Bible verse by verse

[_LittleNipper]

Acts 21:1-40

After we had been pulled away from the Ephesian elders, we set sail and went straight to Cos. The following day we went to Rhodes, and from there Patara.

On discovering a ship that was headed over to Phoenicia, we embarked and set sail.

After sighting Cyprus, we passed it on the left, sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre, because that was where the ship was unloading its cargo.

Having searched out the disciples there, we remained there a week. Guided by the Spirit, they told Paul not to go up to Jerusalem;

but when the week was over, we left to continue our journey. All of them, with their wives and children, accompanied us until we were outside the town. Kneeling on the beach and praying,

we said good-bye to each other. We boarded the ship, and they headed home.

When the voyage from Tyre ended, we arrived at Ptolemais. There we greeted the brothers and stayed with them overnight.

The following day, we left and came to Caesarea, where we went to the home of Philip the proclaimer of the Good News, one of the 7, and stayed with him.

He had 4 unmarried daughters with the gift of prophecy.

While there, a prophet named Agav/Agabus came down from Judah

to visit us. He took Paul’s belt, tied up his own hands and feet and said, “Here is what the Holy Spirit says: the man who owns this belt — the Jews in Jerusalem will tie him up just like this and hand him over to the gentiles.”

When we heard this, both us and the people there begged Paulk not to go up to Jerusalem;

but Paul answered, “What are you doing, crying and trying to weaken my determination? I am prepared not only to be tied up, but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

And when he would not be swayed, we said, “May the Lord’s will be done,” and said no more.

At the end of our stay, we packed and went up to Jerusalem;

and with us went some of the disciples of Caesarea. They took us to the home of the man with whom we were to stay, Mnason from Cyprus, who had been a disciple since the early days.

In Jerusalem, the brothers received us warmly.

The next day Paul and the rest of us went in to James, and all the elders were present.

After greeting them, Paul described in detail each of the things God had done among the Gentiles through his care.

On hearing this, they praised God; but they also said to him, “You see, brother, how many 10's of 1000's of believers there are among the Jews, and they are all zealots for the Law.

Now what they have been told about you is that you are teaching all the Jews living among the Gentiles to apostatize from Moses, telling them not to circumcision their sons and not to follow the traditions.

“What, then, is to be done? They will certainly hear that you are here.

So do what we tell you. We have 4 men who are under a vow.

Take them with you, be purified with them, and pay the expenses connected with having their heads shaved. Then everyone will know that there is nothing to these rumors which they have heard about you; but that, on the contrary, you yourself stay in line and keep the Law. That they should abstain from what had been sacrificed to idols, from blood, from what is strangled and from fornication.”

The following day Paul took the men, purified himself along with them and entered the Temple to give notice of when the period of purification would be finished and the offering would have to be made for each of them.

The 7 days were nearly expired when some unbelieving Jews from the province of Asia observed Paul in the Temple, stirred up all the crowd and grabbed him.

“Men of Israel, help!” they shouted. “This is the man who goes everywhere teaching everyone things against the people, against the Law and against this place! And now he has even brought some Gentiles into the Temple and defiled this holy place!”

They had previously seen the Ephesian Trophimus in the city with him and assumed that Paul had brought him into the Temple.

The whole city was upset, and people came running from everywhere. They grabbed Paul and dragged him from the Temple, and at once the gates were shut.

But while they were attempting to kill him, word reached the commander of the Roman battalion that all Jerusalem was in turmoil. 32 Immediately he took officers and soldiers and charged down upon them. As soon as they saw the commander, they quit beating Sha’ul.

Then the commander came up, arrested Paul and ordered him to be bound with 2 chains. He asked who he was and what he had done.

Everyone in the crowd shouted something different; so, since he couldn’t find out what had happened because of the confusion, he ordered him brought to the barracks.

When Paul got to the steps, he actually had to be carried by the soldiers, because the mob was in such a frenzy...

The crowd kept following and yelling, “Kill him!”

As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he asked the commander, “Is it all right if I speak to you?” The commander said, “You know Greek!

Wait, aren’t you that Egyptian who tried to start a revolution a while back, and led 4000 armed terrorists out into the desert?”

Paul replied, “I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of an important city; and I ask your permission to let me speak to the people.”

Having received permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned with his hand to the people. When they finally quieted down, he addressed them in Hebrew:

Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And it came to pass, at our sailing, having been parted from them, having run direct, we came to Coos, and the succeeding [day] to Rhodes, and thence to Patara,

2 and having found a ship passing over to Phenicia, having gone on board, we sailed,

3 and having discovered Cyprus, and having left it on the left, we were sailing to Syria, and did land at Tyre, for there was the ship discharging the lading.

4 And having found out the disciples, we tarried there seven days, and they said to Paul, through the Spirit, not to go up to Jerusalem;

5 but when it came that we completed the days, having gone forth, we went on, all bringing us on the way, with women and children, unto the outside of the city, and having bowed the knees upon the shore, we prayed,

6 and having embraced one another, we embarked in the ship, and they returned to their own friends.

7 And we, having finished the course, from Tyre came down to Ptolemais, and having saluted the brethren, we remained one day with them;

8 and on the morrow Paul and his company having gone forth, we came to Cesarea, and having entered into the house of Philip the evangelist -- who is of the seven -- we remained with him,

9 and this one had four daughters, virgins, prophesying.

10 And we remaining many more days, there came down a certain one from Judea, a prophet, by name Agabus,

11 and he having come unto us, and having taken up the girdle of Paul, having bound also his own hands and feet, said, `Thus saith the Holy Spirit, The man whose is this girdle -- so shall the Jews in Jerusalem bind, and they shall deliver [him] up to the hands of nations.'

12 And when we heard these things, we called upon [him] -- both we, and those of that place -- not to go up to Jerusalem,

13 and Paul answered, `What do ye -- weeping, and crushing mine heart? for I, not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem, am ready, for the name of the Lord Jesus;'

14 and he not being persuaded, we were silent, saying, `The will of the Lord be done.'

15 And after these days, having taken [our] vessels, we were going up to Jerusalem,

16 and there went also of the disciples from Cesarea with us, bringing with them him with whom we may lodge, a certain Mnason of Cyprus, an aged disciple.

17 And we having come to Jerusalem, the brethren did gladly receive us,

18 and on the morrow Paul was going in with us unto James, all the elders also came,

19 and having saluted them, he was declaring, one by one, each of the things God did among the nations through his ministration,

20 and they having heard, were glorifying the Lord. They said also to him, `Thou seest, brother, how many myriads there are of Jews who have believed, and all are zealous of the law,

21 and they are instructed concerning thee, that apostacy from Moses thou dost teach to all Jews among the nations, saying -- Not to circumcise the children, nor after the customs to walk;

22 what then is it? certainly the multitude it behoveth to come together, for they will hear that thou hast come.

23 `This, therefore, do that we say to thee: We have four men having a vow on themselves,

24 these having taken, be purified with them, and be at expence with them, that they may shave the head, and all may know that the things of which they have been instructed concerning thee are nothing, but thou dost walk -- thyself also -- the law keeping.

25 `And concerning those of the nations who have believed, we have written, having given judgment, that they observe no such thing, except to keep themselves both from idol-sacrifices, and blood, and a strangled thing, and whoredom.'

26 Then Paul, having taken the men, on the following day, with them having purified himself, was entering into the temple, announcing the fulfilment of the days of the purification, till the offering was offered for each one of them.

27 And, as the seven days were about to be fully ended, the Jews from Asia having beheld him in the temple, were stirring up all the multitude, and they laid hands upon him,

28 crying out, `Men, Israelites, help! this is the man who, against the people, and the law, and this place, all everywhere is teaching; and further, also, Greeks he brought into the temple, and hath defiled this holy place;'

29 for they had seen before Trophimus, the Ephesian, in the city with him, whom they were supposing that Paul brought into the temple.

30 All the city also was moved and there was a running together of the people, and having laid hold on Paul, they were drawing him out of the temple, and immediately were the doors shut,

31 and they seeking to kill him, a rumour came to the chief captain of the band that all Jerusalem hath been thrown into confusion,

32 who, at once, having taken soldiers and centurions, ran down upon them, and they having seen the chief captain and the soldiers, did leave off beating Paul.

33 Then the chief captain, having come nigh, took him, and commanded [him] to be bound with two chains, and was inquiring who he may be, and what it is he hath been doing,

34 and some were crying out one thing, and some another, among the multitude, and not being able to know the certainty because of the tumult, he commanded him to be carried to the castle,

35 and when he came upon the steps, it happened he was borne by the soldiers, because of the violence of the multitude,

36 for the crowd of the people was following after, crying, `Away with him.'

37 And Paul being about to be led into the castle, saith to the chief captain, `Is it permitted to me to say anything unto thee?' and he said, `Greek dost thou know?

38 art not thou, then, the Egyptian who before these days made an uprising, and did lead into the desert the four thousand men of the assassins?'

39 And Paul said, `I, indeed, am a man, a Jew, of Tarsus of Cilicia, of no mean city a citizen; and I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people.'

40 And he having given him leave, Paul having stood upon the stairs, did beckon with the hand to the people, and there having been a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew dialect, saying:

[_spotlight]

One can either simply ridicule the Bible and gain nothing or seek to understand it and mature spiritually.

Are you the archetype for the spiritually mature?

[_Choyo Chagas]

One can either simply ridicule the Bible and gain nothing or seek to understand it and mature spiritually.

blah blah

- seek to understand; seek to understand what:
"mature": Maturation is the process of becoming mature; the emergence of individual and behavioral characteristics through growth processes over time. none in your comments

what is "spiritually" especially "mature spiritually"
please define the expression, as in basic, makes no sense
--- but you are the expert to def

anything; as i wrote, clowns win

[_Choyo Chagas]

One can either simply ridicule the Bible and gain nothing or seek to understand it and mature spiritually.

Are you the archetype for the spiritually mature?

he is "ridiculing the Bible"

[_LittleNipper]

Acts 22:1-30

“Brothers and fathers! Hear me out--- I defend myself presently!”

When they heard him speak to them in Hebrew, they quieted down more; so Paul continued:

“I'm a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city and trained at the feet of Gamaliel in every detail of the Law of our forefathers. I was a zealot for God, as all of you are presently.

I persecuted to death the followers of this Way, arresting both men and women and tossing them in prison.

The the head priest and the whole Sanhedrin can also testify to this. Indeed, after receiving letters from them to their colleagues in Damascus, I was traveling there in order to arrest those in that city also and bring them back to Jerusalem for punishment.

As I was traveling and approaching Damascus, about noon, suddenly a brilliant light from heaven flashed all about me!

I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you keep persecuting me?’

I answered, ‘Sir, who are you?’ ‘I am Jesus from Nazareth,’ he replied, ‘and you are persecuting me!’

Those who were with me saw the light, but they didn’t hear the voice of the one who was speaking to me.

I said ‘What should I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Get up, and go into Damascus, and there you will be informed regarding everything that has been established for you to do.’

I had been blinded by the brightness of the light, so my companions led me by the hand into Damascus.

A man named Ananias, an observant follower of the Law and highly regarded by the entire Jewish community there,

came to me, stood by me and said, ‘Brother Saul, see again!’ And at that moment, I regained my sight and saw him.

He explained, ‘The God of our fathers determined in advance that you should know His will, see the the Righteous One and hear His voice;

because you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard.

So now, what are you waiting for? Get up, immerse yourself and have your sins washed away as you call upon His name.’

After I had returned to Jerusalem, it happened that as I was praying in the Temple, I went into a trance,

and I saw Jesus. ‘Hurry!’ He said to me, ‘Get out of Jerusalem immediately, because they will not accept what you have to say regarding Me.’

I said, ‘Lord, they know themselves that in every synagogue I used to imprison and flog those who trusted in You;

also that when the blood of your witness Stephen was being shed, I was standing there too, agreeing. I was even protected the clothes of the ones who were killing him!’

But he said, ‘Get going! For I am going to send you far away — to the Gentiles!’”

They had been listening to him up to this point; but now they shouted at the top of their lungs, “Rid the earth of such a man! He’s not fit to live!”

They were yelling, waving their garments and throwing dust into the air.

So the commander ordered him brought into the barracks and directed that he be interrogated and whipped, in order to find out why they were yelling at him like this.

But as they were stretching him out with thongs to be flogged, Paul said to the captain standing by, “Is it legal for you to whip a man who is a Roman citizen and hasn’t even had a trial?”

When the captain heard that, he went and reported it to the commander, “Do you realize what you’re doing? This man is a Roman citizen!”

The commander came and said to Paul, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?”
“Yes,” Paul said.

The commander replied, “I bought this citizenship for a sizeable sum of money.”
“However, I was born to it,” Paul said.

At once the men who had been about to interrogate him drew back from him; and the commander was frightened also, because he realized that he had chained this man who was a Roman citizen.

However, the next day, since he wanted to know the specific charge the Jews were bringing against him, he released him and ordered the head priest and the whole Sanhedrin to meet. Then he brought Paul down and positioned him in front of them.

Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 `Men, brethren, and fathers, hear my defence now unto you;' --

2 and they having heard that in the Hebrew dialect he was speaking to them, gave the more silence, and he saith, --

3 `I, indeed, am a man, a Jew, having been born in Tarsus of Cilicia, and brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, having been taught according to the exactitude of a law of the fathers, being zealous of God, as all ye are to-day.

4 `And this way I persecuted unto death, binding and delivering up to prisons both men and women,

5 as also the chief priest doth testify to me, and all the eldership; from whom also having received letters unto the brethren, to Damascus, I was going on, to bring also those there bound to Jerusalem that they might be punished,

6 and it came to pass, in my going on and coming nigh to Damascus, about noon, suddenly out of the heaven there shone a great light round about me,

7 I fell also to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why me dost thou persecute?

8 `And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? and he said unto me, I am Jesus the Nazarene whom thou dost persecute --

9 and they who are with me the light did see, and became afraid, and the voice they heard not of him who is speaking to me --

10 and I said, What shall I do, Lord? and the Lord said unto me, Having risen, go on to Damascus, and there it shall be told thee concerning all things that have been appointed for thee to do.

11 `And when I did not see from the glory of that light, being led by the hand by those who are with me, I came to Damascus,

12 and a certain one, Ananias, a pious man according to the law, being testified to by all the Jews dwelling [there],

13 having come unto me and stood by [me], said to me, Saul, brother, look up; and I the same hour did look up to him;

14 and he said, The God of our fathers did choose thee beforehand to know His will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear a voice out of his mouth,

15 because thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard;

16 and now, why tarriest thou? having risen, baptize thyself, and wash away thy sins, calling upon the name of the Lord.

17 `And it came to pass when I returned to Jerusalem, and while I was praying in the temple, I came into a trance,

18 and I saw him saying to me, Haste and go forth in haste out of Jerusalem, because they will not receive thy testimony concerning me;

19 and I said, Lord, they -- they know that I was imprisoning and was scourging in every synagogue those believing on thee;

20 and when the blood of thy witness Stephen was being poured forth, I also was standing by and assenting to his death, and keeping the garments of those putting him to death;

21 and he said unto me, Go, because to nations far off I will send thee.'

22 And they were hearing him unto this word, and they lifted up their voice, saying, `Away from the earth with such an one; for it is not fit for him to live.'

23 And they crying out and casting up their garments, and throwing dust into the air,

24 the chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, saying, `By scourges let him be examined;' that he might know for what cause they were crying so against him.

25 And as he was stretching him with the thongs, Paul said unto the centurion who was standing by, `A man, a Roman, uncondemned -- is it lawful to you to scourge;'

26 and the centurion having heard, having gone near to the chief captain, told, saying, `Take heed what thou art about to do, for this man is a Roman;'

27 and the chief captain having come near, said to him, `Tell me, art thou a Roman?' and he said, `Yes;'

28 and the chief captain answered, `I, with a great sum, did obtain this citizenship;' but Paul said, `But I have been even born [so].'

29 Immediately, therefore, they departed from him who are about to examine him, and the chief captain also was afraid, having learned that he is a Roman, and because he had bound him,

30 and on the morrow, intending to know the certainty wherefore he is accused by the Jews, he did loose him from the bonds, and commanded the chief priests and all their sanhedrin to come, and having brought down Paul, he set [him] before them.

[_Maksutov]

So, Nipper, I guess you aren't going to help us get any of the real, true, actual, prayer cloths?

I'm sorry, but Paul is now present with the Lord.

You mean dead? Just like Jesus. Both dead. Not coming back. Life goes on.

I knew you'd bail on the prayer cloths. But there are still rattlesnakes available for the faithful.

[_LittleNipper]

Acts 23:1-35

Paul looked straight at them and said, “Brothers, I have been emitting my obligations to God with a perfectly clear conscience, right up until today.”

But the head priest, Hananyah/Ananias, ordered those standing near Paul to strike him across the mouth.

Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! Will you sit there judging me according to the Law, yet violating the Laws order me to be struck?”

The men close by said, “This is the head priest of God that you’re insulting!”

Paul said, “I didn’t know, brothers, that he was the head priest; because it says in the Law, ‘You are not to speak disparagingly of a ruler of your people.’”

But knowing that one part of the Sanhedrin consisted of Sadducees and the other of Pharisees, Paul shouted, “Brothers, I myself am a Pharisee and the son of a Pharisee; and it is regarding the hope of the resurrection of the dead that I am being tried!”

When he said this, an argument arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the crowd was divided.

For the Sadducees deny the resurrection and the existence of angels and spirits (and that is why they are sad you see); whereas the Pharisees acknowledge both.

So there was a great uproar, with some of the teachers of the Law who were on the side of the Pharisees standing up and joining in, “We don’t find anything wrong with this man; and if a spirit or an angel spoke to him, so what?”

The dispute became so violent that the commander, fearing that Paul would be ripped apart by them, ordered the soldiers to go down, take him by force and bring him back into the barracks.

The next night, the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage! For just as you have borne a faithful witness of Me in Jerusalem, so now you must bear witness in Rome.”

The following day, some of the Jews conspired, and took an oath. They said that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.

More than 40 were involved in this plot.

They went to the head priest and the elders and said, “We have bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food until we have killed Paul.

What you are to do is make it appear to the commander that you and the Sanhedrin want to get more accurate information about Paul’s case, so that he will bring him down to you; while we, for our part, are prepared to kill him before he ever gets here.”

However, the son of Paul’s sister learned of the planned ambush, and he went into the barracks and informed Paul.

Paul called one of the officers and said, “Take this man up to the commander; he has something to tell him.

So he was taken and brought him to the commander and said, “The prisoner Paul called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, because he has something to tell you.”

The commander took him by the hand, led him aside privately and asked, “What is it you have to tell me?”

He said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you tomorrow to bring Paul down to the Sanhedrin on the pretext that they want to scrutinize his case more thoroughly.

But don’t let yourself be taken in, because more than 40 men are lying in wait for him. They have taken an oath neither to eat nor to drink until they kill him; and they are ready now, just waiting for you to give your consent to their request.”

The commander let the young man go, cautioning him, “Don’t tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”

Then he summoned two of the captains and said, “Get 200 infantry soldiers ready to leave for Caesarea at 9 o’clock tonight, and 70 mounted cavalry and 200 spearmen;

also provide replacements for Paul’s horse when it gets tired; and bring him through safely to Felix the governor.”

And the commander wrote the following letter:

From: Claudius Lysias
To: His Excellency, Governor Felix:
Greetings!

This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, when I came on the scene with my troops and rescued him. After learning that he was a Roman citizen,

I wanted to understand exactly what they were charging him with; so I brought him down to their “Sanhedrin.”

I found that he was charged in connection with questions regarding their “Law” but that there was no charge deserving death or prison.

But when I was informed of a plot against the man, I immediately sent him to you and also ordered his accusers to state their case against him before you.

So the soldiers, following their orders, took Paul during the night and brought him to Antipatris,

then returned to the barracks after leaving the cavalry to go on with him.

The cavalry took him to Caesarea, delivered the letter to the governor, and handed Paul over to him.

The governor read the letter and asked what province Paul was from. On learning he was from Cilicia,

he said, “I will give you a full hearing after your accusers have arrived,” and ordered him to be held under guard in Herod’s headquarters.

Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And Paul having earnestly beheld the sanhedrin, said, `Men, brethren, I in all good conscience have lived to God unto this day;'

2 and the chief priest Ananias commanded those standing by him to smite him on the mouth,

3 then Paul said unto him, `God is about to smite thee, thou whitewashed wall, and thou -- thou dost sit judging me according to the law, and, violating law, dost order me to be smitten!'

4 And those who stood by said, `The chief priest of God dost thou revile?'

5 and Paul said, `I did not know, brethren, that he is chief priest: for it hath been written, Of the ruler of thy people thou shalt not speak evil;'

6 and Paul having known that the one part are Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, cried out in the sanhedrim, `Men, brethren, I am a Pharisee -- son of a Pharisee -- concerning hope and rising again of dead men I am judged.'

7 And he having spoken this, there came a dissension of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees, and the crowd was divided,

8 for Sadducees, indeed, say there is no rising again, nor messenger, nor spirit, but Pharisees confess both.

9 And there came a great cry, and the scribes of the Pharisees' part having arisen, were striving, saying, `No evil do we find in this man; and if a spirit spake to him, or a messenger, we may not fight against God;'

10 and a great dissension having come, the chief captain having been afraid lest Paul may be pulled to pieces by them, commanded the soldiery, having gone down, to take him by force out of the midst of them, and to bring [him] to the castle.

11 And on the following night, the Lord having stood by him, said, `Take courage, Paul, for as thou didst fully testify the things concerning me at Jerusalem, so it behoveth thee also at Rome to testify.'

12 And day having come, certain of the Jews having made a concourse, did anathematize themselves, saying neither to eat nor to drink till they may kill Paul;

13 and they were more than forty who made this conspiracy by oath,

14 who having come near to the chief priests and to the elders said, `With an anathema we did anathematize ourselves -- to taste nothing till we have killed Paul;

15 now, therefore, ye, signify ye to the chief captain, with the sanhedrim, that to-morrow he may bring him down unto you, as being about to know more exactly the things concerning him; and we, before his coming nigh, are ready to put him to death.'

16 And the son of Paul's sister having heard of the lying in wait, having gone and entered into the castle, told Paul,

17 and Paul having called near one of the centurions, said, `This young man lead unto the chief captain, for he hath something to tell him.'

18 He indeed, then, having taken him, brought him unto the chief captain, and saith, `The prisoner Paul, having called me near, asked [me] this young man to bring unto thee, having something to say to thee.'

19 And the chief captain having taken him by the hand, and having withdrawn by themselves, inquired, `What is that which thou hast to tell me?'

20 and he said -- `The Jews agreed to request thee, that to-morrow to the sanhedrim thou mayest bring down Paul, as being about to enquire something more exactly concerning him;

21 thou, therefore, mayest thou not yield to them, for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, who did anathematize themselves -- not to eat nor to drink till they kill him, and now they are ready, waiting for the promise from thee.'

22 The chief captain, then, indeed, let the young man go, having charged [him] to tell no one, `that these things thou didst shew unto me;'

23 and having called near a certain two of the centurions, he said, `Make ready soldiers two hundred, that they may go on unto Caesarea, and horsemen seventy, and spearmen two hundred, from the third hour of the night;

24 beasts also provide, that, having set Paul on, they may bring him safe unto Felix the governor;'

25 he having written a letter after this description:

26 `Claudius Lysias, to the most noble governor Felix, hail:

27 This man having been taken by the Jews, and being about to be killed by them -- having come with the soldiery, I rescued him, having learned that he is a Roman;

28 and, intending to know the cause for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their sanhedrim,

29 whom I found accused concerning questions of their law, and having no accusation worthy of death or bonds;

30 and a plot having been intimated to me against this man -- about to be of the Jews -- at once I sent unto thee, having given command also to the accusers to say the things against him before thee; be strong.'

31 Then, indeed, the soldiers according to that directed them, having taken up Paul, brought him through the night to Antipatris,

32 and on the morrow, having suffered the horsemen to go on with him, they returned to the castle;

33 those having entered into Caesarea, and delivered the letter to the governor, did present also Paul to him.

34 And the governor having read [it], and inquired of what province he is, and understood that [he is] from Cilicia;

35 `I will hear thee -- said he -- when thine accusers also may have come;' he also commanded him to be kept in the praetorium of Herod.

[_Maksutov]

Interesting. All of these private conversations, supposed details about number of conspirators, etc. that could not be known by the writer without a forensic investigation raise the red flags of fiction for me.

[_LittleNipper]

Interesting. All of these private conversations, supposed details about number of conspirators, etc. that could not be known by the writer without a forensic investigation raise the red flags of fiction for me.

The truth is stranger than fiction. And obviously the writer knew Paul.

[_LittleNipper]

Acts 24:1-27

5 days passed, and head priest Ananias came down from Jerusalem with some elders and an attorney named Tertullus. They presented to the governor their charges against Paul.

After Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began the complaint, saying to the governor:

“Through you we have attained great peace, and by your foresight reforms are being carried out for this nation,

in every way and in everywhere, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with gratitude.

But so that I do not tire you further, I beseech you to grant us, through your kindness, a brief hearing.

For we have found this man to be a public menace and one who instigates dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the heretical sect of the Nazarenes.

He even tried to desecrate the temple, but we took him into custody and we intended to judge him through our Law;

However, Lysias the commander came, and forcefully took him out of our hands,

and ordered his accusers to come before you. By interrogating him yourself concerning all these matters you will be able to determine the validity of these things with which we charge him.”

The Jews also joined in the attack, declaring and insisting that these things were so.

When the governor nodded for him to speak, Paul answered,

“Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I make my defense happily and boldly.

As you can easily verify, it has been no more than 12 days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship.

Neither in the temple, or in the synagogues, nor elsewhere in the city did they find me holding a discussion or disputing with anybody or causing a crowd to gather.

They cannot present evidence to you to prove what they now bring against me.

But I confess this to you, that according to the Way, which they labelled a sect, I do worship and serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets;

having hope in God which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of [the dead], both of the righteous and of the wicked.

In view of this, I also do my best and strive always to have a clear conscience before God and men.

Now after several years I came (to Jerusalem) to bring to my people charitable contributions and offerings.

They discovered me in the temple presenting these offerings, after I had undergone purification, without any crowd or uproar. But there were some Jews from Asia [Minor],

who should have been brought here before you to present their charges, if they have anything against me.

Or else let these men tell what crime they found [me guilty of] when I stood before the sanhedrin,

other than for this one statement which I had shouted out as I stood among them, ‘For the resurrection of the dead I am on trial before you today.’”

But Felix, having a rather accurate understanding about the Way, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case.”

Then he ordered the centurion to keep Paul in custody, but to let him have some freedom, and not to prevent his friends from providing for his needs.

Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him talk about faith in Christ Jesus.

But as he was discussing righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for now, and when convenient I will send for you.”

At the same time he was also hoping to weasel money from Paul; so he continued to send for him quite often and talked with him.

But after 2 years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; and wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul imprisoned.

Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And after five days came down the chief priest Ananias, with the elders, and a certain orator -- Tertullus, and they made manifest to the governor [the things] against Paul;

2 and he having been called, Tertullus began to accuse [him], saying, `Much peace enjoying through thee, and worthy deeds being done to this nation through thy forethought,

3 always, also, and everywhere we receive it, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness;

4 and that I may not be further tedious to thee, I pray thee to hear us concisely in thy gentleness;

5 for having found this man a pestilence, and moving a dissension to all the Jews through the world -- a ringleader also of the sect of the Nazarenes --

6 who also the temple did try to profane, whom also we took, and according to our law did wish to judge,

7 and Lysias the chief captain having come near, with much violence, out of our hands did take away,

8 having commanded his accusers to come to thee, from whom thou mayest be able, thyself having examined, to know concerning all these things of which we accuse him;'

9 and the Jews also agreed, professing these things to be so.

10 And Paul answered -- the governor having beckoned to him to speak -- `Knowing [that] for many years thou hast been a judge to this nation, the more cheerfully the things concerning myself I do answer;

11 thou being able to know that it is not more than twelve days to me since I went up to worship in Jerusalem,

12 and neither in the temple did they find me reasoning with any one, or making a dissension of the multitude, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city;

13 nor are they able to prove against me the things concerning which they now accuse me.

14 `And I confess this to thee, that, according to the way that they call a sect, so serve I the God of the fathers, believing all things that in the law and the prophets have been written,

15 having hope toward God, which they themselves also wait for, [that] there is about to be a rising again of the dead, both of righteous and unrighteous;

16 and in this I do exercise myself, to have a conscience void of offence toward God and men always.

17 `And after many years I came, about to do kind acts to my nation, and offerings,

18 in which certain Jews from Asia did find me purified in the temple, not with multitude, nor with tumult,

19 whom it behoveth to be present before thee, and to accuse, if they had anything against me,

20 or let these same say if they found any unrighteousness in me in my standing before the sanhedrim,

21 except concerning this one voice, in which I cried, standing among them -- Concerning a rising again of the dead I am judged to-day by you.'

22 And having heard these things, Felix delayed them -- having known more exactly of the things concerning the way -- saying, `When Lysias the chief captain may come down, I will know fully the things concerning you;'

23 having given also a direction to the centurion to keep Paul, to let [him] also have liberty, and to forbid none of his own friends to minister or to come near to him.

24 And after certain days, Felix having come with Drusilla his wife, being a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith toward Christ,

25 and he reasoning concerning righteousness, and temperance, and the judgment that is about to be, Felix, having become afraid, answered, `For the present be going, and having got time, I will call for thee;'

26 and at the same time also hoping that money shall be given to him by Paul, that he may release him, therefore, also sending for him the oftener, he was conversing with him;

27 and two years having been fulfilled, Felix received a successor, Porcius Festus; Felix also willing to lay a favour on the Jews, left Paul bound.