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And when the son of Paul's sister heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told 17 Paul. Then Paul called one of the centurions to him,

and said, "Bring this young man to the commander : 18 for he hath somewhat to tell him." So the centurion took

him, and brought him to the commander, and saith, "Paul the prisoner called me to him, and desired me to bring this young man to thee, who hath somewhat to 19 say unto thee." Then the commander took him by the

hand, and went aside with him privately, and asked him, 20" What is it, which thou hast to tell me?" And he said, "The Jews have agreed to desire thee, that thou wouldst bring down Paul to-morrow into the council, as if they would more exactly inquire somewhat concerning him. 21 But do not thou yield to them: for more than forty men

of them lie in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse that they will neither eat nor drink until they have destroyed him and they are now ready, look22 ing for a promise from thee." So the commander let the "Take care to inyoung man depart, and charged him, form no man that thou hast declared these things to me."

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Then he called unto him two centurions, and said, "Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Cæsarea, and seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen, at the 24 third hour of the night: and provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on one of them, and convey him safe 25 to Felix the governor." And he wrote a letter after this 26 manner: "Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor 27 Felix sendeth greeting. I came up with the soldiers, and rescued this man, who had been seized by the Jews,

:

*

and was about to be destroyed by them. Having under28 stood that he was a Roman citizen, and desiring to know the cause why they accused him, I brought him down 29 into their council: whom I perceived to be accused con

* a band of soldiers, N. See bishop Pearce,

cerning questions of their law; but to have no accusa30 tion worthy of death, or of bonds. 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."

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Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took 32 Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris: and on

the morrow they returned to the castle, having left the 33 horsemen to go with him: who, when they came to

Cæsarea, and delivered the letter to the governor, present34 ed Paul also before him. And when the governor had

read the letter, he asked of what province Paul was. And 35 when he understood that he was of Cilicia, "I will hear

thee fully," said he, " when thine accusers also are come.” And the governor commanded him to be kept in Herod's judgement-hall.

CH. XXIV. And after five days, Ananias the high-priest went down to Cæsarea with the elders, and with a certain orator, named Tertullus; and these brought an accusation 2 before the governor against Paul. And when he was called, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, "Since by thee we enjoy great quietness, and good deeds are done to this nation, by thy prudence, always, and in all 3 places; we accept them, most excellent Felix, with all 4 thankfulness. But that I may not trouble thee too far, I

beseech thee to hear us, of thy goodness, a few words *. 5 For we have found this man a pestilent one, and a mover of insurrection among all the Jews throughout the world, 6 and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes: who hath

attempted to profane the temple also: whom we seized, 7 [and wished to judge according to our law: but the commander Lysias came upon us, and with great violence 8 took him away out of our hands, having commanded his

* Or, But that I may not any longer detain thee, I beseech thee of thy goodness to hear us in few words.

accusers to come unto thee:] and by examining him, thou thyself mayest gain knowledge of all those things where9 of we accuse him." And the Jews also assented, saying 10 that these things were so. Then Paul answered, the governor having beckoned unto him to speak, "Since I understand that thou hast been for many years a judge to this 11 nation, I the more cheerfully make my defence: it being in thy power to know that there are but twelve days since 12 I came up to worship at Jerusalem and that the Jews neither found me in the temple disputing with any man; nor stirring up the people *, either in the synagogues, or 13 in the city nor can they prove the things of which they

now accuse me.

14 "But this I confess unto 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 15 the prophets and having hope toward God, which they themselves also admit, that there will be a resurrection [of 16 the dead], both of the righteous and unrighteous. And in this I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God and toward men.

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Now, after many years, I came to bring alms to my 18 nation, and offerings t. At which time certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple; but not with 19 a multitude, nor with tumult: who ought to have been

here before thee, and to have accused me, if they had 20 any thing against me. Or let these themselves say what

crime they found in me, while I stood before the council; 21 unless it be for this one declaration which I proclaimed standing among them, Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am judged by you this day.""

22 Then Felix deferred them, and said, "Having obtained more exact knowledge of that religion, when Ly

* Or, nor causing a tumultuous assembling of a multitude.

+ and to make mine offerings, N.

And when Felix heard these things he deferred them, R. T.

sias the commander shall come down, I will determine 23 your matter." And he commanded a centurion that Paul should be kept, and to let him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of Paul's acquaintance to minister [or come near] unto him.

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And after some days, Felix came with his wife Drusilla, that was a Jewess, and sent for Paul, and heard him 25 concerning belief in Christ. And as he discoursed of justice, and temperance, and the judgement to come, Felix was struck with fear, and answered,

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Depart, for the present; and, when I have a convenient time, I will 26 send for thee." He hoped also at the same time that

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

CH. XXV. Now Festus, three days after he came into the pro2 vince*, went up from Cæsarea to Jerusalem. Then the

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high-priest, and the chief of the Jews, brought an accu3 sation before him against Paul, and besought him, desiring a favour concerning Paul, that Festus would send for him to Jerusalem; purposing to lie in wait, that they 4 might destroy him on the way. But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Cæsarea, and that he himself 5 would shortly depart thither. "Let such, therefore, among you," saith he, as can be accusers, go down with me, and accuse this man, if there be any thing 6 amiss in him." And when he had passed among them not more than eight or ten ays, he went down to Cæsarca; and the next day sat on the judgement-seat, and 7 commanded Paul to be brought. And when he appeared, the Jews who had comet down from Jerusalem stood round about, and brought many and heavy accusations

* Now when Festus came into the province after three days, &c.

+ came, N.

8 [against Paul], which they could not prove; while he made his defence, saying, "Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Cæsar, have 9 I offended in any thing." But Festus, wishing to gratify the Jews, answered Paul, and said, "Art thou willing to go up to Jerusalem, and there to be judged of these 10 things before me ?" Then Paul said, "I stand at Cæsar's judgement-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 man should give me up to gratify them. I appeal to Cæ12 sar." Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, "Hast thou appealed to Cæsar? to Cæsar thou shalt go."

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And after some days, king Agrippa and Bernicè came 14 to Cæsarea to salute Festus. And when they had continued there many days, Festus related Paul's case to the king, saying, "There is a certain man left a prisoner 15 by Felix concerning whom *, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief-priests and the elders of the Jews laid an 16 information, desiring judgement against him. To whom I answered, that it is not the custom of the Romans to give up any man [to death], before he that is accused have his accusers face to face, and have opportunity to make his defence concerning the crime laid to his charge. 17 When therefore they were come hither, without making any delay, I sat on the judgement-seat the day after, and 18 commanded the man to be brought: against whom when his accusers stood up, they brought no accusation of 19 such things as I supposed: but had against him some

questions about their own religion, and about one Jesus 20 who died, but whom Paul affirmed to be alive. And be

* about whom, N.

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