Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself: (11) Because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship. (12) And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city: (13) Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me. (14) But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: (15) And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. (16) And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward men. (17) Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings. (18) Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult. (19) Who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had aught against me. (20) Or else let these same here say, if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the council, (21) Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.
Let the Reader behold the composedness which marked Paul's conduct before this unjust assembly. Until Felix waved his hand to him to speak, the Apostle stood silent. Indeed there was nothing to answer. For if the Reader will count the time as Paul stated, from the day he left Caesarea, to the then present hour, it was only twelve days, nine of which they had confined him. What pestilence or sedition could he have been guilty of in such an interval, three-fourths of which he had been a prisoner. And the three first days he was engaged in performing the religious worship in the temple, for which he came up to Jerusalem. But I hope the Reader will not overlook the chief and leading point which Tertullus labored at, which was to insinuate, that this sect, as he called the followers of the Lord Jesus, were enemies to government. This was the master-piece of Satan, in the accusation brought against our Lord, Luke 23:2; John 19:12. And this, more or less, in every age of the Church, hath been the grand means made use of to undermine the cause of Christ, Psalms 2:1-2; Exodus 1:10; Nehemiah 5:17. How little do these men know that the real stability of earthly kingdoms is founded in the interests of Christ's. Indeed the very purposes for which all monarchies of the world are carried on, are in a way of ministry to promote the ultimate end of the kingdom of the Lord Jesus. The earth helped the Woman, Revelation 12:16-17; Proverbs 8:15-16.