Cesarea, who conducted with them a certain brother of the first disciples whose name was Mnason, and he was from Kypros, to receive us into his house. And when we were come to Urishlem, the brethren received us joyfully. And the day following we entered with Paulos to Jakub, while all the presbyters were with him. And we gave them salutation.7 And Paulos recounted to them in order what Aloha had done among the Gentiles by his ministry. And when they heard, they glorified Aloha.

And they said to him, Thou seest, our brother, how many myriads there are in Jihud who believe, and all of them are zealous for the law. But it hath been said to them of thee, that thou teachest all the Jihudoyee who are among the Gentiles to remove from Musha; telling them that they should not circumcise their sons, nor walk in the customs of the law. On this account, when they hear that thou art come hither, do that which we tell thee. We have four men who have a vow to be purified. Take them, and go, purify with them, and lay out upon them the expenses, that they may shave their heads; and it will be known to every man that what hath been said against thee is false, and that thou fulfillest and keepest the law. Concerning those of the Gentiles who believe, we wrote that they should keep themselves from sacrifices, and from fornication, and from the strangled, and from blood.

Then Paul took those men the day after, and was purified with them. And he entered and went into the temple, making known to them the fulfilment of the days of the purification, so that an oblation might be offered for each man of them.

And when the seventh day was come the Jihudoyee who were from Asia saw him in the temple, and stirred

7 Shaloma.

up against him all the people. And they lifted their hands against him, crying out, and saying, Men, sons of Israel, help! This is the man who contrary to our people teacheth every where, and contrary to the law, and against this place. And also Aramoyee hath he brought into the temple, and profaned this holy place. For they had before seen with him Trophimus the Ephesian in the city, and supposed that with Paulos he had entered the temple. And the whole city was commoved, and all the people assembled, and they laid hold of Paulos, and dragged him without from the temple; and instantly the gates were shut.

And while the multitude sought to kill him, the tribune of the cohort heard that the whole city was agitated. And forthwith took he a centurion and many soldiers and ran upon them; and when they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they desisted from beating Paulos. And the tribune drew near and took him, and commanded them to bind him with two chains. And he asked concerning him who (he was), and what he had done? And men from the crowd cried against him variously, and because of their crying he was not able to know what was the truth; and he commanded that they should lead him to the fortress. And as Paulos came to the stairs the soldiers carried him, on account of the violence of the people for after him was much people; and they cried, and said, Away with him!

And as they came to enter into the fortress, Paulos himself said to the tribune, May I be permitted to speak to the people?

But he said to him, Javanith knowest thou? Art thou not that Metsroya who before these days stirred up and led forth into the waste four thousand men workers of evils?

8 Kiliarka.

Paulos said to him, I am a man a Jihudoya from Tarsos of Cilicia, an illustrious city in which I was born : I pray you permit me to speak to the people.

And when he had permitted him, Paulos stood upon the stairs, and signed to them with his hand; and when they had ceased, he spoke to them in Hebrew, and said to them,

Brethren and fathers, hear the defence which I make to you. And when they heard that Hebrew he was speaking with them, the more they ceased; and he said to them, I am a man a Jihudoya; and I was born in Tarsos of Cilicia, but was brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and instructed perfectly in the law of our fathers. And I was zealous for Aloha, even as all of you are also. And this way I persecuted unto the death, while I bound and delivered to the house of the bound both men and women; as the chief of the priests can testify of me, and all the elders, that from them I received letters to go to the brethren who were in Darmsuk, that also them who were there I should bring to Urishlem bound, that they might be fined. And as I went, and began to approach Darmsuk in the dividing of the day, suddenly from heaven there shone upon me a great light, and I fell upon the earth, and heard a voice, which said to me, Shaol, Shaol, why persecutest thou me? But I answered and said, Who art thou, my Lord? And he said to me, I am Jeshu Natsroya, whom thou persecutest! And the men who were with me saw the light, but the voice they understood not which spake with me. And I said, What shall I do, my Lord? And he said to me, Arise, go into Darmsuk, and there Ishall it be told thee of whatever it is commanded thee to do. And while I could not see because of the glory of

9 Lit. "heard."

that light, they who were with me took me by my hands, and I entered Darmsuk. And a man, one Hanania, righteous in the law, as the Jihudoyee who were there testified of him, came to me, and said to me, Shaol, my brother, open thine eyes. And in a moment my eyes were opened, and I beheld him. And he said to me, The God of our fathers hath appointed thee to know his will, and to see that Just One, and to hear the voice from his lips, that thou mayest be a witness to all men of all that thou hast seen and heard. And now why delayest thou? Arise, baptize, and be washed from thy sins, while thou callest his Name.

And being returned, I came hither to Urishlem. And I prayed in the temple. And I saw him in a vision, when he said to me, Hasten, and remove thee from Urishlem for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me. And I said, My Lord, they know also how I delivered to the house of the bound, and smote in all the synagogues, those who have believed in thee. And when the blood of thy martyr Estephanos was shed, I also stood with them, and fulfilled the will of his murderers, and kept the garments of them who stoned him. And he said to me, Go: for I send thee far away to preach to the Gentiles.

And when they had heard Paulos until this word, they lifted up their voice, and cried, Take from the earth one like this; for he ought not to live. And as they shouted and cast their garments and threw dust to the heaven, the tribune commanded that he should be brought into the fortress, and commanded him to be questioned by scourging, that he might know for what cause they cried against him. And as they exposed him with thongs, Paulos said to the centurion who stood near him,

1 Or, saying.

Is it allowed you to scourge a Roman man who is not condemned? And when the centurion heard, he approached the tribune, and said to him, What doest thou? For this is a Roman man.

And the tribune approached him, and said to him, Tell me, art thou a Roman ?

He said to him, Yes.

The tribune answered, and said to him, I with much money purchased the Roman-right.2

Paulos said to him, But I was born in it.

And immediately those who had sought to scourge him desisted from him; and the tribune feared when he learned that he was a Roman, because he had bound him.

LX.

AND the day after he willed to know truly what was the accusation which the Jihudoyee brought against him. And he ordered him and commanded the great priests and all the synagogue of their rulers to come; and he took Paulos and brought (him) down, and stood him among them.

And Paulos, looking upon their assembly, said, Men, brethren, I in all good conscience have conversed before Aloha, unto this day. And Hanania the priest commanded them who stood by him to smite Paulos upon his mouth. And Paulos said to him, It will be that Aloha will smite thee, (thou) whitened wall: thou sittest to judge me according to the law, while thou transgressest the law, and commandest that they smite me! And they who stood there said to him, The priest of Aloha revilest thou? Paulos said to them, I knew not, my brethren, that he is the priest; for it is written, Of the

2 Rumoiutha.