20When the uproar was over, Paul sent for the believers and encouraged them. Then he said good-bye and left for Macedonia.G1161G3326G2351G3973G3972G4341G3101G2532G782G1831G4198G1519G31092While there, he encouraged the believers in all the towns he passed through. Then he traveled down to Greece,G1161G1330G1565G3313G2532G4183G846G4183G3870G3056G2064G1519G16713where he stayed for three months. He was preparing to sail back to Syria when he discovered a plot by some Jews against his life, so he decided to return through Macedonia.G5037G4160G5140G3376G5259G2453G1096G1917G846G3195G321G1519G4947G1096G1106G5290G1223G31094Several men were traveling with him. They were Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea; Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica; Gaius from Derbe; Timothy; and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia.G1161G4902G846G891G773G4986G961G1161G2331G708G2532G4580G2532G1050G1190G2532G5095G1161G774G5190G2532G51615They went on ahead and waited for us at Troas.G3778G4281G3306G2248G1722G51746After the Passover ended, we boarded a ship at Philippi in Macedonia and five days later joined them in Troas, where we stayed a week.G1161G2249G1602G575G5375G3326G2250G106G2532G2064G4314G846G1519G5174G891G4002G2250G3757G1304G2033G22507On the first day of the week, we gathered with the local believers to share in the Lord's Supper. Paul was preaching to them, and since he was leaving the next day, he kept talking until midnight.G1161G1722G3391G4521G3101G4863G2806G740G3972G1256G846G3195G1826G1887G5037G3905G3056G3360G33178The upstairs room where we met was lighted with many flickering lamps.G1161G2258G2425G2985G1722G5253G3757G2258G48639As Paul spoke on and on, a young man named Eutychus, sitting on the windowsill, became very drowsy. Finally, he fell sound asleep and dropped three stories to his death below.G1161G2521G1909G2376G5100G3494G3686G2161G2702G901G5258G3972G1909G4119G1256G2702G575G5258G2736G4098G575G5152G2532G142G349810Paul went down, bent over him, and took him into his arms. "Don't worry," he said, "he's alive!"G1161G3972G2597G1968G846G2532G4843G2036G2350G3361G2350G1063G846G5590G2076G1722G84611Then they all went back upstairs, shared in the Lord's Supper, and ate together. Paul continued talking to them until dawn, and then he left.G1161G305G305G2532G2806G740G2532G1089G5037G3656G1909G2425G891G827G3779G183112Meanwhile, the young man was taken home unhurt, and everyone was greatly relieved.G1161G71G3816G2198G2532G3870G3756G3357G387013Paul went by land to Assos, where he had arranged for us to join him, while we traveled by ship.G1161G2249G4281G1909G4143G321G1519G789G1564G3195G353G3972G1063G3779G2258G1299G3195G846G397814He joined us there, and we sailed together to Mitylene.G1161G5613G4820G2254G1519G789G353G846G353G2064G1519G341215The next day we sailed past the island of Kios. The following day we crossed to the island of Samos, and a day later we arrived at Miletus.G2547G636G2547G2658G1966G481G5508G1161G2087G3846G1519G4544G2532G3306G1722G5175G2192G2064G1519G339916Paul had decided to sail on past Ephesus, for he didn't want to spend any more time in the province of Asia. He was hurrying to get to Jerusalem, if possible, in time for the Festival of Pentecost.G1063G3972G2919G3896G2181G3704G846G1096G3361G5551G1722G773G1063G4692G1487G2258G1415G846G1096G1519G2414G2250G400517But when we landed at Miletus, he sent a message to the elders of the church at Ephesus, asking them to come and meet him.G1161G575G3399G3992G1519G2181G3333G4245G157718When they arrived he declared, "You know that from the day I set foot in the province of Asia until nowG1161G5613G3854G4314G846G2036G846G5210G1987G575G4413G2250G575G3739G1910G1519G773G4459G1096G3326G5216G3956G555019I have done the Lord's work humbly and with many tears. I have endured the trials that came to me from the plots of the Jews.G1398G2962G3326G3956G5012G2532G4183G1144G2532G3986G3588G4819G3427G1722G1917G245320I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes.G5613G5288G3762G4851G3361G312G5213G2532G1321G5209G1219G2532G2596G362421I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike—the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus.G1263G5037G2453G2532G1672G3341G1519G2316G2532G4102G1519G2257G2962G2424G554722"And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don't know what awaits me,G2532G3568G2400G1473G4198G1210G4151G1519G2419G3361G1492G4876G3427G1722G84623except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead.G4133G3754G40G4151G1263G2596G4172G3004G3754G1199G2532G2347G3306G316524But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.G235G3762G3056G4160G3761G2192G3450G5590G5093G1683G5613G5048G3450G1408G3326G5479G2532G1248G3739G2983G3844G2962G2424G1263G2098G5485G231625"And now I know that none of you to whom I have preached the Kingdom will ever see me again.G2532G3568G2400G1473G1492G3754G5210G3956G1722G3739G1330G2784G932G2316G3700G3450G4383G376526I declare today that I have been faithful. If anyone suffers eternal death, it's not my fault,G1352G3143G5213G3143G1722G4594G2250G3754G1473G2513G575G129G395627for I didn't shrink from declaring all that God wants you to know.G1063G5288G3756G3361G5288G312G5213G3956G1012G231628"So guard yourselves and God's people. Feed and shepherd God's flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as elders.G4337G3767G1438G2532G3956G4168G1722G3739G40G4151G5087G5209G1985G4165G1577G2316G3739G4046G1223G2398G12929I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock.G1063G1473G1492G5124G3754G3326G3450G867G926G3074G1525G1519G5209G3361G5339G416830Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following.G2532G1537G5216G846G450G435G450G2980G1294G645G3101G3694G84631Watch out! Remember the three years I was with you—my constant watch and care over you night and day, and my many tears for you.G1352G1127G3421G3754G5148G3973G3756G3560G1538G1520G3571G2532G2250G3326G114432"And now I entrust you to God and the message of his grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those he has set apart for himself.G2532G3569G80G3908G5209G2316G2532G3056G846G5485G3588G1410G2026G2532G1325G5213G2817G1722G3956G3733"I have never coveted anyone's silver or gold or fine clothes.G1937G3762G694G2228G5553G2228G244134You know that these hands of mine have worked to supply my own needs and even the needs of those who were with me.G1161G846G1097G3754G3778G5495G5256G3450G5532G2532G5607G3326G170035And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"G5263G5213G3956G3754G3779G2872G1163G482G770G5037G3421G3056G2962G2424G3754G846G2036G2076G3123G3107G1325G2228G298336When he had finished speaking, he knelt and prayed with them.G2532G5023G2036G846G1119G5087G4336G4862G846G395637They all cried as they embraced and kissed him good-bye.G1161G3956G2805G1096G2425G2532G1968G1909G3972G5137G2705G84638They were sad most of all because he had said that they would never see him again. Then they escorted him down to the ship.G3600G3122G1909G3056G3739G2046G3754G3195G2334G846G4383G3765G1161G4311G846G1519G4143
21After saying farewell to the Ephesian elders, we sailed straight to the island of Cos. The next day we reached Rhodes and then went to Patara.G1161G1096G5613G2248G645G575G846G321G2064G2113G1519G2972G1161G1836G1519G4499G2547G1519G3959 2There we boarded a ship sailing for Phoenicia.G2532G2147G4143G1276G1519G5403G1910G321 3We sighted the island of Cyprus, passed it on our left, and landed at the harbor of Tyre, in Syria, where the ship was to unload its cargo.G1161G398G2954G2532G2641G846G2176G4126G1519G4947G2532G2609G1519G5184G1063G1566G4143G2258G670G1117 4We went ashore, found the local believers, and stayed with them a week. These believers prophesied through the Holy Spirit that Paul should not go on to Jerusalem.G2532G429G3101G1961G847G2033G2250G3748G3004G3972G1223G4151G305G3361G305G1519G2419 5When we returned to the ship at the end of the week, the entire congregation, including women and children, left the city and came down to the shore with us. There we knelt, prayed,G1161G3753G2248G1096G1822G2250G1831G4198G3956G4311G2248G4311G4862G1135G2532G5043G2193G1854G4172G2532G5087G1119G1909G123G4336 6and said our farewells. Then we went aboard, and they returned home.G2532G782G240G1910G1519G4143G1161G1565G5290G1519G2398G5290 7The next stop after leaving Tyre was Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and sisters and stayed for one day.G1161G2249G1274G4144G575G5184G2658G1519G4424G2532G782G80G3306G3844G846G3391G2250 8The next day we went on to Caesarea and stayed at the home of Philip the Evangelist, one of the seven men who had been chosen to distribute food.G1161G1887G4012G3972G4012G1831G2064G2064G1519G2542G2532G1525G1519G3624G5376G2099G5607G1537G2033G3306G3844G846 9He had four unmarried daughters who had the gift of prophecy.G1161G5129G2258G5064G2364G3933G4395 10Several days later a man named Agabus, who also had the gift of prophecy, arrived from Judea.G1161G2257G1961G4119G2250G2718G575G2449G5100G4396G3686G13 11He came over, took Paul's belt, and bound his own feet and hands with it. Then he said, "The Holy Spirit declares, 'So shall the owner of this belt be bound by the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem and turned over to the Gentiles.'"G2532G2064G4314G2248G2532G142G3972G2223G5037G1210G846G5495G2532G4228G2036G3592G3004G40G4151G3779G1210G2453G1722G2419G1210G435G3739G2076G3778G2223G2532G3860G1519G5495G1484 12When we heard this, we and the local believers all begged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.G1161G5613G191G5023G5037G2249G2532G1786G3870G846G3361G305G1519G2419 13But he said, "Why all this weeping? You are breaking my heart! I am ready not only to be jailed at Jerusalem but even to die for the sake of the Lord Jesus."G1161G3972G611G5101G4160G2799G2532G4919G3450G2588G1063G1473G2192G2093G3756G1210G3440G2532G235G599G1519G2419G5228G3686G2962G2424 14When it was clear that we couldn't persuade him, we gave up and said, "The Lord's will be done."G1161G846G3982G3361G3982G2270G2036G2307G2962G1096 15After this we packed our things and left for Jerusalem.G1161G3326G5025G2250G643G305G1519G2419 16Some believers from Caesarea accompanied us, and they took us to the home of Mnason, a man originally from Cyprus and one of the early believers.G1161G4905G4862G2254G2532G3101G575G2542G71G3844G5100G3416G2953G744G3101G3739G3579 17When we arrived, the brothers and sisters in Jerusalem welcomed us warmly.G1161G2257G1096G1519G2414G80G1209G2248G780 18The next day Paul went with us to meet with James, and all the elders of the Jerusalem church were present.G1161G1966G3972G1524G4862G2254G4314G2385G5037G3956G4245G3854 19After greeting them, Paul gave a detailed account of the things God had accomplished among the Gentiles through his ministry.G2532G782G846G1834G2596G1520G1538G3739G2316G4160G1722G1484G1223G846G1248 20After hearing this, they praised God. And then they said, "You know, dear brother, how many thousands of Jews have also believed, and they all follow the law of Moses very seriously.G1161G191G1392G2962G5037G2036G846G2334G80G4214G3461G2453G1526G3588G4100G2532G5225G3956G2207G3551 21But the Jewish believers here in Jerusalem have been told that you are teaching all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn their backs on the laws of Moses. They've heard that you teach them not to circumcise their children or follow other Jewish customs.G1161G2727G4012G4675G3754G1321G3956G2453G2596G1484G575G646G3475G3004G846G4059G3361G4059G5043G3366G4043G1485 22What should we do? They will certainly hear that you have come.G5101G2076G3767G4128G1163G3843G4905G1063G191G3754G2064 23"Here's what we want you to do. We have four men here who have completed their vow.G4160G3767G5124G3739G3004G4671G2254G1526G5064G435G2171G2192G1909G1438 24Go with them to the Temple and join them in the purification ceremony, paying for them to have their heads ritually shaved. Then everyone will know that the rumors are all false and that you yourself observe the Jewish laws.G5128G3880G48G4862G846G2532G1159G1909G846G2443G3587G2776G2532G3956G1097G3754G3739G2727G4012G4675G2076G3762G235G846G2532G4748G5442G3551 25"As for the Gentile believers, they should do what we already told them in a letter: They should abstain from eating food offered to idols, from consuming blood or the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality."G1161G4012G1484G4100G2249G1989G2919G846G5083G3367G5108G1508G5442G846G5037G1494G2532G129G2532G4156G2532G4202 26So Paul went to the Temple the next day with the other men. They had already started the purification ritual, so he publicly announced the date when their vows would end and sacrifices would be offered for each of them.G5119G3972G3880G435G2192G2250G48G4862G846G1524G1519G2411G1229G1604G2250G49G2193G3739G4376G4374G5228G1538G1520G846 27The seven days were almost ended when some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul in the Temple and roused a mob against him. They grabbed him,G1161G5613G2033G2250G3195G4931G2453G575G773G2300G846G1722G2411G4797G3956G3793G2532G1911G5495G1909G846 28yelling, "Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who preaches against our people everywhere and tells everybody to disobey the Jewish laws. He speaks against the Temple—and even defiles this holy place by bringing in Gentiles."G2896G435G2475G997G3778G2076G444G1321G3956G3837G2596G2992G2532G3551G2532G5126G5117G5037G2089G1521G1672G2532G1519G2411G2532G2840G5127G40G5117 29(For earlier that day they had seen him in the city with Trophimus, a Gentile from Ephesus, and they assumed Paul had taken him into the Temple.)G1063G2258G4308G4862G846G1722G4172G5161G2180G3739G3543G3754G3972G1521G1519G2411 30The whole city was rocked by these accusations, and a great riot followed. Paul was grabbed and dragged out of the Temple, and immediately the gates were closed behind him.G5037G3650G4172G2795G2532G2992G1096G4890G2532G1949G3972G1670G846G1854G2411G2532G2112G2374G2808 31As they were trying to kill him, word reached the commander of the Roman regiment that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.G1161G2212G615G846G5334G305G5506G4686G3754G3650G2419G4797 32He immediately called out his soldiers and officers and ran down among the crowd. When the mob saw the commander and the troops coming, they stopped beating Paul.G3739G1824G3880G4757G2532G1543G2701G1909G846G1161G1492G5506G2532G4757G3973G5180G3972 33Then the commander arrested him and ordered him bound with two chains. He asked the crowd who he was and what he had done.G5119G5506G1448G1949G846G2532G2753G1210G1417G254G2532G4441G5101G302G1498G2532G5101G2076G4160 34Some shouted one thing and some another. Since he couldn't find out the truth in all the uproar and confusion, he ordered that Paul be taken to the fortress.G1161G243G994G5100G243G1722G3793G1161G1410G3361G1097G804G1223G2351G2753G846G71G1519G3925 35As Paul reached the stairs, the mob grew so violent the soldiers had to lift him to their shoulders to protect him.G1161G3753G1096G1909G304G4819G941G5259G4757G1223G970G3793 36And the crowd followed behind, shouting, "Kill him, kill him!"G1063G4128G2992G190G2896G142G846 37As Paul was about to be taken inside, he said to the commander, "May I have a word with you?" "Do you know Greek?" the commander asked, surprised.G5037G3972G3195G1521G1519G3925G3004G5506G1487G1832G3427G2036G5100G4314G4571G1161G3588G5346G1097G1676 38"Aren't you the Egyptian who led a rebellion some time ago and took 4,000 members of the Assassins out into the desert?"G1488G3756G4771G686G124G4253G5130G2250G387G2532G1806G1519G2048G5070G435G4607 39"No," Paul replied, "I am a Jew and a citizen of Tarsus in Cilicia, which is an important city. Please, let me talk to these people."G1161G3972G2036G1473G1510G3303G444G2453G5018G2791G4177G3756G767G4172G1161G1189G4675G2010G3427G2980G4314G2992 40The commander agreed, so Paul stood on the stairs and motioned to the people to be quiet. Soon a deep silence enveloped the crowd, and he addressed them in their own language, Aramaic.G1161G2010G846G2010G3972G2476G1909G304G2678G5495G2992G1161G1096G4183G4602G4377G1446G1258G3004
22"Brothers and esteemed fathers," Paul said, "listen to me as I offer my defense."G435G80G2532G3962G191G3450G627G3568G4314G5209 2When they heard him speaking in their own language, the silence was even greater.G1161G191G3754G4377G1446G1258G846G3930G3123G2271G2532G5346 3Then Paul said, "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, and I was brought up and educated here in Jerusalem under Gamaliel. As his student, I was carefully trained in our Jewish laws and customs. I became very zealous to honor God in everything I did, just like all of you today.G1473G1510G3303G435G2453G1080G1722G5019G2791G1161G397G1722G5026G4172G3844G4228G1059G3811G2596G195G3551G3971G5225G2207G2316G2531G5210G3956G2075G4594 4And I persecuted the followers of the Way, hounding some to death, arresting both men and women and throwing them in prison.G3739G1377G5026G3598G891G2288G1195G2532G3860G1519G5438G5037G435G2532G1135 5The high priest and the whole council of elders can testify that this is so. For I received letters from them to our Jewish brothers in Damascus, authorizing me to bring the Christians from there to Jerusalem, in chains, to be punished.G5613G2532G749G3140G3427G3140G2532G3956G4244G3844G3739G2532G1209G1992G4314G80G2532G4198G1519G1154G71G5607G1566G1210G1519G2419G2443G5097 6"As I was on the road, approaching Damascus about noon, a very bright light from heaven suddenly shone down around me.G1161G1096G4198G3427G4198G2532G1448G1154G4012G3314G1810G4015G1537G3772G2425G5457G4015G4012G1691 7I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?'G5037G4098G1519G1475G2532G191G5456G3004G3427G4549G4549G5101G1377G3165 8"'Who are you, lord?' I asked. "And the voice replied, 'I am Jesus the Nazarene, the one you are persecuting.'G1161G1473G611G5101G1488G2962G5037G2036G4314G3165G1473G1510G2424G3480G3739G4771G1377 9The people with me saw the light but didn't understand the voice speaking to me.G1161G5607G4862G1698G2300G3303G5457G2532G1096G1719G1161G191G3756G5456G2980G3427 10"I asked, 'What should I do, Lord?' "And the Lord told me, 'Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told everything you are to do.'G1161G2036G5101G4160G2962G1161G2962G2036G4314G3165G450G4198G1519G1154G2546G2980G4671G4012G3956G3739G5021G4671G4160 11"I was blinded by the intense light and had to be led by the hand to Damascus by my companions.G1161G5613G1689G3756G1689G575G1391G1565G5457G5496G5259G4895G3427G2064G1519G1154 12A man named Ananias lived there. He was a godly man, deeply devoted to the law, and well regarded by all the Jews of Damascus.G1161G5100G367G2152G435G2596G3551G3140G5259G3956G2453G2730 13He came and stood beside me and said, 'Brother Saul, regain your sight.' And that very moment I could see him!G2064G4314G3165G2532G2186G2036G3427G80G4549G308G2504G846G5610G2504G308G1519G846 14"Then he told me, 'The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and hear him speak.G1161G2036G2316G2257G3962G4400G4571G1097G846G2307G2532G1492G1342G2532G191G5456G1537G846G4750 15For you are to be his witness, telling everyone what you have seen and heard.G3754G2071G846G3144G4314G3956G444G3739G3708G2532G191 16What are you waiting for? Get up and be baptized. Have your sins washed away by calling on the name of the Lord.'G2532G3568G5101G3195G450G907G2532G628G4675G266G1941G3686G2962 17"After I returned to Jerusalem, I was praying in the Temple and fell into a trance.G1161G1096G3427G5290G1519G2419G2532G3450G4336G1722G2411G3165G1096G1722G1611 18I saw a vision of Jesus saying to me, 'Hurry! Leave Jerusalem, for the people here won't accept your testimony about me.'G2532G1492G846G3004G3427G4692G2532G1831G5034G1722G1537G2419G1360G3858G3756G3858G4675G3141G4012G1700 19"'But Lord,' I argued, 'they certainly know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you.G2504G2036G2962G846G1987G3754G1473G2252G5439G2532G1194G2596G4864G4100G1909G4571 20And I was in complete agreement when your witness Stephen was killed. I stood by and kept the coats they took off when they stoned him.'G2532G3753G129G4675G3144G4736G1632G846G2532G2252G2186G2532G4909G846G336G2532G5442G2440G337G846 21"But the Lord said to me, 'Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles!'"G2532G2036G4314G3165G4198G3754G1473G1821G4571G3112G1519G1484 22The crowd listened until Paul said that word. Then they all began to shout, "Away with such a fellow! He isn't fit to live!"G1161G191G846G191G891G5127G3056G2532G1869G846G5456G3004G142G5108G575G1093G1063G2520G3756G2520G846G2198 23They yelled, threw off their coats, and tossed handfuls of dust into the air.G1161G846G2905G2532G4495G2440G2532G906G2868G1519G109 24The commander brought Paul inside and ordered him lashed with whips to make him confess his crime. He wanted to find out why the crowd had become so furious.G5506G2753G846G71G1519G3925G2036G846G426G3148G2443G1921G1223G3739G156G2019G3779G2019G846 25When they tied Paul down to lash him, Paul said to the officer standing there, "Is it legal for you to whip a Roman citizen who hasn't even been tried?"G1161G5613G4385G4385G846G2438G3972G2036G4314G1543G2476G1487G1832G5213G3147G444G4514G2532G178 26When the officer heard this, he went to the commander and asked, "What are you doing? This man is a Roman citizen!"G1161G1543G191G4334G518G5506G3004G3708G5101G3195G4160G1063G3778G444G2076G4514 27So the commander went over and asked Paul, "Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?" "Yes, I certainly am," Paul replied.G1161G5506G4334G2036G846G3004G3427G1487G1488G4771G4514G1161G5346G3483 28"I am, too," the commander muttered, "and it cost me plenty!" Paul answered, "But I am a citizen by birth!"G5037G5506G611G4183G2774G2932G1473G5026G4174G1161G3972G5346G1161G1473G2532G1080 29The soldiers who were about to interrogate Paul quickly withdrew when they heard he was a Roman citizen, and the commander was frightened because he had ordered him bound and whipped.G3767G2112G868G575G846G3588G3195G426G846G1161G5506G2532G5399G1921G3754G2076G4514G2532G3754G2258G1210G846 30The next day the commander ordered the leading priests into session with the Jewish high council. He wanted to find out what the trouble was all about, so he released Paul to have him stand before them.G1161G1887G1014G1097G804G5101G2723G3844G2453G3089G846G575G1199G2532G2753G749G2532G3650G846G4892G2064G2532G2609G3972G2609G2476G1519G846
23Gazing intently at the high council, Paul began: "Brothers, I have always lived before God with a clear conscience!"G1161G3972G816G4892G2036G435G80G1473G4176G3956G18G4893G2316G891G5026G2250 2Instantly Ananias the high priest commanded those close to Paul to slap him on the mouth.G1161G749G367G2004G3936G846G5180G846G4750 3But Paul said to him, "God will slap you, you corrupt hypocrite! What kind of judge are you to break the law yourself by ordering me struck like that?"G5119G2036G3972G4314G846G2316G3195G5180G4571G2867G5109G2532G2521G4771G2919G3165G2596G3551G2532G2753G3165G5180G3891 4Those standing near Paul said to him, "Do you dare to insult God's high priest?"G1161G3936G2036G3058G2316G749 5"I'm sorry, brothers. I didn't realize he was the high priest," Paul replied, "for the Scriptures say, 'You must not speak evil of any of your rulers.'"G5037G5346G3972G1492G3756G80G3754G2076G749G1063G1125G2046G3756G2046G2560G758G4675G2992 6Paul realized that some members of the high council were Sadducees and some were Pharisees, so he shouted, "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, as were my ancestors! And I am on trial because my hope is in the resurrection of the dead!"G1161G3972G1097G3754G1520G3313G2076G4523G1161G2087G5330G2896G1722G4892G435G80G1473G1510G5330G5207G5330G4012G1680G2532G386G3498G1473G2919 7This divided the council—the Pharisees against the Sadducees—G1161G846G2980G5124G2980G1096G4714G5330G2532G4523G2532G4128G4977 8for the Sadducees say there is no resurrection or angels or spirits, but the Pharisees believe in all of these.G1063G3303G4523G3004G1511G3361G386G3366G32G3383G4151G1161G5330G3670G297 9So there was a great uproar. Some of the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees jumped up and began to argue forcefully. "We see nothing wrong with him," they shouted. "Perhaps a spirit or an angel spoke to him."G1161G1096G3173G2906G2532G1122G5330G3313G450G1264G3004G2147G3762G2556G1722G5129G444G1161G1487G4151G2228G32G2980G846G2313G3361G2313 10As the conflict grew more violent, the commander was afraid they would tear Paul apart. So he ordered his soldiers to go and rescue him by force and take him back to the fortress.G1161G1096G4183G4714G5506G2125G3361G3972G1288G5259G846G2753G4753G2597G726G846G726G1537G3319G846G5037G71G1519G3925 11That night the Lord appeared to Paul and said, "Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have been a witness to me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome as well."G1161G3571G1966G2962G2186G846G2036G2293G3972G1063G5613G1263G4012G1700G1519G2419G3779G1163G4571G3140G2532G1519G4516 12The next morning a group of Jews got together and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.G1161G1096G2250G5100G2453G4160G4963G332G1438G332G3004G5315G3383G5315G3383G4095G2193G3739G615G3972 13There were more than forty of them in the conspiracy.G1161G2258G4119G5062G3588G4160G5026G4945 14They went to the leading priests and elders and told them, "We have bound ourselves with an oath to eat nothing until we have killed Paul.G3748G4334G749G2532G4245G2036G332G1438G331G1089G3367G2193G3739G615G3972 15So you and the high council should ask the commander to bring Paul back to the council again. Pretend you want to examine his case more fully. We will kill him on the way."G3568G3767G5210G4862G4892G1718G5506G3704G2609G846G2609G4314G5209G839G5613G3195G1231G197G4012G846G1161G2249G4253G846G1448G2070G2092G337G846 16But Paul's nephew—his sister's son—heard of their plan and went to the fortress and told Paul.G1161G3972G79G5207G191G1749G3854G2532G1525G1519G3925G518G3972 17Paul called for one of the Roman officers and said, "Take this young man to the commander. He has something important to tell him."G1161G3972G4341G1520G1543G5346G520G5126G3494G4314G5506G1063G2192G5100G518G846 18So the officer did, explaining, "Paul, the prisoner, called me over and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you."G3767G3303G3880G846G71G4314G5506G2532G5346G3972G1198G4341G3165G2065G71G5126G3494G4314G4571G2192G5100G2980G4671 19The commander took his hand, led him aside, and asked, "What is it you want to tell me?"G1161G5506G1949G846G5495G2532G402G2596G2398G4441G5101G2076G3739G2192G518G3427 20Paul's nephew told him, "Some Jews are going to ask you to bring Paul before the high council tomorrow, pretending they want to get some more information.G1161G2036G3754G2453G4934G2065G4571G3704G2609G3972G839G1519G4892G5613G3195G4441G5100G4012G846G197 21But don't do it! There are more than forty men hiding along the way ready to ambush him. They have vowed not to eat or drink anything until they have killed him. They are ready now, just waiting for your consent."G3767G3982G3361G4771G3982G846G1063G1748G846G1537G846G4119G5062G435G3748G332G1438G332G5315G3383G5315G3383G4095G2193G3739G337G846G2532G3568G1526G2092G4327G1860G575G4675 22"Don't let anyone know you told me this," the commander warned the young man.G3303G3767G5506G630G3494G630G3853G1583G3367G3754G1718G5023G4314G3165 23Then the commander called two of his officers and ordered, "Get 200 soldiers ready to leave for Caesarea at nine o'clock tonight. Also take 200 spearmen and 70 mounted troops.G2532G4341G5100G1417G1543G2036G2090G1250G4757G3704G4198G2193G2542G2532G2460G1440G2532G1187G1250G575G5154G5610G3571 24Provide horses for Paul to ride, and get him safely to Governor Felix."G5037G3936G2934G2443G1913G3972G1913G1295G4314G5344G2232 25Then he wrote this letter to the governor.G1125G1992G4023G5126G5179 26"From Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings!G2804G3079G2903G2232G5344G5463 27"This man was seized by some Jews, and they were about to kill him when I arrived with the troops. When I learned that he was a Roman citizen, I removed him to safety.G5126G435G4815G5259G2453G2532G3195G337G5259G846G2186G4862G4753G1807G846G3129G3754G2076G4514 28Then I took him to their high council to try to learn the basis of the accusations against him.G1161G1014G1014G1097G156G1223G3739G1458G846G2609G846G2609G1519G846G4892 29I soon discovered the charge was something regarding their religious law—certainly nothing worthy of imprisonment or death.G3739G2147G1458G4012G2213G846G3551G1161G2192G3367G1462G514G2288G2228G1199 30But when I was informed of a plot to kill him, I immediately sent him on to you. I have told his accusers to bring their charges before you."G1161G3377G3427G5259G2453G1917G3195G1510G1519G435G3992G1824G4314G4571G3853G2725G2532G3004G1909G4675G4314G846G4517 31So that night, as ordered, the soldiers took Paul as far as Antipatris.G3767G3303G4757G2596G1299G846G353G3972G71G1223G3571G1519G494 32They returned to the fortress the next morning, while the mounted troops took him on to Caesarea.G1161G1887G1439G2460G4198G4862G846G5290G1519G3925 33When they arrived in Caesarea, they presented Paul and the letter to Governor Felix.G3748G1525G1519G2542G2532G325G1992G2232G3936G3972G2532G846 34He read it and then asked Paul what province he was from. "Cilicia," Paul answered.G1161G2232G314G2532G1905G1537G4169G1885G2076G2532G4441G3754G575G2791 35"I will hear your case myself when your accusers arrive," the governor told him. Then the governor ordered him kept in the prison at Herod's headquarters.G1251G4675G5346G3752G4675G2725G3854G2532G3854G5037G2753G846G5442G1722G2264G4232
Dublin, OH
and encouraged them. Then he said good-bye and left for Macedonia.G1161
