1 AndPaul, against the false accusations of his enemies, displays a clear conscience, for proof of which he repeats the whole course of his life.Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men [and] brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.
2 Hypocrites are forced at length to betray themselves by their violence.And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.
3 It is lawful for us to complain of injuries, and to summon the wicked to the judgment seat of God, but yet we must do it without hatred, and with a quiet and peaceable mind.Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, [thou]This is a vehement and severe speech, but yet not reproachful: for the godly may speak severely, and yet be void of the bitter affection of a severe and angry mind.whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smittenFor the Law commands the judge to hear the person that is accused patiently, and to pronounce the sentence judiciously.contrary to the law?
4 And they that stood by, sayd, Reuilest thou Gods hie Priest?
5 We must willingly and from the heart give honour to magistrates, although they are tyrants.Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.
6 We may sometimes lawfully set the wicked against themselves, so that they stop assaulting us, in order that the truth is not hindered.But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men [and] brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
7 The agreement between the wicked is weak, even though they conspire together to oppress the truth.And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.
8 It is an old heresy of the Sadducees to deny the existence of angels and souls, and in addition the resurrection of the dead.For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neitherThings that exist without a body.angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.
9 The Lord, when it pleases him, finds defenders of his cause, even amongst his enemies.And there arose a great cry: and theThe scribe's office was a public office, and the name of the Pharisees was the name of a sect.scribes [that were] of the Pharisees' part arose, 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 God will not forsake his own, even to the very end.And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring [him] into the castle.
11 Nowe the night folowing, the Lord stoode by him, and saide, Be of good courage, Paul: for as thou hast testified of mee in Hierusalem, so must thou beare witnesse also at Rome.
12 Those who are carried away with a foolish zeal think that they may lie and murder, and do whatever mischief they wish.And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselvesCursing and prohibiting themselves, they promised.under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.
13 And they were more then fourtie, which had made this conspiracie.
14 And they came to the chiefe Priestes and Elders, and said, We haue bound our selues with a solemne curse, that wee will eate nothing, vntill we haue slaine Paul.
15 Now therefore ye with theYou and the senate ask that the same thing should be done, so that the tribune will not think that it was demanded of him because of an individual's private interests.council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.
16 But when Pauls sisters sonne heard of their laying awaite, he went, and entred into the castel, and tolde Paul.
17 The wisdom of the Spirit must be joined with simplicity.Then Paul called one of the centurions unto [him], and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him.
18 So hee tooke him, and brought him to the chiefe captaine, and saide, Paul the prisoner called mee vnto him, and prayed mee to bring this yong man vnto thee, which hath some thing to say vnto thee.
19 Then the chiefe captaine tooke him by the hande, and went apart with him alone, and asked him, What hast thou to shewe me?
20 And he saide, The Iewes haue conspired to desire thee, that thou wouldest bring foorth Paul to morow into the Council, as though they would inquire somewhat of him more perfectly:
21 But let them not perswade thee: for there lie in waite for him of them, more then fourtie men, which haue bound themselues with a curse, that they will neither eate nor drinke, till they haue killed him: and nowe are they readie, and waite for thy promes.
22 There is no counsel against the Lord and his servants.So the chief captain [then] let the young man depart, and charged [him, See thou] tell no man that thou hast shewed these things to me.
23 And he called vnto him two certaine Centurions, saying, Make readie two hundred souldiers, that they may go to Cæsarea, and horsemen three score and ten, and two hundred with dartes, at the thirde houre of the night.
24 And let them make readie an horse, that Paul being set on, may be brought safe vnto Felix the Gouernour.
25 And he wrote an epistle in this maner:
26 Lysias is suddenly made by the Lord to be Paul's protector.Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix [sendeth] greeting.
27 As this man was taken of the Iewes, and shoulde haue bene killed of them, I came vpon them with the garison, and rescued him, perceiuing that he was a Romane.
28 And when I would haue knowen the cause, wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their Council.
29 There I perceiued that hee was accused of questions of their Lawe, but had no crime worthy of death, or of bondes.
30 And when it was shewed me, how that the Iewes layd waite for the man, I sent him straightway to thee, and commaunded his accusers to speake before thee the thinges that they had against him. Farewell.
31 Then the souldiers as it was commaunded them, tooke Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris.
32 And the next day, they left the horsemen to goe with him, and returned vnto the Castel.
33 Now when they came to Cæsarea, they deliuered the epistle to the Gouernour, and presented Paul also vnto him.
34 So when the Gouernour had read it, hee asked of what prouince he was: and when he vnderstoode that he was of Cilicia,
35 I will heare thee, said he, when thine accusers also are come, and commaunded him to bee kept in Herods iudgement hall.
