CHAPTER XXIII. privilege of a Roman. beat in every synagogue them | tained I this freedom. And that believed on thee:

26 When the centurion heard 3 Then said Paul unto him, that, he went and told the God shall smite thee, thou chief captain, saying, Take | whited wall: for sittest thou heed what thou doest; for this man is a Roman.

THE ACTS,

God encourageth Paul. Conspiracy against him. priest: for it is written, Thou | gether, and bound themselves shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.

6 But when Paul perceived that the one 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.

7 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.

under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

13 And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.

14 And 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.

15 Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though

8 For the Sadducees say that | ye would inquire something

there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.

9 And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of 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.

10 And when there arose a

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 in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.

more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.

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 said, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say unto thee.

19 Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately, and asked him, What is that

He is sent to

CHAPTER XXIV.

Felix the governor. 20 And he said, The Jews | known the cause wherefore

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.

21 But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for

they accused him, I brought him forth into their council:

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

30 And when it was told me him of them more than forty | how that the Jews laid wait for

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.

the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say beforethee what they had against him. Farewell.

31 Then the soldiers, as it was

and brought him by night to Antipatris.

22 So the chief captain then | commanded them, took Paul, let the young man depart, and charged him, See thou tell no man that thou hast shewed these things to me.

32 On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:

33 Who, when they came to

23 And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to ❘ Cesarea, and delivered the episgo to Cesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night;

tle to the governor, presented Paul also 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;

24 And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor. 35 I will hear thee, said he, 25 And he wrote a letter after when thine accusers are also this manner:

26 Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting.

come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's judgment hall.

CHAPTER XXIV.

27 This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been 1 Paul being accused by Tertullus the orator,

killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman.

10 answereth for his life and doctrine. 24 He preacheth Christ to the governor and his wife. 26 The governor hopeth for a bribe, but in vain. 27 At last, going out of his office, he leaveth Paul in prison.

A

ND after five days Ananias the high priest descend

Paul's defence

THE ACTS,

before Felix.

ed with the elders, and with a asmuch as I know that thou certain orator named Tertullus, ❘ hast been of many years a who informed the governor against Paul.

2 And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that ❘ by thee we enjoy great quiet ness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence,

3 We accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix. with all thankfulness.

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

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

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

judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself:

11 Because that thou may est understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship.

12 And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city:

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

14 But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are writ ten in the law and in the pro phets:

15 And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.

16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.

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

8 Commanding his accusers to come unto thee: by examining of whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him. 9 And the Jews also assented, ❘ from Asia found me purified in

saying that these things were

SO.

10 Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, For

18 Whereupon certain Jews

the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult.

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

The Jews accuse

CHAPTER XXV.

20 Or else let these same here say, if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the council,

21 Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.

Paul before Festus.

room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.

CHAPTER XXV.

2 The Jews accuse Paul before Festus. 8 He answereth for himself, 11 and appealeth unto Cesar. 14 Afterwards Festus openeth his matter to king Agrippa, 23 and he is brought forth. 25 Festus cleareth him to have done nothing worthy of death.

Now when

was

OW when Festus
come into the province,

from Cesarea to Jerusalem.

22 And when Felix heard these things, having more per- | after three days he ascended fect 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. 23 And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty, and that | him to Jerusalem, laying wait

he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come 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 concerning the faith in Christ.

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

2 Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him,

3 And desired favour against him, that he would send for

in the way to kill him.

4 But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Cesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly thither.

5 Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, go down with me, and accuse 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 Cesarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought. 7 And when he was come, the Jews which came down from

26 He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might | Jerusalem stood round about,

loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him.

and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove.