coming unto me, and standing over me, said - Saul, brother! look up. And, I, in that very hour, looked up on him.

and he said, 'The God of our forefathers has appointed you to learn His will and to see the Righteous One and to hear Him speak,

Because thou shalt be a witness to him unto all men, of the things which thou hast seen and heard.

and saw him, saying unto me - Haste thee, and go forth speedily out of Jerusalem, inasmuch as they will not accept thy witness concerning me.

And, when the blood of Stephen thy witness was being shed, even I myself, was standing by, and approving, and guarding the mantles of them who were slaying him.

And they hearkened unto him as far as this word, and lifted up their voice, saying - Away from the earth, with such a man as this, for it is not fit that he should live.

the captain ordered him to be brought into the castle, saying, that, with scourging, he should be put to the test, - that he might find out, for what cause they were, thus, clamouring against him.

But, when they had stretched him out with straps, Paul said unto the by-standing centurion - A Roman, and uncondemned, is it allowed you to be scourging?

And when the centurion heard it, he went to the chief captain and told him, saying, What art thou about to do? for this man is a Roman.

And the captain, coming up, said to him - Tell me! Art, thou, a, Roman? And, he, said - Yea!

Straightway, therefore, they who were about to put him to the test, withdrew from him; and, even the captain, was struck with fear, when he found out he was, a Roman, and because, him, he had bound.

But, on the morrow, being minded to get to know the certainty as to why he was being accused by the Jews, he released him, and ordered the High-priests and all the High-council to come together; and, bringing down Paul, set him before them.

And, the High-priest, Ananias, ordered them that stood by him, to be smiting him on the mouth.

Then, Paul, unto him, said - God is about to be smiting thee, thou whited wall! Dost, thou, then sit to judge me according to the law, and, unlawfully, orderest me to be smitten?

The people standing near him said, "Do you mean to insult God's high priest?"

And there arose a great outcry, and certain of the Scribes of the party of the Pharisees, standing up, began to strive, saying - Nothing bad, find we in this man; - but, if a spirit hath spoken unto him, or a messenger --

And, great dissension arising, the captain, fearing lest Paul would be torn in pieces by them, ordered the troop to go down, and take him by force out of their midst, to bring him into the castle.

But, on the following night, the Lord, standing over him, said - Be of good courage! for, as thou hast fully borne witness of the things concerning me in Jerusalem, so must thou, in Rome also, bear witness.

Now, therefore, do, ye, with the High-council, make it appear unto the captain, that he should bring him down unto you, as though about to ascertain more exactly the things that concern him; and, we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.

But Paul's sister's son heard of the intended attack upon him. So he came and went into the barracks and told Paul about it;

And Paul, calling unto him one of the centurions, said - This young man, lead thou away unto the captain, for he hath somewhat to report unto him.

He, therefore, taking him with him, brought him unto the captain, and saith - The prisoner Paul, calling me unto him, requested me to bring this young man unto thee, as having somewhat to tell thee.

And the captain, taking him by the hand, and going aside, began, privately, to ask - What is it which thou hast to report unto me?

And he said - The Jews, have agreed to request thee, that, to-morrow, thou wouldst bring, Paul, down into the High-council, as though about to ascertain something, more exact, concerning him.

Thou, therefore, do not be persuaded by them, for there are lying in wait for him, from among them, more than forty men, - who, indeed, have bound themselves under a curse, neither to eat nor drink, till they have killed him; and, now, are they ready, awaiting the promise, from thee.

the captain, therefore, dismissed the young man, charging him - Unto no one, divulge thou, that, these things, thou hast shewed unto me.

And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night;

beasts also provide, in order that, seating Paul thereon, they may bring him safely through unto Felix the governor.

To him he wrote a letter, somewhat as follows--

This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman.

And, being minded to find out the cause for which they were accusing him, I took him down into their High-council,

whom I found to be accused of questions of their law, but to have no charge laid against him making him worthy of death or of bonds.

But, when I was informed there would be a plot against the man, forthwith, I sent him unto thee, charging, his accusers also, to be speaking against him before thee.

So the soldiers, according to their orders, taking up Paul, brought him by night unto Antipatris;

and, on the morrow, leaving the horsemen to go on with him, returned to the castle, -

and the others, entering into Caesarea, and delivering the letter unto the governor, set, Paul also, before him.

And when he had read the letter, he inquired to what province he belonged. And learning that he was from Cilicia, he said: I will hear you when your accusers also have come. And he ordered him to be kept under guard in Herod's palace.

I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's judgment hall.

Five days later, the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a prosecuting attorney, Tertullus, and through him they presented their case against Paul before the governor.

And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence,

He even tried to desecrate the temple, so we apprehended him [and wanted to judge him according to our law.

But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands,

from whom thou shall be able, thyself, by making examination concerning all these things, to ascertain the things of which, we, are accusing him.

And the Jews united in accusing him, saying that these things were so.

And Paul answered, when the governor had motioned him to be speaking, - Well knowing thee to have been, for many years, judge unto his nation, cheerfully, as to the things concerning myself, do I make defence;

giving orders unto the centurion, that he should be kept, and have a measure of liberty, and to be hindering, none, of his own from waiting upon him.

And, after certain days, Felix having arrived, with Drusilla his own wife, who was, a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith, respecting Christ Jesus.

But, while Paul was speaking at length about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became terrified, and interrupted him--"Go for the present, but, when I find an opportunity, I will send for you again."

at the same time, also hoping that, money, would be given him by Paul; wherefore also, the more frequently sending for him, he used to converse with him.

offer'd him mony in order to obtain his discharge. but two years after he was succeeded by Porcius Festus, who to oblige the Jews left Paul under confinement.

and the High-priest and chiefs of the Jews laid information before him against Paul, and began to beseech him

asking for themselves as a favour against him, that he would send for him unto Jerusalem, - making, an ambush, to kill him on the way.

They, therefore, among you (saith he) who are in power, let them go down with me; and, if there is in the man, anything amiss, let them accuse him.

Having staid above eight, nay ten days, he went to Cesarea, and on the morrow mounting the tribunal, he order'd Paul to be brought before him.

And, when he presented himself, the Jews who, from Jerusalem, had come down, stood round about him, many and grievous charges, bringing against him , which they were not able to prove, -

but Festus willing to oblige the Jews ask'd him, will you consent to go to Jerusalem, and take your trial before me there?

Now several days later, Agrippa [II] the king and Bernice [his sister] arrived at Caesarea and paid their respects to Festus [the new governor].

While they stayed there [with him] for many days, Festus discussed Paul's case with the king, saying, "There is this man [named Paul] who was left in custody by Felix.

concerning whom, when I happened to be in Jerusalem, the High-priests and the Elders of the Jews laid information, claiming against him a condemnation:

To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.

Concerning him, the accusers stood up and brought no charge of the sort I was expecting.

but, certain questions concerning their own demon-worship, had they against him, and concerning one Jesus, who had died, whom Paul was affirming to be alive.

Since I was at a loss in a dispute over such things, I asked him if he wished to go to Jerusalem and be tried there concerning these matters.

But, Paul, having appealed to be kept for the decision of the Emperor, I ordered him to be kept, until I could send him up unto Caesar.

And, Agrippa, said unto Festus - I could wish, myself also, to hear, the man. To-morrow, (saith he) thou shalt hear him.

And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men who are here present with us, ye see this person, concerning whom all the multitude of the Jews applied to me both in Jerusalem and here, crying out against him that he ought not to live any longer.

But, I, gathered, that, nothing worthy of death, had he committed; and, this man himself, having appealed unto the Emperor, I decided to send him: -

Concerning whom, anything certain to write unto my lord, I have not; wherefore, I have brought him forth before you, - and especially before thee, King Agrippa! in order that, after examination had, I might have something I could write;

For, unreasonable, unto me, it seemeth, when sending a prisoner, not also, the accusations against him, to signify.

the promise our 12 tribes hope to attain as they earnestly serve Him night and day. King Agrippa, I am being accused by the Jews because of this hope.

As Paul made his defense in this way, Festus said to him loudly, "Paul, you are crazy. All your education is driving you insane."

For well-knoweth, the king, concerning these things, unto whom, with boldness of utterance, am I speaking; for, that these things are not hidden from him, I am well persuaded, - for, not in a corner, hath this thing been done.

Then the king, the governor, Bernice, and those who were sitting with him got up.

and, on the next day, we put into Zidon, - and Julius, treating Paul, kindly, gave him leave to go unto his friends and refresh himself;

But when Paul had got some sticks together and put them on the fire, a snake came out, because of the heat, and gave him a bite on the hand.

When the local people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “This man is probably a murderer, and though he has escaped the sea, Justice does not allow him to live!”

Then he shook the reptile from him into the fire, and suffered no harm.

whereas, they, were expecting, that he was about to become inflamed, or to fall down suddenly dead; - but, when they had been long expecting, and had observed, nothing unusual, happening unto him, they changed their minds, and began to say he was a god.

And it so happened that, the father of Publius, with feverish heats and dysentery distressed, was lying prostrate: unto whom Paul entering in and praying, laid his hands on him, and healed him.

Because this cure was performed, the rest of the sick people on the island kept coming to him and by degrees were cured.

And, when we entered into Rome, Paul was suffered to abide by himself, with the soldier that guarded him.

Three days later, he invited the leading men of the Jews to come to see him, and when they came, he said to them, "Brothers, I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our forefathers; yet at Jerusalem I was turned over to the Romans as a prisoner.

For these reasons, then, I have invited you here, that I might see you and speak to you; for it is for the sake of Him who is the hope of Israel that this chain hangs upon me."

And, they, said unto him - We, have neither received letters concerning thee from the Jews, nor hath anyone of the brethren who hath arrived reported or spoken concerning thee, anything ill.

And, having arranged with him a day, there came unto him, to the lodging, a larger number; unto whom he proceeded to expound, bearing full witness as to the kingdom of God, and persuading them concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses, and from the prophets, - from morning till evening.

Unable to agree among themselves, they at last left him, but not before Paul had spoken a parting word to them, saying, "Right well did the Holy Spirit say to your forefathers through the Prophet Isaiah:

And when he had said that, the Jews departed from him, and had great disputations among themselves.

And he abode two whole years in his own hired house, and made welcome all who were coming in unto him, -

Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.