g steadfastly on the council, said, "Brethren, I have
lived before God 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, "God 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 God'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."

{443}{444}

[Illustration]
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 illustration]

{445}

And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees
and Sadducees: and the assembly 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.
And they came to the chief priests and the elders, and said, "We have
bound ourselves by a great oath, to taste nothing until we have killed
Paul. Now therefo