The Skeptics Annotated Bible (891 page)

26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.

(21.27-40) The Jews, once again, incite the people to kill poor old Paul. But he escapes and delivers another long, boring speech.

27 And when the seven days were almost ended,
the Jews
which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple,
stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him,

(21.27)
“The Jews … stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him.”

28 Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.

29 (For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)

30 And all the city was moved, and
the people
ran together: and they
took Paul, and drew him out of the temple
: and forthwith the doors were shut.

(21.30)
“The people … took Paul, and drew him out of the temple.”

31 And
as they went about to kill him
, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.

32 Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them: and
when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating of Paul.

(21.31-32) “As they went about to kill him … when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating of Paul.”

33 Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and demanded who he was, and what he had done.

34 And some cried one thing, some another, among the multitude: and when he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle.

35 And when he came upon the stairs, so it was, that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people.

36 For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, Away with him.

37 And as Paul was to be led into the castle, he said unto the chief captain, May I speak unto thee? Who said, Canst thou speak Greek?

38 Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers?

39 But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people.

40
And
when he had given him licence,
Paul stood on the stairs, and
beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when there was made a great silence, he
spake
unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying,

(21.40)
“And … Paul stood on the stairs, and … spake.”

22
Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you.

2 (And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,)

3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.

4 And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.

5 As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.

(22.6-10) Paul repeats the same stupid story that was told in chapter 9. (Well, not quite the same. Some of the details were changed to make it more interesting.)

6 And it came to pass, that,
as I
made my journey, and
was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light
round about me.

(22.6)
“As I … was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light.”

7
And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

(22.7) “And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?”

8 And
I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.

(22.8)
“I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.”

9 And
they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.

(22.9)
“They that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.”
450 Did the men with Paul hear a voice?

10 And
I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.

(22.10)
“I said, What shall I do, LORD? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.”

11 And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus.

12 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there,

13 Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him.

14 And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.

15 For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.

16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

17 And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance;

18 And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.

19 And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee:

20 And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.

21 And he said unto me, Depart: for
I will send thee
far hence
unto the Gentiles.

(22.21) “I will send thee … unto the Gentiles.”
352 Should the gospel be preached to everyone?

(22.22-23) The people heard Paul’s speech, but didn’t like it very much. After listening to it, they took off their clothes, threw dust in the air, and told the soldiers to kill him.

22 And
they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.

(22.22)
“They gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.”

23 And as
they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air
,

(22.23)
“They cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air.”

24 The chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he might know wherefore they cried so against him.

25 And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?

26 When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman.

27 Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea.

28 And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born.

29 Then straightway they departed from him which should have examined him: and the chief captain also was afraid, after he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.

30 On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them.

23
And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.

2 And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.

3
Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall
: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?