took real grit to go to the captain and inform against his own people, the priests, and the men vowed to commit murder.

7. Read Lysias' letter to the governor in dispatching the prisoner to him, Acts 23: 26-30. Find Antipatris on Trace Paul's journey under guard to

the map.

Cæsarea.

8. Was Paul's generosity wasted? Is it worth while being kind even to those who do not appreciate it?

CHAPTER XXII

THE APPEAL TO CÆSAR

For two years Paul was to remain a prisoner in Cæsarea. Instead of an immediate trial, which might reasonably have been expected, ending either with conviction or acquittal, he was kept in prison during the entire remaining term in office of the governor of the province. No doubt the governor thought this the easiest way to insure the peace: if Paul were released, the authorities might have more trouble on their hands!

TWO YEARS IN CÆSAREA

Five days after Paul's hasty transference from the Castle of Antonia in Jerusalem to the Palace of Herod in Cæsarea, his accusers appeared before Felix and brought their charges. Not only were members of the Sanhedrin in the delegation, but even the high priest, Ananias-men who, according to their own views, should have been ashamed to appear as litigants in a Gentile court. In addition, they had engaged a professional Roman lawyer, Tertullus, to plead their case. No pains were being spared to procure Paul's conviction.

The first trial.-Tertullus began his speech as soon as Paul was called by offering Felix the most abject and unjustifiable flattery. "Seeing that under you we enjoy much peace"-which was untrue-"and that by your wisdom evils are being corrected in this nation"-evils were flourishing, the country was overrun with bandits, and the nation was on the verge of insurrection!-"we accept your administration, Your Excellency, with

gratitude on every hand." Having now won the favor of the governor by this conscienceless adulation, he proceeded, with a flourish: "But, in order not to be tedious to you"-we may imagine how tedious his words were to Felix!-"I entreat you of your clemency to hear us in a few words. We found this fellow a general trouble-maker, a mover of insurrections among the Jews all over the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. Moreover, he even attempted to profane the Temple, but we seized him. If you will only examine him for yourself, he will, we are sure, convict himself of his guilt."

Paul's defense. It was a difficult position that Paul was in. This scheming, crafty group opposing him, with a wily, unscrupulous lawyer as their spokesman, were not going to stop at half-measures. The punishment for insurrection was death. And by his flatteries, Tertullus had already won Felix over to his side.

Paul's answer was á dignified, honest statement of facts. He began with a tactful compliment, but there was no flattery in his words.

"As I know that you have administered justice for this nation through a long course of years, I take courage in making my defense, especially since you can easily ascertain that it was only twelve days ago that I went up to Jerusalem to worship. Neither in the Temple nor in the synagogues nor in the city was I found arguing with anyone or stirring up a crowd. Nor can they prove the charges they bring against me.

"I acknowledge that it is after the way they call a heresy that I worship the God of our fathers, believing nevertheless all that is contained in the Law or written in the prophets, trusting in God that, as

they foretell, there shall be a resurrection of the just and the unjust. And I constantly endeavor for this reason to keep a clear conscience both toward God and toward man.

"It was after an interval of several years that I came to bring alms to my people, and to present offerings; in the course of which I was found in the Temple, not unpurified, nor with any crowd, nor starting a tumult. The trouble was caused by certain Jews from Asia-who should be here now to bring charges before you, if there is anything to be said against me. Failing their appearance, let these men themselves say what crime they found, when I stood before the Sanhedrin-unless it was simply the statement I made that 'On account of the resurrection of the dead I have been called in question to-day.'"-Acts 24: 10-21.

In an impartial and unprejudiced court, Paul's case would have been continued until his real accusers arrived, or dismissed when the charges already made were not substantiated. For he simply challenged his opponents, or the governor, to examine his record and find of what wrongdoing, or insurrection, he was guilty. Of course none would have been found; and, as a matter of fact, no further investigation was made. His real accusers, as he said, had failed to appear. And they did not appear later.

A corrupt governor.-But instead of freeing Paul, Felix, who was avaricious and what we to-day call a "grafter," a taker of bribes, had caught eagerly at Paul's words, "I came to bring alms to my people." Perhaps he could hold Paul until his friends were willing to buy his freedom! So he made an excuse and said, "When Lysias, the commandant, comes down I will settle the case." At the same time he ordered that Paul should

be given a certain amount of freedom and his friends allowed to visit him.

In this way Paul was kept in custody for two whole years. Occasionally Felix sent for him and asked him to preach-it was a novelty to have an educated preacher of a new religion among his prisoners. Each time he hoped Paul would offer him money in exchange for liberty. But the bribe was not forthcoming, and Paul returned each time to his quarters in the guardhouse under the command of a centurion. And often, no doubt, he walked out on the high parapets of the old prætorium, looking westward toward the gray-blue Mediterranean, toward the sunset, toward Rome! Ships were putting out from the great harbor every day, beyond Herod's breakwater, northward and westward toward Cilicia, Asia, Galatia, Greece and Rome. Would he ever see Rome, after all?

ON THE WAY TO ROME

At the end of two years a change of governors took place in Palestine. In the spring of the year 59, Porcius Festus was appointed by the Emperor Nero to be procurator of Judæa and Samaria. He arrived, no doubt, in early summer. He was a typical Roman, strict, businesslike, quick to act, and not changing his mind once it was made up. Three days after his arrival in Cæsarea, he set out to see Jerusalem, the chief city of his province. While there the chief priests and leading citizens informed him against Paul, and asked him to hold the trial at once in Jerusalem-they planned to have Paul assassinated on the way. Festus' answer was brusque: "Paul is a prisoner at Cæsarea, where I myself am returning shortly. Send down your counsel and make a regular accusation against him."