THE JEWS ACCUSE PAUL BEFORE FELIX. WHEN THE NEW GOVERNOR WISHES TO SEND HIM TO JERUSALEM, PAUL ASKS TO BE TAKEN BEFORE THE EMPEROR. HE SPEAKS BEFORE FELIX AND AGRIPPA. FELIX SENDS HIM TO ROME. HE IS SHIPWRECKED ON THE WAY. AT ROME HE SENDS FOR THE JEWS, AND PREACHES THE GOSPEL TO THEM. THE SUPPOSED MANNER OF HIS DEATH.
AFTER five days, Ananias, the high priest, and some of the council, came down from Jerusalem to Cesarea. They brought with them also a lawyer, named Tertullus, that he might speak against Paul before the governor. And when Paul was brought out of the prison to be tried, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, We have found this fellow to be a wicked man, who is stirring up trouble and disorder among the Jews all over the world; and he is a chief one among those who believe in Jesus of Nazareth. He has also brought persons into the temple who are not allowed to go there. And we would have tried him according to our law, to see what his punishment should be, but the chief captain came with soldiers and took him from us, commanding us to come before thee and accuse him. Now, therefore, we are here, ready to prove all the things that we speak against him. When Tertullus had finished, the Jews who were with him said that all he had spoken was true.
Then Paul, after the governor had given him permission, answered, saying, It is now but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship, and they found me in the temple, yet not disputing with any man, nor trying to stir up the people; neither can they prove the things which they speak against me. But this I confess to thee, that I worship God in a way different from them, although I believe every thing that is written in their scriptures. And I expect the dead, both the bad and the good, to rise up at the last day, as the Jews themselves say that they will. And believing this, I am trying all the time to do nothing that my conscience tells me is wrong, either to God or to man.
Now after being away from Jerusalem for many years, I came back at this time to bring alms to the poor Jews there, and also an offering to God. And some Jews from Asia found me in the temple, yet not with a multitude nor causing any disturbance. And they are the ones who should have been here to tell if they had anything against me. Or let these Jews who are here now, say whether they found any evil in me when I was taken before the council in Jerusalem, unless they will say it was wrong for me to preach about the dead rising up from their graves at the Judgment day.
After Paul had spoken these things Felix would hear no more, but he sent the Jews away, saying, When the chief captain shall come down I will ask him all about your matters. And he commanded the centurion to keep Paul in prison, but to let him walk out and see any of his friends who should come to visit him.
Now, Drusilla, the wife of Felix, was a Jewess. And after some days, Felix sent for Paul to come and speak to him and Drusilla, and explain the gospel to them. And as Paul spoke to them, persuading them to obey God, and not listen to temptation, and told them how they must be judged at the last day, Felix thought of his sins, and was afraid so that he trembled. Yet he did not repent of those sins, but sent Paul back to prison, saying, At some other time, when it shall be more convenient I will send for thee again to tell me about these things. Felix hoped also that Paul would offer him money to let him go free, and on that account he sent for him the oftener to talk with him. But after two years, when another governor, named Festus, came to take Felix's place, instead of letting Paul go, Felix left him in prison.
When Festus, the new governor, was come to Cesarea, the Jews asked of him that Paul might be sent to Jerusalem to be tried; for they intended now, as they did before, to have men hidden by the way who would rise up and kill him. But Festus answered them, and said, Paul shall stay in Cesarea, and those who wish to accuse him, may come here and say what they have against him. So when they had come, the governor commanded Paul to be brought before them, and the Jews stood and accused him of many things. But Paul answered for himself, saying, Neither against the laws of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Cæsar, have I done anything wrong. Then Festus, because he wanted to please the Jews, answered Paul, and said, Art thou willing to go up to Jerusalem, and there be tried for the things they accuse thee of?
Now it was a law, that any Roman who was going to be put to death, might ask to be taken before Cæsar, the emperor, for the emperor to say whether he should die, or be allowed to live. And when Festus asked Paul if he were willing to go up to Jerusalem to be tried before the Jews, who he knew were determined to kill him, Paul answered, saying, Jerusalem is not the place where I ought to be tried; for I have done no wrong, to the Jews as thou very well knowest. I ask to be taken before Cæsar. Then Festus said, Hast thou asked to be taken before Cæsar? Unto Cæsar shalt thou go. He meant that Paul should be taken to the city of Rome, where the emperor Cæsar lived.
Some days after this, Agrippa, who was king over another part of the land of Israel, came with his sister Bernice, to visit Festus at Cesarea. And Festus told him about Paul, saying, There is a man here in prison, whom the chief priests and elders of the Jews have asked me to put to death. Now, Agrippa was a Jew, and when the governor told him that the Jews wanted to put Paul to death, he said, I would like also to hear what the man says, myself. Festus answered, To-morrow thou shalt hear him.
The next day Agrippa came, and Bernice, dressed in their royal robes, with the chief captains and principal men of the city around them. And Festus sent for Paul to be brought out of prison, and he came with the chains, such as prisoners wore, fastened upon him. Then Festus told Agrippa that this was the man whom the Jews wanted to kill. And Agrippa spoke to Paul, saying, Thou hast permission to speak for thyself, and to answer the things which the Jews say against thee. Then Paul stood up and told King Agrippa he was very glad that he might make his answer to him, because he was sure that the king had learned all about the laws of the Jews, and would understand what he was now going to say before him.
Then Paul said, The Jews themselves know very well how I have lived and what I have done ever since I was a child. For I also am a Jew, and if they would speak the truth they would say, that I used to be one of the strictest among them. I, too, thought that I ought to do many things against Jesus of Nazareth. Many of his disciples I shut up in prison, and when they were tried and put to death, I was one of those who spoke against them. I punished them in every synagogue and did all I could to make them speak against their Saviour. And being full of rage against them, I went even to other cities to seek for them. But as I was going to Damascus, when I came near that city, I saw, in the middle of the day, a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and the men who were with me. And we were all afraid and fell to the earth.
Then Paul told Agrippa and Festus, and all who were listening to him, how Jesus spoke to him at that time, and said, that he had come to make Paul a minister, and send him to preach the gospel to the Gentiles, so that they might repent and have their sins forgiven. And when I had heard his voice, Paul said, I did not disobey what the Lord commanded, but went and preached to the Jews at Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and also to the Gentiles, telling them to repent and obey God. And because I did this, the Jews caught me in the temple and were about to kill me. But God saved me from them. Therefore, since God helped me, I have kept on preaching till this day to all the people, both the poor and the rich. Yet I have told them only those things which the prophets said should happen; that Jesus would be put to death, and afterward would rise up from the dead and be a Saviour both to the Jews and the Gentiles.
While Paul was speaking, Festus, the governor, said, with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad. He meant that Paul had lost his senses, and was crazy, because he had read and thought so much about what was written in the Scriptures. But Paul answered, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but am speaking only words that are true. And king Agrippa understands what I say; for I am sure he has heard of all these things. Then Agrippa said to Paul, Thou dost almost persuade me too, to be a Christian. Paul said, I wish that not only thou, but also all these persons who are listening to me this day, were Christians such as I am, except that they might not have to wear these chains.
When Paul had spoken these words, Agrippa rose up, and Festus, and the chief men of the city who were with them, and went alone to talk with one another, saying, This man has not done anything for which he should be put to death or kept in prison. Then Agrippa said to Festus, He might have been set at liberty if he had not asked to be taken to Rome, before Cæsar.
When the time came for Paul to be sent to Rome, Festus gave him, and some other prisoners that were to go there, into the care of a centurion, who took soldiers with them to guard them by the way. And they went into a ship that sailed from Cesarea, and came the next day to the city of Sidon. Here they stopped for a while, and the centurion, whose name was Julius, treated Paul kindly, letting him go on the shore to visit some friends whom he had in that city.
After leaving Sidon they came to the city of Myra. There the centurion took his prisoners on board of another ship in which they sailed toward Rome. After sailing slowly many days they reached a place called the Fair Havens, in the island of Crete. And now as it was winter, and the time for storms on the sea had come, Paul said to the men on the ship, Sirs, I see that while we are on this voyage there will be great danger, not only to the ship, but also to our lives. But the master of the ship, because he did not believe what Paul said, nor think the Fair Havens a good harbor to stay in for the winter, determined to leave it and try to reach a place called Phenice. And when there came a wind that blew softly from the south, the sailors thought they would be able to do this. Therefore they left the Fair Havens and sailed out on the sea again.
But soon there arose a fierce wind, that beat against the ship; and when the sailors could steer no longer, they let her go wherever the wind might drive her. And they came near to an island called Clauda, and there could hardly save the little boat that was fastened behind the ship, from being washed away; but when they had taken it up out of the water, they wound cables, or chains, about the ship, underneath and all around it, to keep it from breaking to pieces. And being greatly tossed by the tempest, the next day they threw out into the sea some of the cargo to make the ship lighter, and save it from sinking. The day after, they threw over all the ropes and sails that could be spared.
When the wind kept on blowing for many days, and they could see neither sun nor moon nor stars, because of the dark clouds that covered the sky, the people in the ship gave up all hope, thinking they would surely be lost. But Paul, after they had eaten nothing for a long time, stood up among them, and said, Sirs, you should have listened to me and stayed at the island of Crete, then you would not have come into this great danger. Yet now I beg you be not afraid, for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you; but only of the ship. For this night the Lord sent his angel, who spoke to me, saying, Fear not, Paul, thou shalt come safely to Rome and be brought before Cæsar; and, for thy sake, God will save the lives of all the men who are with thee in the ship. Therefore, sirs, be cheerful, for I believe what the angel told me. Yet we shall be wrecked on some island. And when the fourteenth night had come, as the ship was driven along by the wind, the sailors thought they were near some land; and, after they had sounded, that is, measured the depth of the water, they found that it was so. And fearing they would strike on the rocks at the bottom of the sea, they dropped four anchors out of the ship to keep it from being driven any further, and then wished for the morning. But the sailors, supposing the ship would soon be broken to pieces, let down the little boat into the water, intending to escape in it and leave the others to be drowned. But Paul said to the centurion, Except these sailors stay in the ship, the rest cannot be saved. Then the soldiers cut off the ropes that held the boat, and let it float away without any one in it.
When it was near morning, Paul begged them all to take something to eat, saying, This is the fourteenth day since the storm came upon us, and you have eaten hardly anything. Therefore, I pray you, take some food, that you be not made sick; for there shall not the least harm happen to any one of you. When he had said this he took bread, and thanked God for it before them all, and began to eat. Then were they all cheerful, and did eat with him. There were altogether two hundred and seventy-six persons in the ship. And after they had eaten, they threw into the sea, some of the wheat with which the ship was loaded, to lighten it.
When it was day they saw the shore, though they could not tell to what land they had come; and seeing a creek a little way off, they determined, if they were able, to push the ship into it. After they had taken up the anchors and hoisted the sail, they steered toward that place; but before they reached it the ship ran aground, and the forepart was held fast on the bottom of the sea, and could not be moved, but the hinder part was broken by the great waves that dashed against it. Then the soldiers advised the centurion to have the prisoners killed, for fear some of them might escape. But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, forbade them to do the prisoners any harm; and commanded that those who could swim, should first cast themselves into the sea and get to the shore. The rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship, came afterward. So it was that they all safely reached land.
When they had come there they found it was an island called Melita. The people of the island showed them great kindness, and kindled a fire for them, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold. And Paul gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, but after he had done so, a poisonous snake came out of the heat and fastened on his hand. When the people of the island saw it hanging upon his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, who though he has escaped drowning in the sea, is yet punished by the bite of the snake for the evil he has done. But Paul shook off the snake into the fire and felt no harm. Then they looked at him a long while, expecting that his arm would swell, or that he would fall down dead suddenly, but when they saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.
The chief man of the island, whose name was Publius, invited Paul and those who were with him, to his house, and they went and stayed three days, being kindly treated there. Now the father of Publius was sick of a fever, and Paul laid his hands on him and made him well. When he had done this, others who were sick in the island came and were healed. And they showed their gratitude by giving to Paul and his friends presents of such things as they needed.
After three months, the centurion took Paul and the other prisoners, into a ship that had been waiting at the island till the winter was over, and they sailed away to the city of Puteoli, where they stayed seven days with some disciples who lived there; then they journeyed by land toward Home. When the Christians at Rome heard Paul was coming, they went out to meet him at a place called the Three Taverns. After he had seen them, he gave thanks because he had been saved from so many dangers; and he felt in his heart that God would still take care of him.
When they came to Rome, the centurion gave the prisoners into the care of the captain of the guard, but Paul was allowed to live in a house by himself with the soldier who watched over him; yet the chains that he had worn so long, were not taken off from him. And after three days, he sent for the chief men among the Jews who lived at Rome, and said to them, Men and brethren, though I have done no wrong to the Jews, nor disobeyed the laws which Moses spoke to our fathers, yet the Jews at Jerusalem gave me as a prisoner to the Romans, who, when they examined me, would have let me go, because I had done nothing for which I deserved to die. But when the Jews still wanted to kill me, I asked to be taken before Cæsar. Therefore I have sent for you to come, that I might see you, and speak with you, for it is because I believe in that Saviour about whom the prophets have written, that I am bound with this chain.
When he had said this, the Jews answered, We have had no letters sent to us about thee, neither do those Jews who have come from Jerusalem, speak any harm of thee. Yet we would like to hear what it is thou dost preach; for, as for these Christians, we know that everywhere they are spoken against. So after they had appointed a day, many of the Jews came to Paul's house and he taught them, explaining what the prophets had written about Jesus, from morning till evening. And some believed the things he spoke, and some believed not While they differed among themselves, he told them that the prophet Isaiah had spoken the truth about the people of Israel when he said, that although a message from God should be brought to them, they would not listen to it, because their hearts were wicked and they did not want to be his children. Therefore Paul told them, that the gospel which the Jews refused to believe should be preached to the Gentiles, and the Gentiles, he said, would obey it.
Paul stayed two whole years in Rome, and lived in a house which he hired for himself. There he welcomed all those persons who came to hear him, and he taught them about Jesus, without fear, for no man tried to prevent him.
The Bible does not tell us where Paul went after this, or how he died at last. But from accounts given in other books, it is thought, that when he was set free at Rome he went back to Jerusalem, and then travelled through other countries preaching the gospel, till he came to Rome again. Not many years after this time, there was a great fire at Rome that continued burning for six or seven days. The people believed that their wicked emperor Nero had ordered the city set on fire. To save himself from the blame, Nero accused the Christians of doing it. Then the people rose up in great fury against the Christians, and put many of them to death. Among those who were killed, we are told, were the Apostles Peter and Paul. Paul, it is said, was beheaded and Peter crucified.
We suppose that Paul was beheaded and not crucified, because it was against the law to crucify a Roman, for that was the way in which they put slaves to death; and no Roman might be treated as a slave, even when they were putting him to death. But Peter was not a free Roman, and him, we are told, they crucified. It made no difference to these holy men how they died; they knew that afterward they would be taken to heaven. And so we, who hope to meet them, will be taken there, if, like them, we are the disciples of Jesus. But if we are not his disciples, then he says to us, as he said to the Jews who would not believe on him, Where I am, there ye cannot come.