2 before the general an accusation against Paul. And he being called up, Tertullus began the accusation, saying,

3

As we enjoy great peace by thy means, and from thy prudent administration great benefits result to this nation, we on all occasions and every where acknowledge this, most ex4 cellent Felix, with all gratitude. But that I may not further trouble thee, I beseech thee to hear us in brief with thy usual 5 indulgence. For having found this man to be a pest and a mover of sedition, among all the Jews, through the whole empire, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes, and 6 who attempted to profane even the temple, we apprehended him, and would have judged him according to our law; but 7 Lysias the commander coming with a strong force, took him 8 out of our hands and ordered his accusers to come to thee. By examining the man himself thou canst gain a full knowledge of all these things of which we accuse him.

9

10

And the Jews gave assent, affirming that these things

were so.

In answer to this, when the general beckoned to him to speak, Paul replied.

Knowing that thou hast been for many years a judge to 11 this nation, I enter upon my defence with the more cheerfulness, as thou canst know that it is not more than twelve days 12 since I went up to worship at Jerusalem. And they neither

found me disputing with any man in the temple; nor raising 13 sedition among the people, either in the synagogues or in the

city: nor can they prove any of the things which they now lay 14 to my charge. But this I confess to thee, that after the way

which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believ15 ing all the institutes of the law and the writings of the prophets; having a confidence in God, which they themselves also entertain, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of 16 the just and the unjust; and with this I exercise myself to

have a conscience void of offence before God and men con17 tinually. Now after many years I went to bring contributions for my nation and religious offerings; in which [services] 18 some Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, with19 out crowd or tumult. Those ought to have been present be

fore thee, and to bring their accusation, if they had any against

20 me. Or let these men themselves say whether, when I stood before the Sanhedrim, they found any crime in me; unless 21 it be for this single expression which I uttered while standing among them, "That for the resurrection of the dead I am this day to be judged by you."

22 When Felix heard these things he put them off, saying, Having gained a more accurate knowledge of the things respecting this way when Lysias the commander comes down, I 23 will inquire fully into your business. And he gave orders to the centurion that Paul be kept in custody, not closely confined; and that none of his friends be hindered from assisting 24 him or coming to him. And after some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul and 25 heard him concerning the faith in Christ. And while Paul was discoursing concerning justice and temperance, and the judgment to come, Felix, being terrified, said, Go thy way for 26 the present, and when I find a convenient time I will send for thee: hoping withal that money would be given him by Paul that he might discharge him, and for this cause he sent 27 for him the oftener, and conversed with him. After two years however Felix was succeeded by Portius Festus, and being desirous to ingratiate himself with the Jews, Felix left Paul bound. XXV. Therefore when Festus came to the government and 2 three days after went up from Cæsarea to Jerusalem, the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews laid before him an 3 information against Paul and earnestly intreated him to favour them so far as to send for him to Jerusalem; (they having 4 laid an ambush to kill him on the road.) Whereupon Festus replied, that Paul was in custody at Cæsarea and that he him5 self would shortly set out thither. Therefore, said he, Let the chief men among you go down with me; and if there be any thing criminal in the man, let them accuse him.

6

So when he had tarried among them more than ten days he went down to Cæsarea, and on the morrow taking his seat 7 on the tribunal he ordered Paul to be brought. And when he appeared, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around and brought many heavy accusations against Paul, 8 which they could not prove. To which when Paul replied, Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Cæsar, have I committed any offence, Festus wil

9 ling to gratify the Jews addressed Paul saying, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and be judged there before me concern10 ing these things? Upon which Paul said, I stand at Cæsar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as thou thyself well knowest. If indeed 11 I am guilty, or have committed any capital crime, I do not deprecate death: but if the charges which they bring against me be groundless, no man can give me up to gratify them. I 12 appeal to Cæsar. Then Festus, having conferred with his council, replied, Thou hast appealed to Cæsar. To Cæsar thou shalt go.

13 Some days after, king Agrippa and Bernice came down to 14 Cæsarea to pay their respects to Festus, and as they spent

many days there Festus stated Paul's case to the king, saying, There is a man who was left a prisoner by Felix, con15 cerning whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and

the elders of the Jews laid an information, soliciting judgment 16 against him. To whom I made answer that it is not customa ry with the Romans to give up any man to destruction, till he who is accused is confronted with his accusers, and hath an 17 opportunity to make a defence respecting the charge: therefore when they came hither, I without any delay ascended the tribunal the next day, and ordered the man to be brought up. 18 Against whom, when the accusers stood up, they advanced no 19 charge of such things as I expected, but objected against him

some disputed points relative to their peculiar mode of worship, and respecting one Jesus who had died, whom Paul af20 firmed to be alive. And as I was at a loss how to decide in such a case, I asked him, if he would go to Jerusalem and be tried there respecting these matters. But Paul having appealed that 21 his cause should be referred to the cognisance of the Emperor, I ordered him to be kept in custody, till I can send him 22 to Cæsar. Upon which Agrippa said to Festus, I could wish myself to hear the man. To-morrow then, said he, thou shalt hear him.

23 On the morrow therefore, when Agrippa and Bernice were come with a numerous splendid retinue and had entered the hall of audience, with the commanders of cohorts and the prin24 cipal men of the city, at the command of Festus, Paul was

brought. And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all you who are here present with us, You see this man, about whom the whole body of the Jews have made application to me, both at Jerusalem and in this place, crying out that he ought not to 25 live any longer. But as for me, finding that he had done nothing which deserved death, and he himself having appealed 26 to the Emperor, I have determined to send him. Now as I have nothing certain to write to my master concerning him; I have therefore brought him out before you and especially before thee, king Agrippa, that after this examination, I may 27 have something to write. For to me it seemeth absurd to send a prisoner without specifying the charge against him.

XXVI. Then Agrippa said to Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Upon which Paul stretched forth his hand and made this defence.

2

Touching all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, I think myself happy, O king Agrippa, that I am this 3 day to make my defence before thee, especially skilled as thou art in all the Jewish customs and controversies; therefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.

4

My course of life-that from my youth-that which from the beginning was led among my own nation at Jerusalem, is 5 known to all the Jews. They have a prior knowledge of me from an early period, if they would testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. And now 6 I stand arraigned for a hope of the promise which God made to 7 our fathers, and which our twelve tribes, by their continual services night and day, hope to obtain: for which hope, O king Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews.

8

It is deemed among you somewhat incredible that God raiseth the dead; as for me I indeed myself thought that I 9 ought to do many things in opposition to the name of Jesus the Nazarene. And this I did at Jerusalem: and many of the 10 saints I shut up in prison, having received this authority from the chief priests. And when they were put to death, I gave as11 sent. And in all the synagogues many a time did I, by torments, urge them to blaspheme. And being transported to madness against them, I pursued them even to foreign cities. 12 With which views when I was going to Damascus, with au

thority, and a commission which I had from the chief priests, 13 in the middle of the day, on the road, I saw, O king, a light from heaven, exceeding the brightness of the sun, flashing around me and them who were accompanying me. And when 14 we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and in the Hebrew dialect, saying, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is hurting thyself to kick against sharp point15 ed goads. And I said, Lord, who art thou? And he said, I am Je

sus, whom thouart persecuting. But arise, and stand on thy feet; 16 for I have appeared to thee for this purpose, to appoint thee a minister and a witness of the things which thou hast seen, and of the things for which I will appear to thee, delivering thee 17 from the people and the nations to which I now send thee to 18 open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of satan to God, that they may receive a remission of sins and an inheritance among them who are sanc19 tified by the belief in me. From that time, O king Agrippa, 20 I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but made proclamation first to them at Damascus, then at Jerusalem and throughout all the country of Judea, and to the nations, to reform and turn to God, performing works worthy of the change 21 of mind. For these things the Jews seized me in the temple, 22 and attempted to kill me. Having therefore obtained help from God, I have continued to this day, testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets have said were to come to pass-particularly Moses, that the Christ should suf 23 fer, that he the first of a resurrection from the dead is to proclaim light to the people and the nations.

24 While Paul was thus making his defence, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul thou art distracted. Those many writings 25 whirl thee to madness. To which he replied, I am not mad,

most noble Festus; but am speaking the words of truth and so26 berness. For the king is acquainted with these things, to whom 27 therefore I speak with freedom. For I am persuaded that none of these things have escaped his notice. For this hath not been done in a corner. Thou, O king Agrippa, believest the pro28 phets? I know that thou believest. Upon this Agrippa said to 29 Paul, Thou almost persuadest me to become a christian. And

Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all who