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29 citizenship." And Paul said, "But I was free-born." Then those who were about to examine him by scourging, immediately left him: and the commander also was afraid when he knew that Paul was a Roman citizen, and that he had bound him.

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And on the morrow, desiring to know the certainty why Paul was accused by the Jews, he unbound him', and commanded the chief-priests and all the council to assemble, and brought Paul down, and set him before them. CH. XXIII. And when Paul had earnestly looked on the council, he said, "Brethren, I have always conducted myself 2 with a good conscience before God, even to this day." And the high-priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him, 3 to smite him on the mouth. Then Paul said unto him, "God will smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me according to the law, and yet commandest me to be smit4 ten contrary to the law?" And those who stood by, said, 5 "Revilest thou God's high-priest?" Then Paul said, “I knew not, brethren, that he was the high-priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy peo6 ple." And when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, "Brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee3: concerning the hope, and the resurrection, of the dead 7 I am now judged." And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and 8 the multitude was divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel or spirit; but the Pharisees 9 confess both. And there was a great cry: and the scribes that were on the part of the Pharisees arose and strove, saying, "We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an 10 angel have spoken to him, it is well." And when there

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1 loosed him from his chains, R. T. and N. 2 their whole council, R. T. 3 of Pharisees, Mss. and N. 4 "Let us not fight against God." R.T. These words are wanting in the best copies. See a like aposiopesis Matt. xv. 6; Luke xiii. 9. See Newcome and Griesbach.

was a great disturbance, the commander feared lest Paul should be torn in pieces by them; and commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among 11 them, and to bring him into the castle. And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, "Take courage1; for as thou hast testified the things concerning me at Jerusalem, so must thou testify at Rome also."

12 And when it was day, the Jews' combined together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would 13 neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. And they 14 were more than forty that had made this conspiracy. And

they came near to the chief-priests and the elders, and said, "We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we 15 will taste nothing until we have killed Paul. Now therefore ye and the council signify to the commander, that he bring Paul down unto you [on the morrow], as if ye would inquire more exactly into the things concerning him: and we, before he come near you, will be ready to destroy him." And when the son of Paul's sister heard of their lying in wait, he 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 commander: for he hath 18 somewhat to tell him." So the centurion took him, and

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brought him to the commander, and saith, "Paul the prisoner called me to him, and desired me to bring this young 19 man to thee, who hath somewhat to say unto thee." Then the commander took him by the hand, and went aside with him privately, and asked him, "What is it, which thou hast 20 to tell me?" And he said, "The Jews have agreed to desire thee, that thou wouldest bring down Paul to-morrow into the council, as if they would more exactly inquire 21 somewhat concerning him. But do not thou yield to them:

Take courage, Paul, R. T. and N.

some of the Jews, R. T.

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 22 now ready, looking for a promise from thee." So the commander let the young man depart, and charged him, "Take care to inform 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 third hour of 24 the night: and provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on one of them, and convey him safe to Felix the governor.' 25 And he wrote a letter after this manner: "Claudius Lysias 26 to the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting. I 27 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 understood that he was a Roman citizen, 28 and desiring to know the cause why they accused him, I 29 brought him down into their council: whom I perceived to

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be accused concerning questions of their law; but to have 30 no accusation worthy of death, or of bonds. And when it

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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."

Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, 32 and brought him by night to Antipatris: and on the morrow they returned to the castle, having left the horsemen to 33 go with him: who, when they came to Cæsarea, and delivered the letter to the governor, presented Paul also be34 fore him. And when he had read the letter, he asked of 35 what province Paul was. And when he understood that he

1 a band of soldiers, N. See Bishop Pearce.

the governor, R. T. and N.

35 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 before 2 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 3 thy prudence, always, and in all places; we accept them, 4 most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness. But that I

may not trouble thee too far, I beseech thee to hear us, of 5 thy goodness, a few words'. For we have found this man a pestilent one, and a mover of insurrection among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of 6 the Nazarenes: who hath attempted to profane the temple also: whom we seized, [and wished to judge according to 7 our law; but the commander Lysias came upon us, and 8 with great violence took him away out of our hands, having commanded his accusers to come unto thee:] and by examining him, thou thyself mayest gain knowledge of all 9 those things whereof we accuse him." And the Jews also 10 assented, saying 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 nation, I the more cheerfully make2 my de11 fence: it being in thy power to know that there are but 12 twelve days since 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 people3, either in the syna13 gogues, or in the city: nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me.

'Or," But that I may not any longer detain thee, I beseech thee of thy goodness to hear us in few words." "I cheerfully make, Mss. • Or, nor causing a tumultuous assembling of a multitude.

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"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 the 15 prophets: and having hope toward God, which they themselves also admit, that there will be a resurrection [of the 16 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 na18 tion, and offerings. At which time certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple; but not with a mul19 titude, nor with tumult: who ought to have been here before thee, and to have accused me, if they had any thing 20 against me. Or let these themselves say what crime they 21 found in me, while I stood before the council; 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.''

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Then Felix deferred them3, and said, "Having obtained more exact knowledge of that religion, when Lysias the commander shall come down, I will determine your 23 matter." And he commanded a centurion that he 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 con25 cerning belief in Christ. And as he discoursed of justice, and temperance, and the judgement to come, Felix was struck with fear, and answered, "Depart, for the present; and, when I have a convenient time, I will send for thee." 26 He hoped also at the same time that money would have

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1 and to make mine offerings, N. if they have found any crime, R. T. 3 And
when Felix heard these things he deferred them, R. T.
4 Gr. way.
Paul, R. T. and N. 6 Or, continence, N. in.

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