But a certain man stood up in the Sanhedrin, a Pharisee {named} Gamaliel, a teacher of the law respected by all the people, [and] gave orders to put the men outside for a short time.

And [after they] had driven [him] out of the city, they began to stone [him], and the witnesses laid aside their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul.

And [after they] had driven [him] out of the city, they began to stone [him], and the witnesses laid aside their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul.

And Saul was agreeing with his murder. Now there happened on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest

Now as [he] proceeded, it happened that [when] he approached Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.

(Now the men who were traveling together with him stood speechless, [because they] heard the voice but saw no one.)

And the Lord [said] to him, "Get up, go to the street called 'Straight' and in the house of Judas look for {a man named Saul from Tarsus}. For behold, he is praying,

But the Lord said to him, "Go, because this man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel.

And immediately he began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues: "This one is the Son of God!"

And when many days had elapsed, the Jews plotted to do away with him.

But Barnabas took him [and] brought [him] to the apostles and related to them how he had seen the Lord on the road and that he had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus.

And [when] the brothers found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus.

Now those who had been scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, proclaiming the message to no one except Jews alone.

And [when he] found [him], he brought [him] to Antioch. And it happened to them also [that they] met together [for] a whole year with the church and taught a large number [of people]. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.

which they also did, sending [the aid] to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

So Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem [when they] had completed [their] service, having taken along with [them] John (who is also called Mark).

Now there were prophets and teachers in Antioch in the church that was there: Barnabas, and Simeon (who was called Niger), and Lucius the Cyrenian, and Manaen (a close friend of Herod the tetrarch), and Saul.

Now there were prophets and teachers in Antioch in the church that was there: Barnabas, and Simeon (who was called Niger), and Lucius the Cyrenian, and Manaen (a close friend of Herod the tetrarch), and Saul.

Therefore, sent out by the Holy Spirit, they came down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed away to Cyprus.

And [when they] had crossed over the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a certain man, a magician, a Jewish false prophet whose name [was] Bar-Jesus,

So Paul stood up, and motioning with [his] hand, he said, "Israelite men, and those who fear God, listen!

and saying, "Men, why are you doing these [things]? We also are men with the same nature as you, proclaiming the good news [that] you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all the things [that are] in them--

and from there they sailed away to Antioch where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had completed.

And some men came down from Judea [and] began teaching the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom [prescribed] by Moses, you cannot be saved." And [after] there was no little strife and debate by Paul and Barnabas against them, they appointed Paul and Barnabas and some others from among them to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem concerning this issue. read more. So they were sent on their way by the church, [and] passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, telling in detail the conversion of the Gentiles and bringing great joy to all the brothers. And [when they] arrived in Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders, and reported all that God had done with them. But some of those who had believed from the party of the Pharisees stood up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them and to command [them] to observe the law of Moses!" Both the apostles and the elders assembled to deliberate concerning this matter. And [after] there was much debate, Peter stood up [and] said to them, "Men [and] brothers, you know that in the early days God chose among you through my mouth [that] the Gentiles should hear the message of the gospel and believe.

And [after] there was much debate, Peter stood up [and] said to them, "Men [and] brothers, you know that in the early days God chose among you through my mouth [that] the Gentiles should hear the message of the gospel and believe. And God, who knows the heart, testified to them [by] giving [them] the Holy Spirit, just as he also [did] to us. read more. And he made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. So now why are you putting God to the test [by] placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe [we] will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus in {the same} way those also [are]." And the whole group became silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul describing all the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. And after they had stopped speaking, James answered, saying, "Men [and] brothers, listen to me! Simeon has described how God first concerned himself to take from among the Gentiles a people for his name. And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written: 'After these [things] I will return and build up again the tent of David that has fallen, and the [parts] of it that had been torn down I will build up again and will restore it, so that the rest of humanity may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles {who are called by my name}, says the Lord, who makes these [things] known from of old.' Therefore I conclude we should not cause difficulty for those from among the Gentiles who turn to God, but we should write a letter to them to abstain from the pollution of idols and from sexual immorality and from what has been strangled and from blood. For Moses has those who proclaim him in every city from ancient generations, [because he] is read aloud in the synagogues on every Sabbath." Then it seemed best to the apostles and the elders, together with the whole church, to send men chosen from among them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas--Judas who was called Barsabbas and Silas, men [who were] leaders among the brothers-- writing [this letter] {to be delivered by them}: The apostles and the elders, brothers. To the brothers [who are] from among the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia. Greetings! Because we have heard that some have gone out from among us--to whom we gave no orders--[and] have thrown you into confusion by words upsetting your {minds}, it seemed best to us, {having reached a unanimous decision}, [and] having chosen men, to send [them] to you together with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives on behalf of the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, and they will report the same [things] by word of mouth. For it seemed best to the Holy Spirit and to us to place on you no greater burden except these necessary things: [that you] abstain from food sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. [If you] keep yourselves from {these things} you will do well. Farewell.

And after some days, Paul said to Barnabas, "Come then,[let us] return [and] visit the brothers in every town in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, [to see] how they are [doing]."

And a vision appeared to Paul during the night: a certain Macedonian man was standing there and imploring him and saying, "Come over to Macedonia [and] help us!"

and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city [of that] district of Macedonia, a [Roman] colony. And we were staying in this city for some days.

and are proclaiming customs that are not permitted for us to accept or to practice, [because we] are Romans!"

But Paul said to them, "They beat us in public without due process--men who are Roman citizens--[and] threw [us] into prison, and now they are wanting to release us secretly? Certainly not! Rather let them come themselves [and] bring us out!"

{And as was his custom}, Paul went in to them and on three Sabbath [days] he discussed with them from the scriptures,

So Paul stood there in the middle of the Areopagus [and] said, "Men of Athens, I see you [are] very religious {in every respect}.

So Paul stood there in the middle of the Areopagus [and] said, "Men of Athens, I see you [are] very religious {in every respect}.

And because [he] was practicing the same trade, he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade.

And [when he] arrived at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church, [and] went down to Antioch.

"And now behold, I know that all [of] you, among whom I went about proclaiming the kingdom, will see my face no more.

I have desired no one's silver or gold or clothing!

But Paul said, "I am a Jewish man from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no unimportant city. Now I ask you, allow me to speak to the people." So [when] he permitted [him], Paul, standing there on the steps, motioned with [his] hand to the people. And [when there] was a great silence, he addressed [them] in the Aramaic language, saying,

And [when they] heard that he was addressing them in the Aramaic language, {they became even more silent}. And he said, "I am a Jewish man born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, educated according to the exactness of the law received from our fathers, being zealous for God, just as all [of] you are today.

as indeed the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify about me, from whom also I received letters to the brothers in Damascus, [and] was traveling [there] to lead away those who were there also tied up to Jerusalem so that they could be punished.

And I answered, 'Who are you, Lord?' And he said to me, 'I am Jesus the Nazarene whom you are persecuting.' (Now those who were with me saw the light but did not hear the voice of the one who was speaking to me.)

"And it happened that [when] I returned to Jerusalem and I was praying in the temple courts, I was in a trance,

And he said to me, 'Go, because I will send you far away to the Gentiles!'"

But when they had stretched him out for the lash, Paul said to the centurion standing there, "Is it permitted for you to flog a man [who is] a Roman citizen and uncondemned?"

And the military tribune replied, "I acquired this citizenship for a large sum of money." And Paul said, "But I indeed was born [a citizen].

And looking intently at the Sanhedrin, Paul said, "Men [and] brothers, I have lived my life in all good conscience before God to this day."

Now [when] Paul realized that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he shouted out in the Sanhedrin, "Men [and] brothers! I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees! I am being judged concerning the hope and the resurrection of the dead!"

Now [when] Paul realized that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he shouted out in the Sanhedrin, "Men [and] brothers! I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees! I am being judged concerning the hope and the resurrection of the dead!"

But [when] the son of Paul's sister heard about the ambush, he came and entered into the barracks [and] reported [it] to Paul.

"Now all the Jews know my manner of life from [my] youth, that had taken place from the beginning among my [own] people and in Jerusalem,

"Now all the Jews know my manner of life from [my] youth, that had taken place from the beginning among my [own] people and in Jerusalem, having known me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that in accordance with the strictest party of our religion I lived [as] a Pharisee.

which I also did in Jerusalem, and not only did I lock up many of the saints in prison, having received authority from the chief priests, but also [when] they were being executed, I cast [my] vote against [them].

In {this activity} I was traveling to Damascus with the authority and full power of the chief priests.

rescuing you from the people and from the Gentiles to whom I am sending you,

So he stayed two whole years in his own rented house, and welcomed all who came to him,

Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called [to be] an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,

through whom we have received grace and apostleship for the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles on behalf of his name,

First, I give thanks to my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being proclaimed in the whole world.

What then shall we say [that] Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh, has found?

For I could wish myself to be accursed from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my fellow countrymen according to the flesh,

Brothers, the desire of my heart and my prayer to God on behalf of them [is] for [their] salvation.

Therefore I say, God has not rejected his people, has he? May it never be! For I also am an Israelite, from the descendants of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

Therefore I say, God has not rejected his people, has he? May it never be! For I also am an Israelite, from the descendants of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Therefore, inasmuch as I am apostle to the Gentiles, I promote my ministry,

And again it says, "Rejoice, Gentiles, with his people."

with the result that I am a servant of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving the gospel of God as a priest, in order that the offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

whenever I travel to Spain. For I hope [while I] am passing through to see you and to be sent on my way by you, whenever I have first enjoyed your [company] for a while.

Therefore, [after I] have accomplished this and sealed this fruit [for delivery] to them, I will depart by way of you for Spain,

I wrote to you in the letter not to associate with sexually immoral people.

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

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

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

But I have not made use of any of these [rights]. And I am not writing these [things] in order that it may be thus with me. For [it would be] better to me rather to die than [for] anyone to deprive me of my reason for boasting.

and last of all, as it were to one born at the wrong time, he appeared also to me.

and last of all, as it were to one born at the wrong time, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

Now we make known to you, brothers, the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia,

And [when I] was present with you and was in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my need, and in everything I kept myself from being a burden to you, and will keep [myself from being a burden].

Five times I received at the hands of the Jews forty [lashes] less one.

In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of the Damascenes in order to take me into custody,

even because of the extraordinary degree of the revelations. Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan, in order that it would torment me so that I would not exalt myself.

Paul, an apostle not from men nor by men but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead,

For neither did I receive it from man, nor was I taught [it], but [I received it] through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

and was progressing in Judaism beyond many contemporaries in my nation, [because] I was a far more zealous adherent of the traditions handed down by my forefathers.

nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those [who were] apostles before me, but I went away to Arabia and I returned again to Damascus.

nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those [who were] apostles before me, but I went away to Arabia and I returned again to Damascus.

nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those [who were] apostles before me, but I went away to Arabia and I returned again to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, and I stayed with him fifteen days,

Then I came to the regions of Syria and of Cilicia,

Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking along Titus also.

But these, [when they] saw that I had been entrusted [with] the gospel to the uncircumcision, just as Peter to the circumcision

But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed [him] to his face, because he was condemned.

But you know that because of an illness of the flesh I proclaimed the gospel to you the first time.

Consequently, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens of the saints and members of the household of God,

To me, the least of all the saints, was given this grace: to proclaim the good news of the fathomless riches of Christ to the Gentiles,

But I am hard pressed {between the two options}, having the desire to depart and to be with Christ, {for this is very much better}.

Only lead your lives in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent I hear {your circumstances}, that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one soul contending side by side for the faith of the gospel,

Think this in yourselves which [was] also in Christ Jesus,

And I am convinced in the Lord that I myself will arrive shortly also.

{circumcised on the eighth day}, from the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew [born] from Hebrews, according to the law a Pharisee,

{circumcised on the eighth day}, from the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew [born] from Hebrews, according to the law a Pharisee,

{circumcised on the eighth day}, from the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew [born] from Hebrews, according to the law a Pharisee,

{circumcised on the eighth day}, from the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew [born] from Hebrews, according to the law a Pharisee,

But whatever [things] were gain to me, these [things] I have considered loss because of Christ.

Now you also know, Philippians, that at the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone,

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden.

Masters, grant your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you also have a master in heaven.

for from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith toward God has gone out, so that we have no need to say anything. For [they] themselves report about us, what sort of welcome we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve [the] living and true God,

For [you] yourselves know, brothers, our reception with you, that it was not in vain,

For you remember, brothers, our labor and hardship: working by night and day in order not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.

For you became imitators, brothers, of the churches of God [which] are in Judea in Christ Jesus, because you also suffered the same [things] at the hands of your own people, just as [they] themselves [did] also at the hands of the Jews,

because we wanted to come to you--I, Paul, {on more than one occasion}--and Satan hindered us.

Therefore [when we] could bear [it] no longer, we determined to be left behind in Athens alone,

Now we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you will not grieve as also the rest, who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose [again], thus also God will bring those who have fallen asleep through Jesus together with him. read more. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who remain until the Lord's coming, will not possibly precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who remain, will be snatched away at the same time together with them in the clouds for a meeting with the Lord in the air, and thus we will be together with the Lord always. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

that you not be easily shaken from your composure, nor be troubled either by a spirit or by a message or by a letter {alleged to be from us}, to the effect that the day of the Lord has arrived.

nor did we eat bread from anyone without paying, but with toil and labor, [we were] working night and day in order not to be a burden to any of you,

The greeting [is] by my hand, Paul's, which is {a sign of genuineness} in every letter: {this is how I write}.

who forbid marrying [and insist on] abstaining from foods that God created for sharing in with thankfulness by those who believe and who know the truth,

Therefore I want younger [widows] to marry, to bear children, to manage a household, to give the adversary no opportunity for reproach.

(No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach and your frequent illnesses.)

O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted [to you]. Turn away from pointless empty talk and contradictions of [what is] falsely called knowledge,

{I am thankful} to God, whom I have served with a clear conscience {as my ancestors did}, when {I remember you constantly} in my prayers night and day,

{remembering the} sincere faith in you, which lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am convinced that [is] in you also,

Therefore, do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor me his prisoner, but suffer along with [me] for the gospel, according to the power of God,

You know this, that all those in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he refreshed me many times, and was not ashamed of my imprisonment, read more. but [when he] was in Rome, he diligently sought me and found [me]. May the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord in that day! And how much he served [me] in Ephesus you know very well.

persecutions, [and] sufferings that happened to me in Antioch, in Iconium, [and] in Lystra, what sort of persecutions I endured, and the Lord delivered me from all [of them].

and that from childhood you have known the holy writings that are able [to make] you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Make haste to come to me quickly. For Demas deserted me, [because he] loved the present age, and went to Thessalonica. Crescens [went] to Galatia; Titus [went] to Dalmatia. read more. Luke alone is with me. Take along Mark [and] bring [him] with you, because he is useful to me for ministry. But I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. [When you] come, bring the cloak that I left behind in Troas with Carpus, and the scrolls, especially the parchments. Alexander the metalworker did me much harm; may the Lord pay back to him according to his deeds, against whom you also be on guard, because he vehemently opposed our words. At my first defense, no one came to my [aid], but [they] all deserted me; may it not be counted against them.

At my first defense, no one came to my [aid], but [they] all deserted me; may it not be counted against them. But the Lord helped me and strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fulfilled and all the Gentiles might hear, and he rescued [me] from the lion's mouth. read more. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will save [me] for his heavenly kingdom, to whom [be] the glory {forever and ever}. Amen. Greet Prisca and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus. Erastus remained in Corinth, but Trophimus I left behind in Miletus [because he] was sick. Make haste to come before winter. Eubulus and Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers greet you. The Lord [be] with your spirit. Grace [be] with you.

whom it is necessary to silence, whoever are ruining whole families [by] teaching [things] which must not be [taught] for the sake of dishonest gain.

not paying attention to Jewish myths and commandments of people who turn away from the truth.

concerning everything showing yourself [to be] an example of good deeds, in your teaching [demonstrating] soundness, dignity,

At the same time also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.