Acts 16 Cross References - Twentieth_Century

¹ Among other places Paul went to Derbe and Lystra. At the latter place they found a disciple, named Timothy, whose mother was a Jewess who had become a believer in Christ, while his father was a Greek, ² And who was well spoken of by the Brethren in Lystra and Iconium. ³ Wishing to take this man with him on his journey, Paul caused him to be circumcised on account of the Jews in that neighborhood, for they all knew that his father had been a Greek. ⁴ As they traveled from town to town, they gave the Brethren the decisions which had been reached by the Apostles and Officers of the Church at Jerusalem, for them to observe. ⁵ So the Churches grew stronger in the Faith, and increased in numbers from day to day. ⁶ They next went through the Phrygian district of Galatia, but were restrained by the Holy Spirit from delivering the Message in Roman Asia. ⁷ When they reached the borders of Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them. ⁸ Passing through Mysia, they went down to Troas; ⁹ And there one night Paul saw a vision. A Macedonian was standing and appealing to him--'Come over to Macedonia and help us.' ¹⁰ So, immediately after Paul had seen the vision, we looked for an opportunity to cross over to Macedonia, concluding that God had summoned us to tell the Good News to the people there. ¹¹ Accordingly we set sail from Troas, and ran before the wind to Samothrace, reaching Neapolis the next day. ¹² From there we made our way to Philippi, which is the principal city of that part of Macedonia, and also a Roman Settlement. In that city we spent several days. ¹³ On the Sabbath we went outside the gate to the river-side, where we supposed there would be a Place of Prayer; and we sat down and talked to the women who were gathered there. ¹⁴ Among them was a woman, named Lydia, belonging to Thyatira, a dealer in purple cloth, who was accustomed to join in the worship of God. The Lord touched this woman's heart, so that she gave attention to the Message delivered by Paul, ¹⁵ And, when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us to become her guests. "Since you have shown your conviction," she said, "that I really am a believer in the Lord, come and stay in my house." And she insisted on our doing so. ¹⁶ One day, as we were on our way to the Place of Prayer, we were met by a girl possessed by a divining spirit, who made large profits for her masters by fortune-telling. ¹⁷ This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, calling: "These men are servants of the most high God, and they are bringing you news of a way to Salvation." ¹⁸ She had been doing this for several days, when Paul, much vexed, turned and said to the spirit within her: "In the Name of Jesus Christ I command you to leave her." That very moment the spirit left her. ¹⁹ When her masters saw that there was no hope of further profit from her, they seized Paul and Silas, dragged them into the public square to the authorities, ²⁰ And took them before the Magistrates. "These men are causing a great disturbance in our town," they complained; ²¹ "They are Jews, and they are teaching customs which it is not right for us, as Romans, to sanction or adopt." ²² On this the mob rose as one man against them, and the Magistrates stripped them of their clothing and ordered them to be beaten with rods. ²³ After beating them severely, the Magistrates put them in prison, with orders to the Governor of the Jail to keep them in safe custody. ²⁴ On receiving so strict an order, the Governor put them into the inner cell, and secured their feet in the stocks. ²⁵ About midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and while the prisoners were listening to them, ²⁶ Suddenly there was an earthquake of such violence that the Jail was shaken to its foundations; all the doors flew open, and all the prisoners' chains were loosened. ²⁷ Roused from his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, the Governor drew his sword intending to kill himself, in the belief that the prisoners had escaped. ²⁸ But Paul called our loudly: "Do not harm yourself; we are all here." ²⁹ Calling for a light, the Governor rushed in, and flung himself trembling at the feet of Paul and Silas. ³⁰ Then he led them out, and said: "What must I do to be saved?" ³¹ "Believe in Jesus, our Lord," they replied, "and you shall be saved, you and your household too." ³² Then they spoke to him of God's Message, and to all his household as well. ³³ And that very hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds, and he himself and every one belonging to him were baptized without delay. ³⁴ Afterwards he took them up to his house and set before them something to eat, rejoicing that he, with all his household, had come to believe in God. ³⁵ In the morning the Magistrates sent the police with an order for the men to be discharged. ³⁶ The Governor of the Jail told Paul of his instructions. "The Magistrates have sent an order for your discharge," he said, "so you had better leave the place at once and go quietly away." ³⁷ But Paul's answer to them was: "They have flogged us in public without trial, though we are Roman citizens, and they have put us in prison, and now they are for sending us out secretly! No, indeed! Let them come and take us out themselves." ³⁸ The police reported his words to the Magistrates, who, on hearing that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, were alarmed, ³⁹ And went to the prison, and did their best to conciliate them. Then they took them out, and begged them to leave the city. ⁴⁰ When Paul and Silas left the prison, they went to Lydia's house, and, after they had seen the Brethren, and encouraged them, they left the place.

³ When King Herod heard of this, he was much troubled, and so, too, was all Jerusalem.

⁸ Let your life, then, prove your repentance;

¹ On seeing the crowds of People, Jesus went up the hill; and, when he had taken his seat, his disciples came up to him; ² And he began to teach them as follows:

⁷ Blessed are the merciful, for they shall find mercy.

¹⁰ Blessed are those who have been persecuted in the cause of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. ¹¹ Blessed are you when people taunt you, and persecute you, and say everything evil about you--untruly, and on my account.

⁴⁴ I, however, say to you--Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you,

¹³ Go in by the small gate. Broad and spacious is the road that leads to destruction, and those that go in by it are many; ¹⁴ For small is the gate, and narrow the road, that leads to Life, and those that find it are few.

²⁹ Suddenly they shrieked out: "What do you want with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before our time?"

³⁴ At the news the whole town went out to meet Jesus, and, when they saw him, they entreated him to go away from their neighborhood.

¹⁶ Remember, I am sending you out as my Messengers like sheep among wolves. So be as wise as serpents, and as blameless as doves.

¹⁶ Remember, I am sending you out as my Messengers like sheep among wolves. So be as wise as serpents, and as blameless as doves. ¹⁷ Be on your guard against your fellow men, for they will betray you to courts of law, and scourge you in their Synagogues;

¹⁷ Be on your guard against your fellow men, for they will betray you to courts of law, and scourge you in their Synagogues; ¹⁸ And you will be brought before governors and kings for my sake, that you may witness for me before them and the nations.

⁴¹ He who welcomes a Prophet, because he is a Prophet, shall receive a Prophet's reward; and he who welcomes a good man, because he is a good man, shall receive a good man's reward.

² such great crowds gathered round him, that he got into a boat, and sat in it, while all the people stood upon the beach.

⁵ Yet, though Herod wanted to put him to death, he was afraid of the people, because they looked on John as a Prophet.

⁴⁶ Yet, although eager to arrest him, they were afraid of the crowds, who regarded him as a Prophet.

¹⁶ They sent their disciples, with the Herodians, to say to him: "Teacher, we know that you are an honest man, and that you teach the way of God honestly, and are not afraid of any one; for you pay no regard to a man's position.

⁹ When that time comes, they will give you up to persecution, and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations on account of my Name.

³⁵ For, when I was hungry, you gave me food; when I was thirsty, you gave me drink; when I was a stranger, you took me to your homes; ³⁶ When I was naked, you clothed me; when I fell ill, you visited me; and when I was in prison, you came to me.' ³⁷ Then the Righteous will answer 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you? Or thirsty, and give you a drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger, and take you to our homes? Or naked, and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you ill, or in prison, and come to you?' ⁴⁰ And the King will reply 'I tell you, as often as you did it to one of these my Brothers, however lowly, you did it to me.'

³⁸ "I am sad at heart," he said, "sad even to death; wait here and watch with me." ³⁹ Going on a little further, he threw himself on his face in prayer. "My Father," he said, "if it is possible, let me be spared this cup; only, not as I will, but as thou willest."

⁴⁸ Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them. "The man whom I kiss," he had said, "will be the one; arrest him."

⁵ Judas flung down the pieces of silver in the Temple, and left; and went away and hanged himself.

²⁶ The Pilate released Barabbas to them; but Jesus he scourged, and gave him up to be crucified.

⁶³ "Sir, we remember that, during his lifetime, that impostor said 'I shall rise after three days.' ⁶⁴ So order the tomb to be made secure till the third day. Otherwise his disciples may come and steal him, and then say to the people 'He has risen from the dead,' when the latest imposture will be worse than the first." ⁶⁵ "You may have a guard," was Pilate's reply; "go and make the tomb as secure as you can." ⁶⁶ So they went made the tomb secure, by sealing the stone, in presence of the guard.

² When suddenly a great earthquake occurred. For an angel of the Lord descended from Heaven, and came and rolled away the stone, and seated himself upon it.

²⁴ "What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!" ²⁵ But Jesus rebuked the spirit: "Be silent! Come out from him." ²⁶ The foul spirit threw the man into a fit, and with a loud cry came out from him.

³⁴ Jesus cured many who were ill with various diseases, and drove out many demons, and would not permit them to speak, because they knew him to be the Christ.

⁷ Shrieking out in a loud voice: "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? For God's sake do not torment me!"

¹⁷ Upon which they began to beg Jesus to leave their neighborhood.

³⁴ "Daughter," he said, "your faith has delivered you. Go, and peace be with you; be free from your complaint."

²⁵ But, when Jesus saw that a crowd was quickly collecting, he rebuked the foul spirit: "Deaf and dumb spirit, it is I who command you. Come out from him and never enter him again." ²⁶ With a loud cry the spirit threw the boy into repeated convulsions, and then came out from him. The boy looked like a corpse, so that most of them said that he was dead.

¹⁴ These men came to him and said: "Teacher, we know that you are an honest man, and are not afraid of any one, for you pay no regard to a man's position, but teach the Way of God honestly; are we right in paying taxes to the Emperor, or not?

⁹ See to yourselves! They will betray you to courts of law; and you will be taken to Synagogues and beaten; and you will be brought up before governors and kings for my sake, that you may bear witness before them.

¹⁵ Then he said to them: "Go into all the world, and proclaim the Good News to all creation. ¹⁶ He who believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he who refuses to believe will be condemned. ¹⁷ Moreover these signs shall attend those who believe. In my Name they shall drive out demons; they shall speak with 'tongues';

⁷⁷ To give his people the knowledge of salvation In the forgiveness of their sins,

⁷⁹ To give light to those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, And guide our feet into the way of peace."

¹⁰ "What are we to do then?" the people asked.

²⁰ Then, closing the book and returning it to the attendant, he sat down. The eyes of all in the Synagogue were fixed upon him, ²¹ And Jesus began: "This very day this passage has been fulfilled in your hearing."

³⁴ "Stop! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!"

⁴¹ And even demons came out from many people, screaming 'You are the Son of God.' Jesus rebuked them, and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.

²⁹ And Levi gave a great entertainment at his house, in honor of Jesus; and a large number of tax-gatherers and others were at table with them.

²² Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they expel you from among them, and taunt you, and reject your Name as an evil thing--on account of the Son of Man. ²³ Then indeed you may be glad and dance for joy, for be sure that your reward in Heaven will be great; for that is what their ancestors did to the Prophets.

²⁷ But to you who hear I say--Love your enemies, show kindness to those who hate you, ²⁸ Bless those who curse you, pray for those who insult you.

²⁸ Catching sight of Jesus, he shrieked out and threw himself down before him, and in a loud voice exclaimed: "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beseech you not to torment me."

¹ Jesus called the Twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all demons, as well as to cure diseases.

⁴ Whatever house you go to stay in, remain there, and leave from that place. ⁵ If people do not welcome you, as you leave that town, shake even the dust off your feet, as a protest against them."

⁵ Whatever house you go to stay at, begin by praying for a blessing on it. ⁶ Then, if any one there is deserving of a blessing, your blessing will rest upon him; but if not, it will come back upon yourselves. ⁷ Remain at that same house, and eat and drink whatever they offer you; for the worker is worth his wages. Do not keep changing from one house to another.

¹⁷ When the seventy-two returned, they exclaimed joyfully: "Master, even the demons submit to us when we use your name." ¹⁸ And Jesus replied: "I have had visions of Satan, fallen, like lightning from the heavens. ¹⁹ Remember, I have given you the power to 'trample upon serpents and scorpions,' and to meet all the strength of the Enemy. Nothing shall ever harm you in any way.

³² A Levite, too, did the same; he came up to the spot, but, when he saw the man, passed by on the opposite side. ³³ But a Samaritan, traveling that way, came upon the man, and, when he saw him, he was moved with compassion.

³³ But a Samaritan, traveling that way, came upon the man, and, when he saw him, he was moved with compassion. ³⁴ He went to him and bound up his wounds, dressing them with oil and wine, and then put him on his own mule, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

³⁴ He went to him and bound up his wounds, dressing them with oil and wine, and then put him on his own mule, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. ³⁵ The next day he took out four shillings and gave them to the inn-keeper. 'Take care of him,' he said, 'and whatever more you may spend I will myself repay you on my way back.' ³⁶ Now which, do you think, of these three men," asked Jesus, "proved himself a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers' hands?" ³⁷ "The one that took pity on him," was the answer; on which Jesus said: "Go and do the same yourself."

¹⁰ Jesus was teaching on a Sabbath in one of the Synagogues,

²³ 'Go out,' the master said, 'into the roads and hedgerows, and make people come in, so that my house may be filled;

²² But the father turned to his servants and said 'Be quick and fetch a robe--the very best--and put it on him; give him a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet; ²³ And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; ²⁴ For here is my son who was dead, and is alive again, was lost, and is found.' So they began making merry. ²⁵ Meanwhile the elder son was out in the fields; but, on coming home, when he got near the house, he heard music and dancing,

³² We could but make merry and rejoice, for here is your brother who was dead, and is alive; who was lost, and is found.'"

⁶ So Zacchaeus got down quickly, and joyfully welcomed him.

⁹ "Salvation has come to this house to-day," answered Jesus, "for even this man is a son of Abraham.

²¹ These men asked Jesus a question. They said: "Teacher, we know that you are right in what you say and teach, and that you do not take any account of a man's position, but teach the Way of God honestly;

¹² Before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you, and they will betray you to Synagogues and put you in prison, when you will be brought before kings and governors for the sake of my Name.

⁴⁴ And, as his anguish became intense, he prayed still more earnestly, while his sweat was like great drops of blood falling on the ground.]

⁵¹ On which Jesus said: "Let me at least do this"; and, touching his ear, he healed the wound.

³⁴ [Then Jesus said: "Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing."] His clothes they divided among them by casting lots.

²⁹ But they pressed him not to do so. "Stay with us," they said, "for it is getting towards evening, and the sun in already low." So Jesus went in to stay with them.

⁴⁵ Then he enabled them to understand the meaning of the Scriptures, saying to them:

¹² But to all who did receive him he gave power to become Children of God--to those who believe in his Name.

¹⁵ That every one who believes in him may have Immortal Life." ¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that every one who believes in him may not be lost, but have Immortal Life.

³⁶ He who believes in the Son has Immortal Life, while he who rejects the Son will not even see that Life, but remains under 'God's displeasure.'

²⁷ Work, not for the food that perishes, but for the food that lasts for Immortal Life, which the Son of Man will give you; for upon him the Father--God himself--has set the seal of his approval." ²⁸ "How," they asked, "are we to do the work that God would have us do?" ²⁹ "The work that God would have you do," answered Jesus, "is to believe in him whom God sent as his Messenger."

⁴⁰ For it is the will of my Father that every one who sees the Son, and believes in him, should have Immortal Life; and I myself will raise him up at the Last Day."

⁴⁴ "No one can come to me, unless the Father who sent me draws him to me; and I will raise him up at the Last Day. ⁴⁵ It is said in the Prophets--'And they shall all be taught by God.' Every one who is taught by the Father and learns from him comes to me.

⁴⁷ In truth I tell you, he who believes in me has Immortal Life.

³⁷ On the last and greatest day of the Festival, Jesus, who was standing by, exclaimed: "If any one thirsts, let him come to me, and drink. ³⁸ He who believes in me--As Scripture says, Out of his heart shall flow rivers of 'Living Water.'"

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²⁵ "I am the Resurrection and the Life," said Jesus. "He that believes in me shall live, though he die; ²⁶ And he who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"

²⁰ Among those who were going up to worship at the Festival were some Greeks,

⁶ Jesus answered: "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one ever comes to the Father except through me.

²⁷ Peace be with you! My own peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, or dismayed.

¹⁸ If the world hates you, you know that it has first hated me. ¹⁹ If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own. Because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world--that is why the world hates you. ²⁰ Remember what I said to you--'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have laid my Message to heart, they will lay yours to heart also.

³¹ But these have been recorded that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God--and that, through your belief in his Name, you may have Life.

⁹ Some of us are Parthians, some Medes, some Elamites; and some of us live in Mesopotamia, in Judea and Cappadocia, in Pontus and Roman Asia, ¹⁰ In Phrygia and Pamphylia, in Egypt and the districts of Libya adjoining Cyrene; some of us are visitors from Rome,

¹⁷ 'It shall come about in the last days,' God says, 'That I will pour out my Spirit on all mankind; your sons and your daughters shall become Prophets, your young men shall see visions, and your old men dream dreams; ¹⁸ Yes, even on the slaves--for they are mine--both men and women, I will in those days pour out my Spirit,

³⁷ When the people heard this, they were conscience-smitten, and said to Peter and the rest of the Apostles: "Brothers, what can we do?" ³⁸ "Repent," answered Peter, "and be baptized every one of you in the Faith of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ For the promise is for you and for your children, and also for all those now far away, who may be called by the Lord our God."

⁴⁶ Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the Temple Courts, and to the Breaking of Bread at their homes, while they partook of their food in simple-hearted gladness, praising God, and winning the good-will of all the people. ⁴⁷ And the Lord daily added to their company those who were in the path of Salvation.

⁶ But Peter added: "I have no gold or silver, but I give you what I have. In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth I bid you walk."

⁴ Many, however, of those who had heard the Apostles' Message became believers in Christ, the number of the men alone amounting to about five thousand.

¹² And Salvation is in him alone; for there is no other Name in the whole world, given to men, to which we must look for our Salvation."

²¹ However, after further warnings, the Council set them at liberty, not seeing any safe way of punishing them, because of the people, for they were all praising God for what had occurred;

²³ After they had been set at liberty, the Apostles went to their friends and told them what the Chief Priests and the Councillors had said to them.

³¹ When their prayer was ended, the place in which they were assembled was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to tell God's Message fearlessly.

¹⁴ And still larger numbers, both of men and women, as they became believers in the Lord, were added to their number.

¹⁸ Arrested the Apostles, and had them placed in custody. ¹⁹ An angel of the Lord, however, opened the prison doors at night and led them out.

²³ While they had found the goal barred securely and the guards posted at the doors, yet, on opening them, they had not found any one inside.

⁴⁰ The Council followed his advice, and, calling the Apostles in, had them flogged, and then, after cautioning them not to speak in the Name of Jesus, set them free. ⁴¹ But the Apostles left the Council, rejoicing that they had been thought worthy to suffer disgrace for that Name;

³ Therefore, Brothers, look for seven men of reputation among yourselves, wise and spiritually-minded men, and we will appoint them to attend to this matter;

⁷ So God's Message spread, and the number of the disciples continued to increase rapidly in Jerusalem, and a large body of the priests accepted the Faith.

³ But Saul began to devastate the Church; he entered house after house, dragged out men and women alike, and threw them into prison.

⁹ There was staying in the city a man named Simon, who had been practicing magic there and mystifying the Samaritan people, giving himself out to be some great Being. ¹⁰ Every one, high and low, paid attention to him. 'This man,' they used to say, 'must be that Power of God which men call "The Great Power."' ¹¹ And they paid attention to him because they had for a long time been mystified by his magic arts. ¹² However, when they came to believe Philip, as he told them the Good News about the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

²⁶ Meanwhile an angel of the Lord had said to Philip: "Set out on a journey southwards, along the road that runs down from Jerusalem to Gaza." (It is now deserted). ²⁷ So Philip set out on a journey; and on his way he came upon an official of high rank, in the service of Candace, Queen of the Abyssinians. He was her treasurer, and had been to Jerusalem to worship,

²⁷ So Philip set out on a journey; and on his way he came upon an official of high rank, in the service of Candace, Queen of the Abyssinians. He was her treasurer, and had been to Jerusalem to worship, ²⁸ And was now on his way home, sitting in his carriage and reading the Prophet Isaiah. ²⁹ The Spirit said to Philip: "Go up to the carriage yonder and keep close to it."

²⁹ The Spirit said to Philip: "Go up to the carriage yonder and keep close to it." ³⁰ So Philip ran up, and he heard the Abyssinian reading the Prophet Isaiah. "Do you understand what you are reading?" he asked. ³¹ "How can I," the other answered, "unless some one will explain it to me?" and he invited Philip to get up and sit by his side.

³⁶ Presently, as they were going along the road, they came to some water, and the Treasurer exclaimed: "Look! here is water; what is to prevent my being baptized?"

³⁸ So he ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water--both Philip and the Treasurer--and Philip baptized him. ³⁹ But, when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, and the Treasurer saw no more of him; for he continued his journey with a joyful heart.

² And asked him to give him letters to the Jewish congregations at Damascus, authorizing him, if he found there any supporters of the Cause, whether men or women, to have them put in chains and brought to Jerusalem.

⁵ "Who are you, Lord?" he asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," the voice answered; ⁶ "Yet stand up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."

⁶ "Yet stand up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."

¹⁰ Now there was at Damascus a disciple named Ananias, to whom, in a vision, the Lord said: "Ananias." "Yes, Lord," he answered. ¹¹ "Go at once," said the Lord, "to the 'Straight Street', and ask at Judas's house for a man named Saul, from Tarsus. He is at this moment praying, ¹² And he has seen, in a vision, a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him, so that he may recover his sight."

¹⁶ I will myself show him all that he has to suffer for my Name."

³¹ And so it came about that the Church, throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, enjoyed peace and became firmly established; and, ordering its life by reverence for the Lord and the help of the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.

³⁴ "Aeneas," Peter said to him, "Jesus Christ cures you. Get up, and make your bed." Aeneas got up at once;

³⁸ Jaffa was near Lydda, and the disciples, having heard that Peter was at Lydda, sent two men with the request that he would come on to them without delay.

² A religious man and one who reverenced God, with all his household. He was liberal in his charities to the people, and prayed to God constantly. ³ One afternoon, about three o'clock, he distinctly saw in a vision an angel from God come to him, and call him by name.

¹⁰ He became hungry and wanted something to eat; but while it was being prepared, he fell into a trance, ¹¹ And saw that the heavens were open, and that something like a great sail was descending, let down by its four corners towards the earth. ¹² In it were all kinds of quadrupeds, reptiles, and birds. ¹³ Then he was aware of a voice which said-- "Stand up, Peter, kill something, and eat." ¹⁴ "No, Lord, I cannot," answered Peter, "for I have never eaten anything 'defiled' and 'unclean'." ¹⁵ Again he was aware of a voice which said-- "What God has pronounced 'clean', do not regard as 'defiled'." ¹⁶ This happened three times, and then suddenly it was all taken up into the heavens. ¹⁷ While Peter was still perplexed as to the meaning of the vision that he had seen, the men sent by Cornelius, having enquired the way to Simon's house, came up to the gate,

¹⁹ Peter was still pondering over the vision, when the Spirit said to him: "There are two men looking for you at this moment.

²⁹ That was why I came, when I was sent for, without raising any objection. And now I ask your reason for sending for me." ³⁰ "Just three days ago this very hour," Cornelius said, "I was in my house, saying the Afternoon Prayers, when a man in dazzling clothing suddenly stood before me.

³² Therefore send to Jaffa, and invite the Simon, who is also known as Peter, to come here. He is lodging in the house of Simon the tanner, near the sea.' ³³ Accordingly I sent to you at once, and you have been so good as to come. And now we are all here in the presence of God, to listen to all that you have been instructed by the Lord to say."

³³ Accordingly I sent to you at once, and you have been so good as to come. And now we are all here in the presence of God, to listen to all that you have been instructed by the Lord to say." ³⁴ Then Peter began. "I see, beyond all doubt," he said, "that 'God does not show partiality,' ³⁵ But that in every nation he who reverences him and does what is right is acceptable to him. ³⁶ God has sent his Message to the Israelites and told them, through Jesus Christ, the Good News of peace--and Jesus is Lord of all! ³⁷ You yourselves know the story which spread through all Judea, how, beginning form Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed-- ³⁸ The story, I mean, of Jesus of Nazareth, and how God consecrated him his Christ by enduing him with the Holy Spirit and with power; and how he went about doing good and curing all who were under the power of the Devil, because God was with him. ³⁹ We are ourselves, too, witnesses to all that he did in Judea and in Jerusalem; yet they put him to death by hanging him on a cross! ⁴⁰ This Jesus God raised on the third day, and enabled him to appear, ⁴¹ Not indeed to every one, but to witnesses chosen beforehand by God--to us, who ate and drank with him after his resurrection from the dead. ⁴² Further, God charged us to proclaim to the people, and solemnly affirm, that it is Jesus who has been appointed by God Judge of the living and the dead. ⁴³ To him it is that all the Prophets bear witness, when they say that every one who believes in him receives through his Name forgiveness of sins."

⁵ "I was in the town of Jaffa," he said, "and was praying; and, while in a trance, I saw a vision. There was something like a great sail descending, let down by its four corners out of the heavens; and it came right down to me. ⁶ Looking intently at it, I began to distinguish quadrupeds, wild beasts, reptiles, and birds; ⁷ And I also heard a voice saying to me-- 'Stand up, Peter, kill something and eat.' ⁸ 'No, Lord, I cannot,' I answered, 'for nothing 'defiled' or 'unclean' has ever passed my lips.' ⁹ Then a second time there came a voice from the heavens. "What God has pronounced 'clean'," it said, "you must not call 'defiled'." ¹⁰ This happened three times, and then all was drawn up again into the heavens. ¹¹ At that moment three men, who had been sent from Caesarea to see me, came up to the house in which we were. ¹² The Spirit told me to go with them without hesitation. These six Brothers also went with me. And, when we came into the man's house,

¹² The Spirit told me to go with them without hesitation. These six Brothers also went with me. And, when we came into the man's house, ¹³ He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and how the angel had said to him--'Send to Jaffa and fetch the Simon, who is also known as Peter; ¹⁴ For he will tell you truths, which will prove the means of Salvation to you and all your household.'

¹⁴ For he will tell you truths, which will prove the means of Salvation to you and all your household.'

²¹ The power of the Lord was with them, so that a great number who had learned to believe came over to the Lord's side.

³⁰ And this they did, sending it to the Officers of the Church by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

⁴ After seizing Peter, Herod put him in prison, and entrusted him to the keeping of four Guards of four soldiers each, intending, after the Passover, to bring him up before the people.

⁷ Suddenly an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell. The angel struck Peter on the side, and roused him with the words: "Get up quickly."

¹⁰ Passing the first Guard, and then the second, they came to the iron gate leading into the city, which opened to them of itself; and, when they had passed through that, and had walked along one street, all at once the angel left him.

¹² As soon as he realized what had happened, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was also known as Mark, where a number of people were gathered together, praying. ¹³ On his knocking at the door in the gate, a maidservant, named Rhoda, came to answer it. ¹⁴ She recognized Peter's voice, but in her joy left the gate unopened, and ran in, and told them that Peter was standing outside. ¹⁵ "You are mad!" they exclaimed. But, when she persisted that it was so, they said: "It must be his spirit!" ¹⁶ Meanwhile Peter went on knocking, and, when they opened the gate and saw him, they were amazed. ¹⁷ Peter signed to them with his hand to be silent, and then told them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison, adding: "Tell James and the Brethren all this." Then he left the house, and went away to another place. ¹⁸ In the morning there was a great stir among the soldiers-- what could have become of Peter! ¹⁹ And, when Herod had made further search for him and failed to find him, he closely questioned the Guard, and ordered them away to execution. Then he went down from Judea to stay at Caesarea.

²⁴ Meanwhile the Lord's Message kept extending, and spreading far and wide.

² While they were engaged in the worship of the Lord and were fasting, the Holy Spirit said: "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul, for the work to which I have called them." ³ Accordingly, after fasting and prayer, they placed their hands on them and dismissed them. ⁴ Barnabas and Saul, sent on this mission, as they were, by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia, and from there sailed to Cyprus.

¹⁴ The others went on from Perga and arrived at Antioch in Pisidia. There they went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath and took their seats.

³⁸ I would, therefore, have you know, brothers, that through Jesus forgiveness of sins is being proclaimed to you, ³⁹ And that, in union with him, every one who believes in him is absolved from every sin from which under the Law of Moses you could not be absolved.

⁴² As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the Synagogue, the people begged for a repetition of this teaching on the next Sabbath.

⁴⁸ On hearing this, the Gentiles were glad and extolled God's Message; and all those who had been enrolled for Immortal Life became believers in Christ; ⁴⁹ And the Lord's Message was carried throughout that district.

⁵¹ They, however, shook the dust off their feet in protest,

¹ The same thing occurred in Iconium, where Paul and Barnabas went into the Jewish Synagogue, and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed in Christ.

⁵ And, when there was an attempt on the part of both Gentiles and Jews, with their leading men, to resort to violence and to stone them, ⁶ The Apostles heard of it, and took refuge in Lystra and Derbe, towns in Lycaonia, and in the district round, ⁷ And there they continued to tell the Good News.

¹³ And the priest of Zeus-beyond-the-Walls, accompanied by the crowd, brought bullocks and garlands to the gates, with the intention of offering sacrifices. ¹⁴ But, when the Apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd. "Friends, why are you doing this?" they shouted. ¹⁵ "We are only men like yourselves, and we have come with the Good News that you should turn away from these follies to a living God, 'who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything that is in them.'

¹⁵ "We are only men like yourselves, and we have come with the Good News that you should turn away from these follies to a living God, 'who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything that is in them.'

¹⁹ Presently, however, there came some Jews from Antioch, and Iconium who, after they had won over the people, stoned Paul, and dragged him out of the town, thinking him to be dead.

²¹ After telling the Good News throughout that town, and making a number of converts, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, ²² Reassuring the minds of the disciples, urging them to remain true to the Faith, and showing that it is only through many troubles that we can enter the Kingdom of God.

² This gave rise to a serious dispute, and much discussion, between Paul and Barnabas and these men, and it was therefore settled that Paul and Barnabas and others of their number should go up to Jerusalem, to consult the Apostles and Officers of the Church about the matter under discussion.

⁶ The Apostles and the Officers of the Church held a meeting to consider this question.

¹¹ No, it is through the loving-kindness of the Lord Jesus that we, just as they do, believe that we have been saved."

²⁰ But we should write to them to abstain from food that has been polluted by being sacrificed to idols, from impurity, from eating the flesh of strangled animals, and from blood.

²² It was then decided by the Apostles and the Officers, with the assent of the whole Church, to choose some of their number, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. Those chosen were Judas (called Barsabas) and Silas, who were leading men among the Brethren.

²⁶ Who have sacrificed themselves for the Name of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

²⁸ We have, therefore, decided, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to lay no further burden upon you beyond these necessary conditions-- ²⁹ That you abstain from food offered to idols, from blood, from eating the flesh of strangled animals, and from impurity. If you guard yourselves against such things, it will be well with you. Farewell.'

³³ After some stay, they were dismissed with kind farewells from the Brethren, and returned to those who had sent them.

³⁷ Barnabas wished to take with them John, whose other name was Mark;

⁴⁰ While Paul chose Silas for his companion and, after he had been committed by the Brethren to the gracious care of the Lord, ⁴¹ Started on his journey and went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the Churches in the faith.

² And who was well spoken of by the Brethren in Lystra and Iconium.

⁶ They next went through the Phrygian district of Galatia, but were restrained by the Holy Spirit from delivering the Message in Roman Asia. ⁷ When they reached the borders of Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them. ⁸ Passing through Mysia, they went down to Troas; ⁹ And there one night Paul saw a vision. A Macedonian was standing and appealing to him--'Come over to Macedonia and help us.' ¹⁰ So, immediately after Paul had seen the vision, we looked for an opportunity to cross over to Macedonia, concluding that God had summoned us to tell the Good News to the people there. ¹¹ Accordingly we set sail from Troas, and ran before the wind to Samothrace, reaching Neapolis the next day.

¹¹ Accordingly we set sail from Troas, and ran before the wind to Samothrace, reaching Neapolis the next day. ¹² From there we made our way to Philippi, which is the principal city of that part of Macedonia, and also a Roman Settlement. In that city we spent several days.

¹² From there we made our way to Philippi, which is the principal city of that part of Macedonia, and also a Roman Settlement. In that city we spent several days. ¹³ On the Sabbath we went outside the gate to the river-side, where we supposed there would be a Place of Prayer; and we sat down and talked to the women who were gathered there.

¹³ On the Sabbath we went outside the gate to the river-side, where we supposed there would be a Place of Prayer; and we sat down and talked to the women who were gathered there. ¹⁴ Among them was a woman, named Lydia, belonging to Thyatira, a dealer in purple cloth, who was accustomed to join in the worship of God. The Lord touched this woman's heart, so that she gave attention to the Message delivered by Paul,

¹⁴ Among them was a woman, named Lydia, belonging to Thyatira, a dealer in purple cloth, who was accustomed to join in the worship of God. The Lord touched this woman's heart, so that she gave attention to the Message delivered by Paul, ¹⁵ And, when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us to become her guests. "Since you have shown your conviction," she said, "that I really am a believer in the Lord, come and stay in my house." And she insisted on our doing so.

¹⁵ And, when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us to become her guests. "Since you have shown your conviction," she said, "that I really am a believer in the Lord, come and stay in my house." And she insisted on our doing so. ¹⁶ One day, as we were on our way to the Place of Prayer, we were met by a girl possessed by a divining spirit, who made large profits for her masters by fortune-telling.

¹⁶ One day, as we were on our way to the Place of Prayer, we were met by a girl possessed by a divining spirit, who made large profits for her masters by fortune-telling. ¹⁷ This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, calling: "These men are servants of the most high God, and they are bringing you news of a way to Salvation."

¹⁷ This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, calling: "These men are servants of the most high God, and they are bringing you news of a way to Salvation." ¹⁸ She had been doing this for several days, when Paul, much vexed, turned and said to the spirit within her: "In the Name of Jesus Christ I command you to leave her." That very moment the spirit left her.

²⁰ And took them before the Magistrates. "These men are causing a great disturbance in our town," they complained; ²¹ "They are Jews, and they are teaching customs which it is not right for us, as Romans, to sanction or adopt."

²¹ "They are Jews, and they are teaching customs which it is not right for us, as Romans, to sanction or adopt." ²² On this the mob rose as one man against them, and the Magistrates stripped them of their clothing and ordered them to be beaten with rods. ²³ After beating them severely, the Magistrates put them in prison, with orders to the Governor of the Jail to keep them in safe custody.

²³ After beating them severely, the Magistrates put them in prison, with orders to the Governor of the Jail to keep them in safe custody. ²⁴ On receiving so strict an order, the Governor put them into the inner cell, and secured their feet in the stocks.

²⁴ On receiving so strict an order, the Governor put them into the inner cell, and secured their feet in the stocks. ²⁵ About midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and while the prisoners were listening to them,

²⁷ Roused from his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, the Governor drew his sword intending to kill himself, in the belief that the prisoners had escaped.

²⁷ Roused from his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, the Governor drew his sword intending to kill himself, in the belief that the prisoners had escaped. ²⁸ But Paul called our loudly: "Do not harm yourself; we are all here." ²⁹ Calling for a light, the Governor rushed in, and flung himself trembling at the feet of Paul and Silas. ³⁰ Then he led them out, and said: "What must I do to be saved?" ³¹ "Believe in Jesus, our Lord," they replied, "and you shall be saved, you and your household too." ³² Then they spoke to him of God's Message, and to all his household as well. ³³ And that very hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds, and he himself and every one belonging to him were baptized without delay.

³⁶ The Governor of the Jail told Paul of his instructions. "The Magistrates have sent an order for your discharge," he said, "so you had better leave the place at once and go quietly away." ³⁷ But Paul's answer to them was: "They have flogged us in public without trial, though we are Roman citizens, and they have put us in prison, and now they are for sending us out secretly! No, indeed! Let them come and take us out themselves."

⁴⁰ When Paul and Silas left the prison, they went to Lydia's house, and, after they had seen the Brethren, and encouraged them, they left the place.

² And, following his usual custom, Paul joined them, and for three Sabbaths addressed them, drawing his arguments from the Scriptures.

⁵ But the Jews, becoming jealous, engaged some worthless fellows from the streets, and, getting a mob together, kept the city in an uproar. They attacked Jason's house, with the intention of bringing Paul and Silas before the Popular Assembly; ⁶ And, not finding them there, they proceeded to drag Jason and some of the Brethren before the City Magistrates, shouting out: "These men, who have turned the world upside down, have now come here,

⁶ And, not finding them there, they proceeded to drag Jason and some of the Brethren before the City Magistrates, shouting out: "These men, who have turned the world upside down, have now come here, ⁷ And have been harbored by Jason! They say that some one else is king--a man called Jesus!" ⁸ On hearing this, the people and the City Magistrates were much concerned;

¹⁴ Immediately upon that, the Brethren sent Paul off on his way to the sea coast, but both Silas and Timothy stayed behind in Beroea.

² There he met a Jew of the name of Aquila, a native of Pontus, who, with his wife Priscilla, had lately come from Italy, in consequence of the order which had been issued by the Emperor Claudius for all Jews to leave Rome. Paul paid them a visit,

⁴ Every Sabbath Paul gave addresses in the Synagogue, trying to convince both Jews and Greeks. ⁵ But, when Silas and Timothy had come down from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself entirely to delivering the Message, earnestly maintaining before the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.

⁷ So he left, and went to the house of a certain Titius Justus, who had been accustomed to join in the worship of God, and whose house was next door to the Synagogue. ⁸ Crispus, the President of the Synagogue, came to believe in the Lord, and so did all his household; and many of the Corinthians, as they listened to Paul, became believers in Christ and were baptized. ⁹ One night the Lord said to Paul, in a vision: "Have no fear, but continue to speak, and refuse to be silenced; ¹⁰ For I am with you, and no one shall do you harm, for I have many People in this city."

¹² While Gallio was governor of Greece, the Jews made a combined attack on Paul, and brought him before the Governor's Bench,

¹² While Gallio was governor of Greece, the Jews made a combined attack on Paul, and brought him before the Governor's Bench, ¹³ Charging him with persuading people to worship God in a way forbidden by the Law.

²³ After making some stay in Antioch, he set out on a tour through the Phrygian district of Galatia, strengthening the faith of all the disciples as he went.

²⁶ This man began to speak out fearlessly in the Synagogue; and when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him home and explained the Cause of God to him more carefully still.

¹⁰ This went on for two years, so that all who lived in Roman Asia, Jews and Greeks alike, heard the Lord's Message.

¹² So that people would carry home to the sick handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his body, and their diseases would leave them and the wicked spirits go out of them. ¹³ An attempt was made by some itinerant Jews, who were exorcists, to use the Name of the Lord Jesus over those who had wicked spirits in them. "I adjure you," they would say, "by the Jesus, whom Paul preaches."

¹³ An attempt was made by some itinerant Jews, who were exorcists, to use the Name of the Lord Jesus over those who had wicked spirits in them. "I adjure you," they would say, "by the Jesus, whom Paul preaches." ¹⁴ The seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish Chief Priest, were doing this; ¹⁵ But the wicked spirit answered them: "Jesus I acknowledge, and Paul I know, but you--who are you?" ¹⁶ Then the man, in whom this wicked spirit was, sprang upon them, mastered both of them, and so completely overpowered them, that they fled out of the house, stripped of their clothes, and wounded. ¹⁷ This incident came to the knowledge of all the Jews and Greeks living at Ephesus; they were all awe-struck, and the Name of the Lord Jesus was held in the highest honor. ¹⁸ Many, too, of those who had become believers in Christ came with a full confession of their practices; ¹⁹ While a number of people, who had practiced magic, collected their books and burnt them publicly; and on reckoning up the price of these, they found it amounted to five thousand pounds. ²⁰ So irresistibly did the Lord's Message spread and prevail. ²¹ Sometime after these events Paul resolved to go through Macedonia and Greece, and then make his way to Jerusalem. "And after I have been there," he said, "I must visit Rome also."

²¹ Sometime after these events Paul resolved to go through Macedonia and Greece, and then make his way to Jerusalem. "And after I have been there," he said, "I must visit Rome also." ²² So he sent to Macedonia two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, while he himself stayed for some time longer in Roman Asia.

²⁴ A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver models of the shrine of Artemis, and so gave a great deal of work to the artisans,

²⁴ A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver models of the shrine of Artemis, and so gave a great deal of work to the artisans, ²⁵ Got these men together, as well as the workmen engaged in similar occupations, and said: "Men, you know that our prosperity depends upon this work, ²⁶ And you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but in almost the whole of Roman Asia, this Paul has convinced and won over great numbers of people, by his assertion that those Gods which are made by hands are not Gods at all. ²⁷ So that not only is this business of ours likely to fall into discredit, but there is the further danger that the Temple of the great Goddess Artemis will be thought nothing of, and that she herself will be deprived of her splendor--though all Roman Asia and the whole world worship her." ²⁸ When they heard this, the men were greatly enraged, and began shouting--"Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" ²⁹ The commotion spread through the whole city, and the people rushed together into the amphitheater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, two Macedonians who were Paul's traveling companions. ³⁰ Paul wished to go into the amphitheater and face the people, but the disciples would not let him, ³¹ While some of the chief religious officials of the province, who were friendly to him, sent repeated entreaties to him not to trust himself inside. ³² Meanwhile some were shouting one thing and some another, for the Assembly was all in confusion, most of those present not even knowing why they had met. ³³ But some of the crowd prompted Alexander, whom the Jews had pushed to the front, and he waved his hand to show that he wanted to speak in their defense to the people. ³⁴ However, when they recognized him as a Jew, one cry broke from them all, and they continued shouting for two hours--"Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"

³⁴ However, when they recognized him as a Jew, one cry broke from them all, and they continued shouting for two hours--"Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" ³⁵ When the Recorder had succeeded in quieting the crowd, he said: "Men of Ephesus, who is there, I ask you, who needs to be told that this city of Ephesus is the Warden of the Temple of the great Artemis, and of the statue which fell down from Zeus? ³⁶ As these are undeniable facts, you ought to keep calm and do nothing rash; ³⁷ For you have brought these men here, though they are neither robbers of Temples nor blasphemers of our Goddess. ³⁸ If, however, Demetrius and the artisans who are acting with him have a charge to make against any one, there are Court Days and there are Magistrates; let both parties take legal proceedings. ³⁹ But if you want anything more, it will have to be settled in the regular Assembly. ⁴⁰ For I tell you that we are in danger of being proceeded against for to-day's riot, there being nothing to account for it; and in that case we shall be at a loss to give any reason for this disorderly gathering." ⁴¹ With these words he dismissed the Assembly.

¹ When the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and, with encouraging words, bade them goodbye, and started on his journey to Macedonia.

³ He was about to sail to Syria, when he learned that a plot had been laid against him by the Jews; so he decided to return by way of Macedonia. ⁴ He was accompanied by Sopater the son of Pyrrhus, of Beroea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, as well as by Tychicus and Trophimus of Roman Asia.

⁴ He was accompanied by Sopater the son of Pyrrhus, of Beroea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, as well as by Tychicus and Trophimus of Roman Asia. ⁵ These men went to Troas and waited for us there;

⁵ These men went to Troas and waited for us there;

⁵ These men went to Troas and waited for us there; ⁶ While we ourselves sailed from Philippi after the Passover, and joined them five days later at Troas, where we stayed for a week.

⁶ While we ourselves sailed from Philippi after the Passover, and joined them five days later at Troas, where we stayed for a week. ⁷ On the first day of the week, when we had met for the Breaking of Bread, Paul, who was intending to leave the next day, began to address those who were present, and prolonged his address till midnight.

⁷ On the first day of the week, when we had met for the Breaking of Bread, Paul, who was intending to leave the next day, began to address those who were present, and prolonged his address till midnight. ⁸ There were a good many lamps in the upstairs room, where we had met;

¹³ We started first, went on board ship, and sailed for Assos, intending to take Paul on board there. This was by his own arrangement, as he intended to go by land himself. ¹⁴ So, when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and went on to Mitylene. ¹⁵ The day after we had sailed from there, we arrived off Chios, touched at Samos the following day, and the next day reached Miletus; ¹⁶ For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so as to avoid spending much time in Roman Asia. He was making haste to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the Festival at the close of the Harvest.

²⁸ Be watchful over yourselves, and over the whole flock, of which the Holy Spirit has placed you in charge, to shepherd the Church of God, which he won for himself at the cost of his life.

¹ When we had torn ourselves away and had set sail, we ran before the wind to Cos; the next day we came to Rhodes, and from there to Patara,

¹ When we had torn ourselves away and had set sail, we ran before the wind to Cos; the next day we came to Rhodes, and from there to Patara, ² Where we found a ship crossing to Phoenicia, and went on board and set sail. ³ After sighting Cyprus and leaving it on the left, we sailed to Syria, and put into Tyre, where the ship was to discharge her cargo. ⁴ There we found the disciples and stayed a week with them. Speaking under the influence of the Spirit, they warned Paul not to set foot in Jerusalem. ⁵ However, when we had come to the end of our visit, we went on our way, all the disciples with their wives and children escorting us out of the city. We knelt down on the beach, and prayed,

⁵ However, when we had come to the end of our visit, we went on our way, all the disciples with their wives and children escorting us out of the city. We knelt down on the beach, and prayed, ⁶ And then said good-bye to one another; after which we went on board, and they returned home. ⁷ After we had made the run from Tyre, we landed at Ptolemais, and exchanged greetings with the Brethren there, and spent a day with them. ⁸ The next day we left, and reached Caesarea, where we went to the house of Philip, the Missionary, who was one of 'the Seven,' and stayed with him. ⁹ He had four unmarried daughters, who had the gift of prophecy. ¹⁰ During our visit, which lasted several days, a Prophet, named Agabus, came down from Judea. ¹¹ He came to see us, and, taking Paul's girdle, and binding his own feet and hands with it, said: "This is what the Holy Spirit says--'The man to whom this girdle belongs will be bound like this at Jerusalem by the Jews, and they will give him up to the Gentiles'." ¹² When we heard that, we and the people of the place began to entreat Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. ¹³ It was then that Paul made the reply: "Why are you weeping and breaking my heart like this? For my part, I am ready not only to be bound, but even to suffer death at Jerusalem for the Name of the Lord Jesus." ¹⁴ So, as he would not be persuaded, we said no more to him, only adding--"The Lord's will be done." ¹⁵ At the end of our visit, we made our preparations, and started on our way up to Jerusalem. ¹⁶ Some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us, and brought Mnason with them, a Cypriot disciple of long standing, with whom we were to stay. ¹⁷ On our arrival at Jerusalem, the Brethren there gave us a hearty welcome; ¹⁸ And the next day Paul went with us to see James, and all the Officers of the Church were present.

³⁰ The whole city was stirred, and the people quickly collected, seized Paul, and dragged him out of the Temple, when the doors were immediately shut.

³⁰ The whole city was stirred, and the people quickly collected, seized Paul, and dragged him out of the Temple, when the doors were immediately shut. ³¹ They were bent upon killing him, when it was reported to the Officer commanding the garrison, that all Jerusalem was in commotion.

¹⁰ Then I said 'What am I to do, Lord?' 'Get up and go into Damascus,' The Lord said to me, 'and there you shall be told all that you have been appointed to do.'

¹⁷ After my return to Jerusalem, while I was praying one day in the Temple, I fell into a trance, ¹⁸ And saw Jesus saying to me 'Make haste and leave Jerusalem at once, because they will not accept your testimony about me.' ¹⁹ 'Lord,' I answered, 'these people know that I used to imprison and scourge, in Synagogue after Synagogue, those who believed in you; ²⁰ And, when the blood of your martyr, Stephen, was being shed, I was myself standing by, approving of his death, and took charge of the clothes of those who were murdering him. ²¹ But Jesus said to me 'Go; for I will send you to the Gentiles far away'." ²² Up to this point the people had been listening to Paul, but at these words they called out: "Kill him! A fellow like this ought not to have been allowed to live!" ²³ As they were shouting, tearing off their clothes, and throwing dust in the air, ²⁴ The Commanding Officer ordered Paul to be taken into the Fort, and directed that he should be examined under the lash, that he might find out the reason for their outcry against him. ²⁵ But just as they had tied him up to be scourged, Paul said to the Captain standing near: "Is it legal for you to scourge a Roman citizen, unconvicted?"

²⁵ But just as they had tied him up to be scourged, Paul said to the Captain standing near: "Is it legal for you to scourge a Roman citizen, unconvicted?" ²⁶ On hearing this, the Captain went and reported it to the Commanding Officer. "Do you know what you are doing?" he said. "This man is a Roman citizen."

²⁶ On hearing this, the Captain went and reported it to the Commanding Officer. "Do you know what you are doing?" he said. "This man is a Roman citizen." ²⁷ So the Commanding Officer went up to Paul and said: "Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?" "Yes," replied Paul. ²⁸ "I had to pay a heavy price for my position as citizen," said the Officer. "I am one by birth," rejoined Paul. ²⁹ The men who were to have examined Paul immediately drew back, and the Officer, finding that Paul was a Roman citizen, was alarmed at having put him in chains.

²⁹ The men who were to have examined Paul immediately drew back, and the Officer, finding that Paul was a Roman citizen, was alarmed at having put him in chains.

²⁵ But, while Paul was speaking at length about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became terrified, and interrupted him--"Go for the present, but, when I find an opportunity, I will send for you again."

³ Especially as you are so well-versed in all the customs and questions of the Jewish world. I beg you therefore to give me a patient hearing.

¹³ That at mid-day, your Majesty, I saw right in my path, coming from the heavens, a light brighter than the glare of the sun, which shone all round me and those traveling with me.

¹ As it was decided that we were to sail to Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were put in charge of a Captain of the Augustan Guard, named Julius. ² We went on board a ship from Adramyttium, which was on the point of sailing to the ports along the coast of Roman Asia, and put to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, went with us. ³ The next day we put in to Sidon, where Julius treated Paul in a friendly manner, and allowed him to go to see his friends and receive their hospitality. ⁴ Putting to sea again, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the wind was against us; ⁵ And, after crossing the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we reached Myra in Lycia. ⁶ There the Roman Officer found an Alexandrian ship on her way to Italy, and put us on board of her. ⁷ For several days our progress was slow, and it was only with difficulty that we arrived off Cnidus. As the wind was still unfavorable when we came off Cape Salmone, we sailed under the lee of Crete, ⁸ And with difficulty, by keeping close in shore, we reached a place called 'Fair Havens,' near which was the town of Lasea. ⁹ This had taken a considerable time, and sailing was already dangerous, for the Fast was already over; and so Paul gave this warning. ¹⁰ "My friends," he said, "I see that this voyage will be attended with injury and much damage, not only to the cargo and the ship, but to our own lives also." ¹¹ The Roman Officer, however, was more influenced by the captain and the owner than by what was said by Paul. ¹² And, as the harbor was not a suitable one to winter in, the majority were in favor of continuing the voyage, in hope of being able to reach Phoenix, and winter there. Phoenix was a Cretan harbor, open to the north-east and south-east. ¹³ So, when a light wind sprang up from the south, thinking that they had found their opportunity, they weighed anchor and kept along the coast of Crete, close in shore. ¹⁴ But shortly afterwards a hurricane came down on us off the land--a north-easter, as it is called. ¹⁵ The ship was caught by it and was unable to keep her head to the wind, so we had to give way and let her drive before it. ¹⁶ Running under the lee of a small island called Cauda, we only just managed to secure the ship's boat,

²³ For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong, and whom I serve, stood by me, and said-- ²⁴ 'Have no fear, Paul; you must appear before the Emperor, and God himself has given you the lives of all your fellow-voyagers.'

¹ When we were all safe, we found that the island was called Malta. ² The natives showed us marked kindness, for they lit a fire and took us all under shelter, because it had come on to rain and was cold. ³ Paul had gathered a quantity of dry sticks and laid them on the fire, when a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened on his hand. ⁴ When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another: "Evidently this man is a murderer, for though he has been saved from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live." ⁵ However, Paul shook the creature off into the fire and took no harm. ⁶ The natives were expecting inflammation to set in, or that he would suddenly fall dead; but, after waiting for a long time, and seeing that there was nothing amiss with him, they changed their minds and said that he was a God. ⁷ In that neighborhood there was an estate belonging to the Governor of the island, whose name was Publius. He took us up to his house, and for three days entertained us most courteously. ⁸ It happened that the father of Publius was lying ill of fever and dysentery. So Paul went to see him; and, after praying, he placed his hands on him and cured him. ⁹ After this, all the people in the island who had any illness came to Paul, and were cured. ¹⁰ They also presented us with many gifts, and when we set sail they put supplies of necessaries on board. ¹¹ After three months, we set sail in a ship that had wintered in the island. She was an Alexandrian vessel, and had the Twin Sons of Zeus for her figure-head. ¹² We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days, ¹³ And from there we worked to windward and so got to Rhegium. A day later a south wind sprang up and took us to Puteoli in two days. ¹⁴ There we found some of the Brethren, and were urged to stay a week with them; after which we went on to Rome. ¹⁵ The Brethren there had heard about us, and came out as far as the Market of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At sight of them Paul thanked God and was much cheered. ¹⁶ On our reaching Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, except for the soldier who was in charge of him.

²² But we shall be glad to hear from you what your views are, for, with regard to this sect, we are well aware that it is spoken against on all sides."

¹⁴ I have a duty to both the Greek and the Barbarian, to both the cultured and the ignorant.

¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the Good News; it is the power of God which brings Salvation to every one who believes in Christ, to the Jew first, but also to the Greek.

¹ Therefore, having been pronounced righteous as the result of faith, let us enjoy peace with God through Jesus Christ, our Lord. ² It is through him that, by reason of our faith, we have obtained admission to that place in God's favor in which we not stand. So let us exult in our hope of attaining God's glorious ideal.

² It is through him that, by reason of our faith, we have obtained admission to that place in God's favor in which we not stand. So let us exult in our hope of attaining God's glorious ideal. ³ And not only that, but let us also exult in our troubles;

¹¹ And not only that, but we exult in God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, through whom we have now obtained this reconciliation.

⁹ You, however, are not earthly but spiritual, since the Spirit of God lives within you. Unless a man has the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ;

¹⁶ So, then, all depends, not on human wishes or human efforts, but on God's mercy.

⁹ For, if with your lips you acknowledge the truth of the Message that JESUS IS LORD, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. ¹⁰ For with their hearts men believe and so attain to righteousness, while with their lips they make their Profession of Faith and so find Salvation.

¹⁴ But how, it may be asked, are they to invoke one in whom they have not learned to believe? And how are they to believe in one whose words they have not heard? And how are they to hear his words unless some one proclaims him? ¹⁵ And how are men to proclaim him unless they are sent as his messengers? As Scripture says--'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'

¹⁶ If the first handful of dough in holy, so is the whole mass; and if the root is holy, so are the branches.

² Do not conform to the fashion of this world; but be transformed by the complete change that has come over your minds, so that you may discern what God's will is--all that is good, acceptable, and perfect.

¹² Rejoicing in your hope; steadfast under persecution; persevering in prayer;

¹³ May God, who inspires our hope, grant you perfect happiness and peace in your faith, till you are filled with this hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

²⁶ For Macedonia and Greece have been glad to make a collection for the poor among Christ's People at Jerusalem.

²¹ Timothy, my fellow-worker, sends you his greetings, and Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my countrymen, send theirs.

²³ My host Gaius, who extends his hospitality to the whole Church, sends you his greeting; and Erastus, the City Treasurer, and Quartus, our Brother, add theirs.

²⁵ Now to him who is able to strengthen you, as promised in the Good News entrusted to me and in the proclamation of Jesus Christ, in accordance with the revelation of that hidden purpose, which in past ages was kept secret but now has been revealed

¹³ You have rent the Christ in pieces! Was it Paul who was crucified for you? or were you baptized into the Faith of Paul? ¹⁴ I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, ¹⁵ So that no one can say that you were baptized into my Faith. ¹⁶ I baptized also the household of Stephanas. I do not know that I baptized any one else.

¹⁶ I baptized also the household of Stephanas. I do not know that I baptized any one else.

⁶ I planted, and Apollos watered, but it was God who caused the growth. ⁷ Therefore neither the man who plants, nor the man who waters, is of any account, but only God who causes the growth.

¹⁷ This is my reason for sending Timothy to you. He is my own dear faithful child in the Master's service, and he will remind you of my methods of teaching the Faith of Christ Jesus-methods which I follow everywhere in every Church.

¹⁴ For, through his wife, the husband who is an unbeliever has become associated with Christ's People; and the wife who is an unbeliever has become associated with Christ's People through our Brother whom she has married. Otherwise your children would be 'defiled,' but, as it is, they belong to Christ's People.

¹⁹ Circumcision is nothing; the want of it is nothing; but to keep the commands of God is everything.

²⁰ To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win Jews. To those who are subject to Law I became like a man subject to Law-though I was not myself subject to Law-to win those who are subject to Law.

¹¹ All these result from one and the same Spirit, who distributes his gifts to each individually as he wills.

⁵⁸ Therefore, my dear Brothers, stand firm, unshaken, always diligent in the Lord's work, for you know that, in union with him, your toil is not in vain.

¹ With reference to the Collection for Christ's People, I want you to follow the instructions that I gave to the Churches in Galatia.

¹ To the Church of God in Corinth, and to all Christ's People throughout Greece, from Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God, and from Timothy, a Brother.

³ Blessed is the God and Father of Jesus Christ our Lord, the all-merciful Father, the God ever ready to console, ⁴ Who consoles us in all our troubles, so that we may be able to console those who are in any trouble with the consolation that we ourselves receive from him. ⁵ It is true that we have our full share of the sufferings of the Christ, but through the Christ we have also our full share of consolation. ⁶ If we meet with trouble, it is for the sake of your consolation and salvation; and, if we find consolation, it is for the sake of the consolation that you will experience when you are called to endure the very sufferings that we ourselves are enduring; ⁷ And our hope for you remains unshaken. We know that, as you are sharing our sufferings, you will also share our consolation. ⁸ We want you, Brothers, to know that, in the troubles which befell us in Roman Asia, we were burdened altogether beyond our strength, so much so that we even despaired of life.

¹⁹ The Son of God, Christ Jesus, whom we--Silas, Timothy, and I- -proclaimed among you, never wavered between 'Yes' and 'No.' With him it has always been 'Yes.'

¹² When I went to the district round Troas to tell the Good News of the Christ, even though there was an opening for serving the Master,

¹² When I went to the district round Troas to tell the Good News of the Christ, even though there was an opening for serving the Master, ¹³ I could get no peace of mind because I failed to find Titus, my Brother; so I took leave of the people there, and went on to Macedonia.

¹⁴ But their minds were slow to learn. Indeed, to this very day, at the public reading of the Old Covenant, the same veil remains unlifted; only for those who are in union with Christ does it pass away. ¹⁵ But, even to this day, whenever Moses is read, a veil lies on their hearts. ¹⁶ 'Yet, whenever a man turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.'

⁴ Men whose minds have been blinded by the God of this Age, unbelievers as they are, so that the light from the Good News of the glory of the Christ, who is the very incarnation of God, should not shine for them. ⁵ (For it is not ourselves that we proclaim, but Christ Jesus, as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.) ⁶ Indeed, the same God who said 'Out of darkness light shall shine,' has shone in upon our hearts, so that we should bring out into the light the knowledge of the glory of God, seen in the face of Christ.

⁸ Though hard pressed on every side, we are never hemmed in; through perplexed, never driven to despair;

⁸ Though hard pressed on every side, we are never hemmed in; through perplexed, never driven to despair; ⁹ Though pursued, never abandoned; though struck down, never killed!

⁹ Though pursued, never abandoned; though struck down, never killed! ¹⁰ We always bear on our bodies the marks of the death that Jesus died, so that the Life also of Jesus may be exhibited in our bodies. ¹¹ Indeed, we who still live are continually being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the Life also of Jesus may be exhibited in our mortal nature. ¹² And so, while death is at work within us, Life is at work within you.

¹⁶ Therefore, as I said, we do not lose heart. No, even though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

¹⁶ Therefore, as I said, we do not lose heart. No, even though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ The light burden of our momentary trouble is preparing for us, in measure transcending thought, a weight of imperishable glory;

¹⁷ The light burden of our momentary trouble is preparing for us, in measure transcending thought, a weight of imperishable glory; ¹⁸ We, all the while, gazing not on what is seen, but on what is unseen; for what is seen is transient, but what is unseen is imperishable.

¹⁴ It is the love of the Christ which compels us, when we reflect that, as one died for all, therefore all died;

⁵ In floggings, in imprisonments, in riots, in toils, in sleepless nights, in fastings;

¹⁰ As saddened, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet enriching many; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things!

⁵ Ever since we reached Macedonia, we have had no rest in body or mind; on every side there have been troubles--conflicts without, anxieties within.

¹ We would remind you, Brothers, of the love that God has shown to the Churches in Macedonia--

² I know, of course, your willingness to help, and I am always boasting of it to the Macedonians. I tell them that you in Greece have been ready for a year past; and it was really your zeal that stimulated most of them.

⁹ And, when I was with you in need, I did not become a burden to any of you; for our Brothers, on coming from Macedonia, supplied my needs. I kept myself, and will keep myself from being an expense to you in any way.

²³ Are they 'Servants of Christ'? Though it is madness to talk like this, I am more so than they! I have had more of toil, more of imprisonment! I have been flogged times without number. I have been often at death's door. ²⁴ Five times I received at the hands of the Jews forty lashes, all but one. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. I have spent a whole day and night in the deep.

¹ I must boast! It is unprofitable; but I will pass to visions and revelations given by the Lord. ² I know a man in union with Christ, who, fourteen years ago-- whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows-- was caught up (this man of whom I am speaking) to the third Heaven. ³ And I know that this man--whether in the body or separated from the body I do not know; God knows-- ⁴ Was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable things of which no human being may tell.

⁷ It was for this reason, and to prevent my thinking too highly of myself, that a thorn was sent to pierce my flesh--an instrument of Satan to discipline me--so that I should not think too highly of myself.

¹¹ I have been "playing the fool!" It is you who drove me to it. For it is you who ought to have been commending me! Although I am nobody, in no respect did I prove inferior to the most eminent Apostles.

² And from all the Brothers here.

³ Yet even my companion, Titus, though a Greek, was not compelled to be circumcised.

⁸ For he who gave Peter power for his mission to the Jews gave me, also, power to go to the Gentiles.

¹ Foolish Galatians! Who has been fascinating you--you before whose very eyes Jesus Christ was depicted upon the cross?

¹⁴ And this he did that the blessing given to Abraham might be extended to the Gentiles through their union with Jesus Christ; that so, through our faith, we also might receive the promised gift of the Spirit.

²² But the words of Scripture represent the whole world as being in bondage to sin, so that the promised blessing, dependent, as it is, upon faith in Jesus Christ, may be given to those who have faith in him.

²⁶ For you are all Sons of God, through your faith in Christ Jesus.

²⁸ All distinctions between Jew and Greek, slave and freeman, male and female, have vanished; for in union with Christ Jesus you are all one.

⁶ And it is because you are sons that God sent into our hearts the Spirit of his Son, with the cry--'Abba, our Father.'

¹ It is for freedom that Christ set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not again be held under the yoke of slavery.

¹ It is for freedom that Christ set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not again be held under the yoke of slavery. ² Understand that I, Paul, myself tell you that if you allow yourselves to be circumcised, Christ will avail you nothing. ³ I again declare to every one who receives circumcision, that he binds himself to obey the whole Law.

⁶ If a man is in union with Christ Jesus, neither is circumcision nor the omission of it anything, but faith, working through love, is everything.

¹³ Remember, Brothers, to you the Call came to give you freedom. Only do not make your freedom an opportunity for self-indulgence, but serve one another in a loving spirit.

²⁰ Idolatry, sorcery, quarrels, strife, jealousy, outbursts of passion, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,

²² But the fruit produced by the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindliness, generosity, trustfulness, gentleness, self-control.

¹⁰ Therefore, I say, as the opportunity occurs, let us treat every one with kindness, and especially members of the Household of the Faith.

¹ To Christ's People [AT EPHESUS] who are faithful to him, from Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God.

¹⁷ My prayer is that the God of Jesus Christ our Lord, the all- glorious Father, may inspire you with wisdom and true insight through a fuller knowledge of himself; ¹⁸ That your minds may be so enlightened that you may realize the hope given by God's Call, the wealth of the glory of his heritage among Christ's People,

⁷ In order that, by his goodness to us in Christ Jesus, he might display in the ages to come the boundless wealth of his loving- kindness. ⁸ For it is by God's loving-kindness that you have been saved, through your faith. It is not due to yourselves; the gift is God's.

¹ For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Jesus, the Christ, for the sake of you Gentiles--

⁸ Yes, to me, who am less than the least of all Christ's People, was this charge entrusted!--to tell the Gentiles the Good News of the boundless wealth to be found in the Christ,

¹ I urge you, then--I who am a prisoner in the Master's cause-- to live lives worthy of the Call that you have received;

¹³ And this shall continue, until we all attain to that unity which is given by faith and by a fuller knowledge of the Son of God; until we reach the ideal man--the full standard of the perfection of the Christ. ¹⁴ Then we shall no longer be like infants, tossed backward and forward, blown about by every breath of human teaching, through the trickery and the craftiness of men, towards the snares of error; ¹⁵ But holding the truth in a spirit of love, we shall grow into complete union with him who is our Head--Christ himself. ¹⁶ For from him the whole Body, closely joined and knit together by the contact of every part with the source of its life, derives its power to grow, in proportion to the vigor of each individual part; and so is being built up in a spirit of love.

¹⁹ Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord.

¹ To all Christ's People at Philippi, with the Presiding Officers and Assistants, from Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus.

⁷ And, indeed, I am justified in feeling thus about you all; because you have a warm place in my heart--you who all, both in my imprisonment and in the work of defending and establishing the Good News, shared my privilege with me.

¹⁹ Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that, through your prayers and through a rich supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 'all this will make for my Salvation.'

¹³ Remember it is God who, in his kindness, is at work within you, enabling you both to will and to work.

¹⁷ And yet, even if, when your faith is offered as a sacrifice to God, my life-blood must be poured out in addition, still I shall rejoice and share the joy of you all;

¹⁹ I hope, however, as one who trusts in the Lord Jesus, to send Timothy to you before long, so that I may myself be cheered by receiving news of you.

⁴ All joy be yours at all times in your union with the Lord. Again I repeat--All joy be yours.

⁴ All joy be yours at all times in your union with the Lord. Again I repeat--All joy be yours. ⁵ Let your forbearing spirit be plain to every one. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything; but under all circumstances, by prayer and entreaty joined with thanksgiving, make your needs known to God. ⁷ Then the Peace of God, which is beyond all human understanding, will stand guard over your hearts and thoughts, through your union with Christ Jesus.

¹⁷ It is not that I am anxious for your gifts, but I am anxious to see the abundant return that will be placed to your account. I have enough of everything, and to spare.

¹ From Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God, and from Timothy, our Brother.

²³ If only you remain true to your Faith, firm and immovable, never abandoning the hope held out in the Good News to which you listened, which has been proclaimed among all created things under Heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister. ²⁴ Now at last I can rejoice in my sufferings on your behalf, and in my own person I supplement the afflictions endured by the Christ, for the sake of his Body, the Church;

²⁷ To whom it was his pleasure to make known the surpassing glory of that hidden Truth when proclaimed among the Gentiles--'Christ among you! Your Hope of glory!' ²⁸ This is the Christ whom we proclaim, warning every one, and instructing every one, with all the wisdom that we possess, in the hope of bringing every one into God's presence perfected by union with Christ.

⁶ Since, therefore, you have received Jesus, the Christ, as your Lord, live your lives in union with him--

¹⁵ He rid himself of all the Powers of Evil, and held them up to open contempt, when he celebrated his triumph over them on the cross!

¹⁵ Let the Peace that the Christ gives decide all doubts within your hearts; for you also were called to the enjoyment of peace as members of one Body. And show yourselves thankful. ¹⁶ Let the Message of the Christ dwell in your minds in all its wealth, bringing all wisdom with it. Teach and admonish one another with psalms, and hymns, and sacred songs, full of the loving- kindness of God, lifting your hearts in song to him. ¹⁷ And, whatever you say or do, do everything in the Name of the Lord Jesus; and through him offer thanksgiving to God the father.

¹ To the Thessalonian Church in union with God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, from Paul, Silas, and Timothy. May God bless you and give you peace.

⁷ And so became a pattern to all who believed in Christ throughout Macedonia and Greece. ⁸ For it was from you that the Lord's Message resounded throughout Macedonia and Greece; and, more than that, your faith in God has become known far and wide; so that there is no need for us to say another word.

² For, although we had experienced suffering and ill-treatment, as you know, at Philippi, we had the courage, by the help of our God, to tell you God's Good News in spite of great opposition.

⁸ In our strong affection for you, that seemed to us the best way of sharing with you, not only God's Good news, but our very lives as well--so dear had you become to us.

² And sent Timothy, our Brother and God's minister of the Good News of the Christ, to strengthen you, and to encourage you in your faith,

² And sent Timothy, our Brother and God's minister of the Good News of the Christ, to strengthen you, and to encourage you in your faith, ³ So that none of you should be shaken by the troubles through which you are passing. You yourselves know that we are destined to meet with such things.

⁶ But, when Timothy recently returned to us from you with good news of your faith and love, and told us how kindly you think of us--always longing, he said, to see us, just as we are longing to see you--

¹³ And so make your hearts strong, and your lives pure beyond reproach, in the sight of our God and Father, at the Coming of our Lord Jesus, with all his Holy Ones.

⁹ As to love for the Brethren there is no need to write to you; for you have yourselves been taught by God to love one another; ¹⁰ And indeed you do act in this spirit towards all the Brethren throughout Macedonia. Yet, Brothers, we urge you to still further efforts.

¹⁰ And indeed you do act in this spirit towards all the Brethren throughout Macedonia. Yet, Brothers, we urge you to still further efforts.

¹⁵ Take care that none of you ever pays back wrong for wrong, but always follow the kindest course with one another and with every one. ¹⁶ Always be joyful; ¹⁷ Never cease to pray; ¹⁸ Under all circumstances give thanks to God. For this is his will for you as made known in Christ Jesus.

¹ To the Thessalonian Church in union with God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, From Paul, Silas, and Timothy.

¹⁶ And may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and, in his loving-kindness, gave us unfailing consolation and good ground for hope,

² To Timothy, my true Child in the Faith: May God, the Father, and Christ Jesus, our Lord, bless you, and be merciful to you, and give you peace.

¹³ though I once used to blaspheme, and to persecute, and to insult. Yet mercy was shown me, because I acted in ignorance, while still an unbeliever; ¹⁴ and the loving-kindness of our Lord was boundless, and filled me with that faith and love which come from union with Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ How true the saying is, and worthy of the fullest acceptance, that 'Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners'! And there is no greater sinner than I! ¹⁶ Yet mercy was shown me for the express purpose that Christ Jesus might exhibit in my case, beyond all others, his exhaustless patience, as an example for those who were afterwards to believe on him and attain Immortal Life.

¹⁸ This, then, is the charge that I lay upon you, Timothy, my Child, in accordance with what was predicted of you--Fight the good fight in the spirit of those predictions,

⁷ He should also be well spoken of by outsiders, that he may not incur censure and so fall into the snares of the Devil.

¹⁰ and be well spoken of for her kind actions. She should have brought up children, have shown hospitality to strangers, have washed the feet of her fellow Christians, have relieved those who were in distress, and devoted herself to every kind of good action.

²⁵ In the same way noble deeds become conspicuous, and those which are otherwise cannot be concealed.

¹⁰ Love of money is a source of all kinds of evil; and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the Faith, and have been pierced to the heart by many a regret.

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⁵ now that I have been reminded of the sincere faith that you have shown. That faith was seen first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and is now, I am convinced, in you also.

¹⁵ You know, of course, that all our friends in Roman Asia turned their backs on me, and among them Phygellus and Hermogenes.

⁹ in the service of which I am suffering hardships, even to being put in fetters as a criminal. But the Message of God is not fettered;

⁸ Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so do these people, in their turn, oppose the Truth. Their minds are corrupted, and, as regards the Faith, they are utterly worthless.

¹¹ as well as of my persecutions, and of the sufferings which I met with at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. You know what persecutions I underwent; and yet the Lord brought me safe out of all!

¹⁵ and that, from your childhood, you have known the Sacred Writings, which can give you the wisdom that, through belief in Christ Jesus, leads to Salvation.

¹⁵ and that, from your childhood, you have known the Sacred Writings, which can give you the wisdom that, through belief in Christ Jesus, leads to Salvation. ¹⁶ Everything that is written under divine inspiration is helpful for teaching, for refuting error, for giving guidance, and for training others in righteousness;

¹⁰ for Demas, in his love for the world, has deserted me. He has gone to Thessalonica, Crescens to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.

¹³ Bring with you, when you come, the cloak which I left at Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments.

⁷ I have indeed found great joy and encouragement in your love, knowing, as I do, how the hearts of Christ's People have been cheered, brother, by you.

⁹ Yet the claims of love make me prefer to plead with you--yes, even me, Paul, though I am an ambassador for Christ Jesus and, now a prisoner for him as well.

¹⁷ If, then, you count me your friend, receive him as you would me.

⁷ Jesus, in the days of his earthly life, offered prayers and supplications, with earnest cries and with tears, to him who was able to save him from death; and he was heard because of his devout submission.

¹⁹ Therefore, Brothers, since we may enter the Sanctuary with confidence, in virtue of the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by the way which he inaugurated for us--a new and living way, a way through the Sanctuary Curtain (that is, his human nature); ²¹ and, since we have in him 'a great priest set over the House of God,' ²² let us draw near to God in all sincerity of heart and in perfect faith, with our hearts purified by the sprinkled blood from all consciousness of wrong, and with our bodies washed with pure water.

² And it was for faith that the men of old were renowned.

⁸ It was faith that enabled Abraham to obey the Call that he received, and to set out for the place which he was afterwards to obtain as his own; and he set out not knowing where he was going.

³⁶ Others had to face taunts and blows, and even chains and imprisonment.

² Do not neglect to show hospitality; for, through being hospitable, men have all unawares entertained angels.

⁹ Do not let yourselves be carried away by the various novel forms of teaching. It is better to rely for spiritual strength upon the divine help, than upon regulations regarding food; for those whose lives are guided by such regulations have not found them of service.

²⁰ May God, the source of all peace, who brought back from the dead him who, 'by virtue of the blood that rendered valid the unchangeable Covenant, is the Great Shepherd of God's Sheep,' Jesus, our Lord-- ²¹ may God make you perfect in everything that is good, so that you may be able to do his will. May he bring out in us all that is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be all glory for ever and ever. Amen.

²³ You will be glad to hear that our Brother, Timothy, has been set free. If he comes here soon, we will visit you together.

² My Brothers, whatever may be the temptations that beset you from time to time, always regard them as a reason for rejoicing,

¹⁶ Do not be deceived, my dear Brothers. ¹⁷ Every good thing given us, and every perfect gift, is from above, and comes down to us from the Maker of the Lights in the heavens, who is himself never subject to change or to eclipse.

⁶ But you--you insult the poor man! Is not it the rich who oppress you? Is not it they who drag you into law-courts?

¹³ For there will be justice without mercy for him who has not acted mercifully. Mercy triumphs over Justice. ¹⁴ My Brothers, what is the good of a man's saying that he has faith, if he does not prove it by actions? Can such faith save him? ¹⁵ Suppose some Brother or Sister should be in want of clothes and of daily bread, ¹⁶ And one of you were to say to them--"Go, and peace be with you; find warmth and food for yourselves," and yet you were not to give them the necessaries of life, what good would it be to them? ¹⁷ In just the same way faith, if not followed by actions, is, by itself, a lifeless thing.

⁴ Unfaithful people! Do not you know that to be friends with the world means to be at enmity with God? Therefore whoever chooses to be friends with the world makes himself an enemy to God.

¹³ If any of you is in trouble, let him pray; if any one is happy, let him sing hymns.

¹ To the People of God who are living abroad, dispersed throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Roman Asia, and Bithynia,

⁶ At the thought of this you are full of exultation, though (if it has been necessary) you have suffered for the moment somewhat from various trials; ⁷ that the genuineness of your faith--a thing far more precious than gold, which is perishable, yet has to be tested by fire--may win praise and glory and honour at the Appearing of Jesus Christ. ⁸ Though you have never seen him, yet you love him; though you do not even now see him, yet you believe in him, and exalt with a triumphant happiness too great for words,

¹¹ as they strove to discern what that time could be, to which the Spirit of Christ within them was pointing, when foretelling the sufferings that would befall Christ, and the glories that would follow.

¹⁶ Act as free men, yet not using your freedom as those do who make it a cloak for wickedness, but as Servants of God.

²⁴ And he 'himself carried our sins' in his own body to the cross, so that we might die to our sins, and live for righteousness. 'His bruising was your healing.'

¹⁴ If you are reviled for bearing the name of Christ, count yourselves blessed; because the divine Glory and the Spirit of God are resting upon you.

¹⁰ God, from whom all help comes, and who called you, by your union with Christ, into his eternal glory, will, when you have suffered for a little while, himself perfect, establish, strengthen you.

¹² I have been writing to you briefly by the hand of Silas, our true-hearted Brother (for so I regard him), to urge upon you, and to bear my testimony, that in what I have written is to be found the true love of God. On that take your stand.

³ In their covetousness they will try to make you a source of profit by their fabrications; but for a long time past their Sentence has not been standing idle, nor their Ruin slumbering.

¹⁸ My children, do not let our love be mere words, or end in talk; let it be true and show itself in acts.

¹⁰ He who believes in the Son of God has that testimony within him. He who does not believe God has made God a liar, by refusing to believe in that testimony which he has borne about his Son. ¹¹ And that testimony is that God gave us Immortal Life, and that this Life is in his Son. ¹² He who finds the Son finds Life; he who does not find the Son of God does not find Life. ¹³ I write this to you, that you may realize that you have found Immortal Life--you who believe in the Name of the Son of God.

¹⁰ If any one comes to you and does not bring this Teaching, do not receive him into your house or welcome him;

⁵ Dear friend, whatever you do for our Brothers is done in a Christian spirit--even when they are strangers to you.

⁸ We, therefore, ought to give such people a hearty welcome, and so take our share in their work for the Truth.

⁴ From John, to the seven Churches which are in Roman Asia. Blessing and peace be yours from him who is, and who was, and who shall be, and from the seven Spirits that are before his throne,

⁹ I, John, who am your Brother, and who share with you in the suffering and kingship and endurance of Jesus, found myself on the island called Patmos, for the sake of the Message of God and the testimony to Jesus.

¹¹ It said-- 'Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven Churches, to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamus, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicaea.'

¹⁰ Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The Devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tempted, and may undergo persecution for ten days. Be faithful even to death, and I will give you the Crown of Life.

¹⁸ To the Angel of the Church in Thyatira write:-- "These are the words of the Son of God, 'whose eyes are like flaming fire, and whose feet are like brass':-- ¹⁹ I know your life, your love, faith, service, and endurance; and I know that your life of late has been better than it was at first. ²⁰ Yet I have this against you--You tolerate the woman Jezebel, who declares that she is a Prophetess, and misleads my servants by her teaching, till they commit licentious acts and eat idol-offerings. ²¹ I gave her time to repent, but she is determined not to turn from her licentiousness. ²² Therefore I am laying her upon a bed of sickness, and bringing great suffering upon those who are unfaithful with her, unless they repent and turn from a life like hers. ²³ I will also put her children to death; and all the Churches shall learn that I am he who 'looks into the hearts and souls of men'; and I will give to each one of you what his life deserves. ²⁴ But I say to the rest of you at Thyatira--all who do not accept such teaching, whose who did not learn 'the secrets of Satan,' as men call them--I am not laying on you any further burden;

⁷ To the Angel of the Church in Philadelphia write:-- "These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds 'the Key of David, who opens and no one shall shut, and shuts and no one opens':--

⁹ Listen, I give some of the Congregation of Satan, the men who declare that they are Jews, though they are not, but are lying----I will make them 'come and bow down at your feet,' and they shall learn that I loved you.

²⁰ I am standing at the door and knocking! If any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will go in, and will feast with him, and he shall feast with me.

¹² And I saw the Lamb break the sixth seal, and then there was a great earthquake. The sun became black, like sackcloth, and the moon, which was at its full, like blood.

¹³ At that very time a great earthquake occurred. A tenth part of the city fell, and seven thousand people perished in the earthquake. Those who escaped were much terrified, and praised the God of Heaven.

¹¹ And the merchants of the earth weep and wail over her, because no longer does any one buy their cargoes-- ¹² their cargoes of gold, or silver, or precious stones, or pearls, or fine linen, or purple robes, or silk, or scarlet cloth; nor their many scented woods; nor their many articles of ivory; nor their many articles of choicest wood, or brass, or iron, or marble; ¹³ nor their cinnamon, or spice, or incense, or perfumes. or frankincense, or wine, or oil, or fine flour, or wheat, or cattle, or sheep; nor their horses, or chariots, or slaves; nor the bodies and souls of men.