Amplified Bible (AMP)

Paul at Corinth

1 After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.

2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife, Priscilla, because [the Roman Emperor] Claudius had issued an edict that all theJews were to leave Rome. Paul went to see them,

3 and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them; and they workedtogetherfor they were tent-makers.

4 And he reasonedanddebated in the synagogue every Sabbath, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks;

5 but when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia (northern Greece), Paulbegandevoting himself completely to [preaching] the word, and solemnly testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed).

6 But since the Jews kept resistingandopposing him, and blaspheming [God], heshook out his robe and said to them, “Your blood (damnation) be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”

7 Then he moved on from there and went to the house of a man namedTitius Justus, who worshiped God and whose house was next door to the synagogue.

8 Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord together with his entire household [joyfully acknowledging Him as Messiah and Savior]; and many of the Corinthians who heard [Paul’s message] were believing and being baptized.

9 One night the Lord said to Paul in a vision,“Do not be afraid anymore, but go on speaking and do not be silent;

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

11 So he settledtherefor a year and six months, teaching them the word of God [concerning eternal salvation through faith in Christ].

12 But whenGallio was proconsul of Achaia (southern Greece), the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him beforethe judgment seat,

13 declaring, “This man is persuading people to worship God in violation of the law [of Moses].”

14 But when Paul was about to reply, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of some misdemeanor or serious crime, O Jews, I would have reason to put up with you;

15 but since it is merely a question [of doctrine within your religion] about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves; I amunwilling to judge these matters.”

16 And he drove them away from the judgment seat.

17 Then the Greeks all seizedSosthenes, the leader of the synagogue, andbeganbeating him right in front of the judgment seat; but Gallio paid no attention to any of this.

18 Paul stayed for a while longer, and then told thebrothers and sisters goodbye and sailed for Syria; and he was accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchrea [the southeastern port of Corinth] he had his hair cut, because he was keeping a [Nazirite] vow [of abstention].

19 Then they arrived in Ephesus, and he left the others there; but he entered the synagogue and reasonedanddebated with the Jews.

20 When they asked him to stay for a longer time, he refused;

21 but after telling them goodbye and saying, “I will return again if God is willing,” he set sail from Ephesus.

22 When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up andgreeted the church [at Jerusalem], and then went down to Antioch.

Paul’s Third Missionary Journey

23 After spending some timethere,he left and traveled through the territory of Galatia and Phrygia, strengtheningandencouraging all the disciples.

24 Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquentandcultured man, and well versed in the [Hebrew] Scriptures.

25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and being spiritually impassioned, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things about Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John;

26 and he began to speak boldlyandfearlessly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained more accurately to him the way of God [and the full story of the life of Christ].

27 And when Apollos wanted to go across to Achaia (southern Greece), the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples, [urging them] to welcome him gladly. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who, through grace, had believedandhad followed Jesus as Lord and Savior,

28 for he powerfully refuted the Jews in publicdiscussions,proving by the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed).

Paul at Ephesus

1 It happened that while Apollos was in Corinth, Paul went through the upper [inland] districts and came down to Ephesus, and found some disciples.

2 He asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed [in Jesus as the Christ]?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

3 And he asked, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.”

4 Paul said, “John performed a baptism of repentance,continuallytelling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, [to confidently accept and joyfully believe] in Jesus [the Messiah and Savior].”

5 After hearing this, they were baptized [again, this time] in the name of the Lord Jesus.

6 And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and theybeganspeaking in [unknown] tongues (languages) and prophesying.

7 There were about twelve men in all.

8 And he went into the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoningandarguing and persuadingthemabout the kingdom of God.

9 But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient [to the word of God], discreditingandspeaking evil ofthe Way (Jesus, Christianity) before the congregation, Paul left them, taking the disciples with him, and went on holdingdaily discussions in the lecture hall of Tyrannus [instead of in the synagogue].

10 This continued for two years, so that all the inhabitants of [the west coast province of] Asia [Minor], Jews as well as Greeks, heard the word of the Lord [concerning eternal salvation through faith in Christ].

Miracles at Ephesus

11 God was doing extraordinaryandunusual miracles by the hands of Paul,

12 so that even handkerchiefsorface-towels or aprons that had touched his skin were brought to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out [of them].

13 Then some of the traveling Jewish exorcists also attempted to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I implore youandsolemnly command you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches!”

14 Seven sons of one [named] Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.

15 But the evil spirit retorted, “I knowandrecognizeandacknowledge Jesus, and I know about Paul, but as for you, who are you?”

16 Then the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaped on them and subduedall of them and overpowered them, so that they ran out of that house [in terror, stripped] naked and wounded.

17 This became known to all who lived in Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnifiedandexalted.

18 Many of those who had become believers were coming, confessing and disclosing their [former sinful] practices.

19 And many of those who had practiced magical arts collected their books and [throwing book after book on the pile] began burning them in front of everyone. They calculated their value and found it to be50,000 pieces of silver.

20 So the word of the Lord [concerning eternal salvation through faith in Christ] was growing greatly and prevailing.

21 Now after these events, Paul determined in the Spirit that he would travel throughMacedonia and Achaia (most of the Greek mainland), and go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome [and preach the good news of salvation].”

22 And after sending two of his assistants, Timothy andErastus, to Macedonia [ahead of him], he stayed on in [the west coast province of] Asia [Minor] for a while.

23 About that time there occurred no small disturbance concerning the Way (Jesus, Christianity).

24 Now a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of [the goddess] Artemis (Diana), was bringing no small profit to the craftsmen.

25 These [craftsmen] he called together, along with the workmen of similartrades,and said, “Men, you are well aware that we make a good living from this business.

26 You see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but almost all over [the province of] Asia, this Paul has persuaded [people to believe his teaching] and has misled a large number of people, claiming that gods made by [human] hands are notreallygodsat all.

27 Not only is there danger that this trade of ours will be discredited, but also that the [magnificent]temple of the great goddessArtemis will be discredited, and that she whom all Asia and the world worship will even be dethronedandlose her glorious magnificence.”

28 When they heard this, they were filled with rage, and theybeganshouting, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

29 Then the city was filled with confusion; and people rushed together [as a group] into the amphitheater, dragging along with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul’s traveling companions.

30 Paul wanted to go into the [pagan] assembly, but the disciples would not let him.

31 Even some of the Asiarchs (officials) who were his friends sentwordto him and repeatedly warned him not to venture into the amphitheater.

32 Now some shouted one thing and some another, for the gathering was in confusion and most of the people did not knowwhy they had come together.

33 Some of the crowd advised Alexander [to speak], since the Jews had pushed him forward; and Alexander motioned with his hand [for attention] and intended to make a defense to the people.

34 But when they realized that he was a Jew, a single outcry went up from the crowd as they shouted for about two hours, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

35 After the townclerk had quieted the crowd, he said, “Men of Ephesus, what person is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of that [sacred stone image of her] which fell from the sky?

36 So, since these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quietandstay calm and not do anything rash.

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

38 So then, if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are in session and proconsuls areavailable;let them bring charges against one another there.

39 But if you want anything beyond this, it will be settled in the lawful assembly.

40 For we are running the risk of being accused of rioting in regard to today’s events, and since there is no reason for it, we will be unable to give an accountandjustify this disorderly gathering.”

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

Paul in Macedonia and Greece

1 After the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples, and when he had encouraged them he told them goodbye, and set off to go toMacedonia.

2 After he had gone through those districts and had encouraged the believers, he came to Greece.

3 And he stayed three months, and when a plot was formed against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia (northern Greece).

4 He was accompanied by Sopater of Berea,the sonof Pyrrhus, and by Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and by Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia.

5 These men went on ahead and were waiting for us (including Luke) at Troas.

6 We sailed from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread (Passover week), and within five days we reached them at Troas, where we stayed for seven days.

7 Now on the first day of the week (Sunday), when we were gathered together to break bread (share communion), Paulbegantalking with them, intending to leave the next day; and he kept on with his message until midnight.

8 Now there were many lamps in the upper room where we were assembled,

9 and there was a young man named Eutychus (“Lucky”) sitting on the window sill. He was sinking into a deep sleep, and as Paulkept on talking longer and longer, he was completely overcome by sleep and fell down from the third story; and he was picked up dead.

10 But Paul went down and threw himself on him and embraced him, and said [to those standing around him], “Do not be troubled, becausehe is alive.”

11 When Paul had gone back upstairs and had broken the bread and eaten, he talked [informally and confidentially] with them for a long time–until daybreak [in fact]–and then he left.

12 They took the boy [Eutychus] home alive, and were greatly comfortedandencouraged.

Troas to Miletus

13 But we went on ahead to the ship and set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul on board there; for that was what he had arranged, intending himself to go [a shorter route] by land.

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

15 Sailing from there, we arrived the next day [at a point] opposite Chios; the following day we crossed over to Samos, and the next day we arrived at Miletus [about 30 miles south of Ephesus].

16 Paul had decided to sail on past Ephesus so that he would not end up spending time [unnecessarily] in [the province of] Asia (modern Turkey); for he was in a hurry to be in Jerusalem, if possible, on the day ofPentecost.

Farewell to Ephesus

17 However, from Miletus he sentwordto Ephesus and summoned the elders of the church [to meet him there].

18 And when they arrived he said to them:

“You know well how I [lived when I] was with you, from the first day that I set foot in Asia [until now],

19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and trials which came on me because of the plots of the Jews [against me];

20 [you know] how I did not shrink back in fear from telling you anything that was for your benefit, or from teaching you in public meetings, and from house to house,

21 solemnly [and wholeheartedly] testifying to both Jews and Greeks, urging them to turn in repentance to God and [to have] faith in our Lord Jesus Christ [for salvation].

22 And now, compelled by the Spiritandobligated by my convictions, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there,

23 except that the Holy Spirit solemnly [and emphatically] affirms to me in city after city that imprisonment and suffering await me.

24 But I do not consider my life as something of valueordear to me, so that I may [with joy] finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify faithfully of the good news of God’s [precious, undeserved] grace [which makes us free of the guilt of sin and grants us eternal life].

25 “And now, listen carefully: I know that none of you, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom,will see me again.

26 For that reason I testify to you on this [our parting] day that I am innocent of the blood of all people.

27 For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purposeandplan of God.

28 Take careandbe on guard for yourselves and for the whole flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to shepherd (tend, feed, guide) the church of God which He bought with His own blood.

29 I know that after I am gone, [false teachers like] ferocious wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;

30 even from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverseanddistorted things, to draw away the disciples after themselves [as their followers].

31 Therefore becontinuallyalert, remembering that for three years, night or day, I did not stop admonishingandadvising each one [of you] with tears.

32 And now I commend you to God [placing you in His protective, loving care] and [I commend you] to the word of His grace [the counsel and promises of His unmerited favor]. His grace is able to build you up and to give you the [rightful] inheritance among all those who are sanctified [that is, among those who are set apart for God’s purpose–all believers].

33 I had no desire for anyone’s silver or gold or [expensive] clothes.

34 You know personally that these hands ministered to my own needs [working in manual labor] and to [those of] the people who were with me.

35 In everything I showed you [by example] that by working hard in this way you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said,‘It is more blessed[and brings greater joy]to give than to receive.’”

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

37 Andtheybeganto weep openly and threw their arms around Paul’s neck, and repeatedly kissed him,

38 grievinganddistressed especially over the word which he had spoken, that they would not see him again. And they accompanied him to the ship.

Paul Sails from Miletus

1 When we had torn ourselves away from them and set sail, we ran a straight course and came to Cos, and on the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara;

2 and after finding a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we went on board and set sail.

3 After we came in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on our left (port side), we sailed on to Syria and put in at Tyre; for there the ship was to unload her cargo.

4 After looking up the disciples [in Tyre], we stayed there [with them] seven days; and they kept telling Paul through the [Holy] Spiritnot to set foot in Jerusalem.

5 When our days there came to an end, we left and proceeded on our journey, while all of the disciples, with their wives and children, escorted us on our way untilwe wereoutside the city. After kneeling down on the beach and praying, we told one another goodbye.

6 Then we boarded the ship, and they returned to their homes.

7 When we had completed the voyage from Tyre, we landed [twenty miles to the south] at Ptolemais, and after greeting thebelievers, we stayed with them for one day.

8 On the next day we left and came to Caesarea, and we went to the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven [deacons], and stayed with him.

9 He had four virgin daughters who had the gift of prophecy.

10 As we were staying there for some time, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.

11 And coming to [see] us, he took Paul’s [wide]band (belt, sash) and bound his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this same way the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this band, and they will hand him over to the Gentiles (pagans).’”

12 Now when we had heard this, both we and the local residentsbeganpleading with Paul trying to persuade him not to go up to Jerusalem.

13 Then Paul replied, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart [like this]? For I am ready not only to be boundandimprisoned, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

14 And since he would not be dissuaded, we stopped pleadingandfell silent, saying, “The Lord’s will be done!”

Paul at Jerusalem

15 After this we got ready and started on our way up to Jerusalem.

16 Some of the disciples from Caesarea also came with us, taking us to [the house of] Mnason, a man from Cyprus, a disciple of long standing with whom we were to lodge.

17 When we arrived in Jerusalem, thebrothers and sisters welcomed us gladly.

18 On the next day Paul went with us to [see]James, and all the eldersof the churchwere present.

19 After greeting them, Paulbeganto give a detailed account of the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.

20 And when they heard it, theybeganglorifyingandpraising God; and they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands of believers there are among the Jews, and they are all enthusiastic supporters of the Law [of Moses].

21 Now they have been told about you, that you are teaching all the Jews who arelivingamong the Gentiles to turn away from [the Law of] Moses, advising them not to circumcise their children or to live according to the [Mosaic] customs.

22 What then should be done? They will certainly hear that you have arrived.

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

24 take these men and purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses [for the temple offerings] so that they may shave their heads. Then everyone will know that there is nothing to the things they have been told about you, but that you yourself also follow and keep the Law.

25 But with regard to the Gentiles who have believed [in Christ], we have sent them a letter with our decision that they should abstain from meat sacrificed to idols and from [consuming] blood and from [the meat of] what has been strangled and from sexual immorality.”

26 Then Paul took the [four] men, and the next day he purified himself along with them [by submitting to the ritual]. He went into the temple to give notice of [the time] when the days of purification [ending each vow] would be fulfilled and the usual offering could be presented on behalf of each one.

Paul Seized in the Temple

27 When the seven days [required to complete the ritual] were almost over, [some] Jews from [the province of] Asia [Minor], caught sight of him in the temple, andbeganto stir up the crowd, and they seized him,

28 shouting, “Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against our people and the Law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.”

29 For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with Paul, and they assumed that he had brought the man into the temple [beyond the court of the Gentiles].

30 Then the whole city was provokedandconfused, and the people rushed together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the gates were closed.

31 Now while they were trying to kill him, word came to the commander of the [Roman] garrison that all Jerusalem was in a state of upheaval.

32 So he immediately took soldiers and centurions and ran down among them. When the people saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.

33 Then the commander came up and arrested Paul, and ordered that he be bound with two chains. Then he asked who he was and what he had done.

34 But some in the crowd were shouting one thing and others something else; and since he could not determine the facts because of the uproar, he ordered that Paul be taken to the barracks [in the tower of Antonia].

35 When Paul got to the steps, he was carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob;

36 for the majority of the people kept following them, shouting, “Away with him! [Kill him!]”

37 Just as Paul was about to be taken into the barracks, he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?” And the man replied, “Do you know Greek?

38 Then you are not [as I assumed] the Egyptian whosome time ago stirred up a rebellion and led those 4,000 men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?”

39 Paul said, “I am a Jew fromTarsus in Cilicia (Mersin Province, Turkey), a citizen of no insignificant city; and I beg you, allow me to speak to the people.”

40 When the commander had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, gestured with his hand to the people; and when there was a great hush, he spoke to them in the Hebrew dialect (Jewish Aramaic), saying,

Paul’s Defense before the Jews

1 “Brethren and fathers (kinsmen), hear my defense which I now offer to you.”

2 When they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew dialect, they became even more quiet. And he continued,

3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet ofGamaliel according to the strictness of the law of our fathers, being ardentandpassionate for God just as all of you are today.

4 I persecutedandpursued the followers of thisWay to the death, binding them with chains and putting [followers of Jesus] both men and women into prisons,

5 as the high priest and all the Council of the elders (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) can testify; because from them I received letters to the brothers, and I was on my way to Damascus in order to bring those [believers] who were there to Jerusalem in chains to be punished.

6 “But as I was on my way, approaching Damascus about noontime, a great blaze of light suddenly flashed from heavenandshone around me.

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

8 And I replied, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me,‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.’

9 Now those who were with mesaw the light, but did not understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me.

10 And I asked, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord answered me,‘Get up and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that is appointedanddestined for you to do.’

11 But since I could not see because of the [glorious intensity and dazzling] brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me and came into Damascus.

12 “And one Ananias, a devout man according tothe standard of the Law, and well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there,

13 came to [see] me, and standing near, he said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ And at that very moment I [recovered my sight and] looked up at him.

14 And he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will, [and to progressively understand His plan with clarity and power] and to see the Righteous One [Jesus Christ, the Messiah] and to hear a message from His [own] mouth.

15 ~‘For you will be His witness to all mentestifyingof what you have seen and heard.

16 ~‘Now, why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins by calling on His name [for salvation].’

17 “Then it happened when I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple [enclosure], that I fell into a trance (vision);

18 and I saw Him saying to me,‘Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about Me.’

19 And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know [without any doubt] that in one synagogue after another I used to imprison and beat those who believed in You [and Your message of salvation].

20 ~‘And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was being shed, I also was standing nearby approvingandconsenting [to his death], and guarding the coats of those who were killing him.’

21 And the Lord said to me,‘Go, I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”

22 They listened to Paul until [he made] this [last] statement, but now they raised their voices and shouted, “Away with such a man from the earth! He is not fit to live!”

23 And as they were shouting and throwing off their coats [getting ready to stone Paul] and tossing dust into the air [expressing their anger],

24 the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks, stating that he was to beinterrogated with a whip in order to learn why the people were shouting against him that way.

25 But when they had stretched him outwith theleatherstraps [in preparation for the whip], Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it legal for you to whip a man who is a Romancitizenand uncondemned [without a trial]?”

26 When the centurion heardthis,he went to the commander and said to him, “What are you about to do? This man is aRoman!”

27 So the commander came and asked Paul, “Tell me, are you a Roman?” And he said, “Yes.”

28 The commander replied, “Ipurchased this citizenship [of mine] for a large sum of money [so how did you acquire yours?].” Paul said, “But I was actually born acitizen.”

29 So those who were about to interrogate himby tortureimmediately let him go; and the commander was also afraid when he realized that Paul was a Roman and he had put him in chains.

30 But on the next day, wanting to know the real reason why Paul was being accused by the Jews, he released him and ordered the chief priests and the whole Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) to assemble; and brought Paul down and presented him before them.

Paul before the Council

1 Then Paul, looking intently at the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court), said, “Kinsmen, I have lived my life before God with a perfectly good conscience until this very day.”

2 [At this] the high priestAnanias ordered those who stood beside him to strike Paul on the mouth.

3 Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, youwhitewashed wall! Do you actually sit to judge me according to the Law, and yet in violation of the Law order me to be struck?”

4 But those who stood near Paul said, “Are you insulting the high priest of God?”

5 Paul said, “I was not aware, brothers, that he washigh priest; for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”

6 But recognizing that one group were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, Paulbeganaffirming loudly in the Councilchamber,“Kinsmen, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead!”

7 When he said this, an angry dispute erupted between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the [whole crowded] assembly was divided [into two factions].

8 For the Sadducees say that there is no [such thing as a] resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit, but the Pharisees [speak out freely and] acknowledge [their belief in] them all.

9 Then a great uproar occurred, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ party stood up andbeganto argue heatedly [in Paul’s favor], saying, “We find nothing wrong with this man; suppose a spirit or an angel has [really] spoken to him?”

10 And as the dissension became even greater, the commander, fearing that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, ordered the troops to go down and forcibly take him from them, and bring him to the barracks.

11 On the following night the Lord stood near Paul and said,“Be brave; for as you have solemnlyandfaithfully witnessed about Me at Jerusalem, so you must also testify at Rome.”

A Conspiracy to Kill Paul

12 Now when day came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under an oath (curse), saying that they would not eat or drink until they had killed Paul.

13 There were more than forty [men] who formed this plot [and swore this oath].

14 They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves under a solemn oath not to taste anything [neither food nor drink] until we have killed Paul.

15 So now you, along with the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court), notify the commander to bring Paul down to you, as if you were going to investigate his case more thoroughly. But we are ready to kill him before he comes near [the place].”

16 But the son of Paul’s sister heard of their [planned] ambush, and he went to the barracks and told Paul.

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

18 So he took him and led him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner called for me and asked me to bring this young man to you, because he has something to tell you.”

19 The commander took him by the hand and stepping aside,beganto ask him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?”

20 And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) tomorrow, as if they were going to interrogate him more thoroughly.

21 But do not listen to them, for more than forty of them are lying in wait for him, and they have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him. Even now they are ready, just waiting for your promise.”

22 So the commander let the young man leave, instructing him, “Do not tell anyone that you have given me this information.”

Paul Moved to Caesarea Maritima

23 Then summoning two of the centurions, he said, “Have two hundred soldiers ready by the third hour of the night (9:00 p.m.) to go as far asCaesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundredspearmen;

24 also provide mounts for Paul to ride, and bring him safely toFelix the governor.”

25 And [after instructing the centurions] he wrote a letter to this effect:

26

“Claudius Lysias, to the most excellent governor Felix, greetings.

27

This man was seized [as a prisoner] by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, when I came upon him with the troops and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman citizen.

28

And wanting to know theexactcharge which they were making against him, I brought him down to their Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court);

29

and I discovered that he was accused in regard to questionsandissues in their Law, but [he was] under no accusation that would call for the penalty of death or [even] for imprisonment.

30

When I was told that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you immediately, also directing his accusers to bring their charges against him before you.”

31 So the soldiers, in compliance with their orders, took Paul and brought him to Antipatris during the night.

32 And the next day, leaving the horsemen to go on with him, they returned to the barracks.

33 When these [horsemen] reached Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor, and also presented Paul to him.

34 After reading the letter, he asked which province Paul was from, and when he learned that he was from Cilicia [an imperial province],

35 he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers have arrived,” giving orders that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s Praetorium (the governor’s official residence).

Paul before Felix

1 Five days later, the high priest Ananias came down [from Jerusalem to Caesarea] with some elders and an attorneynamedTertullus [acting as spokesman and counsel]. They presented to the governor their [formal] charges against Paul.

2 After Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began the complaint [against him], sayingto the governor:

“Since through you we have attained great peace, and since by your foresight reforms are being carried out for this nation,

3 in every way and in every place, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with all gratitude.

4 But so that I do not weary you further, I beg you to grant us, by your kindness, a brief hearing.

5 For we have found this man to be a public menace and one whoinstigates dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the [heretical]sect of the Nazarenes.

6 He even tried to desecrate the temple, but we took him into custody[and we intended to judge him by our Law,

7 but Lysias the commander came, and with great force took him out of our hands,

8 and ordered his accusers to come before you.] By interrogating him yourself concerning all these matters you will be able to determine [the truth about] these things with which we charge him.”

9 The Jews also joined in the attack, declaringandinsisting that these things were so.

10 When the governor nodded for him to speak, Paul answered,

“Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I make my defense cheerfullyandwith good courage.

11 As you can easily verify, it has been no more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship.

12 Neither in the temple, nor in the synagogues, norelsewherein the city did they find me carrying on a discussionordisputing with anybody or causing a crowd to gather.

13 Nor can they present evidence to you to prove what they now bring against me.

14 But I confess this to you, that according tothe Way, which they call a [divisive and heretical] sect, I do worshipandserve the God of our fathers, [confidently] believing everything that is in accordance with the Law [of Moses] and that is written in the Prophets;

15 having [the same] hope in God which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of [the dead], both of the righteous and of the wicked.

16 In view of this, I also do my bestandstrive always to have a clear conscience before God and before men.

17 Now after several years I came [to Jerusalem] to bring to my people charitable contributions and offerings.

18 They found me in the temple presenting theseofferings, after I had undergone [the rites of] purification, without any crowd or uproar. Butthere weresome Jews from [the west coast province of] Asia [Minor],

19 who ought to have been here before you to present their charges, if they have anything against me.

20 Or else let these men tell what crime they found [me guilty of] when I stood before the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court),

21 other than for this one statement which I had shouted out as I stood among them, ‘For the resurrection of the dead I am on trial before you today.’”

22 But Felix, having a rather accurate understanding about the Way, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case.”

23 Then he ordered the centurion to keep Paul in custody, but to let him have some freedom, and [he told the centurion] not to stop any of his friends from providing for his needs.

24 Several days later Felix came with his wifeDrusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him talk about faith in Christ Jesus.

25 But as he was discussing righteousness, self-control [honorable behavior, personal integrity], and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for now, and when I find [a convenient] time I will send for you.”

26 At the same time he was also hoping to get money from Paul [as a bribe]; so he continued to send for him quite often and talked with him.

27 But after two years had passed, Felix was succeeded [in office] byPorcius Festus; and wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul imprisoned.

Paul before Festus

1 Now Festus arrived in the province, and three days later he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea [Maritima].

2 And [there in Jerusalem] the chief priests and the leading men of the Jews brought charges against Paul [before Festus], and they repeatedly pleaded with him,

3 asking as a concession against Paul, that he would have him brought to Jerusalem; (meanwhileplanning an ambush to kill him on the way).

4 Festus answered that Paul was being held in custody in Caesarea [Maritima] and that he himself was about to leave shortly.

5 “So,” he said, “let those who are in a position of authority among you go there with me, and if there is anything criminal about the man, let them bring charges against him.”

6 Now after Festus had spent no more than eight or ten days among them, he went down to Caesarea, and on the next day he took his seat on the tribunal (the judicial bench), and ordered Paul to be brought [before him].

7 After Paul arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges against him which they were not able to prove,

8 while Paul declared in his own defense, “I have done no wrongandcommitted no offense either against the Law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar.”

9 But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial there in my presence [before the Jewish Sanhedrin] on thesecharges?”

10 Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, as you also very well know.

11 Therefore, if I am guilty and have committed anything worthy of death, I do not try to escape death; but if there is nothing to the accusations which these men are bringing against me, no one can hand me over to them. Iappeal to Caesar (Emperor Nero).”

12 Then Festus, after conferring with [the men who formed] his council, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you shall go.”

13 Now several days later,Agrippa [II] the king andBernice [his sister] arrived at Caesarea and paid their respects to Festus [the new governor].

14 While they were spending many days there, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying, “There is a man here who was left as a prisoner by Felix.

15 When I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews [told me about him and] brought charges against him, petitioning for a sentence of condemnation against him.

16 I told them that it was not the custom of the Romans to hand over any man [for punishment] before the accused meets his accusers face to face and has the opportunity to defend himself against the charges.

17 So after they arrived together here, I did not delay, but on the next day took my place on the tribunal and ordered that the man be brought before me.

18 When his accusers stood up, they brought no charges against him of crimes that I was expecting [neither civil nor criminal actions],

19 instead they had some points of disagreement with him about their ownreligion and about one Jesus, a man who had died, but whom Paul kept assertingandinsisting [over and over] to be alive.

20 And I, being at a loss as to how to investigate these things, asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding these matters.

21 But when Paul appealed to be held in custody for a decision by the Emperor [Nero], I ordered him to be kept in custody until Icouldsend him to Caesar.”

22 Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” Festus replied, “you will hear him.”

Paul before Agrippa

23 So the next day Agrippa and [his sister] Bernice came with great pageantry, and they went into the auditorium accompanied by the military commanders and the prominent men of the city. At the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.

24 Then Festus said, “King Agrippa and all you gentlemen present with us, you see this man [Paul] about whom all the Jewish people appealed to me, both at Jerusalem and here, loudly insisting that he ought not to live any longer.

25 But I found that he had done nothing worthy of death; however, since he appealed to the Emperor [Nero], I decided to send him [to Rome].

26 But I have nothing specific about him to write to my lord. So I have brought him beforeall ofyou, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the investigation has taken place, I will have something to put in writing.

27 For it seems absurdandunreasonable to me to send a prisoner [to Rome] without indicating the charges against him.”

Paul’s Defense before Agrippa

1 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You are [now] permitted to speak on your own behalf.” At that, Paul stretched out his hand [as an orator] and made his defense [as follows]:

2 “I consider myself fortunate, King Agrippa, since it is before you that I am to make my defense today regarding all the charges brought against me by the Jews,

3 especially because you are an expert [fully knowledgeable, experienced and unusually conversant] in all the Jewish customs and controversial issues; therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.

4 “So then, all the Jews know my manner of life from my youth up, which from the beginning was spent among my own nation [the Jewish people], and in Jerusalem.

5 They have known me for a long time, if they are willing to testify to it, that according to thestrictest sect of our religion, I have lived as a Pharisee.

6 And now I am standing trial for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers.

7 Which hope [of the Messiah and the resurrection] our twelve tribes [confidently] expect to realize as they serveandworshipGodin earnest night and day. And for this hope, O King, I am being accused by Jews!

8 Why is it thought incredible by [any of] you that God raises the dead?

9 “So then, I [once] thought to myself that it was my duty to do many things in opposition to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

10 And this is just what I did in Jerusalem; I not only locked up many of the saints (God’s people) in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but also when they were being condemned to death, Icast my vote against them.

11 And I often punished them [making them suffer] in all the synagogues and tried to force them to blaspheme; and in my extreme rage at them, I kept hunting them even to foreign cities [harassing and persecuting them].

12 “While so engaged, as I was traveling to Damascus with the authority and commissionandfull power of the chief priests,

13 at midday, O King, I saw on the way a light from heaven surpassing the brightness of the sun, shining all around me and those who were traveling with me.

14 And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice in the Hebrew dialect (Jewish Aramaic) saying to me,‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?It is hard for you to kick[repeatedly]against thegoads[offering pointless resistance].’

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

16 ~‘Get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you[to serve]as a minister and as a witness[to testify, with authority,]not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you,

17 [choosing you for Myself and]rescuing you from theJewishpeople and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you,

18 to open their[spiritual]eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgivenessandrelease from their sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified (set apart, made holy) by faith in Me.’

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

20 but I openly proclaimed first to those at Damascus, then at Jerusalem and throughout the region of Judea, andevento the Gentiles, that they should repent [change their inner self–their old way of thinking] and turn to God, doing deedsandliving lives which are consistent with repentance.

21 Because of thissomeJews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.

22 But I have had help from God to this day, and I stand [before people] testifying to small and great alike, stating nothing except what the Prophets and Moses said would come to pass–

23 that the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed) was to suffer, and that He by being the first to rise from the dead [with an incorruptible body] would proclaim light (salvation) both to theJewishpeople and to the Gentiles.”

24 While Paul was making this defense, Festus said loudly, “Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great education is turning you toward madness.”

25 But Paul replied, “I am not out of my mind, most excellentandnoble Festus, but [with a sound mind] I am uttering rational words of truthandreason.

26 For [your majesty] the king understands these things, and [therefore] I am also speaking to him with confidenceandboldness, since I am convinced that none of these things escape his notice; for this has not been done in a corner [hidden from view, in secret].

27 King Agrippa, do you believe the [writings of the] Prophets [their messages and words]? I know that you do.”

28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time [and with so little effort] you [almost] persuade me to become a Christian.”

29 And Paul replied, “Whether in a short time or long, I wish to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become such as I am, except for these chains.”

30 Then the king stood up, and [with him] the governor and Bernice, and those who were sitting with them;

31 and after they had gone out, theybegansaying to one another, “This man is not doing anything worthy of death or [even] of imprisonment.”

32 And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed toCaesar (Emperor Nero).”

Paul Is Sent to Rome

1 Now when it was determined thatwe (including Luke) would sail for Italy, they turned Paul and some other prisoners over to a centurion of the Augustan Regiment named Julius.

2 And going aboard a ship from Adramyttian which was about to sail for the ports along the [west] coast [province] of Asia [Minor], we put out to sea; and Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, accompanied us.

3 The next day we landed at Sidon; and Julius, treating Paul with [thoughtful] consideration, allowed him to go to his friendsthereand be cared forandrefreshed.

4 From there we put out to sea and sailed to the leeward (sheltered) side of Cyprus [for protection from weather] because the winds were against us.

5 When we had sailed across the sea along the coasts of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we landed at Myra in Lycia [on the south coast of Asia Minor].

6 There the centurion [Julius] found an Alexandrian ship [a grain ship of the Roman fleet] sailing for Italy, and he put us aboard it.

7 For a number of days we sailed slowly and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus; then, because the wind did not allow us to go farther, we sailed under the leeward (sheltered) side of Crete, off Salmone;

8 and hugging the shore with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea [on the south side of Crete].

9 Now much time had been lost, andnavigation was dangerous, because even [the time for] the fast (Day of Atonement) was already over, so Paulbeganto strongly warn them,

10 saying, “Men, I sense [after careful thought and observation] that this voyage will certainly be a disaster and with great loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.”

11 However, the centurion [Julius, ranking officer on board] was persuaded by the pilot and the owner of the ship rather than by what Paul said.

12 Because the harbor was not well situated for wintering, the majority [of the sailors] decided to put to sea from there, hoping somehow to reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete facing southwest and northwest, and spend the winterthere.

13 So when the south wind blew softly, thinking that they had obtained their goal, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, hugging the coast.

Shipwreck

14 But soon afterward a violent wind, called Euraquilo [a northeaster, a tempestuous windstorm like a typhoon], came rushing down from the island;

15 and when the ship was caught in it and could not head against the wind [to gain stability], we gave up and [letting her drift] were driven along.

16 We ran under the shelter of a small island [twenty-five miles south of Crete] called Clauda, and with great difficulty we were able to get theship’sskiff on the deckandsecure it.

17 After hoisting the skiff [on board], they usedsupport lines [for frapping] to undergirdandbrace the ship’s hull; and fearing that they might run aground onthe shallows ofSyrtis [off the north coast of Africa], they let down thesea anchorandlowered the sails and were driven along [backwards with the bow into the wind].

18 On the next day, as we were being violently tossed about by the storm [and taking on water], they began to jettison the cargo;

19 and on the third day they threw the ship’s tackle (spare lines, blocks, miscellaneous equipment) overboard with their own hands [to further reduce the weight].

20 Since neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small storm kept raging about us, from then on all hope of our being saved was [growing worse and worse and] gradually abandoned.

21 Afterthey had gone a long time without food [because of seasickness and stress], Paul stood up before them and said, “Men, you should have followed my advice and should not have set sail from Crete, and brought on this damage and loss.

22 Butevennow I urge you to keep up your courageandbe in good spirits, because there will be no loss of life among you, butonly lossof the ship.

23 For this very night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood before me,

24 and said, ‘Stop being afraid, Paul. You must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has given you [the lives of] all those who are sailing with you.’

25 So keep up your courage, men, for I believe Godandhave complete confidence in Him that it will turn out exactly as I have been told;

26 but we must run [the ship] aground on some island.”

27 The fourteenth night had come and we were driftingandbeing driven about in theAdriatic Sea, when about midnight the sailorsbeganto suspect that they were approaching some land.

28 So they took soundings [using a weighted line] and found [the depth to be] twenty fathoms (120 feet); and a little farther on they sounded again and found [the depth to be] fifteen fathoms (90 feet).

29 Then fearing that we might run aground somewhere on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern [to slow the ship] and kept wishing for daybreak to come.

30 But as the sailors were trying to escape [secretly] from the ship and had let down the skiff into the sea, pretending that they were going to lay out anchors from the bow,

31 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men remain on the ship, you cannot be saved.”

32 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes that held the skiff and let it fallanddrift away.

33 While they waited for the day to dawn, Paul encouraged them all [and told them] to have some food, saying, “This is the fourteenth day that you have been constantly on watch and going without food, having eaten nothing.

34 So I urge you to eat some food, for this is for your survival; for not a hair from the head of any of you will perish.”

35 Having said this, he took bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all, and he broke it and began to eat.

36 Then all of them were encouragedandtheir spirits improved, and they also ate some food.

37 All told there were two hundred and seventy-six of us aboard the ship.

38 After they had eaten enough, theybeganto lighten the ship by throwing thewheat [from Egypt] overboard into the sea.

39 When day came, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a bay with a beach, and they decided to run the ship ashore there if they could.

40 So they cut the cablesandsevered the anchors and left them in the sea while at the same timeunlashing the ropes of the rudders; and after hoisting the foresail to the wind, they headed steadily for the beach.

41 But striking areef with waves breaking in on either side, they ran the ship aground. The prow (forward point) stuck fast and remained immovable, while the sternbeganto break up under the [violent] forceof the waves.

42 The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, so that none of them would dive overboardandswim [to land] and escape;

43 but the centurion, wanting to save Paul, kept them from [carrying out] their plan. He commanded those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to the shore;

44 and [he commanded] the restto follow, some on [floating] planks, and others on various things from the ship. And so it was that all of them were brought safely to land.