ST. PAUL BEFORE THE SANHEDRIM That was the second defense by the apostle Paul; now, standing before the Sanhedrim, he probably hoped to reveal to them the evangelic truth, as for they were knowledgeable of the law and prophets. Yet their ears were deaf, and their eyes were affected by spiritual blindness, and they were unable to perceive the truth. 1- Striking Paul on the mouth 1– 5 2- A dissension in the Sanhedrim 6– 9 3- The Lord appears to Paul 10– 11 4- A conspiracy to kill Paul 12– 15 5- Exposing the conspiracy 16– 21 6- Sending Paul to Caesarea 22– 25 7- A letter to Governor Felix 26– 30 8- Paul arrives to Caesarea 31– 35 1- STRIKING PAUL ON THE MOUTH “Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, ‘Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day” (Acts 23: 1). St. Paul defended himself before the Sanhedrim, that he had integrity and a good conscience, confirming that he had dedicated his life to God, since his birth until that day. St. Luke did not reveal why St. Paul started by that defense; whether it was because of some question or accusation by the high priest or someone else of the members of the Sanhedrim. In an amazing courage, Paul addressed the members of the Sanhedrim, with no reference to the commander or his men present. He was as though he wished to confirm that he was standing trial before the Sanhedrim alone, rather than before civil authorities; that he loved them, and intended to present the truth to them with a good conscience. This was probably the first time that Paul stood before the Sanhedrim after his conversion to the Christian faith, before the same assembly who used to respect him in his youth, and to provide him with letters and authority to persecute the church of God. He courageously spoke according to God’s promise to the prophet Ezekiel: “Like adamant stone, harder than flint, I have made your forehead; do not be afraid of them, nor be dismayed by their looks, though they are a rebellious house” (Ezek 3: 9). He proclaims to them that he lived with a good conscience, not only concerning the things they accuse them of, but in all the things of his life; that he dedicated to God all his heart and life; and that he never sought dignity or riches, but only what pleases God, which makes him, according to the Mosaic Law, a righteous and blameless man. When he persecuted the church of God, thinking that he was serving God, he was doing what his conscience told him to do. When he saw the vision on his way to Damascus, he forsook his bonds with the Sanhedrim, also as a service to God, according to his words: “for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things, desiring to live honorably” (Heb 13: 18). He was only preoccupied with pleasing God, regardless of any other human considerations, persisting on this since his early youth, up to the last breath of his life. 844 As though the apostle was saying to them that he was still Saul of Tarsus whom they knew, as an honest man, with faithful heart toward God and His people; that nothing changed in him, except his discovery of the divine truth. He still harbored the same living conscience with which he used to work to the account of the Sanhedrim; yet along the truth route, and not through the ignorance that used to prevail on him because of holding fast to the letter. “And the high priest Amanitas commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth” (Acts 23: 2). Amanitas was the high priest between the years 48 to 58 AD, and was known for his greed, haughtiness, and arrogance. Paul stood before the same high priest before whom his Lord stood and probably the one who struck the Lord on his mouth (John 18: 22), on account that he considered both as blasphemers against God. He sought the crucifixion of the Lord Christ, for He uttered the truth, that He is the Son of God; and then he sought to kill Paul, for opening the door of faith before the Gentiles. The high priest did not bear to hear the Lord Christ proclaiming that He is the Son of God and equal to Him; and then, he did not bear to hear Paul commending himself as a Pharisee according to the law. No one should commend himself in the presence of the high priest. It happened before that Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah struck Micaiah on the cheek because he uttered the word of God (1 Kings 22: 24); and for the same reason Pashhur the son of Immer the priest struck the prophet Jeremiah (Jer 20: 2). It was said about the Lord Christ, that He gives the kisses of His mouth (Songs 1: 2) to those who were struck on their mouths for His sake. The wise Solomon told us to kiss the lips that give the right answer (Prov 24: 26), and yet the wicked strike these lips. Striking on the mouth refers to the intention of the striker to mute the mouth of the one struck, on account that he utters unbecoming words. This practice, followed in the East until recently, bore a strong insult, as though the person struck is not worthy of speaking in the presence of those assembled, and should be committed to silence, because of his ignorance, insolence, or his blasphemy against the truth. Striking Paul on his mouth might probably refer to that he is lying in the presence of the high priest, and deceiving those present, for he claims that he bears a good conscience, while he believes that Jesus is the Christ and spreads His teachings. “Then Paul said to him, ‘God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the law” (Acts 23: 3). Adam Clark says that Krebs confirms that Ananias the high priest, is the same one about whom Josephus tells:1 that Quadratus the governor of Syria sent him a prisoner to Rome, as he caused dissentions between the Jews and the Samaritans, And having proved his innocence, he returned to Jerusalem, and resumed his duties as a high priest2. Paul’s words fell like lightening on the high priest and on all those present, as it was never heard that a Jew ever uttered such words against a high priest. It was a grave insult that never happened in the history of Israel. 1 Josephus. Antiq. 1.20.6. 2 Josephus. Antiq. 1.20.9.2. 845 Some believe that the apostle Paul did not utter those words out of anger or for revenge, but he was taken by a holy zeal that the high priest corrupts his authority, and insults the priestly work by such actions. Ananias judged contrary to the law that commanded not to strike someone unless he is tried and condemned to be worthy of being struck (Lev 19: 35; Deut 26: 2). What the apostle uttered was a prophecy, which Grotius believed was realized. As Josephus mentioned1 that Ananias , together with his brother Hezekiah were slain during the riot that took place in Jerusalem, when it was taken over by the Sicarii led by Manahem, after failing to hide himself. As the Lord Christ called the hypocrites “whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly , but inside are full of all uncleanness” (Matt 23: 27); the apostle Paul says about the high priest, that he is like a whitewashed wall, outwardly beautiful, but hides dirt underneath. By a whitewashed wall, he probably means a wall about to fall down; and instead of repairing it on sound basis, or rebuilding it, they cover it with a layer of plaster to hide the cracks to appear intact, while it is dangerous to anyone who may lean on it or sit beside it. St. Jerome, on the other hand, believes that what the apostle Paul uttered was out of human weakness. Being an apostle does not mean that he was without some weaknesses because of slothfulness in certain little things, like any other father, apostle, or prophet. Responding to the Pelagians, who concentrate on the freedom of will alone, assuming that man is capable, by his complete free will, of walking in perfect virtue; St. Jerome presents living examples of great saints commended by God Himself, yet they suffered from weaknesses. "As if he had said, and you are yourself worthy of stripes without number. See accordingly how greatly they were struck with his boldness; for whereas the point was to have overthrown the whole matter, they rather commend him" 2. St. John Chrysostom "By way of example let us take one proof: "I have found David, the Son of Jesse, a man after Mine own heart, who shall do all My will." There is no doubt that David was a holy man, and yet he who was chosen that he might do all God's will is blamed for certain actions. Of course it was possible for him who was chosen for the purpose to do all God's will. Nor is God to blame Who beforehand spoke of his doing all His will as commanded, but blame does attach to him who did not what was foretold. For God did not say that He had found a man who would unfailingly do His bidding and fulfill His will, but only one who would do all His will. And we, too, say that a man can avoid sinning, if he chooses, according to his local and temporal circumstances and physical weakness, so long as his mind is set upon righteousness and the string is well stretched upon the lyre. But if a man grows a little remiss it is with him as with the boatman pulling against the stream, who finds that, if he slackens but for a moment, the craft glides back and he is carried by the flowing waters whither he would not. Such is the state of man; if we are a little careless we learn our weakness, and find that our power is limited. 1 Josephus. Jewish Wars, 2.17.8. 2Hom. On Acts. Hom. 48. 846 Do you suppose that the Apostle Paul, when he wrote “Bring the cloak that I left at Troas when you come and the books” (2 Tim 4: 13), was thinking of heavenly mysteries, and not of those things which are required for daily life and to satisfy our bodily necessities? Find me a man who is never hungry, thirsty, or cold, who knows nothing of pain, or fever, or the torture of strangury, and I will grant you that a man can think of nothing but virtue. When the Apostle was struck by the servant, he delivered himself thus against the High Priest who commanded the blow to be given: “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall”. We miss the patience of the Savior Who was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and opened not His mouth, but mercifully said to the smiter, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike me” (John 18: 23)? We do not disparage the Apostle, but declare the glory of God Who suffered in the flesh and overcame the evil inflicted on the flesh and the weakness of the flesh-to say nothing of what the Apostle says elsewhere: “Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works” (2 Tim 4: 14) " 1. St. Jerome “And those who stood by said, ‘Do you revile God’s high priest?’ Then Paul said, ‘I did not know brethren that he was the high priest; for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of the ruler of your people’” (Acts 23: 5-6). How could St. Paul not recognize the person of the high priest who headed the Sanhedrim; when Paul had so much relationship with the Sanhedrim in his youth, and knows so much about its members? 1- Some believe that that session was unofficial, and the high priest who presides on it was not wearing his official attire; that is why Paul did not recognize him. 2- Others believe that the apostle Paul did not see who gave the orders to strike him on the mouth. 3- A third group believe that the apostle mockingly uttered those words meaning that whoever does that is not fit to be a chief priest; Or that what happened made him assume that he could not be the high priest, or else he would have given him his due respect. This last interpretation is adopted by many scholars, as it is obvious that he knows for sure that he is the high priest, when he said to him: “You sit to judge me according to the law; and you command me to be struck contrary to the law” (Acts 23: 3). 4- Some others believe that St. Paul was not apologizing, but was giving a justification for what he said, as though he intended to say: ‘Indeed it is not fitting to speak evil of the high priest, but I do not count Ananias as such, as he got that position by bribery and corruption. The Holy Book confirmed that command, not to speak evil of the ruler of your people, whether religious or civil: "Is it fitting to say to a king, ‘You are worthless,’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked’" (Job 34: 18)? And “Do not curse the king even in your thought” (Eccl 10: 20). 5- Others believe that when the apostle Paul realized that his response was unbecoming, he hastened to apologize. "For when he was smitten with the hand by order of the high priest, what he seemed to say contumeliously when he affirms, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall”, sounds like an insult to those who do not understand it; but to those who do, it is a 1 Against the Pelagians. Book 3.4. 847 prophecy. For a whited wall is hypocrisy, i.e. pretence holding forth the sacerdotal dignity before itself, and under this name, as under a white covering, concealing an inner and as it were sordid baseness. For what belonged to humility he wonderfully preserved, when, on its being said to him, “Do you revile God’s high priest”? He replied, “I did not know brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of the ruler of your people” (Acts 23: 5). His response reveals how composed he And here he showed with what calmness he had spoken that which he seemed to have spoken in anger, because he answered so quickly and so mildly, which cannot be done by those who are indignant and thrown into confusion (because of the insult). As if he said, I know another High Priest, for whose name I bear such things" 1. St. Augustine 2- A DISSENSION IN THE SANHEDRIM “But when Paul perceived that 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; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged” (Acts 23: 6). The apostle cried out loudly so as to be heard by all, proclaiming that he is a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee, brought up on the hope of the resurrection of the dead. During the days of the ministry of the Lord Christ, the Pharisees were the most controversial group against Him, considering Him a Breaker of the literality of the law, and an opponent of their hypocrisy. Yet, after His ascension, as the disciples testified to the resurrection of the Lord Christ, the Sadducees became the most controversial group, for they denied the resurrection. The Pharisees sympathized with them against the Sadducees, not for the sake of faith in the Lord Christ, but to confirm the resurrection of the dead. “And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the assembly was divided” (Acts 23: 7). As St. Paul expected, the Pharisees took his side and arose to his defense against the Sadducees, his opponents; the high priest, as he most probably took the side of the Sadducees, the Pharisees grew more furious. Then, the situation changed completely; and instead of cries seeking the death of the apostle, there arose chaos and dissension in between the members of the assembly, which made the commander and his men confused as what was going on. The only one to watch that scene in complete peace was the apostle Paul. “For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection – and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees confess both” (Acts 23: 8). The Sadducees used to deny the resurrection of the dead, as well as both the good and evil angels, and used to believe that the souls die together with the bodies;2 Therefore, there is no reward or punishment after life3. Although both groups were represented in the same assembly of the Sanhedrim, to deal with the major religious issues of the Jews, yet every group had its own convictions. 1 Sermon on the Mount, 1.19.58. 2 Josephus. Antiq. 18.1.4. 3 Josephus. Jewish Wars. 2.8.14. 848 *.The Pharisees although fanatically religious, and zealous for the law statutes; yet, at the same time, they were straightforward in their faith and convictions concerning the world of spirits, the eternal life, and the resurrection of the dead. *.The Sadducees, on the other hand, were unfaithful to the Holy Book and to the divine proclamations. Although they considered the books of Moses as magnificent history and good law, yet not on the same level of the rest of the books. They used to deny the eternal life, and the resurrection of the dead. The apparitions of angels according to them were things of imagination with no real basis; and God Himself is material. *.The Pharisees considered the Sadducees as liberals in thought, and corrupt in dogma. *.Although the Sadducees formed the great majority of the members of the Sanhedrim, Yet the Pharisees, although a minority, had a great influence on the decisions of the assembly, because the people respected them as men of intellect, and as righteous and zealous on the law and the worship in the temple. “Then arose a loud outcry. And the scribes who were of the Pharisees party arose and protested, saying, ‘We find no evil in this man; but if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God” (Acts 23: 9). The scribes who were learned scholars of the law were either of the Pharisees, or of the Sadducees. As the Pharisees group saw the development of the situation, they arose to defend Paul, to say that they found no evil in him, and that he was not an opponent to the law; and if his preaching among the Gentiles was according to a heavenly command (Acts 22: 17-18), through the appearance of an angel in the temple, whoever opposes him is opposing God. Those scribes probably recalled what the great Pharisee teacher of the Law, Gamaliel, has once said in the Sanhedrim: “Take heed to yourselves what you intend to do. Keep away from these men and let them alone; for if the plan of this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it – lest you even be found to fight against God” (Acts 5: 35-38). Some of the Pharisee scribes, not only intended to prove the innocence of St. Paul, but they referred to him the enjoyment of inspiration and the exaltness of his convictions. They, not only intended to pardon him, but to support and protect him. 3-THE LORD APPEARS TO PAUL “And when there arose a great dissension, the commander, fearing lest Paul might be pulled to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks” (Acts 23: 10). When the situation changed from attacks against St. Paul by everyone, to fierce dissension among the members of the assembly and among the multitudes present, the commander, realizing the danger on the prisoner’s life by the Sadducee majority, commanded his soldiers to go down and take Paul by force and bring him over into the barracks. “But the following night, the Lord stood by him and said, ‘Be of good cheer Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome” (Acts 23: 11). Whenever the affliction gets tighter and the tribulations get stronger, God presents heavenly comforts, As once the Sadducees were about to tear Paul apart, the Lord Himself appeared to him in the barracks to tell him the good news that he still had a 849 mission to testify to Him in Rome, and that he would not be killed in Jerusalem. He did not send to him an angel, an archangel, or a cherub, but the Lord Himself came to him; as the apostle Paul was in what seems to be a very critical situation, as though his mission was about to come to an end in no time. He appeared to confirm to him that he had not yet consummated his mission. The Lord’s promise to him was not that he would not pass through temptations, or that he would live more days on earth, but the good news that he would testify to Him in Rome. That was the desire of the apostle’s heart. And it was realized, as he entered into Rome as a victorious preaching prisoner (Acts 28: 30-31). The apostle Paul entered into the prison in the fort of Antonia with no companion with him, and without a working plan in his mind. He entered into the prison, under the protection of the angels of God; he was not alone, but in the presence of the Lord, who was always with him, appearing to him, to support and guide him. As it happened to him in the house of Aquila and Priscilla in Corinth (Acts 18: 9-10), He also appeared to him in the fort. He did not promise him that the two chains would fall from his hands, as that never bothered the apostle’s mind, and could never bind the word in his mouth, but, on the contrary, it opened before him new ranges to testify. What indeed preoccupied the apostle Paul was to testify to the Lord Christ at the imperial palace (Acts 27: 24). The trial of the apostle turned into preaching and a testimony to the Lord Christ. After testifying before the commander, the soldiers, and the Jews with their scholars, priests and pilgrims who came from all over the world, the Lord opened to him a way to testify before Caesar of Rome, the great and elite of Rome, and the entire Gentile world. 4- A CONSPIRACY TO KILL THE APOSTLE PAUL “And when it was day, some of the Jews banded together and bounded together under oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. Now there were more than forty who had formed this conspiracy” (Acts 23: 12-13). “Bounded together under oath”: they vowed together a holy vow (according to them), to dedicate themselves and all their energies to put their conspiracy into effect, disregarding how would they be absolved of their vow in case their act was not realized, on account that there was no chance of failure. and if it happened and they did not succeed for any unseen reason, it would be easy for them to be absolved of their vow by the religious leaders. Once the plan to stir uproar among the multitude failed, as well as the trial before the assembly of the Sanhedrim, a group of Jews resorted to a conspiracy to barbarously kill the apostle. This group sanctified a fast and vowed, as though getting God to partake of their conspiracy to kill the apostle Paul, and to offer him a sacrifice to God. As previously proclaimed by the Lord Christ himself: “They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service” (John 16: 1,.2). This group, of more than 40 persons, conspired with the high priests and the elders, to put their plot into effect (Acts 23: 14-15). It is amazing that on the same night, and probably at the same hour, the Lord appeared to confirm to Paul that he would not be killed in Jerusalem, the devil was preparing more than 40 persons to kill him. The Lord Christ is watching over His church; and the devil as well would never cease to oppose her. It is strange how evil join forces; how, as many as 40 persons would come to agree in one spirit to have someone killed, in the city of Jerusalem that they called ‘the city of God’, the city that was supposed to embrace righteousness became a dwelling place of evil and murder. 850 They walked in the spirit of their father the devil, the murderer from the beginning, demonstrating an amazing zeal to realize their father’s will: 1-They did not stop at thinking and planning, but they hastened to act. 2-They planned together in the spirit of unity and mutual work. 3-They disregarded the care of God, vowing not to eat or drink until they would realize their conspiracy, without taking into consideration the factor of God’s probable intervention. 4-They disregarded their souls and bodies, to realize their plan, whatever its cost was, even if it was their own life. 5-They put an apparently religious image over their conspiracy; as they came to meet the high priests and the elders, to inform them of their plot, not to seek their blessing or prayers, but, because they were sure of its success, they were seeking their future intervention with the authorities to spare them being arrested or tried. 6-They asked the high priests and the elders to partake of their evil, to lie to the commander and to deceive him, to bring Paul down to consummate their plot. “They came to the chief priests and elders, and said, ‘We have bound ourselves under a great oath that we will eat nothing until we have killed Paul” (Acts 23: 14). They may have secretly sent messengers on their behalf, lest their plot should be reveal. "Behold fasting the mother of murder! Just as Herod imposed on himself that necessity by his oath, so also do these. For such are the devil's (ways): under the pretext forsooth of piety he sets his traps" 1. St. John Chrysostom “Now you, therefore, together with the council, suggest to the commander that he be brought down to you tomorrow, as though you are going to make further inquiries concerning him, but we are ready to kill him before he comes near” (Acts 23: 15). They intended by killing Paul on his way to the assembly, to keep anyone from thinking that his killing was planned by the Sanhedrim. 5-EXPOSING THE CONSPIRACY “And when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their ambush, he went and entered the barracks and told Paul” (Acts 23.16). We have no clue, how the young man got to know about the ambush; but we know that God uses every possible way to disrupt the plans of the devil and his hosts. The wise Solomon says: “A bird of the air may carry your voice; and a bird in flight may tell the matter” (Eccl 10: 20). Some believe that a Pharisee member of the Sanhedrim, sympathizing with the apostle Paul, who was destroying the convictions of the Sadducees, secretly informed Paul’s nephew. Some others believed that it probably was one of the young man’s fellow students, who might have been a son or a relative of a member of the Sanhedrim, who told the young man, not for the sake of saving his uncle, but during a chat between two friends. We do not know of any relative of the apostle Paul other than this nephew of his. we do not even know his name, or whether his mother dwelt in Jerusalem or not. But from our study of the epistles of the apostles, and in particular the last chapter of his 1Hom. On Acts. Hom. 49. 851 epistle to the Romans, we feel that the family of Paul is the church as a whole, especially the ministers of the word. The church came to be his family, as he was a member in it, attached to everyone. “Then Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, ‘Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to tell him’” (Acts 23: 17). Having been admired and trusted by many of the leaders, we do not marvel that he sent for the centurion and asked him to take the young man to the commander. A centurion had a hundred soldiers under him, A centurion, and not a regular soldier, to be called by a prisoner in a prison; this is a grace from God. "So he took him and brought him to the commander and said, ‘Paul the prisoner called me to him and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to say to you’” (Acts 23: 18). The centurion did not hesitate to go himself to inform the commander that the prisoner Paul called him, speaking of Paul with respect. “Then the commander took him by hand, went aside and asked him privately, ‘What is it that you have to tell me'” (Acts 23: 19). We stand amazed before the modesty of the centurion and his love of serving the prisoners with such a spirit of piety, and before the compassion of the commander who did not despise the young man, but took him by hand as a friend or as a father with his son, and asked him what he had to tell him. We should not as well disregard the personality of that young man, who must had on his face, the features of inner peace, together with the exalted care of God, that made him go to the barracks, meet his uncle to tell him about the conspiracy in secret, and to be taken by the centurion to the commander to speak to him, things that are difficult to happen under such circumstances. “And he said, ‘The Jews have agreed to ask that you bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were to inquire more fully about him. But do not yield to them, for more than forty of them lie in wait for him, men who have bound themselves by an oath that they will neither eat or drink till they have killed him; and now they are waiting for the promise from you” (Acts 23: 20-21). He was probably a disciple of one of the Jewish rabbis, and he heard whispers about that issue. Then, he made sure of that fact. 6-SENDING PAUL TO CAESAREA “So the commander let the young man depart, and commanded him, ‘Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me’ And he called for two centurions, saying, ‘Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at the third hour of the night” (Acts 23: 22-23). Having been informed of the conspiracy, the commander decided to send St. Paul under strong escort to the governor in the capital, away from the Jewish leaderships in Jerusalem. The procession moved at the third hour of the night (9 o’clock PM). He acted thus to save the life of Paul, because he was a Roman citizen. The two centurions with their 200 soldiers, seventy horsemen, and 200 spearmen, marched in a procession to protect Paul on his way out of Jerusalem to the governor at Caesarea. That awesome procession (dexiolobous in Greek) was meant to impress the conspirators, and let them have no hope of ever reaching the prisoner, however their zeal might have been. 852 “And provide mounts to set Paul on, and bring him safely to Felix the governor” (Acts 23: 24). The word ‘mounts’ (Kteenee) refers to a horse, a camel, or a donkey; the late being the most used in Judea at that time. It is obvious that St. Paul was respectfully treated, as he was not put in a cart for prisoners, or made to walk on his feet, but was provided with mounts to reach Caesarea safely and comfortably. The distance between Jerusalem and Caesarea was about 60 miles. Felix the governor: Whose name was Anthony Felix, a slave released from servitude by Antonia, mother of Emperor Claudius, was so very beloved by Claudius, that he set him a governor on Judea. Eusebius called him ‘Claudius Felix’. He successively married three women from the royal family, one of them was Drusilla, referred to later in Acts 24.24. Tacitus said about him that he reigned with the authority of a king, and with the meanness and arrogance of a slave1. According to Clark, he was an unjust governor, evil, mean, and greedy. Undoubtedly, the commander knew much about Felix the governor and his meanness. However, he realized that if Paul fell into the hands of Felix it would be better than to fall in the hands of the chief priest and the Sanhedrim. The commander may have also feared that Paul would be killed, so he would have been accused of being negligent or of taking a bribe to let a Roman citizen be killed. 7-A LETTER TO GOVERNOR FELIX “He wrote a letter in the following manner: Claudius Lysias, To the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings. This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them. Coming with troops I rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman. And when I wanted to know the reason they accused him, I brought him before their council. I found out that he was accused concerning questions of their law, but had nothing charged against him worthy of death or chains. And when it was told me that the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent him immediately to you, and also commanded his accusers to state before you the charges against him. Farewell” (Acts 23: 25-30). According to Roman law it is not a bug, or a crime committed against the Romans or the State. 8-PAUL ARRIVES TO CAESAREA “Then the soldiers, as they were commanded, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris” (Acts 23: 31). Antipatris: a city between 35 and 40 miles far from Jerusalem, and according to Josephus, about 17 miles from Jaffa. It was formerly called ‘Kafr Saba’, about 26 miles far from Caesarea. Herod the Great changed its name to Antipatris, in honor to his father Antpater. It lies in a fertile plain and had many springs. "Like some king whom his body-guards escort, so did these convey Paul; in such numbers too, and by night, for fear of the wrath of the people"2. Arriving like this in such a great military procession, made of Paul in Caesarea, a famous character. St. John Chrysostom 1History v. 9. 2Hom. On Acts. Hom. 50. 853 "The soldiers also made Paul famous in Caesarea, his coming with so large a force" 1. “The next day they left the horsemen to go on with him, and returned to the barracks.When they came to Caesarea and had delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him. And when the governor had read it, he asked what province he was from. And when he understood that he was from Cilicia, he said, I will hear you when your accusers also have come’, And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s Praetorium” (Acts 23.32-35). It is no longer there is a risk of the conspirators against St. Paul returned the military and perhaps Alramehan with them, and walked Knights Saint Paul to Caesarea. As Cilicia was a Roman colony, the Roman governor could investigate the case without consulting a local counterpart. When Jesus appeared before Pilate Pontus, he sent him to Herod Antipas who was the governor of Galilee, as Jesus was a Galilean. But in the case of Paul, there was no need for consulting a governor from outside of Caesarea. Felix kept Paul in a prison at Herod’s palace, where Herod prepared a hall for justice, with a joining prison. 1Hom. On Acts. Hom. 50. 854 AN INSPIRATION FROM THE BOOK OF ACTS 23 STRIKES ON THE MOUTH OR HOLY KISSES Having uttered the truth, Your apostle was worthy of kisses from Your divine mouth. Yet, he was also struck by the wicked. The daily kisses of Your mouth absorb all my being, And make me ignore all the strikes of the wicked. Boldly, Your apostle told the Hypocrite high priest off; He counted him as a whitewashed wall that covers corruption. He was not ashamed of disregarding him as a chief priest, Because he is corrupt and a corruptor of the truth. Let the world uproar against us, But keep Your care with us, You are the Comforter and Protector of Your ministers. Let the world persist on getting rid of us, With Your grace, You turn their evil into edification for us. You scatter the counsel of the wicked. You expose their hidden secrets. Let them plan as much as they want. Our life is in Your hands, and not in theirs. We are borne on the eternal arms. You will definitely realize Your mission through us, O Savior of the world.
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