Beginning
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;[a]
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;[b]
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.[c]
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.
23 And he commanded to a centurion to keep him, and that he had rest[d], neither to forbid any man to minister of his own things to him.
24 And after some days Felix came, with Drusilla his wife, that was a Jewess, and called Paul, and heard of him the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
25 And while he disputed of rightwiseness, and chastity, and of doom to coming [and of doom to come], Felix was made trembling, and answered, That pertaineth now, go; but in time opportune I shall call thee [soothly in time covenable I shall call thee].
26 Also he hoped, that money should be given to him of Paul; for which thing again he called him [for which thing and oft he called him], and spake with him.
27 And when two years were filled, Felix took a successor, Porcius Festus; and Felix would give grace to the Jews, and left Paul bound.[e]
25 Therefore when Festus came into the province, after the third day he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.
2 And the princes of priests, and the worthiest of the Jews went to him against Paul [And the prince of priests, and the first of Jews went to him against Paul], and prayed him,
3 and asked grace against him, that he should command him to be led to Jerusalem; and they set ambush to slay him in the way [setting ambush to slay him in the way].
4 But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept in Caesarea; soothly that he himself should proceed more advisedly [soothly that he himself should go forth more ripely, or hastily].
5 Therefore he said, They that in you be mighty, come down together; and if any crime is in the man, accuse they him [accuse him].
6 And he dwelled among them no more than eight either ten days, and came down to Caesarea [Soothly he dwelling among them no more than eight or ten days, came down to Caesarea]; and the tother day he sat for doomsman, and commanded Paul to be brought.
7 And when he was brought forth, Jews stood about him, which came down from Jerusalem, putting against him many and grievous causes, which they might not prove.
8 For Paul yielded reason in all things, That neither against the law of Jews, neither against the temple, neither against the emperor [neither against Caesar], I sinned any thing.
9 But Festus would do grace to the Jews, and answered to Paul, and said [Forsooth Festus willing to give grace to the Jews, answering to Paul, said], Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be deemed of these things before me?
10 And Paul said, At the doom place of the emperor I stand [At the doom place of Caesar I stand], where it behooveth me to be deemed. I have not harmed the Jews, as thou knowest well.
11 For if I have harmed, either done any thing worthy death, I forsake not to die; but if nothing of those is, that they accuse me, no man may give me to them. I appeal to the emperor.[f]
12 Then Festus spake with the council, and answered, To the emperor thou hast appealed, to the emperor thou shalt go [To Caesar thou hast appealed, to Caesar thou shalt go].
13 And when some days were passed, Agrippa king, and Bernice came down to Caesarea, to welcome Festus [to greet well Festus].
14 And when they dwelled there many days, Festus showed to the king of Paul, and said, A man is left bound of Felix [saying, Some man is left bound of Felix],
15 of which, when I was at Jerusalem, princes of priests and the elder men of the Jews came to me, and asked damnation against him [asking damnation against him].
16 To whom I answered, That it is not custom to Romans, to damn any man, before that he that is accused have his accusers present, and take place of defending, to put away the crimes, that be put against him.[g]
17 Therefore when they came together hither, without any delay, in the day following I sat for doomsman, and commanded the man to be brought.
18 And when his accusers stood [Of whom when the accusers stood nigh], they said no cause, of which things I had suspicion of evil.
19 But they had against him some questions of their vain worshipping [of their vain worshipping, or religion], and of one Jesus dead, whom Paul affirmed to live.
20 And I doubted of such manner questions, and said, Whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be deemed of these things?
21 But for Paul appealed, that he should be kept to the knowing of the emperor, I commanded him to be kept, till I send him to the emperor [till I shall send him to Caesar].
22 And Agrippa said to Festus, I myself would hear the man. And he said, To morrow thou shalt hear him. [Soothly Agrippa said to Festus, And I myself would hear the man. To morrow, he said, thou shalt hear him.]
23 And on the tother day, when Agrippa and Bernice came with great desire [when Agrippa and Bernice came with much ambition, or pride of state], and entered into the auditorium, with tribunes and the principal men of the city, when Festus bade, Paul was brought.
24 And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men that be with us, ye see this man, of which all the multitude of Jews prayed me at Jerusalem, and asked, and cried, that he should live no longer[h].
25 But I found, that he had done nothing worthy of death; and I deemed to send him to the emperor, for he appealed this thing [soothly him appealing this thing to the emperor, I deemed to send].
26 Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, O king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might have somewhat to write.
27 For it is seen to me without reason, to send a bound man, and not to signify the cause of him.
26 And Agrippa said to Paul, It is suffered to thee, to speak for thyself. Then Paul held forth the hand, and began to yield reason.
2 Of all things, in which I am accused of the Jews, thou king Agrippa, I guess me blessed at thee, when I shall defend me this day;
3 most for thou knowest all things that be among Jews, customs and questions. For which thing, I beseech, hear me patiently.
4 For all Jews that before knew me from the beginning, know my life from youth; [And soothly all Jews before-witting me from the beginning, have known my life from youth;]
5 that from the beginning was in my folk in Jerusalem, if they will bear witnessing, that by the most certain sect of our religion, I lived a Pharisee. [that from the beginning was in my folk in Jerusalem, if they will bear witness, for after the most certain sect of our religion, I lived a Pharisee.]
6 And now for the hope of repromission, that is made to our fathers of God, I stand subject in doom;
7 in which hope our twelve lineages serving night and day hope to come; of which hope, sir king [of which hope, thou king], I am accused of the Jews.
8 What unbelieveful thing is deemed at you [What unbelieveful thing is deemed of you], if God raiseth dead men?
9 And soothly I guessed, that I ought to do many contrary things against the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
10 Which thing also I did in Jerusalem, and I enclosed many of the saints in prison, when I had taken power of the princes of priests. And when they were slain, I brought the sentence. [Which thing and I did in Jerusalem, and I enclosed many of saints in prisons, power taken of the princes of priests. And when they were slain, I gave the sentence.]
11 And by all synagogues oft I punished them, and constrained to blaspheme; and more I waxed mad against them, and pursued [till] into alien cities [and more I waxing mad against them, pursued to alien cities].
12 In which, [the] while I went to Damascus, with power and suffering of the princes of priests,
13 at midday, in the way I saw, sir king, that from heaven a light shined about me, passing the shining of the sun, and about them that were together with me.[i]
14 And when we all had fallen down into the earth, I heard a voice saying to me in Hebrew tongue, 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].
15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom thou pursuest.
16 But rise up, and stand on thy feet. For why to this thing I appeared to thee, that I ordain thee minister and witness of those things that thou hast seen, and of those things in which I shall show to thee [and of those things in which I shall appear to thee;].
17 And I shall deliver thee from peoples and folks, to which now I send thee, [delivering thee from peoples and folks, into which now I send thee,]
18 to open the eyes of them, that they be converted from darkness to light [to open the eyes of them, that they be turned from darknesses to light], and from power of Satan to God, that they take remission of sins, and part among saints [and sort, or part, among saints], by faith that is in me.
19 Wherefore, sir king Agrippa [Wherefore, thou king Agrippa], I was not unbelieveful to the heavenly vision;
20 but I told [I showed, or told,] to them that be at Damascus first, and at Jerusalem, and by all the country of Judaea, and to heathen men, that they should do penance, and be converted to God, and do worthy works of penance.
21 For this cause Jews took me, when I was in the temple, to slay me [and would slay me].
22 But I was helped by the help of God [till] into this day, and stand, witnessing to less and to more [and stand, witnessing to less and more]. And I say nothing else [Nothing saying over] than which things the prophets and Moses spake that shall come,
23 if Christ is to suffer, if he is the first of the again-rising of dead men[j], that shall show light to the people and to heathen men.
24 When he spake these things, and yielded reason, Festus said with great voice, Paul, thou maddest [Paul, thou maddest, or waxest mad]; many letters turn thee to madness.
25 And Paul said, I mad not, thou best Festus, but I speak out the words of truth and of soberness [but I speak out the words of truth and soberness].
26 For also the king, to whom I speak steadfastly, knoweth of these things; for I deem, that nothing of these is hid from him; for neither in a corner was aught of these things done.
27 Believest thou, king Agrippa, to prophets? I know that thou believest.
28 And Agrippa said to Paul, In little thing thou counselest me to be made a christian man. [Soothly Agrippa said to Paul, A little thou counselest me for to be made a christian man.]
29 And Paul said, I desire with God, both in little and in great, not only thee, but [and] all these that hear to day, to be made such as I am, except these bonds.
30 And the king rose up, and the president, and Bernice, and they that sat nigh to them.
31 And when they went away, they spake together, and said, That this man hath not done any thing worthy death, neither bonds.[k]
32 And Agrippa said to Festus, This man might be delivered, if he had not appealed to the emperor. [Forsooth Agrippa said to Festus, This man might be dismissed, or delivered, if he had not appealed to Caesar.]
2001 by Terence P. Noble