Bible in 90 Days
38 And the sergeants told these words to the governors, who were afraid when they heard that they were Romans.
39 Then they came and pleaded with them; and brought them out and asked them to leave the city.
40 And they went out of the prison and entered into the house of Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they comforted them, and departed.
17 Now as they passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
2 And Paul (as was his custom) went in and argued with them from the Scriptures for three Sabbaths,
3 Opening, and alleging, that Christ must have suffered and risen again from the dead; and saying, “This is Jesus Christ. Whom I preach to you.”
4 And some of them believed (also a great multitude of the Greeks who feared God, and not a few of the chief women) and joined with Paul and Silas.
5 But the Jews who did not believe - moved with envy – took some wicked fellows from the marketplace. And when they had assembled a multitude, they made a disturbance in the city. And they assaulted the house of Jason and sought to bring them out to the people.
6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brothers before the heads of the city, crying, “Those who have subverted the state of the world are here also!
7 “Jason has received them. And they all act against the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another King - Jesus!”
8 And they troubled the people and the heads of the city, when they heard these things.
9 Nevertheless, when they had received bail from Jason and the others, they let them go.
10 And the brothers immediately sent away Paul and Silas to Berea by night. And when they had gotten there, they entered into the synagogue of the Jews.
11 Also, these were more noble men than those at Thessalonica. They received the Word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
12 Therefore many of them believed, and honorable Greek women, and not a few men.
13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica knew that the Word of God was also preached by Paul at Berea, they came there also, and moved the people.
14 And immediately the brothers sent Paul away, to go to the sea. But Silas and Timothy remained there.
15 And those who conducted Paul brought him to Athens. And when they had received a commandment for Silas and Timothy to come to him at once, they departed.
16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, when he saw the idolatry in the city, his spirit was pricked within him.
17 Therefore he disputed daily - with the Jews in the synagogue, with the religious, and in the marketplace - with whomever he met.
18 Then some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers disputed with him. And some said, “What will this babbler say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of strange gods.” (because he preached Jesus to them, and the resurrection.)
19 And they took him, and brought him to Mars’ Hill, saying, “May we know what this new doctrine is of which you speak?
20 “For you bring some strange things to our ears. Therefore, we want to know what these things mean.”
21 For all the Athenians (and strangers who dwelt there) gave themselves to nothing else but either telling or hearing something new.
22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ Hill, and said, “Men of Athens! I perceive that in all things you are very fearful of gods.
23 “For as I passed by and observed your objects of worship, I found an altar whereupon was written, ‘TO THE UNKNOWN GOD’. Him then, Whom you ignorantly worship, I proclaim to you.
24 “God - Who made the world and all things that therein are - seeing that He is Lord of Heaven and Earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands.
25 “Nor is He worshipped with man’s hands as though He needed anything (seeing He gives life to all, and breath, and all things).
26 “And He has made, from one blood, all nations of mankind to dwell on all the face of the Earth; and has assigned the seasons (which were pre-ordained) and the boundaries of their dwellings,
27 “so that they should seek the Lord; that perhaps they might have groped after Him and found Him. Though doubtless He is not far from each one of us.
28 “For in Him we live, and move, and have our being, as some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His family’.
29 “Therefore, since we are the family of God, we ought not to think that the Divine is like gold, or silver, or stone, sculpted by art and the invention of man.
30 “God, having overlooked these times of ignorance, now admonishes all mankind, everywhere, to repent.
31 “Because He has appointed a Day on the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man Whom He has appointed. He has given us all this assurance by raising Him from the dead.”
32 Now when they had heard of the resurrection from the dead, some mocked. And others said, “We will hear from you again about this.”
33 And so Paul departed from among them.
34 But some men joined Paul and believed. Among them were Dionysius Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
18 After these things, Paul left Athens and came to Corinth,
2 and found a certain Jew named Aquila (born in Pontus and of late from Italy), and his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all Jews to leave Rome). And he came to them.
3 And because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked (for their trade was to make tents).
4 And he disputed in the synagogue every Sabbath and exhorted the Jews and the Greeks.
5 Now when Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul, being pressed by the Spirit, testified to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.
6 And when they resisted and blasphemed, he shook his clothes, and said to them, “Your blood is upon your own head! I am clean. From now on will I go to the Gentiles.”
7 So he left there and entered into the house of a man named Justus (a worshipper of God, whose house was next door to the synagogue).
8 And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing it, believed and were baptized.
9 Then the Lord said to Paul by a vision in the night, “Do not fear, but speak. And do not be silent.
10 “For I am with you, and no one shall attack you, to hurt you. For I have many people in this city.”
11 So he continued there a year and six months and taught the Word of God among them.
12 Now when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews rose up with one mind against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat,
13 saying, “This fellow persuades man to worship God differently than the Law appoints.”
14 And as Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrong, or an evil deed, O Jews, I would, according to reason, tolerate you.
15 “But if it is a question of words and names, and of your Law, resolve it yourselves. For I will be no judge of those things.”
16 And he drove them from the judgment seat.
17 Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. But Gallio cared nothing about those things.
18 And after Paul had remained there a good while longer (and shaved his head in Cenchrea - for he had made a vow) he left the brothers and sailed into Syria with Priscilla and Aquila.
19 Then he came to Ephesus and left them there. And he entered into the synagogue and disputed with the Jews,
20 who asked him to stay a longer time with them. But he would not consent,
21 and bid them farewell, saying, “I must keep this feast that comes, in Jerusalem. But I will return to you again, God willing.” So, he sailed from Ephesus.
22 And when he came down to Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem. And after he had greeted the church, he went down to Antioch.
23 And after he had remained there a while, he left, and went through the countries of Galatia and Phrygia successively, strengthening all the disciples.
24 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, came to Ephesus (an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures).
25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord. And, being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught diligently the things of the Lord but knew only of the baptism of John.
26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. Whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him aside, and explained the way of God more perfectly to him.
27 And when he intended to go into Achaia, the brothers (exhorting him) wrote to the disciples to receive him. And after he had come there, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace.
28 For he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, with great vehemence, showing by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.
19 And it so happened (while Apollos was at Corinth) that Paul, when he passed through the upper coasts, came to Ephesus, and found some disciples,
2 and said to them, “Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?” And they said to him, “We have not even heard whether there is a Holy Ghost.”
3 And he said to them, “Into what were you baptized then?” And they said, “Into John’s baptism.”
4 Then Paul said, “Truly, John baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe in Him Who should come after him; that is, in Christ Jesus.”
5 And when they heard it, they were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus.
6 So Paul laid his hands upon them, and the Holy Ghost came on them, and they spoke the tongues, and prophesied.
7 And there were, in all, about twelve men.
8 Moreover, he went into the synagogue, and spoke boldly for three months, disputing and persuading in things concerning the Kingdom of God.
9 But when some were hardened and disobeyed, speaking evil of the Way before the multitude, he left them; and separated the disciples, and disputed daily in the school of one Tyrannus.
10 And this was done for two years. So that all those who dwelt in Asia heard the Word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
11 And God wrought no small miracles by the hands of Paul,
12 So that kerchiefs (or handkerchiefs) were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases departed from them. And the evil spirits went out of them.
13 Then exorcists took in hand some of the vagabond Jews to name the Name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We command you by Jesus, Whom Paul preaches!”
14 And there were about seven sons of Sceva (a Jewish chief priest) who did this.
15 And the evil spirit answered, and said, “Jesus I acknowledge! And Paul I know! But who are you?”
16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was, ran at them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house, naked and wounded.
17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks who dwelt at Ephesus. And fear came upon them all. And the Name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
18 And many who believed came and confessed and declared their works.
19 Also, many of those who used curious arts brought their books and burned them before all. And they priced them at fifty thousand pieces of silver.
20 So the Word of God grew mightily, and prevailed.
21 Now when these things were completed, Paul purposed by the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia, and to go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.”
22 So he sent two of his assistants, Timothy and Erastus, into Macedonia. But he remained in Asia for a while.
23 And about that time there arose no small trouble about the Way.
24 For a certain man named Demetrius (a silversmith who made silver shrines of Diana) brought great gains to the craftsmen.
25 He called them together, along with workmen of similar things, and said, “Sirs, you know that by this trade we have wealth.
26 “Moreover, you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that things which are made with hands are not Gods.
27 “So that not only is our trade in danger of disrepute, but also the shrine of the great goddess Diana may be despised, causing her magnificence (which all Asia and the world worships) to be destroyed!”
28 Now when they heard it, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!”
29 And the whole city was full of confusion. And having caught Gaius and Aristarchus (men of Macedonia, and Paul’s companions on his journey), they rushed into the theatre with one mind.
30 And when Paul wanted to enter in to the people, the disciples did not allow him.
31 Then, some of the rulers of Asia who were his friends sent word to him, begging him not to show himself in the theatre.
32 Therefore some cried one thing, and some another. For the assembly was out of order, and most of them did not know why they had come together.
33 And they brought Alexander out, the Jews thrusting him forward. Alexander then beckoned with his hand, wanting to make a defense to the people.
34 But when they knew that he was a Jew, they all began chanting for almost two hours, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!”
35 Then the town clerk, after he had silenced the people, said, “Men of Ephesus, what man does not know that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which came down from heaven?
36 “Seeing, then, that these things are indisputable, you should calm down, and do nothing rashly.
37 “For you have brought these men here who have committed neither sacrilege nor blasphemy of your goddess.
38 “Therefore, if indeed Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a case against anyone, the law is open. And there are proconsuls. Let them accuse one another.
39 “But, if you inquire about other matters, that shall be settled in a lawful assembly.
40 “For we are also in danger of being accused of sedition today, because there is no reason we may give for this riotous multitude.”
41 And after he had said this, he let the assembly depart.
20 Now after the disturbance abated, Paul called the disciples to him, and embraced them, and left for Macedonia.
2 And when he had gone through those parts, and had encouraged them with many words, he came into Greece.
3 And after staying there for three months, he was about to sail for Syria. But he decided to return through Macedonia because the Jews had set a trap for him.
4 And Sopater of Berea accompanied him into Asia, as well as Aristarchus and Secundus of Thessalonica, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus.
5 These went ahead and awaited us at Troas.
6 And after the days of Unleavened Bread, we sailed from Philippi. And five days later we joined them at Troas, where we stayed for seven days.
7 And the first day of the week (the disciples having come together to break bread), Paul, ready to leave the next day, preached to them, and continued preaching until midnight.
8 And there were many lights in the upper room where they were gathered together.
9 And a certain young man named Eutychus had fallen into a dead sleep while sitting in a window. And as Paul preached at length, he was overcome with sleep and fell down from the third story and was taken up dead.
10 But Paul went down, and laid himself on him, and embraced him, saying, “Do not trouble yourselves. For his life is in him.”
11 Then, after having come up again and broken bread and eaten, he talked a long while (till daybreak) and left.
12 And they brought the boy (alive). And they were not a little comforted.
13 But we went ahead to the ship and sailed to Assos, so that we might receive Paul there. For so had he arranged and would himself go on foot.
14 Now when he had met us in Assos, and we had received him, we went to Mitylene.
15 And we sailed from there the next day and came opposite Chios. And the next day we arrived at Samos and stayed in Trogyllium. The next day we came to Miletus.
16 For Paul had determined to sail past Ephesus, because he did not want to spend time in Asia. For he hurried to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.
17 Therefore he sent word to Ephesus from Miletus and called the elders of the church.
18 When they had come, he said to them, “You know how I have lived with you at all times, from the first day that I came into Asia;
19 “serving the Lord with all modesty, and with many tears and temptations (which came to me by the plotting of the Jews).
20 “And how I kept back nothing that was profitable, but have showed you, and taught you openly, and throughout every house;
21 “witnessing the repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ to both the Jews and the Greeks.
22 “And now behold I go, bound in the Spirit, to Jerusalem. And I do not know what things shall come to me there,
23 “except that the Holy Ghost witnesses in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me.
24 “But these things do not move me. Nor is my life dear to me. So that I may fulfill my course, and the ministry which I have received from the Lord Jesus (to testify the Gospel of the grace of God) with joy.
25 “And now behold, I know that hereafter all of you among whom I have gone preaching the Kingdom of God shall no longer see my face.
26 “Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all.
27 “For I have kept nothing back but have declared to you the whole counsel of God.
28 “Therefore, attend to yourselves, and to all the flock, among which the Holy Ghost has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which He has purchased with His own blood.
29 “For I know this: that after my departing, grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
30 “Moreover, men shall arise from your own selves, speaking perverse things to draw disciples away with them.
31 “Therefore watch. And remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone, both night and day, with tears.
32 “And now brothers, I commend you to God, and to the Word of His grace, which is able to build further, and to give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
33 “I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel.
34 “Yes, you know that these hands have ministered to my needs, and to those who were with me.
35 “I have shown you all things; how that in so doing you ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
36 And when he had spoken this, he kneeled down and prayed with them all.
37 Then they all wept abundantly, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him,
38 being most tormented by the words he spoke of seeing his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.
21 And as we launched forth, and had left them, we set a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara.
2 And we found a ship that went over to Phoenicia, and went aboard, and set forth.
3 And when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left side, and sailed toward Syria, and arrived at Tyre. For there the ship unloaded its cargo.
4 And when we had found disciples, we remained there for seven days. And through the Spirit, they told Paul that he should not go up to Jerusalem.
5 But when those days had ended, we departed and went our way. And they all, with their wives and children, accompanied us until we were out of the city. And we kneeled down on the shore and prayed.
6 Then, after we had embraced one another, we boarded the ship. And they returned home.
7 And when we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and greeted the brothers, and stayed with them for one day.
8 And the next day, Paul (and we who were with him) left and came to Caesarea. And we entered into the house of Philip the Evangelist (who was one of the seven) and stayed with him.
9 Now he had four virgin daughters who prophesied.
10 And as we remained there many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came from Judea.
11 And when he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Ghost, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owns this belt, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’”
12 And when we had heard these things, both we and the residents there begged him not to go up to Jerusalem.
13 Then Paul answered, and said, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready, not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the Name of the Lord Jesus.”
14 So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “The will of the Lord be done.”
15 And after those days, we made ourselves ready and went up to Jerusalem.
16 Some of the disciples of Caesarea also went with us, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple with whom we were to lodge.
17 And when we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly.
18 And the next day Paul went in with us to James. And all the elders were assembled there.
19 And after he had embraced them, he told in order all things that God had worked among the Gentiles through his ministry.
20 So when they heard it, they glorified God, and said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousand Jews there are who believe. And they are all zealous for the Law.
21 “Now they are informed that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their sons, nor to live after the customs.
22 What then? The multitude must certainly come together. For they shall hear that you have come.
23 Therefore, do what we tell you. We have four men who have made a vow.
24 Take them. And purify yourself with them. And contribute with them, so that they may shave their heads. And all shall know that those things about which they have been informed concerning you, are nothing. And that you yourself also walk and keep the Law.
25 As for the Gentiles who believe, we have written and determined that they should observe no such thing, except that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from that which is strangled, and from fornication.
26 Then the next day Paul took the men, and having been purified with them, entered into the Temple and declared the completion of the days of the purification and that an offering would be offered for each one of them.
27 And when the seven days had almost ended, the Asian Jews (when they saw him in the Temple) incited all the people, and laid hands on him,
28 crying, “Men of Israel! Help! This is the man who teaches against the people, and the Law, and this place - to everyone, everywhere! Moreover, he has brought Greeks into the Temple, and has polluted this holy place!”
29 For they had seen Trophimus (an Ephesian) with him in the city before, whom they assumed that Paul had brought into the Temple.
30 Then all the city was moved, and the people ran together. And they took Paul, and dragged him out of the Temple, and immediately the doors were shut.
31 But as they were seeking to kill him, word came to the chief captain of the band that all Jerusalem was in an uproar;
32 who immediately took soldiers and Centurions and ran down to them. And when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.
33 Then the chief captain came near and took him, and commanded that he be bound with two chains, and asked who he was and what he had done.
34 And one cried this, and another that, among the people. So, when he could not discern the veracity because of the uproar, he commanded him to be led into the castle.
35 And when he came to the stairs, it happened that he was carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the people.
36 For the multitude of the people followed them, crying, “Away with him!”
37 And as Paul was being been led into the castle, he said to the chief captain, “May I speak to you?” Who said, “Can you speak Greek?
38 “Are you not the Egyptian who previously led a revolt, and led four thousand assassins out into the wilderness?”
39 Then Paul said, “Doubtless, I am a Jew, and a citizen of Tarsus, (a famous city of Cilicia). And I beg you, allow me to speak to the people.”
40 And when he had let him, Paul stood on the stairs and beckoned with the hand to the people. And when there was a great silence, he spoke to them in the Hebrew tongue, saying,
22 “You men, brothers and fathers, hear now my defense towards you!”
2 And when they heard him speak in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept even more silent. And he said,
3 “I am indeed a man born Jewish in Tarsus in Cilicia but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel and instructed according to the perfect manner of the Law of the Fathers. And I was zealous toward God, as you all are this day.
4 “And I persecuted the Way to the death, binding and delivering both men and women into prison,
5 “to which the chief priest and all the company of the elders also testify. From them I also received letters to the brothers and went to Damascus to bind those who were there and bring them to Jerusalem, so that they might be punished.
6 “And so it was as I journeyed and had come near to Damascus (about noon) that suddenly a great light from Heaven shone all around me.
7 “So I fell to the Earth and heard a voice saying to me, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?
8 “Then I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, Whom you persecute.’
9 “Moreover, those who were with me indeed saw a light and were afraid. But they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me.
10 “Then I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord’? And the Lord said to me, ‘Arise, and go into Damascus. And there you shall be told all things which are appointed for you to do.’
11 “So, after I could not see because of the Glory of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me and came into Damascus.
12 “And one Ananias (a godly man as pertaining to the Law, having good report of all the Jews who dwelt there)
13 “came to me and stood and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And that same hour I looked at him.
14 “And he said, ‘The God of our Fathers has appointed you, that you should know His will, and should see the Just One, and should hear the voice of His mouth.
15 ‘For you shall be His witness to all mankind of the things which you have seen and heard.
16 ‘Now therefore why do you wait? Arise, and be baptized. And wash away your sins by calling on the Name of the Lord.’
17 “And it so happened that when I had again come to Jerusalem, and prayed in the Temple, I was in a trance.
18 “And I saw Him, saying to me, ‘Hurry. And get out of Jerusalem quickly. For they will not receive your witness concerning Me.’
19 “Then I said, ‘Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat those who believed in You in every Synagogue.
20 ‘And when the blood of Your martyr, Stephen, was shed, I also stood by and consented to his death, and guarded the clothes of those who killed him.’
21 “Then He said to me, “Go. For I will send you far from here, to the Gentiles.’”
22 And they heard him until this word. Then they lifted up their voices, and said, “Away with such a fellow from the Earth! For he is not fit to live!”
23 And as they cried and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air,
24 the chief captain commanded him to be led into the castle, and ordered that he should be scourged, and examined, that he might know why they cried so against him.
25 And as they bound him with straps, Paul said to the Centurion who stood by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge one who is a Roman, and not condemned?”
26 Now when the Centurion heard that, he told the chief captain, saying, “Be careful what you do. For this man is a Roman.”
27 Then the chief captain came and said to him, “Tell me. Are you a Roman?” And he said, “Yes.”
28 And the chief captain answered, “I obtained this freedom with a great sum.” Then Paul said, “But I was born so.”
29 Then immediately, those who should have examined him departed. And the chief captain was also afraid after he realized that he was a Roman, and that he had bound him.
30 On the next day, because he wanted to know for certain why he had been accused by the Jews, he released him from his bonds, and commanded the chief priests and all their Council to come together. And he brought Paul and set him before them.
23 And Paul looked earnestly at the Council, and said, “Men! Brothers! I have in all good conscience served God until this day...”
2 Then the High Priest, Ananias, commanded those who stood by to strike him on the mouth.
3 Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitened wall! For you sit to judge me according to the Law. And transgressing the Law, you command me to be struck?”
4 And those who stood by, said, “You revile God’s High Priest?!”
5 Then Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was the High Priest. For it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of the ruler of your people.’”
6 But when Paul perceived that part of them were of the Sadducees, and another of the Pharisees, he cried in the Council, “Men! Brothers! I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I am accused of the hope and resurrection of the dead.”
7 And when he had said this, there was a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, so that the multitude was divided.
8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel nor spirit. But the Pharisees confess both.
9 Then there was a great outcry. And the scribes of the Pharisees’ part rose up and contended fiercely with them, saying, “We find no evil in this man. But if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God.”
10 And when there was a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing Paul might have been pulled to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him from among them, and to bring him into the castle.
11 Now the night following, the Lord stood by him, and said, “Be of good courage, Paul, for as you have testified of me in Jerusalem, so also must you bear witness in Rome.
12 And when the day had come, some of the Jews assembled and bound themselves with a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.
13 And there were more than forty of them who hatched this plot.
14 And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn curse, that we will eat nothing until we have killed Paul.
15 “Now therefore, you and the Council send word to the chief captain as though you wanted to inquire further about him, so that he will bring him forth to you tomorrow. And we will be ready to kill him before he comes near.”
16 But when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their ambush, he went and entered into the castle and told Paul.
17 And Paul called one of the Centurions to him, and said, “Take this young man to the chief captain. For he has something to tell him.”
18 So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, “Paul, the prisoner, called me to him and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to say to you.”
19 Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went away with him alone, and asked him, “What have you to tell me?”
20 And he said, “The Jews have conspired to ask if you would bring forth Paul tomorrow into the Council, as though they would inquire further about him.
21 “But do not let them persuade you. For they have set an ambush for him, more than forty men, who have bound themselves with a curse that they will neither eat nor drink until they have killed him. And now they are ready and await your promise.”
22 The chief captain then let the young man go, after he had instructed him to tell no one that he had told him these things.
23 And he called two certain Centurions to him, saying, “Prepare two hundred soldiers and seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at the third hour of the night.
24 “And let them make horses ready. So that, being set upon, Paul he may be safely brought to Felix the Governor.”
25 And he wrote a letter in this manner:
26 “Claudius Lysias, to the most noble Governor Felix, sends greeting.
27 “As this man was taken by the Jews, and would have been killed by them, I came upon them with a garrison, and rescued him, perceiving that he was a Roman.
28 “And when I wanted to know the reason why they accused him, I brought him forth into their Council.
29 “I perceived that he was accused about questions of their Law, but had no crime worthy of death, or of bonds.
30 “And when it was told to me that the Jews had prepared an ambush for the man, I immediately sent him to you, and commanded his accusers to state before you the things which they had against him. Farewell.”
31 Then, as commanded, the soldiers took Paul by night and brought him to Antipatris.
32 And the next day, they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned into the Castle.
33 Now when they came to Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the Governor, and also presented Paul to him.
34 So, after the Governor had read it, he asked from what province he was. And when he learned that he was from Cilicia,
35 he said, “I will hear you once your accusers have also come.” And he commanded that he be kept in Herod’s judgment hall.
24 Now after five days, Ananias the High Priest came down with the elders and Tertullus (a certain orator), who appeared against Paul before the Governor.
2 And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, “Seeing that we have obtained great peace through you, and that many worthy things are being done in this nation through your foresight,
3 “we acknowledge it wholly, and in all places, with all thanks, most noble Felix.
4 “But so as not to detain you, I beg you to hear a few words from us out of your fairness.
5 “We have found this man to be a pest, an inciter of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes,
6 “who has tried to pollute the Temple. Therefore, we took him, and would have judged him according to our Law.
7 “But the chief captain, Lysias, came upon us and (with great violence) took him out of our hands,
8 “commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you may learn all these things of which we accuse him.”
9 And the Jews also agreed, saying that it was so.
10 Then Paul, after the Governor had beckoned to him that he should speak, answered, “Because I know that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I do the more gladly answer for myself,
11 “seeing that you may know that it has only been twelve days since I came up to worship in Jerusalem.
12 “And they neither found me in the Temple (disputing with any man or inciting uproar among the people), nor in the synagogues, nor in the city.
13 “Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me.
14 “But this I confess to you: that I worship the God of my Fathers as does the Way (which they call heresy), believing all things which are written in the Law and the Prophets.
15 “And I have hope in God that the resurrection of the dead, (which they themselves also look for) shall be of both just and unjust.
16 “And in this I myself always endeavor to have a clear conscience toward God and toward man.
17 “Now after many years, I came and brought alms and offerings to my nation.
18 “At which time, some Asian Jews found me (with neither multitude nor tumult) purified in the Temple.
19 “They ought to have been present to accuse me before you, if they have anything against me.
20 “Or else let these themselves say if they have found any unjust thing in me while I stood in the Council,
21 “except for this one statement which I cried out while standing among them, ‘Concerning the resurrection of the dead am I accused by you this day.’”
22 Now when Felix heard these things, he deferred them, and said, “When I shall better understand the things which concern this Way (by the coming of Lysias the chief Captain), I will decide your matter.”
23 Then he commanded a Centurion to keep Paul, and that he should have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his friends to minister to him, or to come to him.
24 And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla (who was Jewish), he sent for Paul and heard from him about faith in Christ.
25 And as he reasoned of righteousness and temperance, and of the judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, “Go your way for now. And when it is convenient, I will call for you.”
26 He also hoped that money would have been given to him by Paul, so that he might release him. Therefore, he sent for him more often and communed with him.
27 After two years had passed, Porcius Festus succeeded Felix. And wanting to curry favor with the Jews, Felix left Paul bound.
25 Three days after Festus had come into the province, he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem.
2 Then the High Priest and the chief of the Jews appeared before him against Paul. And they pleaded with him,
3 and asked (as a favor) if he would summon him to Jerusalem, so they could make an ambush and kill him along the way.
4 But Festus answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea. And that he himself would go there shortly.
5 “Therefore, let those among you who are able come down,” he said, “And if there is any fault in the man, let them accuse him."
6 Now, after he had stayed among them no more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea, and the next day sat in the judgment seat, and commanded Paul to be brought.
7 And when he had come, the Jews who had come from Jerusalem, stood around him and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul (of which they could present no plain proof),
8 to which he answered that he had not offended in anything - either against the Law of the Jews, or against the Temple, or against Caesar.
9 Yet Festus, wanting to curry favor with the Jews, answered Paul and said, “Will you go up to Jerusalem and be judged of these things before me there?”
10 Then Paul said, “I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you very well know.
11 “For if I have done wrong, or committed anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if there is nothing in these things of which they accuse me, no one can deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar.”
12 Then, when Festus had spoken with the Council, he answered, “You have appealed to Caesar? To Caesar you shall go.”
13 And after some days, King Agrippa and Bernice came down to Caesarea to greet Festus.
14 And when they had stayed there many days, Festus stated Paul’s cause to the king, saying, “There is a certain man left in prison by Felix.
15 “When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and elders of the Jews informed me of him and asked for a judgment against him.
16 “To whom I answered that it is not the custom of the Romans to deliver any man to the death before the accused has faced his accusers and has a place to defend himself concerning the crime.
17 “Therefore, when they had come here, I sat on the judgment seat the following day (without delay) and commanded the man to be brought forth.
18 “When the accusers stood up, they brought no accusation against him of such crimes as I suspected.
19 “But they had certain questions against him about their own religion, and about a certain Jesus (Who was dead, but Whom Paul affirmed to be alive).
20 “And because I was perplexed by such questions, I asked him if he was willing to go to Jerusalem and be judged there about these things.
21 “But because Paul had appealed to be put under guard until the examination of Augustus, I commanded that he be jailed until I could send him to Caesar.”
22 Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would also like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” he said, “you shall hear him.”
23 And the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come (with great pomp) and had entered into the Common Hall with the chief captains and chief men of the city, Paul was brought forth at Festus’ commandment.
24 And Festus said, “King Agrippa, and all men who are present with us, you see this man about whom all the multitude of the Jews have petitioned me (both at Jerusalem and here) crying that he ought not to live any longer.
25 “But, I have found nothing he has done to be worthy of death. And seeing that he has appealed to Augustus, I have decided to send him.
26 “I have no certain thing to write to my lord concerning him. Therefore, I have brought him forth to you, and especially to you, King Agrippa, so that after examination, I might have something to write.
27 “For it seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner and not signify the charges against him.”
26 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” So, Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself.
2 “I consider myself happy, King Agrippa. Because today I shall answer before you all the things of which I am accused by the Jews;
3 “especially because you have knowledge of all customs and questions which are among the Jews. Therefore, I beg you to hear me patiently.
4 “Regarding my life from childhood, all the Jews know that from the beginning it was among my own nation at Jerusalem,
5 “They knew me from the beginning and could testify (if they wished) that according to the straightest sect of our religion, I lived as a Pharisee.
6 “And now I stand accused of hope in the promise made by God to our Fathers;
7 “to which our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God day and night, hope to come. For this hope’s sake, O King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews.
8 “Why should it be thought an incredible thing by you that God should raise the dead again?
9 “Truly, I also thought to myself that I ought to do many things against the Name of Jesus of Nazareth;
10 “which I also did in Jerusalem. For I shut up many of the saints in prison, having received authority from the chief priests. And when they were put to death, I gave sentence.
11 “And I punished them throughout all the synagogues and compelled them to blaspheme. And being extremely enraged against them, I persecuted them, even to strange cities.
12 “At which time, even as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
13 (at midday, O King) I saw on the way a light from Heaven, surpassing the brightness of the Sun. It shined all around me and those who went with me.
14 “So, when we had all fallen to the Earth, I heard a voice speaking to me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? It is hard for you to kick against goads.’
15 “Then I said, ‘Who are You, Lord? And he said, ‘I am Jesus, Whom you persecute.
16 ‘But rise and stand up on your feet. For I have appeared to you for this purpose: to appoint you as a minister and a witness, both of the things which you have seen and of the things in which I will appear to you;
17 ‘I will deliver you from this people, and from the Gentiles to whom now I send you,
18 ‘to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’
19 “So, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.
20 “But I declared first to those of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judea; and then to the Gentiles, so that they would repent and turn to God, and do the works of repentance.
21 “For this reason the Jews arrested me in the Temple and planned to kill me.
22 “Nevertheless, I obtained the help of God, and continue to this day, witnessing to both small and great, saying no other things than those which the Prophets and Moses said would come.
23 “That is, that Christ should suffer. And that He would be the first Who would rise from the dead, and would show light to this people, and to the Gentiles.”
24 And as he answered for himself this way, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul! You are beside yourself! Great learning has made you mad!”
25 But he said, “I am not mad, O noble Festus. Rather, I speak the words of truth and soberness.
26 “For the King knows of these things, before whom I also speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him. For this thing was not done in a corner.
27 “O King Agrippa! Do you believe the Prophets? I know that you believe.”
28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.”
29 Then Paul said, “I pray to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, were both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains!”
30 And when he had said this, the King rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and those who sat with them.
31 And when they had gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, “This man does nothing worthy of death, nor of chains.
32 Then Agrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
27 Now when it was decided that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to a Centurion from the band of Augustus named Julius.
2 And we boarded a ship of Adramyttium, intending to sail along the coasts of Asia, and launched forth, and had Aristarchus of Macedonia (a Thessalonian) with us.
3 And the next day we arrived at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him liberty to go to his friends, so that they might refresh him.
4 And from there we launched, and sailed to the leeward side of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.
5 Then we sailed over the sea, by Cilicia and Pamphilia, and came to Myra, in Lycia.
6 And the Centurion found a ship of Alexandria there, sailing into Italy. And he put us in it.
7 And when we had sailed slowly for many days, and had arrived off Cnidus with difficulty (because the wind did not allow it), we sailed to the leeward side of Crete, near Salmone,
8 And with much difficulty, we sailed beyond it and came to a place called the Fair Havens (near the city, Lasea).
9 So, after much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous (and also because the Fast had now passed), Paul admonished them,
10 saying, “Sirs! I perceive that this voyage will cause injury, and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.”
11 But the Centurion believed the governor and the master of the ship rather than those things which were spoken by Paul.
12 And because the harbor was not suitable to winter in, many advised to depart from there, if by some means they might reach Phoenix to winter, which is a harbor of Crete, looking toward the southwest and northwest.
13 And when the southern wind blew softly, they determined conditions were right, weighed anchor, and sailed close by Crete.
14 But soon thereafter a stormy wind arose, called Euroclydon.
15 And when the ship was caught, and could not resist the wind, we let her go, and were carried away.
16 And we ran under the shelter of a little isle named Clauda, and had much difficulty securing the skiff,
17 which they took up with everyone’s help. And undergirding the ship (fearing they might have fallen into Syrtis), they set sail and so were carried.
18 The next day, when we were tossed with a strong storm, they lightened the ship.
19 And the third day, we cast out the tackling of the ship with our own hands.
20 And then, when neither Sun nor stars appeared for many days (and no small storm was upon us), all hope that we would be saved was taken away.
21 But after a long abstinence from food, Paul stood in the midst of them, and said, “Sirs! You should have listened to me, and not have set sail from Crete, incurring this hurt and loss.
22 “But now, I admonish you to be of good courage! For there among you shall be no loss of anyone’s life, only of the ship.
23 “For the Angel of God (Whose I am, and Whom I serve) stood by me this night,
24 Saying, ‘Fear not, Paul! For you must be brought before Caesar! And lo, all who sail with you God has given to you freely.’
25 “Therefore, sirs, be of good courage! For I believe God, that it shall be as it has been told to me.
26 “However, we must be cast ashore on a certain island.”
27 And when the fourteenth night had come, as we were carried to and fro in the Adriatic (about midnight), the shipmen suspected that some country approached.
28 And they sounded and found it to be twenty fathoms. And when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it to be fifteen fathoms.
29 Then, fearing they would have fallen into some rough places, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day to come.
30 Now as the sailors were about to escape the ship, and had let down the skiff into the sea, under a pretense of casting anchors from the bow,
31 Paul said to the Centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these stay in the ship, you cannot be safe!”
32 Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the skiff, and let it fall away.
33 And as the day dawned, Paul encouraged them all to eat, saying, “This is the fourteenth day that you have expectantly waited, and continued fasting, receiving nothing.
34 “Therefore I encourage you to eat! For this is for your safety. For not a hair shall fall from the head of any of you!”
35 And when he had said this, he took bread (and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all), and broke it, and began to eat.
36 Then they were all encouraged. And they also ate.
37 Now there were altogether two hundred seventy-six souls onboard the ship.
38 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship and cast out the wheat into the sea.
39 And when it was day, they did not recognize the country. But they spied a certain creek with a bank, into which they intended (if possible) to thrust in the ship.
40 So when they had taken up the anchors, they committed to the sea, and released the rudder ropes, and hoisted up the mainsail to the wind, and drew to the shore.
41 And having fallen into a place where two seas met, they thrust in the ship. And the bow stuck fast, and could not be moved. But the stern was broken with the violence of the waves.
42 Then the soldiers planned to kill the prisoners, so that none of them could swim away and escape.
43 But the Centurion (wanting to save Paul) stopped them from carrying out this plan, and commanded that those who could swim should cast themselves into the sea first, and get to land
44 (as well as the others - some on boards, and some on certain pieces of the ship). And so it happened that they all were brought safely to land.
28 And when they had escaped, they learned that the isle was called Malta.
2 And the people of the country showed us no little kindness. For they kindled a fire and welcomed all of us, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.
3 And when Paul had gathered a number of sticks, and laid them on the fire, a viper came out of the heat and fastened on his hand.
4 Now when the locals saw the wild beast hanging on his hand, they said among themselves, “This man is surely a murderer. For though he has escaped the sea, vengeance has still not allowed to live.”
5 But he shook off the beast (into the fire) and felt no harm.
6 Even so, they waited for him to become swollen, or to suddenly fall down dead. But after they had looked for a long while and seen no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.
7 In the same region, the chief man of the isle (whose name was Publius) had an estate. He kindly received and lodged us for three days.
8 And so it was that the father of Publius lay sick from a fever and dysentery. Paul entered in to him. And when he prayed, he laid hands on him, and healed him.
9 Then, when this was done, others on the isle who had diseases also came to him and were healed.
10 They also honored us greatly. And when we departed, they gave us necessary supplies.
11 Now after three months, we departed in a ship of Alexandria, (which had wintered on the isle) whose figurehead was Castor and Pollux.
12 And when we arrived at Syracuse, we stayed three days.
13 And we cast off from there and came to Rhegium. And after one day, a south wind blew. And the next day we came to Puteoli,
14 where we found brothers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so, we went toward Rome.
15 And from there (when the brothers heard about us) they came to meet us at the Market of Appius and the three taverns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God, and took courage.
16 So when we came to Rome, the Centurion delivered the prisoners to the general captain. But Paul was allowed to dwell by himself with a soldier who guarded him.
© 2019, 2024 by Five Talents Audio. All rights reserved.