On the next day, their rulers, elders, and experts in the law came together in Jerusalem.

But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back for yourself part of the proceeds from the sale of the land?

But a Pharisee whose name was Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was respected by all the people, stood up in the council and ordered the men to be put outside for a short time.

They incited the people, the elders, and the experts in the law; then they approached Stephen, seized him, and brought him before the council.

They brought forward false witnesses who said, "This man does not stop saying things against this holy place and the law.

You received the law by decrees given by angels, but you did not obey it."

After the reading from the law and the prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent them a message, saying, "Brothers, if you have any message of exhortation for the people, speak it."

and by this one everyone who believes is justified from everything from which the law of Moses could not justify you.

But some from the religious party of the Pharisees who had believed stood up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise the Gentiles and to order them to observe the law of Moses."

saying, "This man is persuading people to worship God in a way contrary to the law!"

but since it concerns points of disagreement about words and names and your own law, settle it yourselves. I will not be a judge of these things!"

When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to him, "You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all ardent observers of the law.

take them and purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses, so that they may have their heads shaved. Then everyone will know there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself live in conformity with the law.

shouting, "Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people, our law, and this sanctuary! Furthermore he has brought Greeks into the inner courts of the temple and made this holy place ritually unclean!"

"I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated with strictness under Gamaliel according to the law of our ancestors, and was zealous for God just as all of you are today.

A man named Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who live there,

Then Paul said to him, "God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit there judging me according to the law, and in violation of the law you order me to be struck?"

There was a great commotion, and some experts in the law from the party of the Pharisees stood up and protested strongly, "We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?"

I found he was accused with reference to controversial questions about their law, but no charge against him deserved death or imprisonment.

But I confess this to you, that I worship the God of our ancestors according to the Way (which they call a sect), believing everything that is according to the law and that is written in the prophets.

Paul said in his defense, "I have committed no offense against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar."

From there we put out to sea and sailed under the lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us.

We sailed slowly for many days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus. Because the wind prevented us from going any farther, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone.

As we ran under the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were able with difficulty to get the ship's boat under control.

The father of Publius lay sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and after praying, placed his hands on him and healed him.

They set a day to meet with him, and they came to him where he was staying in even greater numbers. From morning until evening he explained things to them, testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus from both the law of Moses and the prophets.