voices, and said: Away with such a one from the earth; for it was not
fit that he should live. (23)And as they were crying out, and throwing
up their garments, and casting 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 for what charge
they were thus crying out against him.
(25)And as they stretched him forth with the thongs[22:25], Paul said
to the centurion who stood by: Is it lawful for you to scourge a man
that is a Roman, and uncondemned? (26)The centurion, hearing it, he
went and told the chief captain, saying: What art thou about to do?
For this man is a Roman. (27)And the chief captain came, and said to
him: Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said: Yes. (28)And the chief
captain answered: For a great sum I obtained this freedom. And Paul
said: But I was born free.
(29)Immediately, therefore, they departed from him who were about to
examine him; and the chief captain also was afraid, after he knew that
he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.
(30)On the morrow, wishing to know the certainty, wherefore he was
accused by the Jews, he released him, and commanded the chief priests
and all the council to come together; and he brought Paul down, and
set him before them.
XXIII.
AND Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said: Men, brethren, I have
lived in all good conscience before God unto this day.
(2)And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to
smite him on the mouth.
(3)Then Paul said to him: God will smite thee, thou whited wall. And
dost thou sit to judge me according to the law, and command me to be
smitten contrary to law?
(4)And they that stood by said: Revilest thou God's high priest?
(5)And Paul said: I knew not, brethren, that he is high priest; for it
is written: Thou shalt not speak evil of a ruler of thy people.
(6)And Paul, knowing that the one part were Sadducees, and the other
Pharisees, cried out in the council: Men, brethren, I am a Pharisee,
the son of a Pharisee; for the hope of the resurrection of the dead I
am now judged.
(7)And when he had said this, there arose a dissension between the
Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the multitude was divided. (8)For
Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit;
but Pharisees acknowledge both.
(9)And there arose a great clamor; and the scribes of the party of the
Pharisees arose, and contended, saying: We find no evil in this man;
but if a spirit spoke to him, or an angel?--
(10)And a great dissension arising, the chief captain, fearing lest
Paul should be pulled in pieces by them, commanded the soldiery 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 courage; for as thou didst fully testify the things concerning me
at Jerusalem, so must thou testify also at Rome.
(12)And when it was day, the Jews banded together, and bound
themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink
till they had killed Paul. (13)And they were more than forty who made
this conspiracy. (14)And they came to the chief priests and the
elders, and said: We bound ourselves under a great curse, to taste
nothing until we have slain Paul.
(15)Now therefore do ye, with the council, signify to the chief
captain that he bring him down to you, as though ye would ascertain
more exactly the matters concerning him; and we, before he comes near,
are ready to kill him.
(16)And the son of Paul's sister, hearing of their lying in wait, went
and entered into the castle, and told Paul. (17)Then Paul called one
of the centurions to him, and said: Bring this young man to the chief
captain; for he has something to tell him. (18)So he took him, and
brought him to the chief captain, and said: Paul, the prisoner, called
me to him, and asked me to bring this young man to thee, as he has
something to say to thee.
(19)Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went aside
privately, and asked: What is that thou hast to tell me? (20)And he
said: The Jews agreed to desire thee, that thou wouldst bring down
Paul to-morrow into the council, as though they would inquire somewhat
more exactly concerning him. (21)But do not thou yield to them; for of
them more than forty men are lying in wait for him, who bound
themselves with an oath, neither to eat nor to drink till they have
killed him; and now they are ready, looking for the promise from thee.
(22)The chief captain therefore dismissed the young man, having
charged him to say to no one, that thou didst show these things to me.
(23)And calling to him two or three of the centurions, he said: Make
ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and seventy horsemen,
two hundred spearmen, at the third hour of the night; (24)and let them
provide beasts, that they may set Paul thereon, and bring him safe to
Felix the governor.
(25)And he wrote a letter after this manner: (26)Claudius Lysias to
the most excellent governor Felix, sends greeting. (27)This man was
taken by the Jews, and was about to be killed by them; but I came upon
them with the soldiery, and rescued him, having learned that he is a
Roman. (28)And wishing to know the crime for which they were accusing
him, I brought him down into their council; (29)whom I found to be
accused concerning questions of their law, but having nothing laid to
his charge worthy of death or of bonds. (30)And being informed that a
plot was about to be laid against the man, I sent straightway to thee,
having also commanded the accusers to say before thee what they had
against him. Farewell.
(31)The soldiers, therefore, as was commanded them, took up Paul, and
brought him by night to Antipatris. (32)But on the morrow, leaving the
horsemen to go with him, they returned to the castle; (33)who, when
they had entered into Caesarea, and delivered the letter to the
governor, presented Paul also before him. (34)And having read it, he
asked of what province he was. And learning that he was from Cilicia,
(35)he said: I will hear thee fully, when thy accusers are also come.
And he commanded him to be kept in the praetorium of Herod.
XXIV.
AND after five days, the high priest Ananias came down with the elders
and a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor
against Paul; (2)and he having been called, Tertullus began to accuse
him, saying: Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that
very worthy deeds are done for this nation through thy providence, in
every way and everywhere; (3)we accept it, most noble Felix, with all
thankfulness.
(4)But, not to hinder thee too long, I pray thee that thou wouldst
hear us of thy clemency a few words. (5)For we have found this man to
be a pest, and exciting disturbance among all the Jews throughout the
world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes; (6)who also
attempted to profane the temple; whom we took, [24:6][and desired to
judge according to our law. (7)But Lysias the chief captain came, and
with great violence took him away out of our hands, (8)commanding his
accusers to come before thee;] from whom thou canst thyself ascertain,
by examination, concerning all these things whereof we accuse him.
(9)And the Jews also joined in assailing him, saying that these things
were so.
(10)Then Paul, the governor having beckoned to him to speak, answered:
Knowing that thou hast been for many years a judge for this nation, I
do the more cheerfully answer for myself; (11)inasmuch as thou mayest
know, that there are not more than twelve days since I went up to
Jerusalem to worship; (12)and neither in the temple did they find me
disputing with any one, or causing a tumult of the people, nor in the
synagogues, nor in the city; (13)nor can they prove the things whereof
they now accuse me.
(14)But this I acknowledge to thee, that according to 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 the prophets; (15)having a
hope toward God, which these themselves also look for, that there will
be a resurrection both of the just and unjust. (16)Therefore do I also
myself strive to have always a conscience void of offense toward God
and men.
(17)And after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and
offerings. (18)Amidst which they found me purified in the temple, not
with a crowd, nor with tumult; but certain Jews from Asia [caused it],
(19)who ought to be here before thee, and make accusation, if they had
aught against me. (20)Or let these themselves say what crime they
found in me, while I stood before the council, (21)except for this one
voice that I cried, standing among them: Concerning the resurrection
of the dead I am judged by you this day.
(22)And Felix put them off, knowing the things concerning the Way more
accurately, saying: When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I
will fully inquire into your matters. (23)And he commanded the
centurion that he should be guarded, and should have indulgence; and
to forbid none of his acquaintance to minister to him.
(24)And after certain 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 reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and the
judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered: Go thy way for this
time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. (26)He
hoped also that money would be given him by Paul; wherefore he sent
for him the oftener, and conversed with him.
(27)But after two years, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; and
Felix, wishing to gain favor with the Jews, left Paul bound.
XXV.
FESTUS, therefore, having come into the province, after three days
went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem.
(2)And the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against
Paul, and besought him, (3)asking for themselves a favor against him,
that he would send for him to Jerusalem, preparing an ambush to slay
him on the way. (4)But Festus answered, that Paul was to be kept a
prisoner at Caesarea, and that he himself should soon go thither.
(5)Let them therefore, said he, who are powerful among you, go down
with me, and accuse this man, if there is any wickedness in him.
(6)And having tarried among them not more than eight or ten days, he
went down to Caesarea; and on the morrow, sitting on the
judgment-seat, he commanded Paul to be brought. (7)And when he was
come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around, bringing
many and grievous charges, which they could not prove; (8)while Paul
said in defense: Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the
temple, nor against Caesar, did I commit any offense.
(9)But Festus, wishing to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paul, and
said: Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged concerning
these things, before me? (10)And Paul said; I stand at Caesar's
judgment-seat, where I ought to be judged. To Jews I did no wrong, as
thou also very well knowest[25:10]. (11)If then I am an offender, and
have done anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die; but if there
be none of the things whereof these accuse me, no man can give me up
to them. I appeal to Caesar.
(12)Then Festus, having conferred with the council, answered: Thou
hast appealed to Caesar; to Caesar thou shalt go.
(13)And after certain days, Agrippa the king, and Bernice, came to
Caesarea to salute Festus. (14)And as they were spending some days
there, Festus laid the case of Paul before the king, saying: There is
a certain man left in bonds by Felix; (15)about whom, when I was at
Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews made
complaint, asking for judgment against him. (16)To whom I answered: It
is not a custom for Romans to give up any man, before the accused has
the accusers face to face, and has opportunity to answer for himself
concerning the crime laid against him.
(17)When, therefore, they had come together here, without any delay on
the morrow I sat on the judgment-seat, and commanded the man to be
brought forth; (18)and standing up around him, the accusers brought no
accusation of such things as I supposed; (19)but had certain
controversies with him concerning their own religion, and concerning a
certain Jesus who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. (20)And I,
being perplexed in regard to the dispute about these things, asked
whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged concerning them.
(21)But Paul having appealed, to be kept in custody for the decision
of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept until I shall send him up to
Caesar.
(22)And Agrippa said to Festus: I would also hear the man myself.
To-morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.
(23)On the morrow, therefore, Agrippa and Bernice having come with
great pomp, and entered into the place of hearing, with the chief
captains and principal men of the city, at Festus' command Paul was
brought forth. (24)And Festus said: King Agrippa, and all men who are
here present with us, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of
the Jews interceded with me, both at Jerusalem and here, Crying out
that he ought not to live any longer. (25)But having found that he had
committed nothing worthy of death, and he himself having appealed to
Augustus, I determined to send him. (26)Of whom I have nothing certain
to write to my lord. Wherefore I brought him forth before you, and
specially before thee, king Agrippa, in order that, the examination
having been made, I may have something to write. (27)For it seems to
me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not also signify the charges
against him.
XXVI.
AND Agrippa said to Paul: Thou art permitted to speak 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 before thee this day, concerning all things whereof I am
accused by Jews; (3)especially since thou art expert in all the
customs and questions among Jews. Wherefore I beseech thee to hear me
patiently.
(4)My manner of life, therefore, from my youth, which was from the
beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, all Jews know; (5)having
known me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that
according to the strictest sect of our religion, I lived a Pharisee.
(6)And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by
God to the fathers; (7)unto which our twelve tribes, earnestly serving
day and night, hope to attain; concerning which hope, O king, I am
accused by Jews.
(8)Why is it judged incredible with you, if God, raises the dead?
(9)I therefore thought to myself, that I ought to do many hostile
things against the name of Jesus the Nazarene. (10)Which I also did in
Jerusalem; and many of the saints did I myself shut up in prisons,
having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were
put to death, I gave my voice against them. (11)And punishing them
often, throughout all the synagogues, I constrained them to blaspheme;
and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them also unto
foreign cities.
(12)Whereupon, as I went to Damascus with authority and a commission
from the chief priests, (13)at midday, O king, I saw in the way a
light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining around me
and those who journeyed with me. (14)And we all having fallen to the
earth, I heard a voice speaking to me, and saying in the Hebrew
tongue: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to
kick against the goads. (15)And I said: Who art thou, Lord? And he
said: I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest. (16)But arise, and stand upon
thy feet; for I appeared to thee for this purpose, to appoint thee a
minister and a witness both of the things which thou sawest, and of
the things in which I will appear to thee; (17)delivering thee from
the people, and the Gentiles, to whom I send thee, (18)to open their
eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of
Satan unto God, that they may obtain forgiveness of sins, and an
inheritance among the sanctified, by faith in me.
(19)Wherefore, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly
vision; (20)but to those in Damascus first, and in Jerusalem, and unto
all the region of Judaea, and to the Gentiles, I announced that they
should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance.
(21)For these causes the Jews, seizing me in the temple, attempted to
kill me. (22)Having therefore obtained help from God, I continue unto
this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying nothing except
those things which the prophets and Moses said should come;
(23)whether the Christ should suffer, whether he, the first of the
resurrection from the dead, shall show light to the people and to the
Gentiles.
(24)And as he thus spoke for himself, Festus said with a loud voice:
Paul, thou art mad; much learning makes thee mad.
(25)But he said: I am not mad, most noble Festus; but utter words of
truth and soberness. (26)For the king knows well concerning these
things, to whom also I speak boldly; for I am persuaded that none of
these things are hidden from him; for this has not been done in a
corner. (27)King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that
thou believest.
(28)And Agrippa said to Paul: With little pains[26:28a] thou
persuadest[26:28b] me to become a Christian. (29)And Paul said: I
could pray God, that with little or much[26:29], not only thou, but
also all that hear me this day, may become such as I am, except these
bonds.
(30)And the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they who
sat with them. (31)And having withdrawn, they talked together, saying:
This man does nothing worthy of death or of bonds. (32)And Agrippa
said to Festus: This man could have been set at liberty, if he had not
appealed to Caesar.
XXVII.
AND when it was determined that we should sail to Italy, they
delivered Paul and certain other prisoners to a centurion named
Julius, of the Augustan band. (2)And entering into a ship of
Adramyttium, about to sail along the coasts of Asia, we put to sea,
Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us. (3)And on
the second day we landed at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul humanely,
and permitted him to go to his friends and receive their care. (4)And
thence having put to sea, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds
were contrary, (5)And having sailed over the sea along Cilicia and
Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia. (6)And there the
centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing to Italy; and he put us
on board of it. (7)And sailing slowly many days, and having come with
difficulty over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us to put
in[27:7], we sailed under Crete, over against Salmone; (8)and coasting
along it with difficulty, we came to a certain place called Fair
Havens, near to which was the city Lasa.
(9)And much time having been spent, and the voyage being now
dangerous, because also the fast had already passed by, Paul exhorted
them, (10)saying: Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with
violence and much loss, not only of the lading and the ship, but also
of our lives. (11)But the centurion believed the master and the owner
of the ship, more than the things spoken by Paul. (12)And as the haven
was not well situated for wintering, the greater number advised to
sail thence also, if by any means they might reach Phoenix, a haven of
Crete, looking toward the southwest and northwest, and there winter.
(13)And a south wind beginning to blow moderately, supposing that they
had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor, and coasted along
close by Crete. (14)But not long after, there struck against it a
tempestuous wind, called Euracylon. (15)And the ship being caught, and
unable to face the wind, we yielded to it, and were driven along.
(16)And running under a certain small island called Clauda, we were
hardly able to come by the boat; (17)which when they had taken up,
they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should
be cast away on the quicksand, they lowered the sail, and so were
driven.
(18)And we being violently tempest-tossed, the next day they lightened
the ship; (19)and the third day we cast out with our own hands the
tackling of the ship. (20)And neither sun nor stars appearing for many
days, and no small tempest lying on us, thenceforward all hope that we
should be saved was utterly taken away. (21)But after much abstinence,
then Paul, standing up in the midst of then, said: Sirs, ye should
have hearkened to me and not put to sea from Crete, and so have
escaped this violence and loss. (22)And now I exhort you to be of good
cheer; for there shall be no loss of life among you, but only of the
ship. (23)For there stood by me this night an angel of God, whose I
am, and whom I serve, (24)saying: Fear not, Paul; thou must stand
before Caesar; and, lo, God has given thee all those who sail with
thee. (25)Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer; for I believe God, that
it will be even so, as it has been told me. (26)But we must be cast
away upon a certain island.
(27)And when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven onward
in the Adriatic sea, about midnight the seamen suspected that they
were near to some country; (28)and sounding, they found twenty
fathoms; and having gone a little further, they sounded again, and
found fifteen fathoms. (29)Then fearing lest we should fall upon
rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for day.
(30)And as the seamen were seeking to flee out of the ship, and had
let down the boat into the sea, under color as if they were about to
extend anchors out of the foreship, (31)Paul said to the centurion and
to the soldiers: Except these abide in the ship, ye can not be saved.
(32)Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let it fall
off.
(33)And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take
food, saying: This day is the fourteenth day that ye have waited, and
continued fasting, having taken nothing. (34)Wherefore I pray you to
take food; for this is for your safety; for there shall not a hair
fall from the head of one of you.
(35)And having thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in
presence of them all; and having broken it, he began to eat. (36)Then
were they all of good cheer, and they also took food. (37)And we were
in all in the ship two hundred and seventy-six souls. (38)And when
they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, casting out the grain
into the sea.
(39)And when it was day, they knew not the land; but they perceived a
certain creek, having a beach, on which they determined, if they were
able, to drive the ship ashore. (40)And cutting the anchors entirely
away, they abandoned them to the sea, at the same time unfastening the
bands of the rudders; and hoisting the foresail to the wind, they made
toward the beach. (41)And falling into a place where two seas met,
they ran the ship aground; and the prow sticking fast remained
immovable, but the stern was broken by the violence of the waves.
(42)And it was the plan of the soldiers, that they should kill the
prisoners, lest any one should swim out, and escape. (43)But the
centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and
commanded that those who could swim should cast themselves first into
the sea and get to land, (44)and the rest, some on boards, and others
on some of the pieces from the ship. And so it came to pass, that all
escaped safe to land.
XXVIII.
AND having escaped, they then learned that the island is called
Melita. (2)And the barbarians showed us no little kindness; for they
kindled a fire, and received us all, because of the present rain, and
because of the cold.