men arise, speaking perverse things, saith the Holy Spirit, So shall the to draw away disciples after them. Jews at Jerusalem bind the man 7 Therefore watch, and remember, that owneth this girdle, and shall that by the space of three years I deliver him into the hands of the ceased not to warn every one, night Gentiles. and day, with tears. 8 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them who are sanctified. 13 And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. But Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to Master. 14 And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done. 9 I have coveted no man's silver, be bound only, but also to die at Jeor gold, or apparel. Yea, ye your-rusalem for the name of Jesus, the selves know, that these hands have ministered to my necessities and to those that were with me. I have showed you all how that laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of Jesus, the Master, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. 10 And when he had thus spoken he kneeled down, and prayed with them all. And they all wept sorely, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the words which he had spoken, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship. II And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day. And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came to Cæsarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven; and abode with him. SELECTION XVI. Paul again visits Ferusalem; to pacify the Jewish Christians he conforms to the ordinance of purification; but this does not preserve him from their persecutions. AND after those days we took our baggage and went up to Jerusalem. And when we arrived the brethren received us gladly. 2 And the day following Paul went in with us to James: and all the elders were present. And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry. 3 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said to him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are among the believers, but they are all zealots for ordinances. And they are informed, that thou teachest all the Jews who 12 And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judæa a certain prophet, named Agabus. are among the Gentiles to forsake And when he had come to us, he Moses, saying that they ought not took Paul's girdle, and bound his to circumcise their children, neither own hands and feet, and said, Thus to walk after the customs. And as they went about 4 What then is to be done? the were shut. multitude will come together: for to kill him, tidings came to the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar: who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down to them: and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers they left beating of Paul. they will certainly hear that thou art come. Do therefore this that we advise thee: We have four men who have a vow on them; them take, and purify thyself with them, according to the custom : and all will know that those things, whereof they were 8 Then the chief captain came informed concerning thee, are false; near, and took him, and commanded but that thou thyself also walkest him to be bound with two chains; orderly, and keepest the ordinances. and demanded who he was, and what As touching the Gentiles who be he had done. And some cried one. lieve, we have written and concluded thing, some another, among the that they are not required to observe multitude: and when he could not such things, save only that they know the certainty for the tumult, keep themselves from pollutions of he commanded him to be carried inidols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication. 5 Then Paul took the men, and having conformed to the custom of purification, the next day entered into the temple to give notice of the accomplishment of the days of purification. to the castle. And when he came upon the stairs, so it was, that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people. For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, Away with him. 9 And as Paul was to be led into the castle, he said to the chief captain, May I speak to thee? Who said, Canst thou speak Greek? Art fore these days madest an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers? But Paul said, I am a man who am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak to the people. 6 And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews who were of Asia, when they saw him in the tem- not thou that Egyptian, who beple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him, crying out, Men of Israel, help : This is the man, that teacheth all men everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place and besides he even brought Greeks into the temple, and so polluted this holy place. For they had seen before with him in the city. Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple. 7 And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple and forthwith the doors SELECTION XVII. Paul rehearses the incidents of his conversion, and enrages the Jews by proclaiming himself divinely appointed to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. AND when he had given him license, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with his hand to the Damascus. And one Ananias, a de people. And when there was made a great silence, he spake to them in the Hebrew tongue, saying; vout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews who dwelt there, came to me, and standing by me said to me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And in that very hour I looked upon him. And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest 2 Men, brethren, and fathers, hear my defence which I make now to you. I am verily a man who am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught accord- know his will, and see that Just One, ing to the perfect manner of the law and receive a command from his of the fathers, and was zealous tow-mouth. For thou shalt be his witard God, as ye all are this day. ness to all men of that which thou And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them who were there to Jerusalem, bound, that they might be punished. hast received. And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and put away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. 5 And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance; and saw him, and he said to me, Make haste and get quickly out of Jerusalem; for they 3 And it came to pass that, as I will not receive thy testimony conmade my journey, and was come cerning me. And I said, Master, nigh to Damascus about noon, sud- they know that I imprisoned and denly in a vision from heaven a great beat in every synagogue them that light shone round about me. And I believed on thee: and when the fell to the ground, and heard a voice blood of thy martyr Stephen was saying to me, Saul, Saul, why perse- shed, I also was standing by, and cutest thou me? And I answered, consenting to his death, and kept Who art thou? And the voice said, the raiment of them that slew him. I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou And he said to me, Depart: for I persecutest. And they that were with will send thee far hence to the Genme beheld indeed the light, but they tiles. heard not the voice of him that 6 And they gave him audience to spake to me. And I said, What shall this word, and then lifted up their I do, Master? And the Master said voices, and said, Away with such a to me, Arise, and go into Damascus ; fellow from the earth: for it is not and there it shall be told thee of all fit that he should live. things which are appointed for thee to do. 4 And being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into 7 And as they were crying out, and shaking their garments, and throwing dust into the air, the chief captain commanded him him to be brought into the castle, and bade 14 And there arose a great cry: that he should be examined by and the scribes that were of the scourging; that he might know Pharisees' part arose, and strove, wherefore they cried so against him. saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God. 8 On the morrow, because he would know the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and com- 15 And when there arose a great manded the chief priests and all dissension, the chief captain, fearing their council to appear, and brought lest Paul should have been pulled in Paul down, and set him before them. pieces of them, commanded the sol9 And Paul looking earnestly up-diers to go down, and to take him on the council, said, Men and breth- by force from among them, and to ren, I have ordered my life in all bring him into the castle. good conscience before God until this day. 10 And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth. II Then said Paul to him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law? 12 And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest? Then said Paul, I knew not, brethren, that he was the high priest, for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people. 16 And the night following, the Master stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome. SELECTION XVIII. The priests and elders conspire to assassinate Paul, but the chief officer hearing of it sends him by night to Cæsarea. AND certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. And they were more than forty who made this conspiracy. 13 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in 2 And they came to the chief the council, Men and brethren, I am priests and elders, and said, We have a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: bound ourselves under a great curse, touching the hope of the resurrec- that we will eat nothing until we tion of the dead I am now on trial. have slain Paul. Now, therefore, And when he had so said, there ye with the council signify to the arose a dissension between the Phar- chief captain that he bring him down isees and the Sadducees: and the to you to-morrow, as though ye multitude was divided. For the would inquire something more perSadducees say that there is no resur- fectly concerning him and we, or rection, and no angels or spirits: but ever he come near, are ready to kill the Pharisees affirm both. him. 3 And when Paul's sister's son that he was a Roman. And when I heard of their lying in wait, he went would have known the cause whereand entered into the castle, and told fore they accused him, I brought him Paul. Then Paul called one of the forth into their council: whom I centurions to him and said, Bring perceived to be accused of questions this young man to the chief captain of their law, but to have nothing for he hath a certain thing to tell laid to his charge worthy of death or him. So he took him and brought of bonds. And when it was told me him to the chief captain. that the Jews laid wait for the man, 4 Then the chief captain took him I sent straightway to thee, and gave by the hand, and went with him commandment to his accusers also aside privately, and asked him, What to say before thee what they had is that thou hast to tell me? And against him. Farewell. he said, The Jews have agreed to 7 Then the soldiers, as it was comdesire thee that thou wouldest bring manded them, took Paul, and brought down Paul to-morrow into the coun- him by night to Antipatris. On the cil, as though they would inquire morrow they left the horsemen to somewhat of him more perfectly. go with him, and returned to the But do not yield to them: for there castle: who, when they came to lie in wait for him of them more than Cæsarea, and delivered the epistle to forty men, who have bound them- the governor, presented Paul also selves with an oath, that they will before him. neither eat nor drink till they have killed him and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee. 5 So the chief captain let the young man depart, and charged him, See thou tell no man that thou hast showed these things to me. And he called to him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Cæsarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night; and provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe to Felix the governor. 6 And he wrote a letter after this manner: Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting. This man was taken of the Jews, and would have been killed of them then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood 8 And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia: I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's judgment hall. SELECTION XIX. Paul's accusation and defence before high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul. 2 And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, We have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of heresies among all the Jews throughout the |