Part 273 (1/2)

And the chief captain answered, ”With a great sum obtained I this citizens.h.i.+p.”

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.