21:1 After ¹  we ²  tore ourselves away ³  from them, we put out to sea, ⁴  and sailing a straight course, ⁵  we came to Cos, ⁶  on the next day to Rhodes, ⁷  and from there to Patara. ⁸  21:2 We found ⁹  a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, ¹⁰  went aboard, ¹¹  and put out to sea. ¹²  21:3 After we sighted Cyprus ¹³  and left it behind on our port side, ¹⁴  we sailed on to Syria and put in ¹⁵  at Tyre, ¹⁶  because the ship was to unload its cargo there. 21:4 After we located ¹⁷  the disciples, we stayed there ¹⁸  seven days. They repeatedly told ¹⁹  Paul through the Spirit ²⁰  not to set foot ²¹  in Jerusalem. ²²  21:5 When ²³  our time was over, ²⁴  we left and went on our way. All of them, with their wives and children, accompanied ²⁵  us outside of the city. After ²⁶  kneeling down on the beach and praying, ²⁷  21:6 we said farewell ²⁸  to one another. ²⁹  Then ³⁰  we went aboard the ship, and they returned to their own homes. ³¹  21:7 We continued the voyage from Tyre ³²  and arrived at Ptolemais, ³³  and when we had greeted the brothers, we stayed with them for one day. 21:8 On the next day we left ³⁴  and came to Caesarea, ³⁵  and entered ³⁶  the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, ³⁷  and stayed with him. 21:9 (He had four unmarried ³⁸  daughters who prophesied.) ³⁹ 

21:10 While we remained there for a number of days, ⁴⁰  a prophet named Agabus ⁴¹  came down from Judea. 21:11 He came ⁴²  to us, took ⁴³  Paul’s belt, ⁴⁴  tied ⁴⁵  his own hands and feet with it, ⁴⁶  and said, “The Holy Spirit says this: ‘This is the way the Jews in Jerusalem will tie up the man whose belt this is, and will hand him over ⁴⁷  to the Gentiles.’” 21:12 When we heard this, both we and the local people ⁴⁸  begged him not to go up to Jerusalem. 21:13 Then Paul replied, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking ⁴⁹  my heart? For I am ready not only to be tied up, ⁵⁰  but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 21:14 Because he could not be persuaded, ⁵¹  we said no more except, ⁵²  “The Lord’s will be done.” ⁵³ 

21:15 After these days we got ready ⁵⁴  and started up ⁵⁵  to Jerusalem. 21:16 Some of the disciples from Caesarea ⁵⁶  came along with us too, and brought us to the house ⁵⁷  of Mnason of Cyprus, a disciple from the earliest times, ⁵⁸  with whom we were to stay. 21:17 When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers welcomed us gladly. ⁵⁹  21:18 The next day Paul went in with us to see James, and all the elders were there. ⁶⁰  21:19 When Paul ⁶¹  had greeted them, he began to explain ⁶²  in detail ⁶³  what God ⁶⁴  had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 21:20 When they heard this, they praised ⁶⁵  God. Then they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews ⁶⁶  there are who have believed, and they are all ardent observers ⁶⁷  of the law. ⁶⁸  21:21 They have been informed about you – that you teach all the Jews now living ⁶⁹  among the Gentiles to abandon ⁷⁰  Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children ⁷¹  or live ⁷²  according to our customs. 21:22 What then should we do? They will no doubt ⁷³  hear that you have come. 21:23 So do what ⁷⁴  we tell you: We have four men ⁷⁵  who have taken ⁷⁶  a vow; ⁷⁷  21:24 take them and purify ⁷⁸  yourself along with them and pay their expenses, ⁷⁹  so that they may have their heads shaved. ⁸⁰  Then ⁸¹  everyone will know there is nothing in what they have been told ⁸²  about you, but that you yourself live in conformity with ⁸³  the law. ⁸⁴  21:25 But regarding the Gentiles who have believed, we have written a letter, having decided ⁸⁵  that they should avoid ⁸⁶  meat that has been sacrificed to idols ⁸⁷  and blood and what has been strangled ⁸⁸  and sexual immorality.” 21:26 Then Paul took the men the next day, ⁸⁹  and after he had purified himself ⁹⁰  along with them, he went to the temple and gave notice ⁹¹  of the completion of the days of purification, ⁹²  when ⁹³  the sacrifice would be offered for each ⁹⁴  of them. 21:27 When the seven days were almost over, ⁹⁵  the Jews from the province of Asia ⁹⁶  who had seen him in the temple area ⁹⁷  stirred up the whole crowd ⁹⁸  and seized ⁹⁹  him, 21:28 shouting, “Men of Israel, ¹⁰⁰  help! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people, our law, ¹⁰¹  and this sanctuary! ¹⁰²  Furthermore ¹⁰³  he has brought Greeks into the inner courts of the temple ¹⁰⁴  and made this holy place ritually unclean!” ¹⁰⁵  21:29 (For they had seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him previously, and ¹⁰⁶  they assumed Paul had brought him into the inner temple courts.) ¹⁰⁷  21:30 The whole city was stirred up, ¹⁰⁸  and the people rushed together. ¹⁰⁹  They seized ¹¹⁰  Paul and dragged him out of the temple courts, ¹¹¹  and immediately the doors were shut. 21:31 While they were trying ¹¹²  to kill him, a report ¹¹³  was sent up ¹¹⁴  to the commanding officer ¹¹⁵  of the cohort ¹¹⁶  that all Jerusalem was in confusion. ¹¹⁷  21:32 He ¹¹⁸  immediately took ¹¹⁹  soldiers and centurions ¹²⁰  and ran down to the crowd. ¹²¹  When they saw ¹²²  the commanding officer ¹²³  and the soldiers, they stopped beating ¹²⁴  Paul. 21:33 Then the commanding officer ¹²⁵  came up and arrested ¹²⁶  him and ordered him to be tied up with two chains; ¹²⁷  he ¹²⁸  then asked who he was and what ¹²⁹  he had done. 21:34 But some in the crowd shouted one thing, and others something else, ¹³⁰  and when the commanding officer ¹³¹  was unable ¹³²  to find out the truth ¹³³  because of the disturbance, ¹³⁴  he ordered Paul ¹³⁵  to be brought into the barracks. ¹³⁶  21:35 When he came to the steps, Paul ¹³⁷  had to be carried ¹³⁸  by the soldiers because of the violence ¹³⁹  of the mob, 21:36 for a crowd of people ¹⁴⁰  followed them, ¹⁴¹  screaming, “Away with him!” 21:37 As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, ¹⁴²  he said ¹⁴³  to the commanding officer, ¹⁴⁴  “May I say ¹⁴⁵  something to you?” The officer ¹⁴⁶  replied, ¹⁴⁷  “Do you know Greek? ¹⁴⁸  21:38 Then you’re not that Egyptian who started a rebellion ¹⁴⁹  and led the four thousand men of the ‘Assassins’ ¹⁵⁰  into the wilderness ¹⁵¹  some time ago?” ¹⁵²  21:39 Paul answered, ¹⁵³  “I am a Jew ¹⁵⁴  from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of an important city. ¹⁵⁵  Please ¹⁵⁶  allow me to speak to the people.” 21:40 When the commanding officer ¹⁵⁷  had given him permission, ¹⁵⁸  Paul stood ¹⁵⁹  on the steps and gestured ¹⁶⁰  to the people with his hand. When they had become silent, ¹⁶¹  he addressed ¹⁶²  them in Aramaic, ¹⁶³ 

22:1 “Brothers and fathers, listen to my defense ¹⁶⁴  that I now ¹⁶⁵  make to you.” 22:2 (When they heard ¹⁶⁶  that he was addressing ¹⁶⁷  them in Aramaic, ¹⁶⁸  they became even ¹⁶⁹  quieter.) ¹⁷⁰  Then ¹⁷¹  Paul said, 22:3 “I am a Jew, ¹⁷²  born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up ¹⁷³  in this city, educated with strictness ¹⁷⁴  under ¹⁷⁵  Gamaliel ¹⁷⁶  according to the law of our ancestors, ¹⁷⁷  and was ¹⁷⁸  zealous ¹⁷⁹  for God just as all of you are today. 22:4 I ¹⁸⁰  persecuted this Way ¹⁸¹  even to the point of death, ¹⁸²  tying up ¹⁸³  both men and women and putting ¹⁸⁴  them in prison, 22:5 as both the high priest and the whole council of elders ¹⁸⁵  can testify about me. From them ¹⁸⁶  I also received ¹⁸⁷  letters to the brothers in Damascus, and I was on my way ¹⁸⁸  to make arrests there and bring ¹⁸⁹  the prisoners ¹⁹⁰  to Jerusalem ¹⁹¹  to be punished. 22:6 As ¹⁹²  I was en route and near Damascus, ¹⁹³  about noon a very bright ¹⁹⁴  light from heaven ¹⁹⁵  suddenly flashed ¹⁹⁶  around me. 22:7 Then I ¹⁹⁷  fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ 22:8 I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ He said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.’ 22:9 Those who were with me saw the light, but did not understand ¹⁹⁸  the voice of the one who was speaking to me. 22:10 So I asked, ¹⁹⁹  ‘What should I do, Lord?’ The Lord said to me, ‘Get up ²⁰⁰  and go to Damascus; there you will be told about everything ²⁰¹  that you have been designated ²⁰²  to do.’ 22:11 Since I could not see because of ²⁰³  the brilliance ²⁰⁴  of that light, I came to Damascus led by the hand of ²⁰⁵  those who were with me. 22:12 A man named Ananias, ²⁰⁶  a devout man according to the law, ²⁰⁷  well spoken of by all the Jews who live there, ²⁰⁸  22:13 came ²⁰⁹  to me and stood beside me ²¹⁰  and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, regain your sight!’ ²¹¹  And at that very moment ²¹²  I looked up and saw him. ²¹³  22:14 Then he said, ‘The God of our ancestors ²¹⁴  has already chosen ²¹⁵  you to know his will, to see ²¹⁶  the Righteous One, ²¹⁷  and to hear a command ²¹⁸  from his mouth, 22:15 because you will be his witness ²¹⁹  to all people ²²⁰  of what you have seen and heard. 22:16 And now what are you waiting for? ²²¹  Get up, ²²²  be baptized, and have your sins washed away, ²²³  calling on his name.’ ²²⁴  22:17 When ²²⁵  I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance ²²⁶  22:18 and saw the Lord ²²⁷  saying to me, ‘Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ 22:19 I replied, ²²⁸  ‘Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and beat those in the various synagogues ²²⁹  who believed in you. 22:20 And when the blood of your witness ²³⁰  Stephen was shed, ²³¹  I myself was standing nearby, approving, ²³²  and guarding the cloaks ²³³  of those who were killing him.’ ²³⁴  22:21 Then ²³⁵  he said to me, ‘Go, because I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”

22:22 The crowd ²³⁶  was listening to him until he said this. ²³⁷  Then ²³⁸  they raised their voices and shouted, ²³⁹  “Away with this man ²⁴⁰  from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live!” ²⁴¹  22:23 While they were screaming ²⁴²  and throwing off their cloaks ²⁴³  and tossing dust ²⁴⁴  in the air, 22:24 the commanding officer ²⁴⁵  ordered Paul ²⁴⁶  to be brought back into the barracks. ²⁴⁷  He told them ²⁴⁸  to interrogate Paul ²⁴⁹  by beating him with a lash ²⁵⁰  so that he could find out the reason the crowd ²⁵¹  was shouting at Paul ²⁵²  in this way. 22:25 When they had stretched him out for the lash, ²⁵³  Paul said to the centurion ²⁵⁴  standing nearby, “Is it legal for you to lash a man who is a Roman citizen ²⁵⁵  without a proper trial?” ²⁵⁶  22:26 When the centurion ²⁵⁷  heard this, ²⁵⁸  he went to the commanding officer ²⁵⁹  and reported it, ²⁶⁰  saying, “What are you about to do? ²⁶¹  For this man is a Roman citizen.” ²⁶²  22:27 So the commanding officer ²⁶³  came and asked ²⁶⁴  Paul, ²⁶⁵  “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” ²⁶⁶  He replied, ²⁶⁷  “Yes.” 22:28 The commanding officer ²⁶⁸  answered, “I acquired this citizenship with a large sum of money.” ²⁶⁹  “But I was even ²⁷⁰  born a citizen,” ²⁷¹  Paul replied. ²⁷²  22:29 Then those who were about to interrogate him stayed away ²⁷³  from him, and the commanding officer ²⁷⁴  was frightened when he realized that Paul ²⁷⁵  was ²⁷⁶  a Roman citizen ²⁷⁷  and that he had had him tied up. ²⁷⁸ 

22:30 The next day, because the commanding officer ²⁷⁹  wanted to know the true reason ²⁸⁰  Paul ²⁸¹  was being accused by the Jews, he released him and ordered the chief priests and the whole council ²⁸²  to assemble. He then brought ²⁸³  Paul down and had him stand before them.

23:1 Paul looked directly ²⁸⁴  at the council ²⁸⁵  and said, “Brothers, I have lived my life with a clear conscience ²⁸⁶  before God to this day.” 23:2 At that ²⁸⁷  the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near ²⁸⁸  Paul ²⁸⁹  to strike ²⁹⁰  him on the mouth. 23:3 Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! ²⁹¹  Do ²⁹²  you sit there judging me according to the law, ²⁹³  and in violation of the law ²⁹⁴  you order me to be struck?” 23:4 Those standing near him ²⁹⁵  said, “Do you dare insult ²⁹⁶  God’s high priest?” 23:5 Paul replied, ²⁹⁷  “I did not realize, ²⁹⁸  brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You must not speak evil about a ruler of your people.’” ²⁹⁹ 

23:6 Then when Paul noticed ³⁰⁰  that part of them were Sadducees ³⁰¹  and the others Pharisees, ³⁰²  he shouted out in the council, ³⁰³  “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. I am on trial concerning the hope of the resurrection ³⁰⁴  of the dead!” 23:7 When he said this, ³⁰⁵  an argument ³⁰⁶  began ³⁰⁷  between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 23:8 (For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection, or angel, or spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.) ³⁰⁸  23:9 There was a great commotion, ³⁰⁹  and some experts in the law ³¹⁰  from the party of the Pharisees stood up ³¹¹  and protested strongly, ³¹²  “We find nothing wrong ³¹³  with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” 23:10 When the argument became ³¹⁴  so great the commanding officer ³¹⁵  feared that they would tear Paul to pieces, ³¹⁶  he ordered the detachment ³¹⁷  to go down, take him away from them by force, ³¹⁸  and bring him into the barracks. ³¹⁹ 

23:11 The following night the Lord ³²⁰  stood near ³²¹  Paul ³²²  and said, “Have courage, ³²³  for just as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, ³²⁴  so you must also testify in Rome.” ³²⁵ 

23:12 When morning came, ³²⁶  the Jews formed ³²⁷  a conspiracy ³²⁸  and bound themselves with an oath ³²⁹  not to eat or drink anything ³³⁰  until they had killed Paul. 23:13 There were more than forty of them who formed this conspiracy. ³³¹  23:14 They ³³²  went ³³³  to the chief priests ³³⁴  and the elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath ³³⁵  not to partake ³³⁶  of anything until we have killed Paul. 23:15 So now you and the council ³³⁷  request the commanding officer ³³⁸  to bring him down to you, as if you were going to determine ³³⁹  his case ³⁴⁰  by conducting a more thorough inquiry. ³⁴¹  We are ready to kill him ³⁴²  before he comes near this place.” ³⁴³ 

23:16 But when the son of Paul’s sister heard about the ambush, ³⁴⁴  he came and entered ³⁴⁵  the barracks ³⁴⁶  and told Paul. 23:17 Paul called ³⁴⁷  one of the centurions ³⁴⁸  and said, “Take this young man to the commanding officer, ³⁴⁹  for he has something to report to him.” 23:18 So the centurion ³⁵⁰  took him and brought him to the commanding officer ³⁵¹  and said, “The prisoner Paul called ³⁵²  me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.” 23:19 The commanding officer ³⁵³  took him by the hand, withdrew privately, and asked, “What is it that you want ³⁵⁴  to report to me?” 23:20 He replied, ³⁵⁵  “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council ³⁵⁶  tomorrow, as if they were going to inquire more thoroughly about him. 23:21 So do not let them persuade you to do this, ³⁵⁷  because more than forty of them ³⁵⁸  are lying in ambush ³⁵⁹  for him. They ³⁶⁰  have bound themselves with an oath ³⁶¹  not to eat or drink anything ³⁶²  until they have killed him, and now they are ready, waiting for you to agree to their request.” ³⁶³  23:22 Then the commanding officer ³⁶⁴  sent the young man away, directing him, ³⁶⁵  “Tell no one that you have reported ³⁶⁶  these things to me.” 23:23 Then ³⁶⁷  he summoned ³⁶⁸  two of the centurions ³⁶⁹  and said, “Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea ³⁷⁰  along with seventy horsemen ³⁷¹  and two hundred spearmen ³⁷²  by ³⁷³  nine o’clock tonight, ³⁷⁴  23:24 and provide mounts for Paul to ride ³⁷⁵  so that he may be brought safely to Felix ³⁷⁶  the governor.” ³⁷⁷  23:25 He wrote ³⁷⁸  a letter that went like this: ³⁷⁹ 

23:26 Claudius Lysias to His Excellency Governor ³⁸⁰  Felix, ³⁸¹  greetings. 23:27 This man was seized ³⁸²  by the Jews and they were about to kill him, ³⁸³  when I came up ³⁸⁴  with the detachment ³⁸⁵  and rescued him, because I had learned that he was ³⁸⁶  a Roman citizen. ³⁸⁷  23:28 Since I wanted to know ³⁸⁸  what charge they were accusing him of, ³⁸⁹  I brought him down to their council. ³⁹⁰  23:29 I found he ³⁹¹  was accused with reference to controversial questions ³⁹²  about their law, but no charge against him deserved death or imprisonment. ³⁹³  23:30 When I was informed ³⁹⁴  there would be a plot ³⁹⁵  against this man, I sent him to you at once, also ordering his accusers to state their charges ³⁹⁶  against him before you.

23:31 So the soldiers, in accordance with their orders, ³⁹⁷  took ³⁹⁸  Paul and brought him to Antipatris ³⁹⁹  during the night. 23:32 The next day they let ⁴⁰⁰  the horsemen ⁴⁰¹  go on with him, and they returned to the barracks. ⁴⁰²  23:33 When the horsemen ⁴⁰³  came to Caesarea ⁴⁰⁴  and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented ⁴⁰⁵  Paul to him. 23:34 When the governor ⁴⁰⁶  had read ⁴⁰⁷  the letter, ⁴⁰⁸  he asked ⁴⁰⁹  what province he was from. ⁴¹⁰  When he learned ⁴¹¹  that he was from Cilicia, ⁴¹²  23:35 he said, “I will give you a hearing ⁴¹³  when your accusers arrive too.” Then ⁴¹⁴  he ordered that Paul ⁴¹⁵  be kept under guard in Herod’s palace. ⁴¹⁶ 

24:1 After five days the high priest Ananias ⁴¹⁷  came down with some elders and an attorney ⁴¹⁸  named ⁴¹⁹  Tertullus, and they ⁴²⁰  brought formal charges ⁴²¹  against Paul to the governor. 24:2 When Paul ⁴²²  had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, ⁴²³  saying, “We have experienced a lengthy time ⁴²⁴  of peace through your rule, ⁴²⁵  and reforms ⁴²⁶  are being made in this nation ⁴²⁷  through your foresight. ⁴²⁸  24:3 Most excellent Felix, ⁴²⁹  we acknowledge this everywhere and in every way ⁴³⁰  with all gratitude. ⁴³¹  24:4 But so that I may not delay ⁴³²  you any further, I beg ⁴³³  you to hear us briefly ⁴³⁴  with your customary graciousness. ⁴³⁵  24:5 For we have found ⁴³⁶  this man to be a troublemaker, ⁴³⁷  one who stirs up riots ⁴³⁸  among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader ⁴³⁹  of the sect of the Nazarenes. ⁴⁴⁰  24:6 He ⁴⁴¹  even tried to desecrate ⁴⁴²  the temple, so we arrested ⁴⁴³  him. 24:7 [[EMPTY]] ⁴⁴⁴  24:8 When you examine ⁴⁴⁵  him yourself, you will be able to learn from him ⁴⁴⁶  about all these things we are accusing him of doing.” ⁴⁴⁷  24:9 The Jews also joined in the verbal attack, ⁴⁴⁸  claiming ⁴⁴⁹  that these things were true.

24:10 When the governor gestured for him to speak, Paul replied, “Because I know ⁴⁵⁰  that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I confidently make my defense. ⁴⁵¹  24:11 As you can verify ⁴⁵²  for yourself, not more than twelve days ago ⁴⁵³  I went up to Jerusalem ⁴⁵⁴  to worship. 24:12 They did not find me arguing ⁴⁵⁵  with anyone or stirring up a crowd ⁴⁵⁶  in the temple courts ⁴⁵⁷  or in the synagogues ⁴⁵⁸  or throughout the city, ⁴⁵⁹  24:13 nor can they prove ⁴⁶⁰  to you the things ⁴⁶¹  they are accusing me of doing. ⁴⁶²  24:14 But I confess this to you, that I worship ⁴⁶³  the God of our ancestors ⁴⁶⁴  according to the Way (which they call a sect), believing everything that is according to the law ⁴⁶⁵  and that is written in the prophets. 24:15 I have ⁴⁶⁶  a hope in God (a hope ⁴⁶⁷  that ⁴⁶⁸  these men ⁴⁶⁹  themselves accept too) that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. ⁴⁷⁰  24:16 This is the reason ⁴⁷¹  I do my best to always ⁴⁷²  have a clear ⁴⁷³  conscience toward God and toward people. ⁴⁷⁴  24:17 After several years ⁴⁷⁵  I came to bring to my people gifts for the poor ⁴⁷⁶  and to present offerings, ⁴⁷⁷  24:18 which I was doing when they found me in the temple, ritually purified, ⁴⁷⁸  without a crowd or a disturbance. ⁴⁷⁹  24:19 But there are some Jews from the province of Asia ⁴⁸⁰  who should be here before you and bring charges, ⁴⁸¹  if they have anything against me. 24:20 Or these men here ⁴⁸²  should tell what crime ⁴⁸³  they found me guilty of ⁴⁸⁴  when I stood before the council, ⁴⁸⁵  24:21 other than ⁴⁸⁶  this one thing ⁴⁸⁷  I shouted out while I stood before ⁴⁸⁸  them: ‘I am on trial before you today concerning the resurrection of the dead.’” ⁴⁸⁹ 

24:22 Then Felix, ⁴⁹⁰  who understood the facts ⁴⁹¹  concerning the Way ⁴⁹²  more accurately, ⁴⁹³  adjourned their hearing, ⁴⁹⁴  saying, “When Lysias the commanding officer comes down, I will decide your case.” ⁴⁹⁵  24:23 He ordered the centurion ⁴⁹⁶  to guard Paul, ⁴⁹⁷  but to let him have some freedom, ⁴⁹⁸  and not to prevent any of his friends ⁴⁹⁹  from meeting his needs. ⁵⁰⁰ 

24:24 Some days later, when Felix ⁵⁰¹  arrived with his wife Drusilla, ⁵⁰²  who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him speak ⁵⁰³  about faith in Christ Jesus. ⁵⁰⁴  24:25 While Paul ⁵⁰⁵  was discussing ⁵⁰⁶  righteousness, self-control, ⁵⁰⁷  and the coming judgment, Felix ⁵⁰⁸  became ⁵⁰⁹  frightened and said, “Go away for now, and when I have an opportunity, ⁵¹⁰  I will send for you.” 24:26 At the same time he was also hoping that Paul would give him money, ⁵¹¹  and for this reason he sent for Paul ⁵¹²  as often as possible ⁵¹³  and talked ⁵¹⁴  with him. 24:27 After two years ⁵¹⁵  had passed, Porcius Festus ⁵¹⁶  succeeded Felix, ⁵¹⁷  and because he wanted to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison. ⁵¹⁸ 

25:1 Now ⁵¹⁹  three days after Festus ⁵²⁰  arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem ⁵²¹  from Caesarea. ⁵²²  25:2 So the chief priests and the most prominent men ⁵²³  of the Jews brought formal charges ⁵²⁴  against Paul to him. 25:3 Requesting him to do them a favor against Paul, ⁵²⁵  they urged Festus ⁵²⁶  to summon him to Jerusalem, planning an ambush ⁵²⁷  to kill him along the way. 25:4 Then Festus ⁵²⁸  replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea, ⁵²⁹  and he himself intended to go there ⁵³⁰  shortly. 25:5 “So,” he said, “let your leaders ⁵³¹  go down there ⁵³²  with me, and if this man has done anything wrong, ⁵³³  they may bring charges ⁵³⁴  against him.”

25:6 After Festus ⁵³⁵  had stayed ⁵³⁶  not more than eight or ten days among them, he went down to Caesarea, ⁵³⁷  and the next day he sat ⁵³⁸  on the judgment seat ⁵³⁹  and ordered Paul to be brought. 25:7 When he arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, ⁵⁴⁰  bringing many serious ⁵⁴¹  charges that they were not able to prove. ⁵⁴²  25:8 Paul said in his defense, ⁵⁴³  “I have committed no offense ⁵⁴⁴  against the Jewish law ⁵⁴⁵  or against the temple or against Caesar.” ⁵⁴⁶  25:9 But Festus, ⁵⁴⁷  wanting to do the Jews a favor, asked Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and be tried ⁵⁴⁸  before me there on these charges?” ⁵⁴⁹  25:10 Paul replied, ⁵⁵⁰  “I am standing before Caesar’s ⁵⁵¹  judgment seat, ⁵⁵²  where I should be tried. ⁵⁵³  I have done nothing wrong ⁵⁵⁴  to the Jews, as you also know very well. ⁵⁵⁵  25:11 If then I am in the wrong ⁵⁵⁶  and have done anything that deserves death, I am not trying to escape dying, ⁵⁵⁷  but if not one of their charges against me is true, ⁵⁵⁸  no one can hand me over to them. ⁵⁵⁹  I appeal to Caesar!” ⁵⁶⁰  25:12 Then, after conferring with his council, ⁵⁶¹  Festus ⁵⁶²  replied, “You have appealed to Caesar; ⁵⁶³  to Caesar ⁵⁶⁴  you will go!” ⁵⁶⁵ 

25:13 After several days had passed, King Agrippa ⁵⁶⁶  and Bernice arrived at Caesarea ⁵⁶⁷  to pay their respects ⁵⁶⁸  to Festus. ⁵⁶⁹  25:14 While ⁵⁷⁰  they were staying there many days, Festus ⁵⁷¹  explained Paul’s case to the king to get his opinion, ⁵⁷²  saying, “There is a man left here as a prisoner by Felix. 25:15 When I was in Jerusalem, ⁵⁷³  the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed ⁵⁷⁴  me about him, ⁵⁷⁵  asking for a sentence of condemnation ⁵⁷⁶  against him. 25:16 I answered them ⁵⁷⁷  that it was not the custom of the Romans to hand over anyone ⁵⁷⁸  before the accused had met his accusers face to face ⁵⁷⁹  and had been given ⁵⁸⁰  an opportunity to make a defense against the accusation. ⁵⁸¹  25:17 So after they came back here with me, ⁵⁸²  I did not postpone the case, ⁵⁸³  but the next day I sat ⁵⁸⁴  on the judgment seat ⁵⁸⁵  and ordered the man to be brought. 25:18 When his accusers stood up, they did not charge ⁵⁸⁶  him with any of the evil deeds I had suspected. ⁵⁸⁷  25:19 Rather they had several points of disagreement ⁵⁸⁸  with him about their own religion ⁵⁸⁹  and about a man named Jesus ⁵⁹⁰  who was dead, whom Paul claimed ⁵⁹¹  to be alive. 25:20 Because I was at a loss ⁵⁹²  how I could investigate these matters, ⁵⁹³  I asked if he were willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried ⁵⁹⁴  there on these charges. ⁵⁹⁵  25:21 But when Paul appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of His Majesty the Emperor, ⁵⁹⁶  I ordered him to be kept under guard until I could send him to Caesar.” ⁵⁹⁷  25:22 Agrippa ⁵⁹⁸  said to Festus, ⁵⁹⁹  “I would also like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” he replied, ⁶⁰⁰  “you will hear him.”

25:23 So the next day Agrippa ⁶⁰¹  and Bernice came with great pomp ⁶⁰²  and entered the audience hall, ⁶⁰³  along with the senior military officers ⁶⁰⁴  and the prominent men of the city. When Festus ⁶⁰⁵  gave the order, ⁶⁰⁶  Paul was brought in. 25:24 Then Festus ⁶⁰⁷  said, “King Agrippa, ⁶⁰⁸  and all you who are present here with us, you see this man about whom the entire Jewish populace ⁶⁰⁹  petitioned ⁶¹⁰  me both in Jerusalem ⁶¹¹  and here, ⁶¹²  shouting loudly ⁶¹³  that he ought not to live any longer. 25:25 But I found that he had done nothing that deserved death, ⁶¹⁴  and when he appealed ⁶¹⁵  to His Majesty the Emperor, ⁶¹⁶  I decided to send him. ⁶¹⁷  25:26 But I have nothing definite ⁶¹⁸  to write to my lord ⁶¹⁹  about him. ⁶²⁰  Therefore I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, ⁶²¹  so that after this preliminary hearing ⁶²²  I may have something to write. 25:27 For it seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner without clearly indicating ⁶²³  the charges against him.”

26:1 So Agrippa ⁶²⁴  said to Paul, “You have permission ⁶²⁵  to speak for yourself.” Then Paul held out his hand ⁶²⁶  and began his defense: ⁶²⁷ 

26:2 “Regarding all the things I have been accused of by the Jews, King Agrippa, ⁶²⁸  I consider myself fortunate that I am about to make my defense before you today, 26:3 because you are especially ⁶²⁹  familiar with all the customs and controversial issues ⁶³⁰  of the Jews. Therefore I ask ⁶³¹  you to listen to me patiently. 26:4 Now all the Jews know the way I lived ⁶³²  from my youth, spending my life from the beginning among my own people ⁶³³  and in Jerusalem. ⁶³⁴  26:5 They know, ⁶³⁵  because they have known ⁶³⁶  me from time past, ⁶³⁷  if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party ⁶³⁸  of our religion, I lived as a Pharisee. ⁶³⁹  26:6 And now I stand here on trial ⁶⁴⁰  because of my hope in the promise made by God to our ancestors, ⁶⁴¹  26:7 a promise ⁶⁴²  that our twelve tribes hope to attain as they earnestly serve God ⁶⁴³  night and day. Concerning this hope the Jews are accusing me, ⁶⁴⁴  Your Majesty! ⁶⁴⁵  26:8 Why do you people ⁶⁴⁶  think ⁶⁴⁷  it is unbelievable ⁶⁴⁸  that ⁶⁴⁹  God raises the dead? 26:9 Of course, ⁶⁵⁰  I myself was convinced ⁶⁵¹  that it was necessary to do many things hostile to the name of Jesus the Nazarene. 26:10 And that is what I did in Jerusalem: Not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons by the authority I received ⁶⁵²  from the chief priests, but I also cast my vote ⁶⁵³  against them when they were sentenced to death. ⁶⁵⁴  26:11 I punished ⁶⁵⁵  them often in all the synagogues ⁶⁵⁶  and tried to force ⁶⁵⁷  them to blaspheme. Because I was so furiously enraged ⁶⁵⁸  at them, I went to persecute ⁶⁵⁹  them even in foreign cities.

26:12 “While doing this very thing, ⁶⁶⁰  as I was going ⁶⁶¹  to Damascus with authority and complete power ⁶⁶²  from the chief priests, 26:13 about noon along the road, Your Majesty, ⁶⁶³  I saw a light from heaven, ⁶⁶⁴  brighter than the sun, shining everywhere around ⁶⁶⁵  me and those traveling with me. 26:14 When we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ⁶⁶⁶  ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? You are hurting yourself ⁶⁶⁷  by kicking against the goads.’ ⁶⁶⁸  26:15 So I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord replied, ⁶⁶⁹  ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 26:16 But get up and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this reason, to designate you in advance ⁶⁷⁰  as a servant and witness ⁶⁷¹  to the things ⁶⁷²  you have seen ⁶⁷³  and to the things in which I will appear to you. 26:17 I will rescue ⁶⁷⁴  you from your own people ⁶⁷⁵  and from the Gentiles, to whom ⁶⁷⁶  I am sending you 26:18 to open their eyes so that they turn ⁶⁷⁷  from darkness to light and from the power ⁶⁷⁸  of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share ⁶⁷⁹  among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

26:19 “Therefore, King Agrippa, ⁶⁸⁰  I was not disobedient ⁶⁸¹  to the heavenly ⁶⁸²  vision, 26:20 but I declared to those in Damascus first, and then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, ⁶⁸³  and to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, ⁶⁸⁴  performing deeds consistent with ⁶⁸⁵  repentance. 26:21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple courts ⁶⁸⁶  and were trying to kill me. 26:22 I have experienced ⁶⁸⁷  help from God to this day, and so I stand testifying to both small and great, saying nothing except ⁶⁸⁸  what the prophets and Moses said ⁶⁸⁹  was going to happen: 26:23 that ⁶⁹⁰  the Christ ⁶⁹¹  was to suffer and be the first to rise from the dead, to proclaim light both to our people ⁶⁹²  and to the Gentiles.” ⁶⁹³ 

26:24 As Paul ⁶⁹⁴  was saying these things in his defense, Festus ⁶⁹⁵  exclaimed loudly, “You have lost your mind, ⁶⁹⁶  Paul! Your great learning is driving you insane!” 26:25 But Paul replied, ⁶⁹⁷  “I have not lost my mind, most excellent Festus, ⁶⁹⁸  but am speaking ⁶⁹⁹  true and rational ⁷⁰⁰  words. 26:26 For the king knows about these things, and I am speaking freely ⁷⁰¹  to him, ⁷⁰²  because I cannot believe ⁷⁰³  that any of these things has escaped his notice, ⁷⁰⁴  for this was not done in a corner. ⁷⁰⁵  26:27 Do you believe the prophets, ⁷⁰⁶  King Agrippa? ⁷⁰⁷  I know that you believe.” 26:28 Agrippa ⁷⁰⁸  said to Paul, “In such a short time are you persuading me to become a Christian?” ⁷⁰⁹  26:29 Paul replied, “I pray to God that whether in a short or a long time ⁷¹⁰  not only you but also all those who are listening to me today could become such as I am, except for these chains.” ⁷¹¹ 

26:30 So the king got up, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them, 26:31 and as they were leaving they said to one another, ⁷¹²  “This man is not doing anything deserving ⁷¹³  death or imprisonment.” 26:32 Agrippa ⁷¹⁴  said to Festus, ⁷¹⁵  “This man could have been released ⁷¹⁶  if he had not appealed to Caesar.” ⁷¹⁷ 

27:1 When it was decided we ⁷¹⁸  would sail to Italy, ⁷¹⁹  they handed over Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion ⁷²⁰  of the Augustan Cohort ⁷²¹  named Julius. 27:2 We went on board ⁷²²  a ship from Adramyttium ⁷²³  that was about to sail to various ports ⁷²⁴  along the coast of the province of Asia ⁷²⁵  and put out to sea, ⁷²⁶  accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian ⁷²⁷  from Thessalonica. ⁷²⁸  27:3 The next day we put in ⁷²⁹  at Sidon, ⁷³⁰  and Julius, treating Paul kindly, ⁷³¹  allowed him to go to his friends so they could provide him with what he needed. ⁷³²  27:4 From there we put out to sea ⁷³³  and sailed under the lee ⁷³⁴  of Cyprus because the winds were against us. 27:5 After we had sailed across the open sea ⁷³⁵  off Cilicia and Pamphylia, ⁷³⁶  we put in ⁷³⁷  at Myra ⁷³⁸  in Lycia. ⁷³⁹  27:6 There the centurion ⁷⁴⁰  found ⁷⁴¹  a ship from Alexandria ⁷⁴²  sailing for Italy, and he put us aboard it. 27:7 We sailed slowly ⁷⁴³  for many days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus. ⁷⁴⁴  Because the wind prevented us from going any farther, ⁷⁴⁵  we sailed under the lee ⁷⁴⁶  of Crete off Salmone. ⁷⁴⁷  27:8 With difficulty we sailed along the coast ⁷⁴⁸  of Crete ⁷⁴⁹  and came to a place called Fair Havens that was near the town of Lasea. ⁷⁵⁰ 

27:9 Since considerable time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous ⁷⁵¹  because the fast ⁷⁵²  was already over, ⁷⁵³  Paul advised them, ⁷⁵⁴  27:10 “Men, I can see the voyage is going to end ⁷⁵⁵  in disaster ⁷⁵⁶  and great loss not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” ⁷⁵⁷  27:11 But the centurion ⁷⁵⁸  was more convinced ⁷⁵⁹  by the captain ⁷⁶⁰  and the ship’s owner than by what Paul said. ⁷⁶¹  27:12 Because the harbor was not suitable to spend the winter in, the majority decided ⁷⁶²  to put out to sea ⁷⁶³  from there. They hoped that ⁷⁶⁴  somehow they could reach ⁷⁶⁵  Phoenix, ⁷⁶⁶  a harbor of Crete facing ⁷⁶⁷  southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there. 27:13 When a gentle south wind sprang up, they thought ⁷⁶⁸  they could carry out ⁷⁶⁹  their purpose, so they weighed anchor ⁷⁷⁰  and sailed close along the coast ⁷⁷¹  of Crete. 27:14 Not long after this, a hurricane-force ⁷⁷²  wind called the northeaster ⁷⁷³  blew down from the island. ⁷⁷⁴  27:15 When the ship was caught in it ⁷⁷⁵  and could not head into ⁷⁷⁶  the wind, we gave way to it and were driven ⁷⁷⁷  along. 27:16 As we ran under the lee of ⁷⁷⁸  a small island called Cauda, ⁷⁷⁹  we were able with difficulty to get the ship’s boat ⁷⁸⁰  under control. 27:17 After the crew ⁷⁸¹  had hoisted it aboard, ⁷⁸²  they used supports ⁷⁸³  to undergird the ship. Fearing they would run aground ⁷⁸⁴  on the Syrtis, ⁷⁸⁵  they lowered the sea anchor, ⁷⁸⁶  thus letting themselves be driven along. 27:18 The next day, because we were violently battered by the storm, ⁷⁸⁷  they began throwing the cargo overboard, ⁷⁸⁸  27:19 and on the third day they threw the ship’s gear ⁷⁸⁹  overboard with their own hands. 27:20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and a violent ⁷⁹⁰  storm continued to batter us, ⁷⁹¹  we finally abandoned all hope of being saved. ⁷⁹² 

27:21 Since many of them had no desire to eat, ⁷⁹³  Paul ⁷⁹⁴  stood up ⁷⁹⁵  among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me ⁷⁹⁶  and not put out to sea ⁷⁹⁷  from Crete, thus avoiding ⁷⁹⁸  this damage and loss. 27:22 And now I advise ⁷⁹⁹  you to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only the ship will be lost. ⁸⁰⁰  27:23 For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong ⁸⁰¹  and whom I serve ⁸⁰²  came to me ⁸⁰³  27:24 and said, ⁸⁰⁴  ‘Do not be afraid, Paul! You must stand before ⁸⁰⁵  Caesar, ⁸⁰⁶  and God has graciously granted you the safety ⁸⁰⁷  of all who are sailing with you.’ 27:25 Therefore keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God ⁸⁰⁸  that it will be just as I have been told. 27:26 But we must ⁸⁰⁹  run aground on some island.”

27:27 When the fourteenth night had come, while we were being driven ⁸¹⁰  across the Adriatic Sea, ⁸¹¹  about midnight the sailors suspected they were approaching some land. ⁸¹²  27:28 They took soundings ⁸¹³  and found the water was twenty fathoms ⁸¹⁴  deep; when they had sailed a little farther ⁸¹⁵  they took soundings again and found it was fifteen fathoms ⁸¹⁶  deep. 27:29 Because they were afraid ⁸¹⁷  that we would run aground on the rocky coast, ⁸¹⁸  they threw out ⁸¹⁹  four anchors from the stern and wished ⁸²⁰  for day to appear. ⁸²¹  27:30 Then when the sailors tried to escape from the ship and were lowering the ship’s boat into the sea, pretending ⁸²²  that they were going to put out anchors from the bow, 27:31 Paul said to the centurion ⁸²³  and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay with the ship, you ⁸²⁴  cannot be saved.” 27:32 Then the soldiers cut the ropes ⁸²⁵  of the ship’s boat and let it drift away. ⁸²⁶ 

27:33 As day was about to dawn, ⁸²⁷  Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day you have been in suspense ⁸²⁸  and have gone ⁸²⁹  without food; you have eaten nothing. ⁸³⁰  27:34 Therefore I urge you to take some food, for this is important ⁸³¹  for your survival. ⁸³²  For not one of you will lose a hair from his head.” 27:35 After he said this, Paul ⁸³³  took bread ⁸³⁴  and gave thanks to God in front of them all, ⁸³⁵  broke ⁸³⁶  it, and began to eat. 27:36 So all of them were encouraged and took food themselves. 27:37 (We were in all two hundred seventy-six ⁸³⁷  persons on the ship.) ⁸³⁸  27:38 When they had eaten enough to be satisfied, ⁸³⁹  they lightened the ship by throwing the wheat ⁸⁴⁰  into the sea.

27:39 When day came, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed ⁸⁴¹  a bay ⁸⁴²  with a beach, ⁸⁴³  where they decided to run the ship aground if they could. 27:40 So they slipped ⁸⁴⁴  the anchors ⁸⁴⁵  and left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the linkage ⁸⁴⁶  that bound the steering oars ⁸⁴⁷  together. Then they hoisted ⁸⁴⁸  the foresail ⁸⁴⁹  to the wind and steered toward ⁸⁵⁰  the beach. 27:41 But they encountered a patch of crosscurrents ⁸⁵¹  and ran the ship aground; the bow stuck fast and could not be moved, but the stern was being broken up by the force ⁸⁵²  of the waves. 27:42 Now the soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners ⁸⁵³  so that none of them would escape by swimming away. ⁸⁵⁴  27:43 But the centurion, ⁸⁵⁵  wanting to save Paul’s life, ⁸⁵⁶  prevented them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land, ⁸⁵⁷  27:44 and the rest were to follow, ⁸⁵⁸  some on planks ⁸⁵⁹  and some on pieces of the ship. ⁸⁶⁰  And in this way ⁸⁶¹  all were brought safely to land.

28:1 After we had safely reached shore, ⁸⁶²  we learned that the island was called Malta. ⁸⁶³  28:2 The local inhabitants ⁸⁶⁴  showed us extraordinary ⁸⁶⁵  kindness, for they built a fire and welcomed us all because it had started to rain ⁸⁶⁶  and was cold. 28:3 When Paul had gathered a bundle of brushwood ⁸⁶⁷  and was putting it on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand. 28:4 When the local people ⁸⁶⁸  saw the creature hanging from Paul’s ⁸⁶⁹  hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer! Although he has escaped from the sea, Justice herself ⁸⁷⁰  has not allowed him to live!” ⁸⁷¹  28:5 However, ⁸⁷²  Paul ⁸⁷³  shook ⁸⁷⁴  the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm. 28:6 But they were expecting that he was going to swell up ⁸⁷⁵  or suddenly drop dead. So after they had waited ⁸⁷⁶  a long time and had seen ⁸⁷⁷  nothing unusual happen ⁸⁷⁸  to him, they changed their minds ⁸⁷⁹  and said he was a god. ⁸⁸⁰ 

28:7 Now in the region around that place ⁸⁸¹  were fields belonging to the chief official ⁸⁸²  of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us hospitably as guests for three days. 28:8 The father ⁸⁸³  of Publius lay sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him ⁸⁸⁴  and after praying, placed ⁸⁸⁵  his hands on him and healed ⁸⁸⁶  him. 28:9 After this had happened, many of the people on the island who were sick ⁸⁸⁷  also came and were healed. ⁸⁸⁸  28:10 They also bestowed many honors, ⁸⁸⁹  and when we were preparing to sail, ⁸⁹⁰  they gave ⁸⁹¹  us all the supplies we needed. ⁸⁹² 

28:11 After three months we put out to sea ⁸⁹³  in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered at the island and had the “Heavenly Twins” ⁸⁹⁴  as its figurehead. ⁸⁹⁵  28:12 We put in ⁸⁹⁶  at Syracuse ⁸⁹⁷  and stayed there three days. 28:13 From there we cast off ⁸⁹⁸  and arrived at Rhegium, ⁸⁹⁹  and after one day a south wind sprang up ⁹⁰⁰  and on the second day we came to Puteoli. ⁹⁰¹  28:14 There ⁹⁰²  we found ⁹⁰³  some brothers ⁹⁰⁴  and were invited to stay with them seven days. And in this way we came to Rome. ⁹⁰⁵  28:15 The brothers from there, ⁹⁰⁶  when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius ⁹⁰⁷  and Three Taverns ⁹⁰⁸  to meet us. When he saw them, ⁹⁰⁹  Paul thanked God and took courage. 28:16 When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to live ⁹¹⁰  by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.

28:17 After three days ⁹¹¹  Paul ⁹¹²  called the local Jewish leaders ⁹¹³  together. When they had assembled, he said to them, “Brothers, ⁹¹⁴  although I had done ⁹¹⁵  nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, ⁹¹⁶  from Jerusalem ⁹¹⁷  I was handed over as a prisoner to the Romans. ⁹¹⁸  28:18 When ⁹¹⁹  they had heard my case, ⁹²⁰  they wanted to release me, ⁹²¹  because there was no basis for a death sentence ⁹²²  against me. 28:19 But when the Jews objected, ⁹²³  I was forced to appeal to Caesar ⁹²⁴  – not that I had some charge to bring ⁹²⁵  against my own people. ⁹²⁶  28:20 So for this reason I have asked to see you and speak with you, for I am bound with this chain because of the hope of Israel.” ⁹²⁷  28:21 They replied, ⁹²⁸  “We have received no letters from Judea about you, nor have any of the brothers come from there ⁹²⁹  and reported or said anything bad about you. 28:22 But we would like to hear from you what you think, for regarding this sect we know ⁹³⁰  that people ⁹³¹  everywhere speak against ⁹³²  it.”

28:23 They set ⁹³³  a day to meet with him, ⁹³⁴  and they came to him where he was staying ⁹³⁵  in even greater numbers. ⁹³⁶  From morning until evening he explained things ⁹³⁷  to them, ⁹³⁸  testifying ⁹³⁹  about the kingdom of God ⁹⁴⁰  and trying to convince ⁹⁴¹  them about Jesus from both the law of Moses and the prophets. 28:24 Some were convinced ⁹⁴²  by what he said, ⁹⁴³  but others refused ⁹⁴⁴  to believe. 28:25 So they began to leave, ⁹⁴⁵  unable to agree among themselves, after Paul made one last statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly to your ancestors ⁹⁴⁶  through the prophet Isaiah 28:26 when he said,

‘Go to this people and say,

“You will keep on hearing, ⁹⁴⁷  but will never understand,

and you will keep on looking, ⁹⁴⁸  but will never perceive.

28:27 For the heart of this people has become dull, ⁹⁴⁹ 

and their ears are hard of hearing, ⁹⁵⁰ 

and they have closed their eyes,

so that they would not see with their eyes

and hear with their ears

and understand with their heart

and turn, ⁹⁵¹  and I would heal them.”’ ⁹⁵² 

28:28 “Therefore be advised ⁹⁵³  that this salvation from God ⁹⁵⁴  has been sent to the Gentiles; ⁹⁵⁵  they ⁹⁵⁶  will listen!”

28:29 [[EMPTY]] ⁹⁵⁷ 

28:30 Paul ⁹⁵⁸  lived ⁹⁵⁹  there two whole years in his own rented quarters ⁹⁶⁰  and welcomed ⁹⁶¹  all who came to him, 28:31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ ⁹⁶²  with complete boldness ⁹⁶³  and without restriction. ⁹⁶⁴