And as he reasoned of righteousness, &c.—. How suitable this discourse was to the character and circumstances of the persons to whom it was addressed, appears sufficiently from the former note, and from the note on Acts 24:2 but see more in the Inferences. It may be proper here to obviate some mistakes, and perhaps dangerous ones, which have been drawn from this passage; as if reasoning on these topics was sufficiently preaching of faith in Christ. "This (says Dr. Benson,) was St. Paul's preaching Christ, or the faith of Christ:" whereas, if the reader will cast his eye on the preceding verse, he willfind that the foundation of St. Paul's discourse was concerning that faith in Christ, the great Messiah, which this great apostle ever laid down as the ground-work of what he delivered; in strict conformity with what he himself had said,—Other foundation can no man lay, than that which is laid, namely Jesus Christ. Upon this foundation alone he always raised the amiable and important superstructure of holy and virtuous practice; and agreeably hereto, upon the present occasion, speaking of faith in Christ, as the great and important subject of his ministry, he took an opportunity from the peculiar characters of his principal hearers, to dwell upon subjects in a particular manner adapted to them, and at the same time inseparably dependant upon that faith in Christ which he preached. And undoubtedly this is the true and important method of preaching Christ; and they who think they discharge this duty properly, and imitate St. Paul's example, by preaching of righteousness, temperance, and other moral virtues, separately and independently from their living foundation, faith in Jesus, not only mistake this matter greatly, but certainly have not the least countenance from the apostle's practice in this plac
Acts 24:25. When I have a convenient season, &c.— And I will take some future opportunity to called for thee. This is fully expressed by the original. St. Paul must, no doubt, discern those marks of confusion, which would be so apparent in Felix's countenance, and which would give him some hopes of succeeding through grace in this important attempt for such a conversion, and consequently would animate him when he resumed the discourse: this must of course have increased in Felix a conviction of the apostle's innocence, and an esteem for his virtues; yet, in spite of all, he was so far from genuine repentance, that he would not do justice to St. Paul. However, the conviction might perhaps prevail so far, as to engage him to perfect in his resolution of not delivering him up to the Jews. How affecting an instance and illustration of the treachery of the human heart! See on ch. Acts 26:24.