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a Roman citizen, and especially when he was not condemned for any fault. Paul knew that it was unlawful, and so did the centurion; and he went immediately to the chief captain, and said, you had better be careful about what you do, for this man is a Roman citizen. On hearing this, Lysias himself went down to Paul, and asked him if he was really a Roman citizen. Paul answered him, Yes. The tribune replied, that he had obtained the privilege of citizenship at a very great expense; as much as to say, that such a creature as he supposed Paul to be, never could have procured that rank. But, said Paul, I was born with this right. They left off then the cruel torture they were about to inflict, and loosed him. The tribune was very much alarmed at what he had done: he knew that he had been guilty of an unlawful act, in binding one who was a Roman citizen. So, by the providence of God, Paul that time escaped being scourged; which, in those days, was a most dreadfully cruel punishment.

CHAPTER XV.

Paul brought before the Sanhedrim-Dispute between the Pharisees and Sadducees -Conspiracy against the life of Paul-Is sent to Cesarea.

In the last chapter, we stated how, in the providence of God, Paul escaped being scourged. As Lysias could not, therefore, get his information by torturing Paul, he determined to assemble the Jewish Council, which was called the Great Sanhedrim. This he did the very next day; and when they had assembled, he took Paul under his own charge, and placed him before them, to be tried.

As soon as the assembly was in order, Paul began his defence, by saying,-" Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God, until this day." Now, no one can see anything in these few words which ought to have given offence; yet, no sooner had he spoken them, than Ananias, who was

called the high priest, commanded those who stood by Paul to strike him on the mouth. Paul, however, was one of those men who knew his own rights, and did not choose to be trampled upon. He answered at once, to the high priest," God shall smite thee, thou whited wall for dost thou sit to judge me according to the law, and yet dost thou command me to be smitten contrary to the law?" Those who were about, immediately said to Paul," Revilest thou God's high priest?" And Paul immediately answered, I was not aware that it was the high priest, or I would not have spoken so severely; for it is written, thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.

The question has been asked, and it has been made an objection by infidels to the truth of the whole relation, how could Paul be ignorant that it was the high priest to whom he spoke? There are a variety of answers given some suppose that Paul was not acquainted with the person of the high priest, and some suppose that he had not his robes on. All these are unsatisfactory. There is one reason, which not only accounts for Paul's conduct,

but which more and more confirms the truth of the whole relation, because we have history to give us light. Ananias, in consequence of some disturbance between the Samaritans and the Jews, had a few years before been dispossessed of his office, and sent as a prisoner to Rome. He was soon afterwards released, however, and returned to Jerusalem. In the mean time, Jonathan had been made high priest; Jonathan was murdered by Felix; and between this and the time when Ismael was made high priest, there was a vacancy, when there was no regular high priest. Now it happened exactly at this time, that Paul was tried; and the sanhedrim, being destitute of a president, Ananias took it upon himself, as he was once high priest, to act in that capacity. He had no right to do so; and this Paul knew, and therefore Paul spoke with perfect correctness, and at the same time, with a severe censure upon Ananias, for his usurpation of authority, when he said, I was not aware that it was the high priest. It is worthy of very particular observation, that this passage, which has been used as an objection against the truth of the

relation, is one which, on the contrary, tends more fully to confirm it

truth will prevail.

-so sure it is, that

But to return to the history. Paul saw at once, from the disposition which was manifested in the council, that it was impossible for him to have a fair trial; and, therefore, he determined not to attempt to defend himself at this time, but opened a subject which would divide the assembly, and gain him some favour. The great sanhedrim was composed of those who belonged to the two rival sects among the Jews, called Pharisees and Sadducees; the latter of these, namely, the Sadducees, denied the doctrine of the resurrection and the existence of spirits. The Pharisees held both these doctrines. Instead, therefore, of going on with his defence, Paul cried out, "Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; of the hope of the resurrection of the dead I am called in question." This was the real fact. It was his belief in Christ, which was founded on the doctrine of his resurrection, and on this, all the difficulty arose. This remark of Paul's was enough the Pharisees belonging to the

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