A conspiracy against Paul: Chap. xxiii. He is sent to Felix.

10 ¶ And when there arose a young man unto thee, who hath great dissension, the chief cap-something to say unto thee. tain, fearing lest Paul should have 19 Then the chief captain took been pulled in pieces of them, him by the hand, and went with commanded the soldiers to go him aside privately, and asked him, down, and to take him by force What is that thou hast to tell me? from among them, and to bring 20 And he said, the Jews have bim into the castle." agreed to desire thee, that thou 11 And the night following, the wouldest bring down Paul to-morLord stood by him, and said, Be row into the council, as though of good cheer, Paul; for as thou they would enquire somewhat of hast testified of me in Jerusalem, him more perfectly.

so must thou bear witness also at 21 But do not thou yield unto Rome. them: for there lie in wait for

12 T And, when it was day, him of them more than forty men, certain of the Jews banded toge-which have bound themselves. ther, and bound themselves un-with an oath, that they will neider a curse, saying, That they ther eat nor drink till they have would neither eat nor drink till killed him; and now they are reathey had killed Paul. dy, looking for a promise from thee. 13 And they were more than 22 So the chief captain then let forty which had made this con- the young man depart, and charspiracy. ged him, See thou tell no man 14 And they came to the chief that thou hast shewed these things priests and elders, and said, We to me.

have bound ourselves under a 23 ¶ And he called unto him great curse, that we will eat no-two centurions, saying, Make reathing until we have slain Paul. dy two hundred soldiers to go to

15 Now, therefore, ye, with the Cesarea, and horsemen threescore council signify to the chief cap-and ten, and spearmen two huntain, that he bring him down unto dred, at the third hour of the night; you to-morrow, as though ye 24 And provide them beasts, would enquire something more that they may set Paul on, and perfectly concerning him; and bring him safe unto Felix the gowe, or ever he come near, are rea-vernor. dy to kill him.

25 And he wrote a letter after 16 And when Paul's sister's this manner : son heard of their lying in wait, 26 Claudius Lysias, unto the he went and entered into the cas- most excellent governor Felix, tle, and told Paul. sendeth greeting.

17 Then Paul called one of the 27 This man was taken of the centurions unto him, and said, Jews, and should have been killed Bring this young man unto the of them: then came I with an ar chief captain: for he hath a cer- my, and rescued him, having untain thing to tell him. derstood that he was a Roman.

18 So he took him, and brought 28 And when I would have him to the chief captain, and said, known the cause wherefore they Paul the prisoner called me unto accused him, I brought him forth him, and prayed me to bring this into their council;

Paul accused

The Acts.

29 Whom I perceived to be ac- not further tedious unto thee, I cused of questions of their law, pray thee, that thou wouldst but to have nothing laid to his hear us of thy clemency a few charge worthy of death, or of words. bonds. 5 For we have found this man a 30 And when it was told me, pestilent fellow, and a mover of how that the Jews laid wait for the sedition among all the Jews man, I sent straightway to thee, throughout the world, and a ringand gave commandment to his ac-leader of the sect of the Nazacusers also, to say before thee renes: what they had against him. Farewel.

6 Who also hath gone about to profane the temple; whom we 31 Then the soldiers, as it was took, and would have judged accommanded them, took Paul, cording to our law : and brought him by night to An- 7 But the chief captain Lysias tipatris. came upon us, and with great vio32 On the morrow they left the lence took him away out of our horsemen to go with him, and re-hands, turned to the castle :

+

by Tertullus.

8 Commanding his accusers to 33 Who, when they came to come unto thee; by examining of Cesarea, and delivered the epistle whom, thyself mayest take knowto the governor, presented Paul ledge of all these things whereof also before him. we accuse him.

34 And when the governor had 9 And the Jews also assented, read the letter, he asked of what saying, That these things were province he was. And when he so.

understood that he was of Cilicia; 10 T Then Paul, after that the

35 I will hear thee, said he, governor had beckoned unto him when thine accusers are also come. to speak, answered, Forasmuch And he commanded him to be as I know that thou hast been of kept in Herod's judgment-hall. many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself:

CHAP. XXIV.

Paul accused by Tertullus. ND after five days, Ana- 11 Because that thou mayest nias the high priest descend-understand, that there are yet but ed with the ders, and with a twelve days since I went up to certain orator, named Tertullus, Jerusalem for to worship. who informed the governor 12 And they neither found me against Paul. in the temple disputing with any

2 And, when he was called man, neither raising up the peoforth, Tertullus began to accuse ple, neither in the synagogues, him, saying, Seeing that by thee nor in the city:

we enjoy great quietness, and that 13 Neither can they prove the very worthy deeds are done unto things whereof they now accuse this nation by thy providence,

me.

s We accept it always, and in 14 But this I confess unto thee, all places, most noble Felix, with that after the way which they all thankfulness. call heresy, so worship I the God 4 Notwithstanding, that I belof my fathers, believing all things

Paul's defence:

Chap. xxv.

bis appeal to Cesar. which are written in the law, and ousness, temperance, and judgin the prophets: ment to come, Felix trembled, 15 And have hope toward God, and answered, Go thy way for which they themselves also allow, this time; when I have a convethat there shall be a resurrection nient season I will call for thee. of the dead, both of the just and 26 ¶ He hoped also that money unjust. should have been given him of 16 And herein do I exercise Paul, that he might loose him: myself, to have always a consci- wherefore he sent for him the ofence void of offence toward God, tener, and communed with him. and toward men. 27 But after two years Portius 17 Now, after many years, I Festus came into Felix's room: came to bring alms to my nation, and Felix, willing to shew the and offerings. Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound. CHAP. XXV.

18 Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in Paul appealetb to Cesar. Festus was comė

the temple, neither with multi-N into the province, after three

nor

tumult :

19 Who ought to have been days, he ascended from Cesarea to here before thee, and object, if Jerusalem.

they had aught against me.

2 Then the high priest, and the 20 Or else let these same here chief of the Jews informed him asay, if they have found any evil-gainst Paul, and besought him, doing in me, while I stood before 3 And desired favour against the council, him, that he would send for him 21 Except it be for this one to Jerusalem, laying wait in the voice, that I cried, standing among way to kill him. them, Touching the resurrection 4 But Festus answered, that of the dead I am called in questi- Paul should be kept at Cesarea, on by you this day. and that he himself would depart 22 And when Felix heard shortly thither. these things, having more perfect 5 Let them, therefore, said he, knowledge of that way, he de- which among you are able, go ferred them, and said, When Ly-down with me, and accuse this sias the chief captain shall come man, if there be any wickedness down, I will know the uttermost in him.

of your matter.

6 And when he had tarried a23 And he commanded a cen-mong them more than ten days, turion to keep Paul, and to let he went down unto Cesarea; and him have liberty, and that he the next day, sitting on the judgshould forbid none of his acquain-ment-seat, commanded Paul to tance to minister, or come unto be brought.

him.

7 And when he was come, the 24 T And after certain days, Jews which came down from Jewhen Felix came with his wife rusalem stood round about, and Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he laid many and grievous complaints sent for Paul, and heard him con-against Paul, which they could cerning the faith in Christ. not prove:

25 And as he reasoned of righte

8T While he answered for

Paul appealeth to Cesar: The Acts. He is brought to Agrippa. himself, Neither against the law man to be brought forth: of the Jews, neither against the 18 Against whom, when the temple, nor yet against Cesar, accusers stood up, they brought have I offended any thing at all. none accusation of such things as I 9 But Festus, willing to do the supposed: Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, 19 But had certain questions and said, Wilt thou go up to Je-against him of their own superrusalem, and there be judged of stition, and of one Jesus, which these things before me? was dead, whom Paul affirmed 10 Then said Paul I stand at to be alive. Cesar's judgment-seat, where I 20 And because I doubted of ought to be judged: to the Jews such manner of questions, I askhave I done no wrong, as thou ve-ed him whether he would go to ry well knowest. Jerusalem, and there be judged

11 For, if I be an offender, or of these matters. have committed any thing worthy 21 But when Paul had appealed of death, I refuse not to die: but, to be reserved unto the hearing of if there be none of these things Augustus, I commanded him to whereof these accuse me, no man be kept till I might send him to may deliver me unto them. I ap- Cesar peal unto Cesar.

22 Then Agrippa said unto 12 Then Festus, when he had Festus, I would also hear the man conferred with the council, an-myself. To-morrow, said he, swered, Hast thou appealed unto thou shalt hear him. Cesar unto Cesar shalt thou go. 23 ¶ And on the morrow, when 13 And after certain days, Agrippa was come, and Bernice, king Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and was enterunto Cesarea to salute Festus. ed into the place of hearing, with

14 And when they had been the chief captains and principal there many days, Festus decla- men of the city, at Festus' comred Paul's cause unto the king, mandment Paul was brought saying, There is a certain man forth.

left in bonds by Felix :

24 And Festus said, King A15 About whom, when I was grippa, and all men which are at Jerusalem, the chief priests here present with us, ye see this and the elders of the Jews inform-man, about whom all the multied me, desiring to have judgment tude of the Jews have dealt with against him. me, both at Jerusalem, and also

16 To whom I answered, It is here, crying, that he ought not to not the manner of the Romans to live any longer. deliver any man to die before 25 But when I found that he that he which is accused have the had committed nothing worthy of accusers face to face, and have li-death, and that he himself hath cence to answer for himself, con-appealed to Augustus, I have decerning the crime laid against him. termined to send him.

17 Therefore, when they were 26 Of whom I have no certain come hither, without any delay, thing to write unto my lord. on the morrow I sat on the judg-Wherefore I have brought him ment-seat, and I commanded the forth before you, and specially

Cc

Chap. xxvi.

Paul pleads before Agrippa. before thee, O King Agrippa, did I shut up in prison, having that, after examination had, received authority from the chief might have somewhat to write. priests; and when they were put 27 For it seemeth to me unrea-to death, I gave my voice against sonable to send a prisoner, and them.

not withal to signify the crimes 11 And I punished them oft in laid against him. every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme: and, being Paul pleadeth before Agrippa. exceedingly mad against them, I HEN Agrippa said unto persecuted them even unto strange

CHAP. XXVI.

TPaul, Thou art permitted to cities.

speak for thyself. Then Paul 12 Whereupon, as I went to stretched forth the hand, and an-Damascus, with authority and swered for himself. commission from the chief priests, 2 I think myself happy, king 13 At mid-day, O king, I saw Agrippa, because I shall answer in the way a light from heaven, for myself this day before thee, above the brightness of the sun, touching all the things whereof I shining roundabout me, and them am accused of the Jews; which journeyed with me.

3 Especially because I know 14 And, when we were all fallen thee to be expert in all customs to the earth, I heard a voice and questions which are among speaking unto me, and saying in the Jews: wherefore I beseech the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, thee to hear me patiently. why persecutest thou me? It is 4 My manner of life from my hard for thee to kick against the youth, which was at the first a-pricks. mong mine own nation at Jerusa- 15 And I said, Who art thou lem, know all the Jews; Lord? And he said, I am Jesus, 5 Which knew me from the whom thou persecutest. beginning, (if they would testify,) 16 But rise, and stand upon that, after the most straitest sectthy feet: for I have appeared unof cur religion, I lived a Pharisee. to thee for this purpose, to make 6 And now I stand and am thee a minister and a witness, judged for the hope of the pro-both of these things which thou mise made of God unto our fathers: hast seen, and of those things in

7 Unto which promise our the which I will appear unto thee; twelve tribes, instantly serving 17 Delivering thee from the God day and night, hope to come: people, and from the Gentiles, for which hope's sake, king A-unto whom now I send thee, grippa, I am accused of the Jews. 18 To open their eyes, and to

8 Why should it be thought a turn them from darkness to light, thing incredible with you that God and from the power of Satan unto should raise the dead? God, that they may receive for

9 I verily thought with myself,giveness of sins, and inheritance that I ought to do many things among them which are sanctified contrary to the name of Jesus of by faith that is in me. Nazareth.

19 Whereupon, O king Agrip10 Which thing I also did in pa, I was not disobedient unto Jerusalem: and many of the saints the heavenly vision: