King James Version · Under Rome
Acts 24
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And after five days the descended with the , and with a certain orator named , who informed the governor against . And when he was called forth, 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, We accept it always, and in all places, most noble , with all thankfulness. Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency words. For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes: Who also hath gone about to profane : whom we took, and would have judged according to our law. 7But the chief captain came upon us, and with great took him away out of our hands, Commanding his accusers to come unto thee: by examining of whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him. And the also assented, saying that these things were so. Then , 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: Because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to for to . And they neither found me in disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the , nor in the city: Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me. But this I unto thee, that after which they call heresy, so I the of my fathers, believing all things which are written in and in : And have toward , which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a of , both of the and unjust. And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a void of offence toward , and toward men. Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and . Whereupon certain from found me purified in , neither with multitude, nor with tumult. Who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had ought against me. 20Or else let these same here say, if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before , Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the of I am called in question by you this day. And when heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and said, When the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter. And he commanded a to keep , and to let him have , and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto him. And after certain days, when came with his wife , which was a Jewess, he sent for , and heard him concerning the in Christ. And as he reasoned of , temperance, and to come, trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. He also that money should have been given him of , that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him. But after two years Porcius came into ’ room: and , willing to shew the a pleasure, left bound.
The 1611 translation, public domain. Its original printing included the Apocrypha, which is why the deuterocanonical books can be read here. Notes and cards are EKLI’s own.
The world at this moment · Under Rome, 63 BC to AD 100 ›
Judea as a client kingdom and then a province. Roads, garrisons, taxes, crucifixion, and a common Greek language that let a message travel the empire faster than any before it.
- Rome
- The republic tears itself apart in civil war and comes out as an empire under Augustus. What follows is two centuries of relative peace across the whole Mediterranean, enforced by legions and paid for by taxes, with safe roads and safe sea lanes. Every one of Paul's journeys depends on that.
- Judea
- Governed first through Herod the Great, a client king of enormous ability and enormous brutality who rebuilds the temple into one of the wonders of the ancient world, then directly by Roman prefects. Crucifixion is the standard penalty for sedition and is used often and publicly.
- The wider world
- Greek is spoken from Spain to Syria, which means a letter written in Corinth can be read in Rome without translation. Jewish communities already exist in most major cities, which is where the first Christian preaching lands. Mystery religions, imperial cult, and philosophy all compete in the same marketplace.
- Further afield
- The Han dynasty rules China and trades silk westward along routes that touch the Roman world at second hand. In Britain the Roman conquest begins within a decade of the crucifixion.