From: ngninja@baptist.email   
      
   Bible Reading for November 22   
      
   Acts Chapter 24   
      
   1 And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders,   
   and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor   
   against Paul.   
      
   2 And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying,   
   Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds   
   are done unto this nation by thy providence,   
      
   3 We accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all   
   thankfulness.   
      
   4 Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee   
   that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words.   
      
   5 For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition   
   among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of   
   the Nazarenes:   
      
   6 Who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and   
   would have judged according to our law.   
      
   7 But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence   
   took him away out of our hands,   
      
   8 Commanding his accusers to come unto thee: by examining of whom   
   thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him.   
      
   9 And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so.   
      
   10 Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak,   
   answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge   
   unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself:   
      
   11 Because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve   
   days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship.   
      
   12 And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man,   
   neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city:   
      
   13 Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me.   
      
   14 But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call   
   heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which   
   are written in the law and in the prophets:   
      
   15 And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that   
   there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.   
      
   16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of   
   offence toward God, and toward men.   
      
   17 Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings.   
      
   18 Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple,   
   neither with multitude, nor with tumult.   
      
   19 Who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had   
   ought against me.   
      
   20 Or else let these same here say, if they have found any evil doing in   
   me, while I stood before the council,   
      
   21 Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them,   
   Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you   
   this day.   
      
   22 And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of   
   that way, he deferred them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain   
   shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter.   
      
   23 And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have   
   liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister   
   or come unto him.   
      
   24 And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which   
   was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in   
   Christ.   
      
   25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to   
   come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I   
   have a convenient season, I will call for thee.   
      
   26 He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he   
   might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed   
   with him.   
      
   27 But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix' room: and Felix,   
   willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.   
      
   Acts Chapter 25   
      
   1 Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he   
   ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem.   
      
   2 Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against   
   Paul, and besought him,   
      
   3 And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to   
   Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.   
      
   4 But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he   
   himself would depart shortly thither.   
      
   5 Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, go down with   
   me, and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him.   
      
   6 And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down   
   unto Caesarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded   
   Paul to be brought.   
      
   7 And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood   
   round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which   
   they could not prove.   
      
   8 While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews,   
   neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any   
   thing at all.   
      
   9 But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and   
   said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things   
   before me?   
      
   10 Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to   
   be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest.   
      
   11 For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death,   
   I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these   
   accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar.   
      
   12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast   
   thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go.   
      
   13 And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea to   
   salute Festus.   
      
   14 And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul's cause   
   unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix:   
      
   15 About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders   
   of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him.   
      
   16 To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any   
   man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to   
   face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid   
   against him.   
      
   17 Therefore, when they were come hither, without any delay on the   
   morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought   
   forth.   
      
   18 Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation   
   of such things as I supposed:   
      
   19 But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and   
   of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.   
      
   20 And because I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked him   
   whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters.   
      
   21 But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of   
   Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar.   
      
   22 Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To   
   morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.   
      
   23 And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)