even at that time of night, washed their wounds, and he and all his household were immediately baptized; 016:034 and bringing the Apostles up into his house, he spread a meal for them, and was filled with gladness, with his whole household, his faith resting on God. 016:035 In the morning the praetors sent their lictors with the order, "Release those men." 016:036 So the jailer brought Paul word, saying, "The praetors have sent orders for you to be released. Now therefore you can go, and proceed on your way in peace." 016:037 But Paul said to them, "After cruelly beating us in public, without trial, Roman citizens though we are, they have thrown us into prison, and are they now going to send us away privately? No, indeed! Let them come in person and fetch us out." 016:038 This answer the lictors took back to the praetors, who were alarmed when they were told that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. 016:039 Accordingly they came and apologized to them; and, bringing them out, asked them to leave the city. 016:040 Then Paul and Silas, having come out of the prison, went to Lydia's house; and, after seeing the brethren and encouraging them, they left Philippi. 017:001 Then, passing through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they went to Thessalonica. Here there was a synagogue of the Jews. 017:002 Paul—following his usual custom—betook himself to it, and for three successive Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 017:003 which he clearly explained, pointing out that it had been necessary for the Christ to suffer and rise again from the dead, and insisting, "The Jesus whom I am announcing to you is the Christ." 017:004 Some of the people were won over, and attached themselves to Paul and Silas, including many God-fearing Greeks and not a few gentlewomen of high rank. 017:005 But the jealousy of the Jews was aroused, and, calling to their aid some ill-conditioned and idle fellows, they got together a riotous mob and filled the city with uproar. They then attacked the house of Jason and searched for Paul and Silas, to bring them out before the assembly of people. 017:006 But, failing to find them, they dragged Jason and some of the other brethren before the magistrates of the city, loudly accusing them. "These men," they said, "who have raised a tumult throughout the Empire, have come here also. 017:007 Jason has received them into his house; and they all set Caesar's authority at defiance, declaring that there is another Emperor— one called Jesus." 017:008 Great was the excitement among the crowd, and among the magistrates of the city, when they heard these charges. 017:009 They required Jason and the rest to find substantial bail, and after that they let them go. 017:010 The brethren at once sent Paul and Silas away by night to Beroea, and they, on their arrival, went to the synagogue of the Jews. 017:011 The Jews at Beroea were of a nobler disposition than those in Thessalonica, for they very readily received the Message, and day after day searched the Scriptures to see whether it was as Paul stated. 017:012 As the result many of them became believers, and so did not a few of the Greeks—gentlewomen of good position, and men. 017:013 As soon, however, as the Jews of Thessalonica learnt that God's Message had been proclaimed by Paul at Beroea, they came there also, and incited the mob to a riot. 017:014 Then the brethren promptly sent Paul down to the sea-coast, but Silas and Timothy remained behind. 017:015 Those who were caring for Paul's safety went with him as far as Athens, and then left him, taking a message from him to Silas and Timothy, asking them to join him as speedily as possible. 017:016 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was stirred within him when he noticed that the city was full of idols. 017:017 So he had discussions in the synagogue with the Jews and the other worshippers, and in the market place, day after day, with those whom he happened to meet. 017:018 A few of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also encountered him. Some of them asked, "What has this beggarly babbler to say?" "His business," said others, "seems to be to cry up some foreign gods." This was because he had been telling the Good News of Jesus and the Resurrection. 017:019 Then they took him and brought him up to the Areopagus, asking him, "May we be told what this new teaching of yours is? 017:020 For the things you are saying sound strange to us. We should therefore like to be told exactly what they mean." 017:021 (For all the Athenians and their foreign visitors used to devote their whole leisure to telling or hearing about something new.) 017:022 So Paul, taking his stand in the centre of the Areopagus, spoke as follows: "Men of Athens, I perceive that you are in every respect remarkably religious. 017:023 For as I passed along and observed the things you worship, I found also an altar bearing the inscription, 'TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.' "The Being, therefore, whom you, without knowing Him, revere, Him I now proclaim to you. 017:024 GOD who made the universe and everything in it—He, being Lord of Heaven and earth, does not dwell in sanctuaries built by men. 017:025 Nor is He ministered to by human hands, as though He needed anything— but He Himself gives to all men life and breath and all things. 017:026 He caused to spring from one forefather people of every race, for them to live on the whole surface of the earth, and marked out for them an appointed span of life and the boundaries of their homes; 017:027 that they might seek God, if perhaps they could grope for Him and find Him. Yes, though He is not far from any one of us. 017:028 For it is in closest union with Him that we live and move and have our being; as in fact some of the poets in repute among yourselves have said, 'For we are also His offspring.' 017:029 Since then we are God's offspring, we ought not to imagine that His nature resembles gold or silver or marble, or anything sculptured by the art and inventive faculty of man. 017:030 Those times of ignorance God viewed with indulgence. But now He commands all men everywhere to repent, 017:031 seeing that He has appointed a day on which, before long, He will judge the world in righteousness, through the instrumentality of a man whom He has pre-destined to this work, and has made the fact certain to every one by raising Him from the dead." 017:032 When they heard Paul speak of a resurrection of dead men, some began to scoff. But others said, "We will hear you again on that subject." 017:033 So Paul went away from them. 017:034 A few, however, attached themselves to him and believed, among them being Dionysius a member of the Council, a gentlewoman named Damaris, and some others. 018:001 After this he left Athens and came to Corinth. 018:002 Here he found a Jew, a native of Pontus, of the name of Aquila. He and his wife Priscilla had recently come from Italy because of Claudius's edict expelling all the Jews from Rome. So Paul paid them a visit; 018:003 and because he was of the same trade—that of tent-maker— he lodged with them and worked with them. 018:004 But, Sabbath after Sabbath, he preached in the synagogue and tried to win over both Jews and Greeks. 018:005 Now at the time when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was preaching fervently and was solemnly telling the Jews that Jesus is the Christ. 018:006 But upon their opposing him with abusive language, he shook his clothes by way of protest, and said to them, "Your ruin will be upon your own heads. I am not responsible: in future I will go among the Gentiles." 018:007 So he left the place and went to the house of a person called Titius Justus, a worshipper of the true God. His house was next door to the synagogue. 018:008 And Crispus, the Warden of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, and so did all his household; and from time to time many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and received baptism. 018:009 And, in a vision by night, the Lord said to Paul, "Dismiss your fears: go on speaking, and do not give up. 018:010 I am with you, and no one shall attack you to injure you; for I have very many people in this city." 018:011 So Paul remained in Corinth for a year and six months, teaching among them the Message of God. 018:012 But when Gallio became Proconsul of Greece, the Jews with one accord made a dead set at Paul, and brought him before the court. 018:013 "This man," they said, "is inducing people to offer unlawful worship to God." 018:014 But, when Paul was about to begin his defence, Gallio said to the Jews, "If it had been some wrongful act or piece of cunning knavery I might reasonably have listened to you Jews. 018:015 But since these are questions about words and names and your Law, you yourselves must see to them. I refuse to be a judge in such matters." 018:016 So he ordered them out of court. 018:017 Then the people all set upon Sosthenes, the Warden of the synagogue, and beat him severely in front of the court. Gallio did not concern himself in the least about this. 018:018 After remaining a considerable time longer in Corinth, Paul took leave of the brethren and set sail for Syria; and Priscilla and Aquila were with him. He had shaved his head at Cenchreae, because he was bound by a vow. 018:019 They put in at Ephesus, and there Paul left his companions behind. As for himself, he went to the synagogue and had a discussion with the Jews. 018:020 When they asked him to remain longer he did not consent, 018:021 but took leave of them with the promise, "I will return to you, God willing." So he set sail from Ephesus. 018:022 Landing at Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem and inquired after the welfare of the Church, and then went down to Antioch. 018:023 After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out on a tour, visiting the whole of Galatia and Phrygia in order, and strengthening all the disciples. 018:024 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos came to Ephesus. He was a native of Alexandria, a man of great learning and well versed in the Scriptures. 018:025 He had been instructed by word of mouth in the way of the Lord, and, being full of burning zeal, he used to speak and teach accurately the facts about Jesus, though he knew of no baptism but John's. 018:026 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, and Priscilla and Aquila, after hearing him, took him home and explained God's way to him more accurately. 018:027 Then, as he had made up his mind to cross over into Greece, the brethren wrote to the disciples in Corinth begging them to give him a kindly welcome. Upon his arrival he rendered valuable help to those who through grace had believed; 018:028 for he powerfully and in public overcame the Jews in argument, proving to them from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ. 019:001 During the stay of Apollos in Corinth, Paul, after passing through the inland districts, came to Ephesus, where he found a few disciples. 019:002 "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you first believed?" he asked them. "No," they replied, "we did not even hear that there is a Holy Spirit." 019:003 "Into what then were you baptized?" he asked. "Into John's baptism," they replied. 019:004 "John," he said, "administered a baptism of repentance, bidding the people believe on One who was to come after him; namely, on Jesus." 019:005 On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus; 019:006 and when Paul laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began to speak in tongues and to prophesy. 019:007 They numbered in all about twelve men. 019:008 Afterwards he went into the synagogue. There for three months he continued to preach fearlessly, explaining in words which carried conviction the truths which concern the Kingdom of God. 019:009 But some grew obstinate in unbelief and spoke evil of the new faith before all the congregation. So Paul left them, and, taking with him those who were disciples, held discussions daily in Tyrannus's lecture-hall. 019:010 This went on for two years, so that all the inhabitants of the province of Asia, Jews as well as Greeks, heard the Lord's Message. 019:011 God also brought about extraordinary miracles through Paul's instrumentality. 019:012 Towels or aprons, for instance, which Paul had handled used to be carried to the sick, and they recovered from their ailments, or the evil spirits left them. 019:013 But there were also some wandering Jewish exorcists who undertook to invoke the name of Jesus over those who had the evil spirits, saying, "I command you by that Jesus whom Paul preaches." 019:014 There were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew of high-priestly family, who were doing this. 019:015 "Jesus I know," the evil spirit answered, "and Paul I have heard of, but who are you?" 019:016 And the man in whom the evil spirit was sprang on two of them, over-mastered them both, and treated them with such violence, that they fled from the house stripped of their clothes and wounded. 019:017 All the people of Ephesus, Jews as well as Greeks, came to know of this. There was widespread terror, and they began to hold the name of the Lord Jesus in high honour. 019:018 Many also of those who believed came confessing without reserve what their conduct had been, 019:019 and not a few of those who had practised magical arts brought their books together and burnt them in the presence of all. The total value was reckoned and found to be 50,000 silver coins. 019:020 Thus mightily did the Lord's Message spread and triumph! 019:021 When matters had reached this point, Paul decided in his own mind to travel through Macedonia and Greece, and go to Jerusalem. "After that," he said, "I must also see Rome." 019:022 But he sent two of his assistants, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he himself remained for a while in Roman Asia. 019:023 Now just at that time there arose no small commotion about the new faith. 019:024 There was a certain Demetrius, a silversmith, who made miniature silver sanctuaries of Diana, a business which brought great gain to the mechanics in his employ. 019:025 He called his workmen together, and others who were engaged in similar trades, and said to them, "You men well know that our prosperity depends on this business of ours; 019:026 and you see and hear that, not in Ephesus only but throughout almost the whole province of Asia, this fellow Paul has led away a vast number of people by inducing them to believe that they are not gods at all that are made by men's hands. 019:027 There is danger, therefore, not only that this our trade will become of no account, but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana will fall into utter disrepute, and that before long she will be actually deposed from her majestic rank— she who is now worshipped by the whole province of Asia; nay, by the whole world." 019:028 After listening to this harangue, they became furiously angry and kept calling out, "Great is the Ephesian Diana!" 019:029 The riot and uproar spread through the whole city, till at last with one accord they rushed into the Theatre, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, two Macedonians who were fellow travellers with Paul. 019:030 Then Paul would have liked to go in and address the people, but the disciples would not let him do so. 019:031 A few of the public officials, too, who were friendly to him, sent repeated messages entreating him not to venture into the Theatre. 019:032 The people, meanwhile, kept shouting, some one thing and some another; for the assembly was all uproar and confusion, and the greater part had no idea why they had come together. 019:033 Then some of the people crowded round Alexander, whom the Jews had pushed forward; and Alexander, motioning with his hand to get silence, was prepared to make a defence to the people. 019:034 No sooner, however, did they see that he was a Jew, than there arose from them all one roar of shouting, lasting about two hours. "Great is the Ephesian Diana," they said. 019:035 At length the Recorder quieted them down. "Men of Ephesus," he said, "who is there of all mankind that needs to be told that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Diana and of the image which fell down from Zeus? 019:036 These facts, then, being unquestioned, it becomes you to maintain your self-control and not act recklessly. 019:037 For you have brought these men here, who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess. 019:038 If, however, Demetrius and the mechanics who support his contention have a grievance against any one, there are Assize-days and there are Proconsuls: let the persons interested accuse one another. 019:039 But if you desire anything further, it will have to be settled in the regular assembly. 019:040 For in connexion with to-day's proceedings there is danger of our being charged with attempted insurrection, there having been no real reason for this riot; nor shall we be able to justify the behaviour of this disorderly mob." 019:041 With these words he dismissed the assembly. 020:001 When the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples; and, after speaking words of encouragement to them, he took his leave, and started for Macedonia. 020:002 Passing through those districts he encouraged the disciples in frequent addresses, and then came into Greece, and spent three months there. 020:003 The Jews having planned to waylay him whenever he might be on the point of taking ship for Syria, he decided to travel back by way of Macedonia. 020:004 He was accompanied as far as the province of Asia by Sopater the Beroean, the son of Pyrrhus; by the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; by Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and by the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus. 020:005 These brethren had gone on and were waiting for us in the Troad. 020:006 But we ourselves sailed from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and five days later joined them in the Troad, where we remained for a week. 020:007 On the first day of the week, when we had met to break bread, Paul, who was going away the next morning, was preaching to them, and prolonged his discourse till midnight. 020:008 Now there were a good many lamps in the room upstairs where we all were, 020:009 and a youth of the name of Eutychus was sitting at the window. This lad, gradually sinking into deep sleep while Paul preached at unusual length, overcome at last by sleep, fell from the second floor and was taken up dead. 020:010 Paul, however, went down, threw himself upon him, and folding him in his arms said, "Do not be alarmed; his life is still in him." 020:011 Then he went upstairs again, broke bread, and took some food; and after a long conversation which was continued till daybreak, at last he parted from them. 020:012 They had taken the lad home alive, and were greatly comforted. 020:013 The rest of us had already gone on board a ship, and now we set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul on board there; for so he had arranged, he himself intending to go by land. 020:014 Accordingly, when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and came to Mitylene. 020:015 Sailing from there, we arrived the next day off Chios. On the next we touched at Samos; and on the day following reached Miletus. 020:016 For Paul's plan was to sail past Ephesus, so as not to spend much time in the province of Asia; since he was very desirous of being in Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of the Harvest Festival. 020:017 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus for the Elders of the Church to come to him. 020:018 Upon their arrival he said to them, "You Elders well know, from the first day of my setting foot in the province of Asia, the kind of life I lived among you the whole time, 020:019 serving the Lord in all humility, and with tears, and amid trials which came upon me through the plotting of the Jews— 020:020 and that I never shrank from declaring to you anything that was profitable, or from teaching you in public and in your homes, 020:021 and urging upon both Jews and Greeks the necessity of turning to God and of believing in Jesus our Lord. 020:022 "And now, impelled by a sense of duty, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, 020:023 except that the Holy Spirit, at town after town, testifies to me that imprisonment and suffering are awaiting me. 020:024 But even the sacrifice of my life I count as nothing, if only I may perfect my earthly course, and be faithful to the duty which the Lord Jesus has entrusted to me of proclaiming, as of supreme importance, the Good News of God's grace. 020:025 "And now, I know that none of you among whom I have gone in and out proclaiming the coming of the Kingdom will any longer see my face. 020:026 Therefore I protest to you to-day that I am not responsible for the ruin of any one of you. 020:027 For I have not shrunk from declaring to you God's whole truth. 020:028 "Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock among which the Holy Spirit has placed you to take the oversight for Him and act as shepherds to the Church of God, which He has bought with His own blood. 020:029 I know that, when I am gone, cruel wolves will come among you and will not spare the flock; 020:030 and that from among your own selves men will rise up who will seek with their perverse talk to draw away the disciples after them. 020:031 Therefore be on the alert; and remember that, night and day, for three years, I never ceased admonishing every one, even with tears. 020:032 "And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace. He is able to build you up and to give you your inheritance among His people. 020:033 No one's silver or gold or clothing have I coveted. 020:034 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have provided for my own necessities and for the people with me. 020:035 In all things I have set you an example, showing you that, by working as I do, you ought to help the weak, and to bear in mind the words of the Lord Jesus, how He Himself said, "'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" 020:036 Having spoken thus, Paul knelt down and prayed with them all; 020:037 and with loud lamentation they all threw their arms round his neck, and kissed him lovingly, 020:038 grieved above all things at his having told them that after that day they were no longer to see his face. And they went with him to the ship. 021:001 When, at last, we had torn ourselves away and had set sail, we ran in a straight course to Cos; the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. 021:002 Finding a ship bound for Phoenicia, we went on board and put to sea. 021:003 After sighting Cyprus and leaving that island on our left, we continued our voyage to Syria and put in at Tyre; for there the ship was to unload her cargo. 021:004 Having searched for the disciples and found them, we stayed at Tyre for seven days; and, taught by the Spirit, they repeatedly urged Paul not to proceed to Jerusalem. 021:005 When, however, our time was up, we left and went on our way, all the disciples and their wives and children coming to see us off. Then, after kneeling down on the beach and praying, 021:006 we took leave of one another; and we went on board, while they returned home. 021:007 As for us, our voyage was over when having sailed from Tyre we reached Ptolemais. here we inquired after the welfare of the brethren, and remained a day with them. 021:008 On the morrow we left Ptolemais and went on to Caesarea, where we came to the house of Philip the Evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. 021:009 Now Philip had four unmarried daughters who were prophetesses; 021:010 and during our somewhat lengthy stay a Prophet of the name of Agabus came down from Judaea. 021:011 When he arrived he took Paul's loincloth, and bound his own feet and arms with it, and said, "Thus says the Holy Spirit, 'So will the Jews in Jerusalem bind the owner of this loincloth, and will hand him over to the Gentiles.'" 021:012 As soon as we heard these words, both we and the brethren at Caesarea entreated Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 021:013 His reply was, "What can you mean by thus breaking my heart with your grief? Why, as for me, I am ready not only to go to Jerusalem and be put in chains, but even to die there for the sake of the Lord Jesus." 021:014 So when he was not to be dissuaded, we ceased remonstrating with him and said, "The Lord's will be done!" 021:015 A few days afterwards we loaded our baggage-cattle and continued our journey to Jerusalem. 021:016 Some of the disciples from Caesarea also joined our party, and brought with them Mnason, a Cyprian, one of the early disciples, at whose house we were to lodge. 021:017 At length we reached Jerusalem, and there the brethren gave us a hearty welcome. 021:018 On the following day we went with Paul to call on James, and all the Elders of the Church came also. 021:019 After exchanging friendly greetings, Paul told in detail all that God had done among the Gentiles through his instrumentality. 021:020 And they, when they had heard his statement, gave the glory to God. Then they said, "You see, brother, how many tens of thousands of Jews there are among those who have accepted the faith, and they are all zealous upholders of the Law. 021:021 Now what they have been repeatedly told about you is that you teach all the Jews among the Gentiles to abandon Moses, and that you forbid them to circumcise their children or observe old-established customs. 021:022 What then ought you to do? They are sure to hear that you have come to Jerusalem; 021:023 so do this which we now tell you. We have four men here who have a vow resting on them. 021:024 Associate with these men and purify yourself with them, and pay their expenses so that they can shave their heads. Then everybody will know that there is no truth in these stories about you, but that in your own actions you yourself scrupulously obey the Law. 021:025 But as for the Gentiles who have accepted the faith, we have communicated to them our decision that they are carefully to abstain from anything sacrificed to an idol, from blood, from what is strangled, and from fornication." 021:026 So Paul associated with the men; and the next day, having purified himself with them, he went into the Temple, giving every one to understand that the days of their purification were finished, and there he remained until the sacrifice for each of them was offered. 021:027 But, when the seven days were nearly over, the Jews from the province of Asia, having seen Paul in the Temple, set about rousing the fury of all the people against him. 021:028 They laid hands on him, crying out, "Men of Israel, help! help! This is the man who goes everywhere preaching to everybody against the Jewish people and the Law and this place. And besides, he has even brought Gentiles into the Temple and has desecrated this holy place." 021:029 (For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and imagined that Paul had brought him into the Temple.) 021:030 The excitement spread through the whole city, and the people rushed in crowds to the Temple, and there laid hold of Paul and began to drag him out; and the Temple gates were immediately closed. 021:031 But while they were trying to kill Paul, word was taken up to the Tribune in command of the battalion, that all Jerusalem was in a ferment. 021:032 He instantly sent for a few soldiers and their officers, and came down among the people with all speed. At the sight of the Tribune and the troops they ceased beating Paul. 021:033 Then the Tribune, making his way to him, arrested him, and, having ordered him to be secured with two chains, proceeded to ask who he was and what he had been doing. 021:034 Some of the crowd shouted one accusation against Paul and some another, until, as the uproar made it impossible for the truth to be ascertained with certainty, the Tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks. 021:035 When Paul was going up the steps, he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob; 021:036 for the whole mass of the people pressed on in the rear, shouting, "Away with him!" 021:037 When he was about to be taken into the barracks, Paul said to the Tribune, "May I speak to you?" "Do you know Greek?" the Tribune asked. 021:038 "Are you not the Egyptian who some years ago excited the riot of the 4,000 cut-throats, and led them out into the Desert?" 021:039 "I am a Jew," replied Paul, "belonging to Tarsus in Cilicia, and am a citizen of no unimportant city. Give me leave, I pray you, to speak to the people." 021:040 So with his permission Paul stood on the steps and motioned with his hand to the people to be quiet; and when there was perfect silence he addressed them in Hebrew. 022:001 "Brethren and fathers," he said, "listen to my defence which I now make before you." 022:002 And on hearing him address them in Hebrew, they kept all the more quiet; and he said, 022:003 "I am a Jew, born at Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I was carefully trained at the feet of Gamaliel in the Law of our forefathers, and, like all of you to-day, was zealous for God. 022:004 I persecuted to death this new faith, continually binding both men and women and throwing them into prison; 022:005 as the High Priest also and all the Elders can bear me witness. It was, too, from them that I received letters to the brethren in Damascus, and I was already on my way to Damascus, intending to bring those also who had fled there, in chains to Jerusalem, to be punished. 022:006 "But on my way, when I was now not far from Damascus, about noon a sudden blaze of light from Heaven shone round me. 022:007 I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, "'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?' 022:008 "'Who art thou, Lord?' I asked. "'I am Jesus, the Nazarene,' He replied, 'whom you are persecuting.' 022:009 "Now the men who were with me, though they saw the light, did not hear the words of Him who spoke to me. 022:010 And I asked, "'What am I to do, Lord?' "And the Lord said to me, "'Rise, and go into Damascus. There you shall be told of all that has been appointed for you to do.' 022:011 "And as I could not see because the light had been so dazzling, those who were with me had to lead me by the arm, and so I came to Damascus. 022:012 "And a certain Ananias, a pious man who obeyed the Law and bore a good character with all the Jews of the city, 022:013 came to me and standing at my side said, "'Brother Saul, recover your sight.' "I instantly regained my sight and looked up at him. 022:014 Then he said, 'The God of our forefathers has appointed you to know His will, and to see the righteous One and hear Him speak. 022:015 For you shall be a witness for Him, to all men, of what you have seen and heard. 022:016 And now why delay? Rise, get yourself baptized, and wash off your sins, calling upon His name.' 022:017 "After my return to Jerusalem, and while praying in the Temple, I fell into a trance. 022:018 I saw Jesus, and He said to me, "'Make haste and leave Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about Me.' 022:019 "'Lord,' I replied, 'they themselves well know how active I was in imprisoning, and in flogging in synagogue after synagogue those who believe in Thee; 022:020 and when they were shedding the blood of Stephen, Thy witness, I was standing by, fully approving of it, and I held the clothes of those who were killing him.' 022:021 "'Go,' He replied; 'I will send you as an Apostle to nations far away.'" 022:022 Until they heard this last statement the people listened to Paul, but now with a roar of disapproval they cried out, "Away with such a fellow from the earth! He ought not to be allowed to live." 022:023 And when they continued their furious shouts, throwing their clothes into the air and flinging dust about, 022:024 the Tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks, and be examined by flogging, in order to ascertain the reason why they thus cried out against him. 022:025 But, when they had tied him up with the straps, Paul said to the Captain who stood by, "Does the Law permit you to flog a Roman citizen—and one too who is uncondemned?" 022:026 On hearing this question, the Captain went to report the matter to the Tribune. "What are you intending to do?" he said. "This man is a Roman citizen." 022:027 So the Tribune came to Paul and asked him, "Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?" "Yes," he said. 022:028 "I paid a large sum for my citizenship," said the Tribune. "But I was born free," said Paul. 022:029 So the men who had been on the point of putting him under torture immediately left him. And the Tribune, too, was frightened when he learnt that Paul was a Roman citizen, for he had had him bound. 022:030 The next day, wishing to know exactly what charge was being brought against him by the Jews, the Tribune ordered his chains to be removed; and, having sent word to the High Priests and all the Sanhedrin to assemble, he brought Paul down and made him stand before them. 023:001 Then Paul, fixing a steady gaze on the Sanhedrin, said, "Brethren, it is with a perfectly clear conscience that I have discharged my duties before God up to this day." 023:002 On hearing this the High Priest Ananias ordered those who were standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth. 023:003 "Before long," exclaimed Paul, "God will strike you, you white-washed wall! Are you sitting there to judge me in accordance with the Law, and do you yourself actually break the Law by ordering me to be struck?" 023:004 "Do you rail at God's High Priest?" cried the men who stood by him. 023:005 "I did not know, brethren," replied Paul, "that he was the High Priest; for it is written, 'Thou shalt not speak evil of a ruler of Thy people.'" 023:006 Noticing, however, that the Sanhedrin consisted partly of Sadducees and partly of Pharisees, he called out loudly among them, "Brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees. It is because of my hope of a resurrection of the dead that I am on my trial." 023:007 These words of his caused an angry dispute between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly took different sides. 023:008 For the Sadducees maintain that there is no resurrection, and neither angel nor spirit; but the Pharisees acknowledge the existence of both. 023:009 So there arose a great uproar; and some of the Scribes belonging to the sect of the Pharisees sprang to their feet and fiercely contended, saying, "We find no harm in the man. What if a spirit has spoken to him, or an angel——!" 023:010 But when the struggle was becoming violent, the Tribune, fearing that Paul would be torn to pieces by the people, ordered the troops to go down and take him from among them by force and bring him into the barracks. 023:011 The following night the Lord came and stood at Paul's side, and said, "Be of good courage, for as you have borne faithful witness about me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness in Rome." 023:012 Now, when daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and solemnly swore not to eat or drink till they had killed Paul. 023:013 There were more than forty of them who bound themselves by this oath. 023:014 They went to the High Priests and Elders and said to them, "We have bound ourselves under a heavy curse to take no food till we have killed Paul. 023:015 Now therefore you and the Sanhedrin should make representations to the Tribune for him to bring him down to you, under the impression that you intend to inquire more minutely about him; and we are prepared to assassinate him before he comes near the place." 023:016 But Paul's sister's son heard of the intended attack upon him. So he came and went into the barracks and told Paul about it; 023:017 and Paul called one of the Captains and said, "Take this young man to the Tribune, for he has information to give him." 023:018 So he took him and brought him to the Tribune, and said, "Paul, the prisoner, called me to him and begged me to bring this youth to you, because he has something to say to you." 023:019 Then the Tribune, taking him by the arm, withdrew out of the hearing of others and asked him, "What have you to tell me?" 023:020 "The Jews," he replied, "have agreed to request you to bring Paul down to the Sanhedrin to-morrow for the purpose of making yourself more accurately acquainted with the case. 023:021 I beg you not to comply; for more than forty men among them are lying in wait for him, who have solemnly vowed that they will neither eat nor drink till they have assassinated him; and even now they are ready, in anticipation of receiving that promise of you." 023:022 So the Tribune sent the youth home, cautioning him. "Do not let any one know that you have given me this information," he said. 023:023 Then, calling to him two of the Captains, he gave his orders. "Get ready two hundred men," he said, "to march to Caesarea, with seventy cavalry and two hundred light infantry, starting at nine o'clock to-night." 023:024 He further told them to provide horses to mount Paul on, so as to bring him safely to Felix the Governor. 023:025 He also wrote a letter of which these were the contents: 023:026 "Claudius Lysias to his Excellency, Felix the Governor: all good wishes. 023:027 This man Paul had been seized by the Jews, and they were on the point of killing him, when I came upon them with the troops and rescued him, for I had been informed that he was a Roman citizen. 023:028 And, wishing to know with certainty the offense of which they were accusing him, I brought him down into their Sanhedrin, 023:029 and I discovered that the charge had to do with questions of their Law, but that he was accused of nothing for which he deserves death or imprisonment. 023:030 But now that I have received information of an intended attack upon him, I immediately send him to you, directing his accusers also to state before you the case they have against him." 023:031 So, in obedience to their orders, the soldiers took Paul and brought him by night as far as Antipatris. 023:032 The next day the infantry returned to the barracks, leaving the cavalry to proceed with him; 023:033 and, the cavalry having reached Caesarea and delivered the letter to the Governor, they brought Paul also to him. 023:034 Felix, after reading the letter, inquired from what province he was; and being told "from Cilicia," 023:035 he said, "I will hear all you have to say, when your accusers also have come." And he ordered him to be detained in custody in Herod's Palace. 024:001 Five days after this, Ananias the High Priest came down to Caesarea with a number of Elders and a pleader called Tertullus. They stated to the Governor the case against Paul. 024:002 So Paul was sent for, and Tertullus began to impeach him as follows: "Indebted as we are," he said, "to you, most noble Felix, for the perfect peace which we enjoy, and for reforms which your wisdom has introduced to this nation, 024:003 in every instance and in every place we accept them with profound gratitude. 024:004 But—not to detain you too long—I beg you in your forbearance to listen to a brief statement from us. 024:005 For we have found this man Paul a source of mischief and a disturber of the peace among all the Jews throughout the Empire, and a ringleader in the heresy of the Nazarenes. 024:006 He even attempted to profane the Temple, but we arrested him. 024:007 [] 024:008 You, however, by examining him, will yourself be able to learn the truth as to all this which we allege against him." 024:009 The Jews also joined in the charge, maintaining that these were facts. 024:010 Then, at a sign from the Governor, Paul answered, "Knowing, Sir, that for many years you have administered justice to this nation, I cheerfully make my defence. 024:011 For you have it in your power to ascertain that it is not more than twelve days ago that I went up to worship in Jerusalem; 024:012 and that neither in the Temple nor in the synagogues, nor anywhere in the city, did they find me disputing with any opponent or collecting a crowd about me. 024:013 Nor can they prove the charges which they are now bringing against me. 024:014 But this I confess to you—that in the way which they style a heresy, I worship the God of our forefathers, believing everything that is taught in the Law or is written in the Prophets, 024:015 and having a hope directed towards God, which my accusers themselves also entertain, that before long there will be a resurrection both of the righteous and the unrighteous. 024:016 This too is my own earnest endeavour—always to have a clear conscience in relation to God and man. 024:017 "Now after an interval of several years I came to bring alms to my nation, and to offer sacrifices. 024:018 While I was busy about these, they found me in the Temple purified, with no crowd around me and no uproar; but there were certain Jews from the province of Asia. 024:019 They ought to have been here before you, and to have been my prosecutors, if they have any charge to bring against me. 024:020 Or let these men themselves say what misdemeanour they found me guilty of when I stood before the Sanhedrin, 024:021 unless it was in that one expression which I made use of when I shouted out as I stood among them, "'The resurrection of the dead is the thing about which I am on my trial before you to-day.'" 024:022 At this point Felix, who was fairly well informed about the new faith, adjourned the trial, saying to the Jews, "When the Tribune Lysias comes down, I will enter carefully into the matter." 024:023 And he gave orders to the Captain that Paul was to be kept in custody, but be treated with indulgence, and that his personal friends were not to be prevented from showing him kindness. 024:024 Not long after this, Felix came with Drusilla his wife, a Jewess, and sending for Paul, listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. 024:025 But when he dealt with the subjects of justice, self-control, and the judgement which was soon to come, Felix became alarmed and said, "For the present leave me, and when I can find a convenient opportunity I will send for you." 024:026 At the same time he hoped that Paul would give him money; and for this reason he sent for him the oftener to converse with him. 024:027 But after the lapse of fully two years Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; and being desirous of gratifying the Jews, Felix left Paul still in prison. 025:001 Festus, having entered on his duties as governor of the province, two days later went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem. 025:002 The High Priests and the leading men among the Jews immediately made representations to him against Paul, and begged him— 025:003 asking it as a favour, to Paul's prejudice—to have him brought to Jerusalem. They were planning an ambush to kill him on the way. 025:004 Festus, however, replied that Paul was in custody in Caesarea, and that he was himself going there very soon. 025:005 "Therefore let those of you," he said, "who can come, go down with me, and impeach the man, if there is anything amiss in him." 025:006 After a stay of eight or ten days in Jerusalem—not more— he went down to Caesarea; and the next day, taking his seat on the tribunal, he ordered Paul to be brought in. 025:007 Upon Paul's arrival, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood round him, and brought many grave charges against him which they were unable to substantiate. 025:008 But, in reply, Paul said, "Neither against the Jewish Law, nor against the Temple, nor against Caesar, have I committed any offence whatever." 025:009 Then Festus, being anxious to gratify the Jews, asked Paul, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem, and there stand your trial before me on these charges?" 025:010 "I am standing before Caesar's tribunal," replied Paul, "where alone I ought to be tried. The Jews have no real ground of complaint against me, as in fact you yourself are beginning to see more clearly. 025:011 If, however, I have done wrong and have committed any offence for which I deserve to die, I do not ask to be excused that penalty. But if there is no truth in what these men allege against me, no one has the right to give me up to them as a favour. I appeal to Caesar." 025:012 Then, after conferring with the Council, Festus replied, "To Caesar you have appealed: to Caesar you shall go." 025:013 A short time after this, Agrippa the king and Bernice came to Caesarea to pay a complimentary visit to Festus; 025:014 and, during their rather long stay, Festus laid Paul's case before the king. "There is a man here," he said, "whom Felix left a prisoner, 025:015 about whom, when I went to Jerusalem, the High Priests and the Elders of the Jews made representations to me, begging that sentence might be pronounced against him. 025:016 My reply was that it is not the custom among the Romans to give up any one for punishment before the accused has had his accusers face to face, and has had an opportunity of defending himself against the charge which has been brought against him. 025:017 "When, therefore, a number of them came here, the next day I took my seat on the tribunal, without any loss of time, and ordered the man to be brought in. 025:018 But, when his accusers stood up, they did not charge him with the misdemeanours of which I had been suspecting him. 025:019 But they quarrelled with him about certain matters connected with their own religion, and about one Jesus who had died, but— so Paul persistently maintained—is now alive. 025:020 I was at a loss how to investigate such questions, and asked Paul whether he would care to go to Jerusalem and there stand his trial on these matters. 025:021 But when Paul appealed to have his case kept for the Emperor's decision, I ordered him to be kept in prison until I could send him up to Caesar." 025:022 "I should like to hear the man myself," said Agrippa. "to-morrow," replied Festus, "you shall." Accordingly, the next day, Agrippa and Bernice came in state 025:023 and took their seats in the Judgement Hall, attended by the Tribunes and the men of high rank in the city; and, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. 025:024 Then Festus said, "King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see here the man about whom the whole nation of the Jews made suit to me, both in Jerusalem and here, crying out that he ought not to live any longer. 025:025 I could not discover that he had done anything for which he deserved to die; but as he has himself appealed to the Emperor, I have decided to send him to Rome. 025:026 I have nothing very definite, however, to tell our Sovereign about him. So I have brought the man before you all— and especially before you, King Agrippa—that after he has been examined I may find something which I can put into writing. 025:027 For, when sending a prisoner to Rome, it seems to me to be absurd not to state the charges against him." 026:001 Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You have permission to speak about yourself." So Paul, with outstretched arm, proceeded to make his defence. 026:002 "As regards all the accusations brought against me by the Jews," he said, "I think myself fortunate, King Agrippa, in being about to defend myself to-day before you, 026:003 who are so familiar with all the customs and speculations that prevail among the Jews; and for this reason, I pray you, give me a patient hearing. 026:004 "The kind of life I have lived from my youth upwards, as exemplified in my early days among my nation and in Jerusalem, is known to all the Jews. 026:005 For they all know me of old—if they would but testify to the fact— how, being an adherent of the strictest sect of our religion, my life was that of a Pharisee. 026:006 And now I stand here impeached because of my hope in the fulfilment of the promise made by God to our forefathers— 026:007 the promise which our twelve tribes, worshipping day and night with intense devotedness, hope to have made good to them. It is on the subject of this hope, Sir, that I am accused by the Jews. 026:008 Why is it deemed with all of you a thing past belief if God raises the dead to life? 026:009 "I myself, however, thought it a duty to do many things in hostility to the name of Jesus, the Nazarene. 026:010 And that was how I acted in Jerusalem. Armed with authority received from the High Priests I shut up many of God's people in various prisons, and when they were about to be put to death I gave my vote against them. 026:011 In all the synagogues also I punished them many a time, and tried to make them blaspheme; and in my wild fury I chased them even to foreign towns. 026:012 "While thus engaged, I was travelling one day to Damascus armed with authority and a commission from the High Priests, 026:013 and on the journey, at noon, Sir, I saw a light from Heaven— brighter than the brightness of the sun—shining around me and around those who were travelling with me. 026:014 We all fell to the ground; and I heard a voice which said to me in Hebrew, "'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? You are finding it painful to kick against the ox-goad.' 026:015 "'Who art Thou, Lord?' I asked. "'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,' the Lord replied. 026:016 'But rise, and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for the very purpose of appointing you My servant and My witness both as to the things you have already seen and as to those in which I will appear to you. 026:017 I will save you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I send you to open their eyes, 026:018 that they may turn from darkness to light and from the obedience to Satan to God, in order to receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified through faith in Me.' 026:019 "Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision; 026:020 but I proceeded to preach first to the people in Damascus, and then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judaea, and to the Gentiles, that they must repent and turn to God, and live lives consistent with such repentance. 026:021 "It was on this account that the Jews seized me in the Temple and tried to kill me. 026:022 Having, however, obtained the help which is from God, I have stood firm until now, and have solemnly exhorted rich and poor alike, saying nothing except what the Prophets and Moses predicted as soon to happen, 026:023 since the Christ was to be a suffering Christ, and by coming back from the dead was then to be the first to proclaim a message of light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles." 026:024 As Paul thus made his defence, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, "You are raving mad, Paul; and great learning is driving you mad." 026:025 "I am not mad, most noble Festus," replied Paul; "I am speaking words of sober truth. 026:026 For the King, to whom I speak freely, knows about these matters. I am not to be persuaded that any detail of them has escaped his notice; for these things have not been done in a corner. 026:027 King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know that you believe them." 026:028 Agrippa answered, "In brief, you are doing your best to persuade me to become a Christian." 026:029 "My prayer to God, whether briefly or at length," replied Paul, "would be that not only you but all who are my hearers to-day, might become such as I am—except these chains." 026:030 So the King rose, and the Governor, and Bernice, and those who were sitting with them; 026:031 and, having withdrawn, they talked to one another and said, "This man is doing nothing for which he deserves death or imprisonment." 026:032 And Agrippa said to Festus, "He might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed to Caesar." 027:001 Now when it was decided that we should sail for Italy, they handed over Paul and a few other prisoners into the custody of Julius, a Captain of the Augustan battalion; 027:002 and going on board a ship of Adramyttium which was about to sail to the ports of the province of Asia, we put to sea; Aristarchus, the Macedonian, from Thessalonica, forming one of our party. 027:003 The next day we put in at Sidon. There Julius treated Paul with thoughtful kindness and allowed him to visit his friends and profit by their generous care. 027:004 Putting to sea again, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were against us; 027:005 and, sailing the whole length of the sea that lies off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we reached Myra in Lycia. 027:006 There Julius found an Alexandrian ship bound for Italy, and put us on board of her. 027:007 It took several days of slow sailing for us to come with difficulty off Cnidus; from which point, as the wind did not allow us to get on in the direct course, we ran under the lee of Crete by Salmone. 027:008 Then, coasting along with difficulty, we reached a place called 'Fair Havens,' near the town of Lasea. 027:009 Our voyage thus far had occupied a considerable time, and the navigation being now unsafe and the Fast also already over, Paul warned them. 027:010 "Sirs," he said, "I perceive that before long the voyage will be attended with danger and heavy loss, not only to the cargo and the ship but to our own lives also." 027:011 But Julius let himself be persuaded by the pilot and by the owner rather than by Paul's arguments; 027:012 and as the harbour was inconvenient for wintering in, the majority were in favour of putting out to sea, to try whether they could get to Phoenix—a harbour on the coast of Crete facing north-east and south-east—to winter there. 027:013 And a light breeze from the south sprang up, so that they supposed they were now sure of their purpose. So weighing anchor they ran along the coast of Crete, hugging the shore. 027:014 But it was not long before a furious north-east wind, coming down from the mountains, burst upon us and carried the ship out of her course. 027:015 She was unable to make headway against the gale; so we gave up and let her drive. 027:016 Then we ran under the lee of a little island called Cauda, where we managed with great difficulty to secure the boat; 027:017 and, after hoisting it on board, they used frapping-cables to undergird the ship, and, as they were afraid of being driven on the Syrtis quicksands, they lowered the gear and lay to. 027:018 But, as the storm was still violent, the next day they began to lighten the ship; 027:019 and, on the third day, with their own hands they threw the ship's spare gear overboard. 027:020 Then, when for several days neither sun nor stars were seen and the terrific gale still harassed us, the last ray of hope was now vanishing. 027:021 When for a long time they had taken but little food, Paul, standing up among them, said, "Sirs, you ought to have listened to me and not have sailed from Crete. You would then have escaped this suffering and loss. 027:022 But now take courage, for there will be no destruction of life among you, but of the ship only. 027:023 For there stood by my side, last night, an angel of the God to whom I belong, and whom also I worship, 027:024 and he said, "'Dismiss all fear, Paul, for you must stand before Caesar; and God has granted you the lives of all who are sailing with you.' 027:025 "Therefore, Sirs, take courage; for I believe God, and am convinced that things will happen exactly as I have been told. 027:026 But we are to be stranded on a certain island." 027:027 It was now the fourteenth night, and we were drifting through the Sea of Adria, when, about midnight, the sailors suspected that land was close at hand. 027:028 So they hove the lead and found twenty fathoms of water; and after a short time they hove again and found fifteen fathoms. 027:029 Then for fear of possibly running on rocks, they threw out four anchors from the stern and waited impatiently for daylight. 027:030 The sailors, however, wanted to make their escape from the ship, and had lowered the boat into the sea, pretending that they were going to lay out anchors from the bow. 027:031 But Paul, addressing Julius and the soldiers, said, "Your lives will be sacrificed, unless these men remain on board." 027:032 Then the soldiers cut the ropes of the ship's boat and let her fall off. 027:033 And continually, up till daybreak, Paul kept urging all on board to take some food. "This is the fourteenth day," he said, "that you have been anxiously waiting for the storm to cease, and have fasted, eating little or nothing. 027:034 I therefore strongly advise you to take some food. This is essential for your safety. For not a hair will perish from the head of any one of you." 027:035 Having said this he took some bread, and, after giving thanks to God for it before them all, he broke it in pieces and began to eat it. 027:036 This raised the spirits of all, and they too took food. 027:037 There were 276 of us, crew and passengers, all told. 027:038 After eating a hearty meal they lightened the ship by throwing the wheat overboard. 027:039 When daylight came, they tried in vain to recognise the coast. But an inlet with a sandy beach attracted their attention, and now their object was, if possible, to run the ship aground in this inlet. 027:040 So they cut away the anchors and left them in the sea, unloosing at the same time the bands which secured the paddle-rudders. Then, hoisting the foresail to the wind, they made for the beach. 027:041 But coming to a place where two seas met, they stranded the ship, and her bow sticking fast remained immovable, while the stern began to go to pieces under the heavy hammering of the sea. 027:042 Now the soldiers recommended that the prisoners should be killed, for fear some one of them might swim ashore and effect his escape. 027:043 But their Captain, bent on securing Paul's safety, kept them from their purpose and gave orders that those who could swim should first jump overboard and get to land; 027:044 and that the rest should follow, some on planks, and others on various things from the ship. In this way they all got safely to land. 028:001 Our lives having been thus preserved, we discovered that the island was called Malta. 028:002 The strange-speaking natives showed us remarkable kindness, for they lighted a fire and made us all welcome because of the pelting rain and the cold. 028:003 Now, when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and had thrown them on the fire, a viper, driven by the heat, came out and fastened itself on his hand. 028:004 When the natives saw the creature hanging to his hand, they said to one another, "Beyond doubt this man is a murderer, for, though saved from the sea, unerring Justice does not permit him to live." 028:005 He, however, shook the reptile off into the fire and was unhurt. 028:006 They expected him soon to swell with inflammation or suddenly fall down dead; but, after waiting a long time and seeing no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god. 028:007 Now in the same part of the island there were estates belonging to the Governor, whose name was Publius. He welcomed us to his house, and for three days generously made us his guests. 028:008 It happened, however, that his father was lying ill of dysentery aggravated by attacks of fever; so Paul went to see him, and, after praying, laid his hands on him and cured him. 028:009 After this, all the other sick people in the island came and were cured. 028:010 They also loaded us with honours, and when at last we sailed they put supplies on board for us. 028:011 Three months passed before we set sail in an Alexandrian vessel, called the 'Twin Brothers,' which had wintered at the island. 028:012 At Syracuse we put in and stayed for two days. 028:013 From there we came round and reached Rhegium; and a day later, a south wind sprang up which brought us by the evening of the next day to Puteoli. 028:014 Here we found brethren, who invited us to remain with them for a week; and so we reached Rome. 028:015 Meanwhile the brethren there, hearing of our movements, came as far as the Market of Appius and the Three Huts to meet us; and when Paul saw them he thanked God and felt encouraged. 028:016 Upon our arrival in Rome, Paul received permission to live by himself, guarded by a soldier. 028:017 After one complete day he invited the leading men among the Jews to meet him; and, when they were come together, he said to them, "As for me, brethren, although I had done nothing prejudicial to our people or contrary to the customs of our forefathers, I was handed over as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the power of the Romans. 028:018 They, after they had sharply questioned me, were willing to set me at liberty, because they found no offence in me for which I deserve to die. 028:019 But, at last, the opposition of the Jews compelled me to appeal to Caesar; not however that I had any charge to bring against my nation. 028:020 For these reasons, then, I have invited you here, that I might see you and speak to you; for it is for the sake of Him who is the hope of Israel that this chain hangs upon me." 028:021 "For our part," they replied, "we have not received any letters from Judaea about you, nor have any of our countrymen come here and reported or stated anything to your disadvantage. 028:022 But we should be glad to hear from you what it is that you believe; for as for this sect all we know is that it is everywhere spoken against." 028:023 So they arranged a day with him and came to him in considerable numbers at the house of the friends who were entertaining him. And then, with solemn earnestness, he explained to them the subject of the Kingdom of God, endeavouring from morning till evening to convince them about Jesus, both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. 028:024 Some were convinced; others refused to believe. 028:025 Unable to agree among themselves, they at last left him, but not before Paul had spoken a parting word to them, saying, "Right well did the Holy Spirit say to your forefathers through the Prophet Isaiah: 028:026 "'Go to this people and tell them, you will hear and hear, and by no means understand; and will look and look, and by no means see. 028:027 For this people's mind has grown callous, their hearing has become dull, and their eyes they have closed; to prevent their ever seeing with their eyes, or hearing with their ears, or understanding with their minds, and turning back, so that I might cure them.' 028:028 "Be fully assured, therefore, that this salvation—God's salvation— has now been sent to the Gentiles, and that they, at any rate, will give heed." 028:029 [] 028:030 After this Paul lived for fully two years in a hired house of his own, receiving all who came to see him. 028:031 He announced the coming of the Kingdom of God, and taught concerning the Lord Jesus Christ without let or hindrance.

THE END