019:007 They numbered in all about twelve men.
019:008 Afterwards he went into the synagogue. There for three months he continued to preach fearlessly, explaining in words which carried conviction the truths which concern the Kingdom of God.
019:009 But some grew obstinate in unbelief and spoke evil of the new faith before all the congregation. So Paul left them, and, taking with him those who were disciples, held discussions daily in Tyrannus's lecture-hall.
019:010 This went on for two years, so that all the inhabitants of the province of Asia, Jews as well as Greeks, heard the Lord's Message.
019:011 God also brought about extraordinary miracles through Paul's instrumentality.
019:012 Towels or aprons, for instance, which Paul had handled used to becarried to the sick, and they recovered from their ailments,or the evil spirits left them.
019:013 But there were also some wandering Jewish exorcists who undertookto invoke the name of Jesus over those who had the evil spirits,saying, "I command you by that Jesus whom Paul preaches."
019:014 There were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew of high-priestly family,who were doing this.
019:015 "Jesus I know," the evil spirit answered, "and Paul I haveheard of, but who are you?"
019:016 And the man in whom the evil spirit was sprang on two of them,over-mastered them both, and treated them with such violence,that they fled from the house stripped of their clothes and wounded.
019:017 All the people of Ephesus, Jews as well as Greeks, came to knowof this. There was widespread terror, and they began to holdthe name of the Lord Jesus in high honour.
019:018 Many also of those who believed came confessing without reserve what their conduct had been,
019:019 and not a few of those who had practised magical arts brought their books together and burnt them in the presence of all. The total value was reckoned and found to be 50,000 silver coins.
019:020 Thus mightily did the Lord's Message spread and triumph!
019:021 When matters had reached this point, Paul decided in his own mind to travel through Macedonia and Greece, and go to Jerusalem. "After that," he said, "I must also see Rome."
019:022 But he sent two of his assistants, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia,while he himself remained for a while in Roman Asia.
019:023 Now just at that time there arose no small commotion aboutthe new faith.
019:024 There was a certain Demetrius, a silversmith, who made miniaturesilver sanctuaries of Diana, a business which brought greatgain to the mechanics in his employ.
019:025 He called his workmen together, and others who were engagedin similar trades, and said to them, "You men well knowthat our prosperity depends on this business of ours;
019:026 and you see and hear that, not in Ephesus only but throughout almost the whole province of Asia, this fellow Paul has led away a vast number of people by inducing them to believe that they are not gods at all that are made by men's hands.
019:027 There is danger, therefore, not only that this our trade will become of no account, but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana will fall into utter disrepute, and that before long she will be actually deposed from her majestic rank— she who is now worshipped by the whole province of Asia; nay, by the whole world."
019:028 After listening to this harangue, they became furiously angry and kept calling out, "Great is the Ephesian Diana!"
019:029 The riot and uproar spread through the whole city, till at last with one accord they rushed into the Theatre, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, two Macedonians who were fellow travellers with Paul.
019:030 Then Paul would have liked to go in and address the people, but the disciples would not let him do so.
019:031 A few of the public officials, too, who were friendly to him,sent repeated messages entreating him not to ventureinto the Theatre.
019:032 The people, meanwhile, kept shouting, some one thing andsome another; for the assembly was all uproar and confusion,and the greater part had no idea why they had come together.
019:033 Then some of the people crowded round Alexander, whom the Jewshad pushed forward; and Alexander, motioning with his handto get silence, was prepared to make a defence to the people.
019:034 No sooner, however, did they see that he was a Jew, than there arosefrom them all one roar of shouting, lasting about two hours."Great is the Ephesian Diana," they said.
019:035 At length the Recorder quieted them down. "Men of Ephesus," he said, "who is there of all mankind that needs to be told that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Diana and of the image which fell down from Zeus?
019:036 These facts, then, being unquestioned, it becomes you to maintainyour self-control and not act recklessly.
019:037 For you have brought these men here, who are neither robbersof temples nor blasphemers of our goddess.
019:038 If, however, Demetrius and the mechanics who support his contention have a grievance against any one, there are Assize-days and there are Proconsuls: let the persons interested accuse one another.
019:039 But if you desire anything further, it will have to be settled in the regular assembly.
019:040 For in connexion with to-day's proceedings there is danger of our being charged with attempted insurrection, there having been no real reason for this riot; nor shall we be able to justify the behaviour of this disorderly mob."
019:041 With these words he dismissed the assembly.
020:001 When the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples;and, after speaking words of encouragement to them, he tookhis leave, and started for Macedonia.
020:002 Passing through those districts he encouraged the disciplesin frequent addresses, and then came into Greece, and spentthree months there.
020:003 The Jews having planned to waylay him whenever he might beon the point of taking ship for Syria, he decided to travelback by way of Macedonia.
020:004 He was accompanied as far as the province of Asia by Sopater the Beroean, the son of Pyrrhus; by the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; by Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and by the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus.
020:005 These brethren had gone on and were waiting for us in the Troad.
020:006 But we ourselves sailed from Philippi after the days ofUnleavened Bread, and five days later joined them in the Troad,where we remained for a week.
020:007 On the first day of the week, when we had met to break bread,Paul, who was going away the next morning, was preaching to them,and prolonged his discourse till midnight.
020:008 Now there were a good many lamps in the room upstairs where we all were,
020:009 and a youth of the name of Eutychus was sitting at the window. This lad, gradually sinking into deep sleep while Paul preached at unusual length, overcome at last by sleep, fell from the second floor and was taken up dead.
020:010 Paul, however, went down, threw himself upon him,and folding him in his arms said, "Do not be alarmed;his life is still in him."
020:011 Then he went upstairs again, broke bread, and took some food;and after a long conversation which was continued till daybreak,at last he parted from them.
020:012 They had taken the lad home alive, and were greatly comforted.
020:013 The rest of us had already gone on board a ship, and now we set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul on board there; for so he had arranged, he himself intending to go by land.
020:014 Accordingly, when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and came to Mitylene.
020:015 Sailing from there, we arrived the next day off Chios.On the next we touched at Samos; and on the dayfollowing reached Miletus.
020:016 For Paul's plan was to sail past Ephesus, so as not to spend muchtime in the province of Asia; since he was very desirous of beingin Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of the Harvest Festival.
020:017 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus for the Elders of the Church to come to him.
020:018 Upon their arrival he said to them, "You Elders well know, from the first day of my setting foot in the province of Asia, the kind of life I lived among you the whole time,
020:019 serving the Lord in all humility, and with tears, and amidtrials which came upon me through the plotting of the Jews—
020:020 and that I never shrank from declaring to you anything thatwas profitable, or from teaching you in public and in your homes,
020:021 and urging upon both Jews and Greeks the necessity of turningto God and of believing in Jesus our Lord.
020:022 "And now, impelled by a sense of duty, I am on my way to Jerusalem,not knowing what will happen to me there,
020:023 except that the Holy Spirit, at town after town, testifies to methat imprisonment and suffering are awaiting me.
020:024 But even the sacrifice of my life I count as nothing, if only I may perfect my earthly course, and be faithful to the duty which the Lord Jesus has entrusted to me of proclaiming, as of supreme importance, the Good News of God's grace.
020:025 "And now, I know that none of you among whom I have gone in and out proclaiming the coming of the Kingdom will any longer see my face.
020:026 Therefore I protest to you to-day that I am not responsible for the ruin of any one of you.
020:027 For I have not shrunk from declaring to you God's whole truth.
020:028 "Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock among which the Holy Spirit has placed you to take the oversight for Him and act as shepherds to the Church of God, which He has bought with His own blood.
020:029 I know that, when I am gone, cruel wolves will come among youand will not spare the flock;
020:030 and that from among your own selves men will rise up who will seekwith their perverse talk to draw away the disciples after them.
020:031 Therefore be on the alert; and remember that, night and day,for three years, I never ceased admonishing every one,even with tears.
020:032 "And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace.He is able to build you up and to give you your inheritanceamong His people.
020:033 No one's silver or gold or clothing have I coveted.
020:034 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have provided for my own necessities and for the people with me.
020:035 In all things I have set you an example, showing you that, by working as I do, you ought to help the weak, and to bear in mind the words of the Lord Jesus, how He Himself said, "`It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
020:036 Having spoken thus, Paul knelt down and prayed with them all;
020:037 and with loud lamentation they all threw their arms round his neck, and kissed him lovingly,
020:038 grieved above all things at his having told them thatafter that day they were no longer to see his face.And they went with him to the ship.
021:001 When, at last, we had torn ourselves away and had set sail,we ran in a straight course to Cos; the next day to Rhodes,and from there to Patara.
021:002 Finding a ship bound for Phoenicia, we went on board and put to sea.
021:003 After sighting Cyprus and leaving that island on our left,we continued our voyage to Syria and put in at Tyre;for there the ship was to unload her cargo.
021:004 Having searched for the disciples and found them,we stayed at Tyre for seven days; and, taught by the Spirit,they repeatedly urged Paul not to proceed to Jerusalem.
021:005 When, however, our time was up, we left and went on our way,all the disciples and their wives and children coming to seeus off. Then, after kneeling down on the beach and praying,
021:006 we took leave of one another; and we went on board, while they returned home.
021:007 As for us, our voyage was over when having sailed from Tyrewe reached Ptolemais. here we inquired after the welfareof the brethren, and remained a day with them.
021:008 On the morrow we left Ptolemais and went on to Caesarea,where we came to the house of Philip the Evangelist,who was one of the seven, and stayed with him.
021:009 Now Philip had four unmarried daughters who were prophetesses;
021:010 and during our somewhat lengthy stay a Prophet of the name of Agabus came down from Judaea.
021:011 When he arrived he took Paul's loincloth, and bound his own feet and arms with it, and said, "Thus says the Holy Spirit, `So will the Jews in Jerusalem bind the owner of this loincloth, and will hand him over to the Gentiles.'"
021:012 As soon as we heard these words, both we and the brethren at Caesarea entreated Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.
021:013 His reply was, "What can you mean by thus breaking my heart with your grief? Why, as for me, I am ready not only to go to Jerusalem and be put in chains, but even to die there for the sake of the Lord Jesus."
021:014 So when he was not to be dissuaded, we ceased remonstratingwith him and said, "The Lord's will be done!"
021:015 A few days afterwards we loaded our baggage-cattle and continuedour journey to Jerusalem.
021:016 Some of the disciples from Caesarea also joined our party, and brought with them Mnason, a Cyprian, one of the early disciples, at whose house we were to lodge.
021:017 At length we reached Jerusalem, and there the brethren gaveus a hearty welcome.
021:018 On the following day we went with Paul to call on James,and all the Elders of the Church came also.
021:019 After exchanging friendly greetings, Paul told in detail all thatGod had done among the Gentiles through his instrumentality.
021:020 And they, when they had heard his statement, gave the glory to God.Then they said, "You see, brother, how many tens of thousandsof Jews there are among those who have accepted the faith,and they are all zealous upholders of the Law.
021:021 Now what they have been repeatedly told about you is that youteach all the Jews among the Gentiles to abandon Moses,and that you forbid them to circumcise their childrenor observe old-established customs.
021:022 What then ought you to do? They are sure to hear that youhave come to Jerusalem;
021:023 so do this which we now tell you. We have four men here whohave a vow resting on them.
021:024 Associate with these men and purify yourself with them, and pay their expenses so that they can shave their heads. Then everybody will know that there is no truth in these stories about you, but that in your own actions you yourself scrupulously obey the Law.
021:025 But as for the Gentiles who have accepted the faith, we have communicated to them our decision that they are carefully to abstain from anything sacrificed to an idol, from blood, from what is strangled, and from fornication."
021:026 So Paul associated with the men; and the next day, having purified himself with them, he went into the Temple, giving every one to understand that the days of their purification were finished, and there he remained until the sacrifice for each of them was offered.
021:027 But, when the seven days were nearly over, the Jews from the province of Asia, having seen Paul in the Temple, set about rousing the fury of all the people against him.
021:028 They laid hands on him, crying out, "Men of Israel, help! help! This is the man who goes everywhere preaching to everybody against the Jewish people and the Law and this place. And besides, he has even brought Gentiles into the Temple and has desecrated this holy place."
021:029 (For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian withhim in the city, and imagined that Paul had brought himinto the Temple.)
021:030 The excitement spread through the whole city, and the people rushedin crowds to the Temple, and there laid hold of Paul and beganto drag him out; and the Temple gates were immediately closed.
021:031 But while they were trying to kill Paul, word was taken upto the Tribune in command of the battalion, that all Jerusalemwas in a ferment.
021:032 He instantly sent for a few soldiers and their officers,and came down among the people with all speed. At the sightof the Tribune and the troops they ceased beating Paul.
021:033 Then the Tribune, making his way to him, arrested him,and, having ordered him to be secured with two chains,proceeded to ask who he was and what he had been doing.
021:034 Some of the crowd shouted one accusation against Paul and some another, until, as the uproar made it impossible for the truth to be ascertained with certainty, the Tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks.
021:035 When Paul was going up the steps, he had to be carriedby the soldiers because of the violence of the mob;
021:036 for the whole mass of the people pressed on in the rear,shouting, "Away with him!"
021:037 When he was about to be taken into the barracks, Paul said to the Tribune, "May I speak to you?" "Do you know Greek?" the Tribune asked.
021:038 "Are you not the Egyptian who some years ago excited the riot of the 4,000 cut-throats, and led them out into the Desert?"
021:039 "I am a Jew," replied Paul, "belonging to Tarsus in Cilicia,and am a citizen of no unimportant city. Give me leave,I pray you, to speak to the people."
021:040 So with his permission Paul stood on the steps and motionedwith his hand to the people to be quiet; and when there wasperfect silence he addressed them in Hebrew.
022:001 "Brethren and fathers," he said, "listen to my defence which Inow make before you."
022:002 And on hearing him address them in Hebrew, they kept allthe more quiet; and he said,
022:003 "I am a Jew, born at Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I was carefully trained at the feet of Gamaliel in the Law of our forefathers, and, like all of you to-day, was zealous for God.
022:004 I persecuted to death this new faith, continually binding both men and women and throwing them into prison;
022:005 as the High Priest also and all the Elders can bear me witness. It was, too, from them that I received letters to the brethren in Damascus, and I was already on my way to Damascus, intending to bring those also who had fled there, in chains to Jerusalem, to be punished.
022:006 "But on my way, when I was now not far from Damascus, about noona sudden blaze of light from Heaven shone round me.
022:007 I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, "`Saul, Saul,why are you persecuting Me?'
022:008 "`Who art thou, Lord?' I asked. "`I am Jesus,the Nazarene,' He replied, `whom you are persecuting.'
022:009 "Now the men who were with me, though they saw the light,did not hear the words of Him who spoke to me.
022:010 And I asked, "`What am I to do, Lord?' "And the Lord saidto me, "`Rise, and go into Damascus. There you shall be toldof all that has been appointed for you to do.'
022:011 "And as I could not see because the light had been so dazzling,those who were with me had to lead me by the arm, and so Icame to Damascus.
022:012 "And a certain Ananias, a pious man who obeyed the Law and bore a good character with all the Jews of the city,
022:013 came to me and standing at my side said, "`Brother Saul, recover your sight.' "I instantly regained my sight and looked up at him.
022:014 Then he said, `The God of our forefathers has appointed you to knowHis will, and to see the righteous One and hear Him speak.
022:015 For you shall be a witness for Him, to all men, of what youhave seen and heard.
022:016 And now why delay? Rise, get yourself baptized, and wash offyour sins, calling upon His name.'
022:017 "After my return to Jerusalem, and while praying in the Temple, I fellinto a trance.
022:018 I saw Jesus, and He said to me, "`Make haste and leaveJerusalem quickly, because they will not accept yourtestimony about Me.'
022:019 "`Lord,' I replied, `they themselves well know how active I wasin imprisoning, and in flogging in synagogue after synagoguethose who believe in Thee;
022:020 and when they were shedding the blood of Stephen, Thy witness,I was standing by, fully approving of it, and I held the clothesof those who were killing him.'
022:021 "`Go,' He replied; `I will send you as an Apostle to nations far away.'"
022:022 Until they heard this last statement the people listened to Paul, but now with a roar of disapproval they cried out, "Away with such a fellow from the earth! He ought not to be allowed to live."
022:023 And when they continued their furious shouts, throwing their clothes into the air and flinging dust about,
022:024 the Tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks,and be examined by flogging, in order to ascertain the reasonwhy they thus cried out against him.
022:025 But, when they had tied him up with the straps, Paul saidto the Captain who stood by, "Does the Law permit you to floga Roman citizen—and one too who is uncondemned?"
022:026 On hearing this question, the Captain went to report the matterto the Tribune. "What are you intending to do?" he said."This man is a Roman citizen."
022:027 So the Tribune came to Paul and asked him, "Tell me, are youa Roman citizen?" "Yes," he said.
022:028 "I paid a large sum for my citizenship," said the Tribune."But I was born free," said Paul.
022:029 So the men who had been on the point of putting him under torture immediately left him. And the Tribune, too, was frightened when he learnt that Paul was a Roman citizen, for he had had him bound.
022:030 The next day, wishing to know exactly what charge was being brought against him by the Jews, the Tribune ordered his chains to be removed; and, having sent word to the High Priests and all the Sanhedrin to assemble, he brought Paul down and made him stand before them.
023:001 Then Paul, fixing a steady gaze on the Sanhedrin, said, "Brethren, it is with a perfectly clear conscience that I have discharged my duties before God up to this day."
023:002 On hearing this the High Priest Ananias ordered those who were standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.
023:003 "Before long," exclaimed Paul, "God will strike you, you white-washed wall! Are you sitting there to judge me in accordance with the Law, and do you yourself actually break the Law by ordering me to be struck?"
023:004 "Do you rail at God's High Priest?" cried the men who stood by him.
023:005 "I did not know, brethren," replied Paul, "that he was the High Priest; for it is written, `Thou shalt not speak evil of a ruler of Thy people.'"
023:006 Noticing, however, that the Sanhedrin consisted partly of Sadducees and partly of Pharisees, he called out loudly among them, "Brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees. It is because of my hope of a resurrection of the dead that I am on my trial."
023:007 These words of his caused an angry dispute between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly took different sides.
023:008 For the Sadducees maintain that there is no resurrection, and neither angel nor spirit; but the Pharisees acknowledge the existence of both.
023:009 So there arose a great uproar; and some of the Scribesbelonging to the sect of the Pharisees sprang to their feetand fiercely contended, saying, "We find no harm in the man.What if a spirit has spoken to him, or an angel——!"
023:010 But when the struggle was becoming violent, the Tribune,fearing that Paul would be torn to pieces by the people,ordered the troops to go down and take him from among themby force and bring him into the barracks.
023:011 The following night the Lord came and stood at Paul's side,and said, "Be of good courage, for as you have borne faithfulwitness about me in Jerusalem, so you must also bearwitness in Rome."
023:012 Now, when daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and solemnlyswore not to eat or drink till they had killed Paul.
023:013 There were more than forty of them who bound themselvesby this oath.
023:014 They went to the High Priests and Elders and said to them, "We have bound ourselves under a heavy curse to take no food till we have killed Paul.
023:015 Now therefore you and the Sanhedrin should make representations to the Tribune for him to bring him down to you, under the impression that you intend to inquire more minutely about him; and we are prepared to assassinate him before he comes near the place."
023:016 But Paul's sister's son heard of the intended attack upon him.So he came and went into the barracks and told Paul about it;
023:017 and Paul called one of the Captains and said, "Take this youngman to the Tribune, for he has information to give him."
023:018 So he took him and brought him to the Tribune, and said, "Paul, the prisoner, called me to him and begged me to bring this youth to you, because he has something to say to you."
023:019 Then the Tribune, taking him by the arm, withdrew out of the hearing of others and asked him, "What have you to tell me?"
023:020 "The Jews," he replied, "have agreed to request you to bring Paul down to the Sanhedrin to-morrow for the purpose of making yourself more accurately acquainted with the case.
023:021 I beg you not to comply; for more than forty men among them are lying in wait for him, who have solemnly vowed that they will neither eat nor drink till they have assassinated him; and even now they are ready, in anticipation of receiving that promise of you."
023:022 So the Tribune sent the youth home, cautioning him. "Do not let any one know that you have given me this information," he said.
023:023 Then, calling to him two of the Captains, he gave his orders. "Get ready two hundred men," he said, "to march to Caesarea, with seventy cavalry and two hundred light infantry, starting at nine o'clock to-night."
023:024 He further told them to provide horses to mount Paul on, so as to bring him safely to Felix the Governor.
023:025 He also wrote a letter of which these were the contents:
023:026 "Claudius Lysias to his Excellency, Felix the Governor: all good wishes.
023:027 This man Paul had been seized by the Jews, and they were on the point of killing him, when I came upon them with the troops and rescued him, for I had been informed that he was a Roman citizen.
023:028 And, wishing to know with certainty the offense of which they were accusing him, I brought him down into their Sanhedrin,
023:029 and I discovered that the charge had to do with questionsof their Law, but that he was accused of nothing for whichhe deserves death or imprisonment.
023:030 But now that I have received information of an intended attackupon him, I immediately send him to you, directing his accusersalso to state before you the case they have against him."
023:031 So, in obedience to their orders, the soldiers took Pauland brought him by night as far as Antipatris.
023:032 The next day the infantry returned to the barracks,leaving the cavalry to proceed with him;
023:033 and, the cavalry having reached Caesarea and delivered the letterto the Governor, they brought Paul also to him.
023:034 Felix, after reading the letter, inquired from what province he was;and being told "from Cilicia,"
023:035 he said, "I will hear all you have to say, when your accusersalso have come." And he ordered him to be detained in custodyin Herod's Palace.
024:001 Five days after this, Ananias the High Priest came down to Caesareawith a number of Elders and a pleader called Tertullus.They stated to the Governor the case against Paul.
024:002 So Paul was sent for, and Tertullus began to impeach him as follows: "Indebted as we are," he said, "to you, most noble Felix, for the perfect peace which we enjoy, and for reforms which your wisdom has introduced to this nation,
024:003 in every instance and in every place we accept themwith profound gratitude.
024:004 But—not to detain you too long—I beg you in your forbearanceto listen to a brief statement from us.
024:005 For we have found this man Paul a source of mischief and a disturber of the peace among all the Jews throughout the Empire, and a ringleader in the heresy of the Nazarenes.
024:006 He even attempted to profane the Temple, but we arrested him.
024:007 []
024:008 You, however, by examining him, will yourself be able to learnthe truth as to all this which we allege against him."
024:009 The Jews also joined in the charge, maintaining thatthese were facts.
024:010 Then, at a sign from the Governor, Paul answered, "Knowing, Sir, that for many years you have administered justice to this nation, I cheerfully make my defence.
024:011 For you have it in your power to ascertain that it is not more than twelve days ago that I went up to worship in Jerusalem;
024:012 and that neither in the Temple nor in the synagogues, nor anywhere in the city, did they find me disputing with any opponent or collecting a crowd about me.
024:013 Nor can they prove the charges which they are now bringing against me.
024:014 But this I confess to you—that in the way which they style a heresy,I worship the God of our forefathers, believing everythingthat is taught in the Law or is written in the Prophets,
024:015 and having a hope directed towards God, which my accusersthemselves also entertain, that before long there will bea resurrection both of the righteous and the unrighteous.
024:016 This too is my own earnest endeavour—always to have a clearconscience in relation to God and man.
024:017 "Now after an interval of several years I came to bring almsto my nation, and to offer sacrifices.
024:018 While I was busy about these, they found me in the Temple purified, with no crowd around me and no uproar; but there were certain Jews from the province of Asia.
024:019 They ought to have been here before you, and to have beenmy prosecutors, if they have any charge to bring against me.
024:020 Or let these men themselves say what misdemeanour they foundme guilty of when I stood before the Sanhedrin,
024:021 unless it was in that one expression which I made use of when Ishouted out as I stood among them, "`The resurrection of the deadis the thing about which I am on my trial before you to-day.'"
024:022 At this point Felix, who was fairly well informed about the new faith,adjourned the trial, saying to the Jews, "When the Tribune Lysiascomes down, I will enter carefully into the matter."
024:023 And he gave orders to the Captain that Paul was to be keptin custody, but be treated with indulgence, and that his personalfriends were not to be prevented from showing him kindness.
024:024 Not long after this, Felix came with Drusilla his wife,a Jewess, and sending for Paul, listened to him as he spokeabout faith in Christ Jesus.
024:025 But when he dealt with the subjects of justice, self-control, and the judgement which was soon to come, Felix became alarmed and said, "For the present leave me, and when I can find a convenient opportunity I will send for you."
024:026 At the same time he hoped that Paul would give him money;and for this reason he sent for him the oftener toconverse with him.
024:027 But after the lapse of fully two years Felix was succeededby Porcius Festus; and being desirous of gratifyingthe Jews, Felix left Paul still in prison.
025:001 Festus, having entered on his duties as governor of the province,two days later went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem.
025:002 The High Priests and the leading men among the Jews immediatelymade representations to him against Paul, and begged him—
025:003 asking it as a favour, to Paul's prejudice—to have him brought to Jerusalem. They were planning an ambush to kill him on the way.
025:004 Festus, however, replied that Paul was in custody in Caesarea, and that he was himself going there very soon.
025:005 "Therefore let those of you," he said, "who can come,go down with me, and impeach the man, if there is anythingamiss in him."
025:006 After a stay of eight or ten days in Jerusalem—not more—he went down to Caesarea; and the next day, taking his seaton the tribunal, he ordered Paul to be brought in.
025:007 Upon Paul's arrival, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalemstood round him, and brought many grave charges against himwhich they were unable to substantiate.
025:008 But, in reply, Paul said, "Neither against the Jewish Law,nor against the Temple, nor against Caesar, have I committedany offence whatever."
025:009 Then Festus, being anxious to gratify the Jews, asked Paul, "Are youwilling to go up to Jerusalem, and there stand your trialbefore me on these charges?"
025:010 "I am standing before Caesar's tribunal," replied Paul, "where alone I ought to be tried. The Jews have no real ground of complaint against me, as in fact you yourself are beginning to see more clearly.
025:011 If, however, I have done wrong and have committed any offence for which I deserve to die, I do not ask to be excused that penalty. But if there is no truth in what these men allege against me, no one has the right to give me up to them as a favour. I appeal to Caesar."
025:012 Then, after conferring with the Council, Festus replied,"To Caesar you have appealed: to Caesar you shall go."
025:013 A short time after this, Agrippa the king and Bernice cameto Caesarea to pay a complimentary visit to Festus;
025:014 and, during their rather long stay, Festus laid Paul's casebefore the king. "There is a man here," he said, "whom Felixleft a prisoner,
025:015 about whom, when I went to Jerusalem, the High Priestsand the Elders of the Jews made representations to me,begging that sentence might be pronounced against him.
025:016 My reply was that it is not the custom among the Romans to give up any one for punishment before the accused has had his accusers face to face, and has had an opportunity of defending himself against the charge which has been brought against him.
025:017 "When, therefore, a number of them came here, the next day I took my seat on the tribunal, without any loss of time, and ordered the man to be brought in.
025:018 But, when his accusers stood up, they did not charge him with the misdemeanours of which I had been suspecting him.
025:019 But they quarrelled with him about certain matters connectedwith their own religion, and about one Jesus who had died, but—so Paul persistently maintained—is now alive.
025:020 I was at a loss how to investigate such questions, and askedPaul whether he would care to go to Jerusalem and there standhis trial on these matters.
025:021 But when Paul appealed to have his case kept for the Emperor'sdecision, I ordered him to be kept in prison until I couldsend him up to Caesar."
025:022 "I should like to hear the man myself," said Agrippa."to-morrow," replied Festus, "you shall." Accordingly, the next day,Agrippa and Bernice came in state
025:023 and took their seats in the Judgement Hall, attended by the Tribunesand the men of high rank in the city; and, at the commandof Festus, Paul was brought in.
025:024 Then Festus said, "King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see here the man about whom the whole nation of the Jews made suit to me, both in Jerusalem and here, crying out that he ought not to live any longer.
025:025 I could not discover that he had done anything for which he deserved to die; but as he has himself appealed to the Emperor, I have decided to send him to Rome.
025:026 I have nothing very definite, however, to tell our Sovereign about him. So I have brought the man before you all— and especially before you, King Agrippa—that after he has been examined I may find something which I can put into writing.
025:027 For, when sending a prisoner to Rome, it seems to me to be absurd not to state the charges against him."
026:001 Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You have permission to speakabout yourself." So Paul, with outstretched arm, proceeded tomake his defence.
026:002 "As regards all the accusations brought against me by the Jews,"he said, "I think myself fortunate, King Agrippa, in beingabout to defend myself to-day before you,
026:003 who are so familiar with all the customs and speculationsthat prevail among the Jews; and for this reason, I pray you,give me a patient hearing.
026:004 "The kind of life I have lived from my youth upwards,as exemplified in my early days among my nation and in Jerusalem,is known to all the Jews.
026:005 For they all know me of old—if they would but testify to the fact—how, being an adherent of the strictest sect of our religion,my life was that of a Pharisee.
026:006 And now I stand here impeached because of my hope in the fulfilment of the promise made by God to our forefathers—
026:007 the promise which our twelve tribes, worshipping day and night with intense devotedness, hope to have made good to them. It is on the subject of this hope, Sir, that I am accused by the Jews.
026:008 Why is it deemed with all of you a thing past belief if Godraises the dead to life?
026:009 "I myself, however, thought it a duty to do many thingsin hostility to the name of Jesus, the Nazarene.
026:010 And that was how I acted in Jerusalem. Armed with authority received from the High Priests I shut up many of God's people in various prisons, and when they were about to be put to death I gave my vote against them.
026:011 In all the synagogues also I punished them many a time, and tried to make them blaspheme; and in my wild fury I chased them even to foreign towns.
026:012 "While thus engaged, I was travelling one day to Damascus armed with authority and a commission from the High Priests,
026:013 and on the journey, at noon, Sir, I saw a light from Heaven—brighter than the brightness of the sun—shining around meand around those who were travelling with me.
026:014 We all fell to the ground; and I heard a voice which said to mein Hebrew, "`Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? You arefinding it painful to kick against the ox-goad.'
026:015 "`Who art Thou, Lord?' I asked. "`I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,' the Lord replied.
026:016 `But rise, and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for the very purpose of appointing you My servant and My witness both as to the things you have already seen and as to those in which I will appear to you.
026:017 I will save you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I send you to open their eyes,
026:018 that they may turn from darkness to light and from the obedience to Satan to God, in order to receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified through faith in Me.'
026:019 "Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision;
026:020 but I proceeded to preach first to the people in Damascus, and then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judaea, and to the Gentiles, that they must repent and turn to God, and live lives consistent with such repentance.
026:021 "It was on this account that the Jews seized me in the Temple and tried to kill me.
026:022 Having, however, obtained the help which is from God, I have stood firm until now, and have solemnly exhorted rich and poor alike, saying nothing except what the Prophets and Moses predicted as soon to happen,
026:023 since the Christ was to be a suffering Christ, and by coming back from the dead was then to be the first to proclaim a message of light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles."
026:024 As Paul thus made his defence, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice,"You are raving mad, Paul; and great learning is driving you mad."
026:025 "I am not mad, most noble Festus," replied Paul; "I am speakingwords of sober truth.
026:026 For the King, to whom I speak freely, knows about these matters. I am not to be persuaded that any detail of them has escaped his notice; for these things have not been done in a corner.
026:027 King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know thatyou believe them."
026:028 Agrippa answered, "In brief, you are doing your best to persuademe to become a Christian."
026:029 "My prayer to God, whether briefly or at length," replied Paul, "would be that not only you but all who are my hearers to-day, might become such as I am—except these chains."
026:030 So the King rose, and the Governor, and Bernice, and those who were sitting with them;
026:031 and, having withdrawn, they talked to one another and said, "This man is doing nothing for which he deserves death or imprisonment."
026:032 And Agrippa said to Festus, "He might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed to Caesar."
027:001 Now when it was decided that we should sail for Italy, they handed over Paul and a few other prisoners into the custody of Julius, a Captain of the Augustan battalion;
027:002 and going on board a ship of Adramyttium which was about to sail to the ports of the province of Asia, we put to sea; Aristarchus, the Macedonian, from Thessalonica, forming one of our party.
027:003 The next day we put in at Sidon. There Julius treated Paul with thoughtful kindness and allowed him to visit his friends and profit by their generous care.
027:004 Putting to sea again, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus,because the winds were against us;
027:005 and, sailing the whole length of the sea that lies off Ciliciaand Pamphylia, we reached Myra in Lycia.
027:006 There Julius found an Alexandrian ship bound for Italy,and put us on board of her.
027:007 It took several days of slow sailing for us to come with difficulty off Cnidus; from which point, as the wind did not allow us to get on in the direct course, we ran under the lee of Crete by Salmone.
027:008 Then, coasting along with difficulty, we reached a place called `Fair Havens,' near the town of Lasea.
027:009 Our voyage thus far had occupied a considerable time, and thenavigation being now unsafe and the Fast also already over,Paul warned them.
027:010 "Sirs," he said, "I perceive that before long the voyage willbe attended with danger and heavy loss, not only to the cargoand the ship but to our own lives also."
027:011 But Julius let himself be persuaded by the pilot and by the owner rather than by Paul's arguments;
027:012 and as the harbour was inconvenient for wintering in,the majority were in favour of putting out to sea, to trywhether they could get to Phoenix—a harbour on the coastof Crete facing north-east and south-east—to winter there.
027:013 And a light breeze from the south sprang up, so thatthey supposed they were now sure of their purpose.So weighing anchor they ran along the coast of Crete,hugging the shore.
027:014 But it was not long before a furious north-east wind, coming down from the mountains, burst upon us and carried the ship out of her course.
027:015 She was unable to make headway against the gale; so we gaveup and let her drive.
027:016 Then we ran under the lee of a little island called Cauda,where we managed with great difficulty to secure the boat;
027:017 and, after hoisting it on board, they used frapping-cables to undergird the ship, and, as they were afraid of being driven on the Syrtis quicksands, they lowered the gear and lay to.
027:018 But, as the storm was still violent, the next day they beganto lighten the ship;
027:019 and, on the third day, with their own hands they threw the ship'sspare gear overboard.
027:020 Then, when for several days neither sun nor stars were seen and the terrific gale still harassed us, the last ray of hope was now vanishing.
027:021 When for a long time they had taken but little food, Paul, standing up among them, said, "Sirs, you ought to have listened to me and not have sailed from Crete. You would then have escaped this suffering and loss.
027:022 But now take courage, for there will be no destruction of lifeamong you, but of the ship only.
027:023 For there stood by my side, last night, an angel of the Godto whom I belong, and whom also I worship,
027:024 and he said, "`Dismiss all fear, Paul, for you must stand before Caesar; and God has granted you the lives of all who are sailing with you.'
027:025 "Therefore, Sirs, take courage; for I believe God, and am convinced that things will happen exactly as I have been told.
027:026 But we are to be stranded on a certain island."
027:027 It was now the fourteenth night, and we were drifting through the Sea of Adria, when, about midnight, the sailors suspected that land was close at hand.
027:028 So they hove the lead and found twenty fathoms of water;and after a short time they hove again and found fifteen fathoms.
027:029 Then for fear of possibly running on rocks, they threw out fouranchors from the stern and waited impatiently for daylight.
027:030 The sailors, however, wanted to make their escape from the ship, and had lowered the boat into the sea, pretending that they were going to lay out anchors from the bow.
027:031 But Paul, addressing Julius and the soldiers, said, "Your liveswill be sacrificed, unless these men remain on board."
027:032 Then the soldiers cut the ropes of the ship's boat and lether fall off.
027:033 And continually, up till daybreak, Paul kept urging all on board to take some food. "This is the fourteenth day," he said, "that you have been anxiously waiting for the storm to cease, and have fasted, eating little or nothing.
027:034 I therefore strongly advise you to take some food.This is essential for your safety. For not a hair will perishfrom the head of any one of you."
027:035 Having said this he took some bread, and, after giving thanksto God for it before them all, he broke it in pieces and beganto eat it.
027:036 This raised the spirits of all, and they too took food.
027:037 There were 276 of us, crew and passengers, all told.
027:038 After eating a hearty meal they lightened the ship by throwing the wheat overboard.
027:039 When daylight came, they tried in vain to recognise the coast.But an inlet with a sandy beach attracted their attention,and now their object was, if possible, to run the ship agroundin this inlet.
027:040 So they cut away the anchors and left them in the sea,unloosing at the same time the bands which securedthe paddle-rudders. Then, hoisting the foresail to the wind,they made for the beach.
027:041 But coming to a place where two seas met, they stranded the ship, and her bow sticking fast remained immovable, while the stern began to go to pieces under the heavy hammering of the sea.
027:042 Now the soldiers recommended that the prisoners should be killed, for fear some one of them might swim ashore and effect his escape.
027:043 But their Captain, bent on securing Paul's safety, kept themfrom their purpose and gave orders that those who could swimshould first jump overboard and get to land;
027:044 and that the rest should follow, some on planks, and otherson various things from the ship. In this way they all gotsafely to land.
028:001 Our lives having been thus preserved, we discovered that the island was called Malta.
028:002 The strange-speaking natives showed us remarkable kindness,for they lighted a fire and made us all welcome because ofthe pelting rain and the cold.
028:003 Now, when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and had thrownthem on the fire, a viper, driven by the heat, came out andfastened itself on his hand.
028:004 When the natives saw the creature hanging to his hand, they said to one another, "Beyond doubt this man is a murderer, for, though saved from the sea, unerring Justice does not permit him to live."
028:005 He, however, shook the reptile off into the fire and was unhurt.
028:006 They expected him soon to swell with inflammation or suddenlyfall down dead; but, after waiting a long time and seeingno harm come to him, they changed their minds and saidthat he was a god.
028:007 Now in the same part of the island there were estatesbelonging to the Governor, whose name was Publius.He welcomed us to his house, and for three days generouslymade us his guests.
028:008 It happened, however, that his father was lying ill of dysentery aggravated by attacks of fever; so Paul went to see him, and, after praying, laid his hands on him and cured him.
028:009 After this, all the other sick people in the island cameand were cured.
028:010 They also loaded us with honours, and when at last we sailedthey put supplies on board for us.
028:011 Three months passed before we set sail in an Alexandrian vessel,called the `Twin Brothers,' which had wintered at the island.
028:012 At Syracuse we put in and stayed for two days.
028:013 From there we came round and reached Rhegium; and a day later, a south wind sprang up which brought us by the evening of the next day to Puteoli.
028:014 Here we found brethren, who invited us to remain with them for a week; and so we reached Rome.