Narrator: And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. There were more than forty which had made this conspiracy. They came to the chief priests and elders, and said: Jews: We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul. Now therefore will you of the council signify to the chief captain that he bring Paul down unto you tomorrow, as though ye would inquire something more from him: and we, will be set to kill him before he comes near. Narrator: When Paul s nephew heard of their plan, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul. Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, Paul: Hey Centurion - Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him. Narrator: Hail chief captain - Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed me to bring this young man unto you, who hath something to say unto you. Chief Captain: Come here young man. What is that you have to tell me? Paul s Nephew: The Jews have agreed to desire that you would bring down Paul tomorrow into the council, as though they would inquire somewhat of him more perfectly. But do not give in to them: for there will wait for him. There will be more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready, looking for a promise from you. Chief Captain: Okay, you may go, only see the you tell no man that you have shown these things to me. Centurions, come here! Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night; And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor. And take this letter with you. From Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix: This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman. And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council: Whom I understood to be accused of questions of their law, but have found nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds. And when it was told to me how the Jews were planing to lay wait for the man, I sent straightway to you, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before you what they had against him. Farewell. Narrator: Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris. The next day they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle: Governor Felix: Paul, come before me. I have read the letter sent to me by the Chief Captain What province are you from?
Paul: I am from Cilicia; Governor Felix: I will hear you when thine accusers are also come. Centurions, put him in Herod s judgment hall until they get here. Narrator: After five days Ananias the high priest arrived with the elders, and with a certain speaker named Tertullus, who informed the governor of their accusations against Paul. Tertullus: Oh great Governor Felix, Because of you we enjoy great quietness, and very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by your providence, We accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. I don t want to be further tedious to you, but I pray you that you would be most merciful and hear of us a few words. For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. Who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law. But the Chief Captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands. Commanding his accusers to come unto you: by examining of whom yourself may take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him. Governor Felix: Paul, come here and speak concerning these charges. Paul: I know that you have been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself: So that you may understand, it s only been but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship. And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city: Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me. But this I confess unto you, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward men. Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings. Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult. Who ought to have been here before you, and object, if they had ought against me. Or else let these same here say, if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the council. Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day. Governor Felix: I have heard your side of the story Paul. Lysias the Chief Captain shall come down, I will know more of your matter. Centurion - keep an eye on Paul. He may have liberty, but don t let any of his acquaintance to minister or come unto him. Narrator: After certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. And as Paul preached of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix began to be afraid and trembled. Governor Felix: Paul, go your way for this time; when it is convenient for me, I will call for you.
Narrator: The governor had hoped also that Paul would give him some money in order to gain his freedom therefore he sent for Paul from time to time and communed with him. But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix room: and Felix, willing to do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound. After Festus had been there three days the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him about their chargers against Paul, and desired a favour from Festus regarding Paul. Chief Priest: Oh noble Festus, can you do us a favor? Just send Paul to Jerusalem, and we will be waiting there for him kill him and we will take this Paul matter off your hands. Festus: No I don t think so. I will command that Paul should be kept at Caesarea. I am going to depart here shortly so why don t any of you who have charges against Paul come with me now and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him. Narrator: Festus tarried among them ten days more and then he went down unto Caesarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought. Festus: Bring Paul here. Okay, Chief Priest, what charges do you have against this man? Narrator: The Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove. Paul, however defended himself quite well. Paul: I have done nothing to offend or break the law, neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all. Narrator: Festus did not find anything to convict Paul of but he wanted to do the Jews a favor so he offered a proposal to Paul. Festus: Paul, Will you go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me? Paul: I stand at Caesar s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews have I done no wrong, as you very well know. For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I will refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar. Narrator: Festus when he had conferred with the council, answered, Festus: Have you appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt you go. Centurions, lock him up until we send him to Caesar. Narrator: And after certain days King Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea to greet Festus. And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul s cause unto the king,
Festus: King Agrippa, there is a certain man left in bonds by Felix: About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him. I told those Jews it is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have license to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him. So, when they were go here, without any delay on the next day I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth. His accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed: But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. And because I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and be judged there of these matters. But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar. King Agrippa: Festus, I would also hear the man myself. Tomorrow, I will hear him. Narrator: The next day when Agrippa and his wife Bernice came in with great pomp, and entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city, at Festus commandment Paul was brought forth. Festus: King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, crying that he ought not to live any longer. But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him. Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before you, O king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might have somewhat to write. For it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him. King Agrippa: Paul, You art permitted to speak for yourself. Paul: I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before you touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews: Especially because I know you to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech you to hear me patiently. My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews; Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: Unto which promise our Twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope s sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews. Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead? I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. Narrator: Paul then told the court and King Agrippa of his conversion and encounter with God on the road to Damacus. And he explained how he had been on mission for God since then to take God s message to all Damascus, Jerusalem, all the cities of Judea and to all the world.
Paul: For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me. Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light unto the people, and to the Gentiles. Festus: (said with a loud voice) Paul, you are crazy! You are mad! Paul: I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak to you the words of truth and soberness. For the king knows of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe. King Agrippa: Paul, you almost persuade me to be a Christian. Paul: I would to God, that not only you, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds. Narrator: And when Paul had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them: And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man has done nothing worthy of death or of imprisonment. King Agrippa: This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.