Bible in 90 Days
38 The police officers reported these words to the magistrates. They were frightened when they heard Paul and Silas[a] were Roman citizens[b] 39 and came[c] and apologized to them. After[d] they brought them out, they asked them repeatedly[e] to leave the city. 40 When they came out of the prison, they entered Lydia’s house, and when they saw the brothers, they encouraged them and then[f] departed.
Paul and Silas at Thessalonica
17 After they traveled through[g] Amphipolis[h] and Apollonia,[i] they came to Thessalonica,[j] where there was a Jewish synagogue.[k] 2 Paul went to the Jews in the synagogue,[l] as he customarily did, and on three Sabbath days he addressed[m] them from the scriptures, 3 explaining and demonstrating[n] that the Christ[o] had to suffer and to rise from the dead,[p] saying,[q] “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.”[r] 4 Some of them were persuaded[s] and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large group[t] of God-fearing Greeks[u] and quite a few[v] prominent women. 5 But the Jews became jealous,[w] and gathering together some worthless men from the rabble in the marketplace,[x] they formed a mob[y] and set the city in an uproar.[z] They attacked Jason’s house,[aa] trying to find Paul and Silas[ab] to bring them out to the assembly.[ac] 6 When they did not find them, they dragged[ad] Jason and some of the brothers before the city officials,[ae] screaming, “These people who have stirred up trouble[af] throughout the world[ag] have come here too, 7 and[ah] Jason has welcomed them as guests! They[ai] are all acting against Caesar’s[aj] decrees, saying there is another king named[ak] Jesus!”[al] 8 They caused confusion among[am] the crowd and the city officials[an] who heard these things. 9 After[ao] the city officials[ap] had received bail[aq] from Jason and the others, they released them.
Paul and Silas at Berea
10 The brothers sent Paul and Silas off to Berea[ar] at once, during the night. When they arrived,[as] they went to the Jewish synagogue.[at] 11 These Jews[au] were more open-minded[av] than those in Thessalonica,[aw] for they eagerly[ax] received[ay] the message, examining[az] the scriptures carefully every day[ba] to see if these things were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed, along with quite a few[bb] prominent[bc] Greek women and men. 13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica[bd] heard that Paul had also proclaimed the word of God[be] in Berea, they came there too, inciting[bf] and disturbing[bg] the crowds. 14 Then the brothers sent Paul away to the coast[bh] at once, but Silas and Timothy remained in Berea.[bi] 15 Those who accompanied Paul escorted him as far as Athens, and after receiving an order for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they left.[bj]
Paul at Athens
16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was greatly upset[bk] because he saw[bl] the city was full of idols. 17 So he was addressing[bm] the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles[bn] in the synagogue,[bo] and in the marketplace[bp] every day[bq] those who happened to be there. 18 Also some of the Epicurean[br] and Stoic[bs] philosophers were conversing[bt] with him, and some were asking,[bu] “What does this foolish babbler[bv] want to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods.”[bw] (They said this because he was proclaiming the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.)[bx] 19 So they took Paul and[by] brought him to the Areopagus,[bz] saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are proclaiming? 20 For you are bringing some surprising things[ca] to our ears, so we want to know what they[cb] mean.” 21 (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there used to spend their time[cc] in nothing else than telling[cd] or listening to something new.)[ce]
22 So Paul stood[cf] before the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I see that you are very religious[cg] in all respects.[ch] 23 For as I went around and observed closely your objects of worship,[ci] I even found an altar with this inscription:[cj] ‘To an unknown god.’ Therefore what you worship without knowing it,[ck] this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it,[cl] who is[cm] Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by human hands,[cn] 25 nor is he served by human hands, as if he needed anything,[co] because he himself gives life and breath and everything to everyone.[cp] 26 From one man[cq] he made every nation of the human race[cr] to inhabit the entire earth,[cs] determining their set times[ct] and the fixed limits of the places where they would live,[cu] 27 so that they would search for God and perhaps grope around[cv] for him and find him,[cw] though he is[cx] not far from each one of us. 28 For in him we live and move about[cy] and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we too are his offspring.’[cz] 29 So since we are God’s offspring, we should not think the deity[da] is like gold or silver or stone, an image[db] made by human[dc] skill[dd] and imagination.[de] 30 Therefore, although God has overlooked[df] such times of ignorance,[dg] he now commands all people[dh] everywhere to repent,[di] 31 because he has set[dj] a day on which he is going to judge the world[dk] in righteousness, by a man whom he designated,[dl] having provided proof to everyone by raising[dm] him from the dead.”
32 Now when they heard about[dn] the resurrection from the dead, some began to scoff,[do] but others said, “We will hear you again about this.” 33 So Paul left the Areopagus.[dp] 34 But some people[dq] joined him[dr] and believed. Among them[ds] were Dionysius, who was a member of the Areopagus,[dt] a woman[du] named Damaris, and others with them.
Paul at Corinth
18 After this[dv] Paul[dw] departed from[dx] Athens and went to Corinth.[dy] 2 There he[dz] found[ea] a Jew named Aquila,[eb] a native of Pontus,[ec] who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius[ed] had ordered all the Jews to depart from[ee] Rome. Paul approached[ef] them, 3 and because he worked at the same trade, he stayed with them and worked with them[eg] (for they were tentmakers[eh] by trade).[ei] 4 He addressed[ej] both Jews and Greeks in the synagogue[ek] every Sabbath, attempting to persuade[el] them.
5 Now when Silas and Timothy arrived[em] from Macedonia,[en] Paul became wholly absorbed with proclaiming[eo] the word, testifying[ep] to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.[eq] 6 When they opposed him[er] and reviled him,[es] he protested by shaking out his clothes[et] and said to them, “Your blood[eu] be on your own heads! I am guiltless![ev] From now on I will go to the Gentiles!” 7 Then Paul[ew] left[ex] the synagogue[ey] and went to the house of a person named Titius Justus, a Gentile who worshiped God,[ez] whose house was next door to the synagogue. 8 Crispus, the president of the synagogue,[fa] believed in the Lord together with his entire household, and many of the Corinthians who heard about it[fb] believed and were baptized. 9 The Lord said to Paul by a vision[fc] in the night,[fd] “Do not be afraid,[fe] but speak and do not be silent, 10 because I am with you, and no one will assault[ff] you to harm[fg] you, because I have many people in this city.” 11 So he stayed there[fh] a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.[fi]
Paul Before the Proconsul Gallio
12 Now while Gallio[fj] was proconsul[fk] of Achaia,[fl] the Jews attacked Paul together[fm] and brought him before the judgment seat,[fn] 13 saying, “This man is persuading[fo] people to worship God in a way contrary to[fp] the law!” 14 But just as Paul was about to speak,[fq] Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of some crime or serious piece of villainy,[fr] I would have been justified in accepting the complaint[fs] of you Jews,[ft] 15 but since it concerns points of disagreement[fu] about words and names and your own law, settle[fv] it yourselves. I will not be[fw] a judge of these things!” 16 Then he had them forced away[fx] from the judgment seat.[fy] 17 So they all seized Sosthenes, the president of the synagogue,[fz] and began to beat[ga] him in front of the judgment seat.[gb] Yet none of these things were of any concern[gc] to Gallio.
Paul Returns to Antioch in Syria
18 Paul, after staying[gd] many more days in Corinth, said farewell to[ge] the brothers and sailed away to Syria accompanied by[gf] Priscilla and Aquila.[gg] He[gh] had his hair cut off[gi] at Cenchrea[gj] because he had made a vow.[gk] 19 When they reached Ephesus,[gl] Paul[gm] left Priscilla and Aquila[gn] behind there, but he himself went[go] into the synagogue[gp] and addressed[gq] the Jews. 20 When they asked him to stay longer, he would not consent,[gr] 21 but said farewell to[gs] them and added,[gt] “I will come back[gu] to you again if God wills.”[gv] Then[gw] he set sail from Ephesus, 22 and when he arrived[gx] at Caesarea,[gy] he went up and greeted[gz] the church at Jerusalem[ha] and then went down to Antioch.[hb] 23 After he spent[hc] some time there, Paul left and went through the region of Galatia[hd] and Phrygia,[he] strengthening all the disciples.
Apollos Begins His Ministry
24 Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, arrived in Ephesus. He was an eloquent speaker,[hf] well-versed[hg] in the scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in[hh] the way of the Lord, and with great enthusiasm[hi] he spoke and taught accurately the facts[hj] about Jesus, although he knew[hk] only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak out fearlessly[hl] in the synagogue,[hm] but when Priscilla and Aquila[hn] heard him, they took him aside[ho] and explained the way of God to him more accurately. 27 When Apollos[hp] wanted to cross over to Achaia,[hq] the brothers encouraged[hr] him[hs] and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he[ht] assisted greatly those who had believed by grace, 28 for he refuted the Jews vigorously[hu] in public debate,[hv] demonstrating from the scriptures that the Christ[hw] was Jesus.[hx]
Disciples of John the Baptist at Ephesus
19 While[hy] Apollos was in Corinth, Paul went through the inland[hz] regions[ia] and came to Ephesus. He[ib] found some disciples there[ic] 2 and said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”[id] They replied,[ie] “No, we have not even[if] heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 So Paul[ig] said, “Into what then were you baptized?” “Into John’s baptism,” they replied.[ih] 4 Paul said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him,[ii] that is, in Jesus.” 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, 6 and when Paul placed[ij] his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came[ik] upon them, and they began to speak[il] in tongues and to prophesy.[im] 7 (Now there were about twelve men in all.)[in]
Paul Continues to Minister at Ephesus
8 So Paul[io] entered[ip] the synagogue[iq] and spoke out fearlessly[ir] for three months, addressing[is] and convincing[it] them about the kingdom of God.[iu] 9 But when[iv] some were stubborn[iw] and refused to believe, reviling[ix] the Way[iy] before the congregation, he left[iz] them and took the disciples with him,[ja] addressing[jb] them every day[jc] in the lecture hall[jd] of Tyrannus. 10 This went on for two years, so that all who lived in the province of Asia,[je] both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord.[jf]
The Seven Sons of Sceva
11 God was performing extraordinary[jg] miracles by Paul’s hands, 12 so that when even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his body[jh] were brought[ji] to the sick, their diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.[jj] 13 But some itinerant[jk] Jewish exorcists tried to invoke the name[jl] of the Lord Jesus over those who were possessed by[jm] evil spirits, saying, “I sternly warn[jn] you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 14 (Now seven sons of a man named[jo] Sceva, a Jewish high priest, were doing this.)[jp] 15 But the evil spirit replied to them,[jq] “I know about Jesus[jr] and I am acquainted with[js] Paul, but who are you?”[jt] 16 Then the man who was possessed by[ju] the evil spirit jumped on[jv] them and beat them all into submission.[jw] He prevailed[jx] against them so that they fled from that house naked and wounded. 17 This became known to all who lived in Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks; fear came over[jy] them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was praised.[jz] 18 Many of those who had believed came forward,[ka] confessing and making their deeds known.[kb] 19 Large numbers[kc] of those who had practiced magic[kd] collected their books[ke] and burned them up in the presence of everyone.[kf] When[kg] the value of the books was added up, it was found to total 50,000 silver coins.[kh] 20 In this way the word of the Lord[ki] continued to grow in power[kj] and to prevail.[kk]
A Riot in Ephesus
21 Now after all these things had taken place,[kl] Paul resolved[km] to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia[kn] and Achaia.[ko] He said,[kp] “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.”[kq] 22 So after sending[kr] two of his assistants,[ks] Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia,[kt] he himself stayed on for a while in the province of Asia.[ku]
23 At[kv] that time[kw] a great disturbance[kx] took place concerning the Way.[ky] 24 For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines[kz] of Artemis,[la] brought a great deal[lb] of business[lc] to the craftsmen. 25 He gathered[ld] these[le] together, along with the workmen in similar trades,[lf] and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity[lg] comes from this business. 26 And you see and hear that this Paul has persuaded[lh] and turned away[li] a large crowd,[lj] not only in Ephesus but in practically all of the province of Asia,[lk] by saying[ll] that gods made by hands are not gods at all.[lm] 27 There is danger not only that this business of ours will come into disrepute,[ln] but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis[lo] will be regarded as nothing,[lp] and she whom all the province of Asia[lq] and the world worship will suffer the loss of her greatness.”[lr]
28 When[ls] they heard[lt] this they became enraged[lu] and began to shout,[lv] “Great is Artemis[lw] of the Ephesians!” 29 The[lx] city was filled with the uproar,[ly] and the crowd[lz] rushed to the theater[ma] together,[mb] dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, the Macedonians who were Paul’s traveling companions. 30 But when Paul wanted to enter the public assembly,[mc] the disciples would not let him. 31 Even some of the provincial authorities[md] who were his friends sent[me] a message[mf] to him, urging him not to venture[mg] into the theater. 32 So then some were shouting one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had met together.[mh] 33 Some of the crowd concluded[mi] it was about[mj] Alexander because the Jews had pushed him to the front.[mk] Alexander, gesturing[ml] with his hand, was wanting to make a defense[mm] before the public assembly.[mn] 34 But when they recognized[mo] that he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison,[mp] “Great is Artemis[mq] of the Ephesians!” for about two hours.[mr] 35 After the city secretary[ms] quieted the crowd, he said, “Men of Ephesus, what person[mt] is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is the keeper[mu] of the temple of the great Artemis[mv] and of her image that fell from heaven?[mw] 36 So because these facts[mx] are indisputable,[my] you must keep quiet[mz] and not do anything reckless.[na] 37 For you have brought these men here who are neither temple robbers[nb] nor blasphemers of our goddess.[nc] 38 If then Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint[nd] against someone, the courts are open[ne] and there are proconsuls; let them bring charges against one another there.[nf] 39 But if you want anything in addition,[ng] it will have to be settled[nh] in a legal assembly.[ni] 40 For[nj] we are in danger of being charged with rioting[nk] today, since there is no cause we can give to explain[nl] this disorderly gathering.”[nm] 41 After[nn] he had said[no] this,[np] he dismissed the assembly.[nq]
Paul Travels Through Macedonia and Greece
20 After the disturbance had ended, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging[nr] them and saying farewell,[ns] he left to go to Macedonia.[nt] 2 After he had gone through those regions[nu] and spoken many words of encouragement[nv] to the believers there,[nw] he came to Greece,[nx] 3 where he stayed[ny] for three months. Because the Jews had made[nz] a plot[oa] against him as he was intending[ob] to sail[oc] for Syria, he decided[od] to return through Macedonia.[oe] 4 Paul[of] was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea,[og] Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica,[oh] Gaius[oi] from Derbe,[oj] and Timothy, as well as Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia.[ok] 5 These had gone on ahead[ol] and were waiting for us[om] in Troas.[on] 6 We[oo] sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread,[op] and within five days[oq] we came to the others[or] in Troas,[os] where we stayed for seven days. 7 On the first day[ot] of the week, when we met[ou] to break bread, Paul began to speak[ov] to the people, and because he intended[ow] to leave the next day, he extended[ox] his message until midnight. 8 (Now there were many lamps[oy] in the upstairs room where we were meeting.)[oz] 9 A young man named Eutychus, who was sitting in the window,[pa] was sinking[pb] into a deep sleep while Paul continued to speak[pc] for a long time. Fast asleep,[pd] he fell down from the third story and was picked up dead. 10 But Paul went down,[pe] threw himself[pf] on the young man,[pg] put his arms around him,[ph] and said, “Do not be distressed, for he is still alive!”[pi] 11 Then Paul[pj] went back upstairs,[pk] and after he had broken bread and eaten, he talked with them[pl] a long time, until dawn. Then he left. 12 They took the boy home alive and were greatly[pm] comforted.
The Voyage to Miletus
13 We went on ahead[pn] to the ship and put out to sea[po] for Assos,[pp] intending[pq] to take Paul aboard there, for he had arranged it this way.[pr] He[ps] himself was intending[pt] to go there by land.[pu] 14 When he met us in Assos,[pv] we took him aboard[pw] and went to Mitylene.[px] 15 We set sail[py] from there, and on the following day we arrived off Chios.[pz] The next day we approached[qa] Samos,[qb] and the day after that we arrived at Miletus.[qc] 16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus so as not to spend time[qd] in the province of Asia,[qe] for he was hurrying[qf] to arrive in Jerusalem, if possible,[qg] by the day of Pentecost. 17 From Miletus[qh] he sent a message[qi] to Ephesus, telling the elders of the church to come to him.[qj]
18 When they arrived, he said to them, “You yourselves know how I lived[qk] the whole time I was with you, from the first day I set foot[ql] in the province of Asia,[qm] 19 serving the Lord with all humility[qn] and with tears, and with the trials that happened to me because of the plots[qo] of the Jews. 20 You know that I did not hold back from proclaiming[qp] to you anything that would be helpful,[qq] and from teaching you publicly[qr] and from house to house, 21 testifying[qs] to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus.[qt] 22 And now,[qu] compelled[qv] by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem[qw] without knowing what will happen to me there,[qx] 23 except[qy] that the Holy Spirit warns[qz] me in town after town[ra] that[rb] imprisonment[rc] and persecutions[rd] are waiting for me. 24 But I do not consider my life[re] worth anything[rf] to myself, so that[rg] I may finish my task[rh] and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the good news[ri] of God’s grace.
25 “And now[rj] I know that none[rk] of you among whom I went around proclaiming the kingdom[rl] will see me[rm] again. 26 Therefore I declare[rn] to you today that I am innocent[ro] of the blood of you all.[rp] 27 For I did not hold back from[rq] announcing[rr] to you the whole purpose[rs] of God. 28 Watch out for[rt] yourselves and for all the flock of which[ru] the Holy Spirit has made you overseers,[rv] to shepherd the church of God[rw] that he obtained[rx] with the blood of his own Son.[ry] 29 I know that after I am gone[rz] fierce wolves[sa] will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Even from among your own group[sb] men[sc] will arise, teaching perversions of the truth[sd] to draw the disciples away after them. 31 Therefore be alert,[se] remembering that night and day for three years I did not stop warning[sf] each one of you with tears. 32 And now I entrust[sg] you to God and to the message[sh] of his grace. This message[si] is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I have desired[sj] no one’s silver or gold or clothing. 34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine[sk] provided for my needs and the needs of those who were with me. 35 By all these things,[sl] I have shown you that by working in this way we must help[sm] the weak,[sn] and remember the words of the Lord Jesus that he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”[so]
36 When[sp] he had said these things, he knelt down[sq] with them all and prayed. 37 They all began to weep loudly,[sr] and hugged[ss] Paul and kissed him,[st] 38 especially saddened[su] by what[sv] he had said, that they were not going to see him[sw] again. Then they accompanied[sx] him to the ship.
Paul’s Journey to Jerusalem
21 After[sy] we[sz] tore ourselves away[ta] from them, we put out to sea,[tb] and sailing a straight course,[tc] we came to Cos,[td] on the next day to Rhodes,[te] and from there to Patara.[tf] 2 We found[tg] a ship crossing over to Phoenicia,[th] went aboard,[ti] and put out to sea.[tj] 3 After we sighted Cyprus[tk] and left it behind on our port side,[tl] we sailed on to Syria and put in[tm] at Tyre,[tn] because the ship was to unload its cargo there. 4 After we located[to] the disciples, we stayed there[tp] seven days. They repeatedly told[tq] Paul through the Spirit[tr] not to set foot[ts] in Jerusalem. 5 When[tt] our time was over,[tu] we left and went on our way. All of them, with their wives and children, accompanied[tv] us outside of the city. After[tw] kneeling down on the beach and praying,[tx] 6 we said farewell[ty] to one another. Then[tz] we went aboard the ship, and they returned to their own homes.[ua] 7 We continued the voyage from Tyre[ub] and arrived at Ptolemais,[uc] and when we had greeted the brothers, we stayed with them for one day. 8 On the next day we left[ud] and came to Caesarea,[ue] and entered[uf] the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven,[ug] and stayed with him. 9 (He had four unmarried[uh] daughters who prophesied.)[ui]
10 While we remained there for a number of days,[uj] a prophet named Agabus[uk] came down from Judea. 11 He came[ul] to us, took[um] Paul’s belt,[un] tied[uo] his own hands and feet with it,[up] and said, “The Holy Spirit says this: ‘This is the way the Jews in Jerusalem will tie up the man whose belt this is, and will hand him over[uq] to the Gentiles.’” 12 When we heard this, both we and the local people[ur] begged him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul replied, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking[us] my heart? For I am ready not only to be tied up,[ut] but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14 Because he could not be persuaded,[uu] we said no more except,[uv] “The Lord’s will be done.”[uw]
15 After these days we got ready[ux] and started up[uy] to Jerusalem. 16 Some of the disciples from Caesarea[uz] came along with us too, and brought us to the house[va] of Mnason of Cyprus, a disciple from the earliest times,[vb] with whom we were to stay. 17 When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers welcomed us gladly.[vc] 18 The next day Paul went in with us to see James, and all the elders were there.[vd] 19 When Paul[ve] had greeted them, he began to explain[vf] in detail[vg] what God[vh] had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 20 When they heard this, they praised[vi] God. Then they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews[vj] there are who have believed, and they are all ardent observers[vk] of the law.[vl] 21 They have been informed about you—that you teach all the Jews now living[vm] among the Gentiles to abandon[vn] Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children[vo] or live[vp] according to our customs. 22 What then should we do? They will no doubt[vq] hear that you have come. 23 So do what[vr] we tell you: We have four men[vs] who have taken[vt] a vow;[vu] 24 take them and purify[vv] yourself along with them and pay their expenses,[vw] so that they may have their heads shaved.[vx] Then[vy] everyone will know there is nothing in what they have been told[vz] about you, but that you yourself live in conformity with[wa] the law.[wb] 25 But regarding the Gentiles who have believed, we have written a letter, having decided[wc] that they should avoid[wd] meat that has been sacrificed to idols[we] and blood and what has been strangled[wf] and sexual immorality.” 26 Then Paul took the men the next day,[wg] and after he had purified himself[wh] along with them, he went to the temple and gave notice[wi] of the completion of the days of purification,[wj] when[wk] the sacrifice would be offered for each[wl] of them. 27 When the seven days were almost over,[wm] the Jews from the province of Asia[wn] who had seen him in the temple area[wo] stirred up the whole crowd[wp] and seized[wq] him, 28 shouting, “Men of Israel,[wr] help! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people, our law,[ws] and this sanctuary![wt] Furthermore[wu] he has brought Greeks into the inner courts of the temple[wv] and made this holy place ritually unclean!”[ww] 29 (For they had seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him previously, and[wx] they assumed Paul had brought him into the inner temple courts.)[wy] 30 The whole city was stirred up,[wz] and the people rushed together.[xa] They seized[xb] Paul and dragged him out of the temple courts,[xc] and immediately the doors were shut. 31 While they were trying[xd] to kill him, a report[xe] was sent up[xf] to the commanding officer[xg] of the cohort[xh] that all Jerusalem was in confusion.[xi] 32 He[xj] immediately took[xk] soldiers and centurions[xl] and ran down to the crowd.[xm] When they saw[xn] the commanding officer[xo] and the soldiers, they stopped beating[xp] Paul. 33 Then the commanding officer[xq] came up and arrested[xr] him and ordered him to be tied up with two chains;[xs] he[xt] then asked who he was and what[xu] he had done. 34 But some in the crowd shouted one thing, and others something else,[xv] and when the commanding officer[xw] was unable[xx] to find out the truth[xy] because of the disturbance,[xz] he ordered Paul[ya] to be brought into the barracks.[yb] 35 When he came to the steps, Paul[yc] had to be carried[yd] by the soldiers because of the violence[ye] of the mob, 36 for a crowd of people[yf] followed them,[yg] screaming, “Away with him!” 37 As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks,[yh] he said[yi] to the commanding officer,[yj] “May I say[yk] something to you?” The officer[yl] replied,[ym] “Do you know Greek?[yn] 38 Then you’re not that Egyptian who started a rebellion[yo] and led the 4,000 men of the ‘Assassins’[yp] into the wilderness[yq] some time ago?”[yr] 39 Paul answered,[ys] “I am a Jew[yt] from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of an important city.[yu] Please[yv] allow me to speak to the people.” 40 When the commanding officer[yw] had given him permission,[yx] Paul stood[yy] on the steps and gestured[yz] to the people with his hand. When they had become silent,[za] he addressed[zb] them in Aramaic,[zc]
Paul’s Defense
22 “Brothers and fathers, listen to my defense[zd] that I now[ze] make to you.” 2 (When they heard[zf] that he was addressing[zg] them in Aramaic,[zh] they became even[zi] quieter.)[zj] Then[zk] Paul said, 3 “I am a Jew,[zl] born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up[zm] in this city, educated with strictness[zn] under[zo] Gamaliel[zp] according to the law of our ancestors,[zq] and was[zr] zealous[zs] for God just as all of you are today. 4 I[zt] persecuted this Way[zu] even to the point of death,[zv] tying up[zw] both men and women and putting[zx] them in prison, 5 as both the high priest and the whole council of elders[zy] can testify about me. From them[zz] I also received[aaa] letters to the brothers in Damascus, and I was on my way[aab] to make arrests there and bring[aac] the prisoners[aad] to Jerusalem[aae] to be punished. 6 As[aaf] I was en route and near Damascus,[aag] about noon a very bright[aah] light from heaven[aai] suddenly flashed[aaj] around me. 7 Then I[aak] fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ 8 I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ He said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.’ 9 Those who were with me saw the light, but did not understand[aal] the voice of the one who was speaking to me. 10 So I asked,[aam] ‘What should I do, Lord?’ The Lord said to me, ‘Get up[aan] and go to Damascus; there you will be told about everything[aao] that you have been designated[aap] to do.’ 11 Since I could not see because of[aaq] the brilliance[aar] of that light, I came to Damascus led by the hand of[aas] those who were with me. 12 A man named Ananias,[aat] a devout man according to the law,[aau] well spoken of by all the Jews who live there,[aav] 13 came[aaw] to me and stood beside me[aax] and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, regain your sight!’[aay] And at that very moment[aaz] I looked up and saw him.[aba] 14 Then he said, ‘The God of our ancestors[abb] has already chosen[abc] you to know his will, to see[abd] the Righteous One,[abe] and to hear a command[abf] from his mouth, 15 because you will be his witness[abg] to all people[abh] of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now what are you waiting for?[abi] Get up,[abj] be baptized, and have your sins washed away,[abk] calling on his name.’[abl] 17 When[abm] I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance[abn] 18 and saw the Lord[abo] saying to me, ‘Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ 19 I replied,[abp] ‘Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and beat those in the various synagogues[abq] who believed in you. 20 And when the blood of your witness[abr] Stephen was shed,[abs] I myself was standing nearby, approving,[abt] and guarding the cloaks[abu] of those who were killing him.’[abv] 21 Then[abw] he said to me, ‘Go, because I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”
The Roman Commander Questions Paul
22 The crowd[abx] was listening to him until he said this.[aby] Then[abz] they raised their voices and shouted,[aca] “Away with this man[acb] from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live!”[acc] 23 While they were screaming[acd] and throwing off their cloaks[ace] and tossing dust[acf] in the air, 24 the commanding officer[acg] ordered Paul[ach] to be brought back into the barracks.[aci] He told them[acj] to interrogate Paul[ack] by beating him with a lash[acl] so that he could find out the reason the crowd[acm] was shouting at Paul[acn] in this way. 25 When they had stretched him out for the lash,[aco] Paul said to the centurion[acp] standing nearby, “Is it legal for you to lash a man who is a Roman citizen[acq] without a proper trial?”[acr] 26 When the centurion[acs] heard this,[act] he went to the commanding officer[acu] and reported it,[acv] saying, “What are you about to do?[acw] For this man is a Roman citizen.”[acx] 27 So the commanding officer[acy] came and asked[acz] Paul,[ada] “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?”[adb] He replied,[adc] “Yes.” 28 The commanding officer[add] answered, “I acquired this citizenship with a large sum of money.”[ade] “But I was even[adf] born a citizen,”[adg] Paul replied.[adh] 29 Then those who were about to interrogate him stayed away[adi] from him, and the commanding officer[adj] was frightened when he realized that Paul[adk] was[adl] a Roman citizen[adm] and that he had had him tied up.[adn]
Paul Before the Sanhedrin
30 The next day, because the commanding officer[ado] wanted to know the true reason[adp] Paul[adq] was being accused by the Jews, he released him and ordered the chief priests and the whole council[adr] to assemble. He then brought[ads] Paul down and had him stand before them.
23 Paul looked directly[adt] at the council[adu] and said, “Brothers, I have lived my life with a clear conscience[adv] before God to this day.” 2 At that[adw] the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near[adx] Paul[ady] to strike[adz] him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall![aea] Do[aeb] you sit there judging me according to the law,[aec] and in violation of the law[aed] you order me to be struck?” 4 Those standing near him[aee] said, “Do you dare insult[aef] God’s high priest?” 5 Paul replied,[aeg] “I did not realize,[aeh] brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You must not speak evil about a ruler of your people.’”[aei]
6 Then when Paul noticed[aej] that part of them were Sadducees[aek] and the others Pharisees,[ael] he shouted out in the council,[aem] “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. I am on trial concerning the hope of the resurrection[aen] of the dead!” 7 When he said this,[aeo] an argument[aep] began[aeq] between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 (For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection, or angel, or spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.)[aer] 9 There was a great commotion,[aes] and some experts in the law[aet] from the party of the Pharisees stood up[aeu] and protested strongly,[aev] “We find nothing wrong[aew] with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” 10 When the argument became[aex] so great the commanding officer[aey] feared that they would tear Paul to pieces,[aez] he ordered the detachment[afa] to go down, take him away from them by force,[afb] and bring him into the barracks.[afc]
11 The following night the Lord[afd] stood near[afe] Paul[aff] and said, “Have courage,[afg] for just as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”[afh]
The Plot to Kill Paul
12 When morning came,[afi] the Jews formed[afj] a conspiracy[afk] and bound themselves with an oath[afl] not to eat or drink anything[afm] until they had killed Paul. 13 There were more than forty of them who formed this conspiracy.[afn] 14 They[afo] went[afp] to the chief priests[afq] and the elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath[afr] not to partake[afs] of anything until we have killed Paul. 15 So now you and the council[aft] request the commanding officer[afu] to bring him down to you, as if you were going to determine[afv] his case[afw] by conducting a more thorough inquiry.[afx] We are ready to kill him[afy] before he comes near this place.”[afz]
16 But when the son of Paul’s sister heard about the ambush,[aga] he came and entered[agb] the barracks[agc] and told Paul. 17 Paul called[agd] one of the centurions[age] and said, “Take this young man to the commanding officer,[agf] for he has something to report to him.” 18 So the centurion[agg] took him and brought him to the commanding officer[agh] and said, “The prisoner Paul called[agi] me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.” 19 The commanding officer[agj] took him by the hand, withdrew privately, and asked, “What is it that you want[agk] to report to me?” 20 He replied,[agl] “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council[agm] tomorrow, as if they were going to inquire more thoroughly about him. 21 So do not let them persuade you to do this,[agn] because more than forty of them[ago] are lying in ambush[agp] for him. They[agq] have bound themselves with an oath[agr] not to eat or drink anything[ags] until they have killed him, and now they are ready, waiting for you to agree to their request.”[agt] 22 Then the commanding officer[agu] sent the young man away, directing him,[agv] “Tell no one that you have reported[agw] these things to me.” 23 Then[agx] he summoned[agy] two of the centurions[agz] and said, “Make ready 200 soldiers to go to Caesarea[aha] along with 70 horsemen[ahb] and 200 spearmen[ahc] by[ahd] nine o’clock tonight,[ahe] 24 and provide mounts for Paul to ride[ahf] so that he may be brought safely to Felix[ahg] the governor.”[ahh] 25 He wrote[ahi] a letter that went like this:[ahj]
26 Claudius Lysias to His Excellency Governor[ahk] Felix,[ahl] greetings. 27 This man was seized[ahm] by the Jews and they were about to kill him,[ahn] when I came up[aho] with the detachment[ahp] and rescued him, because I had learned that he was[ahq] a Roman citizen.[ahr] 28 Since I wanted to know[ahs] what charge they were accusing him of,[aht] I brought him down to their council.[ahu] 29 I found he[ahv] was accused with reference to controversial questions[ahw] about their law, but no charge against him deserved death or imprisonment.[ahx] 30 When I was informed[ahy] there would be a plot[ahz] against this man, I sent him to you at once, also ordering his accusers to state their charges[aia] against him before you.
31 So the soldiers, in accordance with their orders,[aib] took[aic] Paul and brought him to Antipatris[aid] during the night. 32 The next day they let[aie] the horsemen[aif] go on with him, and they returned to the barracks.[aig] 33 When the horsemen[aih] came to Caesarea[aii] and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented[aij] Paul to him. 34 When the governor[aik] had read[ail] the letter,[aim] he asked[ain] what province he was from.[aio] When he learned[aip] that he was from Cilicia,[aiq] 35 he said, “I will give you a hearing[air] when your accusers arrive too.” Then[ais] he ordered that Paul[ait] be kept under guard in Herod’s palace.[aiu]
The Accusations Against Paul
24 After five days the high priest Ananias[aiv] came down with some elders and an attorney[aiw] named[aix] Tertullus, and they[aiy] brought formal charges[aiz] against Paul to the governor. 2 When Paul[aja] had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him,[ajb] saying, “We have experienced a lengthy time[ajc] of peace through your rule,[ajd] and reforms[aje] are being made in this nation[ajf] through your foresight.[ajg] 3 Most excellent Felix,[ajh] we acknowledge this everywhere and in every way[aji] with all gratitude.[ajj] 4 But so that I may not delay[ajk] you any further, I beg[ajl] you to hear us briefly[ajm] with your customary graciousness.[ajn] 5 For we have found[ajo] this man to be a troublemaker,[ajp] one who stirs up riots[ajq] among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader[ajr] of the sect of the Nazarenes.[ajs] 6 He[ajt] even tried to desecrate[aju] the temple, so we arrested[ajv] him.[ajw] 7 8 When you examine[ajx] him yourself, you will be able to learn from him[ajy] about all these things we are accusing him of doing.”[ajz] 9 The Jews also joined in the verbal attack,[aka] claiming[akb] that these things were true.
Paul’s Defense Before Felix
10 When the governor gestured for him to speak, Paul replied, “Because I know[akc] that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I confidently make my defense.[akd] 11 As you can verify[ake] for yourself, not more than twelve days ago[akf] I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 They did not find me arguing[akg] with anyone or stirring up a crowd[akh] in the temple courts[aki] or in the synagogues[akj] or throughout the city,[akk] 13 nor can they prove[akl] to you the things[akm] they are accusing me of doing.[akn] 14 But I confess this to you, that I worship[ako] the God of our ancestors[akp] according to the Way (which they call a sect), believing everything that is according to the law[akq] and that is written in the prophets. 15 I have[akr] a hope in God (a hope[aks] that[akt] these men[aku] themselves accept too) that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.[akv] 16 This is the reason[akw] I do my best to always[akx] have a clear[aky] conscience toward God and toward people.[akz] 17 After several years[ala] I came to bring to my people gifts for the poor[alb] and to present offerings,[alc] 18 which I was doing when they found me in the temple, ritually purified,[ald] without a crowd or a disturbance.[ale] 19 But there are some Jews from the province of Asia[alf] who should be here before you and bring charges,[alg] if they have anything against me. 20 Or these men here[alh] should tell what crime[ali] they found me guilty of[alj] when I stood before the council,[alk] 21 other than[all] this one thing[alm] I shouted out while I stood before[aln] them: ‘I am on trial before you today concerning the resurrection of the dead.’”[alo]
22 Then Felix,[alp] who understood the facts[alq] concerning the Way[alr] more accurately,[als] adjourned their hearing,[alt] saying, “When Lysias the commanding officer comes down, I will decide your case.”[alu] 23 He ordered the centurion[alv] to guard Paul,[alw] but to let him have some freedom,[alx] and not to prevent any of his friends[aly] from meeting his needs.[alz]
Paul Speaks Repeatedly to Felix
24 Some days later, when Felix[ama] arrived with his wife Drusilla,[amb] who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him speak[amc] about faith in Christ Jesus.[amd] 25 While Paul[ame] was discussing[amf] righteousness, self-control,[amg] and the coming judgment, Felix[amh] became[ami] frightened and said, “Go away for now, and when I have an opportunity,[amj] I will send for you.” 26 At the same time he was also hoping that Paul would give him money,[amk] and for this reason he sent for Paul[aml] as often as possible[amm] and talked[amn] with him. 27 After two years[amo] had passed, Porcius Festus[amp] succeeded Felix,[amq] and because he wanted to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.[amr]
Paul Appeals to Caesar
25 Now[ams] three days after Festus[amt] arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.[amu] 2 So the chief priests and the most prominent men[amv] of the Jews brought formal charges[amw] against Paul to him. 3 Requesting him to do them a favor against Paul,[amx] they urged Festus[amy] to summon him to Jerusalem, planning an ambush[amz] to kill him along the way. 4 Then Festus[ana] replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea,[anb] and he himself intended to go there[anc] shortly. 5 “So,” he said, “let your leaders[and] go down there[ane] with me, and if this man has done anything wrong,[anf] they may bring charges[ang] against him.”
6 After Festus[anh] had stayed[ani] not more than eight or ten days among them, he went down to Caesarea,[anj] and the next day he sat[ank] on the judgment seat[anl] and ordered Paul to be brought. 7 When he arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him,[anm] bringing many serious[ann] charges that they were not able to prove.[ano] 8 Paul said in his defense,[anp] “I have committed no offense[anq] against the Jewish law[anr] or against the temple or against Caesar.”[ans] 9 But Festus,[ant] wanting to do the Jews a favor, asked Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and be tried[anu] before me there on these charges?”[anv] 10 Paul replied,[anw] “I am standing before Caesar’s[anx] judgment seat,[any] where I should be tried.[anz] I have done nothing wrong[aoa] to the Jews, as you also know very well.[aob] 11 If then I am in the wrong[aoc] and have done anything that deserves death, I am not trying to escape dying,[aod] but if not one of their charges against me is true,[aoe] no one can hand me over to them.[aof] I appeal to Caesar!”[aog] 12 Then, after conferring with his council,[aoh] Festus[aoi] replied, “You have appealed to Caesar;[aoj] to Caesar[aok] you will go!”[aol]
Festus Asks King Agrippa for Advice
13 After several days had passed, King Agrippa[aom] and Bernice arrived at Caesarea[aon] to pay their respects[aoo] to Festus.[aop] 14 While[aoq] they were staying there many days, Festus[aor] explained Paul’s case to the king to get his opinion,[aos] saying, “There is a man left here as a prisoner by Felix. 15 When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed[aot] me about him,[aou] asking for a sentence of condemnation[aov] against him. 16 I answered them[aow] that it was not the custom of the Romans to hand over anyone[aox] before the accused had met his accusers face-to-face[aoy] and had been given[aoz] an opportunity to make a defense against the accusation.[apa] 17 So after they came back here with me,[apb] I did not postpone the case,[apc] but the next day I sat[apd] on the judgment seat[ape] and ordered the man to be brought. 18 When his accusers stood up, they did not charge[apf] him with any of the evil deeds I had suspected.[apg] 19 Rather they had several points of disagreement[aph] with him about their own religion[api] and about a man named Jesus[apj] who was dead, whom Paul claimed[apk] to be alive. 20 Because I was at a loss[apl] how I could investigate these matters,[apm] I asked if he were willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried[apn] there on these charges.[apo] 21 But when Paul appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of His Majesty the Emperor,[app] I ordered him to be kept under guard until I could send him to Caesar.”[apq] 22 Agrippa[apr] said to Festus,[aps] “I would also like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” he replied,[apt] “you will hear him.”
Paul Before King Agrippa and Bernice
23 So the next day Agrippa[apu] and Bernice came with great pomp[apv] and entered the audience hall,[apw] along with the senior military officers[apx] and the prominent men of the city. When Festus[apy] gave the order,[apz] Paul was brought in. 24 Then Festus[aqa] said, “King Agrippa,[aqb] and all you who are present here with us, you see this man about whom the entire Jewish populace[aqc] petitioned[aqd] me both in Jerusalem and here,[aqe] shouting loudly[aqf] that he ought not to live any longer. 25 But I found that he had done nothing that deserved death,[aqg] and when he appealed[aqh] to His Majesty the Emperor,[aqi] I decided to send him.[aqj] 26 But I have nothing definite[aqk] to write to my lord[aql] about him.[aqm] Therefore I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa,[aqn] so that after this preliminary hearing[aqo] I may have something to write. 27 For it seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner without clearly indicating[aqp] the charges against him.”
Paul Offers His Defense
26 So Agrippa[aqq] said to Paul, “You have permission[aqr] to speak for yourself.” Then Paul held out his hand[aqs] and began his defense:[aqt]
2 “Regarding all the things I have been accused of by the Jews, King Agrippa,[aqu] I consider myself fortunate that I am about to make my defense before you today, 3 because you are especially[aqv] familiar with all the customs and controversial issues[aqw] of the Jews. Therefore I ask[aqx] you to listen to me patiently. 4 Now all the Jews know the way I lived[aqy] from my youth, spending my life from the beginning among my own people[aqz] and in Jerusalem. 5 They know,[ara] because they have known[arb] me from time past,[arc] if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party[ard] of our religion, I lived as a Pharisee.[are] 6 And now I stand here on trial[arf] because of my hope in the promise made by God to our ancestors,[arg] 7 a promise[arh] that our twelve tribes hope to attain as they earnestly serve God[ari] night and day. Concerning this hope the Jews are accusing me,[arj] Your Majesty![ark] 8 Why do you people[arl] think[arm] it is unbelievable[arn] that[aro] God raises the dead? 9 Of course,[arp] I myself was convinced[arq] that it was necessary to do many things hostile to the name of Jesus the Nazarene. 10 And that is what I did in Jerusalem: Not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons by the authority I received[arr] from the chief priests, but I also cast my vote[ars] against them when they were sentenced to death.[art] 11 I punished[aru] them often in all the synagogues[arv] and tried to force[arw] them to blaspheme. Because I was so furiously enraged[arx] at them, I went to persecute[ary] them even in foreign cities.
12 “While doing this very thing,[arz] as I was going[asa] to Damascus with authority and complete power[asb] from the chief priests, 13 about noon along the road, Your Majesty,[asc] I saw a light from heaven,[asd] brighter than the sun, shining everywhere around[ase] me and those traveling with me. 14 When we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic,[asf] ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? You are hurting yourself[asg] by kicking against the goads.’[ash] 15 So I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord replied,[asi] ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 But get up and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this reason, to designate you in advance[asj] as a servant and witness[ask] to the things[asl] you have seen[asm] and to the things in which I will appear to you. 17 I will rescue[asn] you from your own people[aso] and from the Gentiles, to whom[asp] I am sending you 18 to open their eyes so that they turn[asq] from darkness to light and from the power[asr] of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share[ass] among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
19 “Therefore, King Agrippa,[ast] I was not disobedient[asu] to the heavenly[asv] vision, 20 but I declared to those in Damascus first, and then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea,[asw] and to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God,[asx] performing deeds consistent with[asy] repentance. 21 For this reason the Jews, after they seized me while I was in the temple courts,[asz] were trying to kill me. 22 I have experienced[ata] help from God to this day, and so I stand testifying to both small and great, saying nothing except[atb] what the prophets and Moses said[atc] was going to happen: 23 that[atd] the Christ[ate] was to suffer and be the first to rise from the dead, to proclaim light both to our people[atf] and to the Gentiles.”[atg]
24 As Paul[ath] was saying these things in his defense, Festus[ati] exclaimed loudly, “You have lost your mind,[atj] Paul! Your great learning is driving you insane!” 25 But Paul replied,[atk] “I have not lost my mind, most excellent Festus,[atl] but am speaking[atm] true and rational[atn] words. 26 For the king knows about these things, and I am speaking freely[ato] to him,[atp] because I cannot believe[atq] that any of these things has escaped his notice,[atr] for this was not done in a corner.[ats] 27 Do you believe the prophets,[att] King Agrippa?[atu] I know that you believe.” 28 Agrippa[atv] said to Paul, “In such a short time are you persuading me to become a Christian?”[atw] 29 Paul replied, “I pray to God that whether in a short or a long time[atx] not only you but also all those who are listening to me today could become such as I am, except for these chains.”[aty]
30 So the king got up, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them, 31 and as they were leaving they said to one another,[atz] “This man is not doing anything deserving[aua] death or imprisonment.” 32 Agrippa[aub] said to Festus,[auc] “This man could have been released[aud] if he had not appealed to Caesar.”[aue]
Paul and Company Sail for Rome
27 When it was decided we[auf] would sail to Italy,[aug] they handed over Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion[auh] of the Augustan Cohort[aui] named Julius. 2 We went on board[auj] a ship from Adramyttium[auk] that was about to sail to various ports[aul] along the coast of the province of Asia[aum] and put out to sea,[aun] accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian[auo] from Thessalonica. 3 The next day we put in[aup] at Sidon,[auq] and Julius, treating Paul kindly,[aur] allowed him to go to his friends so they could provide him with what he needed.[aus] 4 From there we put out to sea[aut] and sailed under the lee[auu] of Cyprus because the winds were against us. 5 After we had sailed across the open sea[auv] off Cilicia and Pamphylia,[auw] we put in[aux] at Myra[auy] in Lycia.[auz] 6 There the centurion[ava] found[avb] a ship from Alexandria[avc] sailing for Italy, and he put us aboard it. 7 We sailed slowly[avd] for many days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus.[ave] Because the wind prevented us from going any farther,[avf] we sailed under the lee[avg] of Crete off Salmone.[avh] 8 With difficulty we sailed along the coast[avi] of Crete[avj] and came to a place called Fair Havens that was near the town of Lasea.[avk]
Caught in a Violent Storm
9 Since considerable time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous[avl] because the fast[avm] was already over,[avn] Paul advised them,[avo] 10 “Men, I can see the voyage is going to end[avp] in disaster[avq] and great loss not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.”[avr] 11 But the centurion[avs] was more convinced[avt] by the captain[avu] and the ship’s owner than by what Paul said.[avv] 12 Because the harbor was not suitable to spend the winter in, the majority decided[avw] to put out to sea[avx] from there. They hoped that[avy] somehow they could reach[avz] Phoenix,[awa] a harbor of Crete facing[awb] southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there. 13 When a gentle south wind sprang up, they thought[awc] they could carry out[awd] their purpose, so they weighed anchor[awe] and sailed close along the coast[awf] of Crete. 14 Not long after this, a hurricane-force[awg] wind called the northeaster[awh] blew down from the island.[awi] 15 When the ship was caught in it[awj] and could not head into[awk] the wind, we gave way to it and were driven[awl] along. 16 As we ran under the lee of[awm] a small island called Cauda,[awn] we were able with difficulty to get the ship’s boat[awo] under control. 17 After the crew[awp] had hoisted it aboard,[awq] they used supports[awr] to undergird the ship. Fearing they would run aground[aws] on the Syrtis,[awt] they lowered the sea anchor,[awu] thus letting themselves be driven along. 18 The next day, because we were violently battered by the storm,[awv] they began throwing the cargo overboard,[aww] 19 and on the third day they threw the ship’s gear[awx] overboard with their own hands. 20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and a violent[awy] storm continued to batter us,[awz] we finally abandoned all hope of being saved.[axa]
21 Since many of them had no desire to eat,[axb] Paul[axc] stood up[axd] among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me[axe] and not put out to sea[axf] from Crete, thus avoiding[axg] this damage and loss. 22 And now I advise[axh] you to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only the ship will be lost.[axi] 23 For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong[axj] and whom I serve[axk] came to me[axl] 24 and said,[axm] ‘Do not be afraid, Paul! You must stand before[axn] Caesar,[axo] and God has graciously granted you the safety[axp] of all who are sailing with you.’ 25 Therefore keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God[axq] that it will be just as I have been told. 26 But we must[axr] run aground on some island.”
27 When the fourteenth night had come, while we were being driven[axs] across the Adriatic Sea,[axt] about midnight the sailors suspected they were approaching some land.[axu] 28 They took soundings[axv] and found the water was twenty fathoms[axw] deep; when they had sailed a little farther[axx] they took soundings again and found it was fifteen fathoms[axy] deep. 29 Because they were afraid[axz] that we would run aground on the rocky coast,[aya] they threw out[ayb] four anchors from the stern and wished[ayc] for day to appear.[ayd] 30 Then when the sailors tried to escape from the ship and were lowering the ship’s boat into the sea, pretending[aye] that they were going to put out anchors from the bow, 31 Paul said to the centurion[ayf] and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay with the ship, you[ayg] cannot be saved.” 32 Then the soldiers cut the ropes[ayh] of the ship’s boat and let it drift away.[ayi]
33 As day was about to dawn,[ayj] Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day you have been in suspense[ayk] and have gone[ayl] without food; you have eaten nothing.[aym] 34 Therefore I urge you to take some food, for this is important[ayn] for your survival.[ayo] For not one of you will lose a hair from his head.” 35 After he said this, Paul[ayp] took bread[ayq] and gave thanks to God in front of them all,[ayr] broke[ays] it, and began to eat. 36 So all of them were encouraged and took food themselves. 37 (We were in all 276[ayt] persons on the ship.)[ayu] 38 When they had eaten enough to be satisfied,[ayv] they lightened the ship by throwing the wheat[ayw] into the sea.
Paul is Shipwrecked
39 When day came, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed[ayx] a bay[ayy] with a beach,[ayz] where they decided to run the ship aground if they could. 40 So they slipped[aza] the anchors[azb] and left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the linkage[azc] that bound the steering oars[azd] together. Then they hoisted[aze] the foresail[azf] to the wind and steered toward[azg] the beach. 41 But they encountered a patch of crosscurrents[azh] and ran the ship aground; the bow stuck fast and could not be moved, but the stern was being broken up by the force[azi] of the waves. 42 Now the soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners[azj] so that none of them would escape by swimming away.[azk] 43 But the centurion,[azl] wanting to save Paul’s life,[azm] prevented them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land,[azn] 44 and the rest were to follow,[azo] some on planks[azp] and some on pieces of the ship.[azq] And in this way[azr] all were brought safely to land.
Paul on Malta
28 After we had safely reached shore,[azs] we learned that the island was called Malta.[azt] 2 The local inhabitants[azu] showed us extraordinary[azv] kindness, for they built a fire and welcomed us all because it had started to rain[azw] and was cold. 3 When Paul had gathered a bundle of brushwood[azx] and was putting it on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand. 4 When the local people[azy] saw the creature hanging from Paul’s[azz] hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer! Although he has escaped from the sea, Justice herself[baa] has not allowed him to live!”[bab] 5 However,[bac] Paul[bad] shook[bae] the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 But they were expecting that he was going to swell up[baf] or suddenly drop dead. So after they had waited[bag] a long time and had seen[bah] nothing unusual happen[bai] to him, they changed their minds[baj] and said he was a god.[bak]
7 Now in the region around that place[bal] were fields belonging to the chief official[bam] of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us hospitably as guests for three days. 8 The father[ban] of Publius lay sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him[bao] and after praying, placed[bap] his hands on him and healed[baq] him. 9 After this had happened, many of the people on the island who were sick[bar] also came and were healed.[bas] 10 They also bestowed many honors,[bat] and when we were preparing to sail,[bau] they gave[bav] us all the supplies we needed.[baw]
Paul Finally Reaches Rome
11 After three months we put out to sea[bax] in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered at the island and had the “Heavenly Twins”[bay] as its figurehead.[baz] 12 We put in[bba] at Syracuse[bbb] and stayed there three days. 13 From there we cast off[bbc] and arrived at Rhegium,[bbd] and after one day a south wind sprang up[bbe] and on the second day we came to Puteoli.[bbf] 14 There[bbg] we found[bbh] some brothers[bbi] and were invited to stay with them seven days. And in this way we came to Rome. 15 The brothers from there,[bbj] when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius[bbk] and Three Taverns[bbl] to meet us. When he saw them,[bbm] Paul thanked God and took courage. 16 When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to live[bbn] by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.
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