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beseech thee, permit me to speak to the people." 40 And the commander permitting him, Paul stood on the steps, and beckoned with his hand to the people. And a great silence taking place, he addressed them in the Hebrew dialect, saying, CH. XXII. 1 "MEN, brethren, and fathers, hear my defence which I make to you." 2 (And when they heard him speak to them in the Hebrew dialect, they kept the greater silence whereupon he said,) 3" I am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, being instructed at the feet of Gamaliel, according to the exactness of the law of our fathers, and being a zealous worshipper of God, as ye all are this day. 4 And I persecuted this way unto death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. 5 As the high-priest also can bear me witness, and the whole body of the elders: from whom I received letters also to the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring bound to Jerusalem those also that were there, that they might be punished. 6 But it came to pass that, as I journeyed, and came near to Damascus, about noon, a great light from heaven suddenly shone round about me. 7 And I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?' 8 And I answered, 'Who art thou, Sir?' And he said to me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.' 9 And

those that were with me saw indeed the light, [and were afraid;] but heard not the words of him who spake to me. 10 Then I said, 'What shall I do, Sir?' And the Lord said to me, 'Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all that is appointed for thee to do.' 11 And as I could not see, because of the glory of that light, I came into Damascus, led by the hand of those that were with me.

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12" And one Ananias, a religious man, according to the law, having a good report from all the Jews who dwelt there, 13 came to me, and stood, and said to me, Brother Saul, look up.' And, at that very moment, I looked upon him. 14 Then he said, The God of our fathers hath appointed thee to know his will, and to see that Righteous One, and to hear the words of his mouth; 15 for thou shalt be his witness to all men, of what thou hast seen and heard. 16 And now, why delayest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, taking upon thyself his name.' 17 And it came to pass when I returned to Jerusalem, and while I was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance: 18 and saw him saying to me, 'Make haste, and go quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.' 19 Then I said, 'Lord, they know that I imprisoned, and beat in every synagogue, those who believed on thee. 20 And when

30 AND on the morrow, desiring to know the truth, wherefore he was accused by the Jews, he loosed him from his

chief priests, and all the council to assemble, and brought Paul down, and set him before them.

the blood of thy witness [Ste- | Roman citizen, and that he had phen] was shed, I also stood bound him. by, and consented, and kept the mantles of those who killed him.' 21 Then he said to me, Depart; for I will send thee hence far off to the gentiles." "chains, and commanded the 22 AND they gave him a hearing till he advanced these words, and then they lifted up their voices, saying, "Away with such an one from the earth for it is not fit that he should live." 23 And as they cried out, and cast off their mantles, and threw dust into the air; 24 the commander ordered that he should be taken into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he might know for what cause they cried so against him. 25 And as they prepared him for the scourge, Paul said to a centurion who stood by, "Is it lawful for you to scourge one who is a Roman citizen, and uncondemned?" 26 And the centurion hearing this, went and told the commander, saying, "What art thou about to do? for this man is a Roman citizen." 27 Then the commander came near, and said to him, "Tell me, Art thou a Roman citizen ?" And he said, "Yes." 28 And the commander answered, "With a great sum I obtained this citi-brethren, I am a Pharisee, the zenship." And Paul said, " But I was free-born." 29 Then those who were about to examine him by scourging, immediately left him: and the commander also was afraid when he knew that he

CH. XXIII. 1 And when Paul had earnestly looked on the council, he said, "Men, brethren, I have always conducted myself with a good conscience before God, even to this day." 2 And the high-priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him, to smite him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, "God will smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me according to the law, and yet commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law? 4 And those who stood by, said, vilest thou God's high-priest ?” 5 Then Paul said, "I knew not, brethren, that he was the high-priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.' " 6 And when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council," Men,

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son of a Pharisee: concerning the hope, and the resurrection of the dead I am now condemned."

7 And having said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and was a the multitude was divided. 8

For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess both. 9 And there was a great cry: and the scribes who were on the part of the Pharisees arose and strove, saying, "We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel have spoken to him, it is well." 10 And there being a great disturbance, the commander feared lest Paul would be torn in pieces by them; and 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, "Take courage, for as thou hast testified the things concerning me, at Jerusalem, so also must thou testify at Rome."

16 And the son of Paul's sister hearing of their lying in wait, went and entered into the castle, and told Paul. 17 Then Paul, having called one of the centurions to him, said, "Bring this young man to the commander: for he hath something to tell him." 18 So the centurion took him, and brought him to the commander, and said, "Paul, the prisoner, called me to him, and desired me to bring this young man to thee, who hath something to say to thee." 19 Then the commander took him by the hand, and went aside with him, privately, and asked him, "What is it, thou hast to tell me?" 20 And he said, "The Jews have agreed to desire thee, that thou wouldst bring down Paul tomorrow into the council, as if they would more exactly inquire something concerning him. 21 But do not thou yield to them for more than forty men of them lie in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse, that they will neither eat nor drink until they have destroyed him: and they are now ready, looking for a promise from thee." 22 So the commander let the young man depart, and charged him, "Take care to inform no one that thou hast declared these things to me."

12 And when it was day, the Jews combined together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying, that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. 13 And there were more than forty who had made this conspiracy. 14 And they came near to the chiefpriests and the elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will taste nothing until we have killed Paul. 15 Now therefore ye, and the council, signify to the commander, that he bring him down to you, as if ye would inquire more exactly into" Make ready two hundred solthe things concerning him: and we, before he come near you, will be ready to destroy him."

23 Then, having called to him two centurions, he said,

diers to go to Cæsarea, and seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen, at the third

hour of the night: 24 and provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on one of them, and convey him safe to Felix the governor."

"when thine accusers also are come." And the governor commanded him to be kept in Herod's judgment-hall.

CH. XXIV. 1 AND after five days, Ananias the high-priest went down to Casarea, with the elders, and with a certain orator, named Tertullus; and these brought an accusation, before the governor, against Paul. 2 And when he was called, Tertullus began to accuse him, say

25 And he wrote a letter after this manner: 26" Claudius Lysias, to the most excellent governor Felix, sendeth greeting. 27 This man, having been seized by the Jews, was about to be destroyed by them, when I came up with the soldiers, and rescued [him]. Hav-ing, "Since through thee we ing understood that he was a Roman citizen, 28 and desiring to know the cause why they accused him, I brought him down into their council: 29 whom I perceived to be accused concerning questions of their law; but to have no accusation worthy of death, nor of bonds. 30 And when it was discovered to me that the Jews were about to lie in wait for the man, I sent him straightway to thee, and commanded his accusers also to say, before thee, what they had against him. [Farewel.]"

enjoy great quietness; and good deeds are done to this nation, by thy prudence, always, and in all places; 3 we accept them, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness. 4 But that I may not any longer detain thee, I beseech thee to hear us, of thy goodness, a few words. 5 For we have found this man to be a pest, and a mover of sedition, among all the Jews, throughout the whole empire, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes: 6 who hath also attempted to profane the temple: and 31 THEN the soldiers, as it whom we seized, [and wished to was commanded them, took judge according to our law: 7 but Paul, and brought him by night | the commander Lysias came upon to Antipatris: 32 and on the morrow they returned to the castle, leaving the horsemen | to go with him: 33 who, when they came to Cæsarea, and delivered the letter 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, 35 "I will hear thee fully," said he,

us, and with great violence, took him away out of our hands, 8 having commanded his accusers to come to thee:] and by examining him, thou thyself mayest gain knowledge of all those things whereof we accuse him." 9 And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so. 10 Then Paul, the governor having beckoned to him to speak, answered, "Since I understand that thou hast been

for many years a judge to this | rection of the dead I am connation, I the more cheerfully demned by you this day.'" make my defence: 11 it being in thy power to know that there are but twelve days since I came up to worship at Jerusalem: 12 and that the Jews neither found me in the temple disputing with any one; nor | raising sedition among the people, either in the synagogues, or in the city: 13 nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me.

22 Then Felix, having obtained a more correct knowledge of the way, putting them off, said, "When Lysias the commander shall come down, I will determine your matter." 23 [And] he gave orders to a centurion to take him into custody, and to let him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister-[or come] to him.

24 AND after some days, Felix came, with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul, and heard him concern. ing the faith in Christ. 25 And as he discoursed of justice, and temperance, and the coming judgment, Felix, being terrified, said, "Go for the present; and, when I have a convenient time,

14" But this I confess to thee, that after the way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of our fathers; believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: 15 and having hope towards God, which they themselves also admit, that there will be a resurrection [of the dead], both of the righteous and unrighte-I will send for thee." 26 Hopous. 16 And in this I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence before God and men.

ing also, at the same time, that money would have been given him by Paul, [in order that he might loose him:] for which cause, he sent for him the oftener, and conversed with him. 27 But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix; and Felix, wishing to gratify the Jews, left Paul bound.

17 "Now, after many years, I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings. 18 At which time, certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple; but not with a multitude, nor with tumult: 19 who CH. XXV. 1 FESTUS, thereought to have been here before fore, having come into the prothee, and to have accused me, vince, after three days, went up if they had any thing against from Cæsarea to Jerusalem. me. 20 Or let these themselves 2 Then the high-priest, and the say what crime they found in chief of the Jews, brought an me, while I stood before the accusation before him against council; 21 unless it be for Paul, and besought him, 3 dethis one declaration, which I siring a favour against him, that proclaimed standing among he would send for him to Jeruthem, 'Concerning the resur-salem; purposing to lie in wait,

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