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hour of the night: 24 and pro-" when thine accusers also are

vide them beasts, that they may set Paul on one of them, and convey him safe to Felix the governor."

come." And the governor commanded him to be kept in Herod's judgment-hall.

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

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

31 THEN the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris: 32 and on the morrow they returned to the castle, leaving the horsemen to go with him: 33 who, when they came to Cæsarea, and delivered the letter to the governor, presented Paul also before him. 34 And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia, 35 "I will hear thee fully," said he,

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enjoy great quietness; and good deeds are done to this nation, by thy prudence, always, and in all places; 3 we accept them, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness. 4 But that I may not any longer detain thee, I beseech thee to hear us, of thy goodness, a few words. 5 For we have found this man to be a pest, and a mover of sedition, among all the Jews, throughout the whole empire, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes: 6 who hath also attempted to profane the temple and whom we seized, [and wished to judge according to our law: 7 but the commander Lysias came upon us, and with great violence, took him away out of our hands, 8 having commanded his accusers to come to thee:] and by examining him, thou thyself mayest gain knowledge of all those things whereof we accuse him." 9 And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so. 10 Then Paul, the governor having beckoned to him to speak, answered, "Since I understand that thou hast been

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

rection of the dead I am condemned by you this day.""

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

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

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

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

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

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that they might destroy him on the way. 4 But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Cæsarea, and that he himself would shortly go there. "Therefore," said he, "let those of you who are able to bring any charge, go down with me, and accuse the man, if there be any thing criminal in him." 6 And having tarried among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Casarea; and the next day sat on the judgment-seat, and commanded Paul to be brought. 7 And when he appeared, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood round about, and brought many and heavy accusations [against Paul], which they could not prove; 8 while he made his defence, saying, "Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Cæsar, have I offended in any thing." 9 But Festus, wishing to gratify the Jews, in answer to Paul, said, "Art thou willing to go up to Jerusalem, and there to be judged of these things before me?" 10 Then Paul said, "I stand at Cæsar's judgment-seat, where I ought to be judged to the Jews I have done no wrong, as thou also very well knowest. 11 For if I have done wrong, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die but if there be nothing true of the things whereof these accuse me, no one should give me up to gratify them. I appeal to Cæsar." 12 Then Festus, having conferred with the

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council, answered, "Hast thou appealed to Cæsar? to Cæsar thou shalt go."

13 AND after some days, king Agrippa and Bernicè came to Cæsarea to salute Festus. 14 And as they continued there many days, Festus related

Paul's case to the king, saying, "There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix: 15 concerning whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief-priests and the elders of the Jews laid an information, desiring judgment against him. 16 To whom I answered, that it is not the custom of the Romans to give up any man to death, before he who is accused has his accusers face to face, and has opportunity to make his defence concerning the crime laid to his charge. 17 When therefore they had come hither, without making any delay, I sat on the judgment-seat the day after, and commanded the man to be brought: 18 against whom when his accusers stood up, they brought 'no accusation of such things as I supposed: 19 but had against him some questions about their own religion, and about one Jesus who died, but whom Paul affirmed to be alive. 20 And because I was doubtful about an inquiry into such matters, I asked him whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem, and there to be judged about these things. 21 But Paul having appealed, that it might be reserved to the determination of the Emperor, I commanded him to be kept in

custody till I could send him to Cæsar." 22 Then Agrippa said to Festus, "I myself also desire to hear the man." "Tomorrow," said he, "thou shalt hear him."

concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews: 3 because thou very well knowest all the customs and questions which are among the Jews. Wherefore I beseech [thee] to hear me patiently.

4 All the Jews know my manner of life from my youth, which was passed from the beginning arnong mine own nation at Jerusalem: 5 and these have knowledge of me from the first, (if they be willing to testify,) that according to the strictest sect of our religion, I lived a Pharisee. 6 And now I stand and am condemned for the hope of the promise, which God made to our fathers: 7 and which our twelve tribes, by their continual services night and day, hope to obtain: for which hope, O king [Agrippa], I am accused by the Jews. 8 What? is it esteemed among you a thing incredible, that God should raise the dead?

23 On the morrow therefore, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and they had entered into the place of hearing, together with the commanders and principal men of the city; at the command of Festus, Paul was brought. 24 Then Festus said, "King Agrippa, and all that are here present with us, ye see this man, concerning whom all the multitude of the Jews have applied to me, both at Jerusalem, and here also, crying out that he ought not to live any longer. 25 But I having found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and he himself having appealed to the Emperor, I have determined to send [him]. 26 Concerning whom I have nothing certain to write to 9 "I indeed thought within our Master. Wherefore I have myself, that I ought to do many brought him forth before you, things contrary to the name of and especially, before thee, Jesus of Nazareth: 10 which king Agrippa, that, after exa- I also did, in Jerusalem and mination, I may have some- many of the saints I shut up thing to write. 27 For it seemeth in prisons, having received auto me unreasonable to send a thority from the chief-priests; prisoner, and not to signify also and, when they were put to the charges made against him." death, I gave my vote against CH. XXVI. 1 UPON this them: 11 and I punished them Agrippa said to Paul, "Thou often in every synagogue, and art permitted to speak for thy- compelled them to blaspheme; self." Then Paul stretching and, being exceedingly mad forth his hand, made his defence: against them, I persecuted 2 "I think myself happy, them, even to foreign cities. king Agrippa, that I shall make 12 At which time [also,] as my defence this day before thee, I was going to Damascus,

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22 "Having therefore ob tained help from God, to this day, I continue witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which both the prophets and Moses spake of, as about to come: 23 that Christ should suffer; and that he, being the first who rose from the dead, should announce light to the people* and to the gentiles."

with authority and commission | the temple, and attempted to [from] the chief-priests, 13 kill me. at mid-day, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun; which shone round about me and those who journeyed with me. 14 And having all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking to me, and saying in the Hebrew dialect, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against the goads.' 15 And I said, Who art thou, Sir?' And he said, 'I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest. 16 But rise, and stand on thy feet: for I have appeared to thee for this purpose, to appoint thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those in which I will appear to thee; 17 deliver ing thee from the people ;* and from the gentiles, to whom I now send thee, 18 to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of the adversary to God; that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among those that are sanctified, through faith in me.'

24 And as he was thus making his defence, Festus said with a loud voice, "Paul, thou art mad: much learning has driven thee to madness." 25 Then he said, "I am not mad, most excellent Festus; but utter the words of truth and of a sound mind. 26 For the king knoweth concerning these things, before whom I even speak freely. For I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him: for this was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest." 28 Then Agrippa [said] to Paul, "Thou almost persuadest me to be a Christian." 29 And Paul [said,] “I would to God, that not thou

me this day, were almost, and even altogether, such as I am, except these bonds."

19" Wherefore, king Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision : 20 but declar-only, but all likewise who hear ed, first to those in Damascus, and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judea, and then to the gentiles, that they should reform and turn to God, doing works worthy of reformation. 21 For these causes, the Jews seized me in

30 THEN the king, and the governor, and Bernicè also, and those who sat with them, rose up; 31 and having gone aside, they spake among themselves,

i. e. the Jews.

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