Felix interrupts St Paul and consults King Agrippa

   [The posts which follow make extensive use of The Acts of the Apostles, by Madame Cecilia, (Religious of St Andrew's Convent, Streatham), with an Imprimi potest dated 16 October 1907 (Westminster); Burns, Oates & Washbourne Ltd. (London). With grateful prayers for the author and her team: 

REQUIEM æternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis. Requiescant in pace. Amen.

ETERNAL rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.]

 

Acts XXVI :  24-32

[24] As he spoke these things, and made his answer, Festus said with a loud voice: Paul, thou art beside thyself: much learning doth make thee mad. 

[25] And Paul said: I am not mad, most excellent Festus, but I speak words of truth and soberness.

[26] For the king knoweth of these things, to whom also I speak with confidence. For I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him. For neither was any of these things done in a corner. 

[27] Believest thou the prophets, O king Agrippa? I know that thou believest. 

[28] And Agrippa said to Paul: In a little thou persuadest me to become a Christian. 

[29] And Paul said: I would to God, that both in a little and in much, not only thou, but also all that hear me, this day, should become such as I also am, except these bands. 

[30] And the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them.

[31] And when they were gone aside, they spoke among themselves, saying: This man hath done nothing worthy of death or of bands. 

[32] And Agrippa said to Festus: This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed to Caesar.

[24] Haec loquente eo, et rationem reddente, Festus magna voce dixit : Insanis Paule : multae te litterae ad insaniam convertunt. [25] Et Paulus : Non insanio, inquit, optime Feste, sed veritatis et sobrietatis verba loquor. [26] Scit enim de his rex, ad quem et constanter loquor : latere enim eum nihil horum arbitror. Neque enim in angulo quidquam horum gestum est. [27] Credis rex Agrippa prophetis? Scio quia credis. [28] Agrippa autem ad Paulum : In modico suades me christianum fieri. [29] Et Paulus : Opto apud Deum, et in modico, et in magno, non tantum te, sed etiam omnes qui audiunt, hodie fieri tales, qualis et ego sum, exceptis vinculis his. [30] Et exsurrexit rex, et praeses, et Bernice, et qui assidebant eis. [31] Et cum secessissent, loquebantur ad invicem, dicentes : Quia nihil morte, aut vinculis dignum quid fecit homo iste. [32] Agrippa autem Festo dixit : Dimitti poterat homo hic, si non appellasset Caesarem.

Notes

    24. thou art beside thyself. Festus appears to have spoken impatiently and scornfully. The doctrine of a crucified Messias rising from the dead and enlightening the Gentiles seemed utter folly to the Roman procurator.

    much learning. The word in the original Greek signifies “ writings ” (γράμματα), and may refer to the rolls of the sacred Scriptures which St Paul studied, and of which he had spoken (verse 22).

    25. most excellent. See Annot. on xxiii. 26, xxiv. 3.

    soberness. The very opposite of “ mania ” or madness, of which Felix accused him.

    26. For the king knoweth, etc. St Paul now appeals to Agrippa to confirm what he has said. The king had certainly heard of the wonderful deeds of Jesus of Nazareth.

    The fame of our Lord and of His disciples was one of the chief causes of the rulers’ hostility, and forced from them the acknowledgments that St John and St Luke record. Cf. The Pharisees therefore said among themselves: Do you see that we prevail nothing ? behold, the whole world is gone after him (St John xii. 19). They that set the city in an uproar are come hither also (supra, xvii. 6).

    done in a corner. The Crucifixion and the events that followed immediately on the descent of the Holy Spirit were witnessed by hundreds of Jews, and the conversion of Saul the persecutor was known to all the Jews of Jerusalem and many others.

    27. Believest thou the prophets. St Paul insinuates that had Agrippa understood the Old Testament, he would have accepted St Paul’s doctrine, since the prophets foretold that Christ should suffer and be put to death, which He would ultimately conquer by rising again from the grave.

    28. In a little thou persuadest me, etc. The sense of Agrippa’s answer is as follows : “ With little trouble (or time) thou art persuading me to become a Christian.” The king was not in earnest, and consequently dismissed the matter lightly, with the remark that St Paul’s efforts to convince him of the truth of Christianity were of no avail ; with “ so little trouble or time,” the king had no intention of changing his religious belief.

    Christian. It is not recorded that St Paul had used this epithet in his discourse. In any case, its employment by Agrippa shews that it was a well-known designation for the disciples of Christ.

    29. in a little and in much. Knabenbauer and Beelen explain this passage thus : — St Paul, in his zeal, longed earnestly for the salvation of all men. Provided this end was attained, he did not mind whether he laboured little or much. The apostle’s reply is most courteous and refined, and worthy of the minister of Christ.

    except these bands. Hence it is clear that the apostle was still in custodia militaris, even in presence of Festus and Agrippa.

    “ We cannot read the words without feeling their almost plaintive pathos. 'Such as he' — pardoned, at peace with God and man, with a hope stretching beyond the grave, and an actual present participation in the powers of the eternal world — this is what he was desiring for them. If that could be effected, he would be content to remain in his bonds, and to leave them upon their thrones ” (Ellicott, Comm. Acts., in h. 1., p. 1(59).

    30. they that sat with them. The tribunes and principal men of the city (xxv. 23).

    31. they spoke among themselves. Both Felix who represented the Roman power, and Agrippa who was at the head of the Jews, found St Paul innocent.

    32. This man might have been, etc. Yet St Paul had done wisely in appealing to Cesar, for had Felix dismissed the case, the apostle would probably have fallen into the power of his enemies. As it was, Festus was not free to release his prisoner, and thus the apostle reached Rome safely under military escort.

Totus tuus ego sum 
Et omnia mea tua sunt;
Tecum tutus semper sum:
Ad Jesum per Mariam