So you must be on your guard and remember that for three years, night and day, I never stopped warning any of you, even with tears.

You know well enough that these hands of mine provided for my needs and my companions.

I showed you in every way that by hard work like that we must help those who are weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, for he said, 'It makes one happier to give than to be given to.' "

for they were especially saddened at his saying that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.

They have been told that you teach all Jews who live among the heathen to turn away from Moses, and that you tell them not to circumcise their children nor to observe the old customs.

What then? They will be sure to hear that you have come.

Join them, undergo the rites of purification with them, and pay their expenses so that they can have their heads shaved. Then everybody will understand that there is no truth in the stories about you, but that you yourself observe the Law.

As for the heathen who have become believers, we have written them our decision that they must avoid anything that has been contaminated by idols, the tasting of blood, the meat of strangled animals, and immorality."

For they had previously seen Trophimus of Ephesus with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the Temple.

They were trying to kill him when the news reached the colonel of the regiment that all Jerusalem was in a tumult.

And I said, 'Lord, they know that I used to go through one synagogue after another, and to imprison and flog those who believed in you,

They had listened to him until he said that, but then they shouted, "Kill him and get him out of the world! A creature like that ought not to be allowed to live!"

the colonel ordered Paul brought into the barracks, and gave directions that he should be examined under the lash, so that he might find out why they made such an outcry against him.

Then the men who had been going to examine him immediately left him, and the colonel himself was alarmed to find that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had had him bound.

"I did not know, brothers," said Paul, "that he was high priest, for the Scripture says, 'You shall not say anything against any ruler of your people.' "

Knowing that part of them were Sadducees and part of them Pharisees, Paul called out in the council, "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, and the son of Pharisees! It is for my hope for the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial!"

When he said that, a dispute arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the meeting was divided.

For the Sadducees hold that there is no resurrection and that there are no angels or spirits, while the Pharisees believe in all three.

As the dispute was becoming violent, the colonel began to be afraid that they would tear Paul in pieces, and ordered the soldiers to go down and get him away from them and bring him into the barracks.

Now you and the council must suggest to the colonel that he should have Paul brought down to you, as you mean to look into his case more carefully, and we will be ready to kill him before he gets down."

So the colonel took him by the arm and stepping aside where they could be alone, asked, "What is it that you have to tell me?"

"The Jews," he answered, "have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, on the ground that you mean to have a fuller inquiry made into his case.

So the colonel sent the youth away, directing him not to tell anyone that he had given him this information.

They were also to provide horses for Paul to ride, so that they might take him in safety to Felix, the governor,

This man had been seized by the Jews and they were just going to kill him when I came upon them with my men and rescued him, as I had learned that he was a Roman citizen.

and found that their accusations had to do with questions about their Law, but that he was not charged with anything that would call for his death or imprisonment.

As I have been informed that a plot against him is brewing, I am sending him on to you at once, and directing his accusers to present their charges against him before you."

Then the soldiers took Paul, as they had been ordered to do, and escorted him as far as Antipatris that night.

After reading the letter, he asked Paul what province he belonged to, and when he learned that he was from Cilicia,

he said, "I will hear your case as soon as your accusers arrive." And he gave orders that he should be kept in Herod's palace.

The Jews also joined in these charges, and said that the statement was true.

The governor made a sign to Paul to speak, and he answered, "As I know that for many years you have acted as judge for this nation, I cheerfully undertake my defense,

for it is not more than twelve days ago, as you can easily satisfy yourself, that I went up to worship at Jerusalem,

I admit that in worshiping the God of my forefathers I follow the way of life that they call a sect, but I believe everything that is taught in the Law or written in the prophets,

and I have the same hope in God that they themselves hold, that there is to be a resurrection of the upright and the wicked.

Or let these men themselves tell what they found wrong in me when I appeared before the council??21 unless it was the one thing I shouted out as I stood among them??It is on the question of the resurrection of the dead that I am here on trial before you today!' "

At the same time he hoped to get money from Paul, and for that reason he used to send for him very often and talk with him.

Festus answered that Paul was being kept in custody at Caesarea, and that he himself was going there soon.

If I am guilty and have done anything that deserves death, I do not refuse to die; but if there is no truth in the charges that these men make against me, no one can give me up to them; I appeal to the emperor."

I told them that it was not the Roman custom to give anybody up until the accused met his accusers face to face and had a chance to defend himself against their accusations.

Then Festus said, "King Agrippa and all who are present, you see here the man about whom the whole Jewish people have applied to me both at Jerusalem and here, clamoring that he ought not to live any longer.

I could not find that he had done anything for which he deserved death, but as he appealed to his Majesty I decided to send him to him.

"I think myself fortunate, King Agrippa," said he, "that it is before you that I am to defend myself today against all the things the Jews charge me with,

for they have known from the first, if they are willing to give evidence, that I was a Pharisee and my life was that of the strictest sect of our religion.

Even now it is for my hope in the promise that God made to our forefathers that I stand here on trial,

the promise in the hope of seeing which fulfilled our twelve tribes serve God zealously night and day. It is about this hope, your Majesty, that I am accused by some Jews.

Why do you all think it incredible that God should raise the dead?

That was what I did at Jerusalem when on the authority of the high priests I put many of God's people in prison. When they were put to death, I cast my vote against them,

to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light and from Satan's control to God, so that they may have their sins forgiven and have a place among those who are consecrated through faith in me.'

Therefore, King Agrippa, I did not disobey that heavenly vision,

but first to the people of Damascus and Jerusalem and then all over Judea, and even to the heathen I preached that they must repent and turn to God and live as men who have repented should.

That is why the Jews seized me in the Temple and tried to kill me.

The king knows about this, and I can speak to him with freedom. I do not believe that he missed any of this, for it did not happen in a corner!

King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do!"

"In a hurry or not," said Paul, "I would to God that not only you, but all who hear me today, might be what I am??xcept for these chains!"

When it was decided that we were to sail for Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were turned over to an officer of the Imperial regiment, named Julius.

"Gentlemen," he said, "I see that this voyage is likely to end in disaster and heavy loss, not only to ship and cargo but to our own lives also."

So keep up your courage, gentlemen! For I have faith in God that it will be just as I was told.

It was the fourteenth night of the storm, and we were drifting through the Adriatic when about midnight the sailors began to suspect that there was land ahead.

The sailors wanted to escape from the ship, and actually lowered the boat into the sea, pretending that they were going to run out anchors from the bow,

Then the soldiers cut the ropes that held the boat and let it drift away.

After our escape we learned that the island was called Malta.

The natives showed us remarkable kindness, for they made a fire and welcomed us, because of the rain that had come on and the cold.

They expected to see him swell up or suddenly fall dead, but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.

The governor of the island, whose name was Publius, had estates in that part of the island, and he welcomed us and entertained us hospitably for three days.

After that, the other sick people on the island came and were cured.

They made us many presents, and when we sailed, they provided us with everything that we needed.

They examined me and were ready to let me go, as I was innocent of any crime that deserved death.

But the Jews objected, and I was obliged to appeal to the emperor??ot that I had any charge to make against my own nation.

That is why I asked to see you and speak with you, for it is on account of Israel's hope that I have to wear this chain."

But we want to hear you state your views, for as far as this sect is concerned, we understand that everywhere it is denounced."

"Understand then that this message of God's salvation has been sent to the heathen. They will listen to it!"

and to ask that somehow by God's will I may some day at last succeed in reaching you.

For I long to see you, to convey to you some spiritual gift that will strengthen you;

in other words, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by one another's faith.

I want you to understand, brothers, that I have often intended to come to see you (though thus far I have been prevented) in order to produce some results among you, as well as among the rest of the heathen.

For all that can be known of God is clearly before them; God has shown it to them.

That is why God has abandoned them to degrading passions. Their women have exchanged their natural function for one that is unnatural,

They know God's decree that those who act in this way deserve to die, yet they not only do it, but applaud any who do.

We know that God's judgment rightfully falls upon those who do such things as these.

And do you suppose, when you sit in judgment upon those who do such things and yet do them yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God?

Do you think so lightly of his wealth of kindness, forbearance, and patience, and fail to see that God's kindness ought to induce you to repent?

crushing distress and anguish, every human soul of them that actually does what is wrong??he Jew first, and the Greek also;

for they show that what the Law demands is written on their hearts, and their consciences will testify for them, and with their thoughts they will either accuse or perhaps defend themselves,

on that Day when, as the good news I preach teaches, God through Christ Jesus judges what men have kept secret,

and you are sure that you can guide the blind, enlighten people who are in the dark,

By no means! God must prove true, though every man be false; as the Scripture says, "That you may be shown to be upright in what you say, And win your case when you go into court."

And why not say, as people abuse us for saying and charge us with saying, "Let us do evil that good may come out of it"? Such people will be condemned as they deserve!

Now we know that everything the Law says is addressed to those under its authority, so that every mouth may be shut, and the whole world be made accountable to God.

For no human being can be made upright in the sight of God by observing the Law. All that the Law can do is to make man conscious of sin.

For God showed him publicly dying as a sacrifice of reconciliation to be taken advantage of through faith. This was to vindicate his own justice (for in his forbearance, God passed over men's former sins)??26 to vindicate his justice at the present time, and show that he is upright himself, and that he makes those who have faith in Jesus upright also.

For we hold that a man is made upright by faith; the observance of the Law has nothing to do with it.

and he was afterward given the mark of circumcision as the stamp of God's acknowledgment of the uprightness based on faith that was his before he was circumcised, so that he should be the forefather of all who, without being circumcised, have faith and so are credited with uprightness,

For the promise made to Abraham and his descendants that the world should belong to him did not come to him or his descendants through the Law, but through the uprightness that resulted from his faith.

That is why it all turns upon faith; it is to make it a matter of God's favor, so that the promise may hold good for all Abraham's descendants, not only those who are adherents of the Law, but also those who share the faith of Abraham. For he is the father of all of us;

His faith did not weaken, although he realized that his own body was worn out, for he was about a hundred years old, and that Sarah was past bearing children.

in the full assurance that God was able to do what he had promised.

That was why it was credited to him as uprightness.

It was not on his account alone that these words, "it was credited to him," were written,

by whom we have been introduced through faith to the favor of God that we now enjoy, and let us glory in our hope of sharing the glory of God.