he was the High Priest: for it is written, 'Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.

6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee of the hope and resurrection of the dead3 I am called in question.

7 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.

i

8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.

3 from death. Ma. Cr.

f EXOD. xxii. 28: Thou shalt not revile the gods, [judges,] nor curse the ruler of thy people. ECCLES. x. 20: Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter. 2 PET. ii. 10: But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. JUD. 8: Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

ACTS, xxvi. 5: After the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. PHI. iii. 5: As touching the law, a Pharisee. h2 MAC. vii. 9: Thou like a fury takest us out of this present life; but the King of the world shall raise us up, who have died for his laws, unto everlasting life. do. xii. 43: He [Judas] was mindful of the resurrection. ACTS, xxiv. 15, 21: 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. Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day. do. xxvi. 6, 8: And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead? do. xxviii.

20: For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain. HEB. xi. 35: Not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection.

See on MARK, Xii. 18.

9 And there arose a great cry: and the Scribes that were of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a 1 spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.

m

10 And when there arose a great dissension, 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.

11 And the night following 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.

12 And when it was day, Pcertain of the Jews 4 certain of the Pharisees. Rh. 5 strive. Co. Cr. 6 Take courage. Pu.

* ACTS, xxv. 25: When I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death. do. xxvi. 31: This man doth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.

1 ACTs, xxii. 7, 17, 18. m See on ACTS, v. 39.

n ACTS, xviii. 9: Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace. do. xxvii. 23, 24: For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Cæsar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.

• Acts, xix. 21: Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome. do. xxviii. 30, 31: And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him. ROм. i. 15: So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the Gospel to you that are at Rome also.

Ver. xxi. 30. ACTS, xxv. 2, 3: The High Priest and the chief of the Jews-desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.

banded together,' and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

13 And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.9

14 And they came to the Chief Priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse,10 that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul.

15 Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him : and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.

16 And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, "he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.

17 Then Paul called one of the centurions

'gathered themselves together. Co. Ma. 8 with an oath of execra tion. A. V. 9 confederacy, or agreement by oath. Ham. 10 with a

solemn oath. Gen.

ISA. viii. 9, 10: Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces. Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand for God is with us.

:

'MAT. xxvi. 74: Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man.

t

Hos. iv. 9: And there shall be, like people, like

priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings, Ps. xxi. 11: For they intended evil against thee: they imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform. do. xxxvii. 32, 33: The wicked watcheth the righte ous, and seeketh to slay him. The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.

2 SAM. xvii. 17: Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by En-rogel; for they might not be seen to come into the city: and a wench went and told them; and they went and told king David.

PRO. xxii. 3: A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished. MAT. X. 16: Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

unto him, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him.

W

18 So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say unto thee.

19 Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately, and asked him, What is that thou hast to tell me?

X

20 And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as though they would enquire somewhat of him more perfectly.

21 But do not thou 'yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee.

:

22 So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged him, See thou tell no man that thou hast showed these things to me.

W

23 And he called unto him two centurions,11

"under-captains. Pu.

ACTS, xxviii. 17: Though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. EPH. iii. 1: For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for your Gentiles. do. iv. 1: I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called. PHILE. 9: Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

* Ver. 12.

Y EXOD. Xxiii. 2: Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment.

saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Cæsarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night;

24 And provide them beasts,12 that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.

25 And he wrote a letter after this manner: 26 Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting.

I

27 This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came with an army,13 and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman.

13

28 And a when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council :

29 Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.

e

30 And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to 14 his accusers 12 a horse. Gen. 13 troops. Pu. 2 Acts, xxi. 33 : The chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains. do. xxiv.7. a ACTS, xxii. 30.

14 warned. Wi.

ACTS, xviii. 15: But if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters. do. xxv. 19: But had certain questions against of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead,

whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

him

ACTs, xxvi. 31: And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.

d Ver. 20, 21.

* ACTs, xxiv. 8. do. xxv. 6: And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto Cæsarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought.