I produced the former account, O Theophilus, about all {that} Jesus began to do and to teach,

Therefore, [because we] are offspring of God, we ought not to think the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by human skill and thought.

For you have heard about my former way of life in Judaism, that to an extraordinary degree I was persecuting the church of God, and trying to destroy it,

My children, for whom I am having birth pains again, until Christ is formed in you!

[that] you take off, according to your former way of life, the old man, who is being destroyed according to deceitful desires,

The former proclaim Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, thinking to raise up affliction in my imprisonment.

For Adam was formed first, then Eve,

[thus] incurring condemnation because they have broken their former pledge.

who does not {need every day} like the former high priests to offer up sacrifices for his own sins [and] then for the [sins] of the people, because he did this once for all [when he] offered up himself.

In calling [it] new, he has declared the former [to be old]. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old [is] near to disappearing.

But remember the former days in which, [after you] were enlightened, you endured a great struggle with sufferings,

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former desires [you used to conform to] in your ignorance,

For [the one] for whom these [things] [are] not present is blind, being nearsighted, {having forgotten the cleansing} of his former sins.

After these [things] I looked, and behold, an open door in heaven, and the former voice that I had heard like a trumpet speaking with me was saying, "Come up here and I will show you [the things] which must take place after these [things]."

And he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death will not exist [any] longer, and mourning or wailing or pain will not exist [any] longer. The former [things] have passed away."