titude must needs assemble: for they will hear that thou 23 art come. Do therefore what we say to thee: We have 24 four men that have a vow on them: take them and purify

thyself with them, and be at expense for them, that they may shave their heads, and all may know that those things of which they were informed concerning thee are nothing, but that thou thyself also walkest in the observance of the 25 law. But concerning the gentiles who believe, we have already written and determined, [that they observe no such thing; but] that they only keep themselves from what is offered to idols, and from blood, and from things 26 strangled, and from fornication." Then Paul took the men, and the next day purified himself with them, and entered into the temple, declaring what would be the end of the days of purification; till an offering were made for every one of them.

27

And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews that were of Asia, when they saw Paul in the temple, stirred up all the multitude, and laid their hands on him, 28 crying out, Men of Israel, help. This is the man who teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and, further, hath brought gentiles also into the temple; and hath polluted this holy 29 place." (For they had before seen with him in the city

Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul 30 had brought into the temple.) And all the city was

moved, and the people ran together; and they seized Paul, and dragged him out of the temple: and imme31 diately the doors were shut. And as they sought to kill him, a report came to the commander of the band, that 32 all Jerusalem was in confusion: who immediately took soldiers, and centurions, and ran down unto them and when they saw the commander, and the soldiers, they 33 ceased from beating Paul. Then the commander came near, and seized him, and ordered him to be bound with two chains; and inquired who he was, and what he had

34 done. And some cried one thing, and some another, among the multitude: and when he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he ordered Paul to be taken into 35 the castle. And when Paul came upon the steps, it hap

pened that he was carried by the soldiers, for the violence 36 of the people. For the multitude of the people followed, crying out, " Destroy him."

37 And as Paul was about to be taken into the castle, he saith to the commander, "May I speak to thee?" Who 38 said, "Canst thou speak Greek? Art thou not that Egyptian, who formerly madest a disturbance, and leddest out into the desert four thousand men that were 39 assassins?" But Paul said, "I am a Jew of Tarsus, a city of Cilicia; a citizen of no mean city and I beseech 40 thee, suffer me to speak unto the people." And when the commander had suffered him, Paul stood on the steps, and beckoned with his hand to the people. And when a great silence was made, he spake to them in the Hebrew tongue, saying,

CH. XXII." Brethren, and fathers, hear my defence which I 2 make now unto you." (And when they heard that he

spake to them in the Hebrew tongue, they kept the greater 3 silence and he saith,) "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, being instructed at the feet of Gamaliel according to the exactness of the law of our fathers, and being zealous toward God, 4 as ye all are this day. And I persecuted this religion unto death, binding and delivering into prisons both men 5 and women. As the high-priest also can bear me witness, and the whole body of the elders: from whom I received letters also unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring bound unto Jerusalem those also that 6 were there, that they might be punished. But it came to pass that, as I journeyed, and came near to Damascus, about noon, a great light from heaven suddenly shone 7 round about me. And I fell to the ground, and heard a

voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou 8 me?' And I answered, Who art thou, Sir?' And

9 he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.' And those that were with me saw indeed the light, [and were afraid;] but heard not the words 10 of him who spake to me. Then I said, 'What shall I do. Sir?' And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all 11 which is appointed for thee to do.' And when I could not see, because of the glory of that light; I came into Damascus, led by the hand of those that were with me. 12 And one Ananias, a religious man according to the law,

having a good report from all the Jews who dwelt there, 13 came to me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, recover thy sight.' And, at that very time, I looked up 14 on him. Then he said, The God of our fathers hath

appointed thee to know his will, and to see that Righteous 15 One, and to hear the words of his mouth. For thou shalt

be his witness to all men, of what thou hast seen and 16 heard. And now, why delayest thou? arise, and be

baptized, and wash away thy sins, taking upon thyself his 17 name *. And it came to pass when I returned to Jeru

salem, and while I was praying in the temple, that I 18 was in a trance and saw Jesus saying unto me, 'Make

haste, and go quickly out of Jerusalem for they will 19 not receive thy testimony concerning me.' Then I said,

Lord, they know that I imprisoned, and beat in every 20 synagogue, those who believed on thee. And when the blood of thy witness [Stephen] was shed, I also stood by, and consented †, and kept the mantles of those who killed 21 him.' Then Jesus said unto me, Depart, for I will send thee hence far off to the gentiles.""

22

And they gave him an hearing to these words, and

* Or, the name of the Lord. Some MSS. and Verss. N. m. having called on his name. N. See Wakefield.

+ consented to his death, R. T. and N. See Griesbach, 2d edit.

then lifted up their voices, saying, "Destroy such a man from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live." 23 And as they cried out, and cast off their mantles, and 24 threw dust into the air; the commander ordered that

he should be taken into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he might know for 25 what cause they cried so against him. And as they prepared him for the scourge*, Paul said to the centurion who stood by, "Is it lawful for you to scourge one that 26 is a Roman citizen, and uncondemned ?" And when the centurion heard this, he went and told the commander, saying, "What art thou about to do t? for this man is a 27 Roman citizen." Then the commander came near, and

said to Paul, "Tell me, Art thou a Roman citizen?" 28 And he said, "Yes." And the commander answered, 29" With a great sum I obtained this citizenship." And Paul said, "But I was free-born." Then those who were about to examine him by scourging, immediately left him and the commander also was afraid when he knew that Paul was a Roman citizen, and that he had bound him.

30

And on the morrow, desiring to know the certainty why Paul was accused by the Jews, he loosed him from his chain, and commanded the chief-priests and all the council to assemble, and brought Paul down, and set CH.him before them. And when Paul had earnestly looked on the council, he said, Brethren, I have always conducted myself with a good conscience before God, even 2 to this day." And the high-priest Ananias commanded

XXIII.

those who stood by him, to smite him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said unto him, "God will smite thee, thou

whited wall for sittest thou to judge me according to the law, and yet commandest me to be smitten contrary 4 to the law?" And those who stood by, said, "Revilest 5 thou God's high-priest?" Then Paul said, "I knew not,

Gr. Or, stretched him forward for the thongs, N. m.
take heed what thou doest, R. T.

their council, R. T.

brethren, that he was the high-priest: for it is written,

Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.' 6 And when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees concerning the hope, and the resurrection, of the dead I 7 am now judged." And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and 8 the multitude was divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel or spirit; but the 9 Pharisees confess both. And there was a great cry: and

the scribes that were on the part of the Pharisees arose and stròve, saying, "We find no evil in this man: but if a 10 spirit or an angel have spoken to him, it is well †.” And

when there was a great disturbance, the commander feared lest Paul would be torn in pieces by them; and commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle. 11 And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, "Take courage, [Paul:] for as thou hast testified the things concerning me at Jerusalem, so must thou testify at Rome also."

12

And when it was day, the Jews combined together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. 13 And they were more than forty that had made this con14 spiracy. And they came near to the chief-priests and

the elders, and said, "We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will taste nothing until we have kill15 ed Paul. Now therefore ye and the council signify to the commander, that he bring Paul down unto you [on the morrow], as if ye would inquire more exactly into the things concerning him and we, before he come near you, will be ready to destroy him."

Some read, "of a Pharisee," Newcome.

Let us not fight against Go, R. T. These words are wanting in the best copies See a like aposiopesis Matt. xv. 6; Luke xiii. 9, See Newcome and Griesbach,

some of the Je: $, R. T.