is a Roman, and uncondemned? said, Revilest thou God's high 26 When the centurion heard priest?

that, he went and told the chief 5 Then said Paul, I wist not, captain, saying, Take heed what brethren, that he was the high thou doest; for this man is a priest: for it is written, Thou Roman. shalt not speak evil of the ruler 27 Then the chief captain of thy people. came, and said unto him, Tell 6 But when Paul perceived me, art thou a Roman! He said, that the one part were SadduYea. cees, and the other Pharisees, he 28 And the chief captain an- cried out in the council, Men swered, With a great sum ob- and brethren, I am a Pharisee, tained I this freedom. And the son of a Pharisee of the Paul said, But I was free-born. hope and resurrection of the 29 Then straightway they dead I am called in question.. departed from him which should 7 And when he had so said, have examined him: and the there arose a dissension between chief captain also was afraid, the Pharisees and the Sadducees: after he knew that he was a and the multitude was divided.. Roman, and because he had 8 For the Sadducees say that bound him. there is no resurrection, neither 30 On the morrow, because angel, nor spirit: but the Pharihe would have known the cer- sees confess both. tainty wherefore he was accused 9 And there arose a great cry: of the Jews, he loosed him from and the scribes that were of the his bands, and commanded the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, chief priests and all their coun- saying, We find no evil in this cil to appear, and brought Paul man: but if a spirit or an angel down, and set him before them. hath spoken to him, let us not CHAP. XXIII. fight against God.

10 And when there arose a I Paul pleadeth his cause; 7 dissension among his accusers; 10 he is again imprisoned; 23 great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should

he is sent to Felix the governor.

AND Paul, earnestly behold- have been pulled in pieces, of

ing the council, said, Men them, commanded the soldiers and brethren, I have lived in all to go down, and to take him by good conscience before God force from among them, and to until this day. bring him into the castle.

2 And the high priest Ananias 11 1 And the night following commanded them that stood by the Lord stood by him, and said, him, to smite him on the mouth. Be of good cheer, Paul: for as

3 Then said Paul unto him, thou hast testified of me in JeGod shall smite thee, thou whit-rusalem, so must thou bear wited wall for sittest thou to judge ness also at Rome.

me after the law, and command- 12 And when it was day, est me to be smitten contrary to certain of the Jews banded tothe law? gether, and bound themselves 4 And they that stood by, under a curse, saying, that they

would neither eat nor drink till him of them more than forty they had killed Paul. men, which have bound them13 And they were more than selves with an oath, that they forty which had made this con- will neither eat nor drink till spiracy. they have killed him: and now 14 And they came to the chief are they ready, looking for a priests and elders, and said, We promise from thee. have bound ourselves under a great curse that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul.

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

15 Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down un- 23 And he called unto him to you to-morrow, as though ye two centurions, saying, Make would inquire something more ready two hundred soldiers to perfectly concerning him and go to Cesarea, and horsemen we, or ever he come near, are threescore and ten, and spearmen ready to kill him. two hundred, at the third hour 16 And when Paul's sister's of the night; 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.

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.

18 So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, 27 This man was taken of the and said, Paul the prisoner call- Jews, and should have been kiled me unto him, and prayed me led of them: then came I with to bring this young man unto an army, and rescued him, havthee, who hath something to say ing understood that he was a unto thee. Roman.

19 Then the chief captain 28 And when I would have took him by the hand, and went known the cause wherefore with him aside privately, and they accused him, I brought him asked him, What is that thou forth into their council:

hast to tell me?

29 Whom I perceived to be 20 And he said, The Jews accused of questions of their have agreed to desire thee, that law, but to have nothing laid to thou wouldest bring down Paul his charge worthy of death, or to-morrow into the council, as of bonds. though they would inquire 30 And when it was told me somewhat of him more perfect- how that the Jews laid wait for ly. the man,, I sent straightway to 21 But do not thou yield unto thee, and gave commandment them for there lie in wait for to his accusers also, to say be

fore thee what they had against 5 For we have found this him. Farewell. 31 Then the soldiers, as it mover of sedition among all man a pestilent fellow, and a was commanded them, took the Jews throughout the world, Paul, and brought him by night and a ringleader of the sect of to Antipatris. the Nazarenes:

6 Who also hath gone about

32 On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, to profane the temple: whom and returned to the castle: we took, and would have judged

33 Who, when they came to according to our law: Cesarea, and delivered the epis

7 But the chief captain Lysias

tle to the governor, presented came upon us, and with great Paul also before him. violence took him away out of

34 And when the governor our hands, had read the letter, he asked of 8 Commanding his accusers what province he was. And to come unto thee: by examinwhen he understood that he was ing of whom, thyself mayest take of Cilicia; knowledge of all these things

35 I will hear thee, said he, whereof we accuse him. when thine accusers are also 9 And the Jews also assentcome. And he commanded ed, saying, that these things him to be kept in Herod's judg- were so.

ment-hall.

CHAP. XXIV.

10 Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto 1 Tertullus accuseth Paul, 10 he answer- him to speak, answered, Foraseth for himself; 24 preacheth Christ to the much as I know that thou hast governor and his wife; 27 is left in prisbeen of many years a judge unto

on.

AND after five days, Ananias this nation, I do the more cheerthe high priest descended fully answer for myself: with the elders, and with a cer- 11 Because that thou maytain orator named Tertullus, est understand, that there are who informed the governor yet but twelve days since I went against Paul. up to Jerusalem for to worship.

2 And when he was called 12 And they neither found forth, Tertullus began to accuse me in the temple disputing with him, saying, Seeing that by thee any man, neither raising up the we enjoy great quietness, and people, neither in the synathat very worthy deeds are done gogues, nor in the city : unto this nation by thy providence,

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

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

14 But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which 4 Notwithstanding, that I be they call heresy, so worship I not further tedious unto thee, I the God of my fathers, believing pray thee, that thou wouldest all things which are written in hear us of thy clemency a few the law and in the prophets : 15 And have hope toward

words.

God, which they themselves also judgment to come, Felix tremallow, that there shall be abled, and answered, Go thy way resurrection of the dead, both for this time; when I have a of the just and unjust. convenient season, I will call for

26 He hoped also that mon

16 And herein do I exercise thee. myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward ey should have been given him God, and toward men. of Paul, that he might loose him: 17 Now, after many years, I wherefore he sent for him the came to bring alms to my na- oftener, and communed with him. tion, and offerings. 27 But after two years Por18 Whereupon certain Jews cius Festus came into Felix's from Asia found me purified in room and Felix, willing to the temple, neither with multi- shew the Jews a pleasure, left tude, nor with tumult: Paul bound.

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

20 Or else let these same

here say, if they have found any evil-doing in me, while I stood before the council,

CHAP. XXV.

2 The Jews accuse Paul before Festus; 8 he answereth for himself, and appealeth unto Cesar, &c.

NOW when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Cesarea to Jerusalem.

21 Except it be for this one voice, that I cried, standing 2 Then the high priest and among them, Touching the the chief of the Jews informed resurrection of the dead I am him against Paul, and besought called in question by you this him,

day.

3 And desired favour against 22 And when Felix heard him, that he would send for him these things, having more per- to Jerusalem, laying wait in the fect knowledge of that way, he way to kill him.

deferred them, and said, When 4 But Festus answered, that Lysias the chief captain shall Paul should be kept at Cesarea, come down, I will know the ut- and that he himself would determost of your matter. part shortly thither.

23 And he commanded a cen- 5 Let them therefore, said turion to keep Paul, and to let he, which among you are able, him have liberty, and that he go down with me, and accuse should forbid none of his ac- this man, if there be any wickquaintance to minister, or come edness in him. unto him.

6 And when he had tarried 24 And after certain days, among them more than ten days, when Felix came with his wife he went down unto Cesarea; Drusilla, which was a Jewess, and the next day sitting on the he sent for Paul, and heard him judgment-seat, commanded Paul concerning the faith in Christ. to be brought.

25 And as he reasoned of 7 And when he was come, righteousness, temperance, and the Jews which came down from

Jerusalem stood round about, mans to deliver any man to dic, and laid many and grievous before that he which is accused complaints against Paul, which have the accusers face to face, they could not prove; and have license to answer for

8 While he answered for him- himself concerning the crime self, Neither against the law of laid against him.

the Jews, neither against the 17 Therefore, when they were temple, nor yet against Cesar come hither, without any delay have I offended any thing at on the morrow I sat on the judgall. ment-seat, and commanded the

9 But Festus, willing to do man to be brought forth; the Jews a pleasure, answered 18 Against whom, when the Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up accusers stood up, they brought to Jerusalem, and there be judg-none accusation of such thin s ed of these things before me? as I supposed:

10 Then said Paul, I stand 19 But had certain questions at Cesar's judgment-seat, where against him of their own superI ought to be judged: to the stition, and of one Jesus, which Jews have I done no wrong, as was dead, whom Paul affirmed thou very well knowest. to be alive.

11 For if I be an offender, 20 And because I doubted of or have committed any thing such manner of questions, I askworthy of death, I refuse not to ed him whether he would go to die: but if there be none of these Jerusalem, and there be judged things whereof these accuse me, of these matters. no man may deliver me un 21 But when Paul had apto them. Í appeal unto Ce-pealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I comman

sar.

12 Then Festus, when he ded him to be kept till I might had conferred with the council, send him to Cesar. answered, Hast thou appealed 22 Then Agrippa said unto unto Cesar? unto Cesar shalt Festus, I would also hear the thou go. man myself. To-morrow, said 13 And after certain days, he, thou shalt hear him. king Agrippa and Bernice came 23 And on the morrow, when unto Cesarea, to salute Festus. Agrippa was come, and Bernice, 14 And when they had been with great pomp, and was enterthere many days, Festus declar-ed into the place of hearing, ed Paul's cause unto the king, with the chief captains and saying, There is a certain man principal men of the city, at left in bonds by Felix: Festus' commandment Paul was

15 About whom, when I was brought forth. at Jerusalem, the chief priests 24 And Festus said, King and the elders of the Jews in- Agrippa, and all men which are formed me, desiring to have judg- here present with us, ye see this ment against him. man about whom all the multi16 To whom I answered, It tude of the Jews have dealt with is not the manner of the Ro-me, both at Jerusalem, and also