Acts 28:17-31

New International Version

Paul Preaches at Rome Under Guard

¹⁷Three days later he called together the local Jewish leaders.^(A) When they had assembled, Paul said to them: “My brothers,^(B) although I have done nothing against our people^(C) or against the customs of our ancestors,^(D) I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. ¹⁸They examined me^(E) and wanted to release me,^(F) because I was not guilty of any crime deserving death.^(G) ¹⁹The Jews objected, so I was compelled to make an appeal to Caesar.^(H) I certainly did not intend to bring any charge against my own people. ²⁰For this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you. It is because of the hope of Israel^(I) that I am bound with this chain.”^(J)

²¹They replied, “We have not received any letters from Judea concerning you, and none of our people^(K) who have come from there has reported or said anything bad about you. ²²But we want to hear what your views are, for we know that people everywhere are talking against this sect.”^(L)

²³They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God,^(M) and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets^(N) he tried to persuade them about Jesus.^(O) ²⁴Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe.^(P) ²⁵They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your ancestors when he said^(Q) through Isaiah the prophet:

²⁶“‘Go to this people and say,
“You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
    you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”
²⁷For this people’s heart has become calloused;^(R)
    they hardly hear with their ears,
    and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
    hear with their ears,
    understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’^[a]^(S)

²⁸“Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation^(T) has been sent to the Gentiles,^(U) and they will listen!” ^[29]^[b]

³⁰For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. ³¹He proclaimed the kingdom of God^(V) and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness^(W) and without hindrance!

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Footnotes

Acts 28:27 Isaiah 6:9,10 (see Septuagint)
Acts 28:29 Some manuscripts include here After he said this, the Jews left, arguing vigorously among themselves.

Psalm 30-31

New International Version

Psalm 30^[a]

A psalm. A song. For the dedication of the temple.^[b] Of David.

¹I will exalt^(A) you, Lord,
    for you lifted me out of the depths^(B)
    and did not let my enemies gloat over me.^(C)
²Lord my God, I called to you for help,^(D)
    and you healed me.^(E)
³You, Lord, brought me up from the realm of the dead;^(F)
    you spared me from going down to the pit.^(G)

⁴Sing^(H) the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people;^(I)
    praise his holy name.^(J)
⁵For his anger^(K) lasts only a moment,^(L)
    but his favor lasts a lifetime;^(M)
weeping^(N) may stay for the night,
    but rejoicing comes in the morning.^(O)

⁶When I felt secure, I said,
    “I will never be shaken.”^(P)
⁷Lord, when you favored me,
    you made my royal mountain^[c] stand firm;
but when you hid your face,^(Q)
    I was dismayed.

⁸To you, Lord, I called;
    to the Lord I cried for mercy:
⁹“What is gained if I am silenced,
    if I go down to the pit?^(R)
Will the dust praise you?
    Will it proclaim your faithfulness?^(S)
¹⁰Hear,^(T) Lord, and be merciful to me;^(U)
    Lord, be my help.^(V)”

¹¹You turned my wailing^(W) into dancing;^(X)
you removed my sackcloth^(Y) and clothed me with joy,^(Z)
¹²that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.
Lord my God, I will praise^(AA) you forever.^(AB)

Psalm 31^[d]^(AC)

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

¹In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;^(AD)
    let me never be put to shame;
    deliver me in your righteousness.^(AE)
²Turn your ear to me,^(AF)
    come quickly to my rescue;^(AG)
be my rock of refuge,^(AH)
    a strong fortress to save me.
³Since you are my rock and my fortress,^(AI)
    for the sake of your name^(AJ) lead and guide me.
⁴Keep me free from the trap^(AK) that is set for me,
    for you are my refuge.^(AL)
⁵Into your hands I commit my spirit;^(AM)
    deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.^(AN)

⁶I hate those who cling to worthless idols;^(AO)
    as for me, I trust in the Lord.^(AP)
⁷I will be glad and rejoice in your love,
    for you saw my affliction^(AQ)
    and knew the anguish^(AR) of my soul.
⁸You have not given me into the hands^(AS) of the enemy
    but have set my feet in a spacious place.^(AT)

⁹Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress;^(AU)
    my eyes grow weak with sorrow,^(AV)
    my soul and body^(AW) with grief.
¹⁰My life is consumed by anguish^(AX)
    and my years by groaning;^(AY)
my strength fails^(AZ) because of my affliction,^[e]^(BA)
    and my bones grow weak.^(BB)
¹¹Because of all my enemies,^(BC)
    I am the utter contempt^(BD) of my neighbors^(BE)
and an object of dread to my closest friends—
    those who see me on the street flee from me.
¹²I am forgotten as though I were dead;^(BF)
    I have become like broken pottery.
¹³For I hear many whispering,^(BG)
    “Terror on every side!”^(BH)
They conspire against me^(BI)
    and plot to take my life.^(BJ)

¹⁴But I trust^(BK) in you, Lord;
    I say, “You are my God.”
¹⁵My times^(BL) are in your hands;
    deliver me from the hands of my enemies,
    from those who pursue me.
¹⁶Let your face shine^(BM) on your servant;
    save me in your unfailing love.^(BN)
¹⁷Let me not be put to shame,^(BO) Lord,
    for I have cried out to you;
but let the wicked be put to shame
    and be silent^(BP) in the realm of the dead.
¹⁸Let their lying lips^(BQ) be silenced,
    for with pride and contempt
    they speak arrogantly^(BR) against the righteous.

¹⁹How abundant are the good things^(BS)
    that you have stored up for those who fear you,
that you bestow in the sight of all,^(BT)
    on those who take refuge^(BU) in you.
²⁰In the shelter^(BV) of your presence you hide^(BW) them
    from all human intrigues;^(BX)
you keep them safe in your dwelling
    from accusing tongues.

²¹Praise be to the Lord,^(BY)
    for he showed me the wonders of his love^(BZ)
    when I was in a city under siege.^(CA)
²²In my alarm^(CB) I said,
    “I am cut off^(CC) from your sight!”
Yet you heard my cry^(CD) for mercy
    when I called to you for help.

²³Love the Lord, all his faithful people!^(CE)
    The Lord preserves those who are true to him,^(CF)
    but the proud he pays back^(CG) in full.
²⁴Be strong and take heart,^(CH)
    all you who hope in the Lord.