old custom in translation, of not proceeding with the work I have undertaken before I have reviewed the labors of the previous day, and corrected them to such an extent that I might in some way satisfy my own mind. And although I did not satisfy myself in every respect (for how could I have done so in those places where I found it necessary to follow conjecture in a copy that was deeply corrupted and mutilated?), I nevertheless preferred, once the matter was undertaken, to keep my word and not frustrate the expectations of men, and to have some part of the work—which may at some time be repaired—thought less than perfect, rather than to have the whole work desired for a long time. You have here at once my plan for undertaking the matter, and, once undertaken, the reason why the completed and finished work comes forth into the light so late.
When, therefore, the end had already been almost imposed upon the work, and I was deliberating and consulting with myself whom I should most especially choose as a patron for these my labors—while other friends were proposing to me others, and indeed men of the highest standing, but with whom I had virtually no acquaintance—I judged it inept and importunate to seek the friendships of great and unknown men to whom one has no access, and to insinuate oneself not only servilely but even shamelessly; and further, I saw that such a thing was most adverse and hostile to my own nature and character. Nor was I ignorant that those upon whom such an honor is bestowed, while they are unknown, are wont to suspect not without cause that their own munificence and liberality are being solicited by importunate men; yet if someone who has been affected by a benefit strives to declare the gratitude of his own mind, he is accustomed not only not to offend him, but even to bear away praise from men, if he achieves nothing else.
As I was revolving these things in my mind, and remained perplexed as to whom I might dedicate these my labors without offense and the detraction of anyone (for it did not seem suitable or expedient for a book to undergo the judgment of men without a patron and defender, especially one whose author was even now surviving, since we are more subject to the envy of the living than of the dead, and more open to detractors), you, as is right, came into my mind first of all, to whom, not only because of old but also because of recent merits—nay, even because of your perpetual kindness and liberality toward me—I owed far more than to anyone else. It does not escape me that an immoderate and excessive proclamation of your liberality is unwelcome and unpleasant to your ears; but grant me, I beg, this indulgence—for you have never denied anything to me when I asked, but have bestowed many things even when I did not ask—that I may, at the very least, summarize the benefits you have conferred upon me. For I have commemorated in another place with sufficient abundance the supreme benefits conferred upon me by your father, a man of the highest character and excellence, and since his passing from life, you have not only stood forth as heirs of his wealth and resources but have also been, above all, imitators of his virtues and liberality; this has stood forth so strongly toward me that I have not greatly missed the liberality and munificence of the deceased.
For, to pass over earlier matters, which were frequent and immense, first two years ago, when I was involved in this work, you took care that a good sum of money be provided and supplied to me, not only not at my request, but not even at my thought; then, when I had already suspected that your liberality was exhausted sooner than I had dared to hope for or seek anything of the sort, a few months ago you gifted me with a sum of money just as large as that which you gave two years before. Having received this benefit from you at the most opportune time, when I was clearly deliberating whom I should procure as the guardian and defender of this offspring of mine, all doubt and hesitation were virtually removed from me; for one scruple still remained. Because I also knew that the less you courted honors, the more they were conferred upon you, and that many learned men had dedicated their labors and studies to you, I feared that I would offend your minds—surfeited and filled as they are with such feasts—with ill-timed benevolence, sooner than I would win favor from you by this kind of service.
But yet, since it seemed that the book should by no means be published without a patron, nor exposed to the judgment of men, and I judged that I would not be acting piously or rightly if, passing you by, I sought other patrons for myself (for the judgments of other men are not the same as yours), I preferred to sin in this direction rather than to appear not grateful enough to anyone less prudent. For I do not see, nor can I hope, that there will ever be a time when I could remunerate your benefits with any other kind of service than this, seeing that I possess nothing besides the will. To this is added that I saw I could scarcely find any others from among the number of my friends besides you who, aside from their non-vulgar skill in both languages, could not only judge very well of writings of this kind, but would also judge candidly and sincerely. Therefore, I ask and beg you, in light of your perpetual and greatest benevolence toward me, that this small and meager offspring, which I commend to your patronage and trust, you might be willing with all aid to protect from the envious, and to defend with all your strength from all calumniators and detractors: if it shall be judged by you worthy to be embraced, and worthy to be received into your family and fostered, and if it shall one day be useful to pious and studious men, I will claim nothing for myself therein; I transfer all my right to you, by whose resources I have been aided and sustained in producing this birth. If in any place it appears more deformed or less perfect, and in any part of itself mutilated and depraved, attribute this partly to the faults of its Greek mother, which were not uncorruptedly conveyed to me, and assign it partly to my own weakness, by whom, as the evil overcame the strength and talent of the artisan, all things could not be corrected and amended. For if any judge, more unfair and malignant, shall suspect that these things which I say about the faults of the Greek mother are being put forward by me in less than sincere and whole faith, I shall produce the most affluent witness of what I say, the most clear and most learned man, D. Johannes Sambucus Pannonius: for the parents of that mother are in his power, and most clear, [index: entries preserved]
The next day, wishing to know for certain what was alleged A by the Jews, he released him from his bonds and ordered the chief priests and their whole council to come; and bringing Paul down, he set him before them.
CHAPTER XXIII
Paul, looking intently at the council, said: "Men and brethren, I have lived before God in all good conscience until this day." The high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him: "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! And do you sit judging me according to the law, and in violation of the law command me to be struck?" Those who stood by said: "Do you revile God's high priest?" Paul said: "I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest. For it is written: 'You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.'"
*Paul, looking intently at the council.* He no longer speaks to the multitude or the crowd. But [where he says], "I have lived before God in all good conscience," this means: "I am not conscious of having wronged you in anything, nor of doing anything worthy of these bonds." B *And do you sit judging me according to the law, and in violation of the law command me to be struck?* This is used instead of: "You, being yourself liable to punishment, as if you were worthy of ten thousand blows." *Do you revile God's high priest? I did not know that he was the high priest.* How then did you say, "And do you sit judging me according to the law?" But he feigns an ignorance which does not harm, but builds up. Indeed, I am strongly persuaded that he did not know he was the high priest, as he had returned after a long interval of time, had not been associating with the Jews, and saw him in the midst with many other people. For the high priest was no longer clearly identifiable, as there were many others, and [they were] distinct. He calls him a "whitewashed wall" because, C although he had a brilliant exterior, as a defender of the Law and one judging according to the Law, his mind was filled with lawlessness. Thus, he reproves his bearing based on his exterior condition.
*But Paul, perceiving that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, cried out in the council: "Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged."* When he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the multitude was divided.
Caput XXIII
A Vers. 8. *For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection, and neither angel nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess both.*
I am a Pharisee. He speaks again after the manner of men, and nowhere does grace desert him. And he does not lie in this instance either; for he was a Pharisee by descent. Since, then, they did not want to accuse him by calling him to trial, he himself thinks to explain to them what is the charge against him. I am on trial concerning hope and the resurrection of the dead. And he commends himself by [speaking of] their accusation and calumny. But the Sadducees perhaps do not even know God, being a certain thick-headed sort; hence they do not even believe that a future resurrection will be. The Pharisees, however, confess both. And yet there are three things; how then does he say "both"? "But if," he says, "it is a spirit and an angel"—he says, "both," and he is speaking of the three. For one must not judge the writings of the illiterate and fishermen by the strictness of external terminology. For from these things heresies and sects are born.
B Vers. 9. *And there arose a great clamor, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees' part stood up, and fought, saying: We find no evil in this man. What if a spirit hath spoken to him, or an angel, let us not fight against God.*
"Or if a spirit hath spoken to him." Something is wanting for the completion of the sentence, so that it might be as follows: Whether an angel hath spoken to him, the reason and art of the speech, that he might escape the treachery, is unknown, he says; or as if these words are put forward for the Pharisees, they are to be taken: What if a spirit hath spoken to him—and if he should say: *Behold, when I speak of the resurrection, it is certain that it is either by the prompting of the Holy Spirit, or by an angel that I have received such a proclamation of the resurrection.* The tribune is afraid. He fears he might be torn apart, because he said he was a Roman; and the matter was not without danger. And the soldiers later snatch him away, as their own, I suppose.
C Vers. 11. *And the following night the Lord standing by him, said: Be of good cheer, Paul; for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.*
Vers. 12. *And when day was come, some of the Jews gathered together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they killed Paul.*
Vers. 13. *And there were more than forty men that had made this conspiracy.*