Evening star., 1925-11-28


ficers. The Scriptures are silent con-
cerning the events that took place
during the two years that Paul waited
for Felix to issue the order for his DIS
charge from Imprisonment. Inc In
tluence of that period can be traced
in the history OF the Caesarean Church
and in the Apostles life. The enforced
rest and recuperation OF physical
strength fitted Paul for the task that
awaited him.
Another element that entered into
his Imprisonment was the desire OF
Felix to satisfy the influential Jewish
ecclesiastics. He failed, for 1t was due
to their complaints against his admin
istration that he was recalled by his
government and PorciuS Festus APP
pointed as procurator by Nero. 1t was
common for all retiring officials to
clear the docket" by discharging all
uncondemned prisoners. Felix sought
to remove the hostility of the Jews.
whom he had treated with great OPP
preston and cruelty. by adding TO his
infamy by sacrificing an innocent
mans liberty on the altar OF his own
self1shness." He passed on to FestuS
the problem presented by the impris
oned Apostle.
All we know Of the character of
the new governor we learn from the
narrative in Acts, that portrays him
as an executive, who lacked the
strength OF character to carry out
his convictions OF duty. He must
have been superior TO Felix. for
Paul, who was no fatterer. called
him most noble Festus." This in
dicates that he was a much better
man than his predecessor. His visit
to Jerusalem. within a few days after
he assumed the office OF procurator,
reveals that he recognized that his
most serious problems called for him
to satisfy the Jewish leaders, who
had secured the recall of Felix. He
was compelled TO carry on, like his
predecessor, warfare with the
Jewish brigands. who, under the
| name of Sicarii, laid waste the coun-
try" and pleased the Temple au-
thorities.
Josephus informs us that hostilities
| soon broke out between Festus and
the priests party and that he had
| serious difficulty with the Sadducean
! leaders. 1t probably started when he
| refused the request of 1shmael ben
| Phahi, the new high priest. who had
| succeeded Ananias, and the tumultous
| throng. that he send Paul TO Jeru-
| salem to he tried before the San
| hedrin. They expected that the new
| them, would grant that request, but
| he. standing upon the Roman law.
| refused. His refusal to permit the
| change OF venue blocked their plans
| to murder Paul. The rocky passes
along the road from Caesarea 10 Je-
rusalem. would have given them the
| opportunity that they wished to Sc
cure his assassination.
| Festus appeared more disposed 20
! favor the wishes of the Sadducean
party when he summoned Paul TO
face the charges, which they pre-
| scented against the apostle. They
were about the same accusations that
Tertullus had made before Felix. with
| the new one, that accused him "oi
wrong doing against Caesar which.
! IL true, would have been a serious
| ofrense for Paul, who, being a Ro-
man citizen, claimed the protection
! Of Caesar. No evidence was pre-
sented to Substantiate the charges.
which the apostle met by pleading
| mot guilty" He insisted that he was
| innocent. denying that he had COM
mitted any one of the alleged crimes
against the Jewish law. against the
temple and against the state. Festus
recognized that the prisoner had not
committed any one of the crimes.
or at least that they had made no
case against Paul. He proposed that
the apostle return to Jerusalem
voluntarily and meet the religious
| charges before the Sanhedrin, assur-
ing him that he would be present and
personally guaranteed him fair
trial.
Paul's refusal OF the request of
| the procurator and his appeal to
| Caesar placed Festus in an embarra ss
ing position. He had recognized that
the apostles Imprisonment was due
to what he called certain questions
of their own superstition; and espe-
cially his assertion of the resur-
rection." They were the real crimes
of the prisoner in the eyes of his
accusers. If the governor had no,
desired TO curry favor with the
Jerusalem authorities. he would have
given Paul his freedom. The apostle
saw that he would be signing his
own death warrnat. if he agreed tc
tcomply with the suggestion of Festus
His appeal to Caesar took the cas5