Paul in Corinth

18 After these events Paul left ^(A)Athens and went to ^(B)Corinth. ² And he found a Jew named ^(C)Aquila, a native of ^(D)Pontus having recently come from ^(E)Italy with his wife ^(F)Priscilla, because ^(G)Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. He came to them,

²⁰ but that we write to them that they abstain from ^[a](A)things contaminated by idols, from ^(B)acts of sexual immorality, from ^(C)what has been ^[b]strangled, and from blood. ²¹ For ^(D)from ancient generations Moses has those who preach him in every city, since ^[c]he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

²² Then it seemed good to ^(E)the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them to send to ^(F)Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas who was called Barsabbas, and ^(G)Silas, leading men among ^(H)the brothers, ²³ and they ^[d]sent this letter with them:

¹⁵ But the Lord said to him, “Go, for ^(A)he is a chosen ^[a]instrument of Mine, to bear My name before ^(B)the Gentiles and ^(C)kings and the sons of Israel;

¹⁰ As we were staying there for some days, a prophet named ^(A)Agabus came down from Judea. ¹¹ And he came to us and ^(B)took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, “This ^(C)is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews in Jerusalem will ^(D)bind the man who owns this belt and ^(E)hand him over to the Gentiles.’” ¹² When we had heard this, we as well as the local residents began begging him ^(F)not to go up to Jerusalem. ¹³ Then Paul replied, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For ^(G)I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die in Jerusalem for ^(H)the name of the Lord Jesus.”

⁷ After Paul arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing ^(A)many, and serious, charges against him ^(B)which they could not prove, ⁸ while Paul said in his own defense, “^(C)I have not done anything wrong either against the Law of the Jews, or against the temple, or against Caesar.” ⁹ But Festus, ^(D)wanting to do the Jews a favor, replied to Paul and said, “^(E)Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and ^[a]stand trial before me on these charges?” ¹⁰ But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s ^(F)tribunal, where I ought to be tried. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, as you also very well know. ¹¹ If, therefore, I am in the wrong and have committed something deserving death, I am not trying to avoid execution; but if there is nothing to the accusations which these men are bringing against me, no one can hand me over to them. I ^(G)appeal to Caesar.” ¹² Then when Festus had conferred with ^[b]his council, he answered, “You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you shall go.”

³⁰ Now Paul stayed two full years ^[a]in his own rented lodging and welcomed all who came to him, ^31 [b](A)preaching the kingdom of God and teaching things about the Lord Jesus Christ ^(B)with all openness, unhindered.