³ First of all you must understand this, that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and indulging their own lusts^(A)

False Asceticism

4 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later^[a] times some will renounce^[b] the faith by paying attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,^{(A) 2} through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared with a hot iron. ³ They forbid marriage and abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.^(B)

¹⁶ But get up and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you to serve and testify to the things in which you have seen me^[a] and to those in which I will appear to you.^{(A) 17} I will rescue you from your people and from the gentiles—to whom I am sending you^{(B) 18} to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’^(C)

Paul Tells of His Preaching

¹⁹ “After that, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision ²⁰ but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout the countryside of Judea, and also to the gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God and do deeds consistent with repentance.^(D)

²⁶ Therefore I declare to you this day that I am not responsible for the blood of any of you,^{(A) 27} for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God.^(B)

²¹ as I testified to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus.^[a](A)