CHAP. XXIII.

1 Paul pleadeth his caufe: 7 diffenfion among his accufers: 27 he is fent to Felix. Nd Pain, earnestly beholding the counAdil, faid, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good confcience before God until this day.

2 And the high priest Ananias commanded them that itood by him to fmite him on

the mouth.

3 Then faid Paul unto him, God fhall fmite thee, thou whited wall; for fitteft thou to judge me after the law, and commandeft me to be fmitten contrary to the law?

4 And they that flood by faid, Revileft thou Gods high priest?

5 Then faid Paul, I wift not, brethren, that he was the high pricft: for it is written, Thou thalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.

6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharifces, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharifee, the fon of a Pharifee: of the hope and refurrection of the dead I am called in queftion.

7 And when he had to faid, there arofe a diffenfion between the Pharifees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided. 8 For the Sadducees fay that there is no refurrection, neither angel nor fpirit; but

the Pharifees confels both.

9 And there arofe a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharifees part arofe, and ftrove, saying, We find no evil in this man; but if a fpirit or an angel hath fpoken to him, let us not fight againft God.

to And when there arofe a great diffenfion, the chief captain, fearing left Paul fhould have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the foldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the cattle.

11 And the night following the Lord ftood by him, and faid, Be of good cheer, Paul; for as thou haft teftified of me in Jerufalem, fo mutt thou bear witnefs also at Rome,

12 And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themfelves un der a curfe, faying, That they would neither ear nor drink till they had killed Paul.

13 And they were more than forty which had made this confpiracy:

14 And they came to the chief priests and elders, and faid, We have bound ourfelves under a great curfe, that we will cat nothing until we have flain Paul.

15 Now therefore, ye with the council fignify to the chief captain, that he bring him down unto you to-morrow, as though ye would enquire fomething more perfcaly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.

16 And when Pauls fifters fon heard of

bring this young man, unto thee; who hath fomething to fay unto thee.

19 Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him afide privately, and alked him, What is that thou haft to tell met

20 And he faid, The Jews have agreed to defire thee, that thou wouldeft bring down Paul to-morrow into the council, as though they would enquire fomewhat of him more perfectly.

21 But do not thou yield unto them: for there lye in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themfelves 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.

22 So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged him, See thou tell no man that thou haft thewed these things

to me.

23 And he called unto him two centurions, faying, Make ready two hundred foldiers to go to Cefarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night;

24 And provide them beafts, that they may fet Paul on, and bring him fafe unto Felix the governor.

25 And he wrote a letter after this manner: 26 Claudius Lyfias, unto the mott excellent governor Felix, fendeth greeting.

27 This man was taken of the Jews, and fhould have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and refcued him, having understood that he was a Roman.

28 And when I would have known the caufe wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council;

29 Whom I perceived to be accufed of que ftions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.

30 And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I fent ftraightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accufers alfo to lay before thee what they had against him. Farewell.

31 Then the foldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris.

32 On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the caftle;

33 Who, when they came to Cefarea, and delivered the epittle to the governor, prefented Paul alfo before him.

34 And when the governor had read the letter he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia;

35 I will hear thee, faid he, when thine ac cufers are alfo come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herods judgment-hall. CHAP. XXIV.

1 Paul, accufed by Tertullus, 10 anfwereth for himself: 24 preacheth Chrift to the 800 vernor and his wife: 27 he is left in prifon

Nd after five days Ananias the high

to the cattle, and told Paul.

17 Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and faid, 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 faid, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed me to

with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor againt Paul

2 And when he was called forth, Tertule lus began to aceufe him, faying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence,

3 We accept it always, and in all places, mott noble Felix, with all thankfulncis.

4 Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldeft hear us of thy clemency a few words.

s For we have found this man a pettilent fellow, and a mover of fedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ring-leader of the sect of the Nazarencs:

6 Who alfo hath gone about to profane the temple; whom we took, and would have judged according to our law:

7 But the chief captain Lyfias came upon , and with great violence took him away out of our hands,

Commanding his accufers to come unto thee: by examining of whom, thyfelf mayeft take knowledge of all these things whereof we accufe him.

9 And the Jews alfo affented, faying, That thefe things were fo.

10 Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, anfwered, Forafmuch as I know that thou haft been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself:

11 Becaufe that thou mayeft understand, that there are yet but twelve days fince I went up to Jerufalem for to worship.

12 And they neither found me in the temple difputing with any man, neither railing up the people, neither in the fynagogues, nor in the city:

13 Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accufe me.

14 But this I confefs unto thee, that after the way which they call herefy, fo worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: 15 And have hope toward God, which they themselves alfo allow, That there fhall be à refurrection of the dead, both of the jutt and unjust.

16 And herein de I exercife myself, to have always a confcience void of offence toward God and toward men.

17 Now, after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings.

18 Whereupon certain Jews from Afia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude nor with tumult:

19 Who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had ought againft me.

20 Or elfe let thefe fame here fay, if they have found any evil-doing in me, while 1 ftood before the council,

21 Except it be for this one voice, that I cried ttanding among them, Touching the refurrection of the dead I am called in que. Rion by you this day.

12 And when Felix heard thefe things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and faid, When Lytias the chief captain fhall come down, I will know the uttermott of your matter.

23 And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty, and that he fhould forhid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto him.

14 And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drufilla, which was a jewels, he fent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Chrift.

25 And as he reafoned of righteousness, temperance; and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this tune; when I have a convenient feafon I will call for thee.

16 He hoped alfo that money fhould have been given him of Paul, that he might loofe him: wherefore he seat for him the oftener, and communed with him.

27 But after two years Portins Feftus came into Felix room: and Felix, willing to thew the Jews a pleafure, left Paul bound. CHAP. XXV.

Paul is accufed before Fellus and Agrippa. Now, when Feftus was come into the province, after three days he afcended from Cefarea to Jerufalem.

2 Then the h gh pricft, and the chief of the Jews, informed him against Paul, and befought him,

3 And defired favour againft him, that he would fend for him to Jerufalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.

4 But Fettus anfwered, that Paul fhould be kept at Cefarca, and that he himself would depart thortly thither.

Let them, therefore, faid he, which among you are able, go down with me, and accufe this man, if there be any wickedness in him.

6 And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto Cefarea; and the next day, fitting in the judg ment-feat, commanded Paul to be brought.

7 And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerufalem ftood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints againit Paul, which they could not prove;

8 While he anfwered for himfelf, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet againft Cefar, have 1 offended any thing at all.

9 But Feftus, willing to do the Jews a pleafure, anfwered Paul, and faid, Wilt thou go up to Jerufalem, and there be judged of thefe things before me?

10 Then faid Paul, I ftand at Cefars judg ment-feat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowett,

11 For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refufe not to die: but if there be none of thefe things whereof thefe accufe me, no man inay deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Cefar.

12 Then Feftus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Cefar? unto Cefar thalt thou go, 13 And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Cefarea to falute Feftus,

14 And when they had been there many days, Fettus declared Pauls caufe unto the king, faying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix;

15 About whom, when I was at Jerufalem the chief prietts and the elders of the Jews informed me, defiring to have judg ment against him.

16 To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accufed have the accufers face to face, and have licence to answer for himfelf concerning the crime leid against him.

19 Therefore, when they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow fat on the judgment-feat, and I commanded the man to be brought forth;

18 Against whom, when the accufers flood up, they brought none accufation of fuch things as à fupposed:

19 But had certain questions again!t him of their own fuperftition, and of one Jefus which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

20 And because I doubted of fuch manner of questions, I alked him whether he would go to Jerufalem, and there be judged of thefe matters,

21 But when Paul had appeted to be reserved unto the hearing of Auguftus, I commanded him to be kept till I might fend him to Cefar.

22 Then Agrippa faid unto Feftus, I would alfo hear the man myfelf. To-morrow, fald he, thou shalt hear him.

23 And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and was entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains and principal men of the city, at Feftus, commandment Paul was brought forth.

24 And Fettus faid, King Agrippa, and all men which are here prefent with us, ye fee this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerufalem, and alfo here, crying, that he ought not to live any longer.

25 But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed to Auguftus, I have determined to fend him.

26 Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and fpecially before thee, O king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might have fome

1 Paul, before Agrippa, declareth his life, 12 and his conversion: 24 Fejius chargeth him with madness.

Tpermitted to speak for thyfelf. Then Hen Agrippa faid unto Paul, Thou art Paul ftretched forth the hand, and answer ed for himself.

2 I think myself happy, king Agrippa, becanfe I fhall anfwer for myfelf this day before thee, touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews;

3 Efpecially, because I know thee to be expert in all cuftoms and queftions which are among the Jews: wherefore I befeech thee to hear me patiently.

4 My manner of life from my youth, which was at the firit among mine own nation at Jerufalem, know all the Jews;

s Which knew me from the beginning, (if they would teftify,) that, after the moft ftraiteft fect of our religion, I lived a Pharifee.

6 And now I ftand, and am judged for the hope of the promife made of God unto our fathers:

7 Unto which promife our twelve tribes, inftantly serving god day and night, hope to

come: for which hopes fake, king Agrippa, I am accufed of the Jews.

8 Why fhould it be thought a thing incre dible with you that God thould raife the dead? 9 verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jefus of Nazareth.

10 Which thing I alfo did in Jerufalem : and many of the faints did I thut up in prifon, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice againit them.

11 And 1 punished them oft in every fynagogue, and compelled them to blafpheme and being exceedingly mad againit them, perfecuted them even unto ftrange cities.

12 Whereupon, as I went to Damafcus with authority and commiffion from the chief pricfts,

13 At mid-day, O king! I faw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightners of the fun, thining round about me, and them which journeyed with me.

14 And when we were all fallen to the earth I heard a voice speaking unto me, and faying, in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why perfecuteft thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

15 And I faid, Who art thou, Lord? And he faid, I am Jefus whom thou perfecuteft. 16 But rife, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minifter and a witnefs, both of thefe things which thou haft feen, and of thofe things in the which I will appear unto thee;

17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I fend thee,

18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive for. giveness of fins, and inheritance among them which are fanctified by faith that is in me.

19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not difobedient unto the heavenly vision:

20 But fhewed firit unto them of Damafcus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coafts of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they thouid repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

21 For thefe caufes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.

22 Having therefore, obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, with thing both to fmall and great, faying none other things than thofe which the prophets and Mofes did fay should come;

23 That Chrift thould fuffer, and that he should be the first that thould rife from the dead, and fhould fhew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.

14 And as he thus fpake for himself, Feftus faid with a loud voice, Paul, thou art befide thyfelf; much learning doth make thee mad. 25 But he faid, I am not mad, moft noble Feftus; but speak forth the words of truth and foberness.

26 For the king knoweth of these things, before whom alfo 1 fpeak freely: for I am perfuaded that none of these things are hide den from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.

27 King Agrippa, believeft thou the prophets? I know that thou believelt.

28 Then Agrippa faid unto Paul, Almoit thou perfuadeft me to be a Chriftian.

29 And Paul faid, I would to God, that not only thou, but aifo all that hear me this day, were both almott, and altogether fuch as I am, except thefe bonds.

30% And when he had thus fpoken the king rofe up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that fat with them.

31 And when they were gone afide, they talked between themfelves, faying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds. 32 Then taid Agrippa unto Feitus, This man might have been fet at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Cefar.

CHAP. XXVII. Paul, Shipping torvard Rome, 10 foretelleth the danger of the voyage, 11 but is not believed. 14 They are tuffed with a tempeft, 41 and hip-turecked, 42, 43, 44 yet all come fafe to land.

A

Nd when it was determined that we fhould fail into Italy, they delivered Paul, and certain other prifoners, into one named Julius, a centurion of Augutus band. 2 And entering into a fhip of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to fail by the coatts of Afia, one Ariftarchus, a Macedoni an of Theffalonica, being with us.

3. And the next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself.

4 And when we had launched from thence we failed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.

5 And when we had failed over the fea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.

6 And there the centurion found a fhip of Alexandria failing into Italy; and he put us therein.

7 And when we had failed flowly many days, and fcarce were come over again Cnidus, the wind not fuffering us, we failed under Crete, over against Salmone:

8 And hardly paffing it, came unte a place which is called The Fair Havens, nigh whereunto was the city of Lafca.

9 Now, when much time was fpent, and when failing was now dangerous, becaufe the faft was now already patt, Paul adinonished them.

10. And faid unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and fhip, but all of our lives.

II Nevertheless, the centurion believed the matter, and the owner of the thip, more than thole things which were fpoken by Paul.

12 And becaufe the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advifed to depart thence alfo, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter, which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the fouth-weit and north-west.

13 And when the fouth wind blew foftly, fuppofing that they had obtained their purpele, loofing thence, they failed close by Crete. 14 But not long after there arofe against it a tempetuous wind, called Euroclydon.

15 And when the thip was caught, and could not hear up into the wind, we let her drive, 16 And running under a certain island, which is called Clanda, we had much work to come by the boat:

17 Which, when they had taken up, they ufed helps, undergirding the thip; and fearing left they fhould fall into the quick fands, trake fail, and fo were driven.

18 And we being exceedingly toffed with a tempett, the next day they lightened the thip; 19 And the third day we caft out with our own hands the tackling of the hip.

20 And when neither fun nor ftars in many days appeared, and no finall tempeft lay on us, all hope that we thould be faved was then taken away.

21 But after long abitinence, Paul flood forth in the midft of them, and faid, Sirs, ye thould have hearkened unto me, and not have loofed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and lofs.

22 And now, I exhort you to be of goodcheer: for there fhall be no lots of any mans life among you, but of the fhip..

23 For there flood by me this night the angel of God, whofe I am, and whom I ferve. 24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Cefar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that fail with thee.

25 Wherefore, firs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it thall be even as it was told me.

26 Howbeit, we must be cast upon a certain island.

27 But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the thipinen deemed that they drew near to fome country;

28 And founded, and found it twenty fathoms: and, when they had gone a little further, they founded again, and found it fifteen fathoms.

29 Then fearing lett we should have fallen upon rocks, they catt four anchors out of the ftern, and wifhed for the day.

30 And as the thipmen were about to flee out of the fhip, when they had let down the boat into the fea, under colour as though they would have catt anchors out of the forethip,

31 Paul faid to the centurion and to the foldiers, Except thefe abide in the fhip ye cannot be faved.

32 Then the foldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall ofl.

33 And while the day was coming on, Paul befought them all to take meat, faying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried, and continued fatting, having taken nothing.

34 Wherefore I pray you to take fome meat; for this is for your health: for there thail not an hair fall from the head of any of you.

35 And when he had thus fpoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in prefence of them all; and, when he had broken i he began to eat.

36 Then were they all of good cheer, and they alfo took fome meat.

37 And we were in all in the fhip two hundred threetcore and fixteen fouls.

38 And when they had eaten enough they lightened the ship, and caft out the wheat into the fea.

39 And when it was day they knew not the land: but they difcovered a certain creek with a fhore, into the which they were mind. ed, if it were poffible, to thrust in the hip. 40 And when they had taken up the anchors they committed themfelves unto the fea, and loofed the rudder-bands, and hoisted up the main fail to the wind, and made toward thore. 41 And falling into a place where two feas met, they ran the ship aground: and the fore-part ituck fait, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder-part was broken with the violence of the waves.

41 And the foldiers couniel was to kill the prifoners, left any of them thould fwim out, and efcape.

43 But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpofe, and commanded that they which could fwim fhould caft themfelves first into the fea, and get to land;

44 And the rett, fome on boards, and fome on broken pieces of the fhip. And fo it came to pafs, that they efcaped all fafe to land.

CHAP. XXVIII.

1 Paul is entertained by the barbarians: 8 he healeth many in the land: 11 he and his company depart toward Rome.

Nd when they were efcaped, then they

14 Where we found brethren, and were defired to tarry with them feven days: and fo we went toward Rome.

15 And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum, and The Three Taverns; whom when Paul faw, he thanked God, and took courage.

16 And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was fuffered to dwell by himself with a foldier that kept him.

17 And it came to pafs, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together he faid unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing againft the people or cuttoms of our fathers, yet was I delivered prifoner from Jerufalém into the

hands of the Romans:

18 Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, becaule there was no caufe of death in me.

19 But when the Jews fpake against it, I was contrained to appeal unto Cefar; not that I had ought to accufe my nation of.

20 For this caufe therefore, have I called for you, to fee you, and to fpeak with you bound with this chain.

2 And the barbarous people fhewed us no Fittle kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, becaufe of the prefent rain, and because of the cold.

3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of fticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fattened on his hand.

4 And when the barbarians faw the ve nomous beatt hang on his hand, they faid among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath efcaped the fea, yet vengeance fuffereth not to live. 5 And he fhook off the beatt into the fire, and felt no harm.

6 Howbeit they looked when he should have fwollen, or fallen down dead fuddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and faw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and faid that he was a god.

7 In the fame quarters were poffeffions of the chief man of the island, whofe name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously.

8 And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay fick of a fever, and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him. 9 So when this was done, others alfo which had difeafes in the inland came and were healed;

10 Who alfo honoured us with many honours and when we departed, they faded us with fuch things as were neceifary.

11 And after three months we departed in a thip of Alexandria, which had wintered in the ille, whofe fign was Caftor and Pollux. 12 And landing at Syracufe, we tarried there three days.

13 And from thence we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium: and after one day the fouth wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli;

21 And they faid unto him, We neither received letters out of Judea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came fhew ed er fpake any harm of thee.

22 But we defire to hear of thee what thon thinkeft: for as concerning this feet, we know that every where it is fpoken againit.

23 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and teftified the kingdom of God, perfuading them concerning Jefus, both out of the law of Mofes, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening..

24 And fome believed the things which were fpoken, and fome believed not.

25 And when they agreed not among themfelves they departed, after that Paul had fpoken one word, Well fpake the Holy Ghoft by Efaias the prophet unto our fathers,

26 Saying, Go unto this people, and fay, Hearing ye thall hear, and thall not underfland; and feeing ye thall fee, and not per

ceive:

27 For the heart of this people is waxed grofs, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they cloted; left they should fee with their eyes, and hear with their cars, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I fhould heal them.

28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the falvation of God is fent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.

29 And when he had faid these words the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.

30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired houfe, and received all that came in unto him,

31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching thofe things which concern the Lord Jefus Chrift with all confidence, no man forbidding him.