Acts 24-26 (Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition)

Acts 24

 ¹And after five days the high priest Ananias came down, with some of the ancients, and one Tertullus an orator, who went to the governor against Paul.

    ²And Paul being called for, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: Whereas through thee we live in much peace, and many things are rectified by thy providence,

    ³We accept it always and in all places, most excellent Felix, with all thanksgiving.

    ⁴But that I be no further tedious to thee, I desire thee of thy clemency to hear us in few words.

    ⁵We have found this to be a pestilent man, and raising seditions among all the Jews throughout the world, and author of the sedition of the sect of the Nazarenes.

    ⁶Who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom, we having apprehended, would also have judged according to our law.

    ⁷But Lysias the tribune coming upon us, with great violence took him away out of our hands;

    ⁸Commanding his accusers to come to thee: of whom thou mayest thyself, by examination, have knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him.

    ⁹And the Jews also added, and said that these things were so.

    ¹⁰Then Paul answered, (the governor making a sign to him to speak:) Knowing that for many years thou hast been judge over this nation, I will with good courage answer for myself.

    ¹¹For thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days, since I went up to adore in Jerusalem:

    ¹²And neither in the temple did they find me disputing with any man, or causing any concourse of the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city:

    ¹³Neither can they prove unto thee the things whereof they now accuse me.

    ¹⁴But this I confess to thee, that according to the way, which they call a heresy, so do I serve the Father and my God, believing all things which are written in the law and the prophets:

    ¹⁵Having hope in God, which these also themselves look for, that there shall be a resurrection of the just and unjust.

    ¹⁶And herein do I endeavour to have always a conscience without offence toward God, and towards men.

    ¹⁷Now after many years, I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings, and vows.

    ¹⁸In which I was found purified in the temple: neither with multitude, nor with tumult.

    ¹⁹But certain Jews of Asia, who ought to be present before thee, and to accuse, if they had any thing against me:

    ²⁰Or let these men themselves say, if they found in me any iniquity, when standing before the council,

    ²¹Except it be for this one voice only that I cried, standing among them, Concerning the resurrection of the dead am I judged this day by you.

    ²²And Felix put them off, having most certain knowledge of this way, saying: When Lysias the tribune shall come down, I will hear you.

    ²³And he commanded a centurion to keep him, and that he should be easy, and that he should not prohibit any of his friends to minister unto him.

    ²⁴And after some days, Felix, coming with Drusilla his wife, who was a Jew, sent for Paul, and heard of him the faith, that is in Christ Jesus.

    ²⁵And as he treated of justice, and chastity, and of the judgment to come, Felix being terrified, answered: For this time, go thy way: but when I have a convenient time, I will send for thee.

    ²⁶Hoping also withal, that money should be given him by Paul; for which cause also oftentimes sending for him, he spoke with him.

    ²⁷But when two years were ended, Felix had for successor Portius Festus. And Felix being willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.

   

Acts 25

 ¹Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.

    ²And the chief priests, and principal men of the Jews, went unto him against Paul: and they besought him,

    ³Requesting favour against him, that he would command him to be brought to Jerusalem, laying wait to kill him in the way.

    ⁴But Festus answered: That Paul was kept in Caesarea, and that he himself would very shortly depart thither.

    ⁵Let them, therefore, saith he, among you that are able, go down with me, and accuse him, if there be any crime in the man.

    ⁶And having tarried among them no more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea, and the next day he sat in the judgment seat; and commanded Paul to be brought.

    ⁷Who being brought, the Jews stood about him, who were come down from Jerusalem, objecting many and grievous causes, which they could not prove;

    ⁸Paul making answer for himself: Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I offended in any thing.

    ⁹But Festus, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, answering Paul, said: Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?

    ¹⁰Then Paul said: I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no injury, as thou very well knowest.

    ¹¹For if I have injured them, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die. But if there be none of these things whereof they accuse me, no man may deliver me to them: I appeal to Caesar.

    ¹²Then Festus having conferred with the council, answered: Hast thou appealed to Caesar? To Caesar shalt thou go.

    ¹³And after some days, king Agrippa and Bernice came down to Caesarea to salute Festus.

    ¹⁴And as they tarried there many days, Festus told the king of Paul, saying: A certain man was left prisoner by Felix.

    ¹⁵About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests, and the ancients of the Jews, came unto me, desiring condemnation against him.

    ¹⁶To whom I answered: It is not the custom of the Romans to condemn any man, before that he who is accused have his accusers present, and have liberty to make his answer, to clear himself of the things laid to his charge.

    ¹⁷When therefore they were come hither, without any delay, on the day following, sitting in the judgment seat, I commanded the man to be brought.

    ¹⁸Against whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no accusation of things which I thought ill of:

    ¹⁹But had certain questions of their own superstition against him, and of one Jesus deceased, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

    ²⁰I therefore being in a doubt of this manner of question, asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things.

    ²¹But Paul appealing to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept, till I might send him to Caesar.

    ²²And Agrippa said to Festus: I would also hear the man, myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.

    ²³And on the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice were come with great pomp, and had entered into the hall of audience, with the tribunes, and principal men of the city, at Festus' commandment, Paul was brought forth.

    ²⁴And Festus saith: King Agrippa, and all ye men who are here present with us, you see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews dealt with me at Jerusalem, requesting and crying out that he ought not to live any longer.

    ²⁵Yet have I found nothing that he hath committed worthy of death. But forasmuch as he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.

    ²⁶Of whom I have nothing certain to write to my lord. For which cause I have brought him forth before you, and especially before thee, O king Agrippa, that examination being made, I may have what to write.

    ²⁷For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not to signify the things laid to his charge.

   

Acts 26

 ¹Then Agrippa said to Paul: Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretching forth his hand, began to make his answer.

    ²I think myself happy, O king Agrippa, that I am to answer for myself this day before thee, touching all the things whereof I am accused by the Jews.

    ³Especially as thou knowest all, both customs and questions that are among the Jews: Wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.

    ⁴And my life indeed from my youth, which was from the beginning among my own nation in Jerusalem, all the Jews do know:

    ⁵Having known me from the beginning (if they will give testimony) that according to the most sure sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

    ⁶And now for the hope of the promise that was made by God to the fathers, do I stand subject to judgment:

    ⁷Unto which, our twelve tribes, serving night and day, hope to come. For which hope, O king, I am accused by the Jews.

    ⁸Why should it be thought a thing incredible, that God should raise the dead?

    ⁹And I indeed did formerly think, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

    ¹⁰Which also I did at Jerusalem, and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority of the chief priests: and when they were put to death, I brought the sentence.

    ¹¹And oftentimes punishing them, in every synagogue, I compelled them to blaspheme: and being yet more mad against them, I persecuted them even unto foreign cities.

    ¹²Whereupon when I was going to Damascus with authority and permission of the chief priest,

    ¹³At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me, and them that were in company with me.

    ¹⁴And when we were all fallen down on the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me in the Hebrew tongue: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against the goad.

    ¹⁵And I said: Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord answered: I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

    ¹⁶But rise up, and stand upon thy feet: for to this end have I appeared to thee, that I may make thee a minister, and a witness of those things which thou hast seen, and of those things wherein I will appear to thee,

    ¹⁷Delivering thee from the people, and from the nations, unto which now I send thee:

    ¹⁸To open their eyes, that they may be converted from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and a lot among the saints, by the faith that is in me.

    ¹⁹Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not incredulous to the heavenly vision:

    ²⁰But to them first that are at Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and unto all the country of Judea, and to the Gentiles did I preach, that they should do penance, and turn to God, doing works worthy of penance.

    ²¹For this cause the Jews, when I was in the temple, having apprehended me, went about to kill me.

    ²²But being aided by the help of God, I stand unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other thing than those which the prophets, and Moses did say should come to pass:

    ²³That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light to the people, and to the Gentiles.

    ²⁴As he spoke these things, and made his answer, Festus said with a loud voice: Paul, thou art beside thyself: much learning doth make thee mad.

    ²⁵And Paul said: I am not mad, most excellent Festus, but I speak words of truth and soberness.

    ²⁶For the king knoweth of these things, to whom also I speak with confidence. For I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him. For neither was any of these things done in a corner.

    ²⁷Believest thou the prophets, O king Agrippa? I know that thou believest.

    ²⁸And Agrippa said to Paul: In a little thou persuadest me to become a Christian.

    ²⁹And Paul said: I would to God, that both in a little and in much, not only thou, but also all that hear me, this day, should become such as I also am, except these bands.

    ³⁰And the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them.

    ³¹And when they were gone aside, they spoke among themselves, saying: This man hath done nothing worthy of death or of bands.

    ³²And Agrippa said to Festus: This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed to Caesar.