Paul is rescued

ANNO DOMINI

60.

nch. 9. 17. • ch. 10. 22. PITim.3.7.

q ch. 3. 13. & 5. 30.

r ch. 9. 15. & 26. 16.

• 1 Cor. 9. 1.

& 15. 8.

t ch. 8. 14.

& 7.52.

☐ 1 Cor. 11. 23.

12 And "one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the PJews which dwelt there,

13 Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him.

14 And he said, 9 The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see * that Just One, and "shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.

15 For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of y what thou hast seen ch. 23. 11. and heard.

Gal. 1. 12.

7 ch. 4. 20. & 26. 16.

■ ch. 2. 38.

Heb. 10. 22. Rom. 10.13.

a ch. 9. 14.

b ch. 9. 26. 2 Cor. 12. 2.

• ver. 14.

d Matt. 10. 14.

• ver. 4.

ch. 8. 3.

f Matt. 10. 17.

8 ch. 7. 58.

48.

16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, a calling on the name of the Lord.

by the chief captain.

29 Then straightway they departed from him which should have 2 examined him: and the chief cap-2 or, tain also was afraid, after he knew tortured that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.

30 On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them.

CHAPTER XXIII.

20 And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was Luke 11. standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.

ch. 8.1. Rom. 1. 82.

1 ch. 9. 15.

& 13. 2, 46, 47. & 18. 6. & 26. 17. Rom. 1. 5. & 11. 13. & 15. 16. Gal. 1. 15, 16. & 2.7,8.

Eph. 8.7,8. Tim. 2.7.

2 Tim. 1.11. k ch. 21. 86. 1 ch. 25. 24.

21 And he said unto me, Depart: 'for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.

22 And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.

23 And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air,

24 The chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he might know wherefore they cried so against him. 25 And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion ch. 16. 37. that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?

m

26 When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest:

for this man is a Roman.

27 Then the chief captain came,

mandeth them to smite him. 7 Dissension among his accusers. 11 God encourageth him. 14 The Jews' laying wait for Paul 20 is declared unto the chief captain. 27 He sendeth him to Felix the governor.

the council, said, Men and breND Paul, earnestly beholding

thren, a I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. 2 And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him bto smite him on the mouth.

3 Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?

4 And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest?

6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

7 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.

8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.

9 And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken

him.

60.

1 ch. 5.89.

ch. 18. 9. & 27. 23,24.

n ver. 21, 80. ch. 25. 8.

10 And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.

11 And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.

12 And when it was day, "certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves 2 under a curse, execration. saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

2 Or, with an oath of

o ver. 12

13 And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.

14 And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul.

15 Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.

16 And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.

17 Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him.

18 So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say unto thee.

19 Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately, and asked him, What is that thou hast to tell me?

He is sent to Felix.

DOMINI 60.

till they have killed him: and now ANNO are they ready, looking for a promise from thee.

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

23 And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Cæsarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night;

24 And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.

25 And he wrote a letter after this manner:

26 Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting.

& 24. 7.

27 P This man was taken of the Pch. 21. 38. Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman.

28 "And when I would have known a ch. 22. 30. the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council:

butch. 18. 15.

29 Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.

t

u

25. 19. a ch. 26. 31.

u 24. 8.

30 And when it was told me how ver. 20. that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave ch.6. commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what they had against him. Farewell.

31 Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris.

32 On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:

33 Who, when they came to Casarea, and delivered the epistle 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;

x ch. 21. 89.

& 25. 16.

35 I will hear thee, said he, when ch.24.1,10. thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's judgment hall.

CHAPTER XXIV.

Paul being accused by Tertullus the orator, 10 answereth for his life and doctrine. 24 He preacheth Christ to the governor and his wife. 26 The governor hopeth for a bribe, but in vain. 27 At last, going out of his office, he leaveth Paul in prison.

= Matt. 27. 27.

Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Cæsarea to Jerusalem. 2 Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him,

3 And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerubch. 23. 12, salem, blaying wait in the way to kill him.

15.

6 And when he had tarried among 2Or, as some them 2 more than ten days, he went down unto Cæsarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought.

no more

than eight

or ten days.

4 Mark 15.8.

Luke 23. 2, 10.

ch. 24. 5, 18.

• ch. 6. 13. & 24. 12. & 28. 17.

1 ch. 24. 27.

8 ver. 20.

b ver. 25. ch. 18. 14. & 23. 29. & 26. 81.

d

7 And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove.

8 While he answered for himself, "Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Cæsar, have I offended any thing at all.

9 But Festus, 'willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, & Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?

10 Then said Paul, I stand at Cæsar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest.

11 For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may 1 ch. 26. 32. deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Cæsar.

& 28. 19.

16 To whom I answered, It is m ver. 4, 5. not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.

17 Therefore, when they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth.

18 Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed:

19 But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

n ver. 6.

• ch. 18. 15. & 23.29.

23 And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and was entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city, at Festus commandment Paul was brought forth.

24 And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us, ye see this man, about whom

all the multitude of the Jews have a ver. 2,3,7. dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, crying that he ought notch. 22. 22. to live any longer.

ch. 28.9,29.

& 26. 31.

25 But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed ver. 11, 12 to Augustus, I have determined to send him.

26 Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, O king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might have somewhat to write.

Paul's defence

ANNO DOMINI 62.

27 For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him.

CHAPTER XXVI.

2 Paul, in the presence of Agrippa, declareth his life from his childhood, 12 and how miracu lously he was converted, and called to his apostleship. 24 Festus chargeth h m to be mad, whereunto he answereth modestly. 28 tian. 31 The whole company pronounce him

Agrippa is almost persuaded to be a Chrisinnocent.

HEN Agrippa said unto Paul,

for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:

2 I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:

3 Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.

4 My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;

5 Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:

day

7 Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God and night, 'hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.

8 Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?

9 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against

them.

11 *And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.

12 1 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,

before Agrippa.

13 At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.

14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

m

16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;

17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, whom now I send thee,

☐ unto

18 To open their eyes, and P to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the hea-Eph. 1. 11. venly vision:

20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judæa, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do " works meet for repentance.

21 For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.

Col. 1. 12.

• ch. 20. 82.

tch. 9.20,22,

29. & 11. 26.

18, & 14,

&

& 18. & 19,

16, & 17,

&

20, & 21.

Matt. 8. 8.

ch. 21.30,

81.

22 Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses Lake 24. did say should come:

23 That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.

с

27,44.

ch. 24. 14.
& 28.23.

Rom. 3. 21.
John 5. 46.
Luke 24.
1 Cor. 15.

26, 46.

20.

Col. 1. 18.

Rev. 1. 5.

• Luke 2.39.

42 Kings 9.

11. John 10. 20. 1 Cor. 1. 23.

& 2. 18, 14, 4.10.