²² But we desire to hear from you what your views are, for with regard to this ^(A)sect we know that everywhere ^(B)it is spoken against.”

^12 (A)Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, ^(B)they may see your good deeds and glorify God on ^(C)the day of visitation.

^16 (A)having a good conscience, so that, ^(B)when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

¹⁴ But this I confess to you, that according to ^(A)the Way, which they call ^(B)a sect, ^(C)I worship ^(D)the God of our fathers, believing everything ^(E)laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets,

^14 (A)If you are insulted ^(B)for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory^[a] and of God rests upon you. ¹⁵ But ^(C)let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or ^(D)as a meddler. ¹⁶ Yet ^(E)if anyone suffers as a ^(F)Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God ^(G)in that name.

⁵ For we have found this man a plague, ^(A)one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of ^(B)the sect of the Nazarenes. ^6 (C)He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him.^[a]

⁶ And when they could not find them, ^(A)they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, ⁷ and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against ^(B)the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is ^(C)another king, Jesus.”

²⁰ And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. ²¹ They ^(A)advocate customs that are not lawful for us ^(B)as Romans to accept or practice.”

³⁴ And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed ^(A)for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign ^(B)that is opposed