46. Act_24:25
Acts 24:25, “Reasoned of temperance.” “The English word temperance,” says Bib. Com., p. 317, “is derived directly from the Latin temperantia, the root of which is found in the Greek temō, temnō, tempō, to cut off. Hence temperantia (temperance), as a virtue, is the cutting-off of that which ought not to be retained—self-restraint from, not in, the use of whatever is pernicious, useless, or dangerous.” There is nothing in this text, or its surroundings, which intimates that Paul aimed to persuade Felix to become a moderate drinker. The case was more urgent and momentous. This Roman governor of Judea was a licentious man, then living in open adultery; he was an unjust magistrate, and reckless of all retribution except that of Caesar. Paul, therefore, so probed his conscience with his reasoning upon righteousness, self-control, and responsibility to God, his Creator and final Judge, that he trembled.