But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, highly respected by all the people, got up in the council and gave orders to put the men out of the council a little while;

and dragged him out of the city and continued stoning him. The witnesses, in the meantime, laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.

and dragged him out of the city and continued stoning him. The witnesses, in the meantime, laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.

Saul heartily approved of his being put to death. So on that day a severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all of them, except the apostles, were scattered over Judea and Samaria.

Now Saul, as he was still breathing threats of murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest

As he traveled on he finally approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.

His fellow-travelers stood speechless, for they heard the voice but could not see anyone.

And the Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called 'The Straight Street,' and ask at the house of Judas for one named Saul, from Tarsus, for he is now praying there.

But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name to the heathen and their kings, and to the descendants of Israel.

and at once he began to preach in their synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.

After several days had gone by, the Jews laid a plot to murder him,

Barnabas, however, took him up and presented him to the apostles, and he told them how on the road he had seen the Lord, and how the Lord had spoken to him, and how courageously he had spoken in the name of Jesus at Damascus.

So when the brothers found this out, they took him down to Caesarea, and from there sent him back to Tarsus.

Now the fugitives from the persecution that started over Stephen went all the way to Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, telling the message to none but Jews.

and after he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. Now for a whole year their meeting with the church lasted, and they taught large numbers of people. It was at Antioch too that the disciples first came to be known as "Christians."

And this they did and sent it to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.

When Barnabas and Saul had finished their helpful service, they returned from Jerusalem, and took along with them John who was called Mark.

Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who is called Niger, Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen who was an intimate friend of the governor, and Saul.

Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who is called Niger, Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen who was an intimate friend of the governor, and Saul.

So, as they were sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from that port sailed away to Cyprus.

Then they went through the whole island as far as Paphos, and there they found a Jewish magician and false prophet whose name was Barjesus.

Then Paul got up and motioned with his hand and said: "Fellow Israelites, and you who reverence God, listen!

and shouted, "Men, why are you doing this? We are merely men with natures like your own, who are telling you the good news, so that you may turn from these foolish things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and all that they contain.

and from there they sailed back to Antioch, where they had first been committed to God's favor for the work which they had finished.

Some people came down from Judea and began to teach the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised in accordance with the custom that Moses handed down, you cannot be saved." So, as a dire disturbance and a serious discussion had been created between Paul and Barnabas and them, they decided that Paul and Barnabas and some others from their number should go up to Jerusalem to confer with the apostles and elders about this question. read more. So they were endorsed and sent on by the church, and as they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told of the conversion of the heathen and brought great rejoicing to all the brothers. When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, the apostles, and the elders, and they reported what God had done through them as instruments. But some members of the Pharisaic party, who had become believers, arose and said that such converts must be circumcised and told to keep the law of Moses. Now the apostles and elders met to consider this matter. After a lengthy discussion Peter got up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that in the early days God chose among you that through me the heathen should hear the message of the good news and believe it.

After a lengthy discussion Peter got up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that in the early days God chose among you that through me the heathen should hear the message of the good news and believe it. And God who knows men's hearts testifies for them by giving them the Holy Spirit, as He did us, read more. and in this way He put no difference between us and them, because He cleansed their hearts by faith. Then why do you now try to test God by putting on these disciples' necks a yoke which neither our forefathers nor we could bear? In fact, we believe that it is through the favor of the Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are." By this he quieted the whole congregation, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul tell of the signs and wonders which God had done through them among the heathen. When they finished, James responded as follows: "Brothers, listen to me. Symeon has told how God at first graciously visited the heathen to take from among them a people to bear His name. The words of the prophets are in accord with this, as it is written: 'After this I will return and rebuild David's fallen dwelling; I will rebuild its ruins and set it up again, So that the rest of mankind may earnestly seek the Lord, Yes, all the heathen who are called by my name, says the Lord, who has been making this known from ages past.' So I give it as my opinion, we ought not to put difficulties in the way of the heathen who turn to God, but we should write them to abstain from everything that is contaminated by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals, and from tasting blood. For Moses from the ancient generations has had his preachers in every town, and on every sabbath has been read aloud in the synagogues." Then the apostles and elders in cooperation with the whole church passed a resolution to select and send some men of their number with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch. These were Judas, who was called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers. They sent this letter by them: "The apostles and elders as brothers send greeting to the brothers from among the heathen in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. As we have heard that some of our number have disturbed you by their teaching, by continuing to unsettle your minds, we have passed a unanimous resolution to select and send messengers to you with our beloved brothers Barnabas and Paul, who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. So we send Judas and Silas to you, to bring you the same message by word of mouth. For the Holy Spirit and we have decided not to lay upon you any burden but these essential requirements, that you abstain from everything that is offered to idols, from tasting blood, from the meat of animals that have been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves free from these things, you will prosper. Good-by."

Some days after this Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the brothers in every town where we preached the Lord's message, to see how they are."

There Paul had a vision one night: a man from Macedonia kept standing and pleading with him in these words, "Come over to Macedonia and help us!"

From there we went on to Philippi, a Roman colony, the leading town in that part of Macedonia. In this town we stayed some days.

and to advocate practices which it is against the law for us Romans to accept or observe."

But Paul said to them, "They beat us in public and that without a trial, and put us in jail although we are Roman citizens! Let them come here themselves and take us out!"

So Paul, as he usually did, went to the synagogue, and for three sabbaths discussed with them the Scriptures,

So Paul stood up in the center of the auditorium and said: "Men of Athens, at every turn I make I see that you are very religious.

So Paul stood up in the center of the auditorium and said: "Men of Athens, at every turn I make I see that you are very religious.

and as they all had the same trade, they proceeded to work together.

When he reached Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church there; then he went down to Antioch.

And now I know that none of you among whom I went about preaching the kingdom will ever see my face again.

I have never coveted any man's silver or gold or clothes.

Paul answered, "I am a Jew from Tarsus, in Cilicia, a citizen of no insignificant city. Please let me speak to the people." He granted the request, and Paul, as he was standing on the steps, made a gesture to the people, and after everybody had quieted down, he spoke to them in Hebrew as follows:

When they heard him speaking to them in Hebrew, they became even more quiet, and he continued: "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up here in this city, and carefully educated under the teaching of Gamaliel in the law of our forefathers. I was zealous for God, as all of you are today.

as the high priest and the whole council will bear me witness. Indeed, I had received letters from them to the brothers in Damascus, and I was on the way there to bind those who were there and bring them back to Jerusalem to be punished.

I answered, 'Who are you, Sir?' He said to me, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth whom you are persecuting.' The men who were with me saw the light, but they did not hear the voice of Him who was speaking to me.

After I had come back to Jerusalem, one day while I was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance,

Then He said to me, 'Go, because I am to send you out and far away among the heathen.'"

But when they had tied him for the flogging, Paul asked the captain who was standing by, "Is it lawful for you to flog a Roman, and one who is uncondemned at that?"

Then the colonel said, "I paid a large sum for this citizenship of mine." Paul said, "But I was born a citizen."

Paul fixed his eyes upon the council and said, "Brothers, with a clear conscience I have done my duty to God up to this very day."

Because Paul knew that part of them were Sadducees and part of them Pharisees, he began to cry out in the council chamber, "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a Pharisee's son, and now I am on trial for the hope of the resurrection of the dead."

Because Paul knew that part of them were Sadducees and part of them Pharisees, he began to cry out in the council chamber, "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a Pharisee's son, and now I am on trial for the hope of the resurrection of the dead."

But Paul's nephew heard of the plot and came to the barracks and told Paul.

"The kind of life I have lived from my youth up, as spent in my early days among my own nation and in Jerusalem, is well known to all Jews,

"The kind of life I have lived from my youth up, as spent in my early days among my own nation and in Jerusalem, is well known to all Jews, for they have known all along from the first, if they would but testify to it, that I as a Pharisee have lived by the standard of the strictest sect of our religion.

That was what I did at Jerusalem; yes, I received authority from the high priests and shut behind the prison bars many of God's people. Yes, when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them, and often in all the synagogues

While in this business I once was on my way to Damascus with authority based on a commission from the high priests,

I will continue to rescue you from the Jewish people and from the heathen to whom I am going to send you,

So Paul for two whole years lived in a rented house of his own; he continued to welcome everybody who came to see him;

Paul, a slave of Jesus Christ, called as an apostle, set apart to preach God's good news,

through whom we have received God's favor and a commission as an apostle in His name to urge upon all the heathen obedience inspired by faith,

First, through Jesus Christ I thank my God for you all, because the report of your faith is spreading all over the world.

Then what are we to say about our forefather Abraham?

for I could wish myself accursed, even cut off from Christ, for the sake of my brothers, my natural kinsmen.

Brothers, my heart's good will goes out for them, and my prayer to God is that they may be saved.

I say then, God has not disowned His people, has He? Of course not! Why, I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin.

I say then, God has not disowned His people, has He? Of course not! Why, I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin.

Yes, I now am speaking to you who are a part of the heathen peoples. As I am an apostle to the heathen peoples, I am making the most of my ministry to them, to see

And again: "Rejoice, you heathen peoples, with His people!"

in making me a minister of Christ Jesus to the heathen peoples, to have me act as a sacrificing minister of the good news, in order that my offering of the heathen peoples to God may be acceptable, consecrated by the Holy Spirit.

when I make my trip to Spain, I certainly hope to see you on my way there and to be helped forward by you, after I have enjoyed being with you awhile.

So, after I have finished this matter and made sure of the results of this contribution for them, I shall come by you on my way to Spain.

I wrote you in my letter to stop associating with sexually immoral people --

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the product of my work for the Lord?

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the product of my work for the Lord?

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the product of my work for the Lord?

But I myself have never used any of these rights. And I am not writing this just to make it so in my case, for I had rather die than do that. No one shall rob me of this ground of boasting.

He was seen by me, too, as though I were born out of time.

He was seen by me, too, as though I were born out of time. For I belong to the lowest rank of the apostles, and am not fit to bear the title apostle, because I once persecuted the church of God.

Now I am going to tell you, brothers, of God's spiritual blessing which was given in the churches of Macedonia,

and when I was with you and needed money, I never burdened a single one of you for a cent, for the brothers came from Macedonia and supplied what I needed. And so I kept myself, as I shall always do, from being a burden to you in any way.

Five times I have taken thirty-nine lashes from the Jews,

At Damascus the governor under King Aretas kept guards watching the city gates to capture me,

So, to keep me from being over-elated, there was sent upon me a physical disease, sharp as a piercing stake, a messenger of Satan, to continue afflicting me, and so to keep me, I repeat, from being over-elated.

Paul, an apostle sent not from men or by any man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead --

for I did not get it from any man; I was not taught it, but I got it through a revelation given by Jesus Christ.

and how I outstripped many of my own age among my people in my devotion to the Jewish religion, because I surpassed all others in my zeal for the traditions handed down by my forefathers.

and before I went up to Jerusalem to see those who had been apostles before me, I retired to Arabia, and afterwards returned to Damascus.

and before I went up to Jerusalem to see those who had been apostles before me, I retired to Arabia, and afterwards returned to Damascus.

and before I went up to Jerusalem to see those who had been apostles before me, I retired to Arabia, and afterwards returned to Damascus. Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas, but I spent only two weeks with him;

After that I went into the districts of Syria and Cilicia.

Then, fourteen years later, I again went up to Jerusalem, with Barnabas, and took Titus with me too.

On the contrary, because they saw that I had been entrusted with the good news for the heathen, just as Peter had been entrusted with it for the Jews --

Now when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.

And yet you know that it was because of an illness of mine that I preached the good news to you the first time,

So you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but you are fellow-citizens of God's people and members of His family;

yes, on me, the very least of all His people, this unmerited favor was bestowed -- that I might preach as good news to the heathen the boundless riches of Christ,

I am hesitating between two desires, for I long to depart and to be with Christ, for that is far, far better,

Only you must practice living lives that are worthy of the good news, so that whether I come and see you or stay away, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, and that with one purpose you are continuing to cooperate in the fight for faith in the good news.

Keep on fostering the same disposition that Christ Jesus had.

Really, I am trusting that by the help of the Lord I soon shall come myself.

circumcised when I was a week old; a descendant of Israel; a member of the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew, a son of Hebrews. Measured by the law, I was a Pharisee;

circumcised when I was a week old; a descendant of Israel; a member of the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew, a son of Hebrews. Measured by the law, I was a Pharisee;

circumcised when I was a week old; a descendant of Israel; a member of the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew, a son of Hebrews. Measured by the law, I was a Pharisee;

circumcised when I was a week old; a descendant of Israel; a member of the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew, a son of Hebrews. Measured by the law, I was a Pharisee;

But for Christ's sake I have counted all that was gain to me as loss.

And you Philippians yourselves know that immediately after the good news was first preached to you, when I left Macedonia, no church but yours went into partnership with me to open an account of credits and debits.

Paul, by God's will an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Timothy,

in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are stored up.

Masters, you must practice doing the right and square things by your slaves, for you know that you have a Master in heaven.

(1:7) For the message of the Lord has rung out from you, not only in Macedonia and Greece, but everywhere the report of your faith in God has been told, so that we need never mention it. For the people themselves tell us what a welcome you gave us, and how you turned from idols to the true God, to serve the God who lives on and is real,

For you know yourselves, brothers, that our visit to you was by no means a failure.

You remember, brothers, our hard labor and toil. We kept up our habit of working night and day, in order not to be a burden to any of you when we preached to you.

For you, brothers, followed the example of God's churches in Judea that are in union with Christ Jesus, for you too have suffered the same sort of ill-treatment at the hands of your fellow-countrymen as they did at the hands of the Jews,

Because we did want to come to see you; I mean, that I myself, Paul, wanted again and again to come, but Satan prevented it.

So when I could not bear it any longer, I decided to be left behind in Athens alone,

Also we do not want you to have any misunderstanding, brothers, about those who are falling asleep, so as to keep you from grieving over them as others do who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, then through Jesus, God will bring back with Him those who have fallen asleep. read more. For on the Lord's own authority we say that those of us who may be left behind and are still living when the Lord comes back, will have no advantage at all over those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself, at the summons sounded by the archangel's call and by God's trumpet, will come down from heaven, and first of all the dead in union with Christ will rise, then those of us who are still living will be caught up along with them on clouds in the air to meet the Lord, and so we shall be with the Lord forever. So continue encouraging one another with this truth.

not to let your minds be easily unsettled or even be excited, whether by some message by the Spirit or by some saying or letter that is claimed as coming from me, saying that the day of the Lord is already here.

I did not eat any man's bread without paying for it, but with toil and hard labor I worked night and day, in order not to be a burden to any of you.

This greeting is in my own hand, Paul's; it is the mark in every letter of mine. This is my handwriting.

who forbid people to marry and teach them to abstain from certain sorts of food which God created for the grateful enjoyment of those who have faith and a clear knowledge of the truth.

So I would have the younger women marry, have children, and keep house, so as not to give our opponents any occasion for slander.

Stop drinking water only, but take a little wine to strengthen your stomach and relieve its frequent attacks.

Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you; continue to turn away from the worldly, futile phrases and contradictions of what is falsely called "knowledge,"

I thank God, whom I worship, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as I ceaselessly remember you in my prayers. Because I remember the tears you shed for me, I am always longing night and day

on being reminded of your genuine faith, a faith that first found a home in the heart of your grandmother Lois, then in the heart of your mother Eunice, and now in yours too, I am sure.

So you must never be ashamed of me His prisoner, but suffer for the good news in fellowship with me and by the power of God.

You know that everyone here who belongs to the Roman province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes. May the Lord show mercy to the family of Onesiphorus, because he often cheered me and was not ashamed of the chains I wore. read more. Yes, when he got to Rome he took pains to look me up and finally found me. The Lord grant that he may find mercy at His hands on that day. And you very well know yourself how great were the services he rendered me at Ephesus.

my persecutions, my sufferings, such as befell me at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra, such as I endured but the Lord delivered me out of them all.

and that from childhood you have known the sacred Scriptures which can give you wisdom that leads to salvation through the faith that leans on Christ Jesus.

Do your best to come to me soon, for Demas has forsaken me because he loved the present world, and has gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia; read more. Luke is the only one who is now with me. Pick up Mark and bring him with you, for he is of great service to me, and I have sent Tychicus off to Ephesus. When you come, bring the coat which I left with Carpus at Troas; bring the books, too, especially the parchments. Alexander, a worker in metal, did me ever so much harm. The Lord will repay him for what he did. You too must be on your guard against him, for he has vigorously opposed my teaching. When I first defended myself at court, nobody came to help me, but everybody deserted me. May it never be charged to their account.

When I first defended myself at court, nobody came to help me, but everybody deserted me. May it never be charged to their account. But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that the message preached by me might have its full effect and all the heathen might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's jaws. read more. The Lord will rescue me from every wicked work and save me to His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen. Remember me to Prisca and Aquila, and to the family of Onesiphorus. Erastus stayed in Corinth; I left Trophimus sick at Miletus. Do your best to get here before winter. Eubulus wishes to be remembered to you, and so do Prudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers. The Lord be with your spirit. Spiritual blessing be with you all.

whose mouths must be stopped, for they upset whole families by teaching things they ought not to think, for the sake of dishonest gain.

by ceasing to give attention to Jewish myths and to the commands of men who turn their backs on the truth.

In everything you yourself continue to set them a worthy example of doing good; be sincere and serious in your teaching,

And have a guest-room ready for me, too, for I hope that through your prayers I shall have the gracious privilege of coming to you.