At Jerusalem he

gives an account to

the church of his ministry, and joins himself to some per

sons under a vow.

AND when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren 17 received us gladly. And the day following, Paul went 18 in with us unto James: and all the elders were present. And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly 19 what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry. And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto 20 him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law; and they are informed of 21 thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying, That they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs. What is it therefore? the multitude 22 must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come. Do 23 therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them; them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges 24 with them, that they may shave their heads and all may know that those things whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law. As touching 25 the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication. Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying him- 26 self with them, entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.

He is seized, and violently dragged out of the temple.

rescues him from the multitude, and chains him.

AND when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews, 27 which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, Lysias, the tribune, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him, 'crying 28 out, Men of Israel, help. This is the man that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place and further, brought Greeks also into the temple; and hath polluted this holy place. (For they had seen before with him in the city, 29 Trophimus, an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.) And all the city was moved, and the people ran to- 30 gether and they took Paul and drew him out of the temple. And forthwith the doors were shut. And as they went about to kill him, tidings 31 came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar; who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto 32 them. And when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating of Paul. Then the chief captain came near and took him, and com- 33 manded him to be bound with two chains: and demanded who he was, and what he had done. And some cried one thing, some another, among 34 the multitude and when he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle. And when he came 35 upon the stairs, so it was that he was borne of the soldiers, for the violence of the people. For the multitude of the people followed after, 36 crying, Away with him! And as Paul was to be led into the castle, he 37 said unto the chief captain, May I speak unto thee? Who said, Canst thou speak Greek? Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days 38 madest an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers? But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew 39 of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people.

By permission, Paul AND when he had given him license, Paul stood on the 40 addresses the people. stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying, Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence 22

2

which I make now unto you--(and when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,)-I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet 3 brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day. And I persecuted this way unto the death, 4 binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. As also the 5 high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders; from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, to be punished. And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto 6 Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying 7 unto me, Saul! Saul! why persecutest thou me? And I answered, Who 8 art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and 9 were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me. And 10 I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus, and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do. And when I could not see for the glory of 11 that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus. And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, hav- 12 ing a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, came unto me, and 13 stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. And he said, The God of our fathers hath 14 chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. For thou shalt be his witness 15 unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. And now why tarriest 16 thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. And it came to pass, that, when I was come again 17 to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance; and 18 saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem; for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me. And I 19 said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned, and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee; and when the blood of thy martyr Stephen 20 was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him. And he said unto me, Depart: for I 21 will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles. . . . .

They become clam

orous against him. He is in danger of

being scourged by the tribune's order.

AND they gave him audience unto this word, and then 22 lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth! for it is not fit that he should live! And 23 as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air,' the chief captain commanded him to be brought into the 24 castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he might know wherefore they cried so against him. And as they bound him with 25 thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned? When the cen- 26 turion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest; for this man is a Roman. Then the chief captain 27 came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea.. And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this free- 28 dom. And Paul said, But I was free-born. Then straightway they de- 29 parted from him which should have examined him and the chief captain also was afraid, after he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.

Being brought before

the Sanhedrim, he fence, but is insult

commences his de

ON the morrow, because he would have known the 30 certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them. And Paul, earnestly beholding 23 the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.....

ingly interrupted. The Sanhedrim divides.

2

3

AND the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him, to smite him on the mouth. Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall! for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law? And they that stood by, 4 said, Revilest thou God's high priest? Then said Paul, I wist not, breth- 5 ren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, "Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people." But when Paul perceived that the one 6 part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question. And when 7 he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees and the multitude was divided. For the Sadducees say that 8 there is no resurrection, neither angel nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both. And there arose a great cry: and the Scribes that were of 9 the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.

:

AND when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing 10 lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.

Paul. The Jews

him, but a young

relative of his, informs the tribune of their design.

'And 13

The Lord encourages AND the night following, the Lord stood by him, and 11 conspire to destroy said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome. And when it was day, certain of the Jews 12 banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying, That they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy. !! they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul. Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain, 15 that he bring him down unto you to-morrow, as though ye would inquire something more perfectly concerning him and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him. And when Paul's sister's son heard of 16 their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul. Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said, Bring this 17 young man unto the chief captain; for he hath a certain thing to tell him. So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, 18 Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say unto thee. Then the chief 19 captain took him by the hand and went with him aside privately, and asked him, What is that thou hast to tell me? And he said, The Jews 20 have agreed to desire thee, that thou wouldest bring down Paul to-morrow into the council, as though they would inquire somewhat of him more perfectly. But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him 21 of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee. So the chief captain 22

then let the young man depart, and charged him, See thou tell no man that thou hast showed these things to me.

Lysias sends him to the governor Felix letter. Paul kept at

at Cesarea, with a

Cesarea.

AND he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make 23 ready two hundred soldiers to go to Cesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night; and provide them beasts, that 24 they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor. And 25 he wrote a letter after this manner: "Claudius Lysias, unto the most ex- 26 'cellent governor Felix, sendeth greeting. This man was taken of the 27 Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, ' and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman. And when 28 'I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought 'him forth into their council: whom I perceived to be accused of ques- 29 'tions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death " or of bonds. And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for 30 'the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also, to say before thee what they had against him. Farewell.'

THEN the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought 31 him by night to Antipatris. On the morrow they left the horsemen to go 32 with him, and returned to the castle: who, when they came to Cesarea, 33 and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him. And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he 34 was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia; I will hear 35 thee,' said he,' when thine accusers are also come.' And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's judgment-hall.

Tertullus accuses

Paul before Felix.
Paul's defence.

of his trial.

3

5

6

7

8

9

AND after five days, Ananias the high priest descended 24 with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, Felix defers the time who informed the governor against Paul. And when he 2 was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence,' we accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. Notwithstanding, 4 that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee, that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words. For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes: who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law, but the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands, commanding his accusers to come unto thee: by examining of whom, thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things whereof we accuse him. And the Jews also assented, saying, That these things were so. Then Paul, after 10 that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself: because that thou mayest un- 11 derstand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship. And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any 12 man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city: neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me. 13 But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, 14 so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: and have hope toward God, which they 15 themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. And herein do I exercise myself, to have always 16 a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men. Now, after 17 many years, I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings. Where- 18

upon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult: who ought to have been here before 19 thee, and object, if they had aught against me. Or else let these same 20

6

here say, if they have found any evil-doing in me, while I stood before the council,' except it be for this one voice, that I cried, standing among 21 them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.' And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect 22 knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter. And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty, 23 and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister, or come unto him.

Paul expounds the

AND after certain days, when Felix came with his wife 24 Christian religion to Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard Felix and Drusilla. him concerning the faith in Christ. And as he reasoned 25 of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, 1 will call for thee. He hoped also that money should have been given 26 him of Paul, that he might loose him; wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him. But after two years Porcius Festus 27 came into Felix's room: and Felix, willing to show the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.

The Jews urge

of Felix, to condemn

to Cesar.

7

NOW when Festus was come into the province, after 25 Festus, the successor three days he ascended from Cesarea to Jerusalem. Then 2 Paul. Paul appeals the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him,' and desired favor against 3 him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem; laying wait in the way to kill him. But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Cesarea, 4 and that he himself would depart shortly thither. Let them therefore, 5 said he, which among you are able, go down with me, and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him. And when he had tarried among 6 them more than ten days, he went down unto Cesarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment-seat, commanded Paul to be brought. And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round. about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove; while he answered for himself, Neither against the law 8 of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Cesar, have I offended any thing at all. But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, 9 answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me? Then said Paul, I stand at Cesar's 10 judgment-seat, where I ought to be judged to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest. For if I be an offender, or have com- 11 mitted any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Cesar. Then Festus, when he had conferred 12 with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Cesar? unto Cesar shalt thou go.

Consultation of

1

AND after certain days, king Agrippa and Bernice 13 Festus and Agrippa came unto Cesarea, to salute Festus. And when they had 14 about Paul. been there many days, Festus declared Paul's cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix: about 15 whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him. To whom I 16 answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have license to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.