​
​Acts 27
New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition (NRSVACE)

Paul Sails for Rome

1 When it was decided that we were to sail for Italy, they transferred Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort, named Julius. 2 Embarking on a ship of Adramyttium that was about to set sail to the ports along the coast of Asia, we put to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica. 

3 The next day we put in at Sidon; and Julius treated Paul kindly, and allowed him to go to his friends to be cared for. 

4 Putting out to sea from there, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were against us. 5 After we had sailed across the sea that is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra in Lycia. 

6 There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship bound for Italy and put us on board. 7 We sailed slowly for a number of days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, and as the wind was against us, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone. 8 Sailing past it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea.

9 Since much time had been lost and sailing was now dangerous, because even the Fast had already gone by, Paul advised them, 10 saying, ‘Sirs, I can see that the voyage will be with danger and much heavy loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.’ 11 But the centurion paid more attention to the pilot and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul said. 12 Since the harbour was not suitable for spending the winter, the majority was in favour of putting to sea from there, on the chance that somehow they could reach Phoenix, where they could spend the winter. It was a harbour of Crete, facing south-west and north-west.

The Storm at Sea

13 When a moderate south wind began to blow, they thought they could achieve their purpose; so they weighed anchor and began to sail past Crete, close to the shore. 14 But soon a violent wind, called the northeaster, rushed down from Crete.[a] 15 Since the ship was caught and could not be turned with its head to the wind, we gave way to it and were driven. 16 By running under the lee of a small island called Cauda[b]we were scarcely able to get the ship’s boat under control. 17 After hoisting it up they took measures[c] to undergird the ship; then, fearing that they would run on the Syrtis, they lowered the sea-anchor and so were driven. 18 We were being pounded by the storm so violently that on the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard, 19 and on the third day with their own hands they threw the ship’s tackle overboard. 20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.

21 Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul then stood up among them and said, ‘Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and thereby avoided this damage and loss. 22 I urge you now to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 

23 For last night there stood by me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, 24 and he said, “Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before the emperor; and indeed, God has granted safety to all those who are sailing with you.” 

25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. 26 But we will have to run aground on some island.’

27 When the fourteenth night had come, as we were drifting across the sea of Adria, about midnight the sailors suspected that they were nearing land. 28 So they took soundings and found twenty fathoms; a little farther on they took soundings again and found fifteen fathoms. 

29 Fearing that we might run on the rocks, they let down four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come. 30 But when the sailors tried to escape from the ship and had lowered the boat into the sea, on the pretext of putting out anchors from the bow, 

31 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers,

‘Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.’ 

32 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat and set it adrift.
33 Just before daybreak, Paul urged all of them to take some food, saying,

‘Today is the fourteenth day that you have been in suspense and remaining without food, having eaten nothing. 34 Therefore I urge you to take some food, for it will help you survive; for none of you will lose a hair from your heads.’ 

35 After he had said this, he took bread; and giving thanks to God in the presence of all, he broke it and began to eat. 

36 Then all of them were encouraged and took food for themselves. 37 (We were in all two hundred and seventy-six[d] persons in the ship.) 38 After they had satisfied their hunger, they lightened the ship by throwing the wheat into the sea.

The Shipwreck

39 In the morning they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a bay with a beach, on which they planned to run the ship ashore, if they could. 40 So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea. At the same time they loosened the ropes that tied the steering-oars; then hoisting the foresail to the wind, they made for the beach. 41 But striking a reef,[e] they ran the ship aground; the bow stuck and remained immovable, but the stern was being broken up by the force of the waves. 

42 The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, so that none might swim away and escape; 43 but the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land, 44 and the rest to follow, some on planks and others on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land.


Footnotes:

1. Acts 27:14 Gk it
2. Acts 27:16 Other ancient authorities read Clauda
3. Acts 27:17 Gk helps
4. Acts 27:37 Other ancient authorities read seventy-six; others, about seventy-six
5. Acts 27:41 Gk place of two seas

New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition 
(NRSVACE) New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993, 1995 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

​

​Acts 5:19
But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out, saying,

Acts 18:9
One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking; do not be silent.

Acts 23:11
The following night the Lord stood by Paul and said, "Take courage! As you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so also you must testify in Rome."

Acts 28
New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition (NRSVACE)

Paul on the Island of Malta 

1 After we had reached safety, we then learned that the island was called Malta. 2 The natives showed us unusual kindness. Since it had begun to rain and was cold, they kindled a fire and welcomed all of us round it. 

3 Paul had gathered a bundle of brushwood and was putting it on the fire, when a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. 

4 When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, ‘This man must be a murderer; though he has escaped from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live.’ 

5 He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 They were expecting him to swell up or drop dead, but after they had waited a long time and saw that nothing unusual had happened to him, they changed their minds and began to say that he was a god.

7 Now in the neighbourhood of that place were lands belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days. 

8 It so happened that the father of Publius lay sick in bed with fever and dysentery.

Paul visited him and cured him by praying and putting his hands on him. 9 After this happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured. 

10 They bestowed many honours on us, and when we were about to sail, they put on board all the provisions we needed.

Paul Arrives at Rome

11 Three months later we set sail on a ship that had wintered at the island, an Alexandrian ship with the Twin Brothers as its figurehead. 12 We put in at Syracuse and stayed there for three days; 13 then we weighed anchor and came to Rhegium. After one day there a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli. 14 There we found believers[a] and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome. 15 The believers[b] from there, when they heard of us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage.

16 When we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.

Paul and Jewish
Leaders in Rome

17 Three days later he called together the local leaders of the Jews. When they had assembled, he said to them, ‘Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, yet I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. 18 When they had examined me, the Romans[c] wanted to release me, because there was no reason for the death penalty in my case. 19 But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to the emperor—even though I had no charge to bring against my nation. 20 For this reason therefore I have asked to see you and speak with you,[d] since it is for the sake of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.’ 

21 They replied, ‘We have received no letters from Judea about you, and none of the brothers coming here has reported or spoken anything evil about you. 22 But we would like to hear from you what you think, for with regard to this sect we know that everywhere it is spoken against.’

Paul Preaches in Rome

23 After they had fixed a day to meet him, they came to him at his lodgings in great numbers. From morning until evening he explained the matter to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the law of Moses and from the prophets. 24 Some were convinced by what he had said, while others refused to believe. 

25 So they disagreed with each other; and as they were leaving, Paul made one further statement:

​‘The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah,

26 “Go to this people and say,

You will indeed listen, but never understand, and you will indeed look, but never perceive.

27 For this people’s heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing,
and they have shut their eyes; so that they might not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears,
and understand with their heart and turn and I would heal them.”

28 Let it be known to you then that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.’[e]

30 He lived there for two whole years at his own expense[f] and welcomed all who came to him,

31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.

Footnotes:

1. Acts 28:14 Gk brothers
2. Acts 28:15 Gk brothers
3. Acts 28:18 Gk they
4. Acts 28:20 Or I have asked you to see me and speak with me
5. Acts 28:28 Other ancient authorities add verse 29, And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, arguing vigorously among themselves
6. Acts 28:30 Or in his own rented dwelling

New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition 
​(NRSVACE)New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993, 1995 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Acts 25
New Life Version (NLV)

Paul Stands in Front of Festus

1 Three days after Festus had become leader in the country, he went from the city of Caesarea to Jerusalem. 

2 The head religious leaders and the leaders of the Jews told Festus what they had against Paul. 

3 They asked Festus for a favor. They wanted Paul to be brought to Jerusalem because they had plans to kill him on the way. 

4 Festus told them that Paul was to be kept in Caesarea and that he would be going there soon. 

5 Festus said, “If Paul has done anything wrong, let your leaders go along with me and say what they have against him.”

6 After staying with them about ten days, Festus went down to Caesarea. The next day he sat in the courtroom and asked for Paul to be brought in. 

7 Paul came into the courtroom.

The Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him. They said many bad things against him. But they could not prove any of the things they said. 

8 Paul spoke for himself, saying, “I have done nothing wrong against the Law of the Jews or against the house of God or against Caesar.”

9 Festus was hoping to get the respect of the Jews. He asked Paul, “Will you go to the court in Jerusalem and let me say if you are guilty or not about these things?” 

10 Paul said,

“I am standing in front of Caesar’s court where I should be told I am right or wrong. I have done no wrong to the Jews. You know that. 11 If I have done wrong and should die, I am not trying to keep from dying. But if these things they say against me are not true, no one can give me over to them.

I ask to be taken to Caesar.” 

12 Festus talked to the leaders of the court. Then he said to Paul, “You have asked to be taken to Caesar.

You will go to him.”

Festus Tells King Agrippa about Paul

13 After a few days, King Agrippa and his wife, Bernice, came down to Caesarea. They went to Festus to greet him.14 They stayed there a few days.

Festus told them about Paul. He said,

“There is a man here who was left in prison by Felix. 15 When I was at Jerusalem, the head religious leaders and the leaders of the people told me about him and asked me to say that he is guilty. 

16 I told them it was against the Roman law to hand over a man to be put to death before he stood face to face with those who had something against him and could speak for himself. 

17 When they came here, I took my seat in the courtroom at once. I had the man brought in. 18 When the others spoke, they had nothing against him that I thought they had. 

19 They did not agree with him about their own religion, and they argued about someone called Jesus. He had died but Paul kept saying He is alive. 

20 I did not know what to do. Then I asked him if he would go on trial about these things at Jerusalem. 

21 But Paul asked to go on trial in front of Caesar. I said that he should be kept in prison until he could be sent to Caesar.” 

22 Agrippa said to Festus,
“I would like to hear this man.”

Festus said, “Tomorrow you will hear him.”

Paul Stands in Front of King Agrippa

23 The next day Agrippa and Bernice came into the courtroom. They were dressed to show their greatness as king and queen. Army leaders and leading men of the city came in with them. Festus had Paul brought in.

24 Festus said,

“King Agrippa and all of you who are here with us, you see this man. All of the Jews both here and at Jerusalem are saying that Paul should be put to death. 25 I have heard nothing against him that would be reason to put him to death. But he asked for a trial in front of Caesar. I have agreed to send Paul to him. 

26 When I write to Caesar, I have nothing to say against him. ​

For this reason, I brought him in front of you all and in front of you, King Agrippa. After we ask him questions, I may have something to write about. 

​27 It is foolish for me to send a man up for trial without writing what is against him.”

New Life Version (NLV)Copyright © 1969 by Christian Literature International
​
​

Acts 26
​New Life Version (NLV)

Paul Speaks about his King to King Agrippa

1 Agrippa said to Paul,
“You may now speak for yourself.”

Paul lifted his hand and started to talk, 

2 “King Agrippa, the Jews have said many things against me. I am happy to be able to tell you my side of the story. 3 You know all about the Jewish ways and problems. So I ask you to listen to me until I have finished.
4 “All the Jews know about my life from the time I was a boy until now. I lived among my own people in Jerusalem. 5 If they would tell what they know, they would say that I lived the life of a proud religious law-keeper. I was in the group of proud religious law-keepers who tried to obey every law.
6 “And now I am on trial here because I trust the promise God made to our fathers. 7 This promise is what our twelve family groups of the Jewish nation hope to see happen. They worship God day and night. King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that they are saying things against me. 8 Why do you think it is hard to believe that God raises people from the dead?
9 “I used to think I should work hard against the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 I did that in Jerusalem. I put many of the followers in prison. The head religious leaders gave me the right and the power to do it. Then when the followers were killed, I said it was all right. 11 I beat them and tried to make them speak against God in all the Jewish places of worship. In my fight against them, I kept going after them even into cities in other countries.
12 “When I was going to Damascus to do this, I had the right and the power from the head religious leaders to make it hard for the followers. 

13 I was on the road at noon. King Agrippa, I saw a light from heaven brighter than the sun. It was shining around me and the men with me. 14 We all fell to the ground. Then I heard a voice speaking to me in the Jewish language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you working so hard against Me? You hurt yourself by trying to hurt Me.’ 

15 I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’

And He said, ‘I am Jesus, the One you are working against. 16 Get up. Stand on your feet. I have chosen you to work for Me. You will tell what you have seen and you will say what I want you to say. This is the reason I have allowed you to see Me. 17 I will keep you safe from the Jews and from the people who are not Jews. I am sending you to these people. 18 You are to open their eyes. You are to turn them from darkness to light. You are to turn them from the power of Satan to the power of God. In this way, they may have their sins forgiven. They may have what is given to them, along with all those who are set apart for God by having faith in Me.’

19 “King Agrippa, I obeyed what I saw from heaven. 

20 First I told what I saw to those in Damascus and then in Jerusalem. I told it through all the country of Judea. I even preached to the people who are not Jews that they should be sorry for their sins and turn from them to God. I told them they should do things to show they are sorry for their sins.

21 “That is why the Jews took hold of me in the house of God and tried to kill me. 22 God has helped me. To this day I have told these things to the people who are well-known and to those not known. I have told only what the early preachers and Moses said would happen.

23 It was that Christ must suffer and be the first to rise from the dead. He would give light to the Jews and to the other nations.”

24 As Paul was speaking for himself, Festus cried out in a loud voice, “Paul, you are crazy! All your learning keeps you from thinking right!” 

25 Paul said, “Most respected Festus, I am not crazy. I am speaking the truth! 26 The king knows about all this. I am free to speak to him in plain words. Nothing I have said is new to him. These things happened where everyone saw them. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the writings of the early preachers? I know that you believe them.”

28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “In this short time you have almost proven to me that I should become a Christian!” 

29 Paul said,

“My prayer to God is that you and all who hear me today would be a Christian as I am, only not have these chains!” 

30 King Agrippa and Festus and Bernice and those who sat with them got up.

31 As they left the courtroom, they said to each other,

“This man has done nothing for which he should be kept in prison or be put to death.” 

32 Agrippa told Festus, “This man could go free if he had not asked to be sent to Caesar.”

New Life Version (NLV)Copyright © 1969 by Christian Literature International

1 And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.” 

2 And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. 

3 Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?” 

4 Those who stood by said, “Would you revile God's high priest?” 

5 And Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”

6 Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees.

It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.” 

7 And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 

8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit,

that is why they are Sad-U-C!  : )

BUT the Pharisees acknowledge them all (resurrection, angels, spirit). 

that is why they can say, That's how "Far-i-see!"  : )

9 Then a great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees' party stood up and contended sharply, 

“We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?” 

10 And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into the barracks.

11 The following night the Lord stood by him (Paul) and said, 

“Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.”

A Plot to Kill Paul

12 When it was day, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. 

13 There were more than forty who made this conspiracy. 

14 They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food till we have killed Paul. 

15 Now therefore you, along with the council, give notice to the tribune to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case more exactly. And we are ready to kill him before he comes near.”

1 After we said goodbye to the elders,

we sailed away straight to
Cos island.

The next day we went to
the island of Rhodes,

and from there we went
to Patara. 

2 There we found a ship that was going to the area of Phoenicia. We got on the ship and sailed away.

3 We sailed near the island of Cyprus. We could see it on the north side, but we did not stop.

We sailed to the country of Syria.

We stopped at Tyre because the ship needed to unload its cargo there. 4 We found the Lord’s followers there and stayed with them for seven days.

Prophetic Insight #1
They warned Paul not to go to Jerusalem because of what the Spirit had told them. 

5 But when our time there was up, we returned to the ship to continue our trip. All the followers, even the women and children, came with us to the seashore. We all knelt down on the beach, prayed, 6 and said goodbye. Then we got on the ship, and the followers went home.

7 We continued our trip from Tyre and went to the city of Ptolemais. We greeted the believers there and stayed with them one day. 

8 The next day we left Ptolemais and went to the city of Caesarea. We went into the home of Philip and stayed with him. He had the work of telling the Good News. He was one of the seven helpers (original 7 deacons).

Prophetic Insight #2
​9 He had four unmarried daughters who had the gift of prophesying.

Prophetic Insight #3
10 After we had been there for several days, a prophet named Agabus came from Judea. 11 He came to us and borrowed Paul’s belt. He used it to tie his own hands and feet. He said, “The Holy Spirit tells me, ‘This is how the Jews in Jerusalem will tie up the man who wears this belt.Then they will hand him over to people who don’t know God.’”

12 When we heard this, we and the other followers there begged Paul not to go to Jerusalem. 

13 But he said, “Why are you crying and making me feel so sad? I am willing to be put in jail in Jerusalem. I am even ready to die for the name of the Lord Jesus!”

14 We could not persuade him to stay away from Jerusalem. So we stopped begging him and said, “We pray that what the Lord wants will be done.”

15 After this, we got ready and left for Jerusalem. 

16 Some of the followers of Jesus from Caesarea went with us. These followers took us to the home of Mnason, a man from Cyprus, who was one of the first people to be a follower of Jesus. They took us to his home so that we could stay with him.

Paul Visits James

17 The brothers and sisters in Jerusalem were very happy to see us.18 The next day Paul went with us to visit James, and all the elders were there. 19 After greeting them,

Paul told them point by point all that God had used him to do among the non-Jewish people.

​20 When the leaders heard this, they praised God. Then they said to Paul, “Brother, you can see that thousands of Jews have become believers, but they think it is very important to obey the Law of Moses. 

21 They have been told that you teach the Jews who live in non-Jewish regions to stop following the Law of Moses. They have heard that you tell them not to circumcise their sons or follow our other customs.

​1 When the uproar was over, Paul sent for the disciples, encouraged them, said goodbye, and left for Macedonia. 

2 He went through that region and spoke many words of encouragement to the people.

Then he went to Greece 3 and stayed there for three months.

Paul in Troas

When Paul was going to board a ship for Syria, he found out that the Jews were plotting to kill him. So he decided to go back through Macedonia.

4 Sopater (son of Pyrrhus) from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia accompanied Paul. 5 All these men went ahead and were waiting for us in Troas. 

​6 After the Festival of Unleavened Bread, we boarded a ship at Philippi.

Five days later we joined them in Troas and stayed there for seven days.

7 On Sunday we met to break bread.

Paul was discussing Scripture with the people. Since he intended to leave the next day, he kept talking until midnight. 

8 (Many lamps were lit in the upstairs room where we were meeting.) 

9 A young man named Eutychus was sitting in a window. As Paul was talking on and on, Eutychus was gradually falling asleep. Finally, overcome by sleep, he fell from the third story and

was dead when they picked him up. 

10 Paul went to him, took him into his arms, and said, “Don’t worry! He’s alive!” 

11 Then Eutychus went upstairs again, broke the bread, and ate.

Paul talked with the people for a long time, until sunrise, and then left. 12 The people took the boy home. They were greatly relieved that he was alive.

Paul’s Trip to Miletus
​
13 We went ahead to the ship and sailed for the city of Assos. At Assos, we were going to pick up Paul. He had made these arrangements, since he had planned to walk overland to Assos. 14 When Paul met us in Assos, we took him on board and went to the city of Mitylene. 

15 We sailed from there. On the following day we approached the island of Chios. The next day we went by the island of Samos, and on the next day we arrived at the city of Miletus. 16 Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia. He was in a hurry to get to Jerusalem for the day of Pentecost, if that was possible.

Paul Meets with the Spiritual Leaders from Ephesus

17 From Miletus Paul sent messengers to the city of Ephesus and called the spiritual leaders[a] of the church to meet with him in Miletus. 

18 When they were with him, he said to them,

“You know how I spent all my time with you from the first day I arrived in the province of Asia. 19 I humbly served the Lord, often with tears in my eyes. I served the Lord during the difficult times I went through when the Jews plotted against me." 

20 "I didn’t avoid telling you anything that would help you, and I didn’t avoid teaching you publicly and from house to house.  21 I warned Jews and Greeks to change the way they think and act and to believe in our Lord Yeshua."

22 “I am determined to go to Jerusalem now. I don’t know what will happen to me there. 23 However, the Holy Spirit warns me in every city that imprisonment and suffering are waiting for me. 

24 But I don’t place any value on my own life. I want to finish the race I’m running. I want to carry out the mission I received from the Lord Yeshua—the mission of testifying to the Good News of God’s kindness.[b]

25 “Now I know that none of you whom I told about the kingdom of God will see me again. 26 Therefore, I declare to you today that I am not responsible for the spiritual death of any of you.

27 I didn’t avoid telling you the whole plan of God. 28 Pay attention to yourselves and to the entire flock in which the Holy Spirit has placed you as bishops[c] to be shepherds for God’s church which he acquired with his own blood. 

29 I know that fierce wolves will come to you after I leave, and they won’t spare the flock.  30 Some of your own men will come forward and say things that distort the truth.

They will do this to lure disciples into following them. 

31 So be alert! Remember that I instructed each of you for three years, day and night, at times with tears in my eyes.

32 “I am now entrusting you to God and to his message that tells how kind he is. That message can help you grow and can give you the inheritance that is shared by all of God’s holy people.

33 “I never wanted anyone’s silver, gold, or clothes.  34 You know that I worked to support myself and those who were with me. 35 I have given you an example that by working hard like this we should help the weak.

We should remember the words that the Lord Yeshua said, ‘Giving gifts is more satisfying than receiving them.’”

36 When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down and prayed with all of them. 37 Everyone cried a lot as they put their arms around Paul and kissed him. 38 The thought of not seeing Paul again hurt them most of all. Then they took Paul to the ship.


​
Footnotes:

1. Acts 20:17 Or “pastors,” or “elders.”
2. Acts 20:24 Or “grace.”
3. Acts 20:28 English equivalent difficult.

Names of God Bible (NOG)The Names of God Bible (without notes) © 2011 by Baker Publishing Group.

1 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul went through the upper inland districts and came down to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. 

2 And he asked them, Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed [on Jesus as the Christ]?

And they said, No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.

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

4 And Paul said, John baptized with the baptism of repentance, continually telling the people that they should believe in the One Who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus [having a conviction full of joyful trust that He is Christ, the Messiah, and being obedient to Him].

5 On hearing this:
They were baptized [again, this time] in the name of the Lord Jesus. 

6a And as Paul laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them;

6b and they spoke in [foreign, unknown] tongues *heavenly (languages) and prophesied. 

7 There were about twelve of them in all.

8 And he went into the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly,

persuading and arguing and pleading about the kingdom of God. 

NOTE: (apology = defence of the faith; polemics = confronting opposition to the faith; as a lawyer-like messenger, preacher, teacher: To convince those who resist the Gospel of its heaven sent origin lived out and demonstrated revealing God's love by Jesus Christ (God come in the flesh) and His divine presence with those who believe through the day to day ingestion of the bread of His broken flesh - and - drinking of the wine of His poured out blood as a dynamic Communion with Jesus by His Spirit, who is the Lord.)

9 But when some became more and more stubborn (hardened and unbelieving), discrediting and reviling and speaking evil of the Way [of the Lord] before the congregation, he separated himself from them, taking the disciples with him, and went on holding daily discussions in the lecture room of Tyrannus from about ten o’clock till three. 10 This continued for two years, so that all the inhabitants of [the province of] Asia, Jews as well as Greeks, heard the Word of the Lord [concerning the [a]attainment through Christ of eternal salvation in the kingdom of God].

11 And God did unusual and extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 So that handkerchiefs or towels or aprons which had touched his skin: 
a) were carried away and 
b) put upon the sick, and
c) their diseases left them and
d) the evil spirits came out of them.

13 Then some of the traveling Jewish exorcists (men who adjure evil spirits) also undertook to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, I solemnly implore and charge you by the Jesus Whom Paul preaches! 

14 Seven sons of a certain Jewish chief priest named Sceva were doing this.

15 But [one] evil spirit retorted, Jesus I know, and Paul I know [b]about, but who are you? 

16 Then the man in whom the evil spirit dwelt leaped upon them, mastering [c]two of them, and was so violent against them that they dashed out of that house [in fear], stripped naked and wounded.

17 This became known to all who lived in Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks, and alarm and terror fell upon them all; and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled and magnified.

18 Many also of those who were now believers came making [d]full confession and thoroughly exposing their [former deceptive and evil] practices.

19 And many of those who had practiced curious, magical arts collected their books and [throwing them, [e]book after book, on the pile] burned them in the sight of everybody. When they counted the value of them, they found it amounted to 50,000 pieces of silver ([f]about $9,300). 

​20 Thus the Word of the Lord [concerning the attainment through Christ of eternal salvation in the kingdom of God] grew and spread and intensified, prevailing mightily.

21 Now after these events Paul determined in the [Holy] Spirit that he would travel through Macedonia and Achaia (most of Greece) and go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must visit Rome also.
22 And having sent two of his assistants, Timothy and Erastus, into Macedonia, he himself stayed on in [the province of] Asia for a while.

23 But as time went on, there arose no little disturbance concerning the Way [of the Lord]. 

24 For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of [the goddess] Artemis [h][Diana], brought no small income to his craftsmen.

25 These  he called together, along with the work of similar trades, and said,

​"Men, you are acquainted with the facts and  understand that from this business we derive our wealth and livelihood. 26 Now you notice and hear that not only at Ephesus but almost all over [the province of] Asia this Paul has persuaded and induced people to believe his teaching and has alienated a considerable company of them, saying that gods that are made with human hands are not really gods at all. 27 Now there is danger not merely that this trade of ours may be discredited, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may come into disrepute and  count for nothing, and that her glorious magnificence may be degraded and fall into contempt—she whom all [the province of] Asia and the wide world worship."

(continued next column)

1 After these things, Paul departed from Athens and came to Corinth.
2 There he found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus and lately come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome. Paul went unto them,
3 and because he was of the same craft, he lodged with them and worked; for by their occupation they were tentmakers.
4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
5 And when Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.
6 But when they opposed themselves and blasphemed,

Paul shook his raiment and said unto them, “Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean. From henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.” 

7 And he departed thence and entered into a certain man’s house named Justus, one who worshiped God and whose house was adjoining the synagogue.

8 And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, with all his house. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.

The Lord Appears to Paul

9 Then the Lord spoke to Paul in the night through a vision, saying, “Be not afraid, but speak and hold not thy peace.
10 For I am with thee, and no man shall set upon thee to hurt thee, for I have many people in this city.”

11 And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the Word of God among them.
​
12 And when Gallio was deputy of Achaia, the Jews with one accord began an insurrection against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat,
13 saying, “This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.”

14 And when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would have it that I should bear with you.
15 But if it be a question of words and names and your own law, look ye to it; for I will not be judge of such matters.”
16 And he drove them from the judgment seat.

17 Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the judgment seat. But Gallio was concerned about none of those things.

18 And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren and sailed then into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila, having shorn his head at Cenchrea, for he had made a vow.

19 And he came to Ephesus and left them there, but he himself entered into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.
20 When they desired him to tarry a longer time with them, he consented not,
21 but bade them farewell, saying, “I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem, but I will return again unto you, if God wills.” And he sailed from Ephesus.

22 And when he had landed at Caesarea and had gone up and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch.

23 And after he had spent some time there, he departed and went through all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.

24 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25 This man was instructed in the Way of the Lord; and being fervent in the Spirit, he spoke and taught diligently the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John.

26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla had heard him,

they took him in and expounded to him the Way of God more perfectly.

27 And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him. And when he had come, he helped them much who had believed through grace; 28 for he mightily refuted the Jews (and that publicly), showing by the Scriptures that Jesus was Christ.

21st Century King James Version (KJ21)Copyright © 1994 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc.

#BeBoldBelieve
"March Forth"
Sharing Communion
House to House

Paul continues His 2nd Gospel Marching Forth in Mission from one city to another as led by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit brings him to Corinth to meet Roman Jewish Believers, Aquila and Priscilla woho would then continue with Paul to meet Apollos, and Egyptian believer who only knew salvation history up to the Baptism of John. In Syria Aquilla and priscilla would be used by the Lord to bring Apollos up to speed.

What happened in Corinth was a turning point in salvation history. The Gospel's focus would begin to move to the non-Jewish population of the world. In Corinth Paul tried very hard by  followingg his pattern to go to the Synogogue first and then to the populace outside.

​4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. 5 And when Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. 

​6 But when they opposed themselves and blasphemed, Paul shook his raiment and said unto them, “Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean. From henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.”

HOUSE TO HOUSE
No Longer the Synogogue...

His next stop was a house meeting at the house of Justus which was actually attched to the same synogogue. From now on the Church found its purpose and meaning in commuunion as they broke bread from house to house. 

The Holy Spirit brought Paul to a place where he witnessed the door of the Gospel of grace being closed along with the doors of the Synogogue and the hearts of the Jewish people. But then the Lord spoke to him about facing this development with a new vision.

But - note that Crispus, the Chief Ruler of the Synogue converted to Christianity as did everyone in his house.  

In the houses of Justus and Crispus Paul, Timothy and Silas (probably accompanied by Luke, the journalist and Physician) many heard, believed and were baptized. So the Lord encoureged this new level of the evolution of the Gospel.

The Lord Appears to Paul to Confirm The New Direction

9 Then the Lord spoke to Paul in the night through a vision, saying, “Be not afraid, but speak and hold not thy peace.

10 For I am with thee, and no man shall set upon thee to hurt thee, for I have many people in this city.”

So Paul continued with His evangelism team for 18 months more in Corinth with Aquilla, Priscilla, Silas, Timothy and Luke who got a first hand experience in how to share the Gospel with a world who did not know the way of the the Jews... free and clear of the law of sin and death.

Now He preached the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus! in a whole new way to open the gates of righteousness to the Gentiles and the Lord added crispus, Sosthenes and then Apollos in the next city to the ever increasing army of those who became martyr-level witnesses about their personal relationship with Jesus Christ through the meal of the New and everlasting Covenent, Communion with the fire of Christ's glory!

Sosthenes had been elected chief ruler of the synagogue because Crispus had become a Christian. His persecution came because he was a Jew and associated with the synagogue. Paul’s persecution came from his bold witness for the Lord Jesus Christ. Sosthenes also may have become a believer, and when Paul left Corinth he went with him. We find in the salutation to 1 Corinthians the following greeting,

“Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and SOSTHENES, OUR BROTHER, Unto the church of God which is at Corinth.” - 1 Corinthians 1:1

So revival came to Corinth as well as persecution both of the Christians and the Jews, becase the two rulers of the Synogue became Christians. This is where we would find Paul writing about His encounter with Jesus who personally instructed him in the grace, simplicity and power of CommunionFire. 

"Morning Has Broken"
Eleanor Farjeon, 1931
The United Methodist Hymnal, No. 145
Morning has broken
Like the first morning;
Blackbird has spoken
Like the first bird.
Praise for the singing!
Praise for the morning!
Praise for them springing
Fresh from the Word! 

On the Road (like Emmaus in Luke 24)
13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven milesa from Jerusalem.14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.
17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”
They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
19 “What things?” he asked.
“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”
25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.
Jesus Appears to the Disciples
36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence.
44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”
45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”