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:*[https://www.thoughtco.com/tiberius-roman-emperor-121262 '''Facts About the Roman Emperor Tiberius''', by N. S. Gill (thoughtco.com)] | :*[https://www.thoughtco.com/tiberius-roman-emperor-121262 '''Facts About the Roman Emperor Tiberius''', by N. S. Gill (thoughtco.com)] | ||
:*[https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/people-in-the-bible/new-testament-political-figures-the-evidence/ '''New Testament Political Figures: The Evidence''' Lawrence Mykytiuk (biblicalarchaeology.org)] | :*[https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/people-in-the-bible/new-testament-political-figures-the-evidence/ '''New Testament Political Figures: The Evidence''' Lawrence Mykytiuk (biblicalarchaeology.org)] | ||
− | :*[https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/hdn/t/tiberius. | + | :*[https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/hdn/t/tiberius.html '''Tiberius - Hastings Dictionary of the New Testament''' (studylight.org)] |
− | :*[https://www.studylight.org/ | + | :*[https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/isb/t/tiberius.html '''Tiberius - International Standard Bible Encyclopedia''' (studylight.org)] |
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Thirty-six
Chapter 36 | Bible texts |
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In these days, Peter stood up in the middle of the disciples (and the number of names was about one hundred twenty), and said, “Brothers, it was necessary that this Scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was guide to those who took Jesus. For he was counted with us, and received his portion in this ministry. Now this man obtained a field with the reward for his wickedness, and falling headlong, his body burst open, and all his intestines gushed out. It became known to everyone who lived in Jerusalem that in their language that field was called ‘Akeldama,’ that is, ‘The field of blood.’ For it is written in the book of Psalms,
and,
“Of the men therefore who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John, to the day that he was received up from us, of these one must become a witness with us of his resurrection.” They put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. They prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two you have chosen to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas fell away, that he might go to his own place.” They drew lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was counted with the eleven apostles. Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one accord in one place. Suddenly there came from the heaven a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under the heaven. When this sound was heard, the multitude came together and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language. They were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Behold, are not all these who speak Galileans? How do we hear, everyone in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians: we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!” They were all amazed, and were perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” Others, mocking, said, “They are filled with new wine.” But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke out to them, “You men of Judea, and all you who dwell at Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words. For these are not drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel:
“Men of Israel, hear these words! Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God to you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him among you, even as you yourselves know, him, being delivered up by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by the hand of lawless men, crucified and killed; whom God raised up, having freed him from the agony of death, because it was not possible that he should be held by it. For David says concerning him,
“Brothers, I may tell you freely of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, he would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, he foreseeing this spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that his soul was not left in Hades, and his flesh did not see decay. This Jesus God raised up, to which we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted by the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this, which you now see and hear. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself,
“Let all the house of Israel therefore know certainly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.” With many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand souls. They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer, and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen. Fear came on every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. All who believed were together, and had all things in common. They sold their possessions and goods, and distributed them to all, according as anyone had need. Day by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people. The Lord added to the Assembly day by day those who were being saved. Peter and John were going up into the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. A certain man who was lame from his mother’s womb was being carried, whom they laid daily at the door of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms for the needy of those who entered into the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive gifts for the needy. Peter, fastening his eyes on him, with John, said, “Look at us.” He listened to them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have no silver or gold, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!” He took him by the right hand and raised him up. Immediately his feet and his ankle bones received strength. Leaping up, he stood and began to walk. He entered with them into the temple, walking, leaping, and praising God. All the people saw him walking and praising God. They recognized him, that it was he who used to sit begging for gifts for the needy at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. They were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. As the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering. When Peter saw it, he responded to the people, “You men of Israel, why do you marvel at this man? Why do you fasten your eyes on us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made him walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up, and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had determined to release him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, to which we are witnesses. By faith in his name, his name has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which is through him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. “Now, brothers, I know that you did this in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But the things which God announced by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, so that there may come times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send Christ Jesus, who was ordained for you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God spoke long ago by the mouth of his holy prophets. For Moses indeed said to the fathers,
“Yes, and all the prophets from Samuel and those who followed after, as many as have spoken, they also told of these days. You are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘All the families of the earth will be blessed through your offspring.’ God, having raised up his servant Jesus, sent him to you first to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your wickedness.” As they spoke to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came to them, being annoyed because they taught the people and proclaimed in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. They laid hands on them, and put them in custody to the next day, for it was now evening. But many of those who heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to be about five thousand. In the morning, their rulers, elders, and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, with Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and as many as were relatives of the high priest. When they had stood Peter and John in the middle of them, they inquired, “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “You rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, if we are examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, may it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, this man stands here before you whole. He is ‘the stone which was regarded as worthless by you, the builders, which has become the head of the corner.’ There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that is given among men, by which we must be saved!” Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled. They recognized that they had been with Jesus. Seeing the man who was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, saying, “What shall we do to these men? Because indeed a notable miracle has been done through them, as can be plainly seen by all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But so that this spreads no further among the people, let us threaten them, that from now on they do not speak to anyone in this name.” They called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, judge for yourselves, for we cannot help telling the things which we saw and heard.” When they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people; for everyone glorified God for that which was done. For the man on whom this miracle of healing was performed was more than forty years old. Being let go, they came to their own company and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. When they heard it, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, “O Lord, you are God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who by the mouth of your servant, David, said,
“For truly, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together against your holy servant, Jesus, whom you anointed, to do whatever your hand and your council foreordained to happen. Now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of your holy Servant Jesus.” When they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were gathered together. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. The multitude of those who believed were of one heart and soul. Not one of them claimed that anything of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. With great power, the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Great grace was on them all. For neither was there among them any who lacked, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet, and distribution was made to each, according as anyone had need. Joses, who by the apostles was also called Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, Son of Encouragement), a Levite, a man of Cyprus by race, having a field, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira, his wife, sold a possession, and kept back part of the price, his wife also being aware of it, then brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the price of the land? While you kept it, did it not remain your own? After it was sold, was it not in your power? How is it that you have conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God.” Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and died. Great fear came on all who heard these things. The young men arose and wrapped him up, and they carried him out and buried him. About three hours later, his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in. Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” She said, “Yes, for so much.” But Peter asked her, “How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” She fell down immediately at his feet and died. The young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her by her husband. Great fear came on the whole Assembly, and on all who heard these things. By the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. They were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch. None of the rest dared to join them, however the people honored them. More believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women. They even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on cots and mattresses, so that as Peter came by, at the least his shadow might overshadow some of them. The multitude also came together from the cities around Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits: and they were all healed. But the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy and laid hands on the apostles, then put them in public custody. But an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors by night, and brought them out and said, “Go stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this Life.” When they heard this, they entered into the temple about daybreak and taught. But the high priest came, and those who were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. But the officers who came did not find them in the prison. They returned and reported, “We found the prison shut and locked, and the guards standing before the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside!” Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these words, they were very perplexed about them and what might become of this. One came and told them, “Behold, the men whom you put in prison are in the temple, standing and teaching the people.” Then the captain went with the officers, and brought them without violence, for they were afraid that the people might stone them. When they had brought them, they set them before the council. The high priest questioned them, saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? Behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man’s blood on us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed, hanging him on a tree. God exalted him with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins. We are his witnesses of these things; and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” But they, when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and were determined to kill them. But one stood up in the council, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, honored by all the people, and commanded to put the apostles out for a little while. He said to them, “You men of Israel, be careful concerning these men, what you are about to do. For before these days Theudas rose up, making himself out to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves. He was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were dispersed, and came to nothing. After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the enrollment, and drew away some people after him. He also perished, and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered abroad. Now I tell you, stay away from these men, and leave them alone. For if this counsel or this work is of men, it will be overthrown. But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow it, and you would be found even to be fighting against God!” They agreed with him. Summoning the apostles, they beat them and commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for Jesus’s name. Every day, in the temple and at home, they never stopped teaching and preaching Jesus, the Christ. Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, a complaint arose from the Hellenists against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily service. The twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not appropriate for us to forsake the word of God and serve tables. Therefore select from among you, brothers, seven men of good report, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will continue steadfastly in prayer and in the ministry of the word.” These words pleased the whole multitude. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch; whom they set before the apostles. When they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. The word of God increased and the number of the disciples greatly multiplied in Jerusalem. A great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. Stephen, full of faith and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. But some of those who were of the synagogue called “The Libertines”, and of the Cyrenians, of the Alexandrians, and of those of Cilicia and Asia arose, disputing with Stephen. They were not able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, and came against him and seized him, then brought him in to the council, and set up false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the law. For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place, and will change the customs which Moses delivered to us.” All who sat in the council, fastening their eyes on him, saw his face like it was the face of an angel. The high priest said, “Are these things so?” He said, “Brothers and Fathers, listen. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, and said to him, ‘Get out of your land and away from your relatives, and come into a land which I will show you.’ Then he came out of the land of the Chaldaeans and lived in Haran. From there, when his father was dead, God moved him into this land, where you are now living. He gave him no inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on. He promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his offspring after him, when he still had no child. God spoke in this way: that his offspring would live as aliens in a strange land, and that they would be enslaved and mistreated for four hundred years. ‘I will judge the nation to which they will be in bondage,’ said God, ‘and after that they will come out, and serve me in this place.’ He gave him the covenant of circumcision. So Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day. Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs. “The patriarchs, moved with jealousy against Joseph, sold him into Egypt. God was with him, and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. He made him governor over Egypt and all his house. Now a famine came over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction. Our fathers found no food. But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers the first time. On the second time Joseph was made known to his brothers, and Joseph’s race was revealed to Pharaoh. Joseph sent and summoned Jacob, his father, and all his relatives, seventy-five souls. Jacob went down into Egypt and he died, himself and our fathers, and they were brought back to Shechem, and laid in the tomb that Abraham bought for a price in silver from the children of Hamor of Shechem. “But as the time of the promise came close which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, until there arose a different king, who did not know Joseph. The same took advantage of our race, and mistreated our fathers, and forced them to throw out their babies, so that they would not stay alive. At that time Moses was born, and was exceedingly handsome. He was nourished three months in his father’s house. When he was thrown out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up and reared him as her own son. Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians. He was mighty in his words and works. But when he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel. Seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him who was oppressed, striking the Egyptian. He supposed that his brothers understood that God, by his hand, was giving them deliverance; but they did not understand. “The day following, he appeared to them as they fought, and urged them to be at peace again, saying, ‘Sirs, you are brothers. Why do you wrong one another?’ But he who did his neighbor wrong pushed him away, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? Do you want to kill me, as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’ Moses fled at this saying, and became a stranger in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons. “When forty years were fulfilled, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush. When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight. As he came close to see, a voice of the Lord came to him, ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ Moses trembled, and dared not look. The Lord said to him, ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you stand is holy ground. I have surely seen the affliction of my people that is in Egypt, and have heard their groaning. I have come down to deliver them. Now come, I will send you into Egypt.’ “This Moses, whom they refused, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’—God has sent him as both a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. This man led them out, having worked wonders and signs in Egypt, in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness for forty years. This is that Moses, who said to the children of Israel, ‘The Lord our God will raise up a prophet for you from among your brothers, like me.’ This is he who was in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel that spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, who received living revelations to give to us, to whom our fathers would not be obedient, but rejected him, and turned back in their hearts to Egypt, saying to Aaron, ‘Make us gods that will go before us, for as for this Moses, who led us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ "They made a calf in those days, and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their hands. But God turned, and gave them up to serve the army of the sky, as it is written in the book of the prophets, ‘Did you offer to me slain animals and sacrifices forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? You took up the tabernacle of Moloch, the star of your god Rephan, the figures which you made to worship. I will carry you away beyond Babylon.’ “Our fathers had the tabernacle of the testimony in the wilderness, even as he who spoke to Moses commanded him to make it according to the pattern that he had seen; which also our fathers, in their turn, brought in with Joshua when they entered into the possession of the nations, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers, to the days of David, who found favor in the sight of God, and asked to find a habitation for the God of Jacob. But Solomon built him a house. However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says,
“You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit! As your fathers did, so you do. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, of whom you have now become betrayers and murderers. You received the law as it was ordained by angels, and did not keep it!” Now when they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears, then rushed at him with one accord. They threw him out of the city and stoned him. The witnesses placed their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. They stoned Stephen as he called out, saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” He kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” When he had said this, he fell asleep. Saul was consenting to his death. A great persecution arose against the Assembly which was in Jerusalem in that day. They were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and lamented greatly over him. But Saul ravaged the Assembly, entering into every house and dragged both men and women off to prison. Therefore, those who were scattered abroad went around preaching the word. They went out, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by the signs that followed. Amen. |
Acts 1:15–2:42 Compare The Works of Flavius Josephus William Whiston, Translator, 1737 (sacred-texts.com) Early Christian Writings A.D. 30 through 380 (earlychristianwritings.com)
"...the mighty works of God !..." Acts 2:11.
"They are filled with new wine... these are not drunken, as you suppose" Acts 2:13-15.
"they were cut to the heart" Acts 2:37. An image suggestive of circumcision.
"The Lord added to the assembly day by day those who were being saved." Acts 2:47b WEB translation of Έκκλησία ecclesia.
"...the hour of prayer, the ninth hour." Acts 3:1.
"...Annas the high priest was there, with Caiaphas, John, Alexander..." Acts 4:6
"to do whatever your hand and your council foreordained to happen." Acts 4:28.
"Theudas rose up...After him Judas the Galilean" Acts 5:36-37.
"He said, “Brothers and Fathers, listen."
|
In those days, Peter stood amongst the disciples, and said to them (about one hundred twenty in all), "My brothers, the scripture needed to be fulfilled, which David prophesied by the Divine Guide, that Judas should should guide those who arrested Jesus. For he was one of us, and a part of our ministry. He purchased a field with the payment he received for his betrayal, and fell, bursting apart with his organs gushing out. All those who lived in Jerusalem knew these things, which is why that field is now called Aceldama, which in their language means 'the field of blood.' It is written in the book of Psalms, 'Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man live there', and 'his holy office be taken by another'. Therefore, out of these men, who have stood with us as long as the Lord Jesus came among us, from His baptism by John, to the day he was taken up from us, we must choose one to be ordained as one of us, witnesses of his resurrection."
Two were nominated, Joseph called Barabbas, also known as Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed, saying, "Lord, who knows the hearts of all men, show us which of these two you have chosen, so he may take his place in this ministry and his apostleship, which, due to his sins, Judas has left and gone to Hell."
And they drew lots, and the lot favored Matthias, and so he came to be counted with the other eleven apostles.
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place when suddenly there came a sound from heaven like a great wind, and it filled the whole house they were in. There appeared to them tongues of fire which separated and came upon each of them, and they were all filled with the Divine Guide, and began to speak other languages, as the Guide gave them the ability.
And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. At this time, there were Jews in Jerusalem from every nation under heaven, devout men all. When these things were heard about town, the crowds came together, and were amazed, because every man heard the apostles speak in his own language. And they marvelled, saying to one another, "Are not all these men who speak to us Galileans? Then how come each of us hear each of these men in our own language from our birthplace? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, Mesopotamians, Judeans, Cappadocians, those from Pontus and Asia, Phyrgia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the area around Cyrene in Libya, and Rome, Jews and gentiles, Cretans and Arabians, we all hear them speak in our own languages the wonderful works of God."
They all were amazed, and doubted their ears, saying to each other, "What could this mean?" Others mocked the apostles, saying, "These men are drunk!"
(Note: Conservative Bible translation avoids the actual words of the Bible text, "full of new wine", because of the teaching that new wine in the Bible is always non-alcoholic grape juice; but no one ever got drunk on grape juice.)
But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and said to the men, "Men of Judea, and all who are here in Jerusalem, hear me: For these men with me are not drunk as you might think, as it is only the third hour of the day. This is instead the fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel, 'It shall happen that in the last days,' said God, 'I will pour out my spirit upon all men, and your sons and daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men dream dreams. And on my servants and handmaidens I will pour my spirit, and they shall prophesy, and I will show wonders in heaven and signs on Earth, blood, fire, and smoke, the sun shall go dark and the moon turned to blood before the great day of the Lord comes, and whoever calls on the Lord shall be saved.'
"Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man who proved He was God with miracles and wonders and signs, which God did through Him while He was among you, as you know. Jesus, gifted to us with God's recommendation and prior knowledge, was taken by you, and crucified and murdered with the help of others; yet God raised Him up, casting off the pain of death, because it was impossible for death's grip to hold Jesus. David spoke about Him, 'I foresee the Lord at my side, on my right hand, that I shall not be dethroned, so my soul rejoiced and my voice filled with gladness, and my body can rest with hope. Because you won't leave my soul in hell, and you won't allow your Holy One to be corrupted. You have taught me the ways of Life and you will me joyful with your approval.'
"Men and brothers, I wish to speak freely to you about the Patriarch David. He is dead and buried and his tomb remains to this day. Being a prophet, he knew that God had promised him that as one of his own descendants, he would raise Christ to sit on his throne. When he saw this he talked about Christ's resurrection. His soul wasn't left in hell and his body didn't decay. God has raised Jesus up to heaven. We are all eyewitnesses of this.
"So, sitting exalted at God's right hand, and having received the promise of the Divine Guide from the Father, He has revealed this which you are seeing and hearing. Because David hasn't ascended into the heavens. Instead, he said, 'The Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand, until I make you a footstool out of your enemies.' So let all of Israel be certain that God has made Jesus himself, the man you crucified, Lord and Christ."
When the people heard this, their souls were touched, and they asked Peter and the apostles, "what should we do?"
Then Peter told them, "Every one of you should repent and get baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you'll receive the gift of the Divine Guide. Because the Promise is for you and your children, and your distant descendants, as many as our Lord God should call to him."
He continued to testify and compel them with a great variety of speech, "Save yourselves from this cursed generation."
The people who happily accepted his message were baptized. Three thousand souls were saved that very day. They steadfastly followed the apostles' doctrines and committed themselves to the fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer.
and were continuously in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.
They were all struck with fear, as the apostles performed incredible achievements and showed signs. Everyone who believed was together and shared values, faith, and the truth. They sold their possessions and gave them to others, as every man must, and continuing to practice their faith in the temple, breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with contentedness and a shared heart. They praised God, and were favored by all the people. And everyday the Lord added people who were saved to the church.
At 3 PM, the hour of prayer, Peter and John went into the temple together and a man who had been crippled since birth was carried to the "Beautiful" gate of the temple to ask change of those entering, as he was daily. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked for change. Peter stared at the man with John, and said, "Look at us."
The man looked, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, "I have neither silver nor gold, but I shall give you what I have: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk."
And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And the man leaped up, and walked with them into the temple, jumping and praising God. All the people saw him walking and praising God, and they knew that it was the beggar who sat at the "Beautiful" gate of the temple, and they were amazed at what had happened to him.
While the newly healed man looked at Peter and John, the other people congregated on Solomon's porch, amazed. Peter saw this, and asked them, "Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Why do you look at us so intently, as if it was by our own power that we made him walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and our fathers has given his son, Jesus Christ, great glory, the very man you turned over to Pilate, and denied mercy for when he was to be released. You denied the Holy and Just One, wanting to free a murderer. You killed the Prince of Life, who we have seen resurrected by God. Faith in the name of Jesus has healed this man, who is known to you. His sturdy faith has given him his stability in your presence.
"Brothers, I know you and your rulers have acted in ignorance. But all of the things which God told us about through the mouths of His prophets, especially that Christ would suffer, He has fulfilled. So repent and convert to the truth, so your sins may be obliterated when the Lord's presence brings a time of great refreshing. And He will send Jesus Christ, who they were talking about when they preached: 'he must stay in heaven until the times for setting everything right,' which God said through the mouth of every one of His holy prophets since the beginning of the world.
"Moses told the fathers, 'the Lord your God will bring you a prophet from your brothers, much like me. Listen to whatever he will tell you.' And it is certain that every person who closes his ears to that prophet will be destroyed. Yes, and all the prophets who have spoken since Samuel have foretold the same thing of this era. You are the prophets' children, part of the covenant God made with our fathers when He said to Abraham, 'all of the people descended from your seed will bless the earth.'
"Raising His son Jesus, God sent him to you in order to bless you, by turning all of you away from your sinful lifestyles."
While they were talking to the people, the priests, the skeptics, and the temple captain came to them. They were upset that they were teaching the people and preaching Jesus' doctrine that the dead would be resurrected. It was evening, and they seized them and imprisoned them until the following day. Nonetheless, many of the listeners opened their minds and believed, about five thousand men.
So the following day, the rulers, elders, writers, Annas, high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and many of the high priest's family gathered in Jerusalem. Bringing them out where all could see, they asked, "By whose authority, and in whose name have you been acting?"
Peter, filled with the Divine Guide, replied, "Rulers of the people, elders of Israel, if we're being scrutinized today for the charity we've done to this crippled man, newly made well, you should all understand, and so should all the Israelites, that it is through the power of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, who you crucified but God resurrected. Through him, this man stands healed. He is the stone which was valued as worthless by you builders, but has become the cornerstone. Salvation cannot be had through anyone else. There is no other name under heaven known to men with which we can be saved."
When the people saw the fortitude of Peter and John, and realized they were unschooled, untrained men, the elitists were staggered. They learned that they had been with Jesus. And as they saw the evidence of the cured man standing with them, they couldn't say anything to discredit it. But when he ordered them to leave the council, they discussed this among themselves, saying, "What should we do with these men? The great miracle they performed can be seen by everyone in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But we don't want this news to spread, so let's threaten them, so they won't speak to anyone else in the name of Jesus."
And they called them, and ordered them not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. Peter and John answered them, "Ask yourselves - is it right to listen to you instead of to God? We must talk about the things which we have seen and heard."
After further threatening Jesus' apostles, they let them go, because they couldn't find a way to punish them since the people of the city glorified God and were thankful for the miracle that was done. The man on whom the miracle was performed was older than forty. Once they were released, they returned among friends and explained what the chief priests and the elders had said.
After they heard it, they praised God with unanimity, "Lord, you are God. You have made heaven, earth, the oceans, and everything in them. You said through the mouth of your servant David, 'Why does the heathen rage and the people imagine petty things? The governments rose up together against the Lord God and against Christ.'
"It's true, Herod and Pontius Pilate and the gentiles and the Israelis got together and plotted against your holy, anointed son Jesus, to do what you had already determined would happen. Lord, look how they threaten! Please bless your servants with such courage that they will spread your truth. Stretch out your hand to heal men, and have awesome signs and wonders performed in Jesus' holy name."
After they had prayed, the place where they had congregated shook and they were filled up with the Divine Guide, so they went out and spoke God's truth with courage.
The crowd which believed had the same heart and mind. None of them claimed that any of their possessions were their own, but they held them together. The apostles testified to the resurrection of Lord Jesus with great fortitude, and all of them were blessed by grace. Nor was anyone impoverished, for those who owned property and houses sold them, and were generous with the money they made, presenting them to the apostles so they might be distributed among those who were needy. The Levite Joses, called Barnabas by the apostles (meaning "the son of consolation"), who was from Cyprus, owned land, so he sold it and brought the money he made to lay it before them.
Then a man named Ananias and his wife Sapphira sold something they owned, but they deceitfully kept some of the profit, while bringing the rest and giving it to the apostles. Peter demanded, "Ananias, why has Satan persuaded you to lie to the Divine Guide and keep some of the money for yourself? When you still possessed it, wasn't it yours? After you sold it, weren't you in charge of it? Why have you conspired to do this? You haven't lied to we men, but to God."
When Ananias heard this, he fell down, dead, and everyone watching was overcome by fear. The young men got up, wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him. About three hours later his wife came in, though she didn't know what had happened. Peter asked her, "Did you sell the land for this price?"
To which she replied, "Yes, for that price."
Peter then said, "Why have you agreed to tempt the Lord's Spirit? See them? They have buried your husband and will carry you out as well."
She too fell down at his feet, dead. The young entered to find her dead, and went to bury her with her husband. The people who saw this at the church, and those who heard about it were amazed and frightened.
The people saw the apostles perform many great wonders, all gathered at a place known as "Solomon's Porch." But no one else dared to join them, even though they were greatly honored. However, countless men and women came to believe in the Lord. They even brought the sick people into the streets on beds and couches so that they might at least see the shadow of Peter as he passed. Countless people also came from the cities near Jerusalem with their sick families and people suffering from dirty minds, and they were all healed of their affliction.
The high priest and those with him, his fellow skeptics, were furious at this, so they seized the apostles and threw them in jail. But the Lord's angel freed them during the night, and told them, "Go stand in the temple, and tell the people the true message of life!"
They went into the temple the next morning to teach. The high priest came with his fellows to call a council of Israel's senate. They called for the apostles to be brought from prison. The officers found that they had escaped, and told the council of this: "The prison was locked tight when we found it, and the jailers were on duty, but no one was inside the cell."
The high priest, captain of the temple, and the chief priests were troubled by this, not knowing what it entailed. Then a man stepped forward and said, "The men you imprisoned are in the temple right now, teaching the people."
The temple captain and his officers went to the temple and brought them back without being violent, since they feared the people might stone them. They brought them before the council, and the high priest said, "Didn't we command you not to teach in Jesus' name? Look, you're filling Jerusalem with your doctrines and want to blame us for this man's death."
But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God, not men. The God of our fathers reared Jesus, who you crucified and killed. God has honored him with a place at his right hand, and has made him Prince and Savior, forgiving Israel its sins, if it repents. We saw these things, as did the Divine Guide, which God give people who obey him."
The priests were appalled by this, and conspired to murder the apostles.
Gamaliel the Pharisee, knowledgeable in the law and well respected, stood and commanded that the apostles be put outside. He said "Men of Israel, be careful in deciding what to do with these men. Remember when Theudas, who boasted about his importance, rose up. Four hundred men joined him, and all were slain and scattered. It came to nothing. Then Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of taxation, and drew a mob after him. He too died, and they were all dispersed. So I advise you, leave these men alone and do not kill them. If their plot is man-made, it will come to nothing. If it's from God, however, you cannot stop it. Worse it will be if you fight against God."
They agreed with him, and after calling the apostles in and beating them, commanded them not to speak the name of Jesus, and set them free. So the apostles left the council, rejoicing that they were worthy enough to suffer for Jesus' name. And each day in the temple and every house they came to, they continued to teach and preach the name of Jesus Christ.
Back then, while the number of disciples grew at an incredible rate, some Grecians muttered about the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected by their activities. So the twelve called the throngs of disciples in and said, "it is not reasonable to abandon God's word and serve tables. So, brothers, find among yourselves seven men who are known to be honest, full of the Divine Guide and his wisdom, who we can put in charge of this. But we will continue to pray assiduously and do the ministry of the Lord's word."
This speech was well received by all, and they chose Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas (an evangelist from Antioch), who were full of faith and the Divine Guide. They brought them to the apostles, and after praying, put their hands on them. The word of God spread, and the number of disciples grew exponentially in Jerusalem, with a multitude of priests obedient and faithful.
Stephen, who was full of God's faith and power, performed great wonders and signs for the people. Some people from the synagogue of the Libertines, Cyrenians, Alexandrians, Cilicia and Asia, began arguing with Stephen. But they could not reproach the wisdom and the spirit of his words. So they paid men deceitfully claim, "We've heard him speak blasphemies against God and Moses."
They roused the mob, the elders, and the intellectuals, who seized him and brought him to the council. They brought perjurers, who claimed "He won't stop speaking blasphemies against this holy place and the law itself. We've heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this temple and change the very laws brought by Moses."
But those who were in the council, staring into his face, saw it was like the face of an angel.
The high priest asked, "Is this true?"
He replied, "Men, brothers, fathers, listen! Glorious God appeared to our father, Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he went to Charran, and said to him, 'Get out of your country, and away from your people, and go to the land which I'll show you.'
"So he left the land of the Chaldeans and stayed in Charran. Since then, when his father had died, he came to this land, where we now live.
"But God didn't let him inherit it, not even to set foot on. Instead, he promised it would be his to possess, and his children's after him, though he had none. God told him that his descendants would travel in a strange land and be enslaved and mistreated for four hundred years. 'I will the judge the nation which enslaves them,' said God. After they escape they will serve me here.'
"He gave them the circumcision law. So Abraham had a son, Isaac, and circumcised him when he was eight days old, and Isaac had a son, Jacob, from who descended the twelve patriarchs. But the jealous patriarchs sold Joseph as a slave in Egypt, but God stayed with him. God brought him safe from all of his trials, and blessed him with wisdom, which was seen by the Pharaoh of Egypt, who made Joseph governor of Egypt and his household.
"A famine swept over Egypt and Chanaan, and our forefathers were starved for lack of food. Jacob heard that there was a surplus of corn in Egypt, so he sent our fathers there.
"Then Joseph was revealed to his brothers again, and his family introduced to the Pharaoh. Then Joseph had his father brought to him with his extended family, seventy five people. So Jacob traveled to Egypt, and lived there, with our forefathers, until he died. He was carried to Sychem and laid in the tomb Abraham had purchased from Emmor's sons at a price.
"Once the time to make good God's promise to Abraham arrived, the population multiplied in Egypt, until another leader came to power, who didn't know Joseph. He deceived our people and convinced our fathers to do evil, so that they expelled their young children, submitting them to death. During this time, Moses was born and was very virtuous. His father raised him for 3 months.
"When he was expelled, the Pharaoh's daughter took him in, and raised him as her own son. Moses became wise in Egyptian knowledge, with great power of speech and action.
"When he was forty years old, he had a great desire to visit his brothers, the sons of Israel. Seeing one of them wrongly assaulted, he defended him, and killed the Egyptian who assaulted him. He thought his brothers would have realized by now that God was using him to save them, but they didn't, so the next day he came to them the next day as they worked and said 'Gentlemen, you are brothers, so why do you harm one another?'
"But the one harming his neighbor pushed him aside, saying, 'Who made you our king and court? Are you going to kill me, like you killed the Egyptian yesterday?'
"Moses ran when he heard this, and settled in the foreign land of Madian, and had two sons.
"Once forty years had passed, he saw an angel of the Lord appear in the desert around Sina in a blazing bush. When he saw it, he was awestruck, and when he walked closer, heard the Lord's voice: 'I am the God of your forefathers, of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.' Moses trembled, and didn't dare look up.
"Then God told him, 'Take off your shoes, because you're standing on holy ground. I've seen how my people are oppressed in Egypt, heard their cries, and have arrived to save them. Now, I'm sending you to Egypt.'
"To Moses, who they had sent away and said, 'Who made you our king and court,' God appeared as a burning bush, and guided with an angelic hand to rule over them and save them. He led them out of Egypt, after performing great signs and accomplishments in Egypt, at the Red Sea, and in the desert for forty years. This is the same Moses who told the sons of Israel that 'Lord God will give bring a profit from your brothers much like me, who you should listen to.'
"This is the man who was worshiping in the desert when an Angel came to him on Mount Sinai, who brought prophecies to us. This is the man our ancestors disobeyed and expelled, desiring the slavery of Egypt. They told Aaron, 'Build us some idols to take with us. But Moses, the man who saved us from Egypt, we don't care about him.' So they made a golden calf and offered it sacrifices, proud of what they had made.
"So God let them do as they wished, fulfilling prophecies: 'Nation of Israel, have you sacrificed animals to me during your forty years of wandering the desert? No. You prayed in Moloch's temples, and your false god Remphan's, idols you made just to worship. For this, I will take you past Babylon.'
"Our ancestors had a temple of faith in that desert, as God had told Moses to do, according to his building directions. Then our forefathers gave it up to the gentiles along with Jesus, and God threw them out in front of our forefathers, and it's been here since the time of David, who was blessed by God and wanted to find a temple for the God of Jacob. But it was Solomon who ended up building it."
"'But the Highest doesn't live in handmade temples,' said the prophet. 'My throne is heaven, but earth is my footstool. How can you possibly build me a house?' says the Lord, 'how will I rest there? Have I not made everything with my own hands?'"
"You closed-minded and rule-flaunting men, why do you resist the Divine Guide just like your fathers? Your fathers persecuted all of my prophets, didn't they? And they killed anyone who foretold the Just One's arrival. You have heard the law from the mouths of angels, but ignored it."
When the people heard this, their very souls were shaken, and looked on in frustration. But he was full of the Divine God, and saw God's glory in heaven, with Jesus standing on God's right hand. He said, "Look, I see the heavens open, and the Son of Man stands at God's right hand."
They shouted loudly, plugged their ears, and ran at him together. They threw him out of the city and stoned him. Those who witnessed it set their clothes at the feet of a young man, Saul. They stoned Stephen while he declared to God, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!"
He knelt and cried out, "Lord, don't blame them with this sin." He then passed away.
Saul agreed to his execution, and the Christians of Jerusalem were direly persecuted, just as those in the lands of Judaea and Samaria, though not the apostles. Faithful men carried Stephen to be buried, and wept over his body. But Saul acted tyrannically toward the church, dragging Christians from every house to throw them in prison, so the men scattered across the lands traveled preaching the gospel.
(Conservative Bible Mark 16:20 not translated. See Conservative Bible Mark 9-16 (Translated) Chapter 16 KJV.)
Thirty-seven
Chapter 37 | Bible texts |
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Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven, went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed to them the Christ. The multitudes listened with one accord to the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard and saw the signs which he did. For unclean spirits came out of many of those who had them. They came out, crying with a loud voice. Many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed. There was great joy in that city. But there was a certain man, Simon by name, who used to practice sorcery in the city, and amazed the people of Samaria, making himself out to be some great one, to whom they all listened, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is that great power of God.” They listened to him, because for a long time he had amazed them with his sorceries. But when they believed Philip preaching good news concerning God’s Kingdom and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Simon himself also believed. Being baptized, he continued with Philip. Seeing signs and great miracles occurring, he was amazed. Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit; for as yet he had fallen on none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of Christ Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give me also this power, that whomever I lay my hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.” But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Repent therefore of this, your wickedness, and ask God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.” Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that none of the things which you have spoken happen to me.” They therefore, when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the Good News to many villages of the Samaritans. But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise, and go toward the south to the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza, the desert road.” He arose and went; and behold, there was a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship. He was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah. The Spirit said to Philip, “Go near, and join yourself to this chariot.” Philip ran to him, and heard him reading aloud Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” He said, “How can I, unless someone explains it to me?” He begged Philip to come up and sit with him. Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this,
The eunuch answered Philip, “Who is the prophet talking about? About himself, or about someone else?” Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached to him Jesus. As they went on the way, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Behold, here is water. What is keeping me from being baptized?” And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he replied, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." He commanded the chariot to stand still, and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him any more, for he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus (anciently called Ashdod). Passing through, he preached the Good News to all the cities, until he came to Caesarea. Now you have heard of Saul's way of living in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure he persecuted the Assembly of God and ravaged it. He had advanced in the Jews’ religion beyond many of his own age among his countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of his fathers. But Saul, still breathing threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, about A.D. 36 went to the high priest, and asked for letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. We understand Saul's heart according to what is written by the sweet Psalmist of Israel in the Book of Psalms, one hundred nineteen. And we know the mercy of the Lord. (The scriptures are not open to the understanding of fools, nor are they read by those impatient to be entertained.)
As he traveled, he got close to Damascus, and suddenly a light from the sky shone around him. He fell on the earth, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” He said, “Who are you, Lord?” The Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise up, and enter into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the sound, but seeing no one. Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened, he saw no one. They led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. He was without sight for three days, and neither ate nor drank. Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!” He said, “Behold, it is me, Lord.” The Lord said to him, “Arise, and go to the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judah for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus. For behold, he is praying, and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in, and laying his hands on him, that he might receive his sight.” But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he did to your saints at Jerusalem. Here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go your way, for he is my chosen vessel to bear my name before the nations and kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name’s sake.” Ananias departed, and entered into the house. Laying his hands on him, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord, who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me, that you may receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he received his sight. Ananias said, “The God of our fathers has appointed you to know his will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth. For you will be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and heard. Now why do you wait? Arise, be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” He arose and was baptized. He took food and was strengthened. But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated him from his mother’s womb and called him through his grace to reveal his Son in him, that he might preach him among the Gentiles, he did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor did he go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before him, but he went away into Arabia. Then he returned to Damascus. Now about this same time Tiberius Caesar died, A.D. 37, and after him Gaius Caligula was made Emperor of Rome. Saul stayed several days with the disciples who were at Damascus. Immediately in the synagogues he proclaimed the Christ, that he is the Son of God. All who heard him were amazed, and said, “Is not this he who in Jerusalem made havoc of those who called on this name? And he had come here intending to bring them bound before the chief priests!” But Saul increased more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ. Then after three years, when many days were fulfilled, the Jews conspired together to kill him. In Damascus the governor under King Aretas guarded the Damascenes’ city, desiring to arrest him. But their plot became known to Saul. They watched the gates both day and night that they might kill him, but his disciples took him by night, and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket. He was let down in a basket through a window by the wall, and escaped his hands. Then he went up to Jerusalem to visit Peter. When Saul had come to Jerusalem, when he had returned to Jerusalem, he tried to join himself to the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus; and he stayed with Peter, who is also called Cephas, fifteen days. But of the other apostles he saw no one except James, the Lord’s brother. He was with them entering into Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus. He spoke and disputed against the Hellenists, but they were seeking to kill him. The brothers heard it. And while Saul prayed in the temple, he fell into a trance, and saw Jesus saying to him, “Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not receive testimony concerning me from you.” He said, “Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue those who believed in you. When the blood of Stephen, your witness, was shed, I also was standing by, consenting to his death, and guarding the cloaks of those who killed him.’ He said to Saul, “Depart, for I will send you out far from here to the Gentiles.” When the brothers knew it, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him off to Tarsus. So the assemblies throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace, and were built up. They were multiplied, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit. Then Saul came to the regions of Syria and Cilicia. He was still unknown by face to the assemblies of Judea which were in Christ, but they only heard: “He who once persecuted us now preaches the faith that he once tried to destroy.” So they glorified God in him. He testifies that he knew a man in Christ, (whether in the body, he does not know, or whether out of the body, he does not know; God knows), such a one caught up into the third heaven. He knows such a man (whether in the body, or outside of the body, he does not know; God knows), how he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. On behalf of this man he will boast, but on his own behalf he will not boast, except for his own weaknesses. As Peter went throughout all those parts, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years, because he was paralyzed. Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed!” Immediately he arose. All who lived at Lydda and in Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which when translated, means Dorcas, which means, Gazelle. This woman was full of good works and acts of mercy which she did. In those days, she became sick, and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. As Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them. Peter got up and went with them. When he had come, they brought him into the upper room. All the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them. Peter sent them all out, and knelt down and prayed. Turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. He gave her his hand, and raised her up. Calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. He stayed many days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon. Now there was a certain man in Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man, and one who feared God with all his house, who gave alms for the needy generously to the people, and always prayed to God. At about the ninth hour of the day, he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God coming to him, and saying to him, “Cornelius!” He, fastening his eyes on him, and being frightened, said, “What is it, Lord?” He said to him, “Your prayers and your gifts to the needy have gone up for a memorial before God. Now send men to Joppa, and get Simon, who is also called Peter. He lodges with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the seaside.” When the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier of those who waited on him continually. Having explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa. Now on the next day as they were on their journey, and got close to the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray at about noon. He became hungry and desired to eat, but while they were preparing, he fell into a trance. He saw heaven opened and a certain container descending to him, like a great sheet let down by four corners on the earth, in which were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, reptiles, and birds of the sky. A voice came to him, “Rise, Peter, kill and eat!” But Peter said, “Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” A voice came to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed, you must not call unclean.” Again he saw heaven opened and a certain container descending to him, like a great sheet let down by four corners on the earth, in which were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, reptiles, and birds of the sky. A voice came to him, “Rise, Peter, kill and eat!” But Peter said, “Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” A voice came to him again, “What God has cleansed, you must not call unclean.” Again he saw heaven opened and a certain container descending to him, like a great sheet let down by four corners on the earth, in which were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, reptiles, and birds of the sky. A voice came to him, “Rise, Peter, kill and eat!” But Peter said, “Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” A voice came to him again, “What God has cleansed, you must not call unclean.” This was done three times, and immediately the vessel was received up into heaven. Now while Peter was very perplexed in himself what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood before the gate, and called and asked whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was lodging there. While Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men seek you. But arise, get down, and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.” Peter went down to the men, and said, “Behold, I am he whom you seek. Why have you come?” They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous man and one who fears God, and well spoken of by all the nation of the Jews, was directed by a holy angel to invite you to his house, and to listen to what you say.” So he called them in and provided a place to stay. On the next day Peter arose and went out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. On the next day they entered into Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his relatives and his near friends. When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell down at his feet, and worshiped him. But Peter raised him up, saying, “Stand up! I myself am also a man.” As he talked with him, he went in and found many gathered together. He said to them, “You yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man who is a Jew to join himself or come to one of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean. Therefore also I came without complaint when I was sent for. I ask therefore, why did you send for me?” Cornelius said, “Four days ago, I was fasting up to this hour, and at the ninth hour, I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer is heard, and your gifts to the needy are remembered in the sight of God. Send therefore to Joppa, and summon Simon, who is also called Peter. He lodges in the house of a tanner named Simon, by the seaside. When he comes, he will speak to you.’ Therefore I sent to you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God to hear all things that have been commanded you by God.” Peter opened his mouth and said, “Truly I perceive that God does not show favoritism; but in every nation he who fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him. The word which he sent to the children of Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all—you yourselves know what happened, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; even Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses of everything he did both in the country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they also killed, hanging him on a tree. God raised him up the third day, and gave him to be revealed, not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen before by God, to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that this is he who is appointed by God as the Judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him, that through his name everyone who believes in him will receive remission of sins.” While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the word. They of the circumcision who believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was also poured out on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in other languages and magnifying God. Then Peter answered, “Can anyone forbid these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just like us.” He commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay some days. Now the apostles and the brothers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. When Peter had come up to Jerusalem, those who were of the circumcision contended with him, saying, “You went in to uncircumcised men, and ate with them!” But Peter began, and explained to them in order, saying, “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision: a certain container descending, like it was a great sheet let down from heaven by four corners. It came as far as me. When I had looked intently at it, I considered, and saw the four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, creeping things, and birds of the sky. I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter, kill and eat!’ But I said, ‘Not so, Lord, for nothing unholy or unclean has ever entered into my mouth.’ But a voice answered me the second time out of heaven, ‘What God has cleansed, you do not call unclean.’ This was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven. Behold, immediately three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent from Caesarea to me. The Spirit told me to go with them, without discriminating. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered into the man’s house. He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and saying to him, ‘Send to Joppa, and get Simon, who is called Peter, who will speak to you words by which you will be saved, you and all your house.’ As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as on us at the beginning. I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit.’ If then God gave to them the same gift as us, when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I could withstand God?” When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life!” They therefore who were scattered abroad by the oppression that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews only. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. The report concerning them came to the ears of the Assembly which was in Jerusalem. They sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch, who, when he had come, and had seen the grace of God, was glad. He exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they should remain near to the Lord. For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, and many people were added to the Lord. Barnabas went out to Tarsus to look for Saul. When he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they were gathered together with the Assembly, and taught many people. The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. Tiberius Caesar had already died A.D. 37, and after him Gaius Caligula had become Emperor of Rome. This was about the time of Saul's conversion. Then four years later Caligula died by assassination A.D. 41, and the Praetorian Guard made Claudius emperor. Now in these days, prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them named Agabus stood up, and indicated by the Spirit that there should be a great famine all over the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius. As any of the disciples had plenty, each determined to send relief to the brothers who lived in Judea; which they also did, sending it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. Now about that time, King Herod stretched out his hands to oppress some of the Assembly. He killed James, the brother of John, with the sword. When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This was during the days of unleavened bread. When he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover. Peter therefore was kept in the prison, but constant prayer was made by the Assembly to God for him. The same night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. Guards in front of the door kept the prison. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side, and woke him up, saying, “Stand up quickly!” His chains fell off from his hands. The angel said to him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” He did so. He said to him, “Put on your cloak, and follow me.” And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he saw a vision. When they were past the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them by itself. They went out, and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. When Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I truly know that the Lord has sent out his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from everything the Jewish people were expecting.” Thinking about that, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. When Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a maid named Rhoda came to answer. When she recognized Peter’s voice, she did not open the gate for joy, but ran in, and reported that Peter was standing in front of the gate. They said to her, “You are crazy!” But she insisted that it was so. They said, “It is his angel.” But Peter continued knocking. When they had opened, they saw him, and were amazed. But he, beckoning to them with his hand to be silent, declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. He said, “Tell these things to James, and to the brothers.” Then he departed, and went to another place. Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter. When Herod had sought for him, and did not find him, he examined the guards, and commanded that they should be put to death. He went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there. Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus, the king’s personal aide, their friend, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food. On an appointed day, Herod dressed himself in royal clothing, sat on the throne, and gave a speech to them. The people shouted, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died. But the word of God grew and multiplied. Herod Agrippa I had ruled A.D. 41-44. His son Herod Agrippa II succeeded him. Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their service, also taking with them John who was called Mark. Now in the assembly that was at Antioch there were some prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen the foster brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they served the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Separate Barnabas and Saul for me, for the work to which I have called them.” Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia. From there they sailed to Cyprus. When they were at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. They had also John as their attendant. When they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar Jesus, who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of understanding. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul, and sought to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn aside the proconsul from the faith. But Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fastened his eyes on him, and said, “Full of all deceit and all cunning, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? Now, behold, the hand of the Lord is on you, and you will be blind, not seeing the sun for a season!” Immediately a mist and darkness fell on him. He went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. Then the proconsul, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord. Now Paul and his company set sail from Paphos, and came to Perga in Pamphylia. John departed from them and returned to Jerusalem. But they, passing on from Perga, came to Antioch of Pisidia. They went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and sat down. After the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, speak.” Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen. The God of this people chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they stayed as aliens in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm, he led them out of it. For a period of about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness. When he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land for an inheritance, for about four hundred fifty years. After these things he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. Afterward they asked for a king, and God gave to them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. When he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, to whom he also testified, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’ From this man’s offspring, God has brought salvation to Israel according to his promise, before his coming, when John had first preached the baptism of repentance to Israel. As John was fulfilling his course, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. But behold, one comes after me the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’ Brothers, children of the stock of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, the word of this salvation is sent out to you. For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know him, nor the voices of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him. Though they found no cause for death, they still asked Pilate to have him killed. When they had fulfilled all things that were written about him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead, and he was seen for many days by those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses to the people. We bring you good news of the promise made to the fathers, that God has fulfilled the same to us, their children, in that he raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second psalm,
“Concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he has spoken thus: ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’ Therefore, he says also in another psalm, ‘You will not allow your Holy One to see decay.’ For David, after he had in his own generation served the counsel of God, fell asleep, and was laid with his fathers, and saw decay. But he whom God raised up saw no decay. Be it known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man is proclaimed to you remission of sins, and by him everyone who believes is justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. Beware therefore, lest that come on you which is spoken in the prophets:
So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. Now when the synagogue broke up, many of the Jews and of the devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas; who, speaking to them, urged them to continue in the grace of God. The next Sabbath almost the whole city was gathered together to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with jealousy, and contradicted the things which were spoken by Paul, and blasphemed. Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, and said, “It was necessary that God’s word should be spoken to you first. Since indeed you thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. For so has the Lord commanded us, saying,
As the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of God. As many as were appointed to eternal life believed. The Lord’s word was spread abroad throughout all the region. But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, and stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and threw them out of their borders. But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came to Iconium. The disciples were filled with joy with the Holy Spirit. In Iconium, they entered together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of Jews and of Greeks believed. But the disbelieving Jews stirred up and embittered the souls of the Gentiles against the brothers. Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who testified to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. But the multitude of the city was divided. Part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles. When some of both the Gentiles and the Jews, with their rulers, made a violent attempt to mistreat and stone them, they became aware of it, and fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra, Derbe, and the surrounding region. There they preached the Good News. At Lystra a certain man sat, impotent in his feet, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked. He was listening to Paul speaking, who, fastening eyes on him, and seeing that he had faith to be made whole, said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet!” He leaped up and walked. When the multitude saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voice, saying in the language of Lycaonia, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” They called Barnabas “Jupiter”, and Paul “Mercury”, because he was the chief speaker. The priest of Jupiter, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and would have made a sacrifice along with the multitudes. But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of it, they tore their clothes, and sprang into the multitude, crying out, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to the living God, who made the sky and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them; who in the generations gone by allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. Yet he did not leave himself without witness, in that he did good and gave you rains from the sky and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” Even saying these things, they hardly stopped the multitudes from making a sacrifice to them. But some Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there, and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul, and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But as the disciples stood around him, he rose up, and entered into the city. On the next day he went out with Barnabas to Derbe. When they had preached the Good News to that city, and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, confirming the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that through many afflictions we must enter into God’s Kingdom. When they had appointed elders for them in every assembly, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed. They passed through Pisidia, and came to Pamphylia. When they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. From there they sailed to Antioch, from where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work which they had fulfilled. When they had arrived, and had gathered the assembly together, they reported all the things that God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith to the nations. This was about A.D. 44. They stayed there with the disciples for a long time. About A.D. 50, some men came down from Judea and taught the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised after the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small discord and discussion with them, they appointed Paul and Barnabas, and some others of them, to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question. They, being sent on their way by the assembly, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles. They caused great joy to all the brothers. Paul later testified, "I know a man in Christ, who fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I do not know, or whether out of the body, I do not know; God knows), such a one caught up into the third heaven. I know such a man (whether in the body, or outside of the body, I do not know; God knows), how he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter." "Then after a period of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus also with me. I went up by revelation, and I laid before them the Good News which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately before those who were respected, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain." When they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the Assembly and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all things that God had done with them. But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.” Paul wrote of this afterward to the churches of Galatia, saying, "But not even Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. This was because of the false brothers secretly brought in, who stole in to spy out the liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage, to whom we gave no place in the way of subjection, not for an hour, that the truth of the Good News might continue with you." The apostles and the elders were gathered together to see about this matter. When there had been much discussion, Peter rose up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that a good while ago God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the nations should hear the word of the Good News, and believe. God, who knows the heart, testified about them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just like he did to us. He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. Now therefore why do you tempt God, that you should put a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are.” All the multitude kept silence, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul reporting what signs and wonders God had done among the nations through them. After they were silent, James answered, “Brothers, listen to me. Simeon has reported how God first visited the nations, to take out of them a people for his name. This agrees with the words of the prophets. As it is written,
“Therefore my judgment is that we do not trouble those from among the Gentiles who turn to God, but that we write to them that they abstain from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood. For Moses from generations of old has in every city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.” Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole assembly, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brothers. They wrote these things by their hand:
Paul wrote later of what followed, saying, "But from those who were reputed to be important—whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God does not show partiality to man—they, I say, who were respected imparted nothing to me, but to the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the Good News for the uncircumcised, even as Peter with the Good News for the circumcised—for he who worked through Peter in the apostleship with the circumcised also worked through me with the Gentiles—and when they perceived the grace that was given to me, James and Cephas and John, those who were reputed to be pillars, gave to Barnabas and me the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcision. They only asked us to remember the poor—which very thing I was also zealous to do." So, when they were sent off, they came to Antioch. Having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter. When they had read it, they rejoiced over the encouragement. Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers with many words, and confirmed them. After they had spent some time there, they were sent back with greetings from the brothers to the apostles. But it seemed good to Silas to remain there. But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. Paul later wrote, “When Peter came to Antioch, I resisted him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before some people came from James, he ate with the Gentiles. But when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they did not walk uprightly according to the truth of the Good News, I said to Peter before them all, ‘If you, being a Jew, live as the Gentiles do, and not as the Jews do, why do you compel the Gentiles to live as the Jews do? “ ‘We, being Jews by nature, and not Gentile sinners, yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law, because no flesh will be justified by the works of the law. But if while we sought to be justified in Christ, we ourselves also were found sinners, is Christ a servant of sin? Certainly not! For if I build up again those things which I destroyed, I prove myself a law-breaker. For I, through the law, died to the law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me. I do not reject the grace of God. For if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nothing!’ ” But afterward, when he had grown in maturity, Paul said to those in Corinth, “To the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law. To the weak I became as weak, that I might gain the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some.” He also said, “Give no occasion for stumbling, whether to Jews, or to Greeks, or to the assembly of God; even as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of the many, that they may be saved.” This is what Peter was doing. And Paul said to those in Rome, “Now accept one who is weak in faith, but not for disputes over opinions. One man has faith to eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. Do not let him who eats despise him who does not eat. Do not let him who does not eat judge him who eats, for God has accepted him. Who are you who judge another’s servant? To his own lord he stands or falls. Yes, he will be made to stand, for God has power to make him stand. One man esteems one day as more important. Another esteems every day alike. Let each man be fully assured in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks. He who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. For none of us lives to himself, and none dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord. Or if we die, we die to the Lord. If therefore we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died, rose, and lived again, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written,
So then each one of us will give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another any more, but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block in his brother’s way, or an occasion for falling. I know, and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean of itself; except that to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.” He also said, “It is good to not eat meat, drink wine, nor do anything by which your brother stumbles, is offended, or is made weak. Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not judge himself in that which he approves.” “Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each one of us please his neighbor for that which is good, to be building him up.” This is what Peter was doing. Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. |
Acts 8:5–40 Compare
The Works of Flavius Josephus William Whiston, Translator, 1737 (sacred-texts.com) Early Christian Writings A.D. 30 through 380 (earlychristianwritings.com)
"...there was a certain man, Simon by name, who used to practice sorcery in the city" Acts 8:9.
"This man is that great power of God." Acts 8:10
"he met an Ethiopian" Acts 8:26-39. Apparently an Ethiopian Jew of Beta Israel.
"the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians" Acts 8:27. This is a ruling title, not a name.
"Philip opened his mouth" Acts 8:35.
"Now you have heard of Saul's way of living in time past in the Jews’ religion..." Acts 9:1; Galatians 1:13-14.
"We understand Saul's heart according to what is written..." Psalm 119
"(The scriptures are not open to the understanding of fools, nor are they read by those impatient to be entertained.)"
"They led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus." Acts 9:8.
"you will be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and heard" Acts 22:15.
"Arise, be baptized, and wash away your sins Acts 22:16b.
"Italian Regiment" Acts 10:1.
"He saw heaven opened...This was done three times" Acts 10:9-16.
"the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the word...They of the circumcision who believed were amazed." Acts 10:44-45.
"But it seemed good to Silas to remain there." Acts 15:34.
A.D. 33-44. Apostolic Christian tradition in the East and the West holds that Mary the mother of Jesus "having completed the course of her life on earth" was taken body and soul into heaven by her son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
"abstain...from what is strangled, and from blood." Acts 15:20. The Gospels nowhere show that Jesus taught this doctrine.
"When Peter came to Antioch, I resisted him to his face, because he stood condemned." Galatians 2:11 ff.
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Philip traveled the city of Samaria, where he preached Christ's message. There, the people had unity of mind, and listened to Philip's words, seeing the signs he showed them. Dirty spirits, wailing out, left the souls of the possessed, and many suffering from epilepsy and the disabled were healed. So the city was filled with joy.
Yet a man named Simon, who had amazed Samaria's citizens with his black magic, claimed that he was a great man. The people respected him, from the low to the high, and said, "This man is powerful through God!"
They always paid attention to him because he had amazed them with magic. Even so, they accepted Philip's preaching about the Kingdom of God, and they were baptized in Jesus Christ's name, man and woman alike! Simon also believed and was baptized. He traveled with Philip, and was amazed by the great deeds and signs he performed.
While the apostles were in Jerusalem, they heard that Samaria had heard God's word, and sent Peter and John to the city. When they arrived, they prayed the citizens would accept the Divine Guide. (As they were only baptized in Lord Jesus' name, and hadn't received the Guide yet) They placed their hands upon them and they accepted the Divine Guide.
Simon, seeing that this was how the Divine Guide was bestowed, offered to pay them. He said, "I want this power too, to be able to give anyone the Divine Guide by placing my hands."
Peter replied, "Your money will die with you, since you think God's gifts can be purchased with mere cash. You don't have a stake or part to play in this matter, since your heart is poor in God's sight. Repent for your sinfulness and pray to God that he might forgive your wicked thoughts. Because I see you are bitter and drowning in sin."
Simon answered, "Pray to the Lord for me, that none of what you mentioned will happen to me."
So the apostles, finished testifying and preaching the Lord's message, returned to Jerusalem and preached in the Samaritan villages.
One of God's angels said to Philip, "Get up and travel south along the road from Jerusalem to the Gaza desert."
So he got up and went, and what did he find but an Ethiopian eunuch with great authority under their queen, Candace. He was in charge of her treasury and had come to Jerusalem to worship. He was returning home, sitting in his chariot reading the prophet Isaiah. The Divine Guide said told Philip, "Get closer. Follow this chariot."
Philip ran toward him and heard him reading from Isaiah, and said "Do you understand that?"
The man replied, "How could I without someone to guide me?"
He motioned Philip to sit beside him. The scripture he was reading was, "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, like a dumb lamb to be sheared, his mouth closed. He was humiliated and had no justice. No one will ever mention his descendants, as he died."
The eunuch answered, "Who is the prophet talking about? Himself? Someone else?"
Philip began at the same verse and preached the message of Jesus. As they traveled, they reached a body of water. The Eunuch said, "Here's some water. Why can't I be baptized here?"
Philip replied, "If you believe with your whole heart, you can!" He answered, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."
He halted the chariot and they went over to the water, and Philip baptized him. As they were coming out of the water, the Divine Guide transported Philip away, so the Eunuch no longer saw him, but he went along rejoicing. Philip was found in Azotus, and he kept preaching in the cities along the way to Caesarea.
You have head of my behavior in the past, as a Jew, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure, and wasted it; and I rose in the ranks of the Jewish religious establishment, above many of my equals in my own nation, because I was more zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
Saul was still issuing threats and murdering Jesus' disciples, and he went to his high priest. He wanted letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that they might capture any men or women who followed this new Way and bring them to Jerusalem under arrest.
(Psalm 119 Conservative Bible has not been translated. See Conservative Bible Psalms 111-120 (Translated) Psalm 119 KJV )
He was traveling toward Damascus when a bright light from heaven shone around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying, "Saul, why do you persecute me?"
He replied, "Who are you, Lord?"
The Lord replied, "I am the Jesus you persecute. "
Trembling and amazed, he said, "Lord, what do you want me to do?"
The Lord replied, "Get up and go to the city, and you'll be told what to do."
The men traveling with him were speechless as they could hear voice but saw no man. Saul got up from the ground. When he opened his eyes, he saw no man. They led him along to Damascus. He was blind for three days and fasted.
Ananias, a Christian disciple in Damascus, had a vision from God: "Ananias!"
He replied, "Yes, Lord?"
Lord God told him, "Get up and go into the Straight road, and ask at the house of Judas for Saul of Tarsus. He is praying, and he has had a vision of a man named Ananias entering, laying his hands, and restoring his sight."
Ananias replied, "Lord, I've heard stories about him, about the evil things he's done to your saints in Jerusalem! The chief priests gave him the power here to arrest anyone who calls on your name."
The Lord replied, "Go do it. He's a chosen messenger for me, to take my name among the Gentiles, and their leaders, and the Israelites. I will show him what great ordeals he will pass through for me."
Ananias entered the house and laid his hands on him, saying, "Brother Saul, Lord Jesus, who appeared to you along the road, has sent me to restore your sight and fill you with the Divine Guide."
Saul's sight was immediately restored as if his eyes had been scaly.
And he said, "The God of our fathers has chosen you, that you should know His will, and see that Just One, and hear the Voice of His mouth. For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. And now what are you waiting for? Get up, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, and call on the Name of the Lord."
He got up and was baptized. He ate some meat and was stronger.
But when it pleased God, who had separated me from my peers before I left the womb, and called me by His grace, to reveal His Son to me, that I might preach His word among the heathens; immediately I abandoned with flesh and blood. I did not go up to Jerusalem to confer with those who had been apostles before me; instead, I went into Arabia, and returned to Damascus.
Saul stayed with the disciples in Damascus for several days.
He immediately preached Christ's word in the temples, that he is God's Son. His listeners were amazed, "Isn't this the man who killed Christians in Jerusalem, and was coming here to haul them back to the chief priests?"
Saul grew in his faith and angered the Damascus Jews by proving Christ was Lord.
Then after three years
After a number of days, the Jews plotted to kill him.
In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas guarded the city of the Damacenes in order to capture me. But Saul knew of their trap, so they waited night and day to kill him. The disciples snuck him out by night, letting him down a wall in a basket.
But I escaped his hands by being let down the wall through a window in a basket.
I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter,
Saul came to Jerusalem, and wanted to join the disciples, but they were afraid, and didn't believe he was a disciple. However, Barnabas brought him before the apostles and declared how he had seen Jesus on the road, and spoken to him, and preached with great power in Damascus in Jesus' name.
and lived with him for fifteen days. But I saw no other apostles, except James, brother of the Lord.
So he joined them in their journeys through Jerusalem.
He spoke openly the name of Lord Jesus and debated against the Grecians, though they sought to kill him.
And it happened that when I had gotten back to Jerusalem, even while I was praying in the Temple, I was in a trance,...and saw him saying to me, 'Hurry and get quickly out of Jerusalem! They won't receive your evidence concerning Me.' And I said, 'Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat those who believed in You in every synagogue.' When the blood of your witness Stephen was shed, I was standing there, too, and going along with his death, and held the coats of those who killed him.'
He told me, 'Depart. I am sending you far away from here to the Gentiles.'
When the brothers heard of this, they took him to Caesarea and sent him to Tarsus. After this, the churches in Judaea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and grew stronger, always amazed by the Lord, comforted by the Divine Guide, and multiplying.
I know a follower of Christ who ... was caught up to the third heaven (whether in the body or out of the body, I can't tell; God only knows) and I know that this man (whether in the body or out of the body, I can't tell; God only knows) was snatched up into paradise and heard unspeakable words which man is not allowed to say.
Afterwards, I came into the regions of Syria, and Cilicia, and was not known by my face to the Christian churches of Judea; but they had heard, that he who persecuted us in the past now preached the faith he once destroyed. And because of me, they glorified God.
It came to pass that as Peter was traveling through all the lands, he also came down to the saints who lived at Lydda. There he found a certain man, Aeneas by name, who had been a bedridden chronic paralytic for eight years. Peter told him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ is making you whole. Get up and make your bed."
And he got up at once. Everyone who lived at Lydda and Saron saw him and turned to the Lord.
In Joppa there lived a certain disciple named Tabitha, whose name translates as Dorcas in Greek. This woman had earned a great reputation for good and charitable works. She happened in those days to fall sick and die. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.
Because Lydda was close to Joppa, and the students of the Way had heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent to men to meet him and ask him to come to them without delay. Peter got up and went with them. When he had come, they brought him into the upper room. All the widows stood by him, weeping and showing him the coats and garments that Dorcas used to make when she was with them. But Peter ushered them all outside, and knelt down and prayed. He then turned to the body and said, "Tabitha, get up."
And she opened her eyes. When she saw Peter, she sat up. He gave her his hand, and lifted her up. Then when he had called the saints and widows, he reintroduced her to them as a living person. This became known throughout all of Joppa, and many people came to believe in the Lord.
He happened to stay for many days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon.
A certain man lived in Caesaria, named Cornelius, a centurion of the Italian cohort. He was a devout man, and one who feared God together with his entire household. He gave a great many charitable donatives to the people, and prayed to God all the time. At about three hours after noon he saw plainly, in a vision, a Messenger of God coming to him, and saying to him, "Cornelius."
When he looked at him, he was afraid, and said, "What is it, Lord?"
And he told him, "Your prayers and your charitable efforts have come up for a memorial before God. Now send some men to Joppa, and call for a man named Simon, who is surnamed Peter. He is staying with a tanner named Simon; his house is by the shore. He will tell you what you need to do."
When the Messenger who had spoken to Cornelius had left, he called two members of his household staff, and a devout soldier who was accustomed to wait on him. When he had given him the message, he sent him to Joppa.
The next day, as they were on their way, and coming close to the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray at about the noon hour. He became very hungry, and wished to eat. But while they were getting dinner ready, he fell into a trance. He saw the sky open up, and a vessel come down to him, looking like a great sheet tied at the four corners, and let down to the ground. In it were all sorts of four-footed animals, wild animals, creeping things, and birds. A voice came to him, saying, "Peter, get up, kill, and eat."
Peter said, "No, Lord! I have never eaten anything common or unclean."
The voice spoke to him again, saying, "What God has made clean, don't you call common."
This sequence repeated itself three times; each time the vessel was taken back into the sky.
While Peter was puzzling with himself what this vision he had seen might mean, the delegation from Cornelius had asked after Simon's house, and were now standing in front of the gate. They called and asked whether Simon, also known as Peter, was staying there. While Peter was thinking about the vision, the Holy Spirit told him, "Look! Three men are looking for you. So get up, and go downstairs, and go with them. Don't ask questions. I have sent them."
Then Peter went down to meet the men sent to him from Cornelius, and said, "Look, I'm the man you're looking for. What is your reason for coming?"
They said, "Cornelius the centurion, who is a just man, and a man who fears God, and has an excellent reputation among the Jewish nation, was given a warning from God by a holy Messenger to send for you to come to his house, and hear you say some words to him."
He invited them to come in and stay awhile. The next day Peter went away with them, and certain brothers from Joppa went together with him. On the day after that, they crossed into Caesaria.
Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet and worshipped him. Peter lifted him up, saying, "Stand up; I am a man, too."
He talked with him, and went in, and found many people who had gathered together. He told them, "You realize that it is against regulations for a Jewish man to keep company or to go into the house of a Gentile. But God showed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. So I came in here without protest, as soon as I was sent for. Now I ask you: why did you send for me?"
Cornelius said, "Four days ago I was fasting until this time of day. Three hours after noon I was praying in my house, and I looked and saw a man standing before me in bright clothing. He was saying, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your charitable giving has been remembered in the sight of God. So send to Joppa, and call here Simon, also known as Peter; he is staying in the house of a tanner named Simon, by the shore. When he comes, he will speak to you.' So I sent for you at once, and it is well that you have come. So now here we are, all present before God, to hear all the things that God has ordered you to tell us."
Peter opened his mouth, saying, "Truly I see that God is no Respecter of persons. In every nation, anyone who fears Him and does just works is accepted by Him. The Word that He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ, This One Who is Lord of all, you know that Word, that was published throughout all of Judea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism that John preached: how God invested Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good deeds, and healing everyone who was devil-possessed, because God was with Him. We are [direct] witnesses of all the things that He did in the Jewish country, and in Jerusalem. They had him killed and hanged on a tree. Then God raised him up on the third day, and showed Him openly, but not to all the people, but to witnesses preselected by God, and in fact to us, for we ate and drank with Him after he had risen from the dead. He told us to preach to the people, and to testify that He is the One Who was ordained by God to be the Judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testified about Him: through His name, any person who believes in Him will receive remission of sins."
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who were hearing the Word. The circumcised ones who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out also on Gentiles. They had heard them speak in new languages, and magnify God. Then Peter said in answer, "Can any man forbid water, so that these people cannot be baptized? They have received the Holy Spirit exactly as we did."
He then ordered them to be baptized in the Name of God. They then asked him to stay with them for several days. The Apostles and the brethren in Judea heard that Gentiles had also received the word of God. When Peter came up to Jerusalem, the ex-Jews argued with him. They said, "You went into a house with uncircumcised men, and ate with them."
Peter gave them a complete summary of the case from the beginning, and explained it to them in chronological order: "I was in the city of Joppa praying. In a trance I saw a vision of a certain vessel coming down, like a great sheet let down from the sky by its four corners, and it came straight to me. When I fixed my eyes on it, I looked, and saw four-footed land animals, and wild animals, and creepers, and birds. I heard a voice telling me, 'Get up, Peter, kill, and eat.' So I said, 'No, Lord! Nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth!' But the voice answered me again from the sky, 'What God has made clean, don't you call common.' This happened three times, and each time everything was drawn back up into the sky. And just then, three men had already come into the house where I was staying, sent from Caesaria to me. The Spirit told me to go with them, and not to ask questions. In fact, these six brothers went with me, and we walked into the man's house. He told us that he had seen a Messenger in the house, and he had stood and told him, 'Send some men to Joppa, and call for Simon, also known as Peter. He will say some words to you, and by those words you and all your household will be saved.' So as I started to talk, the Holy Spirit fell on them, as it had on us at the beginning. Then I remembered the Word of the Lord, how He said, 'John indeed baptized with water, but you will be baptized by the Holy Spirit.' So, seeing that God gave them the same gift that he gave us, after they believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to oppose God in this?"
When they heard these things, they stopped arguing, and glorified God, saying, "Then God has also granted life-giving repentance to the Gentiles!"
Now those who had been scattered abroad with the persecution that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but Jews only. Some of these were Cypriots and Cyrenians. When they came to Antioch, they spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. The hand of the Lord was with them, and great number believed and turned to the Lord.
News of these things came to the church in Jerusalem. They sent Barnabas with a commission to go as far as Antioch. When he came, and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and exhorted all of them to cling to the Lord with a heartfelt purpose. He was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. Many people were added to the Lord.
Then Barnabas left for Tarsus, looking for Paul. When he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. It came about that they assembled themselves with the church for an entire year, and taught many people. The students of Jesus were first called Christians in Antioch.
In these days, prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. A man named Agabus stood up, and signified through the Spirit that a great famine would occur throughout all the Roman world. This came to pass during the Principate of Claudius I. Then the students, each according to his ability, decided to send help to the brethren who lived in Judea. They did this, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
At about that time, King Herod Agrippa I moved his hand to do mischief to certain members of the church. He had James the brother of John executed by the sword. Because he saw that this pleased the Jews, he went further and had Peter arrested. (He did this during the Unleavened Bread Days.) When he had arrested him, he threw him into prison, and appointed four four-man squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after Passover to bring him out before the people. For that reason Peter was incarcerated, but non-stop prayer was made by the church to God for him.
When Herod would have had him brought out, that same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, chained with two chains, and the guards at the door were guarding the prison house. And amazingly, the Messenger of the Lord came on him, and a light shone within the prison. He slapped Peter on his side, and roused him, saying, "Get up quickly." And his chains fell off his hands. The Messenger told him, "Put on a belt, and tie your sandals." He did so. Then [the Messenger] told him, "Throw your garment around you, and follow men."
He went out, and followed him, and did not realize that the thing that the Messenger was doing was real; he thought he was seeing things. When they were past the first and second cellblocks, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city. That gate opened to them all by itself, and they went out, and passed on through one street. At once the Messenger left him. When Peter came to himself, he said, "Now I know absolutely that the Lord has sent His Messenger, and has rescued me from the hand of Herod, and from everything that the Jewish people expected him to do to me."
When he had thought about it, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John Mark, where they were gathered together praying. As Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a young woman, named Rhoda, came to listen. When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so glad that instead of opening the gate, she rand back in and told everybody that Peter was standing in front of the gate. They told her, "You're crazy!"
But she continued to say that it was true. Then they said, "It must be his angel."
But Peter continued to knock. When they opened the door, and saw him, they were amazed. He, motioning to them with his hand to keep quiet, narrated to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, "Go and show these things to James, and to the brothers." He left, and went into another place.
Now when the day broke, there was no small commotion among the soldiers, as to what had become of Peter. When Herod sought for him, and did not find him, he interrogated the guards, and ordered them put to death. He then went down from Judea to Caesaria, and stayed there.
Herod was boiling-hot angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They came with one purpose to him. After they had made a friend of Blastus the king's chamberlain, they sued for peace, because their country depended on Herod's country for supplies.
On a scheduled day Herod, dressed in his royal robes, sat on his throne, and made an oration to them. The people gave a shout, saying, "This is the voice of a god, not of a man!"
At once the Messenger of the Lord struck him down, because he had not given God the glory. He was stricken with a parasitic worm disease and died. And the Word of God grew and multiplied.
Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had accomplished their mission. They took John Mark with them.
There were certain prophets and teachers at the church in Antioch, such as Barnabas, Simeon, who was also called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, who was raised with King Herod, and Saul. As they served in the Holy Spirit's ministry and fasted, the Holy Spirit said "Appoint for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work for which I called them."
And they departed after they fasted, prayed, and laid their hands on them. They having been sent forth by the Holy Spirit, they went to Seleucia and sailed to Cyprus. And when they were at Salamis, they preached the Word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had John as their preacher. When they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain warlock, a lying prophet, who happened to be Jewish. His name was Bar-jesus. He was with the proconsul of the country, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul was a prudent man, and he called for Barnabas and Saul and wished to hear the word of God. But Elymas the warlock (for that is how his name translates into Greek) opposed them, because he wanted to turn the proconsul away from the faith. Then Saul (who is also named Paul), filled with the Holy Spirit, turned his eyes onto him, and said, "You who are full of all treachery and unscrupulousness, you devil's spawn, you enemy of all righteousness, when are you going to stop trying to twist the right ways of the Lord? Look you: the Hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will go blind, and will not see the sun for a season."
And at once a mist and a darkness fell upon the warlock, and he went around looking for people to lead him by the hand. Then the proconsul, when he saw what had been done, believed, because he was amazed at the teachings of the Lord. When Paul and his entourage embarked from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia. John, who left them, went back to Jerusalem. And when they left Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and sat down. After the reading of the law and the prophets, the synagogue leaders sent to them, saying, "You men and brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, you may say it now."
Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand, said, "Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen to me. The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and lifted high the people when they were living as foreigners in the land of Egypt, and with a high arm brought them out of it. He then put up with their conduct for about forty years in the desert. When He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he divided their land to them by a lottery. After that, he gave them Judges for about four hundred fifty years, until Samuel the prophet. After that, they wanted a king, and God gave them King Saul son of Kish, a man from the Tribe of Benjamin, for a forty-year span. When he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king. He also gave David a direct witness, and said, 'I have found David son of Jesse to be a man after My own heart, who shall fulfill My will.' And from this man's descendants God, according to His Promise, raised up for Israel a Savior, Jesus, when John the Baptist had first preached before His coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. As John fulfilled his role, he said, 'Whom do you think I am? I am not He. Someone is coming after Me, and I am not worthy so much as to take His shoes off!'
"Men and brothers, sons of the stock of Abraham, and whoever among you fears God, the Word of this salvation is sent to you! They who are living at Jerusalem, and their leaders, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the prophets that are read on every Sabbath day—they have fulfilled them by condemning Him. Though they found no grounds for execution in HIm, they still asked Pontius Pilate to have him executed. When they had fulfilled everything that was written about Him, they took Him down from the cross, and put Him in a tomb. But God raised Him from the dead. And he was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem. These are His witnesses to the people.
"We declare glad tidings to you: that the Promise that was made to the fathers,...God has fulfilled that same Promise to Us, their children, because He has raised up Jesus again. And it is also written in the second Psalm: 'You are My Son; this day I have sired You.' And about His raising-up of Jesus from the dead, never again to return to corruption, He said this: 'I will give you the certain mercies of David.' And for that reason He also says in another psalm, 'You will not permit Your Holy One to see corruption.' On the one hand, David, after he had served in his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, and was buried with his father, and saw corruption. But He, Whom God raised up again, saw no corruption.
"Understand this, then, men and brothers, that through This Man the forgiveness of sins is preached to you. By Him all persons who believed are acquitted from all things, from which you could never be acquitted by the Law of Moses. So watch out, and make sure that this does not happen to you, that is spoken about in the prophetic writings. 'Behold, you despisers, and wonder, and perish! I am working a work in your days, a work that you will not believe for a moment, even if a man spells it out for you.'
When they had gone out of the synagogue, they asked that these words might also be preached to them on the next Sabbath. Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and worshipping proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas. When they spoke to them, they persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
On the next Sabbath day almost the entire city came together to hear the Word of God. But when the Jews saw these great crowds, they became jealous, and started speaking against these things that had been spoken by Paul, contradicting and hurling insults. Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold, and said, "It was necessary for the Word of God to be spoken first to you. But now that you are putting it away from you, and are judging yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, we are turning to the Gentiles. The Lord gave us this instruction, saying, 'I have sent you to be a light of the Gentiles, that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.'"
When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the Word of the Lord. As many as were ordained to eternal life, believed. The word of the Lord was published throughout the entire region. But the Jews incited the devout and honorable women, and the leading men of the city, and raised a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their coastal areas. But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came to Iconium.
The students were filled with joy, and with the Holy Spirit. It came to pass in Iconium, that they both went together into the Jewish synagogue, and spoke so powerfully that a great multitude of both Jew and Greek believed. The unbelieving Jews incited the Gentiles, and influenced their minds to think evil against the brothers. So they stayed for a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, Who gave testimony to the Word of His grace, and granted that they do signs and wonders by their hands.
But the crowd in the city was split. Part of it held with the Jews, and part with the Apostles. When an attempt was made, both from the Gentiles, and from the Jews with their leaders, to insult them and stone them, they found out about it, and fled to Lystra and Derbe, two cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region, and there they preached the Gospel.
A certain man in Lystra was sitting, with paralyzed feet. He had been a cripple from his mother's womb, and had never walked. This person heard Paul speak, and when Paul looked at him steadily and realized that he had enough faith to be healed, he said with a loud voice, "Stand up on your feet."
And he leaped up and walked. When the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian dialect, "The gods have come down to us, looking like men!"
They called Barnabas Zeus and Paul Hermes, because Paul was the chief spokesman. Then the flamen Dialis, who was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and was preparing to do sacrifice with the people. When the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard about it, they tore their clothes, and ran in among the people, and cried out, "Gentlemen, why are you doing these things? We are men, too, with the same passions you have! We are preaching to you that you should turn away from these vanities to the Living God, Who made the sky, the earth, the sea, and everything in them! In times past, He permitted all nations to walk in their own ways,...But he never left himself without a witness. He did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful season, and filled our hearts with food and gladness."
By saying these things they restrained the people, so that they did not sacrifice to them.
Then there came certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium. They won the people over, and they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, thinking that he was dead. But while his students were standing around him, Paul got up and came into the city. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe. When they had preached the gospel in that city, and had taught many people, they came back to Lystra, and Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of their students, and encouraging them to continue in the faith, and that we must enter into the Kingdom of God through a great oppression.
When they had ordained elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on Whom they believed.
After they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. Then they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia. From there they sailed to Antioch, from where they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work that they accomplished.
When they had come, and had gathered the church together, they reviewed everything that God had done with them, and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. They stayed there for a long time with their students.
Then several men who came down from Judea started teaching the brothers, saying, "Unless you have yourselves circumcised after the fashion of Moses, you cannot be saved."
So when Paul and Barnabas had no small dispute and controversy with them, they decided that Paul and Barnabas, and certain others from among their number, should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders and lay this controversy before them. They were brought on their way by the church, and passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles. They caused great joy to all the brothers.
I know a follower of Christ who, fourteen years ago, was caught up to the third heaven (whether in the body or out of the body, I can't tell; God only knows) and I know that this man (whether in the body or out of the body, I can't tell; God only knows) was snatched up into paradise and heard unspeakable words which man is not allowed to say.
Fourteen years later, I went to Jerusalem again with Barnabas and Titus. I went according to God's revelation, and gave them the gospel I preach to the Gentiles, but privately to those of reputation, so I wouldn't be running in vain.
When they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church, and by the apostles and elders, and they declared all the things that God had done with them. But certain believing members of the sect of the Pharisees rose up and said, "We have to circumcise them, and instruct them to keep the law of Moses."
Titus, who was with me, wasn't required to be circumcised because he was Greek. Some false brothers were secretly brought in, to spy on the freedom we have through Jesus Christ and try to capture us. We weren't held back by them for a moment, so you might always keep the truth of the gospel.
The apostles and elders came together in order to consider the case. After much debate, Peter rose up, and said to them, "Men and brothers, you know that a good while ago God made a choice among us, so that the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel by my mouth, and believe. God, Who knows the hearts of men, bore witness to them, and gave them the Holy Spirit, the same as he did for us. He put no difference between us and them, and made their hearts clean by faith. So why are you putting God to the test, to put a yoke on the neck of the students of God, which neither our ancestors nor we were able to bear? To the contrary, we believe that through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ we will be saved, the same as they will."
Then the whole crowd kept quiet, and listened to Barnabas and Paul, who declared what miracles and wonders God had worked among the Gentiles through them. After they had listened quietly, James said in answer, "Men and brothers, listen to me: Simon has declared how God at first visited the Gentiles, to take from among them a people for His Name. The words of the prophets agree with this, as it stands written: 'After these things I will come back, and build once again the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down, and I will build its ruins again, and I will erect it,...so that the rest of mankind might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, on whom My Name is called, says the Lord, Who does all these things.' All His works are known to God since the beginning of the world. So I make this verdict: that we don't trouble those people who are turned to God from among the Gentiles. Instead, we write to them, and ask them to abstain from defilement with idols, from sexual immorality, from eating anything strangled, and from eating blood. Moses originally had in every city those who preach him and read him in the synagogues on every Sabbath."
Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, were pleased to send chosen men from among their own number to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, specifically Judas Barsabbas and Silas, ranking men among the brothers. They wrote letters by them to this effect: "From the apostles and elders and brothers, to the brothers who come from the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings: We have heard that certain men went out from us and disturbed you with words and subverted your souls, saying, 'You must be circumcised, and keep the law.' We gave them no such instruction. It seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,...men who have risked their lives for the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. So we have sent Judas and Silas, who will also tell you the same things by word of mouth. It has seemed good to us by the Holy Spirit, and to us, not to burden you any more than with these necessary things: that you abstain from eating anything sacrificed to an idol, and from eating blood, and from eating strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. If you can keep yourselves from these things, you will do well. Farewell."
Those who seemed important (it doesn't matter to me, because God doesn't care about men's status) didn't add anything to what I said. However, they discovered I was preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised, just like Peter had been charged to. (Since God brought Peter to preach to the Jews with great strength, and did the same with me to preach to the Gentiles) When James, Cephas, and John, strong like pillars, saw the grace God had given me, they joined Barnabas and me in fellowship, so we could go among the gentiles and they among the Jews. They asked that we keep the poor in mind, and I did the same.
So when they were sent away, they came to Antioch. When they had gathered the crowd together, they delivered the letter. When they had read it, they rejoiced for the consolation that it offered. Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets as well, encouraged the brothers with many words, and strengthened them.
After they had stayed there for a while, they were allowed to go in peace from the brothers to the apostles. But Silas was pleased to stay longer. Paul also stayed in Antioch with Barnabas, teaching and preaching the Word of the Lord, with many others as well.
When Peter came to Antioch, I disagreed with him to his face, because he was wrong. Since before some men from James had come, he had eaten with Gentiles. But after they arrived, he segregated himself, avoiding the Jews. Other Jews joined him this unworthy behavior, and even Barnabas was carried away by it. When I saw they weren't living true to the Gospel, I told Peter in front of them, "If you, a Jew, live like a Gentile and not a Jew, how can you tell Gentiles to live like Jews?
"We are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners, know that a man is not justified by legalistic actions, but by faith in Jesus Christ. Since we believe in Jesus Christ, we are justified by our faith in Christ, and not legalistic works, because no body is justified by merely observing rules. If, while we desire to be purified by Christ, we are found to be sinners, is Christ logically a preacher of sin? God forbid such thought. If I rebuild what I destroyed, I show I am a criminal. Through the law, I am dead to the law, so I can live for God. I am crucified with Christ, and yet I live. But it's not I, but Christ who lives in me. The life I live and the body I live in are from faith in God's Son, because he loves me and sacrificed himself for me. So I don't harm God's grace. If merely following rules brings righteousness, Christ died in vain."
To the Jews, I became like a Jew so that I could win over the Jews; to those who observe the Mosaic law, I lived according to the law so that I could win over those who observe. To those who don't observe the Mosaic law, I lived without it (not that I'm actually not subject to God's law, since I'm bound to the law by Christ) so that I could win over the non-observant. To the weak, I behaved as if I were weak so that I could win over the weak. I am all things to all men so that I can by all means save some.
Make sure that your conscience is clear, to the Jews, the Greeks, and to the church of God, for the same reason that I please men in all things, and do not look after my own profit, but the profit of many, so that they might be saved.
Receive him who is weak in the faith, but not for a pointless dialog. One man might believe that he may eat anything he likes. Another, who is weak, eats only herbs. He who eats everything should not despise him who does not eat—and he who does not eat should not judge him who eats. God has welcomed him. Who are you to judge another man's house servant? He stands or falls to his own master. In fact, he will be made to stand up, because God can make him stand. One man rates one day as more important than another, and another man rates every day the same. Let each man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He who regards the day, regards it to the Lord. He who does not regard the day, to the Lord he does not regard it. He who eats, eats for the Lord, because he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. For none of us lives for himself, and no man dies for himself. For whether we live, we live to the Lord; and whether we die, we die to the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. For this is why Christ both died, and rose up, and lived again, so that He might be Lord of the dead and of the living.
But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you regard your brother as nothing? We are all going to stand in front of the tribunal of Christ. For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord,l every knee will bow to Me, and every tongue will confess to God." So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. So let us not judge each other any longer. Instead, judge this: no man should trip his brother up, or set him up to fail. I know, and have it on the authority of the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean in and of itself. But if any man regards a thing as unclean, then it is unclean to him.
It is a good thing neither to eat meat, or drink the fruit of the vine, or anything by which your brother might stumble, or be offended, or be weakened. Do you have faith? Have it for yourself in front of God. He is happy who does not condemn himself in whatever he allows himself.
So we, who are strong, ought to sustain the infirmities of the weak, and not please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbor, for his good for the purpose of building-up.
Paul also stayed in Antioch with Barnabas, teaching and preaching the Word of the Lord, with many others as well.
Thirty-eight
Chapter 38 | Bible texts |
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About this time Paul wrote the following letter:
Barnabas planned to take John, who was called Mark, with them also. But Paul did not think that it was a good idea to take with them someone who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia, and did not go with them to do the work. Then the contention grew so sharp that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him, and sailed away to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas, and went out, being commended by the brothers to the grace of God. He went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the assemblies. He came to Derbe and Lystra: and behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewess who believed; but his father was a Greek. The brothers who were at Lystra and Iconium gave a good testimony about him. Paul wanted to have him go out with him, and he took and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts; for they all knew that his father was a Greek. As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered the decrees to them to keep which had been ordained by the apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem. So the assemblies were confirmed in the faith, and increased in number daily. When they had gone through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. When they had come opposite Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not allow them. Passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. A vision appeared to Paul in the night. There was a man of Macedonia standing, begging him, and saying, “Come over into Macedonia and help us.” When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go out to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the Good News to them. Setting sail therefore from Troas, we made a straight course to Samothrace, and the day following to Neapolis; and from there to Philippi, which is a city of Macedonia, the foremost of the district, a Roman colony. We were staying some days in this city. On the Sabbath day we went outside of the city by a riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down, and spoke to the women who had come together. A certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, one who worshiped God, heard us; whose heart the Lord opened to listen to the things which were spoken by Paul. When she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and stay.” So she persuaded us. As we were going to prayer, a certain girl having a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much gain by fortune telling. Following Paul and us, she cried out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us a way of salvation!” She was doing this for many days. But Paul, becoming greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” It came out that very hour. But when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. When they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men, being Jews, are agitating our city, and advocate customs which it is not lawful for us to accept or to observe, being Romans.” The multitude rose up together against them, and the magistrates tore their clothes off of them, and commanded them to be beaten with rods. When they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely, who, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison, and secured their feet in the stocks. But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were loosened. The jailer, being roused out of sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!” He called for lights, sprang in, fell down trembling before Paul and Silas, brought them out, and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” They spoke the word of the Lord to him, and to all who were in his house. He took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes, and was immediately baptized, he and all his household. He brought them up into his house, and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, with all his household, having believed in God. But when it was day, the magistrates sent the sergeants, saying, “Let those men go.” The jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go; now therefore come out, and go in peace.” But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly, without a trial, men who are Romans, and have cast us into prison! Do they now release us secretly? No, most certainly, but let them come themselves and bring us out!” The sergeants reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans, and they came and begged them. When they had brought them out, they asked them to depart from the city. They went out of the prison, and entered into Lydia’s house. When they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them, and departed. Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. Paul, as was his custom, went in to them, and for three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” Some of them were persuaded, and joined Paul and Silas, of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and not a few of the chief women. But the unpersuaded Jews took along some wicked men from the marketplace, and gathering a crowd, set the city in an uproar. Assaulting the house of Jason, they sought to bring them out to the people. When they did not find them, they dragged Jason and certain brothers before the rulers of the city, crying, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here also, whom Jason has received. These all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus!” The multitude and the rulers of the city were troubled when they heard these things. When they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go. The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Beroea. When they arrived, they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of the mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. Many of them therefore believed; also of the prominent Greek women, and not a few men. But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Beroea also, they came there likewise, agitating the multitudes. Then the brothers immediately sent out Paul to go as far as to the sea, and Silas and Timothy still stayed there. But those who escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens. Receiving a commandment to Silas and Timothy that they should come to him very quickly, they departed. Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw the city full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who met him. Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also were conversing with him. Some said, “What does this babbler want to say?” Others said, “He seems to be advocating foreign deities,” because he preached Jesus and the resurrection, in Greek, Iesus and Anastasis. They took hold of him, and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is, which is spoken by you? For you bring certain strange things to our ears. We want to know therefore what these things mean.” Now all the Athenians and the strangers living there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell or to hear some new thing. Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus, and said, “You men of Athens, I perceive that you are very religious in all things. For as I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ What therefore you worship in ignorance, this I announce to you. The God who made the world and all things in it, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands, neither is he served by men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself gives to all life and breath, and all things. He made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the surface of the earth, having determined appointed seasons, and the boundaries of their dwellings, that they should seek the Lord, if perhaps they might reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. ‘For in him we live, and move, and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also his offspring.’ Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold, or silver, or stone, engraved by art and design of man. The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked. But now he commands that all people everywhere should repent, because he has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he has ordained; of which he has given assurance to all men, in that he has raised him from the dead.” Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked; but others said, “We want to hear you again concerning this.” Thus Paul went out from among them. But certain men joined with him, and believed, among whom also was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them. After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth. He found a certain Jew named Aquila, a man of Pontus by race, who had recently come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome. He came to them, and because he practiced the same trade, he lived with them and worked, for by trade they were tent makers. He reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded Jews and Greeks. But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. When they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook out his clothing and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am clean. From now on, I will go to the Gentiles!” He departed there, and went into the house of a certain man named Justus, one who worshiped God, whose house was next door to the synagogue. Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his house. About this time Paul wrote the following letter:
He lived there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. About this time Paul wrote the following letter:
The Gospel According to Matthew chapters 1 through 14 |
Galatians Compare
The Works of Flavius Josephus William Whiston, Translator, 1737 (sacred-texts.com) Early Christian Writings A.D. 30 through 380 (earlychristianwritings.com)
CHRONOLOGY OF THE ACTS AND EPISTLES OF THE NEW TESTAMENT See the following articles:
MULTIPLE PROTESTANT COMMENTARIES ON WRITINGS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT(Biblehub.com)
Catholic Encyclopedia Articles on Epistles of the New Testament in chronological sequence:
Orthodox Encyclopedia Articles on Apostles who wrote Gospels and Epistles of the New Testament:
"before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly portrayed among you as crucified" Galatians 3:1. The first use of a crucifix.
"I bear the marks of the Lord Jesus branded on my body. Galatians 6:17.
He went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the assemblies. Acts 15:41.
"and he took and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts" Acts 16:3. This is a striking change in Paul.
"... who proclaim to us a way of salvation!” Acts 16:17. A clever demonic deceit.
"Jesus and the resurrection, in Greek, Iesus and Anastasis." Acts 17:18 amplified.
"as a father does his own children" 1 Thessalonians 1:11. This text is Paul's initial claim to the title "father".
In the Middle Ages especially, compassionate and godly priests were seen as "fathers of the poor", fathers of those destitute unfortunates who gratefully addressed them as "Father". U.S. Military personnel according to a long-standing informal tradition frequently address their chaplains respectfully as "Padre", Spanish for "Father", whether or not they believe in Christ.
In the New Testament, faithful followers of Christ's teachings address men as "fathers", but never as "my father". ("It was good for the first apostles, and it's good enough for me.") According to the Reformation principle of sola scriptura, the removal or omission of any word in a translation of a text of the Bible for the sake of supporting a particular doctrinal interpretation violates Revelation 22:19. "to confirm you, and to comfort you concerning your faith" 1 Thessalonians 3:1
"no one should take advantage of and wrong a brother" 1 Thessalonians 4:6. Paul includes women as brothers in Christ.
"The dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever." 1 Thessalonians 4:16b-17.
"when they are saying, “Peace and safety,” then sudden destruction will come on them" 1 Thessalonians 5:3
"the day of Christ...will not be, unless the apostasy comes first" 2 Thessalonians 2:2-3.
"Now it was about this time that Matthew first proclaimed the Gospel in Hebrew and committed it to writing, before he departed to preach to other nations." —end of chapter.
The Gospel According to Matthew. See the following articles:
Note to the Reader:
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From Paul, an apostle not of men, or appointed by men, but made an apostle by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead;) and from all the brothers with me in the churches of Galatia: May grace and peace be upon you from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, so that he would deliver us from this present evil world, in accordance with the will of God our Father, glory be to him forever and ever. Amen.
I am positively shocked that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to the grace of Christ, and are turning to a "gospel" that is so far on the wrong side of the road, that it's not even the same road. There are some among you causing trouble, and perverting the word of Christ. If anybody preaches any "gospel" to you, other than what we have already preached to you, lat that man be cursed, even if it was me, or an angel from heaven. I will repeat that: If any man preaches any gospel other than that which you have already received, let him be accursed.
Am I trying to argue with men, or God? Or do I seek to appease men? For if I sought to appease men, I would not be a servant of Christ. I testify to you, my brothers, that the gospel which I preached was not of men. For I did not receive it from men, nor was I taught it by men, but I was taught it by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
You have head of my behavior in the past, as a Jew, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure, and wasted it; and I rose in the ranks of the Jewish religious establishment, above many of my equals in my own nation, because I was more zealous of the traditions of my fathers. But when it pleased God, who had separated me from my peers before I left the womb, and called me by His grace, to reveal His Son to me, that I might preach His word among the heathens; immediately I abandoned with flesh and blood. I did not go up to Jerusalem to confer with those who had been apostles before me; instead, I went into Arabia, and returned to Damascus.
After three years, I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and lived with him for fifteen days. But I saw no other apostles, except James, brother of the Lord. Now know that the things I write to you, before God, are true.
Afterwards, I came into the regions of Syria, and Cilicia, and was not known by my face to the Christian churches of Judea; but they had heard, that he who persecuted us in the past now preached the faith he once destroyed. And because of me, they glorified God.
Fourteen years later, I went to Jerusalem again with Barnabas and Titus. I went according to God's revelation, and gave them the gospel I preach to the Gentiles, but privately to those of reputation, so I wouldn't be running in vain. Titus, who was with me, wasn't required to be circumcised because he was Greek. Some false brothers were secretly brought in, to spy on the freedom we have through Jesus Christ and try to capture us. We weren't held back by them for a moment, so you might always keep the truth of the gospel. Those who seemed important (it doesn't matter to me, because God doesn't care about men's status) didn't add anything to what I said. However, they discovered I was preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised, just like Peter had been charged to. (Since God brought Peter to preach to the Jews with great strength, and did the same with me to preach to the Gentiles) When James, Cephas, and John, strong like pillars, saw the grace God had given me, they joined Barnabas and me in fellowship, so we could go among the gentiles and they among the Jews. They asked that we keep the poor in mind, and I did the same.
When Peter came to Antioch, I disagreed with him to his face, because he was wrong. Since before some men from James had come, he had eaten with Gentiles. But after they arrived, he segregated himself, avoiding the Jews. Other Jews joined him this unworthy behavior, and even Barnabas was carried away by it. When I saw they weren't living true to the Gospel, I told Peter in front of them, "If you, a Jew, live like a Gentile and not a Jew, how can you tell Gentiles to live like Jews? We are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners, know that a man is not justified by legalistic actions, but by faith in Jesus Christ. Since we believe in Jesus Christ, we are justified by our faith in Christ, and not legalistic works, because no body is justified by merely observing rules."
If, while we desire to be purified by Christ, we are found to be sinners, is Christ logically a preacher of sin? God forbid such thought. If I rebuild what I destroyed, I show I am a criminal. Through the law, I am dead to the law, so I can live for God. I am crucified with Christ, and yet I live. But it's not I, but Christ who lives in me. The life I live and the body I live in are from faith in God's Son, because he loves me and sacrificed himself for me. So I don't harm God's grace. If merely following rules brings righteousness, Christ died in vain.
Foolish Galatians! Who has confused you, that you don't obey the truth. Before whose eyes was Jesus Christ crucified among you? I only need to ask you this: Have you received the Spirit by the works of the law, or by hearing the faith? Are you so foolish? Having begin in Spirit, are you now made perfect in flesh? Have you suffered so many things in vain (if it yet be in vain)? So he who teaches to you about the Divine Guide and shows signs to you, does he do it through the law or through the faith?
Abraham believed God and was called righteous for it. So know that the faithful are the children of Abraham. The scriptures, which foretold God would redeem the gentiles through faith, gave Abraham the gospel, saying, "Through you all the nations are blessed." So the faithful are blessed with faithful Abraham.
Many who live just by rules are cursed. The scriptures says, "Everyone who doesn't do everything written in the Law Book is cursed." But no man is saved by following the rules in God's eye since, "The just will live by faith." The law is not faith, but the man who follows them lives in them.
Christ has saved us from the curse of the law. It became a curse to us because the scripture says, "Anyone who hangs from a tree is cursed." Abraham's blessing comes to the Gentiles through Jesus Christ. We receive the Guide's promise through faith.
Brothers, here's an example: even with a regular contract, if it's agreed to, no man can revoke it or add to it. Promises were made to Abraham and his descendants. The scriptures don't say, "to your children" in the plural, but in the singular, "to your child," which is Christ. So the law, set up four hundred thirty years after, cannot annul the covenant agreed to with God in Christ or nullify its promise. If an inheritance is law, then it's not a promise. But God gave it to Abraham as a promise. What's the point of the law then? It was added because of sins, until the Son could come to those who received the promise. It was given by mediating angels. A mediator doesn't serve only one party, but God is one.
So is the law against the promises of God? God forbid! If a law had been drawn up to give life, righteousness might have been gained through it. The scripture states all are cursed by sin, and the faithful promise of Jesus Christ is given to believers. Before there was faith, we were kept under law, ignorant of the faith which would later be revealed. So the law educated us to bring us to Christ, so we could be saved by faith. Now that that faith is come, we not longer have a teacher. Because we are all the students of God through faith in Jesus Christ. For all of you who have been baptized clothe yourselves with Christ.
No one is Jewish or Greek, enslaved or free, male or female. You are all one in Jesus CHrist. If you are Christ's, you are Abraham's descendant and heirs according to God's promise. The heir, so long as he's a child, is no less than a servant, even if he's lord over all, but is still under teachers and educators until his father says so. Just like we were enslaved to the elements when we were children. When the time finally came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, to save those under the Law, so we could be adopted as His sons. Because you are sons, God has sent His Son's Spirit into your hearts, declaring "Abba, Father!" So you are no longer a servant, but a son instead, and an God's heir through Christ.
So how is it that you served those who aren't gods when you did not know God? Now that you know God, or are known by God, how can you turn back to weak and cowering people? Do you want to be enslaved again? You watch the days, months, seasons, and years. I'm worried about you. I wouldn't want to think that all my hard work on your behalf was for nothing. Brothers, I ask you earnestly, be like me. I am like you. You have not injured me at all.
You know I preached the gospel to you the first time though seriously ill. You did not despise or reject me because of my temptations, but received me like you would God's angel, or even Jesus Christ. So where's the blessedness you spoke about? I remind you that you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me if you could. Have I become your enemy by telling the truth? To be sure, they show a great interest in you, but not to your good. They really want to exclude you, to make you take an interest in them. But it is good to take always a deep and abiding interest in a good thing, and not merely when I am present with you.
My little children, for whom I am in labor pains all over again until Christ is formed within you, I would very much like to be present with you now, and to transform my voice, because I am disturbed on your account. Tell me, those of you who want to be under the Law: Do you not hear the Law? Scripture tells us that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave girl, and the other by a free woman. The slave girl's son was born after the flesh, but the free woman's son was born to keep a promise. These things are an allegory: there are two different covenants to consider. One is from Mount Sinai, and that leads to bondage, just like Hagar. This Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to Jerusalem which stands today, and is in slavery with her children. But Jerusalem, above, is free, and she is the mother of us all.
Scripture says: "Rejoice, you sterile woman who does not have children! Break out and cry out, you that do not experience labor! The desolate have many more children than the married woman has." Now we, brothers, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But: he who was born after the flesh, persecuted him who was born after the Spirit. It's the same today as it was then. Regardless: what does Scripture say? "Throw out the slave-girl and her son. The son of the slave-girl will not be heir with the son of the free woman." So then, brothers, we are not the children of the slave-girl; we are the children of the free woman. So stand fast in the freedom with which Christ made us free, and do not tangle yourselves up again with the yoke of slavery.
Look well: I, Paul, am telling you, that if you have been circumcised, Christ will do you no favors. Again I give evidence to every man who has been circumcised: he has an obligation to observe the entire Law. Christ has become ineffective for any of you who are justified by the Law; you have fallen from grace. We, through the Spirit, are waiting for the hope of jusitification by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; only faith counts, that works by love.
You ran well. Who held you back from obeying the Truth? This persuasion does not come from Him Who calls you. A little yeast will work its way throughout the whole lump. I am reassured on your account through the Lord, that you will never have anything else on your mind. But anyone who troubles you will suffer the consequences, whoever he might be. And I, brothers, if I were still preaching circumcision, then why do I still suffer persecution? The scandal of the Cross would then be stopped. I would rather see those people cut off who are troubling you. Because, brothers, you have been called to freedom. But don't use freedom to make allowance for the flesh, but serve one another by love.
All of the Law is fulfilled in one word, and to be more specific: You shall love your neighbor as much as yourself. But if you're going to bite and eat one another, be careful not to be consumed by one another. So I say then: Walk in the SPirit, and you will not satisfy the lust of the flesh. The flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh. These are contrary to one another, so that you cannot do the things that you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, then you are not subject to the Law.
The works of the flesh are easy to see. They are: immoral sexual practices of all kinds, uncleanness, indecency, idolatry, drug abuse, hatred, discourse, jealousy, rage, strife, dissention, divisions, envy, murder, intoxication, revelry, and things like these. I tell you ahead of time, as I have told you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is sacrificial love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. There is no law against such things. They who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, then we should also walk in the Spirit. Let us not go after vain glory, by provoking or envying one another.
Brothers, if a man be overtaken by any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual, must restore such a person in the spirit of meekness. Consider yourselves, because you might face a similar test. Carry one another's burdens, and in that way fulfill the law of Christ. If a man thinks that he is something, when he is nothing, he is only lying to himself. But let every man examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing only in himself, not in another person. For every man will carry his own burden.
He who has been taught in the world must communicate to the teacher in all good things. Do not deceive yourself. God will not be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will also reap. Anyone who sows to his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh. But one who sows to the Spirit will reap everlasting life from the Spirit. And let us not get tired of doing well. We will reap all in good time, if we do not give up. Therefore, to the extent of our opportunity, let us do good for all men, and especially to them who belong to the household of faith.
You can see how long a letter I have written you with my own hand. All who wish to make a fair show in the flesh, they are the ones who insist that you be circumcised, because they don't want to suffer persecution for the Cross of Christ. These circumcised men do not even keep the law themselves, but they want you to be circumcised, so that they can boast about your flesh. But may I never gain any glory, except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world. In Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any advantage, but only a new creature. And all who walk according to this rule, may peace be on them, and mercy, and on the Israel of God. From now on, no man will trouble me. I carry on my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.
Brothers, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
Some days later, Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go again and visit our brothers in every city where we have preached the Word of the Lord, and see how they are getting along."
Barnabas resolved to take John Mark with them. Paul did not think it was a good idea to take John Mark. Mark had departed from them in Pamphylia and nad not gone with them to the work. This created an uproar between them that was so sharp that they came to a parting of the ways. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus. Paul chose Silas, and left, having the recommendation of the brothers to the grace of God. He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
He then came to Derbe and Lystra. A certain student was there, named Timothy. His mother was a believing Jewess, but his father was a Greek. He was held in high regard by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted this man to go out with him. He took him and circumcised him on account of the Jews who lived in those neighborhoods; they all knew that his father was a Greek. As they were going through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for them to keep, that had been decided by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem. In that way the churches were established in the faith, and grew more numerous every day.
When they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia Province. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia Province, but the Spirit did not allow them to. While passing by Mysia they came down to Troas. A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing and pleading with him, saying, "Come over into Macedonia and help us."
After he had seen the vision, we tried immediately to go into Macedonia, convinced that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them. So, embarking from Troas, we sailed a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis. From there we traveled to Philippi, the capital city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony. We stayed in that city several days.
On the Sabbath we went out of the city by a river bank, where prayer was accustomed to be made. We sat down and spoke to the women who often came there. A certain woman named Lydia, a dealer in Tyrian purple dye, from the city of Thyatira, who worshipped God, heard us. The Lord opened her heart, and she payed attention to the things that were spoken by Paul. When she and her household had been baptized, she pleaded with us, and said, "If you have thought me faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay there."
And she made that invitation most urgently.
Then it happened that as we went to prayer, a certain young woman, possessed by a spirit of divination, met us. This girl brought her masters a great profit by soothsaying. This same girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, "These men are the servants of the Most High God! They are showing us the Way of salvation!"
She did this for many days. Then Paul, feeling pity for her, turned and said to the spirit, "In the Name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!"
And he came out in that very hour.
When her masters realized that their expectation of profit was now in vain, they seized Paul and Silas, and dragged them to the town forum to the rulers. They brought them before the propraetors, saying, "These Jewish men are troubling our city exceedingly. They teach customs that are not lawful for us, as Roman, to receive or even to observe."
The crowd rose up together against them. The propraetors tore their clothes off them and ordered them flogged. When they had beaten them rather severely, they threw them into prison and ordered the warden to guard them securely. The warden, with those orders in hand, sent them to the maximum-security level and put their feet into the stocks.
At midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises to God. The prisoners heard them. Suddenly a great earthquake struck, and shook the foundations of the prison. Immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened. The prison warden, waking out of his sleep and seeing the prison doors opened, drew out his sword and was about to kill himself, thinking that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted with a loud voice, saying, "Do not harm yourself! For we are all here."
Then he called for a light, and rushed in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas. He brought them out of "Maximum", and said, "Gentlemen, what must I do to be saved?"
They told him, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and everyone in your house."
They spoke the Word of the Lord to him, and to everyone in his household.
He took them in the same hour of the night, and cleaned the wounds they had received from the flogging, and he and all his household were baptized at once. When he had brought them into his house, he set food before them, and rejoiced, believing in God together with his entire household. When the day broke, the propraetors sent their lictors with this order: "Release those men."
The prison warden repeated these orders to Paul: "The propraetors have sent word to release you. So leave, and go in peace."
But Paul said back to [the lictors], "They have whipped us openly without a guilty verdict—and we are Roman citizens!—and have thrown us into prison. Do they think they're going to throw us out privately? Oh, no! They can come here themselves and fetch us out."
The lictors repeated these words to the propraetors, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. They came and pleaded with them, and brought them out, and begged them to leave the city. They went out of custody, and went into Lydia's house. When they had seen the brothers, they gave them comfort, and left.
Now when they has traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where a Jewish synagogue was located. Paul, as usual, went in to them, and debated with them on three Sabbath days, arguing from Scripture, explaining and showing logically, "Christ had to suffer, and rise again from the dead, and this Jesus, Whom I preach to you, is Christ."
Some of them believed, and stayed close to Paul and Silas—as did a great crowd of devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women. But the unbelieving Jews, moved with envy, gathered to themselves certain very immoral fellows, and gathered a crowd, and incited the city to riot, and attacked the house of Jason, and tried to have them brought out before the people. When they found them out, they dragged Jason and certain brothers to the city wardens, crying, "These men who have turned the world upside down have come here, too! Jason harbored these men, and they all do things contrary to the dictates of Caesar, saying that there is another king, a Man named Jesus!"
They disconcerted the people and the city wardens, when they heard these things. When they had taken a peace bond from Jason, and the other man, they released them.
The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Beroea. When they came there, they went into the Jewish synagogue. These Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica. They received the World with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scripture every day to see whether these things were true. So on the one hand, many of them believed, along with not a few honorable men and women among the Greeks.
But on the other hand, when the Jews of Thessalonica became aware that the Word of God was being preached at Beroea, they came there also, and incited the people. At once the brothers sent Paul away, as if he were going to the sea. But Silas and Timothy still stayed there. Those who were escorting Paul brought him to Athens. Then, after receiving an instruction to Silas and Timothy to come to him as fast as they could, they left.
Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he realized that the city was given completely to idolatry. So he debated in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and met them every day in the public square with those who met with him. Then certain philosophers from the Epicurean and Stoic schools encountered him. Some of them said, "What is this babbler trying to say?"
Others said, "He sounds as though he's setting forth some sort of strange demons!"
This was because he was preaching Jesus and the Resurrection to them. They took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, "May we know what this new doctrine is, that you're speaking about? You are bringing certain strange things to our ears. So we want to know what these things mean."
All the Athenians and foreigners who were present were accustomed to spending their time in no other activity but either telling or hearing strange things. Then Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus and said, "Men of Athens, I realize that you are far too superstitious about everything. Why, as I was passing by, and looked at your devotion, I found an altar with this written on it: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Well! Whom you are worshipping in ignorance, I am delaring to you. The God Who made the world and everything in it, because He is the Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made with hands! And neither can he be worshipped with men's hands, as if He needed anything. After all, He gives everything life, and breath, and everything it needs. And he has made all the nations of men from one bloodline, to live on all the face of the earth, and has determined the pre-appointed times, and the boundaries in which they live,...so that they might seek the Lord, if they should happen to feel after Him, and find Him, though He isn't very far from every one of us. Because in Him we live, and move, and have our existence--and as some of your own poets have, furthermore, said, 'For we are also His creatures.' So in that we are God's creatures, we should never think that the Godhead is like gold or silver or stone, that can be engraved by art and man's device. God overlooked the times of this ignorance before, but now He instructs all men everywhere to repent. Because he has fixed a day, in which he will judge the world in full justice by That Man Whom he ordained. He has given assurance of this to all men, in that He raised Him from the dead."
When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, on the one hand some of them mocked, but on the other, some said, "We will hear you again on this question."
So Paul went out from among them. But certain men stuck to him, and believed. Among them were Dionysus the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and some others with them.
After these events, he departed from Athens and came to Corinth. There he found a certain Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently arrived from Italy with his wife Priscilla. (Claudius I had ordered all Jews to leave Rome.) He came to them, and because he and Aquila were fellow craftsmen, he stayed with them, and worked with him. They were tentmakers by trade. He debated in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. When Silas and Timothy had come from Nacedonia, Paul began testifying to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. When they opposed him and started hurling insults, he shook his robes, and told them, "Let your blood be on your own heads; I am clean. From now on, I go to the Gentiles."
And he departed from there, and came into the house of a certain man named Justus, a man who worshiped God, and whose house was adjoining the synagogue. Crispus, the head rabbi of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with everyone in his household.
Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, to the church of the Thessalonians which is of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
We give thanks to God for all of you, as always, and mention you in our prayers; forever remembering the work you volunteer to do out of faith and love and patience in the hope of our Lord Jesus Christ, as our God and Father looks on. Knowing, our beloved brothers, that God has chosen you. For the Gospel is not only words to you, but came to you with power and assurance through the Holy Spirit; as you know what kind of men we were among you, for your benefit. You became our followers and the Lord, and received the truth while suffering, with the joy of the Divine Guide. So you were examples to all the believing in Macedonia and Achaia. You spread the Lord's word in Macedonia and Achaia, and your faith in God is being spread everywhere, so we don't need to say anything. They themselves tell how you received us, and how you turned away to idols to serve the true and living God, to wait for his Son Jesus, who he raised from the dead to save us from the coming wrath, to return.
Brothers, know that our time spent among you wasn't wasted. We had suffered and were poorly treated in Philippi, but God made us speak the gospel to you courageously. Our appeal was not deceitful or immoral or sneaky. God trusted us with his word, so we speak not to please men but to please God, who is testing our hearts. You know that we never used flattery or greed, and God is our witness. We didn't want glory among men, from your or others. We might have been a nuisance, though Christ's apostles, but we were gentle with you, like a nurse cherishes her children. We loved you so much and you were so important to us that we were willing to give to you not only God's gospels but our souls.
Brothers, you remember our hard work. We worked day and night, so we would not be indebted to you, preaching the gospel of God. You saw, as God did, how holy and justly and blamelessly we behaved among you faithful believers. You know how we challenged and helped and encouraged each of you, like a father with his children, so you might walk a moral path, worthy of God, who invites you to his kingdom and glory. We also thank God endlessly that when you accepted the word of God which you heard from us, you didn't accept it as man's word, but as God's word, which creates great change in believers. Brothers, you became followers of the churches of God and Jesus Christ in Judaea, and you have been oppressed by your countrymen, just like they've been by the Jews, who killed Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and no persecute us. God is not pleased with them, and they oppose all mankind. They tell us not to talk to the Gentiles and save them. Their hearts are always full of sin, and God's wrath has come down on them.
Brothers, when we had to leave you after a short time together (but not in our hearts), we did everything we could to see you again. We, and even I, Paul, could have returned again and again, but Satan held us back. What is our hope, our joy? What makes us rejoice? Is it not that you will be in Lord Jesus Christ's presence when he returns? You are our glory and joy. We couldn't take it any more, so we decided it was best to leave Athens. We sent brother Timotheus, a minister of God and fellow volunteer in spreading Christ's word, to strengthen you and comfort you in your faith, so you might not be upset by these trials. You know we were destined for them. It's true that when we were among you, we said we should undergo trials, and you know it happened. For that reason, when I couldn't stop myself, I wrote to learn of your faith, unless some deceiver might have tempted you and destroyed our work. But Timotheus came to us and told good news of your faith and charity, that you remember us kindly, and wanted a reunion just like we did. So, brothers, we were reassured regarding you by your faith, despite our trials and worry. Now we can truly live, as you are firm in your faith to the Lord. How can we possibly thank God for you, for the joy we have in front of God thanks to you? Every day and night we pray and pray to see you again, to perfect whatever your faith is lacking. May our Father God and Lord Jesus Christ lead us to you, and may the Lord multiply your number and your love of each other and all men, just as we love you, so that he may strengthen your sinless hearts with holiness in front of our Father God at Lord Jesus Christ's second coming with his saints.
Brothers, since we've told you how to walk in life and you've listened to us, we ask and encourage you in Jesus' name to do this more and more. Because you know the commandments we gave you in Jesus' name. It is God's will and for your purification that you not engage in sexual immorality, that you should all know how to keep your body pure and honorable, not lusting like the godless Gentiles. We have warned and told you that no man should deceive his brother in any way, because the Lord will avenge it all. God has not called us to be dirty, but to be holy.
So the man who hates us, does not hate men, but hates God, who gave us the holy Divine Guide. You don't need my words about brotherly love. God has taught you to love each other. So you should love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we encourage you, brothers, to multiply and multiply, to practice calmness, to mind your own business, to work diligently, just like we charged you. That way, you can be honest with those who are dishonest, and you will not miss anything.
Brothers, I don't want you to be ignorant about those who have died, or to grieve like those without faith. We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so those who died with faith in Jesus will come with God. We tell you the Lord's word, that those of us who are alive when the Lord returns will to meet him before the dead. The Lord himself will come down from heaven with the archangel's shout and God's trumpet, and the faithful dead will rise up. Then those of us still alive will be taken up with them into the clouds and meet the Lord on air. Then we will be with him forever. So comfort each other with his knowledge.
Brothers, I don't need to write to you about the day or season, because you know that the day of the Lord's return will be like a thief coming during the night. When the doubters say "it is peaceful and safe!" then destruction will suddenly meet them like the pains of a pregnant woman. They will not escape. But brothers, you are not ignorant that the day will reach you like a thief. You are children of light, the children of day. We are not from the night or darkness. So we should not sleep like the others. Let's watch soberly. The sleepers sleep at night, and the drunks are drunk at night. Let us people of the day be sober, wear the breastplate of faith and love and the helmet of hope of salvation. God has not told us to be enraged, but to gain salvation through Lord Jesus Christ, who died so that we will live eternally with him, whether we be living or dead. So continue to comfort and strengthen each other.
So brothers we ask you to understand those of the Lord's leaders who work with you who correct you. Respect and love them for the sake of their work, and be at peace. And brothers we encourage you to warn the rowdy, comfort the unintelligent, strengthen the weak, and be patient with all men. Make sure no man pays back evil with evil, and always follow the right path, with each other and with all men.
Rejoice forever. Never stop praying. Be thankful to God in everything, as Jesus Christ wants you to. Don't repress the Divine Guide. Don't sneer at prophecy. Test everything, and keep the good. Never appear to do an evil thing. May our God of peace purify you. I pray to God your spirit, body, and soul will remain spotless until the return of Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful and will do as he promised.
Brothers, pray for us. And greet all brothers with a holy embrace. I ask you in the Lord's name to read this letter to all the holy brothers.
The grace of Lord Jesus Christ be with you, Amen.
Many of the Corinthians, when they heard the Word, believed and were baptized. Then the Lord spoke to Paul at night in a vision, "Don't be afraid. Speak, and don't keep quiet. I am with you, and no man may set upon you to do you harm. I have many people in this city."
He stayed there for a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
From Paul, Silvanus, and Timotheus, to the church of the Thessalonians, united in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace of mind to you, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
It is well for us to thank God for you, always, our brothers, for your faith grows quickly, and the charity that each of you show to each other is great. That's why we exalt you in the churches of God: for your patience and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. A tangible token of the righteous judgement of God, so that you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, which you suffer for as we do. God is just, and will bring trouble on those who trouble you, and to you who are troubled, rest with us, when the Lord Jesus will come again from heaven, with his mighty angels, will take vengeance with flaming fire upon those in denial of God, and who ignore the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ whose punishment shall be an everlasting and destructive separation from the Lord and from His glorious power; when Jesus comes again to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired among all who believe (because you believed our testimony). We will always pray for you, that God considers you among the blessed and that you will know His goodness, power and salvation. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, praise be to him, and the Holy Father. May you be blessed always.
We ask you, friends, in regards to the return of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being with Him, do not be startled or troubled by either a spirit, a comment, or by a letter purportedly written by us, that says Christ has already returned. Don't let any man deceive you. That day won't come until there is a rebellion and the sinful man is shown for who he is, the son of destruction, who opposes and praises himself above everything worshiped or called God. He will even sit in the temple of God, calling himself God.
Don't you recall that I told you this when I was with you? You know what restrains him so he will only be revealed when the time comes. His covert lawlessness is already at work, but only while it is held back. Once He who holds it back is taken away, then the Evil will be revealed, who the Lord will destroy with his breath. He will smite his shining appearance, the man who comes to do Satan's work with great power and deceitful shows and miracles. The unrighteous will perish because of their self-deception, because they never received God's true love, which was to save them. It is for this reason that God will let them deceive themselves into believing a lie, that they will be condemned for not believing the truth, but reveled in unrighteousness. We must always thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the start to be saved through the purifying of the Spirit and believing the truth. He call you to him by our gospel so you could receive Lord Jesus Christ's glory. So brothers, stand firm and stick with the behavior our words and letters have taught you.
We pray Lord Jesus Christ and God our loving father, who always comforts and gives us hope of salvation, comforts your hearts and strengthen you in your good words and work.
Finally, pray for us, Brothers, that the Lord's word will direct us and be glorified in us as it is in you. That we will be protected from illogical and evil men, since not all men have faith. The Lord is faithful and will strengthen you and shield you from evil. We have confidence the Lord will touch your minds, that you are doing those things which we tell you, that the Lord steer your hearts to know the love of God and wait patiently for Christ's return.
So we charge you, brothers, in the name of Lord Jesus Christ, to leave every brother who lives immorally and against the way He gave to us. You know what your behavior should be, since we were not immoral among you. We didn't eat anyone's food for nothing but paid through our hard work, night and day, so we weren't any in your debt. Not because we didn't have the right, but to make an example of ourselves that you can follow. For we charged you when we were with you, "if any man won't work, he won't eat." We've heard there are those about you who live immorally, never working, but always interfering. We command those men in the name of Lord Jesus Christ to work diligently and earn their own keep. Brothers, do not grow tired of living well.
If any man won't obey this letter, mark that man and do not mix with him, so he will see his errors. But do not cast him as an enemy, but correct him as your brother.
The Lord of Peace always give you peace of mind. The Lord be with all of you. I add Paul's greeting, which is the sign of every letter, in my own writing:
"The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you. Amen."
Matthew 1-9
Matthew 10-19
Matthew 20-28
Thirty-nine
Chapter 39 | Bible texts |
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But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him before the judgment seat, saying, “This man persuades men to worship God contrary to the law.” But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If indeed it were a matter of wrong or of wicked crime, you Jews, it would be reasonable that I should bear with you; but if they are questions about words and names and your own law, look to it yourselves. For I do not want to be a judge of these matters.” He drove them from the judgment seat. Then all the Greeks laid hold on Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. Gallio did not care about any of these things. Paul, having stayed after this many more days, took his leave of the brothers, and sailed from there for Syria, together with Priscilla and Aquila. He shaved his head in Cenchreae, for he had a vow. He came to Ephesus, and he left them there; but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews. When they asked him to stay with them a longer time, he declined; but taking his leave of them, and saying, “I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem, but I will return again to you if God wills,” he set sail from Ephesus. When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the assembly, and went down to Antioch. Having spent some time there, he departed, and went through the region of Galatia, and Phrygia, in order, confirming all the disciples. And Timothy was imprisoned. For they had endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to abuse and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For they had compassion of the prisoners, and joyfully accepted the plundering of their property, knowing that they themselves had a better possession and an abiding one. We are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and keep their souls. Now a certain Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by race, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus. He was mighty in the Scriptures. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, although he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside, and explained to him the way of God more accurately. When he had determined to pass over into Achaia, the brothers encouraged him, and wrote to the disciples to receive him, saying also, "Our brother Timothy has been released. Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those who come from Italy send you greetings. Grace be with all of you. Amen." When he, Apollos, had come into Achaia, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace; for he powerfully refuted the Jews, publicly showing by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ. Now about this time, what we now call the Letter to the Hebrews was of great encouragement to those who were persecuted, giving them cause to hope, with stern warnings of the wrathful judgment to come from God on those who turn away from Christ, that is, those who apostatize, apostates:
They said to him, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” He said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” Paul said, “John indeed baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe in the one who would come after him, that is, in Jesus.” When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke with other languages and prophesied. They were about twelve men in all. He entered into the synagogue, and spoke boldly for a period of three months, reasoning and persuading about the things concerning God’s Kingdom. But when some were hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. This continued for two years, so that all those who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. In A.D. 54 Claudius was assassinated by his fourth wife Agrippina, who poisoned him and took charge of the empire for her son Nero. At the end of that time, Paul rejoiced at the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus from Corinth, and he wrote the following letter:
There were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did this. The evil spirit answered, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?” The man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. This became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who lived at Ephesus. Fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. Many also of those who had believed came, confessing, and declaring their deeds. Many of those who practiced magical arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. They counted their price, and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord was growing and becoming mighty. Now after these things had ended, Paul determined in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” Having sent into Macedonia two of those who served him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while. Paul had preached the Good News of Christ from Jerusalem and as far round as Illyricum, in labors abundantly, in prisons abundantly, in stripes above measure, close to death often. Five times from the Jews he received forty stripes minus one. Three times he was beaten with rods. Once he was stoned. Three times he suffered shipwreck. He had been a night and a day in the deep. He had been in travels often, perils of rivers, perils of robbers, perils from his own countrymen, perils from the Gentiles, perils in the city, perils in the wilderness, perils in the sea, perils among false brothers; in labor and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, and in cold and nakedness. Besides those things that are outside the church, there is that which pressed on him daily, anxiety for all the assemblies. When Timothy returned he showed Paul that it had now pleased Macedonia and Achaia to make some contribution to the poor among those at Jerusalem. Paul wrote the following letter:
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Acts 18:1-23 Compare
The Works of Flavius Josephus William Whiston, Translator, 1737 (sacred-texts.com) Early Christian Writings A.D. 30 through 380 (earlychristianwritings.com)
"When Gallio was proconsul of Achaia" Acts 18:12. Proconsul from 1 May 51 to 1 May 52.
"Paul...went through the region of Galatia, and Phrygia, in order, establishing all the disciples." Acts 18:23.
The LETTER TO THE HEBREWS. The Book of Hebrews is a perfect supporting conclusion to the list of texts of OLD TESTAMENT Bible proofs that the long-expected Christ is Jesus.
"but in these days he has spoken to us by a Son" Hebrews 1:2. Third person reference to Jesus.
"leaving the teaching of the first principles of Christ" Hebrews 6:1
"Others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection." Hebrews 11:35.
"We have an altar from which those who serve the holy tabernacle have no right to eat." Hebrews 13:10. 10 ἔχομεν θυσιαστήριον ἐξ οὗ φαγεῖν οὐκ ἔχουσιν ἐξουσίαν οἱ τῇ σκηνῇ λατρεύοντες· A controversial text.
In A.D. 54 Claudius was assassinated by his fourth wife Agrippina, who poisoned him and took charge of the empire for her son Nero.
"I fed you with milk, not with meat; for you were not yet ready." 1 Corinthians 3:2.
"Now to him who is able to establish you ... to whom be the glory forever! Amen." Romans 16:25-27 / 14:24-26.
"deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." 1 Corinthians 5:5. Read by many as referring to excommunication.
"different kinds of languages ... the interpretation of languages" 1 Corinthians 12:10, 30; 14:27-28. Glossolalia.
"when that which is complete has come, then that which is partial will be done away with." 1 Corinthians 13:10. Love is that which is complete ("perfect" KJV).
"Paul had preached the Good News of Christ from Jerusalem and as far round as Illyricum"
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Romans 12:20
"confirms us with you in Christ, and anointed us, is God; who also sealed us, and gave us the down payment of the Spirit in our hearts. 2 Corinthians 1:21.
" we are not as so many, peddling the word of God." 2 Corinthians 3:17.
"apostles of the assemblies" 2 Corinthians 8:23. KJV "messengers of the churches".
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When Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a revolt with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the tribunal. They said, "This fellow is persuading men to worship God in a manner contrary to law!"
Paul was about to open his mouth when Gallio said to the Jews, "Listen, you Jews. If this were a matter of crime or especially sex crime, then the law would require me to hear you out. But if this is a question of words and names, and of your law, then you handle it; I will not be a judge of such cases."
And he ordered them expelled from his tribunal. Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief warden of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. And Gallio cared not a whit about these matters.
After this, Paul stayed there for a good while longer, and then said good-bye to the brothers, and sailed from there to Syria. With him were Priscilla and Aquila. Aquila had shaved his head in Cenchrea, because he had taken a vow. He came to Ephesus, and left them there. For his part, he went into the synagogue, and debated with the Jews. When they wanted him to stay longer, he refused. He said good-bye to them, saying, "I must keep this upcoming feast in Jerusalem at all costs. But I will come back to you, God willing."
And he sailed from Ephesus. When he had landed at Caesaria, and gone up, and greeted the church, he went down to Antioch. After he had spent some time there, he left, and went all over the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the students of Christ.
[Know that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he comes shortly, I will see you.]
Yet remember past days when, after you learned the truth, battled against adversity. Sometimes you were mocked and attacked, other times you joined those who were treated like that.
But we aren't the sort to abandon faith for damnation, but the sort who believe in saving the soul.
A certain Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, an eloquent man, and very learned in Scripture, came to Ephesus. This man had been instructed in the Way of the Lord, and was fervent in the Spirit. He spoke and taught the things of the Lord accurately enough, but he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla had heard him, they took him in, and explained the Way of God to him more perfectly. When he expressed a willingness to travel to Achaia, the brothers wrote to encourage the students of Christ to receive him.
[Know that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he comes shortly, I will see you.]
[Salute all who lead you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.] [Boundless generosity be with you all. Amen.]
WHen he came, he was a great help to those who had believed through grace: because he powerfully convinced the Jews, and publicly, too, showing according to the Scriptures that Jesus was Christ.
In many ways and at many times in the past, God spoke to our fathers through the prophets, but in these the Last Days He has spoken to us through His Son, whom He determined to be the inheritor of everything, the Son, by whom He made the worlds, the Son, who is the very brightness of His Glory, and the very image of His Person, and the bearer of all things, carrying them by the Word of his power. When He, the Son, had Himself accomplished a cleansing of our sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Greatness on High.
This One, then, is to be considered inestimably better than angels having been bequeathed a title more excellent than they. Did He say, at any time, to an angel, "You are My Son, today I have become your father", or "I will be his Father and he shall be My Son," or, as happened when He brought the Firstborn into the world, "Let all the angels of God worship Him"? But, rather, of angels, He says, "He makes His angels spirits, and His servants a flaming fire." But to the Son, He says, "Your throne, O God, is for ever and ever, a scepter of righteousness, the scepter of Your Kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness. For this reason, God, Your God, has anointed You from among all your companions with the oil of joy." And, "You, Lord, in the beginning of all, set down earth's foundations. The universe is the work of Your hands. They shall perish; but You remain. As a garment they all wear out. And as a cloak, You will fold them up. They will be changed but You remain the same, Your years shall have no end." But to any angel, did He say at any time, "Sit at my right hand, until I make Your enemies a footstool for You?" Aren't they all spirits of service, sent out to serve those who will be heirs of salvation?
Therefore, we need to take very seriously what we have heard, if we are not to fall away. If the word "spoken by angels" stood firm, and every violation and disobedience met with its due "payback", How can we escape, if we neglect such a great salvation, first spoken about by the Lord, and then passed on to us with surety by those who heard the Lord. These people had God's own witness to what they were saying by His granting signs, and wonders and various demonstrations of His power, gifts of the Holy Spirit, just as He deemed proper.
It was not to angels that He subjected the coming worlds of which we are speaking. Someone in some place gives testimony, saying, What is man that You think of him or the Son, a human being, that You watch over him? You have made him somewhat less than the angels, you have crowned him with Glory and Honour, and have placed him over the works of Your hands. You have put everything under His feet in subjection to Him. All things are placed in subjection to Him. Nothing has not been put under Him.
But we do not see now that all things are put under him. But we see Jesus, who had become a little "lower than the angels" for the suffering of death, we see Him crowned with Glory and Honour, so, by God's grace, He could taste the death of every man. For it was just like the Father, seeing that everything was created by Him, and it was for Him that they were made, when he determined to bring many sons into Glory, to make the Fount of their salvation, perfect through the suffering which He endured For both He who makes holy and those who are made holy are one. That is why He is not embarrassed to call them His brothers. Saying, I will proclaim Your name to my brothers, in the midst of the church I will sing Your praises. And again, I will totally put my confidence in Him, and again, Yes, I and the children God has give me. Because the children were human beings, He also became a human being, so that He might die, and through that, destroy the one holding the powere of death, namely, the Devil, freeing them who because of their fear of death, were held in lifelong bondage. And so He took on not the nature of angels, but rather that of the seed of Abraham. Because of all this, it was necessary for Him to be exactly like His brothers, so that He might prove to be a merciful and faithful High Priest toward God for them, and to make a reconciliation for the people's sins. Because He Himself has endured temptation, He is able to help those who are being tempted.
So, my holy brothers, sharing in the heavenly call, focus in on the Apostle and High Priest of our faith, Christ Jesus. Yes, He was faithful to the One who appointed Him, in similar fashion as Moses was faithful to all his house. But this One was far more worthy of regard than Moses, as it is really the builder of the house, rather than the house itself, that we have the more regard for. Every house is built by some particular individual. But everything that is built has God as its builder. And it was as a servant that Moses was faithful in all his house, the full implications of this could only be understood later on, But Christ was faithful as a Son over the house, and that house his own; and we are that house, if we only hold on tight to the confidence and to the joy of this hope, until the very end.
And so (The Holy Spirit is speaking: This Day, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the Trial, the day of temptation of the Wilderness The time your fathers tempted me, put me to the trial, having seen my doings for forty years! So, My heart was cut, hurt because of that generation, and I said, "They are always wandering astray in their hearts. The have not known My ways." And I swore in my anger, "They shall not enter into My Rest!")
And so, my brothers, Be alert that there be no evil heart of unbelief and departing from the living God. Cause others every day to be serious about it while we are in "This Day" now, so that you do not become hardened by deceptive way that sin has. We will be sharers in Christ, if our early confidence sees us through to the end, as to it being said. "This Day, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the Trial, the day of temptation of the Wilderness". This was applicable to the ones who had come out of Egypt, the ones who provoked. Who were the ones with whom He was grieved for forty years? was it not with those whose dead bodies lie in the Wilderness? Who were they that He swore would not enter into His Rest? were they not those who believed not? So we see, it was because of unbelief that they could not enter.
Let us be fearful, therefore, that any of us, falling short, do not enter His Rest. We, as well as the people of former time, had God's word proclaimed to us, but they not having faith mixed in with the Word that they heard. For it is we believers who do enter the Rest, He having said, "I have sworn in my anger that they should not enter my Rest", the Rest commencing with the conclusion of the work undertaken for the founding of the world. Because in a certain place He spoke in words to this effect, "And God rested on the seventh day from all His works." And then in another place, "They shall not enter into my Rest!" And so we see that some are to enter in and we also see that the ones first preached to did not enter in - because of their unbelief
And then again we see that there is a "certain day", according to David from a time much later on. It is said, "This Day, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts". Well, if Joshua had given them the Rest, then there would not have been need to afterward speak of another Day. And so "the Rest" remains for the people of God. For the one who has entered into his Rest, He has ceased from his own "works", just as God did from his. Let us labor, therefore to enter our Rest, God forbid there befall us what unbelief brings,
Yes, God's mandate is alive and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, cutting down between the soul and the spirit, striking even inner bone, and tendon, and knowing what is going on in one's heart and mind. No created thing is left unexposed to His sight; all are naked and open to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.
Well, seeing that we do have a great High Priest, that has gone through into Heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold strong in our confession. We do not have a High Priest who is untouched and immune to what we go through, our debilities: in every way we are, He was tempted, but did not sin. So let us come with confidence to the Throne of Grace, so that we can obtain mercy and God's compassion, to help us for the time of our need. For every high priest taken from men is given for men for things that pertain to God, for the purpose of offerings and sacrifices and these can have sympathy on those that are ignorant and who stray, because he likewise has these debilities. And that is why he needs to offer up for his own sins, just as for the others.
No person can take the weight of this honor on his own, but he must be called by God, just as was Aaron. The same with Christ; He did not take this honor on Himself to make Himself a high priest. It was He that said to Him, "You are my Son, This Day I have fathered You." He also said somewhere else, "You are a Priest forever, in the likeness of Melchizedek." This One when He was on earth in the flesh, offered up prayers and heartfelt stirrings with loud cries and tears to Him having the power to save Him from death, and He was heard, for he feared God. Even though He was a Son, He still had to learn obedience by endurance through the things He suffered. And so having become perfect, He became the Source of eternal salvation for all who will obey Him. Yes, He was called by God to be in such a way in the likeness of Melchizedek.
I have many things to say about this matter, but it is difficult, you are so hard to get through to. You should be teachers by this time, but you yourselves need to be taught the very basics of the message of God, You need to drink milk, not eat solid meat. Everyone needing milk is still a baby, "milk" for the bumblers, taking first steps in the word of righteousness. Solid food is for the grown-ups, those that have mastered solid steps in the distinguishing between good and evil.
Setting aside the principles of Christ's truth, let's talk about perfection, not explaining the necessity of repentance and faithfulness to God again, of the doctrines of baptism, healing by faith, resurrecting the dead, and eternal judgment. So we shall, God permitting. Because it's impossible for those who have seen the truth and tasted God's gift, who have taken part in the Divine Guide, and have enjoyed God's good word and the heavenly powers, if they fail in faith, to bring them back to repent. Since they are crucifying and shaming the Son of God once again. Because the earth, which absorbs the rain and produces vegetation to provide for us, is blessed by God. But the land covered in thorns and thistles is rejected, even cursed. It is destined to be burned.
Friends, though we talk like this, we're convinced better things are in store for you, along with salvation. God is not deceitful and will not forget your work, which you have done loving His name, like ministering to the saints. We hope that all of you show the same work ethic and hope until the very end, that you won't be lazy, but follow those who inherit Jesus' promises through faith and patience.
When God promised Abraham, because he could swear no bigger oath, he swore by himself. He said, "I will certainly bless you and multiply you." So, after patient endurance, he received the promise. Men always swear by greater things and assume that it will end their problems. So God used an oath to show the heirs of His promise that his counsel would never change. It is impossible for God to lie, so He did this so we who have fled to grasp His hope could be consoled by two unchanging things. The hope is the anchor of the soul, strong and secure, and enters behind the curtain, where Jesus, our forerunner, has entered. He is the high priest for ever in the order of Melchisedec.
Melchisedec, King of Salem, and God's priest, met Abraham returning from the decimation of kings and blessed him. Abraham gave him a tenth of everything, including the title of King of righteousness, later also King of Salem, meaning "King of peace." Fatherless, motherless, without family, without a beginning or end, he was made like the Son of God, being a priest eternally. Consider how great he was, since the patriarch Abraham gave him one tenth of everything. So the sons of Levi who enter the priesthood have been commanded to take tithes from the people as the law states - from their brothers - though they are descended from Abraham.. He didn't descend from them, but received Abraham's tithes, and blessed him with the promise. Without contradiction, the less is blessed all the more. Here, men who die receive tithes, but there, the living receives them. Levi too, while receiving tithes, paid them to Abraham. Because he was still a descendant of his father when Melchisedec met him.
So if one could be perfected by the Levitical priesthood (which gave people the law) what was the point of another priest after Melchisedec not called of the order of Aaron? The priesthood has been changed and so there must be a change of the law. Because He whom this is about is from another tribe, which wasn't allowed to access the altar. It's clear that our Lord came from Juda, a tribe about which Moses spoke nothing about the priesthood. It is even clearer that another priest has arisen the same as Melchizedek, who is created not by the laws of the physical world, but with the power of everlasting life. For he taught, "You are a priest forever pursuant to the order of Melchizedek."
There was truly a cancellation of the prior commandment because it became weak and unprofitable. For the law made nothing perfect, but the introduction of a greater hope did, by which we come close to God. It was only with an oath that He was made priest; for the other priests were ordained without an oath. But He took this oath that said to Him, "The Lord swore and will not recant, 'You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek' By this Jesus became a guarantee of a better covenant.
There were many priests, because death prevented them from continuing forever in their position. But this man, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. He is thereby also able to save to the utmost those who come to God by Him, seeing that He lives forever to intercede for them. For such a high priest became of us; He is holy, harmless, undefiled, away from sinners, and exalted higher than the heavens; who, unlike the high priests, make daily sacrifices, first for his own sins, and then for the people's, because he did this once when he offered up himself. For the law makes men high priests who have human weakness; but the word of the oath, which came later after the law, makes the Son who is consecrated forever.
This is the main point here: we have such a high priest who sits at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in Heaven, a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord set up, and not man. For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices, thus it is necessary that this man also have something to offer. For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, seeing that there are priests who offer gifts pursuant to the law, who imitate the example and image of heavenly things; as Moses was admonished by God for whom he was about to construct the tabernacle: "See", said He, "that you make all things according to the pattern showed to you in the mount." But now He has obtained a more perfect ministry, by how much also is he the mediator of a finer covenant, which was founded on stronger promises.
If that first covenant had been perfect, then there would have been no need for the second. But finding fault with them, He said, "'The day will come,' said the Lord, 'when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers at the time when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they lived in violation of my covenant, and I disregarded them,' said the Lord. 'For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days,' said the Lord; 'I will put implant my laws in their minds, and write them in their hears, and I will be a God to them, and they shall be a people to me.' And they shall not teach every male neighbor, and every grown brother, saying, 'Know the Lord because all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.' For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and iniquities I will forgive and forget. By saying, 'A new covenant,' he has discarded the first one. Now that which decays and grows old is ready to disappear.
The first covenant had rules about divine service and an earthly sanctuary. A tabernacle was built, with a candlestick, table, and bread inside, called the sanctuary. Beyond the second veil, they called it the Holiest of all. There was a gold censer and the ark of the covenant, surrounded with gold, with a golden pot with manna in it, Aaron's budded rod, and the tables of the covenant. Over it, cherubim of glory shadowed the seat of mercy, of which we don't know details. When this was all explained, the priests were always went into the first tabernacle to do God's services. However, only the high priest went into the second, once a year, with blood which he offered on his own behalf and for the people's sins. The Divine Guide thus established that the way to the holiest place of all wasn't yet revealed while the first tabernacle still stood. This was for the present time, when gifts and sacrifices were given which couldn't perfect their consciences. They were about food and drink and cleansing and various rules, set upon them until the time of reformation arrived. Christ, being a high priest of the great things in store, came by a perfect tabernacle, not constructed by hands. That is, not this building. He earned eternal redemption for us by entering the holy place with His own blood, not the blood of goats and cows. Because, if bull and goat blood and the ashes of a cow sprinkled on the unclean purify the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ clean your soul from the past to serve the living God, since he, sinless, has offered Himself through the eternal Spirit to God? So He is the mediator of the New Testament, or will, so that we may be redeemed of our failings under the first will can receive the promise of God's eternal gift through death.
Where there's a will, the writer of the will must have died. Testaments only apply after men die, and have no power whatsoever while they live. So the first will was established with blood. When Moses had discussed ever part of the law with the people, he took calf and goat blood, water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled the book and the people. He said, "This is the blood of the testament which God has give to you." Then he sprinkled the tabernacle and the vessels of ministry with blood. Almost everything is cleansed by law with blood, for without blood there is no forgiveness. So it was necessary that these copies of heavenly things be purified, but heavenly things need a better sacrifice.
So Christ hasn't entered into man-made holy places, which are attempts to copy the real thing, but heaven itself, ready to appear before God on our behalf. But he shouldn't offer himself often, just as the high priest only enters the holy place once a year with the blood. Because then, he would have to suffer since the beginning of time many times! But instead, he has appeared once near the end of history to remove sin by sacrificing himself. It is reserved for men to die once, and then be judged; thus Christ, offered once to bear the sins of many, shall appear sinless a second time to those who look for him, to deliver them to salvation.
The law casting only a shadow of good things to come, and not the actual image of such things, can never attain complete perfection with those annual sacrifices. Otherwise would not the offerings have ceased? Because then the worshipers once purified would no longer be aware of sins. But those sacrifices are annual repeated remembrance of sins. This is because it not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
For this He came into the world, saying, "Sacrifice and offering you would not, but a body you have prepared for me. There is no pleasure in your burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin." Then I said, "Alas, I came (as written in the scriptures) to do your will, oh God." Above when He said, "You had no pleasure in the sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin, which are offered pursuant to the law; Next He said, "Amen, I come to do Your will, oh God." He took away the first in order to establish the second, by which intent we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ, once and for all.
Each priest does his duties daily and offers sacrifices incapable of taking away sins, yet this one, offering only one sacrifice for all sins ever, sits down at God's right hand. Now he waits until his enemies become his footstool, since with one offering he has eternally perfected the purified. The Divine Guide has told us of this. He said, "I will make this covenant with them after those days. I will place my laws in their hearts and write them in their minds." "I will forget their sins and failures." Where there has been forgiveness, no more offering is required.
So, brothers, having the courage to enter the holiest place by the blood of Jesus, by the new, living way through the he has established for us, through his flesh, and with a new high priest over God's house. Let us come to God with true hearts bolstered by faith, washed clean of evil conscience, our bodies washed with pure water. Let us stay true to the declaration of our faith, unwavering, for He who promises is trustworthy. Let's think about each other to bring about love and good deeds. Let's not fail to gather together, like some have, but encourage each other more and more as we see the day grow near.
If we choose to sin after gaining knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice remains to purify us, but instead a fearful expectation of judgment and fiery anger will devour God's enemies. A man who mocked Moses' law died without mercy before a few men. How much worse do you think it'll be for the man who trampled the Son of God, and has considered His blood of the covenant, which purified him, a silly thing, and has attacked the Spirit of grace? We all know He who said, "Vengeance is mine. I will repay," said the Lord. Similarly, "The Lord will judge His people." It is a frightening thing to fall into the living God's hands.
Yet remember past days when, after you learned the truth, battled against adversity. Sometimes you were mocked and attacked, other times you joined those who were treated like that. You cared for me while I was imprisoned, and stood happily while your property was ransacked, knowing you have a far better provision in heaven. So don't throw away your confidence as it will be greatly rewarded. You must be patient that after doing God's will, you will receive your due. It will still be a while until He who will come will come with haste. The just will live through faith and if any man abandons it, my soul won't be pleased. But we aren't the sort to abandon faith for damnation, but the sort who believe in saving the soul.
Faith is the confidence in our hopes, the evidence of the unseen. Through it, the elders gained a good reputation. Through faith, we discover the universe was created by God's word, so that which we see didn't come from anything visible. Through faith, Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain, and God proclaimed that he was righteous. His faith still speaks, though he is dead. Through faith, Enoch was summoned up, so that he would not die. He was not found, as God had carried him away. Before this, he had been told he pleased God. Without faith it is impossible to please God. Anyone coming to God must believe that He is God, that He is the rewarder of those who seek him.
Through faith, Noah was warned by God of the future, and built an Ark to save his house. Though the world was condemned, he became heir of the righteousness of faith. Through faith, Abraham, called to the land he was to inherit, obeyed the call. He went there, not knowing where he was going. Through faith he traveled into the promised land, a foreign country, staying in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, likewise heirs of the very same promise. He looked for a city with solid foundations, with God its builder and maker.
Through faith, Sara received the ability to conceive a child, and gave birth when she was very old, because she trusted in the faith of He who promised. So from a man, as old as near death, came as many descendants as there are stars in the sky, grains of sand by the sea shore. They all died in faith without the promises personally, but were persuaded after having seen them at a distance. They embraced the promises and confessed that they were strangers and travelers on the earth. Those who speak like that are clearly stating they seek a new country. If they had been focused on their country of origin, they might have gone back to it. But instead, they wish for a better country, a heavenly one. So God is not ashamed to be called their God, because he has built them a city.
Through faith, Abraham offered Isaac when tested. He who was given promises offered up his only son. The scripture said of him, "Your descendants will come through Isaac." Abraham believed God could resurrect him from the dead, and in a way he did get him back that way. Through faith, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau about the future. Through faith, Jacob blessed the sons of Joseph when near death and worshiped God while leaning on his staff. Through faith, Joseph mentioned the exodus of the Israelites at his death, and made orders about his body. Through faith, Moses was hidden by his parents for three months after his birth because they saw he was a special child and weren't afraid of the despot's command. Through faith, Moses refused to be called Pharaoh's daughter's son when he reached adulthood. Instead he chose to undergo trials with the people of God, rather than enjoy sinful pleasures for any time. He thought suffering for Christ more valuable than all the treasure in Egypt, because he looked forward to his reward.
Through faith he abandoned Egypt, without fear of the pharaoh. He strove forward, seeing He who is invisible. Through faith, he observed the passover and sprinkling of blood, in case the destroyer of the firstborn touched them. Through faith, they traveled through the Red Sea like it was land, while the Egyptians were drowned trying. Through faith, the walls of Jericho fell after they were surrounded for seven days. Through faith, Rahab the prostitute didn't die with the unbelievers, after she welcomed the spies.
What else can I say? There's not enough time to tell of Gedeon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, who through faith conquered nations, brought righteousness, gained promises, and quieted lions, quenched fiery violence, escaped death by sword, made strong though originally weak, turned valiant in fight, and caused the foreign armies to flee. Women received their dead back alive; others were tortured while not refusing to sell out, so that they might obtain a better resurrection. Meanwhile, others endured cruel mockings and scourgings and, yes, even chains and imprisonment; they were stoned, sawed in half, tempted and slain by sword; they wandered around in garments made of sheepskin and goatskin, while destitute, oppressed and distressed; the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts, over mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. Yet all of them, though rewarded through their faith, did not receive the promise; God gave us more, so that they need us to become complete.
Thus, amongst such a large crowd of witnesses, let us set aside all anxiety and sin that distract us, and let us run with perseverance the race given us, inspired by Jesus, the creator and perfecter of our faith, who endured the cross for the triumphant finish, rising above the shame, and now sits at the right hand of God's throne.
Think of how He endured so much opposition by sinners against himself, so that you do not tire and lose heart. You have not yet shed blood in resistance and striving against sin. And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to children, My son, despite not you the chastening of the LORD, nor faint when you are rebuked of him. For those whom the LORD loves he disciplines, and scourges every son who he receives. If you endure discipline, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is never disciplined by his father? But if you are not disciplined, whereof all are partakers, then you are bastards, and not sons. Furthermore, we have had fathers like us who corrected us, and we gave them reverence shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live? For they truly disciplined us for a few days after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we may partake in his holiness.
Now no discipline for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous, nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to them which are exercised thereby. Why lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. Looking diligently lest any man fall from grace with God; lest any bitterness spring up to trouble you, and by that defile many, lest there be any who fornicate, or any who are profane, as Esau, who sold his birthright for one morsel of meat. For you know how afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected for he did not find a place to repent, though he sought it carefully and tearfully.
For you are not to come to the mount that might be touched, and that burned, nor unto blackness, darkness, and tempest, and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard said that the word should not be said to them anymore (for they could not endure the command, and if even a beast so much as touched the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart. And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake) but you are to come to mount Sion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of good men made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood for sprinkling, that speaks better things than Abel.
See that you refuse not him who speaks. For if they did not escape those who refused him that spoke on Earth, much more we shall not escape, if we turn away from he who speaks from heaven. But now he has promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not only the Earth, but also heaven. And this word, yet once more, signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of those that are made, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Thus as we receive a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a strong, consuming fire.
Don't forget to be hospitable to strangers; by doing that, some have unknowingly been hospitable to angels. Remember those who are imprisoned as if you were imprisoned with them, and those who are suffering as if you yourself felt their suffering with your own body. Honor marriage and keep the marriage bed pure; God will judge the promiscuous and the adulterers.
Let your way be without love of money, and be content with what you have now. God has said, I will never leave you or abandon you. So we can boldly say, "The Lord is my helper, and will not be afraid of what any man will do to me."
Remember your rulers, who have spoken the word of God to you. Follow the example of their faith, carefully observing the result of their behavior. Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, and today, and forever. Do not be carried about with divers and false doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart is established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have occupied therein. We have an altar, while they have no right to eat what serves the tabernacle. For the bodies of these beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest of sin, are burned without the camp. Why even Jesus, so that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
Let us go forth therefore to him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here we have no continuing city, but we seek one. Therefore, by him, let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate, do not forget that with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
Obey your leaders, and submit yourselves for they watch for your souls, as they must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief, for grief is not profitable for you.
Pray for us for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live without deceit. But I beseech you, please do this, that I may be restored to you more quickly.
Now the God of peace, that brought our Lord Jesus back from the dead again, that great shepherd, through the blood of the endless covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well and pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom there shall be glory forever.
[And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation for I have written a short letter to you. Know that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he comes shortly, I will see you. Salute all who lead you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.]
[Boundless generosity be with you all. Amen.]
It happened that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul, having passed through the upper coasts, came to Ephesus. Finding certain students of Christ there, he told them, "Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed?" And they told him, "But we never even heard whether any Holy Spirit exists!"
He asked them, "Then what were you baptized into?"
And they said, "The baptism of John."
Then Paul said, "True enough, John baptized with the baptism of repentence. He used to tell the people that they need to believe on the One Who would come after him, on Christ Jesus."
When they heard this, they were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in foreign languages, and prophesied. Twelve men were involved.
He then went into the synagogue, and spoke boldly for about three months, debating and persuading people of the things concerning the kingdom of God. But when several people were hardened, and disbelieved, but said bad things about that Way in front of the crowd, he departed from them, and separated the students, debating daily in the school of a man named Tyrannus. This continued for two years. So everyone who lived in Asia Province heard the Word of the Lord Jesus, both Jew and Greek alike.
From: Paul, who was called by God's will to be one of Jesus Christ's apostles, and our brother Sosthenes
To: The church of God at Corinth, those sanctified in Jesus Christ, called to be church members, along with all those everywhere who, along with them and us, pray to our Lord Jesus Christ.
Grace and peace to you, from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I always thank God for the grace of God which is given to you by Jesus Christ, and I also thank God that he gives you so much help in your words and knowledge. Even as you have had confirmation of the testimony of Christ, you are not lacking any gifts as you wait for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will continue to give you confirmation until the end, so that you will be free of blame when He does come. God keeps his word, and it is by Him that you were called into the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Now I beg you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you speak with one voice, that you let there be no divisions among you, that you be perfectly joined together with unanimous judgment. Chloe's relatives have told me that you, my brothers, have some contentiousness among you. I'm saying that you all are saying, "I'm a follower of Paul" or "I'm a follower of Apollos" or "I'm a follower of Peter" or "I'm a follower of Christ." Is Christ divided? Was I crucified for you, or were you baptized in my name? Thank God I didn't baptize any of you but Crispus and Gaius, or else some would be saying that I had been baptizing in my own name! Oh, I also baptized Stephanas's family; other than that, I don't know if I baptized anyone else. In any case, Christ didn't send me to baptize. He sent me to preach the gospel, but not with the kind of liberal claptrap that would make Christ's sacrifice ineffectual.
To those who are going to Hell, preaching about Jesus is nonsense, but to those of us who are going to Heaven, that preaching is the power of God. In scripture, God says, "I will destroy the wisdom of those who think they are wise and reduce to nothing the understanding of those who think they are well-informed." Where are the "wise", the "well-educated," and the debater? Hasn't God made their wisdom of the world look pretty foolish now? Since the pseudowisdom of the world didn't know anything about God, it is amusing to God that the so-called foolishness of our preaching is what saves us believers. For example, the Jews expect to see a sign from heaven, and the Greeks demand demonstrations of "wisdom." But what we preach is the crucifixion of Christ. For the Jews, this is a scandal and for the Greeks it's moronic. But to those who listen to us, whether Jewish or Greek, what we preach is the power and the wisdom of God. They know that this "foolishness" of God is wiser than men; the "weakness" of God is stronger than men.
My brothers, think about your own experience of being called to Christ. Not many wise (by worldly standards), not many powerful, not many high-born are called. God chose the things the world considers foolish in order to confuse the wise, and the things the world considers weak in order to weaken the strong. And God chose the things the world considers low and despicable, and things which are not, to bring to nothingness the things that are so that nobody can be proud in His presence. It's a gift of God that you are with Jesus Christ, whom God made our wisdom, morality, holiness, and redemption. So, as it as says in scripture, if you're going to be proud about anything, be proud about the Lord.
My brothers, when I came to you to testify about God, I didn't come speaking with fancy words or wisdom. I had decided that among you I didn't need to know about anything except Jesus Christ and his crucifixion. When I was with you, I was weak and trembling with fear. And when I spoke and preached, it wasn't with attractive words of human "wisdom", but it did demonstrate God's power so that your faith would be not in human "wisdom" but in the power of God. However, we speak with real wisdom among those whose understanding is complete, but it isn't the "wisdom" of this world, and it isn't the "wisdom" of the rulers of this world, who come to nothing. We speak the wisdom of God as a mystery, even the secret wisdom which God selected before the world for our glory. None of the rulers of this world knew this wisdom; if they had known it, they wouldn't have crucified our glorious Lord. But as it says in scripture, no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has understood, the things that God has waiting for those who love him. But God has shown those things to us by his spirit, which searches out all things, even the deepest things of God. After all, who knows the things of a man other than the that man's own spirit? In the same way, no man knows the things of God, but the Spirit of God does.
Now we have received a spirit—Not the world's, but God's, so that we can know the things that God has freely given to us. These things are what we're talking about—Not in the words that man's "wisdom" uses to teach, but which the Holy Spirit teaches. We're talking spiritual things with the spiritual.
Now, a natural man, on the one hand, doesn't understand the things of the Spirit of God. He thinks they are all nonsense. He can't understand them because they must be understood supernaturally. But a spiritual man, on the other hand, can judge everything, but he can't be judged by other men. One might ask, who has known the mind of the Lord and can teach Him? Well, we have the mind of Christ.
My brothers, previously I couldn't speak to as if you were spiritual. I had to speak to you in the terms of the world, as if you were immature in your understanding of Christ. I had to feed you with milk, not solid food; you weren't ready for it then, and you aren't ready for it now. You are still of this world. Among you, there is envy, quarrelling, and division, so aren't you worldly? Aren't you going about like men? When one of you says, "I follow Paul" and another says "I follow Apollos" isn't that worldly of you? Who is this Paul? Who is this Apollos? Just ministers who led you to believe, as the Lord gave to every man. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither the planter nor the waterer is anything, but God, the grower, is everything.
Now the planter and the waterer are one, and every man will get an appropriate reward for his work. We are workers together with God; you are God's field, you are God's building. With the grace of God I've been given, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and someone else will build on it. But be careful how you build. There can be no foundation other than the one I laid, that is, Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, his work will be seen clearly when it is declared on the day of judgment because it will be revealed with fire. That fire will test every many's work to see what kind of work it is. If any man's building work lasts, he will get his reward. If his work is burned, that is a loss to him, but he himself will be saved, although it will be like going through fire.
Don't you know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? If any man desecrates the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that temple is you. Don't deceive yourselves. If any man among you seems to be wise in this world, let him become a fool so that he can actually become wise. As far as God is concerned, the wisdom of this world is foolishness. As it says in scripture, God catches the "wise" in the trap of their own craftiness. And again, the Lord knows the thoughts of the "wise"; he knows that they are useless. So to summarize, don't take pride in men. Everything is yours—Paul, Apollos, or Peter, the world, life, or death, things present, things to come—It is all yours. And you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.
So people should think of us as the ministers of Christ and the stewards of God's mysteries. Of course, in order to be a steward, a man has to be considered faithful. As for me, it is insignificant that you or other men should judge me. I don't even judge myself. I don't know anything by myself, but I still don't have sufficient justification. The Lord is the one that judges me. So don't judge things before the time when the Lord comes. He will bring to light the things that are hidden in darkness and will make clear what is in men's hearts. That will be the time when God will let men have praise.
To make my point, my brothers, I have used myself and Apollos as examples for your benefit, so that you can learn from our example not to place men above scripture, and so that you don't get into conflicts over inflating yourselves. Who makes you different from other people? What do you have that you didn't get as a gift from God? And if you did get it as a gift from God, why act so proud as if it weren't a gift? You now have all you need! You are rich! You have become kings without us! Or so you think. I wish you really were kings so that we could reign with you. I think God has put us apostles at the end of the line, as if we were going to our deaths. We're a spectacle for the world, for angels and for men. As you seem to think, we are fools for Christ, and you are wise in Christ; we are weak, and you are strong; you are honorable, and we are despised. Even up to right now, we both are hungry and thirsty, we don't have enough clothing, we get beaten, and we have no place to stay. We work with our own hands. When people revile us, we bless them; when we are persecuted we endure it. When we are defamed, we speak politely, even when we are portrayed as the scum of the earth and all the world's trash until now.
I'm not writing this to make you ashamed, but to warn you as my beloved sons. Even if you have ten thousand people to teach you about Christ, you don't have many fathers. I was the one who begat you in Christ Jesus through the Gospel This is why beg you to follow my example. To this end, I've sent you Timotheus, my beloved son. He is faithful in the Lord and will help you remember my Christly ways, just as I teach everywhere in every Church.
Now some of you are getting too full of yourselves, as if I wasn't going to come to you. Well, I'm coming back soon, if the Lord is willing, and I'm going to know, not the words of those arrogant people, but their power. God's kingdom isn't about talk. It's about power. So which do you prefer? Should I come to see you carrying a big stick, or with love and in the spirit of meekness? I have heard reports that there is sexual immorality among you, and I mean the kind of sexual immorality not found even among non-church members, between a man and his father's wife. And you are proud? Shouldn't you instead mourn and excommunicate the person who did this deed? Even though I'm absent in body, I'm with you in spirit, and I have already judged, as though I were there, regarding the person who did this deed. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, deliver this kind of person to Satan for the destruction of his flesh so that your spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Your pride is not a good thing. Don't you know that one rotten apple spoils the whole barrel? So get rid of the rotten apple, so that you can be a new barrel, since you are unspoiled. Christ, our passover lamb, is sacrificed for us. So let's have our feast, not with the old fruit or with rotten malice and corruption, but with the fresh apples of sincerity and truth.
I wrote to you in a previous letter not to associate with the sexually impure. I wasn't referring to non-church members who were sexually impure, or greedy, or those who extort or worship idols. If that's what I had meant, you would have to leave the world entirely. What I'm writing to you to say now is not to associate with any man who calls himself a church member but is sexually immoral or greedy, or an idol worshipper, or uses harsh words, or an alcoholic, or a cheater. Don't even eat with that kind of person. What is it to me to judge those who are outside the church? But don't you judge those who are inside it? Those outside the church, God will judge. So, kick that immoral person out and keep him away from you.
Do any of you, if you have a complaint against another, dare to bring your dispute to the unjust for adjudication, instead of taking it up with church members? Don't you know that the church members will judge the world? And if you church members are going to judge the whole world, are you incapable of judging minor matters? Don't you know that we are going to judge the angels? Of course we can judge everything involving this life. If you have judgments of things in this life, why not choose as your judges those who are least esteemed in the church? I'm trying to make you ashamed with my words. Is there really no wise man among you, not even one who can judge a dispute between his brothers? Instead, one church member takes a fellow member to court to be judged by unbelievers. So absolutely yes, there is a problem among you; you're taking one another to court! Wouldn't it be better to tolerate a wrong? Wouldn't you rather allow yourself to be cheated? But no, you're wronging and cheating your own brothers in the church. Don't you know that the unrighteous are not going to go to heaven. Don't fall for deceit: neither the promiscuous, nor idol worshipers, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor greedy people, nor alcoholics, nor people who speak ill of others, nor cheaters, are going to go to heaven. And some of you were those things, but you are washed, you are made holy, you are made right, in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
Even if everything is permitted to me, not everything is useful; even if everything is permitted to me, I won't be controlled by anything. Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food, but God will destroy both of them. The body is not for sexual immorality; it's for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body. And God raised Jesus from the dead and will also raise us from the dead by his power. Don't you know that your bodies are parts of Christ's body? Should I take the parts of Christ's body and make them parts of a whore's body? God forbid. Of course you know, don't you, that a person joined to a whore makes one body? As God himself says, "Two will be one body." But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit. Stay away from sexual immorality. Other sins are outside the body, but when you are sexually impure you sin against your own body. Of course you know, don't you, that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, given to you from God; that you are not your own? You have been bought with a high price by Jesus's sacrifice, so honor God in your body and in your spirit. They are God's, not yours.
Now, as for the matter you wrote to me about: It is best to practice abstinence. But in order to avoid sexual immorality, it is acceptable for each man to have a wife and each woman a husband. The husband should give his wife what she needs, and the wfe should do the same for her husband. The wife is not in charge of her own body; her husband is. Likewise, the husband isn't in charge of his own body; his wife is. Don't hold out on one another, except temporarily by mutual consent so that you can fast and pray. Then come together again, so that Satan doesn't have a chance to tempt you for trying to hold out longer than you can. You're allowed to do what I'm saying, but it's not mandatory. If I had my way, all men would be the way I am. But every man is given gifts from God that are appropriate for him, one like this, another like that. So I say to the unmarried and the widowed, it is best for them to remain celibate as I do. But if they can't hold back, let them marry; it is better to marry than to go to Hell.
And to the married, I order this—No, wait, it's not me, but the Lord who says this—A wife should not leave her husband. But if she does leave, she should remain unmarried or else go back to her husband. And a husband should not throw out his wife. As for the rest of you, I'm saying this, not the Lord: If a church member has a wife who isn't a believer and she is happy to stay with him, he should not kick her out. And as for a woman who has a husband who isn't a believer, if he is happy to stay with her, she should not leave him. After all, the unbelieving husband is made holy by his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy by the husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. But if the unbeliever leaves the marriage, let him leave. A church member is not bound in such cases; God has called us to be in peace. How do you women know whether you will be the one to save your husband? Or how do you men know whether you will be the one to save your wife? Anyway, whatever God has given evey man, however God has called every man, let him follow that path. This is my ruling for all churches.
Is a man who is called circumcised? He doesn't need to become uncircumcised. Is anyone who is called uncircumcised? Then he doesn't need to be circumcised either. Circumcision is nothing and so is uncircumcision. Keeping God's commandments is everything.
Every man should stay in the same circumstances he was in when he was called. Were you called when you were a slave? Don't worry about that, but if you can become free, do that instead. He who was called to the Lord when a slave is the Lord's freeman, and he who is called when free is Christ's slave. You were bought with a price so don't be the slaves of men. Brothers, let every man, wherever he was when he was called, stay there with God.
Now as for virgins, I have no commandment to relay from the Lord, but I can give my own judgment since, thanks to the Lord, I am trustworthy. So I suppose I can say that it is good, given the present difficulties, for a man to be as he is now. Are you married? Then don't try to free yourself. Are you free of a wife? Then don't try to get one. But if you do get married, it's not a sin, and if a virgin gets married, it's not a sin. However, if you do get married, you're in for a lot of trouble here and now, and I'm trying to save you from that. I'm saying this, brothers: Time is short. While that little time remains, let those who have wives be as if they didn't, And those who weep, as if they didn't, and those that are happy as if they weren't, and those that buy things as if they had nothing, And those who make use of this world, as not obsessed with it, for the things of this world will pass away. I would like for you to be carefree. An unmarried man cares about the things that are the Lord's, that is, he cares about how to please the Lord. But a married man cares about the things of this world, that is, he cares about how to please his wife. There is also a difference between a married woman and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things that are the Lord's, so that she can be holy both in body and in spirit, but a married woman cares about the things of the world, that is, she cares about how to please her husband. I'm saying this for your own benefit, not just to impose restrictions on you, but for the sake of what is appropriate, so that you can follow the Lord without distraction. But if any man thinks that he is behaving inappropriately toward his betrothed, if she is losing her prime, and it is necessary, let him do what he wants to do; it isn't a sin. Let them get married. But the man who remains steadfast in his heart without feeling compulsion, keeping self-control over his will, having decided in his heart to keep his betrothed as a virgin, also is doing a good thing. So then, a man who gives his daughter in marriage is doing a good thing, but a man who doesn't do so is doing a better thing. A wife is legally bound as long as her husband is alive, but if he is dead, she is free to marry anyone she wants, as long as he is a church member. But she would be happier if she remained unmarried, at least according to my judgment, and I think my judgment is informed by the Spirit of God.
Now, on to the matter of things sacrificed to idols. We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge inflates, but love builds solidly. And if a man thinks he knows anything, he doesn't know what he ought to know. But if a man loves God, God knows that. So, as I was saying on the topic of eating things sacrificed to idols. We know that an idol is nothing in the world and that there is no god but the one God. Although there are many that are called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, many gods, and many lords, to us there is only one God, the Father, from whom everything comes and for whom we live, and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom everything comes, and through whom we live. But not everyone has this knowledge. Some people are accustomed to idols even now, and eat food that has been offered to idols, and because their custom is weak, it is defiled. But food does not call us to God. In this respect, if we eat, we're no better off, and if we don't eat, we're no worse off. But be careful lest this freedom of yours somehow become a stumbling block to those who are weak. You understand this, but if you are seen eating in the temple of the idols, won't a weak man's conscience be emboldened to eat things offered to idols? So because of your knowledge, should a weak church member, for whom Christ died, be destroyed? When you sin like this against your fellow church members and woound their weak conscience, it is Christ that you are sinning against. So if eating food causes a scandal for a brother church member, I won't eat mean any more so that I don't cause a scandal.
Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ, our Lord? Did I not convert you? If I am not an apostle in the eyes of others, surely I am to you: for it is my apostleship that brought you to the Lord. My answer to those who question me is this, Have we not power to eat and to drink? Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as apostles, and as the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have the power to give up working? Who goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and doesn't eat some of the fruit? Or who takes care of a flock and doesn't drink some of its milk? Is it just me, a man, who says this? Doesn't the Law say the same thing? It says in the Law of Moses, "Do not muzzle the mouth of an ox that is threshing the grain." Is God so concerned about oxen? Or does he say that entirely for us? Yes, this is written for us: That the plower should plow with hope, and the thresher should share in that hope. If we have planted spiritual things in you, is it a big deal if we harvest your physical things? If others can share in this harvest, can't we too? Still, we haven't exercised this right. We endure everything so that we don't hinder the good news of Christ. Don't you know that those who take care of the holy things make their living from the things of the temple? And those who take care of the alter share in what is offered there? In the same way, the Lord has ordained that those who preach the good news should make their living from the good news. But I have never claimed any of these things though it was my right to do so. And I'm not writing about them so that I can do so now. I would rather die than be unable to take pride in not exercising my rights. Even though I preach the good news, it's nothing for me to take pride in. I do it because I have to. Woe is me if I don't preach it! If I were doing this by choice, I would deserve a reward; but if not by choice, it's because I've been entrusted with the good news. So then, what is my reward? It is that when I preach, I can make the good news of Christ freely available, that I don't make undue advantage of the good news. Even though I'm free of all men, I've made myself a slave to all men, so that I can win more of them over. To the Jews, I became like a Jew so that I could win over the Jews; to those who observe the Mosaic law, I lived according to the law so that I could win over those who observe. To those who don't observe the Mosaic law, I lived without it (not that I'm actually not subject to God's law, since I'm bound to the law by Christ) so that I could win over the non-observant. To the weak, I behaved as if I were weak so that I could win over the weak. I am all things to all men so that I can by all means save some. I do all this for the sake of the good news so that I can share in it.
Don't you know that while everyone who runs in a race runs, only one can win the prize? So run to win it. And every man who competes for the win disciplines himself in every way. They do it to win a temporary prize, but we are striving for an everlasting prize. So I run, but not aimlessly; I fight, but not shadowboxing. I train my body and keep it under control so that, having preached to others, I don't get disqualified.
Moreover, my brothers, I hope you are aware of how our forefathers followed a cloud out of Egypt and crossed over the sea, And all of them were baptized to Moses in the cloud and in the sea, they all ate the same spiritual food, they all drank the same spiritual drink. They drank from that spiritual Rock that followed them; that Rock was Christ. But God was not happy with many of them; they were scattered in the wilderness. These things were an example to us, so that we wouldn't desire evil things as they did.
Don't be idol worshippers as some of them were. As scripture says, "The people sat down to eat and drink and stood up to fool around." Let's not behave sexually immorally, as some of them did, so that 23,000 of them died in one day. Let's not test Christ, as some of them did, and were killed by snakes. Don't whine, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. All of these things happened to them for our example. They are written in scripture to warn us, on whom the end of time has come. So if you think you are standing, be careful not to fall. There is no temptation facing you beyond what is common to man, but God is faithful. He won't let you be tempted beyond what you can handle. With the temptation, God gives a way to escape it, so that you can successfully face it. So, my dearly beloved, keep away from idol worship.
I'm speaking to wise men; judge for yourself what I'm saying. The cup of blessing which we bless, isn't it the sharing of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, isn't it the sharing of the body of Christ? We are many, but one bread and one body, since we all share that one bread. Look at the people of Israel. Aren't those who eat the sacrifices sharing in the altar? What am I saying? That an idol is anything significant or that which is sacrificed to idols is anything significant? But I say, the things the gentiles sacrifice are sacrificed to devils, not to God; and I do not want you to be friends with devils. You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord, and the cup of demons, and you cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of demons. Are we going to make the Lord jealous? Do we think we're stronger than He? "All things are lawful for me"...but not all things are beneficial. "All things are lawful for me"...but not all things build me up.
No man should seek after his own, but every man should look out for his neighbor. Whatever is sold in the public marketplace, go ahead and eat, and don't ask questions, for the sake of conscience. For "the earth belongs to the Lord, and the fullness of it also belongs to Him." If any unbeliever invites you to dinner, and you would like to attend, then eat whatever they set before you, and ask no question for the sake of conscience. But if anyone tell you, "This food was offered in sacrifice to idols," then don't eat it, for the sake of the one who told you, and for the sake of conscience. And when I say "conscience," I am not talking about your conscience, but rather his. Now why is my liberty constrained by another man's conscience? If I, by grace, am a participant, why am I talked about in a bad way for a thing that I gave thanks for? So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. Make sure that your conscience is clear, to the Jews, the Greeks, and to the church of God, for the same reason that I please men in all things, and do not look after my own profit, but the profit of many, so that they might be saved. So you be followers of me, just as I am a follower of Christ.
Now, brothers, I like to see that you remember me in everything, and are keeping the ordinances, as I gave them to you. But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is the man. (And the head of Christ is God.) Every man who prays or prophesies, and has his head covered, is dishonoring his head. But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head. In fact she might as well have her head shaved. If the woman is not covered, she should have her hair shaved off as well. But if it's embarrassing for a woman to have her hair shaved off, then she should be covered. For on the one hand, a man shouldn't cover his head, because after all he is the image and glory of God. On the other hand, the woman is the glory of the man. For the man is not a product of the woman; the woman is the product of the man. Nor was the man created for the woman; the woman was created for the man. For this reason the woman should have a symbol of authority on her head, for the sake of God's Messengers. Nevertheless, the man does not exist without the woman, nor the woman without the man, in the Lord. For as the woman comes from the man, the man is also by the woman, and all things are by God. Judge for yourselves: is it becoming that a woman pray to God with her head uncovered? Doesn't even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, that's an embarrassment to him? But if a woman has long hair, that is a glory to her. Her hair is given her as a covering. But if any man seems to be argumentative about it, we have no such custom as that, and neither do the churches of God.
Now this is one thing I have to tell you that I do not like: you are coming together, not for better, but for worse. In the first place, when you come together in the church, I hear that there are splits among you, and I can believe some of what I hear. For there also must be divisive teachings among you, so that the approved things might be made obvious to you. So when you come together in one place, this is not for eating the Lord's supper. For in the eating, everyone is grasping after his own supper before other people. Result: one goes hungry, while the other is stuffed to the point of intoxication. What's going on here? You have houses to eat and drink in, don't you? Or do you disregard the church of God, and embarrass those who don't have very much? What am I supposed to say to you? Do you expect me to praise you for this? Well, I don't!
I received from the Lord what I also handed over to you: the Lord Jesus, in the very night in which He was betrayed, took bread. When He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, "Take. Eat. This is My Body, Which is for you. Do this to remember Me." And in the same way, after supper, He took the cup, and said, "This cup is the New Testament in My Blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, to remember Me." For as often as you eat this bread, and drink this cup, you demonstrate the Lord's death, until He comes back. So whoever eat this bread, or drinks this cup of the Lord, in an unworthy fashion, will be guilty from the Body and Blood of the Lord. But let a man examine his own heart, and allow him to eat from that bread, and drink from that cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy way, eats and drinks a condemnation for himself, because he does not recognize the body for what It is. This is why many among you are weak and ill, and many are falling asleep. For if we are ready to judge ourselves, we will not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, so that we won't be condemned with the world. So, brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. And if any man is hungry, he should eat at home, so that you don't come together into condemnation. I will address the rest of my concerns when I come.
Now about spiritual gifts: I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers. You know that you were Gentiles, and were carried away to these dumb idols, as you were led. Therefore, understand this: No one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says that Jesus is cursed. And no one is able to say Jesus is Lord, except in the Holy Spirit. And there are many kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there is diversity of service and the same Lord. And there are diversities of working but He is the same God who works everything in all. And to each one he gives the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
For to one, the word of wisdom is given by the Spirit. To another, the word of knowledge by the same Spirit. To another, faith by the same Spirit. To another, the healing gifts by the same Spirit. To another, the working of miracles. To another, prophecy. To another, the discernment of spirits. To another, various kinds of languages; to another the ability to interpret languages. But they all work in that one and same Spirit, Who shares out the gifts separately to every man as He wants.
For as the body is one, and has many parts, and all the parts of that one body, as many as they are, are one body, so is Christ. For by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, whether we are Jews or Greeks, whether we are slaves or freemen. And we have all been made to drink into one Spirit. The body is not just one part, but many. If the foot says, "I am not the hand, so I don't belong to the body," does that mean that it does not belong to the body? And if the ear says, "I am not the eye, so I don't belong to the body," does that mean that it does not belong to the body? If the whoe body were an eye, how could the body hear? If the whole body were hearing, how could it smell? But now God has set every one of the body parts into the body, as it has pleased Him. And if they were all one part, then where would the body be? But now they are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot tell the hand, "I don't need you," nor the head tell the feet, "I don't need you." To the contrary, those parts of the body, that might seem more feeble, are much more necessary. And those body parts that we think are less honorable, to these we grant more abundant honor, and our unbecoming parts have more abundant comeliness. For our good-looking parts don't have any need. But God has put the body together, and given more abundant honor to the part that was lacking, intending that there be no split in the body, but that the parts should have the same care for one another. And when one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it. Or if one part is honored, all the parts rejoice with it.
Now you are the body of Christ, and parts in particular. And God has set some in the church: first, apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers; and after that, miracles, then healing gifts, helping ability, leadership ability, and various language abilities. Is everyone an apostle? A prophet? A teacher? A worker of miracles? Do all men have the healing gifts? Do all men speak in multiple languages? Do all men interpret multiple languages?
But you all earnestly want the best gifts. And yet I am showing you a more excellent way. If I could speak all the languages of men and angels but I didn't have love, I would just be making noise like a gong or cymbal. And if I had the gift of prophecy and understood all mysteries and knew everything, if I had enough faith to move mountains—Without love, I am nothing. And if I gave everything I own to feed the poor, if I gave my body to be burned—Without love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient and kind. It doesn't envy. It doesn't boast, it isn't inflated. It isn't rude or self-serving. It isn't quick to anger. It doesn't focus its thoughts on wrong things. It doesn't rejoice in evil; it rejoices in the truth. It bears everything, believes everything, hopes everything, endures everything.
Prophecies fail. Tongues are silenced. Knowledge vanishes. Love never fails. Our knowledge and our prophecy are imperfect. But when the perfect comes, the imperfect will be wiped away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I understood like a child, I thought like a child. But when I became a man, I put away childish things. Now we see through a glass, darkly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know as completely as I am known now.
And now three things remain: Faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. Follow after love, and be zealous for spiritual gifts, but more importantly, that you might prophesy. For he who speaks in a language that nobody knows, does not speak to men, but to God. No man can understand him, though in the Spirit he is speaking secrets. But he who prophesies, speaks to men for their edification, exhortation, and comfort. He who speaks in an unknown language builds himself up, but he who prophesies, builds the church up. I'd like to see you all speaking in multiple languages, but I would really rather that you prophesied. One who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in foreign languages, except the one able to interpret them, so that the church can receive a building-up message.
Now brothers, if I come to you speaking in lanuages that you don't know, what will I do for you, unless I speak to you by either revelation, knowledge, prophecy, or doctrine? And even lifeless things that give sound, either pipe or harp, unless they produce a distinctive sequence of sounds, how will anyone know what is being played on pipe or harp? For if the trumpet produces an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself for battle? In the same manner, you, unless you speak in a language that men can easily understand, how will any know what is being spoken? You might as well be speaking into the air. It might be that there are so many kinds of voices in the world, and not one of them will be without significance. So if I do not know the meaning of the voice, I might as well be a primitive babbler to the one speaking, and the speaker will be a babbler to me. More than that, you, to the extent that you seek zealously after spiritual gifts, seek that you excel at building up the church. So let anyone who speaks in an unknown language, pray that he can interpret it, too. For if I am praying in an unknown language, my spirit is praying, but my understanding will be unfruitful.
So what good is it? I will pray with the Spirit, and I will pray with understanding as well. I will sing with the Spirit, and I will sing with understanding as well. Otherwise, when you bless with the Spirit, how will anyone taking the place of an unlearned man say "Amen" at the giving of thanks, if he cannot understand what you are saying? For in fact you might be giving thanks in a good way, but the other person will not be built up. I thank my God, because I speak with more languages than all of you. But in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, so that I might also teach others with my voice, than ten thousand words in a language that nobody knows.
Brothers, don't be children in your understanding. In malice you are children, but in understanding, you need to be adults. It is written in the Law: "With men who speak different languages and other dialects, I will speak to this people. And yet for all that, they will not hear Me," says the Lord. So the foreign-language gift exists for a sign, not to believers, but to unbelievers. But prophesying does not serve for unbelievers, but for believers. Therefore, if the whole church were to come together in one place, and everyone speak in foreign languages, and some unlearned or unbelieving men come in, won't they say that you are all maniacs? But if everyone prophesies, and an unbeliever comes in, or an unlearned one, he will be convinced by everyone, and judged by everyone. This is how the secrets of the heart are revealed. And so he will fall down on his face and worship God, and report that God is well and truly within you.
So, brothers, how is it? When you come together, everyone of you will have a psalm, a doctrine, a foreign language, a revelation, an interpretation. Make sure that all things are done for building-up. If any man speaks in an unknown language, let it be in pairs, or at most groups of three, and one at a time, and let one man interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep quiet in the church, and let him talk to himself, and to God. Let the prophets speak in groups of two or three, and let the other one judge. If anything is revealed to another bystander, let the first one keep quiet. For you may all prophesy one by one, so that everyone may learn, and all the people be comforted. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the Author of confusion; He is the Author of peace, as He is in all churches of the saints. Your women should stop talking out loud in the churches. They are not allowed to talk; they are under instruction to obey, as the Law also says. And if they want to learn anything, they should ask their husbands at home. It is an embarrassment for women to speak in the church. What? Did the word of God come out from you? Or did it come only to you? If any man thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, then he should be willing to stipulate that the things I am writing to you are the commandments of the Lord. But if a man is ignorant, let him be ignorant. So, brothers, have your desire to prophesy, and do not forbid anyone to speak in a foreign language. Make sure that all things are done decently and according to a proper order.
Furthermore, I am making known to you, brothers, the gospel that I preached to you, that you have also received, and where you stand in it. You are also saved by it, if you remember what I preached to you, unless you have believed in vain. For I first delivered to you what I also received: that Christ died for our sins, according to Scripture. He was buried, and He rose again on the third day, according to Scripture. He was seen by Cephas, then a member of the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than five hundred brothers at once. The majority of these are still alive today, but some have fallen asleep. After that, he was seen by James, and then by all the apostles. Last of all he was seen by me as well, as if by someone born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles. In fact I am not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am. And His grace, which was bestowed on me, was not in vain. I have worked even harder than the rest of them—though it was not I who did it, but the grace of God that was with me. And so, whether it was I or they, we preached it, and you believed it.
Now if Christ has been preached that he rose from the dead, then why are some of you saying that there is no such thing as the resurrection of the dead? Why, if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not risen. And if Christ has not risen, then our preaching is empty, and your faith is just as empty. And furthermore, we are found to be false witnesses for God, because we have vouched for God, that He raised up Christ, and He didn't raise Him up, if the dead can never rise. For if the dead can never rise, then Christ has not been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is empty, and you are still in your sins. And those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hope in Christ only in this life, then we are the most miserable of all men.
But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who slept. For because death came by man, the resurrection of the dead also came by man. For as in Adam all men die, in Christ all men will be made alive. And every man will be in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, and then those who belong to Christ at His coming. Then comes the end, when he will have handed over the government to God the Father Himself, after He has put down all rulership and authority and power. For He must reign, until He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death itself. For: "He has put all things under His feet." But when He says that all things are put under Him, then obviously He is the Exception, because He put all things under Him. And when all things are subdued to Him, then the Son will also be subject to Him Who put all things under Him so that God will be all in all. Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why, then, are they baptized for the dead? And why do we run such terrible risks every hour? In fact, I die every day, by the pride I have in you in Christ Jesus our Lord. If, after the custom of men, I have fought with wild animals at Ephesus, what advantage do I gain from that, if the dead do not rise? "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!" Do not deceive yourselves: bad company corrupts good manners.
Wake up to righteousness, and do not sin. Some of you do not have knowledge of God, and I say this to your shame. But some man will say, "How are the dead raised up? And with what sort of body will they come?" Unlearned man, what you sow does not come alive unless it dies. And when you do sow, you don't sow the body that will come in future, but bare grain. It could be wheat, or some other type of grain. But God gives it a body as it has pleased Him, and to every seed He has given its own body. All flesh is not the same. There is one kind of flesh of men, another kind of flesh of land animals, another of marine life, and still another of birds. There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies. But the celestial bodies have one kind of glory, and the terrestrials have another. There is one glory of the Sun, and another of the moon, and another glory of the stars, and in fact one star is different from another in glory.
The resurrection of the dead will work the same way. It is sown in corruption, and is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, and is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, and is raised in power. It is sown as a natural body, and is raised as a spiritual body. A natural body exists, and a spiritual one. And so it is written: "The first man (Adam) was made a living soul," and the last Adam was made an enlivening Spirit. It was not the first Adam that was spiritual, but natural. Afterward came the spiritual one. The first man is from the earth, and made of dust. The second Man is the Lord from heaven. As is the one made of dust, so also are those that are made from dust; and as is the heavenly, so are those that are heavenly. And as we have carried the image of the one made from dust, we will also carry the image of the heavenly.
Now I say this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, and neither does corruption inherit incorruption. Look: I am letting you in on a secret: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed. That change will come in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised in an incorruptible form, and we will be changed. This corruptible form must put on incorruption, and this mortal form must put on immortality. So when this corruptible form puts on incorruption, and this mortal form puts on immortality, then this saying that is written will be made real: "Death has been swallowed up in victory!" "O death, where is your sting? O death, where is your conquest?" The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the Law. But let us thank God, Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. And so, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, unmoveable, always doing abundant work in the Lord, to the extent that you know that your work in the Lord is not in vain.
In regards to the collection for the holy people, do just as I have ordered the churches of Galatia to do. On the first day of the week, every one of you should set aside some of what God has blessed you to earn, so I don't have to go collecting when I come. And when I come, I will send whomever you have approved with letters to bring your generous gift to Jerusalem. And if it is appropriate that I go too, they will have me to go with them. I will come to you after I pass through Macedonia. (I'm going to go by way of Macedonia.) Maybe I will stay even the whole winter with you so that you can send me on my next journey, wherever I go. I don't want to see you now and just pass through. I hope to stay a while with you if the Lord permits it. But I will be staying in Ephesus until Pentecost. A great door, and an effectual one, is open to me, and there are many who oppose.
If Timothy comes, see to it that he can be free from fear. He is doing the Lord's work as I am. Don't mistreat him. Let him go in peace so that he can come to me. I'll look for him with the other church members.
As for our brother Apollos, I really wanted him to visit you with the others, but he didn't want to go right now. He will come to you when he has the chance.
Be watchful, stand fast in the faith, be manly, and be strong. Do everything with love.
You know the household of Stephanas, our first converts in Greece, have devoted themselves to the ministry. I urge you: Submit yourselves to such as them, and to everyone that helps us in our work.
I am glad Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus have come, because they have provided what you couldn't. They have refreshed my spirit and yours, so acknowledge such people as they are.
The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, along with the church that is in their house. All the brothers greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.
I, Paul, salute you with my own handwriting.
If any man does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema. May our Lord come.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
My love to all of you in Jesus Christ. Amen.
God worked special miracles by the hands of Paul, so that handkerchiefs or aprons would be brought from his skin to the sick, and their diseases left them, and evil spirits went out of them.
Then several wandering Jews set themselves up as exorcists and took upon themselves to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits. They would say, "We enjoin you by Jesus whom Paul preaches."
There were seven sons of one Sceva, who was Jewish and a high priests, which did this. Then one evil spirit said in answer, "I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?"
Then the man possessed by that evil spirit jumped on them, overpowered them, and beat them up, so that they ran out of that house naked and wounded. This became known to all the Jews and Greeks who lived in Ephesus. Fear fell on them all, and the Name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. Many believers came, and confessed, and showed what they had done. Many others, who had practiced occult arts, brought their scrolls with them and burned them before all men. These scrolls were valued at fifty thousand silver pieces. So the Word of God grew powerfully and prevailed.
After these things were ended, Paul decided in his spirit that when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, he would go to Jerusalem. He said, "After I have been there, I must also see Rome."
So he sent to Macedonia two among those who used to wait on him, specifically Timothy and Erastus. But he himself stayed in Asia Province for a season.
from Jerusalem, and by a roundabout way to Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
I do more work than they do, I’ve been beaten more than they have, I’ve spent more time in prison, and I’ve faced death more times than they have. Five times, I received 39 lashes from the Jews. I’ve been beaten with rods three times, I’ve been stoned once, I’ve been shipwrecked three times. I spent a night and a day floating at sea. I've traveled often, in danger of drowning, of robbers, of my own countrymen, of gentiles, in the city, in the wilderness, at sea, and from those who deceitfully claim to be church members. I've worked in fatigue and pain, without sleeping, in hunger and thirst without any food, in the cold without clothing. On top of all those things, what weighs on me daily is my concern for all the churches.
For those of Macedonia and Achaia are pleased to make a certain contribution for the needy saints at Jerusalem.
Paul, devoted to Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, obeying the Gospel of God, as he has promised to His prophets in the Bible, regarding His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was formed after the seed of David in the flesh. And recognized as the Son of God, with power fueled by a spirit of holiness, as evidenced through His resurrection from the dead. By Whom we have received special gifts and stewardship, for growing the faith worldwide, in His name: Among whom are also those called to serve Jesus Christ.
To all of you in Rome, special to God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace of mind from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
First let me thank God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith has become known worldwide. For God is my witness, Who I serve with all my heart in the words of His Son, that without fail I mention you always in my prayers, requesting that if by some way I might have a productive journey, God willing, to visit you. For I miss you greatly, and hope to share with you a spiritual gift, that in the end you may be converted; in other words, that we may both be comforted by our mutual faith.
Now please be aware, my friends, that often I sought to come to you (but was kept from doing so), that I might have some success in this with you, even as with other Gentiles. I am grateful both to the Greeks and to the Barbarians; both the wise and the unwise. So with all my strength I am also ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome.
The gospel of Christ does not embarrass me, for it is the power of God leading to salvation all who believe: first to the Jew, and then to the Greek. With this God's righteousness is revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, "The just shall live by faith." For God's punishment of atheism and immorality of men who disregard the truth is revealed from heaven. The invisible nature of God since the creation of the world is clearly seen, being revealed through the reality around us, including His eternal power and divinity, so non-believers have no excuse. When atheists knew God, they refused to glorify Him or be thankful; rather they became egotistical, allowing their minds to close. Declaring themselves to be wise, they became fools, and distorted the glory of the perfect God into an image in the nature of imperfect man, akin to birds, animals, and insects. Moreover, God relinquished them to degrade themselves through their own lust, so that they dishonor their own bodies with each other. Who replaced God's truth with a lie, and worshiped and served the created more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen
For this reason God allowed their free will to lead them into homosexuality: for even their women perverted natural acts into crimes against nature. The men too, abandoning their natural role with women, misdirected their lust towards each other; men committing acts with other men that are offensive, and their bodies are then punished for their wrongdoing. And as they put God out of their mind, so God sent them on their way to self-destruction. Being filled with immorality, evil, lust, hatred; full of envy, murder, bickering, deceit, and ill-will; gossipers, slanderers, God-haters, spiteful, proud, arrogant, producers of evil, disobedient to parents, lacking understanding, breaking their word, unable to love, and never satisfied or merciful. Who being fully aware of God's judgment, and of the death penalty earned by their acts, not only continue to do them, but even take pleasure in doing them.
Therefore, you have no excuse, you men who pass judgment on others: for when you judge another, you condemn yourself; for those who judge do the same things themselves. But we can be certain that the judgment of God is truly against those who commit such things. And do you think, you men, who judge others for doing the same as you, that you should escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, tolerance and patience; not realizing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But after your stubbornness and unrepentant heart gathers anger, against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; who will pass judgment to every man according to his deeds:
To those who through persistent good deeds aspire to God's glory, honor and immortality, in eternal life: but to those who are rebellious, and who disregard the truth, and follow sin and anger, suffering and anguish, upon every soul of man who commits evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; but glory, honor, and peace, to every man who does good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: for there is no distinction among men by God. For all who have sinned ignorant of the law shall also perish ignorant of the law: and all who have sinned knowing the law shall be judged by the law; for simply knowing of God's law does not make you righteous, but those who follow His laws shall be found righteous. For when the Gentiles, who do not know the laws of Moses, act in the manner of the law anyway, these people, without having the law, are still fulfilling it: which shows the intent of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, even while their thoughts may be conflicted; in the time when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
And see, those who call yourselves Jews, and rely on the law, and claim to understand God, and know His will, and approve the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, whose basis of knowledge and of truth is in the law. You who would teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preaches that man should not steal, do you not steal? You who says that a man should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhors idols, do you commit sacrilege? You who boast of living under the law, do you not dishonor God through breaking that law? For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. For circumcision has value if you follow the law: but if you disregard the law, the act is meaningless.
Therefore, if the uncircumcised follow the law in righteousness, shall they not be regarded as the circumcised? And should not the uncircumcised (which is by nature), if they follow the law, judge you instead, who despite your learning and circumcision break the law? For outward appearances does not make one a Jew; neither does circumcision, which is merely a physical trait: but one is a Jew if he lives that way to his core; and if the signs are in his heart and soul, and not just in the physical; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
What is the advantage, then, in being a Jew? Or what benefit is there to circumcision? There are many: primarily, because it was they who were entrusted with the prophesies of God. For what if some did not believe? Should their unbelief make having faith of God pointless? God forbid: yes, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That you might justify yourself with your words, and may be overcome when you are judged.
But if our wickedness deserves the judgment of God, what shall we say in defense? Is God wrong to deliver our punishment? (I speak as a man) God forbid: for how else shall God judge the world? For if the truth of God has not won over my doubts over His glory; why am I also judged as a sinner? and not rather, (as some deceitfully accuse us of saying) Let us commit evil, that good may come? Whose damnation is just.
What then? Are we better than them? No, in no way of thinking: for we have previously shown, to both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; as it was written, "There are none righteous, no, not one: there are none who understand, there are none who seek after God. They are all fallen from grace, they have collectively become a liability; there are none who do good, no, not one. Their throat is an open tomb; with their tongues they have performed deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their paths: And the way of peace is unknown to them: There is no fear of God before their eyes."
Now we know that whatever the law says, it applies to those who live under the law: that every mouth may be silences, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore, by mere adherence to the law no one will be found worthy in His sight: for accompanying the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God beyond the law is made clear, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; the righteousness of God which comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all, and upon all, who believe: for there is no difference: for all are sinners, and fall short of the glory of God; being justified freely by His grace, through the redemption that is personified in Christ Jesus: whom God had sent forth to be an offering of appeasement through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the forgiveness of past sins, through the tolerance of God; to declare here and now, I say, his righteousness: that he might be just, and the defender of he who believes in Jesus. Is this boasting then? It is not. By what principle? Of actions? No: but by the principle of faith. Therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith without relying on the rituals of the law.
Is He the God of the Jews only? Is he not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles as well: realizing that there is one God, Who shall recognize the dedication by faith, and non-dedication through lack of faith. Do we then invalidate the law through faith? God forbid: rather, we establish the law. What shall we say then, that Abraham, our forefather, had discovered? For if Abraham was judged by his works, he had earned glory; but not before God. For what does scripture say? Abraham believed God, and that was credited towards his righteousness.
Now to the man who only does good works goes a reward measured not in grace, but in debt. But to the man focused less on mere acts, but who believes in He who judges the ungodly, his faith is credited towards righteousness. Even David described the grace of the man, to whom God delivered righteousness without requiring works, saying, Blessed are they whose wickedness is forgiven, and whose sins are addressed. Blessed is the man who the Lord will not find sinful. Are these blessings given only to the circumcised, or to the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was attributed to Abraham for his righteousness.
How was it in his case? Was he circumcised, or uncircumcised? He was not circumcised. And yet he received the blessing of the circumcised, a seal of the righteousness of the faith he carried while not being circumcised: that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they be uncircumcised; that righteousness might be bestowed upon them as well: and the father of circumcision to those who are uncircumcised, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had despite being uncircumcised. For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not made to Abraham or to his descendants through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if only those who follow ritual benefit from that promise, then faith is made meaningless, and the promise accomplished nothing: because the law is the basis for God's wrath: for where there is no law, there is no lawbreaking. Therefore, it is through faith, that one may earn grace; to ensure that God's promise applies to all the children of Abraham; not just for those who follow ritual, but to those who share the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all (as it is written, I have made you a father of many nations), in the presence of God in whom he believed, who could raise the dead, and bring things into existence from nothing. Who against doubt believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken; so shall your descendants be. And being strong in faith, he gave no consideration to his own age, despite being about a hundred years old, nor to the infertility of his wife Sara: he did not waver in doubt over the promise of God; but instead was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and was fully convinced that whatever He had promised, He was able to perform. And therefore this was credited to him for righteousness.
Now this was not written for his sake alone, that this faith was credited to him; but also as a lesson for us, who shall be likewise credited, if we believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our benefit. Therefore, being redeemed by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: who, by having faith in Him, gives us a means to find grace, and for this we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we find glory in ordeals as well: knowing that ordeals teach us patience; and through patience, experience; and through experience, hope: and we are not ashamed to hope; because the love of God is spread throughout our hearts by the Holy Spirit, which is delivered upon us.
For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the unbelieving. For scarcely anyone would willingly die for a righteous man: let alone risk death for a good man. But God proved His love for us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having been redeemed by His blood, will we be saved from wrath through Him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled with God by the death of His Son, even more so, being reconciled, will we be saved by His life. And not only this, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received atonement.
Therefore, as sin entered into the world through a single man, as did death by sin; and so death came upon all men, since all have sinned:
(For while sin was in the world before the law: sin cannot be not judged in the absence of law. Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the manner of Adam's transgression, who was the model of those who followed. But unlike the offense of man, is the gift of God. For if through one man's sin many are condemned, for many more the grace of God, and redemption by grace, which is though one man, Jesus Christ, has been given in abundance. And unlike how it was when one man sinned, is the gift: for the judgment of condemnation was for a single offense, but the free gift provides redemption for many offenses. For if by one man's offense death reigned through that one; much more shall those who receive abundance of grace and the gift of redemption reign in life through one, Jesus Christ.)
Therefore, as through the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of One the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For in the way one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so through the obedience of one many will be made righteous. In addition, the law was provided, that the recognition of sin might be widespread. But where sin had spread, grace spread even further: that as sin had ruled over us to our death, even so might grace rule through righteousness, leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
What shall we say then? Shall we continue living sinfully, that grace may overcome it? God forbid. How can we, having been freed from sin, live any longer under it? Do you not understand, that those of us who were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ were baptized in acknowledgment of His death? Therefore, we are spiritually buried with him by baptism in death: and that as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, likewise we should also walk in newness of life. For if we have been buried together in the likeness of his death, we shall also be in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing through this, that our former selves are crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, and that afterward we should not serve sin. For he who is dead is freed from sin.
Now if we are dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ having risen from the dead can die no more; death has no more dominion over him. For in His death, He died for sin once: but in His living afterward, He lives on through God. Likewise consider yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Therefore, do not let sin rule your mortal body, that you might succumb to it through physical lust. Nor surrender your body as an instrument of unrighteousness into sin: but surrender yourselves to God, as those who are reborn from the dead, and your bodies as instruments of righteousness for God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not simply guided by law, but by grace.
What then? Shall we sin, because we are not guided by the law, but by grace? God forbid. Do you not understand, that whoever you commit yourselves to obey, his servants you become in obedience; whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But thank God, that you were the servants of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart the lessons which have delivered you. Therefore, being freed from sin, you became the servants of righteousness.
I speak frankly because of the weaknesses of your flesh: for as you have surrendered your bodies to filth, and to depravity upon depravity; you can now likewise surrender your bodies as servants to righteousness seeking holiness. For when you were the servants of sin, you were without righteousness. What benefit was there in doing those things that you are now ashamed of? For the outcome of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and becoming servants of God, you are working towards holiness, and the reward of everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Don't you know, brothers (for I am addressing those who know the law) how the law rules over a man as long as he lives? For the woman who has a husband is required by law to stay with him as long as he lives; but if the husband is deceased, then the law frees her from that obligation. Accordingly, if she marries another man while her husband lives, then she is an adulteress; but if her husband has died, the law does not bind her and she is not an adulteress even if married to another man. Likewise, my brothers, you also were freed from the law by the body of Christ; that you shall be married to another—even to He who is raised from the dead—that we shall bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were focused on the material, the influence of sin, while following the letter of the law, worked through our bodies to lead us towards death. But now we are delivered from the law, and the death that comes from following it blindly; that we should instead serve with renewed spirit, and not in rigid adherence to ritual.
What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. No, I would not have recognized sin, but for the law: For I did not understand lust, until seeing how the law had said, "Thou shalt not covet". But sin, finding opportunity through this commandment, brought forth from me all manner of base desire. For without the law sin was dead. For I was alive in ignorance of the law once: but when the commandment became known to me, sin was revealed, and I died. And the commandment, which was meant to guide life, I found instead to lead to death. For sin, finding opportunity through this commandment, deceived me, and through it killed me. So if the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good, was it therefore something good which brought death upon me? God forbid. It was sin, defined for what it is by something good, which was killing me; so that sin as defined by the commandment could be regarded as exceedingly wrong. For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am human and fallible, enslaved by sin. For I do the things I am against: for what I want to do, I do not; but what I hate, I do. So if I do things I consider wrong, I agree that the law is good. Then it is not me doing it, but the sin that resides within me.
I know that in me (my body) is nothing good: I want to love, but am unable to find how to perform what is good. For the good that I want, I do not; but the evil I do not want, I do. Now if I do what I do not want, it is not I who does it, but the sin that resides in me. I find a pattern that, when I would do good, evil is still with me. I rejoice when God's law rules over the inner man, But I sense another force at work in my body, warring against my better judgment, and enslaving me to the power of sin in my own body. Oh sinful man that I am! Who shall free me from the body of this death? I thank God for Jesus Christ our Lord. With my mind I serve the law of God, while my body is oppressed by the power of sin. Thus there is no condemnation now of Christians, who pursue not pleasures of this world, but who follow the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has freed me from the law of sin and death. For what the commandments could not achieve, because it was weak in human nature, God sent his own Son in the likeness of sinful man, and for sin, condemned it in human form. So that God's will might be fulfilled in us, who do not worship worldly glory, but live in the Spirit. For those addicted to worldly pleasures focus on them; but those who are with the Spirit focus on the Spirit.
Obsession with the body is death; focusing on the spiritual is life and peace of mind. Because the lustful mind is God-hating; it is not restrained by God's law, nor can it be. Those who lust for the body cannot please God. But you are not confined to the body, but are in the Spirit, if the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone not have the Spirit of Christ, then he is not of Him. If Christ resides in you, then the body is dead from sin, but the Spirit is life from good values. But if the Spirit of He who raised up Jesus from the dead resides in you, He who raises up Christ from the dead shall also stir your mortal bodies with His Spirit that resides in you. Thus, my brothers, we are in debt, not to our bodies, to live beyond the flesh. If you long for carnal pleasure, you shall die; but if through the Spirit you expunge the materialism, you shall live.
All who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God. For you have not received the fearful spirit of anxiety, but you have received the spirit of adoption by which we rejoice, "Abba, Father." The Spirit itself confirms with our spirit that we are sons of God: and as sons, we are heirs of God, jointly with Christ. If it occur that we suffer with Him, such that we may also be glorified together. I am confident that our sufferings now are not significant compared with the glory to be revealed in us. For the sincere expectation of the created human awaits the manifestation of the sons of God. For created man was subjected to depravity, not willingly, but by reason of He who subordinated man to hope, because the created man shall also be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that every part of the created man complains and suffers together in pain until now. And not only those, but ourselves as well, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even each of us complains to himself, waiting for the adoption, namely, the redemption of his body.
For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man sees, why would he still hope for? But if we hope for what we can't see, then we must wait with patience for it. Likewise the Spirit also helped our illnesses: for we do not know what we should pray for as we should: but the Spirit prays for us with pleas that cannot be spoken out loud. And he who searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because he prays for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who receive the calling according to his purpose. For those who He had foreseen, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. And furthermore, those who He predestined, they were also called by Him: and those who He called, they were also justified by Him: and those who He justified, they were also glorified by Him.
What shall we then say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but sacrificed Him for us all, how shall He not along with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? It is Christ who died, or rather, who has risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also prays on our behalf. What shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, "For your sake we are killed all day long; we are regarded as sheep for the slaughter". No, in all these challenges we are more than victors through Him who loves us. For I am convinced, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor governments, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I am telling the truth in Chreist. I am not lying, and my conscience also vouches for me in the Holy Spirit, that there is great heaviness and continual sadness in my heart. For I could wish that I myself lay under a curse from Christ for my brothers, my kinsmen in the flesh. These are the Israelites. The adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the Law, the service of God, and the promises, all belong to them. The fathers are theirs, and as concerning the flesh, Christ came from among them. (He is over all, God-blessed for ever. Amen.)
It is not as if the word of God has had no effect. They are not all Israel, who come from Israel. In fact, they are not all children of Abraham because they descend from Abraham. To the contrary: "In Isaac shall your descendants be called." Which is to say: those who are the children of the flesh, are not the children of god. The children of the promise are counted for the seed. For this is the Word of promise: "According to this time I will come, and Sarah will have a son." And not merely this: when Rebekah had also fallen pregnant by one man, to wit, our father Isaac (for the children were not yet born, and neither had done any good or evil, so that the purpose of God according to Divine election might stand, not from works, but from Him Who calls), it was told to her, "The elder will serve the younger." As it is written: "I loved Jacob, but dismissed Esau."
So what shall we say? Has God done an unjust thing? Absolutely not! For He told Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion," so that it is not from him who wills, or from him who runs, but from God Who shows mercy. For this was written to Pharaoh: "For this very reason I raised you up, so that I might demonstrate My power in you, and that My Name might be published throughout the entire earth." That is why He has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy, and whom He wants to, He hardens.
Now you will say back to me, "Why do you still find fault? Has anyone actually resisted His will?" No, but: Man, who are you to talk back to God? Shall the formed thing say to its artist, "Why did you make me that way"? Doesn't the potter have authority over the clay, to make one pot for a clean purpose and another for a dirty purpose, out of the same lump? What if God, wanting to demonstrate His magisterial anger, and to make His power known, endured with much patience the pots of anger, that are intended for destruction, and so that He could make known the riches of His glory on the pots of mercy, which he had prepared ahead-of-time for glory, meaning ourselves, whom He has called, not merely from the Jews but from Gentiles, too? As He also told the prophet Hosea: "I will call them My people, who are not My people, and her beloved, who was not beloved." "And it will so happen that in the place where they were told, 'You are not My people,' in that place they will be called the children of the Living God." The prophet Isaiah also cried out about Israel: "Though the number of the sons of Israel be like the sand of the sea, a remnant will be saved," "for He will finish the Word, and cut it short, because the Lord will make a short work on the earth." And as Isaiah said before, "If the All-Sufficient God had not left us a seed, we would have been like Sodom, and been made like Gomorrah."
So what shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not follow after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, and indeed the righteousness that comes from faith. But Israel, which did follow after the Law of righteousness, has not attained to the Law of righteousness. Why not? Because they did not seek it by faith, but, effectively, by works. They stumbled at that stumbling-stone. As it is written: "Behold! I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of scandal. Whoever believes on Him will not be ashamed."
Brothers, this is my heart's desire and prayer to God for them: that they might be saved. I can vouch that they have a zeal for God, but not according to first-hand knowledge. For they are ignorant of God's righteousness, and are running around trying to establish their own jusitification. So they have not submitted themselves to God's righteousness. For Christ is the End of the Law for righteousness for everyone who believes. For Moses describes the righteousness that comes from the Law: that "the man who does these things shall live by them." But the righteousness that comes from faith speaks like this: "Do not say in your heart, 'Who shall ascend into heaven?'" (i.e., to bring Christ down from above), or, "'Who shall descend into the deep?'" (i.e., to bring Christ up from the dead all over again). But what does it really say? "The spoken word is close to you, even in your mouth, and in your heart," (i.e. the word of faith, which we are preaching), so that if you will confess the Lord Jesus with your mouth, and will believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For man believes with the heart to righteousness, and confession is made with the mouth to salvation. Scripture says, "Whoever believes in Him will not be ashamed." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek. The same Lord over all is rich to all who call on Him. For: "Whoever will call on the Name of the Lord will be saved."
So how are they to call on Him in Whom they did not believe? And how are they to believe in Him of Whom they haven't heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher? And how are they to preach, unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad news of good things!" In contrast, they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?" So: faith comes by hearing, and hearing comes by the spoken Word of God. But I say, "Haven't they heard?" Oh, yes. "Their sound went into all the earth, and their spoken words to the ends of the world." But I say, "Didn't Israel know?" Well, first Moses says, "I will provoke [you] to jealousy by those who are not a people, and by a foolish nation I will make [you] angry." But Isaiah is very bold, and says: "I was found by them who did not seek Me; I was made obvious to those who did not ask after Me." But to Israel he says, "All day long I stretched out my hands to a disobedient and nay-saying people."
So I say: Has God thrown away His people? Oh, no. Remember: I am an Israelite myself, descended from Abraham, belonging to the Tribe of Benjamin. God has not thrown away His people, whom He knew ahead of time. Don't you know what Scripture says about Elijah? How he made intercession to God against Israel, and said, "Lord, they have killed Your prophets, and dug down Your altars, and I am the only one left, and they are out to kill me."? But how did God answer him? "I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal." So even today there is also a remnant, according to the election of grace. And if it's by grace, then it is not by works anymore. Otherwise, grace is not grace anymore. But if it's by works, then it is not grace anymore; otherwise, work is not work anymore.
Now what? Israel has not obtained what it is looking for, but the election has obtained it, and the rest were blinded (according to this that is written: "God has given them the spirit of sleep, eyes that they will not see, and ears that they will not hear,) to this day. And David says, "Let their table be made a snare and a trap and a stumbling block, and a recompence for them." "Let their eyes be darkened, so that they will not see, and bow down their back always." Then I say: Haven't they stumbled so that they would fall? Oh, no! Rather, through their fall, salvation has come to the Gentiles, in order to provoke the Israelites to jealousy.
Now if their fall be the wealth of the world, and their diminishing the wealth of the Gentiles, then how much more will their fullness be? For I am talking to you Gentiles: as much as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I make my office that much greater, if by any means I provoke those that are my flesh to emulate you, and perhaps I can save some of them. For if their throwing-out be the reconciliation of the world, what will be their welcoming, if not life from the dead? For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is holy as well. And if the root is holy, the branches are holy as well. And if some of the branches have been broken off, and you, wild olive tree that you are, were grafted in among them, and with them take your share of the root and the fatness of the olive tree, then don't brag against the branches. If you think you have bragging rights, remember: you don't bear the root; the root bears you.
Now: you will say, "The branches were broken off, so that I might be grafted in." That's fine: they were broken off for their unbelief, and you stand by faith. Don't be high-minded about that, but be afraid. For if God did not spare the natural branches, be careful: He might not spare you either. So look well at the goodness and the severity of God: on those that fell, severity; but on you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise, you, too, will be cut off. And they, too, if they do not remain in unbelief, will be grafted back in. God can graft them in again. For if you were cut out of the olive tree that is wild by nature, and were grafted counterintuitively into a good olive tree, then how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? For I do not want you, my brothers, to be ignorant of this secret, so that you will not be wise in your own conceits: blindness in part has happened to Israel, until the fulfillment of the Gentiles has occurred. And so all of Israel will be saved. As it is written: "The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and will turn away ungodliness from Jacob," "and this is My covenant with them, when I will take away their sins."
Now as to the gospel, they are enemies on your account. But as regards the election, they are beloved for the sake of their ancestors. For the gifts and calling of God are not anything that He will change His will about. For as you, in times past, have not believed God, and still have now obtained mercy through their unbelief, these people also have not believed, so that through the mercy you obtained, they might obtain mercy, too. For God has called them all together in unbelief, so that He might have mercy on everyone.
Oh, how deep is the wealth, both of the wisdom and understanding of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past discovery! "For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counsellor?" "Or who has first given to Him, and it will be repaid to Him again?" For out of Him, and through Him, and to HIm, all things come. To Him be the glory for ever. Amen.
And so, brothers, I beg of you, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God. That is only reasonable for you to do. And do not "fit in" to the world. To the contrary, be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you might demonstrate the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God. For I say, through the grace given to me, to every man among you: Do not think yourself higher than you ought to think. Think soberly, just as God has dealt with every man according to the measure of his faith.
We have many body parts in one body, and all parts of the body do not have the same position. So we, though we are many, are one body in Christ, and every man is a fellow part of another. Then because we have gifts according to the grace given to us: if the gift is prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith. If it is ministry, let us attend to our ministry; or him who teaches, on his teaching; or he who exhorts, on exhortation; he who gives, let him do it simply;; he who rules, let him rule diligently; he who shows mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
Let love be without hypocrisy. Stay away from that which is evil; stay close to that which is good. Show one another proper brotherly love. Prefer one another in social honors. Do not be lazy in business. Be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, rejoicing in hope, patient in oppression, continuing at every moment in prayer, distributing resources to the need of the saints; given to hospitality.
Bless those who are persecuting you. Bless, and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be in agreement with one another. Do not seek after things of high value, but associate with men of low estate. Do not be wise in your own conceits. Do not repay any man evil for evil. Provide honest things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as lies within you, live peaceably with all men.
Do not try to make your own justice, beloved. Instead, give place to righteous indignation. For it is written, "Justice is My job; I will set things right," says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. By doing this you will heap coals of fire on his head." Do not let evil get the best of you, but get the best of evil with good.
Let every soul exist under the rule of higher powers. For there is no power but God's: the powers that exist are derived from God. Whoever therefore resists the power, resists the ruler of God: and those who resist shall earn themselves damnation. For rulers are not a threat to good works, but to evil. Will you therefore not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and you shall have praise of the same: for he is the minister of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid; for he does not carry the sword without reason: for he is the minister of God, an avenger to execute wrath upon those who commit evil. Therefore, you must be obedient, not only in consideration of that wrath, but also for conscience's sake. For for this reason pay your tribute as well: for they are God's ministers, attending continually to this very thing. Therefore, give to them all that is due them: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom is due; fear to whom fear is due; honor to whom honor is due.
Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shall not commit adultery, Thou shall not kill, Thou shall not steal, Thou shall not bear false witness, Thou shall not covet; and if there is any other commandment, it is embodied in this saying, namely, Thou shall love your neighbor as yourself. Love works no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. And this, knowing the time, that it is high time now to wake up from sleep. Now our salvation is closer than when we believed. The night is nearly over, and the day is at hand. So let us throw off the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day: not in rioting and intoxication, not in sleeping around and being wanton, not in fighting and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to satisfy its lusts.
Receive him who is weak in the faith, but not for a pointless dialog. One man might believe that he may eat anything he likes. Another, who is weak, eats only herbs. He who eats everything should not despise him who does not eat—and he who does not eat should not judge him who eats. God has welcomed him. Who are you to judge another man's house servant? He stands or falls to his own master. In fact, he will be made to stand up, because God can make him stand. One man rates one day as more important than another, and another man rates every day the same. Let each man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He who regards the day, regards it to the Lord. He who does not regard the day, to the Lord he does not regard it. He who eats, eats for the Lord, because he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. For none of us lives for himself, and no man dies for himself. For whether we live, we live to the Lord; and whether we die, we die to the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. For this is why Christ both died, and rose up, and lived again, so that He might be Lord of the dead and of the living. But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you regard your brother as nothing? We are all going to stand in front of the tribunal of Christ. For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord,l every knee will bow to Me, and every tongue will confess to God." So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. So let us not judge each other any longer. Instead, judge this: no man should trip his brother up, or set him up to fail.
I know, and have it on the authority of the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean in and of itself. But if any man regards a thing as unclean, then it is unclean to him. But if your brother is upset with you on account of what you eat, then you are not walking charitably. Do not destroy him with the foods you eat, for Christ died for him. So do not let your good be criticized. The kingdom of God is not food and drink, but justice, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he that serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God, and approved by men. So let us follow after the things that make peace, and the things that we can build each other up with.
Foods should not destroy the work of God. In fact, all things are clean, but it is still bad for the man who eats something that will cause another man to fall into sin. It is a good thing neither to eat meat, or drink the fruit of the vine, or anything by which your brother might stumble, or be offended, or be weakened. Do you have faith? Have it for yourself in front of God. He is happy who does not condemn himself in whatever he allows himself. And he who doubts is damned if he eats, because he is not eating out of faith. Whatever does not come from faith is sin. So we, who are strong, ought to sustain the infirmities of the weak, and not please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbor, for his good for the purpose of building-up. For even Christ did not please Himself, but, as it is written, "The reproaches of them who reproached you, fell on Me." For anything whatever that was written in former times was written for our learning, so that we, through patience and comfort from the Scriptures, might have hope.
Now may the God of patience and consolation grant that you will be likeminded to one another, according to Christ Jesus, so that we may, with one mind and one mouth, glorify God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. So welcome one another, as Christ also welcomed us to the glory of God. For I say that Jesus Christ was a Minister of the circumcision for the Truth of God, to strengthen the promises made to their ancestors, and so that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy. As it is written: "For this reason I will confess to you among the Gentiles,l and sing to My Name." And he says further: "Rejoice, you Gentiles, with His people." And: "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and commend Him, all you people." And again, Isaiah says: "A root of Jesse shall exist, and He Who will rise to reign over the Gentiles, in Him the Gentiles will trust." Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may have abundant hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit.
But I myself am also persuaded by you, my brothers, that you are also full of goodness, filled with all awareness, and also able to confront one another constructively. Nonetheless, brothers, I have written even more boldly to you in one way, by way of putting you in mind, on account of the grace that is given to me by God, that I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, serving as a priest for the gospel of God, so that the offering-up from the Gentiles might be acceptable, and made holy by the Holy Spirit. So I have some of the things by which I might gain glory through Jesus Christ in those matters pertaining to God. For I will not dare speak about any of the things that Christ did not work in me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and action, through powerful signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit, so that from Jerusalem, and by a roundabout way to Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. Thus I have strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named; or else I would be building on another man's foundation. But as it is written: "To whom He was not spoken of, they will see. And they who have not heard will understand." This is also why I have been held back greatly from coming to you.
But now I have no more place in these parts of the world, and have a great desire for many years to come to you. Whenever I take my trip to Spain, I will come to you, for I hope to see you during my trip, and to be brought on my way to you, if I first am somewhat filled with your company. But I am now going to Jerusalem to wait on the saints. For those of Macedonia and Achaia are pleased to make a certain contribution for the needy saints at Jerusalem. It has truly pleased them, and they are in their debt. For if the Gentiles have been made participants in their spiritual things, they also have the duty to wait on them in fleshly things. So when I have performed this task, and have sealed this fruit to themn, I will come by way of Rome into Spain. And I am sure that, when I come to you, I will come with the full blessing of the gospel of Christ.
So I beg of you, for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ, and for the love of the Spirit, that you work together with me in your prayers to God for me, so that I might be delivered from the unbelieving ones in Judea, and that my service that I have for Jerusalem will be accepted by the saints, so that I can come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed with you.
May the God of peace now be with you all. Amen.
I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchrea, that you will welcome her in the Lord, as saints should do, and that you help her in whatever business she needs from you. She has been a comforter to man, including myself.
Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my helpers in Christ Jesus. They have laid down their own necks for my life. Not only do I thank them, but all the churches of the Gentiles thank them. In the same way, greet the church that is in their house. Greet my well-loved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruit of Achaia for Christ.
Greet Mary, who did us many favors.
Greet Andronicus and Junia, my relatives, and my fellow prisoners, who are notable among the apostles, and were also in Christ before me.
Greet my beloved Amplias in the Lord.
Greet Urbane, our helper in Christ, and my beloved Stachys.
Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ.
Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus.
Greet my relative, Herodion.
Greet those belonging to the household of Narcissus, who are in the Lord.
Greet Tryphoena and Tryphosa, who work in the Lord.
Greet the beloved Persis, who did much work in the Lord.
Greet Rufus, who is chosen in the Lord, nd his mother and mine.
Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brothers who are with them.
Greet Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints with them.
Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ send greetings to you.
Now I beg of you, brothers, be careful of those who cause division and offenses against the doctrine that you have learned, and avoid them. Those who behave this way are not serving the Lord Jesus Christ, but their own bellies. They use good words and fair speeches to deceive the hearts of simple folk. For your obedience has become known to all men. So I am glad for your sakes. But I want you to be wise to the good, and simple concerning evil. The God of peace will soon bruise Satan under your feet. The grace of our lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
TImothy my fellow worker, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my relatives, send you their respects.
I, Tertius, who wrote this letter, send you my respects in the Lord.
Gaius, who has been my host and that of the whole church, sends his respects.
Erastus the city chamberlain sends you his respects, and so does a brother, Quartus.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Now to Him Who has the power to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revealing of the secret, which was kept hidden since the world began, but now is made obvious, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the instruction by the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith, to God the Only Wise One, be glory through Jesus Christ for all time. Amen.
From Paul, Jesus Christ's apostle by God's Will, and brother Timothy, to God's Corinthian Church and all the Achaian saints: Grace and peace of mind to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Blessed is God, Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, Father of mercies, and God of comfort. He comforts us during our trials so we can comfort others in trouble with that same comfort which God gives us. While we experience Christ's sufferings, we also feel consolation from Him. Whether we suffer or are comforted, it's for your consolation and salvation, which is strong in overcoming the same trials we suffer. Our hope for you is constant, as we know that you partake in the suffering and will join in the consolation.
Brothers, we wouldn't have you be ignorant of the trouble we had in Asia, where we were oppressed unreasonably, above our strength, so we were mortally despaired. We felt a death sentence over us, that we shouldn't trust ourselves but instead in the resurrecting God, Who saved us from a tragic death, delivering us, and Who we trust to deliver us still. You also helping together by praying for us, that in return for the gift bestowed us on through many, thanks may be given by many on our behalf. For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and Godly sincerity, not with material wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have spread our message in the world, and even more towards you. For we write nothing to you, other than what you have read and understood; and I trust you shall always continue to understand; and as you have come to understood us partially, that you rejoice in us, as we will rejoice in you when we meet the Lord Jesus. And in this assurance I was inclined to return to you, that you might benefit a second time; and to pass by this way into Macedonia, and to return from Macedonia through you, on my way back toward Judea.
When I decided this, did I do so lightly? Or when I decide things, do I do so for material reasons, going back and forth between "yes" and "no"? But just as God is true, our commitment to you was not wavering. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not wavering, but embodies commitment. For all the promises of God in Him are true, and embodied in him Amen, to the glory of God by us.
Now He who established us with you in Christ, and had appointed us, is God; Who has also committed us, and given the dedication of the Spirit in our hearts. Furthermore, I call God as my witness, that it was to spare you that I had not returned to Corinth before. For we do not want to rule over your faith, but rather are helpers of your joy, for you to stand on your own faith. But I resolved to myself that I would not return to you with a heavy heart. For if I make you sad, who is he then that will make me glad, but the ones who I have saddened? And I wrote this to you, hoping against, when I came, that I would have brought sorrow to those who I should rejoice with; having confidence in all of you, that my joy is the joy of you all. For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not that you should be sorrowful, but rather that you might know the love which I increasingly have for you. But if any have caused grief, they have not grieved me, but in some respect, and not to exaggerate, to you all instead.
Such a man received the punishment he deserved, which was administered by many. So instead you should forgive him now, and comfort him, otherwise a man like him could be consumed in sorrow. Therefore, I beg you to confirm your love toward him. For this purpose I had written, so that I might put you to the test, and see if you are obedient in all things. When you forgive someone, I forgive them as well. For if I have forgiven anything, I had forgiven that person for your sake in the name of Christ; otherwise Satan would take advantage of us, for we are not ignorant of his ways. Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord, I had no peace of mind, because I had not found Titus my brother. But taking my leave of them, I went from there into Macedonia.
Now thanks be to God, Who always leads us to victory through Christ, whose presence is recognized everywhere by us like a comforting scent in the air. For we stand out to God as a sweet fragrance of Christ, among those who are saved, and among those who perish. To one group we carry the scent of everlasting death; and to the other the scent of everlasting life. And who is sufficient for these things? For we are not like most, who corrupt the word of God, but instead are men of sincerity, and as men of God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ's name.
Do we begin to praise ourselves again? Or do we, like some others, need epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men. For you are clearly seen as the living epistle of Christ through our ministry, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tablets of stone, but in the tablet of the heart. And such trust have we through Christ toward God. Not that we are so self-sufficient to think that this comes from us alone; rather our abilities are from God; who has also made us capable ministers of the New Testament; not of the old law, but of the spirit, for the old laws alone lead only to death, but the spirit gives life.
But if the ministry under the old laws, written and engraved in stone, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not bear to look upon face of Moses for the glory of his appearance; whose glory was not meant to last, how can't the ministration of the spirit be even more glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation is glorious, the ministration of righteousness exceeds that glory by much more. For even that which was glorified is no longer so in this respect, because this new glory surpasses it. For if what is now irrelevant was glorious, what replaced it is much more glorious.
Realizing then that we have such hope, we speak frankly, rather than Moses, who put a veil over his face, so that the children of Israel could not directly see the eventual end of that which has now been abolished. But their minds were closed, for to this day that veil remains in a literal reading of the Old Testament; the same veil that is removed through Christ. But even today, when the words of Moses are read, that veil covers their hearts. Nevertheless, when one turns to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. And we, with uncovered faces beholding the glory of the Lord as clearly as if through glass, are made more and more like Him, by the Spirit of the Lord.
Therefore, seeing that we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not falter; but have renounced the secrets of dishonesty, avoiding mischief, or twisting the Word of God deceitfully; but by making the truth known we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. But if our Gospel stays unrevealed, it is unrevealed to those who are lost, in whom the God of this world has closed the minds of the unbelieving, otherwise the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, would shine upon them. For we do not preach about ourselves, but of Christ Jesus the Lord; and consider ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
But we carry this treasure in clay jars, showing that the glory of the power comes from God, and from us. We are troubled from all directions, but not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; always remembering in our body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus might also be realized in our body. For we who live are always risking death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus might also be realized in our mortal flesh. So death may work in us, but life also works within you.
We share the same spirit of faith, and as it was written, I believed, and therefore I have preached; we also believe, and therefore preach; knowing that He Who raised up the Lord Jesus shall also raise us up through Jesus, and shall present us with you. For all this is for your sake, that the abundant grace might, through the thanksgiving of many, contribute to the glory of God. For this cause we do not falter; for although our mortal body may perish, the inner soul is renewed with each passing day. For our light suffering, which is only temporary, earns for us a far more significant and eternal measure of glory; as we focus not on the material, but on the spiritual, for material things are fleeting; but spiritual things are eternal.
We know if this earthly tabernacle is destroyed, God has a greater building, not man made, eternally in heaven. We are eager for it, and we wish to clothed by our heavenly house, so that we won't be found to be naked. Those of us in the tabernacle groan, since we're burdened and want to be clothed, not naked, and mortality could be replaced by eternal life. Jesus, who has given us this, is God, and has also given we faithful the Divine Guide.
So always be confident and realize that while we have bodies, we are removed from the Lord. (Since we walk by faith, not sight) We are confident, I say, and are willing instead to leave our bodies, and to live with the Lord. Therefore, we work on, such that, whether at home or away, we may be worthy of Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that everyone may receive his due, according to what he has done, whether it was good or bad.
Therefore, knowing to fear the Lord, we convert men; and in this we are seen as sincere by God; and I hope we are also seen as sincere in your consciences. For we are not justifying ourselves to you again, but rather giving you reason to take pride in us, that you will have a response to those who take pride in appearance over what is in the heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God. If we are calm, it is for your sake. For the love of Christ controls us; because we reason that, if one died for all, then all had been dead. And because He died for all, those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the sake of Him who died for them, and rose again.
Therefore, we regard no man in the mortal sense. Though we once regarded Christ in the mortal sense, we no longer do. Therefore, if any man lives for Christ, he is a new creature and the old has passed away; behold, everything has been renewed. And everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, that God was in Christ, reconciling everyone to himself, no longer holding their sins against them; and hath committed to us the message of reconciliation. And so we are ambassadors for Christ, and God is reaching out to you through us, as we pray in Christ's name, that you are reconciled to God. For God had appointed Him, who had no sin, to stand for our sins; that we might find the righteousness of God through Him.
We then, as workers for His cause, beg you not to receive the grace of God in vain. (For He had said, "I heard you when the time was right, and in the day of salvation have I helped you. Behold, now is that time; behold, now is the day of salvation.") Causing no offense in any way, that the ministry could be blamed for. But in all things exemplifying ourselves as true ministers of God, through great patience enduring injury, hardship and distress, in lashings, in imprisonments, in riots, in hard work, in sleepless nights, in hunger; through purity, knowledge, persistence, kindness, the Holy Spirit, and sincere love, through the word of truth, the power of God, and the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise; Through accusations of deceit while remaining true; ignored, even though we are known; near death, and yet we live on; punished, but not killed; somber, yet always rejoicing; poor, but enriching others; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
Oh Corinthians, we have spoken openly to you, our heart is opened to you. You are not held back by us, but you hold yourselves back. Now for the sake of fairness, (and I speak to you as my children), open your hearts as well.
Do not be tied with unbelievers, for what partnership does righteousness have with unrighteousness? What fellowship does light have with darkness? And what harmony does Christ have with the Devil? What does a believer share in common with an infidel? And what agreement does the temple of God share with idols? For you are the temple of the living God; as God had said, "I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people." "Therefore step away from them, and stand apart", said the Lord, "And do not touch unclean things, and I will receive you", "And I will be a Father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters", said the Lord Almighty. So with these promises, my friends, let's wash ourselves clean of all filth of body and mind, perfecting holiness in awe of God.
Accept us, for we have hurt no man, corrupted no man, deceived no man. I don't say this to condemn you, since I've told you already that you're in our hearts whether we live or die with you. I speak with great boldness to you, and the great pride I have in you comforts me, bringing me great joy through all our hardship.
For when we had arrived in Macedonia, we had no rest, and we were assailed from all side; with conflict around us and fear within us. Nevertheless, God, Who comforts those those who are downcast, comforted us through the arrival of Titus; and not only through his arrival, but by the news of how he was comforted by you; his telling us of your sincere desire, your sorrow, your eagerness to see; such that I rejoiced even more. For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not regret it, although I was sorry that this epistle had brought you sorrow, even though it was temporary. Now I rejoice, not that you were saddened, but that your sadness led to repentance for it was brought upon you as God's will, and that you were not harmed in any way. For sorrow delivered in God's name brings the repentance that leads to salvation, and is not to be regretted, unlike the sorrows of the world that bring death. For see what this Godly sorrow has manifested in you; what focus it has brought in you, what desire to be pure, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what readiness to punish evil! In all these things you have shown yourselves to innocent in this regard. Therefore, though I had written to you, I did not do it to show who had done wrong, or who had suffered, but that our concern for how you are viewed by God would be apparent to you. Therefore, we were comforted by your understanding, even more grateful for the joy felt by Titus, because of how his spirit was restored by all of you. For if I have boasted of anything to him about you, I am not ashamed; but just as we have always been truthful to you, so was our boasting, made to Titus, nothing but the truth. And his deep affection for you only grew, as he remembered your obedience, and how you received him with fear and trembling. I therefore rejoice that I have trust in you in all things.
So, brothers, we'll tell of how God has bestowed his grace on the Macedonian churches. How, though severely suppressed, their overflowing joy and deep poverty produced incredible generosity. I recall that they gave up all they had, and even more than they had! They prayed and prayed that we would receive God's gift, join the fellowship, and minister to the saints. They did this, not because we hoped it. First they gave themselves to God, and to us by God's will. In that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, he would also finish you in the same grace. Therefore, as you have much of everything, in faith, utterance, knowledge, diligence, and love to us, see that you have much of this grace too.
I do not speak by commanding, but by the occasional forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. For you know the boundless generosity of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, he for your sakes became poor, so that you, through his poverty, could be rich. And here I give my advice, for this is quick to you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago. Now, therefore, perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which you have. For if there is first an open mind, it is accepted according to what that man has, and not to what he does not have. For I do not mean that other men be eased, and you burdened, but by an equality, so now your abundance may be a supply for them, that their abundance may also be a supply for you so there may be equality As it is written, "He who gathered much had nothing extra, and he who gathered little had no lack."
But thanks are to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you. For he accepted the incitement, but being more forward, he went to you of his own free will. And we have sent the brother with him, whose praise is in the gospel in all the churches. And not only that, but who was also chosen from the churches to travel with us with this amazing generosity, which we administer to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind. Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this surplus which we administer, providing for honesty, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. And we have sent our brother with them, who we have often proven diligent in much, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence I have in you. Whether any inquire of Titus, he is my partner and volunteer concerning you or our brethren be asked of, they are the messengers of the churches and the glory of Christ. Why show yourself to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.
For as touching the ministering is to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you. For I know the directness of your minds, which I boast of to those in Macedonia, and how Achaia was served a year ago; and how your zeal had inspired so many. Still I have sent the brothers, so that our boasts about you in this regard would not have been in vain; namely, as I had said, that you are ready. Otherwise if any of the Macedonians were to come with me, and find you unprepared, we (as opposed to you) would be ashamed of having boasted like that. Therefore, I considered it necessary to reach out to the brothers, that they would go to you in advance, and prepare with you in advance against the unexpected, that you would be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.
Because I tell you this; he who sows sparingly reaps sparingly, and he who sows bountifully reaps bountifully. Every man should give as his heart compels him to; not grudgingly, or out of necessity, because God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to cause all forms of grace to come upon you; so that you, always having what you need, may continue to do good works (as it is written, "He has dispersed abroad; He has given to the poor his everlasting righteousness. Now He who provides seed to the sower accordingly provides bread for your food, and multiplies what you have sown, and increases the fruits of your righteousness;) being enriched in everything to all bountifulness, which brings through us thanksgiving to God. For the fulfillment of this service not only meets the needs of the saints, but is abundant in its thanksgivings to God; while by the testing of this ministry they glorify God for your proclaimed dedication to the gospel of Christ, and for your generous sharing among them, and to all men; and by their prayer for you, which long after you for the surplus grace of God in you. Thanks be to God for His gratitude.
Now I myself, Paul, ask you in the humble and gentle manner of Christ, being lowly in your presence despite being bold when away. But I ask you, since I don't have to bold when I'm present, because I think I'll have to be toward some who act as if we live by the flesh. Although we walk in the flesh, we don't wage war for the flesh. (Our weapons of warfare are not sinful, but are made so mighty by God that they can destroy fortresses). Casting down speculation, and every lofty opinion held against the knowledge of God, and capturing every thought towards obedience to Christ; and being ready to punish all disobedience, once your obedience has been pledged.
Do you only judge by appearances? If any man believes himself to be in Christ's service then let him reconsider this, since, as he is in Christ's service, so are we. For while I claim more authority in this regard, which the Lord had bestowed on us for your benefit rather than your detriment, I am not ashamed that I am not the terrifying figure you would have expected based on my letters. "His letters", they would say, "are grave and powerful; but in person he is meek, and his speech contemptible". These people should understand, then, that as we appear in our writings from afar, we will act in person if we are here. For we do not dare to number or compare ourselves with those who praise themselves by their own standards, for those who rate themselves only against each other are unwise.
But we will not boast of things beyond our measure, but rather by the standards which God has given to use, a standard that applies to you as well.
For we do not exceed our mandate in reaching out to you, and in coming as far as this place to preach the Gospel of Christ. Not boasting of things beyond our mandate, that is, of other mens' effort; but in the hope, when your faith grows, that we will have grown with you in proportion to our own effort, to preach the Gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast of the works accomplished by others. But he who boasts, let him boast of the Lord. For it is not the one who praises himself that is righteous, but the one who is praised by the Lord.
God willing, please bear with me a bit in my recklessness, and continue to do so For I covet you in God's name, and betrothed you in marriage to one husband, presenting you like a sanctified virgin to Christ. Yet I fear that, as the serpent beguiled Eve with his trickery, so also your minds might be corrupted away from the simplicity of Christ. For if someone comes preaching another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if you hear of another spirit, which you have not received, or another gospel, which you have not accepted, you might stand firm with Him. For I suppose that I am no less than the leading apostles. But though I be self-promoting in speech, not so in knowledge; we have made everything crystal clear to you.
Have I done something wrong in lowering myself in order to elevate you, because I preached the good news of God as a gift to you? I robbed other churches by taking payment from them in order to serve you. And when I was with you and I was in need, I didn't financially burden any man, because the church members from Macedonia provided me what I was lacking. I have in all regards kept myself from being a burden to you, and I will continue to do so. As the truth of Christ is in me, no man in all of Achaia will stop me from boasting of this. Why? Because I don't love you? God knows I do.
But I will do what I must, in order to deny the opportunity to those who would seize it, as if they are equal to us in what they take pride in. They are false apostles, deceitful workers, posing as apostles of Christ. And no wonder; for even Satan himself poses as an angel of light. So it's no great surprise that Satan's ministers also pose as the ministers or righteousness; what they get in the end will be according to their works.
Again I say, don't think I'm being foolish, but if you do, listen to this fool anyway, so I can boast about myself a little. When I'm speaking, I don't do it as the Lord would, but rather as fool might, because of my boasting from faith. Since many people take pride in worldly things, I will take some pride too. For you tolerate fools easily, considering yourselves to be wise. You even put up with it if a man enslaves you, steals from you, takes all you have, looks down on you, or even hits you in the face. It’s a shame, as though we had been weak.
However, if others are bold, I will be bold too. (There I go again, speaking foolishly.) Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. Are they ministers of Christ? I’m speaking craziness again, but I am more of one. I do more work than they do, I’ve been beaten more than they have, I’ve spent more time in prison, and I’ve faced death more times than they have. Five times, I received 39 lashes from the Jews. I’ve been beaten with rods three times, I’ve been stoned once, I’ve been shipwrecked three times. I spent a night and a day floating at sea. I've traveled often, in danger of drowning, of robbers, of my own countrymen, of gentiles, in the city, in the wilderness, at sea, and from those who deceitfully claim to be church members. I've worked in fatigue and pain, without sleeping, in hunger and thirst without any food, in the cold without clothing. On top of all those things, what weighs on me daily is my concern for all the churches. Who can be weak without making me feel weak? Who can stumble without making me burn?
If I really need to boast, I will boast regarding my weaknesses. God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas guarded the city of the Damacenes in order to capture me. But I escaped his hands by being let down the wall through a window in a basket.
Boasting, though not helpful, is necessary. I will now come to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a follower of Christ who, fourteen years ago, was caught up to the third heaven (whether in the body or out of the body, I can't tell; God only knows) And I know that this man (whether in the body or out of the body, I can't tell; God only knows) was snatched up into paradise and heard unspeakable words which man is not allowed to say. I will boast about someone like that, but I won't boast about myself except my weaknesses. If I wanted to boast, I wouldn't be a fool; I'd be telling the truth. But I will hold back, so that no man will think of me other than what he sees or hears in me. And so that I wouldn't become unsufferably proud by having received such an abundance of revelations, I was given a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan, to beat me down so that I wouldn't be insufferably proud. Regarding this thing, I asked the Lord three times to take it away from me. But He told me, "My grace is enough for you; my strength is perfected in weakness." So I will gladly take pride in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmity, in criticism, in hardship, in persecution, and in distress for Christ's sake, for when I am weak, then am I strong.
I have made a fool of myself over this boasting; you have made me do this, even though I should have been commended by you. For in no way am I lesser than the leading apostles, though I am a nobody myself. Truly the evidence of being an apostle were shown to you through patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. For was there any way in which you were inferior to other churches, except that I wasn't a burden to you as well? Forgive me for this wrong.
See, for the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be a burden to you for I seek nothing of yours. You as the children should not have to support the parents, rather the parents should support the children. And I will very gladly spend and expend myself on your behalf; even though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved in return. But be that as it may, I did not burden you; nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with deceit. Did I take advantage of you through any of the men I had sent to you? I had chosen Titus, and I sent a brother along with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?
Again, do you think we're defending ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your benefit. For I fear, however, that when I come, I won't find you as I expect, and that you will regard me likewise, leading to debate, envy, anger, strife, recrimination, gossip, arrogance and fights. And I fear, that when I come again, God will humble me before you, and that I shall grieve over the many who have already sinned, and who have not repented of the filth, depravity and lechery that they have committed.
So this is the third time I have come to you. Every word will be established by two or three witnesses. Today I tell you, as I have told you before; I tell those who have sinned that if I come again I will not have mercy. Each of you seeks proof that Christ speaks from within me, which is not weak but mighty to you. Perceiving that he was crucified through weakness, we yet know that he lived by the power of God. We also are weak in him, but we will live with him through the power of God.
Hasten to understand yourselves, whether or not you have faith; prove yourselves. If you do not know yourselves, how will you know that Jesus Christ is in you? Each of you I trust is not a reprobate. Now I pray to God that none of you do evil acts; not for the sake of being approved, but so that you do that which is honest, despite being a reprobate. For we cannot act against the truth, only in support of it. For we are glad, when we are weak but you are strong, and we wish continue to wish for this, and for your perfection. Therefore, I write these things while being absent, because if I were present I might be more harsh, per the authority the Lord has bestowed on me for purposes of edification and not destruction.
Brethren, farewell. Be perfect, of good comfort, of one mind, and live in peace. Do these things and the God of love and peace will be with you. Great each other with a holy kiss. All the saints salute you.
May the grace of Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all. Amen.
But he himself stayed in Asia Province for a season.
Forty
Chapter 40 | Bible texts |
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Nero was the fifth Roman emperor, the stepson and heir of the emperor Claudius. Nero’s father, Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus, had died about A.D. 40, and Nero was brought up by his mother, Agrippina the Younger, a great-granddaughter of the emperor Augustus. After poisoning her second husband, Agrippina helped to bring about the murder of Valeria Messalina, her predecessor as the wife of Claudius, in A.D. 48. She next incestuously became the wife of the emperor Claudius, her uncle, and persuaded him to favor Nero, her son by a previous marriage, for the succession, over the rightful claim of his own son, Britannicus, and to also marry his daughter, Octavia, to Nero. Ceaselessly pursuing her intrigues to bring Nero to power, Agrippina eliminated her opponents among Claudius’s palace advisers. She probably had Claudius himself poisoned in 54, to insure the succession of Nero, rather than Claudius' own son Britannicus. Brought up in this atmosphere, Nero might well have begun to behave like a monster upon his accession as emperor in 54 but, in fact, he behaved quite otherwise. Claudius Caesar died after a reign of almost fourteen years, poisoned by his wife, Agrippina. Nero was sixteen in the year anno domini fifty-four when news of Claudius' death was announced. Upon the death of Claudius Agrippina at once had Nero proclaimed emperor by the Praetorian Guard, whose prefect, Sextus Afranius Burrus, was her partisan; she also immediately eliminated the powerful freedman Narcissus, who had always opposed her aims. Nero presented himself to the guards later the same day between the sixth and seventh hours Roman time, which is between noon and one o'clock, because the interpretation of ugly omens had ruled out an earlier appearance. After being acclaimed imperator on the steps of the palace, he was carried by litter to the camp of the praetorian guard, where he briefly addressed the troops. Then he visited the Senate House. The Senate thus had to accept a fait accompli as the will of the Roman gods. He refused only one of the many high honorific titles voted to him, because of his youth: Father of His Country. He remained there until nightfall. For the first time absolute power in the Roman Empire was vested in a mere boy, who was not yet 17. The testimony of contemporaries depicts Nero at this time as a handsome young man of fine presence but with soft, weak features and a restless spirit. He began his reign by making a show of virtuous civil behavior, giving Claudius a lavish funeral, at which he delivered the oration himself, and then deifying him. Afterward, as a guarantee of his virtuous intentions he promised to model his rule on the principles laid down by Augustus Caesar. Nero also inaugurated competitions in poetry, in the theatre, and in athletics as counterattractions to gladiatorial combats. He saw to it that assistance was provided to cities that had suffered disaster and, at the request of the Jewish historian Josephus, gave aid to the Jews. Claudius had put 40 senators to death, but, between 54 and the year 62, there were no like incidents in Nero’s reign. Agrippina completed her work with the poisoning of Britannicus in 55; some suggest that it was Nero himself who afterward poisoned Britannicus. Most people thought both Claudius and his son Britannicus had been poisoned. Agrippina had hoped to control the government, but Burrus and Nero’s old tutor, the Stoic philosopher Lucius Annaeus Seneca, though they owed their influence to Agrippina, were not content to remain her tools. They encouraged Nero to act independently of her, and this resulted in Nero growing increasingly distant in his relations with his mother. He put an end to the practice of secret trials before the emperor and the dominance of corrupt freedmen, and he accorded more independence to the Senate. When he could not abolish some of the heavier taxes, he lowered them. He gave the people 400 sesterces each, secured annual salaries for distinguished but impoverished senators, in some cases in the amount of 500,000 sesterces, and granted the praetorian cohorts a free monthly issue of grain. Meanwhile, the imperial government had some success in the east. The great foreign-policy problem of the time was that of Armenia. Roman-Parthian relations had become increasingly centered on Armenia, which was geopolitically situated between the Roman Empire and Parthia, Rome’s implacable foe in the east. Since the reign of Augustus, it had been Roman policy to appoint vassal kings there and so make Armenia a buffer state against Parthia. The Armenians had already played a role in the early history of Roman-Parthian relations. In both Crassus’ and Antony’s campaigns, the Armenian king had a large role as a guide, and “betrayer,” as some sources state. The political turmoil in the Parthian Empire was also a significant factor, which has been attributed to the lack of open war during the early Pax Romana period; the Parthians had a number of problems on their other borders. In A.D. 20, Parthian generals who conquered the regions of northern India had declared independence to form the “Indo-Parthian Kingdom.” Throughout the remaining history of Roman-Parthian relations, Armenia would have the role of a “buffer state” between the two powers. An advance on Armenia from one side was often interpreted as pretext to war by the other. The Armenians had long chafed under Roman rule, and in the emperor Claudius’ last years a Parthian prince named Tiridates had made himself king of Armenia with the support of its people. In response, Nero’s new government took vigorous action, appointing an able general, Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo, to the command. In 56 Agrippina was forced into retirement. From that time, Burrus and Seneca were the effective rulers of the empire. While directing the government themselves, Burrus and Seneca had largely left Nero uncontrolled to pursue his own tastes and pleasures. Seneca urged Nero to use his autocratic powers conscientiously, but he obviously failed to harness the boy’s more generous impulses to his responsibilities. Nero became infamous for his personal debaucheries and extravagances. His nocturnal rioting in the streets was a scandal as early as 56. At first Nero hated signing death sentences, and the extortions of Roman tax collectors upon the populace led him in 58 to unrealistically suggest that the customs dues should be abolished. Even later Nero was capable of conceiving grandiose plans for conquests or the creation of public works, but for the most part he used his position simply to gratify his own personal pleasures. Nero quickly became bored with his wife Octavia; he tried to strangle her on several occasions. He had fallen in love with Poppaea Sabina, the young wife of the senator Otho. Otho was born into a family that had held the consulship under Augustus. He had married Poppaea Sabina. But when the emperor Nero took Poppaea for his mistress in A.D. 58, Otho was sent from Rome to govern Lusitania. For 10 years Otho ruled this province with integrity. Up to the year 59, Nero’s biographers cite only acts of generosity and clemency on his account. His government forbade contests in the circus involving bloodshed, banned capital punishment, reduced taxes, and accorded permission to slaves to bring civil complaints against unjust masters. Nero himself pardoned writers of epigrams against him and even those who plotted against him, and secret trials were few. The law of treason was dormant: he put no senators to death. The emergence of real brutality in Nero can be fixed in the 35-month period A.D. 59 through 62 beginning with the open killing of his own mother at his orders in 59. He was led to the murder of Agrippina by her insanity and her fury at seeing her son slip out of her control. Having disposed of his mother Agrippina, Nero proceeded to murder his aunt Domitia. When he found her confined to bed with severe constipation, he ordered the doctors to give her a laxative of fatal strength, seized her property and tore up her will before she died, thus avoiding legal complications. Seeing that he could do what he liked without fear of censure or retribution, Nero began to give rein to inordinate artistic pretensions. He fancied himself not only a poet but also a charioteer and lyre player, and in 59 or 60 he began to give public performances; later he appeared on the stage, and the theatre furnished him with the pretext to assume every kind of role. To the Romans these antics seemed to be scandalous breaches of civic dignity and decorum. Nero even dreamed of abandoning the throne of Rome in order to fulfill his poetical and musical gifts, though he did not act on these immature, juvenile ambitions. About that time there arose no small stir concerning the Way. For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen, whom he gathered together, with the workmen of like occupation, and said, “Sirs, you know that by this business we have our wealth. You see and hear, that not at Ephesus alone, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are no gods, that are made with hands. Not only is there danger that this our trade come into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be counted as nothing, and her majesty destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worships.” When they heard this they were filled with anger, and cried out, saying, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” The whole city was filled with confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the theater, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel. When Paul wanted to enter in to the people, the disciples did not allow him. Certain also of the Asiarchs, being his friends, sent to him and begged him not to venture into the theater. Some therefore cried one thing, and some another, for the assembly was in confusion. Most of them did not know why they had come together. They brought Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. Alexander beckoned with his hand, and would have made a defense to the people. But when they perceived that he was a Jew, all with one voice for a time of about two hours cried out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” When the town clerk had quieted the multitude, he said, “You men of Ephesus, what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great goddess Artemis, and of the image which fell down from Zeus? Seeing then that these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rash. For you have brought these men here, who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of your goddess. If therefore Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a matter against anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls. Let them press charges against one another. But if you seek anything about other matters, it will be settled in the regular assembly. For indeed we are in danger of being accused concerning today’s riot, there being no cause. Concerning it, we would not be able to give an account of this commotion.” When he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly. After the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, took leave of them, and departed to go into Macedonia. When he had gone through those parts, and had encouraged them with many words, he came into Greece. When he had spent three months there, and a plot was made against him by Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he determined to return through Macedonia. These accompanied him as far as Asia: Sopater of Beroea; Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians; Gaius of Derbe; Timothy; and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia. But these had gone ahead, and were waiting for us at Troas. We sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and came to them at Troas in five days, where we stayed seven days. On the first day of the week, when the disciples were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and continued his speech until midnight. Among them was Luke, a physician from Antioch. There were many lights in the upper room where we were gathered together. A certain young man named Eutychus sat in the window, weighed down with deep sleep. As Paul spoke still longer, being weighed down by his sleep, he fell down from the third floor, and was taken up dead. Paul went down, and fell upon him, and embracing him said, “Do not be troubled, for his life is in him.” When he had gone up, and had broken bread, and eaten, and had talked with them a long while, even until break of day, he departed. They brought the boy in alive, and were greatly comforted. But we who went ahead to the ship set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul aboard there, for he had so arranged, intending himself to go by land. When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard, and came to Mitylene across from Pergamum. Sailing from there, we came the following day opposite Chios. The next day we touched at Samos and stayed at Trogyllium, and the day after we came to Miletus. For Paul had determined to sail past Ephesus, that he might not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening, if it were possible for him, to be in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. From Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called to himself the elders of the Assembly. When they had come to him, he said to them, “You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you all the time, serving the Lord with all humility with many tears, and with trials which happened to me by the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, teaching you publicly and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus. Now, behold, I go bound by the Spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there; except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions wait for me. But these things do not count; nor do I hold my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to fully testify to the Good News of the grace of God. “Now, behold, I know that you all, among whom I went about preaching God’s Kingdom, will see my face no more. Therefore I testify to you today that I am clean from the blood of all men, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you bishops, to shepherd the Assembly of the Lord and God which he purchased with his own blood. For I know that after my departure, vicious wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Men will arise from among your own selves, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore watch, remembering that for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish everyone night and day with tears. Now, brothers, I entrust you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build up, and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I coveted no one’s silver, or gold, or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands served my necessities, and those who were with me. In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring you ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” When he had spoken these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. They all wept a lot, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him, sorrowing most of all because of the word which he had spoken, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship. When we had departed from them and had set sail, we came with a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. Having found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard, and set sail. When we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left hand, we sailed to Syria, and landed at Tyre, for there the ship was to unload her cargo. Having found disciples, we stayed there seven days. These said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem. When those days were over, we departed and went on our journey. They all, with wives and children, brought us on our way until we were out of the city. Kneeling down on the beach, we prayed. After saying goodbye to each other, we went on board the ship, and they returned home again. When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais. We greeted the brothers, and stayed with them one day. On the next day, we, who were Paul’s companions, departed, and came to Caesarea. We entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied. As we stayed there some days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. Coming to us, and taking Paul’s belt, he bound his own feet and hands, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit: ‘So will the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and will deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’” When we heard these things, both we and they of that place begged him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, 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.” When he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “The Lord’s will be done.” After these days we took up our baggage and went up to Jerusalem. Some of the disciples from Caesarea also went with us, bringing one Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we would stay. When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly. The day following, Paul went in with us to James; and all the elders were present. When he had greeted them, he reported one by one the things which God had worked among the Gentiles through his ministry. They, when they heard it, glorified God. They said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law. They have been informed about you, that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children neither to walk after the customs. What then? The Assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come. Therefore do what we tell you. We have four men who have taken a vow. Take them, and purify yourself with them, and pay their expenses for them, that they may shave their heads. Then all will know that there is no truth in the things that they have been informed about you, but that you yourself also walk keeping the law. But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written our decision that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from food offered to idols, from blood, from strangled things, and from sexual immorality.” Then Paul took the men, and the next day, purified himself and went with them into the temple, declaring the fulfillment of the days of purification, until the offering was offered for every one of them. When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the multitude and laid hands on him, crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place. Moreover, he also brought Greeks into the temple, and has defiled this holy place!” For they had seen Trophimus, the Ephesian, with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. All the city was moved, and the people ran together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple. Immediately the doors were shut. As they were trying to kill him, news came up to the commanding officer of the regiment that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. Immediately he took soldiers and centurions, and ran down to them. They, when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, stopped beating Paul. Then the commanding officer came near, arrested him, commanded him to be bound with two chains, and inquired who he was and what he had done. Some shouted one thing, and some another, among the crowd. When he could not find out the truth because of the noise, he commanded him to be brought into the barracks. When he came to the stairs, he was carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd; for the multitude of the people followed after, crying out, “Away with him!” As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he asked the commanding officer, “May I speak to you?” He said, “Do you know Greek? Are you not then the Egyptian, who before these days stirred up to sedition and led out into the wilderness the four thousand men of the Assassins?” But Paul said, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no insignificant city. I beg you, allow me to speak to the people.” When he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the stairs, beckoned with his hand to the people. When there was a great silence, he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, saying, “Brothers and fathers, listen to the defense which I now make to you.” When they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they were even more quiet. He said, “I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict tradition of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, even as you all are today. I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. As also the high priest and all the council of the elders testify, from whom also I received letters to the brothers, and traveled to Damascus to bring them also who were there to Jerusalem in bonds to be punished. As I made my journey, and came close to Damascus, about noon, suddenly a great light shone around me from the sky. I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you persecute.’ “Those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they did not understand the voice of him who spoke to me. I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ The Lord said to me, ‘Arise, and go into Damascus. There you will be told about all things which are appointed for you to do.’ When 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. One Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well reported of by all the Jews who lived in Damascus, came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ In that very hour I looked up at him. He said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know his will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth. For you will be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and heard. Now why do you wait? Arise, be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’ “When I had returned to Jerusalem, and while I prayed in the temple, I fell into a trance, and saw him saying to me, ‘Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not receive testimony concerning me from you.’ I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue those who believed in you. When the blood of Stephen, your witness, was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting to his death, and guarding the cloaks of those who killed him.’ “He said to me, ‘Depart, for I will send you out far from here to the Gentiles.’” They listened to him until he said that; then they lifted up their voice, and said, “Rid the earth of this fellow, for he is not fit to live!” As they cried out, and threw off their cloaks, and threw dust into the air, the commanding officer commanded him to be brought into the barracks, ordering him to be examined by scourging, that he might know for what crime they shouted against him like that. When they had tied him up with thongs, Paul asked the centurion who stood by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and not found guilty?” When the centurion heard it, he went to the commanding officer and told him, “Watch what you are about to do, for this man is a Roman!” The commanding officer came and asked him, “Tell me, are you a Roman?” He said, “Yes.” The commanding officer answered, “I bought my citizenship for a great price.” Paul said, “But I was born a Roman.” Immediately those who were about to examine him immediately withdrew from him, and the commanding officer also was afraid when he realized that he was a Roman, because he had bound him. But on the next day, desiring to know the truth about why he was accused by the Jews, he freed him from the bonds, and commanded the chief priests and all the council to come together, and brought Paul down and set him before them. Paul, looking steadfastly at the council, said, “Brothers, I have lived before God in all good conscience until today.” The high priest, Ananias, commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to judge me according to the law, and command me to be struck contrary to the law?” Those who stood by said, “Do you malign God’s high priest?” Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was high priest. For it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’” But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Men and brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. Concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!” When he had said this, an argument arose between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess all of these. A great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees part stood up, and contended, saying, “We find no evil in this man. But if a spirit or angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God!” When a great argument arose, the commanding officer, fearing that Paul would be torn in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks. The following night, the Lord stood by him, and said, “Cheer up, Paul, for as you have testified about me at Jerusalem, so you must testify also at Rome.” When it was day, some of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. There were more than forty people who had made this conspiracy. They came to the chief priests and the elders, and said, “We have bound ourselves under a great curse, to taste nothing until we have killed Paul. Now therefore, you with the council inform the commanding officer that he should bring him down to you tomorrow, as though you were going to judge his case more exactly. We are ready to kill him before he comes near.” But Paul’s sister’s son heard of their lying in wait, and he came and entered into the barracks and told Paul. Paul summoned one of the centurions, and said, “Bring this young man to the commanding officer, for he has something to tell him.” So he took him, and brought him to the commanding officer, and said, “Paul, the prisoner, summoned me and asked me to bring this young man to you, who has something to tell you.” The commanding officer took him by the hand, and going aside, asked him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?” He said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though intending to inquire somewhat more accurately concerning him. Therefore do not yield to them, for more than forty men lie in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse neither to eat nor to drink until they have killed him. Now they are ready, looking for the promise from you.” So the commanding officer let the young man go, charging him, “Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me.” He called to himself two of the centurions, and said, “Prepare two hundred soldiers to go as far as Caesarea, with seventy horsemen, and two hundred men armed with spears, at the third hour of the night.” He asked them to provide animals, that they might set Paul on one, and bring him safely to Felix the governor. He wrote a letter like this:
So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. But on the next day they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the barracks. When they came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him. When the governor had read it, he asked what province he was from. When he understood that he was from Cilicia, he said, “I will hear you fully when your accusers also arrive.” He commanded that he be kept in Herod’s palace. After five days, the high priest, Ananias, came down with certain elders and an orator, one Tertullus. They informed the governor against Paul. When he was called, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, “Seeing that by you we enjoy much peace, and that excellent measures are coming to this nation, we accept it in all ways and in all places, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness. But, that I do not delay you, I entreat you to bear with us and hear a few words. For we have found this man to be a plague, an instigator of insurrections among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. He even tried to profane the temple, and we arrested him and would have judged him according to our law. But the chief captain Lysias came and with great violence took him out of our hands, commanding his accusers to come before you. By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him.” The Jews also joined in the attack, affirming that these things were so. When the governor had beckoned to him to speak, Paul answered, “Because I know that you have been a judge of this nation for many years, I cheerfully make my defense, seeing that you can recognize that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship at Jerusalem. In the temple they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the synagogues, or in the city. Nor can they prove to you the things of which they now accuse me. But this I confess to you, that after the Way, which they call a sect, so I serve the God of our fathers, believing all things which are according to the law, and which are written in the prophets; having hope toward God, which these also themselves look for, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. Herein I also practice always having a conscience void of offense toward God and men. Now after some years, I came to bring gifts for the needy to my nation, and offerings; amid which certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, not with a mob, nor with turmoil. They ought to have been here before you, and to make accusation, if they had anything against me. Or else let these men themselves say what injustice they found in me when I stood before the council, unless it is for this one thing that I cried standing among them, ‘Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged before you today!’” But Felix, having more exact knowledge concerning the Way, deferred them, saying, “When Lysias, the commanding officer, comes down, I will decide your case.” He ordered the centurion that Paul should be kept in custody, and should have some privileges, and not to forbid any of his friends to serve him or to visit him. But after some days, Felix came with Drusilla, his wife, who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ Jesus. As he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was terrified, and answered, “Go your way for this time, and when it is convenient for me, I will summon you.” Meanwhile, he also hoped that money would be given to him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore, also he sent for him more often, and talked with him. Two years passed. About this time Peter wrote to the churches Paul had established:
At first Nero revealed only gradually and secretly his insolence, lust, extravagance, greed and cruelty. They were not merely youthful mistakes. There was no doubt that they were faults of his character. He gave an immense variety of entertainments: youth games, chariot races in the Roman Circus, stage plays, a gladiatorial show. The series of plays devoted to the hope of his reigning for ever he called "the Great Games". He made 400 senators and 600 of the equestrian class, equites, many of them rich and respectable, do battle in the arena, and some had to fight wild beasts and perform various duties about the ring. He staged a naval battle on an artificial lake of salt water which had large sea creatures swimming in it; also ballets and competitions of poetry and oratory. Throughout the games all kinds of gifts were scattered to the people: 1,000 assorted birds daily, quantities of food parcels, vouchers for grain, clothes, gold, silver, precious stones, pearls, paintings, slaves, transport animals, trained wild beasts, and for ships, blocks of income tenements and farms. When he judged a case, he preferred to defer his judgment until the following day, and then gave it in writing. He ruled that a case should not be presented whole, first by one side, then the other, but that every relevant charge be debated separately. He made each of his judicial advisors write out an opinion on a problem of law instead of consulting them openly, withdrew to study and consider these documents in private, then came to his own conclusion, and passed it off as a majority opinion. He ordered his consuls to read certain of his speeches sent for the Senate's information, going over the heads of the quaestors, whose business it should have been. He considered a scheme for extending the city wall as far as Ostia, and cutting a canal which would allow ships to sail straight up to Rome; but neither of these plans was realized. Burrus and Seneca were the effective rulers of the empire until 62. After Burrus’s death in 62 Seneca felt that he had lost all influence over Nero, and he retired. Nero finally announced that his wife Octavia was barren, and divorced her. This act of divorcing Octavia in 62 made Nero so unpopular and caused so great a scandal that he banished Octavia. He was motivated also by his fear that his repudiated wife Octavia was fomenting disaffection at court and among the populace. Nero then stole Otho's wife Sabina Poppaea. Twelve days after he had divorced Octavia, he married Poppaea, and finally murdered Octavia, having her executed in June A.D. 62 on a charge of adultery. Such was the state of affairs in that Babylon called Rome. |
Acts 19:23–24:27 Compare
The Works of Flavius Josephus William Whiston, Translator, 1737 (sacred-texts.com) Early Christian Writings A.D. 30 through 380 (earlychristianwritings.com)
"400 sesterces" Equal to 100 denarii.
"a Parthian prince named Tiridates had made himself king of Armenia with the support of its people." See the following articles: "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" Acts 19:28, 34. KJV says "Great is Diana of the Ephesians."
"On the first day of the week, when the disciples were gathered together to break bread" Sunday, the Day of the Lord.
"Among them was Luke, a physician from Antioch." An amplification inserted into Acts 20:7-8.
"the Holy Spirit has made you bishops, to shepherd the assembly of the Lord and God" Acts 20:28 (DR). "overseers" KJV, WEB.
"...pay their expenses for them, that they may shave their heads. Acts 21:24b. Nazirites.
"Gamaliel" Acts 22:3. Rabban Gamaliel I.
"God will strike you, you whitewashed wall!" Acts 23:3.
"...believing all things which are according to the law, and which are written in the prophets" Acts 24:14b. This is neither contradictory nor hypocritical.
"Spirit of Christ, which was in them, pointed to, when he predicted the sufferings of Christ" 1 Peter 1:11-12. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus Christ the Son of God.
"She who is in Babylon..." 1 Peter 5:13. The Christian Church in Pagan Rome. (See 2 John 1.)
"equestrian class, equites" see the following: Sabina Poppaea, later the wife of Nero. "the young wife of the senator Otho"
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At the same time, no small dispute arose about the Way:
A certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines for Artemis, brought no small profit to the local craftsmen. He called them together with other silversmiths, and said, "Gentlemen, you know that by this trade we have our livelihood and our business. Furthermore, you can see and hear, that not only at Ephesus but almost throughout all of Asia Province, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that there are no such things as gods made with hands. Not only is our craft in danger of having its market ruined, but the temple of the great goddess Artemis is in danger of being disrespected, and her magnificence of being destroyed--and all of Asia Province and the Roman world worships her!"
When they heard these things that he said, they were full of rage, and cried out, saying, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"
Then the city was filled with confusion. Then they rushed with one accord into the theater and captured Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's traveling companions. When Paul wanted to enter in to the people, the students wouldn't let him. Certain of the leading men of Asia Province, who were his friends, sent messages to him, asking him not to take his chances in the theater. And so some were crying out one thing, and some another, because the assembly was confused. Most of them did not even know why they had come together. They dragged Alexander out of the crowd, when the Jews put him forward. Alexander motioned with his hand, and was about to make his defense to the people. When they realized that he was a Jew, everyone with one voice cried out for two hours, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"
Then the town clerk calmed the people down, and said, "Men of Ephesus, does any man exist who does not know that the city of the Ephesians worships the great goddess Artemis, and the image that fell out of the sky? So if you realize that these things can't be spoken against, you should be quiet, and take no rash actions! You have brought these men here, who are neither church-robbers or blasphemers of your goddess. So if Demetrius, and the craftsmen with him, have a case against any man, then the Forum is open, and the magistrates are available, so they can plead their case to them. But if you are inquiring about other matters, then let that be determined by a lawful assembly. We could all be arrested for this day's work, because we have no just cause by which we can excuse this riot."
When he had delivered that message, he dismissed the assembly.
After the riot had stopped, Paul called the students (of Christ) to him, embraced them, and departed for Macedonia. When he had gone over those parts of the country, and had given them a great deal of exhortation, he came into Greece. He stayed there for three months. Then when the Jews lay in wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he decided instead to return through Macedonia. The following men traveled with him there into Asia Priovince: Sopater of Beroea, Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, Gaius of Derbe, Timothy, and Tychichus and Trophimus of Asia Province. These people, traveling ahead, were waiting for us at Troas. We sailed away from Philippi after the Passover season, and came to these men in Troas in five days. We stayed there for another seven days.
On the first day of the week, when the students came together to break bread, Paul preached to them, ready to depart the next day. He continued speaking until midnight. There were many lights shining in the upper room when they were gathered together. A certain young man named Eutychus was sitting in a window, having fallen into a deep sleep. As Paul continued preaching for a long time, he sank down with sleep, and fell down from a three-story height and was taken up dead. Paul went down, and fell on him, and embraced him. He said, "Don't disquiet yourselves; he's still alive."
Then Paul came up again, and broke bread, and talked for a long time, until daybreak, and then he left. They brought the young man in alive, and were not a little relieved. He [Eutychus] went ahead to a ship, and sailed to Assos, intending to join Paul: he had decided to do just that, and even to walk.
When he met us at Assos, we let him join us, and came to Mitylene. We sailed from there, and came the next day toward Chios. On the next day we arrived at Samos, and stayed at Trogyllium, and the next day we came to Miletus. Paul had determined to sail past Ephesus. He did not want to spend the time in Asia Province, because he was in a hurry, if it were possible, to be in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.
From Miletus he sent letters to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. When they had come to him, he told them, "You know, from the first day that I came into Asia Province, the way that I have been with you in all seasons,...serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with tears, and testings, which happened to me by the ambush of the Jews,...and how I held back nothing that would be useful to you, but have showed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house,...testifying, to the Jews and the Greeks, repentance toward God,l and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. And now look here: I am bound in the spirit to go to Jerusalem, and I don't know what's going to happen to me there,...except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city,l saying that bonds and afflictions always happen to me. But none of these things can faze me, nor do I reckon my life dear to myself. I'm going to finish my course, and the ministry, which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
"Now listen carefully: I know that all of you, among whom I have gone to preach the kingdom of God, will never see my face again. So bear witness this day: I am clean from the blood of all men. I have not shrunk back from declaring to you all the counsel of God. So pay attention to yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Spirit made you overseers, to feed the church of God, that He purchased with His Own Blood. I know this: as soon as I leave, some ravenous wolves will enter in among you, and won't spare the flock. And even among yourselves men will arise, speaking twisted things, to draw students of Christ away after him. So watch out, and remember, that for three years I never stopped warning everyone, night and day with tears. Now, brothers, I commend you to God, and to the Word of His grace, which can build you up, and give you an inheritance among all of those that are sanctified. I have never coveted any man's silver or gold or apparel. In fact, you yourselves know that these hands have worked for my necessities, and for them who were with me. I have showed you all things, how that, working in this way, you should support the weak, and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
When he had delivered this address, he knelt down and prayed with all of them. They all wept bitterly, and fell on Paul's neck and kissed him. They were sad most of all on account of these words that he spoke: that they would never see his face again. And they walked with him to the ship.
It came to pass that after we had gotten away from them, and our ship had put out, we came directly to Coos, and the following day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. We found a ship sailing over to Phoenicia, went aboard, and embarked. When we had discovered Cyprus, we passed it on our port, and sailed to Syria, and landed at Tyre, which was where the ship was scheduled to unload. We found some students of Christ, and stayed there for seven days. The students said to Paul, through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.
When we had finished those days, we left and went on our way. They all brought us on our way, with their wives and children, until we were out of the city. Then we knelt on the shore and prayed. When we had said our good-byes to one another, we got on a ship, and they went home again.
When we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and said hello to the brothers, and stayed with them for one day. The next day those members of Paul's company left and came to Caesaria, and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the Seven, and stayed with him. This man had four daughters, all never-married, who used to prophesy.
While we were staying there for several days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. When he had come to us, he took Paul's belt and tied his own hands and feet with it. He said, "The Holy Spirit says this: the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt in just this way, and will hand him over to the Gentiles."
When we had heard these things, we and the members of the household both pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, "What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not merely to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the Name of the Lord Jesus."
When he would not be dissuaded, we stopped, saying, "The Lord's will be done."
After those days we packed up our bundles and went up to Jerusalem. Some of the Christ-students of Caesaria went with us, and brought with them a man named Mnason of Cyprus, a mature student, with whom we intended to stay. When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly.
The next day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. When he had said hello to them, he reported in detail what things God had worked among the Gentiles by his ministry. When they heard it, they gave glory to the Lord, and told him, "You can see, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are who believe, all of whom are zealous for the Law. They are informed from you, that you are teaching all the Jews among the Gentiles to forsake Moses,l saying that they shouldn't circumcise their children or walk after the customs. So what should we do? The crowd will have to come together. They will hear that you have come back. So do as we say: We have four men who have a vow on them. Take them, purify yourself with them, and pay their expenses, so that they can shave their heads. That way, everyone may know that those rumors that they were told about you are false, and in fact you yourself walk in an orderly fashion, and keep the Law.
"Now about the Gentiles who believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, except that they abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from strangled foods, and from sexual immorality."
Then Paul took the men, and the next day he purified himself with them and entered the Temple, to signal the fulfillment of the days of purification, until an offering should be made for each man among them. When the seven days were almost ended, the Jews from Asia Province, when they saw him in the Temple, incited all the people, and laid violent hands on him. They cried out, "Men of Israel, help! This is that man who teaches everyone everywhere against the people, and the Law, and this place! And furthermore, he has brought Greeks into the Temple and polluted this holy place!"
(They had previously seen an Ephesian named Trophimus with him, and got a notion into their heads that Paul had brought him into the Temple.) The whole city was moved, and the people were running together. They seized Paul, dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the doors were shut. As they were about to kill him, reports came to the Roman tribune and commander of the garrison of Jerusalem that all of Jerusalem was running riot. He immediately took some soldiers and centurions, and ran down to them. When they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.
Then the tribune came near, and arrested him, and ordered him bound with chains. He then demanded to know who he was and what he had done. Some men cried out one thing, and some another, among the crowd. When he could not learn the truth for all the commotion, he ordered him brought into the Fortress of Antonia. When he reached the stairs, the people were so violent that he was being carried by the soldiers. The crowd of people were following after him, crying, "Away with him!"
As Paul was about to be led into the fortress, he said to the tribune, "May I speak to you?"
The tribune said, "Can you speak Greek? Aren't you that Egyptian who earlier incited a riot and led four thousand cutthroats out into the desert?"
But Paul said, "I am a Jew of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no undistinguished city. I am asking you as a favor: let me speak to the people."
When the tribune had given him permission, Paul stood on the steps, and motioned with his hand to the people. When a great silence fell, he said these words to them in Aramaic:
"Men, brothers and father, hear my defense that I am now making to you!"
(When they heard him speaking to them in Aramaic, they quieted down still more. So he said:) "I am a Jewish man, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to a strict interpretation of the Law of the father, and was zealous toward God, as are all of you today. I persecuted this Way to the death, arresting and delivering men and women into prisons. The High Priest can tell you, as can the entire council of elders. I also received from them letters to the brothers, and went to Damascus, to bring those who were there to Jerusalem under arrest, to be punished. And then this happened: as I was on my journey, and had come close to Damascus at about the noon hour, suddenly a great light from heaven shown all around me. I fell to the ground, and heard a Voice saying to me, 'Saul Saol why are you persecuting Me?' And I answered, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He told me, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, Whom you are persecuting.' And those who were with me also saw the light, and were afraid, but they didn't hear the Voice of the One Who spoke to me. And I said, 'What must I do, Lord?' And the Lord told me, 'Get up, and go into Damascus. There you will be told all the things that are appointed for you to do.' Then when I couldn't see on account of the glory of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus.
"A man named Ananias, a devout man according to the Law, who had a good report from all the Jews who were living there,...came to me, and stood, and said to me, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight.' And in that very moment I could look up at him. And he said, 'The God of our fathers has chosen you, that you should know His will, and see that Just One, and hear the Voice of His mouth. For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. And now what are you waiting for? Get up, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, and call on the Name of the Lord.'
And it happened that when I had gotten back to Jerusalem, even while I was praying in the Temple, I was in a trance,...and saw him saying to me, 'Hurry and get quickly out of Jerusalem! They won't receive your evidence concerning Me.' And I said, 'Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat those who believed in You in every synagogue. When the blood of your witness Stephen was shed, I was standing there, too, and going along with his death, and held the coats of those who killed him.'
"He told me, 'Depart. I am sending you far away from here to the Gentiles.'"
They listened to him until he said that word "Gentiles," and then they raised their voices, and said, "Rid the earth of a fellow like this! It is not fitting for him to live!"
As they were crying out, and throwing off their clothes and throwing dust into the air, the tribune ordered him brought into the fortress (of Antonia) and then ordered him interrogated under scourging, so that he would know why they were crying out in that way against him. As they were tying him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion standing by, "Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman citizen, and has not been convicted of any crime?"
When the centurion heard that, he went and told the tribune, saying, "Be careful what you are doing, Tribune! This man is a Roman citizen!"
Then the tribune came, and asked him, "Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?"
And he said, "Yes."
The tribune answered, "I bought my citizenship and paid handsomely for it."
And Paul said, "But I was born a citizen."
Then those who were about to interrogate him immediately left the room. The tribune was also afraid, after he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen, and he had had him chained.
The next day, because he wanted to know exactly what the Jews were accusing him of, he had him unchained. He then ordered the ranking priests and the entire Sanhedrin to assemble, and brought Paul down, and set him before them. Paul, looking the members of the Sanhedrin straight in the eye, said, "Men and brothers, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day."
The High Priest Ananias ordered those who were standing next to him to strike him on the mouth. Paul then said back to him, "God is about to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you going to sit there to judge me according to the law, and order me to be struck, contrary to that law?"
Those who were standing by his side said, "Are you insulting God's High Priest?"
Then Paul said, "I did not know, brothers, that he was the High Priest. Scripture does say, 'You must not speak ill of the ruler of your people.'"
Then when Paul realized that one group were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out during the session, "Men and brothers, I am a Pharisee, and the son of a Pharisee! And I am being judged here in a case arising out of the hope and resurrection of the dead!"
When he had said that, a dispute arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the crowd was divided. The Sadducees insist that there is no resurrection, and no Messengers of God, and no spirit, while the Pharisees believe in all these things. So a great cry rose up, and the scribes belonging to the Pharisees' faction rose up and started an argument, saying, "We don't find anything wrong with this man! Maybe a spirit has spoken to him, or an angel!"
When a great dispute had arisen, the tribune, afraid that Paul might be torn to pieces by them, ordered the soldiers to go down, take him by force from among them, and bring him back into the Fortress of Antonia. The next night, the Lord stood beside him, and said, "Cheer up! Just as you gave evidence about Me in Jerusalem, you must also give evidence in Rome."
When day came, some of the Jews conspired together, and swore a deadly oath that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. More than forty men participated in this conspiracy. They came to the ranking priests and elders, and said, "We have sworn an oath to eat nothing until we have killed Paul. So we want you, by order of the Sanhedrin, to signal the tribune that he should bring him down to you tomorrow, as if you want to inquire more closely about him. We are ready to kill him before he ever comes close."
When Paul's sister's son heard of their ambush, he went and entered the fortress, and told Paul. Then Paul called one of the centurions to him, and said, "Bring this young man to the tribune; he has something to tell him."
So he took him and brought him to the tribune, and said, "The prisoner Paul called me to him and asked me to bring this young man to you, who has something to tell you."
Then the tribune took him by the hand, and went with him aside in private, and asked him, "What is it that you have to tell me?"
And he said, "The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down tomorrow to the Sanhedrin, as if they wanted to inquire into his case more closely. But don't yield to them! More than forty men are lying in ambush for him. They have sworn a terrible oath neither to eat nor drink until they have killed him, and now they are ready, looking for a promise from you."
So the tribune allowed the young man to leave, and ordered him, "Do not tell any man that you have laid this information with me."
Then he summoned two centurions, and gave them these orders: "Have two hundred infantrymen ready to go to Caesaria, and seventy cavalrymen, and two hundred spearmen, three hours past sunset. Provide mounts for Paul to ride on, and bring him securely to Procurator Felix."
He then wrote a letter to this effect:
"From: Claudius Lysias. To: His Excellency Procurator Felix.
Sir: This man was seized by the Jews, and was about to be killed by them. I then came with an armed force and rescued him, after I understood that he was a Roman citizen. When I wanted to know the cause that they were accusing him of, I brought him out into their Sanhedrin. Then I realized that he was accused on issues concerning their Law, and was accused of no capital or even arrestable offense. Then I was informed that the Jews were lying in ambush for the man. So I sent him directly to you, and gave orders to his accusers to make their case against him to you. Sincerely, [Claudius Lysias, Tribune]."
Then the soldiers, acting on their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. The next day they left the cavalry to go with him, and returned to the Fortress of Antonia. The cavalrymen, when they came to Caesaria, and delivered the letter to the procurator, also presented Paul before him. When the procurator had read the letter, he asked from what province he came. When he understood that Paul came from Cilicia, he said, "I will hear you when your accusers have also come."
And he ordered him kept in Herod (the Great)'s Praetorium.
After five days, High Priest Ananias came down, with the elders and with a certain rhetorician named Tertullus, who pleaded the case against Paul before the procurator. When he was recognized, Tertullus began to accuse Paul, saying, "Given that by you we enjoy great peace, and that very worthy things are done for this nation by your providence,...we accept it always, and in all places, Your Excellency Felix, with all thankfulness. Still, so that I might not try Your Excellency's patience any further, I ask that you would grant us the clemency of hearing a few words. We have found this man to be a troublemaker, a creator of division among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the Nazarene sect. In fact he has even set about profaning the Temple. And so we arrested him."
[The rest of the verse is an interpolation] But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands, [This verse is an interpolation.]
"If you would examine him yourself, you will understand all the things that we accuse him of."
The Jews also agreed, saying that these things were true.
Then Paul, after the procurator motioned to him to speak, answered, "Given that I realize that you have been for many years a judge for this nations, I now even more cheerfully answer for myself: So that you may understand, it has been only twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship,...and they have never found me in the temple arguing with any man, or inciting the people to riot, not in the synagogues, nor in the city. Nor can they prove the things that they are now accusing me of. But I confess this to you: that after the Way that they call a heresy, I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things that are written in the Law and the Prophets: and have hope toward God, a thing that they themselves also grant, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, just and unjust. In this I exercise myself: always to have a conscience clear of offense toward God and toward men. Now after many years, I came back to bring alms to my nation, and offerings. And when I did, certain Jews from Asia Province found me properly purified in the Temple, neither with a large crowd, nor associated with any riot. They should have come here ahead of me to object, if they had anything against me. Or else: why don't these same men say right here, whether they found me guilty of any wrongdoing, when I stood before the Sanhedrin,...unless it is just one thing that I cried out while standing among them: that I stood accused on account of the resurrection of the dead."
When Felix heard these things, because he knew much more about the Way than they did, he put them off, and said, "When Tribune Lysias comes down, I will hear your case in full."
He ordered a centurion to guard Paul, and to let him have full privileges, and forbid none of his acquaintances to wait on him or come to him.
A few days later, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard from him about faith in Christ. While he was debating about righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, "Go away for now. When I have a convenient time, I will call for you. Felix also hoped that someone would give him a bribe to free Paul. So he sent for him that much more often, and held converse with him.
From Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christs, to the chosen refugees among the elect scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen by foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctification of the Holy Spirit, by obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: May grace and peace be upon you many times over.
Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whose abundant mercy we have the hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an incorruptible and undefiled inheritance, one that will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you. You are kept by the power of God through faith, to a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. You greatly rejoice in that, although now for a little while, if need be, you suffer injury through various trials, so that the proof of your faith, which is much more precious than gold (which is perishable even if it is examined under fire), might be found to praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ, Whom, though you have never seen Him, you love, and in Whom, though you do not see HIm now, but still believe, you rejoice with joy that is indescribable and fully glorious. You receive the purpose of your faith, which is the salvation of your souls. The prophets have inquired and searched diligently about that salvation, and prophesied about the grace that should come to you, searching out what time, or what kind of time, the Spirit of Christ that was in them indicated, when it bore witness before to the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that would follow. This was revealed to them, so that not to themselves, but to us they ministered the things now reported to you by those who have preached the gospel to you with the Holy Spirit, sent down from heaven. Even the angels would like to look into this.
So prepare your mind for battle, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ, like obedient children, not living after the pattern of the lusts that you, in your ignorance, were used to feeling. He Who has called you is Holy, so you be holy in all types of conversation. As it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."
And if you call on the Father, Who judges according to every man's deeds without regard to who he is, then pass the time of your journey here in fear. To the extent that you know that you were not bought with corruptible things, like silver and gold, from your empty conversation that you received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish and without spot. In fact he was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was shown plainly in these last times for you. By Him you believe in God, Who raised Him up from the dead, and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope might be in God.
Given that you have cleansed your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit into genuine love of the brothers, make sure that you love one another fervently and with a clean heart. You are born again, not from a corruptible seed, but from an incorruptible one: by the Word of God, Which lives and abides forever. Because: "All flesh is like grass, and all the glory of man is like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away. But the Word of the Lord endures forever." And this is the Word that by the gospel is preached to you.
So: laying aside all malice, and all trickery, and hypocrisies, and envious thoughts, and all evil speaking, like newborn babies, you should desire the sincere milk of the Word, so that you may grow in it. If you have learned from experience that the Lord is gracious, coming to HIm as you would come to a living stone, in fact rejected by men but chosen by God, and precious, then you also, as living stones, are built on a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. That is why it is also contained in Scripture: "Behold, I lay in Zion a Chief Cornerstone, chosen and preciouis, and he who believes on Him will never be put to shame." Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious. But to them who are disobedient, "the stone that the builders rejected, is now the chief cornerstone," and "a stone for stumbling, and a rock to cause men to sin." But you are "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people into possession, that you should show forth the praises of Him Who has called you" out of darkness into His marvelous light. In the past, you were not a people. But now you are the people of God. You had not obtained mercy, but now you have obtained mercy.
Beloved, I beg of you as refugees and pilgrims, abstain from the lusts of the flesh, that make war against the soul. Have honest conversation among the Gentiles, so that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they might, by your good works, which they will see, glorify God in the Day of Visitation. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether it be to the king, as supreme, or to governors, as to those sent by the king to punish evildoers, and for the praise of those who do well. That is the will of God, that by doing well, you can put the ignorance of foolish men to silence, like free men, and not using your liberty as a cloak for maliciousness, but like the servants of God.
Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. You house servants, subject yourselves to your masters with all fear, not only to good and gentle masters, but also to those who are less than honest. This is a blessing, if a man, for a conscience toward God, endures grief and suffers wrongfully. What glory can you have if, when you are harassed for things that are your fault, you take it patiently? But if, when you do well, and suffer for that, you take that patiently, this is acceptable with God. For you were called even to this: because Christ also suffered for us, and left us an example, so that we should follow in His steps: "He did no sin, nor was any guile found in His mouth." And when he was reviled, he did not revile back. When he suffered, he did not threaten, but committed himself to Him Who judges justly. He Himself bore our sins on His own body on the tree, so that we, being dead to sins, might live to righteousness. By His stripes we are healed. You were like sheep going astray, but have now been returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
In the same way, wives should be subject to their own husbands, so that, if anyone does not obey the Word, they also might, even without the Word, be won by the conversation of the wives, when they see your chaste conversation tempered with fear. Wives should not adorn themselves merely outwardly, with hair-dos, gold jewelry, and apparel, but instead the hidden man of the heart, in something that cannot be corrupted, the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which God finds very precious. In fact, in the old times the holy women, who trusted in God, used to adorn themselves in this way, and were in subjection to their own husbands. Sarah obeyed Abraham, and called him "lord." You are her daughters, as long as you do well, and are not afraid with the sort of thing that arouses ordinary fear.
In the same way, husbands should live with them according to understanding, giving honor to the wife, as they would to the weaker vessel, and understanding that you are heirs together of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be held back.
Finally, you should be all of one mind, and have compassion for one another. Love as brothers, full of pity, and courteous. Do not return evil for evil, or railing for railing. To the contrary, render blessing, knowing that you are called to this, so that you will inherit a blessing. For: "Let him who wishes to love life, and see good days, restrain his tongue from speaking evil, and his lips from speaking any guile. Let him avoid evil, and do good. Let him seek peace, and make an effort for it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the just, and His ears are open to their prayers. But the face of the Lord turns against those who do evil." And what kind of person can truly hurt you, if you are followers of the good? On the other hand, if you suffer for the cause of justice, be happy, and don't be afraid of their fearsome aspect, or be troubled. Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be always ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a question about the hope that you have in you with meekness and fear. Have a good conscience, so that, whereas they speak ill of you, as they would of evildoers, they who falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ will be ashamed of themselves. If it's God's will that you suffer, better to suffer for doing well than for doing ill. For Christ has also suffered—once—for sins, the Just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but revived in the Spirit.
By that Spirit he also went and preached to other imprisoned spirits. These spirits were disobedient, while God was patiently waiting in the days of Noah, while he was building his Ark, in which a few souls—eight, to be exact—were saved by water. Today, baptism also saves us, the antitype of Noah and his family (not putting away the filth of the flesh, but having an answer of a good conscience toward God) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He has gone into heaven, and sits on the right hand of God. Messengers and authorities and powers are made subject to him.
Just as Christ has physically suffered for us, prepare yourselves mentally just as He did: for anyone who suffers physically is released from sin, so that he no longer lives out his life in the physical lusts of men, but abides by God's will. We have moved beyond our pasts when we imitated the Gentiles by pursuing lasciviousness, lusts, material excess, partying, feasting, and hateful idolatries. They ostracize you if you do not pursue the same riotous living, and will speak badly about you; they will be accountable to He who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is why the Gospel was preached even to the dead, so that they might be judged according to the living, and come alive in God's Spirit.
But the end of all is near: sober up, and keep a prayerful watch. Above all have earnest charity with each other, for charity can compensate for many sins. Be hospital to each other without complaint. As every man has received the gift, nevertheless minister it each other, as good stewards of the abundant grace of God. If any man speaks, he ought to speak according to the Word of God, and if any man does any sort of dustman's service, let him do that according to his God-given abilities, so that God might have glory in all things through Jesus Christ, to Whom be praise and lordship for ever and ever.
Beloved, do not suppose that the test-by-fire that is about to test you is some kind of strange thing that has happened to you. Be glad about it—glad to participate in Christ's sufferings, so that when His glory is revealed, you may be exceedingly glad yourselves. If you are insulted on account of the Name of Christ, you can be happy about that, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. But make sure that none of you suffer for being a murderer, or a thief, or a criminal, or a busybody in other people's business. Yet if you suffer for being a Christian, don't be ashamed of that. Rather, glorify God for this. For the time is at hand in which a verdict must be handed down, beginning with the house of God. If it first begins with us, what will be the fate of those who do not obey the gospel of God? And: "If the just will be saved with difficulty, then where will the ungodly and the sinners appear?" So let those who suffer at the will of God trust Him, in well-doing, as one trusts a faithful Creator, to keep their souls.
I exhort the elders among you (for I am an elder myself, a witness to the sufferings of Christ, and a participant in the glory that will be revealed): Feed the flock of God among you, not by constraint, but willingly according to God, and not with greed for material gain, but with readiness and zeal, and not as if you were lords of the heritage, but fellow members of the flock. And when the ranking Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of glory that will not fade away.
Likewise, you new men, submit yourselves to the elders. In fact all of you should subject yourselves to one another, and be clothed in humility. "God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble." So humble yourselves under the strong Hand of God; He will exalt you all in good time. Throw all your worries on Him, because He cares for you.
Be sober, and be on the lookout. Your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, looking for someone to eat! Resist him steadfastly in the faith, and know that the same afflictions are fulfilled in your brothers that are in the world. But may the God of all grace, Who has called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered for a while, cleanse you, establish you, strengthen you, and found you. To him be the rulership for ever and ever.
By Silas, a faithful brother to you, as I reckon him, I have written briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand.
The church at Babylon, chosen together with you, salutes you, and so does my son Marcus.
Greet one another with a kiss of charity. May peace be with all of you in Christ.
Forty-one
Chapter 41 | Bible texts |
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While Paul was in prison, James wrote the following letter:
An Egyptian imposter promised his followers to make the walls of Jerusalem fall down at his command. Felix attacked them on the Mount of Olives and killed 400, taking 200 prisoners, although the imposter escaped. At Caesarea, a quarrel broke out between Jews and Syrians over equal civil rights. The Jews claimed precedence because Herod had founded the city, while the Syrians asserted that the place had been Strato's Tower before Herod, without any Jew living there. When both sides started stoning each other, Felix intervened with his troops and many Jews were killed. He then sent leaders of both parties to argue their case before Nero in Rome. Paul had been in prison two years when Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; and desiring to gain favor with the Jews, Felix left Paul in bonds. Porcius Festus was procurator of Judea from about A.D. 59. Festus therefore, having come into the province, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. Then the high priest and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul, and they begged him, asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem; plotting to kill him on the way. However Festus answered that Paul should be kept in custody at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to depart shortly. “Let them therefore”, said he, “that are in power among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong in the man, let them accuse him.” When he had stayed among them more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea, and on the next day he sat on the judgment seat, and commanded Paul to be brought. When he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing against him many and grievous charges which they could not prove, while he said in his defense, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I sinned at all.” But Festus, desiring to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paul and said, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem, and be judged by me there concerning these things?” But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you also know very well. For if I have done wrong, and have committed anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die; but if none of those things is true that they accuse me of, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar!” Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you shall go.” Now when some days had passed, King Herod Agrippa II and Bernice arrived at Caesarea, and greeted Festus. (This Agrippa was the son and successor of the same Herod Agrippa I who killed James the brother of John with the sword, and whom the angel struck down because he did not give God the glory; and he was eaten by worms and died.) As he stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying, “There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix; about whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, asking for a sentence against him. To whom I answered that it is not the custom of the Romans to give up any man to destruction, before the accused has met the accusers face to face, and has had opportunity to make his defense concerning the matter laid against him. When therefore they had come together here, I did not delay, but on the next day sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought. Concerning whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no charge of such things as I supposed; but had certain questions against him about their own religion, and about one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. Being perplexed how to inquire concerning these things, I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and there be judged concerning these matters. But when Paul had appealed to be kept for the decision of the emperor, I commanded him to be kept until I could send him to Caesar.” Agrippa said to Festus, “I also would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” he said, “you shall hear him.” So on the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with great pomp, and they had entered into the place of hearing with the commanding officers and principal men of the city, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. Festus said, “King Agrippa, and all men who are here present with us, you see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews petitioned me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying that he ought not to live any longer. But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and as he himself appealed to the emperor I determined to send him. Of whom I have no certain thing to write to my lord. Therefore I have brought him out before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, that, after examination, I may have something to write. For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to also specify the charges against him.” Agrippa said to Paul, “You may speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand, and made his defense. “I think myself happy, King Agrippa, that I am to make my defense before you today concerning all the things that I am accused by the Jews, especially because you are expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews. Therefore I beg you to hear me patiently. “Indeed, all the Jews know my way of life from my youth up, which was from the beginning among my own nation and at Jerusalem; having known me from the first, if they are willing to testify, that after the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. Now I stand here to be judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers, which our twelve tribes, earnestly serving night and day, hope to attain. Concerning this hope I am accused by the Jews, King Agrippa! Why is it judged incredible with you, if God does raise the dead? “I myself most certainly thought that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. This I also did in Jerusalem. I both shut up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, and when they were put to death I gave my vote against them. Punishing them often in all the synagogues, I tried to make them blaspheme. Being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities. “Whereupon as I traveled to Damascus with the authority and commission from the chief priests, at noon, O king, I saw on the way a light from the sky, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who traveled with me. When we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ “I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ “He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But arise, and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose: to appoint you a servant and a witness both of the things which you have seen, and of the things which I will reveal to you; delivering you from the people, and from the Gentiles, to whom I send you, to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to them of Damascus, at Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance. For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple, and tried to kill me. Having therefore obtained the help that is from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would happen, how the Christ must suffer, and how, by the resurrection of the dead, he would be first to proclaim light both to these people and to the Gentiles.” As he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are crazy! Your great learning is driving you insane!” But he said, “I am not crazy, most excellent Festus, but boldly declare words of truth and reasonableness. For the king knows of these things, to whom also I speak freely. For I am persuaded that none of these things is hidden from him, for this has not been done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” Agrippa said to Paul, “With a little persuasion are you trying to make me a Christian?” Paul said, “I pray to God, that whether with little or with much, not only you, but also all that hear me today, might become such as I am, except for these bonds.” The king rose up with the governor, and Bernice, and those who sat with them. When they had withdrawn, they spoke to one another, saying, “This man does nothing worthy of death or of bonds.” Agrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.” When it was determined that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners to a centurion named Julius, of the Augustan band. Embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to places on the coast of Asia, we put to sea; Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us. The next day, we touched at Sidon. Julius treated Paul kindly, and gave him permission to go to his friends and refresh himself. Putting to sea from there, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary. When we had sailed across the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia. There the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing for Italy, and he put us on board. When we had sailed slowly many days, and had come with difficulty opposite Cnidus, the wind not allowing us further, we sailed under the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone. With difficulty sailing along it we came to a certain place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea. When much time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous, because the Fast had now already gone by, Paul admonished them, and said to them, “Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” But the centurion gave more heed to the master and to the owner of the ship than to those things which were spoken by Paul. Because the haven was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised going to sea from there, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, and winter there, which is a port of Crete, looking northeast and southeast. When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close to shore. But before long, a stormy wind beat down from shore, which is called Euroclydon. When the ship was caught, and could not face the wind, we gave way to it, and were driven along. Running under the lee of a small island called Clauda, we were able, with difficulty, to secure the boat. After they had hoisted it up, they used cables to help reinforce the ship. Fearing that they would run aground on the Syrtis sand bars, they lowered the sea anchor, and so were driven along. As we labored exceedingly with the storm, the next day they began to throw things overboard. On the third day, they threw out the ship’s tackle with their own hands. When neither sun nor stars shone on us for many days, and no small storm pressed on us, all hope that we would be saved was now taken away. When they had been long without food, Paul stood up in the middle of them, and said, “Sirs, you should have listened to me, and not have set sail from Crete, and have gotten this injury and loss. Now I exhort you to cheer up, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For there stood by me this night an angel, belonging to the God whose I am and whom I serve, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand before Caesar. Behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ Therefore, sirs, cheer up! For I believe God, that it will be just as it has been spoken to me. But we must run aground on a certain island.” But when the fourteenth night had come, as we were driven back and forth in the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors surmised that they were drawing near to some land. They took soundings, and found twenty fathoms. After a little while, they took soundings again, and found fifteen fathoms. Fearing that we would run aground on rocky ground, they let go four anchors from the stern, and wished for daylight. As the sailors were trying to flee out of the ship, and had lowered the boat into the sea, pretending that they would lay out anchors from the bow, Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, “Unless these stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.” Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat, and let it fall off. While the day was coming on, Paul begged them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you wait and continue fasting, having taken nothing. Therefore I beg you to take some food, for this is for your safety; for not a hair will perish from any of your heads.” When he had said this, and had taken bread, he gave thanks to God in the presence of all, and he broke it, and began to eat. Then they all cheered up, and they also took food. In all, we were two hundred seventy-six souls on the ship. When they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea. When it was day, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a certain bay with a beach, and they decided to try to drive the ship onto it. Casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time untying the rudder ropes. Hoisting up the foresail to the wind, they made for the beach. But coming to a place where two seas met, they ran the vessel aground. The bow struck and remained immovable, but the stern began to break up by the violence of the waves. The soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, so that none of them would swim out and escape. But the centurion, desiring to save Paul, stopped them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should throw themselves overboard first to go toward the land; and the rest should follow, some on planks, and some on other things from the ship. So they all escaped safely to the land. When we had escaped, then they learned that the island was called Malta. The natives showed us uncommon kindness; for they kindled a fire, and received us all, because of the present rain, and because of the cold. But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand. When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped from the sea, yet Justice has not allowed to live.” However he shook off the creature into the fire, and was not harmed. But they expected that he would have swollen or fallen down dead suddenly, but when they watched for a long time and saw nothing bad happen to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god. Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us, and courteously entertained us for three days. The father of Publius lay sick of fever and dysentery. Paul entered in to him, prayed, and laying his hands on him, healed him. Then when this was done, the rest also who had diseases in the island came, and were cured. They also honored us with many honors, and when we sailed, they put on board the things that we needed. After three months, we set sail in a ship of Alexandria which had wintered in the island, whose sign was “The Twin Brothers.” Touching at Syracuse, we stayed there three days. From there we circled around and arrived at Rhegium. After one day, a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli, where we found brothers, and were entreated to stay with them for seven days. So we came to Rome. From there the brothers, when they heard of us, came south to meet us as far as The Market of Appius and The Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God, and took courage. When we entered into Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard, but Paul was allowed to stay by himself with the soldier who guarded him. After three days Paul called together those who were the leaders of the Jews. When they had come together, he said to them, “I, brothers, though I had done nothing against the people, or the customs of our fathers, still was delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans, who, when they had examined me, desired to set me free, because there was no cause of death in me. But when the Jews spoke against it, I was constrained to appeal to Caesar, not that I had anything about which to accuse my nation. For this cause therefore I asked to see you and to speak with you. For because of the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.” They said to him, “We neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor did any of the brothers come here and report or speak any evil of you. But we desire to hear from you what you think. For, as concerning this sect, it is known to us that everywhere it is spoken against.” When they had appointed him a day, many people came to him at his lodging. He explained to them, testifying about God’s Kingdom, and persuading them concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses and from the prophets, from morning until evening. Some believed the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved. When they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had spoken one word, “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah, the prophet, to our fathers, saying,
“Be it known therefore to you, that the salvation of God is sent to the nations. They will also listen.” When he had said these words, the Jews departed, having a great dispute among themselves. Now about this same period, during the reign of Nero, the Roman-Parthian War of A.D. 58 to 63 was occurring. |
James Compare
The Works of Flavius Josephus William Whiston, Translator, 1737 (sacred-texts.com) Early Christian Writings A.D. 30 through 380 (earlychristianwritings.com)
"Your gold and your silver are corroded" James 5:3. Counterfeit currency.
"call for the elders of the assembly" James 5:14-15. Anointing of the sick.
"...of the Augustan band" Acts 27:1. The Augustan Cohort.
"the Roman-Parthian War of A.D. 58 to 63 was occurring." Amplification from history.
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From James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes scattered afar:
My brothers, chalk it up to joy when you face various trials; knowing that the testing of your faith gives you stamina. Continue to endure, so that you may perfect your stamina and desire nothing.
If any of you lack wisdom, then request it of God, who gives it freely to all men. Do not complain, and it shall be given you. But ask only in faith, without doubt. For he who waivers is like a wave of the sea tossed around by the wind. Such a man should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. A man with a divided mind is unstable in all his ways.
Let the brother of the lowest status rejoice in being exalted. But the rich, in that he is lowered, because he will pass away as a dandelion does. For the sun no sooner rises with a burning heat before it withers the grass, and the dandelion falls, and its grace perishes; so too does the rich man fade away in his style.
Blessed be the man who survives temptation; when tried, he shall receive the prize of life, which the Lord promised to those who live him. Let no man claim when he is tempted, "I am tempted of God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt any man. But every man is tempted when he is carried away by his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust conceives, it brings forth sin; and sin, when consummated brings forth death.
Do not err, my dear brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of light, with whom nothing varies, not even shadows from turning. Of his own will he gave us the true facts, that we shall be special among his creatures. Hence, my dear brothers, let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger: For the wrath of man does not serve God's righteousness. Thus set aside all the filth and superficiality of naughtiness, and accept with humility the implanted truth that is able to save your souls.
But you should be doers of the spoken truth, not merely hearers who deceive yourselves. For if any man is a hearer of the truth, and not a doer, then he is like a man who beholds his natural face in a mirror. He looks at himself, and then proceeds in his own way, immediately forgetting what he really is. But who recognizes the perfect law of liberty, and continues with it, does not forget what he hears and does the works, this man shall be blessed for his deed.
If any man among you seems religious, yet does not curb his speech, and does deceive his own heart, this man's religion is worthless. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father consists of the following: to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and remain uncontaminated by the world
My brothers, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, to favor persons. If there comes into your assembly a man with a gold ring, in expensive clothes, and there also enters a poor man wearing rags; and you respect the man wearing the flashy clothes, and tell him, "Sit up front of all"; and say to the poor, "Stand in the back, or sit under the table"; Do you not favor yourselves, and become judges allowing evil thoughts? Listen up, my dear friends, has not God endowed the poor of this world with the richness of faith, and as heirs of the heaven that He promised to those who love him? Yet you have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and sue you? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by which you are called? If you obey the rules of scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted for violating the law. For whoever keeps the entire law, and yet violates one part, is guilty of all. For He who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." Now if you do not commit adultery, yet do murder, you become a violator of the law. So speak and also act as those who shall be judged by the law of liberty. For he who has shown no mercy, will stand a merciless trial—and mercy rejoices against trial at law.
Of what use is it, my brothers, if a man says that he has faith, and has nothing to show for it? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked, and is not even sure where his or her next meal will come from, and one of you tells them, "Go in peace, and be warmed and filled," even though you did not give them the things that their bodies needed, what use is that? This shows that faith, if it has nothing to show for it, is dead, because it is alone. In contrast, a man might say, "You have faith, and I have deeds to show. Show me your faith with no deeds, and I will show you my faith through my deeds."
If you believe that there is one God, you are doing well. The demons believe, too, and tremble. But you, vain man, are you willing to realize that faith without deeds is dead? Wasn't our ancestor Abraham justified by his deeds, when he had offered his son Isaac on the altar? Do you see how faith worked itself out with his deeds, and by deeds faith was made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled, which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to his account for righteousness, and he was called Friend of God." So you see that a man is justified by deeds, and not by faith alone. In the same way, wasn't Rahab the prostitute justified by deeds, when she had received the messengers, and sent them out through a different door? For as the body without a spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is also dead.
Do not become many teachers, my brothers. Know that we will receive even more condemnation for that. For in many things we give offense to everybody. If any man never gives offense in word, that man must be a perfect man, and also able to restrain the whole body. Look: we put bits into the horses' mouths, so that they might obey us, and we turn their whole body around. Look also at the ships: although they are so large, and are driven by powerful winds, they can be turned about by a very small helm, wherever the captain wants the ship to go. In the same way the tongue is a little body part, and boasts great things. See how great a dispute a little fire will kindle! And the tongue is a fire, a world of injuustice. So is the tongue among our body parts, that it defiles the whole body, and sets fire to the course of nature, and it is set on fire from the place of everlasting fire. For every kind of dangerous wild animal, and bird, and snake, and creature of the sea, can be tamed, and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. We bless God with it, even the Father, and we curse men with it, who are made in the image of God. Out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things should not work that way. Does a fountain send out both sweet and bitter water at the same place? Can a fig tree, my brothers, produce olives? Can a vine produce figs? In fact, no founntain can produce both salt water and fresh water.
Who among you is a wise man, endowed with knowledge? Let him show his deeds from good conduct with meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and strife in your hearts, do not think yourself glorious, and do not lie against the truth. This wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic. For where envy and strife exist, there also exist confusion and every evil deed. But the wisdom that comes from above is first clean, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to ask something from, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of justice is sown in peace by them who make peace.
Where do war and fighting among you come from? Don't they come here from your own lusts that strive in your body parts? You want things very badly, and do not have them. You kill, and want to have, and cannot get. You fight and make war, but you don't have, because you won't ask. You ask, and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, for something to consume in your lusts. You adulterous people, don't you know that the friendship of the world is hostility with God? So whoever is a friend to the world is the enemy of God. Do you think that Scripture says for no reason, "The spirit that lives in us lusts toward envy?" But He gives more grace. To that end He says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." So submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will run away from you.
Draw close to God, and He will draw close to you. Clean your hands, sinners, and clean your hearts, double-minded ones. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
Do not say bad things about one another, brothers. A man who says bad things about a brother, says bad things against the Law, and judges the Law. But if you just the Law, you are not obeying the Law, but trying to judge it. There is one Lawgiver, Who can save and destroy. Who are you to judge someone else?
Just a moment, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into some particular city, and stay there for a year, and buy and sell, and make a profit," when you don't know what will happen tomorrow. For what does your life amount to? It is no more than vapor, that appears for a little while, and then vanishes. So what you should say is, "Lord willing, we will live, and do this thing and that thing." But now you are rejoicing in your bragging. That kind of rejoicing is evil. So to him who knows how to do good, and does not do it, to him it is sin.
Wait just a moment, you rich men. Weep and howl for your miserable punishment that will come upon you. Your wealth is corrupt, and your expensive clothes are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver is rusted through, and their rust will be a testimony against you, and will eat your flesh as if it were fire. You have hoarded a treasure for the last days. Look! The wages of the workers who harvested your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cries out, and the cries of the reapers have been entered into the ears of the All-sufficient Lord. You have indulged yourselves on the earth, and been wanton. You have been nourishing your hearts, as one might in a day of slaughter. You have condemned and killed the just, and he does not resist you.
So be patient, brothers, for the Coming of the Lord. Look: the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and waits patiently for a long time for it, until the early rain and the latter rain fall. So you be patient, too. Make your hearts steady, for the Coming of the Lord is drawing very close. Do not bear a grudge against one another, brothers, if you do not want to be condemned. Look: the Judge is standing before the door.
Brothers, take the prophets, who have spoken in the Name of the Lord, as an example of how to suffer affliction, and of patience. Look: we count them happy who can last. You have heard about the patience of Job, and have seen the final plan of the Lord. The Lord is very full of pity, and of tender mercy.
But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven, or by the earth, or by any other oath. Let your "yes" be a "yes," and your "no" be a "no," if you do not want to fall into condemnation.
Is any man among you afflicted? He should pray. Is any man merry? He should sing psalms. Is any man sick among you? He should call for the church elders, and they should pray over him and rub him with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed any sins, they will be forgiven him.
Confess your faults to one another, and pray for one another, so that you will be healed. The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man will go a long way. Elijah was a man subject to the same passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that the rain might not fall. And it did not rain on the arth for three years and six months. Then he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced her fruit.
Brothers, if any of you strays from the truth, and anyone converts him, let him know, that he who converts the sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death, and hide a multitude of sins.
But after two years, Marcus Porcius Festus succeeded Felix in his office. Felix, wanting to show a favor to the Jews, left Paul in custody.
When Festus arrived in Judea Province, after three days he went up from Caesaria to Jerusalem. Then the High Priest and the leading men of the Jews informed him against Paul, and pleaded with him, and asked a favor against Paul, that he would send for him to come to Jerusalem. (They were lying in wait to kill him.) But Festus said in answer that Paul would be kept at Caesaria, and that he himself would depart shortly for that city. He told them, "So let those among you who are able, go down with me, and accuse this man, if he has done anything wrong."
When he had stayed among them for more than ten days, he went down to Caesaria. The next day, sitting on his tribunal, he asked Paul to be brought forward. When he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood all around him, and laid many serious accusations against Paul, which they were not able to prove. For his part, Paul answered in his own behalf, "I have done nothing wrong, either against the Law of the Jews, or against the Temple, or even against Caesar."
But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul in answer, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and answer these charges before me?"
Then Paul said, "I stand at Caesar's tribunal, where I have a right to be tried. I have done no wrong against the Jews, as you know very well. If I am guilty of any offense, or have committed any capital crime, I don't refuse to die. But if none of these things that they accuse me of are true, then no man is allowed to deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar!"
Festus, after first conferring with his own advisers, answered, "Have you indeed appealed to Caesar? Then to Caesar you will go!"
After several days King Herod Agrippa II and his sister and consort Berenike II came to Caesaria to pay their respects to Festus. When they had been there for many days, Festus described Paul's case to the king. He said, "There is a certain man left in custody by Felix. When I was at Jerusalem, the leading priests and elders of the Jews informed me about him, and wanted to have a judgment against him. I answered them that it is not the Roman way to deliver any man to be executed, until the accused meets the accusers face to face, and is allowed to answer for himself about the crime laid against him. So when they had come here, the next day I sat on my tribunal without delay and ordered the man brought before me. His accusers stood up against him, and brought no accusation of the type that I had supposed that they would,...but had certain issues with him about their own superstition, and about one Jesus, Who was dead, except that Paul affirmed that He was alive. Because I didn't understand this kind of question, I asked him whether he would go up to Jerusalem and be tried on those charges there. But when Paul appealed to have his case reserved for a hearing before the Emperor, I ordered him kept until I might send him to Caesar."
Then Agrippa said to Festus, "I would like to hear the man myself."
"Tomorrow," said Festus, "you will hear him."
The next day, Agrippa and Berenike came with great pomp, and entered into the courtroom, with the tribunes, and the leading men of the city, and at Festus' order, Paul was brought out. Festus said, "King Agrippa, and all men present with us: You see this man. All the multitude of the Jews have pleaded with me about this man, both at Jerusalem and here, crying that he ought not to live any longer. But when I found that he had committed no capital offense, and that he himself appealed to the Emperor, I have decided to send him. But I have no certain thing to write to the Emperor about thim. So I have brought him here before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that, after this examination, I might have something to write. Because it doesn't seem reasonable to send a prisoner and not write exactly what crime is laid against him!"
Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You may speak for yourself."
Then Paul reached out with his hand and answered for himself: "I think myself fortunate, King Agrippa, because I can answer for myself today before you all the charges that I am accused of by the Jews. Especially because I know that you are an expert in Jewish customs and legal issues. So I ask you to hear me patiently. My way of life, since I was a lad, which was at first among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know about. They knew me from the beginning, if they are willing to talk, that I lived as a Pharisee, a member of the strictest sect of our religion. Now I stand, and am being judged, for the hope and promise made by God to our fathers: to which promise our Twelve Tribes, who serve God day and night, hope to come. And on account of that hope, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews. Why should you find it incredible that God should raise the dead? I indeed considered to myself that I ought to do many things against the Name of Jesus of Nazareth. I also did this thing in Jerusalem. I incarcerated many of the saints, after receiving authority from the leading priests. When they were put to death, I raised my voice against them. I punished them often in every synagogue, and forced them to blaspheme. I was extremely crazy with zeal against them, and persecuted them and chased them to foreign cities. On such an errand I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the leading priests. At mid-day, Your Majesty, I saw on the road a light from the sky, brighter even than the sun, shining all around me and around those who traveled with me. When we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a Voice speaking to me, saying in Aramaic, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It's rather hard for you to kick against the goads.' And I said, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said, 'I am Jesus, Whom you are persecuting. But get up, and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you for this purpose: to make you a servant and a witness both of the things that you have seen, and the things in which I will appear to you,...delivering you from the people, and from the Gentiles. And now I send you to them,...to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they might receive forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by the faith that is in Me.'
"From that time forward, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but showed, first to those of Damascus, and then at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they needed to repent and turn to God, and do the kind of things most becoming of repentance. For these reasons the Jews caught me in the Temple, and set out to kill me. So now that I have had help from God, I am still alive today, bearing witness both to the small and the great, saying nothing else than what the prophets and Moses said should come: that Christ had to suffer, and that He should be the first to rise from the dead, and should show a light to the people, and to the Gentiles."
As he was defending himself in this way, Festus said loudly, "Paul, you are crazy! All your book-learning has driven you over the edge!"
But he said, "I am not crazy, Your Excellency Festus. I am speaking out the words of truth and soberness. The King knows about these things, and now I speak freely before him. Because I am convinced that none of these things are any secret to him, because this did not happen in any dark corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do!"
Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you really expect me to become a Christian in such a short while?"
Then Paul said, "I would wish before God that not only you, but everyone hearing me today, would, in a little while and all the way, be what I am, except for these chains."
When he had so spoken, the king rose up, and the procurator, and Berenike, and those who were sitting with them. When they were gone to one side, they talked among themselves, and said, "This man has done nothing to deserve execution or imprisonment."
Then Agrippa told Festus, "This man might have been set free, if he had not appealed to Caesar."
When it was decided that we must sail to Italy, they delivered Paul and several other prisoners to an officer named Julius, a centurion of the Imperial cohort. After boarding a ship from Adramyttium, we launched, the plan being to sail near the coasts of Asia Province. A man named Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us. The next day we landed at Sidon. Julius treated Paul with every courtesy, and gave him liberty to go to his friends to refresh himself.
When we had put out from that place, we sailed to the leeward of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary. When we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myrak, a city of Lycia. There the centurion found a ship from Alexandria sailing to Italy, and he put us on board. When we had sailed slowly for many days, and had scarcely come near to Cnidus (for the wind did not permit us), we sailed to the lee of Crete, near Salmone. After passing it with difficulty, we came to a place called the Fair Havens, near which lay the city of Lasea.
Much time had gone by, and sailing was now dangerous, because the fast had already passed. So Paul admonished them, saying, "Gentlemen, I'm afraid that this voyage will result in much injury and damage, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives."
Nevertheless, the centurion believed the ship's captain and owner, more than the things that were spoken by Paul. Because the harbor was not a good harbor to spend the winter in, most of the men advised to leave that place as well, if they could possibly reach Phoenicia, and winter there. (This Phoenicia is a Cretan harbor, and lies toward the southwest and northwest.) When the south wind was blowing softly, because they thought that they had succeeded in their purpose, they cast off from there and sailed close by Crete.
But not long afterward a great storm wind, the Eurostorm, arose against the ship. When the ship was caught, and could not steer into the wind, we let her be driven. We ran in the lee of a certain island called Clauda, and with much hard work managed to get the lifeboat aboard. When they had taken the boat up, they used hawsers to undergird the ship. Then, in fear that they would fall into the Syrtis, they struck sail and scudded under a bare mast. We were being tossed with great violence by the storm. On the next day they lightened the ship. On the third day we threw out the ship's tackle with our own hands. When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small storm lay upon us, we lost all hope that we should be saved alive.
But after we had abstained for a long time, Paul stood out in the middle of them, and said, "Gentlemen, you should have listened to me, and not cast off from Crete, and incurred this harm and loss. But I urge you now to cheer up. There will be no loss of any man's life among you; only the ship will be lost. Tonight a Messenger of God, to Whom I belong, and Whom I serve, stood beside me. He said, 'Don't be afraid, Paul. You must be brought before Caesar, and listen: God has given you all of those who are sailing with you.' So, gentlemen, cheer up. I believe God, and will be just as it was told to me, but we will have to be cast away on an island."
When the fourteenth night came, as we were being driven up and down in Adria, at about midnight the crew judged that they were drawing near to some land. They took a sounding, and found their depth 20 fathoms. When they had gone a little further, they took another sounding, and found their depth fifteen fathoms. Then, afraid that we might fall upon rocks, they deployed four drogue anchors at the stern, and wished for daylight. As the crewmen were about to desert the ship, when they had let down the lifeboat into the sea, under the pretext of deploying drogue anchors from the bow, Paul told the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved."
Then the soldiers cut off the lifeboat's ropes and let her fall away.
When the day was breaking, Paul pleased with all of them to take food, saying, "Today is the fourteenth day that you have waited and fasted, and you have had nothing to eat! So please take some food. This is for your health. Not a hair will fall from any of your heads."
When he had so spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in front of them all. When he had broken it, he began to eat. Then they all cheered up and took some food. All of us in the ship numbered 276 souls. When they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship some more by throwing the wheat into the sea.
When the day came, they did not know the land. But they discovered a certain creek with a beach, and decided, if they could, to run the ship aground on that beach. When they had taken up the drogue anchors, they committed themselves to the sea, and cut the lashes with which they had tied the tiller, and hoisted the mainsail into the wind, and steered toward shore. They then fell into a place where two seas met, and ran the ship aground. The bow stuck fast, and remained immobile, but the stern was broken with the violence of the waves. The soldiers' advice was to kill all the prisoners, so that none of them would be able to swim out and escape. But the centurion, who wanted to save Paul, stopped them from doing this, and ordered that anyone who could swim should dive into the sea first, and get to land, and the rest would make for land, some on boards, and some on broken fragments of the ship. And so it happened that we all escape safely to land.
After we escaped, we learned that the island we were on was called Malta. The natives of the island showed us no little kindness. They started a fire, and received every one of us, because it was raining and cold. When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, a snake came out of the heat and clamped onto his hand. When the natives saw the venomous snake hanging onto his hand, they said to themselves, "This man must be a murderer, and even though he escaped the sea, vengeance won't allow him to live."
But Paul shook the snake off into the fire, and suffered no injury. In fact, they looked at him and expected him to swell up, or fall down suddenly. After they had stared at him for a great while, and saw that he remained uninjured, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.
In the same part of the island were the belongings of the island's governor, a man named Publius. He received us, and gave us lodging for three days with every courtesy. And as it happened, Publius' father was sick with a fever and a hemorrhagic discharge. Paul entered in to his house, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him. When this was done, other people on the island who had diseases came, and were healed. They also honored us with many honors, and when we left, they gave us many necessary provisions.
After three months we left in a ship from Alexandria, which had spent the winter in the island, whose sign was the Gemini. We landed at Syracuse and stayed there for three days. From there we cast off and came to Rhegium, and after one day a south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli. There we found some brothers, and were asked to stay with them for seven days. And so we went toward Rome.
From Rome, when the brothers heard about us, they came to meet us as far as Appiiforum, and Tres Tabernae. When Paul saw them, he thanked God, and took courage. When we came to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself with one soldier to guard him.
It happened that after three days Paul called the leading men of the Jews together. When they had come together, he said to them, "Men and brothers, although I have done no wrong against the people, or the customs of our fathers, I was still delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. When they had examined me, they were willing to let me go, because they found no capital charge against me. But when the Jews spoke against it, I had to appeal to Caesar, not that I had anything to accuse my nation of. So I have called you here for this reason: to see you, and to speak with you. For the hope of Israel I am under arrest."
They told him, "But we have received no letters from Judea concerning you, and nor have any of the brothers that came showed or spoken any harm from you. But we would like to hear from you what you think: because as for this sect, we know that it is spoken against everywhere."
When they had fixed a day, many came to him where he was staying. He expounded and testified to them the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, from the Law of Moses, and from the Prophets, from morning until evening. Some of them believed the things that were spoken, and some did not. When they disagreed among themselves, they left, after Paul had spoken one word: "The Holy Spirit spoke well by Isaiah the prophet to hour fathers, saying, 'Go to this people, and say, "Hearing you will hear, and not understand. Seeing you will see, and not perceive. For the heart of this people has grown heavy, and their ears are dull from hearing, and they have closed their eyes, so that they will not see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and be converted, and I heal them."' So understand this: the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it."
And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves. [This verse is an interpolation.]
Forty-two
Chapter 42 | Bible texts |
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When Porcius Festus replaced Felix, the Jewish leaders accused him before Nero, and Festus would have been punished if his brother Pallas had not interceded. Meanwhile, Festus had to contend with the sicarii who were plundering Judea, and assorted imposters, and with the controversy over a newly erected western wall of the temple which blocked Roman surveillance. The priests built a high wall to block the Romans' view and that of King Agrippa II, who had the right to appoint high priests, and enjoyed watching activities inside the temple as he dined high in the Hasmonean palace to the west. Both he and Festus ordered it demolished, but the Jews appealed to Nero. Poppaea, Nero's wife, was sympathetic to the Jews and gained his permission to let the wall stand. In 60 Nero appointed Galba governor of Nearer Spain, who served in that post for eight years. At this time in A.D. 60 or 61 a revolt in Britain was headed by Queen Boudicca (Boadicea). Porcius Festus remained procurator of Judea. Paul stayed two whole years in his own rented house in Rome, and received all who were coming to him, preaching God’s Kingdom, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, without hindrance. During this time Paul wrote the following letters:
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Josephus Antiquities 20.8.9-11 [182-195] Compare
The Works of Flavius Josephus William Whiston, Translator, 1737 (sacred-texts.com) Early Christian Writings A.D. 30 through 380 (earlychristianwritings.com)
"Paul stayed two whole years in his own rented house" Acts 28:30. RSV "And he lived there two whole years at his own expense" .
"Queen Boudicca" See the following articles:
"Onesimus, who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me." Philemon 10-11. A pun on the Greek name.
"and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus" Ephesians 2:6.
"an ambassador in chains" Ephesians 6:20.
"overseers and servants" Philippians 1:1. Bishops and deacons.
"I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ for his body’s sake, which is the assembly" Colossians 1:24. Christ suffers with his people and in his people (Acts 9:5).
"love, which is the bond of perfection" Colossians 3:14. That which is perfect is love.
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Paul stayed for two full years in his own rented house, and received everyone who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, and no man forbade him.
Paul, in prison for Jesus Christ, and our brother Timothy, say to our friend and fellow volunteer Philemon, and to dear Apphia and our colleague Archippus, and to your home church.
God's grace to you, and peace of mind, from our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thanks be to God, as my prayers always do, hearing of your love and faith toward the Lord Jesus and all saints, that sharing your faith may be effective through acknowledging that every good thing comes from Christ Jesus. For we enjoy great joy and comfort from your love, because the hearts of believers are cheered by you, my brother. Though I could be so bold in the name of Christ to beg you to do what is right, Instead, for the sake of love I, Paul, urge you, in my old age and from prison for Jesus Christ. I beg you on behalf of my convert Onesimus, to whom I successfully witnessed while imprisoned; (which in the past was ineffective for you, but now is effective for you and for me) whom I have sent again: you should therefore accept him, for he is of my faith, who I would have kept with me, that he might have witnessed to other prisoners here the Gospel, instead of you. But without you, am I to do nothing? You must volunteer, not be forced into this work.
For he who departs for a season should still always be welcomed back. Not as a servant, but as more than a servant, a beloved brother, especially to me, but even more to you, both in this world and in the next? If you consider me a partner, treat him as you would treat me. If he has done some wrong to you, or owes you anything, I, Paul, have written with my own hand that I shall repay it, although I do not say how you owe me even your very self.
Colleague, let me have joy of you in the Lord: refresh my strength and faith in the Lord. I write to you because I am confident in your obedience, doing even more than I ask. But still, I ask you prepare me a lodging, for I believe that through your prayers, I shall be released and delivered to you. Epaphras, a colleague in prison for Christ Jesus, sends his best wishes; as do my colleagues Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
From Paul, one of Jesus Christ's apostles by God's will, to the Ephesian saints and those faithful to Jesus Christ:
Our Father God and Jesus Christ's grace and peace of mind be on you.
Blessed is God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who blessed us with all the spiritual blessings in Christ in the heavenly realm. Since He chose us to serve Him before the world began, that we would be holy and blameless and loving before Him, and in fact planned ahead of time to adopt us as His children through Jesus Christ, as He willed, which praises the glory of His grace, which He gave to us in the Beloved. We are redeemed by His blood, and forgiven our sin thanks to His rich grace, which He has give to us in His wisdom and prudence, since He told us the truth of His will, according to the plan He had created, so that at the end of the full execution of that plan over time, He might gather everything together in Christ in one place, both the things in heaven, and the things on earth.
We also have received an inheritance in Him, having been destined ahead-of-time according to the plan of Him Who makes all things work out according to the counsel of His own will, so that we, who first trusted in Christ, should exist to the praise of His glory. You also trusted in HIm, after you heard the Word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation in Him. Also, after you believed in that, you were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, the collateral for our inheritance, until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
For that reason I, too, after I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love to all the saints, have not stopped giving thanks for you, and mentioning you in my prayers, so that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, might give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in knowledge about Him, and so that the eyes of your understanding will be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, and how rich is the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and how exceedingly great is His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His of his ruling power. He created that power in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above every kind of principality, and authority, and power, and lordship, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in the world to come, and has put all things under His feet, and given Him to be the head over all things to the church. The church is His Body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
You were once dead with sin and wrongdoings. While in the past you followed the custom of the day, catering to the prince of earth, the evil spirit that guides men and women who behave like disobedient children. Furthermore, we all had our dealings in the past with such people in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of flesh and mind. We were by nature children of wrath, the same as these others. But God, Who is rich in mercy, on account of His great love that He loved us with, even when we were dead in sins, has made us alive together with Christ—by grace you are saved—and has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might demonstrate the exceeding wealth of His grace in His kindness toward us, through Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this did not come from yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works, so that no man has any room to boast.
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God has preordained for us to walk in. So remember that you, who in the past were Gentiles in the flesh, who are called the "uncircumcision" by the thing that is called the "circumcision" in the flesh made by hands, were at that time without Christ, and were aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and foreign to the covenants of promise, and had no hope, and were without God in the world. But now, in Christ Jesus, you, who ere once far away, are brought near by the blood of Christ. He is our peace, and has made both classes one, and has broken down the middle wall of partition between us. He has abolished in His flesh the enmity, and even the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, in order to make in Himself one new man of two natures, thus making peace, and so that He might reconcile both to God in one body by the Cross, having destroyed the enmity through the agency of that Cross, and come and preached peace to you who were far away from Him, and to those who were much closer to Him. Because through Him, both classes have access by one Spirit to the Father.
So now you are not strangers and foreigners anymore, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, and are built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. Jesus Christ Himself is the chief cornerstone, and in Him the entire building, properly framed, grows together to a Holy Temple in the Lord. And in Him you also are built together as a dwelling-place of God through the Spirit.
This is why I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ on behalf of you, the Gentiles, if you heard (and I assume you have) of the management of the grace of God that is given from me to you, that by revelation He let me in on the secret (as I wrote before in a few words, by which, when you read this, you might understand my comprehension of the secret of Christ) that in other ages was kept from the sons of men, as it is revealed now to His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: that the Gentiles must be fellow-heirs, and belong to the same body, and partake in His Promise in Christ by the gospel of which I was made a servant, according to the gift of the grace of God given me by the working-out of His power. I am less than the least of all the saints, and yet this grace has been given me, so that I might preach, among the Gentiles, the unsearchable wealth of Christ, and make all men realize the fellowship of the secret, which has been hidden from the beginning of the world in God, Who created all things through Jesus Christ, so that now, to the principalities and authorities in heavenly places, the manifold wisdom of God might be known by the church, according to the eternal purpose that he set in Christ Jesus our Lord, in Whom we have boldness and access, with confidence, by His faith. So I would not have you give up in the face of the oppression that I suffer for you, the oppression that is your glory.
This is why I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from Whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant to you, according to the richness of His glory, to be strengthened greatly by His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ might live in your hearts by faith, so that you, being rooted and grounded in love, can comprehend with all the saints the breadth, and length, and depth, and height, and know the love of Christ, which surpasses knowledge, so that you might be filled with the fullness of God.
Now to Him WHo can do with exceeding abudance anything that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be the glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.
And so I, the prisoner of the Lord, beg of you that you will walk worthy of your calling, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, putting up with one another in love, doing your best to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, just as you are called in one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of everyone. He is above all, and through all, and in all of you.
But grace is given to every one of us according to the measure of the gift of Christ. That is why He says, "When He went up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men." Now that He has ascended, did He not also descend first into the lower parts of the earth? He Who has descended is the same One Who has ascended far above all heavens, so that He might fill all things. He made some men apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some for making the saints complete, for the work of service, for the building-up of the body of Christ, until we all come in the unity of the faith, and the understanding of the Son of God, to a complete man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that from now on we will not be children anymore, tossed here and there, and carried around with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, and cunning craftiness, by which they lie in wait to deceive, but, speaking the truth in love, we might grow up into Him in all things, He Who is the head: Christ. From Him the whole body, joined properly together and brought together by that which every joint supplies, according to the working-out in the measure of every part, makes itself increase for its own building-up in love.
All that to say this, and to testify in the Lord: from now on you must not walk the way other Gentiles walk, in the futility of their thinking. They have their understanding darkened, and are alienated from the lief of God through the ignorance that is in them. They, being past feeling, have given themselves over to loose living, to work all types of uncleanness with greed. You have not thus learned about Christ, if it is true that you have heard Him, and been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus, so that you will put off, as regards the old conversation, the old man, who is corrupt according to deceitful lusts, and allow yourself to be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new man, who is created after God in righteousness and true holiness.
So put away lying, and let every man speak the truth with his neighbor, because we are all members of one another. Be angry in a controlled way and with just cause, and do not sin. Do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no quarter to the devil.
He who steals, let him steal no more. Instead, let him work, making good things with his hands, so that he can give something to a needy person. Do not say anything rotten, but rather speak of good that builds so that others may understand grace.
Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God. After all, you are sealed with the spirit of God until redemption. Cease all bitterness, wrath, anger, outrage and blasphemy along with all forms of malice Be kind to each other, compassionate and forgiving as God in Christ has forgiven you.
So you must be followers of God, like beloved children, and walk in love, as Christ loved us as well, and gave Himself for us as an Offering and a Sacrifice to God, for a sweet-smelling flavor. But make sure that sexual immorality, or perversion, or covetousness is never once named among you, as becomes the set-apart people that you are, nor filthiness, nor the speaking of foolish things, nor making fun of others. These do not become you well. Instead, you should be giving thanks. You know this: no client of prostitutes, no unclean person, and no covetous man, who is a worshipper of idols, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Do not let any man deceive you with empty words. Because of these things, the righteous and magisterial anger of God is coming on the sons of disobedience. So do not be a participant with them in that disobedience.
You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. So walk like children of light, (the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth,) discerning what is acceptable to the Lord. Do not have any fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. You should instead be showing such things up for what they are. It is a shameful thing even to talk about the things that they do in hiding. All things that are shown for what they are, are made obvious by the light—for anything that makes a thing obvious, is light. For He Who makes things obvious says: "Wake up, sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ will give you light."
So see that you tread carefully, not like ignorant people, but like wise people, and redeeming the time, because the days are evil. On this account you must not be unlearned, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And do not intoxicate yourselves with material luxuries; that sort of thing leads to excess. Instead, by filled with the Spirit, speaking to yourselves in psalms, hymns, and spiritual odes, singing and making melody inm your heart to the Lord. always giving thanks for all things to God and the Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. In a spirit of mutual submission in the fear of God, you wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as you do to the Lord. A husband is the head of his wife, in the same way that Christ is the head of the church, and He is the Savior of the body. So, as the church is subject to Christ, let wives be subject to their own husbands in everything.
You husbands: love your wives, in the same way that Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it, so that he might set it apart and cleanse it with the washing of water by the (spoken) word, so that he might present it to Himself as a glorious church, having no spot or wrinkle or anything of that kind, but that it should be holy and without blemish. Men ought to love their wives as much as they love their own bodies. A man who loves his wife, loves himself. No man has ever yet treated his own flesh with indifference. He nourishes it and cherishes it, the same way that the Lord does for the church. For we are members of His Body, of His Flesh, and of His Bones. "This is why a man leaves his father and mother, and is joined to his wife, and the two of them will be one flesh." This is an important secret. But I am speaking about Christ and the church. Still, let every one of you in particular love his wife in this way, even as he loves himself. And let the wife see that she shows reverence for her husband.
Children, obey your parents in the Lord. This is the right thing to do. "Honor your father and mother," (this is the first commandment carrying a promise) "so that it will be well with you, and you may live long on the earth."
You fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the instruction and admonition of the Lord.
Slaves, be obedient to those that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in single-mindedness of your heart, as you are to Christ, not with eye-service, as men do to please other men, but like the slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, doing your job with good will, as if you are doing it for the Lord, and not for men, knowing that whatever good thing any man does, he will get back from the Lord, whether he is a slave or a free man.
And you masters: do likewise for them, and lay off threatening. Remember: your Master is in heaven, and there is no respect of persons with Him.
Finally, my brothers, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His strength. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand against the tricks of the Devil. We are not in a fight against flesh and blood, but against principalities, authorities, and world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in heavenly places. So take up to yourselves the full armor of God, so that you can stand fast in the evil day and, having done everything, remain standing. So stand, having the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and your feet protected with the shoes of the preparation of the gospel of peace. Above all, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And pray always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and staying alert to it with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints, and for me, so that the power of speech might be given me, so that I may open my mouth boldly, to share the secret of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds, so that I may speak boldly in that, as I should.
But so that you may also know about my business, and how I am doing, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything. I have sent him to you for that very purpose, so that you may know what we are doing, and he might comfort your hearts.
May peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
May grace be with all of those who sincerely love our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
From Paul and Timothy, Jesus Christ's servants, to His Philippian saints, bishops, and deacons.
Our Father God and Lord Jesus Christ's grace and peace of mind be upon you.
I thank God whenever I think of you. I pray for your joy in every one of my prayers, for your faith in the gospel from the beginning until now. I am confident that He, having begun great work in you, will continue it until Jesus Christ returns. It is right for me to think of you all, as you remain in my mind. You all join in my salvation, just as you join my imprisonment, and defense and proof of the gospel. God can testify how I care for you all in the way of Jesus Christ. So I pray that your love will still grow in knowledge and insight, so you can discern what is best and be truthful and sinless until Christ's return, and be filled with Jesus Christ's fruits of righteousness, to God's praise and glory.
I want you to understand, Brothers, that the trials which have fallen on me only further the gospel, so my alliance with Christ is shown to the palace and all other places. Many of the Lord's brothers, made confident by my imprisonment, courageously and fearlessly speak the truth. Some actually preach Christ out of envy and strife, but many also out of good will. The first preach Him deceitfully, hoping to harm me in prison. But the others do so from love, knowing I am destined to defend the gospel.
Now what? Regardless of the motives - false or true - Christ is preached and I rejoice for it and will continue to rejoice. I know from your prayer and the sustenance from Jesus Christ's spirit that this will end in my salvation. My earnest expectation and hope is that I will be ashamed of nothing, but Christ will be magnified in me courageously as ever, whether I live or die. For me, to live is Christ, to die is to profit.
If I go in living in body, this will be the profit of my work, but what will I choose? I am currently torn between two options: I desire to leave and be with Christ, which is much better, but continuing to live is more helpful to you. I'm confident I'll continue to live with you all to assist your faith and joy. So your rejoicing for me in Jesus Christ will be greater when I return. Have your conversation attune to Christ's Gospel, so whether I'm with you or not, I'll hear of you that you remain strong with one spirit and one mind in faith to the gospel.
Never be terrified by your enemies. It is a sign of damnation for them, but God's salvation to you. It is given to you on Christ's behalf to believe in him and suffer for his cause, since you're undergoing the same struggle I did and I've told you of. So if there's any consolation, loving comfort, fellowship of the Spirit, kindness and mercy in Christ, make my joy by being of one mind, sharing the same love, having one decision, one conclusion.
Don't do anything in anger or selfishness, but with humbleness consider others better than yourself. Don't obsess over your own affairs, but consider others'. Have the same outlook as while in the form of God, He didn't think it was theft to be equal with God. He didn't make a reputation for Himself, but became a servant in the likeness of men. As He lived like men, He humbled Himself, and obeyed until He died upon the cross. So God has exalted Him highly, and so all knees bow in heaven, earth, and underneath at Jesus' name, and all tongues confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to God the Father's glory.
So, my friends, since you've obeyed when I was with you but also now that I'm away, work to your salvation with great awe. God is working through you to bring about His plans. Never mutter or bicker, so you will be blameless and unharmed, sons of God, within a corrupt and perverted nation. You will shine like lights in the world among them, holding forth the Word of Life, so that I may be glad in the Day of Christ that I did not either run or work for nothing. To the contrary, and if I am offered into the sacrifice and service of your faith, I have joy, and rejoice with all of you. For that same reason, you should have joy and rejoice with me.
I hope, in the Lord Jesus, that I can send Timothy to you soon, so that I may also be comforted when I know how you stand. I have no man of like mind who will be naturally concerned about you. For everyone seeks his own, and not the things that pertain to Jesus Christ. But you can trust [Timothy]: as a son serves with his father, so he has served with me in the Gospel. So I hope to send him to you shortly, as soon as I know how I am doing. But I hope in the Lord that I can shortly come myself as well.
But I felt that I had to send you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your agent, and the one who ministered to my needs. He longed after all of you, and was full of grief, because you had heard that I had been ill. For in fact he had fallen mortally ill. But God had mercy on him, and not only him but me also, so that I wouldn't have sorrow after sorrow. So I sent him with much greater deliberation, so that, when you see him again, you can rejoice, and I can be less sad. So welcome him in the Lord with all gladness, and hold men like him in high regard, because on account of the work of Christ he was near death, disregarding his own life, to make up for your lack of service to me.
Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. It is not a problem for me to write these things to you, and it is safe for you. Watch out for men who behave like dogs, watch out for men who work evil, and watch out for the mutilation. We are the circumcision. We worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and place no reliance on the flesh. Although I might also rely somewhat on the flesh. If any other man thinks that he has reason to trust in the flesh, I have more reason:
I was circumcised on the eight day, I am of the caste of Israel, of the Tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews, and as to the Law, I am a Pharisee. As to zeal, I once persecuted the church; and as regards any justice to be found in the Law, I am blameless. But those things that were profit to me, I counted them as loss for Christ. But no doubt I indeed count all things as loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. For Him I suffered the loss of all things, but I reckon them as a total waste, so that I may win Christ, and be found in Him, not having any justice for myself, which is from the Law, but that justice that comes through the faith of Christ, the justice that is from God by faith, so that I may know Him, and the power of HIs Resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, after being made moldable to His death, if I can possibly win a part of the resurrection of the dead. And not as if I had already won that, or were already made complete, but I follow after, if I may understand that for which I am also understood by Christ Jesus.
Brothers, I don't pretend to have understood. But I am doing this one thing, forgetting the things behind me, and reaching for the things that are ahead of me: I am pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Jesus Christ. So let as many of us as might be complete, think this way. And if you think otherwise in anything, God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, to what we have already attained, let us walk by that same rule, and let us mind the same thing.
Brothers, follow together after my lead, and take note of those who walk in this way, so that you can have us for an example. (For many are walking, whom I told you about before, and I tell you now and cry as I say it, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction. Their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame, when they think about earthly things.) For our place of citizenship is in heaven, and we also look there for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will change our humiliated body, so that it might be fashioned like His glorious body, according to the working that enables Him also to subdue all things to Himself.
So, my dearly beloved and longed-for brothers, my joy and crown, stand fast in the Lord, my beloved. I beg of Euodias, and bed of Syntyche, that they will be of the same mind in the Lord. I also ask you, my true fellow subjugate, to help those women who worked with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with others of my fellow workers, whose names are found in the Book of Life.
Rejoice in the Lord at all times. I will say it again: Rejoice. Let your graciousness and forbearance be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Don't worry about a thing. To the contrary, bring your requests in everything to the Lord, by prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will preserve your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers: whatever is true, whatever honest, whatever just, whatever clean, whatever lovely, and whatever well-spoken-of, if there is any excellence, and if there is any praise, consider these things. Those things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, you do. The God of peace will be with you.
And I have rejoiced greatly in the Lord, that now at last your concern about me has flourished once again. You were always concerned about that, but you hadn't the opportunity. I am not speaking about my wants. I have learned to be content with whatever state I find myself in. I now how to handle scarcity and abundance. I am instructed everywhere and in all things, how to be full and how to be hungry, how to have abundant resources, and how to handle need. I can do everything through Christ who makes me strong. All that to say that you have done well, because you helped me when I was ill.
Now you Phillipians also know, that in the beginning of my gospel mission, when I left Macedonia, no church had anything in common about giving or receiving, except yourselves alone. For even in Thessalonica you sent me things I needed again and again. It's not that I want a gift. I want to see fruit that will redound abundantly to your credit. But I have everything, and plenty of it. I am full, because I received from Epaphroditus the things that were sent by you, a sweet-smelling odor, an acceptable sacrifice, very pleasing to God. But my God will supply everything you need according to His wealth in glory by Christ Jesus.
Now: glory be to our God and Father for ever and ever. Amen.
Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. All the saints greet you, especially those who belong to the household of Caesar. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
From: Paul, God's appointed apostle of Jesus Christ, and Timothy, our companion,
To: the faithful members and brothers in Christ at the church of Colossae. God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ send you grace and peace of mind.
We thank God the Father of Jesus Christ, and we are always praying for you. We have heard of your faith in Jesus Christ and the love you have for all the believers, on account of the hope laid up for you in heaven, that you heard of before in the Word of the Truth of the Gospel, which has come to you, as in all the world, and brings out fruit, as it does in you as well, since the day you heard about it and knew the grace of God in truth.
You also learned from Epaphras our much-loved fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, and has also declared to us how much love you have in the Spirit. On this account we also, since the day we heard about it, have not stopped praying for you, and asking that you might be filled with the understanding of His will in all wisdom and spiritual comprehension, so that you might walk in a manner worthy of the lord to all pleasing, and be fruitful in every good work, and increase in the knowledge of God, made powerful with all power, according to His glorious rulership, to all patient endurance and waiting with joyfulness, giving thanks to the Father, Who has made us fit to be participants in the inheritance of the saints in light, Who has rescued us from the authority of darkness, and has caused us now to stand in the kingdom of His beloved Son, in Whom we have redemption by means of His blood, including the forgiveness of sins.
He is the Image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature. By Him all things were created, in heaven and earth, seen and unseen, including thrones, lordships, principalities, or authorities. All things were created by Him and for Him. He came before all things, and all things have been made to stand by Him. He is the Head of the body, the church. He is the Beginning, the Firstborn from the dead, so that in all things He should have pre-eminence. For it was pleasing to the Father that in Him all fullness should live, and, having made peace by means of the blood from His cross, to reconcile all things to Himself through Him. By Him, I say again, whether they are things in earth or things in heaven. You, who were at one time alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked worth, he has now reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you as a holy, flawless and unreproachable thing in His sight, if you continue to be grounded and founded in the faith, and not let yourselves be moved away from the hope of the gospel, that you have heard, and that was preached to every creature under the sky, of which I, Paul, was made a minister. I now rejoice in my sufferings on your behalf, and fill up whatever is lacking from the oppression of Christ in my flesh for the sake of his body, the church, of which I have been made a minister, according to the managerial order of God that is given to me for you, to fulfill God's word, even the secret that has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now is revealed fully to His saints.
God would have them know about the riches of the glory of this secret among the Gentiles: Christ in you, the hope of glory. We preach Him, and warn every man, and teach every man in all wisdom, so that we may present every man as a complete man in Christ Jesus. And I also am working for HIm, striving according to His working, which works in me in great power.
For I want you to know that I am very much concerned about you, and about those at Laodicea, and about anyone who has not met me face-to-face, because I want their hearts to be comforted, and knit together in love, and to all the wealth of a full understanding, to the recognition of the secret of God, and of the Father, and of Christ. In HIm all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden.
And I say this, so that no one will lead you away with nice-sounding words. For though I am absent in the flesh, I am with you in spirit, taking joy as if I could look directly at your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. So as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him, and established in the faith, as you have been taught, having it in abundance with thanksgiving.
Be careful not to let anyone spoil you through philosophy and vain decepsion, according to the tradition of men, according to the "principles" of the world, and not according to Christ. For all the full Godhead lives inside Him bodily. And you have been made complete in Him, and He is the Head of all rulership and authority. You are also circumcised in Him with the circumcision made without hands, in that you have put off the body of the sins of the flesh by means of the circumcision of Christ. You were buried with Him in baptism, and in that you are also risen with Him through the faith from the working-out by God, Who has raised Him from the dead. And you who were dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he has revived together with Him and forgiven you all your trespasses. He has obliterated the handwritten record of ordinances that lay against us, which was our enemy, and took it out of the way and nailed it to His Cross. He has despoiled rulerships and authorities, and exposed them openly and triumphed over them in it.
So don't let anyone judge you for what you eat or drink, or what holidays you keep or do not keep, or with regard to the new moon or the sabbaths. These are a shadow of things to come, but the body comes from Christ. Don't let anyone cheat you out of your reward by showing voluntary humility and angel worship, intruding into things that he has not seen, puffed up with vain pride by his fleshly mind, and not holding the Head. From the Head all the body, having nourishment ministered by joints and tendons, and knit together, increases as God increases.
So if you are dead with Christ from the basic principles of the world, then why, as if you were living in the world, would you be subject to ordinances ("Don't touch!" "Don't taste!" "Don't handle!" All these will go away through usages.) according to the instructions and dogmas of men? To be sure, these things have an outward show of wisdom in will-worship, humility, and bodily neglect, but not in any honor to the satisfaction of the flesh.
So if you are risen with Christ, you should seek after the things above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God. Keep your mind on the things above, not on things on the earth. For you are dead, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, our Life, appears, you will appear with him also in glory.
So mortify your members on the earth—things like sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustful affection, lustful practice, and grasping and greedy behavior, which is actually a form of idolatry. On account of those things the righteous anger of God is coming on the children of disobedience. You also used to walk in these things before, when you lived in them. Now you should also put off all of these: anger, rage, malice, blasphemy, foul language. Do not tell one another lies. You have put off the old man with his deeds, and put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him Who created him. In him there is neither Greek nor Jew, nor circiumcision nor uncircumcision, nor uncivilized man, nor Scythian, nor slave nor free man. Christ is all and in all.
So as becomes the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness and patience from your innermost being. Put up with one another and forgive one another, if any man has a quarrel against any other man. Christ forgave you, so you should do the same. Above all these things put on sacrificial love. This is the bond of perfection. Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which you are also called in one body, and be thankful. Let the Word of Christ live in you richly, teaching in all wisdom and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and give thanks to God and the Father through him.
Wives, submit to your own husbands. This is the proper thing to do in the Lord.
Husbands, love your wives, and do not be bitter against them.
Children, obey your parents in everything. This will please the Lord well.
Fathers, do not provoke your children; you do not want to discourage them.
Slaves, obey your masters in all things according to the flesh, and not with eye-service, but in singleness of heart, fearing God.
And whatever you do, do it heartily, as if you are doing it for the Lord, not for men. Remember that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance, because you are in the service of Christ. But anyone who does wrong will be repaid for the wrong that has been done, and there is no respect of persons.
Masters, give your slaves what is just and equal. You know that you also have a Master in heaven.
Keep praying, and be on the lookout in prayer in thanksgiving, and pray for us as well, so that God will open a door of utterance to us, to share the secret of Christ, for which I also am a prisoner, so that I may make it obvious to all, as I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward them that are outside of it, and redeem the time. Make sure your speech is always with grace, seasoned with salt, so that you might know you should given an answer to every man.
Tychicus will tell you everything that is happening with me. He is a beloved brothers, and a faithful minister and fello-servant in the Lord. I have sent him to you for the same reason, so that he might know how you stand, and comfort your hearts, together with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of your number. They will make sure that you know all the things that are happening here.
Aristarchus my fellow prisoner sends his respects, and Marcus, Barnabas' nephew (about whom you have this instruction: if he comes to you, make him welcome), and Jesus, also known as Justus. All these are of the circumcision. Only these men are my fellow-workers toward the kingdom of God, and have been a comfort to me.
Epaphras, who is one of you, a devoted servant of Christ, sends his respects to you. He is always working fervently for you in prayer, so that you might stand perfect and fulfilled in all the will of God. I will vouch for him, that he has a great zeal for you, and those in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis.
Luke the beloved physician, and Demas, also send their respects.
Pay your respects to the brothers in Laodicea, and to Nymphas, and the church in his house. And when this letter is read among you, make sure that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you also read the letter from Laodicea.
Tell Archippus: Pay attention to the ministry that you have received in the Lord, so that you might fulfill it.
Sincerely, Paul. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.
Continue to longer form 43-49