But a Pharisee in the Sanhedrin called Gamaliel, a doctor of the Law who was highly respected by all the people, got up and ordered the apostles to be removed for a few moments.

Putting him outside the city, they proceeded to stone him (the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a youth called Saul).

Putting him outside the city, they proceeded to stone him (the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a youth called Saul).

(Saul quite approved of his murder.) That day a severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and everyone, with the exception of the apostles, was scattered over Judaea and Samaria.

Meanwhile Saul still breathed threats of murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest

As he neared Damascus in the course of his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed round him;

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

And the Lord said to him, "Go away to the street called 'The Straight Street,' and ask at the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus called Saul. He is praying at this very moment,

But the Lord said to him, "Go; I have chosen him to be the means of bringing my Name before the Gentiles and their kings as well as before the sons of Israel.

He lost no time in preaching throughout the synagogues that Jesus was the Son of God ??21 to the amazement of all his hearers, who said, "Is this not the man who in Jerusalem harried those who invoke this Name, the man who came here for the express purpose of carrying them all in chains to the high priests?"

and the Jews, after a number of days had elapsed, conspired to make away with him.

Barnabas, however, got hold of him and brought him to the apostles. To them he related how he had seen the Lord upon the road, how He had spoken to him, and how he had spoken freely in the name of Jesus at Damascus.

they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

Now those who had been scattered by the trouble which arose over Stephen made their way as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, but they preached the word to none except Jews.

and on finding him he brought him to Antioch, where for a whole year they were guests of the church and taught considerable numbers. It was at Antioch too that the disciples were originally called "Christians."

This they carried out, sending their contribution to the presbyters by Barnabas and Saul.

After fulfilling their commission, Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, bringing with them John who is surnamed Mark.

Now in the local church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Symeon (called Niger) and Lucius the Cyrenian, besides Manaen (a foster-brother of Herod the tetrarch) and Saul.

Now in the local church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Symeon (called Niger) and Lucius the Cyrenian, besides Manaen (a foster-brother of Herod the tetrarch) and Saul.

Sent out thus by the holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there they sailed to Cyprus.

They covered the whole island as far as Paphos, where they fell in with a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet called Bar-Jesus;

So Paul stood up and motioning with his hand said, "Listen, men of Israel and you who reverence God.

shouting, "Men, what is this you are doing? We are but human, with natures like your own! The gospel we are preaching to you is to turn from such futile ways to the living God who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all that in them is.

thence they sailed for Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now completed.

But certain individuals came down from Jerusalem and taught the brothers that "unless you get circumcised after the custom of Moses you cannot be saved." As a sharp dispute and controversy sprang up between them and Paul and Barnabas, it was arranged that Paul and Barnabas, along with some others of their number, should go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and presbyters at Jerusalem about this question. read more. The church sped them on their journey, and they passed through both Phoenicia and Syria informing the brothers, to the great joy of all, that the Gentiles were turning to God. On arriving at Jerusalem they were received by the church, the apostles and the presbyters, and they reported how God had been with them and what he had done. But some of the believers who belonged to the Pharisaic party got up and said, "Gentiles must be circumcised and told to observe the law of Moses." The apostles and the presbyters met to investigate this question, and a keen controversy sprang up; but Peter rose and said to them, "Brothers, you are well aware that from the earliest days God chose that of you all I should be the one by whom the Gentiles were to hear the word of the gospel and believe it.

and a keen controversy sprang up; but Peter rose and said to them, "Brothers, you are well aware that from the earliest days God chose that of you all I should be the one by whom the Gentiles were to hear the word of the gospel and believe it. The God who reads the hearts of all attested this by giving them the holy Spirit just as he gave it to us; read more. in cleansing their hearts by faith he made not the slightest distinction between us and them. Well now, why are you trying to impose a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we ourselves could bear? No, it is by the grace of the Lord Jesus that we believe and are saved, in the same way as they are." So the whole meeting was quieted and listened to Barnabas and Paul recounting the signs and wonders God had performed by them among the Gentiles. When they had finished speaking, James spoke. "Brothers," he said, "listen to me. Symeon has explained how it was God's original concern to secure a People from among the Gentiles to bear his Name. This agrees with the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return and rebuild David's fallen tent, its ruins I will rebuild and erect it anew, that the rest of men may seek for the Lord, even all the Gentiles who are called by my name, saith the Lord, who makes this known from of old. Hence, in my opinion, we ought not to put fresh difficulties in the way of those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles, but write them injunctions to abstain from whatever is contaminated by idols, from sexual vice, from the flesh of animals that have been strangled, and from tasting blood; for Moses has had his preachers from the earliest ages in every town, where he is read aloud in the synagogues every sabbath." Then the apostles and the presbyters, together with the whole church, decided to select some of their number and send them with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch. The men selected were Judas (called Bar-Sabbas) and Silas, prominent members of the brotherhood. They conveyed the following letter. "The apostles and the presbyters of the brotherhood to the brothers who belong to the Gentiles throughout Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: greeting. Having learned that some of our number, quite unauthorized by us, have unsettled you with their teaching and upset your souls, we have decided unanimously to select some of our number and send them to you along with our beloved Paul and Barnabas who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. We therefore send Judas and Silas with the following message, which they will also give to you orally. The holy Spirit and we have decided not to impose any extra burden on you, apart from these essential requirements: abstain from food that has been offered to idols, from tasting blood, from the flesh of animals that have been strangled, and from sexual vice. Keep clear of all this and you will prosper. Goodbye."

Some days later, Paul said to Barnabas, "Come and let us go back to visit the brothers in every town where we have proclaimed the word of the Lord. Let us see how they are doing."

A vision appeared to Paul by night, the vision of a Macedonian standing and appealing to him with the words, "Cross to Macedonia and help us."

We then came to the Roman colony of Philippi, which is the foremost town of the district of Macedonia. In this town we spent some days.

they are proclaiming customs which as Romans we are not allowed to accept or observe!"

But Paul replied, "They flogged us in public and without a trial, flogged Roman citizens! They put us in prison, and now they are going to get rid of us secretly! No indeed! Let them come here themselves and take us out!"

and Paul as usual went in; for three sabbaths he argued with them on the scriptures,

So Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus and said, "Men of Athens, I observe at every turn that you are a most religious people.

So Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus and said, "Men of Athens, I observe at every turn that you are a most religious people.

and as he belonged to the same trade he stayed with them and they all worked together. (They were workers in leather by trade.)

he reached Caesarea, went up to the capital to salute the church, and travelled down to Antioch.

I know to-day that not one of you will ever see my face again ??not one of you among whom I moved as I preached the Reign.

Silver, gold, or apparel I never coveted;

Paul said, "I am a Jew, a native of Tarsus in Cilicia, the citizen of a famous town. Pray let me speak to the people." As he gave permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the people. A great hush came over them, and he addressed them as follows in Hebrew.

When they heard him addressing them in Hebrew they were all the more quiet. So he went on. "I am a Jew, born at Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel in all the strictness of our ancestral Law, ardent for God as you all are to-day.

as the high priest and all the council of elders can testify. It was from them that I got letters to the brotherhood at Damascus, and then journeyed thither to bind those who had gathered there and bring them back to Jerusalem for punishment.

'Who are you?' I asked. He said to me, 'I am Jesus the Nazarene, and you are persecuting me.' (My companions saw the light, but they did not hear the voice of him who talked to me.)

When I returned to Jerusalem, it happened that while I was praying in the temple I fell into a trance

But he said to me, 'Go; I will send you afar to the Gentiles ????'"

They had strapped him up, when Paul said to the officer who was standing by, "Are you allowed to scourge a Roman citizen ??and to scourge him without a trial?"

The commander replied, "I had to pay a large sum for this citizenship." "But I was born a citizen," said Paul.

With a steady look at the Sanhedrin Paul said, "Brothers, I have lived with a perfectly good conscience before God down to the present day."

Then, finding half the Sanhedrin were Sadducees and the other half Pharisees, Paul shouted to them, "I am a Pharisee, brothers, the son of Pharisees! It is for the hope of the resurrection from the dead that I am on trial!"

Then, finding half the Sanhedrin were Sadducees and the other half Pharisees, Paul shouted to them, "I am a Pharisee, brothers, the son of Pharisees! It is for the hope of the resurrection from the dead that I am on trial!"

Now Paul's nephew heard about their treacherous ambush; so he got admission to the barracks and told Paul.

How I lived from my youth up among my own nation and at Jerusalem, all that early career of mine, is known to all the Jews.

How I lived from my youth up among my own nation and at Jerusalem, all that early career of mine, is known to all the Jews. They know me of old. They know, if they chose to admit it, that as a Pharisee I lived by the principles of the strictest party in our religion.

I did so in Jerusalem. I shut up many of the saints in prison, armed with authority from the high priests; when they were put to death, I voted against them;

I was travelling to Damascus on this business, with authority and a commission from the high priests,

I will rescue you from the People and also from the Gentiles ??to whom I send you,

For two full years he remained in his private lodging, welcoming anyone who came to visit him;

PAUL, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God

through whom I have received the favour of my commission to promote obedience to the faith for his sake among all the Gentiles,

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

But if so, what can we say about Abraham, our forefather by natural descent?

I could have wished myself accursed and banished from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my natural kinsmen;

Oh for their salvation, brothers! That is my heart's desire and prayer to God!

Then, I ask, has God repudiated his People? Never! Why, I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin!

Then, I ask, has God repudiated his People? Never! Why, I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin!

I tell you this, you Gentiles, that as an apostle to the Gentiles I lay great stress on my office,

or again, Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his People;

as a priest of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the service of God's gospel. My aim is to make the Gentiles an acceptable offering, consecrated by the holy Spirit.

whenever I went to Spain, I am hoping to see you on my way there, and to be sped forward by you after I have enjoyed your company for a while.

Well, once I finish this business by putting the proceeds of the collection safely in their hands, I will start for Spain and take you on the way.

In my letter I wrote that you were not to associate with the immoral.

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

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

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

Only, I have not availed myself of any of these rights, and I am not writing in order to secure any such provision for myself. I would die sooner than let anyone deprive me of this, my source of pride.

and finally he was seen by myself, by this so-called 'abortion' of an apostle.

and finally he was seen by myself, by this so-called 'abortion' of an apostle. For I am the very least of the apostles, unfit to bear the name of apostle, since I persecuted the church of God.

Now, brothers, I have to tell you about the grace God has given to the churches of Macedonia.

even when I ran short, during my stay with you, I was no encumbrance to anybody, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my wants. Thus I kept myself, as I intend to keep myself, from being a burden to you in any way.

five times have I got forty lashes (all but one) from the Jews,

(At Damascus the ethnarch of king Aretas had patrols out in the city of the Damascenes to arrest me,

My wealth of visions might have puffed me up, so I was given a thorn in the flesh, an angel of Satan to rack me and keep me from being puffed up;

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

no man put it into my hands, no man taught me what it meant, I had it by a revelation of Jesus Christ.

and how I outstripped many of my own age and race in my special ardour for the ancestral traditions of my house.

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

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

instead of going up to Jerusalem to see those who had been apostles before me, I went off at once to Arabia, and on my return I came back to Damascus. Then, after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to make the acquaintance of Cephas. I stayed a fortnight with him.

Then I went to the districts of Syria and of Cilicia.

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

On the contrary, when they saw I had been entrusted with the gospel for the benefit of the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been for the circumcised

But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face. The man stood self-condemned.

no, although it was because of an illness (you know) that I preached the gospel to you on my former visit,

Thus you are strangers and foreigners no longer, you share the membership of the saints, you belong to God's own household,

less than the least of all saints as I am, this grace was vouchsafed me, that I should bring the Gentiles the gospel of the fathomless wealth of Christ

I am in a dilemma between the two. My strong desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far the best.

Only, do lead a life that is worthy of the gospel of Christ. Whether I come and see you or only hear of you in absence, let me know you are standing firm in a common spirit, fighting side by side like one man for the faith of the gospel.

Treat one another with the same spirit as you experience in Christ Jesus.

I was circumcised on the eighth day after birth; I belonged to the race of Israel, to the tribe of Benjamin; I was the Hebrew son of Hebrew parents, a Pharisee as regards the Law,

I was circumcised on the eighth day after birth; I belonged to the race of Israel, to the tribe of Benjamin; I was the Hebrew son of Hebrew parents, a Pharisee as regards the Law,

I was circumcised on the eighth day after birth; I belonged to the race of Israel, to the tribe of Benjamin; I was the Hebrew son of Hebrew parents, a Pharisee as regards the Law,

I was circumcised on the eighth day after birth; I belonged to the race of Israel, to the tribe of Benjamin; I was the Hebrew son of Hebrew parents, a Pharisee as regards the Law,

But for Christ's sake I have learned to count my former gains a loss;

You Philippians are well aware that in the early days of the gospel, when I had left Macedonia, no church but yourselves had any financial dealings with me;

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

in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge lie hidden!

Masters, treat your servants justly and fairly; remember you have a Master of your own in heaven.

for the word of the Lord has resounded from you not only through Macedonia and Achaia ??no, your faith in God has reached every place. We never need to speak about it. People tell us of their own accord about the visit we paid to you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and a real God

But you remember yourselves, brothers, that our visit to you was no failure.

Brothers, you recollect our hard labour and toil, how we worked at our trade night and day, when we preached the gospel to you, so as not to be a burden to any of you.

for you have started, my brothers, to copy the churches of God in Christ Jesus throughout Judaea; you have suffered from your compatriots just as they have suffered from the Jews,

(We did want to reach you ??I did, I Paul, more than once ??but Satan stopped us.)

So, unable to bear it any longer, I made up my mind to be left behind at Athens all alone;

We would like you, brothers, to understand about those who are asleep in death. You must not grieve for them, like the rest of men who have no hope. Since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, then it follows that by means of Jesus God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. read more. For we tell you, as the Lord has told us, that we the living, who survive till the Lord comes, are by no means to take precedence of those who have fallen asleep. The Lord himself will descend from heaven with a loud summons, when the archangel calls and the trumpet of God sounds; the dead in Christ will rise first; then we the living, who survive, will be caught up along with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall be with the Lord for ever. Now then, encourage one another with these words.

not to let your minds get easily unsettled or excited by any spirit of prophecy or any declaration or any letter purporting to come from me, to the effect that the Day of the Lord is already here.

we did not take free meals from anyone; no, toiling hard at our trade, we worked night and day, so as not to be a burden to any of you.

The salutation is in my own hand, Paul's; that is a mark in every letter of mine. This is how I write.

So I prefer young widows to marry again, to bear children, to look after their households, and not to afford our opponents any chance of reviling us.

[Give up being a total abstainer; take a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent attacks of illness.]

O Timotheus, keep the securities of the faith intact: avoid the profane jargon and contradictions of what is falsely called 'Knowledge.'

I render thanks to God, the God of my fathers whom I worship with a pure conscience, as I mention you constantly in my prayers.

for I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, as it dwells (I feel sure) in yourself.

So do not be ashamed to testify to our Lord, and do not be ashamed of a prisoner of the Lord like me; join me in bearing suffering for the gospel by the power of the God

You are aware that all the Asiatics have discarded me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes. May the Lord show favour to the household of Onesiphorus, for many a time he braced me up; he was not ashamed of my imprisonment ??17 no, he made eager search for me when he reached Rome, and he found me

(may he find favour with the Lord on the great Day! The Lord grant it!). And you know very well what a help he was to me in Ephesus.

my persecutions, my sufferings ??all that befell me at Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, all the persecutions I had to undergo, from which the Lord rescued me.

remember you have known from childhood the sacred writings that can impart saving wisdom by faith in Christ Jesus.

Do your best to come soon to me, for Demas, in his love for this world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens is off to Gaul, Titus to Dalmatia, read more. Luke is the only one who is with me. Pick up Mark and bring him along with you, for he is of great use in helping me. (I have had to send Tychicus to Ephesus.) When you come, bring the mantle I left at Troas with Carpus, also my books, and particularly my paper. Alexander the blacksmith has done me a lot of harm: the Lord will pay him back for what he has done (beware of him), for he has been bitterly hostile to anything I have said. The first time I had to defend myself, I had no supporters; everyone deserted me. God grant it may not be brought up against them!

The first time I had to defend myself, I had no supporters; everyone deserted me. God grant it may not be brought up against them! But the Lord supported me and gave me strength to make a full statement of the gospel and let all the heathen hear it. I was rescued from the jaws of the lion. read more. The Lord will rescue me from every assault of evil, he will bring me safe to his own realm in heaven. To him be glory for ever and ever! Amen. Salute Prisca and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus. Erastus stayed on at Corinth: I left Trophimus ill at Miletus. Do your best to come before winter. Eubulus salutes you; so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brotherhood. The Lord Jesus be with your spirit. Grace be with you all.

they must be silenced, for they are undermining whole families by teaching objectionable doctrine for the base end of making money.

instead of studying Jewish myths and rules laid down by men who have discarded the Truth.

set them an example of good conduct; be sincere and serious in your teaching,

And get quarters ready for me, for I am hoping that by your prayers I shall be restored to you.