Bible Reading Plan

Chapter 24

The Accusation against Paul

¹ After five days Ananias the high priest came down with some elders and a lawyer^[a] named Tertullus. These men presented their case against Paul to the governor.^{(a) 2} When he was called in, Tertullus began to accuse him and said: "Since we enjoy great peace because of you, and reforms are taking place for the benefit of this nation by your foresight, ³ we acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, most excellent^(b) Felix, with utmost gratitude. ⁴ However, so that I will not burden you any further, I beg you in your graciousness to give us a brief hearing. ⁵ For we have found this man to be a plague,^(c) an agitator^(d) among all the Jews throughout the Roman world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes! ⁶ He even tried to desecrate the temple, so we apprehended him [and wanted to judge him according to our law. ⁷ But Lysias the commander came and took him from our hands with great force, ⁸ commanding his accusers to come to you.]^[b] By examining him yourself you will be able to discern all these things we are accusing him of." ⁹ The Jews also joined in the attack, alleging that these things were so.

Paul's Defense before Felix

¹⁰ When the governor motioned to him to speak, Paul replied: "Because I know you have been a judge of this nation for many years, I am glad to offer my defense in what concerns me.^{(e) 11} You are able to determine that it is no more than 12 days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem.^{(f) 12} They didn't find me disputing with anyone or causing a disturbance among the crowd, either in the temple complex or in the synagogues or anywhere in the city.^{(g) 13} Neither can they provide evidence to you of what they now bring against me. ¹⁴ But I confess this to you: I worship my fathers' God according to the Way,^(h) which they call a sect, believing all the things that are written in the Law and in the Prophets.^{(i) 15} And I have a hope in God, which these men themselves also accept, that there is going to be a resurrection,^[c](j) both of the righteous and the unrighteous.^{(k) 16} I always do my best to have a clear conscience^(l) toward God and men. ¹⁷ After many years, I came to bring charitable gifts and offerings to my nation,^{(m) 18} and while I was doing this, some Jews from Asia found me ritually purified in the temple, without a crowd and without any uproar.^{(n) 19} It is they who ought to be here before you to bring charges, if they have anything against me. ²⁰ Either let these men here state what wrongdoing they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin, ²¹ or about this one statement I cried out while standing among them, ‘Today I am being judged before you concerning the resurrection of the dead.'"

The Verdict Postponed

²² Since Felix was accurately informed about the Way,^(o) he adjourned the hearing, saying, "When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case." ²³ He ordered that the centurion keep Paul^[d] under guard, though he could have some freedom, and that he should not prevent any of his friends from serving^[e] him.^(p)

²⁴ After some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and listened to him on the subject of faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁵ Now as he spoke about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come,^(q) Felix became afraid and replied, "Leave for now, but when I find time I'll call for you." ²⁶ At the same time he was also hoping that money would be given to him by Paul.^[f] For this reason he sent for him quite often and conversed with him.

²⁷ After two years had passed, Felix received a successor, Porcius Festus,^(r) and because he wished to do a favor for the Jews,^(s) Felix left Paul in prison.^(t)

Chapter 25

Appeal to Caesar

¹ Three days after Festus arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.^{(a) 2} Then the chief priests and the leaders of the Jews presented their case against Paul to him; and they appealed,^{(b) 3} asking him to do them a favor against Paul,^[a] that he might summon him to Jerusalem. They were preparing an ambush along the road to kill him. ⁴ However, Festus answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to go there shortly.^{(c) 5} "Therefore," he said, "let the men of authority among you go down with me and accuse him, if there is any wrong in this man."

⁶ When he had spent not more than eight or 10 days among them, he went down to Caesarea. The next day, seated at the judge's bench, he commanded Paul to be brought in.^{(d) 7} When he arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him and brought many serious charges that they were not able to prove,^{(e) 8} while Paul made the defense that, "Neither against the Jewish law,^(f) nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I sinned at all."

⁹ Then Festus, wanting to do a favor for the Jews,^(g) replied to Paul, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem, there to be tried before me on these charges?"

¹⁰ But Paul said: "I am standing at Caesar's tribunal, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as even you can see very well. ¹¹ If then I am doing wrong, or have done anything deserving of death, I do not refuse to die, but if there is nothing to what these men accuse me of, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar!"^(h)

¹² After Festus conferred with his council, he replied, "You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you will go!"

King Agrippa and Bernice Visit Festus

¹³ After some days had passed, King Agrippa^[b] and Bernice arrived in Caesarea and paid a courtesy call on Festus. ¹⁴ Since they stayed there many days, Festus presented Paul's case to the king, saying, "There's a man who was left as a prisoner by Felix. ¹⁵ When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews presented their case and asked for a judgment against him.^{(i) 16} I answered them that it's not the Romans' custom to give any man up^[c] before the accused confronts the accusers face to face and has an opportunity to give a defense concerning the charges.^{(j) 17} Therefore, when they had assembled here, I did not delay. The next day I sat at the judge's bench and ordered the man to be brought in. ¹⁸ Concerning him, the accusers stood up and brought no charge of the sort I was expecting. ¹⁹ Instead they had some disagreements^(k) with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, a dead man Paul claimed to be alive. ²⁰ Since I was at a loss in a dispute over such things, I asked him if he wished to go to Jerusalem and be tried there concerning these matters. ²¹ But when Paul appealed to be held for trial by the Emperor, I ordered him to be kept in custody until I could send him to Caesar."

²² Then Agrippa said to Festus, "I would like to hear the man myself."

"Tomorrow you will hear him," he replied.^(l)

Paul before Agrippa

²³ So the next day, Agrippa and Bernice^(m) came with great pomp and entered the auditorium with the commanders and prominent men of the city. When Festus gave the command, Paul was brought in. ²⁴ Then Festus said: "King Agrippa and all men present with us, you see this man about whom the whole Jewish community has appealed to me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he should not live any longer.^{(n) 25} Now I realized that he had not done anything deserving of death, but when he himself appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.^{(o) 26} I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore, I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after this examination is over, I may have something to write. ²⁷ For it seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner and not to indicate the charges against him."

Chapter 26

Paul's Defense before Agrippa

¹ Agrippa said to Paul, "It is permitted for you to speak for yourself."

Then Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense: ² "I consider myself fortunate, King Agrippa, that today I am going to make a defense before you about everything I am accused of by the Jews, ³ especially since you are an expert in all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.

⁴ "All the Jews know my way of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem.^{(a) 5} They had previously known me for quite some time, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I lived as a Pharisee.^{(b) 6} And now I stand on trial for the hope^(c) of the promise^(d) made by God to our fathers, ⁷ the promise our 12 tribes hope to attain as they earnestly serve Him night and day. King Agrippa, I am being accused by the Jews because of this hope.^{(e) 8} Why is it considered incredible by any of you that God raises the dead? ⁹ In fact, I myself supposed it was necessary to do many things in opposition to the name of Jesus the Nazarene.^{(f) 10} I actually did this in Jerusalem, and I locked up many of the saints in prison, since I had received authority for that from the chief priests. When they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.^{(g) 11} In all the synagogues I often tried to make them blaspheme by punishing them.^(h) I even pursued them to foreign cities since I was greatly enraged at them.

Paul's Account of His Conversion and Commission

¹² "I was traveling to Damascus under⁽ⁱ⁾ these circumstances with authority and a commission from the chief priests. ¹³ King Agrippa, while on the road at midday, I saw a light from heaven brighter than the sun, shining around me and those traveling with me. ¹⁴ We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice speaking to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.' ^[a](j)

¹⁵ "Then I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?'

"And the Lord replied: ‘I am Jesus, the One you are persecuting. ¹⁶ But get up and stand on your feet. For I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and a witness of what you have seen^[b] and of what I will reveal to you.^{(k) 17} I will rescue you from the people and from the Gentiles. I now send you to them^{(l) 18} to open their eyes^(m) so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that by faith in Me they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified.'⁽ⁿ⁾

¹⁹ "Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. ²⁰ Instead, I preached to those in Damascus first, and to those in Jerusalem and in all the region of Judea, and to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works worthy of repentance.^{(o) 21} For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple complex and were trying to kill me. ²² To this very day, I have obtained help that comes from God, and I stand and testify to both small and great, saying nothing else than what the prophets and Moses said would take place^(p)— ²³ that the Messiah must suffer, and that as the first to rise from the dead, He would proclaim light to our people and to the Gentiles."^(q)

Not Quite Persuaded

²⁴ As he was making his defense this way, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, "You're out of your mind,^(r) Paul! Too much study is driving you mad!"

²⁵ But Paul replied, "I'm not out of my mind, most excellent Festus. On the contrary, I'm speaking words of truth and good judgment.^{(s) 26} For the king knows about these matters. It is to him I am actually speaking boldly. For I am convinced that none of these things escapes his notice, since this was not done in a corner. ²⁷ King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you believe."

²⁸ Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Are you going to persuade me to become a Christian so easily?"

²⁹ "I wish before God," replied Paul, "that whether easily or with difficulty, not only you but all who listen to me today might become as I am—except for these chains."^(t)

³⁰ So the king, the governor, Bernice, and those sitting with them got up, ³¹ and when they had left they talked with each other and said, "This man is doing nothing that deserves death or chains."^(u)

³² Then Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar."^(v)

Chapter 27

Sailing for Rome

¹ When it was decided that we were to sail to Italy, they handed over Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion named Julius, of the Imperial Regiment.^{(a) 2} So when we had boarded a ship of Adramyttium, we put to sea, intending to sail to ports along the coast of Asia. Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, was with us.^{(b) 3} The next day we put in at Sidon, and Julius treated Paul kindly and allowed him to go to his friends to receive their care.^{(c) 4} When we had put out to sea from there, we sailed along the northern coast^[a] of Cyprus because the winds were against us. ⁵ After sailing through the open sea off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we reached Myra in Lycia.^{(d) 6} There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy and put us on board. ⁷ Sailing slowly for many days, we came with difficulty as far as Cnidus. Since the wind did not allow us to approach it, we sailed along the south side^[b] of Crete off Salmone. ⁸ With yet more difficulty we sailed along the coast and came to a place called Fair Havens near the city of Lasea.