Wherefore I take you to witness, on this very day, that, pure am I from the blood of all;

For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

And now I entrust you to God and to the message of his grace. This message is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

In every way I’ve shown you that by laboring like this, it is necessary to help the weak and to keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus, for He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

After he said this, he knelt down and prayed with all of them.

Now - this man, had four virgin daughters, who used to prophesy.

and, coming unto us, and taking Paul's girdle, he bound his own feet and hands, and said - Thus, saith the Holy Spirit, the man whose this girdle is, shall the Jews thus bind in Jerusalem, and deliver up into the hands of Gentiles.

When we heard this, both we and the local people begged him not to go up to Jerusalem.

[But] Paul answered, "What are you trying to do [by your] crying and breaking my heart [like this]? [Do you not know that] I am ready, not only to be chained up, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus?"

after this we prepar'd for our journey to Jerusalem.

upon hearing this, they gave glory to God: and thus address'd Paul, you see, brother, how many thousand believing Jews there are, all however zealous for the law.

This, then, do, which unto thee, we say: - We have four men who have a vow upon themselves.

these take, and perform the rites of purification with them, contributing to the expence of having their heads shav'd: this will convince them, what has been reported of you, is all groundless, and that you stick to the observances of the law.

as for the believing Gentiles, we have given them by letter this decision, "they need only take care to abstain from meats offered to idols, from blood, from the flesh of animals strangled, and from fornication."

On this, Paul joined the men, and the next day shared their purification, and went into the Temple, and gave notice of the expiration of the period of purification when the usual offering should have been made on behalf of each of them.

crying out - Israelites! be giving help! This, is the man who, against the people, and the law, and this place, is teaching, all men everywhere; furthermore, even Greeks, hath he brought into the temple, and hath profaned this holy place.

For, before this time, they had seen Trophimus, the Ephesian, with him in the city, whom they supposed Paul had brought into the temple.

And one cried this, another that, among the people. And when he could not know the certainty, for the rage, he commanded him to be carried into the castle.

Are you by chance the Egyptian who, before this, got the people worked up against the government and took four thousand men of the Assassins out into the waste land?

I, am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but nurtured in this city, at the feet of Gamaliel, - trained after the strictness of our ancestral law; being jealous for God just as, all ye, are this day;

and, this way, I persecuted unto the death, binding and delivering up into 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.

"And then it suddenly happened, about noon, as I was traveling and got close to Damascus, that this brilliant light from the sky flashed all around me.

Since I could not see because of the dazzling sheen of that light, I was led by the hand by my companions and in this way I reached Damascus.

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 commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks, directing that he be examined with the scourge, so he could discover the reason they were shouting against him like this.

And, when the centurion heard that , he went unto the captain, and reported, saying - What art thou going to do? For, this man, is, a Roman?

And the captain answered - I, for a large sum, this citizenship acquired! And, Paul, said - But, I, am even, free- born!

And Paul, looking steadfastly, at the High-council, said - Brethren! I, in all good conscience have used my citizenship for God until this day.

At this the high priest Ananias ordered the people standing near him to strike him on the mouth.

At this Paul told him, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! How can you sit there and judge me according to the Law, and yet in violation of the Law order me to be struck?"

Now when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried in the sanhedrim, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: for the hope and resurrection of the dead am I brought to this bar.

And, as this he was saying, there arose a dissension of the Pharisees and Sadducees; and rent asunder was the throng.

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 they were, more than forty, who, this sworn-confederacy, had formed.

So now you and the council request the commanding officer to bring him down to you, as if you were going to determine his case by conducting a more thorough inquiry. We are ready to kill him before he comes near this place."

But a son of Paul's sister hearing of this lying in wait, went and entering into the fortress told Paul.

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 he said, The Jews are in agreement together to make a request to you for Paul to be taken, on the day after this, into the Sanhedrin, to be questioned in greater detail.

So do not let them persuade you to do this, because more than forty of them are lying in ambush for him. They have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink anything until they have killed him, and now they are ready, waiting for you to agree to their request."

So the commander dismissed the young man and instructed him, “Don’t tell anyone that you have informed me about this.”

Then he called two of his officers and said, "Get two hundred soldiers ready to go to Caesarea, along with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen, by nine o'clock tonight." [Note: This was calculated according to Jewish time].

And he wrote a letter, after this form: -

As this man was seized by the Jews,

This man, having been apprehended by the Jews, and being about to be killed by them, I went down with the troop, and rescued; having learned that he was, a Roman.

And wishing to know the cause for which they accused him, I brought him down to this council:

and a plot having been intimated to me against this man -- about to be of the Jews -- at once I sent unto thee, having given command also to the accusers to say the things against him before thee; be strong.'

So, the soldiers took charge of Paul and took him at night to Antipatris [Note: This was a town on the road between Jerusalem and Caesarea] as they were ordered.

Five days after this, Ananias the High Priest came down to Caesarea with a number of Elders and a pleader called Tertullus. They stated to the Governor the case against Paul.

And, when he was called, Tertullus began to make accusation, saying - Seeing that, great peace, we are obtaining through thee, and that, reforms, are being brought about for this nation through thy forethought,

Both in every [way] and everywhere we acknowledge [this], most excellent Felix, with all gratitude.

But, not wanting to prolong matters for you, I urge you to give consideration to this brief account [of the problem we face].

For, finding this man a pest, and moving sedition with all the Jews that are throughout the inhabited earth, a leader also of the sect of the Nazarenes, -

[This verse is not in the majority of the Greek manuscripts.]

You, however, by examining him, will yourself be able to learn the truth as to all this which we allege against him."

this the Jews confirm'd by declaring it was all fact.

Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself:

"Since I know that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I am pleased to present my defense. You can verify for yourself that I went up to worship in Jerusalem no more than twelve days ago.

Nor can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me. But this I confess unto thee,

But I confess, this, unto thee, - That, according to the Way which they call a Sect, so, I am rendering divine service unto my father's God, believing in all the things which, throughout the law, and those which, in the prophets, are written:

and in this I do exercise myself, to have a conscience void of offence toward God and men always.

and while I was doing this, some Jews from Asia found me ritually purified in the temple, without a crowd and without any uproar.

unless concerning this one voice, wherewith I cried aloud among them, as I stood - Concerning the raising of the dead, am, I, to be judged, this day, by you.

Then Felix adjourn'd them, saying, I shall inform myself more particularly of this sect, and when general Lysias comes, I will give you a full hearing.

Not long after this, Felix came with Drusilla his wife, a Jewess, and sending for Paul, listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus.

And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.

At the same time he was also hoping that money would be given to him by Paul. For this reason he sent for him quite often and conversed with him.

“Therefore,” he said, “let the men of authority among you go down with me and accuse him, if there is any wrong in this man.”

to this he answer'd, "I have not been guilty of any misdemeanour, either against the law, or against the temple, or against Cesar."

upon this, Festus having deliberated with his council, answer'd, "since you have appeal'd to Cesar, to Cesar you shall go."

After a number of days King Agrippa [Note: This man was the great grandson of Herod the Great. See Matt. 2:1] and [his wife] Bernice arrived at Caesarea and came to greet Festus.

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.

Then they, having come together to this place, making no delay, immediately sitting on the judgment-seat, I commanded that the man should be led forth;

and I, doubting in regard to the question concerning this, said, If he would wish to go on to Jerusalem, and there to be judged concerning these things --

Agrippa said to Festus, "I had been wanting to hear this man's testimony myself." [Festus replied], "Tomorrow you will [have the opportunity to] hear him."

And Festus saith - King Agrippa! and all ye men, here present with us: Ye observe this person, concerning whom, one and all the throng of the Jews, have interceded with me, both in Jerusalem and here, crying aloud that he ought not to be living 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: -

I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore, I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after this examination is over, I may have something to write.

Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You have our permission to speak upon your own behalf." At this Paul stretched out his hand and began his defence.

Concerning all things of which I am accused by Jews, King Agrippa, I have been counting myself happy, that, before thee, am I about, this day, to be making my defence;

especially since you are an expert on all the customs and issues discussed among the Jews. So, for this reason I request that you hear [my response to them] patiently.

And this moment for the hope of the promise made of God to our fathers am I standing here to be judged:

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.

I actually did this in Jerusalem, and I locked up many of the saints in prison, since I had received authority for that from the chief priests. When they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.

In {this activity} I was traveling to Damascus with the authority and full power of the chief priests.

But rise and stand upon thy feet; for, to this end, have I appeared unto thee, - To appoint thee an attendant and a witness, both of the things as to which thou hast seen me, and of those as to which I will appear unto thee:

by delivering you from this people, and from the Gentiles to whom I now send thee, to open their eyes,

this heavenly vision, king Agrippa, I presently obey'd:

For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple complex and were trying to kill me.

So then, having met with, the help that is from God, until this day, do I stand, witnessing to both small and great, nothing else saying, than those things which both the prophets, and Moses, did say should certainly come to pass: -

As he was making his defense this way, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, “You’re out of your mind, Paul! Too much study is driving you mad!”

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.

"At this rate," Agrippa remarked, "it won't be long before you believe you have made a Christian of me!"

And, Paul, answered - I could pray unto God that, both almost and altogether, not only thou but all they who are hearing me this day, might become such, - as even, I, am, excepting these bonds.

When he had said this, the king, the governour, Bernice, and all that were seated near them, rose up: and being retired,

And, retiring, they began conversing one with another, saying, Nothing worthy of death or of bonds, doth this man practise.

And, Agrippa, unto Festus, said - This man might have been released, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.

For many days we sailed slowly, and then arrived with difficulty over against Cnidus; from this point, as the wind did not further favor us, we ran under the lee of Crete, off Cape Salmone;

having lost a good deal of time, and sailing being now dangerous, for the fast was now over, Paul gave them this warning,