He read the letter and asked Paul what province he was from, and on learning that he was from Cilicia,

Five days later, the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a prosecuting attorney, Tertullus, and through him they presented their case against Paul before the governor.

When Paul was called, Tertullus opened the prosecution by saying: "Your Excellency, Felix, since we are enjoying perfect peace through you and since reforms for this nation are being brought about through your foresight,

At the governor's signal to Paul, he answered: "Since I know that you for many years have acted as judge for this nation, I cheerfully make my defense,

He ordered the captain to keep Paul in custody but to let him have freedom and not to prevent his friends from showing him kindness.

Some days later, Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul and heard him talk about faith in Christ Jesus.

At the same time he was hoping to get money from Paul, and so he kept on sending for him and talking with him.

But at the close of two whole years Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and as he wanted to gratify the Jews, Felix left Paul still in prison.

and the high priests and the Jewish elders presented their charges against Paul,

and begged the governor as a favor to have Paul come to Jerusalem, because they were plotting an ambush to kill him on the way.

Festus answered that Paul was being kept in custody in Caesarea, and that he himself was going there soon.

After staying there not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea, and the next day, after taking his seat on the judge's bench, he ordered Paul brought in.

Paul continued to maintain, in his defense, "I have committed no offense against the Jewish law or temple or against the emperor."

Then Festus, as he wanted to ingratiate himself with the Jews, said to Paul, "Will you go up to Jerusalem and be tried on these charges before me there?"

But Paul said, "I now am standing before the emperor's court where I ought to be tried. I have done the Jews no wrong, as you very well know.

and as they stayed for several days, Festus laid Paul's case before the king. He said, "There is a man here who was left in prison by Felix,

They merely had a quarrel with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus who had died, but who Paul kept saying was still alive.

I was at a loss how to investigate such matters and so asked Paul if he would go to Jerusalem and there stand trial on these matters.

But as Paul appealed to have his case kept for his Majesty's decision, I ordered him kept in custody until I could send him up to the emperor."

So the next day, Agrippa and Bernice came with splendid pomp and went into the audience-room, attended by the colonels and the leading citizens of the town, and at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.

Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You have permission to speak in defense of yourself." So Paul with outstretched arm began to make his defense.

As Paul continued to make his defense, Festus shouted aloud, "You are going crazy, Paul! That great learning of yours is driving you crazy!"

Paul answered, "I am not going crazy, your Excellency, Festus, but I am telling the straight truth.

Then Agrippa answered Paul, "In brief you are trying to persuade me and make a Christian of me!"

Paul answered, "In brief or at length, I would to God that not only you but all my hearers today were what I am -- excepting these chains!"

When it was decided that we should sail for Italy, they turned over Paul and some other prisoners to a colonel of the imperial regiment, named Julius.

The next day we landed at Sidon, and Julius kindly permitted Paul to visit his friends and enjoy their attentions.

After considerable time had gone by, and navigation had become dangerous, and the fast was now over, Paul began to warn them

But the colonel was influenced by the pilot and the captain of the ship rather than by what Paul said.

After they had gone a long time without any food, then Paul got up among them and said: "Men, you ought to have listened to me and not to have sailed from Crete, and you would have escaped this disaster and loss.

and said, "Stop being afraid, Paul. You must stand before the Emperor; and listen! God has graciously given to you the lives of all who are sailing with you.'

Paul said to the colonel and his soldiers, "Unless these sailors remain on the ship, you cannot be saved."

Until day was about to break Paul kept begging them all to take something to eat. He said, "For fourteen days today you have been constantly waiting and going without food, not even taking a bite.

but the colonel wanted to save Paul, and so he prevented them from carrying out this plan, and ordered all who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land, and the rest to follow,

Paul, too, gathered a bundle of sticks, and as he put them on the fire, because of the heat, a viper crawled out of them and fastened itself upon his hand.

Publius' father chanced to be sick in bed with fever and dysentery, and Paul went to see him and after praying laid his hands upon him and cured him.

Because the brothers at Rome had heard of our coming, they came as far as Appius' Market and the Three Taverns to meet us, and as soon as Paul caught sight of them, he thanked God and took courage.

When we did arrive at Rome, Paul was granted permission to live by himself -- excepting a soldier to guard him.

Because they could not agree among themselves, they started to leave, when Paul had spoken one word more: "The Holy Spirit beautifully expressed it in speaking to your forefathers through the prophet Isaiah:

So Paul for two whole years lived in a rented house of his own; he continued to welcome everybody who came to see him;

Paul, a slave of Jesus Christ, called as an apostle, set apart to preach God's good news,

Paul, by the will of God called as an apostle of Jesus Christ, and our brother Sosthenes,

I mean this, that one of you says, "I belong to Paul's party," another, "And I belong to Apollos' party," another, "And I belong to Cephas' party," another, "And I belong to Christ's party."

Christ has been parceled out by you! It was not Paul who was crucified for you, was it? You were not baptized in Paul's name, were you?

For when one says, "I belong to Paul's party," and another, "I belong to Apollos' party," are you not acting as mere human creatures?

Then what is Apollos? Or what is Paul? Mere servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord gave each of us his task.

(46:21) Paul, Apollos, Cephas, the world, life, death, the present, the future -- they all belong to you.

The final greeting is mine -- Paul's -- with my own hand.

Paul, by the will of God an apostle of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God that is at Corinth, with all God's people all over Greece:

Now I appeal to you in person, by the gentleness and fairness of Christ, I, Paul, who am so "condescending when face to face with you, but so courageous toward you when far away!"

Paul, an apostle sent not from men or by any man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead --

Paul, by God's will an apostle of Christ Jesus, to God's people who are faithful in Christ Jesus;

This is why I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of the heathen --

Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus, to all God's people in union with Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and assistants:

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

if indeed you continue well grounded and firm in faith and never shift from the hope inspired by the good news you heard, which has been preached all over the world, and of which I, Paul, have been made a minister.

This farewell greeting is in my own hand, from Paul. Remember that I am still a prisoner. Spiritual blessing be with you.

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the Thessalonian church in union with God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: spiritual blessing and peace be to you.

Because we did want to come to see you; I mean, that I myself, Paul, wanted again and again to come, but Satan prevented it.

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the Thessalonian church in union with God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

This greeting is in my own hand, Paul's; it is the mark in every letter of mine. This is my handwriting.

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Saviour and of Christ Jesus our hope,

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, in accordance with the promise of the life that comes through union with Christ Jesus,

Paul, a slave of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to stimulate faith in God's chosen people and to lead them on to a full knowledge of religious truth,

Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and my brother Timothy, to our dearly loved fellow-worker Philemon,

yet I prefer to appeal to you for love's sake, although I am such as I am, Paul an envoy of Christ Jesus but now a prisoner for Him too;

I, Paul, write it with my own hand, I will pay it in full -- not to mention the fact that you owe me your very self besides.

Always think of our Lord's patience as salvation, just as our dearly beloved brother Paul, with the wisdom granted him, wrote you to do,