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

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

Therefore I strive always to have a clear conscience before God and men.

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

But when his accusers got up, they did not charge him with any such crimes as I had expected.

Yet I have nothing definite to write to our sovereign about him. So I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, in order to get from your examination of him something to put in writing.

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

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

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

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

We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice say to me in Hebrew, 'Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me? You cannot kick against the goad!'

But get up and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for the express purpose of appointing you to serve me and to testify to what you have seen and to the visions you will have of me.

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

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

To this day I have had God's help and I stand here to testify to high and low alike, without adding a thing to what Moses and the prophets declared would happen,

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

As we passed under the lee of a small island called Cauda, we managed with great difficulty to secure the ship's boat.

Then, when they had gone a long time without food, Paul got up among them, and said, "Gentlemen, you ought to have listened to me and not to have sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss.

For last night an angel of the God I belong to and serve stood before me,

and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul! You must stand before the emperor, and see! God has given you the lives of all the people who are on the ship with you.'

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

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

With these words he took some bread and after thanking God for it before them all, he broke it in pieces and began to eat it.

but the officer wanted to save Paul, and so he prevented them from doing this, and ordered all who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land,

and the rest to follow on planks or other pieces of wreckage. So they all got safely to land.

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

The brothers there had had news of our coming, and came as far as Appius' Forum and Three Taverns to meet us, and when Paul saw them he thanked God and was greatly encouraged.

So they fixed a day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying, and from morning till night he explained to them the Kingdom of God and gave his testimony, trying to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and the Prophets.

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

preaching the Kingdom of God to them and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ openly and unhindered.