Acts 28:21-31

New International Version

²¹They replied, “We have not received any letters from Judea concerning you, and none of our people^(A) 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.”^(B)

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,^(C) and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets^(D) he tried to persuade them about Jesus.^(E) ²⁴Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe.^(F) 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^(G) 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;^(H)
    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]^(I)

²⁸“Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation^(J) has been sent to the Gentiles,^(K) 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^(L) and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness^(M) 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 83-84

New International Version

Psalm 83^[a]

A song. A psalm of Asaph.

¹O God, do not remain silent;^(A)
    do not turn a deaf ear,
    do not stand aloof, O God.
²See how your enemies growl,^(B)
    how your foes rear their heads.^(C)
³With cunning they conspire^(D) against your people;
    they plot against those you cherish.^(E)
⁴“Come,” they say, “let us destroy^(F) them as a nation,^(G)
    so that Israel’s name is remembered^(H) no more.”

⁵With one mind they plot together;^(I)
    they form an alliance against you—
⁶the tents of Edom^(J) and the Ishmaelites,
    of Moab^(K) and the Hagrites,^(L)
⁷Byblos,^(M) Ammon^(N) and Amalek,^(O)
    Philistia,^(P) with the people of Tyre.^(Q)
⁸Even Assyria^(R) has joined them
    to reinforce Lot’s descendants.^[b]^(S)

⁹Do to them as you did to Midian,^(T)
    as you did to Sisera^(U) and Jabin^(V) at the river Kishon,^(W)
¹⁰who perished at Endor^(X)
    and became like dung^(Y) on the ground.
¹¹Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb,^(Z)
    all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,^(AA)
¹²who said, “Let us take possession^(AB)
    of the pasturelands of God.”

¹³Make them like tumbleweed, my God,
    like chaff^(AC) before the wind.
¹⁴As fire consumes the forest
    or a flame sets the mountains ablaze,^(AD)
¹⁵so pursue them with your tempest^(AE)
    and terrify them with your storm.^(AF)
¹⁶Cover their faces with shame,^(AG) Lord,
    so that they will seek your name.

¹⁷May they ever be ashamed and dismayed;^(AH)
may they perish in disgrace.^(AI)
¹⁸Let them know that you, whose name is the Lord^(AJ)—
that you alone are the Most High^(AK) over all the earth.^(AL)

Psalm 84^[c]

For the director of music. According to gittith.^[d] Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

¹How lovely is your dwelling place,^(AM)
    Lord Almighty!
²My soul yearns,^(AN) even faints,
    for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
    for the living God.^(AO)
³Even the sparrow has found a home,
    and the swallow a nest for herself,
    where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,^(AP)
    Lord Almighty,^(AQ) my King^(AR) and my God.^(AS)
⁴Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
    they are ever praising you.^[e]

⁵Blessed are those whose strength^(AT) is in you,
    whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.^(AU)
⁶As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
    they make it a place of springs;^(AV)
    the autumn^(AW) rains also cover it with pools.^[f]
⁷They go from strength to strength,^(AX)
    till each appears^(AY) before God in Zion.^(AZ)

⁸Hear my prayer,^(BA) Lord God Almighty;
listen to me, God of Jacob.
⁹Look on our shield,^[g]^(BB) O God;
look with favor on your anointed one.^(BC)

¹⁰Better is one day in your courts
    than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper^(BD) in the house of my God
    than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
¹¹For the Lord God is a sun^(BE) and shield;^(BF)
    the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold^(BG)
    from those whose walk is blameless.

¹²Lord Almighty,
blessed^(BH) is the one who trusts in you.

Footnotes

Psalm 83:1 In Hebrew texts 83:1-18 is numbered 83:2-19.
Psalm 83:8 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
Psalm 84:1 In Hebrew texts 84:1-12 is numbered 84:2-13.
Psalm 84:1 Title: Probably a musical term
Psalm 84:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 8.
Psalm 84:6 Or blessings
Psalm 84:9 Or sovereign