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ing, they ought not to circumcise their children, nor observe the ceremonies (of the Jews). What is then to be said? the multitude must assemble; for they will hear thou art come. 23. Do, therefore, what we say to thee: We have four men, having a vow on them (of a Nazarite;) 24. Be purified with them, and be at charges with them, to shave their heads, that all may know what they heard concerning thee is nothing; but thou thyself also goest on observing the (ceremonial) law. 25. But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, but only to keep themselves from things offered to idols, from blood, from strangled, and from whoredom.

26 Then Paul took the men, and he was the next day purified with them, and went to the temple, the days of purification being accomplishing; declaring that an offering should be made for each of them.

27. But the seven days being almost ended, the Jews from (the proconsular) Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the people, and seized him. 28. Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man who teacheth all every where against the people, and the (ceremonial) law, and this place; and, brought Greeks also into the temple, and polluted this holy place. 29. For they had before seen with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed Paul had brought into the temple. 30. Now, all the city being moved, the people ran together, and seized Paul, and dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the doors were shut. 31. And, being about to kill him, tidings came to the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in confusion; 32. Who immediately taking soldiers and centurions, ran upon them; and they seeing the chief captain with the soldiers, left off beating Paul.

33. Then the chief captain took him, and commanded to bind him with two chains; and demanded who he was, and what he had done? 34. Some among the multidude cried one thing, and some another: so not knowing the certainty for the tumult, he commanded him to be carried to the castle. 35. And being come to the stairs, he was carried by the soldiers thro' the violence of the people. 36. For the multitude followed, crying, Take him away.

37. And as Paul was to be taken into the castle, he said to the commander, May I speak to thee? who said, Canst thou speak Greek? 38. Art not thou that Egyptian, who before now madest a disturbance, and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men who were murderers? 39. But Paul said, I am a Jew of Tarsus, in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city; so I beseech thee suffer me to speak to the people.

40. And having allowed him, he stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand to the people: and, there being a profound silence, he spake to them in the Hebrew tongue, saying,

CHAP. XXII.

PAUL DECLARETH HIS CONVERSION.

MEN, brethren, and fathers, hear my defence now to you. 2. And hearing he spake Hebrew, they kept the more silence; then he said, 3. I am verily a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, and taught at the feet of Gamaliel, according to the perfect manner of the (ritual) law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye are all this day. 4. I persecuted (them of) this way to death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women, 5. As the high priest will testify for me, and all the elders; from whom I received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them who were there, bound

to Jerusalem, to be punished. 6. While I journeyed, and was near Damascus, about noon, suddenly a great light shone from heaven about me. 7. Then I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 8. I answered, Who art thou, Lord? He said, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. 9. They who were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but heard not the words of him that spake to me. 10. I said, What shall I do, Lord? Then the Lord said to me, Arise, go into Damascus; and there all things appointed for thee to do, shall be told thee. 11. And being blinded by the glory of that light, I was led by them who were with me to Damascus. 12. Now Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good name among all the Jews dwelling there, 13. Came to me, and said, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And then I saw him. 14. Then he said, The God of our fathers hath appointed thee to make known his will, and see (Jesus) the righteous One, and hear words from his mouth. 15. For thou shalt be a witness for him to all men of what thou hast seen and heard. 16. And now, why delayest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord (Jesus). 17. And being come to Jerusalem, while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance; 18. And saw him saying to me, Make haste, and go quickly out of Jerusalem; for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me. 19. Then I said, Lord, they know I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee: 20. And when thy martyr Stephen's blood was shed, I was standing by, consenting to his death, and kept their mantles who slew him. 21. Then he said to me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence to the Gentiles.

22. They heard him thus far, and then cried out, Take away such an one from the earth; for he

ought not to 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 to the castle and examined by scourging, to know why they cried so against him. 25. And, as they bound him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a Roman (citizen) uncondemned? 26. The centurion hearing that, went and told the chief captain, saying, Take care what thou doest; for this man is a Roman (citizen). 27. Then the chief captain came, and said to him, Tell me, art thou a Roman (citizen)? He said, Yes. 28. Then the other said, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. Paul said, but I was free-born. 29. Then straightway they who went to examine him left him; the chief captain also was afraid for binding him, after he knew he was a Roman (citizen). so. On the morrow, because he wished to know certainly why he was accused by the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul before them.

CHAP. XXIII.

PAUL PLEADS HIS CAUSE.

THEN Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived before God always with a good conscience (as far as I knew) until this day. 2. Then the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by to smite him on the mouth. 3. Then Paul said to him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me by the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law? 4. Then they who stood by, said, Revilest thou God's high priest? 5. Then Paul said, I did not acknowledge, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.

6. ¶ But Paul perceiving the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Brethren, I am a Pharisee, (as to the resurrection) and the son of a Pharisee; of the hope and of the resurrection of the dead I am now judged. 7. And having so said, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and Sadducees; so the multitude was divided.. 8. For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection, nor angel nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess both. 9. So a great cry arose; and the scribes of the Pharisees' part rose and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man; but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.

10. Now there being a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should be torn in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go and take him by force from among them, and bring him to the castle. 11. But the night following, the Lord (Jesus) 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. When it was day, the Jews combined together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying, They would neither eat nor drink till they killed Paul. 13. And more than forty made this conspiracy. 14. And coming to the chief priests and elders, said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, to eat nothing till we have slain Paul. Now, therefore, ye with the council signify to the chief captain, to bring him to you to-morrow, as if ye would enquire something more perfectly of him; and we, before he come near, are ready to kill him.

15.

16. But Paul's sister's son hearing of their lying in wait, went to the castle, and told Paul. 17. Then Paul calling one of the centurions, said, Bring this young man to the chief captain, for he hath something to tell him. 18. So he brought him to him. Then he said, Paul the prisoner called me

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