Baruch 3:1-8
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
3 “O Lord Almighty, God of Israel, the soul in anguish and the wearied spirit cry out to you. 2 Hear, O Lord, and have mercy, for we have sinned before you. 3 For you are enthroned forever, and we are perishing forever.(A) 4 O Lord Almighty, God of Israel, hear now the prayer of those of Israel who have died and of the children of those who sinned before you, who did not heed the voice of the Lord their God, so that calamities have clung to us.(B) 5 Do not remember the iniquities of our ancestors, but in this crisis remember your power and your name. 6 For you are the Lord our God, and it is you, O Lord, whom we will praise. 7 For you have put the fear of you in our hearts so that we would call upon your name, and we will praise you in our exile, for we have put away from our hearts all the iniquity of our ancestors who sinned against you.(C) 8 See, we are today in our exile where you have scattered us, to be reproached and cursed and punished for all the iniquities of our ancestors, who forsook the Lord our God.”(D)
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Acts 24:1-23
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Paul before Felix at Caesarea
24 Five days later the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and an attorney, a certain Tertullus, and they reported their case against Paul to the governor.(A) 2 When Paul[a] had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying:
“Because of you, most excellent Felix, we have long enjoyed peace, and reforms have been made for this people because of your foresight. 3 In every way and everywhere we welcome this with utmost gratitude.(B) 4 But, to detain you no further, I beg you to hear us briefly with your customary graciousness. 5 We have, in fact, found this man a pestilent fellow, an agitator among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.[b](C) 6 He even tried to profane the temple, so we seized him.[c](D) 8 By examining him yourself you will be able to learn from him concerning everything of which we accuse him.”
9 The Jews also joined in the charge by asserting that all this was true.(E)
Paul’s Defense before Felix
10 When the governor motioned to him to speak, Paul replied:
“I cheerfully make my defense, knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this people.(F) 11 As you can find out, it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem.(G) 12 They did not find me disputing with anyone in the temple or stirring up a crowd either in the synagogues or throughout the city.(H) 13 Neither can they prove to you the charge that they now bring against me.(I) 14 But this I admit to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our ancestors, believing everything laid down according to the law or written in the prophets.(J) 15 I have a hope in God—a hope that they themselves also accept—that there will be a resurrection of both[d] the righteous and the unrighteous.(K) 16 Therefore I do my best always to have a clear conscience toward God and all people.(L) 17 Now after some years I came to bring alms to my people and to offer sacrifices.(M) 18 While I was doing this, they found me in the temple completing the rite of purification, without any crowd or disturbance.(N) 19 But there were some Jews from Asia—they ought to be here before you to make an accusation, if they have anything against me.(O) 20 Or let these men here tell what crime they had found when I stood before the council, 21 unless it was this one sentence that I called out while standing before them, ‘It is about the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.’ ”(P)
22 But Felix, who was rather well informed about the Way, adjourned the hearing with the comment, “When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case.” 23 Then he ordered the centurion to keep him in custody but to let him have some liberty and not to prevent any of his friends from taking care of his needs.(Q)
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 24.2 Gk he
- 24.5 Gk Nazoreans
- 24.6 Other ancient authorities add and we would have judged him according to our law.
But the chief captain Lysias came and with great violence took him out of our hands, commanding his accusers to come before you. - 24.15 Other ancient authorities read of the dead, both of
Baruch 3:9-38
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
In Praise of Wisdom
9 Hear, O Israel, the commandments of life;
give ear and learn wisdom!
10 Why is it, O Israel, why is it that you are in the land of your enemies,
that you are growing old in a foreign land,
11 that you are defiled with the dead,
that you are counted among those in Hades?(A)
12 You have forsaken the fountain of wisdom.(B)
13 If you had walked in the way of God,
you would be living in peace forever.(C)
14 Learn where there is wisdom,
where there is strength,
where there is understanding,
so that you may at the same time discern
where there is length of days and life,
where there is light for the eyes and peace.(D)
15 Who has found her place,
and who has entered her storehouses?(E)
16 Where are the rulers of the nations
and those who lorded it over the animals on earth;(F)
17 those who made sport of the birds of the air
and who hoarded up silver and gold
in which people trust,
and there is no end to their getting;(G)
18 those who schemed to get silver and were anxious,
but there is no trace of their works?
19 They have vanished and gone down to Hades,
and others have arisen in their place.(H)
20 Younger people have seen the light of day
and have lived upon the earth,
but they have not learned the way to knowledge,
nor understood her paths,
nor laid hold of her.(I)
21 Their descendants have strayed far from their[a] way.
22 She has not been heard of in Canaan
or seen in Teman;(J)
23 the descendants of Hagar, who seek for understanding on the earth,
the merchants of Merran and Teman,
the storytellers and the seekers for understanding,
have not learned the way to wisdom
or given thought to her paths.(K)
24 O Israel, how great is the house of God,
how vast the territory that he possesses!
25 It is great and has no bounds;
it is high and immeasurable.
26 The giants were born there, who were famous of old,
great in stature, expert in war.(L)
27 God did not choose them
or give them the way to knowledge,(M)
28 so they perished because they had no wisdom;
they perished through their folly.
29 Who has gone up into heaven and taken her
and brought her down from the clouds?(N)
30 Who has gone over the sea and found her
and will buy her for pure gold?(O)
31 No one knows the way to her
or is concerned about the path to her.
32 But the one who knows all things knows her;
he found her by his understanding.
The one who prepared the earth for all time
filled it with four-footed creatures;(P)
33 the one who sends forth the light and it goes,
he called it, and it obeyed him, trembling;
34 the stars shone in their watches and were glad;
35 he called them, and they said, “Here we are!”
They shone with gladness for him who made them.(Q)
36 This is our God;
no other can be compared to him.
37 He found the whole way to knowledge
and gave her to his servant Jacob
and to Israel, whom he loved.(R)
38 Afterward she appeared on earth
and lived with humankind.(S)
Footnotes
- 3.21 Gk: Syr her
Acts 24:1-25:12
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Paul before Felix at Caesarea
24 Five days later the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and an attorney, a certain Tertullus, and they reported their case against Paul to the governor.(A) 2 When Paul[a] had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying:
“Because of you, most excellent Felix, we have long enjoyed peace, and reforms have been made for this people because of your foresight. 3 In every way and everywhere we welcome this with utmost gratitude.(B) 4 But, to detain you no further, I beg you to hear us briefly with your customary graciousness. 5 We have, in fact, found this man a pestilent fellow, an agitator among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.[b](C) 6 He even tried to profane the temple, so we seized him.[c](D) 8 By examining him yourself you will be able to learn from him concerning everything of which we accuse him.”
9 The Jews also joined in the charge by asserting that all this was true.(E)
Paul’s Defense before Felix
10 When the governor motioned to him to speak, Paul replied:
“I cheerfully make my defense, knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this people.(F) 11 As you can find out, it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem.(G) 12 They did not find me disputing with anyone in the temple or stirring up a crowd either in the synagogues or throughout the city.(H) 13 Neither can they prove to you the charge that they now bring against me.(I) 14 But this I admit to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our ancestors, believing everything laid down according to the law or written in the prophets.(J) 15 I have a hope in God—a hope that they themselves also accept—that there will be a resurrection of both[d] the righteous and the unrighteous.(K) 16 Therefore I do my best always to have a clear conscience toward God and all people.(L) 17 Now after some years I came to bring alms to my people and to offer sacrifices.(M) 18 While I was doing this, they found me in the temple completing the rite of purification, without any crowd or disturbance.(N) 19 But there were some Jews from Asia—they ought to be here before you to make an accusation, if they have anything against me.(O) 20 Or let these men here tell what crime they had found when I stood before the council, 21 unless it was this one sentence that I called out while standing before them, ‘It is about the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.’ ”(P)
22 But Felix, who was rather well informed about the Way, adjourned the hearing with the comment, “When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case.” 23 Then he ordered the centurion to keep him in custody but to let him have some liberty and not to prevent any of his friends from taking care of his needs.(Q)
Paul Held in Custody
24 Some days later when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him speak concerning faith in Christ Jesus. 25 And as he discussed justice, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for the present; when I have an opportunity, I will send for you.”(R) 26 At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul, and for that reason he used to send for him very often and converse with him.
27 After two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and since he wanted to grant the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.(S)
Paul Appeals to the Emperor
25 Three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem, 2 where the chief priests and the leaders of the Jews gave him a report against Paul. They appealed to him(T) 3 and requested, as a favor to them against Paul,[e] to have him transferred to Jerusalem. They were, in fact, planning an ambush to kill him along the way.(U) 4 Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea and that he himself intended to go there shortly.(V) 5 “So,” he said, “let those of you who have the authority come down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them accuse him.”
6 After he had stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea; the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought. 7 When he arrived, the Jews who had gone down from Jerusalem surrounded him, bringing many serious charges against him, which they could not prove.(W) 8 Paul said in his defense, “I have in no way committed an offense against the law of the Jews or against the temple or against the emperor.”(X) 9 But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, asked Paul, “Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and be tried there before me on these charges?”(Y) 10 Paul said, “I am standing before the emperor’s tribunal; this is where I should be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you very well know. 11 Now if I am in the wrong and have committed something for which I deserve to die, I am not trying to escape death, but if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can turn me over to them. I appeal to the emperor.”(Z) 12 Then Festus, after he had conferred with his council, replied, “You have appealed to the emperor; to the emperor you will go.”
Footnotes
- 24.2 Gk he
- 24.5 Gk Nazoreans
- 24.6 Other ancient authorities add and we would have judged him according to our law.
But the chief captain Lysias came and with great violence took him out of our hands, commanding his accusers to come before you. - 24.15 Other ancient authorities read of the dead, both of
- 25.3 Gk him
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.