commander of the soldiers that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. He at
once took some soldiers and officers and rushed down among them. When
they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. Then
the commander came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with
two chains, and inquired, "Who is he and what has he done?" Some of the
crowd shouted one thing, some another; and as the commander could not
learn the real truth on account of the uproar, he ordered Paul to be
taken to the castle. When Paul reached the steps, he had to be carried
by the soldiers on account of the violence of the crowd, for all the
people followed, shouting, "Kill him!"
Just as Paul was being taken into the castle, he said to the commander,
"May I say something to you?" The commander said: "Do you speak Greek?
Then you are not the Egyptian who some time ago started a rebellion and
led four thousand outlaws into the desert?" Paul answered, "I am a Jew,
of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of a great city. I beg of you, let me
speak to the people."
So when the commander had given him permission, Paul stood on the steps
and motioned with his hand to the people, and when there was a great
silence, he spoke to them in Hebrew: "Brothers, and fathers, listen to
the defense I now make before you." When they heard him speaking to them
in Hebrew they were all the more quiet; so he went on to say, "I am a
Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated
under Gamaliel in all the strictness of our law. I was as eager to serve
God as you all are to-day. I persecuted and even killed the followers of
Jesus. I bound and put in prison both men and women, as the high priest
himself and all the elders can testify.
"It was also from them that I had letters to our fellow Jews in
Damascus, and I was on my way to bring the Christians who were there
back to Jerusalem in chains for punishment. While I was on my way not
far from Damascus, suddenly, about noon, a bright light from heaven
shone around me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me,
'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?' 'Who art thou, Lord?' I asked. He
answered, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, the one whom you are persecuting.'
And I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to me, 'Rise, and
go to Damascus, and there it shall be told you what you are to do.' And
when I could not see because of the bright light, I went to Damascus,
led by the hand of those who were with me. And one Ananias, a religious
man, well thought of by the Jews, came and, standing beside me, said,
'Brother Saul, receive your sight,' and that very minute I received my
sight and saw him. And he said to me, 'The God of our fathers has chosen
you to know his will and to see the Righteous One. For you shall be his
witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.' And the Lord said
to me, 'Go, for I will send you far away to those who are not Jews.'"
Up to this time the people had listened to him, but when they heard
these words they shouted, "Away with such a fellow from the earth, for
he is not fit to live," and they threw off their clothes and flung dust
into the air until the commander ordered Paul to be taken into the
castle and examined, by flogging, to find out why the people had shouted
so against him. When they had tied him up with straps, Paul said to the
officer who was standing by, "Is it lawful for you to flog a Roman
citizen without trial?" When the officer heard this he reported it to
the commander and said: "Take care what you do, for this man is a Roman
citizen." Then the commander came to Paul and said, "Tell me, are you a
Roman citizen?" He said, "Yes." The commander answered, "I paid a large
sum for this citizenship"; and Paul said, "But I was born a Roman
citizen." The men who were to have examined him, at once left him. And
the commander, when he learned that Paul was a Roman citizen, was also
afraid because he had bound him.
The next day the commander, so as to find out just what charge the Jews
had made against Paul, unbound him and ordered the high priests and all
the members of the council to come together. Then they brought Paul down
and placed him before them. Paul, looking straight at the members of the
council, said: "Brothers, I have done my duty, with a clear conscience
before God, up to the present moment."
When Paul saw that some of the council were Sadducees and some
Pharisees, he cried out, "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees.
It is because of my hope that the dead will live again that I am on
trial!" When he said this a quarrel arose between the Pharisees and the
Sadducees, and there was a great difference of opinion among them. For
the Sadducees say that there is no life after death, nor angel, nor
spirit; but the Pharisees believe in all these; so there was a great
uproar. Some of the scribes who belonged to the party of the Pharisees
sprang to their feet and protested, "We find this man guilty of no
crime. What if some spirit or an angel has spoken to him?" When the
uproar became so great that the commander was afraid that Paul would be
torn in pieces by them, he ordered the troops to go down and take him
from among them by force and bring him into the castle.
The next night the Lord stood beside Paul and said, "Be of good cheer,
for as you have spoken for me at Jerusalem, so you must speak also at
Rome."
Early the next morning the Jews plotted together and solemnly promised
not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul, and there were more than
forty who made this promise. They went to the high priests and elders
and said, "We have made a solemn promise to taste no food until we have
killed Paul. Now you and the council must tell the commander that you
wish him to bring Paul down to you, as though you wanted to examine more
carefully the charges brought against him. We shall be ready to kill him
before he comes here."
But Paul's sister's son heard of their plot and went to the castle and
told Paul. And Paul called one of the officers and said, "Take this
young man to the commander, for he has something to tell him." So the
officer took him to the commander and said, "Paul the prisoner asked me
to bring this young man to you, for he has something to tell you." The
commander then took him by the hand, and after he had led him aside,
asked him privately, "What is it that you have to tell me?" He said,
"The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to-morrow to the
council pretending that they wish to examine his case more carefully.
Now do not grant their request, for more than forty are lying in wait
for him and have solemnly promised not to eat or drink until they have
killed him. Even now they are ready, only waiting for your consent."
The commander let the young man go, bidding him, "Tell no one that you
have informed me of this." Then he called two officers and said, "Get
ready two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen
by nine o'clock to-night to go as far as Caesarea." He also told them to
provide horses for Paul to ride on so as to bring him safely to Felix
the governor. So the soldiers, as they had been commanded, took Paul and
brought him by night to Antipatris. The next day the soldiers returned
to the castle, leaving the horsemen to go on with him. When they reached
Caesarea they brought Paul to the governor.
A PRISONER WHO PREACHED TO HIS JUDGES
Some days later Felix came with his wife, Drusilla, who was a Jewess,
and sent for Paul and heard what he had to say about the faith in Christ
Jesus. But when he talked about upright living, self-control, and the
future judgment, Felix became alarmed and said, "You may go for the
present; when I can find a convenient time I will send for you." All the
time Felix was hoping that Paul would give him money, and for this
reason he sent for him often and talked with him. But after two years
had passed Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, who, wishing to win
the favor of the Jews, left Paul in prison.
After Festus had been governor three days, he went up from Caesarea to
Jerusalem. Then the high priests and the leading Jews made charges to
him against Paul and begged Festus as a favor to send and have him
brought to Jerusalem, for they were plotting to kill him on the way. But
Festus answered that Paul would be kept in Caesarea and that he himself
was going there in a short time. "Therefore," he said, "let your leading
men go down with me and let them charge the man with whatever crime he
has committed." After staying eight or ten days in Jerusalem, Festus
went back to Caesarea.
The next day Festus took his place on the judgment seat and ordered
Paul to be brought in. When he came, the Jews who had come down from
Jerusalem surrounded him and brought many and serious charges against
him which they were unable to prove. In answer to them Paul said, "I
have committed no crime against the Jewish law or the Temple or the
Emperor."
But as Festus wished to win the favor of the Jews, he interrupted Paul
with the question, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and be tried
before me there on these charges?" Paul said, "I am standing before the
Emperor's judgment seat, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong
to the Jews, as you yourself very well know. If, however, I have broken
the law or have committed any crime that deserves death, I am willing to
die. But if there is no truth in any of their charges against me, then
no man has the right to give me up to them. I appeal to the Emperor!"
After talking with the council, Festus answered, "You have appealed to
the Emperor, to the Emperor you shall go."
After some days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea
to visit Festus. As they remained there for many days, Festus laid
Paul's case before the King. Agrippa said to Festus, "I should like to
hear the man myself." "You shall hear him to-morrow," said Festus. So
the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with much pomp to the court-room,
along with the commanders and the leading citizens; and at the command
of Festus Paul was brought in. And Agrippa said to Paul, "You have
permission to speak for yourself." At this Paul stretched out his hand
and began his defense: "I am happy, King Agrippa, that I am permitted
this day to defend myself before you against all the charges which the
Jews have brought against me, for you know all about the Jewish customs
and questions. So I beg of you to hear me patiently. All the Jews know
the kind of life I lived from my youth, among the men of my own nation
and in Jerusalem. As a Pharisee I lived according to the standards of
the strictest party in our religion. I indeed believed that it was my
duty to do all in my power to oppose the cause of Jesus of Nazareth.
This I did in Jerusalem. With authority from the high priests, I put
many of Jesus' followers in prison. When they were put to death, I voted
against them. In all the synagogues I often punished them and tried to
make them speak against the name of Jesus, and in my insane fury I
followed them even to distant cities.
"When I was travelling to Damascus on this business, with written
authority from the high priests, I saw, on the road in the middle of
the day, a light from heaven, more dazzling than the glare of the sun,
shining around me and those who were travelling with me. We fell to the
ground, and I heard a voice say to me in Hebrew, 'Saul, Saul, why do you
persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.' I asked,
'Who art thou, Lord?' and the Lord answered, 'I am Jesus whom you are
persecuting. Rise and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you so
as to appoint you my servant and a witness to what you have seen and to
the things that I will show you. I chose you from the Jews and the other
peoples to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, that they may turn
from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God, so that they may
receive forgiveness of their sins and a place among those who have given
themselves to me because they believe in me.' O, King Agrippa, I have
not disobeyed the heavenly vision. To this day I have had the help of
God and have stood firm and, without adding a single word beyond what
the prophets and Moses said would take place, I have testified to small
and great how the Christ was to suffer and to be the first to rise from
the dead and to proclaim the message of light not only to the Jews but
to all peoples."
When Paul said these words in his defense, Festus cried, "Paul, you are
mad! Your great learning is driving you insane!" But Paul said, "I am
not insane, most noble Festus, but I am speaking the sober truth. For
the King, to whom I can speak freely, knows about these things, for I am
sure that nothing escaped his notice, since this has not been done in a
corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do."
But Agrippa said to Paul, "With but little persuasion you would make me
a Christian!" Paul replied, "I pray to God that whether with little or
much not only you but also every one who hears me this day may become a
Christian as I am."
Then the King, together with the governor and Bernice and those who had
been sitting with them, rose and, when they were alone, they said to one
another, "This man has done nothing deserving of death or of
imprisonment." And Agrippa said to Festus, "This man might have been set
free if he had not appealed to the Emperor."
PAUL'S SHIPWRECK
When it was decided that we were to sail for Italy, Paul and certain
other prisoners were placed in charge of Julius, an officer of the
Emperor's regiment. We went on board a ship which was bound for the
seaports of Asia Minor. The next day we stopped at Sidon, where Julius
very kindly allowed Paul to visit his friends and be entertained by
them. Putting to sea again, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, for the
wind was against us. Then after sailing past Cilicia and Pamphylia, we
came to Myra in Lycia. There the officer found a ship from Alexandria
bound for Italy and put us on board. For many days we made slow progress
and it was only with great difficulty that we arrived off Cnidus. Then
as the wind was against us we sailed under the lee of Crete, opposite
Cape Salmone, and after coasting along with great difficulty came to a
place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea.
As our voyage had taken some time and sailing had become dangerous (for
it was already late in October) Paul warned them, saying, "Men, I see
that the voyage will mean serious injury and loss, not only to the cargo
and the ship but also to our own lives." But the officer paid more
attention to the captain and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul
said. As the harbor was not a good one in which to winter, most of them
advised putting to sea from there, hoping that they could get to
Phoenix (a safe harbor) so as to winter there.
When a light breeze from the south sprang up, they thought that they
could reach Phoenix. So, after lifting up the anchor, they ran close
along the coast of Crete: but in a short time a tempestuous wind called
a "Northeaster" beat down upon them. The ship was caught in it and was
unable to keep her head to the wind. So we had to give up and run before
it. Running under the lee of a little island called Cauda, we managed
with difficulty to haul in the ship's boat. After lifting it on board,
the men used ropes to bind together the lower part of the ship. As they
were afraid that they might run ashore on the African quicksands, they
lowered the sail and drifted. But as we were being terribly battered by
the storm, the next day the men began to throw out the ship's cargo. On
the third day, with their own hands, they threw overboard the ship's
tackle. For many days neither sun nor stars were seen and the heavy gale
continued, so at last all hope that we would be saved was given up.
When the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up among them
and said, "Men, you should have listened to me and not have sailed from
Crete, then you would have escaped this hardship and loss. But now I
urge you to cheer up, for there will be no loss of life, but only of
the ship. For last night, an angel of the God, to whom I belong and whom
I serve, stood beside me and said, 'Paul, have no fear, for you must
stand before the Emperor. God also has granted you the lives of all of
those who sail with you.' Therefore, men, cheer up! For I believe God
and am sure that it will be just as I have been told; but we will be
wrecked on a certain island."
When the fourteenth night came and we were drifting about in the
Adriatic Sea, the sailors about midnight thought that they were nearing
land. So they took soundings and found one hundred and twenty feet of
water; and when they had gone a little farther they found ninety feet.
Fearing that we might be wrecked on the rocks, they threw out four
anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight. The sailors wanted to
escape from the ship and had even lowered the boat into the sea,
pretending that they were going to lay out anchors from the bow, when
Paul said to the officer and to the soldiers, "Unless these men stay on
board, we cannot be saved." Then the soldiers cut the ropes which held
the boat and let her drift away.
Just before daybreak Paul begged them all to take some food, and said,
"This is the fourteenth day that you have been constantly on the watch,
taking little or no food. Take some food, then, I beg of you, because
this will keep you alive, for not one of you will lose even a hair from
his head." When he had said this, he took bread, and gave thanks to God
before them all, and he broke the bread and began to eat it. Then they
were all cheered up and they also took food. There were about
seventy-six of us on board. When they had eaten enough, they lightened
the ship by throwing the wheat into the sea.
When it was day they could not make out what land it was; but they saw
an inlet with a sandy beach on which they planned, if possible, to run
the ship ashore. So cutting away the anchors they left them in the sea.
At the same time unloosing the ropes which tied the rudders and hoisting
the foresail to the wind, they made for the beach; but coming to a place
where two seas met they ran the ship aground. The prow stuck fast and
could not be moved, but the stern began to break up under the beating of
the waves. Then the soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners for fear some
of them might swim ashore and escape. But as the officer wished to save
Paul, he kept them from carrying out their plan, and ordered those who
could swim to jump overboard and get first to the land; the rest
followed, some on planks and some on other things from the ship. In this
way they all got safely to land. After we had escaped we found that the
island was called Malta.
THE END OF PAUL'S LONG JOURNEY
The natives of the island showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a
fire and welcomed us all, because of the pouring rain and the cold. Now
Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and was laying it on the fire when
a poisonous snake, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand.
When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to
one another, "Surely this man is a murderer; although he has been saved
from the sea, justice will not let him live." But he shook the creature
off into the fire and was unhurt. They expected that he would at once
swell up or fall down dead; but after they had waited a long time and
saw that no harm had come to him, they changed their minds and said that
he was a god.
On the part of the island where we landed there was an estate belonging
to Publius the governor. He welcomed us and entertained us most
generously for three days. Now it happened that the father of Publius
was lying ill from fever and dysentery. So Paul went to see him and
prayed, and, laying his hands on him, cured him. After this the other
sick people in the island came and were cured. They also presented us
with many gifts, and when we sailed, they put on board everything we
needed.
After three months we set sail on a ship from Alexandria called "The
Twin Brothers," which had wintered at the island. We put in at Syracuse,
and remained there three days. Then we tacked around and came to
Rhegium. The next day a south wind sprang up, and we arrived on the
following day at Puteoli, where we found Christian brothers who asked us
to spend a week with them, and so we reached Rome.
The brothers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Market
of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he
thanked God and took courage.
When we reached Rome, Paul received permission to live by himself with
the soldier who guarded him. Three days after our arrival, Paul invited
the leading Jews to meet him and said to them, "Brothers, although I
have done nothing against the Jewish law or the customs of our fathers,
I was handed over as a prisoner from Jerusalem to the Romans, who, when
they had examined me, were willing to set me free, for I was innocent of
any crime deserving of death. But the Jews objected; so I was forced to
appeal to the Emperor--not that I had any charge to bring against my
nation. This is the reason why I have asked to see you and speak with
you, for it is on account of Israel's hope that I am bound."
They replied, "We have received no letters about you from Judea nor has
any brother come here with any bad report or statement about you; but we
wish to hear from you what you teach, for we know that the Christian
sect is everywhere attacked." So they fixed a day and many of them came
to him to the place where he was staying. Then from morning until
evening he explained his teachings and told them about the Kingdom of
God, and tried to lead them to believe in Jesus by proofs from the law
of Moses and from the prophets. Some believed what he taught and others
would not believe. When they could not agree among themselves they
departed after Paul had said to them: "Well did the Holy Spirit say to
your fathers through the prophet Isaiah:
"'Go to this people and say to them,
You will hear and hear but never understand,
You will look and look but never see;
For this people's mind is stupid,
And their ears are too dull to hear,
And they have closed their eyes,
To keep them from seeing with their eyes,
Or hearing with their ears,
Or understanding with their minds,
And turning back that I may heal them.'
"Remember, therefore, that this opportunity to be saved, that God has
given you, is given to other peoples, and they will listen to it."
For two whole years Paul lived in his own hired house. He welcomed all
who came to him, and preached the Kingdom of God, and taught about the
Lord Jesus Christ openly, no one stopping him.
PAUL'S LAST WORDS TO HIS FRIENDS
Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ, to all of Christ's followers
in Philippi, as well as to the ministers and their helpers. May love
and peace be granted you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I hope, if the Lord permits, to send Timothy to you before long, that I
too may be cheered by news about you. I have no other like him who will
take a genuine interest in you, for every one is looking out for his own
interests, not those of Christ Jesus. But you know how Timothy has stood
the test, how like a son working with his father he has served with me
in spreading the good news. So I hope to send him shortly, as soon as I
see how it will go with me; though I am confident, if the Lord permits,
that I myself will come to you before long.
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I say, rejoice. Let all know that you
are patient. Do not be anxious, but always make your requests known to
God in earnest prayer and thanksgiving; so shall the peace of God, which
is beyond all human understanding, keep guard over your hearts and your
minds in union with Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is
just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good report,
if there be any virtue or anything worthy of praise, consider the value
of these things. Practise also what you have learned and received and
heard and seen in me, and then the God of peace will be with you.
It is a great joy to me as a Christian brother to know that you are
again thoughtful of me. Indeed, you have always been thoughtful, but you
did not have an opportunity to show it. Not that I speak of want, for I
have learned, wherever I am, to be content. I know how to live simply; I
know, too, how to live in prosperity. I have learned in all things the
secret of being content, both when I have plenty and when I am hungry,
when I am in prosperity and when I am in want. I can do everything
through Christ who strengthens me.
But you acted nobly in sharing my affliction. Even when I was in
Thessalonica, more than once you sent money for my needs. It is not the
gift I am seeking, but the growing reward that is to your credit! I have
enough of everything, and more than enough. I am fully supplied by what
I received from you through Epaphroditus. It is like fragrant incense, a
sacrifice acceptable and well pleasing to God. My God will supply your
every need out of his glorious wealth in Christ Jesus. Now to God our
Father be glory forever and ever.