Then Paul replied, "What are you doing weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be tied up, but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus!"

And [when] they heard [this], they began to glorify God. And they said to him, "You see, brother, how many ten thousands there are among the Jews who have believed, and they are all zealous adherents of the law.

And they have been informed about you that you are teaching all the Jews [who are] among the Gentiles [the] abandonment of Moses, telling them not to circumcise [their] children or to live according to [our] customs.

Take these [men] [and] purify yourself along with them and {pay their expenses} so that they can shave [their] heads, and everyone will know that [the things] which they had been informed about you are nothing, but you yourself also agree with observing the law.

Then you are not the Egyptian who before these days raised a revolt and led out into the wilderness the four thousand men of the Assassins?"

"I am a Jewish man born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, educated according to the exactness of the law received from our fathers, being zealous for God, just as all [of] you are today.

and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?'

And I answered, 'Who are you, Lord?' And he said to me, 'I am Jesus the Nazarene whom you are persecuting.'

And now why are you delaying? Get up, be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name!'

And [when] the centurion heard [this], he went to the military tribune [and] reported [it], saying, "What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen!"

So the military tribune came [and] said to him, "Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?" And he said, "Yes."

Then Paul said to him, "God is going to strike you, [you] whitewashed wall! And are you sitting [there] judging me according to the law, and acting contrary to the law do you order me to be struck?"

And those who stood nearby said, "Are you reviling the high priest of God?

Therefore, now you along with the Sanhedrin explain to the military tribune that he should bring him down to you, as [if you] were going to determine more accurately the things concerning him. And we are ready to do away with him before he comes near."

You therefore do not be persuaded by them, because more [than] forty men of {their number} are lying in wait [for] him, who have bound themselves under a curse neither to eat nor to drink until they have done away with him. And now they are ready, waiting for {you to agree}."

And [when] he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse [him], saying, "We have experienced much peace through you, and reforms are taking place in this nation through your foresight.

[When] you yourself examine [him] you will be able to find out from {him} about all these [things] of which we are accusing him."

Nor can they prove [the things] to you concerning which they are now accusing me.

But I do confess this to you, that according to the Way (which they call a sect), so I worship the God of our fathers, believing all things [that are] in accordance with the law and that are written in the prophets,

But [there are] some Jews from Asia who ought to be present before you and bring charges against [me], if they have anything against me,

So he said, "Let those among you [who are] prominent go down with [me], [and] if there is any wrong in the man, let them bring charges against him."

But Festus, [because he] wanted to do a favor for the Jews, answered [and] said to Paul, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to be tried before me there concerning these [things]?"

If then I am doing wrong and have done anything deserving death, I am not trying to avoid dying. But if there is nothing [true] of [the things] which these [people] are accusing me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar!"

And Festus said, "King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man about whom the whole population of the Jews appealed to me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting [that] he must not live any longer.

[because] you are especially acquainted with both all the customs and controversial questions with respect to the Jews. Therefore I beg [you] to listen to me with patience.

having known me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that in accordance with the strictest party of our religion I lived [as] a Pharisee.

And [when] we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Aramaic language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? [It is] hard for you to kick against the goads!'

So I said, 'Who are you, Lord?' And the Lord said, 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.

to open their eyes [so that they] may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, [so that] they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'

And [as] he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, "You are out of your mind, Paul! [Your] great learning {is driving} you {insane}!"

But Agrippa [said] to Paul, "In a short time are you persuading me to become a Christian?"

And Paul [replied], "I pray to God, whether in a short time or in a long time, not only you but also all those who are listening to me today may become such [people] as I also am, except for these bonds!"

saying, 'Do not be afraid, Paul! It is necessary [for] you to stand before Caesar, and behold, God has graciously granted you all who are sailing with you.'

among whom you also are [the] called of Jesus Christ.

To all those in Rome who are loved by God, called [to be] saints. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thus {I am eager} to proclaim the gospel also to you who [are] in Rome.

For from the creation of the world, his invisible [attributes], both his eternal power and deity, are discerned clearly, being understood in the things created, so that they are without excuse.

And just as they did not see fit {to recognize God}, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do the things [that are] not proper,

being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greediness, malice, full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malevolence. [They are] gossipers,

who, [although they] know the requirements of God, that those who do such things are worthy of death, not only do they do the same [things], but also they approve of those who do [them].

Therefore you are without excuse, O man, every one [of you] who passes judgment. For in that which you pass judgment on someone else, you condemn yourself, for you who are passing judgment are doing the same [things].

But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart, you are storing up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and of the revelation of the righteous judgment of God,

For it is not the hearers of the law [who are] righteous in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be declared righteous.

For whenever the Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature the things of the law, these, [although they] do not have the law, are a law to themselves,

and know his will and approve the things that are superior, [because you] are instructed by the law,

and are confident [that] you yourself are a guide of the blind, a light of those in darkness,

And the uncircumcised person by nature who carries out the law will judge you who, [though provided] with {the precise written code} and circumcision [are] a transgressor of the law.

May it never be! But let God be true but every human being a liar, just as it is written, "In order that you may be justified in your words, and may prevail when you are judged."

And [why] not (as we are slandered, and as some affirm that we say), "Let us do evil, in order that good may come [of it]? Their condemnation is just!

What then? Do we have an advantage? Not at all. For we have already charged both Jews and Greeks are all under sin,

Their feet [are] swift to shed blood;

destruction and distress [are] in their paths,

since God [is] one, who will justify {those who are circumcised} by faith and {those who are uncircumcised} through faith.

"Blessed [are they] whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, and whose sins are covered over.

Therefore, [is] this blessing for {those who are circumcised}, or also for {those who are uncircumcised}? For we say, "Faith was credited to Abraham for righteousness."

And he received the sign of circumcision [as] a seal of the righteousness by faith which [he had] {while uncircumcised}, so that he could be the father of all who believe {although they are uncircumcised}, so that righteousness could be credited to them,

and the father {of those who are circumcised} to those who are not only from the circumcision, but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith of our father Abraham {which he had while uncircumcised}.

For if those of the law [are] heirs, faith is rendered void and the promise is nullified.

(just as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations") before God, in whom he believed, the one who makes the dead alive and who calls the things that are not as [though] they are,

And not only [this], but also [we are] boasting in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

and do not present your members to sin [as] instruments of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead, and your members to God [as] instruments of righteousness.

For sin will not be master over you, because you are not under law, but under grace.

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be!

Do you not know that to whomever you present yourselves [as] slaves for obedience, you are slaves to whomever you obey, whether sin, [leading] to death, or obedience, [leading] to righteousness?

Therefore what sort of fruit did you have then, about which you are now ashamed? For the end of those [things] [is] death.

Consequently, [there is] now no condemnation for those [who are] in Christ Jesus.

For those who are [living] according to the flesh are intent on the things of the flesh, but those [who are living] according to the Spirit [are intent on] the things of the Spirit.

and those who are in the flesh are not able to please God.

But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, this person {does not belong to him}.

So then, brothers, we are obligated not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.

For if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

For all those who are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

The Spirit himself confirms to our spirit that we are children of God,

For I consider that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy [to be compared] with the glory that is about to be revealed to us.

And we know that all [things] work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to [his] purpose,

Just as it is written, "On account of you we are being put to death the whole day [long]; we are considered as sheep for slaughter."

who are Israelites, [to] whom [belong] the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the [temple] service, and the promises,

But [it is] not as if the word of God had failed. For not all those [who are descended] from Israel [are truly] Israel,

nor [are they] all children because they are descendants of Abraham, but "In Isaac will your descendants be named."

That is, [it is] not the children {by human descent} [who are] children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as descendants.

On the contrary, O man, who are you who answers back to God? Will what is molded say to the one who molded [it], "Why did you make me like this"?

And it will be in the place where it was said to them, 'You [are] not my people,' there they will be called 'sons of the living God.'"

And how will they preach, unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "How timely [are] the feet of those who bring good news of good things."

But I say, Israel did not know, did they? First, Moses says, "I will provoke you [to jealousy] by [those who are] not a nation; by a senseless nation I will provoke you [to anger]."

"Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have torn down your altars, and I alone am left, and they are seeking my life!"

Now if the first fruits [are] holy, [so] also [is] the [whole] batch of dough, and if the root [is] holy, [so] also [are] the branches.

For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are {natural branches} be grafted into their own olive tree?

With respect to the gospel, [they are] enemies for your sake, but with respect to election, [they are] dearly loved for the sake of the fathers.

For the gifts and the calling of God [are] irrevocable.

Oh, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable [are] his judgments and [how] incomprehensible [are] his ways!

For from him and through him and to him [are] all [things]. To him [be] glory for eternity! Amen.

in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ, and {individually} members of one another,

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities, for [there] is no authority except by God, and those that exist are put in place by God.

For rulers are not a [cause of] terror for a good deed, but for bad [conduct]. So do you want not to be afraid of authority? Do what [is] good, and you will have praise from it,

For because of this you also pay taxes, for [the authorities] are servants of God, busily engaged in this very [thing].

Pay to everyone [what is] owed: [pay] taxes to whom taxes [are due]; [pay] customs duties to whom customs duties [are due]; [pay] respect to whom respect [is due]; [pay] honor to whom honor [is due].

For the [commandments], "You shall not commit adultery, you shall not commit murder, you shall not steal, you shall not covet," and if [there is] any other commandment, are summed up in this statement: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

Who are you, who passes judgment on the domestic slave belonging to someone else? To his own master he stands or falls, and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore whether we live [or] whether we die, we are the Lord's.

For if because of food, your brother is grieved, you are no longer living according to love. Do not destroy by your food that person for whom Christ died.