John Wesley

as the high priest and the whole Council can testify about me.

“The high priest is my witness - Is able to testify. The brethren -- Jews: so this title was not peculiar to the Christians.”

About noon as I was approaching Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me.

“About noon - All was done in the face of the sun. A great light shone - By whatever method God reveals himself to us, we shall have everlasting cause to recollect it with pleasure.”

And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash your sins away, calling on His name.’

“Be baptized, and wash away thy sins - Baptism administered to real penitents, is both a means and seal of pardon. Nor did God ordinarily in the primitive Church bestow this on any, unless through this means.”

Later, when I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance

“When I was returned to Jerusalem - From Damascus, and was praying in the temple - Whereby he shows that he still paid the temple its due honour, as the house of prayer.”

And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’

“When the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by - A real convert still retains the remembrance of his former sins. He confesses thorn and is humbled for them, all the days of his life.”

On hearing this, the centurion went and reported it to the commander. “What are you going to do?” he said. “This man is a Roman citizen.”

“Consider what thou art about to do; for this man is a Roman - Yea, there was a stronger reason to consider. For this man was a servant of God.”

“I paid a high price for my citizenship,” said the commander. “But I was born a citizen,” Paul replied.

“But I was free born - Not barely as being born at Tarsus; for this was not Roman colony. But probably either his father, or some of his ancestors, had been made free of Rome, for some military service.”

Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall!

“And God did remarkably smite him; for about five years after this, his house being reduced to ashes, in a tumult begun by his own son, he was besieged in the royal palace; where having hid himself in an old aqueduct, he was dragged out…”

“Brothers,” Paul replied, “I was not aware that he was the high priest, for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’”

“This answer admirably shows the situation of mind he was then in, partly with regard to the bystanders, whom he thus softens, adding also the title of brethren, and justifying their reproof by the prohibition of Moses; partly with regard to himself, who, after that…”

So the soldiers followed their orders and brought Paul by night to Antipatris.

“The soldiers brought him by night to Antipatris - But not the same night they set out. For Antipatris was about thirty-eight of our miles northwest of Jerusalem.”

When Paul had been called in, Tertullus opened the prosecution: “Because of you, we have enjoyed a lasting peace, and your foresight has brought improvements to this nation.

“Tertullus began - A speech how different from St. Paul's; which is true, modest, solid, and without paint. Felix was a man of the most infamous character, and a plague to all the provinces over which he presided.”

But in order not to burden you any further, I beg your indulgence to hear us briefly.

“But that I may not trouble thee any further - By trespassing either on thy patience or modesty. The eloquence of Tertullus was as bad as his cause: a lame introduction, a lame transition, and a lame conclusion.”

I do confess to you, however, that I worship the God of our fathers according to the Way, which they call a sect.

“After the way which they call heresy - This appellation St. Paul corrects. Not that it was then an odious word; but it was not honourable enough. A party or sect (so that word signifies) is formed by men.”

He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard, but to allow him some freedom and permit his friends to minister to his needs.

“He commanded the centurion to let him have liberty - To be only a prisoner at large. Hereby the Gospel was spread more and more; not to the satisfaction of the Jews.”

After several days, Felix returned with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.

“Felix persuaded her to forsake her husband, Azizus, king of Emessa, and to be married to himself, though a heathen. She was afterward, with a son she had by Felix, consumed in an eruption of Mount Vesuvius.”

As Paul expounded on righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, “You may go for now. When I find the time, I will call for you.”

“For though he heard again, he was terrified no more. In the meantime we do not find Drusilla, though a Jewess, was thus alarmed.”

At the same time, he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe. So he sent for Paul frequently and talked with him.

“He hoped also - An evil hope: so when he heard his eye was not single. No marvel then that he profited nothing by all St. Paul's discourses: that money would be given - By the Christians for the liberty of so able a minister.”

where the chief priests and Jewish leaders presented their case against Paul. They urged Festus

“Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews appeared against Paul - In so long a time their rage was not cooled. So much louder a call had Paul to the Gentiles.”

But Festus replied, “Paul is being held in Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon.

“But Festus answered - So Festus's care to preserve the imperial privileges was the means of preserving Paul's life. By what invisible springs does God govern the world!”

So if this man has done anything wrong, let some of your leaders come down with me and accuse him there.”

“Let those of you who are able - Who are best able to undertake the journey, and to manage the cause. If there be any wickedness in him - So he does not pass sentence before he hears the cause.”

Paul replied, “I am standing before the judgment seat of Caesar, where I ought to be tried.

“I am standing at Caesar's judgment seat - For all the courts of the Roman governors were held in the name of the emperor, and by commission from him.”

Then Festus conferred with his council and replied, “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”

“The council - It was customary for a considerable number of persons of distinction to attend the Roman governors. These constituted a kind of council, with whom they frequently advised.”

After several days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice came down to Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus.

“Agrippa - The son of Herod Agrippa, chap. xii, 1; and Bernice - His sister, with whom he lived in a scandalous familiarity.”

I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand a man over before he has had an opportunity to face his accusers and defend himself against their…

“It is not the custom of the Roman - How excellent a rule, to condemn no one unheard! A rule, which as it is common to all nations, (courts of inquisition only excepted,) so it ought to direct our proceedings in all affairs, not only…”

They only had some contentions with him regarding their own religion and a certain Jesus who had died, but whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

“But why, O Festus, didst thou doubt concerning it? Only because thou didst not search into the evidence of it.”