Acts 21:31-24:22

Wycliffe Bible

³¹ And when they sought to slay him, it was told to the tribune of the company of knights, that all Jerusalem is confounded.

³² Which at once [Which anon] took knights, and centurions, and ran to them. And when they had seen the tribune, and the knights, they ceased to smite Paul.

³³ Then the tribune came, and caught him, and commanded, that he were bound with two chains [Then the tribune coming to, caught him, and commanded to be bound with two chains]; and asked, who he was, and what he had done.

³⁴ But others cried other thing among the people [Soothly others cried other thing in the company]. And when he might know no certain thing for the noise/And when he might not know [the] certain thing for the noise, he commanded him to be led into the castles.

³⁵ And when Paul came to the grees, it befell that he was borne of knights, for strength of the people.

³⁶ For the multitude of the people followed him, and cried [crying], Take him away.

³⁷ And when Paul began to be led into the castles, he said to the tribune, Whether it is leaveful to me [If it is leaveful to me], to speak any thing to thee? And he said [Which said], Canst thou Greek?

³⁸ Whether thou art not the Egyptian, which before these days movedest a noise, and leddest out into desert four thousand of men, menslayers?

³⁹ And Paul said to him, For I am a Jew, of Tarsus of Cilicia, a citizen, which city is not unknown [Soothly I am a man Jew, of Tarsus of Cilicia, a citizen, or burgher, of a city not unknown]. And I pray thee, suffer me to speak to the people.

⁴⁰ And when he suffered, Paul stood in the grees, and beckoned with the hand to the people. And when a great silence was made, he spake in Hebrew tongue, and said [saying],

22 Brethren and fathers [Men, brethren and fathers], hear ye what reason I yield now to you.

² And when some heard that in Hebrew tongue he spake to them, they gave the more silence. And he said,

³ I am a man a Jew, born at Tarsus of Cilicia, nourished and in this city beside the feet of Gamaliel, taught by the truth of fathers' law, a lover of the law [nourished forsooth in this city beside the feet of Gamaliel, learned after the truth of fathers' law, follower, or lover, of the law], as also ye all be to day.

⁴ And I pursued this way till to the death, binding [together] and betaking into holds men and women,

⁵ as the prince of priests yieldeth witnessing to me, and all the greatest of birth [and all the more in birth]. Of whom also I took epistles to brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring from thence men bound into Jerusalem, that they should be pained.

⁶ And it was done, while I went, and approached to Damascus, at midday suddenly from heaven a great plenty of light shone about me. [Forsooth it was done, while I went and nighed to Damascus, in the midday suddenly from heaven a copious light shone about me.]

⁷ And I felled down to the earth, and heard a voice from heaven, saying to me, Saul, Saul, what pursuest thou me? It is hard to thee to kick against the prick [It is hard for thee for to kick against the prick].

⁸ And I answered, Who art thou Lord? And he said to me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou pursuest.

⁹ And they that were with me saw but the light [And they that were with me saw soothly the light], but they heard not the voice of him, that spake with me.

¹⁰ And I said, Lord, what shall I do? And the Lord said to me, Rise thou, and go to Damascus; and there it shall be said to thee, of all things which it behooveth thee to do.

¹¹ And when I saw not, for the clarity of that light, I was led by the hand of fellows, and I came to Damascus.

¹² And a man, Ananias, that by the law had witnessing of all Jews dwelling in Damascus, [Forsooth some man, Ananias, after the law having witnessing of all Jews dwelling in Damascus,]

¹³ came to me, and stood nigh, and said to me, Saul, brother, behold. And I in the same hour beheld into him.

¹⁴ And he said, God of our fathers hath before-ordained thee, that thou shouldest know the will of him, and shouldest see the rightful man [and shouldest see just Christ], and hear the voice of his mouth.

¹⁵ For thou shalt be his witness to all men, of those things that thou hast seen and heard.

¹⁶ And now, what dwellest thou? Rise up, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, by the name of him called to help [Rise up, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, in-call the name of him].

¹⁷ And it was done to me, as I turned again into [to] Jerusalem, and prayed in the temple, that I was made in ravishing of soul,

¹⁸ and I saw him saying to me, Hie thou, and go out fast of Jerusalem, for they shall not receive thy witnessing of me.

¹⁹ And I said, Lord, they know, that I was closing together in prison, and beating by synagogues them that believed into thee [them that believed in thee].

²⁰ And when the blood of Stephen, thy witness, was shed out [was shed], I stood nigh, and consented, and kept the clothes of men that slew him.

²¹ And he said to me, Go thou, for I shall send thee far to nations.

²² And they heard him till [to] this word; and they raised their voice, and said, Take away from the earth such a manner man; for it is not leaveful, that he live.

²³ And when they cried, and cast away their clothes, and threw dust in the air,

²⁴ the tribune commanded him to be led into the castles, and to be beaten with scourges, and to be tormented, that he knew [that he should know], for what cause they cried so to him.

²⁵ And when they had bound him with cords, Paul said to a centurion standing nigh to him, Whether it is leaveful to you, to scourge a Roman, and uncondemned? [And when they had restrained him with bonds, or ropes, Paul said to a centurion standing nigh to him, If it is leaveful to you, to scourge a man Roman, and uncondemned?]

²⁶ And when this thing was heard, the centurion went to the tribune, and told to him, and said [saying], What art thou to doing? for this man is a citizen of Rome [forsooth this man is a citizen Roman].

²⁷ And the tribune came nigh, and said to him, Say thou to me, whether thou art a Roman [Forsooth the tribune coming to, said to him, Say thou to me, if thou art a Roman]? And he said, Yea.

²⁸ And the tribune answered, I with much sum got this freedom. And Paul said, And I was born a citizen of Rome [And Paul saith, I soothly and am born].

²⁹ Therefore at once [Therefore anon] they that should have tormented him, departed away from him. And the tribune dreaded, after that he knew, that he was a citizen of Rome, and for he had bound him [and that he had bound him].

³⁰ But in the day following he would know more diligently, for what cause he were accused of the Jews, and unbound him, and commanded [the] priests and all the council to come together. And he brought forth Paul, and set him among them.

23 And Paul beheld into the council, and said, Brethren [Paul forsooth beholding into the council, saith, Men brethren], I with all good conscience have lived before God, till into this day.

² And Ananias, prince of priests, commanded to men that stood nigh to him, that they should smite his mouth. [Soothly Ananias, prince of priests, commanded to men standing nigh, to smite his mouth.]

³ Then Paul said to him, Thou whited wall, God [shall] smite thee; thou sittest, and deemest me by the law, and against the law thou commandest me to be smitten. [Then Paul said to him, Thou wall made white, God shall smite thee; and thou sitting deemest me after the law, and against the law commandest me to be smitten.]

⁴ And they that stood nigh, said, Cursest thou the highest priest of God? [And they that stood nigh, said, Cursest thou the high priest of God?]

⁵ And Paul said, Brethren, I knew not, that he is [the] prince of priests; for it is written, Thou shalt not curse the prince of thy people.

⁶ But Paul knew, that one part was of Sadducees, and the other of Pharisees; and he cried in the council, Brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees; I am deemed of the hope and of the again-rising of dead men. [Forsooth Paul witting, for one part was of Sadducees, and the tother of Pharisees, he cried in the council, Men brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees; of the hope and again-rising of dead I am deemed.]

⁷ And when he had said this thing, dissension was made betwixt [made between] the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the multitude was parted.

⁸ For Sadducees say, that no rising again of dead men is, neither angel, neither spirit; but Pharisees acknowledge ever either. [Forsooth Sadducees say, to be no rising again of dead, neither angel, neither spirit; forsooth Pharisees acknowledge both.]

⁹ And a great cry was made. And some of the Pharisees rose up [rised up], and fought, saying, We find nothing of evil in this man; what if a spirit, either an angel spake to him [what if a spirit spake to him, or angel]?

¹⁰ And when great dissension was made, the tribune dreaded, lest Paul should be drawn to pieces of them; and he commanded knights to go down, and to take him from the middle of them, and to lead him into the castles.^[a]

¹¹ And in the night following the Lord stood nigh to him, and said, Be thou steadfast; for as thou hast witnessed of me in Jerusalem, so it behooveth thee to witness also at Rome.

¹² And when the day was come, some of the Jews gathered them(selves), and made a vow, and said [saying], that they should neither eat, nor drink, till they slew Paul.

¹³ And there were more than forty men, that made this swearing together [that made this conjuration, or swearing together].

¹⁴ And they went to the princes of priests, and elder men, and said, With devotion we have avowed [us], that we shall not taste any thing, till we have slain Paul.

¹⁵ Now therefore make ye known to the tribune, with the council, that he bring him forth to you, as if ye should know something more certainly of him; and we be ready to slay him, before that he come [nigh].

¹⁶ And when the son of Paul's sister had heard the ambush, he came, and entered into the castles, and told to Paul. [Which thing when the son of Paul's sister had heard the ambush, or treason, he came, and entered into the castles, and told Paul.]

¹⁷ And Paul called to him one of the centurions, and said, Lead this young man to the tribune, for he hath something to show to him.

¹⁸ And he took him, and led to the tribune, and said, Paul, that is bound, prayed me to lead to thee this young man, that hath something to speak to thee.

¹⁹ And the tribune took his hand, and went with him asides half, and asked him, What thing is it, that thou hast to show to me?

²⁰ And he said, The Jews be accorded to pray thee, that to morrow thou bring forth Paul into the council, as if they should inquire something more certainly of him.

²¹ But believe thou not to them; for more than forty men of them ambush him, which have avowed, that they shall neither eat nor drink, till they slay him; and now they be ready, abiding thy promise.

²² Therefore the tribune let go the young man [Therefore the tribune left the young man], and commanded, that he should speak to no man, that he had made these things known to him.

²³ And he called together two centurions, and he said to them, Make ye ready two hundred knights, that they go to Caesarea, and horsemen seventy, and spearmen two hundred, from the third hour of the night.

²⁴ And make ye ready an horse, for Paul to ride on, to lead him safe to Felix, the president^[b]. For the tribune dreaded, lest the Jews would take him by the way, and slay him, and afterward he might be challenged, as he had taken money.

²⁵ [And] He wrote to him an epistle, containing these things.

²⁶ Claudius Lysias to the best Felix, president, health.

²⁷ This man that was taken of the Jews, and began to be slain, I came upon them with mine host, and delivered him from them, when I knew that he was a Roman.^[c]

²⁸ And I would know the cause, which they putted against him; and I led him to the council of them. [And I willing to know the cause, which they put against him, led him into the council of them.]

²⁹ And I found, that he was accused of questions of their law, but he had no crime worthy the death, either bonds. [Whom I found to be accused of questions of the law of them, forsooth having no crime worthy the death, or bonds.]

³⁰ And when it was told me of the ambush, that they arrayed for him, I sent him to thee, and I warned also the accusers, that they say at thee. Farewell.^[d]

³¹ And so the knights, as they were commanded [Soothly knights, after thing commanded to them], took Paul, and led him by night into Antipatris.

³² And in the day following, when the horsemen were left, that [they] should go with him, they turned again to the castles.

³³ And when they came to Caesarea, they took the epistle to the president, and they set also Paul before him. [Which when they came to Caesarea, and took the epistle to the president, they set before him also Paul.]

³⁴ And when he had read, and asked, of what province he was, and knew that he was of Cilicia,

³⁵ I shall hear thee, he said, when thine accusers [shall] come. And he commanded him to be kept in the moot hall of Herod.

24 And after five days, Ananias, prince of priests, came down with some elder men, and Tertullus, a fair speaker [and Tertullus, some orator, or advocate], which went to the president against Paul.

² And when Paul was summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, and said, When in much peace we do by thee, and many things be amended by thy wisdom, [And Paul summoned, Tertullus began to accuse, saying, When in much peace we do by thee, and many things be amended by thy providence, or wisdom,]

³ evermore and every where, thou best Felix, we have received with all doing of thankings.

⁴ But lest I tarry thee longer, I pray thee, shortly hear us for thy meekness.

⁵ We have found this wicked man stirring dissension to all [the] Jews in all the world, and author of dissension of the sect of Nazarenes;^[e]

⁶ and he also endeavored to defoul the temple; whom also we took, and would deem, after our law.

⁷ But Lysias, the tribune, came above with great strength, and delivered him from our hands;^[f]

⁸ and commanded his accusers to come to thee [commanding his accusers to come to thee], of whom thou deeming, mayest know of all these things, of which we accuse him.

⁹ And Jews put to, and said, that these things had them so. [Forsooth and Jews casted to, saying that these things had them so.]

¹⁰ And Paul answered, when the president granted [to] him to say, Of many years I know thee, that thou art doomsman to this folk, and I shall do enough for me with good reason.

¹¹ For thou mayest know, for to me be not more than twelve days [for to me be no more than twelve days], since I came up [for] to worship in Jerusalem;

¹² and neither in the temple they found me disputing with any man, neither making concourse of the people, neither in the synagogues, neither in city;

¹³ neither they be able to prove to thee, of the which things they now accuse me. [neither they may prove to thee, of which things they now accuse me.]

¹⁴ But I acknowledge to thee this thing, that after the sect which they say heresy, so I serve to God the Father, believing to all things that be written in the law and prophets;

¹⁵ and I have hope in God, which also they themselves abide, the again-rising to coming of just men and wicked.^[g]

¹⁶ In this thing [and] I study without hurting, to have conscience to God, and to men evermore.

¹⁷ But after many years, I came to do almsdeeds to my folk, and offerings, and avows [and offerings, and vows];

¹⁸ in which they found me purified in the temple, not with company, neither with noise. And they caught me, and they cried, and said [And they caught me, crying, and saying], Take away our enemy. And some Jews of Asia,

¹⁹ which it behooved to be now present at thee [whom it behooved to be now present at thee], and accuse, if they had any thing against me,

²⁰ either these themselves say [or these themselves say], if they found in me any thing of wickedness, since I stand in the council,

²¹ but only of this [one] voice, by which I cried standing among them, For of the again-rising of dead men I am deemed this day of you [For of the again-rising of dead I am deemed this day of you].

²² Soothly Felix delayed them, and knew most certainly of the way [Soothly Felix deferred them, most certainly he knowing of the way], and said, When Lysias, the tribune, shall come down, I shall hear you.