Book of Common Prayer
17 After three days, Paul called together the leading men of the Jews. When they arrived, he began to speak.
“My brothers,” he said, “I have done nothing against our people or our ancestral customs. Yet I was made a prisoner in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. 18 The Romans put me on trial and wanted to let me go, because they couldn’t find me guilty of any capital crime. 19 But the Judaeans opposed this, and forced me to appeal to Caesar. This had nothing to do with my bringing any charges against my nation! 20 So that’s why I have asked to see you and talk with you. It is because of the hope of Israel, you see, that I am wearing this chain.”
21 “For our part,” they responded, “we haven’t received any letters about you from Judaea. Nor has anyone of our nation come here to tell us anything, or to say anything bad about you. 22 We want to hear from your own lips what you have in mind. However, as for this new sect, the one thing we know is that people everywhere are speaking out against it.”
The end is where we start from
23 So they fixed a day and came in large numbers to Paul’s lodgings. He spoke to them and gave his testimony about the kingdom of God. From morning to night, he explained to them the things about Jesus, from the law of Moses and the prophets.
24 Some were persuaded by what he said, and others did not believe. 25 They disagreed among themselves. So, as they were getting ready to leave, Paul said one last thing.
“The holy spirit,” he said, “spoke truly through the prophet Isaiah to your ancestors, 26 when he said,
Go to this people and say to them:
Listen and listen, but never hear;
look and look, but never see!
27 For this people’s heart has grown dull,
and their ears are dim with hearing,
and they have closed their eyes—
so that they might not see with their eyes,
and hear with their ears,
and understand with their heart,
and turn, and I would heal them.
28 “Let it then be known to you that this salvation from God has been sent to the Gentiles. They will listen.”
30 Paul lived there for two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed everyone who came to see him. 31 He announced the kingdom of God, and taught the things about the Lord Jesus the Messiah, with all boldness, and with no one stopping him.
37 The next day, as they were going down from the mountain, a large crowd met them. 38 A man from the crowd shouted out, “Teacher! Please, please have a look at my son! He’s my only child, 39 and look what’s happening to him! A spirit seizes him, and suddenly it shrieks and convulses him, so that he foams at the mouth. It goes on savaging him, and it’s almost impossible to get it to leave him. 40 I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they couldn’t.”
41 “You faithless and depraved generation!” said Jesus in reply. “How long shall I be with you and have to put up with you? Bring your son here.”
42 While he was on the way, the demon tore at him and threw him into convulsions. Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the child, and gave him back to his father. 43 Everyone was astonished at the greatness of God.
While they were all still expressing amazement at everything he had done, Jesus said to his disciples, 44 “Let these words go right down into your ears: the son of man is to be given over into human hands.” 45 They had no idea what he was talking about. It was hidden from them, so that they wouldn’t perceive it, and they were afraid to ask him about what he had said.
The nature of discipleship
46 A dispute arose among them about which of them was the greatest. 47 Jesus knew this quarrel was going on in their hearts, so he took a child and stood it beside him.
48 “If you receive this child in my name,” he said, “you receive me. And anyone who receives me, receives the one who sent me. Whoever is the least among you—that’s the one who is great.”
49 “Master,” commented John, “we saw someone casting out demons in your name. We told him to stop, because he wasn’t part of our company.”
50 “Don’t stop him,” replied Jesus. “Anyone who isn’t against you is on your side.”
Scripture quotations from The New Testament for Everyone are copyright © Nicholas Thomas Wright 2011, 2018, 2019.