Beginning
21 And as we launched forth, and had left them, we set a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara.
2 And we found a ship that went over to Phoenicia, and went aboard, and set forth.
3 And when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left side, and sailed toward Syria, and arrived at Tyre. For there the ship unloaded its cargo.
4 And when we had found disciples, we remained there for seven days. And through the Spirit, they told Paul that he should not go up to Jerusalem.
5 But when those days had ended, we departed and went our way. And they all, with their wives and children, accompanied us until we were out of the city. And we kneeled down on the shore and prayed.
6 Then, after we had embraced one another, we boarded the ship. And they returned home.
7 And when we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and greeted the brothers, and stayed with them for one day.
8 And the next day, Paul (and we who were with him) left and came to Caesarea. And we entered into the house of Philip the Evangelist (who was one of the seven) and stayed with him.
9 Now he had four virgin daughters who prophesied.
10 And as we remained there many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came from Judea.
11 And when he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Ghost, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owns this belt, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’”
12 And when we had heard these things, both we and the residents there begged him not to go up to Jerusalem.
13 Then Paul answered, and said, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready, not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the Name of the Lord Jesus.”
14 So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “The will of the Lord be done.”
15 And after those days, we made ourselves ready and went up to Jerusalem.
16 Some of the disciples of Caesarea also went with us, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple with whom we were to lodge.
17 And when we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly.
18 And the next day Paul went in with us to James. And all the elders were assembled there.
19 And after he had embraced them, he told in order all things that God had worked among the Gentiles through his ministry.
20 So when they heard it, they glorified God, and said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousand Jews there are who believe. And they are all zealous for the Law.
21 “Now they are informed that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their sons, nor to live after the customs.
22 What then? The multitude must certainly come together. For they shall hear that you have come.
23 Therefore, do what we tell you. We have four men who have made a vow.
24 Take them. And purify yourself with them. And contribute with them, so that they may shave their heads. And all shall know that those things about which they have been informed concerning you, are nothing. And that you yourself also walk and keep the Law.
25 As for the Gentiles who believe, we have written and determined that they should observe no such thing, except that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from that which is strangled, and from fornication.
26 Then the next day Paul took the men, and having been purified with them, entered into the Temple and declared the completion of the days of the purification and that an offering would be offered for each one of them.
27 And when the seven days had almost ended, the Asian Jews (when they saw him in the Temple) incited all the people, and laid hands on him,
28 crying, “Men of Israel! Help! This is the man who teaches against the people, and the Law, and this place - to everyone, everywhere! Moreover, he has brought Greeks into the Temple, and has polluted this holy place!”
29 For they had seen Trophimus (an Ephesian) with him in the city before, whom they assumed that Paul had brought into the Temple.
30 Then all the city was moved, and the people ran together. And they took Paul, and dragged him out of the Temple, and immediately the doors were shut.
31 But as they were seeking to kill him, word came to the chief captain of the band that all Jerusalem was in an uproar;
32 who immediately took soldiers and Centurions and ran down to them. And when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.
33 Then the chief captain came near and took him, and commanded that he be bound with two chains, and asked who he was and what he had done.
34 And one cried this, and another that, among the people. So, when he could not discern the veracity because of the uproar, he commanded him to be led into the castle.
35 And when he came to the stairs, it happened that he was carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the people.
36 For the multitude of the people followed them, crying, “Away with him!”
37 And as Paul was being been led into the castle, he said to the chief captain, “May I speak to you?” Who said, “Can you speak Greek?
38 “Are you not the Egyptian who previously led a revolt, and led four thousand assassins out into the wilderness?”
39 Then Paul said, “Doubtless, I am a Jew, and a citizen of Tarsus, (a famous city of Cilicia). And I beg you, allow me to speak to the people.”
40 And when he had let him, Paul stood on the stairs and beckoned with the hand to the people. And when there was a great silence, he spoke to them in the Hebrew tongue, saying,
22 “You men, brothers and fathers, hear now my defense towards you!”
2 And when they heard him speak in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept even more silent. And he said,
3 “I am indeed a man born Jewish in Tarsus in Cilicia but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel and instructed according to the perfect manner of the Law of the Fathers. And I was zealous toward God, as you all are this day.
4 “And I persecuted the Way to the death, binding and delivering both men and women into prison,
5 “to which the chief priest and all the company of the elders also testify. From them I also received letters to the brothers and went to Damascus to bind those who were there and bring them to Jerusalem, so that they might be punished.
6 “And so it was as I journeyed and had come near to Damascus (about noon) that suddenly a great light from Heaven shone all around me.
7 “So I fell to the Earth and heard a voice saying to me, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?
8 “Then I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, Whom you persecute.’
9 “Moreover, those who were with me indeed saw a light and were afraid. But they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me.
10 “Then I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord’? And the Lord said to me, ‘Arise, and go into Damascus. And there you shall be told all things which are appointed for you to do.’
11 “So, after I could not see because of the Glory of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me and came into Damascus.
12 “And one Ananias (a godly man as pertaining to the Law, having good report of all the Jews who dwelt there)
13 “came to me and stood and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And that same hour I looked at him.
14 “And he said, ‘The God of our Fathers has appointed you, that you should know His will, and should see the Just One, and should hear the voice of His mouth.
15 ‘For you shall be His witness to all mankind of the things which you have seen and heard.
16 ‘Now therefore why do you wait? Arise, and be baptized. And wash away your sins by calling on the Name of the Lord.’
17 “And it so happened that when I had again come to Jerusalem, and prayed in the Temple, I was in a trance.
18 “And I saw Him, saying to me, ‘Hurry. And get out of Jerusalem quickly. For they will not receive your witness concerning Me.’
19 “Then I said, ‘Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat those who believed in You in every Synagogue.
20 ‘And when the blood of Your martyr, Stephen, was shed, I also stood by and consented to his death, and guarded the clothes of those who killed him.’
21 “Then He said to me, “Go. For I will send you far from here, to the Gentiles.’”
22 And they heard him until this word. Then they lifted up their voices, and said, “Away with such a fellow from the Earth! For he is not fit to live!”
23 And as they cried and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air,
24 the chief captain commanded him to be led into the castle, and ordered that he should be scourged, and examined, that he might know why they cried so against him.
25 And as they bound him with straps, Paul said to the Centurion who stood by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge one who is a Roman, and not condemned?”
26 Now when the Centurion heard that, he told the chief captain, saying, “Be careful what you do. For this man is a Roman.”
27 Then the chief captain came and said to him, “Tell me. Are you a Roman?” And he said, “Yes.”
28 And the chief captain answered, “I obtained this freedom with a great sum.” Then Paul said, “But I was born so.”
29 Then immediately, those who should have examined him departed. And the chief captain was also afraid after he realized that he was a Roman, and that he had bound him.
30 On the next day, because he wanted to know for certain why he had been accused by the Jews, he released him from his bonds, and commanded the chief priests and all their Council to come together. And he brought Paul and set him before them.
23 And Paul looked earnestly at the Council, and said, “Men! Brothers! I have in all good conscience served God until this day...”
2 Then the High Priest, Ananias, commanded those who stood by to strike him on the mouth.
3 Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitened wall! For you sit to judge me according to the Law. And transgressing the Law, you command me to be struck?”
4 And those who stood by, said, “You revile God’s High Priest?!”
5 Then Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was the High Priest. For it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of the ruler of your people.’”
6 But when Paul perceived that part of them were of the Sadducees, and another of the Pharisees, he cried in the Council, “Men! Brothers! I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I am accused of the hope and resurrection of the dead.”
7 And when he had said this, there was a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, so that the multitude was divided.
8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel nor spirit. But the Pharisees confess both.
9 Then there was a great outcry. And the scribes of the Pharisees’ part rose up and contended fiercely with them, saying, “We find no evil in this man. But if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God.”
10 And when there was a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing Paul might have been pulled to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him from among them, and to bring him into the castle.
11 Now the night following, the Lord stood by him, and said, “Be of good courage, Paul, for as you have testified of me in Jerusalem, so also must you bear witness in Rome.
12 And when the day had come, some of the Jews assembled and bound themselves with a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.
13 And there were more than forty of them who hatched this plot.
14 And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn curse, that we will eat nothing until we have killed Paul.
15 “Now therefore, you and the Council send word to the chief captain as though you wanted to inquire further about him, so that he will bring him forth to you tomorrow. And we will be ready to kill him before he comes near.”
16 But when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their ambush, he went and entered into the castle and told Paul.
17 And Paul called one of the Centurions to him, and said, “Take this young man to the chief captain. For he has something to tell him.”
18 So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, “Paul, the prisoner, called me to him and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to say to you.”
19 Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went away with him alone, and asked him, “What have you to tell me?”
20 And he said, “The Jews have conspired to ask if you would bring forth Paul tomorrow into the Council, as though they would inquire further about him.
21 “But do not let them persuade you. For they have set an ambush for him, more than forty men, who have bound themselves with a curse that they will neither eat nor drink until they have killed him. And now they are ready and await your promise.”
22 The chief captain then let the young man go, after he had instructed him to tell no one that he had told him these things.
23 And he called two certain Centurions to him, saying, “Prepare two hundred soldiers and seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at the third hour of the night.
24 “And let them make horses ready. So that, being set upon, Paul he may be safely brought to Felix the Governor.”
25 And he wrote a letter in this manner:
26 “Claudius Lysias, to the most noble Governor Felix, sends greeting.
27 “As this man was taken by the Jews, and would have been killed by them, I came upon them with a garrison, and rescued him, perceiving that he was a Roman.
28 “And when I wanted to know the reason why they accused him, I brought him forth into their Council.
29 “I perceived that he was accused about questions of their Law, but had no crime worthy of death, or of bonds.
30 “And when it was told to me that the Jews had prepared an ambush for the man, I immediately sent him to you, and commanded his accusers to state before you the things which they had against him. Farewell.”
31 Then, as commanded, the soldiers took Paul by night and brought him to Antipatris.
32 And the next day, they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned into the Castle.
33 Now when they came to Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the Governor, and also presented Paul to him.
34 So, after the Governor had read it, he asked from what province he was. And when he learned that he was from Cilicia,
35 he said, “I will hear you once your accusers have also come.” And he commanded that he be kept in Herod’s judgment hall.
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