And the Jews united in accusing him, saying that these things were so.

And Paul answered, when the governor had motioned him to be speaking, - Well knowing thee to have been, for many years, judge unto his nation, cheerfully, as to the things concerning myself, do I make defence;

giving orders unto the centurion, that he should be kept, and have a measure of liberty, and to be hindering, none, of his own from waiting upon him.

And, after certain days, Felix having arrived, with Drusilla his own wife, who was, a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith, respecting Christ Jesus.

But, while Paul was speaking at length about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became terrified, and interrupted him--"Go for the present, but, when I find an opportunity, I will send for you again."

at the same time, also hoping that, money, would be given him by Paul; wherefore also, the more frequently sending for him, he used to converse with him.

offer'd him mony in order to obtain his discharge. but two years after he was succeeded by Porcius Festus, who to oblige the Jews left Paul under confinement.

and the High-priest and chiefs of the Jews laid information before him against Paul, and began to beseech him

asking for themselves as a favour against him, that he would send for him unto Jerusalem, - making, an ambush, to kill him on the way.

They, therefore, among you (saith he) who are in power, let them go down with me; and, if there is in the man, anything amiss, let them accuse him.

Having staid above eight, nay ten days, he went to Cesarea, and on the morrow mounting the tribunal, he order'd Paul to be brought before him.

And, when he presented himself, the Jews who, from Jerusalem, had come down, stood round about him, many and grievous charges, bringing against him , which they were not able to prove, -

but Festus willing to oblige the Jews ask'd him, will you consent to go to Jerusalem, and take your trial before me there?

Now several days later, Agrippa [II] the king and Bernice [his sister] arrived at Caesarea and paid their respects to Festus [the new governor].

While they stayed there [with him] for many days, Festus discussed Paul's case with the king, saying, "There is this man [named Paul] who was left in custody by Felix.

concerning whom, when I happened to be in Jerusalem, the High-priests and the Elders of the Jews laid information, claiming against him a condemnation:

To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.

Concerning him, the accusers stood up and brought no charge of the sort I was expecting.

but, certain questions concerning their own demon-worship, had they against him, and concerning one Jesus, who had died, whom Paul was affirming to be alive.

Since I was at a loss in a dispute over such things, I asked him if he wished to go to Jerusalem and be tried there concerning these matters.

But, Paul, having appealed to be kept for the decision of the Emperor, I ordered him to be kept, until I could send him up unto Caesar.

And, Agrippa, said unto Festus - I could wish, myself also, to hear, the man. To-morrow, (saith he) thou shalt hear him.

And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men who are here present with us, ye see this person, concerning whom all the multitude of the Jews applied to me both in Jerusalem and here, crying out against him that he ought not to live any longer.

But, I, gathered, that, nothing worthy of death, had he committed; and, this man himself, having appealed unto the Emperor, I decided to send him: -

Concerning whom, anything certain to write unto my lord, I have not; wherefore, I have brought him forth before you, - and especially before thee, King Agrippa! in order that, after examination had, I might have something I could write;

For, unreasonable, unto me, it seemeth, when sending a prisoner, not also, the accusations against him, to signify.

the promise our 12 tribes hope to attain as they earnestly serve Him night and day. King Agrippa, I am being accused by the Jews because of this hope.

As Paul made his defense in this way, Festus said to him loudly, "Paul, you are crazy. All your education is driving you insane."

For well-knoweth, the king, concerning these things, unto whom, with boldness of utterance, am I speaking; for, that these things are not hidden from him, I am well persuaded, - for, not in a corner, hath this thing been done.

Then the king, the governor, Bernice, and those who were sitting with him got up.

and, on the next day, we put into Zidon, - and Julius, treating Paul, kindly, gave him leave to go unto his friends and refresh himself;

But when Paul had got some sticks together and put them on the fire, a snake came out, because of the heat, and gave him a bite on the hand.

When the local people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “This man is probably a murderer, and though he has escaped the sea, Justice does not allow him to live!”

Then he shook the reptile from him into the fire, and suffered no harm.

whereas, they, were expecting, that he was about to become inflamed, or to fall down suddenly dead; - but, when they had been long expecting, and had observed, nothing unusual, happening unto him, they changed their minds, and began to say he was a god.

And it so happened that, the father of Publius, with feverish heats and dysentery distressed, was lying prostrate: unto whom Paul entering in and praying, laid his hands on him, and healed him.

Because this cure was performed, the rest of the sick people on the island kept coming to him and by degrees were cured.

And, when we entered into Rome, Paul was suffered to abide by himself, with the soldier that guarded him.

Three days later, he invited the leading men of the Jews to come to see him, and when they came, he said to them, "Brothers, I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our forefathers; yet at Jerusalem I was turned over to the Romans as a prisoner.

For these reasons, then, I have invited you here, that I might see you and speak to you; for it is for the sake of Him who is the hope of Israel that this chain hangs upon me."

And, they, said unto him - We, have neither received letters concerning thee from the Jews, nor hath anyone of the brethren who hath arrived reported or spoken concerning thee, anything ill.

And, having arranged with him a day, there came unto him, to the lodging, a larger number; unto whom he proceeded to expound, bearing full witness as to the kingdom of God, and persuading them concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses, and from the prophets, - from morning till evening.

Unable to agree among themselves, they at last left him, but not before Paul had spoken a parting word to them, saying, "Right well did the Holy Spirit say to your forefathers through the Prophet Isaiah:

And when he had said that, the Jews departed from him, and had great disputations among themselves.

And he abode two whole years in his own hired house, and made welcome all who were coming in unto him, -

Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

that make mention of his son, the which was begotten unto him of the seed of David, as pertaining to the flesh:

But, as to the spirit of holiness within him, was miraculously designated Son of God by his resurrection from the dead.

We have received grace and apostleship through Him to bring about the obedience of faith among all the nations, on behalf of His name,

and you also are among those who are called of Jesus Christ to belong to Him;

always entreating him that now at length, if such be his will, the way may be made clear for me to come to you.

For in the good news God's Way of man's right standing with Him is uncovered, the Way of faith that leads to greater faith, just as the Scripture says, "The upright man must live by faith."

because what may be known about Him is plain to their inmost consciousness; for He Himself has made it plain to them.

For, the unseen things of him, from a world's creation, by the things made, being perceived, are clearly seen, even his eternal power and divinity, - to the end they should be without excuse;

Inasmuch as, having come to know God, not, as God, did they glorify him, or give him thanks, but were made fruitless in their reasonings, and darkened was their undiscerning heart,

who changed the truth of God into falsehood, and honoured and served the creature more than him who had created it, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

As they did not seek the favour of God, by worshipping him, God gave them over to a depraved sense, to act unworthy of human nature;

Therefore you have no excuse, O man, whoever you are who judge another; for in whatever point you pass judgment on him you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things.

For God shows no partiality [no arbitrary favoritism; with Him one person is not more important than another].

But if you bear the name “Jew” and rely on the Law [for your salvation] and boast in [your special relationship to] God,

Therefore if the uncircumcised keep the righteous precepts of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be accounted to him for circumcision?

For if through my falsehood God's truthfulness glorifies him even more, why am I still being condemned as a sinner?

Inasmuch as, by works of law, shall no flesh be declared righteous before him, - through law, in fact, is discovery of sin.

Being considered right with God is [obtained] through faith in Jesus Christ by every person who believes [in Him], for there is no favoritism [with God],

But people are made right with Him as a free gift by His unearned favor, through being bought back [from Satan] by Christ Jesus.

God presented Him as a propitiation through faith in His blood, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His restraint God passed over the sins previously committed.

In the forbearance of God, - with a view to a showing forth of his righteousness in the present season, that he might be righteous even when declaring righteous him that hath faith in Jesus.

since there is [only] one God, who makes the circumcised ones [i.e., the Jews] right with Him by faith [in Christ] and the uncircumcised ones [i.e., the Gentiles] through faith [in Christ].

What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather humanly speaking, has found? [Has he obtained a favored standing?]

For what doth the Scripture say? And Abraham believed in God, and it was reckoned unto him as righteousness.

Now, unto him that worketh, the reward is not reckoned by way of favour but by way of obligation,

Whereas, unto him that worketh not but believeth on him that declareth righteous the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness.

Just as David himself describes the bliss of the man who has righteousness counted to him by God apart from what he does ??7 Blessed are they whose breaches of the Law are forgiven, whose sins are covered!

Happy the man whose sin the Lord does not charge against him!"

Now does this happiness come to the Jews alone, or to the heathen peoples too? For we say, "Abraham's faith was credited to him as right standing."

Under what circumstances was it credited to him as right standing? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? Not after but before he was circumcised.

And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while still uncircumcised. This was to make him the father of all who believe but are not circumcised, so that righteousness may be credited to them also.

For the promise to Abraham or to his seed, for him to be heir of the world, was not through law, but through a righteousness of faith.

Even as it is written - Father of many nations, have I appointed thee: before him whom he believed - God, who causeth the dead to live, and calleth the things that are not as things that are: -

he it was who against hope believed in hope, that he should become the father of many nations, according to what was told him, "so shall thy posterity be:"

And not being feeble in faith though his body seemed to him little better than dead (he being about a hundred years old) and Sarah was no longer able to have children:

Yet he looked for the promise of God [to be fulfilled] and did not waver, doubting [that it would happen], but his faith strengthened him. He honored God

On the contrary, his faith gave him strength; and he praised God, in the firm conviction that what God has promised he is also able to carry out.

Wherefore also, it was reckoned unto him as righteousness.

Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was reckoned unto him,

But for our sakes also - unto whom it is to be reckoned, - even unto them that believe upon him who raised Jesus our Lord from among the dead:

So, since we are made right with God by [our] faith, we have peace with Him through our Lord Jesus Christ.

We have also obtained access through Him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

Much more, then, having now been declared righteous by his blood, shall we be saved through him from the anger.

For if while we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, it is much more certain that since we have been reconciled we shall finally be saved through His new life.

Therefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and by sin death; even so death passed into all men through him, in whom all have sinned.

Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

the type of him that was to come: but yet the damage of the fall does not exactly correspond to the advantages of the divine favour: for tho' through the fall of one, mankind became mortal, yet this is greatly over-ballanced by the favour and bounty of God, in the benevolence of one man, Jesus Christ, to all mankind.

For if [physical] death ruled [over mankind] because of the sin of the one man [i.e., Adam], how much more will those who receive the abundance of God's unearned favor, and the gift of being right with Him, rule in [never ending] life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

For just as through one man’s disobedience [his failure to hear, his carelessness] the many were made sinners, so through the obedience of the one Man the many will be made righteous and acceptable to God and brought into right standing with Him.

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

We were, therefore, buried together with him through our immersion into his death, in order that - just as Christ was raised from among the dead through the glory of the Father, so, we also, in newness of life should walk.

For if we have been joined with Him in the likeness of His death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of His resurrection.

Of this taking note - that, our old man, was crucified together with him in order that the sinful body might be made powerless, that we should, no longer, be in servitude to sin;

Now, if we have died together with Christ, we believe that we shall also live together with him;