Persecutions Predicted

⁹ “But you, be on your guard! They will hand you over to sanhedrins,^[a](A) and you will be flogged^(B) in the synagogues.^(C) You will stand before governors and kings^(D) because of Me,^(E) as a witness^(F) to them.^(G)

Warnings on the Journey to Jerusalem

21 After^(A) we tore ourselves away from them and set sail, we came by a direct route to Cos, the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. ² Finding a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we boarded and set sail. ³ After we sighted Cyprus, leaving it on the left, we sailed on to Syria and arrived at Tyre, because the ship was to unload its cargo there. ⁴ So we found some disciples and stayed there seven days. Through the Spirit they told Paul not to go to Jerusalem.^{(B) 5} When our days there were over, we left to continue our journey, while all of them, with their wives and children, escorted us out of the city. After kneeling down on the beach to pray, ⁶ we said good-bye to one another. Then we boarded the ship, and they returned home.

⁷ When we completed our voyage from Tyre, we reached Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and stayed with them one day.^{(C) 8} The next day we left and came to Caesarea, where we entered the house of Philip^(D) the evangelist,^(E) who was one of the Seven, and stayed with him. ⁹ This man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.^(F)

¹⁰ While we were staying there many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. ¹¹ He came to us, took Paul’s belt, tied his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into Gentile hands.’”^{(G) 12} When we heard this, both we and the local people begged him not to go up to Jerusalem.

¹³ Then Paul replied, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”^(H)

¹⁴ Since he would not be persuaded, we stopped talking and simply said, “The Lord’s will be done!”^(I)

Conflict over the Gentile Mission

¹⁵ After these days we got ready and went up to Jerusalem. ¹⁶ Some of the disciples from Caesarea also went with us and brought us to Mnason, a Cypriot and an early disciple, with whom we were to stay.^(J)

¹⁷ When we reached Jerusalem, the brothers welcomed us gladly.^{(K) 18} The following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present.^{(L) 19} After greeting them, he related in detail what God did among the Gentiles through his ministry.^(M)

²⁰ When they heard it, they glorified God and said, “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous^(N) for the law. ²¹ But they have been told about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to abandon Moses, by telling them not to circumcise their children or to walk in our customs.^{(O) 22} So what is to be done?^[a] They will certainly hear that you’ve come. ²³ Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have obligated themselves with a vow. ²⁴ Take these men, purify yourself along with them, and pay for them to get their heads shaved. Then everyone will know that what they were told about you amounts to nothing, but that you yourself are also careful about observing the law.^{(P) 25} With regard to the Gentiles who have believed, we have written a letter containing our decision that^[b] they should keep themselves from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from what is strangled, and from sexual immorality.”

The Riot in the Temple Complex

²⁶ Then the next day, Paul took the men, having purified himself along with them, and entered the temple, announcing the completion of the purification days when the offering for each of them would be made.^{(Q) 27} As the seven days were about to end, the Jews from Asia saw him in the temple complex, stirred up the whole crowd, and seized him,^{(R) 28} shouting, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people, our law, and this place. What’s more, he also brought Greeks into the temple and has profaned this holy place.”^{(S) 29} For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple complex.^[c](T)

³⁰ The whole city was stirred up, and the people rushed together. They seized Paul, dragged him out of the temple complex, and at once the gates were shut.^{(U) 31} As they were trying to kill him, word went up to the commander of the regiment that all Jerusalem was in chaos. ³² Taking along soldiers and centurions, he immediately ran down to them. Seeing the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. ³³ Then the commander came up, took him into custody, and ordered him to be bound with two chains.^(V) He asked who he was and what he had done. ³⁴ Some in the mob were shouting one thing and some another. Since he was not able to get reliable information because of the uproar, he ordered him to be taken into the barracks.^{(W) 35} When Paul got to the steps, he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the mob’s violence, ³⁶ for the mass of people followed, yelling, “Take him away!”^(X)

Paul’s Defense before the Jerusalem Mob

³⁷ As he was about to be brought into the barracks, Paul said to the commander, “Am I allowed to say something to you?”

He replied, “Do you know Greek? ³⁸ Aren’t you the Egyptian who raised a rebellion some time ago and led 4,000 Assassins^[d][e] into the wilderness?”^(Y)

³⁹ Paul said, “I am a Jewish man from Tarsus of Cilicia,^(Z) a citizen of an important city.^[f] Now I ask you, let me speak to the people.”

⁴⁰ After he had given permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned with his hand to the people. When there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language:^(AA) 22 ¹ “Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you.” ² When they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even quieter.^{(AB) 3} He^(AC) continued, “I am a Jewish man, born in Tarsus of Cilicia but brought up in this city^[g] at the feet of Gamaliel^(AD) and educated according to the strict view of our patriarchal law. Being zealous for God, just as all of you are today,^{(AE) 4} I persecuted this Way^(AF) to the death, binding and putting both men and women in jail,^{(AG) 5} as both the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify about me. After I received letters from them to the brothers, I traveled to Damascus to bring those who were prisoners there to be punished in Jerusalem.^(AH)

Paul’s Testimony

⁶ “As^(AI) I was traveling and near Damascus, about noon an intense light from heaven suddenly flashed around me. ⁷ I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’

⁸ “I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’

“He said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, the One you are persecuting!’ ⁹ Now those who were with me saw the light,^[h] but they did not hear the voice of the One who was speaking to me.^(AJ)

¹⁰ “Then I said, ‘What should I do, Lord?’

“And the Lord told me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told about everything that is assigned for you to do.’

¹¹ “Since I couldn’t see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus.^{(AK) 12} Someone named Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good reputation with all the Jews residing there,^{(AL) 13} came and stood by me and said, ‘Brother Saul, regain your sight.’ And in that very hour I looked up and saw him. ¹⁴ Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed^(AM) you to know His will, to see^(AN) the Righteous One,^(AO) and to hear the sound of His voice.^{[i] 15} For you will be a witness for Him to all people of what you have seen and heard.^{(AP) 16} And now, why delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins^(AQ) by calling on His name.’^(AR)

¹⁷ “After I came back to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple complex, I went into a visionary state^{(AS) 18} and saw Him telling me, ‘Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about Me!’

¹⁹ “But I said, ‘Lord, they know that in synagogue after synagogue I had those who believed in You imprisoned and beaten.^{(AT) 20} And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was being shed, I was standing by and approving,^[j] and I guarded the clothes of those who killed him.’^(AU)

²¹ “Then He said to me, ‘Go, because I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”^(AV)

Paul’s Roman Protection

²² They listened to him up to this word. Then they raised their voices, shouting, “Wipe this person off the earth—it’s a disgrace for him to live!”^(AW)

²³ As they were yelling and flinging aside their robes and throwing dust into the air,^{(AX) 24} 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. ²⁵ As they stretched him out for the lash, Paul said to the centurion standing by, “Is it legal for you to scourge a man who is a Roman citizen and is uncondemned?”^(AY)

²⁶ When the centurion heard this, he went and reported to the commander, saying, “What are you going to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.”

²⁷ The commander came and said to him, “Tell me—are you a Roman citizen?”

“Yes,” he said.

²⁸ The commander replied, “I bought this citizenship for a large amount of money.”

“But I was born a citizen,” Paul said.

²⁹ Therefore, those who were about to examine him withdrew from him at once. The commander too was alarmed when he realized Paul was a Roman citizen and he had bound him.^(AZ)

Paul before the Sanhedrin

³⁰ The next day, since he wanted to find out exactly why Paul was being accused by the Jews, he released him^[k] and instructed the chief priests and all the Sanhedrin to convene.^(BA) Then he brought Paul down and placed him before them. 23 ¹ Paul looked intently at the Sanhedrin and said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience^(BB) until this day.” ² But the high priest Ananias ordered those who were standing next to him to strike him on the mouth.^{(BC) 3} Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! You are sitting there judging me according to the law, and in violation of the law are you ordering me to be struck?”^(BD)

⁴ And those standing nearby said, “Do you dare revile God’s high priest?”

⁵ “I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest,” replied Paul. “For it is written, You must not speak evil of a ruler of your people.”^{(BE)[l] 6} When Paul realized that one part of them were Sadducees and the other part were Pharisees, he cried out in the Sanhedrin, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees!^(BF) I am being judged because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead!”^{(BG) 7} When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. ⁸ For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection,^(BH) and no angel or spirit, but the Pharisees affirm them all.

⁹ The shouting grew loud, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’^(BI) party got up and argued vehemently: “We find nothing evil in this man.^(BJ) What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”^{[m](BK) 10} When the dispute became violent, the commander feared that Paul might be torn apart by them and ordered the troops to go down, rescue him from them, and bring him into the barracks.^(BL)

The Plot against Paul

¹¹ The following night, the Lord stood by him and said, “Have courage! For as you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”^(BM)

¹² When it was day, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under a curse: neither to eat nor to drink until they had killed Paul.^{(BN) 13} There were more than 40 who had formed this plot. ¹⁴ These men went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves under a solemn curse that we won’t eat anything until we have killed Paul. ¹⁵ So now you, along with the Sanhedrin, make a request to the commander that he bring him down to you^[n] as if you were going to investigate his case more thoroughly. However, before he gets near, we are ready to kill him.”^(BO)

¹⁶ But the son of Paul’s sister, hearing about their ambush, came and entered the barracks and reported it to Paul. ¹⁷ Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander, because he has something to report to him.”

¹⁸ So he took him, brought him to the commander, and said, “The prisoner Paul called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, because he has something to tell you.”

¹⁹ Then the commander took him by the hand, led him aside, and inquired privately, “What is it you have to report to me?”

²⁰ “The Jews,” he said, “have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the Sanhedrin tomorrow, as though they are going to hold a somewhat more careful inquiry about him. ²¹ Don’t let them persuade you, because there are more than 40 of them arranging to ambush him, men who have bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they kill him. Now they are ready, waiting for a commitment from you.”^(BP)

²² So the commander dismissed the young man and instructed him, “Don’t tell anyone that you have informed me about this.”

To Caesarea by Night

²³ He summoned two of his centurions and said, “Get 200 soldiers ready with 70 cavalry and 200 spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight.^{[o](BQ) 24} Also provide mounts so they can put Paul on them and bring him safely to Felix the governor.”

²⁵ He wrote a letter of this kind:

³¹ Therefore, the soldiers took Paul during the night and brought him to Antipatris as they were ordered. ³² The next day, they returned to the barracks, allowing the cavalry to go on with him. ³³ When these men entered Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him.^{(BX) 34} After he^[r] read it, he asked what province he was from. So when he learned he was from Cilicia,^{(BY) 35} he said, “I will give you a hearing whenever your accusers get here too.” And he ordered that he be kept under guard in Herod’s palace.^(BZ)

The Accusation against Paul

24 After five days Ananias the high priest came down with some elders and a lawyer^[s] named Tertullus. These men presented their case against Paul to the governor.^{(CA) 2} When he was called in, Tertullus began to accuse him and said: “Since we enjoy great peace because of you, and reforms are taking place for the benefit of this nation by your foresight, ³ we acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, most excellent^(CB) Felix, with utmost gratitude. ⁴ However, so that I will not burden you any further, I beg you in your graciousness to give us a brief hearing. ⁵ For we have found this man to be a plague,^(CC) an agitator^(CD) among all the Jews throughout the Roman world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes! ⁶ He even tried to desecrate the temple, so we apprehended him [and wanted to judge him according to our law. ⁷ But Lysias the commander came and took him from our hands with great force, ⁸ commanding his accusers to come to you.]^[t] By examining him yourself you will be able to discern all these things we are accusing him of.” ⁹ The Jews also joined in the attack, alleging that these things were so.

Paul’s Defense before Felix

¹⁰ When the governor motioned to him to speak, Paul replied: “Because I know you have been a judge of this nation for many years, I am glad to offer my defense in what concerns me.^{(CE) 11} You are able to determine that it is no more than 12 days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem.^{(CF) 12} They didn’t find me disputing with anyone or causing a disturbance among the crowd, either in the temple complex or in the synagogues or anywhere in the city.^{(CG) 13} Neither can they provide evidence to you of what they now bring against me. ¹⁴ But I confess this to you: I worship my fathers’ God according to the Way,^(CH) which they call a sect, believing all the things that are written in the Law and in the Prophets.^{(CI) 15} And I have a hope in God, which these men themselves also accept, that there is going to be a resurrection,^[u](CJ) both of the righteous and the unrighteous.^{(CK) 16} I always do my best to have a clear conscience^(CL) toward God and men. ¹⁷ After many years, I came to bring charitable gifts and offerings to my nation,^{(CM) 18} and while I was doing this, some Jews from Asia found me ritually purified in the temple, without a crowd and without any uproar.^{(CN) 19} It is they who ought to be here before you to bring charges, if they have anything against me. ²⁰ Either let these men here state what wrongdoing they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin, ²¹ or about this one statement I cried out while standing among them, ‘Today I am being judged before you concerning the resurrection of the dead.’”

The Verdict Postponed

²² Since Felix was accurately informed about the Way,^(CO) he adjourned the hearing, saying, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case.” ²³ He ordered that the centurion keep Paul^[v] under guard, though he could have some freedom, and that he should not prevent any of his friends from serving^[w] him.^(CP)

²⁴ After some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and listened to him on the subject of faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁵ Now as he spoke about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come,^(CQ) Felix became afraid and replied, “Leave for now, but when I find time I’ll call for you.” ²⁶ At the same time he was also hoping that money would be given to him by Paul.^[x] For this reason he sent for him quite often and conversed with him.

²⁷ After two years had passed, Felix received a successor, Porcius Festus,^(CR) and because he wished to do a favor for the Jews,^(CS) Felix left Paul in prison.^(CT)

Appeal to Caesar

25 Three days after Festus arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.^{(CU) 2} Then the chief priests and the leaders of the Jews presented their case against Paul to him; and they appealed,^{(CV) 3} asking him to do them a favor against Paul,^[y] that he might summon him to Jerusalem. They were preparing an ambush along the road to kill him. ⁴ However, Festus answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to go there shortly.^{(CW) 5} “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.”

⁶ When he had spent not more than eight or 10 days among them, he went down to Caesarea. The next day, seated at the judge’s bench, he commanded Paul to be brought in.^{(CX) 7} When he arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him and brought many serious charges that they were not able to prove,^{(CY) 8} while Paul made the defense that, “Neither against the Jewish law,^(CZ) nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I sinned at all.”

⁹ Then Festus, wanting to do a favor for the Jews,^(DA) replied to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem, there to be tried before me on these charges?”

¹⁰ But Paul said: “I am standing at Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as even you can see very well. ¹¹ If then I am doing wrong, or have done anything deserving of death, I do not refuse to die, but if there is nothing to what these men accuse me of, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar!”^(DB)

¹² After Festus conferred with his council, he replied, “You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you will go!”

King Agrippa and Bernice Visit Festus

¹³ After some days had passed, King Agrippa^[z] and Bernice arrived in Caesarea and paid a courtesy call on Festus. ¹⁴ 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. ¹⁵ When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews presented their case and asked for a judgment against him.^{(DC) 16} I answered them that it’s not the Romans’ custom to give any man up^[aa] before the accused confronts the accusers face to face and has an opportunity to give a defense concerning the charges.^{(DD) 17} Therefore, when they had assembled here, I did not delay. The next day I sat at the judge’s bench and ordered the man to be brought in. ¹⁸ Concerning him, the accusers stood up and brought no charge of the sort I was expecting. ¹⁹ Instead they had some disagreements^(DE) with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, a dead man Paul claimed to be alive. ²⁰ Since I was at a loss in a dispute over such things, I asked him if he wished to go to Jerusalem and be tried there concerning these matters. ²¹ But when Paul appealed to be held for trial by the Emperor, I ordered him to be kept in custody until I could send him to Caesar.”

²² Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear the man myself.”

“Tomorrow you will hear him,” he replied.^(DF)

Paul before Agrippa

²³ So the next day, Agrippa and Bernice^(DG) came with great pomp and entered the auditorium with the commanders and prominent men of the city. When Festus gave the command, Paul was brought in. ²⁴ Then Festus said: “King Agrippa and all men present with us, you see this man about whom the whole Jewish community has appealed to me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he should not live any longer.^{(DH) 25} Now I realized that he had not done anything deserving of death, but when he himself appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.^{(DI) 26} 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. ²⁷ For it seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner and not to indicate the charges against him.”

Paul’s Defense before Agrippa

26 Agrippa said to Paul, “It is permitted for you to speak for yourself.”

Then Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense: ² “I consider myself fortunate, King Agrippa, that today I am going to make a defense before you about everything I am accused of by the Jews, ³ especially since you are an expert in all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.

⁴ “All the Jews know my way of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem.^{(DJ) 5} They had previously known me for quite some time, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I lived as a Pharisee.^{(DK) 6} And now I stand on trial for the hope^(DL) of the promise^(DM) made by God to our fathers, ⁷ 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.^{(DN) 8} Why is it considered incredible by any of you that God raises the dead? ⁹ In fact, I myself supposed it was necessary to do many things in opposition to the name of Jesus the Nazarene.^{(DO) 10} 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.^{(DP) 11} In all the synagogues I often tried to make them blaspheme by punishing them.^(DQ) I even pursued them to foreign cities since I was greatly enraged at them.

Paul’s Account of His Conversion and Commission

¹² “I was traveling to Damascus under^(DR) these circumstances with authority and a commission from the chief priests. ¹³ King Agrippa, while on the road at midday, I saw a light from heaven brighter than the sun, shining around me and those traveling with me. ¹⁴ We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice speaking to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’^[ab](DS)

¹⁵ “Then I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’

“And the Lord replied: ‘I am Jesus, the One you are persecuting. ¹⁶ But get up and stand on your feet. For I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and a witness of what you have seen^[ac] and of what I will reveal to you.^{(DT) 17} I will rescue you from the people and from the Gentiles. I now send you to them^{(DU) 18} to open their eyes^(DV) so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that by faith in Me they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified.’^(DW)

¹⁹ “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. ²⁰ Instead, I preached to those in Damascus first, and to those in Jerusalem and in all the region of Judea, and to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works worthy of repentance.^{(DX) 21} For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple complex and were trying to kill me. ²² To this very day, I have obtained help that comes from God, and I stand and testify to both small and great, saying nothing else than what the prophets and Moses said would take place^(DY)— ²³ that the Messiah must suffer, and that as the first to rise from the dead, He would proclaim light to our people and to the Gentiles.”^(DZ)

Not Quite Persuaded

²⁴ As he was making his defense this way, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, “You’re out of your mind,^(EA) Paul! Too much study is driving you mad!”

²⁵ But Paul replied, “I’m not out of my mind, most excellent Festus. On the contrary, I’m speaking words of truth and good judgment.^{(EB) 26} 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. ²⁷ King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you believe.”

²⁸ Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Are you going to persuade me to become a Christian so easily?”

²⁹ “I wish before God,” replied Paul, “that whether easily or with difficulty, not only you but all who listen to me today might become as I am—except for these chains.”^(EC)

³⁰ So the king, the governor, Bernice, and those sitting with them got up, ³¹ and when they had left they talked with each other and said, “This man is doing nothing that deserves death or chains.”^(ED)

³² Then Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.”^(EE)