Book of Common Prayer

¹³ Some time after that, king Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to greet Festus.

¹⁴ They stayed for many days. Festus brought Paul's matter to the king. He said, `Felix left a man in prison here.

¹⁵ When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priest and leaders of the Jews came to me. They talked against him, and they asked me to punish him.

¹⁶ I told them that the Romans do not do it that way. They do not punish a man until he has met those who talk against him. Then he has a chance to speak for himself.

¹⁷ So they came here with me. I did not wait. The very next day I sat on my chair in the court and had the man brought in.

¹⁸ When they stood up, they did not say the wrong things against him that I thought they would.

¹⁹ But instead, they had a quarrel with him about the things they believe in. The quarrel is about a man named Jesus who died. Paul said he is alive.

²⁰ I did not know how to judge such things. So I asked if he would go to Jerusalem and be judged there about these matters.

²¹ But Paul asked to wait and let Caesar judge his case. So I had him put in prison to be kept there until I can send him to Caesar.'

²² Agrippa said to Festus, `I should like to hear the man myself.' Festus said, `Tomorrow you shall hear him.'

²³ So the next day Agrippa and Bernice came, making a big show of themselves. They went into the room to hear Paul talk. Officers and the leading men of the city also went in. When Festus called for Paul, he was brought in.

²⁴ Then Festus said, `King Agrippa and all you men here with us, you see this man. All the Jewish leaders, both in Jerusalem and here, came together and talked about him. They shouted, "He must die!"

²⁵ But I found out that he had not done anything wrong for which he should die. He himself asked to go to Caesar, so I decided to send him.

²⁶ But I have no real complaint about him to write to my ruler. So I have brought this man before you all, and most of all before you, king Agrippa. When you have heard him, I hope I will have something to write about him.

²⁷ I think that it does not make sense to send a prisoner and not say what wrong he has done.'

13 When Jesus was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said, `Look Master, see those big stones and the wonderful houses!'

² Jesus said, `You see these big houses? I tell you, not one stone here will be left on top of another. They will all be thrown down! `

³ Afterwards, he was sitting on the hill called the Mount of Olives, near the temple. Peter, James, John, and Andrew came to him alone.

⁴ They said, `Tell us, when will this happen? What will be the sign when these things are going to be done?'

⁵ Then Jesus began to talk to them. He said, `Take care. Do not let anyone fool you.

⁶ Many men will come in my name. They will say, "I am Christ." They will fool many people.

⁷ You will hear about wars. You will hear that war is coming. But do not fear. These things must happen, but that is not yet the end.

⁸ One tribe will fight against another tribe. And one country will fight against another country. The earth will shake in many different places. People will have no food to eat. These troubles are only the beginning of the troubles that will come.

⁹ `But you must take care. Men will take you to court. They will beat you in their meeting houses. They will take you to rulers and kings because you are true to me. You will talk to them about me.

¹⁰ The good news must first be told to all people.

¹¹ When men take you to court, do not be troubled about what you will say. Say whatever comes to your mind at that time. It is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit.

¹² A brother will take his brother to be killed. A father will take his child. The children will talk against their father and mother and have them killed.

¹³ All people will hate you because you are true to me. But the person who keeps on being true to me until the end will be saved.