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A. D. 61. vour against him, that he would fend for him to Jerufalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.

4. But Festus an-
swered, that Paul
should be kept at
Cæfarea, and that he

himself would depart
shortly thither.

5. Let them there-
fore, faid he, which

Cæfarea, and try him before their Council at Jerufalem. But their secret Intent was to way-lay him, and murder him upon the Road.

4 & 5. Festus told them, he knew no Reason why he should not be try'd where he was; and as he himself was shortly going thither, where he kept his Refi

dence, if they would send their
Evidences along with him, they

among you are able, should have him tried.
go down with me, and

accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him.

6. And when he 6. About ten Days after he
went accordingly, and next
Morning after his Arrival
brought Paul into Court.
the judgment-feat, commanded Paul

had tarried among
them more than ten
days, he went down
unto Cæfarea, and
the next day fitting in
to be brought.

7. And when he
was come, the Jews
which came down
from Jerufalem, stood
round about, and laid
many and grievous
could not prove.

7. The Deputies of the HighPriest and Council fell again to their old Charge, but could prove nothing of it.

complaints against Paul, which they

8. While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, fended any thing at all.

9. But Feftus wil-
ling to do the Jews
a pieasure, answered
Paul, and faid, Wilt
thou go up to Jeru

salem, and there be
judged of these things
before me?

8. Paul making the same Defence he had done before to Felix. (Chap. xxiv.)

nor yet against Cæfar have I of

9. And the Festus saw plainly they could make nothing out against him, yet, upon fresh Importunities, willing to gratify the Jewish Court, confented to have him carried to Jerufalem; but as by the Roman Laws he could

not

not do it without his own Consent, asked Paul if he A. D. 6г. were willing to go thither?

10. Then faid Paul, I stand at Cæfars judgment feat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest

10. But Paul knew the implacable Malice of his Jewish Adversaries too well, to consent to such a Proposal; and therefore told Feftus, That as a Roman Citizen, he was subject to be tried by no Laws but those of the Empire, and so infifted upon that Privilege. Nay, (fays he) if I were liable to their Court, yet, as you yourself must own, they have proved me guilty of no Breach of the Jewish Law, and therefore there can be no Occafion for my going thither.

11. For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these

things whereof these

accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them: I appeal unto Cæfar.

12. Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Cæfar? unto Cæfar fhalt thou

11. If I have committed any capital Crime against the Imperial Laws, I am free to submit to the Punishment of it: But if not, it would be a barbarous and illegal Thing in you to throw me into the Hands of a Court that are my professed Enemies; and to prevent your Design, I appeal to the Emperor.

12. Upon which, Feftus confulted with the Roman Officers about him, and knowing that this Appeal to the Emperor, had put a Stop to all further Proceedings against Paul, in either his or the Jewish Court, told him his Privilege could not be denied him, and so he must go to Rome and be judged by the Emperor himself.

go.

13. And after cer

tain days, king Agrippa, and Bernice came unto Cæfarea to falute Festus.

14. And when they had been there many

13 & 14. Some Time after this, Agrippa the Tetrarch of Galilee, and his Sifter Bernice, came to pay Festus a Compliment upon his Acceffion to his Government, and he acquainted him with Paul's Cafe;

N

days,

A. D. 61. days, Festus declared Pauls cause unto the king, saying,

There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix:

15. About whom,
when I was at Jerusa-
lem, the chief priests

and the elders of the
Jews informed me,

defiring to have judg

ment against him.

16. To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Ro

15 & 16. How the Jewish Council would have perfuaded him to have passed Sentence of Death upon the Man without a fair Tryal, and meerly upon their verbal Accusation. But that he could not answer to do so by the Roman Laws.

mans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused, have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.

17. Therefore when they were come hither, without any delay, on the morrow

I fat on the judgment

feat, and com-
manded the man to
be brought forth.

18. Against whom

when the accusers

stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I suppofed:

17, 18 & 19. And that he had given him a Tryal, expecting they could have proved fome notorious Crime or other against him; but found upon the Hearing, it was nothing but a Quarrel about fome Points of the Jewish Religion; and particularly about a Matter of Fatt, whether one JESUS, whom the Jews had crucified, were risen from the Dead again, as Paul affirmed he was.

19. But had certain questions against him of their own fuperstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

20. And because I
doubted of such man-
ner of questions, I
asked him whether

he would go to Je
rufalem, and be there
judged of these mat-
ters?

per Judges of fuch

21. But when Paul

20. Now I thought these Difputes did no Way concern me, nor the Peace of the Government, but related wholly to the Jewish Religion; and therefore I asked the Prisoner, whether he would be tried by the HighPrieft's Court, who were the proMatters?

21. But I perceive the Man has no Opinion of the Justice of served unto the hear ing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept that I might send him to Cæfar.

had appeal'd to be referved

that

22. Then Agrippa faid unto Feftus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, faid he, thou shalt hear him.

23. And on the

morrow when Agrip pa was come, and Bernice with great pomp, and were entred into the place

that Bench, and, to be sure to A. D. 61.
avoid it, has appealed to Cæfar,
and so I must keep him until Í
can fend him to Rome.

22. Agrippa having a Mind to hear what Paul could say for himself: To Morrow, fays Feftus, you shall.

23. Accordingly next Day, A-
grippa and his Sifter appeared in
Court with a splendid Train of
Officers and Servants, with the
Gentry of the Town waiting
upon them; and so Paul was
brought in.

of hearing, with the
chief captains, and
principal men of the city, at Feftus commandment Paul
was brought forth.

24. And Festus faid, King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us, ye see this man, about

24 & 25. Festus opened the Cafe, as it had passed between the Jews and him; the Conclufion whereof was, That Paul had appealed to Cæfar, and must

be fent to Rome.

whom all the multi-
tude of the Jews have
dealt with me, both at Jerufalem, and also here, crying that
he ought not to live any longer.

25. But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself had appealed to Augustus, I have determined to fend him.

26. Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord:

wherefore I have

brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, O king Agrippa, that after examination had,

26 & 27. Now (says he) I can't fend him without the State of his Cafe along with him; and I had a mind Agrippa should hear him, and give me his Advice, how, and what I should write to the Emperor, about a Man that was really convicted of no Crime.

I might have somewhat to write.

N2

27. For

d

27. For it seemeth to me unreasonable, to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him.

CHAP. XXVI.

The CONTENTS.

Paul's Defence of himself before King Agrippa. His Ac-
count of his Conversion. Festus tells him he is mad.
Paul's Answer to him. 'Tis agreed that he must go to
Rome, and be tried before the Emperor.

A. D. 62. 1.THEN Agrippa

faid unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thy felf. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself,

2. I think my self
happy, king Agrippa,
because I shall answer

for my self this day
before thee, touching
all the things whereof
I am accused of the
Jews.

3. Especially, be

I.

F

ESTUS having represented the Matter to Agrippa and the Court, (Chap. xxv. 15, &c.) Agrippa bad Paul give him the Particulars of his Defence.

2 & 3. Paul began with Expressions of the great Satisfaction it was to him, to have an Opportunity of pleading his Cause before a Person so well skilled in the Jewish Religion and Laws, and who, upon a patient Hearing, could not fail to judge and declare his Innocency.

cause I know thee to
be expert in all cuf-
toms and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I
beseech thee to hear me patiently.

4. My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own

4 & 5. Now these very Jews (says he) that have so unjustly accused me for an Enemy of their Law, if they had been so nation at Jerufalem, fair as to dare to speak the know all the Jews, Truth, could themselves have 5. Which knew me from the beginning testified, that I was born and (if they would tefti- educated a Pharisee, the most

fie)

fevere

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