CHAPTER 23. before the council, his bands, and commanded the an angel hath spoken to him. chief priests and all their coun- let us not fight against God. cil to appear, and brought Paul 10 And when there arose a down, and set him before them. great dissension, the chief captain, fearing 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. 11 And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me bear witness also at Rome. in Jerusalem, so must thou A ND Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. 2 And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth. 12 And when it was day, cer3 Then said Paul unto him, tain of the Jews banded toGod shall smite thee, thou gether, and bound themselves whited wall: for sittest thou under a curse, saying that they to judge me after the law, and would neither eat nor drink till commandest me to be smitten they had killed Paul. contrary to the law? 4. And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest? 13 And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy. 14 And they came to the chief 5 Then said Paul, I wist not, have bound ourselves under a priests and elders, and said, We brethren, that he was the high great curse, that we will eat nopriest for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler thing until we have slain Paul. of thy people. 15 Now therefore ye with the are ready to kill him. 6 But when Paul perceived council signify to the chief capthat the one part were Saddu-tain that he bring him down cees, and the other Pharisees, unto you to morrow, as though he cried out in the council, Men ye would enquire something and brethren, I am a Pharisee, more perfectly concerning him: the son of a Pharisee: of the and we, or ever he come near, hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question. 7 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided. 8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both. 16 And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul. 17 Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him. 18 So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and 9 And there arose a great cry: said, Paul the prisoner called and the scribes that were of me unto him, and prayed me the Pharisees' part arose, and to bring this young man unto strove, saying, We find no evil thee, who hath something to this man: but if a spirit or say unto thee. sent to Felix, and THE ACTS, 24. accused before him. 19 Then the chief captain took law, but to have nothing laid him by the hand, and went to his charge worthy of death with him aside privately, and or of bonds. asked him, What is that thou 30 And when it was told me hast to tell me? how that the Jews laid wait for 20 And he said, The Jews the man, I sent straightway to have agreed to desire thee that thee, and gave commandment thou wouldest bring down Paul to his accusers also to say beto morrow into the council, as fore thee what they had against though they would enquire him. Farewell. somewhat of him more per- 31 Then the soldiers, as it was fectly. commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris. 21 But do not thou yield unto them for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty 32 On the morrow they left men, which have bound them- the horsemen to go with him, selves with an oath, that they and returned to the castle: will neither eat nor drink till 33 Who, when they came to they have killed him: and now Cæsarea, and delivered the are they ready, looking for a epistle to the governor, prepromise from thee. sented Paul also before him. 22 So the chief captain then 34 And when the governor let the young man depart, and had read the letter, he asked charged him, See thou tell no of what province he was. And man that thou hast shewed when he understood that he these things to me. was of Cilicia; 23 And he called unto him 35 I will hear thee, said he, two centurions, saying, Make when thine accusers are alse ready two hundred soldiers to come. And he commanded go to Cæsarea, and horsemen him to be kept in Herod's threescore and ten, and spear- judgment hall. men two hundred, at the third hour of the night; 24 And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor. 25 And he wrote a letter after this manner: 26 Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting. CHAPTER 24. AND after five days Anascended with the elders, and nias the high priest dewith a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul. 2 And when he was called 27 This man was taken of the forth, Tertullus began to acJews, and should have been cuse him, saying, Seeing that killed of them: then came I by thee we enjoy great quietwith an army, and rescued ness, and that very worthy him, having understood that deeds are done unto this nahe was a Roman. tion by thy providence, 28 And when I would have 3 We accept it always, and im known the cause wherefore all places, most noble Felix, they accused him, I brought with all thankfulness. him forth into their council: 4 Notwithstanding, that be 29 Whom I perceived to be not further tedious unto thee accused of questions of their I pray thee that thou wouldest Paul defends his THE CTS, 24. life and doctrine. hear us of thy clemency a few 16 And herein do I exercise words. 5 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: myself, to have always a con- 18 Whereupon certain Jews 6 Who also hath gone about from Asia found me purified to profane the temple: whom in the temple, neither with we took, and would have judg- multitude, nor with tumult. ed according to our law. 7 But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands. 19 Who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had ought against me. 20 Or else let these same here 8 Commanding his accusers say, if they have found any to come unto thee: by examin- evil doing in me, while I stood before the council, ing of whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all these 21 Except it be for this one things, whereof we accuse him. voice, that I cried standing 9 And the Jews also assented, among them, Touching the saying that these things were resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this So. 10 Then Paul, after that the day. governor had beckoned unto 22 And when Felix heard him to speak, answered, Foras- these things, having more permuch as I know that thou hast fect knowledge of that way, been of many years a judge he deferred them, and said, unto this nation, I do the more When Lysias the chief capcheerfully answer for myself: tain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your 11 Because that thou mayest matter. understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went 23 And he commanded a cenup to Jerusalem for to worship. turion to keep Paul, and to let 12 And they neither found me him have liberty, and that he in the temple disputing with should forbid none of his acany man, neither raising up quaintance to minister or come the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city: 13 Neither can they prove the things whereof they now ac unto him. 24 And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him 14 But thrs I confess unto concerning the faith in Christ. thee, that after the way which 25 And as he reasoned of they call heresy, so worship I righteousness, temperance, cuse me. the God of my fathers, believ- and judgment to come, Felix ing all things which are written trembled, and answered, Go in the law and in the prophets: thy way for this time; when I 15 And have hope toward God, have a convenient season, I which they themselves also will call for thee.. allow, that there shall be a re- 26 He hoped also that money surrection of the dead, both of should have been given him of the just and unjust. Paul, that he might loose him: THE ACTS, 25. He is accused, appeals to Cæsar. wherefore he sent for him the Paul, and said, Wilt thou go oftener, and communed with up to Jerusalem, and there be him. judged of these things before 27 But after two years, Por- me? cius Festus came into Felix' room and Felix,, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound. CHAPTER 25. 10 Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest. 11 For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not was to die: but if there be none of OW when Festus after three days he ascended cuse me, no man may deliver from Cæsarea to Jerusalem. me unto them. I appeal unto 2 Then the high priest and Cæsar. the chief of the Jews informed 12 Then Festus, when he had him against Paul, and besought conferred with the council, anhim, swered, Hast thou appealed 3 And desired favour against unto Cæsar? unto Cæsar shalt him, that he would send for thou go. him to Jerusalem, laying wait 13 And after certain days in the way to kill him. king Agrippa and Bernice 4 But Festus answered, that came unto Cæsarea to salute Paul should be kept at Cæ- Festus. sarea, and that he himself 14 And when they had been would depart shortly thither. there many days, Festus declared Paul's cause unto the 5 Let them therefore, said he, king, saying, There is a certain which among you are able, go man'left in bonds by Felix: down with me, and accuse this man, if there be any wicked- 15 About whom, when I was ness in him. at Jerusalem, the chief priests 6 And when he had tarried and the elders of the Jews inamong them more than ten formed me, desiring to have days, he went down unto Ca-judgment against him. sarea; and the next day sitting 16 To whom I answered, It is on the judgment seat com- not the manner of the Romans manded Paul to be brought. to deliver any man to die, be And when he was come, the fore that he which is accused Jews which came down from have the accusers face to face, Jerusalem stood round about, and have license to answer for and laid many and grievous himself concerning the crime complaints against Paul, which laid against him. they could not prove. 17 Therefore, when they were 8 While he answered for him-come hither, without any delay self, Neither against the law on the morrow, I sat on the of the Jews, neither against judgment seat, and commandthe temple, nor yet against ed the man to be brought forth. Cæsar, have I offended any 18 Against whom when the thing at all. accusers stood up, they brought 9 But Festus, willing to do none accusation of such things the Jews a pleasure, answered as I supposed: Paul's defence THE ACTS, 26. before Agrippa. 19 But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. CHAPTER 26. 2 I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall an swer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the HEN Agrippa said unto 20 And because I doubted of Paul, Thou art permitted such manner of questions, I to speak for thyself. Then Paul asked him whether he would stretched forth the hand, and go to Jerusalem, and there be answered for himself: judged of these matters. 21 But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Cæsar. 22 Then Agrippa said unto Festus, would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him. Jews: thee to be expert in all cus 3 Especially because I know toms and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me pa 23 And on the morrow, when tiently. Agrippa was come, and Ber- 4 My manner of life from my nice, with great pomp, and was youth, which was at the first entered into the place of hear-among mine own nation at Jeing, with the chief captains, rusalem, know all the Jews; and principal men of the city, 5 Which knew me from the at Festus' commandment Paul was brought forth. beginning, if they would testify, that after the most strait24 And Festus said, King est sect of our religion I lived Agrippa, and all men which a Pharisee. are here present with us, ye 6 And now I stand and am see this man, about whom all judged for the hope of the prothe multitude of the Jews have mise made of God unto our dealt with me, both at Jerusa- fathers; lem, and also here, crying that 7 Unto which promise our he ought not to live any longer. twelve tribes, instantly serving 25 But when I found that he God day and night, hope to had committed nothing worthy come. For which hope's sake, of death, and that he himself king Agrippa, I am accused of hath appealed to Augustus, I the Jews. have determined to send him. 8 Why should it be thought a 26 Of whom I have no certain thing incredible with you, that thing to write unto my lord. God should raise the dead? Wherefore I have brought him 9 I verily thought with my. forth before you, and specially self, that I ought to do many before thee, O king Agrippa, things contrary to the name of that, after examination had, I Jesus of Nazareth. might have somewhat to write. 27 For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him. 10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. |