38 The officers reported this to the magistrates, and when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they were alarmed.(A) 39 They came to appease them and escorted them from the prison, requesting them to leave the city.(B) 40 After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house,(C) where they met with the brothers and sisters(D) and encouraged them. Then they left.

In Thessalonica

17 When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica,(E) where there was a Jewish synagogue. As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue,(F) and on three Sabbath(G) days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,(H) explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer(I) and rise from the dead.(J) “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,”(K) he said. Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas,(L) as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women.

But other Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city.(M) They rushed to Jason’s(N) house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd.[a] But when they did not find them, they dragged(O) Jason and some other believers(P) before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have caused trouble all over the world(Q) have now come here,(R) and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.”(S) When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. Then they made Jason(T) and the others post bond and let them go.

In Berea

10 As soon as it was night, the believers sent Paul and Silas(U) away to Berea.(V) On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue.(W) 11 Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica,(X) for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures(Y) every day to see if what Paul said was true.(Z) 12 As a result, many of them believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.(AA)

13 But when the Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God at Berea,(AB) some of them went there too, agitating the crowds and stirring them up. 14 The believers(AC) immediately sent Paul to the coast, but Silas(AD) and Timothy(AE) stayed at Berea. 15 Those who escorted Paul brought him to Athens(AF) and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible.(AG)

In Athens

16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue(AH) with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. 18 A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news(AI) about Jesus and the resurrection.(AJ) 19 Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus,(AK) where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching(AL) is that you are presenting? 20 You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we would like to know what they mean.” 21 (All the Athenians(AM) and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)

22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus(AN) and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.(AO) 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship(AP)—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.

24 “The God who made the world and everything in it(AQ) is the Lord of heaven and earth(AR) and does not live in temples built by human hands.(AS) 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.(AT) 26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.(AU) 27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.(AV) 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’[b](AW) As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’[c]

29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill.(AX) 30 In the past God overlooked(AY) such ignorance,(AZ) but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.(BA) 31 For he has set a day when he will judge(BB) the world with justice(BC) by the man he has appointed.(BD) He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”(BE)

32 When they heard about the resurrection of the dead,(BF) some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.” 33 At that, Paul left the Council. 34 Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus,(BG) also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.

In Corinth

18 After this, Paul left Athens(BH) and went to Corinth.(BI) There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla,(BJ) because Claudius(BK) had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them.(BL) Every Sabbath(BM) he reasoned in the synagogue,(BN) trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.

When Silas(BO) and Timothy(BP) came from Macedonia,(BQ) Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah.(BR) But when they opposed Paul and became abusive,(BS) he shook out his clothes in protest(BT) and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads!(BU) I am innocent of it.(BV) From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”(BW)

Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God.(BX) Crispus,(BY) the synagogue leader,(BZ) and his entire household(CA) believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized.

One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision:(CB) “Do not be afraid;(CC) keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10 For I am with you,(CD) and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” 11 So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.(CE)

12 While Gallio was proconsul(CF) of Achaia,(CG) the Jews of Corinth made a united attack on Paul and brought him to the place of judgment. 13 “This man,” they charged, “is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.”

14 Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to them, “If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you. 15 But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law(CH)—settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things.” 16 So he drove them off. 17 Then the crowd there turned on Sosthenes(CI) the synagogue leader(CJ) and beat him in front of the proconsul; and Gallio showed no concern whatever.

Priscilla, Aquila and Apollos

18 Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sisters(CK) and sailed for Syria,(CL) accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila.(CM) Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchreae(CN) because of a vow he had taken.(CO) 19 They arrived at Ephesus,(CP) where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. 21 But as he left, he promised, “I will come back if it is God’s will.”(CQ) Then he set sail from Ephesus. 22 When he landed at Caesarea,(CR) he went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch.(CS)

23 After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia(CT) and Phrygia,(CU) strengthening all the disciples.(CV)

24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos,(CW) a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus.(CX) He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor[d](CY) and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John.(CZ) 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila(DA) heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.

27 When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia,(DB) the brothers and sisters(DC) encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. 28 For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures(DD) that Jesus was the Messiah.(DE)

Paul in Ephesus

19 While Apollos(DF) was at Corinth,(DG) Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus.(DH) There he found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit(DI) when[e] you believed?”

They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?”

“John’s baptism,” they replied.

Paul said, “John’s baptism(DJ) was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”(DK) On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.(DL) When Paul placed his hands on them,(DM) the Holy Spirit came on them,(DN) and they spoke in tongues[f](DO) and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all.

Paul entered the synagogue(DP) and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God.(DQ) But some of them(DR) became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way.(DS) So Paul left them. He took the disciples(DT) with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 This went on for two years,(DU) so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia(DV) heard the word of the Lord.(DW)

11 God did extraordinary miracles(DX) through Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured(DY) and the evil spirits left them.

13 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits(DZ) tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus(EA) whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.

17 When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus,(EB) they were all seized with fear,(EC) and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. 18 Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done. 19 A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.[g] 20 In this way the word of the Lord(ED) spread widely and grew in power.(EE)

21 After all this had happened, Paul decided[h] to go to Jerusalem,(EF) passing through Macedonia(EG) and Achaia.(EH) “After I have been there,” he said, “I must visit Rome also.”(EI) 22 He sent two of his helpers,(EJ) Timothy(EK) and Erastus,(EL) to Macedonia, while he stayed in the province of Asia(EM) a little longer.

The Riot in Ephesus

23 About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way.(EN) 24 A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen there. 25 He called them together, along with the workers in related trades, and said: “You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business.(EO) 26 And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus(EP) and in practically the whole province of Asia.(EQ) He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all.(ER) 27 There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.”

28 When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”(ES) 29 Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaius(ET) and Aristarchus,(EU) Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia,(EV) and all of them rushed into the theater together. 30 Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples(EW) would not let him. 31 Even some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, sent him a message begging him not to venture into the theater.

32 The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another.(EX) Most of the people did not even know why they were there. 33 The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander to the front, and they shouted instructions to him. He motioned(EY) for silence in order to make a defense before the people. 34 But when they realized he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”(EZ)

35 The city clerk quieted the crowd and said: “Fellow Ephesians,(FA) doesn’t all the world know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven? 36 Therefore, since these facts are undeniable, you ought to calm down and not do anything rash. 37 You have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed temples(FB) nor blasphemed our goddess. 38 If, then, Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen(FC) have a grievance against anybody, the courts are open and there are proconsuls.(FD) They can press charges. 39 If there is anything further you want to bring up, it must be settled in a legal assembly. 40 As it is, we are in danger of being charged with rioting because of what happened today. In that case we would not be able to account for this commotion, since there is no reason for it.” 41 After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.

Through Macedonia and Greece

20 When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples(FE) and, after encouraging them, said goodbye and set out for Macedonia.(FF) He traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece, where he stayed three months. Because some Jews had plotted against him(FG) just as he was about to sail for Syria,(FH) he decided to go back through Macedonia.(FI) He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus(FJ) and Secundus from Thessalonica,(FK) Gaius(FL) from Derbe, Timothy(FM) also, and Tychicus(FN) and Trophimus(FO) from the province of Asia.(FP) These men went on ahead and waited for us(FQ) at Troas.(FR) But we sailed from Philippi(FS) after the Festival of Unleavened Bread, and five days later joined the others at Troas,(FT) where we stayed seven days.

Eutychus Raised From the Dead at Troas

On the first day of the week(FU) we came together to break bread.(FV) Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. There were many lamps in the upstairs room(FW) where we were meeting. Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. 10 Paul went down, threw himself on the young man(FX) and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!”(FY) 11 Then he went upstairs again and broke bread(FZ) and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. 12 The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.

Paul’s Farewell to the Ephesian Elders

13 We went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we were going to take Paul aboard. He had made this arrangement because he was going there on foot. 14 When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene. 15 The next day we set sail from there and arrived off Chios. The day after that we crossed over to Samos, and on the following day arrived at Miletus.(GA) 16 Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus(GB) to avoid spending time in the province of Asia,(GC) for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem,(GD) if possible, by the day of Pentecost.(GE)

17 From Miletus,(GF) Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders(GG) of the church. 18 When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you,(GH) from the first day I came into the province of Asia.(GI) 19 I served the Lord with great humility and with tears(GJ) and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents.(GK) 20 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything(GL) that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. 21 I have declared to both Jews(GM) and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance(GN) and have faith in our Lord Jesus.(GO)

22 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem,(GP) not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me(GQ) that prison and hardships are facing me.(GR) 24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me;(GS) my only aim is to finish the race(GT) and complete the task(GU) the Lord Jesus has given me(GV)—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.(GW)

25 “Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom(GX) will ever see me again.(GY) 26 Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you.(GZ) 27 For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.(HA) 28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock(HB) of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.(HC) Be shepherds of the church of God,[i](HD) which he bought(HE) with his own blood.[j](HF) 29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves(HG) will come in among you and will not spare the flock.(HH) 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples(HI) after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years(HJ) I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.(HK)

32 “Now I commit you to God(HL) and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance(HM) among all those who are sanctified.(HN) 33 I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.(HO) 34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions.(HP) 35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’

36 When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed.(HQ) 37 They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him.(HR) 38 What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again.(HS) Then they accompanied him to the ship.(HT)

On to Jerusalem

21 After we(HU) had torn ourselves away from them, we put out to sea and sailed straight to Kos. The next day we went to Rhodes and from there to Patara. We found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia,(HV) went on board and set sail. After sighting Cyprus and passing to the south of it, we sailed on to Syria.(HW) We landed at Tyre, where our ship was to unload its cargo. We sought out the disciples(HX) there and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit(HY) they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. When it was time to leave, we left and continued on our way. All of them, including wives and children, accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray.(HZ) After saying goodbye to each other, we went aboard the ship, and they returned home.

We continued our voyage from Tyre(IA) and landed at Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and sisters(IB) and stayed with them for a day. Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea(IC) and stayed at the house of Philip(ID) the evangelist,(IE) one of the Seven. He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.(IF)

10 After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus(IG) came down from Judea. 11 Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says,(IH) ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind(II) the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’”(IJ)

12 When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die(IK) in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”(IL) 14 When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up(IM) and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”(IN)

15 After this, we started on our way up to Jerusalem.(IO) 16 Some of the disciples from Caesarea(IP) accompanied us and brought us to the home of Mnason, where we were to stay. He was a man from Cyprus(IQ) and one of the early disciples.

Paul’s Arrival at Jerusalem

17 When we arrived at Jerusalem, the brothers and sisters(IR) received us warmly.(IS) 18 The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James,(IT) and all the elders(IU) were present. 19 Paul greeted them and reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles(IV) through his ministry.(IW)

20 When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to Paul: “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous(IX) for the law.(IY) 21 They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses,(IZ) telling them not to circumcise their children(JA) or live according to our customs.(JB) 22 What shall we do? They will certainly hear that you have come, 23 so do what we tell you. There are four men with us who have made a vow.(JC) 24 Take these men, join in their purification rites(JD) and pay their expenses, so that they can have their heads shaved.(JE) Then everyone will know there is no truth in these reports about you, but that you yourself are living in obedience to the law. 25 As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they should abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality.”(JF)

26 The next day Paul took the men and purified himself along with them. Then he went to the temple to give notice of the date when the days of purification would end and the offering would be made for each of them.(JG)

Paul Arrested

27 When the seven days were nearly over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him,(JH) 28 shouting, “Fellow Israelites, help us! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people and our law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place.”(JI) 29 (They had previously seen Trophimus(JJ) the Ephesian(JK) in the city with Paul and assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple.)

30 The whole city was aroused, and the people came running from all directions. Seizing Paul,(JL) they dragged him(JM) from the temple, and immediately the gates were shut. 31 While they were trying to kill him, news reached the commander of the Roman troops that the whole city of Jerusalem was in an uproar. 32 He at once took some officers and soldiers and ran down to the crowd. When the rioters saw the commander and his soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.(JN)

33 The commander came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound(JO) with two(JP) chains.(JQ) Then he asked who he was and what he had done. 34 Some in the crowd shouted one thing and some another,(JR) and since the commander could not get at the truth because of the uproar, he ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks.(JS) 35 When Paul reached the steps,(JT) the violence of the mob was so great he had to be carried by the soldiers. 36 The crowd that followed kept shouting, “Get rid of him!”(JU)

Paul Speaks to the Crowd(JV)

37 As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks,(JW) he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?”

“Do you speak Greek?” he replied. 38 “Aren’t you the Egyptian who started a revolt and led four thousand terrorists out into the wilderness(JX) some time ago?”(JY)

39 Paul answered, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus(JZ) in Cilicia,(KA) a citizen of no ordinary city. Please let me speak to the people.”

40 After receiving the commander’s permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned(KB) to the crowd. When they were all silent, he said to them in Aramaic[k]:(KC) 22 “Brothers and fathers,(KD) listen now to my defense.”

When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic,(KE) they became very quiet.

Then Paul said: “I am a Jew,(KF) born in Tarsus(KG) of Cilicia,(KH) but brought up in this city. I studied under(KI) Gamaliel(KJ) and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors.(KK) I was just as zealous(KL) for God as any of you are today. I persecuted(KM) the followers of this Way(KN) to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison,(KO) as the high priest and all the Council(KP) can themselves testify. I even obtained letters from them to their associates(KQ) in Damascus,(KR) and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.

“About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me.(KS) I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’

“‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked.

‘I am Jesus of Nazareth,(KT) whom you are persecuting,’ he replied. My companions saw the light,(KU) but they did not understand the voice(KV) of him who was speaking to me.

10 “‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked.

‘Get up,’ the Lord said, ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.’(KW) 11 My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me.(KX)

12 “A man named Ananias came to see me.(KY) He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there.(KZ) 13 He stood beside me and said, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ And at that very moment I was able to see him.

14 “Then he said: ‘The God of our ancestors(LA) has chosen you to know his will and to see(LB) the Righteous One(LC) and to hear words from his mouth. 15 You will be his witness(LD) to all people of what you have seen(LE) and heard. 16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized(LF) and wash your sins away,(LG) calling on his name.’(LH)

17 “When I returned to Jerusalem(LI) and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance(LJ) 18 and saw the Lord speaking to me. ‘Quick!’ he said. ‘Leave Jerusalem immediately, because the people here will not accept your testimony about me.’

19 “‘Lord,’ I replied, ‘these people know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison(LK) and beat(LL) those who believe in you. 20 And when the blood of your martyr[l] Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’(LM)

21 “Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ (LN)

Paul the Roman Citizen

22 The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him!(LO) He’s not fit to live!”(LP)

23 As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks(LQ) and flinging dust into the air,(LR) 24 the commander ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks.(LS) He directed(LT) that he be flogged and interrogated in order to find out why the people were shouting at him like this. 25 As they stretched him out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been found guilty?”(LU)

26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and reported it. “What are you going to do?” he asked. “This man is a Roman citizen.”

27 The commander went to Paul and asked, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?”

“Yes, I am,” he answered.

28 Then the commander said, “I had to pay a lot of money for my citizenship.”

“But I was born a citizen,” Paul replied.

29 Those who were about to interrogate him(LV) withdrew immediately. The commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put Paul, a Roman citizen,(LW) in chains.(LX)

Paul Before the Sanhedrin

30 The commander wanted to find out exactly why Paul was being accused by the Jews.(LY) So the next day he released him(LZ) and ordered the chief priests and all the members of the Sanhedrin(MA) to assemble. Then he brought Paul and had him stand before them.

23 Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin(MB) and said, “My brothers,(MC) I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience(MD) to this day.” At this the high priest Ananias(ME) ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.(MF) Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall!(MG) You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!”(MH)

Those who were standing near Paul said, “How dare you insult God’s high priest!”

Paul replied, “Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’[m](MI)

Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees(MJ) and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My brothers,(MK) I am a Pharisee,(ML) descended from Pharisees. I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead.”(MM) When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection,(MN) and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees believe all these things.)

There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees(MO) stood up and argued vigorously. “We find nothing wrong with this man,”(MP) they said. “What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”(MQ) 10 The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks.(MR)

11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage!(MS) As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”(MT)

The Plot to Kill Paul

12 The next morning some Jews formed a conspiracy(MU) and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.(MV) 13 More than forty men were involved in this plot. 14 They went to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.(MW) 15 Now then, you and the Sanhedrin(MX) petition the commander to bring him before you on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about his case. We are ready to kill him before he gets here.”

16 But when the son of Paul’s sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks(MY) and told Paul.

17 Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.” 18 So he took him to the commander.

The centurion said, “Paul, the prisoner,(MZ) sent for me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.”

19 The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside and asked, “What is it you want to tell me?”

20 He said: “Some Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul before the Sanhedrin(NA) tomorrow on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about him.(NB) 21 Don’t give in to them, because more than forty(NC) of them are waiting in ambush for him. They have taken an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him.(ND) They are ready now, waiting for your consent to their request.”

22 The commander dismissed the young man with this warning: “Don’t tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”

Paul Transferred to Caesarea

23 Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, “Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen[n] to go to Caesarea(NE) at nine tonight.(NF) 24 Provide horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.”(NG)

25 He wrote a letter as follows:

26 Claudius Lysias,

To His Excellency,(NH) Governor Felix:

Greetings.(NI)

27 This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him,(NJ) but I came with my troops and rescued him,(NK) for I had learned that he is a Roman citizen.(NL) 28 I wanted to know why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their Sanhedrin.(NM) 29 I found that the accusation had to do with questions about their law,(NN) but there was no charge against him(NO) that deserved death or imprisonment. 30 When I was informed(NP) of a plot(NQ) to be carried out against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also ordered his accusers(NR) to present to you their case against him.

31 So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul with them during the night and brought him as far as Antipatris. 32 The next day they let the cavalry(NS) go on with him, while they returned to the barracks.(NT) 33 When the cavalry(NU) arrived in Caesarea,(NV) they delivered the letter to the governor(NW) and handed Paul over to him. 34 The governor read the letter and asked what province he was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia,(NX) 35 he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers(NY) get here.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard(NZ) in Herod’s palace.

Paul’s Trial Before Felix

24 Five days later the high priest Ananias(OA) went down to Caesarea with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought their charges(OB) against Paul before the governor.(OC)

Footnotes

  1. Acts 17:5 Or the assembly of the people
  2. Acts 17:28 From the Cretan philosopher Epimenides
  3. Acts 17:28 From the Cilician Stoic philosopher Aratus
  4. Acts 18:25 Or with fervor in the Spirit
  5. Acts 19:2 Or after
  6. Acts 19:6 Or other languages
  7. Acts 19:19 A drachma was a silver coin worth about a day’s wages.
  8. Acts 19:21 Or decided in the Spirit
  9. Acts 20:28 Many manuscripts of the Lord
  10. Acts 20:28 Or with the blood of his own Son
  11. Acts 21:40 Or possibly Hebrew; also in 22:2
  12. Acts 22:20 Or witness
  13. Acts 23:5 Exodus 22:28
  14. Acts 23:23 The meaning of the Greek for this word is uncertain.

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