21:1When we had departed from them and had set sail, we came with a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. 21:2Having found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard, and set sail. 21:3When we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left hand, we sailed to Syria, and landed at Tyre, for there the ship was to unload her cargo. 21:4Having found disciples, we stayed there seven days. These said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem. 21:5When those days were over, we departed and went on our journey. They all, with wives and children, brought us on our way until we were out of the city. Kneeling down on the beach, we prayed. 21:6After saying goodbye to each other, we went on board the ship, and they returned home again. 21:7When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais. We greeted the brothers, and stayed with them one day. 21:8On the next day, we, who were Paul’s companions, departed, and came to Caesarea. We entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. 21:9Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied. 21:10As we stayed there some days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 21:11Coming to us, and taking Paul’s belt, he bound his own feet and hands, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit: ‘So will the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and will deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’” 21:12When we heard these things, both we and they of that place begged him not to go up to Jerusalem. 21:13Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 21:14When he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “The Lord’s will be done.” 21:15After these days we took up our baggage and went up to Jerusalem. 21:16Some of the disciples from Caesarea also went with us, bringing one Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we would stay. 21:17When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly. 21:18The day following, Paul went in with us to James; and all the elders were present. 21:19When he had greeted them, he reported one by one the things which God had worked among the Gentiles through his ministry. 21:20They, when they heard it, glorified God. They said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law. 21:21They have been informed about you, that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children neither to walk after the customs. 21:22What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come. 21:23Therefore do what we tell you. We have four men who have taken a vow. 21:24Take them, and purify yourself with them, and pay their expenses for them, that they may shave their heads. Then all will know that there is no truth in the things that they have been informed about you, but that you yourself also walk keeping the law. 21:25But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written our decision that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from food offered to idols, from blood, from strangled things, and from sexual immorality.” 21:26Then Paul took the men, and the next day, purified himself and went with them into the temple, declaring the fulfillment of the days of purification, until the offering was offered for every one of them. 21:27When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the multitude and laid hands on him, 21:28crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place. Moreover, he also brought Greeks into the temple, and has defiled this holy place!” 21:29For they had seen Trophimus, the Ephesian, with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. 21:30All the city was moved, and the people ran together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple. Immediately the doors were shut. 21:31As they were trying to kill him, news came up to the commanding officer of the regiment that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. 21:32Immediately he took soldiers and centurions, and ran down to them. They, when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, stopped beating Paul. 21:33Then the commanding officer came near, arrested him, commanded him to be bound with two chains, and inquired who he was and what he had done. 21:34Some shouted one thing, and some another, among the crowd. When he couldn’t find out the truth because of the noise, he commanded him to be brought into the barracks. 21:35When he came to the stairs, he was carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd; 21:36for the multitude of the people followed after, crying out, “Away with him!” 21:37As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he asked the commanding officer, “May I speak to you?” He said, “Do you know Greek? 21:38Aren’t you then the Egyptian, who before these days stirred up to sedition and led out into the wilderness the four thousand men of the Assassins?” 21:39But Paul said, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no insignificant city. I beg you, allow me to speak to the people.” 21:40When he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the stairs, beckoned with his hand to the people. When there was a great silence, he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, saying,
22:1“Brothers and fathers, listen to the defense which I now make to you.” 22:2When they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they were even more quiet. He said, 22:3“I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict tradition of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, even as you all are today. 22:4I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. 22:5As also the high priest and all the council of the elders testify, from whom also I received letters to the brothers, and traveled to Damascus to bring them also who were there to Jerusalem in bonds to be punished. 22:6As I made my journey, and came close to Damascus, about noon, suddenly a great light shone around me from the sky. 22:7I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ 22:8I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you persecute.’ 22:9“Those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they didn’t understand the voice of him who spoke to me. 22:10I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ The Lord said to me, ‘Arise, and go into Damascus. There you will be told about all things which are appointed for you to do.’ 22:11When I couldn’t see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus. 22:12One Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well reported of by all the Jews who lived in Damascus, 22:13came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ In that very hour I looked up at him. 22:14He said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know his will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth. 22:15For you will be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and heard. 22:16Now why do you wait? Arise, be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’ 22:17“When I had returned to Jerusalem, and while I prayed in the temple, I fell into a trance, 22:18and saw him saying to me, ‘Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not receive testimony concerning me from you.’ 22:19I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue those who believed in you. 22:20When the blood of Stephen, your witness, was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting to his death, and guarding the cloaks of those who killed him.’ 22:21“He said to me, ‘Depart, for I will send you out far from here to the Gentiles.’” 22:22They listened to him until he said that; then they lifted up their voice, and said, “Rid the earth of this fellow, for he isn’t fit to live!” 22:23As they cried out, and threw off their cloaks, and threw dust into the air, 22:24the commanding officer commanded him to be brought into the barracks, ordering him to be examined by scourging, that he might know for what crime they shouted against him like that. 22:25When they had tied him up with thongs, Paul asked the centurion who stood by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and not found guilty?” 22:26When the centurion heard it, he went to the commanding officer and told him, “Watch what you are about to do, for this man is a Roman!” 22:27The commanding officer came and asked him, “Tell me, are you a Roman?” He said, “Yes.” 22:28The commanding officer answered, “I bought my citizenship for a great price.” Paul said, “But I was born a Roman.” 22:29Immediately those who were about to examine him departed from him, and the commanding officer also was afraid when he realized that he was a Roman, because he had bound him. 22:30But on the next day, desiring to know the truth about why he was accused by the Jews, he freed him from the bonds, and commanded the chief priests and all the council to come together, and brought Paul down and set him before them.
23:1Paul, looking steadfastly at the council, said, “Brothers, I have lived before God in all good conscience until today.” 23:2The high priest, Ananias, commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. 23:3Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to judge me according to the law, and command me to be struck contrary to the law?” 23:4Those who stood by said, “Do you malign God’s high priest?” 23:5Paul said, “I didn’t know, brothers, that he was high priest. For it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’” 23:6But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Men and brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. Concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!” 23:7When he had said this, an argument arose between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the crowd was divided. 23:8For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess all of these. 23:9A great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ part stood up, and contended, saying, “We find no evil in this man. But if a spirit or angel has spoken to him, let’s not fight against God!” 23:10When a great argument arose, the commanding officer, fearing that Paul would be torn in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks. 23:11The following night, the Lord stood by him, and said, “Cheer up, Paul, for as you have testified about me at Jerusalem, so you must testify also at Rome.” 23:12When it was day, some of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. 23:13There were more than forty people who had made this conspiracy. 23:14They came to the chief priests and the elders, and said, “We have bound ourselves under a great curse, to taste nothing until we have killed Paul. 23:15Now therefore, you with the council inform the commanding officer that he should bring him down to you tomorrow, as though you were going to judge his case more exactly. We are ready to kill him before he comes near.” 23:16But Paul’s sister’s son heard they were lying in wait, and he came and entered into the barracks and told Paul. 23:17Paul summoned one of the centurions, and said, “Bring this young man to the commanding officer, for he has something to tell him.” 23:18So he took him, and brought him to the commanding officer, and said, “Paul, the prisoner, summoned me and asked me to bring this young man to you, who has something to tell you.” 23:19The commanding officer took him by the hand, and going aside, asked him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?” 23:20He said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though intending to inquire somewhat more accurately concerning him. 23:21Therefore don’t yield to them, for more than forty men lie in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse neither to eat nor to drink until they have killed him. Now they are ready, looking for the promise from you.” 23:22So the commanding officer let the young man go, charging him, “Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me.” 23:23He called to himself two of the centurions, and said, “Prepare two hundred soldiers to go as far as Caesarea, with seventy horsemen, and two hundred men armed with spears, at the third hour of the night.” 23:24He asked them to provide animals, that they might set Paul on one, and bring him safely to Felix the governor. 23:25He wrote a letter like this: 23:26“Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings. 23:27“This man was seized by the Jews, and was about to be killed by them, when I came with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman. 23:28Desiring to know the cause why they accused him, I brought him down to their council. 23:29I found him to be accused about questions of their law, but not to be charged with anything worthy of death or of imprisonment. 23:30When I was told that the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent him to you immediately, charging his accusers also to bring their accusations against him before you. Farewell.” 23:31So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. 23:32But on the next day they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the barracks. 23:33When they came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him. 23:34When the governor had read it, he asked what province he was from. When he understood that he was from Cilicia, he said, 23:35“I will hear you fully when your accusers also arrive.” He commanded that he be kept in Herod’s palace.
24:1After five days, the high priest, Ananias, came down with certain elders and an orator, one Tertullus. They informed the governor against Paul. 24:2When he was called, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, “Seeing that by you we enjoy much peace, and that prosperity is coming to this nation by your foresight, 24:3we accept it in all ways and in all places, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness. 24:4But, that I don’t delay you, I entreat you to bear with us and hear a few words. 24:5For we have found this man to be a plague, an instigator of insurrections among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 24:6He even tried to profane the temple, and we arrested him. 24:7 24:8By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him.” 24:9The Jews also joined in the attack, affirming that these things were so. 24:10When the governor had beckoned to him to speak, Paul answered, “Because I know that you have been a judge of this nation for many years, I cheerfully make my defense, 24:11seeing that you can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship at Jerusalem. 24:12In the temple they didn’t find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the synagogues, or in the city. 24:13Nor can they prove to you the things of which they now accuse me. 24:14But this I confess to you, that after the Way, which they call a sect, so I serve the God of our fathers, believing all things which are according to the law, and which are written in the prophets; 24:15having hope toward God, which these also themselves look for, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. 24:16Herein I also practice always having a conscience void of offense toward God and men. 24:17Now after some years, I came to bring gifts for the needy to my nation, and offerings; 24:18amid which certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, not with a mob, nor with turmoil. 24:19They ought to have been here before you, and to make accusation, if they had anything against me. 24:20Or else let these men themselves say what injustice they found in me when I stood before the council, 24:21unless it is for this one thing that I cried standing among them, ‘Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged before you today!’” 24:22But Felix, having more exact knowledge concerning the Way, deferred them, saying, “When Lysias, the commanding officer, comes down, I will decide your case.” 24:23He ordered the centurion that Paul should be kept in custody, and should have some privileges, and not to forbid any of his friends to serve him or to visit him. 24:24But after some days, Felix came with Drusilla, his wife, who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ Jesus. 24:25As he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was terrified, and answered, “Go your way for this time, and when it is convenient for me, I will summon you.” 24:26Meanwhile, he also hoped that money would be given to him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore also he sent for him more often, and talked with him. 24:27But when two years were fulfilled, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and desiring to gain favor with the Jews, Felix left Paul in bonds.
25:1Festus therefore, having come into the province, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. 25:2Then the high priest and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul, and they begged him, 25:3asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem; plotting to kill him on the way. 25:4However Festus answered that Paul should be kept in custody at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to depart shortly. 25:5“Let them therefore”, said he, “that are in power among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong in the man, let them accuse him.” 25:6When he had stayed among them more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea, and on the next day he sat on the judgment seat, and commanded Paul to be brought. 25:7When he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing against him many and grievous charges which they could not prove, 25:8while he said in his defense, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I sinned at all.” 25:9But Festus, desiring to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paul and said, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem, and be judged by me there concerning these things?” 25:10But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you also know very well. 25:11For if I have done wrong, and have committed anything worthy of death, I don’t refuse to die; but if none of those things is true that they accuse me of, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar!” 25:12Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you shall go.” 25:13Now when some days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea, and greeted Festus. 25:14As he stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying, “There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix; 25:15about whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, asking for a sentence against him. 25:16To whom I answered that it is not the custom of the Romans to give up any man to destruction, before the accused has met the accusers face to face, and has had opportunity to make his defense concerning the matter laid against him. 25:17When therefore they had come together here, I didn’t delay, but on the next day sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought. 25:18Concerning whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no charge of such things as I supposed; 25:19but had certain questions against him about their own religion, and about one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. 25:20Being perplexed how to inquire concerning these things, I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and there be judged concerning these matters. 25:21But when Paul had appealed to be kept for the decision of the emperor, I commanded him to be kept until I could send him to Caesar.” 25:22Agrippa said to Festus, “I also would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” he said, “you shall hear him.” 25:23So on the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with great pomp, and they had entered into the place of hearing with the commanding officers and the principal men of the city, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. 25:24Festus said, “King Agrippa, and all men who are here present with us, you see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews petitioned me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying that he ought not to live any longer. 25:25But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and as he himself appealed to the emperor I determined to send him, 25:26of whom I have no certain thing to write to my lord. Therefore I have brought him out before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, that, after examination, I may have something to write. 25:27For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to also specify the charges against him.”
26:1Agrippa said to Paul, “You may speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand, and made his defense. 26:2“I think myself happy, King Agrippa, that I am to make my defense before you today concerning all the things that I am accused by the Jews, 26:3especially because you are expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews. Therefore I beg you to hear me patiently. 26:4“Indeed, all the Jews know my way of life from my youth up, which was from the beginning among my own nation and at Jerusalem; 26:5having known me from the first, if they are willing to testify, that after the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. 26:6Now I stand here to be judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers, 26:7which our twelve tribes, earnestly serving night and day, hope to attain. Concerning this hope I am accused by the Jews, King Agrippa! 26:8Why is it judged incredible with you, if God does raise the dead? 26:9“I myself most certainly thought that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 26:10This I also did in Jerusalem. I both shut up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, and when they were put to death I gave my vote against them. 26:11Punishing them often in all the synagogues, I tried to make them blaspheme. Being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities. 26:12“Whereupon as I traveled to Damascus with the authority and commission from the chief priests, 26:13at noon, O king, I saw on the way a light from the sky, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who traveled with me. 26:14When we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 26:15“I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ “He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 26:16But arise, and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose: to appoint you a servant and a witness both of the things which you have seen, and of the things which I will reveal to you; 26:17delivering you from the people, and from the Gentiles, to whom I send you, 26:18to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ 26:19“Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 26:20but declared first to them of Damascus, at Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance. 26:21For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple, and tried to kill me. 26:22Having therefore obtained the help that is from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would happen, 26:23how the Christ must suffer, and how, by the resurrection of the dead, he would be first to proclaim light both to these people and to the Gentiles.” 26:24As he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are crazy! Your great learning is driving you insane!” 26:25But he said, “I am not crazy, most excellent Festus, but boldly declare words of truth and reasonableness. 26:26For the king knows of these things, to whom also I speak freely. For I am persuaded that none of these things is hidden from him, for this has not been done in a corner. 26:27King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” 26:28Agrippa said to Paul, “With a little persuasion are you trying to make me a Christian?” 26:29Paul said, “I pray to God, that whether with little or with much, not only you, but also all that hear me today, might become such as I am, except for these bonds.” 26:30The king rose up with the governor, and Bernice, and those who sat with them. 26:31When they had withdrawn, they spoke to one another, saying, “This man does nothing worthy of death or of bonds.” 26:32Agrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
27:1When it was determined that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners to a centurion named Julius, of the Augustan band. 27:2Embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to places on the coast of Asia, we put to sea; Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us. 27:3The next day, we touched at Sidon. Julius treated Paul kindly, and gave him permission to go to his friends and refresh himself. 27:4Putting to sea from there, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary. 27:5When we had sailed across the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia. 27:6There the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing for Italy, and he put us on board. 27:7When we had sailed slowly many days, and had come with difficulty opposite Cnidus, the wind not allowing us further, we sailed under the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone. 27:8With difficulty sailing along it we came to a certain place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea. 27:9When much time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous, because the Fast had now already gone by, Paul admonished them, 27:10and said to them, “Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” 27:11But the centurion gave more heed to the master and to the owner of the ship than to those things which were spoken by Paul. 27:12Because the haven was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised going to sea from there, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, and winter there, which is a port of Crete, looking northeast and southeast. 27:13When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close to shore. 27:14But before long, a stormy wind beat down from shore, which is called Euroclydon. 27:15When the ship was caught, and couldn’t face the wind, we gave way to it, and were driven along. 27:16Running under the lee of a small island called Clauda, we were able, with difficulty, to secure the boat. 27:17After they had hoisted it up, they used cables to help reinforce the ship. Fearing that they would run aground on the Syrtis sand bars, they lowered the sea anchor, and so were driven along. 27:18As we labored exceedingly with the storm, the next day they began to throw things overboard. 27:19On the third day, they threw out the ship’s tackle with their own hands. 27:20When neither sun nor stars shone on us for many days, and no small storm pressed on us, all hope that we would be saved was now taken away. 27:21When they had been long without food, Paul stood up in the middle of them, and said, “Sirs, you should have listened to me, and not have set sail from Crete, and have gotten this injury and loss. 27:22Now I exhort you to cheer up, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 27:23For there stood by me this night an angel, belonging to the God whose I am and whom I serve, 27:24saying, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul. You must stand before Caesar. Behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ 27:25Therefore, sirs, cheer up! For I believe God, that it will be just as it has been spoken to me. 27:26But we must run aground on a certain island.” 27:27But when the fourteenth night had come, as we were driven back and forth in the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors surmised that they were drawing near to some land. 27:28They took soundings, and found twenty fathoms. After a little while, they took soundings again, and found fifteen fathoms. 27:29Fearing that we would run aground on rocky ground, they let go four anchors from the stern, and wished for daylight. 27:30As the sailors were trying to flee out of the ship, and had lowered the boat into the sea, pretending that they would lay out anchors from the bow, 27:31Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, “Unless these stay in the ship, you can’t be saved.” 27:32Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat, and let it fall off. 27:33While the day was coming on, Paul begged them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you wait and continue fasting, having taken nothing. 27:34Therefore I beg you to take some food, for this is for your safety; for not a hair will perish from any of your heads.” 27:35When he had said this, and had taken bread, he gave thanks to God in the presence of all, and he broke it, and began to eat. 27:36Then they all cheered up, and they also took food. 27:37In all, we were two hundred seventy-six souls on the ship. 27:38When they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea. 27:39When it was day, they didn’t recognize the land, but they noticed a certain bay with a beach, and they decided to try to drive the ship onto it. 27:40Casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time untying the rudder ropes. Hoisting up the foresail to the wind, they made for the beach. 27:41But coming to a place where two seas met, they ran the vessel aground. The bow struck and remained immovable, but the stern began to break up by the violence of the waves. 27:42The soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, so that none of them would swim out and escape. 27:43But the centurion, desiring to save Paul, stopped them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should throw themselves overboard first to go toward the land; 27:44and the rest should follow, some on planks, and some on other things from the ship. So they all escaped safely to the land.
28:1When we had escaped, then they learned that the island was called Malta. 28:2The natives showed us uncommon kindness; for they kindled a fire, and received us all, because of the present rain, and because of the cold. 28:3But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand. 28:4When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped from the sea, yet Justice has not allowed to live.” 28:5However he shook off the creature into the fire, and wasn’t harmed. 28:6But they expected that he would have swollen or fallen down dead suddenly, but when they watched for a long time and saw nothing bad happen to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god. 28:7Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us, and courteously entertained us for three days. 28:8The father of Publius lay sick of fever and dysentery. Paul entered in to him, prayed, and laying his hands on him, healed him. 28:9Then when this was done, the rest also who had diseases in the island came, and were cured. 28:10They also honored us with many honors, and when we sailed, they put on board the things that we needed. 28:11After three months, we set sail in a ship of Alexandria which had wintered in the island, whose sign was “The Twin Brothers.” 28:12Touching at Syracuse, we stayed there three days. 28:13From there we circled around and arrived at Rhegium. After one day, a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli, 28:14where we found brothers, and were entreated to stay with them for seven days. So we came to Rome. 28:15From there the brothers, when they heard of us, came to meet us as far as The Market of Appius and The Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God, and took courage. 28:16When we entered into Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard, but Paul was allowed to stay by himself with the soldier who guarded him. 28:17After three days Paul called together those who were the leaders of the Jews. When they had come together, he said to them, “I, brothers, though I had done nothing against the people, or the customs of our fathers, still was delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans, 28:18who, when they had examined me, desired to set me free, because there was no cause of death in me. 28:19But when the Jews spoke against it, I was constrained to appeal to Caesar, not that I had anything about which to accuse my nation. 28:20For this cause therefore I asked to see you and to speak with you. For because of the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.” 28:21They said to him, “We neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor did any of the brothers come here and report or speak any evil of you. 28:22But we desire to hear from you what you think. For, as concerning this sect, it is known to us that everywhere it is spoken against.” 28:23When they had appointed him a day, many people came to him at his lodging. He explained to them, testifying about God’s Kingdom, and persuading them concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses and from the prophets, from morning until evening. 28:24Some believed the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved. 28:25When they didn’t agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had spoken one word, “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah, the prophet, to our fathers, 28:26saying, ‘Go to this people, and say, in hearing, you will hear, but will in no way understand. In seeing, you will see, but will in no way perceive. 28:27For this people’s heart has grown callous. Their ears are dull of hearing. Their eyes they have closed. Lest they should see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and would turn again, and I would heal them.’ 28:28“Be it known therefore to you, that the salvation of God is sent to the nations, and they will listen.” 28:29When he had said these words, the Jews departed, having a great dispute among themselves. 28:30Paul stayed two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who were coming to him, 28:31preaching God’s Kingdom, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, without hindrance.
Romans
1:1Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the Good News of God, 1:2which he promised before through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 1:3concerning his Son, who was born of the offspring of David according to the flesh, 1:4who was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 1:5through whom we received grace and apostleship, for obedience of faith among all the nations, for his name’s sake; 1:6among whom you are also called to belong to Jesus Christ; 1:7to all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 1:8First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, that your faith is proclaimed throughout the whole world. 1:9For God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit in the Good News of his Son, how unceasingly I make mention of you always in my prayers, 1:10requesting, if by any means now at last I may be prospered by the will of God to come to you. 1:11For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, to the end that you may be established; 1:12that is, that I with you may be encouraged in you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine. 1:13Now I don’t desire to have you unaware, brothers, that I often planned to come to you, and was hindered so far, that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among the rest of the Gentiles. 1:14I am debtor both to Greeks and to foreigners, both to the wise and to the foolish. 1:15So, as much as is in me, I am eager to preach the Good News to you also who are in Rome. 1:16For I am not ashamed of the Good News of Christ, because it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes; for the Jew first, and also for the Greek. 1:17For in it is revealed God’s righteousness from faith to faith. As it is written, “But the righteous shall live by faith.” 1:18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 1:19because that which is known of God is revealed in them, for God revealed it to them. 1:20For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse. 1:21Because, knowing God, they didn’t glorify him as God, neither gave thanks, but became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless heart was darkened. 1:22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 1:23and traded the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and four-footed animals, and creeping things. 1:24Therefore God also gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves; 1:25who exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 1:26For this reason, God gave them up to vile passions. For their women changed the natural function into that which is against nature. 1:27Likewise also the men, leaving the natural function of the woman, burned in their lust toward one another, men doing what is inappropriate with men, and receiving in themselves the due penalty of their error. 1:28Even as they refused to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 1:29being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, malice; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil habits, secret slanderers, 1:30backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 1:31without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, unforgiving, unmerciful; 1:32who, knowing the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also approve of those who practice them.
2:1Therefore you are without excuse, O man, whoever you are who judge. For in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself. For you who judge practice the same things. 2:2We know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. 2:3Do you think this, O man who judges those who practice such things, and do the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? 2:4Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 2:5But according to your hardness and unrepentant heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath, revelation, and of the righteous judgment of God; 2:6who “will pay back to everyone according to their works:” 2:7to those who by perseverance in well-doing seek for glory, honor, and incorruptibility, eternal life; 2:8but to those who are self-seeking, and don’t obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, will be wrath and indignation, 2:9oppression and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 2:10But glory, honor, and peace go to every man who does good, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 2:11For there is no partiality with God. 2:12For as many as have sinned without the law will also perish without the law. As many as have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 2:13For it isn’t the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be justified 2:14(for when Gentiles who don’t have the law do by nature the things of the law, these, not having the law, are a law to themselves, 2:15in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience testifying with them, and their thoughts among themselves accusing or else excusing them) 2:16in the day when God will judge the secrets of men, according to my Good News, by Jesus Christ. 2:17Indeed you bear the name of a Jew, and rest on the law, and glory in God, 2:18and know his will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law, 2:19and are confident that you yourself are a guide of the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 2:20a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of babies, having in the law the form of knowledge and of the truth. 2:21You therefore who teach another, don’t you teach yourself? You who preach that a man shouldn’t steal, do you steal? 2:22You who say a man shouldn’t commit adultery. Do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 2:23You who glory in the law, do you dishonor God by disobeying the law? 2:24For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” just as it is written. 2:25For circumcision indeed profits, if you are a doer of the law, but if you are a transgressor of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 2:26If therefore the uncircumcised keep the ordinances of the law, won’t his uncircumcision be accounted as circumcision? 2:27Won’t the uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfills the law, judge you, who with the letter and circumcision are a transgressor of the law? 2:28For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh; 2:29but he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit not in the letter; whose praise is not from men, but from God.
3:1Then what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the profit of circumcision? 3:2Much in every way! Because first of all, they were entrusted with the revelations of God. 3:3For what if some were without faith? Will their lack of faith nullify the faithfulness of God? 3:4May it never be! Yes, let God be found true, but every man a liar. As it is written, “That you might be justified in your words, and might prevail when you come into judgment.” 3:5But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what will we say? Is God unrighteous who inflicts wrath? I speak like men do. 3:6May it never be! For then how will God judge the world? 3:7For if the truth of God through my lie abounded to his glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner? 3:8Why not (as we are slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say), “Let us do evil, that good may come?” Those who say so are justly condemned. 3:9What then? Are we better than they? No, in no way. For we previously warned both Jews and Greeks, that they are all under sin. 3:10As it is written, “There is no one righteous; no, not one. 3:11There is no one who understands. There is no one who seeks after God. 3:12They have all turned away. They have together become unprofitable. There is no one who does good, no, not so much as one.” 3:13“Their throat is an open tomb. With their tongues they have used deceit.” “The poison of vipers is under their lips”; 3:14“whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.” 3:15“Their feet are swift to shed blood. 3:16Destruction and misery are in their ways. 3:17The way of peace, they haven’t known.” 3:18“There is no fear of God before their eyes.” 3:19Now we know that whatever things the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God. 3:20Because by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight. For through the law comes the knowledge of sin. 3:21But now apart from the law, a righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified by the law and the prophets; 3:22even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all those who believe. For there is no distinction, 3:23for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God; 3:24being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; 3:25whom God sent to be an atoning sacrifice, through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of prior sins, in God’s forbearance; 3:26to demonstrate his righteousness at this present time; that he might himself be just, and the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus. 3:27Where then is the boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. 3:28We maintain therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. 3:29Or is God the God of Jews only? Isn’t he the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 3:30since indeed there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith, and the uncircumcised through faith. 3:31Do we then nullify the law through faith? May it never be! No, we establish the law.
4:1What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather, has found according to the flesh? 4:2For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not toward God. 4:3For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 4:4Now to him who works, the reward is not counted as grace, but as something owed. 4:5But to him who doesn’t work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness. 4:6Even as David also pronounces blessing on the man to whom God counts righteousness apart from works, 4:7“Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 4:8Blessed is the man whom the Lord will by no means charge with sin.” 4:9Is this blessing then pronounced on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. 4:10How then was it counted? When he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. 4:11He received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while he was in uncircumcision, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they might be in uncircumcision, that righteousness might also be accounted to them. 4:12He is the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had in uncircumcision. 4:13For the promise to Abraham and to his offspring that he should be heir of the world wasn’t through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 4:14For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of no effect. 4:15For the law produces wrath, for where there is no law, neither is there disobedience. 4:16For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace, to the end that the promise may be sure to all the offspring, not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all. 4:17As it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations.” This is in the presence of him whom he believed: God, who gives life to the dead, and calls the things that are not, as though they were. 4:18Besides hope, Abraham in hope believed, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, “So will your offspring be.” 4:19Without being weakened in faith, he didn’t consider his own body, already having been worn out, (he being about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 4:20Yet, looking to the promise of God, he didn’t waver through unbelief, but grew strong through faith, giving glory to God, 4:21and being fully assured that what he had promised, he was also able to perform. 4:22Therefore it also was “credited to him for righteousness.” 4:23Now it was not written that it was accounted to him for his sake alone, 4:24but for our sake also, to whom it will be accounted, who believe in him who raised Jesus, our Lord, from the dead, 4:25who was delivered up for our trespasses, and was raised for our justification.
5:1Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; 5:2through whom we also have our access by faith into this grace in which we stand. We rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 5:3Not only this, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces perseverance; 5:4and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope: 5:5and hope doesn’t disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 5:6For while we were yet weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 5:7For one will hardly die for a righteous man. Yet perhaps for a righteous person someone would even dare to die. 5:8But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 5:9Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we will be saved from God’s wrath through him. 5:10For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we will be saved by his life. 5:11Not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. 5:12Therefore as sin entered into the world through one man, and death through sin; and so death passed to all men, because all sinned. 5:13For until the law, sin was in the world; but sin is not charged when there is no law. 5:14Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those whose sins weren’t like Adam’s disobedience, who is a foreshadowing of him who was to come. 5:15But the free gift isn’t like the trespass. For if by the trespass of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God, and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. 5:16The gift is not as through one who sinned: for the judgment came by one to condemnation, but the free gift came of many trespasses to justification. 5:17For if by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; so much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ. 5:18So then as through one trespass, all men were condemned; even so through one act of righteousness, all men were justified to life. 5:19For as through the one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one, many will be made righteous. 5:20The law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace abounded more exceedingly; 5:21that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
6:1What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 6:2May it never be! We who died to sin, how could we live in it any longer? 6:3Or don’t you know that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 6:4We were buried therefore with him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life. 6:5For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will also be part of his resurrection; 6:6knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be in bondage to sin. 6:7For he who has died has been freed from sin. 6:8But if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him; 6:9knowing that Christ, being raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no more has dominion over him! 6:10For the death that he died, he died to sin one time; but the life that he lives, he lives to God. 6:11Thus consider yourselves also to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 6:12Therefore don’t let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 6:13Also, do not present your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God, as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 6:14For sin will not have dominion over you. For you are not under law, but under grace. 6:15What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under law, but under grace? May it never be! 6:16Don’t you know that when you present yourselves as servants and obey someone, you are the servants of whomever you obey; whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness? 6:17But thanks be to God, that, whereas you were bondservants of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were delivered. 6:18Being made free from sin, you became bondservants of righteousness. 6:19I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh, for as you presented your members as servants to uncleanness and to wickedness upon wickedness, even so now present your members as servants to righteousness for sanctification. 6:20For when you were servants of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 6:21What fruit then did you have at that time in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 6:22But now, being made free from sin, and having become servants of God, you have your fruit of sanctification, and the result of eternal life. 6:23For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
7:1Or don’t you know, brothers (for I speak to men who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man for as long as he lives? 7:2For the woman that has a husband is bound by law to the husband while he lives, but if the husband dies, she is discharged from the law of the husband. 7:3So then if, while the husband lives, she is joined to another man, she would be called an adulteress. But if the husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is no adulteress, though she is joined to another man. 7:4Therefore, my brothers, you also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you would be joined to another, to him who was raised from the dead, that we might produce fruit to God. 7:5For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were through the law, worked in our members to bring out fruit to death. 7:6But now we have been discharged from the law, having died to that in which we were held; so that we serve in newness of the spirit, and not in oldness of the letter. 7:7What shall we say then? Is the law sin? May it never be! However, I wouldn’t have known sin, except through the law. For I wouldn’t have known coveting, unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.” 7:8But sin, finding occasion through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of coveting. For apart from the law, sin is dead. 7:9I was alive apart from the law once, but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 7:10The commandment, which was for life, this I found to be for death; 7:11for sin, finding occasion through the commandment, deceived me, and through it killed me. 7:12Therefore the law indeed is holy, and the commandment holy, and righteous, and good. 7:13Did then that which is good become death to me? May it never be! But sin, that it might be shown to be sin, was producing death in me through that which is good; that through the commandment sin might become exceedingly sinful. 7:14For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am fleshly, sold under sin. 7:15For I don’t know what I am doing. For I don’t practice what I desire to do; but what I hate, that I do. 7:16But if what I don’t desire, that I do, I consent to the law that it is good. 7:17So now it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwells in me. 7:18For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing. For desire is present with me, but I don’t find it doing that which is good. 7:19For the good which I desire, I don’t do; but the evil which I don’t desire, that I practice. 7:20But if what I don’t desire, that I do, it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwells in me. 7:21I find then the law, that, to me, while I desire to do good, evil is present. 7:22For I delight in God’s law after the inward man, 7:23but I see a different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity under the law of sin which is in my members. 7:24What a wretched man I am! Who will deliver me out of the body of this death? 7:25I thank God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! So then with the mind, I myself serve God’s law, but with the flesh, the sin’s law.
8:1There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 8:2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death. 8:3For what the law couldn’t do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh; 8:4that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 8:5For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 8:6For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace; 8:7because the mind of the flesh is hostile towards God; for it is not subject to God’s law, neither indeed can it be. 8:8Those who are in the flesh can’t please God. 8:9But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if it is so that the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if any man doesn’t have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his. 8:10If Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is alive because of righteousness. 8:11But if the Spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. 8:12So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 8:13For if you live after the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 8:14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God. 8:15For you didn’t receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 8:16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God; 8:17and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him. 8:18For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which will be revealed toward us. 8:19For the creation waits with eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 8:20For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 8:21that the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of decay into the liberty of the glory of the children of God. 8:22For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now. 8:23Not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for adoption, the redemption of our body. 8:24For we were saved in hope, but hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for that which he sees? 8:25But if we hope for that which we don’t see, we wait for it with patience. 8:26In the same way, the Spirit also helps our weaknesses, for we don’t know how to pray as we ought. But the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which can’t be uttered. 8:27He who searches the hearts knows what is on the Spirit’s mind, because he makes intercession for the saints according to God. 8:28We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose. 8:29For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 8:30Whom he predestined, those he also called. Whom he called, those he also justified. Whom he justified, those he also glorified. 8:31What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 8:32He who didn’t spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how would he not also with him freely give us all things? 8:33Who could bring a charge against God’s chosen ones? It is God who justifies. 8:34Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, yes rather, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 8:35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Could oppression, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 8:36Even as it is written, “For your sake we are killed all day long. We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” 8:37No, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 8:38For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 8:39nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from God’s love, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
9:1I tell the truth in Christ. I am not lying, my conscience testifying with me in the Holy Spirit, 9:2that I have great sorrow and unceasing pain in my heart. 9:3For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brothers’ sake, my relatives according to the flesh, 9:4who are Israelites; whose is the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service, and the promises; 9:5of whom are the fathers, and from whom is Christ as concerning the flesh, who is over all, God, blessed forever. Amen. 9:6But it is not as though the word of God has come to nothing. For they are not all Israel, that are of Israel. 9:7Neither, because they are Abraham’s offspring, are they all children. But, “your offspring will be accounted as from Isaac.” 9:8That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as heirs. 9:9For this is a word of promise, “At the appointed time I will come, and Sarah will have a son.” 9:10Not only so, but Rebekah also conceived by one, by our father Isaac. 9:11For being not yet born, neither having done anything good or bad, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him who calls, 9:12it was said to her, “The elder will serve the younger.” 9:13Even as it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” 9:14What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? May it never be! 9:15For he said to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 9:16So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who has mercy. 9:17For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I caused you to be raised up, that I might show in you my power, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 9:18So then, he has mercy on whom he desires, and he hardens whom he desires. 9:19You will say then to me, “Why does he still find fault? For who withstands his will?” 9:20But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed ask him who formed it, “Why did you make me like this?” 9:21Or hasn’t the potter a right over the clay, from the same lump to make one part a vessel for honor, and another for dishonor? 9:22What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 9:23and that he might make known the riches of his glory on vessels of mercy, which he prepared beforehand for glory, 9:24us, whom he also called, not from the Jews only, but also from the Gentiles? 9:25As he says also in Hosea, “I will call them ‘my people,’ which were not my people; and her ‘beloved,’ who was not beloved.” 9:26“It will be that in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ There they will be called ‘children of the living God.’” 9:27Isaiah cries concerning Israel, “If the number of the children of Israel are as the sand of the sea, it is the remnant who will be saved; 9:28for He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness, because the LORD will make a short work upon the earth.” 9:29As Isaiah has said before, “Unless the Lord of Armies had left us a seed, we would have become like Sodom, and would have been made like Gomorrah.” 9:30What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, who didn’t follow after righteousness, attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith; 9:31but Israel, following after a law of righteousness, didn’t arrive at the law of righteousness. 9:32Why? Because they didn’t seek it by faith, but as it were by works of the law. They stumbled over the stumbling stone; 9:33even as it is written, “Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and a rock of offense; and no one who believes in him will be disappointed.”
10:1Brothers, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God is for Israel, that they may be saved. 10:2For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 10:3For being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they didn’t subject themselves to the righteousness of God. 10:4For Christ is the fulfillment of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. 10:5For Moses writes about the righteousness of the law, “The one who does them will live by them.” 10:6But the righteousness which is of faith says this, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down); 10:7or, ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.)” 10:8But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart”; that is, the word of faith, which we preach: 10:9that if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10:10For with the heart, one believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 10:11For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in him will not be disappointed.” 10:12For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich to all who call on him. 10:13For, “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 10:14How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in him whom they have not heard? How will they hear without a preacher? 10:15And how will they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the Good News of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!” 10:16But they didn’t all listen to the glad news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” 10:17So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 10:18But I say, didn’t they hear? Yes, most certainly, “Their sound went out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” 10:19But I ask, didn’t Israel know? First Moses says, “I will provoke you to jealousy with that which is no nation, with a nation void of understanding I will make you angry.” 10:20Isaiah is very bold, and says, “I was found by those who didn’t seek me. I was revealed to those who didn’t ask for me.” 10:21But as to Israel he says, “All day long I stretched out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”
11:1I ask then, did God reject his people? May it never be! For I also am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 11:2God didn’t reject his people, which he foreknew. Or don’t you know what the Scripture says about Elijah? How he pleads with God against Israel: 11:3“Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have broken down your altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.” 11:4But how does God answer him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 11:5Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 11:6And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work. 11:7What then? That which Israel seeks for, that he didn’t obtain, but the chosen ones obtained it, and the rest were hardened. 11:8According as it is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear, to this very day.” 11:9David says, “Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, a stumbling block, and a retribution to them. 11:10Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see. Bow down their back always.” 11:11I ask then, did they stumble that they might fall? May it never be! But by their fall salvation has come to the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy. 11:12Now if their fall is the riches of the world, and their loss the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fullness? 11:13For I speak to you who are Gentiles. Since then as I am an apostle to Gentiles, I glorify my ministry; 11:14if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh, and may save some of them. 11:15For if the rejection of them is the reconciling of the world, what would their acceptance be, but life from the dead? 11:16If the first fruit is holy, so is the lump. If the root is holy, so are the branches. 11:17But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them, and became partaker with them of the root and of the richness of the olive tree; 11:18don’t boast over the branches. But if you boast, it is not you who support the root, but the root supports you. 11:19You will say then, “Branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.” 11:20True; by their unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by your faith. Don’t be conceited, but fear; 11:21for if God didn’t spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. 11:22See then the goodness and severity of God. Toward those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in his goodness; otherwise you also will be cut off. 11:23They also, if they don’t continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 11:24For if you were cut out of that which is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree, how much more will these, which are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? 11:25For I don’t desire you to be ignorant, brothers, of this mystery, so that you won’t be wise in your own conceits, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in, 11:26and so all Israel will be saved. Even as it is written, “There will come out of Zion the Deliverer, and he will turn away ungodliness from Jacob. 11:27This is my covenant with them, when I will take away their sins.” 11:28Concerning the Good News, they are enemies for your sake. But concerning the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sake. 11:29For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 11:30For as you in time past were disobedient to God, but now have obtained mercy by their disobedience, 11:31even so these also have now been disobedient, that by the mercy shown to you they may also obtain mercy. 11:32For God has shut up all to disobedience, that he might have mercy on all. 11:33Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out! 11:34“For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” 11:35“Or who has first given to him, and it will be repaid to him again?” 11:36For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things. To him be the glory for ever! Amen.