¹⁷ Three days after [our arrival], he called together the leading local Jews; and when they had gathered, he said to them, Brethren, though I have done nothing against the people or against the customs of our forefathers, yet I was turned over as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.

¹⁸ After they had examined me, they were ready to release me because I was innocent of any offense deserving the death penalty.

¹⁹ But when the Jews protested, I was forced to appeal to Caesar, though it was not because I had any charge to make against my nation.

²⁰ This is the reason therefore why I have begged to see you and to talk with you, since it is because of the Hope of Israel (the Messiah) that I am bound with this chain.

²¹ And they answered him, We have not received any letters about you from Judea, and none of the [Jewish] brethren coming here has reported or spoken anything evil about you.

²² But we think it fitting and are eager to hear from you what it is that you have in mind and believe and what your opinion is, for with regard to this sect it is known to all of us that it is everywhere denounced.

²³ So when they had set a day with him, they came in large numbers to his lodging. And he fully set forth and explained the matter to them from morning until night, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.

²⁴ And some were convinced and believed what he said, and others did not believe.

²⁵ And as they disagreed among themselves, they began to leave, [but not before] Paul had added one statement [more]: The Holy Spirit was right in saying through Isaiah the prophet to your forefathers:

²⁶ Go to this people and say to them, You will indeed hear and hear with your ears but will not understand, and you will indeed look and look with your eyes but will not see [not perceive, have knowledge of or become acquainted with what you look at, at all].

²⁷ For the heart (the understanding, the soul) of this people has grown dull (stupid, hardened, and calloused), and their ears are heavy and hard of hearing and they have shut tight their eyes, so that they may not perceive and have knowledge and become acquainted with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their souls and turn [to Me and be converted], that I may heal them.^(A)

²⁸ So let it be understood by you then that [this message of] the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen [to it]!^(B)

^29 [a]And when he had said these things, the Jews went away, arguing and disputing among themselves.

³⁰ After this Paul lived there for two entire years [at his own expense] in his own rented lodging, and he welcomed all who came to him,

³¹ Preaching to them the kingdom of God and teaching them about the Lord Jesus Christ with boldness and quite openly, and without being molested or hindered.

Psalm 30

A Psalm; a Song at the Dedication of the Temple. [A Psalm] of David.

¹ I will extol You, O Lord, for You have lifted me up and have not let my foes rejoice over me.

² O Lord my God, I cried to You and You have healed me.

³ O Lord, You have brought my life up from Sheol (the place of the dead); You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit (the grave).

⁴ Sing to the Lord, O you saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.

⁵ For His anger is but for a moment, but His favor is for a lifetime or in His favor is life. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.^(A)

⁶ As for me, in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved.

⁷ By Your favor, O Lord, You have established me as a strong mountain; You hid Your face, and I was troubled.

⁸ I cried to You, O Lord, and to the Lord I made supplication.

⁹ What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit (the grave)? Will the dust praise You? Will it declare Your truth and faithfulness to men?

¹⁰ Hear, O Lord, have mercy and be gracious to me! O Lord, be my helper!

¹¹ You have turned my mourning into dancing for me; You have put off my sackcloth and girded me with gladness,

¹² To the end that my tongue and my heart and everything glorious within me may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.

Psalm 31

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

¹ In You, O Lord, do I put my trust and seek refuge; let me never be put to shame or [have my hope in You] disappointed; deliver me in Your righteousness!

² Bow down Your ear to me, deliver me speedily! Be my Rock of refuge, a strong Fortress to save me!

³ Yes, You are my Rock and my Fortress; therefore for Your name’s sake lead me and guide me.

⁴ Draw me out of the net that they have laid secretly for me, for You are my Strength and my Stronghold.

⁵ Into Your hands I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Lord, the God of truth and faithfulness.^(B)

⁶ [You and] I abhor those who pay regard to vain idols; but I trust in, rely on, and confidently lean on the Lord.

⁷ I will be glad and rejoice in Your mercy and steadfast love, because You have seen my affliction, You have taken note of my life’s distresses,

⁸ And You have not given me into the hand of the enemy; You have set my feet in a broad place.

⁹ Have mercy and be gracious unto me, O Lord, for I am in trouble; with grief my eye is weakened, also my inner self and my body.

¹⁰ For my life is spent with sorrow and my years with sighing; my strength has failed because of my iniquity, and even my bones have wasted away.

¹¹ To all my enemies I have become a reproach, but especially to my neighbors, and a dread to my acquaintances, who flee from me on the street.

¹² I am forgotten like a dead man, and out of mind; like a broken vessel am I.

¹³ For I have heard the slander of many; terror is on every side! While they schemed together against me, they plotted to take my life.

¹⁴ But I trusted in, relied on, and was confident in You, O Lord; I said, You are my God.

¹⁵ My times are in Your hands; deliver me from the hands of my foes and those who pursue me and persecute me.

¹⁶ Let Your face shine on Your servant; save me for Your mercy’s sake and in Your loving-kindness.

¹⁷ Let me not be put to shame, O Lord, or disappointed, for I am calling upon You; let the wicked be put to shame, let them be silent in Sheol (the place of the dead).

¹⁸ Let the lying lips be silenced, which speak insolently against the [consistently] righteous with pride and contempt.

¹⁹ Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear, revere, and worship You, goodness which You have wrought for those who trust and take refuge in You before the sons of men!

²⁰ In the secret place of Your presence You hide them from the plots of men; You keep them secretly in Your pavilion from the strife of tongues.

²¹ Blessed be the Lord! For He has shown me His marvelous loving favor when I was beset as in a besieged city.

²² As for me, I said in my haste and alarm, I am cut off from before Your eyes. But You heard the voice of my supplications when I cried to You for aid.

²³ O love the Lord, all you His saints! The Lord preserves the faithful, and plentifully pays back him who deals haughtily.

²⁴ Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for and hope for and expect the Lord!