Thematic Bible: Paul


Thematic Bible



Embarking in an Andramyttian ship which was bound for the Asiatic seaports, we set sail, accompanied by a Macedonian from Thessalonica called Aristarchus. Verse ConceptsShipsThe NavySea Travel

So the city was filled with confusion. They rushed like one man into the amphitheatre, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were travelling with Paul. Verse ConceptsConfusion, Nature OfTumultDisorder Among People

His company as far as Asia consisted of Sopater of Beroea (the son of Pyrrhus), Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius of Derbe, Timotheus, and Tychicus and Trophimus from Asia.

Aristarchus my fellow-prisoner salutes you; so does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas, about whom you have got instructions (if he comes to you, give him a welcome); Verse ConceptsCousinsHospitality, A Duty Of God's PeoplePrisonersCompanionshipWelcoming Believers

So do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow-workers. Verse ConceptsFellow Workers

Whenever I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to winter there. Verse ConceptsMissionaries, Support ForPaul, Life OfWinterVisiting


The first time I had to defend myself, I had no supporters; everyone deserted me. God grant it may not be brought up against them! Verse ConceptsFriendlessnessBeing ForsakenDesertionLonelinessForsaking All OthersSelf DefenceReckoningPeople Abandoning PeopleMan DefendingSupport

I was circumcised on the eighth day after birth; I belonged to the race of Israel, to the tribe of Benjamin; I was the Hebrew son of Hebrew parents, a Pharisee as regards the Law, Verse ConceptsCircumcision, physicalDay 8ScholarsLess Than A Year OldTaking The Law To HeartJewszealots

PAUL an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and brother Timotheus, to the church of God at Corinth as well as to all the saints throughout the whole of Achaia: Verse ConceptsChristiansApostles, DescriptionApostles, Basis Of AuthorityLettersAll Believers Are SaintsLetters To Local ChurchesWhat God's Will IsChurch Of God


PAUL an apostle ??not appointed by men nor commissioned by any man but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead, ??2 with all the brothers who are beside me, to the churches of Galatia; Verse ConceptsApostles, Basis Of AuthorityPaul As An ApostleGod, Unity OfGod Raising ChristThe FatherMan's Relation To GodLeadership Qualitiesmanhoodvocation

he dropped to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" "Who are you?" he asked. "I am Jesus," he said, "and you persecute me. Get up and go into the city. There you will be told what you have to do."

But the Lord said to him, "Go; I have chosen him to be the means of bringing my Name before the Gentiles and their kings as well as before the sons of Israel. I will show him all he has to suffer for the sake of my Name."

As they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the holy Spirit said, "Come! set me apart Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and let them go.



Paul, by God's will an apostle of Christ Jesus, and brother Timotheus, Verse ConceptsApostles, Basis Of AuthorityLettersWhat God's Will Is


Show 1 more verse
Paul an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God in the service of the Life he has promised in Christ Jesus ??2 to his beloved son Timotheus: grace, mercy, peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. Verse Conceptseternal life, gift ofApostles, Basis Of AuthorityLettersSonsLife Is In ChristWhat God's Will IsLife Purpose

Now here I go to Jerusalem under the binding force of the Spirit. What will befall me there, I do not know. Only, I know this, that in town after town the holy Spirit testifies to me that bonds and troubles are awaiting me. But then, I set no value on my own life as compared with the joy of finishing my course and fulfilling the commission I received from the Lord Jesus to attest the gospel of the grace of God.

Then Paul replied, "What do you mean by weeping and disheartening me? I am ready not only to be bound but also to die at Jerusalem for the sake of the Lord Jesus." As he would not be persuaded, we acquiesced, saying, "The will of the Lord be done."





So Paul stood up and motioning with his hand said, "Listen, men of Israel and you who reverence God. The God of this People Israel chose our fathers; he multiplied the people as they sojourned in the land of Egypt and with arm uplifted led them out of it. For about forty years he bore with them in the desert, read more.
and after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan he gave them their land as an inheritance for about four hundred and fifty years. After that he gave them judges, down to the prophet Samuel. Then it was that they begged for a king, and God gave them forty years of Saul, the son of Kish, who belonged to the tribe of Benjamin. After deposing him, he raised up David to be their king, to whom he bore this testimony that 'In David, the son of Jessai, I have found a man after my own heart, who will obey all my will.' From his offspring God brought to Israel, as he had promised, a saviour in Jesus, before whose coming John had already preached a baptism of repentance for all the people of Israel. And as John was closing his career he said, 'What do you take me for? I am not He; no, he is coming after me, and I am not fit to untie the sandals on his feet!' Brothers, sons of Abraham's race and all among you who reverence God, the message of this salvation has been sent to us. The inhabitants of Jerusalem and their rulers, by condemning him in their ignorance, fulfilled the words of the prophets which are read every sabbath; though they could find him guilty of no crime that deserved death, they begged Pilate to have him put to death, and, after carrying out all that had been predicted of him in scripture, they lowered him from the gibbet and laid him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead. For many days he was seen by those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem; they are now his witnesses to the People. So we now preach to you the glad news that the promise made to the fathers has been fulfilled by God for us their children, when he raised Jesus. As it is written in the second psalm, thou art my son, to-day have I become thy father. And as a proof that he has raised him from the dead, never to return to decay, he has said this: I will give you the holiness of David that fails not. Hence in another psalm he says, thou wilt not let thy holy One suffer decay. Of course David, after serving God's purpose in his own generation, died and was laid beside his fathers; he suffered decay, but He whom God raised did not suffer decay. So you must understand, my brothers, that remission of sins is proclaimed to you through him, and that by him everyone who believes is absolved from all that the law of Moses never could absolve you from. Beware then in case the prophetic saying applies to you: Look, you disdainful folk, wonder at this and perish for in your days I do a deed, a deed you will never believe, not though one were to explain it to you." As Paul and Barnabas went out, the people begged to have all this repeated to them on the following sabbath. After the synagogue broke up, a number of the Jews and the devout proselytes followed them; Paul and Barnabas talked to them and encouraged them to hold by the grace of God.

You may have thousands to superintend you in Christ, but you have not more than one father. It was I who in Christ Jesus became your father by means of the gospel. Verse ConceptsGuardsPaul, Apostle To GentilesNew Birth, The Means OfSpiritual FathersFathers BirthdayparentingDadsSchoolParenting Responsibilities

To other people I may be no apostle, but to you I am, for you are the seal set upon my apostleship in the Lord. Verse ConceptsApostles, IdentficationSeals

At any rate, whether I or they have done most, such is what we preach, such is what you believed. Verse Conceptsevangelists, ministry ofMissionary WorkThe Gospel PreachedActing For Oneselfevangelizing

Why, you are my certificate yourselves, written on my heart, recognized and read by all men; you make it obvious that you are a letter of Christ which I have been employed to inscribe, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of the human heart.


Therefore do I protest before you this day that I am not responsible for the blood of any of you; I never shrank from letting you know the entire purpose of God.

You got that lesson from our beloved fellow-servant Epaphras, a minister of Christ who is faithful to your interests; Verse ConceptsFaithfulness, Examples OfLoyaltyMinistry, Qualifications ForSlaves Of God

I was circumcised on the eighth day after birth; I belonged to the race of Israel, to the tribe of Benjamin; I was the Hebrew son of Hebrew parents, a Pharisee as regards the Law, Verse ConceptsCircumcision, physicalDay 8ScholarsLess Than A Year OldTaking The Law To HeartJewszealots

With these words he knelt down and prayed beside them all. They all broke into loud lamentation and falling upon the neck of Paul kissed him fondly, sorrowing chiefly because he told them they would never see his face again. Then they escorted him to the ship.

to the weak I have become as weak myself, to win over the weak. To all men I have become all things, to save some by all and every means. Verse ConceptsWeakness, SpiritualWeakness, PhysicalSoul WinnersSaving PeopleCircumstancesThings Like PeopleWinningWeaknessorderflexibility

he also held conversations and debates with the Hellenists. But when the brothers learned that the Hellenists were attempting to make away with him, Verse Conceptsevangelists, ministry ofGreeksHatredSuffering, Of BelieversDisputesPersecution Of The Apostle PaulReasoned ArgumentAttempting To Kill Specific PeopleBoldness

I am sure it is, and so I know I shall remain alive and serve you all by forwarding your progress and fostering the joy of your faith. Verse ConceptsFaith, As A Body Of BeliefsExamples Of ConfidenceAbsenceRejoicingGrowth In GraceThe FaithYou Will Rejoice In Salvationpatientsjoyful

I hope to send him then, as soon as ever I see how it will go with me ??24 though I am confident in the Lord that I shall be coming myself before long.

But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia the Jews without exception rose against Paul and brought him up before the tribunal, Verse ConceptsProconsulDerisionProvincesPersecution Of The Apostle Paul

When day broke, the Jews formed a conspiracy, taking a solemn oath neither to eat nor to drink till they had killed Paul. There were more than forty of them in this plot. They then went to the high priests and elders, saying, "We have taken a solemn oath to taste no food till we have killed Paul. read more.
Now you and the Sanhedrin must inform the commander that you propose to investigate this case in detail, so that he may have Paul brought down to you. We will be all ready to kill him on the way down."

Not that I complain of want, for I have learned how to be content wherever I am. I know how to live humbly; I also know how to live in prosperity. I have been initiated into the secret for all sorts and conditions of life, for plenty and for hunger, for prosperity and for privations.


It makes me sigh indeed, this yearning to be under the cover of my heavenly habitation, Verse ConceptsThirstWearinessClothed With Good ThingsChanging DirectionRight DesiresTaken To Heaven


As life means Christ to me, so death means gain. But then, if it is to be life here below, that means fruitful work for me. So ??well, I cannot tell which to choose; I am in a dilemma between the two. My strong desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far the best.


So do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow-workers. Verse ConceptsFellow Workers

Our beloved Luke, the doctor, salutes you; so does Demas. Verse ConceptsGood FriendsdoctorsHealingPhysician

Saul became more and more vigorous. He put the Jewish residents in Damascus to confusion by his proof that Jesus was the Christ; Verse ConceptsAnointing, Of Christevangelism, nature ofGrowthPower, God's SavingChrist, Names ForSpiritual GrowthPreaching ChristProofsSaid To Be The ChristStrong Individualsdamascusempowerment




You got that lesson from our beloved fellow-servant Epaphras, a minister of Christ who is faithful to your interests; Verse ConceptsFaithfulness, Examples OfLoyaltyMinistry, Qualifications ForSlaves Of God


Epaphras my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus salutes you. Verse ConceptsChristians Are Called Prisoners Of Christ

Also, salute the church that meets in their house. Salute my beloved Epaenetus, the first in Asia to be reaped for Christ. Verse ConceptsChristiansChurchHousesProperty, HousesChurch, Description OfConverts To ChristianityPeople ConvertedFirst Among The GentilesGoing To Church

So he despatched two of his assistants to Macedonia, Timotheus and Erastus, while he himself stayed on awhile in Asia. Verse ConceptsStaying PutServing PeoplePeople Sending People

Erastus stayed on at Corinth: I left Trophimus ill at Miletus. Verse ConceptsdiseasesHealingSuffering, Causes OfSuffering, Nature OfSick Individuals

Do your best to come before winter. Eubulus salutes you; so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brotherhood. Verse ConceptsWinterBrotherhoodeffort

With these words he took a loaf and after thanking God, in presence of them all, broke it and began to eat. Then they all cheered up and took food for themselves

Cheer up, men! I believe God, I believe it will turn out just as I have been told. Verse ConceptsCheerfulnessTake Courage!MissionariesCourageEverything Happening For A Reason




how I never shrank from letting you know anything for your good, or from teaching you alike in public and from house to house, Verse ConceptsHesitationPreaching, Content OfProperty, HousesTeachersMinisters, Way They Should TeachTeaching In The ChurchUseful ThingsPeople Willing

For three days he remained sightless, he neither ate nor drank. Verse ConceptsAbstinence as a disciplineFasting, Nature OfBlindnesspoopdamascus

"Three days ago," said Cornelius, "at this very hour I was praying in my house at three o'clock in the afternoon, when a man stood before me in shining dress, Verse ConceptsFasting, Examples OfHourSecret Prayer3 PmFour Or Five DaysWhite And Bright ClothesSparklingWhen To PrayFastingFasting And Prayer


The first time I had to defend myself, I had no supporters; everyone deserted me. God grant it may not be brought up against them! Verse ConceptsFriendlessnessBeing ForsakenDesertionLonelinessForsaking All OthersSelf DefenceReckoningPeople Abandoning PeopleMan DefendingSupport


Now get up and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you in order to appoint you to my service as a witness to what you have seen and to the visions you shall have of me. Verse ConceptsDivine PurposesWitnesses, To Jesus ChristChrist AppearingWitness To The GospelGet Up!Why It HappenedPurposeRisingMinistry

Saul became more and more vigorous. He put the Jewish residents in Damascus to confusion by his proof that Jesus was the Christ; Verse ConceptsAnointing, Of Christevangelism, nature ofGrowthPower, God's SavingChrist, Names ForSpiritual GrowthPreaching ChristProofsSaid To Be The ChristStrong Individualsdamascusempowerment


You are witnesses, and so is God, to our behaviour among you believers, how pious and upright and blameless it was, Verse ConceptsConsciences, Before OthersBlamelessness, Church MinistersThe Witness Of GodPlea Of InnocenceClear Consciences



Salute Andronicus and Junias, fellow-countrymen and fellow-prisoners of mine; they are men of note among the apostles, and they have been in Christ longer than I have. Verse ConceptsApostles, DescriptionWomenBeforeRelativesChristians Are Called Prisoners Of Christ




Jason has welcomed them! They all violate the decrees of Caesar by declaring someone else called Jesus is king." Verse ConceptsdefianceKingship, DivineTreasonFalse Accusations, Examples OfWelcoming BelieversDifferent Personacting

The fact is, we have found this man is a perfect pest; he stirs up sedition among the Jews all over the world and he is a ringleader of the Nazarene sect. Verse ConceptsHeresiesPersecution, Forms OfSectsFalse Accusations, Examples OfDissension

crying, "This fellow incites men to worship God contrary to the Law." Verse ConceptsIntoleranceInciting To EvilHow Not To WorshipBreaking God's Law

but when his accusers stood up they did not charge him with any of the crimes that I had expected. The questions at issue referred to their own religion and to a certain Jesus who had died. Paul said he was alive.

Only, I have nothing definite to write to the sovereign about him. So I have brought him up before you all, and especially before you, O king Agrippa, in order that I may have something to write as the result of your cross-examination. For it seems absurd to me to forward a prisoner without notifying the particulars of his charge."

and as he belonged to the same trade he stayed with them and they all worked together. (They were workers in leather by trade.) Verse ConceptsArts And Crafts, Types ofTentsIndustry, Examples OfTentmakingLike Good PeopleStaying Temporarilypartnershipvocation

Silver, gold, or apparel I never coveted; you know yourselves how these hands of mine provided everything for my own needs and for my companions.

we did not take free meals from anyone; no, toiling hard at our trade, we worked night and day, so as not to be a burden to any of you. Verse ConceptsdiligenceNightPoverty, Remedies ForLabour Day And NightThose Who ToiledHardship

With these words he took a loaf and after thanking God, in presence of them all, broke it and began to eat. Then they all cheered up and took food for themselves

Then the apostles and the presbyters, together with the whole church, decided to select some of their number and send them with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch. The men selected were Judas (called Bar-Sabbas) and Silas, prominent members of the brotherhood. They conveyed the following letter. "The apostles and the presbyters of the brotherhood to the brothers who belong to the Gentiles throughout Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: greeting. Having learned that some of our number, quite unauthorized by us, have unsettled you with their teaching and upset your souls, read more.
we have decided unanimously to select some of our number and send them to you along with our beloved Paul and Barnabas who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. We therefore send Judas and Silas with the following message, which they will also give to you orally. The holy Spirit and we have decided not to impose any extra burden on you, apart from these essential requirements: abstain from food that has been offered to idols, from tasting blood, from the flesh of animals that have been strangled, and from sexual vice. Keep clear of all this and you will prosper. Goodbye." When the messengers were despatched, they went down to Antioch and after gathering the whole body they handed them the letter. On reading it the people rejoiced at the encouragement it brought; and as Judas and Silas were themselves prophets, they encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many a counsel.

indeed I count anything a loss, compared to the supreme value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have lost everything (I count it all the veriest refuse) in order to gain Christ and be found at death in him, possessing no legal righteousness of my own but the righteousness of faith in Christ, the divine righteousness that rests on faith.

you know yourselves how these hands of mine provided everything for my own needs and for my companions. Verse ConceptsPoverty, Remedies ForIndustryActing For Oneselfprovidingministering




O Corinthians, I am keeping nothing back from you; my heart is wide open for you. 'Restraint'? ??that lies with you, not me.

The first time I had to defend myself, I had no supporters; everyone deserted me. God grant it may not be brought up against them! Verse ConceptsFriendlessnessBeing ForsakenDesertionLonelinessForsaking All OthersSelf DefenceReckoningPeople Abandoning PeopleMan DefendingSupport


They glorified God when they heard it. Then they said to him, "Brother, you see how many thousands of believers there are among the Jews, all of them ardent upholders of the Law. Now, they have heard that you teach all Jews who live among Gentiles to break away from Moses and not to circumcise their children, nor to follow the old customs. What is to be done? They will be sure to hear you have arrived. read more.
So do as we tell you. We have four men here under a vow; associate yourself with them, purify yourself with them, pay their expenses so that they may be free to have their heads shaved, and then everybody will understand there is nothing in these stories about you, but that, on the contrary, you are guided by obedience to the Law. As for Gentile believers, we have issued our decision that they must avoid food that has been offered to idols, the taste of blood, flesh of animals that have been strangled, and sexual vice." Then Paul associated himself with the men next day; he had himself purified along with them and went into the temple to give notice of the time when the days of purification would be completed ??the time, that is to say, when the sacrifice could be offered for each one of them.

The first time I had to defend myself, I had no supporters; everyone deserted me. God grant it may not be brought up against them! Verse ConceptsFriendlessnessBeing ForsakenDesertionLonelinessForsaking All OthersSelf DefenceReckoningPeople Abandoning PeopleMan DefendingSupport



She did this for a number of days. Then Paul turned in annoyance and told the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I order you out of her!" And it left her that very moment. Verse ConceptsExorcismsCommands, in NTDemons, Christ's AuthoritySpiritual DiscernmentMiracles, Nature OfSatan, Resistance ToMiracles Of PaulPeople Casting Out DemonsIn The Name Of ChristNamed People Angry With OthersnaggingDemonic Influence

God also worked no ordinary miracles by means of Paul; people even carried away towels or aprons he had used, and at their touch sick folk were freed from their diseases and evil spirits came out of them.

His father, it so happened, was laid up with fever and dysentery, but Paul went in to see him and after prayer laid his hands on him and cured him. When this had happened, the rest of the sick folk in the island also came and got cured;

In the window sat a young man called Eutychus, and as Paul's address went on and on, he got overcome with drowsiness, went fast asleep, and fell from the third storey. He was picked up a corpse, but Paul went downstairs, threw himself upon him, and embraced him. "Do not lament," he said, "the life is still in him." Then he went upstairs, broke bread, and ate; finally, after conversing awhile with them till the dawn, he went away. read more.
As for the lad, they took him away alive, much to their relief.

See here, the Lord's hand will fall on you, and you will be blind, unable for a time to see the sun." In a moment a dark mist fell upon him, and he groped about for someone to take him by the hand. Verse ConceptsdisabilitiesHand Of GodMiracles, Nature OfMistPainMiracles Of PaulMiracles Bringing God's JudgmentBarriersGod's HandOvertaken By DarknessGod BlindingGod's Hands In Oppositionfitness

said in a loud voice, "Stand erect on your feet." Up he jumped and began to walk. Verse ConceptsWalkingMiracles Of PaulThe Healed WalkingIndividuals ShoutingGet Up!jumping

However, he shook off the creature into the fire and was not a whit the worse. Verse ConceptsFireMiracles Of PaulPeople Shaking

God also worked no ordinary miracles by means of Paul; people even carried away towels or aprons he had used, and at their touch sick folk were freed from their diseases and evil spirits came out of them.

but Paul went downstairs, threw himself upon him, and embraced him. "Do not lament," he said, "the life is still in him." Then he went upstairs, broke bread, and ate; finally, after conversing awhile with them till the dawn, he went away. As for the lad, they took him away alive, much to their relief.

See here, the Lord's hand will fall on you, and you will be blind, unable for a time to see the sun." In a moment a dark mist fell upon him, and he groped about for someone to take him by the hand. Verse ConceptsdisabilitiesHand Of GodMiracles, Nature OfMistPainMiracles Of PaulMiracles Bringing God's JudgmentBarriersGod's HandOvertaken By DarknessGod BlindingGod's Hands In Oppositionfitness

She did this for a number of days. Then Paul turned in annoyance and told the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I order you out of her!" And it left her that very moment. Verse ConceptsExorcismsCommands, in NTDemons, Christ's AuthoritySpiritual DiscernmentMiracles, Nature OfSatan, Resistance ToMiracles Of PaulPeople Casting Out DemonsIn The Name Of ChristNamed People Angry With OthersnaggingDemonic Influence

said in a loud voice, "Stand erect on your feet." Up he jumped and began to walk. Verse ConceptsWalkingMiracles Of PaulThe Healed WalkingIndividuals ShoutingGet Up!jumping

However, he shook off the creature into the fire and was not a whit the worse. Verse ConceptsFireMiracles Of PaulPeople Shaking

His father, it so happened, was laid up with fever and dysentery, but Paul went in to see him and after prayer laid his hands on him and cured him. Verse ConceptsdiseasesDiseases, Kinds OfSuffering, Causes OfSuffering, Nature OfMiracles Of PaulLaying On Of HandsFeverLaying On Hands To HealHealing Sickness


With a steady look at the Sanhedrin Paul said, "Brothers, I have lived with a perfectly good conscience before God down to the present day." Verse ConceptsClear ConsciencesConsciences, Description OfMan's Conduct Towards GodLooking Intently At PeopleconscienceClear Conscience Before God


How I lived from my youth up among my own nation and at Jerusalem, all that early career of mine, is known to all the Jews. They know me of old. They know, if they chose to admit it, that as a Pharisee I lived by the principles of the strictest party in our religion.

Everyone has heard of your loyalty to the gospel; it makes me rejoice over you. Still, I want you to be experts in good and innocents in evil. Verse ConceptsGenuinenessInnocence, Teaching OnJoy, Of The ChurchWisdom, Human ImportanceCharacter Of SaintsHarmlessnessGuileBe Wise!Obeying The GospelYou Will Rejoice In Salvation

Upon this, O king Agrippa, I did not disobey the heavenly vision; Verse ConceptsFaith, Nature OfVisions From GodWe ObeyHeavenly Visiondisobedience

Upon this, O king Agrippa, I did not disobey the heavenly vision; Verse ConceptsFaith, Nature OfVisions From GodWe ObeyHeavenly Visiondisobedience

He is accompanied by that faithful and beloved brother Onesimus, who is one of yourselves. They will inform you of all that goes on here. Verse ConceptsFaithfulness, Examples OfLoyaltyOptimismTelling Of People's Situations

I appeal to you on behalf of my spiritual son born while I was in prison. It is Onesimus! Verse ConceptsChildren In The FaithUseful People




PAUL an apostle ??not appointed by men nor commissioned by any man but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead, ??2 with all the brothers who are beside me, to the churches of Galatia; Verse ConceptsApostles, Basis Of AuthorityPaul As An ApostleGod, Unity OfGod Raising ChristThe FatherMan's Relation To GodLeadership Qualitiesmanhoodvocation

But the God who had set me apart from my very birth called me by his grace, and when he chose to reveal his Son to me, that I might preach him to the Gentiles, instead of consulting with any human being,



Paul, by God's will an apostle of Christ Jesus, and brother Timotheus, Verse ConceptsApostles, Basis Of AuthorityLettersWhat God's Will Is


Paul an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God in the service of the Life he has promised in Christ Jesus ??2 to his beloved son Timotheus: grace, mercy, peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. Verse Conceptseternal life, gift ofApostles, Basis Of AuthorityLettersSonsLife Is In ChristWhat God's Will IsLife Purpose


Paul a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God's elect and for their knowledge of the Truth that goes with a religious life, Verse ConceptsApostles, Function In Early ChurchFaith, Nature OfChristiansLettersPaul, Apostle To GentilesNames And Titles For The ChristianMaintaining FaithKnowing God's TruthThe Truth Of The Gospel

Show 6 more verses
For I am the very least of the apostles, unfit to bear the name of apostle, since I persecuted the church of God. Verse ConceptsGuilt, Human Aspects OfPainful MemoriesSelf AbasementUnworthinessInferiorityThe Church UniversalChurch Of GodPersecutionGoing To Churchimportance



Then he said, 'The God of our fathers has appointed you to know his will, to see the Just One, and to hear him speak with his own lips. For you are to be a witness for him before all men, a witness of what you have seen and heard. And now, why do you wait? Get up and be baptized and wash away your sins, invoking his name.' read more.
When I returned to Jerusalem, it happened that while I was praying in the temple I fell into a trance and saw Him saying to me, 'Make haste, leave Jerusalem quickly, for they will not accept your evidence about me.' 'But, Lord,' I said, 'they surely know it was I who imprisoned and flogged those who believed in you throughout the synagogues, and that I stood and approved when the blood of your martyr Stephen was being shed, taking charge of the clothes of his murderers!' But he said to me, 'Go; I will send you afar to the Gentiles ????'"

Now get up and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you in order to appoint you to my service as a witness to what you have seen and to the visions you shall have of me. I will rescue you from the People and also from the Gentiles ??to whom I send you, that their eyes may be opened and that they may turn from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God, to get remission of their sins and an inheritance among those who are consecrated by faith in me.'

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the work I have accomplished in the Lord? To other people I may be no apostle, but to you I am, for you are the seal set upon my apostleship in the Lord.



I have absolute confidence in you, I am indeed proud of you, you are a perfect comfort to me, I am overflowing with delight, for all the trouble I have to bear. Verse Conceptsencouragement, examples ofJoy, Of The ChurchOptimismDistressTrusting Other PeopleHuman ComfortPaul's BoastingPrideholy BoldnessEncouragementJoy And HappinessBoldnessSpeechencouraging


Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the work I have accomplished in the Lord? Verse ConceptsPaul, Apostle To GentilesOne's DeedsWorking For The Lord

and finally he was seen by myself, by this so-called 'abortion' of an apostle. Verse ConceptsResurrection Of Christ, AppearancesUntimelinessChrist AppearingEnd Of ActionsAbortion

I render thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has made me able for this; he considered me trustworthy and appointed me to the ministry, though I had formerly been a blasphemer and a persecutor and a wanton aggressor. I obtained mercy because in my unbelief I had acted out of ignorance;

You know the story of my past career in Judaism; you know how furiously I persecuted the church of God and harried it, Verse ConceptsPaul, Life OfZeal, Without KnowledgeDestruction Of The ChurchThe Church UniversalChurch Of GodPersecutionchristianitypasttrying

As he neared Damascus in the course of his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed round him; he dropped to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" "Who are you?" he asked. "I am Jesus," he said, "and you persecute me. read more.
Get up and go into the city. There you will be told what you have to do." His fellow-travellers stood speechless, for they heard the voice but they could not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but though his eyes were open he could see nothing; so they took his hand and led him to Damascus. For three days he remained sightless, he neither ate nor drank. Now there was a disciple called Ananias in Damascus. The Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." He said, "I am here, Lord." And the Lord said to him, "Go away to the street called 'The Straight Street,' and ask at the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus called Saul. He is praying at this very moment, and he has seen a man called Ananias enter and lay his hands upon him to bring back his sight." "But, Lord," Ananias answered, "many people have told me about all the mischief this man has done to thy saints at Jerusalem! And in this city too he has authority from the high priests to put anyone in chains who invokes thy Name!" But the Lord said to him, "Go; I have chosen him to be the means of bringing my Name before the Gentiles and their kings as well as before the sons of Israel. I will show him all he has to suffer for the sake of my Name." So Ananias went off and entered the house, laying his hands on him with these words, "Saul, my brother, I have been sent by the Lord, by Jesus who appeared to you on the road, to let you regain your sight and be filled with the holy Spirit." In a moment something like scales fell from his eyes, he regained his sight, got up and was baptized. Then he took some food and felt strong again. For several days he stayed at Damascus with the disciples. He lost no time in preaching throughout the synagogues that Jesus was the Son of God ??21 to the amazement of all his hearers, who said, "Is this not the man who in Jerusalem harried those who invoke this Name, the man who came here for the express purpose of carrying them all in chains to the high priests?" Saul became more and more vigorous. He put the Jewish residents in Damascus to confusion by his proof that Jesus was the Christ;

I persecuted this Way of religion to the death, chaining and imprisoning both men and women, as the high priest and all the council of elders can testify. It was from them that I got letters to the brotherhood at Damascus, and then journeyed thither to bind those who had gathered there and bring them back to Jerusalem for punishment. Now as I neared Damascus on my journey, suddenly about noon a brilliant light from heaven flashed round me. read more.
I dropped to the earth and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?' 'Who are you?' I asked. He said to me, 'I am Jesus the Nazarene, and you are persecuting me.' (My companions saw the light, but they did not hear the voice of him who talked to me.) I said, 'What am I to do?' And the Lord said to me, 'Get up and make your way into Damascus; there?you shall be told about all you are destined to do.' As I could not see owing to the dazzling glare of that light,. my companions took my hand and so I reached Damascus. Then a certain Ananias, a devout man in the Law, who had a good reputation among all the Jewish inhabitants, came to me and standing beside me said, 'Saul, my brother, regain your sight!' The same moment I regained my sight and looked up at him. Then he said, 'The God of our fathers has appointed you to know his will, to see the Just One, and to hear him speak with his own lips. For you are to be a witness for him before all men, a witness of what you have seen and heard. And now, why do you wait? Get up and be baptized and wash away your sins, invoking his name.' When I returned to Jerusalem, it happened that while I was praying in the temple I fell into a trance and saw Him saying to me, 'Make haste, leave Jerusalem quickly, for they will not accept your evidence about me.' 'But, Lord,' I said, 'they surely know it was I who imprisoned and flogged those who believed in you throughout the synagogues,

I once believed it my duty indeed actively to oppose the name of Jesus the Nazarene. I did so in Jerusalem. I shut up many of the saints in prison, armed with authority from the high priests; when they were put to death, I voted against them; there was not a synagogue where I did not often punish them and force them to blaspheme; and in my frantic fury I persecuted them even to foreign towns. read more.
I was travelling to Damascus on this business, with authority and a commission from the high priests, when at mid-day on the road, O king, I saw a light from heaven, more dazzling than the sun, flash round me and my fellow-travellers. We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Hebrew, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? You hurt yourself by kicking at the goad.' 'Who are you?' I asked. And the Lord said, 'I am Jesus, and you are persecuting me.

As they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the holy Spirit said, "Come! set me apart Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and let them go.


But the God who had set me apart from my very birth called me by his grace, and when he chose to reveal his Son to me, that I might preach him to the Gentiles, instead of consulting with any human being, instead of going up to Jerusalem to see those who had been apostles before me, I went off at once to Arabia, and on my return I came back to Damascus. read more.
Then, after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to make the acquaintance of Cephas. I stayed a fortnight with him. I saw no other apostle, only James the brother of the Lord. (I am writing you the sheer truth, I swear it before God!) Then I went to the districts of Syria and of Cilicia. Personally I was quite unknown to the Christian churches of Judaea; they merely heard that 'our former persecutor is now preaching the faith he once harried,' which made them praise God for me.

I tell you this, you Gentiles, that as an apostle to the Gentiles I lay great stress on my office, Verse ConceptsGentiles, In NtMission, Of The ChurchPreaching Gospel To ForeignersGentilesMinistry

For these are the Lord's orders to us: I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the end of the earth." When the Gentiles heard this they rejoiced and glorified the word of the Lord and believed, that is, all who had been ordained to eternal life;

When I returned to Jerusalem, it happened that while I was praying in the temple I fell into a trance and saw Him saying to me, 'Make haste, leave Jerusalem quickly, for they will not accept your evidence about me.' 'But, Lord,' I said, 'they surely know it was I who imprisoned and flogged those who believed in you throughout the synagogues, read more.
and that I stood and approved when the blood of your martyr Stephen was being shed, taking charge of the clothes of his murderers!' But he said to me, 'Go; I will send you afar to the Gentiles ????'"

I was circumcised on the eighth day after birth; I belonged to the race of Israel, to the tribe of Benjamin; I was the Hebrew son of Hebrew parents, a Pharisee as regards the Law, Verse ConceptsCircumcision, physicalDay 8ScholarsLess Than A Year OldTaking The Law To HeartJewszealots

"I am a Jew, born at Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel in all the strictness of our ancestral Law, ardent for God as you all are to-day. Verse ConceptsEducation, Examples OfPaul, Life OfSelf ConfidenceLegalismSitting At The FeetSchoolsTaking The Law To HeartEducationSchoolzealots

Then, finding half the Sanhedrin were Sadducees and the other half Pharisees, Paul shouted to them, "I am a Pharisee, brothers, the son of Pharisees! It is for the hope of the resurrection from the dead that I am on trial!" Verse ConceptsHope Object OfHope, As ConfidenceResurrection, Of BelieversSanhedrinStandingJewish SectsThe Dead Are Raisedgroupszealotspharisees

Are they Hebrews? so am I. Israelites? so am I. Descended from Abraham? so am I. Verse ConceptsChildren Of Abrahamcats

They know me of old. They know, if they chose to admit it, that as a Pharisee I lived by the principles of the strictest party in our religion. Verse ConceptsKnowing PeopleHeresiesJudaismSectsStrictness

and how I outstripped many of my own age and race in my special ardour for the ancestral traditions of my house. Verse ConceptsLegalismPharisees, Beliefs OfNew Age BeliefsResolving Conflictzealotscredibility




My love be with you all in Christ Jesus.' [Amen.] Verse ConceptsAmenLove, Nature OfLove Exists Between PeopleLoving Everyone



They had strapped him up, when Paul said to the officer who was standing by, "Are you allowed to scourge a Roman citizen ??and to scourge him without a trial?" Verse ConceptsempiresRevenge, And RetaliationRoman CitizensScourgingBreaking Man's LawNo CondemnationTying UpCitizens

The jailer repeated this to Paul. "The praetors," he said, "have sent to release you. So come out and go in peace?" But Paul replied, "They flogged us in public and without a trial, flogged Roman citizens! They put us in prison, and now they are going to get rid of us secretly! No indeed! Let them come here themselves and take us out!"


At Philippi, as you know, we had been ill-treated and insulted, but we took courage and confidence in our God to tell you the gospel of God in spite of all the strain. Verse Conceptsevangelists, ministry ofInjuryInsultsMissionaries, Support ForSpiritual Warfare, Causes OfSuffering, Of BelieversPeople OpposedBeing StrongPeople Actually Doing EvilConflictBoldness

When day broke, the praetors sent the lictors with the message, "Release these men." The jailer repeated this to Paul. "The praetors," he said, "have sent to release you. So come out and go in peace?" But Paul replied, "They flogged us in public and without a trial, flogged Roman citizens! They put us in prison, and now they are going to get rid of us secretly! No indeed! Let them come here themselves and take us out!" read more.
The lictors reported this to the praetors, who, on hearing the men were Roman citizens, became alarmed; they went to appease them and after taking them out of prison begged them to leave the town.

three times I have been beaten by the Romans, once pelted with stones, three times shipwrecked, adrift at sea for a whole night and day; Verse ConceptsPersecution, Forms OfSeafaringStoningShipwrecksOne DayBeating BelieversActing Three TimesIn The Heart Of The Sea


you know yourselves how these hands of mine provided everything for my own needs and for my companions. Verse ConceptsPoverty, Remedies ForIndustryActing For Oneselfprovidingministering


It was about that time that a great commotion arose over the Way. This was how it happened. By making silver shrines of Artemis a silversmith called Demetrius was the means of bringing rich profit to his workmen. So he got them together, along with the workmen who belonged to similar trades, and said to them: "My men, you know this trade is the source of our wealth. read more.
You also see and hear that not only at Ephesus but almost all over Asia this fellow Paul has drawn off a considerable number of people by his persuasions. He declares that hand-made gods are not gods at all. Now the danger is not only that we will have our trade discredited but that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will fall into contempt and that she will be degraded from her majestic glory, she whom all Asia and the wide world worship." When they heard this they were filled with rage and raised the cry, "Great is Artemis of Ephesus!" So the city was filled with confusion. They rushed like one man into the amphitheatre, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were travelling with Paul. (Paul wanted to enter the popular assembly, but the disciples would not allow him. Some of the Asiarchs, who were friends of his, also sent to beg him not to venture into the amphitheatre.) Some were shouting one thing, some another; for the assembly was in confusion, and the majority had no idea why they had met. Some of the mob concluded it must be Alexander, as the Jews pushed him to the front. So Alexander, motioning with his hand, wanted to defend himself before the people; but when they discovered he was a Jew, a roar broke from them all, and for about two hours they shouted, "Great is Artemis of Ephesus! Great is Artemis of Ephesus!" The secretary of state then got the mob calmed down, and said to them, "Men of Ephesus, who on earth does not know that the city of Ephesus is Warden of the temple of the great Artemis and of the statue that fell from heaven? All this is beyond question. So you should keep calm and do nothing reckless. Instead of that, you have brought these men here who are guilty neither of sacrilege nor of blasphemy against our goddess. If Demetrius and his fellow tradesmen have a grievance against anybody, let both parties state their charges; assizes are held and there are always the proconsuls. Any wider claim must be settled in the legal assembly of the citizens. Indeed there is a danger of our being charged with riot over to-day's meeting; there is not a single reason we can give for this disorderly gathering." With these words he dismissed the assembly.

Now I would like you to know about the distress which befell me in Asia, brothers. I was crushed, crushed far more than I could stand, so much so that I despaired even of life; Verse ConceptsAgony, DescriptionEnjoyment, Lack OfHope, Results Of Its AbsenceDepression, CausesProvincesHeavy BurdensLife DespisedAfflictionsAnxiety And StressDespairHardshipBeing Overwhelmedignoranceexperiencepressureoverwhelmed


But for Christ's sake I have learned to count my former gains a loss; indeed I count anything a loss, compared to the supreme value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have lost everything (I count it all the veriest refuse) in order to gain Christ and be found at death in him, possessing no legal righteousness of my own but the righteousness of faith in Christ, the divine righteousness that rests on faith. read more.
I would know him in the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, with my nature transformed to die as he died, to see if I too can attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained this or am already perfect, but I press forward to appropriate it, because I have been appropriated myself by Christ Jesus. Brothers, I for one do not consider myself to have appropriated this; my one thought is, by forgetting what lies behind me and straining to what lies before me, to press on to the goal for the prize of God's high call in Christ Jesus.

my persecutions, my sufferings ??all that befell me at Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, all the persecutions I had to undergo, from which the Lord rescued me. Verse ConceptsFreedom, Through Jesus ChristAfflictions, In Christian LivingDeliverance, Types OfRescuePersecution Of The Apostle PaulPersecution

But Jews from Antioch and Iconium arrived, who won over the crowds, and after pelting Paul with stones they dragged him outside the town, thinking he was dead. Verse ConceptsAbandonmentevangelists, ministry ofPersuasionInciting To EvilStoningPersecution Of The Apostle PaulPulling PeopleAttempting To Kill Specific People

three times I have been beaten by the Romans, once pelted with stones, three times shipwrecked, adrift at sea for a whole night and day; Verse ConceptsPersecution, Forms OfSeafaringStoningShipwrecksOne DayBeating BelieversActing Three TimesIn The Heart Of The Sea

As he neared Damascus in the course of his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed round him; he dropped to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" "Who are you?" he asked. "I am Jesus," he said, "and you persecute me. read more.
Get up and go into the city. There you will be told what you have to do."

when at mid-day on the road, O king, I saw a light from heaven, more dazzling than the sun, flash round me and my fellow-travellers. We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Hebrew, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? You hurt yourself by kicking at the goad.' 'Who are you?' I asked. And the Lord said, 'I am Jesus, and you are persecuting me.

but Saul made havoc of the church by entering one house after another, dragging off men and women, and consigning them to prison. Verse ConceptsArrestingIntimidationenemies, of believersChurchPrisonersPulling PeopleDestruction Of The ChurchThe Church UniversalPersecutionjail

Meanwhile Saul still breathed threats of murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest Verse ConceptsThreatsThreateningsJudged As Murderersdamascusmotheringbreath

(Saul quite approved of his murder.) That day a severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and everyone, with the exception of the apostles, was scattered over Judaea and Samaria. Verse ConceptsFugitivesChristiansdispersion, theJerusalem, Significance OfSamaritansChurch, Description OfChurch, Examples OfThe Church ScatteredAssentingApproval To KillThe Apostles In Action

Putting him outside the city, they proceeded to stone him (the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a youth called Saul). Verse ConceptsCrimesevangelists, ministry ofMartyrdom, Examples OfMartyrdom Of The SaintsMartyrdom, Methods OfOutside The City


We found out the local disciples and stayed there for seven days. These disciples told Paul by the Spirit not to set foot in Jerusalem; Verse ConceptsWeeksSeven DaysWarning IndividualsSpeaking By The Spirit

While we remained there for a number of days, a prophet called Agabus came down from Judaea. He came to us, took Paul's girdle and bound his own feet and hands, saying, "Here is the word of the holy Spirit: 'So shall the Jews bind the owner of this girdle at Jerusalem and hand him over to the Gentiles'." Now when we heard this, we and the local disciples besought Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. read more.
Then Paul replied, "What do you mean by weeping and disheartening me? I am ready not only to be bound but also to die at Jerusalem for the sake of the Lord Jesus." As he would not be persuaded, we acquiesced, saying, "The will of the Lord be done."

Now here I go to Jerusalem under the binding force of the Spirit. What will befall me there, I do not know. Only, I know this, that in town after town the holy Spirit testifies to me that bonds and troubles are awaiting me.

Some strolling Jewish exorcists also undertook to pronounce the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches!" The seven sons of Sceuas, a Jewish high priest, used to do this. But the evil spirit retorted, "Jesus I know and Paul I know, but you ??who are you?" read more.
And the man in whom the evil spirit resided leapt at them, overpowered them all, and belaboured them, till they rushed out of the house stripped and wounded. This came to the ears of all the inhabitants of Ephesus, Jews as well as Greeks; awe fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. Many believers would also come to confess and disclose their magic spells; and numbers who had practised magic arts collected their books and burned them in the presence of all. On adding up the value of them, it was found that they were worth two thousand pounds. Thus did the word of the Lord increase and prevail mightily.

I am staying on for the present at Ephesus till Pentecost, for I have wide opportunities here for active service ??and there are many to thwart me.

She did this for a number of days. Then Paul turned in annoyance and told the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I order you out of her!" And it left her that very moment. Verse ConceptsExorcismsCommands, in NTDemons, Christ's AuthoritySpiritual DiscernmentMiracles, Nature OfSatan, Resistance ToMiracles Of PaulPeople Casting Out DemonsIn The Name Of ChristNamed People Angry With OthersnaggingDemonic Influence

God also worked no ordinary miracles by means of Paul; Verse ConceptsOther MiraclesMiracles

five times have I got forty lashes (all but one) from the Jews, three times I have been beaten by the Romans, once pelted with stones, three times shipwrecked, adrift at sea for a whole night and day; I have been often on my travels, I have been in danger from rivers and robbers, in danger from Jews and Gentiles, through dangers of town and of desert, through dangers on the sea, through dangers among false brothers ??27 through labour and hardship, through many a sleepless night, through hunger and thirst, starving many a time, cold and ill-clad, and all the rest of it. read more.
And then there is the pressing business of each day, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel his weakness? Whose faith is hurt, and I am not aglow with indignation? If there is to be any boasting, I will boast of what I am weak enough to suffer! The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, He who is blessed for ever, He knows I am telling the truth! (At Damascus the ethnarch of king Aretas had patrols out in the city of the Damascenes to arrest me, but I was lowered in a basket from a loophole in the wall, and so managed to escape his clutches.)

his disciples managed one night to let him down over the wall by lowering him in a basket. He got to Jerusalem and tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, unable to believe he was really a disciple.

Then, after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to make the acquaintance of Cephas. I stayed a fortnight with him. I saw no other apostle, only James the brother of the Lord.

My wealth of visions might have puffed me up, so I was given a thorn in the flesh, an angel of Satan to rack me and keep me from being puffed up; three times over I prayed the Lord to make it leave me, but he told me, "It is enough for you to have my grace: it is in weakness that [my] power is fully felt." So I am proud to boast of all my weakness, and thus to have the power of Christ resting on my life.

no, although it was because of an illness (you know) that I preached the gospel to you on my former visit, and though my flesh was a trial to you, you did not scoff at me nor spurn me, you welcomed me like an angel of God, like Christ Jesus. You congratulated yourselves.

Here they spent a considerable time, speaking fearlessly about the Lord, who attested the word of his grace by allowing signs and wonders to be performed by them. Verse ConceptsBoldness, Proclaiming GospelImportunity, Towards PeopleMiracles, Nature OfBoldness Examples OfThe Witness Of GodBeing StrongOther MiraclesSigns And Wonders Of The GospelStaying A Long Timeholy Boldness

God also worked no ordinary miracles by means of Paul; Verse ConceptsOther MiraclesMiracles

Why, free as I am from all, I have made myself the slave of all, to win over as many as I could. To Jews I have become like a Jew, to win over Jews; to those under the Law I have become as one of themselves ??though I am not under the Law myself ??to win over those under the Law; to those outside the Law I have become like one of themselves ??though I am under Christ's law, not outside God's Law ??to win over those outside the Law; read more.
to the weak I have become as weak myself, to win over the weak. To all men I have become all things, to save some by all and every means.

There is nothing to be gained by this sort of thing, but as I am obliged to boast, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. In the body or out of the body? That I do not know: God knows. I simply know that in the body or out of the body (God knows which) read more.
this man was caught up to paradise and heard sacred secrets which no human lips can repeat.

"I am a Jew, born at Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel in all the strictness of our ancestral Law, ardent for God as you all are to-day. Verse ConceptsEducation, Examples OfPaul, Life OfSelf ConfidenceLegalismSitting At The FeetSchoolsTaking The Law To HeartEducationSchoolzealots

Paul said, "I am a Jew, a native of Tarsus in Cilicia, the citizen of a famous town. Pray let me speak to the people." Verse ConceptsPaul, Life OfRoman CitizensAddressing SomeoneCitizens

And the Lord said to him, "Go away to the street called 'The Straight Street,' and ask at the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus called Saul. He is praying at this very moment, Verse ConceptsRoadsStreetsStraight Paths

But the Jews were aroused to jealousy; they got hold of some idle rascals to form a mob and set the town in an uproar; they attacked Jason's house in the endeavour to bring them out before the populace, but as they failed to find Paul and Silas they haled Jason and some of the brothers before the politarchs, yelling, "These upsetters of the whole world have come here too! Jason has welcomed them! They all violate the decrees of Caesar by declaring someone else called Jesus is king." read more.
Both the crowd and the politarchs were disturbed when they heard this; however, they let Jason and the others go, after binding them over to keep the peace.

PAUL and Silvanus and Timotheus, to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We are bound always to thank God for you, brothers ??it is proper that we should, because your faith grows apace and your mutual love, one and all, is increasing. read more.
So much so, that throughout the churches of God we are proud of you, proud of the stedfastness and faith you display through all the persecutions and the troubles in which you are involved.

Then the commander came up and seized him; he ordered him to be bound with a couple of chains, and asked "Who is he?" and "What has he done?" Some of the crowd roared one thing, some another, and as he could not learn the facts owing to the uproar, he ordered Paul to be taken to the barracks. By the time he reached the steps, he had actually to be carried by the soldiers on account of the violence of the crowd, read more.
for the whole mass of the people followed shouting, "Away with him!" Just as he was being taken into the barracks, Paul said to the commander, "May I say a word to you?" "You know Greek!" said the commander. "Then you are not the Egyptian who in days gone by raised the four thousand assassins and led them out into the desert?" Paul said, "I am a Jew, a native of Tarsus in Cilicia, the citizen of a famous town. Pray let me speak to the people." As he gave permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the people. A great hush came over them, and he addressed them as follows in Hebrew.

"Brothers and fathers, listen to the defence I now make before you." When they heard him addressing them in Hebrew they were all the more quiet. So he went on. "I am a Jew, born at Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel in all the strictness of our ancestral Law, ardent for God as you all are to-day. read more.
I persecuted this Way of religion to the death, chaining and imprisoning both men and women, as the high priest and all the council of elders can testify. It was from them that I got letters to the brotherhood at Damascus, and then journeyed thither to bind those who had gathered there and bring them back to Jerusalem for punishment. Now as I neared Damascus on my journey, suddenly about noon a brilliant light from heaven flashed round me. I dropped to the earth and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?' 'Who are you?' I asked. He said to me, 'I am Jesus the Nazarene, and you are persecuting me.' (My companions saw the light, but they did not hear the voice of him who talked to me.) I said, 'What am I to do?' And the Lord said to me, 'Get up and make your way into Damascus; there?you shall be told about all you are destined to do.' As I could not see owing to the dazzling glare of that light,. my companions took my hand and so I reached Damascus. Then a certain Ananias, a devout man in the Law, who had a good reputation among all the Jewish inhabitants, came to me and standing beside me said, 'Saul, my brother, regain your sight!' The same moment I regained my sight and looked up at him. Then he said, 'The God of our fathers has appointed you to know his will, to see the Just One, and to hear him speak with his own lips. For you are to be a witness for him before all men, a witness of what you have seen and heard. And now, why do you wait? Get up and be baptized and wash away your sins, invoking his name.' When I returned to Jerusalem, it happened that while I was praying in the temple I fell into a trance and saw Him saying to me, 'Make haste, leave Jerusalem quickly, for they will not accept your evidence about me.' 'But, Lord,' I said, 'they surely know it was I who imprisoned and flogged those who believed in you throughout the synagogues, and that I stood and approved when the blood of your martyr Stephen was being shed, taking charge of the clothes of his murderers!' But he said to me, 'Go; I will send you afar to the Gentiles ????'"


But Paul replied, "They flogged us in public and without a trial, flogged Roman citizens! They put us in prison, and now they are going to get rid of us secretly! No indeed! Let them come here themselves and take us out!" Verse ConceptsApologizingempiresPersecution, Forms OfPunishment, Legal Aspects OfRoman CitizensBeating BelieversSpreading StoriesAvoiding SecrecyBringing People Out Of Other PlacesNo JusticeCitizenstrailsjail

They had strapped him up, when Paul said to the officer who was standing by, "Are you allowed to scourge a Roman citizen ??and to scourge him without a trial?" When the officer heard this, he went to the commander and said to him, "What are you going to do? This man is a Roman citizen." So the commander went to him and said, "Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?" "Yes," he said. read more.
The commander replied, "I had to pay a large sum for this citizenship." "But I was born a citizen," said Paul.


At Philippi, as you know, we had been ill-treated and insulted, but we took courage and confidence in our God to tell you the gospel of God in spite of all the strain. Verse Conceptsevangelists, ministry ofInjuryInsultsMissionaries, Support ForSpiritual Warfare, Causes OfSuffering, Of BelieversPeople OpposedBeing StrongPeople Actually Doing EvilConflictBoldness


Meanwhile Saul still breathed threats of murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest Verse ConceptsThreatsThreateningsJudged As Murderersdamascusmotheringbreath

(Saul quite approved of his murder.) That day a severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and everyone, with the exception of the apostles, was scattered over Judaea and Samaria. Verse ConceptsFugitivesChristiansdispersion, theJerusalem, Significance OfSamaritansChurch, Description OfChurch, Examples OfThe Church ScatteredAssentingApproval To KillThe Apostles In Action

and as he belonged to the same trade he stayed with them and they all worked together. (They were workers in leather by trade.) Verse ConceptsArts And Crafts, Types ofTentsIndustry, Examples OfTentmakingLike Good PeopleStaying Temporarilypartnershipvocation

Silver, gold, or apparel I never coveted; you know yourselves how these hands of mine provided everything for my own needs and for my companions. I showed you how this was the way to work hard and succour the needy, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, who said, 'To give is happier than to get.'"

I appeal to you myself by the gentleness and consideration of Christ ??the Paul who is 'humble enough to your face when he is with you, but outspoken enough when he gets away from you.' Verse ConceptsGentlenessFaultsTimidityJesus Christ, Meekness OfMeekness, Examples OfChrist's GentlenessA Bold FrontContact With PeopleGone AwayHumble PeopleIn Men's PresenceAbsenceGentleness As A Fruit Of The Spirithumbleserenitygraciousness

My opponent says, 'Paul's letters are weighty and telling, but his personality is weak and his delivery is beneath contempt.' Verse ConceptsCriticism, against believersContempt, Examples OfEloquenceIn Men's PresenceWeaknessSpeech

I am no speaker, perhaps, but knowledge I do possess; I never failed to make myself intelligible to you. Verse ConceptsEloquenceAmateursPeople With KnowledgeSpeech

Next day, as he was anxious to find out the real reason why the Jews accused him, he unbound him, ordered the high priests and all the Sanhedrin to meet, and brought Paul down, placing him in front of them. Verse ConceptsChief priestsAccusations, Against Early Christians

With a steady look at the Sanhedrin Paul said, "Brothers, I have lived with a perfectly good conscience before God down to the present day." Then the high priest Ananias ordered those who were standing next Paul to strike him on the mouth. At this Paul said to him, "You whitewashed wall, God will strike you! You sit there to judge me by the Law, do you? And you break the Law by ordering me to be struck!" read more.
The bystanders said, "What! would you rail at God's high priest?" "Brothers," said Paul, "I did not know he was high priest" (for it is written, You must not speak evil of any ruler of your people).


we did not take free meals from anyone; no, toiling hard at our trade, we worked night and day, so as not to be a burden to any of you. Verse ConceptsdiligenceNightPoverty, Remedies ForLabour Day And NightThose Who ToiledHardship

Then, I ask, has God repudiated his People? Never! Why, I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin! Verse ConceptsAcceptance, From GodAcceptance, divineAbraham, Family And DescendantsGod Not ForsakingFar Be It!Prayer For Jerusalemisrael

I was circumcised on the eighth day after birth; I belonged to the race of Israel, to the tribe of Benjamin; I was the Hebrew son of Hebrew parents, a Pharisee as regards the Law, Verse ConceptsCircumcision, physicalDay 8ScholarsLess Than A Year OldTaking The Law To HeartJewszealots

I have fought in the good fight; I have run my course; I have kept the faith. Now the crown of a good life awaits me, with which the Lord, that just Judge, will reward me on the great Day ??and not only me but all who have loved and longed for his appearance.

Some days had passed, when king Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus. As they were spending several days there, Festus laid Paul's case before the king. "There is a man," he said, "who was left in prison by Felix. When I was at Jerusalem, the high priests and elders of the Jews informed me about him and demanded his condemnation. read more.
I told them Romans were not in the habit of giving up any man until the accused met the accusers face to face and had a chance of defending himself against the impeachment. Well, the day after they came here along with me, I took my seat on the tribunal without any loss of time. I ordered the man to be brought in, but when his accusers stood up they did not charge him with any of the crimes that I had expected. The questions at issue referred to their own religion and to a certain Jesus who had died. Paul said he was alive. As I felt at a loss about the method of inquiry into such topics, I asked if he would go to Jerusalem and be tried there on these charges. But Paul entered an appeal for his case to be reserved for the decision of the emperor; so I ordered him to be detained till I could remit him to Caesar." "I should like to hear the man myself," said Agrippa to Festus. "You shall hear him to-morrow," said Festus. So next day Agrippa and Bernice proceeded with great pomp to the hall of audience, accompanied by the military commanders and the prominent civilians of the town. Festus then ordered Paul to be brought in. "King Agrippa and all here present," said Festus, "you see before you a man of whom the entire body of the Jews at Jerusalem and also here have complained to me. They loudly insist he ought not to live any longer. I could not find he had done anything that deserved death, so I decided to send him, on his own appeal, to the emperor. Only, I have nothing definite to write to the sovereign about him. So I have brought him up before you all, and especially before you, O king Agrippa, in order that I may have something to write as the result of your cross-examination. For it seems absurd to me to forward a prisoner without notifying the particulars of his charge."


he reached Caesarea, went up to the capital to salute the church, and travelled down to Antioch. Verse ConceptsGreetingsMissionary WorkChurch, Examples Of

they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.


In a moment something like scales fell from his eyes, he regained his sight, got up and was baptized. Verse ConceptsEyes Cared ForChristian BaptismScaleshumordamascus

"I am a Jew, born at Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel in all the strictness of our ancestral Law, ardent for God as you all are to-day. Verse ConceptsEducation, Examples OfPaul, Life OfSelf ConfidenceLegalismSitting At The FeetSchoolsTaking The Law To HeartEducationSchoolzealots

How I lived from my youth up among my own nation and at Jerusalem, all that early career of mine, is known to all the Jews. Verse ConceptsExemplifiedBeginningBeing Devoted From YouthPeople With General Knowledge

But Jews from Antioch and Iconium arrived, who won over the crowds, and after pelting Paul with stones they dragged him outside the town, thinking he was dead. However, as the disciples gathered round him, he got up and went into the town. Next day he went off with Barnabas to Derbe, and after preaching the gospel to that town and making a number of disciples, they turned back to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, read more.
strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to hold by the faith, and telling them that "we have to get into the Realm of God through many a trouble." They chose presbyters for them in every church, and with prayer and fasting entrusted them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

But Jews from Antioch and Iconium arrived, who won over the crowds, and after pelting Paul with stones they dragged him outside the town, thinking he was dead. However, as the disciples gathered round him, he got up and went into the town. Next day he went off with Barnabas to Derbe, and after preaching the gospel to that town and making a number of disciples, they turned back to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, read more.
strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to hold by the faith, and telling them that "we have to get into the Realm of God through many a trouble." They chose presbyters for them in every church, and with prayer and fasting entrusted them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

Now here I go to Jerusalem under the binding force of the Spirit. What will befall me there, I do not know. Only, I know this, that in town after town the holy Spirit testifies to me that bonds and troubles are awaiting me. But then, I set no value on my own life as compared with the joy of finishing my course and fulfilling the commission I received from the Lord Jesus to attest the gospel of the grace of God. read more.
I know to-day that not one of you will ever see my face again ??not one of you among whom I moved as I preached the Reign. Therefore do I protest before you this day that I am not responsible for the blood of any of you; I never shrank from letting you know the entire purpose of God. Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock of which the holy Spirit has appointed you guardians; shepherd the church of the Lord which he has purchased with his own blood. I know that when I am gone, fierce wolves will get in among you, and they will not spare the flock; yes. and men of your own number will arise with perversions of the truth to draw the disciples after them. So be on the alert, remember how for three whole years I never ceased night and day to watch over each one of you with tears. And now I entrust you to God and the word of his grace; he is able to upbuild you and give you your inheritance among all the consecrated. Silver, gold, or apparel I never coveted; you know yourselves how these hands of mine provided everything for my own needs and for my companions. I showed you how this was the way to work hard and succour the needy, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, who said, 'To give is happier than to get.'" With these words he knelt down and prayed beside them all. They all broke into loud lamentation and falling upon the neck of Paul kissed him fondly, sorrowing chiefly because he told them they would never see his face again. Then they escorted him to the ship.

But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia the Jews without exception rose against Paul and brought him up before the tribunal, crying, "This fellow incites men to worship God contrary to the Law." Paul was just on the point of opening his lips to reply, when Gallio said to the Jews, "If it had been a misdemeanour or wicked crime, there would be some reason in me listening to you,O Jews. read more.
But as these are merely questions of words and persons and your own Law, you can attend to them for yourselves. I decline to adjudicate upon matters like that." And he drove them from the tribunal. Then all [the Greeks] caught hold of Sosthenes the president of the synagogue and beat him in front of the tribunal; but Gallio took no notice. After waiting on for a number of days Paul said goodbye to the brothers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. (As the latter was under a vow, he had his head shaved at Cenchreae.)

But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia the Jews without exception rose against Paul and brought him up before the tribunal, crying, "This fellow incites men to worship God contrary to the Law." Paul was just on the point of opening his lips to reply, when Gallio said to the Jews, "If it had been a misdemeanour or wicked crime, there would be some reason in me listening to you,O Jews. read more.
But as these are merely questions of words and persons and your own Law, you can attend to them for yourselves. I decline to adjudicate upon matters like that." And he drove them from the tribunal. Then all [the Greeks] caught hold of Sosthenes the president of the synagogue and beat him in front of the tribunal; but Gallio took no notice. After waiting on for a number of days Paul said goodbye to the brothers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. (As the latter was under a vow, he had his head shaved at Cenchreae.)

where we came across some of the brotherhood, who invited us to stay a week with them. In this way we reached Rome. As the local brothers had heard about us, they came out to meet us as far as Appii Forum and Tres Tabernae, and when Paul saw them he thanked God and took courage. When we did reach Rome, Paul got permission to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.

From Miletus he sent to Ephesus for the presbyters of the church. When they came to him, he said, "You know quite well how I lived among you all the time ever since I set foot in Asia, how I served the Lord in all humility, with many a tear and many a trial which I encountered owing to the plots of the Jews, read more.
how I never shrank from letting you know anything for your good, or from teaching you alike in public and from house to house, bearing my testimony, both to Jews and Greeks, of repentance before God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Three days later, he called the leading Jews together, and when they met he said to them, "Brothers, although I have done nothing against the People or our ancestral customs, I was handed over to the Romans as a prisoner from Jerusalem. They meant to release me after examination, as I was innocent of any crime that deserved death. But the Jews objected, and so I was obliged to appeal to Caesar ??not that I had any charge to bring against my own nation. read more.
This is my reason for asking to see you and have a word with you. I am wearing this chain because I share Israel's hope." They replied, "We have had no letters about you from Judaea, and no brother has come here with any bad report or story about you. We think it only right to let you tell your own story; but as regards this sect, we are well aware that there are objections to it on all hands." So they fixed a day and came to him at his quarters in large numbers. From morning to evening he explained the Reign of God to them from personal testimony, and tried to convince them about Jesus from the law of Moses and the prophets. Some were convinced by what he said, but the others would not believe. As they could not agree among themselves, they were turning to go away, when Paul added this one word: "It was an apt word that the holy Spirit spoke by the prophet Isaiah to your fathers, when he said, Go and tell this people, 'You will hear and hear but never understand, you will see and see but never perceive.' For the heart at this people is obtuse, their ears are heavy at hearing, their eyes they have closed, lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they understand with their heart and turn again, and I cure them. Be sure of this, then, that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen to it." --

We set sail, after three months, in an Alexandrian ship, with the Dioscuri on her figure-head, which had wintered at the island. We put in at Syracuse and stayed for three days. Then tacking round we reached Rhegium; next day a south wind sprang up which brought us in a day to Puteoli,

The brothers welcomed us gladly on our arrival at Jerusalem. Next day we accompanied Paul to James; all the presbyters were present, and after saluting them Paul described in detail what God had done by means of his ministry among the Gentiles. read more.
They glorified God when they heard it. Then they said to him, "Brother, you see how many thousands of believers there are among the Jews, all of them ardent upholders of the Law. Now, they have heard that you teach all Jews who live among Gentiles to break away from Moses and not to circumcise their children, nor to follow the old customs. What is to be done? They will be sure to hear you have arrived. So do as we tell you. We have four men here under a vow; associate yourself with them, purify yourself with them, pay their expenses so that they may be free to have their heads shaved, and then everybody will understand there is nothing in these stories about you, but that, on the contrary, you are guided by obedience to the Law. As for Gentile believers, we have issued our decision that they must avoid food that has been offered to idols, the taste of blood, flesh of animals that have been strangled, and sexual vice."

Now we had gone on beforehand to the ship and set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul on board there. This was his own arrangement, for he intended to travel by land. So when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and got to Mitylene. Sailing thence on the following day we arrived off Chios; next day we crossed over to Samos, and [after stopping at Trogyllium] we went on next day to Miletus. read more.
This was because Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, to avoid any loss of time in Asia; he wanted to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.

Some days later, Paul said to Barnabas, "Come and let us go back to visit the brothers in every town where we have proclaimed the word of the Lord. Let us see how they are doing." But while Barnabas wanted to take John (who was called Mark) along with them, Paul held they should not take a man with them who had deserted them in Pamphylia, instead of accompanying them on active service. read more.
So in irritation they parted company, Barnabas taking Mark with him and sailing for Cyprus, while Paul selected Silas and went off, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. He made his way through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Then the brothers at once sent off Paul and Silas by night to Beroea. When they arrived there, they betook themselves to the Jewish synagogue, where the people were more amenable than at Thessalonica; they were perfectly ready to receive the Word and made a daily study of the scriptures to see if it was really as Paul said. Many of them believed, together with a large number of prominent Greeks, both women and men.

Now it happened as we went to the place of prayer that a slave-girl met us, possessed by a spirit of ventriloquism, and a source of great profit to her owners by her power of fortune-telling. She followed Paul and the rest of us, shrieking, "These men are servants of the Most High God, they proclaim to you the way of salvation!" She did this for a number of days. Then Paul turned in annoyance and told the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I order you out of her!" And it left her that very moment.

Then Paul associated himself with the men next day; he had himself purified along with them and went into the temple to give notice of the time when the days of purification would be completed ??the time, that is to say, when the sacrifice could be offered for each one of them. The seven days were almost over when the Asiatic Jews, catching sight of him in the temple, stirred up all the crowd and laid hands on him, shouting, "To the rescue, men of Israel! Here is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against the People and the Law and this Place! And he has actually brought Greeks inside the temple and defiled this holy Place!" read more.
(They had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian along with him in the city, and they supposed Paul had taken him inside the temple.) The whole city was thrown into turmoil. The people rushed together, seized Paul and dragged him outside the temple; whereupon the doors were immediately shut. They were attempting to kill him, when word reached the commander of the garrison that the whole of Jerusalem was in confusion. Taking some soldiers and officers, he at once rushed down to them, and when they saw the commander and the soldiers they stopped beating Paul. Then the commander came up and seized him; he ordered him to be bound with a couple of chains, and asked "Who is he?" and "What has he done?"

But when her owners saw their chance of profit was gone, they caught hold of Paul and Silas and dragged them before the magistrates in the forum. Bringing them before the praetors they declared, "These fellows are Jews who are making an agitation in our town; they are proclaiming customs which as Romans we are not allowed to accept or observe!" read more.
The crowd also joined in the attack upon them, while the praetors, after having them stripped and after ordering them to be flogged with rods, had many lashes inflicted on them and put them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safe. On receiving so strict a charge, he put them into the inner prison and secured their feet in the stocks. But about midnight, as Paul and Silas were praying and singing to God, while the prisoners listened, all of a sudden there was a great earthquake which shook the very foundations of the prison; the doors all flew open in an instant and the fetters of all the prisoners were unfastened. When the jailer started from his sleep and saw the prison-doors open, he drew his sword and was on the point of killing himself, supposing the prisoners had made their escape; but Paul shouted aloud, "Do not harm yourself, we are all here!" So calling for lights he rushed in, fell in terror before Paul and Silas, and brought them out (after securing the other prisoners). "Sirs," he said, "what must I do to be saved?" "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ," they said, "and then you will be saved, you and your household as well." And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all in his house. Then he took them at that very hour of the night and washed their wounds and got baptized instantly, he and all his family. He took them up to his house and put food before them, overjoyed like all his household at having believed in God.

While Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his soul was irritated at the sight of the idols that filled the city. He argued in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout proselytes and also in the marketplace daily with those who chanced to be present. Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also came across him. Some said, "Whatever does the fellow mean with his scraps of learning'?" Others said, "He looks like a herald of foreign deities" (this was because he preached 'Jesus' and 'the Resurrection'). read more.
Then taking him to the Areopagus they asked, "May we know what is this novel teaching of yours? You talk of some things that sound strange to us; so we want to know what they mean." (For all the Athenians and the foreign visitors to Athens occupied themselves with nothing else than repeating or listening to the latest novelty.) So Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus and said, "Men of Athens, I observe at every turn that you are a most religious people. Why, as I passed along and scanned your objects of worship, I actually came upon an altar with the inscription TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Well, I proclaim to you what you worship in your ignorance. The God who made the world and all things in it, he, as Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in shrines that are made by human hands; he is not served by human hands as if he needed anything, for it is he who gives life and breath and all things to all men. All nations he has created from a common origin, to dwell all over the earth, fixing their allotted periods and the boundaries of their abodes, meaning them to seek for God on the chance of finding him in their groping for him. Though indeed he is close to each one of us, for it is in him that we live and move and exist ??as some of your own poets have said, 'We too belong to His race.' Well, as the race of God, we ought not to imagine that the divine nature resembles gold or silver or stone, the product of human art and invention. Such ages of ignorance God overlooked, but he now charges men that they are all everywhere to repent, inasmuch as he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world justly by a man whom he has destined for this. And he has given proof of this to all by raising him from the dead." But on hearing of a 'resurrection of dead men,' some sneered, while others said, "We will hear you again on that subject." So Paul withdrew from them. Some men, however, did join him and believe, including Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman called Damaris, and some others.

Setting sail then from Troas we ran straight to Samothrace and on the following day to Neapolis. We then came to the Roman colony of Philippi, which is the foremost town of the district of Macedonia. In this town we spent some days. On the sabbath we went outside the gate to the bank of the river, where as usual there was a place of prayer; we sat down and talked to the women who had gathered. read more.
Among the listeners there was a woman called Lydia, a dealer in purple who belonged to the town of Thyatira. She reverenced God, and the Lord opened her heart to attend to what Paul said. When she was baptized, along with her household, she begged us, saying, "If you are convinced I am a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house." She compelled us to come.

Presently down rushed a hurricane of a wind called Euroclydon; the ship was caught and unable to face the wind, so we gave up and let her drive along. Running under the lee of a small island called Clauda, we managed with great difficulty to get the boat hauled in; read more.
once it was hoisted aboard, they used ropes to undergird the ship, and in fear of being stranded on the Syrtis they lowered the sail and lay to. As we were being terribly battered by the storm, they had to jettison the cargo next day, while two days later they threw the ship's gear overboard with their own hands; for many days neither sun nor stars could be seen, the storm raged heavily, and at last we had to give up all hope of being saved. When they had gone without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, "Men, you should have listened to me and spared yourselves this hardship and loss by refusing to set sail from Crete. I now bid you cheer up. There will be no loss of life, only of the ship. For last night an angel of the God I belong to and serve, stood before me, saying, 'Have no fear, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And God has granted you the lives of all your fellow-voyagers.' Cheer up, men! I believe God, I believe it will turn out just as I have been told. However, we are to be stranded on an island." When the fourteenth night arrived, we were drifting about in the sea of Adria, when the sailors about midnight suspected land was near. On taking soundings they found twenty fathoms, and a little further on, when they sounded again, they found fifteen. Then, afraid of being stranded on the rocks, they let go four anchors from the stern and longed for daylight. The sailors tried to escape from the ship. They had even lowered the boat into the sea, pretending they were going to layout anchors from the bow, when Paul said to the officer and the soldiers, "You cannot be saved unless these men stay by the ship." Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat and let her fall off. Just before daybreak Paul begged them all to take some food. "For fourteen days," he said, "you have been on the watch all the time, without a proper meal. Take some food then, I beg of you; it will keep you alive. You are going to be saved! Not a hair of your heads will perish." With these words he took a loaf and after thanking God, in presence of them all, broke it and began to eat. Then they all cheered up and took food for themselves (there were about seventy-six souls of us on board, all told); and when they had eaten their fill, they lightened the ship by throwing the wheat into the sea. When day broke, they could not recognize what land it was; however, they noticed a creek with a sandy beach, and resolved to see if they could run the ship ashore there. So the anchors were cut away and left in the sea, while the crew unlashed the ropes that tied the rudders, hoisted the foresail to the breeze, and headed for the beach. Striking a reef, they drove the ship aground; the prow jammed fast, but the stern began to break up under the beating of the waves. Now the soldiers resolved to kill the prisoners, in case any of them swam off and escaped; but as the officer wanted to save Paul, he put a stop to their plan, ordering those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land, while the rest were to manage with planks or pieces of wreckage. In this way it turned out that the whole company got safe to land.

After waiting on for a number of days Paul said goodbye to the brothers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. (As the latter was under a vow, he had his head shaved at Cenchreae.) When they reached Ephesus, Paul left them there. He went to the synagogue and argued with the Jews, who asked him to stay for a while. But he would not consent; read more.
he said goodbye to them, telling them, "I will come back to you, if it is the will of God." Then, sailing from Ephesus, he reached Caesarea, went up to the capital to salute the church, and travelled down to Antioch. After spending some time there he went off on a journey right through the country of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening the disciples.

We set sail, after three months, in an Alexandrian ship, with the Dioscuri on her figure-head, which had wintered at the island. We put in at Syracuse and stayed for three days. Then tacking round we reached Rhegium; next day a south wind sprang up which brought us in a day to Puteoli,

But when the Jews of Thessalonica heard that Paul was proclaiming the word of God at Beroea as well, they came to create a disturbance and a riot among the crowds at Beroea too. The brothers then sent off Paul at once on his way to the sea, while Silas and Timotheus remained where they were. Paul's escort brought him as far as Athens and left with instructions that Silas and Timotheus were to join him as soon as possible.

After these events Paul resolved in the Spirit to travel through Macedonia and Achaia on his way to Jerusalem. "After I get there," he said, "I must also visit Rome." So he despatched two of his assistants to Macedonia, Timotheus and Erastus, while he himself stayed on awhile in Asia.

Then the apostles and the presbyters, together with the whole church, decided to select some of their number and send them with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch. The men selected were Judas (called Bar-Sabbas) and Silas, prominent members of the brotherhood. Verse ConceptsVisitingChoosing PeoplePeople Sending PeopleThe Apostles In Action

we have decided unanimously to select some of our number and send them to you along with our beloved Paul and Barnabas Verse ConceptsChoosing PeoplePeople Sending People

During these days some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch, one of whom, named Agabus, showed by the Spirit that a severe famine was about to visit the whole world (the famine which occurred in the reign of Claudius). So the disciples put aside money, as each of them was able to afford it, for a contribution to be sent to the brothers in Judaea. read more.
This they carried out, sending their contribution to the presbyters by Barnabas and Saul.

Then they came through Pisidia to Pamphylia, and after speaking the word of the Lord in Perga they went down to Attaleia; thence they sailed for Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. read more.
On their arrival they gathered the church together and reported how God had been with them, what he had done, and how he had opened a door into faith for the Gentiles. They spent a considerable time with the disciples there.

Presently down rushed a hurricane of a wind called Euroclydon; the ship was caught and unable to face the wind, so we gave up and let her drive along. Running under the lee of a small island called Clauda, we managed with great difficulty to get the boat hauled in; read more.
once it was hoisted aboard, they used ropes to undergird the ship, and in fear of being stranded on the Syrtis they lowered the sail and lay to. As we were being terribly battered by the storm, they had to jettison the cargo next day, while two days later they threw the ship's gear overboard with their own hands; for many days neither sun nor stars could be seen, the storm raged heavily, and at last we had to give up all hope of being saved. When they had gone without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, "Men, you should have listened to me and spared yourselves this hardship and loss by refusing to set sail from Crete. I now bid you cheer up. There will be no loss of life, only of the ship. For last night an angel of the God I belong to and serve, stood before me, saying, 'Have no fear, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And God has granted you the lives of all your fellow-voyagers.' Cheer up, men! I believe God, I believe it will turn out just as I have been told. However, we are to be stranded on an island." When the fourteenth night arrived, we were drifting about in the sea of Adria, when the sailors about midnight suspected land was near. On taking soundings they found twenty fathoms, and a little further on, when they sounded again, they found fifteen. Then, afraid of being stranded on the rocks, they let go four anchors from the stern and longed for daylight. The sailors tried to escape from the ship. They had even lowered the boat into the sea, pretending they were going to layout anchors from the bow, when Paul said to the officer and the soldiers, "You cannot be saved unless these men stay by the ship." Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat and let her fall off. Just before daybreak Paul begged them all to take some food. "For fourteen days," he said, "you have been on the watch all the time, without a proper meal. Take some food then, I beg of you; it will keep you alive. You are going to be saved! Not a hair of your heads will perish." With these words he took a loaf and after thanking God, in presence of them all, broke it and began to eat. Then they all cheered up and took food for themselves (there were about seventy-six souls of us on board, all told); and when they had eaten their fill, they lightened the ship by throwing the wheat into the sea. When day broke, they could not recognize what land it was; however, they noticed a creek with a sandy beach, and resolved to see if they could run the ship ashore there. So the anchors were cut away and left in the sea, while the crew unlashed the ropes that tied the rudders, hoisted the foresail to the breeze, and headed for the beach. Striking a reef, they drove the ship aground; the prow jammed fast, but the stern began to break up under the beating of the waves. Now the soldiers resolved to kill the prisoners, in case any of them swam off and escaped; but as the officer wanted to save Paul, he put a stop to their plan, ordering those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land, while the rest were to manage with planks or pieces of wreckage. In this way it turned out that the whole company got safe to land.

For two full years he remained in his private lodging, welcoming anyone who came to visit him; he preached the Reign of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ quite openly and unmolested.

but they passed on from Perga and arrived at Pisidian Antioch. On the sabbath they went into the synagogue and sat down; and, after the reading of the Law and the prophets, the presidents of the synagogue sent to tell them, "Brothers, if you have any word of counsel for the people, say it." So Paul stood up and motioning with his hand said, "Listen, men of Israel and you who reverence God. read more.
The God of this People Israel chose our fathers; he multiplied the people as they sojourned in the land of Egypt and with arm uplifted led them out of it. For about forty years he bore with them in the desert, and after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan he gave them their land as an inheritance for about four hundred and fifty years. After that he gave them judges, down to the prophet Samuel. Then it was that they begged for a king, and God gave them forty years of Saul, the son of Kish, who belonged to the tribe of Benjamin. After deposing him, he raised up David to be their king, to whom he bore this testimony that 'In David, the son of Jessai, I have found a man after my own heart, who will obey all my will.' From his offspring God brought to Israel, as he had promised, a saviour in Jesus, before whose coming John had already preached a baptism of repentance for all the people of Israel. And as John was closing his career he said, 'What do you take me for? I am not He; no, he is coming after me, and I am not fit to untie the sandals on his feet!' Brothers, sons of Abraham's race and all among you who reverence God, the message of this salvation has been sent to us. The inhabitants of Jerusalem and their rulers, by condemning him in their ignorance, fulfilled the words of the prophets which are read every sabbath; though they could find him guilty of no crime that deserved death, they begged Pilate to have him put to death, and, after carrying out all that had been predicted of him in scripture, they lowered him from the gibbet and laid him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead. For many days he was seen by those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem; they are now his witnesses to the People. So we now preach to you the glad news that the promise made to the fathers has been fulfilled by God for us their children, when he raised Jesus. As it is written in the second psalm, thou art my son, to-day have I become thy father. And as a proof that he has raised him from the dead, never to return to decay, he has said this: I will give you the holiness of David that fails not. Hence in another psalm he says, thou wilt not let thy holy One suffer decay. Of course David, after serving God's purpose in his own generation, died and was laid beside his fathers; he suffered decay, but He whom God raised did not suffer decay. So you must understand, my brothers, that remission of sins is proclaimed to you through him, and that by him everyone who believes is absolved from all that the law of Moses never could absolve you from. Beware then in case the prophetic saying applies to you: Look, you disdainful folk, wonder at this and perish for in your days I do a deed, a deed you will never believe, not though one were to explain it to you."

As Paul and Barnabas went out, the people begged to have all this repeated to them on the following sabbath. Verse ConceptseagernessOn The Sabbath

and the word of the Lord went far and wide over the whole country. Verse ConceptsLordship, Human And DivineSpreadingSpreading The Gospel

He summoned two of the officers and said, "Get ready by nine o'clock to-night two hundred infantry to march as far as Caesarea, also seventy troopers, and two hundred spearmen." Horses were also to be provided, on which they were to mount Paul and carry him safe to Felix the governor. He then wrote a letter in the following terms. read more.
"Claudius Lysias, to his excellency the governor Felix: greeting. This man had been seized by the Jews and was on the point of being murdered by them, when I came on them with the troops and rescued him, as I had ascertained that he was a Roman citizen. Anxious to find out why they accused him, I took him down to their Sanhedrin, where I found he was accused of matters relating to their Law but not impeached for any crime that deserved death or imprisonment. I am informed a plot is to be laid against him, so I am sending him to you at once, telling his accusers that they must impeach him before you. Farewell." The soldiers, according to their instructions, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. Next day the infantry returned to their barracks, leaving the troopers to ride on with him. They reached Caesarea, presented the letter to the governor, and also handed Paul over to him.

When day broke, the Jews formed a conspiracy, taking a solemn oath neither to eat nor to drink till they had killed Paul. There were more than forty of them in this plot. They then went to the high priests and elders, saying, "We have taken a solemn oath to taste no food till we have killed Paul. read more.
Now you and the Sanhedrin must inform the commander that you propose to investigate this case in detail, so that he may have Paul brought down to you. We will be all ready to kill him on the way down."

Now Paul's nephew heard about their treacherous ambush; so he got admission to the barracks and told Paul. Paul summoned one of the officers and said, "Take this young man to the commander, for he has some news to give him." So the officer took him to the commander, saying, "The prisoner Paul has summoned me to ask if I would bring this young man to you, as he has something to tell you." read more.
The commander then took him by the hand aside and asked him in private, "What is the news you have for me?" He answered, "The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to-morrow to the Sanhedrin, on the plea that they propose to examine his case in detail. Now do not let them persuade you. More than forty of them are lying in ambush for him, and they have taken a solemn oath neither to eat nor to drink till they have murdered him. They are all ready at this moment, awaiting your consent." Then the commander dismissed the youth, bidding him "Tell nobody that you have informed me of this."

Now when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have come down to us in human form!" Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul Hermes, since he was the chief spokesman. Indeed the priest of the temple of Zeus in front of the town brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to offer sacrifice along with the crowds. read more.
But when the apostles, Paul and Barnabas, heard this they rent their clothes and sprang out among the crowd, shouting, "Men, what is this you are doing? We are but human, with natures like your own! The gospel we are preaching to you is to turn from such futile ways to the living God who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all that in them is. In bygone ages he allowed all nations to go their own ways, though as the bountiful Giver he did not leave himself without a witness, giving you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, giving you food and joy to your heart's content." Even by saying this, it was all they could do to keep the crowds from sacrificing to them.

Paul said, "I am standing before Caesar's tribunal; that is where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong whatever to the Jews ??you know that perfectly well. If I am a criminal, if I have done anything that deserves death, I do not object to die; but if there is nothing in any of their charges against me, then no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar!" Then, after conferring with the council, Festus answered, "You have appealed to Caesar? Very well, you must go to Caesar! "

So Barnabas went off to Tarsus to look for Saul, and on finding him he brought him to Antioch, where for a whole year they were guests of the church and taught considerable numbers. It was at Antioch too that the disciples were originally called "Christians."

till the commander ordered him to be taken inside the barracks and examined under the lash, so as to find out why the people shouted at him in this way. They had strapped him up, when Paul said to the officer who was standing by, "Are you allowed to scourge a Roman citizen ??and to scourge him without a trial?" When the officer heard this, he went to the commander and said to him, "What are you going to do? This man is a Roman citizen." read more.
So the commander went to him and said, "Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?" "Yes," he said. The commander replied, "I had to pay a large sum for this citizenship." "But I was born a citizen," said Paul. Then those who were to have examined him left him at once alone; even the commander was alarmed to find that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him. Next day, as he was anxious to find out the real reason why the Jews accused him, he unbound him, ordered the high priests and all the Sanhedrin to meet, and brought Paul down, placing him in front of them.

But the Jews incited the devout women of high rank and the leading men in the town, who stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and drove them out of their territory. They shook the dust off their feet as a protest and went to Iconium.

Every sabbath he argued in the synagogue, persuading both Jews and Greeks. By the time Silas and Timotheus came south from Macedonia, Paul was engrossed in this preaching of the word, arguing to the Jews that the messiah was Jesus. But as they opposed and abused him, he shook out his garments in protest, saying, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am not responsible! After this I will go to the Gentiles." read more.
Then he removed to the house of a devout proselyte called Titus Justus, which adjoined the synagogue. But Crispus the president of the synagogue believed in the Lord, as did all his household, and many of the Corinthians listened, believed, and were baptized. And the Lord said to Paul in a vision by night, "Have no fear, speak on and never stop, for I am with you, and no one shall attack and injure you; I have many people in this city." So he settled there for a year and six months, teaching them the word of God.

Every sabbath he argued in the synagogue, persuading both Jews and Greeks. By the time Silas and Timotheus came south from Macedonia, Paul was engrossed in this preaching of the word, arguing to the Jews that the messiah was Jesus. But as they opposed and abused him, he shook out his garments in protest, saying, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am not responsible! After this I will go to the Gentiles." read more.
Then he removed to the house of a devout proselyte called Titus Justus, which adjoined the synagogue. But Crispus the president of the synagogue believed in the Lord, as did all his household, and many of the Corinthians listened, believed, and were baptized. And the Lord said to Paul in a vision by night, "Have no fear, speak on and never stop, for I am with you, and no one shall attack and injure you; I have many people in this city." So he settled there for a year and six months, teaching them the word of God.

and started next morning for Caesarea, where we entered the house of Philip the evangelist (he belonged to the Seven, and had four unmarried daughters who prophesied). We stayed with him. While we remained there for a number of days, a prophet called Agabus came down from Judaea. read more.
He came to us, took Paul's girdle and bound his own feet and hands, saying, "Here is the word of the holy Spirit: 'So shall the Jews bind the owner of this girdle at Jerusalem and hand him over to the Gentiles'." Now when we heard this, we and the local disciples besought Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul replied, "What do you mean by weeping and disheartening me? I am ready not only to be bound but also to die at Jerusalem for the sake of the Lord Jesus." As he would not be persuaded, we acquiesced, saying, "The will of the Lord be done." After these days we packed up and started for Jerusalem,

and so they passed Mysia by and went down to Troas. A vision appeared to Paul by night, the vision of a Macedonian standing and appealing to him with the words, "Cross to Macedonia and help us." As soon as he saw the vision, we made efforts to start for Macedonia, inferring that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

but Paul went downstairs, threw himself upon him, and embraced him. "Do not lament," he said, "the life is still in him." Verse ConceptsEmbracingDo Not Be AnxiousLiving OnOvercoming Hard Times

said in a loud voice, "Stand erect on your feet." Up he jumped and began to walk. Verse ConceptsWalkingMiracles Of PaulThe Healed WalkingIndividuals ShoutingGet Up!jumping

See here, the Lord's hand will fall on you, and you will be blind, unable for a time to see the sun." In a moment a dark mist fell upon him, and he groped about for someone to take him by the hand. Verse ConceptsdisabilitiesHand Of GodMiracles, Nature OfMistPainMiracles Of PaulMiracles Bringing God's JudgmentBarriersGod's HandOvertaken By DarknessGod BlindingGod's Hands In Oppositionfitness


Upon this, O king Agrippa, I did not disobey the heavenly vision; Verse ConceptsFaith, Nature OfVisions From GodWe ObeyHeavenly Visiondisobedience

On the following night the Lord stood by Paul and said, "Courage! As you have testified to me at Jerusalem, so you must testify at Rome." Verse Conceptsevangelism, kinds ofempiresGuidance, Results OfMissionaries, Task OfNecessityNightRomeWitnesses, To Jesus ChristVisions At NightWitness To The GospelWitnessingtestimonyfollowing


and saw Him saying to me, 'Make haste, leave Jerusalem quickly, for they will not accept your evidence about me.' Verse ConceptsAcceptance, Of The GospelVisions And Dreams In ScriptureNot Believing PeopleHurrying Others OnSubsequent Witness To Christheartbeat

By this time it was far on in the season and sailing had become dangerous (for the autumn Fast was past), so Paul warned them thus: "Men," said he, "I see this voyage is going to be attended with hardship and serious loss not only to the cargo and the ship but also to our own lives." However the officer let himself be persuaded by the captain and the owner rather than by anything Paul could say, read more.
and, as the harbour was badly placed for wintering in, the majority proposed to set sail and try if they could reach Phoenix and winter there (Phoenix is a Cretan harbour facing S.W. and N.W.). When a moderate southerly breeze sprang up, they thought they had secured their object, and after weighing anchor they sailed along the coast of Crete, close inshore.

he belonged to the suite of the proconsul Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man who called for Barnabas and Saul and demanded to hear the word of God. But the sorcerer Elymas (for that is the translation of his name) tried to divert the proconsul from the faith. So Saul (who is also called Paul), filled with the holy Spirit, looked steadily at him read more.
and said, "You son of the devil, you enemy of all good, full of all craft and all cunning, will you never stop diverting the straight paths of the Lord? See here, the Lord's hand will fall on you, and you will be blind, unable for a time to see the sun." In a moment a dark mist fell upon him, and he groped about for someone to take him by the hand. Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had happened; he was astounded at the doctrine of the Lord.

They covered the whole island as far as Paphos, where they fell in with a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet called Bar-Jesus; he belonged to the suite of the proconsul Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man who called for Barnabas and Saul and demanded to hear the word of God. But the sorcerer Elymas (for that is the translation of his name) tried to divert the proconsul from the faith. read more.
So Saul (who is also called Paul), filled with the holy Spirit, looked steadily at him and said, "You son of the devil, you enemy of all good, full of all craft and all cunning, will you never stop diverting the straight paths of the Lord? See here, the Lord's hand will fall on you, and you will be blind, unable for a time to see the sun." In a moment a dark mist fell upon him, and he groped about for someone to take him by the hand. Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had happened; he was astounded at the doctrine of the Lord.

He lost no time in preaching throughout the synagogues that Jesus was the Son of God ??21 to the amazement of all his hearers, who said, "Is this not the man who in Jerusalem harried those who invoke this Name, the man who came here for the express purpose of carrying them all in chains to the high priests?" Verse ConceptsHeraldSonsSaid To Be The Christempowerment

Saul became more and more vigorous. He put the Jewish residents in Damascus to confusion by his proof that Jesus was the Christ; Verse ConceptsAnointing, Of Christevangelism, nature ofGrowthPower, God's SavingChrist, Names ForSpiritual GrowthPreaching ChristProofsSaid To Be The ChristStrong Individualsdamascusempowerment

He got to Jerusalem and tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, unable to believe he was really a disciple. Barnabas, however, got hold of him and brought him to the apostles. To them he related how he had seen the Lord upon the road, how He had spoken to him, and how he had spoken freely in the name of Jesus at Damascus. He then went in and out among them at Jerusalem, speaking freely in the name of the Lord; read more.
he also held conversations and debates with the Hellenists. But when the brothers learned that the Hellenists were attempting to make away with him,

There was an estate in the neighbourhood which belonged to a man called Publius, the governor of the island; he welcomed us and entertained us hospitably for three days. His father, it so happened, was laid up with fever and dysentery, but Paul went in to see him and after prayer laid his hands on him and cured him. When this had happened, the rest of the sick folk in the island also came and got cured; read more.
they made us rich presents and furnished us, when we set sail, with all we needed.

Three days after Festus entered his province, he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem. The high priests and the Jewish leaders laid information before him against Paul, and begged him, as a special favour, to send for him to Jerusalem, meaning to lay an ambush for him and murder him on the road. read more.
Festus replied that Paul would be kept in custody at Caesarea, but that he himself meant to leave for Caesarea before long ??5 "when," he added, "your competent authorities can come down with me and charge the man with whatever crime he has committed." After staying not more than eight or ten days with them, he went down to Caesarea. Next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought before him. When he arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem surrounded him and brought a number of serious charges against him, none of which they were able to prove. Paul's defence was, "I have committed no offence against the Law of the Jews, against the temple, or against Caesar." As Festus wanted to ingratiate himself with the Jews, he asked Paul, "Will you go up to Jerusalem and be tried there by me upon these charges?" Paul said, "I am standing before Caesar's tribunal; that is where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong whatever to the Jews ??you know that perfectly well. If I am a criminal, if I have done anything that deserves death, I do not object to die; but if there is nothing in any of their charges against me, then no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar!" Then, after conferring with the council, Festus answered, "You have appealed to Caesar? Very well, you must go to Caesar! "

There is nothing to be gained by this sort of thing, but as I am obliged to boast, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. In the body or out of the body? That I do not know: God knows. I simply know that in the body or out of the body (God knows which) read more.
this man was caught up to paradise and heard sacred secrets which no human lips can repeat.

and the Jews, after a number of days had elapsed, conspired to make away with him. But their plot came to the ears of Saul, and, although they kept watch on the gates day and night in order to make away with him,

At Lystra there was a man sitting, who was powerless in his feet, a lame man unable to walk ever since he was born. He heard Paul speaking, and Paul, gazing steadily at him and noticing that he had faith enough to make him better, said in a loud voice, "Stand erect on your feet." Up he jumped and began to walk.

Now I would like you to know about the distress which befell me in Asia, brothers. I was crushed, crushed far more than I could stand, so much so that I despaired even of life; in fact I told myself it was the sentence of death. But that was to make me rely not on myself but on the God who raises the dead; he rescued me from so terrible a death, he rescues still, and I rely upon him for the hope that he will continue to rescue me. read more.
Let me have your cooperation in prayer, so that many a soul may render thanks to him on my behalf for the boon which many have been the means of him bestowing on myself.

We found out the local disciples and stayed there for seven days. These disciples told Paul by the Spirit not to set foot in Jerusalem; but, when our time was up, we started on our journey, escorted by them, women and children and all, till we got outside the town. Then, kneeling on the beach, we prayed and said goodbye to one another. We went on board and they went home. read more.
By sailing from Tyre to Ptolemais we completed our voyage; we saluted the brothers, spent a day with them,

When it was decided we were to sail for Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to an officer of the Imperial regiment called Julius. Embarking in an Andramyttian ship which was bound for the Asiatic seaports, we set sail, accompanied by a Macedonian from Thessalonica called Aristarchus. Next day we put in at Sidon, where Julius very kindly allowed Paul to visit his friends and be looked after. read more.
Putting to sea from there, we had to sail under the lee of Cyprus, as the wind was against us; then, sailing over the Cilician and Pamphylian waters, we came to Myra in Lycia.

They crossed Phrygia and the country of Galatia, the holy Spirit having stopped them from preaching the word in Asia; when they got as far as Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them,

After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he came across a Jew called Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently arrived from Italy with his wife Priscilla, as Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul accosted them, and as he belonged to the same trade he stayed with them and they all worked together. (They were workers in leather by trade.)

At Iconium the same thing happened. They went into the synagogue of the Jews and spoke in such a way that a great body both of Jews and Greeks believed. [Move to follow vs 3] But the refractory Jews stirred up and exasperated the feeling of the Gentiles against the brothers. Here they spent a considerable time, speaking fearlessly about the Lord, who attested the word of his grace by allowing signs and wonders to be performed by them. read more.
The populace of the town was divided; some sided with the Jews, some with the apostles. But, when the Gentiles and Jews along with their rulers made a hostile movement to insult and stone them, the apostles grasped the situation and escaped to the Lycaonian towns of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country;

There the officer found an Alexandrian ship bound for Italy, and put us on board of her. For a number of days we made a slow passage and had great difficulty in arriving off Cnidus; then, as the wind checked our progress, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Cape Salmone, and coasting along it with great difficulty we reached a place called Fair Havens, not far from the town of Lasea.

When the tumult had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples and encouraged them; he then took leave of them and went his way to Macedonia. After passing through the districts of Macedonia and encouraging the people at length, he came to Greece, where he spent three months. Just as he was on the point of sailing for Syria, the Jews laid a plot against him. He therefore resolved to return through Macedonia. read more.
His company as far as Asia consisted of Sopater of Beroea (the son of Pyrrhus), Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius of Derbe, Timotheus, and Tychicus and Trophimus from Asia. They went on to wait for us at Troas, while we sailed from Philippi, after the days of unleavened bread, and joined them five days later at Troas. There we spent seven days.

They crossed Phrygia and the country of Galatia, the holy Spirit having stopped them from preaching the word in Asia; when they got as far as Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them,

His father, it so happened, was laid up with fever and dysentery, but Paul went in to see him and after prayer laid his hands on him and cured him. Verse ConceptsdiseasesDiseases, Kinds OfSuffering, Causes OfSuffering, Nature OfMiracles Of PaulLaying On Of HandsFeverLaying On Hands To HealHealing Sickness

However, he shook off the creature into the fire and was not a whit the worse. Verse ConceptsFireMiracles Of PaulPeople Shaking


A vision appeared to Paul by night, the vision of a Macedonian standing and appealing to him with the words, "Cross to Macedonia and help us." Verse ConceptsGod, Revelation OfInvitationsSleep, PhysicalStandingVisions And Dreams In ScriptureVisions At NightThose Who Saw VisionsPeople Helping

We found out the local disciples and stayed there for seven days. These disciples told Paul by the Spirit not to set foot in Jerusalem; but, when our time was up, we started on our journey, escorted by them, women and children and all, till we got outside the town. Then, kneeling on the beach, we prayed and said goodbye to one another. We went on board and they went home. read more.
By sailing from Tyre to Ptolemais we completed our voyage; we saluted the brothers, spent a day with them,

As a sharp dispute and controversy sprang up between them and Paul and Barnabas, it was arranged that Paul and Barnabas, along with some others of their number, should go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and presbyters at Jerusalem about this question. Verse Conceptselders, in the churchBelieversVisitingDissensionDisputesMan AppointingThe Apostles In ActionResolving Conflict

On arriving at Jerusalem they were received by the church, the apostles and the presbyters, and they reported how God had been with them and what he had done. Verse Conceptselders, in the churchWelcoming BelieversTelling Of GodThe Apostles In Action

Travelling on through Amphipolis and Apollonia they reached Thessalonica. Here there was a Jewish synagogue, and Paul as usual went in; for three sabbaths he argued with them on the scriptures, explaining and quoting passages to prove that the messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead, and that "the Jesus I proclaim to you is the messiah." read more.
Some were persuaded and threw in their lot with Paul and Silas, including a host of devout Greeks and a large number of the leading women.

But certain individuals came down from Jerusalem and taught the brothers that "unless you get circumcised after the custom of Moses you cannot be saved." As a sharp dispute and controversy sprang up between them and Paul and Barnabas, it was arranged that Paul and Barnabas, along with some others of their number, should go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and presbyters at Jerusalem about this question.

When we had torn ourselves away from them and set sail, we made a straight run to Cos, next day to Rhodes, and thence to Patara; as we found a ship there bound for Phoenicia, we went on board and set sail. After sighting Cyprus and leaving it on our left, we sailed for Syria, landing at Tyre, where the ship was to unload her cargo.

It was only after our escape that we found out the island was called Malta. The natives showed us uncommon kindness, for they lit a fire and welcomed us all to it, as the rain had come on and it was chilly.

Now Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, when a viper crawled out with the heat and fastened on his hand. When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to each other, "This man must be a murderer! He has escaped the sea, but Justice will not let him live." However, he shook off the creature into the fire and was not a whit the worse. read more.
The natives waited for him to swell up or drop down dead in a moment, but after waiting a long while and observing that no harm had befallen him, they changed their minds and declared he was a god.

He also came down to Derbe and Lystra, where there was a disciple called Timotheus, the son of a believing Jewess and a Greek father. He had a good reputation among the brothers at Lystra and Iconium; so, as Paul wished him to go abroad with him, he took and circumcised him on account of the local Jews, all of whom knew his father had been a Greek. read more.
As they travelled on from town to town, they handed over to the people the resolutions which the apostles and the presbyters in Jerusalem had decided were to be obeyed; and the churches were strengthened in the faith and increased in numbers day by day.

So the whole meeting was quieted and listened to Barnabas and Paul recounting the signs and wonders God had performed by them among the Gentiles. Verse ConceptsGentiles, In NtSilenceIndividuals Being SilentOther MiraclesSigns And Wonders Of The Gospel

people even carried away towels or aprons he had used, and at their touch sick folk were freed from their diseases and evil spirits came out of them. Verse ConceptsExorcismsPeople Casting Out DemonsMeans Of PurifyingHow Healing CameMan's Authority Over The DevilIllness

On the following night the Lord stood by Paul and said, "Courage! As you have testified to me at Jerusalem, so you must testify at Rome." Verse Conceptsevangelism, kinds ofempiresGuidance, Results OfMissionaries, Task OfNecessityNightRomeWitnesses, To Jesus ChristVisions At NightWitness To The GospelWitnessingtestimonyfollowing

Meanwhile Saul still breathed threats of murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus empowering him to put any man or woman in chains whom he could find belonging to the Way, and bring them to Jerusalem.

After fulfilling their commission, Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, bringing with them John who is surnamed Mark. Verse ConceptsMissionaries, Task OfMissionaries

Setting sail from Paphos, Paul and his companions reached Perga in Pamphylia; John left them and went back to Jerusalem, Verse ConceptsSeafaringProvincesInstabilityPeople Abandoning PeopleMissionaries

he said, "I will go into your case whenever your accusers arrive," giving orders that he was to be kept in the praetorium of Herod. Verse ConceptsGuardsPalacesPunishment, Legal Aspects Of

Some days later, Paul said to Barnabas, "Come and let us go back to visit the brothers in every town where we have proclaimed the word of the Lord. Let us see how they are doing." Verse ConceptsLordship, Human And DivineConverts To ChristianityMissionariesChristians Being Called Brothers

and on finding him he brought him to Antioch, where for a whole year they were guests of the church and taught considerable numbers. It was at Antioch too that the disciples were originally called "Christians." Verse ConceptsCongregationChristiansTeachersChristian TeachersNames And Titles For The ChristianAntioch in SyriaChurch, Examples OfNew Birth, Evidenced ByOne YearTeaching In The ChurchFirst Among The GentilesCalledThe churchDiscipleshipGoing To ChurchchristianityencouraginggroupschristChristians Are Called Disciples

So they left the prison and went to Lydia's house, where they saw the brothers and encouraged them; then they departed. Verse Conceptsencouragement, examples ofevangelising

But when two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and as Felix wanted to ingratiate himself with the Jews, he left Paul still in custody. Verse ConceptsMen PleasersBad Decision Making ExamplesPopularityPleasing MenPopularity Sought

The quarrel then became so violent that the commander was afraid they would tear Paul in pieces; he therefore ordered the troops to march down and take him from them by force, bringing him inside the barracks. Verse ConceptsCommanderCommands, in NTCastlesSecurityFear, Of DeathPersecution Of The Apostle PaulPeople Torn To PiecesChiliarchs

Setting sail from Paphos, Paul and his companions reached Perga in Pamphylia; John left them and went back to Jerusalem, Verse ConceptsSeafaringProvincesInstabilityPeople Abandoning PeopleMissionaries

and started next morning for Caesarea, where we entered the house of Philip the evangelist (he belonged to the Seven, Verse Conceptsevangelists, identity ofGuestsHospitality, Examples OfProphetessHospitalityTravellersSeven PeopleThe Next DayEvangelism

On reaching Salamis they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues, with John as their assistant. Verse ConceptsCongregation

They covered the whole island as far as Paphos, where they fell in with a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet called Bar-Jesus; Verse ConceptsExamples Of FaithDivination, Practiced ByTravelFalse Teachers, Examples OfFalse Apostles, Prophets And TeachersSorcery

Sent out thus by the holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there they sailed to Cyprus. Verse ConceptsSeafaringProvincesGod Sending ProphetsLed By The Spirit

Sent out thus by the holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there they sailed to Cyprus. Verse ConceptsSeafaringProvincesGod Sending ProphetsLed By The Spirit

At the moment I am off to Jerusalem on an errand to the saints. Verse ConceptsApostles, Function In Early ChurchServing Groupsjerusalemministering

At the moment I am off to Jerusalem on an errand to the saints. Verse ConceptsApostles, Function In Early ChurchServing Groupsjerusalemministering



And the Lord said to him, "Go away to the street called 'The Straight Street,' and ask at the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus called Saul. He is praying at this very moment, Verse ConceptsRoadsStreetsStraight Paths

His father, it so happened, was laid up with fever and dysentery, but Paul went in to see him and after prayer laid his hands on him and cured him. Verse ConceptsdiseasesDiseases, Kinds OfSuffering, Causes OfSuffering, Nature OfMiracles Of PaulLaying On Of HandsFeverLaying On Hands To HealHealing Sickness

And the Lord said to him, "Go away to the street called 'The Straight Street,' and ask at the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus called Saul. He is praying at this very moment, Verse ConceptsRoadsStreetsStraight Paths


But when her owners saw their chance of profit was gone, they caught hold of Paul and Silas and dragged them before the magistrates in the forum. Bringing them before the praetors they declared, "These fellows are Jews who are making an agitation in our town; they are proclaiming customs which as Romans we are not allowed to accept or observe!" read more.
The crowd also joined in the attack upon them, while the praetors, after having them stripped and after ordering them to be flogged with rods, had many lashes inflicted on them and put them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safe. On receiving so strict a charge, he put them into the inner prison and secured their feet in the stocks. But about midnight, as Paul and Silas were praying and singing to God, while the prisoners listened, all of a sudden there was a great earthquake which shook the very foundations of the prison; the doors all flew open in an instant and the fetters of all the prisoners were unfastened. When the jailer started from his sleep and saw the prison-doors open, he drew his sword and was on the point of killing himself, supposing the prisoners had made their escape; but Paul shouted aloud, "Do not harm yourself, we are all here!" So calling for lights he rushed in, fell in terror before Paul and Silas, and brought them out (after securing the other prisoners). "Sirs," he said, "what must I do to be saved?" "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ," they said, "and then you will be saved, you and your household as well." And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all in his house. Then he took them at that very hour of the night and washed their wounds and got baptized instantly, he and all his family. He took them up to his house and put food before them, overjoyed like all his household at having believed in God. When day broke, the praetors sent the lictors with the message, "Release these men." The jailer repeated this to Paul. "The praetors," he said, "have sent to release you. So come out and go in peace?" But Paul replied, "They flogged us in public and without a trial, flogged Roman citizens! They put us in prison, and now they are going to get rid of us secretly! No indeed! Let them come here themselves and take us out!" The lictors reported this to the praetors, who, on hearing the men were Roman citizens, became alarmed; they went to appease them and after taking them out of prison begged them to leave the town. So they left the prison and went to Lydia's house, where they saw the brothers and encouraged them; then they departed.

The seven days were almost over when the Asiatic Jews, catching sight of him in the temple, stirred up all the crowd and laid hands on him, shouting, "To the rescue, men of Israel! Here is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against the People and the Law and this Place! And he has actually brought Greeks inside the temple and defiled this holy Place!" (They had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian along with him in the city, and they supposed Paul had taken him inside the temple.) read more.
The whole city was thrown into turmoil. The people rushed together, seized Paul and dragged him outside the temple; whereupon the doors were immediately shut. They were attempting to kill him, when word reached the commander of the garrison that the whole of Jerusalem was in confusion. Taking some soldiers and officers, he at once rushed down to them, and when they saw the commander and the soldiers they stopped beating Paul. Then the commander came up and seized him; he ordered him to be bound with a couple of chains, and asked "Who is he?" and "What has he done?" Some of the crowd roared one thing, some another, and as he could not learn the facts owing to the uproar, he ordered Paul to be taken to the barracks. By the time he reached the steps, he had actually to be carried by the soldiers on account of the violence of the crowd, for the whole mass of the people followed shouting, "Away with him!" Just as he was being taken into the barracks, Paul said to the commander, "May I say a word to you?" "You know Greek!" said the commander. "Then you are not the Egyptian who in days gone by raised the four thousand assassins and led them out into the desert?" Paul said, "I am a Jew, a native of Tarsus in Cilicia, the citizen of a famous town. Pray let me speak to the people." As he gave permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the people. A great hush came over them, and he addressed them as follows in Hebrew.


They all broke into loud lamentation and falling upon the neck of Paul kissed him fondly, sorrowing chiefly because he told them they would never see his face again. Then they escorted him to the ship.

While we remained there for a number of days, a prophet called Agabus came down from Judaea. He came to us, took Paul's girdle and bound his own feet and hands, saying, "Here is the word of the holy Spirit: 'So shall the Jews bind the owner of this girdle at Jerusalem and hand him over to the Gentiles'." Now when we heard this, we and the local disciples besought Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. read more.
Then Paul replied, "What do you mean by weeping and disheartening me? I am ready not only to be bound but also to die at Jerusalem for the sake of the Lord Jesus." As he would not be persuaded, we acquiesced, saying, "The will of the Lord be done."

Now here I go to Jerusalem under the binding force of the Spirit. What will befall me there, I do not know. Only, I know this, that in town after town the holy Spirit testifies to me that bonds and troubles are awaiting me. But then, I set no value on my own life as compared with the joy of finishing my course and fulfilling the commission I received from the Lord Jesus to attest the gospel of the grace of God. read more.
I know to-day that not one of you will ever see my face again ??not one of you among whom I moved as I preached the Reign.

Then the brothers at once sent off Paul and Silas by night to Beroea. When they arrived there, they betook themselves to the Jewish synagogue, where the people were more amenable than at Thessalonica; they were perfectly ready to receive the Word and made a daily study of the scriptures to see if it was really as Paul said. Many of them believed, together with a large number of prominent Greeks, both women and men. read more.
But when the Jews of Thessalonica heard that Paul was proclaiming the word of God at Beroea as well, they came to create a disturbance and a riot among the crowds at Beroea too. The brothers then sent off Paul at once on his way to the sea, while Silas and Timotheus remained where they were. Paul's escort brought him as far as Athens and left with instructions that Silas and Timotheus were to join him as soon as possible.

They glorified God when they heard it. Then they said to him, "Brother, you see how many thousands of believers there are among the Jews, all of them ardent upholders of the Law. Now, they have heard that you teach all Jews who live among Gentiles to break away from Moses and not to circumcise their children, nor to follow the old customs. What is to be done? They will be sure to hear you have arrived. read more.
So do as we tell you. We have four men here under a vow; associate yourself with them, purify yourself with them, pay their expenses so that they may be free to have their heads shaved, and then everybody will understand there is nothing in these stories about you, but that, on the contrary, you are guided by obedience to the Law. As for Gentile believers, we have issued our decision that they must avoid food that has been offered to idols, the taste of blood, flesh of animals that have been strangled, and sexual vice." Then Paul associated himself with the men next day; he had himself purified along with them and went into the temple to give notice of the time when the days of purification would be completed ??the time, that is to say, when the sacrifice could be offered for each one of them.

Then, finding half the Sanhedrin were Sadducees and the other half Pharisees, Paul shouted to them, "I am a Pharisee, brothers, the son of Pharisees! It is for the hope of the resurrection from the dead that I am on trial!" Verse ConceptsHope Object OfHope, As ConfidenceResurrection, Of BelieversSanhedrinStandingJewish SectsThe Dead Are Raisedgroupszealotspharisees

for I want to take precautions against any risk of suspicion in connection with the administration of this charity; Verse ConceptsMoney Managementcriticismaccounting

the apostles grasped the situation and escaped to the Lycaonian towns of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country;

so, as Paul wished him to go abroad with him, he took and circumcised him on account of the local Jews, all of whom knew his father had been a Greek. Verse ConceptsCircumcision, physicalMissionary Work, Examples OfGoing TogetherIsrael HardenedJews

Then, finding half the Sanhedrin were Sadducees and the other half Pharisees, Paul shouted to them, "I am a Pharisee, brothers, the son of Pharisees! It is for the hope of the resurrection from the dead that I am on trial!" Verse ConceptsHope Object OfHope, As ConfidenceResurrection, Of BelieversSanhedrinStandingJewish SectsThe Dead Are Raisedgroupszealotspharisees

they merely heard that 'our former persecutor is now preaching the faith he once harried,' Verse ConceptsFaith, As A Body Of Beliefsenemies, of Jesus ChristGospel, Transmission OfPersecution, Forms Of


and finally he was seen by myself, by this so-called 'abortion' of an apostle. Verse ConceptsResurrection Of Christ, AppearancesUntimelinessChrist AppearingEnd Of ActionsAbortion

But for Christ's sake I have learned to count my former gains a loss; indeed I count anything a loss, compared to the supreme value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have lost everything (I count it all the veriest refuse) in order to gain Christ and be found at death in him, possessing no legal righteousness of my own but the righteousness of faith in Christ, the divine righteousness that rests on faith.


Get up and go into the city. There you will be told what you have to do." Verse ConceptsNecessityTeachablenessUnquestioning ServiceEntering CitiesGiving InformationGet Up!



Timotheus my fellow-worker salutes you; so do my fellow countrymen Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater. Verse ConceptsFellowship, In Christian ServiceFellow WorkersRelativesWorkers


Saul became more and more vigorous. He put the Jewish residents in Damascus to confusion by his proof that Jesus was the Christ; Verse ConceptsAnointing, Of Christevangelism, nature ofGrowthPower, God's SavingChrist, Names ForSpiritual GrowthPreaching ChristProofsSaid To Be The ChristStrong Individualsdamascusempowerment

But Jews from Antioch and Iconium arrived, who won over the crowds, and after pelting Paul with stones they dragged him outside the town, thinking he was dead. Verse ConceptsAbandonmentevangelists, ministry ofPersuasionInciting To EvilStoningPersecution Of The Apostle PaulPulling PeopleAttempting To Kill Specific People

three times I have been beaten by the Romans, once pelted with stones, three times shipwrecked, adrift at sea for a whole night and day; Verse ConceptsPersecution, Forms OfSeafaringStoningShipwrecksOne DayBeating BelieversActing Three TimesIn The Heart Of The Sea

Now, brothers, I have to tell you about the grace God has given to the churches of Macedonia. Amid a severe ordeal of trouble, their overflowing joy and their deep poverty together have poured out a flood of rich generosity; I can testify that up to their means, aye and beyond their means, they have given ??4 begging me of their own accord, most urgently, for the favour of contributing to the support of the saints. read more.
They have done more than I expected; they gave themselves to the Lord, to begin with, and then (for so God willed it) they put themselves at my disposal. This has led me to ask Titus to complete the arrangements for the same gracious contribution among yourselves, as it was he who started it. Now then, you are to the front in everything, in faith, in utterance, in knowledge, in all zeal, and in love for us ??do come to the front in this gracious enterprise as well. I am not issuing any orders, only using the zeal of others to prove how sterling your own love is.

Indeed it is quite superfluous for me to be writing to you about this charitable service to the saints; I know how willing you are, I am proud of it, I have boasted of you to the Macedonians: "Achaia," I tell them, "was all ready last year." And your zeal has been a stimulus to the majority of them. At the same time I am sending these brothers just in case my pride in you should prove an empty boast in this particular instance; I want you to be "all ready," as I have been telling them that you would be, read more.
in case any Macedonians accompany me and find you are not ready ??which would make me (not to speak of yourselves) ashamed of having been so sure. That is why I have thought it necessary to ask these brothers to go on in advance and get your promised contribution ready in good time. I want it to be forthcoming as a generous gift, not as money wrung out of you.

so that you may be transparent and no harm to anyone in view of the day of Christ, your life covered with that harvest of righteousness which Jesus Christ produces to the glory and the praise of God. I would have you understand, my brothers, that my affairs have really tended to advance the gospel; read more.
throughout the whole of the praetorian guard and everywhere else it is recognized that I am imprisoned on account of my connexion with Christ, and my imprisonment has given the majority of the brotherhood greater confidence in the Lord to venture on speaking the word of God without being afraid. Some of them, it is true, are actually preaching Christ from envy and rivalry, others from goodwill; the latter do it from love to me, knowing that I am set here to defend the gospel, but the former proclaim Christ for their own ends, with mixed motives, intending to annoy me as I lie in prison. What does it matter? Anyhow, for ulterior ends or honestly, Christ is being proclaimed, and I rejoice over that; yes and I will rejoice over it. The outcome of all this, I know, will be my release, as you continue to pray for me, and as I am provided with the Spirit of Jesus Christ ??20 my eager desire and hope being that I may never feel ashamed but that now as ever I may do honour to Christ in my own person by fearless courage. Whether that means life or death, no matter! As life means Christ to me, so death means gain. But then, if it is to be life here below, that means fruitful work for me. So ??well, I cannot tell which to choose;

Then, finding half the Sanhedrin were Sadducees and the other half Pharisees, Paul shouted to them, "I am a Pharisee, brothers, the son of Pharisees! It is for the hope of the resurrection from the dead that I am on trial!" When he said this, a quarrel broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; the meeting was divided. For while the Sadducees declare there is no such thing as resurrection, angels, or spirits, the Pharisees affirm them all. read more.
Thus a loud clamour broke out. Some of the scribes who belonged to the Pharisaic party got up and contended, "We find nothing wrong about this man. What if some spirit or angel has spoken to him?" The quarrel then became so violent that the commander was afraid they would tear Paul in pieces; he therefore ordered the troops to march down and take him from them by force, bringing him inside the barracks.

so, as Paul wished him to go abroad with him, he took and circumcised him on account of the local Jews, all of whom knew his father had been a Greek. Verse ConceptsCircumcision, physicalMissionary Work, Examples OfGoing TogetherIsrael HardenedJews

May the Lord show favour to the household of Onesiphorus, for many a time he braced me up; he was not ashamed of my imprisonment ??17 no, he made eager search for me when he reached Rome, and he found me (may he find favour with the Lord on the great Day! The Lord grant it!). And you know very well what a help he was to me in Ephesus.

Let me introduce our sister Phoebe, a deaconess of the church at Cenchreae; receive her in the Lord as saints should receive one another, and give her any help she may require. She has been a help herself to many people, including myself. Salute Prisca and Aquila, my fellow-workers in Christ Jesus, read more.
who have risked their lives for me; I thank them, and not only I but all the Gentile churches as well.

With these words he took a loaf and after thanking God, in presence of them all, broke it and began to eat. Verse ConceptsBreaking Of BreadThankfulnessThanksgiving, OfferedThanking God For Food

With these words he took a loaf and after thanking God, in presence of them all, broke it and began to eat. Verse ConceptsBreaking Of BreadThankfulnessThanksgiving, OfferedThanking God For Food

As the local brothers had heard about us, they came out to meet us as far as Appii Forum and Tres Tabernae, and when Paul saw them he thanked God and took courage. Verse ConceptsMissionaries, Support ForRomeSuffering, Encouragements InThanksgivingVisitingBraveryMeeting PeopleThree Other ThingsThanking God For PeoplePeople Encouraging Others

As the local brothers had heard about us, they came out to meet us as far as Appii Forum and Tres Tabernae, and when Paul saw them he thanked God and took courage. Verse ConceptsMissionaries, Support ForRomeSuffering, Encouragements InThanksgivingVisitingBraveryMeeting PeopleThree Other ThingsThanking God For PeoplePeople Encouraging Others

Get up and go into the city. There you will be told what you have to do." Verse ConceptsNecessityTeachablenessUnquestioning ServiceEntering CitiesGiving InformationGet Up!


Such is my own rule, to satisfy all men in all points, aiming not at my own advantage but at the advantage of the greater number ??at their salvation. Verse ConceptsGiving, Of OneselfSelfishness, Shown InPleasing MenAdaptability

It is not the money I am anxious for; what I am anxious for is the interest that accumulates in this way to your divine credit! Verse ConceptsCreditAbounding, Good ThingsFruitful LabourBeing ContentGifts And Talentsaccounting

we did not take free meals from anyone; no, toiling hard at our trade, we worked night and day, so as not to be a burden to any of you. Verse ConceptsdiligenceNightPoverty, Remedies ForLabour Day And NightThose Who ToiledHardship

What does it matter? Anyhow, for ulterior ends or honestly, Christ is being proclaimed, and I rejoice over that; yes and I will rejoice over it. Verse ConceptsEnthusiasmPreaching ChristRejoicing In God's WordSpreading The GospelMotivationFake Friendspreachingweathermotivesimportance

Such is my own rule, to satisfy all men in all points, aiming not at my own advantage but at the advantage of the greater number ??at their salvation. Verse ConceptsGiving, Of OneselfSelfishness, Shown InPleasing MenAdaptability