to give you an inheritance among all those that are sancti33 fied. I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or appa34 rel. Ye yourselves know that these hands have ministered 35 to my necessities, and to those that were with me. I have shewn you in all things, that by so labouring ye ought to assist the infirm, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he said, 'It is more happy to give than to receive.'' 36 And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and 37 prayed with them all. And they all wept much, and fell 38 on Paul's neck, and kissed him; sorrowing most for the words which he had spoken, that they were to see his face no more. And they conducted him on his way to the ship. Сн: хх1. And it came to pass that, after we had separated ourselves from them, and had sailed, we came with a straight course to Coos, and the day following to Rhodes, 2 and thence to Patara. And having found a ship sailing 3 over to Phenicia, we went on board, and loosed. when we had discovered Cyprus, and had passed by it on the left hand, we sailed into Syria, and landed at 4 Tyre; for there the ship was to unload her burthen. And Now having met with disciples, we remained there seven days: and these said to Paul by the spirit, that he should not 5 go up to Jerusalem. And when we had completed those days, we went out and departed*, and they all conducted us on our way, with their wives and children, till we were out of the city and we kneeled down on the shore, and 6 prayed. And when we had taken leave of one another, we went into the ship; and they returned to their home. And when we had finished our course, from Tyre we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and re8 mained with them one day: and on the morrow we † departed, and came to Cæsarea; and we entered into the house of Philip the Evangelist, that was one of the seven 7 * we departed on our way, Wakefield. : 9 deacons, and remained with him. And this man had four daughters, virgins, who prophesied. 10 And as we continued there many days, a certain pro11 phet, named Agabus, came down from Judea and when he came to us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, "Thus saith the holy spirit: 'So the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man that owneth this girdle, and will deliver him into the hands of the gen12 tiles.' And when we heard these things, both we, and those of that place, besought him not to go up to Jeru13 salem. Then Paul answered, "What mean ye by weeping and breaking mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but to die also, at Jerusalem, for the name 14 of the Lord Jesus." And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased; saying, "The will of the Lord* be done." 15 And after those days we took our baggage, and went 16 up to Jerusalem. Some disciples also of Cæsarea went with us; bringing with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an 17 early disciple, with whom we might lodge. And, when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us 18 gladly. And the day following Paul went in with us to 19 James; and all the elders were present. And when he had greeted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the gentiles by his ministry. 20 And when they heard it, they glorified Godt, and said unto Paul‡, "Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are who believe; and they are all zealous of 21 the law. And they have been informed concerning thee, that thou teachest all the Jews that are among the gentiles, to forsake Moses; saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, nor to walk according to our 22 customs. What therefore should be done? The mul * Or, of God. 2 MSS. 2 Verss. N. m. him, N. See Wakefield. Or, the customs of our fathers. See Symonds, p. 136. the Lord, N. See Griesbach. 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 happened 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 Arise, and go do, Sir?' And the Lord said unto me, 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 Jerusalem, 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 consentedt, 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. |