And as he was stretching him with the thongs, Paul said unto the centurion who was standing by, 'A man, a Roman, uncondemned -- is it lawful to you to scourge;'

And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born.

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 Paul said - I was not aware, brethren, that he was high-priest; because it is written - Of a ruler of thy people, shalt thou not speak injuriously.

And Paul, perceiving that the one part was of the Sadducees, and the other of the Pharisees, was crying out in the Sanhedrin, "Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; concerning the hope and resurrection from the dead, I am being judged."

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

for the Sadducees maintain, there is neither resurrection, nor angel, or spirit, whereas the Pharisees acknowledge both: the clamour was great,

And there was loud shouting, and some of the scribes from the party of the Pharisees stood up [and] contended sharply, saying, "We find nothing wrong with this man! But [what] if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?"

And when a serious debate broke out, the commander was afraid that Paul might [virtually] be torn apart by the mob, so he ordered his soldiers to go down [to the Council meeting] and forcibly remove Paul and take him to the battalion headquarters.

And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

The Commanding Officer took the lad by the hand, and, stepping aside, asked what it was he had to tell him.

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].

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.

having been informed he was a Roman, I had him brought before their Sanhedrim, to hear what crime they laid to his charge.

I found out that the accusations were about disputed matters in their law, and that there was no charge that merited death or chains.

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.

Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris.

And, when he had read it, and asked out of what province he was, and learned that he was from Cilicia,

And being informed, that he was of Cilicia, I will give thee, said he, a thorough hearing, when thy accusers also are come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's palace.

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,

Who, in addition, was attempting to make the Temple unclean: whom we took,

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

[While there] I was not observed arguing with anyone or trying to stir up a crowd [to riot] in the Temple or in the synagogues or [anywhere else] in the city.

Now after many years absence I was returned bringing alms to my countrymen, and oblations [to the temple].

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

or let these now declare, if they could convict me of any misdemeanor, when I was brought before the Sanhedrim:

except for this one sentence, which I uttered aloud when I was standing among them, For the resurrection of the dead am I this day judged by you.

Since Felix was accurately informed about the Way, he adjourned the hearing, saying, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case.”

And he gave orders to the Captain that Paul was to be kept in custody, but be treated with indulgence, and that his personal friends were not to be prevented from showing him kindness.

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.

And, as he was reasoning of righteousness, and self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix, becoming greatly afraid, answered - For the present, be going thy way, and, when I find an opportunity, I will send 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.

When, however, two years, were completed, Felix, was succeeded, by Porcius Festus, and Felix, wishing to gain favour with the Jews, left Paul bound.

Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem.

Festus, therefore, answered, that Paul should be kept in Caesarea, and that, he himself, was about, shortly, to be going out thither .

And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove.

while he was defending, Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I transgressed anything.

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.

Since they stayed there many days, Festus presented Paul’s case to the king, saying, “There’s a man who was left as a prisoner by Felix.

When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews presented their case and asked for a judgment against him.

I told them, it was not the custom of the Romans to deliver up any man, till he was accus'd and confronted by his accusers, and had an opportunity of pleading to the charge.

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.

And, I, being at a loss as to the inquiry into these things, was asking - whether he might be minded to go unto Jerusalem, and, there, be judged concerning these things.

And Agrippa said unto Festus, 'I was wishing also myself to hear the man;' and he said, 'To-morrow thou shalt hear him;'

On the morrow, therefore, when Agrippa had come, and Bernice, with great display, and they had entered into the audience-chamber, with the captains of thousands and men of distinction of the city, - and Festus had given orders, Paul was brought.

And Festus says, "King Agrippa, and all men who are here present with us, ye behold this man, concerning whom all the multitude of the Jews made suit to me, both in Jerusalem and here, crying out that it was not proper that he should live any longer.

And Agrippa said unto Paul, 'It is permitted to thee to speak for thyself;' then Paul having stretched forth the hand, was making a defence:

My manner of life, then, from my youth, which, from its commencement, was formed among my nation, even in Jerusalem, know all Jews,

And they are able to say, if they would give witness, that I was living as a Pharisee, in that division of our religion which is most regular in the keeping of the law.

And now I stand arraigned for the hope of the promise which was made by God to our fathers:

I, therefore, imagined to myself, that, against the name of Jesus the Nazarene, it was needful, many hostile things, to bring about, -

where numbers of converts I threw into jail, by warrant from the high priests: and when they were put to death, I myself was an accomplice.

and in every synagogue, often punishing them, I was constraining them to speak evil, being also exceedingly mad against them, I was also persecuting them even unto strange cities.

“I was traveling to Damascus under these circumstances with authority and a commission from the chief priests.

O king, as I was on the way thither I saw a light from heaven exceeding the splendor of the sun, shining round about me and those that were going with me.

But arise, and stand upon thy feet: for, for this was I sent to thee, to take thee in hand, a servant and witness both of what things thou sawest, and of what I shall be seen to thee;

“Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.

but to those in Damascus first, and to those in Jerusalem, to all the region also of Judea, and to the nations, I was preaching to reform, and to turn back unto God, doing works worthy of reformation;

"It was on this account that the Jews seized me in the Temple and tried to kill me.

Having therefore experienced the help from God, I stand to this day solemnly declaring both to small and great, saying nothing apart from what both the prophets and Moses said was going to happen,

If, to suffer, the Christ was destined, if, the first of a resurrection of the dead, he is about to carry tidings, of light, both unto the people, and unto the nations.

Now, as he was saying these things in his defence, Festus, with a loud voice, saith - Thou art raving, Paul! Thy great learning, is turning thee round unto, raving madness.

For the king knows about these matters. It is to him I am actually speaking boldly. For I am convinced that none of these things escapes his notice, since this was not done in a corner.

But Agrippa said to Festus, This man was able to have been released, if he had not appealed to Caesar.

Now, when it was determined that we should sail for Italy, they proceeded to deliver Paul, and certain other prisoners, unto a centurion by name Julius, of an Augustan band.

So when we had boarded a ship of Adramyttium, we put to sea, intending to sail to ports along the coast of Asia. Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, was with us.

the next day we touch'd at Sidon, where the centurion, who was very civil to Paul, gave him leave to go, and refresh himself at his friends.

After setting sail from there, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the wind was against us,

And when we had gone on slowly for a long time, and had had hard work getting across to Cnidus, for the wind was against us, we went under cover of Crete, in the direction of Salmone;

and, with difficulty coasting it, we came to a certain place called Fair Havens, near to which was the city of Lasea.

And, when a considerable time had passed, and sailing was already dangerous, because, even the Fast, had already gone by, Paul began to advise,

But, the centurion, by the master, and by the shipowner, was more persuaded than by the things which, by Paul, were spoken.

And, the harbour being, incommodious, to winter in, the more part, advised to put to sea from thence, if by any means they might be able to reach Phoenix, to winter, which was a harbour of Crete, looking north-east and south-east.

When a light breeze from the south began to blow, thinking their purpose was about to be realized, they weighed anchor and coasted along by Crete, hugging the shore,

But it was not long before a violent wind, which is called a Northeaster, swept down from it.

Since the ship was caught and was unable to head into the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along.

And, sailing near the side of a small island named Cauda, we were able, though it was hard work, to make the ship's boat safe:

once it was hoisted aboard, they used ropes to undergird the ship, and in fear of being stranded on the Syrtis they lowered the sail and lay to.

But, as the storm was still violent, the next day they began to lighten the ship;

On the third day, they handed [the rest of] the ship's gear to each other, and threw it overboard [Note: This was perhaps furniture, rigging, sails, baggage, etc.].

For many days neither sun nor stars appeared, and the severe storm kept raging. Finally all hope that we would be saved was disappearing.

And there being much abstinence from food, then Paul having stood in the midst of them, said, Truly it was fitting, O men, having obeyed me, not to be conveyed from Crete, and gain this violence and damage.

Therefore, take courage, men, because I believe God that it will be just the way it was told to me.

And, when, the fourteenth night, had come, and we were being driven to and fro in the Adriatic, about midnight, the sailors suspected that some country was, nearing, them;

On taking soundings they found a depth of twenty fathoms; and a little later again taking soundings, they found it was fifteen.

And, until day was about to dawn, Paul continued to beseech one and all to take some food, saying - This day is, the fourteenth day, that, suspense, fasting, ye are completing, - having helped yourselves, to nothing.

Everyone was encouraged and had something to eat.

(The total number of us aboard the ship was

And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship.

And slipping the anchors, they left [them] in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes of the steering oars. And hoisting the foresail to the [wind] that was blowing, they held course for the beach.

And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves.

The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners so that no one could swim away and escape.

and [then] the rest, [some] of whom [floated] on planks and [some] of whom on anything [that was] from the ship. And in this way all were brought safely to the land.

And, when we were safely through, then, we knew that the island was called, Melita.

The local people showed us extraordinary kindness, for they lit a fire and took us all in, since it was raining and cold.

And [when] Paul had gathered a large number of sticks and was placing [them] on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat [and] fastened itself on his hand.

And when the local people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they began saying to one another, "Doubtless this man is a murderer whom, [although he] was rescued from the sea, Justice has not permitted to live!"