Catholic Public Domain Version (CPDV)

1 “Noble brothers and fathers, listen to the explanation that I now give to you.”

2 And when they heard him speaking to them in the Hebrew language, they offered a greater silence.

3 And he said: “I am a Jewish man, born at Tarsus in Cilicia, but raised in this city beside the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the truth of the law of the fathers, zealous for the law, just as all of you also are to this day.

4 I persecuted this Way, even unto death, binding and delivering into custody both men and women,

5 just as the high priest and all those greater by birth bear witness to me. Having received letters from them to the brothers, I journeyed to Damascus, so that I might lead them bound from there to Jerusalem, so that they might be punished.

6 But it happened that, as I was traveling and was approaching Damascus at midday, suddenly from heaven a great light shone around me.

7 And falling to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’

8 And I responded, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.’

9 And those who were with me, indeed, saw the light, but they did not hear the voice of him who was speaking with me.

10 And I said, ‘What should I do, Lord?’ Then the Lord said to me: ‘Rise up, and go to Damascus. And there, you shall be told all that you must do.’

11 And since I could not see, because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by my companions, and I went to Damascus.

12 Then a certain Ananias, a man in accord with the law, having the testimony of all the Jews who were living there,

13 drawing near to me and standing close by, said to me, ‘Brother Saul, see!’ And in that same hour, I looked upon him.

14 But he said: ‘The God of our fathers has preordained you, so that you would come to know his will and would see the Just One, and would hear the voice from his mouth.

15 For you shall be his witness to all men about those things which you have seen and heard.

16 And now, why do you delay? Rise up, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, by invoking his name.’

17 Then it happened that, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, a mental stupor came over me,

18 and I saw him saying to me: ‘Hurry! Depart quickly from Jerusalem! For they will not accept your testimony about me.’

19 And I said: ‘Lord, they know that I am beating and enclosing in prison, throughout every synagogue, those who have believed in you.

20 And when the blood of your witness Stephen was poured out, I stood nearby and was consenting, and I watched over the garments of those who put him to death.’

21 And he said to me, ‘Go forth. For I am sending you to far away nations.’ “

22 Now they were listening to him, until this word, and then they lifted up their voice, saying: “Take this kind away from the earth! For it is not fitting for him to live!”

23 And while they were shouting, and tossing aside their garments, and casting dust into the air,

24 the tribune ordered him to be brought into the fortress, and to be scourged and tortured, in order to discover the reason that they were crying out in this way against him.

25 And when they had tied him with straps, Paul said to the centurion who was standing near him, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman and has not been condemned?”

26 Upon hearing this, the centurion went to the tribune and reported it to him, saying: “What do you intend to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.”

27 And the tribune, approaching, said to him: “Tell me. Are you a Roman?” So he said, “Yes.”

28 And the tribune responded, “I obtained this citizenship at great cost.” And Paul said, “But I was born to it.”

29 Therefore, those who were going to torture him, immediately withdrew from him. The tribune was similarly afraid, after he realized that he was a Roman citizen, for he had bound him.

30 But on the next day, wanting to discover more diligently what the reason was that he was accused by the Jews, he released him, and he ordered the priests to convene, with the entire council. And, producing Paul, he stationed him among them.

1 Then Paul, gazing intently at the council, said, “Noble brothers, I have spoken with all good conscience before God, even to this present day.”

2 And the high priest, Ananias, instructed those who were standing nearby to strike him on the mouth.

3 Then Paul said to him: “God shall strike you, you whitewashed wall! For would you sit and judge me according to the law, when, contrary to the law, you order me to be struck?”

4 And those who were standing nearby said, “Are you speaking evil about the high priest of God?”

5 And Paul said: “I did not know, brothers, that he is the high priest. For it is written: ‘You shall not speak evil of the leader of your people.’ “

6 Now Paul, knowing that one group were Sadducees and the other were Pharisees, exclaimed in the council: “Noble brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees! It is over the hope and resurrection of the dead that I am being judged.”

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

8 For the Sadducees claim that there is no resurrection, and neither angels, nor spirits. But the Pharisees confess both of these.

9 Then there occurred a great clamor. And some of the Pharisees, rising up, were fighting, saying: “We find nothing evil in this man. What if a spirit has spoken to him, or an angel?”

10 And since a great dissension had been made, the tribune, fearing that Paul might be torn apart by them, ordered the soldiers to descend and to seize him from their midst, and to bring him into the fortress.

11 Then, on the following night, the Lord stood near him and said: “Be constant. For just as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so also it is necessary for you to testify at Rome.”

12 And when daylight arrived, some of the Jews gathered together and bound themselves with an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.

13 Now there were more than forty men who had taken this oath together.

14 And they approached the leaders of the priests, and the elders, and they said: “We have sworn ourselves by an oath, so that we will taste nothing, until we have killed Paul.

15 Therefore, with the council, you should now give notice to the tribune, so that he may bring him to you, as if you intended to determine something else about him. But before he approaches, we have made preparations to put him to death.”

16 But when Paul’s sister’s son had heard of this, about their treachery, he went and entered into the fortress, and he reported it to Paul.

17 And Paul, calling to him one of the centurions, said: “Lead this young man to the tribune. For he has something to tell him.”

18 And indeed, he took him and led him to the tribune, and he said, “Paul, the prisoner, asked me to lead this young man to you, since he has something to say to you.”

19 Then the tribune, taking him by the hand, withdrew with him by themselves, and he asked him: “What is it that you have to tell me?”

20 Then he said: “The Jews have met to ask you to bring Paul tomorrow to the council, as if they intended to question him about something else.

21 But truly, you should not believe them, for they would ambush him with more than forty men from among them, who have bound themselves by an oath neither to eat, nor to drink, until they have put him to death. And they are now prepared, hoping for an affirmation from you.”

22 And then the tribune dismissed the young man, instructing him not to tell anyone that he had made known these things to him.

23 Then, having called two centurions, he said to them: “Prepare two hundred soldiers, so that they may go as far as Caesarea, and seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen, for the third hour of the night.

24 And prepare beasts of burden to carry Paul, so that they may lead him safely to Felix, the governor.”

25 For he was afraid, lest perhaps the Jews might seize him and kill him, and that afterwards he would be falsely accused, as if he had accepted a bribe. And so he wrote a letter containing the following:

26 “Claudius Lysias, to the most excellent governor, Felix: greetings.

27 This man, having been apprehended by the Jews and being about to be put to death by them, I rescued, overwhelming them with soldiers, since I realized that he is a Roman.

28 And wanting to know the reason that they objected to him, I brought him into their council.

29 And I discovered him to be accused about questions of their law. Yet truly, nothing deserving of death or imprisonment was within the accusation.

30 And when I had been given news of ambushes, which they had prepared against him, I sent him to you, notifying his accusers also, so that they may plead their accusations before you. Farewell.”

31 Therefore the soldiers, taking Paul according to their orders, brought him by night to Antipatris.

32 And the next day, sending the horsemen to go with him, they returned to the fortress.

33 And when they had arrived at Caesarea and had delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul before him.

34 And when he had read it and had asked which province he was from, realizing that he was from Cilicia, he said:

35 “I will hear you, when your accusers have arrived.” And he ordered him to be kept in the praetorium of Herod.

1 Then, after five days, the high priest Ananias came down with some of the elders and a certain Tertullus, a speaker. And they went to the governor against Paul.

2 And having summoned Paul, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: “Most excellent Felix, since we have much peace through you, and many things may be corrected by your providence,

3 we acknowledge this, always and everywhere, with acts of thanksgiving for everything.

4 But lest I speak at too great a length, I beg you, by your clemency, to listen to us briefly.

5 We have found this man to be pestilent, to be inciting seditions among all the Jews in the entire world, and to be the author of the sedition of the sect of the Nazarenes.

6 And he has even been attempting to violate the temple. And having apprehended him, we wanted him to be judged according to our law.

7 But Lysias, the tribune, overwhelming us with great violence, snatched him away from our hands,

8 ordering his accusers to come to you. From them, you yourself will be able, by judging about all these things, to understand the reason that we accuse him.”

9 And then the Jews interjected, saying that these things were so.

10 Then, since the governor had motioned for him to speak, Paul responded: “Knowing that you have been the judge over this nation for many years, I will give an explanation of myself with an honest soul.

11 For, as you may realize, it has only been twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem.

12 And they did not find me in the temple arguing with anyone, nor causing a rally of the people: neither in the synagogues, nor in the city.

13 And they are not able to prove to you the things about which they now accuse me.

14 But I confess this to you, that according to that sect, which they call a heresy, so do I serve my God and Father, believing all that is written in the Law and the Prophets,

15 having a hope in God, which these others themselves also expect, that there will be a future resurrection of the just and the unjust.

16 And in this, I myself always strive to have a conscience that is lacking in any offence toward God and toward men.

17 Then, after many years, I went to my nation, bringing alms and offerings and vows,

18 through which I obtained purification in the temple: neither with a crowd, nor with a commotion.

19 But certain Jews out of Asia are the ones who should have appeared before you to accuse me, if they have anything against me.

20 Or let these ones here say if they have found in me any iniquity, while standing before the council.

21 For while standing among them, I spoke out solely about this one matter: about the resurrection of the dead. It is about this that I am being judged today by you.”

22 Then Felix, after having ascertained much knowledge about this Way, kept them waiting, by saying, “When Lysias the tribune has arrived, I will give you a hearing.”

23 And he ordered a centurion to guard him, and to take rest, and not to prohibit any of his own from ministering to him.

24 Then, after some days, Felix, arriving with his wife Drusilla who was a Jew, called for Paul and listened to him about the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

25 And after he discoursed about justice and chastity, and about the future judgment, Felix was trembling, and he responded: “For now, go, but remain under guard. Then, at an opportune time, I will summon you.”

26 He was also hoping that money might be given to him by Paul, and because of this, he frequently summoned him and spoke with him.

27 Then, when two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Portius Festus. And since Felix wanted to show particular favor to the Jews, he left Paul behind as a prisoner.

1 And so, when Festus had arrived in the province, after three days, he ascended to Jerusalem from Caesarea.

2 And the leaders of the priests, and those first among the Jews, went to him against Paul. And they were petitioning him,

3 asking for favor against him, so that he would order him to be led to Jerusalem, where they were maintaining an ambush in order to kill him along the way.

4 But Festus responded that Paul was to be kept in Caesarea, and that he himself would soon go there.

5 “Therefore,” he said, “let those among you who are able, descend at the same time, and if there is any guilt in the man, they may accuse him.”

6 Then, having stayed among them no more than eight or ten days, he descended to Caesarea. And on the next day, he sat in the judgment seat, and he ordered Paul to be led in.

7 And when he had been brought, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, throwing out many serious accusations, none of which they were able to prove.

8 Paul offered this defense: “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I offended in any matter.”

9 But Festus, wanting to show greater favor to the Jews, responded to Paul by saying: “Are you willing to ascend to Jerusalem and to be judged there about these things before me?”

10 But Paul said: “I stand in Caesar’s tribunal, which is where I ought to be judged. I have done no harm to the Jews, as you well know.

11 For if I have harmed them, or if I have done anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying. But if there is nothing to these things about which they accuse me, no one is able to deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar.”

12 Then Festus, having spoken with the council, responded: “You have appealed to Caesar, to Caesar you shall go.”

13 And when some days had passed, king Agrippa and Bernice descended to Caesarea, to greet Festus.

14 And since they remained there for many days, Festus spoke to the king about Paul, saying: “A certain man was left behind as a prisoner by Felix.

15 When I was at Jerusalem, the leaders of the priests and the elders of the Jews came to me about him, asking for condemnation against him.

16 I answered them that it is not the custom of the Romans to condemn any man, before he who is being accused has been confronted by his accusers and has received the opportunity to defend himself, so as to clear himself of the charges.

17 Therefore, when they had arrived here, without any delay, on the following day, sitting in the judgment seat, I ordered the man to be brought.

18 But when the accusers had stood up, they did not present any accusation about him from which I would suspect evil.

19 Instead, they brought against him certain disputes about their own superstition and about a certain Jesus, who had died, but whom Paul asserted to be alive.

20 Therefore, being in doubt about this kind of question, I asked him if he was willing go to Jerusalem and to be judged there about these things.

21 But since Paul was appealing to be kept for a decision before Augustus, I ordered him to be kept, until I might send him to Caesar.”

22 Then Agrippa said to Festus: “I myself also want to hear the man.” “Tomorrow,” he said, “you shall hear him.”

23 And on the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had arrived with great ostentation and had entered into the auditorium with the tribunes and the principal men of the city, Paul was brought in, at the order of Festus.

24 And Festus said: “King Agrippa, and all who are present together with us, you see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews disturbed me at Jerusalem, petitioning and clamoring that he should not be allowed to live any longer.

25 Truly, I have discovered nothing brought forth against him that is worthy of death. But since he himself has appealed to Augustus, it was my judgment to send him.

26 But I have not determined what to write to the emperor about him. Because of this, I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, O king Agrippa, so that, once an inquiry has occurred, I may have something to write.

27 For it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner and not to indicate the accusations set against him.”

1 Yet truly, Agrippa said to Paul, “It is permitted for you to speak for yourself.” Then Paul, extending his hand, began to offer his defense.

2 “I consider myself blessed, O king Agrippa, that I am to give my defense today before you, about everything of which I am accused by the Jews,

3 especially since you know everything that pertains to the Jews, both customs and questions. Because of this, I beg you to listen to me patiently.

4 And certainly, all the Jews know about my life from my youth, which had its beginning among my own people in Jerusalem.

5 They knew me well from the beginning, (if they would be willing to offer testimony) for I lived according to the most determined sect of our religion: as a Pharisee.

6 And now, it is in the hope of the Promise which was made by God to our fathers that I stand subject to judgment.

7 It is the Promise that our twelve tribes, worshiping night and day, hope to see. About this hope, O king, I am accused by the Jews.

8 Why should it be judged so unbelievable with you all that God might raise the dead?

9 And certainly, I myself formerly considered that I ought to act in many ways which are contrary to the name of Jesus the Nazarene.

10 This is also how I acted at Jerusalem. And so, I enclosed many holy persons in prison, having received authority from the leaders of the priests. And when they were to be killed, I brought the sentence.

11 And in every synagogue, frequently while punishing them, I compelled them to blaspheme. And being all the more maddened against them, I persecuted them, even to foreign cities.

12 Thereafter, as I was going to Damascus, with authority and permission from the high priest,

13 at midday, O king, I and those who were also with me, saw along the way a light from heaven shining around me with a splendor greater than that of the sun.

14 And when we had all fallen down to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me in the Hebrew language: ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goad.’

15 Then I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

16 But rise up and stand on your feet. For I appeared to you for this reason: so that I may establish you as a minister and a witness concerning the things that you have seen, and concerning the things that I will show to you:

17 rescuing you from the people and the nations to which I am now sending you,

18 in order to open their eyes, so that they may be converted from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive the remission of sins and a place among the saints, through the faith that is in me.’

19 From then on, O king Agrippa, I was not unbelieving to the heavenly vision.

20 But I preached, first to those who are at Damascus and at Jerusalem, and then to the entire region of Judea, and to the Gentiles, so that they would repent and convert to God, doing the works that are worthy of repentance.

21 It was for this reason that the Jews, having apprehended me when I was in the temple, attempted to kill me.

22 But having been aided by the help of God, even to this day, I stand witnessing to the small and the great, saying nothing beyond what the Prophets and Moses have said would be in the future:

23 that the Christ would suffer, and that he would be the first from the resurrection of the dead, and that he would bring light to the people and to the nations.”

24 While he was speaking these things and presenting his defense, Festus said with a loud voice: “Paul, you are insane! Too much studying has turned you to insanity.”

25 And Paul said: “I am not insane, most excellent Festus, but rather I am speaking words of truth and sobriety.

26 For the king knows about these things. To him also, I am speaking with constancy. For I think that none of these things are unknown to him. And neither were these things done in a corner.

27 Do you believe the Prophets, O king Agrippa? I know that you believe.”

28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “To some extent, you persuade me to become a Christian.”

29 And Paul said, “I hope to God that, both to a small extent and to a great extent, not only you, but also all those who hear me this day will become just as I also am, except for these chains.”

30 And the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and those who were sitting with them.

31 And when they had withdrawn, they were speaking among themselves, saying, “This man has done nothing worthy of death, nor of imprisonment.”

32 Then Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been released, if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

1 Then it was decided to send him by ship to Italy, and that Paul, with the others in custody, should be delivered to a centurion named Julius, of the cohort of Augusta.

2 After climbing aboard a ship from Adramyttium, we set sail and began to navigate along the ports of Asia, with Aristarchus, the Macedonian from Thessalonica, joining us.

3 And on the following day, we arrived at Sidon. And Julius, treating Paul humanely, permitted him to go to his friends and to look after himself.

4 And when we had set sail from there, we navigated below Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.

5 And navigating though the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we arrived at Lystra, which is in Lycia.

6 And there the centurion found a ship from Alexandria sailing to Italy, and he transferred us to it.

7 And when we had sailed slowly for many days and had barely arrived opposite Cnidus, for the wind was hindering us, we sailed to Crete, near Salmone.

8 And barely being able to sail past it, we arrived at a certain place, which is called Good Shelter, next to which was the city of Lasea.

9 Then, after much time had passed, and since sailing would no longer be prudent because the Fast Day had now passed, Paul consoled them,

10 and he said to them: “Men, I perceive that the voyage is now in danger of injury and much damage, not only to the cargo and the ship, but also to our own lives.”

11 But the centurion put more trust in the captain and the navigator of the ship, than in the things being said by Paul.

12 And since it was not a fitting port in which to winter, the majority opinion was to sail from there, so that somehow they might be able to arrive at Phoenicia, in order to winter there, at a port of Crete, which looks out toward the southwest and northwest.

13 And since the south wind was blowing gently, they thought that they might reach their goal. And after they had set out from Asson, they weighed anchor at Crete.

14 But not long afterward, a violent wind came against them, which is called the Northeast Wind.

15 And once the ship had been caught in it and was not able to strive against the wind, giving over the ship to the winds, we were driven along.

16 Then, being forced along a certain island, which is called the Tail, we were barely able to hold on to the ship’s lifeboat.

17 When this was taken up, they used it to assist in securing the ship. For they were afraid that they might run aground. And having lowered the sails, they were being driven along in this way.

18 Then, since we were being tossed about strongly by the tempest, on the following day, they threw the heavy items overboard.

19 And on the third day, with their own hands, they threw the equipment of the ship overboard.

20 Then, when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no end to the storm was imminent, all hope for our safety was now taken away.

21 And after they had fasted for a long time, Paul, standing in their midst, said: “Certainly, men, you should have listened to me and not set out from Crete, so as to cause this injury and loss.

22 And now, let me persuade you to be courageous in soul. For there shall be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.

23 For an Angel of God, who is assigned to me and whom I serve, stood beside me this night,

24 saying: ‘Do not be afraid, Paul! It is necessary for you to stand before Caesar. And behold, God has given to you all those who are sailing with you.’

25 Because of this, men, be courageous in soul. For I trust God that this will happen in the same way that it has been told to me.

26 But it is necessary for us to arrive at a certain island.”

27 Then, after the fourteenth night arrived, as we were navigating in the sea of Adria, about the middle of the night, the sailors believed that they saw some portion of the land.

28 And upon dropping a weight, they found a depth of twenty paces. And some distance from there, they found a depth of fifteen paces.

29 Then, fearing that we might happen upon rough places, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and they were hoping for daylight to arrive soon.

30 Yet truly, the sailors were seeking a way to flee from the ship, for they had lowered a lifeboat into the sea, on the pretext that they were attempting to cast anchors from the bow of the ship.

31 So Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, “Unless these men remain in the ship, you will not be able to be saved.”

32 Then the soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboat, and they allowed it to fall.

33 And when it began to be light, Paul requested that they all take food, saying: “This is the fourteenth day that you have been waiting and continuing to fast, taking nothing.

34 For this reason, I beg you to accept food for the sake of your health. For not a hair from the head of any of you shall perish.”

35 And when he had said these things, taking bread, he gave thanks to God in the sight of them all. And when he had broken it, he began to eat.

36 Then they all became more peaceful in soul. And they also took food.

37 Truly, we were two hundred and seventy-six souls on the ship.

38 And having been nourished with food, they lightened the ship, casting the wheat into the sea.

39 And when day had arrived, they did not recognize the landscape. Yet truly, they caught sight of a certain narrow inlet having a shore, into which they thought it might be possible to force the ship.

40 And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves to the sea, at the same time loosing the restraints of the rudders. And so, raising the mainsail to the gusting wind, they pressed on toward the shore.

41 And when we happened upon a place open to two seas, they ran the ship aground. And indeed, the bow, being immobilized, remained fixed, but truly the stern was broken by the violence of the sea.

42 Then the soldiers were in agreement that they should kill the prisoners, lest anyone, after escaping by swimming, might flee.

43 But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, prohibited it from being done. And he ordered those who were able to swim to jump in first, and to escape, and to get to the land.

44 And as for the others, some they carried on boards, and others on those things that belonged to the ship. And so it happened that every soul escaped to the land.

1 And after we had escaped, we then realized that the island was called Malta. Yet truly, the natives offered us no small amount of humane treatment.

2 For they refreshed us all by kindling a fire, because rain was imminent and because of the cold.

3 But when Paul had gathered together a bundle of twigs, and had placed them on the fire, a viper, which had been drawn to the heat, fastened itself to his hand.

4 And truly, when the natives saw the beast hanging from his hand, they were saying to one another: “Certainly, this man must be a murderer, for though he escaped from the sea, vengeance will not permit him to live.”

5 But shaking off the creature into the fire, he indeed suffered no ill effects.

6 But they were supposing that he would soon swell up, and then would suddenly fall down and die. But having waited a long time, and seeing no ill effects in him, they changed their minds and were saying that he was a god.

7 Now among these places were estates owned by the ruler of the island, named Publius. And he, taking us in, showed us kind hospitality for three days.

8 Then it happened that the father of Publius lay ill with a fever and with dysentery. Paul entered to him, and when he had prayed and had laid his hands on him, he saved him.

9 When this had been done, all who had diseases on the island approached and were cured.

10 And then they also presented us with many honors. And when we were ready to set sail, they gave us whatever we needed.

11 And so, after three months, we sailed in a ship from Alexandria, whose name was ‘the Castors,’ and which had wintered at the island.

12 And when we had arrived at Syracuse, we were delayed there for three days.

13 From there, sailing close to the shore, we arrived at Rhegium. And after one day, with the south wind blowing, we arrived on the second day at Puteoli.

14 There, after locating the brothers, we were asked to remain with them for seven days. And then we went on to Rome.

15 And there, when the brothers had heard of us, they went to meet us as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns. And when Paul had seen them, giving thanks to God, he took courage.

16 And when we had arrived at Rome, Paul was given permission to stay by himself, with a soldier to guard him.

17 And after the third day, he called together the leaders of the Jews. And when they had convened, he said to them: “Noble brothers, I have done nothing against the people, nor against the customs of the fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.

18 And after they held a hearing about me, they would have released me, because there was no case for death against me.

19 But with the Jews speaking against me, I was constrained to appeal to Caesar, though it was not as if I had any kind of accusation against my own nation.

20 And so, because of this, I requested to see you and to speak to you. For it is because of the hope of Israel that I am encircled with this chain.”

21 But they said to him: “We have not received letters about you from Judea, nor have any of the other new arrivals among the brothers reported or spoken anything evil against you.

22 But we are asking to hear your opinions from you, for concerning this sect, we know that it is being spoken against everywhere.”

23 And when they had appointed a day for him, very many persons went to him at his guest quarters. And he discoursed, testifying to the kingdom of God, and persuading them about Jesus, using the law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning until evening.

24 And some believed the things that he was saying, yet others did not believe.

25 And when they could not agree among themselves, they departed, while Paul was speaking this one word: “How well did the Holy Spirit speak to our fathers through the prophet Isaiah,

26 saying: ‘Go to this people and say to them: Hearing, you shall hear and not understand, and seeing, you shall see and not perceive.

27 For the heart of this people has grown dull, and they have listened with reluctant ears, and they have closed their eyes tightly, lest perhaps they might see with the eyes, and hear with the ears, and understand with the heart, and so be converted, and I would heal them.’

28 Therefore, let it be known to you, that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they shall listen to it.”

29 And when he had said these things, the Jews went away from him, though they still had many questions among themselves.

30 Then he remained for two whole years in his own rented lodgings. And he received all who went in to him,

31 preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which are from the Lord Jesus Christ, with all faithfulness, without prohibition.