Thematic Bible




Thematic Bible



Paul replied, I am a Jew of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of that famous city: and I beg you would give me leave to speak to the people: which being granted,


as they were busy upon his execution, news came to the commander of the cohort, that the whole city was in an uproar. immediately he headed a detachment, with his centurions, and march'd briskly to them; who, upon seeing the officer and his men, left off beating Paul. the commander advanc'd, seiz'd him, and order'd to load him with two chains: then demanded who he was, and what he had done. read more.
in the hubbub some cry'd one thing, some another: so that not being able to get any information for the tumult, he order'd him to be carried to the castle. as he was mounting the stairs, the soldiers bore him up thro' the violence of the people, who were all pressing after, roaring out, "away with him." just as he was entring into the castle, Paul said to the officer, may I be favour'd with a word? you can speak Greek then, said he? are not you the Egyptian, who lately made an insurrection at the head of four thousand banditti in the desart? Paul replied, I am a Jew of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of that famous city: and I beg you would give me leave to speak to the people: which being granted, Paul then standing upon the stairs made a sign with his hand to the people, who being very silent, he rais'd his voice, and thus address'd them in the Hebrew tongue:

thus they roar'd, and threw off their cloaks, and scatter'd dust in the air: when the commanding officer order'd him to be brought into the castle, and put to the question by the lash, in order to find out the reason of their exclamations against him. as they were tying him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion, does the law allow to scourge a Roman citizen, and without any trial? read more.
upon hearing that, the centurion went to acquaint the head officer, take care, said he, what you do; for this man is a Roman. then the head officer came to him, and said, tell me, are you a Roman? he answer'd, yes. the officer rejoin'd, my freedom cost me a considerable sum. but I had it, said Paul, by right of birth. immediately those who were going to put him to the question, withdrew: the commander himself being under some apprehension for having order'd him to be bound. as he was resolv'd to know for certain, the next day, what the Jews laid to his charge, he took off his chains, and summon'd the chief priests, and the council to appear, when Paul was brought, and presented before them.


then he said, I am a Jew, a native of Tarsus in Cilicia, but had my education in this city: at the feet of Gamaliel I was instructed in the law, and in the exact decisions of our fathers, and was as religiously zealous as you are at this time.

Paul replied, I am a Jew of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of that famous city: and I beg you would give me leave to speak to the people: which being granted,

and the Lord said unto him, arise, and go to the street called Straight, and enquire at the house of Judas, for one Saul of Tarsus: for he is there at prayer.


the commander advanc'd, seiz'd him, and order'd to load him with two chains: then demanded who he was, and what he had done. in the hubbub some cry'd one thing, some another: so that not being able to get any information for the tumult, he order'd him to be carried to the castle. as he was mounting the stairs, the soldiers bore him up thro' the violence of the people, who were all pressing after, read more.
roaring out, "away with him." just as he was entring into the castle, Paul said to the officer, may I be favour'd with a word? you can speak Greek then, said he? are not you the Egyptian, who lately made an insurrection at the head of four thousand banditti in the desart? Paul replied, I am a Jew of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of that famous city: and I beg you would give me leave to speak to the people: which being granted, Paul then standing upon the stairs made a sign with his hand to the people, who being very silent, he rais'd his voice, and thus address'd them in the Hebrew tongue:

My brethren, and fathers, pray hear what I have to say for my self. when they perceiv'd he talk'd Hebrew, they were the more silent. then he said, I am a Jew, a native of Tarsus in Cilicia, but had my education in this city: at the feet of Gamaliel I was instructed in the law, and in the exact decisions of our fathers, and was as religiously zealous as you are at this time. read more.
for I persecuted this sect even to death, throwing them into chains and prisons both men and women: this the high-priest and the senate know too well: from them I receiv'd my warrant directed to the Jews of Damascus, where I went, to bring the converts there in chains to Jerusalem, in order to be punished. as I was upon the road, advanc'd near Damascus, about mid-day, all of a sudden a great light from heaven broke all around me. I fell to the ground, and heard a voice pronounce these words, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" I answered, who art thou, Lord? it answered, "I am Jesus the Nazarene whom thou dost persecute." the company actually saw the light, but did not hear the voice of him that spoke to me. then I said, Lord, what must I do? and the Lord answer'd, arise, go to Damascus; there you will be inform'd what you are to do. but as I had lost the use of my eyes by the splendor of that light, I was led by the hand to Damascus, by those who were with me. there one Ananias a religious observer of the law, who had the good word of all the Jews in that place, came to see me, and being introduc'd, he said, brother Saul, receive thy sight. and instantly I saw him. then he said, the God of our fathers has singled you out to be acquainted with his will, to see the just one, and to hear the words of his mouth: that you might testify to all men, what you have seen and heard. why should you now delay? arise, be baptized, and cleansed from your sins, by invoking the name of the Lord. at length being return'd to Jerusalem, one day as I was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance. then I saw JESUS, who said to me, "make haste, and go out of Jerusalem immediately: for they will not receive the attestations you would give of me." Lord, said I, they know it is I that imprison'd those who believed on thee, and caus'd them to be scourg'd in the assemblies: that I was present, when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, that I abetted the slaughter, and watch'd the clothes of those who slew him. but the Lord said to me, "be gone, for I will send you far hence, even to the Gentiles."


her masters finding they had lost such a prospect of gain, seized upon Paul and Silas, and hawl'd them to the publick place before the magistrates. having presented them to the Officers, they said, these men, who are Jews, raise great disorders in our city, and preach such maxims, as it is not lawful for Romans, as we are, to admit or practise. read more.
upon this the populace rose upon them, and the Officers order'd them to be stript and scourg'd. after they had been severely lash'd, they were thrown into prison, the jayler being charg'd to keep them safe. in consequence of this order he thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. At midnight Paul and Silas went to prayers, and sang praises to God, which the other prisoners heard: when all of a sudden there was such a great earthquake, that the foundations of the prison were shaken: immediately all the doors opened, and the setters dropp'd from the prisoners. the jayler waking, and seeing the prison-doors open, drew his sword, designing to dispatch himself from the apprehension that the prisoners had escaped. but Paul call'd to him aloud, and said, do thy self no harm, for we are all here. then having called for a light, he ran in, and with trembling fell down before Paul and Silas; and bringing them out, he said, sirs, what must I do to be saved? believe, said they, on the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you, and your family. then they declared the word of the Lord to him, and to all his family. at the same time of night he washed their stripes, and immediately he was baptized, he, and all that belong'd to him. then he conducted them to his house, and gave them an entertainment; and he and his family were affected with joy, for having believed in God. When it was day the officers sent their serjeants to bid the jayler let the men go. so the jayler told Paul, the magistrates had order'd them to be discharg'd. depart then, said he, and go in peace. but Paul replied, they have publickly scourg'd us, who are Romans, without any trial, they have thrown us into jayl, and now do they give us a private discharge? no, let them come themselves and release us. the serjeants having reported what he said, to their officers, they began to be apprehensive upon hearing they were Romans. so they came, and by persuasions brought them out, and desired them to leave the city. then they quitted the prison, and went to Lydia's house, where finding the brethren, they gave them an exhortation, and departed.

The seven days being almost expir'd, the Asiatic Jews seeing him in the temple, rais'd a tumult, and fell upon him, bawling out, "men of Israel, help: this is the man that every where inveighs upon all occasions against the people, against the law, and against this place, where they have brought Greeks too to profane this holy place." (for having seen Trophimus an Ephesian with him in the city, they imagin'd Paul had conducted him into the temple.) read more.
the whole city was in an uproar, the people crouded together: they seized Paul, dragg'd him out of the temple, and then shut the gates. as they were busy upon his execution, news came to the commander of the cohort, that the whole city was in an uproar. immediately he headed a detachment, with his centurions, and march'd briskly to them; who, upon seeing the officer and his men, left off beating Paul. the commander advanc'd, seiz'd him, and order'd to load him with two chains: then demanded who he was, and what he had done. in the hubbub some cry'd one thing, some another: so that not being able to get any information for the tumult, he order'd him to be carried to the castle. as he was mounting the stairs, the soldiers bore him up thro' the violence of the people, who were all pressing after, roaring out, "away with him." just as he was entring into the castle, Paul said to the officer, may I be favour'd with a word? you can speak Greek then, said he? are not you the Egyptian, who lately made an insurrection at the head of four thousand banditti in the desart? Paul replied, I am a Jew of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of that famous city: and I beg you would give me leave to speak to the people: which being granted, Paul then standing upon the stairs made a sign with his hand to the people, who being very silent, he rais'd his voice, and thus address'd them in the Hebrew tongue:


then he said, I am a Jew, a native of Tarsus in Cilicia, but had my education in this city: at the feet of Gamaliel I was instructed in the law, and in the exact decisions of our fathers, and was as religiously zealous as you are at this time.

Paul replied, I am a Jew of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of that famous city: and I beg you would give me leave to speak to the people: which being granted,

and the Lord said unto him, arise, and go to the street called Straight, and enquire at the house of Judas, for one Saul of Tarsus: for he is there at prayer.