^44 [a]But I say to you, ^(A)love your enemies, bless those who curse you, ^(B)do good to those who hate you, and pray ^(C)for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for ^(D)He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

²⁰ For since the creation of the world ^(A)His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and ^[a]Godhead, so that they are without excuse, ²¹ because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but ^(B)became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

^19 (A)Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which ^(B)one may ^[a]edify another. ^20 (C)Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. ^(D)All things indeed are pure, ^(E)but it is evil for the man who eats with ^[b]offense. ²¹ It is good neither to eat ^(F)meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles ^[c]or is offended or is made weak. ^22 [d]Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. ^(G)Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.

Seek God in Early Life

Paul’s Early Life

26 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.”

So Paul stretched out his hand and answered for himself: ² “I think myself ^(A)happy, King Agrippa, because today I shall answer ^(B)for myself before you concerning all the things of which I am ^(C)accused by the Jews, ³ especially because you are expert in all customs and questions which have to do with the Jews. Therefore I beg you to hear me patiently.

⁴ “My manner of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know. ⁵ They knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that according to ^(D)the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. ^6 (E)And now I stand and am judged for the hope of ^(F)the promise made by God to our fathers.

Paul Recounts His Conversion^(A)

^12 (B)“While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, ¹³ at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me. ¹⁴ And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ ¹⁵ So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. ¹⁶ But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, ^(C)to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. ¹⁷ I will ^[a]deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, ^(D)to whom I ^[b]now send you, ^18 (E)to open their eyes, in order ^(F)to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, ^(G)that they may receive forgiveness of sins and ^(H)an inheritance among those who are ^(I)sanctified^[c] by faith in Me.’