Paul to Festus, the sense of it must be determined by general as
well as by particular considerations. There are two circumstances, which
at the first sight make in favour of it as a title,[52]Lysias addresses
his letter to the "most excellent Felix," and the orator [53]Tertullus
says, "we except it always and in all places most noble Felix!" But
there must be some drawback from the latter circumstance, as an argument
of weight. There is reason to suppose that this expression was used by
Tertullus, as a piece of flattery, to compass the death of Paul; for it
is of a piece with the other expressions which he used, when he talked
of the worthy deeds done by the providence of so detestable a wretch,
as Felix. And it will always be an objection to noble as a legal title,
that St. Paul gave it to one governor, and omitted it to another, except
he did it for the reasons, that have been before described. To this it
may be added, that legal titles of eminence were not then, as at this
time of day, in use. Agrippa had no other, or at least Paul gave him no
other title, than that of king. If Porcius Festus had been descended
from a Patrician, or had had the statues of his ancestors, he might, on
these accounts, be said to have been of a noble family.
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