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And there accompanied him into Asia, Sopater of Berea, and Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and from Asia, Tychichus and Trophimus.

These, going ahead, tarried for us at Troas.

And we sailed away from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened Bread and came unto them in five days at Troas, where we stayed seven days.

And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow, and continued his speech until midnight.

And there were many lights in the upper chamber where they were gathered together.

And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, having fallen into a deep sleep; and as Paul was long in preaching, he sank down with sleep and fell down from the third floor and was taken up dead.

10 And Paul went down and fell on him and, embracing him, said, “Trouble not yourselves, for his life is in him.”

11 When he therefore had come up again, and had broken bread and eaten and talked for a long while, even until break of day, he departed.

12 And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.

13 And we went ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, there intending to take aboard Paul; for so had he arranged, intending himself to go on foot.

14 And when he met with us at Assos, we took him on board and came to Mitylene.

15 And we sailed thence and arrived the next day off Chios; and the next day we arrived at Samos and tarried at Trogyllium; and the next day we came to Miletus.

16 For Paul had determined to sail past Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia; for he was in haste, that it might be possible for him to be at Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.

17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called for the elders of the church.

18 And when they had come to him, he said unto them, “Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, in what manner I have been with you in all seasons,

19 serving the Lord in all humility of mind, and with many tears and temptations which befell me through the lying in wait of the Jews;

20 and how I kept back nothing that was profitable for you, but have shown you and have taught you publicly and from house to house,

21 testifying both to the Jews and also to the Greeks repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

22 And now behold, bound by the Spirit, I go unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there,

23 save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me.

24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the Gospel of the grace of God.

25 “And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the Kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.

26 Therefore I attest to you this day that I am pure from the blood of all men,

27 for I have not shrunk from declaring unto you all the counsel of God.

28 “Take heed therefore unto yourselves and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God which He hath purchased with His own blood.

29 For I know this: that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

30 Also from among your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them.

31 Therefore watch, and remember that for the space of three years I ceased not to warn everyone night and day with tears.

32 “And now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

33 I have coveted no man’s silver or gold or apparel.

34 Yea, ye yourselves know that these hands have ministered unto my own necessities, and also to those who were with me.

35 I have shown you all things, how that by so laboring ye ought to support the weak and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

36 And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down and prayed with them all.

37 And they all wept sorely and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him,

38 sorrowing most of all because of the words which he had spoken, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.

21 And it came to pass that after we had parted from them and had launched, we came on a straight course unto Coos, and the day following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara.

And finding a ship sailing over unto Phoenicia, we went aboard and set forth.

Now when we had sighted Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre, for there the ship was to unload her burden.

And having found disciples, we tarried there seven days. They told Paul through the Spirit that he should not go up to Jerusalem.

And when those days there had been accomplished, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, until we were out of the city. And we kneeled down on the shore and prayed.

And when we had taken our leave one of another, we boarded ship, and they returned home again.

And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais and saluted the brethren, and stayed with them one day.

The next day, we who were in Paul’s company departed and came unto Caesarea, and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and lodged with him.

And this man had four daughters, virgins, who prophesied.

10 And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judea a certain prophet named Agabus.

11 And when he had 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 who owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’”

12 And when we heard these things, both we and those at that place besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.

13 Then Paul answered, “What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? For I am not only ready to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

14 And when he would not be dissuaded, we ceased, saying, “The will of the Lord be done.”

15 And after those days we took up our baggage and went up to Jerusalem.

16 There went with us also certain of the disciples of Caesarea, who brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom we were to lodge.

17 And when we had come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.

18 And the day following, Paul went with us unto James, and all the elders were present.

19 And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.

20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord and said unto him, “Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are who believe, and they are all zealous for the law.

21 And they are informed about thee, that thou teachest all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, nor walk according to the customs.

22 What is therefore to be done? The multitude must surely come together, for they will hear that thou art come.

23 Do therefore this which we say to thee: We have four men who have taken a vow upon themselves.

24 Take them and purify thyself with them, and bear their charges with them, that they may shave their heads; and all may know that those things of which they have been informed concerning thee are nothing, butthat thou thyself also walkest orderly and keepest the law.

25 And as to the Gentiles who believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication.”

26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day, purifying himself with them, he entered into the temple to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until an offering should be offered for every one of them.

27 And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews who were from Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people and laid hands on him,

28 crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teacheth all men everywhere against the people and the law and this place, and furthermore brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.”

29 (For they had seen previously with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)

30 And all the city was moved and the people ran together, and they took Paul and dragged him out of the temple; and forthwith the doors were shut.

31 And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the garrison that all Jerusalem was in 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 off beating Paul.

33 Then the chief captain came near, and took him and commanded that he be bound with two chains, and demanded who he was and what he had done.

34 And some cried one thing, some another, among the multitude. And when he could learn nothing with certainty because of the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle.

35 And when Paul came upon the stairs, so it was that he had to be borne by the soldiers because of the violence of the people.

36 For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, “Away with him!”

37 And as Paul was about to be led into the castle, he said unto the chief captain, “May I speak unto thee?” And he said, “Canst thou speak Greek?

38 Art not thou that Egyptian who prior to these days madest an uproar and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men who were murderers?”

39 But Paul said, “I am a man who am a Jew of Tarsus, a city of Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city; and I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people.”

40 And when he had given him leave, Paul stood on the stairs and beckoned with his hand unto the people. And when there fell a great silence, he spoke unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying:

22 “Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defense which I make now unto you.”

(And when they heard that he spoke in the Hebrew tongue to them, they were the more silent.) And he said,

“I am verily a man who am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city of Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taughtaccording to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.

And I persecuted this Way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women,

as also the high priest doth bear me witness and all the council of the elders. From them I also received letters unto the brethren, and I went to Damascus to bring those who were there bound unto Jerusalem to be punished.

“And it came to pass that, as I made my journey and had come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.

And I fell unto the ground and heard a voice saying unto me, ‘Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?’

And I answered, ‘Who art Thou, Lord?’ And He said unto me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.’

And those who were with me saw indeed the light and were afraid, but they heard not the voice of Him that spoke to me.

10 And 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 the things which are appointed for thee to do.’

11 And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus.

12 “And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, of good report among all the Jews who dwelt there,

13 came unto me and stood and said unto me, ‘Brother Saul, receive thy sight!’ And that same hour I looked up upon him.

14 And he said, ‘The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know His will and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of His mouth.

15 For thou shalt be His witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.

16 And now why tarriest thou? Arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’

17 “And it came to pass that when I had come again to Jerusalem, even while I 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 testimony concerning Me.’

19 And I said, ‘Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue those who believed in Thee.

20 And when the blood of Thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by and consenting unto his death and kept the raiment of those who slew him.’

21 And He said unto me, ‘Depart, for I will send thee far hence, unto the Gentiles.’”

22 And the crowd gave him an audience up to this word; and then they lifted up their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth, for it is not fit that he should 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 into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging, so that he might find out why they cried so against him.

25 And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion who stood by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman and uncondemned?”

26 When the centurion heard this, 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 unto him, “Tell me, art thou a Roman?” And he said, “Yea.”

28 And the chief captain answered, “With a great sum I obtained this freedom.” And Paul said, “But I was free born.”

29 Then straightway those who should have examined him departed from him, and the chief captain also was afraid after he found out that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.

30 On the morrow, because he would know with certainty 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 down and set him before them.

23 And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, “Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God to this day.”

And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to smite him on the mouth.

Then said Paul unto him, “God shall smite thee, thou whited wall! For sittest thou to judge me according to the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?”

And those who stood by said, “Revilest thou God’s high priest?”

Then said Paul, “I knew not, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written: ‘Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.’”

But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out to the council, “Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: for the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called into question!”

And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the multitude was divided.

For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess both.

And there arose a great cry, and the scribes who were on the Pharisees’ side arose and strove, saying, “We find no evil in this man; but if a spirit or angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.”

10 And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.

11 And that night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as thou hast testified for Me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.”

12 And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.

13 And there were more than forty who entered into this conspiracy.

14 And they came to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul.

15 Now, therefore, ye, of the council, ask the chief captain that he bring him down unto you tomorrow, as though ye would inquire somewhat more thoroughly concerning him; and we, even before he comes near, are ready to kill him.”

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

17 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 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, as he hath something to say unto thee.”

19 Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and going aside with him privately, asked him, “What is it that thou hast to tell me?”

20 And he said, “The Jews have agreed to request thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul tomorrow into the council, as though they wished to inquire of him somewhat more thoroughly.

21 But do not thou yield unto them, for there lie in wait for him more than forty of their men, who have bound themselves with an oath that they will neither eat nor drink until they have killed him. And now they are ready, looking for consent from thee.”

22 So the chief captain then let the young man depart and charged him, “See thou tell no man that thou hast revealed these things to me.”

23 And he called unto him two centurions, saying, “Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and threescore and ten horsemen, and two hundred spearmen, at the third hour of the night;

24 and provide them with beasts that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.”

25 And he wrote a letter in this manner:

26 “Claudius Lysias, unto the most excellent governor Felix, sendeth greeting:

27 This man was taken by the Jews, and was about to be killed by them. Then came I with an army and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman.

28 And desiring to know the cause whereof they accused him, I brought him forth into their council.

29 I perceived him to be accused about questions of their law, but there was nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.

30 And when it was told me how the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent him straightway to thee, and gave a command to his accusers also to speak before thee what they have against him. Farewell.”

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

32 On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him and returned to the castle,

33 who, when they had come to Caesarea and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him.

34 And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province Paul was. And when he understood that he was from Cilicia,

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

He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus(A) and Secundus from Thessalonica,(B) Gaius(C) from Derbe, Timothy(D) also, and Tychicus(E) and Trophimus(F) from the province of Asia.(G) These men went on ahead and waited for us(H) at Troas.(I) But we sailed from Philippi(J) after the Festival of Unleavened Bread, and five days later joined the others at Troas,(K) where we stayed seven days.

Eutychus Raised From the Dead at Troas

On the first day of the week(L) we came together to break bread.(M) Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. There were many lamps in the upstairs room(N) where we were meeting. Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. 10 Paul went down, threw himself on the young man(O) and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!”(P) 11 Then he went upstairs again and broke bread(Q) and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. 12 The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.

Paul’s Farewell to the Ephesian Elders

13 We went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we were going to take Paul aboard. He had made this arrangement because he was going there on foot. 14 When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene. 15 The next day we set sail from there and arrived off Chios. The day after that we crossed over to Samos, and on the following day arrived at Miletus.(R) 16 Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus(S) to avoid spending time in the province of Asia,(T) for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem,(U) if possible, by the day of Pentecost.(V)

17 From Miletus,(W) Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders(X) of the church. 18 When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you,(Y) from the first day I came into the province of Asia.(Z) 19 I served the Lord with great humility and with tears(AA) and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents.(AB) 20 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything(AC) that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. 21 I have declared to both Jews(AD) and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance(AE) and have faith in our Lord Jesus.(AF)

22 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem,(AG) not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me(AH) that prison and hardships are facing me.(AI) 24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me;(AJ) my only aim is to finish the race(AK) and complete the task(AL) the Lord Jesus has given me(AM)—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.(AN)

25 “Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom(AO) will ever see me again.(AP) 26 Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you.(AQ) 27 For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.(AR) 28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock(AS) of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.(AT) Be shepherds of the church of God,[a](AU) which he bought(AV) with his own blood.[b](AW) 29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves(AX) will come in among you and will not spare the flock.(AY) 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples(AZ) after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years(BA) I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.(BB)

32 “Now I commit you to God(BC) and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance(BD) among all those who are sanctified.(BE) 33 I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.(BF) 34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions.(BG) 35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’

36 When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed.(BH) 37 They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him.(BI) 38 What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again.(BJ) Then they accompanied him to the ship.(BK)

On to Jerusalem

21 After we(BL) had torn ourselves away from them, we put out to sea and sailed straight to Kos. The next day we went to Rhodes and from there to Patara. We found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia,(BM) went on board and set sail. After sighting Cyprus and passing to the south of it, we sailed on to Syria.(BN) We landed at Tyre, where our ship was to unload its cargo. We sought out the disciples(BO) there and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit(BP) they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. When it was time to leave, we left and continued on our way. All of them, including wives and children, accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray.(BQ) After saying goodbye to each other, we went aboard the ship, and they returned home.

We continued our voyage from Tyre(BR) and landed at Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and sisters(BS) and stayed with them for a day. Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea(BT) and stayed at the house of Philip(BU) the evangelist,(BV) one of the Seven. He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.(BW)

10 After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus(BX) came down from Judea. 11 Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says,(BY) ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind(BZ) the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’”(CA)

12 When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die(CB) in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”(CC) 14 When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up(CD) and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”(CE)

15 After this, we started on our way up to Jerusalem.(CF) 16 Some of the disciples from Caesarea(CG) accompanied us and brought us to the home of Mnason, where we were to stay. He was a man from Cyprus(CH) and one of the early disciples.

Paul’s Arrival at Jerusalem

17 When we arrived at Jerusalem, the brothers and sisters(CI) received us warmly.(CJ) 18 The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James,(CK) and all the elders(CL) were present. 19 Paul greeted them and reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles(CM) through his ministry.(CN)

20 When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to Paul: “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous(CO) for the law.(CP) 21 They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses,(CQ) telling them not to circumcise their children(CR) or live according to our customs.(CS) 22 What shall we do? They will certainly hear that you have come, 23 so do what we tell you. There are four men with us who have made a vow.(CT) 24 Take these men, join in their purification rites(CU) and pay their expenses, so that they can have their heads shaved.(CV) Then everyone will know there is no truth in these reports about you, but that you yourself are living in obedience to the law. 25 As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they should abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality.”(CW)

26 The next day Paul took the men and purified himself along with them. Then he went to the temple to give notice of the date when the days of purification would end and the offering would be made for each of them.(CX)

Paul Arrested

27 When the seven days were nearly over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him,(CY) 28 shouting, “Fellow Israelites, help us! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people and our law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place.”(CZ) 29 (They had previously seen Trophimus(DA) the Ephesian(DB) in the city with Paul and assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple.)

30 The whole city was aroused, and the people came running from all directions. Seizing Paul,(DC) they dragged him(DD) from the temple, and immediately the gates were shut. 31 While they were trying to kill him, news reached the commander of the Roman troops that the whole city of Jerusalem was in an uproar. 32 He at once took some officers and soldiers and ran down to the crowd. When the rioters saw the commander and his soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.(DE)

33 The commander came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound(DF) with two(DG) chains.(DH) Then he asked who he was and what he had done. 34 Some in the crowd shouted one thing and some another,(DI) and since the commander could not get at the truth because of the uproar, he ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks.(DJ) 35 When Paul reached the steps,(DK) the violence of the mob was so great he had to be carried by the soldiers. 36 The crowd that followed kept shouting, “Get rid of him!”(DL)

Paul Speaks to the Crowd(DM)

37 As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks,(DN) he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?”

“Do you speak Greek?” he replied. 38 “Aren’t you the Egyptian who started a revolt and led four thousand terrorists out into the wilderness(DO) some time ago?”(DP)

39 Paul answered, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus(DQ) in Cilicia,(DR) a citizen of no ordinary city. Please let me speak to the people.”

40 After receiving the commander’s permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned(DS) to the crowd. When they were all silent, he said to them in Aramaic[c]:(DT) 22 “Brothers and fathers,(DU) listen now to my defense.”

When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic,(DV) they became very quiet.

Then Paul said: “I am a Jew,(DW) born in Tarsus(DX) of Cilicia,(DY) but brought up in this city. I studied under(DZ) Gamaliel(EA) and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors.(EB) I was just as zealous(EC) for God as any of you are today. I persecuted(ED) the followers of this Way(EE) to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison,(EF) as the high priest and all the Council(EG) can themselves testify. I even obtained letters from them to their associates(EH) in Damascus,(EI) and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.

“About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me.(EJ) I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’

“‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked.

‘I am Jesus of Nazareth,(EK) whom you are persecuting,’ he replied. My companions saw the light,(EL) but they did not understand the voice(EM) of him who was speaking to me.

10 “‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked.

‘Get up,’ the Lord said, ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.’(EN) 11 My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me.(EO)

12 “A man named Ananias came to see me.(EP) He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there.(EQ) 13 He stood beside me and said, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ And at that very moment I was able to see him.

14 “Then he said: ‘The God of our ancestors(ER) has chosen you to know his will and to see(ES) the Righteous One(ET) and to hear words from his mouth. 15 You will be his witness(EU) to all people of what you have seen(EV) and heard. 16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized(EW) and wash your sins away,(EX) calling on his name.’(EY)

17 “When I returned to Jerusalem(EZ) and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance(FA) 18 and saw the Lord speaking to me. ‘Quick!’ he said. ‘Leave Jerusalem immediately, because the people here will not accept your testimony about me.’

19 “‘Lord,’ I replied, ‘these people know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison(FB) and beat(FC) those who believe in you. 20 And when the blood of your martyr[d] Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’(FD)

21 “Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ (FE)

Paul the Roman Citizen

22 The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him!(FF) He’s not fit to live!”(FG)

23 As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks(FH) and flinging dust into the air,(FI) 24 the commander ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks.(FJ) He directed(FK) that he be flogged and interrogated in order to find out why the people were shouting at him like this. 25 As they stretched him out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been found guilty?”(FL)

26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and reported it. “What are you going to do?” he asked. “This man is a Roman citizen.”

27 The commander went to Paul and asked, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?”

“Yes, I am,” he answered.

28 Then the commander said, “I had to pay a lot of money for my citizenship.”

“But I was born a citizen,” Paul replied.

29 Those who were about to interrogate him(FM) withdrew immediately. The commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put Paul, a Roman citizen,(FN) in chains.(FO)

Paul Before the Sanhedrin

30 The commander wanted to find out exactly why Paul was being accused by the Jews.(FP) So the next day he released him(FQ) and ordered the chief priests and all the members of the Sanhedrin(FR) to assemble. Then he brought Paul and had him stand before them.

23 Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin(FS) and said, “My brothers,(FT) I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience(FU) to this day.” At this the high priest Ananias(FV) ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.(FW) Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall!(FX) You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!”(FY)

Those who were standing near Paul said, “How dare you insult God’s high priest!”

Paul replied, “Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’[e](FZ)

Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees(GA) and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My brothers,(GB) I am a Pharisee,(GC) descended from Pharisees. I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead.”(GD) When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection,(GE) and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees believe all these things.)

There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees(GF) stood up and argued vigorously. “We find nothing wrong with this man,”(GG) they said. “What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”(GH) 10 The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks.(GI)

11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage!(GJ) As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”(GK)

The Plot to Kill Paul

12 The next morning some Jews formed a conspiracy(GL) and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.(GM) 13 More than forty men were involved in this plot. 14 They went to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.(GN) 15 Now then, you and the Sanhedrin(GO) petition the commander to bring him before you on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about his case. We are ready to kill him before he gets here.”

16 But when the son of Paul’s sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks(GP) and told Paul.

17 Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.” 18 So he took him to the commander.

The centurion said, “Paul, the prisoner,(GQ) sent for me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.”

19 The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside and asked, “What is it you want to tell me?”

20 He said: “Some Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul before the Sanhedrin(GR) tomorrow on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about him.(GS) 21 Don’t give in to them, because more than forty(GT) of them are waiting in ambush for him. They have taken an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him.(GU) They are ready now, waiting for your consent to their request.”

22 The commander dismissed the young man with this warning: “Don’t tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”

Paul Transferred to Caesarea

23 Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, “Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen[f] to go to Caesarea(GV) at nine tonight.(GW) 24 Provide horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.”(GX)

25 He wrote a letter as follows:

26 Claudius Lysias,

To His Excellency,(GY) Governor Felix:

Greetings.(GZ)

27 This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him,(HA) but I came with my troops and rescued him,(HB) for I had learned that he is a Roman citizen.(HC) 28 I wanted to know why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their Sanhedrin.(HD) 29 I found that the accusation had to do with questions about their law,(HE) but there was no charge against him(HF) that deserved death or imprisonment. 30 When I was informed(HG) of a plot(HH) to be carried out against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also ordered his accusers(HI) to present to you their case against him.

31 So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul with them during the night and brought him as far as Antipatris. 32 The next day they let the cavalry(HJ) go on with him, while they returned to the barracks.(HK) 33 When the cavalry(HL) arrived in Caesarea,(HM) they delivered the letter to the governor(HN) and handed Paul over to him. 34 The governor read the letter and asked what province he was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia,(HO) 35 he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers(HP) get here.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard(HQ) in Herod’s palace.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 20:28 Many manuscripts of the Lord
  2. Acts 20:28 Or with the blood of his own Son
  3. Acts 21:40 Or possibly Hebrew; also in 22:2
  4. Acts 22:20 Or witness
  5. Acts 23:5 Exodus 22:28
  6. Acts 23:23 The meaning of the Greek for this word is uncertain.