Study Desk

You therefore, along with the council, give notice now to the tribune to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case more exactly. And we are ready to kill him before he comes near."

"Claudius Lys'ias to his Excellency the governor Felix, greeting.

And when it was disclosed to me that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, ordering his accusers also to state before you what they have against him."

Then he gave orders to the centurion that he should be kept in custody but should have some liberty, and that none of his friends should be prevented from attending to his needs.

After some days Felix came with his wife Drusil'la, who was a Jewess; and he sent for Paul and heard him speak upon faith in Christ Jesus.

Now when Festus had come into his province, after three days he went up to Jerusalem from Caesare'a.

When he had stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesare'a; and the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought.

Paul said in his defense, "Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I offended at all."

Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, "You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you shall go."

I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up any one before the accused met the accusers face to face, and had opportunity to make his defense concerning the charge laid against him.

When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge in his case of such evils as I supposed;

Agrippa said to Paul, "You have permission to speak for yourself." Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense:

And as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, "Paul, you are mad; your great learning is turning you mad."

For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak freely; for I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this was not done in a corner.

The next day we put in at Sidon; and Julius treated Paul kindly, and gave him leave to go to his friends and be cared for.

Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, when a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand.

When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, "No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live."

It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery; and Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him healed him.

When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in great numbers. And he expounded the matter to them from morning till evening, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the law of Moses and from the prophets.

And he lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him,