Study Desk

When he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the stairs, motioned to the people with his hand; and when there was a great silence, he spoke to them in the Hebrew dialect, saying,

"And those who were with me saw the light, but did not understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me.

"But since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I came into Damascus being led by the hand by those who were with me.

They listened to him up to this statement, and then they raised their voices and said, "Away with such a man from the earth, for he should not be allowed to live!"

But when they stretched him out with straps, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, "Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman and uncondemned?"

Now looking intently at the Council, Paul said, "Brothers, I have lived my life with an entirely good conscience before God up to this day."

And a great uproar occurred; and some of the scribes of the Pharisaic party stood up and started arguing heatedly, saying, "We find nothing wrong with this man; suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?"

And he called to him two of the centurions and said, "Get two hundred soldiers ready by the third hour of the night to proceed to Caesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen."

And he wrote a letter with the following content:

When this man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, I came up to them with the troops and rescued him, after learning that he was a Roman.

and I found that he was being accused regarding questions in their Law, but was not charged with anything deserving death or imprisonment.

So the soldiers, in accordance with their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.

But on the next day they let the horsemen go on with him, and they returned to the barracks.

Now after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and an attorney named Tertullus, and they brought charges against Paul to the governor.

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

"And neither in the temple did they find me carrying on a discussion with anyone or causing a riot, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city itself.

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

Now some days later Felix arrived with Drusilla his wife, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.

At the same time he was also hoping that money would be given to him by Paul; therefore he also used to send for him quite often and talk with him.

And the chief priests and the leading men of the Jews brought charges against Paul, and they were pleading with Festus,