And those who conducted Paul brought [him] as far as Athens, and [after] receiving an order for Silas and Timothy that they should come to him as soon as possible, they went away.

Now when both Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul began to be occupied with the message, solemnly testifying to the Jews [that] the Christ was Jesus.

For he was vigorously refuting the Jews in public, demonstrating through the scriptures [that] the Christ was Jesus.

And it happened that [while] Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the inland regions [and] came to Ephesus and found some disciples.

And he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit [when you] believed?" And they [said] to him, "But we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit!"

And Paul said, "John baptized [with] a baptism of repentance, telling the people that they should believe in the one who was to come after him--that is, in Jesus."

And this took place for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

so that even handkerchiefs or work aprons {that had touched his skin} were carried away to those who were sick, and [their] diseases left them and the evil spirits came out [of them].

And the man {who had the evil spirit} leaped on them, subdued all of them, [and] prevailed against them, so that they ran away from that house naked and wounded.

Now there happened at that time no little disturbance concerning the Way.

{These} he gathered together, and the workers occupied with such things, [and] said, "Men, you know that from this business {we get our prosperity},

and you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this man Paul has persuaded [and] turned away a large crowd [by] saying that the [gods] made by hands are not gods.

But [when they] recognized that he was a Jew, they were shouting with one voice from all [of them] for about two hours, "Great [is] Artemis of the Ephesians!"

Therefore [because] these [things] are undeniable, it is necessary [that] you be quiet and do nothing rash!

For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus so that he would not be [having] to spend time in Asia. For he was hurrying if it could be possible for him to be in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.

serving the Lord with all humility and with tears, and with the trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews--

how I did not shrink from proclaiming to you anything that would be profitable, and [from] teaching you in public and from house [to house],

"And now behold, bound by the Spirit I am traveling to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me {there},

except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in town [after town], saying that bonds and persecutions await me.

But I consider [my] life [as] worth {nothing} to myself, in order to finish my mission and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify [to] the gospel of the grace of God.

"And now behold, I know that all [of] you, among whom I went about proclaiming the kingdom, will see my face no more.

Therefore I testify to you on this very day that I am guiltless of the blood of all [of you],

I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.

Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day [for] three years I did not stop warning each one [of you] with tears.

You yourselves know that these hands served [to meet] my needs and [the needs of] those who were with me.

I have shown you [with respect to] all [things] that [by] working hard in this way it is necessary to help those who are in need, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus that he himself said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."

especially distressed at the statement that he had said, that they were going to see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.

And it happened that after we tore ourselves away from them, we put out to sea, [and] running a straight course we came to Cos and on the next [day] to Rhodes, and from there to Patara.

And finding a ship that was crossing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard [and] put out to sea.

And it happened that when our days were over, we departed [and] went on our way, [while] all [of them] accompanied us, together with [their] wives and children, as far as outside the city. And [after] falling to our knees on the beach [and] praying,

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.

What then {is to be done}? Doubtless they will all hear that you have come!

Therefore do this that we tell you: {we have} four men who have [taken] a vow upon themselves.

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.

(For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, whom they thought that Paul had brought into the temple.)

And [as they] were seeking to kill him, a report came up to the military tribune of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion.

Then the military tribune came up [and] arrested him and ordered [him] to be bound with two chains, and inquired who he was and what it was that he had done.

And when he came to the steps, it happened that he had to be carried by the soldiers on account of the violence of the crowd,

And [when they] heard that he was addressing them in the Aramaic language, {they became even more silent}. And he said,

as indeed the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify about me, from whom also I received letters to the brothers in Damascus, [and] was traveling [there] to lead away those who were there also tied up to Jerusalem so that they could be punished.

"And it happened that [as] I was traveling and approaching Damascus around noon, suddenly a very bright light from heaven flashed around me,

So I said, 'What should I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to me, 'Get up [and] proceed to Damascus, and there it will be told to you about all [the things] that have been appointed for you to do.'

And as I could not see as a result of the brightness of that light, I arrived in Damascus led by the hand of those who were with me.

came to me and stood by [me] [and] said to me, 'Brother Saul, regain [your] sight!' And [at that] same time I looked up at him [and saw him].

"And it happened that [when] I returned to Jerusalem and I was praying in the temple courts, I was in a trance,

And I said, 'Lord, they themselves know that from synagogue [to synagogue] I was imprisoning and beating those who believed in you.

the military tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks, saying he was to be examined with a lash so that he could find out for what reason they were crying out against him in this way.

Then immediately those who were about to examine him kept away from him, and the military tribune also was afraid [when he] realized that he was a Roman citizen and that {he had tied him up}.

And Paul said, "I did not know, brothers, that he was high priest. For it is written, 'You must not speak evil [of] a ruler of your people.'"

Now [when] Paul realized that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he shouted out in the Sanhedrin, "Men [and] brothers! I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees! I am being judged concerning the hope and the resurrection of the dead!"

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."

And the military tribune, taking hold of his hand and withdrawing privately, asked, "What is it that you have to report to me?

And he said, "The Jews have agreed to ask you that you bring Paul down to the Sanhedrin tomorrow, as [if they] were going to inquire somewhat more accurately concerning him.

So the military tribune sent the young man away, directing [him], "Tell no one that you have revealed these [things] to me."

And he summoned two of the centurions [and] said, "Make ready from the third hour of the night two hundred soldiers and seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen, in order that they may proceed as far as Caesarea.

And provide mounts so that they can put Paul on them [and] bring [him] safely to Felix the governor."

{He wrote} a letter that had this form:

This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them [when I] came upon [them] with the detachment [and] rescued [him], [because I] learned that he was a Roman citizen.

So [after] reading [the letter] and asking what province he was from, and learning that [he was] from Cilicia,

But so that I may not impose on you for longer, I implore you to hear us briefly with your [customary] graciousness.

You can ascertain that {it has not been more than} twelve days {since} I went up to Jerusalem to worship.

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,

having a hope in God which these [men] also themselves await: [that] there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.

other than concerning this one declaration that I shouted [while] standing there before them: 'I am being judged before you today concerning the resurrection of the dead!'"

And [while] he was discussing about righteousness and self control and the judgment that is to come, Felix became afraid [and] replied, "Go away for the present, and [when I] have an opportunity, I will summon you."

At the same time he was also hoping that money would be given to him by Paul. For this reason also he sent for him as often as possible [and] talked with him.

asking for a favor against him, that he summon him to Jerusalem, [because they] were preparing an ambush to do away with him along the way.

Then Festus replied [that] Paul was being kept at Caesarea, and [he] himself was about to go [there] in a short time.

And [when] he arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges that they were not able to prove,

To {them} I replied that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up any man before the one who had been accused met [his] accusers face to [face] and received an opportunity for a defense concerning the accusation.

[When they] stood up, [his] accusers began bringing no charge concerning {him} of the evil deeds that I was suspecting,

But [when] Paul appealed [that] he be kept under guard for the decision of His Majesty the Emperor, I gave orders [for] him to be kept under guard until I could send him 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.

But I understood [that] he had done nothing deserving death himself, and [when] this man appealed to His Majesty the Emperor, I decided to send [him].

I do not have anything definite to write to [my] lord about {him}. Therefore I have brought him before you [all]--and especially before you, King Agrippa--so that [after] this preliminary hearing has taken place, I may have something to write.

"Concerning all [the things] of which I am accused by the Jews, King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate [that] before you I am about to defend myself today,

"Now all the Jews know my manner of life from [my] youth, that had taken place from the beginning among my [own] people and in Jerusalem,

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.

Why is it thought incredible by you [people] that God raises the dead?

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.'

but to those in Damascus first, and in Jerusalem and all the region of Judea and to the Gentiles, I proclaimed [that they should] repent and turn to God, doing deeds worthy of repentance.

that the Christ was to suffer [and] that [as] the first of the resurrection from the dead, he was going to proclaim light both to the people and to the Gentiles."

For the king knows about these [things], to whom also I am speaking freely, for I am not convinced [that] these [things] in any way have escaped his notice, because this {was} not {done} in a corner.

Do you believe the prophets, King Agrippa? I know that you believe."

And when it was decided [that] we would sail away to Italy, they handed over Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion {named} Julius of the Augustan Cohort.

And we went aboard a ship from Adramyttium that was about to sail to the places along the [coast] of Asia [and] put out to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us.

saying to them, "Men, I perceive that the voyage is going {to end} with disaster and great loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives!"

But [when] neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and [with] not a little bad weather confronting [us], finally all hope was abandoned [that] we would be saved.

And [because] many were experiencing lack of appetite, at that time Paul stood up in their midst [and] said, "Men, [you] ought to have followed my [advice] not to put out to sea from Crete, and [thus] avoided this damage and loss!

Therefore keep up your courage, men, for I believe God that it will be like this--according to {the} way it was told to me.

But it is necessary [that] we run aground on some island."

And slipping the anchors, they left [them] in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes of the steering oars. And hoisting the foresail to the [wind] that was blowing, they held course for the beach.

Now the plan of the soldiers was that they would kill the prisoners lest any escape [by] swimming away,

but the centurion, [because he] wanted to save Paul, prevented them {from doing what they intended}, and gave orders [that] those who were able to swim should jump in first to get to the land,

and [then] the rest, [some] of whom [floated] on planks and [some] of whom on anything [that was] from the ship. And in this way all were brought safely to the land.

And [after we] were brought safely through, then we found out that the island was called Malta.

And the local inhabitants showed {extraordinary} kindness to us, for they lit a fire [and] welcomed us all, because of the rain that had begun and because of the cold.

But they were expecting [that] he was going to swell up or suddenly to fall down dead. So [after] they had waited for a long [time] and saw nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds [and] began saying [that] he was a god.

Now in the [regions] around that place were fields belonging to the chief official of the island, {named} Publius, who welcomed us [and] entertained [us] hospitably [for] three days.

And it happened that the father of Publius was lying down, afflicted with fever and dysentery. Paul went to {him} and [after] praying, he placed [his] hands on him [and] healed him.