But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law highly regarded by all the people, got up in the council and ordered the men to be removed for a while,

and dragged him out of the city and stoned him, the witnesses throwing down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.

and dragged him out of the city and stoned him, the witnesses throwing down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.

And Saul entirely approved of his being put to death. A great persecution of the church in Jerusalem broke out that day, and they were all scattered over Judea and Samaria except the apostles.

Now Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the Lord's disciples, went to the high priest,

But on his journey, as he was approaching Damascus, a sudden light flashed around him from heaven,

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

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

The Lord said to him, "Go! This man is the means I have chosen for carrying my name among the heathen and their kings, and among the descendants of Israel.

and began at once to declare in the synagogues that Jesus was the Son of God.

After some time had passed, the Jews made a plot to kill him,

But Barnabas got hold of him and introduced him to the apostles, and he told them how on his journey he had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken to him, and how boldly he had spoken for the cause of Jesus at Damascus.

When the brothers found this out, they took him down to Caesarea, and sent him away to Tarsus.

The fugitives from the persecution that had broken out over Stephen went all the way to Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, but they told the message to none but Jews.

and found him and brought him to Antioch. The result was that for a whole year they met with the church, and taught large numbers of people, and it was at Antioch that the disciples first came to be known as Christians.

and this they did, sending it to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.

When Barnabas and Saul had performed their mission to Jerusalem, they went back, taking John who was called Mark with them.

There were at Antioch in the church there a number of prophets and teachers??arnabas, Symeon who was called Niger, Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod the governor, and Saul.

There were at Antioch in the church there a number of prophets and teachers??arnabas, Symeon who was called Niger, Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod the governor, and Saul.

Being sent out in this way by the holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.

They went through the whole island as far as Paphos, and there they came across a Jewish magician and false prophet named Barjesus.

Then Paul got up, and motioning with his hand, said, "Men of Israel, and you who reverence God, listen!

and shouting, "Friends, why are you doing this? We are only human beings like you, and we bring you the good news that you should turn from these follies to a 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 commended to God's favor for the work which they had now finished.

Some people came down from Judea and began to teach the brothers that unless they were circumcised as Moses prescribed, they could not be saved. This created a disturbance and a serious discussion between Paul and Barnabas and them, and it was agreed that Paul and Barnabas and some others of their number should go up to Jerusalem to confer with the apostles and elders about this question. read more. The church saw them off upon their journey, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria they told of the conversion of the heathen, and caused great rejoicing among all the brothers. When they reached Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, the apostles, and the elders, and they reported how God had worked with them. But some members of the Pharisees' party who had become believers got up and said that such converts ought to be circumcised and told to obey the Law of Moses. The apostles and elders had a meeting to look into this matter. After a long discussion, Peter got up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that in the early days God chose that of you all I should be the one from whose lips the heathen should hear the message of the good news and believe it.

After a long discussion, Peter got up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that in the early days God chose that of you all I should be the one from whose lips the heathen should hear the message of the good news and believe it. And God who knows men's hearts testified for them by giving them the holy Spirit just as he had done to us, read more. making no difference between us and them, but cleansing their hearts by faith. Then why do you now try to test God, by putting on the necks of these disciples a yoke that neither our forefathers nor we have been able to bear? Why, we believe that it is by the mercy of the Lord Jesus that we are saved just as they are." This quieted the whole meeting, and they listened while Barnabas and Paul told of the signs and wonders which God had done among the heathen through them. When they finished James made this response: "Brothers, listen to me. Symeon has told how God first showed an interest in taking from among the heathen a people to bear his name. And this agrees with the predictions of the prophets which say, " 'Afterward I will return, and rebuild David's fallen dwelling. I will rebuild its very ruins, and set it up again, So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, And all the heathen who are called by my name, Says the Lord, who has been making this known from of old.' In my opinion, therefore, we ought not to put obstacles in the way of those of the heathen who are turning to God, but we should write to them to avoid anything that has been contaminated by idols, immorality, the meat of strangled animals, and the tasting of blood. For Moses for generations past has had his preachers in every town, and has been read aloud in the synagogues every Sabbath." Then the apostles and elders with the whole church resolved to select representatives and send them with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch. They were Judas who was called Barsabbas, and Silas, both leading men among the brothers. They were the bearers of this letter: "The apostles and the brothers who are elders send greeting to the brothers of heathen birth in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. As we have heard that some of our number, without any instructions from us, have disturbed you by their teaching and unsettled your minds, we have unanimously resolved to select representatives and send them to you with our dear 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 give you this same message by word of mouth. For the holy Spirit and we have decided not to lay upon you any burden but this indispensable one, that you avoid whatever has been sacrificed to idols, the tasting of blood and of the meat of animals that have been strangled, and immorality. Keep yourselves free from these things and you will get on well. Goodbye."

Some time after, Paul said to Barnabas, "Come, let us go back and revisit the brothers in each of the towns where we made the Lord's message known, to see how they are doing."

There Paul had a vision one night; a Macedonian was standing appealing to him and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."

From there we went to Philippi, a Roman garrison town, and the principal place in that part of Macedonia. In this town we stayed for some days.

They are advocating practices which it is against the law for us as Romans to adopt or observe."

But Paul said to them, "They had us beaten in public without giving us a trial, and put us in jail, although we are Roman citizens! And now are they going to dismiss us secretly? By no means! Have them come here themselves and take us out!"

Paul went to it as he was accustomed to do, and for three Sabbaths he discussed the Scriptures with them,

Then Paul stood up in the middle of the council and said, "Men of Athens, from every point of view I see that you are extremely religious.

Then Paul stood up in the middle of the council and said, "Men of Athens, from every point of view I see that you are extremely religious.

and as they practiced the same trade, he stayed with them, and they worked together, for they were tent-makers.

When he reached Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem and paid his respects to the church, and then went on to Antioch.

Now I know perfectly well that none of you among whom I went about preaching the Kingdom of God will ever see my face again.

I have never coveted anyone's gold or silver or clothes.

"I am a Jew," Paul answered, "from Tarsus, in Cilicia, a citizen of no insignificant city. I beg you to let me speak to the people." He gave him permission, and Paul standing on the steps made a gesture to the people, and when they had become quiet he spoke to them in Hebrew.

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

as the high priest and the whole council will bear me witness. In fact, they gave me letters to the brothers in Damascus and I went there to bind those who were there and bring them back to Jerusalem to be punished.

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

After I had returned to Jerusalem, one day when I was praying in the Temple, I fell into a trance,

But he said to me, 'Go! I will send you far away to the heathen.' "

But when they had strapped him up, Paul said to the officer who was standing near, "Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen, and without giving him a trial?"

"I had to pay a large sum for my citizenship," said the colonel. "But I am a citizen by birth," said Paul.

Paul looked steadily at the council and said, "Brothers, I have done my duty to God with a perfectly clear conscience up to this very day."

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!"

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!"

But Paul's nephew heard of the plot, and he came and got into the barracks, and told Paul.

The way I lived from my youth up, spending my early life among my own nation and at Jerusalem, is well known to all Jews,

The way I lived from my youth up, spending my early life among my own nation and at Jerusalem, is well known to all Jews, 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.

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,

I was once going to Damascus on this business, authorized and commissioned by the high priests,

I will save you from your people and from the heathen, to whom I will send you

So he stayed for two full years in rented lodgings of his own, and welcomed everybody who came to see him,

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

through whom we have received God's favor and been commissioned in his name to urge obedience and faith upon all the heathen,

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

Then what are we to say about our ancestor Abraham?

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

Brothers, my heart is full of good will toward them; my prayer to God is that they may be saved.

I ask then, has God repudiated his people? By no means. Why, I am an Israelite myself, I am descended from Abraham, and I belong to the tribe of Benjamin.

I ask then, has God repudiated his people? By no means. Why, I am an Israelite myself, I am descended from Abraham, and I belong to the tribe of Benjamin.

But it is to you who are of the heathen that I am speaking. So far then as I am an apostle to the heathen, I make the most of my ministry,

And again, "Rejoice, you heathen, with his people!"

in making me a minister of Christ Jesus among the heathen, to act as a priest of God's good news, to see that the heathen are an acceptable sacrifice, consecrated by the holy Spirit.

when I go to Spain I hope to see you on my way there, and to have you see me off on my journey, after I have enjoyed being with you for a while.

So when I have finished this matter, and seen this contribution safely into their possession, I will start for Spain, and come to you on the way,

I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people??10 not that you are to have nothing whatever to do with the immoral people of the world, any more than with its greedy and grasping people or idolaters, for then you would have to leave the world altogether.

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the product of my work in the Lord's service?

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the product of my work in the Lord's service?

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the product of my work in the Lord's service?

But I have not availed myself of any of these rights. And I am not writing this now so that I may become an illustration of this; I had rather die than do that. No one shall deprive me of this boast of mine.

and finally he was seen by me also, as though I were born at the wrong time.

and finally he was seen by me also, as though I were born at the wrong time. For I am the least important of the apostles, and am not fit to be called an apostle, because I once persecuted God's church.

I must tell you, brothers, how the favor of God has been shown in the churches of Macedonia,

And when I was with you and wanted money, I did not burden any of you, for when the brothers came from Macedonia they supplied what I needed. So I kept myself, as I shall always do, from being a burden to you in any way.

Five times I have been given one less than forty lashes, by the Jews.

When I was at Damascus, the governor under King Aretas had the city gates watched in order to catch me,

So to keep me from being too much elated a bitter physical affliction was sent to me, a very messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too much elated.

Paul, an apostle not from men nor sent by any man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead??2 and all the brothers who are here with me, to the churches of Galatia;

I did not receive it from any man, and I was not taught it, but it came to me through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

and how I surpassed many of my own age among my people in my devotion to Judaism, I was so fanatically devoted to what my forefathers had handed down.

or going up to Jerusalem to see those who had been apostles before me, I went off to Arabia, and on my return came back to Damascus.

or going up to Jerusalem to see those who had been apostles before me, I went off to Arabia, and on my return came back to Damascus.

or going up to Jerusalem to see those who had been apostles before me, I went off to Arabia, and on my return came back to Damascus. Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem, to become acquainted with Cephas, and I spent two weeks with him;

After that, I went to the districts of Syria and Cilicia.

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

On the contrary, when they saw that I had been intrusted with the good news for the heathen, just as Peter had been intrusted with it for the Jews??8 for he who actuated Peter to be an apostle to the Jews also actuated me to be one to the heathen??9 and when they recognized the favor God had shown me, James, Cephas, and John, who were regarded as pillars of the church, pledged Barnabas and me their co-operation, with the understanding that we should work among the heathen and they among the Jews.

But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, for his own conduct condemned him.

though you know that it was because of an illness that I preached the good news to you that first time;

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

To me, the very least of all his people, this favor has been given, of preaching to the heathen the inexhaustible wealth of the Christ,

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

Whatever happens, show yourselves citizens worthy of the good news of the Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am kept away and only hear news of you, I may know that you are standing firm with one spirit, one purpose, fighting side by side for faith in the good news.

Have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

I trust the Lord to enable me to come to you myself before long.

I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a descendant of Israel. I belong to the tribe of Benjamin. I am a Hebrew, and the son of Hebrews. As to the Law, I was a Pharisee;

I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a descendant of Israel. I belong to the tribe of Benjamin. I am a Hebrew, and the son of Hebrews. As to the Law, I was a Pharisee;

I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a descendant of Israel. I belong to the tribe of Benjamin. I am a Hebrew, and the son of Hebrews. As to the Law, I was a Pharisee;

I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a descendant of Israel. I belong to the tribe of Benjamin. I am a Hebrew, and the son of Hebrews. As to the Law, I was a Pharisee;

But for the sake of Christ I have come to count my former gains as loss.

And you at Philippi know as well as I do, that in the early days of the good news, after I left Macedonia, no church but yours went into partnership and opened an account with me.

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

You who are masters must treat your slaves justly and fairly, and remember that you have a Master too, in heaven.

For the Lord's message has rung out from you not only over Macedonia and Greece, but the story of your belief in God has gone everywhere, so that we never need to mention it. For when people speak of us, they tell what a welcome you gave us, and how you turned from idols to God, to serve a true and living God,

You know yourselves, brothers, that our visit to you was far from ineffectual.

You remember, brothers, how we toiled and labored. We worked night and day, when we preached the good news to you, in order not to be a burden to any of you.

For you, brothers, followed the example of God's churches in Judea that are in union with Christ Jesus, for you in your turn had to bear the same ill-treatment from your neighbors as they did from the Jews,

For we resolved to come to see you??, Paul, did so again and again??ut Satan held us back.

So when I could not bear it any longer, I made up my mind to stay behind alone at Athens,

We do not want you to be under any misapprehension, brothers, about those who are falling asleep. You must not grieve for them, as others do who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, then by means of Jesus God will bring back with him those who have fallen asleep. read more. For we can assure you, on the Lord's own authority, that those of us who will still be living when the Lord comes will have no advantage over those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself, at the summons, when the archangel calls and God's trumpet sounds, will come down from heaven, and first those who died in union with Christ will rise; then those of us who are still living will be caught up with them on clouds into the air to meet the Lord, and so we shall be with the Lord forever. Therefore, encourage one another with this truth.

not to let your minds be too easily unsettled or wrought up, by any message of the Spirit or any utterance or letter purporting to be from me, to the effect that the Day of the Lord has already come.

I did not eat anybody's bread without paying for it, but with toil and 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 the way I write.

who forbid people to marry and insist on abstinence from certain kinds of food that God created for men who believe and understand the truth to enjoy and give thanks for.

So I would have young women marry and have children and keep house and avoid giving our opponents any excuse for abusing us.

Stop drinking nothing but water; take a little wine for the good of your digestion and for your frequent attacks of illness.

Timothy, guard what has been intrusted to you. Keep away from the worldly, empty phrases and contradictions of what they falsely call knowledge,

I thank God, whom I, like my forefathers, worship with a clear conscience, when I remember you, as I constantly do, in my prayers.

of being reminded of your genuine faith, a faith that was seen first in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice; I am sure it is in you also.

So you must not be ashamed to testify to our Lord, nor be ashamed of me who am in prison for his sake, but join with me in suffering for the good news, through the power of God.

You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes. May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often cheered me and was not ashamed of my being in prison. read more. Why, when he arrived in Rome, he took pains to inquire for me and found me. The Lord grant that he may be shown mercy by the Lord on that Day! And you know well enough how he helped me at Ephesus.

my persecutions, my sufferings??he things that happened to me at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra, the persecutions I endured; yet the Lord brought me safely out of them all.

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

Do your best to come to me soon, for Demas has deserted me for love of the present world, and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. read more. No one but Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is of great assistance to me, and I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and the books, especially the parchments. Alexander, the metal-worker, did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he did. You too must be on your guard against him, for he vehemently opposed my teaching. At my first appearance in court no one came to help me; everybody deserted me. May no one lay it up against them!

At my first appearance in court no one came to help me; everybody deserted me. May no one lay it up against them! But the Lord stood by me, and gave me strength, so that I might make a full presentation of the message and let all the heathen hear it. So I was saved from the jaws of the lion. read more. The Lord will rescue me from any harm and bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen. Remember me to Prisca and Aquila, and to the members of the household of Onesiphorus. Erastus stayed in Corinth. I left Trophimus sick at Miletus. Do your best to come before winter. Eubulus wishes to be remembered to you, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers. The Lord be with your spirit. God bless you all.

They must be silenced, for such men upset whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach, for the sake of dishonest gain.

and not study Jewish fictions or commands given by men who reject the truth.

In every way set them an example of good conduct yourself. Teach with sincerity and seriousness,

And get ready to entertain me too, for I hope that I shall be restored to you, in answer to your prayers.