Felix Procrastinates
22But when Felix heard these things, having more accurate knowledge of the Way, he adjourned the proceedings and said, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will make a decision on your case.” 23So he commanded the centurion to keep Paul and to let him have liberty, and told him not to forbid any of his friends to provide for or visitome days, when Felix came with his wife Dse who journeyed with me. 14And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 16But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. 17I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I nowa send you, 18to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’
Paul’s Post-Conversion Life
19“Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. 21For these reasons the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come—23that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”
Agrippa Parries Paul’s Challenge
24Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!”
25But he said, “I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason. 45For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner. 27King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.”
28Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.”
29And Paul said, “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.”
30When he had said these things, the king stood up, as well as the governor and Bernice and those who sat with them; 31and when they had gone aside, they talked among themselves, saying, “This man is doing nothing deserving of death or chains.”
32Then Agrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
The Voyage to Rome Begins
27 And when it was decided that we should sail to Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to one named Julius, a centurion of the Augustan Regiment. 2So, entering a ship of Adramyttium, we put to sea, meaning to sail along the coasts of Asia. Aristard found it to be twenty fathoms; and when they had gone a little farther, they took soundings again and found it to be fifteen fathoms. 29Then, fearing lest we should run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern, and prayed for day to come. 30And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, when they had let down the skiff into the sea, under pretense of putting out anchors from the prow, 31Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.” 32Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the skiff and let it fall off.
33And as day was about to dawn, Paul implored them all to take food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day you have waited and continued without food, and eaten nothing. 34Therefore I urge you to take nourishment, for this is for your survival, since not a hair will fall from the head of any of you.” 35And when he had said these things, he took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all; and when he had broken it he began to eat. 36Then they were all encouraged, and also took food themselves. 37And in all we were two hundred and seventy-six persons on the ship. 38So when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship and threw out the wheat into the sea.
Shipwrecked on Malta
39When it was day, they did not recognize the land; but they observed a bay with a beach, onto which they planned to run the ship if possible. 40And they let go the anchors and left them in the sea, meanwhile loosing the rudder ropes; and they hoisted the mainsail to the wind and made for shore. 41But striking a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the prow stuck fast and remained immovable, but the stern was being broken up by the violence of the waves.
42And the soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim away and escape. 43But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, kept them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first and get to land, 44and the rest, some on boards and some on parts of the ship. And so it was that they all escaped safely to land.
Paul’s Ministry on Malta
28 Now when they had escaped, they then found out that the island was called Malta. 2And the natives showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold. 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. 4So when 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 the sea, yet justice does not allow to live.” 5But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. 6However, they were expecting that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.
7In that region there was an estate of the leading citizen of the island, whose name was Publius, who received us ds on him and healed him. 9So when this was done, the rest of those on the island who had diseases also came and were healed. 10They also honored us in many ways; and when we departed, they provided such things as were necessary.
Arrival at Rome
11After three months we sailed in an Alexandrian ship whose figure-head was the Twin Brothers, which had wintered at the island. 12And landing at Syracuse, we stayed three days. 13From there we circled round and reached Rhegium. And after one day the south wind blew; and the next day we came to Puteoli, 14where we found brethren, and were invited to stay with them seven days. And so we went toward Rome. 15And from there, when the brethren heard about us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum and Three Inns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.
16Now when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard; but Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him.
Paul’s Ministry at Rome
17And it came to pass after three days that Paul called the leaders of the Jews together. So when they had come together, he said to them: “Men and brethren, though I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans, 18who, when they had examined me, wanted to let me go, because there was no cause for putting me to death. 19But when the Jewsa spoke against it, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not that I had anything of which to accuse my nation. 20For this reason therefore I have called for you, to see you and speak with you, because for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.”
28:19 aThat is, the ruling authorities
21Then they said to him, “We neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of the brethren who came reported or spoken any evil of you. 22But we desire to hear from you what you think; for concerni
ng this sect, we know that it is spoken against everywhere.”
23So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening. 24
And some were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved. 25So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to oura fathers, 26saying,
‘ Go to this people and say:
“ Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand;
And seeing you will see, and not perceive;
27 For the heart their eyes they have closed,
Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them.” ’a
47“Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!” 29And when he had said these words, the Jews departed and had a great dispute among themselves. a
30Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, 31preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.
1 :1 aOr are most surely believed
2 :5 aNU-Text omits wife. :9 aNU-Text omits behold. :14 aNU-Text reads toward men of goodwill. 2:17 aNU-Text omits widely.
3 :2 aNU-Text and M-Text read in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas. 3:6 aIsaiah 40:3-5
4 :1 aNU-Text reads in. 4:4 aDeuteronomy 8:3 bNU-Text omits but by every word of God. 4:5 aNU-Text reads And taking Him up, he showed Him.
5 :41 aNU-Text omits the Christ. 4:44 aNU-Text reads Judea.
6 :38 aNU-Text omits and both are preserved. 5:39 aNU-Text omits immediately. bNU-Text reads good. 6:1 aNU-Text reads on a Sabbath. 6:9 aM-Text reads to kill. 6:10 aNU-Text and M-Text read to him. bNU-Text omits as whole as the other.
7 :45 aNU-Text omits treasure of his heart. 6:48 aNU-Text reads for it was well built. 6:49 aNU-Text reads collapsed.
8 :10 aIsaiah 6:9
9 :11 aNU-Text reads our feet. 10:12 aNU-Text and M-Text omit But. 10:15 aNU-Text reads >seventy-two.
10 :11 aNU-Text omits the words from bread through for in the next sentence. 11:15 aNU -Text and M-Text read Beelzebul.
11 :15 aNU-Text reads all covetousness.
12 :9 aNU-Text reads And if it bears fruit after that, well. But if not, you can cut it down. 13:15 aNU-Text and M-Text read Hypocrites.
13 :15 aM-Text reads dinner.
14 :22 aNU-Text reads Quickly bring.
15 :21 aNU-Text reads with what fell.
16 :21 aNU-Text reverses here and there. 17:23 aNU-Text reverses here and there.
17 :20 aExodus 20:12-16; Deuteronomy 5:16-20 18:28 aNU-Text reads our own.
18 :13 aThe mina (Greek mna, Hebrew minah) was worth about three months’ salary.
19 :17 aPsalm 118:22 20:19 aM-Text reads but they were afraid. 20:23 aNU-Text omits Why do you test Me?
20 :14 aNU-Text omits twelve. 22:18 aNU-Text adds from now on.
21 :15 aNU-Text reads for he sent Him back to us. 23:17 aNU-Text omits verse 17. 23:23 aNU-Text omits and of the chief priests. 23:25 aNU-Text and M-Text omit to them.
22 :40 aSome printed New Testaments omit this verse. It is found in nearly all Greek manuscripts.
23 :1 aNU-Text reads together
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