Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Acts
Book: Acts
Chapter: 25
Overview:
Paul before
Festus, he appeals to
Caesar.
(1-12) Festus
confers with Agrippa respecting
Paul.
(13-27)
1-12 See how restless malice is. Persecutors deem it a
Peculiar
favour to have their malice gratified. Preaching
Christ, the
End
of the
Law, was
No Offence against the
Law. In suffering times
the prudence of the
Lord's people is tried, as
Well as their
patience; they need
Wisdom. It becomes those who are innocent,
to insist upon their innocence.
Paul was willing to abide
By the
rules of the
Law, and to let that take its course. If he
deserved
Death, he would accept the
Punishment. But if none of
the things whereof they accused him were true,
No Man could
deliver him unto them, with
Justice.
Paul is neither released
nor condemned. It is an instance of the slow steps which
Providence takes;
By which we are often made ashamed, both of
our hopes and of our fears, and are kept waiting
On God.
13-27 Agrippa had the government of
Galilee. How many unjust
and hasty judgments the Roman maxim, ver. 16, condemn! This
Heathen, guided only
By the
Light of nature, followed
Law and
Custom exactly, yet how many Christians will not follow the
rules of
Truth,
Justice, and
Charity, in judging their brethren!
The questions about
God's
Worship, the way of
Salvation, and the
truths of the
Gospel, may appear doubtful and without interest,
to worldly men and mere politicians. See how slightly this Roman
speaks of
Christ, and of the great controversy between the Jews
and the Christians. But the
Day is at
Hand when
Festus and the
whole world will see, that all the concerns of the Roman empire
were but trifles and of
No consequence, compared with this
question of
Christ's resurrection. Those who have had means of
instruction, and have despised them, will be awfully convinced
of their
Sin and folly. Here was a noble assembly brought
together to hear the truths of the
Gospel, though they only
meant to gratify their curiosity
By attending to the defence of
a prisoner. Many, even now, attend at the places of hearing the
Word of God with "great pomp," and too often with
No better
motive than curiosity. And though ministers do not now stand as
prisoners to make a defence for their lives, yet
Numbers affect
to sit in
Judgment upon them, desirous to make them offenders
for a
Word, rather than to learn from them the
Truth and will of
God, for the
Salvation of their souls. But the pomp of this
appearance was outshone
By the real
Glory of the
Poor prisoner
at the
Bar. What was the honour of their fine appearance,
compared with that of
Paul's
Wisdom, and
Grace, and
Holiness;
his courage and constancy in suffering for
Christ! It is
No
small
Mercy to have
God clear up our
Righteousness as the
Light,
and our just dealing as the noon-
Day; to have nothing certain
laid to our charge. And
God makes even the enemies of his people
to do them right.