his own friends to minister to him.
24 And after some days, Felix, having arrived with Drusilla his own wife, being a Jewess, sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ Jesus.
John Chrysostom · AD 407 And his wife also hears, together with the governor. This seems to me to show great honor. For he would not have brought his wife to be present with him at the hearing, but that he thought great things of him. It seems to me that she also longed for this.
Theophylact of Ohrid · AD 1107 Being a Jewess, Drusilla, contrary to the law, married a Greek; or, perhaps, although she was a Jewess, upon marrying she became a Greek. Therefore, wishing to convert her husband, she communicated her faith to him.
25 And when he was reasoning concerning righteousness and self-control and the judgment which is coming, Felix, having become frightened, answered, “For the present, go away; and having found opportunity, I will call for you.”
John Chrysostom · AD 407 And observe Paul, how, though reasoning with a ruler, he says nothing of the sort that was likely to amuse and entertain, but ("he reasoned," it says,) "of righteousness, and of the coming judgment," and of the resurrection. And such was the force of his words, that they even terrified the governor.
Theophylact of Ohrid · AD 1107 "Felix became afraid." Such was the power contained in Paul's words that even the governor was frightened.
26 At the same time he was also hoping that riches will be given to him by Paul; therefore also, sending for him often, he was talking with him.
Tertullian · AD 220 When did Onesimus, or Aquila, or Stephen, give them aid of this kind when they were persecuted? Paul indeed, when Felix the governor hoped that he should receive money for him from the disciples, about which matter he also dealt with the apostle in private, certainly neither paid it himself, nor did the disciples for him.
John Chrysostom · AD 407 See how close to the truth are the things written. But he sent for him frequently, not that he admired him, nor that he praised the things spoken, nor that he wished to believe, but why? "Expecting," it says, "that money should have been given him." Observe how he does not hide here the mind of the judge. "Wherefore he sent for him," etc.
Theophylact of Ohrid · AD 1107 "Therefore he sent for him often and conversed with him." Do you see what truthfulness breathes in what is written? He sent for Paul often not because he admired him or because he approved of his words, and not because he wished to believe, but because he hoped that he would be given money.
27 But when two years had been completed, Felix received as successor Porcius Festus; and wishing to acquire favour for himself with the Jews, Felix left Paul imprisoned.
Bede · AD 735 After two years were completed, Felix receives his successor Porcius Festus. He refers to the two years of Paul's stay in Caesarea, not Felix's procuratorship. For it is said above that he was a judge for that nation for many years.