Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Series I/Volume XI/On the Acts of the Apostles/Homily LV on Acts xxviii. 17-20

Homily LV.

Acts XXVIII. 17–20

“And it came to pass, that

after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when

they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I

have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me. But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Cæsar; not that I had aught to accuse my nation of. For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.”

wished to exculpate both himself and others; himself, that they

might not accuse him, and by so doing hurt themselves; and those

(others), that it might not seem that the whole thing was of their

doing. For it was likely that a report was prevalent, that he had been

delivered up by the Jews; and this was enough to alarm them. He

therefore addresses himself to this, and defends himself as to his own

conduct. “How then is it

reasonable,” it might be said, “that they should deliver

thee up without a cause?” The Roman governors, he says, bear me

witness, who wished to let me go. “How was it then that they did