New King James Version (NKJV)

Preaching Christ at Thessalonica

1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came toThessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.

2 Then Paul, as his custom was,went in to them, and for three Sabbathsreasoned with them from the Scriptures,

3 explaining and demonstratingthat the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, andsaying,“This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.”

4 And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul andSilas.

Assault on Jason’s House

5 But the Jews who were not persuaded, becomingenvious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house ofJason, and sought to bring them out to the people.

6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out,“These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.

7 Jason has harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar,saying there is another king—Jesus.”

8 And they troubled the crowd and the rulers of the city when they heard these things.

9 So when they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.

Ministering at Berea

10 Thenthe brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.

11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, andsearched the Scriptures dailytofindoutwhether these things were so.

12 Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men.

13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was preached by Paul at Berea, they came there also and stirred up the crowds.

14 Then immediately the brethren sent Paul away, to go to the sea; but both Silas and Timothy remained there.

15 So those who conducted Paul brought him to Athens; andreceiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him with all speed, they departed.

The Philosophers at Athens

16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens,his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols.

17 Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with theGentileworshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there.

18 Then certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, “What does this babbler want to say?”

# Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods,” because he preached to themJesus and the resurrection.

19 And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new doctrineisof which you speak?

20 For you are bringing some strange things to our ears. Therefore we want to know what these things mean.”

21 For all the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing.

Addressing the Areopagus

22 Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious;

23 for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription:

TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.

Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you:

24 “God, who made the world and everything in it, since He isLord of heaven and earth,does not dwell in temples made with hands.

25 Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since Hegives to all life, breath, and all things.

26 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 andthe boundaries of their dwellings,

27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him,though He is not far from each one of us;

28 forin Him we live and move and have our being,as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’

29 Therefore, since we are the offspring of God,we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising.

30 Truly,these times of ignorance God overlooked, butnow commands all men everywhere to repent,

31 because He has appointed a day on whichHe will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all byraising Him from the dead.”

32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, “We will hear you again on thismatter.”

33 So Paul departed from among them.

34 However, some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

Ministering at Corinth

1 After these things Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth.

2 And he found a certain Jew namedAquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome); and he came to them.

3 So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with themand worked; for by occupation they were tentmakers.

4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.

5 When Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul wascompelled by the Spirit, and testified to the JewsthatJesusisthe Christ.

6 Butwhen they opposed him and blasphemed,he shookhisgarments and said to them,“Your bloodbeupon yourownheads;Iamclean.From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”

7 And he departed from there and entered the house of a certainmannamed Justus,onewho worshiped God, whose house was next door to the synagogue.

8 Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.

9 Nowthe Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision,“Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent;

10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.”

11 And he continuedtherea year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

12 When Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him to the judgment seat,

13 saying, “Thisfellowpersuades men to worship God contrary to the law.”

14 And when Paul was about to openhismouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or wicked crimes, O Jews, there would be reason why I should bear with you.

15 But if it is aquestion of words and names and your own law, looktoityourselves; for I do not want to be a judge of suchmatters.”

16 And he drove them from the judgment seat.

17 Then all the Greeks tookSosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beathimbefore the judgment seat. But Gallio took no notice of these things.

Paul Returns to Antioch

18 So Paul still remained a good while. Then he took leave of the brethren and sailed for Syria, and Priscilla and Aquilawerewith him.He hadhishair cut off atCenchrea, for he had taken a vow.

19 And he came to Ephesus, and left them there; but he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.

20 When they askedhimto stay a longer time with them, he did not consent,

21 but took leave of them, saying,“I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem; but I will return again to you,God willing.” And he sailed from Ephesus.

22 And when he had landed atCaesarea, and gone up and greeted the church, he went down to Antioch.

23 After he had spent some timethere,he departed and went over the region ofGalatia and Phrygia in order,strengthening all the disciples.

Ministry of Apollos

24 Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent manandmighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus.

25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and beingfervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord,though he knew only the baptism of John.

26 So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.

27 And when he desired to cross to Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him; and when he arrived,he greatly helped those who had believed through grace;

28 for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly,showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.

Paul at Ephesus

1 And it happened, whileApollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed throughthe upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples

2 he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”

# So they said to him,“We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”

3 And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?”

# So they said,“Into John’s baptism.”

4 Then Paul said,“John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.”

5 When they heardthis,they were baptizedin the name of the Lord Jesus.

6 And when Paul hadlaid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, andthey spoke with tongues and prophesied.

7 Now the men were about twelve in all.

8 And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuadingconcerning the things of the kingdom of God.

9 Butwhen some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evilof the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.

10 Andthis continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

Miracles Glorify Christ

11 NowGod worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul,

12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.

13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorciststook it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paulpreaches.”

14 Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so.

15 And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”

16 Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

17 This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; andfear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

18 And many who had believed cameconfessing and telling their deeds.

19 Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burnedthemin the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, andittotaled fifty thousandpiecesof silver.

20 So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.

The Riot at Ephesus

21 When these things were accomplished, Paulpurposed in the Spirit, when he had passed throughMacedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there,I must also see Rome.”

22 So he sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him,Timothy andErastus, but he himself stayed in Asia for a time.

23 Andabout that time there arose a great commotion aboutthe Way.

24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana, broughtno small profit to the craftsmen.

25 He called them together with the workers of similar occupation, and said: “Men, you know that we have our prosperity by this trade.

26 Moreover you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying thatthey are not gods which are made with hands.

27 So not only is this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana may be despised and her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worship.”

28 Now when they heardthis,they were full of wrath and cried out, saying, “GreatisDiana of the Ephesians!”

29 So the whole city was filled with confusion, and rushed into the theater with one accord, having seizedGaius andAristarchus, Macedonians, Paul’s travel companions.

30 And when Paul wanted to go in to the people, the disciples would not allow him.

31 Then some of the officials of Asia, who were his friends, sent to him pleading that he would not venture into the theater.

32 Some therefore cried one thing and some another, for the assembly was confused, and most of them did not know why they had come together.

33 And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. AndAlexandermotioned with his hand, and wanted to make his defense to the people.

34 But when they found out that he was a Jew, all with one voice cried out for about two hours, “GreatisDiana of the Ephesians!”

35 And when the city clerk had quieted the crowd, he said: “Men of Ephesus, what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple guardian of the great goddess Diana, and of theimagewhich fell down from Zeus?

36 Therefore, since these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rashly.

37 For you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of your goddess.

38 Therefore, if Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a case against anyone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another.

39 But if you have any other inquiry to make, it shall be determined in the lawful assembly.

40 For we are in danger of being called in question for today’s uproar, there being no reason which we may give to account for this disorderly gathering.”

41 And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.

Journeys in Greece

1 After the uproar had ceased, Paul called the disciples tohimself,embracedthem,anddeparted to go to Macedonia.

2 Now when he had gone over that region and encouraged them with many words, he came toGreece

3 and stayed three months. Andwhen the Jews plotted against him as he was about to sail to Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia.

4 And Sopater of Berea accompanied him to Asia—alsoAristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, andGaius of Derbe, andTimothy, andTychicus andTrophimus of Asia.

5 These men, going ahead, waited for us atTroas.

6 But we sailed away from Philippi afterthe Days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days joined themat Troas, where we stayed seven days.

Ministering at Troas

7 Now onthe firstdayof the week, when the disciples came togetherto break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.

8 There were many lampsin the upper room where they were gathered together.

9 And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead.

10 But Paul went down,fell on him, and embracinghimsaid,“Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him.”

11 Now when he had come up, had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, even till daybreak, he departed.

12 And they brought the young man in alive, and they were not a little comforted.

From Troas to Miletus

13 Then we went ahead to the ship and sailed to Assos, there intending to take Paul on board; for so he had given orders, intending himself to go on foot.

14 And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and came to Mitylene.

15 We sailed from there, and the nextdaycame opposite Chios. The followingdaywe arrived at Samos and stayed at Trogyllium. The nextdaywe came to Miletus.

16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; forhe was hurryingto be at Jerusalem, if possible, onthe Day of Pentecost.

The Ephesian Elders Exhorted

17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church.

18 And when they had come to him, he said to them: “You know,from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you,

19 serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to meby the plotting of the Jews;

20 howI kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house,

21 testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks,repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

22 And see, nowI go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there,

23 except thatthe Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me.

24 Butnone of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself,so that I may finish my race with joy,and the ministrywhich I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

25 “And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more.

26 Therefore I testify to you this day that Iaminnocent of the blood of allmen.

27 For I have not shunned to declare to youthe whole counsel of God.

28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirithas made you overseers, to shepherd the church of Godwhich He purchasedwith His own blood.

29 For I know this, that after my departuresavage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.

30 Alsofrom among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.

31 Therefore watch, and remember thatfor three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.

32 “So now, brethren, I commend you to God andto the word of His grace, which is ableto build you up and give youan inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

33 I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel.

34 Yes, you yourselves knowthat these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me.

35 I have shown you in every way,by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said,‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.

37 Then they allwept freely, andfell on Paul’s neck and kissed him,

38 sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they would see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.

Warnings on the Journey to Jerusalem

1 Now it came to pass, that when we had departed from them and set sail, running a straight course we came to Cos, the followingdayto Rhodes, and from there to Patara.

2 And finding a ship sailing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail.

3 When we had sighted Cyprus, we passed it on the left, sailed to Syria, and landed at Tyre; for there the ship was to unload her cargo.

4 And finding disciples, we stayed there seven days.They told Paul through the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem.

5 When we had come to the end of those days, we departed and went on our way; and they all accompanied us, with wives and children, tillwewereout of the city. Andwe knelt down on the shore and prayed.

6 When we had taken our leave of one another, we boarded the ship, and they returnedhome.

7 And when we had finishedourvoyage from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, greeted the brethren, and stayed with them one day.

8 On the nextdaywe who were Paul’s companions departed and came toCaesarea, and entered the house of Philipthe evangelist,who wasoneof the seven, and stayed with him.

9 Now this man had four virgin daughterswho prophesied.

10 And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet namedAgabus came down from Judea.

11 When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound hisownhands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit,‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliverhiminto the hands of the Gentiles.’ ”

12 Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem.

13 Then Paul answered,“What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

14 So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying,“The will of the Lord be done.”

Paul Urged to Make Peace

15 And after those days we packed and went up to Jerusalem.

16 Also some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us and brought with them a certain Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we were to lodge.

17 And when we had come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.

18 On the followingdayPaul went in with us toJames, and all the elders were present.

19 When he had greeted them,he told in detail those things which God had done among the Gentilesthrough his ministry.

20 And when they heardit,they glorified the Lord. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed, and they are allzealous for the law;

21 but they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcisetheirchildren nor to walk according to the customs.

22 What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come.

23 Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have taken a vow.

24 Take them and be purified with them, and pay their expenses so that they mayshavetheirheads, and that all may know that those things of which they were informed concerning you are nothing, butthatyou yourself also walk orderly and keep the law.

25 But concerning the Gentiles who believe,we have writtenanddecided that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves fromthingsoffered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality.”

Arrested in the Temple

26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day, having been purified with them,entered the templeto announce the expiration of the days of purification, at which time an offering should be made for each one of them.

27 Now when the seven days were almost ended,the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd andlaid hands on him,

28 crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the manwho teaches allmeneverywhere against the people, the law, and this place; and furthermore he also brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.”

29 (For they had previously seenTrophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)

30 Andall the city was disturbed; and the people ran together, seized Paul, and dragged him out of the temple; and immediately the doors were shut.

31 Now as they wereseeking to kill him, news came to the commander of the garrison that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.

32 He immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down to them. And when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.

33 Then thecommander came near and took him, andcommandedhimto be bound with two chains; and he asked who he was and what he had done.

34 And some among the multitude cried one thing and some another.

So when he could not ascertain the truth because of the tumult, he commanded him to be taken into the barracks.

35 When he reached the stairs, he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob.

36 For the multitude of the people followed after, crying out,“Away with him!”

Addressing the Jerusalem Mob

37 Then as Paul was about to be led into the barracks, he said to the commander, “May I speak to you?”

He replied, “Can you speak Greek?

38 Are you not the Egyptian who some time ago stirred up a rebellion and led the four thousand assassins out into the wilderness?”

39 But Paul said,“I am a Jew from Tarsus, in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city; and I implore you, permit me to speak to the people.”

40 So when he had given him permission, Paul stood on the stairs andmotioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great silence, he spoke tothemin theHebrew language, saying,

1 “Brethrenand fathers, hear my defense before you now.”

2 And when they heard that he spoke to them in theHebrew language, they kept all the more silent.

Then he said:

3 “I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this cityat the feet ofGamaliel, taughtaccording to the strictness of our fathers’ law, andwas zealous toward Godas you all are today.

4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women,

5 as also the high priest bears me witness, andall the council of the elders,from whom I also received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascusto bring in chains even those who were there to Jerusalem to be punished.

6 “Nowit happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me.

7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me,‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’

8 So I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me,‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’

9 “Andthose who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me.

10 So I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me,‘Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do.’

11 And since I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus.

12 “Thena certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law,having a good testimony with all theJews who dweltthere,

13 came to me; and he stood and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that same hour I looked up at him.

14 Then he said,‘The God of our fathershas chosen you that you shouldknow His will, andsee the Just One,and hear the voice of His mouth.

15 For you will be His witness to all men ofwhat you have seen and heard.

16 And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized,and wash away your sins,calling on the name of the Lord.’

17 “Nowit happened, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance

18 andsaw Him saying to me,‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me.’

19 So I said, ‘Lord,they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned andbeat those who believe on You.

20 And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing byconsenting to his death, and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’

21 Then He said to me,‘Depart,for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.’”

Paul’s Roman Citizenship

22 And they listened to him until this word, andthenthey raised their voices and said,“Away with such afellowfrom the earth, forhe is not fit to live!”

23 Then, as they cried out and tore offtheirclothes and threw dust into the air,

24 the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks, and said that he should be examined under scourging, so that he might know why they shouted so against him.

25 And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who stood by,“Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned?”

26 When the centurion heardthat,he went and told the commander, saying, “Take care what you do, for this man is a Roman.”

27 Then the commander came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman?”

He said, “Yes.”

28 The commander answered, “With a large sum I obtained this citizenship.”

And Paul said, “But I was bornacitizen.”

29 Then immediately those who were about to examine him withdrew from him; and the commander was also afraid after he found out that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.

The Sanhedrin Divided

30 The next day, because he wanted to know for certain why he was accused by the Jews, he released him fromhisbonds, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down and set him before them.

1 Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, “Menandbrethren,I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.”

2 And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by himto strike him on the mouth.

3 Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you,youwhitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, anddo you command me to be struck contrary to the law?”

4 And those who stood by said, “Do you revile God’s high priest?”

5 Then Paul said,“I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written,‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’ ”

6 But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Menandbrethren,I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee;concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!”

7 And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the assembly was divided.

8 For Sadducees say that there is no resurrection—and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees confess both.

9 Then there arose a loud outcry. And the scribes of the Pharisees’ party arose and protested, saying,“We find no evil in this man; butif a spirit or an angel has spoken to him,let us not fight against God.”

10 Now when there arose a great dissension, the commander, fearing lest Paul might be pulled to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bringhiminto the barracks.

The Plot Against Paul

11 Butthe following night the Lord stood by him and said,“Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me inJerusalem, so you must also bear witness atRome.”

12 And when it was day,some of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they hadkilled Paul.

13 Now there were more than forty who had formed this conspiracy.

14 They came to the chief priests andelders, and said, “We have bound ourselves under a great oath that we will eat nothing until we have killed Paul.

15 Now you, therefore, together with the council, suggest to the commander that he be brought down to you tomorrow, as though you were going to make further inquiries concerning him; but we are ready to kill him before he comes near.”

16 So when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their ambush, he went and entered the barracks and told Paul.

17 Then Paul called one of the centurions tohimand said, “Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to tell him.”

18 So he took him and broughthimto the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner called me tohimand askedmeto bring this young man to you. He has something to say to you.”

19 Then the commander took him by the hand, went aside, and asked privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?”

20 And he said,“The Jews have agreed to ask that you bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire more fully about him.

21 But do not yield to them, for more than forty of them lie in wait for him, men who have bound themselves by an oath that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him; and now they are ready, waiting for the promise from you.”

22 So the commander let the young man depart, and commandedhim,“Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me.”

Sent to Felix

23 And he called for two centurions, saying, “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go toCaesarea at the third hour of the night;

24 and provide mounts to set Paul on, and bringhimsafely to Felix the governor.”

25 He wrote a letter in the following manner:

26 Claudius Lysias,

To the most excellent governor Felix:

Greetings.

27 This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them. Coming with the troops I rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.

28 And when I wanted to know the reason they accused him, I brought him before their council.

29 I found out that he was accusedconcerning questions of their law,but had nothing charged against him deserving of death or chains.

30 Andwhen it was told me that the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent him immediately to you, andalso commanded his accusers to state before you the charges against him.

Farewell.

31 Then the soldiers, as they were commanded, took Paul and broughthimby night to Antipatris.

32 The next day they left the horsemen to go on with him, and returned to the barracks.

33 When they came toCaesarea and had delivered theletter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him.

34 And when the governor had readit,he asked what province he was from. And when he understood thathewasfromCilicia,

35 he said,“I will hear you when your accusers also have come.” And he commanded him to be kept inHerod’s Praetorium.

Accused of Sedition

1 Now afterfive daysAnanias the high priest came down with the elders and a certain oratornamedTertullus. These gave evidence to the governor against Paul.

2 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,

3 we acceptitalways and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.

4 Nevertheless, not to be tedious to you any further, I beg you to hear, by your courtesy, a few words from us.

5 For we have found this man a plague, a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.

6 He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him, and wantedto judge him according to our law.

7 But the commander Lysias came by and with great violence tookhimout of our hands,

8 commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him.”

9 And the Jews also assented, maintaining that these things were so.

The Defense Before Felix

10 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,

11 because you may ascertain that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalemto worship.

12 And they neither found me in the temple disputing with anyone nor inciting the crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city.

13 Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me.

14 But this I confess to you, that according tothe Way which they call a sect, so I worship theGod of my fathers, believing all things which are written inthe Law and in the Prophets.

15 I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept,that there will be a resurrection ofthedead, both ofthejust andtheunjust.

16 Thisbeingso, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.

17 “Now after many yearsI came to bring alms and offerings to my nation,

18 in the midst of which some Jews from Asia found mepurified in the temple, neither with a mob nor with tumult.

19 They ought to have been here before you to object if they had anything against me.

20 Or else let those who areherethemselves say if they found any wrongdoing in me while I stood before the council,

21 unlessitisfor this one statement which I cried out, standing among them,‘Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged by you this day.’ ”

Felix Procrastinates

22 But when Felix heard these things, having more accurate knowledge oftheWay, he adjourned the proceedings and said, “WhenLysias the commander comes down, I will make a decision on your case.”

23 So he commanded the centurion to keep Paul and to lethimhave liberty, andtold him not to forbid any of his friends to provide for or visit him.

24 And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning thefaith in Christ.

25 Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.”

26 Meanwhile he also hoped thatmoney would be given him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore he sent for him more often and conversed with him.

27 But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix; and Felix,wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound.

Paul Appeals to Caesar

1 Now when Festus had come to the province, after three days he went up fromCaesarea to Jerusalem.

2 Then the high priest and the chief men of the Jews informed him against Paul; and they petitioned him,

3 asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem—whiletheylay in ambush along the road to kill him.

4 But Festus answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself was goingthereshortly.

5 “Therefore,” he said, “let those who have authority among you go down withmeand accuse this man, to seeif there is any fault in him.”

6 And when he had remained among them more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day, sitting on the judgment seat, he commanded Paul to be brought.

7 When he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood aboutand laid many serious complaints against Paul, which they could not prove,

8 while he answered for himself,“Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I offended in anything at all.”

9 But Festus,wanting to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul and said,“Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and there be judged before me concerning these things?”

10 So Paul said, “I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you very well know.

11 For if I am an offender, or have committed anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying; but if there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse me, no one can deliver me to them.I appeal to Caesar.”

12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar? To Caesar you shall go!”

Paul Before Agrippa

13 And after some days King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to greet Festus.

14 When they had been there many days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying:“There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix,

15 about whom the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informedme,when I was in Jerusalem, asking for a judgment against him.

16 To them I answered, ‘It is not the custom of the Romans to deliver any man to destruction before the accused meets the accusers face to face, and has opportunity to answer for himself concerning the charge against him.’

17 Therefore when they had come together,without any delay, the next day I sat on the judgment seat and commanded the man to be brought in.

18 When the accusers stood up, they brought no accusation against him of such things as I supposed,

19 but had some questions against him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who had died, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

20 And because I was uncertain of such questions, I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and there be judged concerning these matters.

21 But when Paulappealed to be reserved for the decision of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I could send him to Caesar.”

22 ThenAgrippa said to Festus, “I also would like to hear the man myself.”

“Tomorrow,” he said, “you shall hear him.”

23 So the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with great pomp, and had entered the auditorium with the commanders and the prominent men of the city, at Festus’ commandPaul was brought in.

24 And Festus said: “King Agrippa and all the men who are here present with us, you see this man about whomthe whole assembly of the Jews petitioned me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying out that he wasnot fit to live any longer.

25 But when I found thathe had committed nothing deserving of death,and that he himself had appealed to Augustus, I decided to send him.

26 I have nothing certain to write to my lord concerning him. Therefore I have brought him out before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the examination has taken place I may have something to write.

27 For it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner and not to specify the charges against him.”

Paul’s Early Life

1 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.”

So Paul stretched out his hand and answered for himself:

2 “I think myselfhappy, King Agrippa, because today I shall answerfor myself before you concerning all the things of which I amaccused by the Jews,

3 especially because you are expert in all customs and questions which have to do with the Jews. Therefore I beg you to hear me patiently.

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

5 They knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that according tothe strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

6 And now I stand and am judged for the hope ofthe promise made by God to our fathers.

7 To thispromiseour twelve tribes, earnestly servingGodnight and day,hope to attain. For this hope’s sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews.

8 Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead?

9 “Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name ofJesus of Nazareth.

10 This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authorityfrom the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote againstthem.

11 And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelledthemto blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecutedthemeven to foreign cities.

Paul Recounts His Conversion

12 “While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,

13 at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me.

14 And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language,‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?It ishard for you to kick against the goads.’

15 So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said,‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

16 But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose,to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you.

17 I willdeliver you from theJewishpeople, as well asfromthe Gentiles,to whom Inowsend you,

18 to open their eyes,in orderto turnthemfrom darkness to light, andfromthe power of Satan to God,that they may receive forgiveness of sins andan inheritance among those who aresanctifiedby faith in Me.’

Paul’s Post-Conversion Life

19 “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,

20 butdeclared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, andthento the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and doworks befitting repentance.

21 For these reasons the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to killme.

22 Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than thosewhich the prophets andMoses said would come—

23 that the Christ would suffer,that He would be the first to rise from the dead, andwould proclaim light to theJewishpeople and to the Gentiles.”

Agrippa Parries Paul’s Challenge

24 Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul,you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!”

25 But he said, “I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason.

26 For the king, before whom I also speak freely,knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner.

27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.”

28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.”

29 And Paul said,“I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.”

30 When he had said these things, the king stood up, as well as the governor and Bernice and those who sat with them;

31 and when they had gone aside, they talked among themselves, saying,“This man is doing nothing deserving of death or chains.”

32 Then Agrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been setfreeif he had not appealed to Caesar.”