Book of Common Prayer

¹⁷ After three days, Paul called for the leaders of the Jews at Rome. When they had come, he said to them, `My brothers, I have done nothing against our people. I have obeyed the laws of our fathers. And yet I was made a prisoner at Jerusalem and was given over to the Romans.

¹⁸ When the Romans judged my case in court, they wanted to let me go free. They said there was no reason to kill me.

¹⁹ But the Jewish leaders did not agree to let me go free, so I had to ask to be brought before Caesar. I did not have anything to say against my people.

²⁰ Now, here is why I have asked to see you and to talk to you. I am a prisoner tied with chains because I believe the same promise the Jews believe.'

²¹ They said to him, `The people of Judea have not written us any letter about you. When our brother Jews have come here, not one of them has told or said anything wrong about you.

²² But we want to hear from you what you think. We know that people everywhere are talking against this Christian group.'

²³ So they chose a certain day. On that day many of them came to the house where Paul was staying. He told them about God's kingdom. He tried to make them understand about Jesus by the things that were written in the law of Moses and in the books of the prophets. He talked from morning until evening.

²⁴ Some of the people were ready to believe what he said, but others did not believe.

²⁵ They did not agree among themselves. So they started to go away. But before they left, Paul said one more thing. `What the Holy Spirit said was right. He spoke to your fathers long ago through Isaiah, the prophet of God.

²⁶ He said, "Go to these people and say, `You will hear but never understand. You will look but never see.

²⁷ The hearts of these people have become hard. They do not hear with their ears. They have shut their eyes. They do not want to see with their eyes. They do not want to hear with their ears. They do not want to understand with their hearts. If they did, they would turn back to me and I would forgive them.' " '

²⁸ Paul said, `Therefore know this. The message that God will save them has been sent to those who were not Jews. They will listen to it.'

²⁹ When Paul had said these words, the Jewish leaders went away. They were talking amongst themselves about these things.

³⁰ Paul stayed in Rome for two whole years in a house he paid money to live in. He was glad to see all who came to him.

³¹ He told them about God's kingdom and taught them about the Lord Jesus Christ. He did this freely without fear. No one stopped him.

⁴³ While he was saying this, Judas came. He was one of the twelve disciples. Many people came with him. They had long knives or swords and big sticks. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders had sent them.

⁴⁴ The man who was going to help them catch Jesus had told them that he would give them a sign. He said, `The man that I kiss is the one. Catch him and take him away safely.'

⁴⁵ So when he came, he went to Jesus right away. He said, `Master!' And he kissed him.

⁴⁶ Then they caught Jesus and held him.

⁴⁷ One of the men standing by took his sword. He cut off the ear of the high priest's servant.

⁴⁸ Jesus said, `Have you come to take me with knives and sticks the way you would take a man who steals?

⁴⁹ Every day I was with you in the temple and taught. You did not catch me then. But what the holy writings say will come true.'

⁵⁰ Then all of the disciples left Jesus and ran away.

⁵¹ A young man went with Jesus. He had a piece of cloth about him. The people caught him.

⁵² But he left the cloth behind and ran away without any clothes on.