Peter and John Before the Council

4 And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and ^(A)the captain of the temple and ^(B)the Sadducees came upon them, ² greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming ^(C)in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. ³ And they arrested them and ^(D)put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. ⁴ But many of those who had heard the word believed, and ^(E)the number of the men came to about five thousand.

⁵ On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, ⁶ with ^(F)Annas the high priest and ^(G)Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. ⁷ And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, ^(H)“By what power or ^(I)by what name did you do this?” ⁸ Then Peter, ^(J)filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, ⁹ if we are being examined today ^(K)concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, ¹⁰ let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that ^(L)by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, ^(M)whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. ^11 (N)This Jesus^[a] is the stone that was ^(O)rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.^{[b] 12} And there is ^(P)salvation ^(Q)in no one else, for ^(R)there is no other ^(S)name under heaven given among men^[c] by which we must be saved.”

^13 (T)Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. ¹⁴ But seeing the man who was healed ^(U)standing beside them, ^(V)they had nothing to say in opposition. ¹⁵ But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, ¹⁶ saying, ^(W)“What shall we do with these men? For that ^(X)a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. ¹⁷ But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them ^(Y)to speak no more to anyone in this name.” ¹⁸ So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. ¹⁹ But Peter and John answered them, ^(Z)“Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, ²⁰ for ^(AA)we cannot but speak of what ^(AB)we have seen and heard.” ²¹ And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, ^(AC)because of the people, for all were praising God ^(AD)for what had happened. ²² For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.

The Apostles Arrested and Freed

¹⁷ But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of ^(A)the Sadducees), and filled with ^(B)jealousy ¹⁸ they arrested the apostles and ^(C)put them in the public prison. ¹⁹ But during the night ^(D)an angel of the Lord ^(E)opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, ²⁰ “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all ^(F)the words of ^(G)this ^(H)Life.” ²¹ And when they heard this, ^(I)they entered the temple ^(J)at daybreak and began to teach.

Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. ²² But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, ²³ “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.” ²⁴ Now when ^(K)the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. ²⁵ And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison ^(L)are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” ²⁶ Then ^(M)the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for ^(N)they were afraid of being stoned by the people.

²⁷ And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, ²⁸ saying, ^(O)“We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you ^(P)intend to bring this man's blood upon us.” ²⁹ But Peter and the apostles answered, ^(Q)“We must obey God rather than men. ^30 (R)The God of our fathers ^(S)raised Jesus, ^(T)whom you killed by hanging him on ^(U)a tree. ³¹ God exalted ^(V)him at his right hand as ^(W)Leader and ^(X)Savior, ^(Y)to give ^(Z)repentance to Israel and ^(AA)forgiveness of sins. ³² And ^(AB)we are witnesses to these things, and ^(AC)so is the Holy Spirit, ^(AD)whom God has given to those who obey him.”

³³ When they heard this, they ^(AE)were enraged and wanted to kill them. ³⁴ But a Pharisee in the council named ^(AF)Gamaliel, ^(AG)a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. ³⁵ And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. ³⁶ For ^(AH)before these days Theudas rose up, ^(AI)claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. ³⁷ After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of ^(AJ)the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. ³⁸ So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for ^(AK)if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; ³⁹ but ^(AL)if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You ^(AM)might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice, ⁴⁰ and ^(AN)when they had called in the apostles, ^(AO)they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. ⁴¹ Then they left the presence of the council, ^(AP)rejoicing that they were counted worthy ^(AQ)to suffer dishonor for ^(AR)the name.

¹² And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, ¹³ and they ^(A)set up false ^(B)witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against ^(C)this holy place and the law, ¹⁴ for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth ^(D)will destroy this place and will ^(E)change ^(F)the customs that Moses delivered to us.” ¹⁵ And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face ^(G)was like the face of an angel.

Stephen's Speech

7 And the high priest said, “Are these things so?” ² And Stephen said:

^(H)“Brothers and fathers, hear me. ^(I)The God ^(J)of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, ^(K)before he lived in Haran, ³ and said to him, ^(L)‘Go out from your land and from your kindred and go into the land that I will show you.’ ^4 (M)Then he went out from the land of the Chaldeans and lived in Haran. And ^(N)after his father died, ^(O)God removed him from there into this land in which you are now living. ⁵ Yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot's length, but promised ^(P)to give it to him as a possession and to his offspring after him, ^(Q)though he had no child. ⁶ And God spoke to this effect—that ^(R)his offspring would ^(S)be sojourners in a land belonging to others, who would enslave them and afflict them ^(T)four hundred years. ⁷ ‘But ^(U)I will judge the nation that they serve,’ said God, ‘and after that they shall come out ^(V)and worship me in this place.’ ⁸ And ^(W)he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And ^(X)so Abraham became the father of Isaac, and ^(Y)circumcised him on the eighth day, and ^(Z)Isaac became the father of Jacob, and ^(AA)Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.

⁹ “And the patriarchs, ^(AB)jealous of Joseph, ^(AC)sold him into Egypt; but ^(AD)God was with him ¹⁰ and rescued him out of all his afflictions and ^(AE)gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, ^(AF)who made him ruler over Egypt and over all his household. ¹¹ Now ^(AG)there came a famine throughout all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction, and our fathers could find no food. ^12 (AH)But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers on their first visit. ¹³ And ^(AI)on the second visit ^(AJ)Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and ^(AK)Joseph's family became known to Pharaoh. ¹⁴ And ^(AL)Joseph sent and summoned Jacob his father and all his kindred, ^(AM)seventy-five persons in all. ¹⁵ And ^(AN)Jacob went down into Egypt, and ^(AO)he died, he ^(AP)and our fathers, ¹⁶ and ^(AQ)they were carried back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that ^(AR)Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.

¹⁷ “But ^(AS)as the time of the promise drew near, which God had granted to Abraham, ^(AT)the people increased and multiplied in Egypt ¹⁸ until there arose over Egypt another king ^(AU)who did not know Joseph. ^19 (AV)He dealt shrewdly with our race and forced our fathers to expose their infants, ^(AW)so that they would not be kept alive. ^20 (AX)At this time Moses was born; and he was beautiful in God's sight. And he was brought up for three months in his father's house, ²¹ and ^(AY)when he was exposed, Pharaoh's daughter adopted him and brought him up as her own son. ²² And Moses ^(AZ)was instructed in ^(BA)all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was ^(BB)mighty in his words and deeds.

²³ “When he was forty years old, it came into his heart ^(BC)to visit his brothers, the children of Israel. ²⁴ And seeing one of them being wronged, he defended the oppressed man and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian. ²⁵ He supposed that his brothers would understand that God was giving them salvation by his hand, but they did not understand. ^26 (BD)And on the following day he appeared to them as they were quarreling and tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers. Why do you wrong each other?’ ²⁷ But the man who was wronging his neighbor thrust him aside, saying, ^(BE)‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? ²⁸ Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’ ²⁹ At this retort ^(BF)Moses fled and became an exile in the land of Midian, ^(BG)where he became the father of two sons.

³⁰ “Now when forty years had passed, ^(BH)an angel appeared to him ^(BI)in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush. ³¹ When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight, and as he drew near to look, there came the voice of the Lord: ^32 (BJ)‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob.’ And Moses trembled and did not dare to look. ³³ Then the Lord said to him, ^(BK)‘Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. ^34 (BL)I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and ^(BM)have heard their groaning, and ^(BN)I have come down to deliver them. ^(BO)And now come, I will send you to Egypt.’

³⁵ “This Moses, whom they rejected, ^(BP)saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’—this man God sent as both ruler and redeemer ^(BQ)by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. ^36 (BR)This man led them out, performing ^(BS)wonders and signs ^(BT)in Egypt and ^(BU)at the Red Sea and ^(BV)in the wilderness for ^(BW)forty years. ³⁷ This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you ^(BX)a prophet like me from your brothers.’ ³⁸ This is the one ^(BY)who was in the congregation in the wilderness with ^(BZ)the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. ^(CA)He received ^(CB)living ^(CC)oracles to give to us. ³⁹ Our fathers refused to obey him, but thrust him aside, and ^(CD)in their hearts they turned to Egypt, ⁴⁰ saying to Aaron, ^(CE)‘Make for us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who led us out from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ ⁴¹ And ^(CF)they made a calf in those days, and offered a sacrifice to the idol and ^(CG)were rejoicing in ^(CH)the works of their hands. ⁴² But ^(CI)God turned away and ^(CJ)gave them over to worship ^(CK)the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets:

⁴⁴ “Our fathers had ^(CO)the tent of witness in the wilderness, just as he who spoke to Moses ^(CP)directed him to make it, according to the pattern that he had seen. ⁴⁵ Our fathers in turn ^(CQ)brought it in with Joshua when they ^(CR)dispossessed the nations ^(CS)that God drove out before our fathers. So it was ^(CT)until the days of David, ^46 (CU)who found favor in the sight of God and ^(CV)asked to find a dwelling place for ^(CW)the God of Jacob.^{[a] 47} But it was ^(CX)Solomon who built a house for him. ^48 (CY)Yet the Most High does not dwell ^(CZ)in houses made by hands, as the prophet says,

^51 (DC)“You stiff-necked people, ^(DD)uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. ^(DE)As your fathers did, so do you. ^52 (DF)Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of ^(DG)the Righteous One, ^(DH)whom you have now betrayed and murdered, ⁵³ you who received the law ^(DI)as delivered by angels and ^(DJ)did not keep it.”

The Stoning of Stephen

⁵⁴ Now when they heard these things ^(DK)they were enraged, and they ^(DL)ground their teeth at him. ⁵⁵ But he, ^(DM)full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw ^(DN)the glory of God, and Jesus standing ^(DO)at the right hand of God. ⁵⁶ And he said, “Behold, I see ^(DP)the heavens opened, and ^(DQ)the Son of Man standing ^(DR)at the right hand of God.” ⁵⁷ But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together^[b] at him. ⁵⁸ Then ^(DS)they cast him out of the city and ^(DT)stoned him. And ^(DU)the witnesses laid down their garments ^(DV)at the feet of a young man named Saul. ⁵⁹ And as they were stoning Stephen, ^(DW)he called out, “Lord Jesus, ^(DX)receive my spirit.” ⁶⁰ And ^(DY)falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, ^(DZ)“Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, ^(EA)he fell asleep.

Saul Ravages the Church

8 And ^(EB)Saul ^(EC)approved of his execution.

And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and ^(ED)they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. ² Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. ³ But ^(EE)Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he ^(EF)dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

James Killed and Peter Imprisoned

12 About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. ² He killed ^(A)James the brother of John ^(B)with the sword, ³ and when he saw ^(C)that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during ^(D)the days of Unleavened Bread. ⁴ And when he had seized him, he put him ^(E)in prison, delivering him over to four ^(F)squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. ⁵ So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest ^(G)prayer for him was made to God by the church.

Peter Is Rescued

⁶ Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, ^(H)bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. ⁷ And behold, ^(I)an angel of the Lord ^(J)stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. ^(K)He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And ^(L)the chains fell off his hands. ⁸ And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and ^(M)put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” ⁹ And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but ^(N)thought he was seeing a vision. ¹⁰ When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. ^(O)It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. ¹¹ When Peter ^(P)came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that ^(Q)the Lord has sent his angel and ^(R)rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”

¹² When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of ^(S)John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and ^(T)were praying. ¹³ And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, ^(U)a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. ¹⁴ Recognizing Peter's voice, ^(V)in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. ¹⁵ They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is ^(W)his angel!” ¹⁶ But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. ¹⁷ But ^(X)motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to ^(Y)James and to ^(Z)the brothers.”^[a] Then he departed and went to another place.

¹⁸ Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. ¹⁹ And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ^(AA)ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there.

¹⁹ But ^(A)when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and ^(B)dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. ²⁰ And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. ²¹ They ^(C)advocate customs that are not lawful for us ^(D)as Romans to accept or practice.” ²² The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders ^(E)to beat them with rods. ²³ And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. ²⁴ Having received this order, he put them into the inner ^(F)prison and fastened their feet in ^(G)the stocks.

The Philippian Jailer Converted

^25 (H)About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, ²⁶ and suddenly ^(I)there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately ^(J)all the doors were opened, and ^(K)everyone's bonds were unfastened. ²⁷ When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and ^(L)was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. ²⁸ But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” ²⁹ And the jailer^[a] called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he ^(M)fell down before Paul and Silas. ³⁰ Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, ^(N)what must I do to be ^(O)saved?” ³¹ And they said, ^(P)“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you ^(Q)and your household.” ³² And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. ³³ And he took them ^(R)the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he ^(S)was baptized at once, he and all his family. ³⁴ Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he ^(T)rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.

³⁵ But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, “Let those men go.” ³⁶ And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace.” ³⁷ But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly, ^(U)uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out.” ³⁸ The police reported these words to the magistrates, and ^(V)they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. ³⁹ So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and ^(W)asked them to leave the city. ⁴⁰ So they went out of the prison and visited ^(X)Lydia. And when they had seen ^(Y)the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.

Paul Arrested in the Temple

²⁷ When ^(A)the seven days were almost completed, ^(B)the Jews from Asia, ^(C)seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, ²⁸ crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who ^(D)is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and ^(E)the law and ^(F)this place. Moreover, he even brought Greeks into the temple and ^(G)has defiled ^(H)this holy place.” ²⁹ For they had previously seen ^(I)Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. ³⁰ Then all the city was stirred up, and the people ran together. They seized Paul and ^(J)dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut. ^31 (K)And as they were seeking to kill him, word came to the tribune of ^(L)the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. ^32 (M)He at once took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. And when they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. ³³ Then the tribune came up and arrested him and ordered him ^(N)to be bound ^(O)with two chains. He inquired who he was and what he had done. ^34 (P)Some in the crowd were shouting one thing, some another. And as he could not learn the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into ^(Q)the barracks. ³⁵ And when he came to the steps, he was actually carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd, ³⁶ for the mob of the people followed, crying out, ^(R)“Away with him!”

Paul Speaks to the People

³⁷ As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, “May I say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek? ³⁸ Are you not ^(S)the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out ^(T)into the wilderness?” ³⁹ Paul replied, ^(U)“I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city. I beg you, permit me to speak to the people.” ⁴⁰ And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, ^(V)motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in ^(W)the Hebrew language,^[a] saying:

22 ^(X)“Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.”

² And when they heard that he was addressing them in ^(Y)the Hebrew language,^[b] they became even more quiet. And he said:

^3 (Z)“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated ^(AA)at the feet of ^(AB)Gamaliel^{[c] (AC)}according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, ^(AD)being zealous for God ^(AE)as all of you are this day. ^4 (AF)I persecuted ^(AG)this Way ^(AH)to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, ⁵ as ^(AI)the high priest and ^(AJ)the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to ^(AK)the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished.

^6 (AL)“As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. ⁷ And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ ⁸ And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am ^(AM)Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’ ^9 (AN)Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand^[d] the voice of the one who was speaking to me. ¹⁰ And I said, ^(AO)‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.’ ¹¹ And since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus.

¹² “And ^(AP)one Ananias, a devout man ^(AQ)according to the law, ^(AR)well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, ^13 (AS)came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And ^(AT)at that very hour I received my sight and saw him. ¹⁴ And he said, ^(AU)‘The God of our fathers ^(AV)appointed you to know his will, ^(AW)to see ^(AX)the Righteous One and ^(AY)to hear a voice from his mouth; ¹⁵ for ^(AZ)you will be a witness for him to everyone of what ^(BA)you have seen and heard. ¹⁶ And now why do you wait? ^(BB)Rise and be baptized and ^(BC)wash away your sins, ^(BD)calling on his name.’

^17 (BE)“When I had returned to Jerusalem and ^(BF)was praying in the temple, I fell into ^(BG)a trance ¹⁸ and saw him saying to me, ^(BH)‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ ¹⁹ And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another ^(BI)I imprisoned and ^(BJ)beat those who believed in you. ²⁰ And when the blood of Stephen ^(BK)your witness was being shed, ^(BL)I myself was standing by and ^(BM)approving and ^(BN)watching over the garments of those who killed him.’ ²¹ And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you ^(BO)far away to the Gentiles.’”

Paul and the Roman Tribune

²² Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, ^(BP)“Away with such a fellow from the earth! For ^(BQ)he should not be allowed to live.” ²³ And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, ²⁴ the tribune ordered him to be brought into ^(BR)the barracks, saying that he should be ^(BS)examined by flogging, to find out why they were shouting against him like this. ²⁵ But when they had stretched him out for the whips,^[e] Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to flog ^(BT)a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?” ²⁶ When the centurion heard this, he went to the tribune and said to him, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.” ²⁷ So the tribune came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” And he said, “Yes.” ²⁸ The tribune answered, “I bought this citizenship for a large sum.” Paul said, “But I am a citizen by birth.” ²⁹ So those who were about ^(BU)to examine him withdrew from him immediately, and the tribune also ^(BV)was afraid, ^(BW)for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that ^(BX)he had bound him.

Paul Before the Council

³⁰ But on the next day, ^(BY)desiring to know the real reason why he was being accused by the Jews, he unbound him and commanded the chief priests and all the council to meet, and he brought Paul down and set him before them.

23 And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, ^(BZ)I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.” ² And the high priest ^(CA)Ananias commanded those who stood by him ^(CB)to strike him on the mouth. ³ Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you ^(CC)whitewashed ^(CD)wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet ^(CE)contrary to the law you ^(CF)order me to be struck?” ⁴ Those who stood by said, “Would you revile ^(CG)God's high priest?” ⁵ And Paul said, ^(CH)“I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ^(CI)‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”

⁶ Now when Paul perceived that one part were ^(CJ)Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Brothers, ^(CK)I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is ^(CL)with respect to the ^(CM)hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.” ⁷ And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. ⁸ For the Sadducees ^(CN)say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. ⁹ Then a great clamor arose, and some of ^(CO)the scribes of the Pharisees' party stood up and contended sharply, ^(CP)“We find nothing wrong in this man. What ^(CQ)if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?” ¹⁰ And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into ^(CR)the barracks.

^11 (CS)The following night ^(CT)the Lord stood by him and said, ^(CU)“Take courage, for ^(CV)as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must ^(CW)testify also in Rome.”

A Plot to Kill Paul

¹² When it was day, ^(CX)the Jews made a plot and ^(CY)bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. ¹³ There were more than forty who made this conspiracy. ¹⁴ They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food till we have killed Paul. ¹⁵ Now therefore you, along with the council, give notice to the tribune to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case more exactly. And we are ready to kill him before he comes near.”

¹⁶ Now the son of Paul's sister heard of their ambush, so he went and entered ^(CZ)the barracks and told Paul. ¹⁷ Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the tribune, for he has something to tell him.” ¹⁸ So he took him and brought him to the tribune and said, “Paul ^(DA)the prisoner called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, as he has something to say to you.” ¹⁹ The tribune took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?” ²⁰ And he said, ^(DB)“The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more closely about him. ²¹ But do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of their men are lying in ambush for him, who ^(DC)have bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they have killed him. And now they are ready, waiting for your consent.” ²² So the tribune dismissed the young man, charging him, “Tell no one that you have informed me of these things.”

Paul Sent to Felix the Governor

²³ Then he called two of the centurions and said, “Get ready two hundred soldiers, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go as far as Caesarea at the third hour of the night.^{[f] 24} Also provide mounts for Paul to ride and bring him safely to ^(DD)Felix ^(DE)the governor.” ²⁵ And he wrote a letter to this effect:

²⁶ “Claudius Lysias, to ^(DF)his Excellency the governor Felix, ^(DG)greetings. ^27 (DH)This man was seized by the Jews and ^(DI)was about to be killed by them ^(DJ)when I came upon them with the soldiers and rescued him, ^(DK)having learned that he was a Roman citizen. ²⁸ And ^(DL)desiring to know the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their council. ²⁹ I found that he was being accused ^(DM)about questions of their law, but ^(DN)charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment. ^30 (DO)And when it was disclosed to me ^(DP)that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, ^(DQ)ordering his accusers also to state before you what they have against him.”

³¹ So the soldiers, according to their instructions, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. ³² And on the next day they returned to ^(DR)the barracks, letting the horsemen go on with him. ³³ When they had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul also before him. ³⁴ On reading the letter, he asked what ^(DS)province he was from. And when he learned ^(DT)that he was from Cilicia, ³⁵ he said, “I will give you a hearing ^(DU)when your accusers arrive.” And he commanded him to be guarded in Herod's ^(DV)praetorium.

Paul Before Felix at Caesarea

24 And ^(DW)after five days the high priest ^(DX)Ananias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus. They laid before ^(DY)the governor their case against Paul. ² And when he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying:

“Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight, ^(DZ)most excellent Felix, reforms are being made for this nation, ³ in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude. ⁴ But, to detain^[g] you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly. ⁵ For we have found this man a plague, ^(EA)one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of ^(EB)the sect of the Nazarenes. ^6 (EC)He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him.^{[h] 8} By examining him yourself you will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him.”

⁹ The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that all these things were so.

¹⁰ And when the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul replied:

“Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense. ¹¹ You can verify that ^(ED)it is not more than twelve days since I ^(EE)went up ^(EF)to worship in Jerusalem, ¹² and ^(EG)they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or in the city. ^13 (EH)Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me. ¹⁴ But this I confess to you, that according to ^(EI)the Way, which they call ^(EJ)a sect, ^(EK)I worship ^(EL)the God of our fathers, believing everything ^(EM)laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, ^15 (EN)having ^(EO)a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be ^(EP)a resurrection ^(EQ)of both the just and the unjust. ¹⁶ So I always ^(ER)take pains to have a ^(ES)clear conscience toward both God and man. ¹⁷ Now ^(ET)after several years ^(EU)I came to bring alms to ^(EV)my nation and to present ^(EW)offerings.