sias the commander shall come down, I will determine 23 your matter." And he commanded a centurion that Paul should be kept, and to let him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of Paul's acquaintance to minister [or come near] unto him.

24

And after some days, Felix came with his wife Drusilla, that was a Jewess, and sent for Paul, and heard him 25 concerning belief in Christ. And as he discoursed of justice, and temperance, and the judgement to come, Felix was struck with fear, and answered," Depart for the present; and, when I have a convenient time, I will 26 send for thee." He hoped also at the same time that

money would have been given him by Paul, [that he might loose him :] for which cause he sent for him 27 oftener, and conversed with him. But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix; and Felix, wishing to gratify the Jews, left Paul bound.

CH. XXV. Now Festus, three days after he came into the pro2 vince*, went up from Cæsarea to Jerusalem. Then the high-priest, and the chief of the Jews, brought an accu3 sation before him against Paul, and besought him, desiring a favour concerning Paul, that Festus would send for him to Jerusalem; purposing to lie in wait, that they 4 might destroy him on the way. But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Cæsarea, and that he himself 5 would shortly depart thither. "Let such, therefore, among you," saith he, "as can be accusers, go down with me, and accuse this man, if there be any thing 6 amiss in him." And when he had passed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Cxsarea; and the next day sat on the judgement-seat, and 7 commanded Paul to be brought. And when he appeared, the Jews who had comet down from Jerusalem stood round about, and brought many and heavy accusations + came, N.

Now when Festus came into the province after three days, etc.

8 [against Paul], which they could not prove; while he made his defence, saying, "Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Cæsar, have 9 I offended in any thing." But Festus, wishing to gratify the Jews, answered Paul, and said, "Art thou willing

to go up to Jerusalem, and there to be judged of these 10 things before me?" Then Paul said, "I stand at Cæsar's judgement-seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews I have done no wrong, as thou also very well knowest. 11 For if I have done wrong, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die but if there be nothing true of the things whereof these accuse me, no man should give me up to gratify them. I appeal to 12 Cæsar." Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, "Hast thou appealed to Cæsar? to Cæsar thou shalt go."

13

And after some days, king Agrippa and Bernicè came 14 to Cæsarea to salute Festus. And when they had continued there many days, Festus related Paul's case to the king, saying, "There is a certain man left a prisoner 15 by Felix concerning whom*, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief-priests and the elders of the Jews laid an in16 formation, desiring judgement against him. To whom I answered, that it is not the custom of the Romans to give up any man [to death], before he that is accused have his accusers face to face, and have opportunity to make his defence concerning the crime laid to his charge. 17 When therefore they were come hither, without making any delay, I sat on the judgement-seat the day after, and 18 commanded the man to be brought : against whom when

his accusers stood up, they brought no accusation of 19 such things as I supposed but had against him some questions about their own religion, and about one Jesus 20 who died, but whom Paul affirmed to be alive. And be

about whom, N.

cause I was doubtful about an inquiry into such matters, I asked Paul whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem, 21 and there to be judged about these things. But when Paul had appealed to be reserved to the determination of the August Emperor, I commanded him to be kept till I 22 could send him to Cæsar." Then Agrippa said to Festus, "I myself also desire to hear the man." "Tomorrow," saith he, "thou shalt hear him.”

23 On the morrow therefore, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and they had entered into the place of hearing, together with the commanders and principal men of the city; at the command of Festus Paul 24 was brought. Then Festus saith, "King Agrippa, and all that are here present with us, ye see this man, concerning whom all the multitude of the Jews have applied to me, both at Jerusalem, and here also, crying 25 out that he ought not to live any longer. But I having found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and he himself having appealed to the August Emperor, 26 I have determined to send [him]. Of whom I have nothing certain to write to our Sovereign. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and especially before thee, king Agrippa, that, after examination, I may t 27 have somewhat to write. For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not to signify the charges also made against him."

CH. XXVI. Upon this Agrippa said to Paul, “Thou art permitted to speak for thyself." Then Paul stretched forth his hand, and made his defence:

2 "I think myself happy, king Agrippa, that I shall make my defence this day before thee, concerning all the 3 things of which I am accused by the Jews: because thou very well knowest all the customs and questions which are among the Jews. Wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.

4 "All the Jews know my manner of life from my youth, which was passed from the beginning among mine own 5 nation at Jerusalem and these have knowledge of me from the first, (if they be willing to testify,) that according to the strictest sect of our religion, I lived a Pharisee. 6 And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the pro7 mise, which God made to our fathers: unto which promise our twelve tribes, serving God with earnestness day and night, hope to come: concerning which hope, O 8 king [Agrippa], I am accused by the Jews. What? is it esteemed among you a thing incredible, that God should raise the dead?

9" I indeed thought with myself, that I ought to do, many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth : 10 which things I did also in Jerusalem and many of the saints I shut up in prisons, having received authority from the chief-priests; and, when they were put to 11 death, I gave my vote against them and I punished them often in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and, being exceedingly mad against them, I 12 persecuted them even to foreign cities. At which time [also,] as I was going to Damascus, with authority and 13 commission from the chief-priests, at mid-day, O king,

I saw on the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun; which shone round about me and those 14 who journeyed with me. And, when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking to me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou 15 me? It is hard for thee to kick against the goads.' And I said, Who art thou, Sir?' And he said, 'I am Jesus, 16 whom thou persecutest. But rise, and stand on thy feet for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to appoint thee a minister and a witness both of these things

• Why is it, etc. N. See Newcome's margin. This punctuation is favoured by the authority of nearly all the translators.

which thou hast seen, and of those in which I will ap17 pear unto thee; delivering thee from the people of the Jews; and from the gentiles, unto whom I now send 18 thee, to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God; that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among those that are sanctified, by faith in me.'

19

"Wherefore, king Agrippa, I was not disobedient to 20 the heavenly vision: but declared first to those in Damascus, and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judea, and then to the gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repent21 ance. For these causes the Jews seized me in the temple, and attempted to kill me.

22

"Having therefore obtained help from God, to this day, I continue witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which both the pro23 phets and Moses spake of as about to come: that Christ

24

should suffer; and that he, being the first who rose from the dead, should announce light to the people of the Jews, and to the gentiles."

And as he was thus making his defence, Festus said with a loud voice, "Paul, thou art mad: much learn25 ing driveth thee to madness." Then Paul saith, "I am

not mad, most excellent Festus; but utter the words of 26 truth and of a sound mind. For the king knoweth of

these things, before whom therefore I speak freely. For

:

I am persuaded that none of these things is hidden from 27 him for this was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest 28 them." Then Agrippa [said] to Paul, "Thou almost 29 persuadest me to become a Christian." And Paul [said,]

"I would to God, that not thou only, but all likewise that hear me this day, were almost and even altogether

before whom I even speak, N.