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24 2 Tertullus accuseth Paul: 10 He answereth for himself: 21 He preacheth Christ to the governor and his wife. 26 Felix hopeth, but in vain, to receive a bribe, 27 who going from his office, leaveth Paul in prison.
1 Now [a]after five days, Ananias the high Priest came down with the Elders, and with Tertullus a certain orator, which appeared before the governor against Paul.
2 And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that we have obtained great quietness [b]through thee, and that many [c]worthy things are done unto this nation through thy providence,
3 We acknowledge it wholly, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thanks.
4 But that I be not tedious unto thee, I pray thee, that thou wouldest hear us of thy courtesy a few words.
5 Certainly we have found this man a [d]pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a [e]chief maintainer of the sect of the [f]Nazarenes:
6 And hath gone about to pollute the Temple: therefore we took him, and would have judged him according to our Law:
7 But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him out of our hands,
8 Commanding his accusers to come to thee: of whom thou mayest (if thou wilt inquire) know all these things whereof we accuse him.
9 And the Jews likewise [g]affirmed, saying that it was so.
10 [h]Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him that he should speak, answered, I do the more gladly answer for myself, forasmuch as I know that [i]thou hast been oft many years a judge unto this nation,
11 Seeing that thou mayest know, that there are but twelve days since I came up to worship in Jerusalem.
12 And they neither found me in the Temple, disputing with any man, neither making uproar among the people, neither in the Synagogues, nor in the city.
13 Neither can they [j]prove the things, whereof they now accuse me.
14 [k]But this I confess unto thee, that after the way (which they call [l]heresy) so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and the Prophets,
15 And have hope towards God, that the resurrection of the dead, which they themselves look for also, shall be both of just and unjust.
16 And herein I endeavor myself to have always a clear conscience toward God and toward men.
17 [m]Now after many years, I came and brought alms to my nation and offerings,
18 At [n]what time, certain Jews of [o]Asia found me purified in the Temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult.
19 Who ought to have been present before thee, and accuse me, if they had ought against me.
20 Or let these themselves say, if they have found any unjust thing in me, while I stood in the [p]Council,
21 Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Of the resurrection of the dead am I accused of you this day.
22 [q]Now when Felix heard these things, he deferred them, and said, When I shall more [r]perfectly know the things which concern this way, by the coming of Lysias the chief Captain, I will decide your matter.
23 [s]Then he commanded a Centurion to keep Paul, and that he should have ease, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister unto him, or to come unto him.
24 ¶ And after certain days, came Felix with his wife [t]Drusilla, which was a Jewess, and he called forth Paul, and heard him of the faith in Christ.
25 And as he disputed of righteousness and temperance, and of the judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time, and when I have convenient time, I will call for thee.
26 He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him.
27 [u]When two years were expired, Porcius Festus came into Felix’s room, and Felix willing to [v]get favor of the Jews, left Paul bound.
25 1 Festus succeeding Felix, 6 commandeth Paul to be brought forth. 11 Paul appealeth unto Caesar. 14 Festus openeth Paul’s matter to king Agrippa, 23 and bringeth him before him, 27 that he may understand his cause.
1 When [w]Festus was then come into the province, after three days he went up from Caesarea unto Jerusalem.
2 Then the high Priest, and the chief of the Jews appeared before him against Paul: and they besought him,
3 And desired favor against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem: and they laid wait to kill him by the way.
4 But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself would shortly depart thither.
5 Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, come down with us: and if there be any wickedness in the man, let them accuse him.
6 ¶ [x]Now when he had tarried among them no more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea, and the next day sat in the judgment seat, and commanded Paul to be brought.
7 And when he was come, the Jews which were come from Jerusalem, stood about him and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, whereof [y]they could make no plain proof,
8 Forasmuch as he answered, that he had neither offended anything against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor against Caesar.
9 [z]Yet Festus willing to get favor of the Jews, answered Paul and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?
10 Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews I have done no wrong, as thou very well knowest.
11 For if I have done wrong, or committed anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things, whereof they accuse me, no man, to pleasure them, can deliver me to them: I appeal unto Caesar.
12 Then when Festus had spoken with the Council, he answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go.
13 ¶ [aa]And after certain days, King [ab]Agrippa and Bernice came down to Caesarea to salute Festus.
14 And when they had remained there many days, Festus declared Paul’s cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in prison by Felix,
15 Of whom when I came to Jerusalem, the high Priests and Elders of the Jews informed me, and desired to have judgment against him.
16 To whom I answered, that it is not the manner of the Romans for favor to [ac]deliver any man to the death, before that he which is accused, have the accusers before him, and have place to defend himself, concerning the crime.
17 Therefore when they were come hither, without delay the day following I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth.
18 Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought no crime of such things as I supposed:
19 [ad]But had certain questions against him of their own [ae]superstitions, and of one Jesus which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
20 And because I doubted of such manner of question, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things.
21 But because he appealed to be reserved to the examination of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept, till I might send him to Caesar.
22 [af]Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. Tomorrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.
23 And on the morrow when Agrippa was come, and Bernice with great [ag]pomp, and were entered into the Common hall with the chief captains and chief men of the city, at Festus’s commandment Paul was brought forth.
24 And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are present with us, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have called upon me, both at Jerusalem, and here, crying, that he ought not to live any longer.
25 Yet have I found nothing worthy of death, that he hath committed: nevertheless, seeing that he hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.
26 Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my [ah]lord: wherefore I have brought him forth unto you, and especially unto thee, King Agrippa, that after examination had, I might have somewhat to write.
27 For me thinketh it unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not to show the causes which are laid against him.
26 2 Paul in the presence of Agrippa, 4 declareth his life from his childhood, 16 and his calling, 21 with such efficacy of words 28 that almost he persuaded him to Christianity. 30 But he and his company depart doing nothing in Paul’s matter.
1 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. So Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself.
2 [ai]I think myself happy, King Agrippa, because I shall answer this day before thee of all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:
3 Chiefly, because thou hast knowledge of all customs, and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.
4 [aj]As touching my life from my childhood, and what it was from the beginning among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews,
5 Which [ak]knew me heretofore, even from my [al]Elders (if they would testify) that after the [am]most straight sect of our religion, I lived a Pharisee.
6 [an]And now I stand and am accused for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers.
7 Whereunto our twelve tribes instantly serving God day and night, hope to come: for the which hope’s sake, O King Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.
8 [ao]Why should it be thought a thing incredible unto you, that God should raise again the dead?
9 I also verily thought in myself, that I ought to do many contrary things against the Name of Jesus of Nazareth.
10 (A)Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: for many of the Saints I shut up in prison, having received authority of the High Priests, and when they were put to death, I gave my [ap]sentence.
11 And I punished them throughout all the Synagogues, and [aq]compelled them to blaspheme and being more mad against them, I persecuted them, even unto strange cities.
12 At which time, even as I went to (B)Damascus with authority, and commission from the high Priests,
13 At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven passing the brightness of the sun, shine round about me, and them which went with me.
14 So when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against pricks.
15 Then I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
16 But rise and stand up on thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose to appoint thee a minister and a witness, both of the things which thou hast seen, and of the things in the which I will appear unto thee,
17 Delivering thee from this people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
18 [ar]To open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them, which are sanctified by faith in me.
19 [as]Wherefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision,
20 (C)But showed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works worthy amendment of life.
21 For this cause the Jews caught me in the (D)Temple, and went about to kill me.
22 [at]Nevertheless, I obtained help of God, and continue unto this day, witnessing both to [au]small and to great, saying none other things, than those which the Prophets and Moses did say should come,
23 To wit, that Christ should [av]suffer, and that he should be the [aw]first that should rise from the dead, and should show [ax]light unto this people, and to the Gentiles.
24 [ay]And as he thus answered for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself, much learning doth make thee mad.
25 But he said, I am not mad, O noble Festus, but I speak the words of truth, and soberness.
26 For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak boldly: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him: for this thing was [not] done in a [az]corner.
27 [ba]O King Agrippa, believest thou the Prophets? I know that thou believest.
28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to become a Christian.
29 Then Paul said, [bb]I would to God that [not] only thou, but also all that hear me today, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.
30 [bc]And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them.
31 And when they were gone apart, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death, nor of bonds.
32 Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been loosed, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.
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