been given him by Paul'; 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 high-priest, and the chief of the Jews, brought an accusa3 tion 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 might de4 stroy him on the way. But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Cæsarea, and that he himself would shortly 5 depart thither. "Let such, therefore, among you," saith he, ❝ as can be accusers, go down with me, and accuse [this] 6 man, if there be any thing amiss in him." And when he had passed among them not more than eight or ten days 4, he went down to Cæsarea; and the next day sat on the 7 judgement-seat, and commanded Paul to be brought. And when he appeared, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood round about, and brought many and heavy accusations [against Paul], which they could not prove; 8 while he made his defence, saying, "Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Cæsar, 9 have 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 1 that he might loose him, R. T. and N. 2 Or, "Now when Festus came into the province, after three days," &c. 3 chief-priests, Mss. 4 more than ten days, R. T. 5 came, N. go." 12 give me up to gratify them. I appeal to Cæsar." Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, "Hast thou appealed to Cæsar? to Cæsar thou shalt 13 And after some days king Agrippa and Bernicè came to 14 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 by Felix: 15 concerning whom', when I was at Jerusalem, the chiefpriests and the elders of the Jews laid an information, de16 siring 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 17 the crime laid to his charge. When therefore they were come hither, without making any delay, I sat on the judgement-seat the day after, and commanded the man to be 18 brought against whom when his accusers stood up, they 19 brought no accusation of such things as I supposed: but had against him some questions about their own religion, and about one Jesus who died, but whom Paul affirmed to 20 be alive. And because I was doubtful about an inquiry into this matter, I asked Paul whether he was willing to go to 21 Jerusalem, and there to be judged about these things. But when Paul had appealed to be reserved to the determination of the August Emperor, I commanded him to be kept 22 till I could send him to Cæsar." Then Agrippa said to Festus, "I myself also desire to hear the man:" "Tomorrow," saith he, "thou shalt hear him.” 23 On the morrow therefore, when Agrippa was come, and Bernicè, with great pomp, and they had entered into the place of hearing, together with the commanders and principal men of the city, at the command of Festus, Paul 24 was brought. Then Festus saith, "King Agrippa, and all ! about whom, N. 2 such matters, Mss. and N. that are here present with us, ye see this man, concerning whom' all the multitude of the Jews have applied to me, both at Jerusalem, and here also, crying out that he ought 25 not to live any longer. But I having found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and he himself having appealed to the August Emperor, I have determined to send 26 [him]. Of whom I have nothing certain to write to our Sovereign. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and especially before thee, king Agrippa, that, after 27 examination, I may have somewhat to write. For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not to sig nify the charges also made against him.” 8 CH. XXVI. Upon this Agrippa said to Paul, “Thou art permitted to speak for thyself." Then Paul stretched forth his hand, and made his defence: 2 “I think myself happy, king Agrippa, that I shall make my defence this day before thee, concerning all the things 3 of which I am accused by the Jews: because thou very well knowest all the customs and questions which are among the Jews. Wherefore I beseech [thee] to hear me patiently. 4"All the Jews know my manner of life from my youth, which was passed from the beginning among mine own na5 tion at Jerusalem: and these have knowledge of me from the first, (if they be willing to testify,) that according to the 6 strictest sect of our religion, I lived a Pharisee. And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise which 7 God made to our fathers: unto which promise our twelve tribes, serving God with earnestness day and night, hope to come: concerning which hope, O king [Agrippa], I am ac8 cused by the Jews. What? is it esteemed among you a thing incredible, that God should raise the dead? 4 9 "I indeed thought with myself, that I ought to do many 10 things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth: which 1 about whom, N. 2 Or, conferred with me, N. m. 3 might, N. 4 "our" omitted in R. T. 5 Why is it? N. 10 things I did also in Jerusalem: and many of the saints I shut up in prisons, having received authority from the chiefpriests; and, when they were put to death, I gave my vote 11 against them: and I punished them often in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and, being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even to fo12 reign cities. At which time [also,] as I was going to Damascus, with authority and commission from the chief13 priests, at mid-day, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, which shone round 14 about me and those who journeyed with me. And, when we were all 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 15 goads.' And I said, 'Who art thou, Sir?' And he said, 16I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest. But rise, and stand 1 on thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to appoint thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those in which I will appear 17 unto thee; delivering thee from the people of the Jews; and 18 from the gentiles, unto whom I now send thee, to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God; that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among those that are sanctified, by faith in me.' 19 * "Wherefore, king Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the 20 heavenly vision: but declared first to those in Damascus, and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judea, and then to the gentiles, that they should repent and turn 21 to God, doing works worthy of repentance. For these causes the Jews seized me in the temple, and attempted to kill me. * Satan; i. e. error and sin personified, as the expressions in this verse show. Sn. Simpson's Ess. p. 139. 22 "Having therefore obtained help from God, to this day, I continue witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which both the prophets and Moses 23 spake of as about to come: that Christ should suffer'; and that he, being the first who rose from the dead, should announce light to the people of the Jews, and to the gentiles." 24 And as he was thus making his defence, Festus said with a loud voice, "Paul, thou art mad: `much learning driveth 25 thee to madness." Then Paul saith, "I am not mad, most excellent Festus; but utter the words of truth and of a 26 sound mind. For the king knoweth of these things, before whom therefore I speak freely. For I am persuaded that none of these things is hidden from him: for this was 27 not done in a corner. King Agrippa, believest thou the 28 prophets? I know that thou believest them." Then Agrip 2 pa [said] to Paul, “Thou almost persuadest me to be29 come a Christian." And Paul [said,] "I would to God, that not thou only, but all likewise that hear me this day, were almost and even altogether such as I am, except 30 these bonds." Then the king rose up, and the governor 31 also, and Bernicè, and those who sat with them. And when they had gone aside, they spake among themselves, saying, "This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of 32 bonds." And Agrippa said to Festus, "This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed to Cæsar." CH. XXVII. Now when it was determined that we should sail to Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were delivered to 2 a centurion of the Augustan band, named Julius. Then we entered into a ship of Adramyttium, and loosed, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; Aristarchus, a Mace3 donian of Thessalonica, being with us. And the next day we arrived at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul humanely, and gave him liberty to go to his friends, to be taken care 1 Or, that the Christ should be a suffering one. N. m. 2 before whom I even |
