The Bible Story Part 273

And the chief captain answered, "With a great sum obtained I this citizenship."

And Paul said, "But I am a Roman born."

They then which were about to examine him straightway departed from him: and the chief captain also was afraid, when he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.

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IV

PAUL BEFORE THE COUNCIL.

_A Division Among the Members_.

But on the morrow, desiring to know why he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him, and commanded the chief priests and all the council to come together, and brought Paul down, and set him before them.

And Paul, looking steadfastly on the council, said, "Brethren, I have lived before G.o.d in all good conscience until this day."

And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth. Then said Paul unto him, "G.o.d shall smite thee, thou whited wall: and sittest thou to judge me according to the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?"

And they that stood by said, "Revilest thou G.o.d's high priest?"

And Paul said, "I knew not, brethren, that he was high priest: for it is written, 'Thou shalt not speak evil of a ruler of thy people.'"

But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, "Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees: touching the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question."

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[Ill.u.s.tration]

CAESAR AUGUSTUS.

The first, and one of the greatest, of the rulers of the Roman empire to be called "Caesar." He was in power when Christ was born. The Caesar to whom Paul appealed was Nero, one of the worst of the Caesars.

[End ill.u.s.tration]

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And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees: and the a.s.sembly was divided. (For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees believe both.) And there arose a great clamor: and some of the scribes of the Pharisees stood up, and strove, saying, "We find no evil in this man: and what if a spirit hath spoken to him, or an angel?"

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

And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, "Be of good cheer: for as thou hast testified concerning me at Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome."

V

A CONSPIRACY AGAINST PAUL.

Certain Fanatical Jews Make a Vow to Kill Paul, and He is Sent to Governor Felix, Under Escort of a Strong Body of Roman Cavalry.

And when it was day, the Jews banded together, and bound themselves by an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. And they were more than forty which made this conspiracy.

And they came to the chief priests and the elders, and said, "We have bound ourselves by a great oath, to taste nothing until we have killed Paul. Now therefore do ye with the council {446} request the chief captain to bring him down unto you, as though ye would judge of his case more exactly: and we, before he comes near, are ready to slay him."

But Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, and he came and entered into the castle, and told Paul. And Paul called unto him one of the centurions, and said, "Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath something to tell him."

So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and saith, "Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and asked me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say to thee."

And the chief captain took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, "What hast thou to tell me?"

And he said, "The Jews have agreed to ask thee to bring down Paul to-morrow unto the council, as though thou wouldest inquire somewhat more exactly concerning him. Do not thou therefore yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, who have bound themselves by an oath, neither to eat nor to drink till they have slain him: and now are they ready, looking for the promise from thee."

So the chief captain let the young man go, charging him, "Tell no man that thou hast informed me of this."

And he called unto him two of the centurions, and said, "Make ready two hundred soldiers to go as far as Caesarea, and hors.e.m.e.n threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night."

And he bade them provide a beast for Paul to ride on, {447} and bring him safe unto Felix the governor. And he wrote a letter after this form:--

"_Claudius Lysias unto the Most Excellent Governor Felix, greeting_:--

"_This man was seized by the Jews, and was about to be slain by them, when I came upon them with the soldiers, and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman. And desiring to know why they accused him, I brought him down unto their council: whom I found to be accused about questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds. And when it was shown to me that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to thee forthwith, charging his accusers also to speak against him before thee_."

So the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris. But on the morrow they left the hors.e.m.e.n to go with him, and returned to the castle: and they, when they came to Caesarea, and delivered the letter to the governor, presented Paul also before him. And when he had read it, he asked of what province he was; and when he understood that he was of Cilicia, "I will hear thy cause," said he, "when thine accusers also are come": and he commanded him to be kept in Herod's palace.

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VI

THE ACCUSATION OF THE JEWS

_Paul's Defense Before the Governor. Felix Dares Not Offend the Jews, and an Innocent Man Suffers Two Years' Imprisonment_.

And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with certain elders, and a lawyer to plead their case, one Tertullus; and they informed the governor against Paul. And when he was called, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying,--

"Seeing that by thee we enjoy much peace, and that by thy care evils are corrected for this nation, we accept it in all ways and in all places, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness. But, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I intreat thee to hear us of thy clemency a few words. For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of insurrections among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes: who moreover attempted to profane the temple: on whom also we laid hold: from whom thou wilt be able, by examining him thyself, to take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him."

And the Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that these things were so.

And when the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, Paul answered:--

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[Ill.u.s.tration]

Map of land around the Mediterranean Sea showing Paul's journey.

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{451} "Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I cheerfully make my defense: seeing that thou canst take knowledge, that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship at Jerusalem: and neither in the temple did they find me disputing with any man or stirring up a crowd, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city. Neither can they prove to thee the things whereof they now accuse me. But this I confess unto thee, that after the Way which they call a sect, so serve I the G.o.d of our fathers, believing all things which are according to the law, and which are written in the prophets: having hope toward G.o.d, which these also themselves look for, that there shall be a resurrection both of the just and unjust. Herein I also strive to have a conscience void of offense toward G.o.d and men always. Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings: amidst which they found me purified in the temple, with no crowd, nor yet with tumult: but there were certain Jews from Asia--who ought to have been here before thee, and to make accusation, if they had aught against me. Or else let these men themselves say what wrong-doing they found, when I stood before the council, except it be for this one utterance, that I cried standing among them, 'Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question before you this day.'"