The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-12-06
PA vi BEFORE FESTUS.

in well-known prayer Of that period,
specially anathamatised all apostates) -
and, evidently, was highly thought of by
the ecclesiastical authorities in Jerusalem
His talents must have been recognised
before he became a Christian. He was,
no doubt, rising man among his peo-
pie, and we can learn from his own words
before Agrippa that he was clothed with
considerable authority" And many Of
the saints he says, "did shut up in
prison . and when they were put to
death gave my voice against them"
In this same address, there is another
important and incidental remark which
throws vivid light on the reality and
the truthfulness of the apostolic history
My manner of life from my youth which
was at the first among mine own nation
at Jerusalem, knooO all the Jeacs." He
was no unknown parsonage in Jerusalem,
and this fact is brought out in this public
address before Festus and Agrippa, as
reported by Luke in the Acts of the
Apostles-a contemporary history.
And going on, abiding to the death of
Jesus Christ, he remarks to Festus (who
had interrupted him)-" For the king
knoweth of these things, before whom
also l speak freely for this thing
was not done in corner The people
in Jerusalem knew perfectly we'll that it
had been prophesied that the Messiah
should suffer, and that the sect to which
Paul belonged believed that he had risen
from the dead This was no myth of
later age, but it was the fundamental
point of contention at this very time,
which was perfectly notorious among all
the Jews
Christianity had no noiseless and OBJ
scure beginnings in Jerusalem. 1t is evil
dent from this speech that the whole
Jewish hierarchy was agitated at this time
to its very centre by the events which
were then occurring in that region. One
Of the ablest and most distinguished
members Of their theological faculty was
at this moment, thirty years after the
public execution of Jesus, on trial for his
detection from the ranks of the psrsecu-
tors, and the trial was conducted before
the Roman governor and Herod Agrippa
II, of C@sarea Philippi, the friend of the
Roman imperial family.
What motive had Paul for this defec-
ton to the despised sect of the Nazarenes,
and to put himself in antagonism to all
his old friends? The avenues to promo
ton were on the other line. This was
the avenue to death. And then how re-
markable that this apostate should there
at that time, in Jerusalem, make it the
issue with that generation of Jews that
the resurrection was fact, when there
were all the materials at hand to brand
him as an imposter or dreamer, if he
was repeating only silly story.
There were thousands around him to
contradict all the miracles which he al
legged to have been wrought by Christ,
and after him, by the apostles themselves.
If there is anything finer in classic lit
erature, or the literature of any people,
than this address before Agrippa, we do
not know where it is. Never did a pris-
oner at the bar speak with such grace,
nor artists pencil in few moments sketch
such a picture.
IL think myself happy, king Agrip-
pa
MY manner of life from my youth
And now stand and am Judged
Unto which promise our twelve
tribe" :
And then how suddenly he turns upon
the king" Why should it be thought
thing incredible with you, that God
should raise the dead ?"
Whereupon as I went to Damascus
at midday, 0 king, 1 saw in the
way light from heaven
And when we were all fallen to the
earth, heard a voice speaking unto me,
and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul,
Saul, why persecutest thou me?
"Whereupon, o king Agrippa, I was
1