"It was also said, "Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of separation.

"And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon the house, but it fell not, for it was founded upon the rock.

"And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it."

"'No,' he answered, 'for fear lest while you are collecting the tares, you at the same time pull up the wheat.

They answered, "Why then did Moses command the husband to give her 'a written bill of divorce,' and so to put her away?"

"Moses," said they, "permitted a man to draw up a bill of separation and divorce her."

So when they came, they said: "Teacher, we know that you are sincere and are not afraid of any one, for you do not regard the face of men; nay, but you reach the way of God in truth. Is it right to pay poll-tax to Caesar or not?

Now while Peter was below in the courtyard, there came one of the maid servants of the high priest, and saw Peter warming himself.

To him who gives you a blow on the jaw Turn the other jaw also; And from him who is robbing you of your cloak Withhold not your coat also.

"Or how can you say to your brother. "Brother, allow me to pull that splinter out of your eye," when you do not see the beam in your own eye? Hypocrite! Take out first the beam from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the splinter from your brother's eye.

But Jesus answered him, "No man who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

"And he said to himself. 'This is what I will do. I will pull down my barns and build larger ones in which I will store all my wheat and my goods.

And to them he said, "Which of you when an ox or ass has fallen into a well, will at once pull him out on the Sabbath Day?"

"'A hundred measures of oil,' he answered. "He said to him, 'Take your bill and sit down quickly and write fifty."

"To a second he said, 'How much do you owe?' "The man answered, 'A hundred measures of wheat.' "'Here is you bill,' he said, 'change it to eighty measures.'

Then one of them did strike a blow at the high priest's slave, and cut off his right ear.

Now there is in Jerusalem a pool near the Sheep-gate, called in the Hebrew, Bethesda.

"Sir," answered the sick man, "I have no man to put me into the pool whenever the water is troubled; and while I am trying to come, some one else steps down before me."

And he said to them. "You are from below. I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world.

Then he said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (a word which means "sent"). So the man went and washed his eyes, and came back seeing.

When he had spoken these words, one of the police standing by gave him a blow with his hand, saying as he did so, "Is that the way you answer the high priest?"

saying, "Hail! King of the Jews!" They also gave him blow after blow with their hands.

So Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily at him, and said:

From Paphos Paul and his party set sail for Perga in Pamphylia; but John Mark left them and went back to Jerusalem.

So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand, said: "Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen.

As Paul and Barnabas left the synagogue, the people earnestly begged that these words might be repeated to them on the following Sabbath.

When the congregation broke up, many of the Jews, and of the devout proselytes, followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked to them, and urged them to continue in the grace of God.

When they saw the crowds, the Jews were filled with jealousy, and began to contradict Paul's statements, and to abuse him.

So Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly. "It was necessary," they said, "first to proclaim the word of God to you. But since you push it away from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

But the Jews urged on the devout women of high rank, and the leading citizens, and stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of the district,

He was listening while Paul was preaching, and Paul, looking intently at him, and perceiving that he had faith to be made whole,

And he sprang up and began to walk about. Then the crowds, when they saw what Paul had done, shouted in the Lycaonian tongue, saying, "The gods are come down to us in human form."

And they began to call Barnabas "Zeus," and Paul, since he was the principal speaker, "Hermes";

But when the apostles, Paul and Barnabas, heard of it, they rent their garments and rushed out among the crowd, shouting and crying.

And now a party of Jews came down form Antioch and Iconium, and after persuading the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.

Now when dispute and controversy sprang up between them and Paul and Barnabas, the brethren appointed Paul and Barnabas, and certain others, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.

Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, together with the whole church, to select some of their number, and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. The men chosen were Judas called Bar-Sabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren.

"we have unanimously decided to select certain men, and to send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul;

Paul and Barnabas also stayed in Antioch teaching and proclaiming the word of the Lord, in company with others.

And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let is go back and visit the brothers in every city in which we have proclaimed the word of the Lord. Let us see how they fare."

But Paul thought it unwise to take with them one who had deserted them to the Pamphylia, and had not gone on with them to the work.

while Paul chose Silas, and set forth commended by the brothers to the grace of God.

Now Paul, wishing that this man should accompany him on his journey, took him and circumcised him because of the local Jews, who all knew that his father was a Greek.

Here a vision appeared to Paul in the night. There stood a man of Macedonia, entreating him and saying, "Come over into Macedonia and help us!"

Among them was a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, who belonged to the town of Thyatira. She, since she was a worshiper of God, listened to us, and the Lord opened her heart to attend to what Paul said.

She used to follow after Paul and us, crying out again and again, "These men are servants of the most high God, who proclaimed to you the way of salvation."

She persisted in this for many days, until Paul, worn out, turned round and said to the spirit, "I charge you, in the name of Jesus Christ, to come out of her." In that very hour it came out of her.

But when her owners saw that their hopes of gain were gone, they seized Paul and Silas, and dragged them before the magistrates, into the market-place.

But at midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,

But Paul shouted loudly to him. "Do yourself no harm; for we are all here!"

So he called for lights, and sprang in, and, trembling for fear, fell down before Paul and Silas,

The jailer reported the words to Paul, saying. "The praetors have sent to release you; so come out, and go in peace."

But Paul said: "They have flogged us publicly, uncondemned, men that are Roman citizens; and have thrown us into prison. Are they now going to get rid of us secretly? No, indeed! Let them come here, themselves and take us out."

So Paul and Silas came out of the prison, and went to Lydia's house; and after they had seen the brethren and encouraged them, they left Philippi.

and Paul, according to his usual custom, went in to them and, for three Sabbath Days, he reasoned with them out of the Scriptures,

Some were persuaded and attached themselves to Paul and Silas, including a number of devout Greeks, and a large number of the leading women.

And when they had failed to find Paul and Silas, they began to drag Jason and some of the brethren before the politarchs, shouting. "These fellows who have upset the habitable earth are come hither also.

Now the brothers sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they got there they betook themselves to the Jewish synagogue.

As soon as the Jews in Thessalonica learned that the word of God was preached by Paul in Berea also, they came there, and stirred up and troubled the crowds.

Then the brothers at once sent Paul down to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained behind.

Those who were caring for Paul brought him as far as Athens, and there left him, with instructions to Silas and Timothy to come to him with all speed.

While Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred within him, when he noticed that the city was full of idols.

So Paul stood up in the center of Mars Hill, and said: "Men of Athens, I perceive that in all respects you are remarkably religious.

So Paul withdrew from them.

After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.

Paul came to them, and because he was of the same trade with them, he lodged with them, and worked with them??or by trade they were tentmakers.

And when Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was engrossed in his message, earnestly testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah.

And the Lord said to Paul in a vision, by night. "Have no fear; go on speaking, and do not keep silent;

But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose against Paul, and brought him before the tribunal.

Paul was about to open his mouth, when Gallio said to the Jews. "If it had been some misdemeanor or wicked villainy, it would have been within reason for me to listen to you Jews;

And Paul after remaining in Corinth some time longer, took leave of the brothers, and sailed away to Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. As Paul was under a vow, he had his head shaved at Cenchrea.

Now it happened that while Apollos was in Corinth, Paul, after passing through the hinterland, came to Ephesus, where he found a few disciples.

"John indeed baptized with the baptism of repentance," answered Paul, "telling the people to believe on One who was coming after him, namely, on Jesus."

and after Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they began to speak with tongues, and to prophesy.

Then Paul went into the synagogue, and there continued to preach fearlessly for about three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God.

God also wrought extraordinary miracles by the hand of Paul;

But there were also some strolling Jewish exorcists, who took it upon them to invoke the name of Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "I adjure you by that Jesus whom Paul preaches."

But the evil spirit answered, "Jesus I know, and Paul I have heard of, but who are you?"

Now after these things were ended, Paul resolved in his spirit to travel through Macedonia and Achaia on his way to Jerusalem. "After I get there," he said, "I must see Rome, too."

"And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but almost throughout all of Asia, this fellow Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, by telling them that they are no gods at all who are made with hands.

The city was filled with commotion. They rushed like one man into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul's companions in travel.

When Paul wanted to go in to the people, the disciples would not let him,

After the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples and, after embracing them, bade them farewell, and started for Macedonia.

On the first day of the week we met for the breaking of bread, and Paul, who was going away the next morning, began preaching to them, and prolonged his discourse until midnight.

and a young man named Eutychus was sitting in a window, overborne by deep sleep, while Paul continued to preach at length. Overcome at last by sleep, he fell down from the third story, and was taken up dead.

Then Paul went down, threw himself upon him, and embracing him, said: "Do not lament; his life is still in him."

The rest of us going before to the ship, set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul on board there; for so he had appointed, because he intended to go by land.

For Paul had determined to sail past Ephesus, so as not to spend time in Asia, for he was hurrying to get to Jerusalem, if it were possible, by the day of Pentecost.

When he had so said, Paul kneeled down, and prayed with them.

We looked up the local disciples and remained there seven days; and these disciples kept telling Paul, through the Spirit, that he should not set foot in Jerusalem.

He came to us, and taking Paul's girdle, he bound his own feet and hands, saying, "Thus says the Holy Spirit, 'so will the Jews at Jerusalem bind the owner of this girdle, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.'"

As soon as we heard these words, both we and those who were standing near entreated Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.

"What do you mean by thus breaking my heart with your grief?" answered Paul. "For I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem, for the name of the Lord Jesus."

On the following day we went with Paul to call on James, and all the elders were present.

After saluting them Paul rehearsed, one by one, the things that God had done among the Gentiles by his ministry.

Then Paul took the men, and after purifying himself with them next day, went into the temple to declare the fulfilment of the days of purification, until the offering was offered for every one of them.

(For they had formerly seen Trophimus, the Ephesian, with him in the city, and supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.)

The whole city was thrown into uproar. The mob surged together, seized Paul, and began to drag him outside the temple. Whereupon the doors were at once shut.

At once he took soldiers and centurions, and rushed down upon them. When they saw the tribune and the troops, they left off beating Paul.

Some among the crowd kept shouting one thing, some another; and when the tribune could not learn the facts because of the uproar, he ordered Paul into the barracks.