3 And when Paul's sister's son that he was a Roman. And when I heard of their lying in wait, he went would have known the cause whereand entered into the castle, and told fore they accused him, I brought him Paul.. Then Paul called one of the forth into their council: whom I centurions to him and said, Bring perceived to be accused of questions this young man to the chief captain of their law, but to have nothing for he hath a certain thing to tell laid to his charge worthy of death or him. So he took him and brought of bonds. And when it was told me him to the chief captain. that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what they had against him. Farewell. 4 Then the chief 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 have agreed to 7 Then the soldiers, as it was comdesire thee that thou wouldest bring manded them, took Paul, and brought down Paul to-morrow into the coun- him by night to Antipatris. On the cil, as though they would inquire morrow they left the horsemen to somewhat of him more perfectly. go with him, and returned to the But do not yield to them: for there castle: who, when they came to lie in wait for him of them more than Cæsarea, and delivered the epistle to forty men, who have bound them- the governor, presented Paul also selves with an oath, that they will before him. neither eat nor drink till they have killed him and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee. 5 So the chief captain let the young man depart, and charged him, See thou tell no man that thou hast showed these things to me. And he called to him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Cæsarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night; and provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe to Felix the governor. 6 And he wrote a letter after this manner: Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting. This man was taken of the Jews, and would have been killed of them then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood 8 And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia: I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's judgment hall. SELECTION XIX. high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul, 2 And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, We have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of heresies among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect from Asia found me purified in the of the Nazarenes: who also hath temple, neither with multitude, nor gone about to profane the temple: with tumult. And they themselves whom we took, and would have ought to have been here before thee, judged according to our law. But if they had ought against me, to the chief captain Lysias came upon make their own charges. Or else us, and with great violence took him let these who are here say, if they away out of our hands, commanding found any evil doing in me, while I his accusers to come to thee: by ex- stood before the council, except it amining of whom thyself mayest take be for this one expression, that I knowledge of all these things, where- cried standing among them, Touchof we accuse him. ing the resurrection of the dead I 3 And the Jews also assented, say- am put on trial before you this day. ing that these things were so. 7 And when Felix heard these things, having knowledge of that belief, he put them off, and said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter. And he commanded 4 Then Paul, after the governor had beckoned to him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge to this nation, I do the more cheer fully answer for myself: because a centurion to keep Paul, and to let thou mayest understand, that there him have liberty, and that he should are yet but twelve days since I went forbid none of his acquaintance to up to Jerusalem to worship. And minister or come to him. they neither found me in the temple, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city disputing or seeking to inflame the people. Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me. 8 And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and retri5 But this I confess to thee, that bution, Felix trembled, and said, after the way which they call heresy, Go thy way for this time; when it so worship I the God of my fathers, is more convenient, I will call for believing the things which are writ- thee. He hoped also that money ten in the law and in the prophets : And having hope toward God, which they themselves also entertain, that there shall be a resurrection, both of the just and unjust. And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men. should have been given him of Paul, that he might release him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and conversed with him. 9 But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix' room: and Felix, willing to show the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound. 6 Now after many years I came IO When Festus had come into to bring alms to my nation, and of the province, after three days he ferings. Whereupon certain Jews went up from Cæsarea to Jerusalem. Then the high priest and the chief 15 Then Festus, when he had of the Jews informed him against conferred with the council, answered, Paul, and besought him, and desired Hast thou appealed to Cæsar? to favor against him, that he would Cæsar shalt thou go. send for him to Jerusalem, and they would place men in wait by the way to kill him. But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Cæsarea, and that he himself would depart shortly thither. 16 And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came to Cæsarea to salute Festus. And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and was entered into the place of hear 11 Let them therefore, said he, ing, with the chief captains, and who among you are able, go down principal men of the city, at Festus' with me, and accuse this man, if commandment Paul was brought there be any wickedness in him. forth. 12 And when he had tarried 17 And Festus said, King Agrippa, among them more than ten days, and all men who are here present he went down to Cæsarea; and with us, ye see this man, about the next day sitting on the judg- whom all the multitude of the Jews ment seat commanded Paul to be have dealt with me, both at Jerusabrought. lem, and also here, crying that he 13 And when he had arrived, the ought not to live any longer. But Jews who came down from Jeru- when I found that he had committed salem stood round about, and laid nothing worthy of death, and that many and grievous complaints he himself hath appealed to Augusagainst Paul, which they could not tus, I have determined to send him. prove. To which he answered, Of whom I have no certain thing to Neither against the law of the Jews, write to my lord. Wherefore I have neither against the temple, nor yet brought him forth before you, and against Cæsar, have I offended any specially before thee, O king Agrippa, thing at all. that, after examination had, I might have somewhat to write. For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him. self. 14 But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me? Then said Paul, I stand at 18 Then Agrippa said to Paul, Cæsar's judgment seat, where I ought Thou art permitted to speak for thyto be judged to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest. For if I be an offender, or have committed 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 to them. I appeal to Cæsar. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself: 19 I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews: especially because 1 know thee to be expert in all cus toms and questions which are among me? it is hard for thee to kick the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently. against the pricks. And I said, Who art thou? And the voice said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared to thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things which I will reveal to thee. And I will deliver thee from the people, and from the Gentiles to whom now I send thee, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan 20 My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews; who knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most strict sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God to our fathers: to the realization of which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's to God; that they may receive forsake, king Agrippa, I am accused of giveness of sins, and inheritance the Jews. Why should it be thought among them who are sanctified by a thing incredible, that God should faith that is in me. raise the dead? 23 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, 21 I verily thought with myself, I was not disobedient to the heaventhat I ought to do many things con- ly vision: but showed first to them trary to the name of Jesus of Naza- of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and reth. Which thing I also did in throughout all the coast of Judæa, Jerusalem and many of the saints and then to the Gentiles, that they did I shut up in prison, having re- should repent and turn to God, and ceived authority from the chief do works meet for repentance. For priests; and when they were put to these causes the Jews caught me in death, I gave my voice against them. the temple, and went about to kill me. And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even to strange cities. 22 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, at midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them who journeyed with me. And I heard a voice speaking to me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou 24 Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue to this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come to pass: that the Messiah should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise. up from the dead, and show light to the people, and to the Gentiles. 25 And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself: much learning doth make thee mad. 26 But he said, I am not mad, meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage. most noble Festus; but speak forth 2 And from thence, when the the words of truth and soberness. brethren heard of us, they came to For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. 27 Then Agrippa said to Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. 28 And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds. 3 And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him. 4 And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said to them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the peo29 And when he had thus spoken, ple, or customs of our fathers, yet the king rose up, and the governor, was I delivered prisoner from Jeruand Bernice, and they that sat with salem into the hands of the Romans. them and when they were gone Who, when they had examined me, aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds. 30 Then said Agrippa to Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed to Cæsar. SELECTION XX. A glimpse of Paul at Rome. would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me. But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal to Cæsar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of. 5 For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with AND after three months we de- this chain. parted in a ship of Alexandria, 6 And they said to him, We which had wintered in the isle, whose neither received letters out of Ju sign was Castor and Pollux. Land- dæa concerning thee, neither any of ing at Syracuse, we tarried there the brethren that came showed or three days and from thence we spake any harm of thee. But we defetched a compass, and came to sire to hear of thee what thou thinkRhegium and after one day the est: for as concerning this sect, we south wind blew, and we came the know that everywhere it is spoken next day to Puteoli: where we found against. brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome. 7 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he ex |