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21:1-6 Now when it was time to set sail and we had withdrawn from them (the elders etc from Ephesus) we set a straight course and came to Cos. The next day (we came to) Rhodes and then (went on) to Patara. (From there) having found a ship we crossed over to Phenice and on embarking (again) we set sail. We sighted Cyprus on the left (but) sailed on to Syria and came down to Tyre. It was there the ship was unloading its cargo. On
finding the disciples we stayed there for seven days. They told Paul through the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem. But when we accomplished the time there we departed. All the women and children escorted us as far as outside the city. (Then) kneeling on the shore and praying we bade one another farewell. (Then we) boarded the ship and the others returned to their homes.
21:7-14 (Despite their warning we continued and) on completing the voyage from Tyre we arrived at Ptolemais. On greeting the brothers there we remained one day with them. Then on the next day we departed and came to Caesarea. On entering into the house of Philip who was one of the seven evangelists (there) we remained with him. Now this man had four daughters who were unmarried and who were prophesying. We were still there many days later when a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. On coming to us he took Paul's girdle. He bound his own hands and feet (with this) and said "The
Holy Spirit says this "The man who owns this girdle will be bound in this way in Jerusalem. The Jews will deliver him up into the hands of the nations (Gentiles or Romans). When we heard about these things both we and the residents (there in Caesaria) urged (Paul) not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered "What are you doing weeping and weakening my heart? For I am not only to be bound but also to die in Jerusalem on behalf of the name of the Lord Jesus." When he was not persuaded we kept silence having said, "May the will of the Lord be done."
21:15-26 After these days (at Caesarea) and having made ready, we went up to Jerusalem. Also some of the disciples from Caesarea came with us. They brought us to the house of a certain Cypriot named Mnason where we could stay. He was an early disciple. Being in Jerusalem the brothers received us joyfully. The next day we went in with Paul to see James. All the elders had come as well. After greeting them (Paul) related each and every thing which God had accomplished amongst the Gentiles through his ministry. On hearing this they glorified God and said to him. "You see brother how there are many, even tens of thousands of the Jews who have believed. This includes people quite zealous for the law. They were informed about you that you were teaching apostasy about Moses. That is, throughout the nations you were telling all the Jews not to
circumcise their children, nor to walk in our customs. What then is to be done? In any event they will hear that you have come (to Jerusalem). We are telling you therefore that you should do the following. There are four men here who have taken a vow on themselves. (We want you to) go and be purified with then and pay the price for them to shave their heads. Then all men will be informed that there is nothing in what they have been told. Rather you also continue to keep the law. And with regard to the believing Gentiles we have put it into writing that we judge they should do the following that is, keep both from idol sacrifice and blood and what is strangled and fornication." And so Paul took the men the next day and having been purified with them they went into the temple. They announced that on the completion of the days of purification the offering (customary sacrifice) should be made on behalf of each one of them.
21:27-39 Now when about seven days (for the purification custom) were fulfilled the Jews from Asia saw him in the temple and stirred up all the crowd. They laid hands on him crying out "Fellow Israelites help us. This is the man who has been speaking out against the people and the law and this place." He has been teaching everyone everywhere about this. He has even brought Greeks into the temple and has profaned this holy place. (They said this because) they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. So the whole city was moved and there was a running together of the people. They lay hold of Paul and dragged him outside the temple. The doors were then immediately shut. While they were seeking to kill him the information came to the Chilliarch (Tribune) of the cohort (of soldiers) that there was a riot in Jerusalem. At once he took a centurion and soldiers and ran down to them. On seeing the Tribune and th
soldiers they stopped beating Paul. Then on drawing near the Tribune laid hold of (Paul) and ordered that he be bound with two chains. He inquired who he might be and what he had done. They all called out different things from amongst the crowd. As he could not hear (what it was about) because of the uproar he ordered that he (Paul) be brought into the fort. When he was on the steps he was actually being carried because of the violence of the crowd. The multitude of the people followed crying out "Take him away." And, being about to be brought into the fort Paul says to the Tribune "Is it lawful for me to say something to you." He answered "Do you know how to speak in Greek?" You are therefore not the Egyptian who prior to now has been unsettling (people) and leading out four thousand men into the desert of Sicarii?" Paul said "I am indeed a Jew, a Tarsian of Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city. I beg you allow me to speak to the people."
21:39-22:33 When (the Tribune) gave permission Paul stood on the steps and beckoned the people with his hand. When there was a silence he addressed them in the Hebrew language. "Brethren and fathers, please hear my defence to you. On hearing that he addressed them in the Hebrew language they quietened down more. He says 'I am a Jewish man who was born in Tarsus of Cilia. I was brought up in this city and was trained according to the exactness of the ancestral law at the feet of Gamaliel. I have been a zealot (in the law) even like yourselves here today. I persecuted as far as death and bound and delivered to prisons both men and women. Even the high priest gave witness to me and also all the senate from whom I received letters to take to the brothers in Damascus. I journeyed to Damascus in order to arrest and bind up the leaders there and take them back up to Jerusalem where they might be punished. Now it happened to me that at about midday as I was on the journey and drawing near to Damascus, suddenly out of
heaven there was a great light shining around me and I fell to the ground. I heard a voice saying to me. "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" I then answered "Who are you Lord?" He said to me "I am Jesus the Nazarene whom you are persecuting." Now those who were with me indeed saw the light. But they did not hear the voice of the one speaking to me. I said "What may I do Lord?" The Lord said to me "Rise up and go into Damascus. You will be told there what it has been arranged for you to do." And after the glory of that light I could not see and so I was led by the hand of the people who were with me into Damascus. It happened that there was a certain man called Ananias, who was a devout man according to the law and who was well spoken by all the Jews who lived there. He came to me and stood by me saying "Brother Saul look up." And I looked up at him and saw at the same time. He (then) said "The God of our fathers has appointed you to know his will and to see the Just One and to hear a voice from out of his mouth. This is
because you will witness to him to all men about what you have seen and heard. Now what should you do? Get up and be baptized and wash away your sins, invoking his name". And so this happened to me. (Then after this) on having returned to Jerusalem I was praying in the temple and fell into an ecstasy.
I saw him (the Lord) saying to me "Quickly go out of Jerusalem because they will not receive your witness about me here." I said "Lord understand that I was imprisoning and beating the people who believed in you
throughout the synagogues. And when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed I even stood by in consent and looked after the clothes of those who were killing
him." And he (the Lord) said to me "Go because I will send you forth to nations far away."
(Paul's listeners) heard him as far as this (then) they lifted up their voice and said
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"Take this man from the very
earth for it is not fitting for him to live." And (they continued) shouting and tearing their clothes and throwing dust into the air.
22:24-29 So the Tribune commanded that he (Paul) be brought into the fort. He bade that Paul be questioned with scourges so that he (the Tribune) might fully know for what crime they were calling out against him (Paul). But as they stretched him out to tie him up for this Paul said to the centurion who was standing by. "Is it lawful for you to scourge someone who is (both) a Roman and uncondemned." On hearing this the centurion approached the tribune
and reported it saying "What are you doing? This man is a Roman." And so the Tribune approached (Paul) and said to him "Tell me, are you a Roman?" He said "Yes" The Tribune answered "I have acquired my citizenship with a great deal of money." Paul said "I have been born (a Roman citizen)." Therefore those who were about to examine him immediately stood aside as did the Tribune. They were afraid on knowing that he was a Roman and that he had been tied up.
22:30-23:10 On the next day as he (the tribune) wanted to know the real reason why (Paul) was accused by the Jews, he released him and ordered that the chief priests and all the council come together. He brought Paul down and set him amongst them. 23:1 And so gazing at the council Paul said "Brethren I have lived with a good conscience before God until this day." Then the high priest Ananias gave the order to those standing by (Paul) to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul (said) "God is about to strike you - whitewashed wall. You are sitting in judgment over me according to the law and yet are you not breaking the law by ordering me to be struck?" Those standing by said "Would you revile the high priest of God?" Paul said "I did not know brethren that he is high priest. It has been written "(As) a ruler of your people you shall not speak in an evil
way." Now Paul knew that one part (of the council) consisted of Sadducees and the other (part) of Pharisees. He cried out to the council "Brethren. I am a Pharisee and the son of Pharisees. I am being judged here about my hope in the resurrection of the dead." As he said this there was discord amongst the Pharisees and Sadducees and the multitude was divided. For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection, nor angels nor spirits. But the Pharisees confess to both (resurrection and spirits). So there was a great amount of noise. Some of the scribes rose up on behalf of the Pharisees saying "We find no evil in this man. What if a spirit spoke to him or an angel?" So there was much discord. The Tribune was afraid that Paul should be torn asunder by them and he commanded the soldiers to come down and grab him (Paul) from out of their midst and bring him (back) into the fort.
23:11-24 On the following night the Lord came to (Paul) and said "Take courage, for just as you have solemnly witnessed these things concerning me in Jerusalem, so it is fitting for you to give witness to them as well in Rome." When it became day the Jews made a conspiracy. They put a curse on themselves saying they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. There were more than forty people involved in this plot. They approached the chief priests and elders and said. "We have put a curse on ourselves so that we cannot taste anything until we kill Paul." Therefore (we want you) to inform the Tribune together with the council so that he (the Tribune) may bring him down to you as if intending to ascertain exactly the situation concerning him. As for us, as he draws near we will be ready to kill him. But the son of Paul's sister heard about the treachery. He came and entered the fort to report (about this) to Paul. So Paul called one of the centurions and said. "Could you bring this young man before the Tribune. He has something to report to him." He (the centurion) therefore took him and
brought him to the Tribune and said "The prisoner Paul called me to him and asked if this young man could be brought to you to tell you something." So taking him by the hand the Tribune retired privately (with him) and asked "What is it that you have to report to me?" He said "The Jews have agreed to ask you tomorrow if you can bring Paul to the council as though intending to find out more about him. (But) do not be persuaded by them for there are more than forty of them who will be lying in wait. They have put a curse on themselves to refrain from eating and drinking until they kill him. They are now waiting for a promise from yourself. The Tribune therefore dismissed the young man and told him "Tell nobody what you have reported to me." (Then) calling to him two certain centurions he said "Prepare two hundred soldiers to go as far as Caesarea. Also (organise) seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to be ready from the third hour of the night. (He told them) to have horses standing ready so they could put Paul onto them and bring him safely to Felix the governor.
23:25-24:27 He (the Tribune) (then) wrote a letter along these lines. "Claudius Lysias sends greetings to the most excellent governor Felix. This man (Paul) has been arrested by the Jews and was about to be killed by them when my soldiery came upon the scene and I rescued him. I have learned that he is a Roman. As I wanted to know fully as to why they were accusing him I brought him down to their council. I found that he was being accused about questions relating to their law, But there was nothing (he had done) that deserved either death or imprisonment. When it was revealed to me that there was
a plot against the man I have at once sent him to you. I have also ordered that his accusers state their case before yourself. And so the soldiers, according to their instructions took Paul and brought him during the night to Antipatris. The next day the horsemen departed with him while (the soldiers) went back to the fort. On entering into Caesaria and on handing over the letter to the governor Paul was also presented to him. On reading (the letter) and asking what province he was from and learning it was Cilicia he said
"I will hear you when your accusers also arrive. " He then commanded that he be kept in Herod's Praetorium. 24:1 And after five days the high priest Ananias came down (to the governor at Caesaria) with an orator named Tertullus. They informed the governor against Paul. When he was called (forward), Tertullus began to make accusations saying "We have obtained much peace and reform from you for this nation. You have carried this out with much forethought and we welcome it both in everything and everywhere most excellent Felix. We thank (you for it). However
though I do not want to hinder you further I implore you to hear us briefly in your forbearance. For, having found this man to be a pestilence and moving sedition amongst all the Jews throughout the world and a ringleader of the Nazarene sect, who also tried to profane the temple and whom we also arrested. You will be able to see this for yourself on having examined all these things so that you will fully know what we accuse him about." And so the Jews also joined in alleging that all these things were the case. And Paul answered when the Governor signalled him to speak. "For many years you have been a judge over this nation, and you understand it. I therefore cheerfully defend myself. As you are able to know, about twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. And they did not find me in the temple discoursing with anyone. Nor was there a crowd collecting, either there nor in the
synagogues, nor throughout the city. Nor are they able to prove to you what they accuse me of. But I confess this to you, as they say, that according to the way in which they say that I worship the ancestral God in a sect, and believing all things according to the law and all that was written in the prophets, I also have hope in God, like these people. I believe in a resurrection both of the just and of the unjust. By this I have always exercised a blameless conscience towards God and men. After years and much almsgiving to my nation I arrived with offerings. They found me on having been purfied in the temple, neither with a crowd nor with an uproar. But there were some Jews from Asia who it may behove you to have brought forward and (let them) accuse me if they have anything against me. Or let them say how they found misdeeds against me while I stood before the council. Only with one voice have I cried out amongst them concerning a
resurrection of
a dead person. I am being judged about this to-day before you. Then Felix postponed the session wanting to know more
exactly about the things concerning 'the way' saying "When Lysias the chilarch comes down, I will determine things regarding
yourself." So, commanding the centurion to keep him and to have indulgence and allow his own people to attend him,
and after some days after arriving,
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Felix with Drusilla his wife who was a Jewess sent for Paul. He heard from him about his faith in Christ Jesus. He (Paul) told him about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment. Becoming afraid Felix answered.
"Go along for the present but I will send for you later on. At the same time he was hoping that
Paul would give him money. So he sent for him more frequently and conversed with him. Two years went by until Felix received a successor, that is, Porcius Festus. And, wishing to show a favour to the Jews, Felix left with Paul still in prison.
25:1-7 Festus (The new governor) therefore came into the Province. After three days he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. The chief priests and the leaders of the Jews informed him about their accusations against Paul. They asked a favour against him (Paul) so that he (Festus) might summon him to Jerusalem. (The Jews) were making a plot to kill him on the way. (But) Festus answered that Paul was to be kept in Caesarea and he himself would go and attend to
him shortly. He said "Therefore send able men from amongst you to go down (to Caesarea) with me. If there is anything amiss in this man let them accuse him." And having stayed amongst them no more than eight or ten days he (Festus) went down to Caesarea. On the next day, when sitting on the tribunal he ordered that Paul be brought in. When he (Paul) arrived the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him and brought against him charges which they were not able to prove.
25:8-12 Paul defended himself (saying). Neither against the law of the Jews nor against the Temple, nor against Caesar have I done any wrong."
However Festus, wanting to show the Jews a favour answered Paul "Would you like to go up to Jerusalem to be judged before me about these things there?" Paul said "I am standing before the tribunal of Caesar (here) where it is fitting
for me to be judged. I have not wronged the Jews as you very well know. I have not done wrong or anything deserving death I do not seek to escape death. But if there is no one (here) able to accuse (and prove anything against) me then nobody can give me up to them (the Jews in Jerusalem). I appeal (therefore) to Caesar." Then Festus, having talked with the council answered, "You have appealed to go before Caesar and to Caesar you will go."
25:13-26:32 When some days had passed Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus. As more days passed they stayed (on) there. Festus set forth the matters regarding Paul to the king saying "There is a certain man who has been left by Felix as a prisoner. When I was in Jerusalem the chief priests and elders of the Jews informed me about him, asking for a sentence against him. I answered them that it is not a custom with Romans to condemn any man, before the one who is being accused meets his accusers face to face in that place, in order to a provide a defence against the charge. I made no delay (in arranging for this) and they came together the next day when I was sitting on the tribunal. I ordered the man to be brought in. But the accusers standing there could not bring any charge which I thought was evil against him. They had certain questions with him in relation to their own religion about someone called Jesus. He had died and Paul claimed him to be alive. Being perplexed about these things that were being debated I asked him if he wanted to go (back) to Jerusalem and be judged there about these matters. But Paul appealed to be kept on, so that Augustus (the emperor) should make a decision, I ordered (therefore) that he be kept (at Caesarea) until I can send him up to Caesar. " Agrippa said to Festus. I was minded myself to hear the man. So Festus
said "Tomorrow you will hear him." On the next day therefore Agrippa and Bernice came with much display and entered into the place of audience with both the military Tribunes and chief men of the city Festus then ordered that Paul be brought in. Festus said. "King Agrippa and all those present together with us. You are looking at this man about whom the multitude of the Jews petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here (in Caesaria). They were crying out that he should not live any longer. But I have not found him to have done anything that is worthy of death. When he appealed to (Caesar) Augustus I decided to send (him there). However I am not certain what to write to the lord (Caesar) and so have brought him before you (all) and (before) you most of all King Agrippa. When there has been an examination I may have something to write. It seems unreasonable to me to be sending a prisoner on and not to have any charges against him.
26:1 Agrippa said to Paul "You are allowed to speak on behalf of yourself." So Paul stretched out his hand to defend himself saying "King Agrippa I consider myself happy to be able to defend myself before you to-day regarding all the things about which I am accused. This is especially so as you are an expert in knowing all the customs and questions amongst the Jews. Therefore I beg you to patiently hear you.. From my youth both
in my own nation and in Jerusalem, all the Jews have known my manner of life from the beginning of it. They can if they are willing to testify, that I lived as a Pharisee, the most exact sect of our religion. And now I stand here being judged in terms of my hope in the promise that God made to our fathers. It is in terms of this hope that our twelve tribes worshipped with all earnestness, waiting for (for what they hoped for) to arrive. It is concerning this hope that I am being accused by the Jews O King. Why would you consider it to be incredible that God should raise dead persons. (As for myself) I indeed intended to do many things against the name of Jesus the Nazarene and I did do these things in Jerusalem. I shut many saints up into prison after receiving authority to do so from the chief priests. When it was being decided to kill them I cast a vote. (I went) throughout all the synagogues, often punishing them and compelling them to blaspheme. I raged against them so excessively that I even went to persecute them in far away cities. (But something happened) while I was journeying to Damascus with the authority of the chief priests. As I was going along at midday I saw O King, a light with the brightness of the sun. It came from heaven and shone all around myself and those who were on the journey with me. When we had all fallen down to the earth I heard a voice saying
to me in the Hebrew language. "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" It is hard for you to kick against the goad. (spiked stick for driving cattle)" I said "Who are you Lord?" The Lord said "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. "But get up and stand on your feet. This is why I have appeared to you - to appoint you as a servant who will witness to what you have seen. I will appear to you and deliver you from the people and the nations to whom I send you in order to open their eyes and to turn darkness into life. Thus they will be delivered from the authority of Satan and turned towards God. This is so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and many of them may be sanctified by faith in
me. And so King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. (Rather) I first went to those in Damascus and also Jerusalem and all the country of Judea and to the nations. I announced repentance to them so that they would turn towards God and do works that are worthy of this repentance."
(Paul) defended himself by saying this with a great voice (But) Festus said "You are raving Paul. Your great learning has turned you mad." But Paul said I do not rave most excellent Festus but am talking of the truth and am speaking words of good sense. The King understands about these things. And it is to himself that I am speaking boldly. I am persuaded it is
not appropriate for these things to be hidden in a corner. Do you believe this King Agrippa? I know that you believe in the prophets." Agrippa said to Paul "Are you trying in a short time to make me into a Christian?" Paul said "I would pray to God whether in a short or a long time to not only make (yourself a Christian) but also all those who hear me today so that they may become like myself here, except for these bonds."
Both the king and governor and Bernice rose up as also the people with them. On having left they spoke to one another saying "This man is neither worthy of death nor of prison." Agrippa said to Festus. "This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar."
(Note: Text is mainly a paraphrase of the Literal translation in the RSV Interlinear Greek-English New Testament, 1988)
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21:1 - 26:32