Acts 21-28

1599 Geneva Bible

21 1 Paul goeth toward Jerusalem: 8 at Caesarea he talketh with Philip the Evangelist: 10 Agabus foretelleth him of his bonds. 17 After he came to Jerusalem, 26 and into the Temple, 27 The Jews laid hands on him: 32 Lysias the captain taketh him from them.

¹ And ^[a]as we launched forth, and were departed from them, we came with a straight course unto Cos, and the day following unto the Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara.

² And we found a ship that went over unto Phoenicia, and went aboard, and set forth.

³ And when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed toward Syria, and arrived at Tyre: for there the ship unladed the burden.

⁴ And when we had found disciples, we tarried there seven days. And they told Paul through the ^[b]Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.

⁵ But when the days were ended, we departed and went our way, and they all accompanied us with their wives and children, even out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, prayed.

⁶ Then when we had embraced one another, we took ship, and they returned home.

⁷ And when we had ended the course from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day.

⁸ And the next day, Paul and we that were with him, departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of ^(A)Philip the Evangelist, which was one of the ^[c]seven Deacons, and abode with him.

⁹ Now he had four daughters, virgins, which did ^[d]prophesy.

¹⁰ And as we tarried there many days, there came a certain Prophet from Judea, 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 had heard these things, both we and others of the same place besought him that he would not go up to Jerusalem.

¹³ Then Paul answered, and said, What do ye weeping and breaking 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 [e]So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.

¹⁵ And after those days we trussed up our fardels, 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 next day Paul went in with us unto James: and all the Elders were there assembled.

^19 [f]And when he had embraced them, he told by order all things, that God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministration.

^20 [g]So when they heard it, they glorified God, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousand Jews there are which believe, and they are all zealous of the Law:

²¹ Now they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews, which are among the Gentiles, to forsake Moses, and sayest that they ought not to circumcise their sons, neither to live after the customs.

²² What is then to be done? the multitude must needs come together: for they shall hear that thou art come.

²³ Do therefore this that we say to thee. We have four men, which have made a vow,

²⁴ Them take, and ^[h]purify thyself with them, and ^[i]contribute with them, that they may ^(B)shave their heads: and all shall know, that those things, whereof they have been informed concerning thee, are nothing, but that thou thyself also walkest and keepest the Law.

²⁵ For as touching the Gentiles, which believe, we have written, and determined that they observe no such thing, but that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from that that is strangled, and from fornication.

²⁶ Then Paul took the men, and the next day was purified with them, and entered into the Temple, ^[j]declaring the accomplishment of the days of the purification, until that an offering should be offered for everyone of them.

^27 [k]And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia (when they saw him in the Temple) moved all the people, and laid hands on him,

²⁸ Crying, Men of Israel, help: this is the man that teachest all men everywhere against the people, and the Law, and this place: moreover, he hath brought Grecians into the Temple, and hath polluted this holy place.

²⁹ For they had seen before Trophimus an Ephesian with him in the city, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the Temple.

³⁰ Then 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 [l]But as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was on 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 one cried this, another that, among the people. So when he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he commanded him to be led into the castle.

³⁵ And when he came unto the grieces, it was so 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 should have been 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 the ^[m]Egyptian who before these days raised a sedition, and led out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers?

³⁹ Then Paul said, Doubtless, I am a man which am a Jew, and citizen of Tarsus, a famous city of Cilicia, and I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people.

⁴⁰ And when he had given him license, Paul stood on the grieces, and beckoned with the hand unto the people, and when there was made great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying,

22 1 Paul yieldeth a reason of his faith, 22 and the Jews heard him awhile: 23 But so soon as they cried out, 24 He is commanded to be scourged and examined, 27 and so declareth that he is citizen of Rome.

¹ Ye men, brethren and fathers, hear my defense now towards you.

² (And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence, and he said,)

^3 [n]I am verily a man, which am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the ^[o]feet of Gamaliel, and instructed 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 prison both men and women.

⁵ As also the chief Priest doth bear me witness, and all the company of the Elders: of whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus to bring them which were there, bound unto Jerusalem, that they might be punished.

⁶ ¶ And so it was, as I journeyed, and was come near unto Damascus about noon, that suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.

⁷ So I fell unto the earth, and heard a voice, saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

⁸ Then I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said to me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.

⁹ Moreover they that were with me, saw indeed a light and were afraid: but they heard not the voice of him that spake unto me.

¹⁰ Then 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 So when I could not see for the glory of that light, I was led by the hand of them that were with me, and came into Damascus.

¹² And one Ananias a godly man, as pertaining to the Law, having 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 that same hour I looked upon him.

¹⁴ And he said, The God of our fathers hath appointed thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and shouldest see that Just one, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.

¹⁵ For thou shalt be his witness unto all men, of the things which thou hast seen and heard.

¹⁶ Now therefore why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, in calling on the Name of the Lord.

¹⁷ ¶ And it came to pass, that when I was come again to Jerusalem, and 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 witness concerning me.

¹⁹ Then I said, Lord, they know that I prisoned, and beat in every Synagogue them that believed in thee.

²⁰ And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also stood by, and consented unto his death, and kept the clothes of them that ^[p]slew him.

²¹ Then he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.

²² ¶ ^[q]And they heard him unto this word, but then they lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not meet that he should live.

²³ And as they ^[r]cried and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air,

^24 [s]The chief captain commanded him to be led into the castle, and bade that he should be scourged, and examined, that he might know wherefore they cried so on him.

^25 [t]And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the Centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge one that is a Roman, and not condemned?

²⁶ Now when the Centurion heard it, 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 to him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? And he said, Yea.

²⁸ And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. Then Paul said, But I was so 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 ^[u]Roman, and that he had bound him.

³⁰ On the next day, because he would have known the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his bonds, and commanded the high Priests and all their Council to come together: and he brought Paul, and set him before them.

23 1 As Paul pleadeth his cause, 2 Ananias commandeth them to smite him. 7 Dissension among his accusers. 11 God encourageth him. 14 The Jews laying wait for Paul, 17 is declared unto the chief captain. 24 He sendeth him to Felix the Governor.

¹ And ^[v]Paul beheld earnestly the Council, and said, Men and brethren, I have in all good conscience served God until this day.

^2 [w]Then the high Priest Ananias commanded them that stood by, to smite him on the mouth.

^3 [x]Then said Paul to him, God ^[y]will smite thee, thou ^[z]whited wall: for thou sittest to judge me according to the Law, and ^[aa]transgressing the Law, commandest thou me to be smitten?

⁴ And they that stood by, said, Revilest thou God’s high Priest?

^5 [ab]Then said Paul, I knew not brethren, that he was the high Priest: for it is written, ^(C)Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.

^6 [ac]But when Paul perceived that the one part were of the Sadducees, and the other of the Pharisees, he cried in the Council, Men and brethren, ^(D)I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: I am accused of the hope and resurrection of the dead.

^7 [ad]And when he had said this, there was a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, so that the multitude was divided.

^8 (E)[ae]For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither ^[af]Angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.

^9 [ag]Then there was a great cry: and the ^[ah]Scribes of the Pharisees’ part rose up, and strove, saying, We find none evil in this man: but if a spirit or an Angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.

^10 [ai]And when there was a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and take him from among them, and to bring him into the castle.

¹¹ Now the night following, the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good courage, Paul, for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.

^12 [aj]And when the day was come, certain of the Jews made an assembly, and bound themselves ^[ak]with a curse, saying, that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

¹³ And they were more than forty, which had made this conspiracy.

¹⁴ And they came to the chief Priests and Elders, and said, We have bound ourselves with a solemn curse, that we will eat nothing, until we have slain Paul.

¹⁵ Now therefore, ^[al]ye and the Council, signify to the chief captain, that he bring him forth unto you tomorrow, as though you would know something more perfectly of him, and we, or ever he come near will be ready to kill him.

¹⁶ But when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their laying await, he went, and entered into the castle, and told Paul.

^17 [am]And Paul called one of the Centurions unto him, and said, Take this young man hence unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to show him.

¹⁸ So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, which hath something to say unto thee.

¹⁹ Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went apart with him alone, and asked him, What hast thou to show me?

²⁰ And he said, The Jews have conspired to desire thee, that thou wouldest bring forth Paul tomorrow into the Council, as though they would inquire somewhat of him more perfectly:

²¹ But let them not persuade thee: for there lie in wait for him of them, more than forty men, which have bound themselves with a curse, that they will neither eat nor drink, till they have killed him: and now are they ready, and wait for thy promise.

^22 [an]The chief captain then let the young man depart, after he had charged him to utter it to no man, that he had ^[ao]showed him these things.

²³ And he called unto him two certain Centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers, that they may go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and two hundred with darts, at the third hour of the night:

²⁴ And let them make ready an horse, that Paul being set on, may be brought safe unto Felix the governor.

²⁵ And he wrote an Epistle in this manner:

^26 [ap]Claudius Lysias unto the most noble governor Felix sendeth greeting.

²⁷ As this man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them, I came upon them with a garrison, and rescued him, perceiving that he was a Roman.

²⁸ And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their Council.

²⁹ There I perceived that he was accused of questions of their Law, but had no crime worthy of death, or of bonds.

³⁰ And when it was showed me, how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent him straightway to thee, and commanded his accusers to speak before thee the things that they had against him. Farewell.

³¹ Then the soldiers as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris,

³² And the next day, they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned into the Castle.

³³ Now when they came to Caesarea, they delivered the Epistle to the governor, and presented Paul also unto him.

³⁴ So when the Governor had read it, he asked of what province he was: and when he understood that he was of Cilicia,

³⁵ I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers also are come, and commanded him to be kept in Herod’s judgment hall.

24 2 Tertullus accuseth Paul: 10 He answereth for himself: 21 He preacheth Christ to the governor and his wife. 26 Felix hopeth, but in vain, to receive a bribe, 27 who going from his office, leaveth Paul in prison.

¹ Now ^[aq]after five days, Ananias the high Priest came down with the Elders, and with Tertullus a certain orator, which appeared before the governor against Paul.

² And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that we have obtained great quietness ^[ar]through thee, and that many ^[as]worthy things are done unto this nation through thy providence,

³ We acknowledge it wholly, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thanks.

⁴ But that I be not tedious unto thee, I pray thee, that thou wouldest hear us of thy courtesy a few words.

⁵ Certainly we have found this man a ^[at]pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ^[au]chief maintainer of the sect of the ^[av]Nazarenes:

⁶ And hath gone about to pollute the Temple: therefore we took him, and would have judged him according to our Law:

⁷ But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him out of our hands,

⁸ Commanding his accusers to come to thee: of whom thou mayest (if thou wilt inquire) know all these things whereof we accuse him.

⁹ And the Jews likewise ^[aw]affirmed, saying that it was so.

^10 [ax]Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him that he should speak, answered, I do the more gladly answer for myself, forasmuch as I know that ^[ay]thou hast been oft many years a judge unto this nation,

¹¹ Seeing that thou mayest know, that there are but twelve days since I came up to worship in Jerusalem.

¹² And they neither found me in the Temple, disputing with any man, neither making uproar among the people, neither in the Synagogues, nor in the city.

¹³ Neither can they ^[az]prove the things, whereof they now accuse me.

^14 [ba]But this I confess unto thee, that after the way (which they call ^[bb]heresy) so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and the Prophets,

¹⁵ And have hope towards God, that the resurrection of the dead, which they themselves look for also, shall be both of just and unjust.

¹⁶ And herein I endeavor myself to have always a clear conscience toward God and toward men.

^17 [bc]Now after many years, I came and brought alms to my nation and offerings,

¹⁸ At ^[bd]what time, certain Jews of ^[be]Asia found me purified in the Temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult.

¹⁹ Who ought to have been present before thee, and accuse me, if they had ought against me.

²⁰ Or let these themselves say, if they have found any unjust thing in me, while I stood in the ^[bf]Council,

²¹ Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Of the resurrection of the dead am I accused of you this day.

^22 [bg]Now when Felix heard these things, he deferred them, and said, When I shall more ^[bh]perfectly know the things which concern this way, by the coming of Lysias the chief Captain, I will decide your matter.

^23 [bi]Then he commanded a Centurion to keep Paul, and that he should have ease, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister unto him, or to come unto him.

²⁴ ¶ And after certain days, came Felix with his wife ^[bj]Drusilla, which was a Jewess, and he called forth Paul, and heard him of the faith in Christ.

²⁵ And as he disputed of righteousness and temperance, and of the judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time, and when I have convenient time, I will call for thee.

²⁶ He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him.

^27 [bk]When two years were expired, Porcius Festus came into Felix’s room, and Felix willing to ^[bl]get favor of the Jews, left Paul bound.

25 1 Festus succeeding Felix, 6 commandeth Paul to be brought forth. 11 Paul appealeth unto Caesar. 14 Festus openeth Paul’s matter to king Agrippa, 23 and bringeth him before him, 27 that he may understand his cause.

¹ When ^[bm]Festus was then come into the province, after three days he went up from Caesarea unto Jerusalem.

² Then the high Priest, and the chief of the Jews appeared before him against Paul: and they besought him,

³ And desired favor against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem: and they laid wait to kill him by the way.

⁴ But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself would shortly depart thither.

⁵ Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, come down with us: and if there be any wickedness in the man, let them accuse him.

⁶ ¶ ^[bn]Now when he had tarried among them no more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea, and the next day sat in the judgment seat, and commanded Paul to be brought.

⁷ And when he was come, the Jews which were come from Jerusalem, stood about him and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, whereof ^[bo]they could make no plain proof,

⁸ Forasmuch as he answered, that he had neither offended anything against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor against Caesar.

^9 [bp]Yet Festus willing to get favor of the Jews, answered Paul and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?

¹⁰ Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews I have done no wrong, as thou very well knowest.

¹¹ For if I have done wrong, or committed anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things, whereof they accuse me, no man, to pleasure them, can deliver me to them: I appeal unto Caesar.

¹² Then when Festus had spoken with the Council, he answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go.

¹³ ¶ ^[bq]And after certain days, King ^[br]Agrippa and Bernice came down to Caesarea to salute Festus.

¹⁴ And when they had remained there many days, Festus declared Paul’s cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in prison by Felix,

¹⁵ Of whom when I came to Jerusalem, the high Priests and Elders of the Jews informed me, and desired to have judgment against him.

¹⁶ To whom I answered, that it is not the manner of the Romans for favor to ^[bs]deliver any man to the death, before that he which is accused, have the accusers before him, and have place to defend himself, concerning the crime.

¹⁷ Therefore when they were come hither, without delay the day following I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth.

¹⁸ Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought no crime of such things as I supposed:

^19 [bt]But had certain questions against him of their own ^[bu]superstitions, and of one Jesus which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

²⁰ And because I doubted of such manner of question, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things.

²¹ But because he appealed to be reserved to the examination of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept, till I might send him to Caesar.

^22 [bv]Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. Tomorrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.

²³ And on the morrow when Agrippa was come, and Bernice with great ^[bw]pomp, and were entered into the Common hall with the chief captains and chief men of the city, at Festus’s commandment Paul was brought forth.

²⁴ And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are present with us, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have called upon me, both at Jerusalem, and here, crying, that he ought not to live any longer.

²⁵ Yet have I found nothing worthy of death, that he hath committed: nevertheless, seeing that he hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.

²⁶ Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my ^[bx]lord: wherefore I have brought him forth unto you, and especially unto thee, King Agrippa, that after examination had, I might have somewhat to write.

²⁷ For me thinketh it unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not to show the causes which are laid against him.

26 2 Paul in the presence of Agrippa, 4 declareth his life from his childhood, 16 and his calling, 21 with such efficacy of words 28 that almost he persuaded him to Christianity. 30 But he and his company depart doing nothing in Paul’s matter.

¹ Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. So Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself.

^2 [by]I think myself happy, King Agrippa, because I shall answer this day before thee of all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:

³ Chiefly, because thou hast knowledge of all customs, and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.

^4 [bz]As touching my life from my childhood, and what it was from the beginning among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews,

⁵ Which ^[ca]knew me heretofore, even from my ^[cb]Elders (if they would testify) that after the ^[cc]most straight sect of our religion, I lived a Pharisee.

^6 [cd]And now I stand and am accused for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers.

⁷ Whereunto our twelve tribes instantly serving God day and night, hope to come: for the which hope’s sake, O King Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.

^8 [ce]Why should it be thought a thing incredible unto you, that God should raise again the dead?

⁹ I also verily thought in myself, that I ought to do many contrary things against the Name of Jesus of Nazareth.

^10 (F)Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: for many of the Saints I shut up in prison, having received authority of the High Priests, and when they were put to death, I gave my ^[cf]sentence.

¹¹ And I punished them throughout all the Synagogues, and ^[cg]compelled them to blaspheme and being more mad against them, I persecuted them, even unto strange cities.

¹² At which time, even as I went to ^(G)Damascus with authority, and commission from the high Priests,

¹³ At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven passing the brightness of the sun, shine round about me, and them which went with me.

¹⁴ So when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against pricks.

¹⁵ Then I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

¹⁶ But rise and stand up on thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose to appoint thee a minister and a witness, both of the things which thou hast seen, and of the things in the which I will appear unto thee,

¹⁷ Delivering thee from this people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,

^18 [ch]To open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them, which are sanctified by faith in me.

^19 [ci]Wherefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision,

^20 (H)But showed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works worthy amendment of life.

²¹ For this cause the Jews caught me in the ^(I)Temple, and went about to kill me.

^22 [cj]Nevertheless, I obtained help of God, and continue unto this day, witnessing both to ^[ck]small and to great, saying none other things, than those which the Prophets and Moses did say should come,

²³ To wit, that Christ should ^[cl]suffer, and that he should be the ^[cm]first that should rise from the dead, and should show ^[cn]light unto this people, and to the Gentiles.

^24 [co]And as he thus answered for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself, much learning doth make thee mad.

²⁵ But he said, I am not mad, O noble Festus, but I speak the words of truth, and soberness.

²⁶ For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak boldly: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him: for this thing was [not] done in a ^[cp]corner.

^27 [cq]O King Agrippa, believest thou the Prophets? I know that thou believest.

²⁸ Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to become a Christian.

²⁹ Then Paul said, ^[cr]I would to God that [not] only thou, but also all that hear me today, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.

^30 [cs]And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them.

³¹ And when they were gone apart, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death, nor of bonds.

³² Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been loosed, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.

27 1 Paul 7, 9 foretelleth the peril of the voyage, 11 but he is not believed. 14 They are tossed to and fro with the tempest, 22, 41 and suffer shipwreck: 34 Yet all safe and sound 44 escape to land.

¹ Now ^[ct]when it was concluded, that we should sail into Italy, they delivered both Paul, and certain other prisoners unto a Centurion, named Julius, of the band of Augustus.

² And ^(J)we entered into a ship of Adramyttium, purposing to sail by the coasts of Asia, and launched forth, and had Aristarchus of Macedonia, a Thessalonian, with us.

³ And the next day we arrived at Sidon: and Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends, that they might refresh him.

⁴ And from thence we launched, and sailed hard by Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.

⁵ Then sailed we over the sea by Cilicia, and Pamphilia, and came to Myra, a city in Lycia.

⁶ And there the Centurion found a ship of Alexandria, sailing into Italy, and put us therein.

⁷ And when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce were come against Cnidus, because the wind suffered us not, we sailed hard by Candia, near to ^[cu]Salmone,

⁸ And with much ado sailed beyond it, and came unto a certain place called the Fair Havens, near unto the which was the city Lasea.

^9 [cv]So when much time was spent, and sailing was now jeopardous, because also the ^[cw]Fast was now passed, Paul exhorted them,

¹⁰ And said unto them, Sirs, I see that this voyage will be with hurt, and much damage, not of the lading and ship only, but also of our lives.

^11 [cx]Nevertheless the Centurion believed rather the governor and the master of the ship, than those things which were spoken of Paul.

¹² And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, many took counsel to depart thence, if by any means they might attain to Phoenix, there to winter, which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the Southwest and by West, and Northwest and by West.

¹³ And when the Southern wind blew softly, they supposing to attain their purpose, loosed nearer, and sailed by Crete.

¹⁴ But anon after, there arose by ^[cy]it a stormy wind called ^[cz]Euroclydon.

¹⁵ And when the ship was caught, and could not resist the wind, we let her go, and were carried away.

¹⁶ And we ran under a little Isle named Clauda, and had much ado to get the boat.

¹⁷ Which they took up and used all help, undergirding the ship, fearing lest they should have fallen into Syrtis, and they strake sail, and so were carried.

^18 [da]The next day when we were tossed with an exceeding tempest, they lightened the ship.

¹⁹ And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.

²⁰ And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay upon us, all hope that we should be saved, was then taken away.

^21 [db]But after long abstinence, Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened to me, and not have loosed from Candia: so should ye have gained this hurt and loss.

²² But now I exhort you to be of good courage: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, save of the ship only.

²³ For there stood by me this night the Angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve.

²⁴ Saying, Fear not, Paul: for thou must be brought before Caesar: and lo, God hath given unto thee freely, all that sail with thee.

^25 [dc]Wherefore, Sirs, be of good courage: for I believe God, that it shall be so as it hath been told me.

²⁶ Howbeit, we must be cast into a certain Island.

^27 [dd]And when the fourteenth night was come, as we were carried to and fro in the ^[de]Adriatic sea about midnight, the shipmen deemed that some country ^[df]approached unto them.

²⁸ And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found fifteen fathoms.

²⁹ Then fearing lest they should have fallen into some rough places, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished that the day were come.

^30 [dg]Now as the mariners were about to flee out of the ship, and had let down the boat into the sea under a color as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship.

^31 [dh]Paul said unto the Centurion and the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be safe.

³² Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let it fall away.

^33 [di]And when it began to be day, Paul exhorted them all to take meat, saying, This is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried, and continued fasting, receiving nothing:

³⁴ Wherefore I exhort you to take meat: for this is for your safeguard: for there shall not an ^[dj]hair fall from the head of any of you.

³⁵ And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all, and brake it, and began to eat.

³⁶ Then were they all of good courage, and they also took meat.

³⁷ Now we were in the ship in all two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.

³⁸ And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea.

^39 [dk]And when it was day, they knew not the country, but they spied a certain ^[dl]creek with a bank, into the which they were minded (if it were possible) to thrust in the ship.

⁴⁰ So when they had taken up the anchors, they committed the ship unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bonds, and hoisted up the main sail to the wind, and drew to the shore.

⁴¹ And when they fell into a place, where ^[dm]two seas met, they thrust in the ship: and the forepart stuck fast, and could not be moved, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves.

^42 [dn]Then the soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them, when he had swam out, should flee away.

^43 [do]But the Centurion willing to save Paul, stayed them from this counsel, and commanded that they that could swim, should cast themselves first into the sea, and go out to land:

^44 [dp]And the others, some on boards, and some on certain pieces of the ship: and so it came to pass, that they came all safe to land.

28 2 The Barbarians’ courtesy towards Paul and his company. 3 A viper on Paul’s hand: 6 He shaketh it off without harm: 8 Publius  9 and others are by him healed. 11 They depart from Malta, 16 and come to Rome. 17 Paul openeth to the Jews, 20 the cause of his coming: 22 He preacheth Jesus 30 two years.

¹ And when they were come safe, then they knew that the Isle was called ^[dq]Malta.

² And the Barbarians showed us no little kindness, for they kindled a fire, and received us everyone, because of the present shower, and because of the cold.

^3 [dr]And when Paul had gathered a number of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and leaped on his hand.

^4 [ds]Now when the Barbarians saw the worm hang on his hand, they said among themselves, This man surely is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet ^[dt]Vengeance hath not suffered to live.

⁵ But he shook off the worm into the fire, and felt no harm.

⁶ Howbeit they waited when he should have ^[du]swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: ^[dv]but after they had looked a great while, and saw no inconvenience come to him, they changed their minds, and said, That he was a God.

^7 [dw]In the same quarters, the chief man of the Isle (whose name was Publius) had possessions: the same received us, and lodged us three days courteously.

⁸ And so it was, that the father of Publius lay sick of the fever, and of a bloody flix: to whom Paul entered in, and when he prayed, he laid his hands on him, and healed him.

^9 [dx]When this then was done, others also in the Isle, which had diseases, came to him, and were healed,

^10 [dy]Which also did us great honor: and when we departed, they laded us with things necessary.

¹¹ ¶ ^[dz]Now after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the Isle, whose ^[ea]badge was Castor and Pollux.

¹² And when we arrived at Syracuse, we tarried there three days.

¹³ And from thence we set a compass, and came to Rhegium: and after one day, the South wind blew, and we came the second day to Puteoli:

^14 [eb]Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days, and so we went toward Rome.

¹⁵ ¶ ^[ec]And from thence when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us at the ^[ed]Market of Appius, and at the three taverns, whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and waxed bold.

¹⁶ So when we came to Rome, the Centurion delivered the prisoners to the general Captain: but Paul was suffered to dwell by ^[ee]himself with a soldier that kept him.

^17 [ef]And the third day after, Paul calleth the chief of the Jews together, and when they were come, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or Laws of the fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.

¹⁸ Who when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.

^19 [eg]But when the Jews spake contrary, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar, not because I had ought to accuse my nation of.

²⁰ For this cause therefore have I called for you to see you, and to speak with you: for that hope of Israel’s sake, I am bound with this chain.

²¹ Then they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judea concerning thee, neither came any of the brethren that showed or spake any evil of thee.

²² But we will hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that everywhere it is spoken against.

^23 [eh]And when they had appointed him a day, there came many unto him into his lodging, to whom he expounded, ^[ei]testifying the kingdom of God, and persuading them those things that concern Jesus, both out of the Law of Moses, and out of the Prophets, from morning to night.

^24 [ej]And some were [persuaded] with the things which were spoken, and some believed not.

²⁵ Therefore when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, to wit, Well spake the holy Ghost by Isaiah the Prophet unto our fathers,

^26 [ek]Saying, ^(K)Go unto this people, and say, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand, and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive.

²⁷ For the heart of this people is waxed fat, and their ears are dull of hearing, and with their eyes have they ^[el]winked, lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and should return that I might heal them.

^28 [em]Be it known therefore unto you, that this salvation of God is sent to the Gentiles, and they shall hear it.

^29 [en]And when he had said these things, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.

^30 [eo]And Paul remained two years full in an house hired for himself, and received all that came in unto him,

³¹ Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all boldness of speech, without let.