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You know how badly we had been treated at Philippi just before we came to you and how much we suffered there. Yet our God gave us the courage to declare his Good News to you boldly, in spite of great opposition.

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We had previously suffered(A) and been treated outrageously in Philippi,(B) as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition.(C)

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22 A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. 23 They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. 24 So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks.

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22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods.(A) 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer(B) was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.(C)

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13 The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.

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13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John(A) and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men,(B) they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.(C)

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12 That is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him[a] until the day of his return.

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Footnotes

  1. 1:12 Or what has been entrusted to me.

12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame,(A) because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard(B) what I have entrusted to him until that day.(C)

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As was Paul’s custom, he went to the synagogue service, and for three Sabbaths in a row he used the Scriptures to reason with the people. He explained the prophecies and proved that the Messiah must suffer and rise from the dead. He said, “This Jesus I’m telling you about is the Messiah.” Some of the Jews who listened were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with many God-fearing Greek men and quite a few prominent women.[a]

But some of the Jews were jealous, so they gathered some troublemakers from the marketplace to form a mob and start a riot. They attacked the home of Jason, searching for Paul and Silas so they could drag them out to the crowd.[b] Not finding them there, they dragged out Jason and some of the other believers[c] instead and took them before the city council. “Paul and Silas have caused trouble all over the world,” they shouted, “and now they are here disturbing our city, too. And Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all guilty of treason against Caesar, for they profess allegiance to another king, named Jesus.”

The people of the city, as well as the city council, were thrown into turmoil by these reports. So the officials forced Jason and the other believers to post bond, and then they released them.

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Footnotes

  1. 17:4 Some manuscripts read quite a few of the wives of the leading men.
  2. 17:5 Or the city council.
  3. 17:6 Greek brothers; also in 17:10, 14.

As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue,(A) and on three Sabbath(B) days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,(C) explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer(D) and rise from the dead.(E) “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,”(F) he said. Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas,(G) as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women.

But other Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city.(H) They rushed to Jason’s(I) house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd.[a] But when they did not find them, they dragged(J) Jason and some other believers(K) before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have caused trouble all over the world(L) have now come here,(M) and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.”(N) When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. Then they made Jason(O) and the others post bond and let them go.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 17:5 Or the assembly of the people

14 or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right.

15 It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. 16 For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil.

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14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong(A) and to commend those who do right.(B) 15 For it is God’s will(C) that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.(D) 16 Live as free people,(E) but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil;(F) live as God’s slaves.(G)

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We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.[a] Because of the joy[b] awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people;[c] then you won’t become weary and give up.

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Footnotes

  1. 12:2a Or Jesus, the originator and perfecter of our faith.
  2. 12:2b Or Instead of the joy.
  3. 12:3 Some manuscripts read Think of how people hurt themselves by opposing him.

fixing our eyes on Jesus,(A) the pioneer(B) and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross,(C) scorning its shame,(D) and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.(E) Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary(F) and lose heart.

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37 But Paul replied, “They have publicly beaten us without a trial and put us in prison—and we are Roman citizens. So now they want us to leave secretly? Certainly not! Let them come themselves to release us!”

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37 But Paul said to the officers: “They beat us publicly without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens,(A) and threw us into prison. And now do they want to get rid of us quietly? No! Let them come themselves and escort us out.”

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36 Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. 37 Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half,[a] and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated.

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Footnotes

  1. 11:37 Some manuscripts add some were tested.

36 Some faced jeers and flogging,(A) and even chains and imprisonment.(B) 37 They were put to death by stoning;[a](C) they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword.(D) They went about in sheepskins and goatskins,(E) destitute, persecuted and mistreated—

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 11:37 Some early manuscripts stoning; they were put to the test;

For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance[a] that what we said was true. And you know of our concern for you from the way we lived when we were with you.

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Footnotes

  1. 1:5 Or with the power of the Holy Spirit, so you can have full assurance.

because our gospel(A) came to you not simply with words but also with power,(B) with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know(C) how we lived among you for your sake.

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I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church at Laodicea, and for many other believers who have never met me personally.

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I want you to know how hard I am contending(A) for you and for those at Laodicea,(B) and for all who have not met me personally.

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Live as Citizens of Heaven

27 Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News. 28 Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. 29 For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. 30 We are in this struggle together. You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it.

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Life Worthy of the Gospel

27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy(A) of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm(B) in the one Spirit,[a] striving together(C) as one for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you(D) on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer(E) for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle(F) you saw(G) I had, and now hear(H) that I still have.

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Footnotes

  1. Philippians 1:27 Or in one spirit

19 And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike.[a] 20 I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.

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Footnotes

  1. 6:19 Greek explain the mystery of the Good News; some manuscripts read simply explain the mystery.

19 Pray also for me,(A) that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly(B) make known the mystery(C) of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador(D) in chains.(E) Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

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