condemned?" It is plain, from many unquestionable authorities, that the freedom of Rome was attainable by foreigners in various ways;-by merit, by favour, by money, by being freed from servitude: multitudes of Jews, therefore, had become free from one or other of these causes'; but, as it is doubted that Tarsus was a Roman colony, to have entitled Paul to have been "free born," it is conjectured that some of his ancestors may have had the freedom of Rome conferred upon them in the civil wars, for military services.

SECT. CCXXXVIII.—Paul is brought before the Council. -Acts xxii. 30; xxiii. 1-10.

PAUL was immediately "loosed from his bands;" and the chief captain being not a little afraid that he had already done more than he could answer, therefore, "because he would know the certainty whereof he was accused of the Jews," he convened the Sanhedrim, "and brought Paul down, and set him before them. The circumstances of this story show to what a wonderful degree God makes all things, even those which we may be tempted to call the most accidental circumstances, work together for good to them that love Him, and most especially to those whom He has entrusted to carry out

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Drs. Whitby and Hammond.

* Mant and D'Oyly.

Biscoe.

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⚫ Stackhouse.

some portion of His great work upon earth. Paul's birth at Tarsus had ensured to him respect on the part of the Roman authorities. We shall now see that his education as a Pharisee procured him favour when before the great council of his countrymen '. He commenced his address by asserting the integrity of his heart and conduct, though he had been apprehended and accused as a criminal, and thus endeavoured to remove the bad impressions occasioned by appearing in the light of a malefactor. "The High Priest," in violation of all the forms of justice, "commanded them that stood by to smite him on the mouth." This command does not seem to have proceeded from any thing asserted by St. Paul, but was probably the consequence of the imperious disposition of Ananias, or the general rancour entertained against him by the Jews'. The language of the Apostle was usually as temperate and decorous, as it was firm and dignified; but this wanton and unmerited insult of Ananias drew forth from Paul an indignant reproach: God shall smite thee, thou whited wall 3." We may conclude, that even if this angry word did constitute an exception to the forbearing language generally adopted by the Apostle, it was not said in offence to the Holy Ghost; for, it is recorded, that, about five years

after this word, in some tumult that occurred, Ananias was dragged forth from an aqueduct, in which he had concealed himself, and was put to death by assassins. He had been already before this time sent in chains to Rome, to give account of his conduct to the emperor of some quarrel between the Jews and Samaritans, but had been acquitted, after a fair hearing, and returned home. Another High Priest had been appointed in his room, who had been put aside by the order of Felix; and it was just in the interval of this vacancy in the dignity, that the events, here recorded, occurred at Jerusalem. Ananias, therefore, was not at this time High Priest; though still retaining the title, and, in part, fulfilling the duties of the office'; so that Paul might say, with great truth, “I wist not, brethren, that he was the High Priest:" if I had, I should not have spoken so harshly to him; for I am sensible it is contrary to the Law of God to treat persons in authority with disrespect. Paul now availed himself of "the wisdom of the serpent," to extricate himself out of the hands of his enemies: perceiving that the assembly consisted partly of Pharisees, and partly of Sadducees, he determined to divide them upon the essential differences of their belief; and, therefore, "he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a PhariBp. Pearce.

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5 Mant and D'Oyly.

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Bp. Mann.

see, the son of a Pharisee of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question." The dissension between the two parties began on this immediately;-" and there arose a great cry, and the multitude was divided: and the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle."

SECT. CCXXXIX.-Paul, in prison, is encouraged by God in a Vision.-Acts xxiii. 11.

AGAIN was Paul now a prisoner in close confinement; distressed, probably, by gloomy apprehensions, as if he were cut off from all further opportunities of usefulness'. Surrounded as he was on every side by enemies, there seemed little prospect of fulfilling his work: he might well imagine that "the time of his departure was at hand." His friends and fellow-labourers are not heard of, and were probably separated from him, or certainly they were not with him. Alone, deserted, friendless, guileless of any fault or indiscretion, he was returned to the Roman dungeon, with nothing of pleasing prospect to support or encourage him; but "in the night the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of Me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome."

Dr. Robinson.

The history of God's faithful servants shows that the same gracious eye always watches over them, observes and supplies their need. The Lord may not, indeed, stand before us in a vision that may be seen; but He is ever present to strengthen the heart, and give it a cheerful sense of the Divine favour ".

SECT. CCXL.-The Jews lay in wait to kill Paul.

Acts xxiii. 12-22.

It was a practice too common among the rulers of the Jews at that period to cut off, without any judicial process, those whom they considered as transgressors of the Law, and enemies of the people; and it is clear from the event that the Chief Priests and Sanhedrim approved of such practices for "more than forty of the Jews entered into a conspiracy, and came to the Chief Priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul.” Solicit the Governor, therefore, to bring him down again before you, under pretence though ye would inquire something more perfectly concerning him," and they would be in the way to waylay and dispatch him. This conspiracy, however, was discovered to St. Paul by his nephew, who "heard of their lying in wait, and went and entered into the castle, and told Paul'," who did not hesitate to avail himself immediately Abp. Sumner.

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Dr. Whitby.

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1 Stackhouse.

as