Paul is arraigned before the Sanhedrim at Jerusalem. He had the day preceding been murderously set upon by a Jewish mob, from whose hands he was with difficulty rescued by a Roman officer, to be held as a prisoner supposed of infamous character. While Paul is thus held, a conspiracy of desperate Jews is formed by Shimei against his life. This conspiracy is fortunately discovered and exposed by Stephen, a young nephew of the apostle, acting at the instance of his mother Rachel, Paul's sister, and under the advice of Gamaliel, Paul's old teacher. THE EPIC OF PAUL. PLOT AND COUNTERPLOT. The Sanhedrim once more, with Saul arraigned, Saul now no longer, and no longer young, Paul his changed name, to note his nature changed. Confronting frown on him, a prisoner, Paul's colleagues of the days when he was Saul. Shimei, with smile, or scowl, uncertain which, Hatred and pleasure both at once expressed, Pleasure of hatred gratified, with more Hatred than could be wholly gratified-- His pristine aspect worse and worse deformed. Sore vexed at heart were all the Sanhedrim That now the victim of their wished despite-- Thrice the more hated as erst so beloved, Christian apostate the once zealot Jew!-- Stood there but doubtfully within their power; The Roman sway had cited him--and them. For, yesterday, Paul in the temple-court Had with fierce violence been set upon By Jews who thought the holy place profaned Through his unlawful bringing thither in Of gentile Greeks--had there been set upon And thence dragged forth with blows that purposed death. But, as when Stephen suffered, so again Now intervened the Roman, and this time Forbade the turbulence and rescued Paul-- Rescued, but double-bound his hands with chains. Demanding then who was the prisoner, And what his crime, and nothing learning clear Amid the hubbub loud of various charge, The Roman chiliarch was conducting Paul Into the castle, by the soldiers borne-- Hardly so wrested from the eager hands Of those enraged who thirsted for his blood, And rent the air crying, "Away with him!"-- When calmly to his captor-savior, he Addressed himself and asked, "May I to thee A few words speak?" "Greek understandest thou?" Exclaimed the Roman. "Art thou then not he, Not that Egyptian, who but late stirred up Sedition, and into the wilderness Led out a company four thousand strong Of the Assassins?" "I a Hebrew am," Said Paul, "of Tarsus in Cilicia, Of no mean city citizen. Let me, I pray thee, speak unto the multitude."