The Crowd’s Response

And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.

who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: ‘Why did the nations rage, And the people plot vain things?

‘And the nation to whom they will be in bondage I will judge,’ said God, ‘and after that they shall come out and serve Me in this place.’

And they said, “Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you.”

Then he said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.

And when He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He distributed their land to them by allotment.

who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways.

And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,

And when he was called upon, Tertullus began his accusation, saying: “Seeing that through you we enjoy great peace, and prosperity is being brought to this nation by your foresight,

The Defense Before Felix

Then Paul, after the governor had nodded to him to speak, answered: “Inasmuch as I know that you have been for many years a judge of this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself,

“Now after many years I came to bring alms and offerings to my nation,

“My manner of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know.

But when the Jews spoke against it, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not that I had anything of which to accuse my nation.