Then there arose certain of the Synagogue, which are called Libertines, and Cyrenians, and of Alexandria, and of Cilicia, and of Asia: and disputed with Stephen.

And the next day he showed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, 'Sirs, ye are brethren why hurt ye one another?'

When he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, "What is it Lord?" He said unto him, "Thy prayers and thy alms are come up into remembrance before God.

Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius, and said, "Behold, I am he, whom ye seek, what is the cause wherefore ye are come?"

and said, 'Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms deeds are had in remembrance in the sight of God.

Then sent I for thee immediately, and thou hast well done for to come. Now are we all here, present before God to hear all things that are commanded unto thee of God."

And we are witnesses of all things which he did in the land of the Jews and at Jerusalem: whom they slew, and hung on tree.

The inhabiters of Jerusalem, and their rulers: because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every Sabbath day; they have fulfilled them in condemning him.

and he was seen many days of them, which came with him from Galilee to Jerusalem which are his witnesses unto the people.

And that by him are all that believe justified from all things, from the which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lift up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, "Gods are come down to us in the likeness of men."

and saying, "Sirs, why do ye this? We are mortal men like unto you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven and earth and the sea and all that in them is,

Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them which from among the gentiles are turned to God:

and gave them letters in their hands after this manner, "The apostles, elders, and brethren send greetings unto the brethren which are of the gentiles in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia.

The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, "These men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation."

and brought them to the officers, saying, "These men trouble our city, which are Jews

and preach ordinances which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, seeing we are Romans."

But Paul cried with a loud voice saying, "Do thyself no harm, for we are all here."

Then said Paul unto them, "They have beaten us, openly un-condemned, for all that we are Romans, and have cast us into prison: and now would they send us away privily? Nay not so, but let them come themselves and fetch us out."

But when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the heads of the city crying, "These that trouble the world are come hither also,

Paul stood in the midst of Mars Street and said, "Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.

God, that made the world, and all that are in it, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, he dwelleth not in temples made with hands,

For in him we live, move, and have our being, as certain of your own poets said. For we are also his generation.

Forasmuch then as we are the generation of God, we ought not to think that the godhead is like unto gold, silver, or stone, graven by craft and imagination of man.

and the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know: but who are ye?"

Moreover, ye see and hear that not alone at Ephesus: but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be not gods which are made with hands:

For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet despisers of your goddess.

Wherefore if Demetrius and the craftsmen which are with him, have any saying to any man: the law is open, and there are rulers. Let them accuse one another.

For we are in jeopardy to be accused of this day's business: forasmuch as there is no cause whereby we may give a reckoning of this concourse of people."

And now dear brethren I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build further, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, "Thou seest brother, how many thousand Jews there are which believe, and they are all zealous over the law.

And they are informed of thee that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the gentiles to forsake Moses, and sayest that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to live after the customs.

Them take and purify thyself with them, and do cost on them, that they may shave their heads and all shall know that those things which they have heard concerning thee are nothing: but that thou thyself also walkest and keepest the law.

And he said, "I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia: nevertheless yet brought up in this city, at the feet of Gamaliel, and informed diligently in the law of the fathers, and was fervent minded to Godward, as ye all are this same day,

And I said, 'What shall I do Lord?' And the Lord said unto me, 'Arise and go into Damascus and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.'

Now therefore give ye knowledge to the upper captain, and to the council that he bring him forth unto us tomorrow, as though we would know some thing more perfectly of him. But we, or ever he come near, are ready in the mean season to kill him."

And he said, "The Jews are determined to desire thee that thou wouldest bring forth Paul tomorrow into the council, as though they would enquire somewhat of him more perfectly.

But follow not their minds: for there lie in wait for him of them, more than forty men, which have bound themselves with a vow, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him. And now are they ready, and look for thy promise."

"I will hear thee," said he, "when thine accusers are come also." And commanded him to be kept in Herod's palace.

When Paul was called forth; Tertullus began to accuse him saying, "Seeing that we live in great quietness by the means of thee and that many good things are done unto this nation through thy providence:

because that thou mayest know that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to pray.

But this I confess unto thee, that after that way, which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and the prophets,

"Let them therefore," said he, "which among you are able to do it come down with us and accuse him, if there be any fault in the man."

If I have hurt them, or committed anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die. If none of these things are, whereof they accuse me, no man ought to deliver me to them. I appeal unto Caesar."

and Festus said, "King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us: Ye see this man about whom all the multitude of the Jews have been with me, both at Jerusalem and also here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.

For me thinketh it unreasonable for to send a prisoner, and not to show the causes, which are laid against him."

namely because thou art expert in all customs, and questions, which are among the Jews. Wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.

to open their eyes that they might turn from darkness unto light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith in me.'

The king knoweth of these things, before whom I speak freely: neither think I that any of these things are hidden from him. For this thing was not done in a corner.

of the which heathen are ye a part also, which are Jesus Christ's by vocation.

For I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to them which are no Greeks, unto the learned and also unto the unlearned.

So that his invisible things, that is to say, his eternal power and godhead, are understood and seen by the works from the creation of the world. So that they are without excuse,

Which men, though they knew the righteousness of God, how that they which such things commit are worthy of death: yet not only do the same, but also have pleasure in them that do them.

But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth, against them which commit such things.

But unto them that are rebellious, and disobey the truth, and follow iniquity, shall come indignation and wrath,

For before God they are not righteous which hear the law: but the doers of the law shall be justified.

For if the gentiles, which have no law, do of nature the things contained in the law: then they having no law, are a law unto themselves,

And believest that thou thyself art a guide unto the blind, a light to them which are in darkness,

What say we then? Are we better than they? No, in no wise. For we have already proved how that both Jews and gentiles are all under sin,

they are all gone out of the way, they are all made unprofitable, there is none that doeth good, no not one."

"Whose mouths are full of cursing and bitterness."

"Their feet are swift to shed blood.

Destruction and wretchedness are in their ways:

Yea and we know that whatsoever the law saith, he saith it to them which are under the law: That all mouths may be stopped, and all the world be subdued to God,

but are justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus

- whom God hath set forth for a mercy seat through faith in his blood, to show the righteousness which before him is of valour, in that he forgiveth the sins that are passed,

"Blessed are they, whose unrighteousnesses are forgiven and whose sins are covered.

And that he might be the father of the circumcised: not because they are circumcised only: but because they walk also in the steps of that faith, that was in our father Abraham before the time of circumcision.

For if they which are of the law be heirs, then is faith but vain, and the promise of none effect.

Therefore by faith is the inheritance given, that it might come of favour: and that the promise might be sure to all the seed. Not to them only which are of the law: but also to them which are of the faith of Abraham, which is the father of us all.

Because therefore that we are justified by faith we are at peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Much more then, now seeing we are justified in his blood, shall we be saved from wrath through him.

For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his son: much more, seeing we are reconciled, we shall be preserved by his life.

God forbid. How shall we that are dead, as touching sin, live any longer therein?

Remember ye not, that all we which are baptised in the name of Christ Jesus, are baptised to die with him?

We are buried with him by baptism for to die: That likewise as Christ was raised up from death by the glory of the father: even so we also should walk in a new life.

Likewise, imagine ye also, that ye are dead concerning sin: but are alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Neither give ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: But give yourselves unto God, as they that are alive from death. And give your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

Let not sin have power over you. For ye are not under the law, but under grace.

What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under the law: but under grace? God forbid.

Remember ye not how that to whomsoever ye commit yourselves as servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey: whether it be of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

Ye are then made free from sin, and are become the servants of righteousness.

What fruit had ye then in those things, whereof ye are now ashamed. For the end of those things is death.

But now are ye delivered from sin, and made the servants of God, and have your fruit that ye should be sanctified; and the end: everlasting life.

Even so, ye my brethren; ye also are made dead as concerning the law by the body of Christ, that ye should be coupled to another - I mean to him that is risen again from death - that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

But now are we delivered from the law, and dead from that whereunto we were in bondage: that we should serve in a new conversation of the spirit, and not in the old conversation of the letter.

There is, then, no damnation to them which are in Christ Jesus: which walk not after the flesh but after the spirit:

For they that are carnal, are carnally minded; But they that are spiritual are spiritually minded.

So then, they that are given to the flesh, cannot please God.

But ye are not given to the flesh; But to the spirit: If so be that the spirit of God dwell in you. If there be any man that hath not the spirit of Christ, the same is none of his.

Therefore, brethren, we are now debtors; not to the flesh, to live after the flesh:

for as many as are led by the spirit of God: they are the sons of God.

The same spirit certifieth our spirit that we are the sons of God.

If we be sons, we are also heirs: the heirs, I mean, of God: and heirs annexed with Christ. If so be that we suffer together, that we may be glorified together.

For I suppose that the afflictions of this life are not worthy of the glory which shall be showed upon us.

because the creatures are subdued to vanity against their will: but for his will which subdueth them in hope.

For we are saved by hope. But hope that is seen is no hope. For how can a man hope for that which he seeth?

For we know well that all things work for the best unto them that love God, which also are called of purpose.

As it is written, "For thy sake are we killed all day long, and are counted as sheep appointed to be slain."