that he himself would depart shortly thither.
44:025:005 Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, go down
with me, and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in
him.
44:025:006 And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went
down unto Caesarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment
seat commanded Paul to be brought.
44:025:007 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.
44:025:008 While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the
Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have
I offended any thing at all.
44:025:009 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?
44:025:010 Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I
ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou
very well knowest.
44:025:011 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 deliver me unto
them. I appeal unto Caesar.
44:025:012 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered,
Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go.
44:025:013 And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto
Caesarea to salute Festus.
44:025:014 And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul's
cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in
bonds by Felix:
44:025:015 About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the
elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment
against him.
44:025:016 To whom I answered, It is 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.
44:025:017 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.
44:025:018 Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none
accusation of such things as I supposed:
44:025:019 But had certain questions against him of their own
superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul
affirmed to be alive.
44:025:020 And because I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked him
whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these
matters.
44:025:021 But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of
Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to
Caesar.
44:025:022 Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man
myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.
44:025:023 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.
44:025:024 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 dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also
here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.
44:025:025 But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of
death, and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have
determined to send him.
44:025:026 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.
44:025:027 For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not
withal to signify the crimes laid against him.
44:026:001 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for
thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for
himself:
44:026:002 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:
44:026:003 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.
44:026:004 My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among
mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;
44:026:005 Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that
after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a
Pharisee.
44:026:006 And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made
of God, unto our fathers:
44:026:007 Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God
day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king
Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.
44:026:008 Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God
should raise the dead?
44:026:009 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things
contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
44:026:010 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.
44:026:011 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.
44:026:012 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission
from the chief priests,
44:026:013 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.
44:026:014 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.
44:026:015 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom
thou persecutest.
44:026:016 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;
44:026:017 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto
whom now I send thee,
44:026:018 To open their eyes, and 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.
44:026:019 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the
heavenly vision:
44:026:020 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and
throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles,
that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for
repentance.
44:026:021 For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went
about to kill me.
44:026:022 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 did say should
come:
44:026:023 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.
44:026:024 And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud
voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make
thee mad.
44:026:025 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth
the words of truth and soberness.
44:026:026 For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak
freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are
hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.
44:026:027 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou
believest.
44:026:028 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a
Christian.
44:026:029 And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also
all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether
such as I am, except these bonds.
44:026:030 And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the
governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:
44:026:031 And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves,
saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.
44:026:032 Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at
liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.
44:027:001 And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy,
they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named
Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band.
44:027:002 And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning
to sail by the coasts of Asia; one Aristarchus, a Macedonian
of Thessalonica, being with us.
44:027:003 And the next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously
entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to
refresh himself.
44:027:004 And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus,
because the winds were contrary.
44:027:005 And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia,
we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.
44:027:006 And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing
into Italy; and he put us therein.
44:027:007 And when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce were come
over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed
under Crete, over against Salmone;
44:027:008 And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called The
fair havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.
44:027:009 Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now
dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul
admonished them,
44:027:010 And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be
with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship,
but also of our lives.
44:027:011 Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner
of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.
44:027:012 And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the
more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they
might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an
haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north
west.
44:027:013 And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had
obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by
Crete.
44:027:014 But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind,
called Euroclydon.
44:027:015 And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the
wind, we let her drive.
44:027:016 And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we
had much work to come by the boat:
44:027:017 Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding
the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the
quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven.
44:027:018 And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day
they lightened the ship;
44:027:019 And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling
of the ship.
44:027:020 And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no
small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was
then taken away.
44:027:021 But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of
them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and
not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and
loss.
44:027:022 And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be
no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship.
44:027:023 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am,
and whom I serve,
44:027:024 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar:
and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.
44:027:025 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it
shall be even as it was told me.
44:027:026 Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.
44:027:027 But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up
and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they
drew near to some country;
44:027:028 And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had
gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it
fifteen fathoms.
44:027:029 Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast
four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.
44:027:030 And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when
they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as
though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship,
44:027:031 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these
abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.
44:027:032 Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her
fall off.
44:027:033 And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to
take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have
tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing.
44:027:034 Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your
health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any
of you.
44:027:035 And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to
God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he
began to eat.
44:027:036 Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some
meat.
44:027:037 And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and
sixteen souls.
44:027:038 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and
cast out the wheat into the sea.
44:027:039 And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they
discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they
were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship.
44:027:040 And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed
themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and
hoised up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore.
44:027:041 And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship
aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable,
but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves.
44:027:042 And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any
of them should swim out, and escape.
44:027:043 But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their
purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast
themselves first into the sea, and get to land:
44:027:044 And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the
ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to
land.
44:028:001 And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was
called Melita.
44:028:002 And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for
they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the
present rain, and because of the cold.
44:028:003 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them
on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened
on his hand.
44:028:004 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his
hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a
murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance
suffereth not to live.
44:028:005 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
44:028:006 Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen
down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while,
and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and
said that he was a god.
44:028:007 In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the
island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us
three days courteously.
44:028:008 And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a
fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and
prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.
44:028:009 So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the
island, came, and were healed:
44:028:010 Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed,
they laded us with such things as were necessary.
44:028:011 And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria,
which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and
Pollux.
44:028:012 And landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days.
44:028:013 And from thence we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium: and
after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to
Puteoli:
44:028:014 Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them
seven days: and so we went toward Rome.
44:028:015 And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to
meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom
when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.
44:028:016 And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the
prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered
to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.
44:028:017 And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the
chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together,
he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed
nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was
I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the
Romans.
44:028:018 Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because
there was no cause of death in me.
44:028:019 But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to
appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation
of.
44:028:020 For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you,
and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I
am bound with this chain.
44:028:021 And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of
Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came
shewed or spake any harm of thee.
44:028:022 But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as
concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken
against.
44:028:023 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him
into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the
kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of
the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till
evening.
44:028:024 And some believed the things which were spoken, and some
believed not.
44:028:025 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed,
after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost
by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,
44:028:026 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear,
and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not
perceive:
44:028:027 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears
are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest
they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and
understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I
should heal them.
44:028:028 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is
sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.
44:028:029 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had
great reasoning among themselves.
44:028:030 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and
received all that came in unto him,
44:028:031 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which
concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man
forbidding him.