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to him, and prayed me to bring this young man to thee, who hath something to tell thee. 19. Then the chief captain taking him by the hand, went aside with him, and asked him, what hast thou to tell me? 20. Then he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee to bring Paul to-morrow to the council, as it were to enquire something of him more perfectly. 21. But yield not to them, for more than forty lie in wait, having bound themselves with an oath, neither to eat nor drink till they have killed him; and they are ready looking for thy promise. 22. Then the chief captain dismissed the young man, charging him to tell none thereof.

23. Then he called two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers, with seventy horsemen to go to Cesarea, and two hundred spearmen, at nine in the evening; 24. And to provide beasts for Paul to ride on, and bring him safe to Felix the governor.

26.

25. Then he wrote a letter in this manner; Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix, sendeth greeting. 27. This man being taken by the Jews, would have been killed by them; had I not come with an army and rescued him, understanding he was a Roman (citizen). 28. And wishing to know why they accused him, I brought him to their council; 29. And found him accused of questions of their law, but having no crime worthy of death or bonds. 30. And being told the Jews laid wait for him, I sent straightway to thee, commanding his accusers also to tell thee what they had against him. Farewell.

31. Then the soldiers as commanded, brought Paul by night to Antipatris. 32. And next day they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle; 33. Who being come to Cesarea, delivered the epistle to the governor, presenting Paul also before him. 34. And the governor having read the letter, asked of what province he Tt

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was.

And understanding he was of Cilicia; 35.

I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. Then he commanded him to be kept in Herod's judgment-hall.

CHAP. XXIV.

THE LAWYER'S FALSE ACCUSATION OF Paul.

Now after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders, and a certain orator named Tertullus, who accused Paul to the governor. 2. And, being called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, As by thee we enjoy great quietness, and good deeds are done to this nation by thy providence, (mere flattery). 3. We accept it always, and every where, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. 4. But that I may not be tedious to thee, I pray thee hear us briefly in thy clemency. 5. For we found this man pestilent, and moving insurrection among all the Jews thro' the (empire,) and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarene (Christians). 6. Who also tried to profane the temple; whom we seized and would have judg ed 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; by examining whom, thou mayest know all these things whereof we accuse him. 9. The Jews also assented, saying, these things were so.

10. Then Paul answered, as the governor had beckoned to him to speak, Knowing thou hast been many years a judge to this nation, I answer for myself the more cheerfully. 11. That thou mayest know it is but twelve days since I went up to worship at Jerusalem. 12. And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, nor raising up the people, either in the synagogues, or in the city; is. Nor can they prove the things whereof

they now accuse me. 14. But this I confess, that in the way they call heresy, I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things written in the law and the prophets; 15. And hope in God, as they also do, for a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. 16. And herein I exercise myself, to have always a conscience inoffensive to God and men. 17. Now after many years, I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings. 18. Whereupon certain Jews from (the Lesser) Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with mul titude nor tumult: 19. Who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had ought against me. 20. Or let these here say, if they found any injury in me while I stood before the council, 21. Or even about this one expression I proclaimed standing among them, concerning the resurrection of the dead, I am judged by you this day.

22. So Felix hearing these things, knowing that way more fully, he deferred them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain comes I will determine your matter. 23. Then he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and let him have liberty, and forbid none of his acquaintance to come or minister to him.

24. And some days after, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 25. And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and an. swered, Depart now; when I have a convenient time I will call for thee. 26. He also expected money from Paul, to loose him; therefore he sent for him the oftener, and talked to him. 27. But, after two years, Porcius Festus succeeded Felix: and Felix, willing to gratify the Jews, left Paul bound.

CHAP. XXV.

THE JEWS ACCUSE PAUL TO FESTUS.

FESTUS, when he entered the province, three days after, ascended from Cesarea to Jerusalem.

2. Then the high priest, and the chief of the Jews, accused Paul to him, and besought him, 3. Desiring favour against him, to send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him. But Festus replied, Paul shall be kept at Cesarea, and he himself would shortly depart thither. 5. Therefore, said he, let such of you as are able, go down with me, and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him.

6. So having staid among them not more than ten days, he went to Cesarea; and the next day, sitting on the judgment-seat commanded Paul to be brought.

7. And, being come, the Jews who came from Jerusalem stood around, and made many and heavy accusations against Paul, which they could not prove; 8. While he answered, Neither against the Jews' law, nor the temple, nor yet against Cesar, have I done any thing amiss.

9. But Festus, willing to gratify the Jews, answered Paul, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me? 10. Then Paul said, I stand at Cesar'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 have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die; but if none of these things be (true) whereof they accuse me, no man may deliver me to them. I appeal to Cesar.

12. Then Festus conferred with the council, and answered, Hast thou appealed to Cesar? to Cesar thou shalt go.

13. And after some days, king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Cesarea to salute Festus. 14. And, being there many days, Festus declared Paul's cause to the king, saying, There is a certain man left bound by Felix; 15. About whom the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me,

when I was at Jerusalem, desiring judgment against him, 16. Whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die before the accused have the accusers face to face, and have room for defence concerning the crime. 17. Therefore, they being come together, without delay on the morrow, I sat on the judgment-seat, and commanded the man to be brought. 18. Against whom, the accusers brought none accusation of the things I supposed; 19. But had some questions against him of their own religion, and about one Jesus who died, but whom Paul affirmed to be alive. 20. And, as I doubted how to enquire hereof, I asked him if he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters. 21. But as Paul appealed to the judgment of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I send him to Cesar.

22. Then Agrippa said to Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To-morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.

23. ¶ So on the morrow, Agrippa having come with Bernice, and with great pomp entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains and principal men of the city, at Festus' command Paul was brought.

24. Then Festus said, O king Agrippa, and all men here present with us, ye see him, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and here, crying, he ought to live no longer. 25. But finding he had committed nothing worthy of death, and as he also appealed to Augustus, I determined to send him. 26. Of whom I have nothing certain to write to my lord. Therefore, I brought him before you, and especially before thee, O king Agrippa, that, after examination, I might have somewhat to write. 27. For to send a prisoner, without signifying the charges against him, seems to me unreasonable.

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