Beginning

Paul Travels By Ship To Tyre, Where He Is Again Warned Not To Go To Jerusalem

21 And when it came about that having withdrawn^[a] from them we put-to-sea, having run-a-straight-course we came to Cos, and on the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. ² And having found a ship crossing-over to Phoenicia, having boarded, we put-to-sea. ³ And having sighted Cyprus, and having left it behind on the left, we were sailing to Syria. And we came down to Tyre, for there the ship was unloading its cargo. ⁴ And having found the disciples, we stayed there seven days— who were telling Paul through the Spirit not to be setting-foot in Jerusalem. ⁵ But when it came about that we finished the days, having gone out, we were proceeding—everyone accompanying us, with wives and children, as far as outside the city. And having put down our knees on the beach, having prayed, ⁶ we said-farewell to one another. And we went-up into the ship, and those ones returned to their own things.

When Paul Arrives In Caesarea, Agabas The Prophet Foretells Imprisonment

⁷ And we, having completed^[b] the voyage from Tyre, arrived in Ptolemais. And having greeted the brothers, we stayed with them one day. ⁸ And having gone-out on the next day, we came to Caesarea. And having entered into the house of Philip the evangelist (being one of the seven^[c]), we stayed with him ⁹ (and this one had four virgin daughters prophesying!). ¹⁰ And while we were staying-on for more days, a certain prophet from Judea, Agabus by name, came down. ¹¹ And having come to us, and having taken Paul’s belt, having bound his own feet and hands, he said, “These things says the Holy Spirit: ‘In this manner the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man whose belt this is, and hand him over into the hands of the Gentiles’”. ¹² And when we heard these things, both we and the local-residents were begging that he not be going up to Jerusalem. ¹³ Then Paul responded, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus”. ¹⁴ And he not being persuaded, we were quiet, having said, “Let the Lord’s will be done”.

Paul Arrives In Jerusalem

¹⁵ And after these days, having made-preparations, we were going up to Jerusalem. ¹⁶ And some of the disciples from Caesarea also came with us, bringing^[d] us to Mnason— a certain Cyprian, an old disciple, with whom we might lodge. ¹⁷ And we having come-to-be in Jerusalem, the brothers welcomed us gladly.

Paul Meets James. They Formulate a Plan For His Acceptance Among The Jews

¹⁸ And on the following day Paul was going in with us to James, and all the elders were present. ¹⁹ And having greeted them, he was describing individually each of the things which God did among the Gentiles through his ministry. ²⁰ And the ones, having heard it, were glorifying God. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many myriads of the ones having believed there are among the Jews! And they are all zealots^[e] for the Law. ²¹ And they were informed about you— that you are teaching all the Jews^[f] throughout the nations apostasy from Moses, saying that they should not be circumcising their children, nor walking in their customs. ²² What, then, is to be done? They will surely hear that you have come. ²³ Therefore do this which we tell you: There are four men with us having a vow upon themselves. ²⁴ Having taken along these men, be purified together-with them. And spend^[g] money for them, so that they will shave^[h] the head. And everyone will know that there is nothing true of the things which they have been informed about you, but even you yourself are walking-in-line^[i], keeping the Law. ²⁵ But concerning the Gentiles having believed— we wrote-to them, having determined that they should guard-themselves as to food-sacrificed-to-an-idol and blood and the strangled thing and sexual immorality”.

While Executing The Plan, Paul Is Recognized By Ephesian Jews And Attacked

²⁶ Then Paul— having taken along the men on the next day, having been purified together-with them— was going into the temple, giving-notice as to the completion of the days of purification, until which time the offering was offered for each one of them. ²⁷ But as the seven days were about to be completed, the Jews from Asia^[j], having seen him in the temple, were stirring-up the whole crowd. And they put their hands on him, ²⁸ crying-out, “Men, Israelites, help! This is the man teaching everyone everywhere against our people and the Law and this place. And furthermore, he also brought Greeks into the temple, and has defiled this holy place”. ²⁹ For they had previously-seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, whom they were supposing that Paul brought into the temple. ³⁰ And the whole city was set-in-motion, and a running-together of the people took place. And having taken-hold-of Paul, they were dragging him outside of the temple. And immediately the doors were shut.

The Romans Swoop Down And Take Paul Into Custody

³¹ And while they were seeking to kill him, a report went up to the commander^[k] of the [Roman] cohort^[l] that all Jerusalem was stirred-up— ³² who at-once, having taken along soldiers and centurions^[m], ran down upon them. And the ones, having seen the commander and the soldiers, ceased striking Paul. ³³ Then having drawn-near, the commander took-hold-of him. And he ordered that he be bound with two chains. And he was inquiring as to who he might be and what he has done. ³⁴ But other^[n] ones in the crowd were calling-out another thing. And he not being able to know the certainty of it because of the uproar— he ordered that he be brought into the barracks. ³⁵ But when he^[o] came-to-be on the stairs, it happened that he was carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd— ³⁶ for the multitude of the people were following, crying-out, “Take him away”.

Paul Asks To Speak To The Mob

³⁷ And being about to be brought into the barracks, Paul says to the commander, “Is it permissible for me to say something to you?” And the one said, “You know Greek? ³⁸ Then are you not the Egyptian— the one before these days having caused-an-upset^[p] and led out into the wilderness the four-thousand men of the Assassins^[q]?” ³⁹ And Paul said, “I am a Jewish man from-Tarsus^[r] of Cilicia, a citizen of no insignificant city— and I beg you, permit me to speak to the people”. ⁴⁰ And he having permitted it, Paul, standing on the stairs, motioned with his hand to the people. And a great silence having come about, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying: 22 ¹ “Men, brothers, and fathers, hear my defense to you now”. ² And having heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they granted more quietness.

I Am a Jew Trained By Gamaliel, And Was Zealously Persecuting The Church

And he says, ³ “I am a Jewish man, having been born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but having been brought-up in this city; having been trained at the feet of Gamaliel^[s] in accordance with the strictness^[t] of the Law of ^[u] my ancestor^[v]; being a zealot for God just as you all are today— ⁴ who persecuted this Way to the point of death, binding and handing-over both men and women to prisons, ⁵ as indeed the high priest testifies concerning me, and the whole Council-of-elders, from whom also having received letters to the brothers, I was proceeding to Damascus to bring bound to Jerusalem even the ones being there, in order that they might be punished.

On The Way To Damascus For This Purpose, Jesus Spoke To Me And Blinded Me

⁶ “But it came about in my proceeding and drawing-near to Damascus about mid-day, that suddenly a great light from heaven flashed 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, sir^[w]?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, Whom you are persecuting’. ⁹ And the ones being with me saw the light, but did not hear^[x] the voice of the One speaking to me. ¹⁰ And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Having arisen, proceed into Damascus. And there it will be told you concerning everything which has been assigned^[y] to you to do’. ¹¹ But since I was not seeing because of the glory of that light, I came into Damascus being hand-led by the ones being with me.

Ananias Restored My Sight And Said God Appointed Me To Be His Witness

¹² “And a certain Ananias— a reverent man in-relation-to the Law, being attested by all the Jews dwelling there, ¹³ having come to me and having stood near— said to me, ‘Brother Saul, see again’. And I looked-up at him at the very hour. ¹⁴ And the one said, the God of our fathers appointed^[z] you to know His will, and to see the Righteous One and hear a voice from His mouth, ¹⁵ because you will be a witness for Him to all people of the things which you have seen and which you heard. ¹⁶ And now, why are you delaying? Having arisen, be baptized, and wash-away your sins, having called-upon His name’.

In a Vision At The Temple, God Said He Was Sending Me To The Gentiles

¹⁷ “And it came about at my having returned to Jerusalem, and while I was praying in the temple, that I came-to-be in a trance ¹⁸ and saw Him saying to me, ‘Hurry, and go out from Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about Me’. ¹⁹ And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that throughout the synagogues I was imprisoning and beating the ones putting-faith upon You. ²⁰ And when the blood of Stephen Your witness was being shed, I myself also was standing-near and giving-approval and guarding the garments of the ones killing him’. ²¹ And He said to me, ‘Be going, because I will send you out far away to the Gentiles’”.

At The Mention of Gentiles, The Mob Erupts. The Romans Take Paul Away

²² And they were listening-to him up to this statement. And they raised their voice, saying, “Take away such a one from the earth, for it was^[aa] not proper that he continue-living”. ²³ And while they were shouting and throwing-off their cloaks and throwing dust into the air, ²⁴ the commander ordered that he be brought into the barracks— having said that he should be interrogated with whips in order that he might learn for what reason they were calling-out against him in this manner. ²⁵ But when they stretched him out with^[ab] the straps^[ac], Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it lawful^[ad] for you to whip a man who is a Roman and uncondemned?” ²⁶ And having heard it, the centurion, having gone to the commander, reported, saying, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman”. ²⁷ And having gone to him, the commander said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman?” And the one said, “Yes”. ²⁸ And the commander responded, “I acquired this citizenship with a large sum [of money]”. And Paul said, “But I indeed have been born one”. ²⁹ So the ones being about to interrogate him immediately withdrew from him. And the commander also became afraid, having learned that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.

The Romans Take Paul Before The Sanhedrin

³⁰ And on the next day, wanting to know the certainty as to why he was being accused by the Jews, he released^[ae] him and ordered the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin to come together. And having brought Paul down, he stood him before them. 23 ¹ And Paul, having looked-intently at the Sanhedrin, said, “Men, brothers, I have conducted-myself ^[af] with all good conscience before God up to this day”. ² And the high priest Ananias^[ag] commanded the ones standing near him to strike his mouth. ³ Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you— whitewashed wall! Do You indeed sit there judging me according to the Law, and violating-the-Law, order that I be struck?” ⁴ And the ones standing near said, “Are you reviling the high priest of God?” ⁵ And Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was high priest. For it has been written [in Ex 22:28] that ‘You shall not speak badly of a ruler of your people’”.

Paul Divides The Assembly Over The Question of The Resurrection

⁶ And Paul, having known that the one part of them was of Sadducees and the other of Pharisees, was crying-out in the Sanhedrin, “Men, brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. I am being judged concerning the hope^[ah] and resurrection of the dead”. ⁷ And he having said this, a dispute between the Pharisees and Sadducees took place, and the assembly was divided. ⁸ For Sadducees say that there is not a resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit— but Pharisees confess all^[ai] three. ⁹ And a great clamor took place. And having stood up, some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ part were battling, saying, “We are finding no evil in this man. And what if a spirit did speak to him, or an angel?”

The Romans Take Paul Away

¹⁰ And while a great dispute was taking place, the commander— having feared that Paul might be torn-to-pieces by them— ordered the troop^[aj], having gone down, to snatch him out of the midst of them and bring him to the barracks.

That Night The Lord Appears To Paul And Says He Will Also Testify In Rome

¹¹ And on the following^[ak] night, the Lord, having stood near him, said, “Take-courage. For as you solemnly-testified in Jerusalem as to the things concerning Me, so you must also testify in Rome”.

The Next Day, Over 40 Jews Swear an Oath To Kill Paul, And Hatch a Plot

¹² And having become day, the Jews, having held a gathering, bound themselves under-a-curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until which time they killed Paul. ¹³ Now there were more than forty having made^[al] this sworn-pact— ¹⁴ who, having gone to the chief priests and the elders, said, “With a curse^[am], we bound ourselves under-a-curse to eat nothing until which time we kill Paul. ¹⁵ Now therefore, you, along with the Sanhedrin, notify the commander so that he may bring him down to you, as-though you are intending to determine the things concerning him more accurately. And we are prepared that we might kill him before he draws-near”.

Paul’s Nephew Hears of The Plot, And Informs The Roman Commander

¹⁶ But the son of the sister of Paul— having heard-of the ambush, having come and entered into the barracks— reported it to Paul. ¹⁷ And Paul, having summoned one of the centurions, said, “Lead this young-man away to the commander, for he has something to report to him”. ¹⁸ So indeed the one, having taken him along, led him to the commander. And he says, “Paul the prisoner, having summoned me, asked that I lead this young man to you— he having something to tell you”. ¹⁹ And the commander— having taken-hold-of his hand, and having withdrawn privately— was asking, “What is it that you have to report to me?” ²⁰ And he said that “The Jews agreed to ask you so that tomorrow you might bring Paul down to the Sanhedrin, as-though intending to inquire something more accurately concerning him. ²¹ So don’t you be persuaded by them. For more than forty men from-among them are lying-in-wait-for him who bound themselves under-a-curse neither to eat nor drink until which time they kill him. And now they are prepared, waiting-for the promise^[an] from you”.

The Roman Commander Makes Arrangements To Send Paul To Caesarea

²² Then indeed the commander sent away the young-man, having commanded him to tell no one “that you revealed^[ao] these things to me”. ²³ And having summoned a certain two of the centurions, he said, “Prepare two-hundred soldiers and seventy horsemen and two-hundred spearmen^[ap] so that they may proceed to Caesarea at the third^[aq] hour of the night”; ²⁴ and that they should provide mounts in order that having put-on Paul, they might bring him safely through to Felix^[ar] the governor, ²⁵ he having written a letter having this form:

²⁶ “Claudius Lysias, to the most-excellent governor Felix: Greetings. ²⁷ I rescued this man having been seized by the Jews and being about to be killed by them, having come-suddenly-upon them with the troop— having learned that he was a Roman^[as]. ²⁸ And wanting to know the reason for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their Sanhedrin— ²⁹ whom I found being accused about issues of their Law, but having no accusation^[at] worthy of death or imprisonment. ³⁰ And a plot having been disclosed to me that would be against the man, I sent him to you at once, having also ordered his accusers to speak the things against him before you”.

Roman Soldiers Take Paul To Caesarea, Where He Awaits The Arrival of His Accusers

³¹ So indeed the soldiers, in accordance with the thing having been commanded them, having picked-up Paul, brought him during the night to Antipatris. ³² And on the next day, they^[au] returned to the barracks, having let the horsemen depart with him— ³³ who, having entered into Caesarea, and having delivered the letter to the governor, presented Paul to him also. ³⁴ And having read it, and having asked from what province he was, and having learned that he was from Cilicia, ³⁵ he said, “I will give you a hearing whenever your accusers also arrive”— having ordered that he be guarded in the Praetorium^[av] of Herod.