1 And it came to
pass, that after we were gotten from them, and had launched,
we came with a straight course unto Coos, and the day following
unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara:
2 And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard,
and set forth.
3 Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left
hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the
ship was to unlade her burden.
4 And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said
to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.
5 And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went
our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and
children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down
on the shore, and prayed.
6 And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship;
and they returned home again.
7 And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to
Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one
day.
8 And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed,
and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip
the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.
9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.
10 And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea
a certain prophet, named Agabus.
11 And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and
bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy
Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth
this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.
12 And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that
place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.
13 Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine
heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die
at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
14 And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The
will of the Lord be done.
15 And after those days we took up our carriages, and went up
to Jerusalem.
16 There went with us also certain of the disciples of Caesarea,
and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple,
with whom we should lodge.
17 And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received
us gladly.
18 And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and
all the elders were present.
19 And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what
things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.
20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said
unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there
are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:
21 And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the
Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that
they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk
after the customs.
22 What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together:
for they will hear that thou art come.
23 Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which
have a vow on them;
24 Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges
with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know
that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee,
are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and
keepest the law.
25 As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and
concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they
keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood,
and from strangled, and from fornication.
26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself
with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment
of the days of purification, until that an offering should be
offered for every one of them.
27 And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which
were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all
the people, and laid hands on him,
28 Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth
all men every where against the people, and the law, and this
place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and
hath polluted this holy place.
29 (For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus
an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the
temple.)
30 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 were shut.
31 And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the
chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.
32 Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down
unto them: and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers,
they left beating of Paul.
33 Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded
him to be bound with two chains; and demanded who he was, and
what he had done.
34 And some cried one thing, some another, among the multitude:
and when he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he
commanded him to be carried into the castle.
35 And when he came upon the stairs, so it was, that he was
borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people.
36 For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, Away
with him.
37 And as Paul was to be led into the castle, he said unto the
chief captain, May I speak unto thee? Who said, Canst thou speak
Greek?
38 Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest
an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand
men that were murderers?
39 But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city
in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee,
suffer me to speak unto the people.
40 And when he had given him licence, Paul stood on the stairs,
and beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when there was
made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue,
saying,
Chapter 22
1 Men, brethren,
and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you.
2 (And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to
them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,)
3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in
Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel,
and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the
fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.
4 And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering
into prisons both men and women.
5 As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the
estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto
the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were
there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.
6 And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come
nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven
a great light round about me.
7 And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto
me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
8 And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I
am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.
9 And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were
afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.
10 And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto
me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told
thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.
11 And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being
led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus.
12 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having
a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there,
13 Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul,
receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him.
14 And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that
thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest
hear the voice of his mouth.
15 For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast
seen and heard.
16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash
away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
17 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;
18 And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly
out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning
me.
19 And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in
every synagogue them that believed on thee:
20 And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also
was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the
raiment of them that slew him.
21 And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence
unto the Gentiles.
22 And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted
up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the
earth: for it is not fit that he should live.
23 And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw
dust into the air,
24 The chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle,
and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he might
know wherefore they cried so against him.
25 And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion
that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is
a Roman, and uncondemned?
26 When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief
captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest: for this man is
a Roman.
27 Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me,
art thou a Roman? He said, Yea.
28 And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained
I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born.
29 Then straightway they departed from him which should have
examined him: and the chief captain also was afraid, after he
knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.
30 On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty
wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his
bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council
to appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them. |