115:1AND certain persons having come down from Judea taught the brothers, If you are not circumcised according to the custom of Moses you cannot be saved.15:2There being therefore no little dissension and disputation of Paul and Barnabas with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to the apostles and elders at Jerusalem, concerning this question.15:3They, therefore, being sent forward by the church, went to Phenicia and Samaria, relating the conversion of the gentiles, and caused great joy to all the brothers.15:4And when they came to Jerusalem they were received by the church, and the apostles, and the elders, and related what things God had done with them.15:5But some of those of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed, rose and said, that it is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
215:6And the apostles and elders were assembled together to see about this matter.15:7And after there had been much debate, Peter rose and said to them, Men and brothers, you know that in former days God chose among you that the gentiles should hear by my mouth the word of the gospel and believe.15:8And the heart-searching God testified to them, giving to them the Holy Spirit even as to us,15:9and made no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by the faith.15:10Now, therefore, why do you try God, to put on the necks of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we could bear?15:11But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same manner as they.
315:12And all the multitude was silent, and heard Barnabas and Paul relate what miracles and prodigies God performed among the gentiles through them.15:13And after they were silent, James answered, saying, Men and brothers, hear me.15:14Simeon has related how God first visited the gentiles to take a people for his name.15:15And with this agree the words of the prophets, as it is written,15:16After this will I return and build up the tabernacle of David which had fallen down, and rebuild its ruins, and set it up,15:17that the rest of men may seek the Lord, even all the nations on whom my name has been called, says the Lord who does these things,15:18known from eternity.15:19Wherefore I judge that we ought not to trouble those who turned to God from the gentiles,15:20but to send to them to abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and fornication, and things strangled, and blood.15:21For Moses from ancient times has those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every sabbath.
415:22Then it seemed good to the apostles and elders, with all the assembly [the church], to send delegates from themselves to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers,15:23writing by their hand, The apostles and elders and brothers, to the brothers in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, who are of the gentiles, greeting.15:24Since we heard that some going out from us have troubled you with words subverting your souls, to whom we gave no charge,15:25it seemed good to us, being of one opinion, to send delegates to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,15:26men who have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.15:27We have sent, therefore, Judas and Silas, and they will tell you the same things by word.15:28For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to put no greater burden upon you except these necessary things;15:29that you should abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and blood, and things strangled, and fornication, from which if you keep yourselves you will do well. Farewell.
515:30They, therefore, being dismissed went to Antioch, and assembling the multitude delivered the epistle.15:31And reading it they rejoiced at the exhortation.15:32And Judas and Silas being themselves also prophets, exhorted the brothers with much argument, and confirmed them.15:33And having staid [some] time, they were dismissed in peace by the brothers to those that sent them.15:35But Paul and Barnabas remained at Antioch, teaching and preaching with many others the word of the Lord.
115:36AND after some days Paul said to Barnabas, Let us return and visit the brothers in every city in which we preached the word of the Lord, [and see] how they do.15:37And Barnabas wished to take with them John called Mark;15:38but Paul thought not best to take with them one who deserted them at Pamphylia and did not go with them to the work.15:39And there was a sharp contention, so that they separated from each other; and Barnabas taking Mark sailed to Cyprus.
215:40But Paul choosing Silas went out, commended to the favor of the Lord by the brothers.15:41And he passed through Syria and Cilicia confirming the churches.16:1And he went to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, there was a certain disciple there by the name of Timothy, a son of a Jewish woman, a believer, but of a Greek father,16:2who was commended by the brothers in Lystra and Iconium.16:3Him Paul wished to have go with him; and he took and circumcised him on account of the Jews who were in those places; for all knew that his father was a Greek.
316:4And when he went through the cities he gave them the ordinances to observe which had been determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem.
416:5Then the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.16:6And passing through Phrygia and the country of Galatia, being forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia,16:7coming by Mysia they endeavored to go into Bithynia; and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them;16:8and passing by Mysia they went down to Troas.16:9And a vision appeared by night to Paul; a certain man of Macedonia standing, asking him, and saying, Come over into Macedonia and help us.16:10And when he saw the vision we immediately sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the good news to them.
116:11AND sailing from Troas we came in a direct course to Samothracia, and on the next day to Neapolis,16:12and thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, [and] a colony. And we spent some days in that city.16:13And on the sabbath we went out of the gate, by the river, where the proseuche [place of prayer] usually was, and sitting down we spoke to the women who came together.16:14And a certain woman by the name of Lydia, a dealer in purple, of the city of Thyatira, who worshipped God, heard, whose heart the Lord opened to attend to the [words] spoken by Paul.
216:15And when she was baptized, and her house, she requested saying, If you have judged me faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay; and she constrained us.
316:16And when we went to the proseuche, a certain female servant having a spirit, a diviner, met us, who brought her masters much gain by divining.16:17She following Paul and us, cried, saying, These men are servants of the Most High God, who declare to us the way of salvation;16:18and this she did for many days. And Paul being grieved turned around and said to the spirit, I command you, in the name of Jesus Christ, to come out of her. And it came out of her in that hour.16:19And her masters seeing that the hope of their gain was gone, seizing Paul and Silas dragged them to the market, to the rulers,16:20and bringing them before the prefects said, These men, being Jews, greatly trouble the city,16:21and preach customs which it is not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.16:22And the multitude came together against them, and the prefects tearing off their clothes gave orders to beat them with rods,16:23and having inflicted many blows on them cast them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely;16:24who, having received such a charge, cast them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
416:25But at midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sung praises to God, and the prisoners heard them.16:26And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and all the doors were immediately opened, and the bands of all were removed.16:27And the jailer awaking from sleep and seeing the doors of the prison opened, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.16:28But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.16:29And asking for a light he sprang in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas,16:30and bringing them out said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?16:31And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, and your house.16:32And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and all those in his house.
516:33And taking them that hour of the night, he washed them from their stripes, and was baptized, he and all his, immediately,16:34and conducting them up into his house he set a table, and rejoiced with all his house, having believed in God.16:35And when it was day the prefects sent the lictors, saying, Let those men go.16:36And the jailer told these words to Paul; The prefects have sent to let you go; now, therefore, go, and depart in peace.
616:37But Paul said to him, They have beaten us publicly uncondemned, being Romans, and cast us into prison; and now do they privately cast us out? No, indeed: but let them come themselves and conduct us out.16:38And the lictors told these words to the prefects, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans;16:39and they came and besought them, and conducting them out desired them to leave the city.16:40And going out of the prison they entered into the house of Lydia, and having seen the brothers they exhorted them, and departed.
117:1AND travelling through Amphipolis and Apollonia they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.17:2And according to his custom Paul went in to them, and reasoned with them three sabbaths from the Scriptures,17:3explaining and asserting that the Christ ought to suffer and to rise from the dead; and that this Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.17:4And some of them believed and adhered to Paul and Silas; of the pious Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.17:5But the unbelieving Jews taking certain base men of those about the markets, and exciting a mob, disturbed the city; and coming to the house of Jason sought to bring them out to the people;17:6but not finding them, they dragged Jason and some brothers to the rulers of the city, crying, These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also,17:7and Jason has received them; and they all do things contrary to the ordinances of Cæsar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.17:8And they excited the multitude and the rulers of the city hearing these things,17:9and taking security of Jason and the rest they let them go.
217:10And the brothers immediately, by night, sent away Paul and Silas to Berea; and when they came they went into the synagogue of the Jews;17:11but these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with all readiness, examining the Scriptures daily [to see] if these things were so.17:12Many of them therefore believed, both of honorable Grecian women, and of men not a few.17:13And when the Jews in Thessalonica knew that the word of God was preached by Paul at Berea, they came there exciting the multitudes.
317:14Then the brothers immediately sent Paul away, as if to go by sea; but Silas and Timothy remained there.17:15And those conducting Paul brought him to Athens, and receiving a charge to Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed.
417:16And while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was moved within him as he saw the city wholly devoted to idolatry.17:17Then he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and those that were pious, and in the market every day with those he met.17:18And some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers disputed with him, and some said, What does this trifler mean to say? And others, He seems to be a preacher of strange demons; because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection.17:19And laying hold of him they brought him to the Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new teaching is which is taught by you?17:20for you bring certain strange things to our ears; we wish therefore to know what these things mean.17:21And all the Athenians and the strangers living there spend their leisure in nothing else but telling or hearing something new.
517:22And Paul standing in the midst of the Areopagus said, Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are extremely devoted to the worship of demons.17:23For as I passed through, and observed your objects of worship, I found also an altar on which was inscribed, TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. What therefore you worship as unknown, this I declare to you.17:24The God who made the world and all things in it, this [God] being Lord of heaven and earth dwells not in temples made with hands,17:25neither is he served by the hands of men as needing any thing, since he gives to all life, and breath, and all things;17:26and he made of one blood every nation of men to live on all the face of the earth, determining their appointed times and the bounds of their habitation,17:27that they should seek God, if perhaps they might feel after and find him, and indeed he is not far from every one of us.17:28For in him we live, and move, and are; as some also of your own poets have said, For we are his offspring.17:29Being therefore an offspring of God, we ought not to think the Deity to be like gold or silver or stone, a work of art and human device.
617:30Overlooking therefore the times of ignorance, God now commands all men everywhere to change their minds,17:31because he has appointed a day in which he is about to judge the world in righteousness, by the man whom he has appointed, giving assurance to all by raising him from the dead.17:32But when they heard of a resurrection of the dead, some scoffed; but others said, We will hear you again of this.17:33So Paul went out from the midst of them;17:34but certain men adhering to him believed, among whom were Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
118:1AND after this Paul left Athens and came to Corinth.18:2And finding a certain Jew by the name of Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy, and his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome, he went to them,18:3and because he was of the same trade continued and labored with them; for they were tent makers.18:4And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.
218:5And when Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul gave himself wholly to preaching the word, testifying to the Jews Christ Jesus.18:6But when they disputed and blasphemed, shaking his garments he said to them, Your blood be upon your heads; I, pure, from this time will go to the gentiles.
318:7And departing thence he came into the house of a man called Justus, who worshipped God, and whose house adjoined the synagogue.18:8And Crispus the synagogue ruler believed in the Lord, with all his house; and many of the Corinthians who heard believed and were baptized.18:9And the Lord said to Paul, in a vision by night, Fear not, but speak and be not silent,18:10for I am with you; and no one shall attack you to hurt you, for I have many people in this city.18:11And he remained there a year and six months, teaching among them the word of God.
418:12And when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews rose with one consent against Paul and brought him to the tribunal,18:13saying, This man persuades men to worship God contrary to the law.18:14And when Paul was about to open his mouth Gallio said to the Jews, If there was any injustice or evil imposition, O Jews, I would bear with you in a reasonable manner;18:15but if it is a question of doctrine, and of names, and of your law, look to it yourselves; for I will not be a judge of these things.18:16And he drove them from the tribunal.18:17And they all took Sosthenes the synagogue-ruler and beat him before the tribunal; and Gallio cared for none of these things.
518:18And Paul having remained yet many days took leave of the brothers, and sailed to Syria; and Priscilla was with him, and Aquila, having shaved his head at Cenchrea; for he had a vow.18:19And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there, and entering himself into the synagogue reasoned with the Jews.18:20And they asking him to stay a longer time with them he did not consent,18:21but taking leave of them and saying, I will return to you again, if God will, he sailed from, Ephesus,18:22and coming down to Cæsarea, and going up and saluting the church, he went down to Antioch;18:23and having spent some time there he went away, passing in order through the country of Galatia and Phrygia, confirming all the disciples.
118:24AND a certain Jew by the name of Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus, being powerful in the Scriptures.18:25This man was instructed in the way of the Lord, and being fervent in spirit spoke and taught correctly the doctrines concerning Jesus, knowing only the baptism of John;18:26and this man began to speak boldly in the synagogue, and Priscilla and Aquila hearing him took him and taught him more accurately the way.18:27And he wishing to go into Achaia, the brothers sent him, and wrote to the disciples to receive him. And when he came he helped those much who had believed through the grace;18:28for he argued powerfully against the Jews, publicly showing by the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.
219:1And when Apollos was at Corinth, Paul, passing through the higher portions of the country, came to Ephesus, and found certain disciples;19:2and he said to them, Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed? And they said to him, We have not heard that there is a Holy Spirit.19:3And he said to them, With what then were you baptized? And they said, With John's baptism.19:4Paul said, John indeed baptized [administered] the baptism of a change of mind, telling the people to believe on him that was to come after him, that is, on Jesus.19:5And hearing this they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus:19:6and Paul putting his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.19:7And all the men were about twelve.
319:8And going into the synagogue he spoke boldly, for three months, reasoning and persuading in favor of the kingdom of God.19:9But when some were hardened and believed not, speaking evil of the way before the multitude, he left them and separated the disciples from them, and reasoned day by day in the school of one Tyrannus.19:10And this was done for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.
419:11And God performed unusual miracles by the hands of Paul,19:12so that napkins and aprons were brought from him to the sick, and their diseases left them, and the evil spirits went out of them.19:13And some of the travelling Jewish exorcists undertook to call over those that had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.19:14And there were some seven sons of Sceva, a Jew, a chief priest, who did this.19:15But the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?19:16And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped upon them, and overcome them, and prevailed against them, so that they escaped from his house, naked and wounded.19:17And this was known both to all the Jews and Greeks who lived at Ephesus, and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified;19:18and many of those who believed came and confessed, and showed their practices.19:19And many of those who practised secret arts brought their books, and burnt them before all; and they computed the price of them, and found it to be fifty thousand [didrachmas] of silver [$8,333].19:20So the word of the Lord increased powerfully and prevailed.
619:21And when these things were accomplished, Paul was disposed by the Spirit, passing through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there I must see Rome.19:22And sending two that served him into Macedonia, Timothy and Erastus, he continued a time in Asia.
719:23And there was at that time no small tumult about the way [of the Lord].19:24For a certain Demetrius by name, a silversmith, who made silver temples of Diana, and afforded his artisans no small gain,19:25assembling them together and laborers of like employments, said, Men, you know that our prosperity is derived from this employment,19:26and you see and hear, that not only at Ephesus, but in almost all Asia, this Paul has led away a great multitude by persuasion, saying that things which are made by hands are not gods.19:27And not only this work of ours is in danger of coming into contempt, but even the temple of the great goddess Diana of being set at nought, and her majesty also which all Asia and the world worships, of being destroyed.
819:28And hearing this they were full of wrath, and cried, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians!19:29And the whole city was full of confusion; and they rushed with one accord to the theatre, taking Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, fellow travellers of Paul.19:30And Paul wishing to go in to the people, the disciples did not permit him;19:31and some of the rulers of Asia also, who were friendly to him, sending to him, besought him not to expose himself in the theatre.19:32Some therefore cried one thing, and some another; for the assembly was confused, and the greater part knew not for what reason they had come together.19:33And they advanced Alexander from the multitude, the Jews putting him forward; and Alexander motioning with his hand, wished to defend himself before the people.19:34But knowing that he was a Jew, there was one voice from all, for about two hours, crying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
919:35And the clerk having stilled the multitude, said, Men of Ephesus, what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great Diana, and of the Jove descended [image]?19:36These things therefore being indisputable, it is best to be quiet, and do nothing rashly.19:37For you have brought these men here, who are neither temple-robbers nor blasphemers of your goddess.19:38If, therefore, Demetrius and the artisans with him have a charge against any, court days are held, and there are pro-consuls; let them accuse one another.19:39And if you desire any thing of other matters, let it be determined in a lawful assembly.19:40For we are in danger of being called to account for the tumult of to-day, there being no cause by which we can excuse this concourse.19:41And having said these words he dismissed the assembly.
120:1AFTER the tumult was allayed, Paul calling the disciples and embracing them departed to go into Macedonia.20:2And going through those parts, and exhorting them with many words, he went into Greece;20:3and when he had staid there three months, and a conspiracy was formed against him by the Jews as he was about to sail to Syria, he determined to return through Macedonia.20:4And there followed him to Asia, Sopater the son of Pyrrhus of Berea, and of those of Thessalonica, Aristarchus and Secundus, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and those of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus;20:5these going before waited for us at Troas.20:6And we sailed from Philippi, after the days of unleavened bread, and came to those at Troas in five days, where we staid seven days.
220:7And on the first day of the week, we being assembled to break bread, Paul preached to them, being about to depart on the next day, and continued his discourse till midnight;20:8and there were many lamps in the upper room where we were assembled.20:9And a young man by the name of Eutychus sitting in a window, falling into a deep sleep while Paul preached long, and being overcome by sleep, fell from the third story down, and was taken up dead.20:10But Paul going down fell on him, and embracing him, said, Be not troubled, for his life is in him.20:11And going up and breaking bread, and tasting it, and conversing a long time till the break of day, he departed.20:12And they brought away the child alive, and were not a little comforted.
320:13And we going before by ship sailed to Assos, being about to take in Paul at that place; for so had he appointed, being about to go on foot himself.20:14And when he met us at Assos, we took him in and came to Mitylene,20:15and sailing thence, on the next day we came opposite to Chios, and in another day we touched at Samos, and stopping at Trogylium, on the day following we came to Miletus.20:16For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, that it might not be necessary for him to spend a long time in Asia; for he hastened, if it was possible for him, to be at Jerusalem at the day of Pentecost.
420:17And from Miletus sending to Ephesus he called for the elders of the church.20:18And when they had come to him, he said to them, You know from the first day that I came into Asia, how I was with you at all times,20:19serving the Lord with all humility, and tears and trials that befell me by the conspiracies of the Jews,20:20how I kept not back from declaring to you and teaching you publicly and from house to house any thing that was profitable,20:21testifying both to Jews and Greeks the change of mind to God, and the faith in our Lord Jesus.20:22And behold now, I go constrained by the Spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things which shall befall me there,20:23except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city, saying, That bonds and afflictions await me.20:24But life precious to myself, I make of no account that I may finish my course and the service which I received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
520:25And now, behold, I know that you all among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom shall see my face no more.20:26Wherefore I call you to witness this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men;20:27for I have not kept back from declaring to you all the counsel of God.20:28Take heed to yourselves, therefore, and to all the flock in which the Holy Spirit has made you bishops, to feed the church of the Lord which he has purchased with his blood.20:29For I know that after my departure grievous wolves will come among you, not sparing the flock,20:30and of yourselves men will arise speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.20:31Wherefore watch, remembering that for three years, night and day, I ceased not to admonish every one of you with tears.20:32And now I commend you to God, and the word of his grace, who is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance with all the sanctified.20:33I have coveted no man's silver or gold or clothing;20:34you yourselves know that these hands have served my necessities and those with me.20:35I have showed you all things, that so laboring you ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
620:36And having said these words he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.20:37And they all wept much, and fell on Paul's neck and kissed him,20:38grieving most of all for the word which he said, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.
121:1AND when we had torn ourselves from them we set sail, and going in a straight course came to Cos, and on the next day to Rhodes, and thence to Patara.21:2And finding a ship crossing to Phenicia, going on board we set sail.21:3And observing Cyprus, and leaving it on the left, we sailed to Syria, and landed at Tyre; for there the ship was to discharge her cargo.21:4And finding the disciples we continued there seven days; and they told Paul, by the Spirit, not to go on to Jerusalem.21:5And when we had completed the days we went out and proceeded on our journey, they all attending us with their wives and children till without the city, and kneeling down on the shore we prayed,21:6and having saluted each other we went to the ship, and they returned to their homes.
221:7Having completed our voyage from Tyre we went to Ptolemais, and having saluted the brothers continued with them one day.21:8And departing on the next day we came to Cæsarea, and going to the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we staid with him.21:9This man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.21:10And having continued there many days, there came down a certain prophet from Judea by the name of Agabus,21:11and coming to us, and taking Paul's girdle, and binding his hands and feet, he said, These things, says the Holy Spirit; Thus will the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owns this girdle, and deliver him into the hands of the gentiles.21:12And when we heard these things, we and the people of the place besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.21:13But Paul answered, What do you do, to weep and break my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem, for the name of the Lord Jesus.21:14And he not being persuaded, we were silent, saying, The will of the Lord be done.
321:15And after these days, having made preparation, we went up to Jerusalem;21:16and some of the disciples from Cæsarea went up with us, conducting [us] to Mnason a Cyprian, an early disciple with whom we lodged.
421:17And when we arrived at Jerusalem the brothers received us gladly.21:18And on the following day Paul went with us to James, and all the elders were present.21:19And having saluted them, he related particularly what God had done among the gentiles by his ministry;21:20and having heard, they glorified God, and said to him, You see, brother, how many ten thousands there are of those who have believed, among the Jews, and all are zealots of the law;21:21and they have been informed of you, that you teach all the Jews among the gentiles to apostatize from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children, nor to walk according to the customs.21:22What then is [to be done]? They will hear everywhere that you have come.21:23Do this, therefore, which we tell you. We have four men having a vow upon them;21:24take them and be purified with them, and pay their expenses, that they may shave their heads, and all will know that the information which they have of you is not correct, but that you walk also yourself keeping the law.21:25But concerning the gentiles who have believed, we have sent, judging that they should avoid things offered to idols, and blood, and things strangled, and fornication.21:26Then Paul taking the men, on the following day being purified with them went into the temple, announcing the completion of the days of purification till an offering should be offered for each one of them.
121:27AND when the seven days were nearly completed, the Jews from Asia seeing him in the temple excited all the multitude, and laid hands on him,21:28crying, Men of Israel, help; this is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place, and besides he has brought Greeks into the temple, and defiled this holy place.21:29For they had before seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, and supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.21:30And all the city was moved, and there was a concourse of the people, and taking hold of Paul they dragged him without the temple, and immediately the gates were shut.
221:31And while they were seeking to kill him, a report went up to the chiliarch of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in commotion;21:32who immediately taking soldiers and centurions ran down upon them; and seeing the chiliarch and the soldiers, they ceased beating Paul.21:33Then the chiliarch approaching took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains, and inquired who he was and what he had done.21:34But some cried one thing, and some another, in the multitude, and not being able to learn the truth, on account of the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the fortress.21:35And when he was on the steps, it happened that he was borne by the soldiers, on account of the violence of the multitude;21:36for the multitude of the people followed, crying, Take him away.
321:37And being about to be carried into the fortress, Paul said to the chiliarch, May I have permission to speak to you? And he said, Do you understand Greek?21:38Are you not the Egyptian who before these days excited a sedition, and led out into the wilderness the four thousand men who were murderers?21:39And Paul said, I am a Jew, of Tarsus of Cilicia, a citizen of a not undistinguished city, I beg of you, permit me to speak to the people.21:40And he giving him permission, Paul stood up on the steps, and motioned with his hand to the people; and when there was great silence, he spoke in the Hebrew language, and said,22:1Men, brothers and fathers, hear my present defense before you.22:2And hearing that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they kept the greater silence.
522:3And he said, I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, instructed at the feet of Gamaliel in the accurate interpretation of the law of our fathers, and am a zealous worshipper of God as you all are to-day;22:4and I persecuted this way to death, binding and committing to prison both men and women,22:5as the chief priest also bears me witness, and all the eldership, from whom also receiving letters to the brothers I went to Damascus, to bring those who were there bound to Jerusalem to be punished.
622:6And when I was on the way and had come nigh to Damascus, about noon suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me,22:7and I fell on the earth, and heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?22:8And I answered, Who are you, Lord? And he said to me, I am Jesus the Nazoraean, whom you persecute.22:9And those that were with me saw the light, but they heard not the voice of him that spoke to me.22:10And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said to me, Arise, and go to Damascus, and there it shall be told you of all things which are appointed for you to do.
722:11And when I could not see from the brightness of that light, being led by the hand by those with me, I came to Damascus.22:12And a certain Ananias, a man [living] according to the law, approved by all the Jews living [there],22:13coming and standing by, said to me, Brother Saul, Receive your sight. And in that hour I looked upon him.22:14And he said, The God of our fathers chose you to know his will, and to see the Righteous One, and hear the voice of his mouth,22:15for you shall be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and heard.22:16And now, why do you delay? Arising, baptize and wash away your sins, calling on his name.
822:17And when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I was in a trance,22:18and saw him [Christ], saying to me, Hasten and depart immediately from Jerusalem, for they will not receive your testimony of me.22:19And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in the synagogues those who believed on you;22:20and when the blood of your martyr Stephen was poured out, I also stood by and consented, and kept the clothes of those that killed him.22:21And he said to me, Go, for I will send you to nations far away.
922:22And they heard him to this word, and lifted up their voice saying, Take away such a man from the earth; it is not fit that he should live.22:23And as they cried and rent their clothes and cast dust in the air,22:24the chiliarch commanded him to be brought into the fortress, ordering that he should be examined with scourges, that he might know for what reason they cried so against him.22:25But when they extended him with cords, he said to the centurion standing by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man, a Roman, and uncondemned?22:26And the centurion hearing this, went and told the chiliarch, saying, What are you about to do? for this man is a Roman.22:27And the chiliarch came to him and said, Tell me, are you a Roman? And he said, Yes.22:28And the chiliarch answered, I acquired this citizenship for a great price. But Paul said, I am indeed, and was also born [one].22:29Then those about to examine him immediately withdrew from him; and the chiliarch was afraid, knowing that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.
122:30AND on the next day, wishing to know the truth in respect to what he was accused of by the Jews, [the chiliarch] released him, and commanded the chief priests and all the Sanhedrim to come together; and bringing Paul down he set him before them.23:1And Paul looking steadily at the Sanhedrim, said, Men and brothers, I have lived before God in all good conscience to this day.23:2And the chief priest Ananias commanded those standing by to strike him on the mouth.23:3Then Paul said to him, God is about to strike you, whitewashed wall; and do you sit to judge me according to the law, and command me to be struck contrary to the law?23:4And those standing by said, Do you revile God's chief priest?23:5And Paul said, I knew not brothers that he was a chief priest; for it is written, You shall not speak evil of the ruler of your people.
223:6And Paul knowing that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, cried in the Sanhedrim, Men and brothers, I am a Pharisee and the son of Pharisees; for the hope and resurrection of the dead am I under trial.23:7And having said this, there was a dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the multitude were divided.23:8For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees confess both.23:9And there was a great cry, and the scribes of the party of the Pharisees rising up contended, saying, We find no evil in this man; but [what] if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?23:10And there being a great dissension, the chiliarch, fearing that Paul would be torn in pieces by them, commanded the troops to come down and take him by force from the midst of them, and conduct him to the fortress.
323:11And on the following night the Lord stood by him and said, Be of good courage, for as you have testified of me at Jerusalem, so you must also testify at Rome.23:12And when it was day, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves by an oath, saying that they would not eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.23:13And there were more than forty who took this oath,23:14who came to the chief priests and elders and said, We have bound ourselves under a curse to taste nothing till we kill Paul.23:15Now, therefore, speak to the chiliarch, with the Sanhedrim, to bring him down to you tomorrow, as if you were about to investigate his case more accurately, and we, before he comes nigh, are ready to kill him.
423:16But a son of Paul's sister hearing of this lying in wait, went and entering into the fortress told Paul.23:17And Paul calling one of the centurions, said, Lead this young man to the chiliarch, for he has something to tell him.23:18He therefore took him and led him to the chiliarch, and said, Paul the prisoner called me and asked me to lead this young man to you, who has something to tell you.23:19And the chiliarch taking him by the hand and leading him aside, inquired, What is it that you have to tell me?23:20And he said, The Jews have entered into a compact to ask you to bring down Paul to the Sanhedrim to-morrow, as if about to learn more accurately of something concerning him.23:21But do not therefore be persuaded by them; for more than forty men of them lie in wait, who have taken an oath not to eat nor drink till they have killed him, and now they are ready, awaiting an answer from you.23:22Then the chiliarch dismissed the young man, charging him, Tell no one that you have informed me of these things.
523:23And calling two of the centurions he said, Prepare two hundred soldiers to go to Cæsarea, and seventy horsemen and two hundred light armed troops, after the third hour of the night.23:24And provide animals to put Paul on, and take him safely to Felix the procurator.23:25And he wrote a letter having this form;23:26Claudius Lysias to the most excellent procurator Felix, greeting.23:27I went with the soldiery and rescued this man, when he was seized by the Jews, and about to be killed by them, having learned that he is a Roman;23:28and wishing to know the cause for which they accuse him, I took him down to their Sanhedrim,23:29and found him criminated in respect to questions of their law, but charged with nothing worthy of death or bonds.23:30Being informed that a conspiracy was about to be formed against the man, I immediately sent to you, commanding also his accusers to speak before you.
623:31The soldiers therefore took Paul as they were commanded and brought him by night to Antipatris,23:32and the next day leaving the horsemen to go with him, they returned to the fortress.23:33And when they came to Cæsarea, and had delivered the letter to the procurator, they also presented Paul to him.23:34And having read, he asked of what province he was; and learning that he was of Cilicia,23:35I will hear you, he said, when your accusers have come; and he commanded him to be kept in the Prætorium of Herod.
124:1AND after five days the chief priest Ananias, with the elders, and a certain orator, Tertullus, went down and gave information to the procurator against Paul.24:2And he being called, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Having obtained great peace by you, and things being happily arranged for this nation by your oversight in all things and in all places24:3we accept [it] most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness.24:4But that I may not further weary you, I beg you to hear us briefly, with your clemency.24:5For finding this man a pestilence and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a chief of the sect of the Nazoraeans,24:6who also endeavored to profane the temple, whom we also took,24:8from whom you will be able to learn by examination of all these things of which we accuse him.24:9And the Jews also assented, saying, These things are so.
224:10And the procurator making a sign to him to speak, Paul answered, Knowing that you have been for many years a judge of this nation, I shall defend myself cheerfully,24:11you being able to know that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship at Jerusalem.24:12And they did not find me in the temple disputing with any one, or making a disturbance of the multitude, neither in the synagogues nor in the city;24:13neither can they prove the things of which they now accuse me.
324:14But this I confess to you, that in the way which they call a heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers; believing all things written in the law and the prophets,24:15having a hope in God which they also hold, that there will be a resurrection both of the righteous and wicked.24:16And in this also I endeavor always to have a conscience without offense towards God and man.
424:17But after many years I came to bring charities and offerings to my nation,24:18in which certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, not with a multitude, nor with a tumult,24:19who ought to be present and accuse me before you, if they have any thing against me.24:20Or let them say whether they found any unrighteousness in me when I stood before the Sanhedrim,24:21except in this one statement which I made, as I stood among them, that I am under trial by you to-day concerning the resurrection of the dead.
524:22But Felix put them off, saying, Having learned more accurately of this way, when Lysias the chiliarch comes down I will decide concerning your matters,24:23and he commanded the centurion that Paul should be kept, and be freed from bonds, and that he should forbid none of his friends to serve him.
624:24And after some days Felix coming with Drusilla his wife, who was a Jewess, sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.24:25And as he discoursed of righteousness, and temperance, and the judgment about to come, Felix being terrified answered, Go for the present; but when I have time I will call you.24:26At the same time also he hoped that money would be given him by Paul; and on this account sent for him the oftener, and conversed with him.24:27But after two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; and wishing to gratify the Jews, Felix left Paul bound.
125:1FESTUS therefore coming into the province, after three days went up from Cæsarea to Jerusalem.25:2And the chief priests and the first men of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him,25:3asking favor against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, having provided an ambuscade to kill him on the way.25:4Then Festus answered that Paul should be kept at Cæsarea, and that he would go down there shortly;25:5and then, he said, the principal men among you may go down with me; if there is any thing against this man they may prosecute him.25:6And staying with them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Cæsarea, and on the next day, sitting on the tribunal, commanded Paul to be brought.
225:7And when he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and weighty accusations which they could not prove,25:8while Paul maintained in his defense, Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Cæsar, have I done any wrong.
325:9But Festus wishing to gratify the Jews, answered Paul and said, Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem, and there be tried by me for these things?25:10And Paul said, I stand at the tribunal of Cæsar, where I ought to be tried. I have not injured the Jews, as you also know very well.25:11If indeed I have done wrong or committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die; but if those things of which they accuse me are nothing, no man may give me up to them; I appeal to Cæsar.25:12Then Festus having conferred with the council answered, You have appealed to Cæsar; to Cæsar you shall go.
425:13But after some days king Agrippa and Bernice came down to Cæsarea to salute Festus.25:14And when they had staid there many days, Festus proposed the case of Paul to the king, saying, There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix,25:15concerning whom when I was at Jerusalem the chief priests and elders of the Jews gave me information, asking judgment against him;25:16to whom I answered, It is not the custom of the Romans to give up any man before the accused has the accusers face to face, and is allowed an opportunity to defend himself against the accusation.
525:17When therefore, they came here, making no delay, the next day I sat on the tribunal, and ordered the man to be brought;25:18concerning whom his accusers standing up brought no charge of such things as I supposed,25:19but had certain questions with him concerning their religion, and concerning one Jesus that was dead, who Paul said was alive.25:20Being in doubt on the question concerning these things, I asked if he was willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried by me there on these charges.25:21But Paul appealing, to be kept for the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I could send him to Cæsar.25:22And Agrippa [said] to Festus, I should like to hear the man also myself. And he said, To-morrow you shall hear him.
625:23On the next day, therefore, Agrippa and Bernice coming with great pomp, and entering into the place of hearing with chiliarchs and men of distinction in the city, at the command of Festus Paul was brought.25:24And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all the men present with us, you see this man, of whom all the multitude of the Jews besought me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying out that he ought no longer to live.25:25But finding that he had done nothing deserving death, and he having appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.25:26But I have nothing certain to write to the sovereign concerning him, wherefore I have brought him before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, that on examination I may have something to write;25:27for it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not to signify the charges against him.
726:1And Agrippa said to Paul, You are permitted to speak for yourself. Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense.26:2I think myself happy, King Agrippa, in being allowed to make my defense before you to-day in respect to all things of which I am accused by the Jews,26:3especially as you are acquainted with all the customs and questions of the Jews; wherefore, I beg you to hear me patiently.26:4My mode of life from my childhood, the early part of it being with my nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews,26:5who knew me from the first, if they would testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.26:6And now I stand on trial for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers,26:7which our twelve tribes, serving God continually, day and night, hope to attain; of this hope, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews.26:8Why is it judged by you incredible that God raises the dead?26:9I indeed thought with myself that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus the Nazoraean,26:10which I also did at Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests, and when they were killed I gave my vote against them.26:11And punishing them often in all the synagogues, I compelled them to blaspheme, and being exceedingly mad against them, I pursued them even to cities abroad.
826:12In which [persecutions] also, going to Damascus with authority, and a commission from the chief priests,26:13at midday I saw in the way O king, a light from heaven shining around me and those going with me, exceeding the brightness of the sun;26:14and when we had all fallen on the earth, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? it is hard for you to kick against the goads.26:15And I said, Who are you, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom you persecute.26:16But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and witness both of what you have seen and [of visions ] in which I will appear to you,26:17delivering you from the people, and the gentiles, to whom I send you26:18to open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among the sanctified by faith in me.26:19Whence, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,26:20but preached first to those at Damascus and Jerusalem, and in all the country of Judea, and to the gentiles, that they should change their minds and turn to God, performing works worthy of a change of mind.
926:21On this account the Jews seized me in the temple and endeavored to kill me.26:22Having obtained therefore help from God, I have continued to this day, testifying to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said should take place;26:23that the Christ should suffer, and that he first from the resurrection of the dead should proclaim light both to the people and the nations.
1026:24And when Paul had said these words, Festus said with a loud voice, You are mad, Paul; much learning has driven you to madness.26:25But he said, I am not mad, most excellent Festus, but utter words of truth and sobriety.26:26For the king knows of these things, before whom I speak freely; for I am persuaded that none of these things have escaped his notice; for this was not done in a corner.26:27King Agrippa, believe you the prophets? I know that you believe.26:28And Agrippa said to Paul, You almost persuade me to be a Christian.26:29And Paul said, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day were both almost and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.26:30And the king arose, and the procurator, and Bernice, and those who sat with them,26:31and departing they conversed with each other, saying, This man has done nothing deserving death or bonds.26:32And Agrippa said to Festus, If he had not appealed to Cæsar, this man might be released.
127:1AND when it was determined that we should sail to Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners to a centurion by the name of Julius, of the cohort of Augustus.27:2And going on board of a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to places in Asia, we set sail, Aristarchus a Macedonian of Thessalonica being with us;27:3and on the next day we came to Sidon, and Julius treating Paul with humanity allowed him to go to his friends, and receive attention.
227:4Proceeding thence we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary,27:5and sailing through the sea by Cilicia and Pamphylia we came to Myra in Lycia;27:6and the centurion finding there an Alexandrian ship sailing to Italy, put us into it.27:7And sailing slowly in those days, and scarcely being by Cnidus, the wind not permitting us [to proceed in a direct course] we sailed under Crete, by Salmone,27:8and sailing by it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near which is the city Lasea.
327:9But some time being spent and navigation not being safe, because the fast had already passed by, Paul advised,27:10saying to them, Men, I see that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also of our lives.27:11But the centurion believed the master and owner rather than the words spoken by Paul.27:12And the harbor being inconvenient to winter in, the greater part advised to depart thence, and, if they were able, to come to Phenice to winter, a harbor of Crete, which opens to the South and Southwest.
427:13And the South wind blowing gently, supposing that they had attained their purpose, setting sail they proceeded along the coast of Crete.27:14But not long after a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon, rushed against it,27:15and the ship being caught and not being able to bear up against the wind, we gave up, and were borne along.27:16And running a little under the island called Clauda, we with difficulty became masters of the boat,27:17and taking it out they used helps, under-girding the ship; and fearing lest they should fall on the shoal, letting down the mast they were driven in that condition.27:18And we being exceedingly pressed with the storm, on the next day they cast the cargo overboard,27:19and on the third day with our own hands we cast overboard the furniture of the ship.27:20And neither sun nor stars appearing for many days, and no slight storm being upon us, at last all hope that we should be saved was taken away.
527:21Then there having been long abstinence from food, Paul stood up in the midst of them and said, You ought, men, taking my advice, not to have sailed from Crete, and to have saved this injury and loss.27:22And now I advise you to be of good courage; for there shall be no loss of a life of you, but only of the ship.27:23For an angel of the God whose I am, and whom I serve, came to me this night27:24and said, Fear not, Paul; you must stand before Cæsar, and behold, God has given you all that sail with you.27:25Wherefore, men, be of good courage; for I believe God, that it will be as he has told me;27:26but we must be cast on a certain island.
627:27And on the fourteenth night, when we were borne along in the Adriatic, at about midnight the sailors suspected that some land was approaching them.27:28And sounding they found twenty fathoms, and going a little distance and sounding again they found fifteen fathoms;27:29and fearing lest we should fall on rough places, casting out four anchors from the stern, they prayed for day.27:30And the sailors seeking to escape from the ship, and letting down the boat into the sea, with the pretence that they were about to put out anchors from the fore part of the ship,27:31Paul said to the centurion and soldiers, Unless these continue in the ship you cannot be saved.27:32Then the soldiers cut the ropes of the boat and let it fall off.
727:33And when day was about to appear, Paul exhorted all to take food, saying, It is the fourteenth day to-day that you have watched and continued without food, taking nothing.27:34Wherefore I exhort you to partake of food; for this is necessary to your safety, for there shall not a hair perish from the head of any one of you.27:35And having said these things, and taken bread, he thanked God before all, and having broken began to eat.27:36And all being in good spirits they also partook of food;27:37and all the souls in the ship were two hundred and seventy-six.27:38And being satisfied with food they lightened the ship, casting the wheat into the sea.
827:39And when it was day they did not know the land, but they perceived a bay having a shore, on which they wished if possible to thrust the ship.27:40And taking up the anchors, they committed [the ship] to the sea, loosening at the same time the fastenings of the rudder and raising the top sail to the wind, they bore down towards the shore.27:41And falling on a place with a sea on both sides, they run the ship aground. And the bow being firmly fixed, remained immoveable; and the stern was broken by violence.
927:42And the design of the soldiers was to kill the prisoners, that none might escape by swimming;27:43but the centurion wishing to save Paul, prohibited them from this design, and commanded those able to swim to cast themselves into the water first, and go to the land;27:44and the rest, some on boards, and some on parts of the ship; and in this way all were brought safely to land.
1028:1And when they were saved, they learned that the island was called Melita.28:2And the barbarians showed us no ordinary humanity; for kindling a fire they received us all, on account of the rain which was falling, and the cold.28:3And Paul having collected a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper coming out from the heat fastened on his hand.28:4And when the barbarians saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said one to another, This man is undoubtedly a murderer, whom though saved from the sea justice has not permitted to live.28:5Then shaking off the creature into the fire he suffered no harm;28:6but they expected that he would swell up, or suddenly fall down dead. And waiting a long time, and seeing nothing extraordinary happen to him, they thought differently, and said, He is a god.
1128:7Near that place were the lands of the first man in the island, whose name was Poplius, who received and entertained us kindly three days.28:8And the father of Poplius lay sick with a fever and dysentery, and Paul came to him, and prayed, and put his hands on him, and cured him.28:9And this being done, the rest also who had sicknesses in the island came and were cured,28:10and they bestowed on us many rewards, and when we left supplied us with things that we needed.
1228:11And after three months we sailed away in an Alexandrian vessel, that had wintered in the island, with the sign of Castor and Pollux.28:12And coming to Syracuse we remained there three days;28:13and proceeding thence we came to Rhegium, and after one day, a south wind blowing, we came the second day to Puteoli,28:14where finding brothers we were invited to remain with them seven days; and thus we came to Rome.28:15And thence, the brothers hearing of us came out to meet us even to the Forum of Appius, and the Three Taverns [fifty-one miles]; and when Paul saw them, thanking God he took courage.