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CHAP. XXI.

On entering the temple he is apprehended. 20 And when they heard it, plishment of the days of purifithey glorified the Lord, and cation, until that an offering said unto him, Thou seest, should be offered for every one brother, how many thousands of them.

of Jews there are which believe: 27 And when the seven days and they are all zealous of the were almost ended, the Jews, law: which were of Asia, when they 21 And they are informed of saw him in the temple, stirred thee, that thou teachest all the up all the people, and laid hands Jews which are among the Gen- on him,

tiles to forsake Moses, saying, 28 Crying out, Men of Israel, That they ought not to circum- help. This is the man that cise their children, neither to teacheth all men every where walk after the customs. against the people, and the law, 22 What is it therefore? the and this place: and further, multitude must needs come to- brought Greeks also into the gether: for they will hear that temple; and hath polluted this thou art come. holy place.

23 Do therefore this that we 29 (For they had seen before say to thee: We have four men with him in the city, Trophimus, which have a vow on them; an Ephesian, whom they sup

24 Them take, and purify posed that Paul had brought thyself with them, and be at into the temple.)

charges with them, that they 30 And all the city was may shave their heads: and all moved, and the people ran may know that those things together: and they took Paul whereof they were informed and drew him out of the temconcerning thee, are nothing; ple. And forthwith the doors but that thou thyself also walk- were shut. est orderly, and keepest the 31 And as they went about to law. kill him, tidings came unto the 25 As touching the Gentiles chief captain of the band, that which believe, we have written all Jerusalem was in an uproar; and concluded that they observe 32 Who immediately took no such thing, save only that soldiers and centurions, and ran they keep themselves from things down unto them. And when offered to idols, and from blood, they saw the chief captain and and from strangled, and from the soldiers, they left beating of fornication. Paul.

26 Then Paul took the men, 33 Then the chief captain and the next day purifying him- came near and took him, and self with them, entered into the commanded him to be bound temple, to signify the accom-with two chains: and demanded

Paul begs permission to speak: THE ACTS, He declareth at large who he was, and what he had] 2 (And when they heard that done. he spake in the Hebrew tongue 34 And some cried one thing, to them, they kept the more sisome another, among the mul-lence: and he saith,) titude: and when he could not 3 I am verily a man which am know the certainty for the tu- a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in mult, he commanded him to be Cilicia, yet brought up in this carried into the castle. city at the feet of Gamaliel, and

35 And when he came upon taught according to the perfect the stairs, so it was that he was manner of the law of the fathers, borne of the soldiers, for the and was zealous toward God, violence of the people. as ye all are this day. 4 And I persecuted this way

36 For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, unto the death, binding and Away with him. delivering into prisons both men

37 And as Paul was to be led and women. into the castle, he said unto the 5 As also the high priest doth chief captain, May I speak unto bear me witness, and all the thee? Who said, Canst thou estate of the elders; from whom speak Greek? also I received letters unto the

38 Art not thou that Egyp- brethren, and went to Damascus, tian, which before these days to bring them which were there madest an uproar, and leddest bound unto Jerusalem, for to be out into the wilderness four punished.

thousand men that were mur- 6 And it came to pass, that, derers? as I made my journey, and was

39 But Paul said, I am a man come nigh unto Damascus about which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city noon, suddenly there shone from in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean heaven a great light round about city and I beseech thee suffer me.

me to speak unto the people. 7 And I fell unto the ground,

40 And when he had given and heard a voice saying unto him license, Paul stood on the me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest stairs, and beckoned with the thou me ?

hand unto the people. And 8 And I answered, Who art when there was made a great si- thou, Lord? And he said unto lence, he spake unto them in the me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, Hebrew tongue, saying, whom thou persecutest.

CHAP. XXII.

Paul declareth his conversion.

9 And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and

EN, brethren, and fathers, were afraid; but they heard not hear ye my defence which the voice of him that spake to

I make now unto you.

me. :

his conversion and call

CHAP. XXII.

to the apostleship. 10 And I said, What shall in every synagogue them that I do, Lord? And the Lord said believed on thee: unto me, Arise, and go into 20 And when the blood of Damascus, and there it shall be thy martyr Stephen was shed, told thee of all things which are I also was standing by, and appointed for thee to do. consenting unto his death, and 11 And when I could not see kept the raiment of them that for the glory of that light, slew him.

being led by the hand of them 21 And he said unto me, that were with me, I came into Depart: for I will send thee far Damascus. hence unto the Gentiles.

12 And one Ananias, a devout 22 And they gave him audiman according to the law, having ence unto this word, and then a good report of all the Jews lifted up their voices, and said, which dwelt there, Away with such a fellow from

13 Came unto me, and stood, the earth: for it is not fit that and said unto me, Brother Saul, he should live.

receive thy sight. And the same 23 And as they cried out, and hour I looked up upon him. cast off their clothes, and threw

14 And he said, The God of dust into the air, our fathers hath chosen thee, 24 The chief captain comthat thou shouldest know his manded him to be brought into will, and see that Just One, and the castle, and bade that he shouldest hear the voice of his should be examined by scourmouth. ging; that he might know where15 For thou shalt be his wit-fore they cried so against him. ness unto all men of what thou 25 And as they bound him hast seen and heard. with thongs, Paul said unto 16 And now why tarriest the centurion that stood by, thou? arise, and be baptized, Is it lawful for you to scourge and wash away thy sins, calling a man that is a Roman, and unon the name of the Lord. condemned?

17 And it came to pass, that. 26 When the centurion heard when I was come again to Jeru-that, he went and told the chief salem, even while I prayed in captain, saying, Take heed the temple, I was in a trance; what thou doest; for this man is

18 And saw him saying unto a Roman. me, Make haste, and get thee 27 Then the chief captain quickly out of Jerusalem; for came, and said unto him, Tell they will not receive thy testi- me, art thou a Roman? mony concerning me.

He

said, Yea.
28 And the chief captain an-

19 And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned, and beat swered, With a great sum. ob

Paul brought before the council: THE ACTS, a dissension among them. tained I this freedom. And Paul that the one part were Saddusaid, But I was free-born. cees, and the other Pharisees,

29 Then straightway they he cried out in the council, Men departed from him which should and brethren, I am a Pharisee, have examined him: and the the son of a Pharisee: of the chief captain also was afraid, hope and resurrection of the after he knew that he was a dead I am called in question. Roman, and because he had 7 And when he had so said, bound him. there arose a dissension between

30 On the morrow, because the Pharisees and the Sadducees: he would have known the cer- and the multitude was divided.

tainty wherefore he was accu- 8 For the Sadducees say that sed of the Jews, he loosed him there is no resurrection, neither from his bands, and commanded angel, nor spirit: but the Pharithe chief priests and all their sees confess both.

council to appear, and brought 9 And there arose a great cry:

Paul down, and set him before and the Scribes that were of the them.

CHAP. XXIII.

Paul before the Jewish council.

Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel

AND Paul, earnestly behold-hath spoken to him, let us not and brethren, I have lived in 10 And when there arose a all good conscience before God great dissension, the chief capuntil this day. |tain, fearing lest Paul should

ing the council, said, Men fight against God.

2 And the high priest Ananias have been pulled in pieces of commanded them that stood by them, commanded the soldiers him, to smite him on the mouth. to go down, and to take him by

3 Then said Paul unto him, force from among them, and to God shall smite thee, thou whited bring him into the castle. wall: for sittest thou to judge 11 And the night following me after the law, and command- the Lord stood by him, and said, est me to be smitten contrary to Be of good cheer, Paul: for as the law? thou hast testified of me in Jeru4 And they that stood by, salem, so must thou bear witsaid, Revilest thou God's high ness also at Rome. priest? 12 And when it was day, cer5 Then said Paul, I wist not, tain of the Jews banded togethbrethren, that he was the higher, and bound themselves under priest for it is written, Thou a curse, saying, that they would shalt not speak evil of the ruler neither eat nor drink till they of thy people. had killed Paul. 13 And they were more than

6 But when Paul perceived

CHAP. XXIII. is disclosed to the chief captain.

A conspiracy against Paul
forty which had made this con-|
spiracy.

21 But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for 14 And they came to the him of them more than forty chief priests and elders, and men, which have bound themsaid, We have bound ourselves selves with an oath, that they under a great curse, that we will neither eat nor drink till will eat nothing until we have they have killed him and now slain Paul. are they ready, looking for a

15 Now therefore ye with promise from thee. the council signify to the chief 22 So the chief captain then captain, that he bring him down let the young man depart, and unto you to-morrow, as though charged him, See thou tell no ye would inquire something man that thou hast shewed these more perfectly concerning him: things to me.

and we, or ever he come near, 23 And he called unto him are ready to kill him. two centurions, saying, Make

16 And when Paul's sister's ready two hundred soldiers to son heard of their lying in wait, go to Cesarea, and horsemen he went and entered into the threescore and ten, and spearcastle, and told Paul. men two hundred, at the third

17 Then Paul called one of hour of the night;

the centurions unto him, and 24 And provide them beasts, said, Bring this young man unto that they may set Paul on, and the chief captain; for he hath bring him safe unto Felix the a certain thing to tell him. governor.

18 So he took him, and 25 And he wrote a letter after brought him to the chief captain, this manner:

and said, Paul the prisoner call- 26 Claudius Lysias, unto the ed me unto him, and prayed me most excellent governor Felix, to bring this young man unto sendeth greeting.

thee, who hath something to say unto thee.

27 This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been 19 Then the chief captain killed of them: then came I took him by the hand and went with an army, and rescued him, with him aside privately, and having understood that he was asked him, What is that thou a Roman.

hast to tell me?

28 And when I would have 20 And he said, The Jews known the cause wherefore they have agreed to desire thee, that accused him, I brought him forth thou wouldest bring down Paul into their council :

to-morrow into the council, as 29 Whom I perceived to be though they would inquire some-accused of questions of their what of him more perfectly. law, but to have nothing laid to

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