Antiquitates christianæ, or, The history of the life and death of the holy Jesus as also the lives acts and martyrdoms of his Apostles : in two parts.

SECT. VI. Of S. Paul, from his first Trial before Foelix, till his coming to Rome.

S. Paul impleaded before Foelix by Tertullus the Jewish Advocate. His charge of Sediti∣on, Heresie, and Prophanation of the Temple. S. Paul's reply to the several parts of the charge. His second Hearing before Foelix and Drusilla. His smart and impartial Reasonings. Foelix his great injustice and oppression: His Luxury and Intemperance, Bribery and Covetousness. S. Paul's Arraignment before Festus, Foelix his Successor, at Caesarea. His Appeal to Caesar. The nature and manner of those Appeals. He is again brought before Festus and Agrippa. His vindication of himself, and the goodness of his cause. His being acquitted by his Judges of any Capital crime. His Voyage to Rome. The trouble and danger of it. Their Shipwrack, and being cast upon the Island Melita. Their courteous entertainment by the Barbarians, and their different censure of S. Paul. The civil usage of the Governour, and his Conversion to Christianity. S. Paul met and conducted by Christians to Rome.

1. NOT many days after down comes Ananias the High Priest, with some others* 1.1 of the Sanhedrim to Caesarea, accompanied with Tertullus their Advocate, who in a short but neat speech, set off with all the flattering and insinuating arts of Elo∣quence, began to implead our Apostle, charging him with Sedition, Heresie, and the Prophanation of the Temple: That they would have saved him the trouble of this Hear∣ing, by judging him according to their own Law, had not Lysias the Commander vio∣lently taken him from them, and sent both him and them down thither. To all which the Jews that were with him gave in their Vote and Testimony. S. Paul ha∣ving leave from Foelix to defend himself, and having told him, how much he was sa∣tisfied that he was to plead before one, who for so many years had been Governour of that Nation, distinctly answered to the several parts of the Charge.

2. AND first for Sedition, he point-blank denied it, affirming that they found him behaving himself quietly and peaceably in the Temple, not so much as disputing there, nor stirring up the people either in the Synagogues, or any other place of the City. And though this was plausibly pretended by them, yet were they never able to make it good. As for the charge of Heresie, that he was a ringleader of the Sect of the Nazarenes, he ingenuously acknowledged, that after the way which they counted He∣resie, so he worshipped God, the same way in substance wherein all the Patriarchs of the Jewish Nation had worshipped God before him, taking nothing into his Creed, but what the Authentick writings of the Jems themselves did own and justifie: That he firmly believed, what the better part of themselves were ready to grant, another Life, and a future Resurrection: In the hope and expectation whereof he was careful to live unblameable, and conscientiously to do his duty both to God and men. As for the third part of the Charge, his Prophaning of the Temple, he shews how little foundation there was for it, that the design of his coming to Jerusalem was to bring charitable con∣tributions to his distressed Brethren, that he was indeed in the Temple, but not as some Asiatick Jews falsely suggested, either with tumult or with multitude, but only purifying himself according to the rites and customs of the Mosaick Law: And that if any would affirm the contrary, they should come now into open Court, and make it good. Nay, that he appealed to those of the Sanhedrim that were there present, whe∣ther he had not been acquitted by their own great Council at Jerusalem, where no∣thing of moment had been laid to his charge, except by them of the Sadducean party, who quarrelled with him only for asserting the Doctrine of the Resurrection. Foelix having thus heard both parties argue, refused to make any final determination in the case, till he had more fully advised about it, and spoken with Lysias, Commander of the Garrison, who was best able to give an account of the Sedition and the Tu∣mult; commanding in the mean time that S. Paul should be under guard, but yet in so free a custody, that none of his friends should be hindred from visiting him, or per∣forming any office of kindness and friendship to him.

3. IT was not long after this before his Wife Drusilla (a Jewess, Daughter of the elder Herod, and whom Tacitus, I fear by a mistake for his former Wife Drusilla, Daughter to Juba King of Mauritania, makes Niece to Anthony and Cleopatra) came to him to Caesarea. Who being present, he sent for S. Paul to appear before them, and gave him leave to discourse concerning the doctrine of Christianity. In his discourse he took occasion particularly to insist upon the great obligation, which the Laws of Christ lay upon men to Justice and Righteousness toward one another, to Sobriety and Chastity both towards themselves and others, withall urging that severe and impartial account, that must be given in the Judgment of the other World, wherein men shall be arraigned for all the actions of their past life, and be eternally punished or rewarded according to their works. A discourse wisely adapted by the Apostle to Foelix his state and temper. But corrosives are very uneasie to a guilty mind: Men naturally hate that which brings their sins to their remembrance, and sharpens the sting of a violated conscience. The Prince was so netled with the Apostles reasonings, that he fell a trembling, and caused the Apostle to break off abruptly, telling him, he would hear the rest at some other season. And good reason there was that Foelix his conscience should be sensibly alarmed with these reflexions, being a man notoriously infamous for rapine and violence. * 1.2 Tacitus tells us of him, that he made his will the Law of his Government, practising all manner of cruelty and injustice. And then for incontinen∣cy, he was given over to luxury and debauchery, for the compassing whereof he seru∣pled not to violate all Laws both of God and Man. Whereof this very Wife Drusilla was a famous * 1.3 instance. For being married by her Brother to Azis King of the Emi∣senes, Foelix, who had heard of her incomparable beauty, by the help of Simon the Magician, a Jew of Cyprus, ravished her from her Husbands bed, and in defiance of all law and right, kept her for his own Wife. To these qualities he had added bribery and covetousness, and therefore frequently sent for S. Paul to discourse with him, ex∣pecting that he should have given him a considerable summ for his release; and the rather probably, because he had heard that S. Paul had lately brought up great summs of money to Jerusalem. But finding no offers made, either by the Apostle or his friends, he kept him prisoner for two years together, so long as himself continued Pro∣curator of that Nation, when being displaced by Nero, he left S. Paul still in prison, on purpose to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Jews, and engage them to speak better of him after his de∣parture from them.

4. TO him succeeded Portius Festus in the Procuratorship of the Province, at* 1.4 whose first coming to Jerusalem, the High-Priest and Sanhedrim presently began to prefer to him an Indictment against S. Paul, desiring, that in order to his Trial, he might be sent for up from Caesarea, designing under this pretence that some Assassinates should lie in the way to murder him. Festus told them, that he himself was going shortly for Caesarea, and that if they had any thing against S. Paul, they should come down thither and accuse him. Accordingly being come to Caesarea, and sitting in open Judicature, the Jews began to renew the Charge which they had heretofore brought against S.Paul: Of all which he cleared himself, they not being able to make any proof against him. However Festus being willing to oblige the Jews in the entrance upon his Government, asked him, whether he would go up and be tried be∣fore him at Jerusalem? The Apostle well understanding the consequences of that pro∣posal, told him that he was a Roman, and therefore ought to be judged by their Laws, that he stood now at Caesar's own Judgment-seat (as indeed what was done by the Em∣peror's Procurator in any Province, the* 1.5 Law reckoned as done by the Emperor himself) and though he should submit to the Jewish Tribunal, yet he himself saw, that they had nothing which they could prove against him; that if he had done any thing which really deserved capital punishment, he was willing to undergo it; but if not, he ought not to be delivered over to his enemies, who were before-hand resolved to take away his life. However as the safest course, he solemnly made his appeal to the Roman Em∣peror, who should judge between them. Whereupon Festus advising with the Jewish Sanhedrim, received his appeal, and told him he should go to Caesar. This way of ap∣pealing was frequent amongst the Romans, introduced to defend and secure the lives and fortunes of the populacy from the unjust incroachments, and over-rigorous severi∣ties of the Magistrates, whereby it was lawful in cases of oppression to appeal to the people for redress and rescue, a thing more than once and again setled by the Sanction of the Valerian Laws. These * 1.6 appeals were wont to be made in writing, by Appella∣tory Libels given in, wherein was contained an account of the Appellant, the person against whom, and from whose Sentence he did appeal. But where the case was done

in open Court, it was enough for the Criminal verbally to declare, that he did appeal:* 1.7 In great and weighty cases appeals were made to the Prince himself, and that not only at Rome, but in the Provinces of the Empire, all Proconsuls and Governours of Provin∣ces being strictly * 1.8 forbidden to execute, scourge, bind, or put any badge of servility upon a Citizen, or any that had the priviledge of a Citizen of Rome, who had made his appeal, or any ways to hinder him from going thither, to obtain justice at the hands of the Emperor, who had as much regard to the liberty of his Subjects (says the Law it self) as they could have of their good will and obedience to him. And this was exactly S. Paul's case, who knowing that he should have no fair and equitable dealing at the hands of the Governour, when once he came to be swayed by the Jews, his sworn and inveterate enemies, appealed from him to the Emperor, the reason why Festus durst not deny his demand, it being a priviledge so often, so plainly setled and confirmed by the Roman Laws.

5. SOME time after King Agrippa, who succeeded Herod in the Tetrarchate of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and his Sister Bernice came to Caesarea, to make a visit to the new-come Go∣vernour. To him Festus gave an account of S. Paul, and the great stir and trouble that had been made about him, and how for his safety and vindication he had immediately appealed to Caesar. Agrippa was very desirous to see and hear him, and accordingly the next day the King and his Sister accompanied with Festus the Governour, and other persons of quality, came into the Court with a pompous and magnificent retinue, where the prisoner was brought forth before him. Festus having acquainted the King and the Assembly, how much he had been solicited by the Jews both at Caesarea and Jorusalem, concerning the prisoner at the Bar, that as a notorious Malefactor he might be put to death, but that having found him guilty of no capital crime, and the prisoner himself having appealed to Caesar, he was resolved to send him to Rome, but yet was willing to have his case again discussed before Agrippa, that so he might be furnished with some material instructions to send along with him, since it was very absurd to send a prisoner, without signifying what crimes were charged upon him.

6. HEREUPON Agrippa told the Apostle, he had liberty to make his own de∣fence.* 1.9 To whom, after silence made, he particularly addressed his speech; he tells him in the first place what a happiness he had, that he was to plead before one so ex∣actly versed in all the rites and customs, the questions and the controversies of the Jewish Law, that the Jews themselves knew what had been the course and manner of his life, how he had been educated under the Institutions of the Pharisces, the strictest Sect of the whole Jewish Religion, and had been particularly disquieted and arraigned for what had been the constant belief of all their Fathers, what was sufficiently credible in it self, and plainly enough revealed in the Scripture, the Resurrection of the dead. He next gave him an account with what a bitter and implacable zeal he had formerly persecuted Christianity, told him the whole story and method of his conversion, and that in compliance with a particular Vision from Heaven, he had preached repen∣tance and reformation of life first to the Jews, and then after to the Gentiles: That it was for no other things than these that the Jews apprehended him in the Temple, and designed to murder him; but being rescued and upheld by a Divine power, he con∣tinued in this testimony to this day, asserting nothing but what was perfectly agreeable to Moses and the Prophets, who had plainly foretold that the Messiah should both be put to death, and rise again, and by his doctrine enlighten both the Jewish and the Gentile World. While he was thus discoursing, Festus openly cried out, that he talk∣ed like a mad-man, that his over-much study had put him besides himself. The Apostle calmly replied, he was far from being transported with idle and distracted hu∣mours, that he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 nothing but what was most true and real in it self, and what very well became that grave sober Auditory. And then again addressing himself to Agrippa, told him, that these things having been open and publick, he could not but be ac∣quainted with them, that he was confident that he believed the Prophets, and must needs therefore know that those Prophecies were fulfilled in Christ. Hereat Agrippa replied, That he had in some degree perswaded him to embrace the Christian Faith. To which the Apostle returned, that he heartily prayed, that not only he, but the whole Auditory were, not only in some measure, but altogether, though not prisoners, yet as much Christians as he himself was. This done, the King and the Governour, and the rest of the Council withdrew a-while, to confer privately about this matter. And finding by the accusations brought against him, that he was not guilty by the Ro∣man Laws of any 〈◊〉〈◊〉 offence, no nor of any that deserved so much as imprisonment, Agrippa told 〈◊〉〈◊〉, that he might have been released, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.

for the Appeal being once made, the Judge had then no power either to absolve or con∣demn, the cause being intirely reserved to the cognizance of that Superior, to whom the Criminal had appealed.

7. IT was now finally resolved that S. Paul should be sent to Rome: in order where∣unto* 1.10 he was, with some other Prisoners of remarque, committed to the charge of Ju∣lius, Commander of a Company belonging to the Legion of Augustùs; accompanied in this Voyage by S. Luke, Aristarchus, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, & some others. In September, Ann. Chr. LVI. or as others, LVII. they went on board a Ship of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and sailed to Sidon, where the Captain civilly gave the Apostle leave to go a-shoar to visit his Friends, and refresh himself: Hence to Cyprus, till they came to the Fair-Havens, a place near Myra, a City of Lysia. Here, Winter growing on, and S. Paul foreseeing it would be a dangerous Voyage, perswaded them to put in, and winter. But the Captain preferring the judgment of the Master of the Ship, and especially because of the incommodiousness of the Harbour, resolved, if possible, to reach Phoenice, a Port of Crete, and to win∣ter there. But it was not long before they found themselves disappointed of their hopes: For the calm southerly Gale that blew before, suddainly changed into a stormy and blustring North-East Wind, which so bore down all before it, that they were forced to let the ship drive at the pleasure of the Wind; but as much as might be, to prevent splitting, or running a-ground, they threw out a great part of their Lading, and the Tackle of the Ship. Fourteen Days they remained in this desperate and uncomfortable condition, neither Sun nor Stars appearing for a great part of the time; the Apostle putting them in mind how ill-advised they were in not taking his counsel: Howbeit they should be of good chear, for that that God whom he served and worshipped, had the last Night purposely sent an Angel from Heaven, to let him know, that notwith∣standing the present danger they were in, yet that he should be brought safe before Nero; that they should be shipwrack'd indeed, and cast upon an Island, but that for his sake God had spared all in the Ship, not one whereof should miscarry, and that he did not doubt, but that it would accordingly come to pass. On the fourteenth Night upon sounding they found themselves nigh some Coast; and therefore to avoid Rocks, thought good to come to an Anchor, till the Morning might give them better infor∣mation. In the mean time the Sea-men (who best understood the danger) were pre∣paring to get into the Skiff, to save themselves: which S. Paul espying, told the Captain, that unless they all staid in the Ship, none could be safe: whereupon the Souldiers cut the Ropes, and let the Skiff fall off into the Sea. Between this and day∣break the Apostle advised them to eat and refresh themselves, having all this time kept no ordinary and regular Meals, assuring them they should all escape. Himself first taking Bread, and having blessed God for it before them all, the rest followed his example, and chearfully sell to their Meat: which done, they lightned the Ship of what remained, and endeavoured to put into a Creek, which they discovered not far off. But falling into a place where two Seas met, the fore-part of the Ship ran a-ground, while the hinder-part was beaten in pieces with the violence of the Waves. Awakened with the danger they were in, the Souldiers cried out to kill the Prisoners, to prevent their escape: which the Captain, desirous to save S. Paul, and probably in confidence of what he had told them, refused to do; commanding, that every one should shift for himself: the issue was, that part by swimming, part on planks, part on pieces of the broken Ship, they all, to the number of two hundred threescore and sixteen (the whole number in the Ship) got safe to shore.

8. THE Island upon which they were cast was Melita (now Malta) situate* 1.11 in the Libyan Sea between Syracuse and Africk. Here they found civility among Bar∣barians, and the plain acknowledgments of a Divine justice written among the naked and untutored notions of Mens minds. The People treated them with great humani∣ty, entertaining them with all necessary accommodations; but while S. Paul was throwing sticks upon the Fire, a Viper dislodged by the heat, came out of the wood, and fastned on his hand. This the People no sooner espyed, but presently concluded, that surely he was some notorious Murderer, whom though the Divine vengeance had suffered to escape the Hue-and-cry of the Sea, yet had it only reserved him for a more publick and solemn execution. But when they saw him shake it off into the Fire, and not presently swell, and drop down, they changed their opinions, and concluded him to be some God. So easily are light and credulous minds transported from one extreme to another. Not far off lived Publius, a Man of great Estate and Authority, and (as we may probably guess from an Inscription found there, and set down by Grotius, wherein the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is reckoned amongst the Roman Offices)* 1.12

Governor of the Island, by him they were courteously entertained three Days at his own charge, and his Father lying at that time sick of a Feaver and a Dysentery, S. Paul went in, and having prayed, and laid his hands upon him, healed him; as he did also many of the Inhabitants, who by this Miracle were encouraged to bring their dis∣eased to him: whereby great honours were heaped upon him, and both he and his company furnished with provisions necessary for the rest of their Voyage. Nay Pub∣lius himself is said by* 1.13 some to have been hereby converted to the Faith, and by S. Paul to have been constituted Bishop of the Island, and that this was he that succeeded S. Denys the Areopagite in the See of Athens, and was afterwards crowned with Martyrdom.

9. AFTER three Months stay in this Island, they went a-board the Castor and Pollux, a Ship of Alexandria, bound for Italy. At Syracuse they put in, and staid three Days; thence sailed to Rhegium, and so to Puteoli, where they landed, and finding some Christians there, staid a week with them, and then set forward in their Journey to Rome. The Christians at Rome having heard of their arrival, several of them came part of the way to meet them, some as far as the Three Taverns, a place thirty three Miles from Rome, others as far as Appii Forum, fifty one Miles distant thence. Great was their mutual salutation, and the encouragement which the Apostle received by it, glad no doubt to see that Christians found so much liberty at Rome. By them he was conducted in a kind of triumph into the City, where when they were arrived, the rest of the Prisoners were delivered over to the Captain of the Guard, and by him dispo∣sed in the common Gaol, while S. Paul (probably at Julius his request and recom∣mendation) was permitted to stay in a private House, only with a Souldier to secure and guard him.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Acts 24. 1.
• * 1.2

  Histor. lib. 5. c. 9. p. 538. vid. Annal. lib. 12. c. 54. p. 234.
• * 1.3

  Joseph. An∣tiquit. Jud. lib. 20. c. 5. p. 693.
• * 1.4

  Acts 25. 1.
• * 1.5

  L. 1. ss. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Of∣sic. Procur. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. lib. 1. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 19
• * 1.6

  Leg. 1. Sect. 4. ss de Appellat. lib. 49 Tit. 1.
• * 1.7

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 2 & 3. ibid.
• * 1.8

  Ibid. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 25, & 〈◊〉〈◊〉 7. ff. ad 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Jul. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 public. lib. 48. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 6.
• * 1.9

  Acts 26. 1.
• * 1.10

  Act, 27. 1.
• * 1.11

  Act. 28. 1.
• * 1.12

  Annot. in loc.
• * 1.13

  Bar. ad 〈◊〉〈◊〉. LVIII. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 173. 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉. mar∣tyr. ad 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Feb. Martyr. Rom. ad 〈◊〉〈◊〉 21. Jan. Eusib. l. 4. c. 23. p. 143.