 chapters 21 through 24 of Acts from the World English Bible. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Vivian Bush, Acts from the World English Bible, chapters 21 through 24. When it happened that we had parted from them and had set sail, and the next day to Rhodes and from there to Patara. Having found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. When we had come inside of Cyprus, leaving it on the left hand, we sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre, for there the ship was to unload her cargo. Having found disciples, we'd stayed there seven days. These said to Paul through the spirit that he should not go up to Jerusalem. When it happened that we had accomplished the days, we departed and went on our journey. They all, with wives and children, brought us on our way until we were out of the city. Kneeling down on the beach, we prayed. After saying good-bye to each other, we went on board the ship, and they returned home again. When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Tolemace, and we greeted the brothers and stayed with them one day. On the next day, we who were Paul's companions departed and came to Caesarea. We entered into the house of Philip the Evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied. As we stayed there some days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. Coming to us and taking Paul's belt, he bound his own feet and hands and said, Thus says the Holy Spirit, So will the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and will deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. When we heard these things, both we and they of that place begged him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. When he would not be persuaded, we ceased saying, The Lord's will be done. After these days we took up our baggage and went up to Jerusalem. Some of the disciples from Caesarea also went with us, bringing one nascent of Cyprus, an early disciple with whom we would stay. When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly. The day following, Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. When he had greeted them, he reported one by one the things which God had worked among the Gentiles through his ministry. They, when they heard it, glorified God. They said to him, You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law. They have been informed about you, that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs. What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come. Therefore do what we tell you. We have four men who have taken a vow. Take them, and purify yourself with them, and pay their expenses for them, that they may shave their heads. Then all will know that there is no truth in the things that they have been informed about you, but that you yourself also walk keeping the law. But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written our decision that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from food offered to idols, from blood, from strangled things, and from sexual immorality. Then Paul took them in, and the next day purified himself and went with them into the temple, declaring the fulfillment of the days of purification, until the offering was offered for every one of them. When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the multitude and laid hands on him, crying out, Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place. Moreover he also brought Greeks into the temple, and has defiled this holy place. For they had seen Trophimus, the Ephesian, with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. All the city was moved, and the people ran together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple. Immediately the doors were shut. As they were trying to kill him, news came up to the commanding officer of the regiment that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. Immediately he took soldiers and centurions, and ran down to them. They, when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, stopped beating Paul. Then the commanding officer came near, arrested him, commanded him to be bound with two chains, and inquired who he was and what he had done. Some shouted one thing, and some another, among the crowd. When he couldn't find out the truth because of the noise, he commanded him to be brought into the barracks. When he came to the stairs, it happened that he was carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd, for the multitude of the people followed after, crying out away with him. As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he asked the commanding officer, may I speak to you? He said, do you know Greek? Aren't you then the Egyptian, who before these days stirred up to sedition and led out into the wilderness the four thousand men of the assassins? But Paul said, I am a Jew, from Tarsus and Cilicia, a citizen of no insignificant city. I beg you, allow me to speak to the people. When he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the stairs, beckoned with his hand to the people. When there was a great silence, he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, saying, Brothers and Fathers, listen to the defense which I now make to you. When they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they were even more quiet. He said, I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, even as you all are this day. I persecuted this way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women, as also the high priest and all the council of the elders testify, from whom I also received letters to the brothers and traveled to Damascus to bring them also, who were there to Jerusalem in bonds to be punished. It happened that, as I made my journey, and came close to Damascus about Newton, suddenly there shone from the sky a great light around me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? I answered, Who are you, Lord? He said to me, I am Jesus of Nazareth whom you persecute. Those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they didn't understand the voice of him who spoke to me. I said, What shall I do, Lord? The Lord said to me, Arise and go into Damascus, there you will be told about all things which are appointed for you to do. When I couldn't see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus. When Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well reported of by all the Jews who lived in Damascus, came to me and standing by me said to me, Brother Saul, receive your sight. At that very hour I looked up at him. He said, The God of our fathers has appointed you to know his will and to see the righteous one and to hear a voice from his mouth, for you will be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and heard. Now why do you wait? Arise, be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord. It happened that when I had returned to Jerusalem and while I prayed in the temple I fell into a trance and saw him saying to me, Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not receive testimony concerning me from you. I said, Lord, they themselves know that I am prisoned and beat in every synagogue, those who believed in you. When the blood of Stephen your witness was shed I also was standing by and consenting to his death and guarding the cloaks of those who killed him. He said to me, Depart, for I will send you out far from here to the Gentiles. They listened to him until he said that. Then they lifted up their voice and said, Read the earth of this fellow, for he isn't fit to live. As they cried out and threw off their cloaks and threw dust into the air, the commanding officer commanded him to be brought into the barracks, ordering him to be examined by scourging, that he might know for what crime they shouted against him like that. When they had tied him up with thongs, Paul asked the centurion who stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who was a Roman and not found guilty? When the centurion heard it he went to the commanding officer and told him, Watch what you are about to do for this man as a Roman. The commanding officer came and asked him, Tell me, are you a Roman? He said yes. The commanding officer answered, I bought my citizenship for a great price. Paul said, But I was born a Roman. Immediately those who were about to examine him departed from him and the commanding officer also was afraid when he realized that he was a Roman because he had bound him. But on the next day, desiring to know the truth about why he was accused by the Jews, he freed him from the bonds and commanded the chief priests and all the council to come together, and brought Paul down and set him before them. Paul, looking steadfastly at the council, said, Brothers, I have lived before God in all good conscience until this day. The high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, God will strike you, you whitewashed wall. Do you sit to judge me according to the law and command me to be struck contrary to the law? Those who stood by said, Do you malign God's high priest? Paul said, I didn't know, Brothers, that he was high priest. For it is written, You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people. But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of a Pharisee. Concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead, I am being judged. When he had said this, an argument arose between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees confess all of these. A great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees' part stood up and contended, saying, We find no evil in this man, but if a spirit or angel has spoken to him, let's not fight against God. When a great argument arose, the commanding officer, fearing that Paul would be torn in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force among them, and bring him into the barracks. The following night the Lord stood by him and said, Cheer up, Paul, for as you have testified about me at Jerusalem, so you must testify also at Rome. When it was day some of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. There were more than forty people who had made this conspiracy. They came to the chief priest and the elders and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse to taste nothing until we have killed Paul. Now, therefore, you with the council inform the commanding officer that he should bring him down to you to-morrow, as though you were going to judge his case more exactly. We are ready to kill him before he comes near. But Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, and he came and entered into the barracks and told Paul. Paul summoned one of the centurions and said, Bring this young man to the commanding officer, for he has something to tell him. So he took him and brought him to the commanding officer and said, Paul the prisoner summoned me and asked me to bring this young man to you, who has something to tell you. The commanding officer took him by the hand and, going aside, asked him privately, What is it that you have to tell me? He said, The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though intending to inquire somewhat more accurately concerning him. Therefore don't yield to them, for more than forty men lie in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse neither to eat nor to drink until they have killed him. Now they are ready, looking for the promise from you. So the commanding officer let the young man go, charging him, Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me. He called to himself two of the centurions and said, Prepare two hundred soldiers to go as far as Caesarea with seventy horsemen and two hundred men armed with spears at the third hour of the night. He asked them to provide animals that they might set Paul on one and bring him safely to Felix the governor. He wrote a letter like this. Claudius Lyceus to the most excellent governor Felix, greetings. This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them when I came with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman. Desiring to know the cause why they accused him, I brought him down to their council. I found him to be accused about questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds. When I was told that the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent him to you immediately, charging his accusers also to bring their accusations against him before you. Farewell. So the soldiers carrying out their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. But on the next day they left the horsemen to go with him and return to the barracks. When they came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him. When the governor had read it, he asked what province he was from. When he understood that he was from Cilicia, he said, I will hear you fully when your accusers also arrive. He commanded that he be kept in Herod's palace. After five days, the high priest Ananias came down with certain elders and an orator, when Tertullis. They informed the governor against Paul. When he was called, Tertullis began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by you we enjoy much peace and that excellent measures are coming to this nation, we accept it in all ways and in all places most excellent Felix with all thankfulness. But that I don't delay you, I entreat you to bear with us and hear a few words. For we have found this man to be a plague, an instigator of insurrections among all the Jews throughout the world and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. He even tried to profane the temple and we arrested him. But the commanding officer, Lyceus, came by and with great violence took him out of our hands. Commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him. The Jews also joined in the attack, affirming that these things were so. When the governor had beckoned him to speak, Paul answered, Because I know that you have been a judge of this nation for many years, I cheerfully make my defense, seeing that you can recognize that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship at Jerusalem. In the temple they didn't find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city, nor can they prove to you the things of which they now accuse me. But this I confess to you, that after the way which they call a sect, So I serve the God of our fathers, believing all things which are according to the law and which are written in the prophets, having hope toward God, which these also themselves look for, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. Herein I also practice always having a conscience void of offense towards God and man. Now after some years I came to bring gifts for the needy to my nation and offerings. A mid-switch certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, not with a mob, nor with turmoil. They ought to have been here before you and to make accusation, if they had anything against me. Or else let these men themselves say what injustice they found in me when I stood before the council, unless it is for this one thing that I cried standing among them concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am being judged before you today. But Felix, having more exact knowledge concerning the way, deferred them saying, When Lyceus the commanding officer comes down, I will decide your case. He ordered the centurion that Paul should be kept in custody and should have some privileges and not to forbid any of his friends to serve him or to visit him. But after some days Felix came with Drusilla, his wife, who was a Jewish, and sent for Paul and heard him concerning his faith in Christ Jesus. As he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was terrified and answered, Go your way for this time, and when it is convenient for me, I will summon you. Meanwhile he also hoped that money would be given to him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore also he sent for him more often and talked with him. But when two years were fulfilled, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus and desiring to gain favor with the Jews, Felix left Paul in bonds. End of chapters 21 through 24 Recording by Vivian Bush, Houston, Texas on October 16, 2007 Chapters 25 through 28 of Acts from the World English Bible This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Vivian Bush, Acts from the World English Bible, chapters 25 through 28 Festus therefore, having come into the province after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea Then the high priest and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul and they begged him, asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem, plotting to kill him on the way. However, Festus answered that Paul should be kept in custody at Caesarea and that he himself was about to depart shortly. Let them therefore, said he, that are in power among you, go down with me and if there is anything wrong in the man, let them accuse him. When he had stayed among them more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea and on the next day he sat on the judgment seat and commanded Paul to be brought. When he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him bringing against him many and grievous charges which they could not prove while he said in his defense, Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I sinned at all. But Festus, desiring to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paul and said, Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and be judged by me there concerning these things? But Paul said, I am standing before Caesar's judgment seat where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you also know very well. For if I have done wrong and have committed anything worthy of death, I don't refuse to die. But if none of those things is true that they accuse me of, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar. Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, You have appealed to Caesar, to Caesar, you shall go. Now in some days had passed a grip of the king in Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus. As he stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul's case before the king saying, There is a certain man left to prisoner by Felix, about whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priest and the elders of the Jews informed me, asking for a sentence against him. To whom I answered that it is not the custom of the Romans to give up any man to destruction, before the accusers face to face, and has had opportunity to make his defense concerning the matter laid against him. When therefore they had come together here, I didn't delay, but on the next day sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought. Concerning whom, when the accuser stood up, they brought no charge of such things as I supposed, but had certain questions against him about their own religion, and about one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. Being perplexed how to inquire concerning these things, I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and there be judged concerning these matters. But when Paul had appealed to be kept for the decision of the emperor, I commanded him to be kept until I could send him to Caesar. Agrippa said to Festus, I also would like to hear the man myself. Tomorrow, he said, you shall hear him. So on the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with great pomp, and they had entered into the place of hearing with the commanding officers and principal men of the city, at the command of Festus Paul was brought in. Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men who are here present with us, you see this man about whom all the multitude of the Jews petitioned me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying that he ought not to live any longer. But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and as he himself appealed to the emperor, I determined to send him, of whom I have no certain thing to write, my lord. Therefore I have brought him forth before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, that after examination I may have something to write. For it seems to me unreasonable in sending a prisoner not to also specify the charges against him. Agrippa said to Paul, you may speak for yourself. Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense. I think myself happy, King Agrippa, that I am to make my defense before you this day concerning all the things that I am accused by the Jews, especially because you are an expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews. Therefore I beg you to hear me patiently. Indeed all the Jews know my way of life from my youth up, which was from the beginning among my own nation and at Jerusalem, having known me from the first, if they are willing to testify, that after the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. Now I stand here to be judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers, which our twelve tribes, earnestly serving night and day, hope to attain. Concerning this hope I am accused by the Jews, King Agrippa, why is it judged incredible with you if God does raise the dead? I myself most certainly thought that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. This I also did in Jerusalem. I both shut up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, and when they were put to death I gave my vote against them. Punishing them often in all the synagogues I tried to make them blaspheme. Being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities. Whereupon as I traveled to Damascus with the authority and commission from the chief priests, at noon, O King, I saw on the way a light from the sky, brighter than the sun, shining around me in those who traveled with me. When we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goats. I said, who are you, Lord? He said, I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. But arise and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you a servant and a witness, both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will reveal to you. Delivering you from the people and from the Gentiles to whom I send you, to open their eyes that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me. Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to them of Damascus at Jerusalem and throughout all the country of Judea and also to the Gentiles that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance. For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. Having therefore obtained the help that is from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets in Moses said would happen, how the Christ must suffer, and how by the resurrection of the dead he would be first to proclaim light both to these people and to the Gentiles. As he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul you are crazy, your great learning is driving you insane. But he said I am not crazy most excellent Festus, but boldly declare words of truth and reasonableness. For the king knows of these things to whom also I speak freely. For I am persuaded that none of these things is hidden from him, for this has not been done in a corner. King Agrippa do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe. Agrippa said to Paul, with a little persuasion are you trying to make me a Christian? Paul said I pray to God that whether with little or with much, not only you, but also all that hear me this day might become such as I am, except for these bonds. The king rose up with the governor and Bernice and those who sat with them. When they had withdrawn they spoke to one another saying, this man does nothing worthy of death or of bonds. Agrippa said to Festus, this man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar. When it was determined that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners to a centurion named Julius of the Augustine band. Embarking in a ship of Adrimidium which was about to sail to places on the coast of Asia we put to sea, Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us. The next day we touched at Sidon. Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him permission to go to his friends and refresh himself. Putting to sea from there, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus because the winds were contrary. When we had sailed across the sea which is off Cilicia and Pompilia we came to Myra, a city of Lycia. There the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing for Italy and he put us on board. When we had sailed slowly many days and had come with difficulty opposite Snidius the wind not allowing us further we sailed under the lee of Crete opposite Silmonae. With difficulty sailing along it we came to a certain place called Fairhavens near the city of Lycia. When much time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous because the fast had now already gone by, Paul admonished them and said to them, Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss not only of the cargo in the ship but also of our lives. But the centurion gave more heed to the master and to the owner of the ship than to those things which were spoken by Paul. Because the haven was not suitable to winter in the majority advised going to sea from there if by any means they could reach Phoenix and winter there which is a port of Crete looking northeast and southeast. When the south wind blew softly supposing that they had obtained their purpose they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete close to shore but before long a stormy wind beat down from shore which is called Euryclidon. When the ship was caught and couldn't face the wind we gave way to it and were driven along. Running under the lee of a small island called Clota we were able with difficulty to secure the boat. After they had hoisted it up we were able to use our tools to help reinforce the ship. Fearing that they would run aground on the citrus sandbars they lowered the sea anchor and so were driven along. As we labored exceedingly with the storm the next day they began to throw things overboard. On the third day they threw out the ship's tackle with their own hands. When neither the sun nor star shone on us for many days and no small storm pressed on us all hope that we would be saved was now taken away. When they had been long without food Paul stood up in the middle of them and said Sirs you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and have gotten this injury in loss. Now I exhort you to cheer up for there will be no loss of life among you but only of the ship. For there stood by me this night an angel belonging to the God whose I am and whom I serve saying don't be afraid Paul you must stand before Caesar behold God has granted you all those who sail with you. Therefore sirs cheer up for I believe God that it will be just as it has been spoken to me but we must run aground on a certain island. But when the fourteenth night had come as we were driven back and forth in the Adriatic Sea about midnight the sailors surmised that they were drawing near to some land they took soundings and found twenty fathoms after a little while they took soundings again and found fifteen fathoms. Fearing that we would run aground on rocky ground they let go four anchors from the stern and wished for daylight. As the sailors were trying to flee out of the ship and had lowered the boats into the sea pretending that they would lay out anchors from the bow Paul said to the Centurion and to the soldiers unless these stay in the ship you can't be saved. Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat and let it fall off. While the day was coming on Paul begged them all to take some food saying this day is the fourteenth day that you wait and continue fasting having taken nothing. Therefore I beg you to take some food for this is for your safety for not a hair will perish from many of your heads. When he had said this and had taken bread he gave thanks to God in the presence of all and he broke it and began to eat. Then they all cheered up and they also took food. In all we were two hundred seventy six souls on the ship. When they had eaten enough they were throwing out the wheat into the sea. When it was day they didn't recognize the land but they noticed a certain bay with a beach and they decided to try to drive the ship on to it. Casting off the anchors they left them in the sea at the same time untying the rudder ropes hoisting up the for sale to the wind they made for the beach but coming to a place where two seas met they ran the vessel aground. The bow struck and remained immovable and began to break up by the violence of the waves. The soldiers council was to kill the prisoners so that none of them would swim out and escape but the centurion desiring to save Paul stopped them from their purpose and commanded that those who could swim should throw themselves overboard first to go toward the land and the rest should follow some on planks and some on other things from the ship so it happened that they all escaped safely to the land. When we had escaped we learned that the island was called Malta. The natives showed us uncommon kindness for they kindled a fire and received us all because of the present rain and because of the cold but 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. When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand they said one to another no doubt this man is a murderer whom though he's escaped from the sea was not allowed to live however he shook off the creature into the fire and wasn't harmed but they expected that he would have swollen or fallen down dead suddenly but when they watched for a long time and saw nothing bad happened to him they changed their minds and said that he was a god. Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island named Publius who received us and courteously entertained us for three days. It happened that the father of Publius lay sick of fever and dysentery. Paul entered into him prayed and laying his hands on him healed him. Then when this was done the rest also who had diseases in the island came and were cured. They also honored us with many honors and when we sailed they put on board the things that we needed. After three months we set sail in a ship of Alexandria which had wintered in the island whose sign was the twin brothers. Touching at Syracuse we stayed there three days. From there we circled around and arrived at Regium. After one day a south wind sprang up and on the second day we came to Patioili where we found brothers and were entreated to stay with them for seven days. So we came to Rome. From there the brothers when they heard of us came to meet us as far as the market of apias in the three taverns. When Paul saw them he thanked God and took courage. When we entered into Rome the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard but Paul was allowed to stay by himself with the soldier who guarded him. It happened that after three days Paul called together those who were the leaders of the Jews. When they had come together he said to them I brothers though I had done nothing against the people or the customs of our fathers still was delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans who when they had examined me desired to set me free because there was no cause of death in me. But when the Jews spoke against it I was constrained to appeal to Caesar not that I had anything about which to accuse my nation. For this cause therefore I asked to see you and to speak with you for because of the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain. They said to him we neither received letters from Judea concerning you nor did any of the brothers come here and report or speak any evil of you. But we desired to hear from you what you think. During this sect it is known to us that everywhere it is spoken against. When they had appointed him a day many people came to him at his lodging. He explained to them testifying about the kingdom of God and persuading them concerning Jesus both from the law of Moses and from the prophets from morning until evening. Some believed the things which were spoken and some disbelieved. When they didn't agree among themselves they departed after Paul had spoken one word. The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers saying go to this people and say in hearing you will hear but will in no way understand in seeing you will see but will in no way perceive. For this people's heart has grown callous their ears are dull of hearing their eyes they have closed lest they should see with their eyes hear with their ears understand with their heart Be it known therefore to you that the salvation of God is sent to the nations they will also listen. When he had said these words the Jews departed having a great dispute among themselves. Paul stayed two whole years in his own rented house and received all who were coming to him preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness without hindrance. End of the Book of Acts Recording by Vivian Bush Houston, Texas on October 18th 2007 Chapters 1-6 of the Book of Romans from the World English Bible This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Chapter 1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ called to be an apostle set apart for the good news of God which he promised before through his prophets in the holy scriptures concerning his son who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh who was declared to be the son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead Jesus Christ our Lord through whom we received grace and apostleship for obedience of faith among all the nations for his name's sake among whom you are also called to belong to Jesus Christ to all who are in Rome beloved of God called to be saints Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you that your faith is proclaimed throughout the whole world for God is my witness whom I serve in my spirit in the good news of his son how unceasingly I make mention of you always in my prayers requesting if by any means now at last I may be prospered by the will of God to come to you for I long to see you that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to the end that you may be established that is that I with you may be encouraged in you each of us by the other's faith both yours and mine now I don't desire to have you unaware brothers that I often planned to come to you and was hindered so far that I might have some fruit among you also even as among the rest of the Gentiles I am a debtor both to Greeks and to foreigners both to the wise and to the foolish so as much as is in me I am eager to preach to you also who are in Rome for I am not ashamed of the good news of Christ for it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes for the Jew first and also for the Greek for in it is revealed God's righteousness from faith to faith as it is written but the righteous shall live by faith for the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness because that which is known of God is revealed in them for God revealed it to them for the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen being perceived through the things that are made even his everlasting power and divinity that they may be without excuse because knowing God they didn't glorify him as God and neither gave thanks but became vain in their reasoning and their senseless heart was darkened professing themselves to be wise they became fools and traded the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and creeping things therefore God also gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to uncleanness that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves thanks of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the creator who was blessed forever amen for this reason God gave them up to vile passions for their woman changed the natural function into that which is against nature likewise also the men leaving the natural function of the woman burned in the lust toward one another men doing what is inappropriate with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty of their error even as they refused to have God in their knowledge God gave them up to a reprobate mind to do those things which are not fitting being filled with all unrighteousness sexual immorality wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness full of envy murder, strife, deceit evil habits secret slanderers back biters, hateful to God insolent, haughty, boastful inventors of evil things disobedient to parents without understanding covenant breakers without natural affection unforgiving unmerciful who, knowing the ordinance of God that those who practice such things are worthy of death not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them chapter 2 therefore you are without excuse, oh man whoever you are who judge for in that which you judge another you condemn yourself for you who judge practice the same things we know that the judgment of God is according to the truth against those who practice such things do you think this, oh man who judges those who practice such things and do the same that you will escape the judgment of God or do you despise the riches of his goodness forbearance and patience not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance but according to your hardness and unrepentant heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath, revelation and of the righteous judgment of God who will pay back to everyone according to their works to those who by patience and well-doing seek for glory honor and incorruptibility eternal life but to those who are self-seeking and don't obey the truth but obey unrighteousness will be wrath and indignation oppression and anguish on every soul of man who works evil to the Jew first and also to the Greek but glory, honor and peace go to every man who works good to the Jew first and also to the Greek for there is no partiality with God for as many as have sinned without law will also perish without the law as many as have sinned under the law will be judged by the law for it isn't the hearers of the law who are righteous before God but the doers of the law will be justified for when Gentiles who don't have the law do by nature the things of the law these, not having the law to themselves in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts their conscience testifying with them and their thoughts among themselves accusing or else excusing them in the day when God will judge the secrets of men according to my good news by Jesus Christ indeed you bear the name of a Jew and rest on the law and glory in God and know his will and approve the things that are excellent and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind a light to those who are in darkness a corrector of the foolish a teacher of babies having in the law the form of knowledge and of the truth you therefore who teach another don't you teach yourself you who preach that a man shouldn't steal do you steal you who say a man shouldn't commit adultery do you commit adultery you who are poor idols do you rob temples you who glory in the law through your disobedience of the law do you dishonor God for the name of God is blasphemed even among the Gentiles because of you just as it is written for circumcision indeed prophets if you are a doer of the law but if you are a transgressor of the law your circumcision has become uncircumcision if therefore the uncircumcised keep the ordinances of the law won't his uncircumcision be accounted as circumcision won't the uncircumcision which is by nature if it fulfills the law judge you who with the letter and circumcision are a transgressor of the law for he is not a Jew who is one outwardly neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh but he is a Jew who is one inwardly and circumcision is that of the heart in the spirit not in the letter whose praise is not from men but from God Chapter 3 then what advantage does the Jew have or what is the prophet of circumcision much in every way because first of all they were entrusted with the oracles of God for what if somewhere without faith will their lack of faith nullify the faithfulness of God may it never be yes let God be found true but every man a liar as it is written that you might be justified in your words and might prevail when you come into judgment but if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God what will we say is God unrighteous who inflicts wrath I speak like men do may it never be for then how will God judge the world for if the truth of God through my lie abounded to his glory why am I also still judged as a sinner why not as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say let us do evil that good may come those who say so are justly condemned what then are we better than they no, in no way for we previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin as it is written there is no one righteous no, not one there is no one who understands there is no one who seeks after God they have all turned aside they have together become unprofitable there is no one who does good no, not so much as one their throat is an open tomb with their tongues they have used a seat the poison of vipers is under their lips whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness their feet are swift to shed blood destruction and misery are in their ways the way of peace they haven't known there is no fear of God before their eyes now we know that whatever things the law says it speaks to those who are under the law that every mouth may be closed and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God because by the works of the law no flesh will be justified in his sight for through the law comes the knowledge of sin but now apart from the law a righteousness of God has been revealed being testified by the law and the prophets even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all those who believe for there is no distinction for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus whom God set forth to be an atoning sacrifice through faith in his blood for a demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of prior sins in God's forbearance to demonstrate his righteousness at this present time that he might himself be just and the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus where then is the boasting it is excluded by what manner of law of works no but by a law of faith we maintain therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law or is God the God of Jews only isn't he the God of Gentiles also since indeed there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith do we then nullify the law through faith may it never be no we establish the law Chapter 4 what then will we say that Abraham our forefather has found according to the flesh for if Abraham was justified by works he has something to boast about but not toward God for what does the scripture say Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness now to him who works the reward is not counted as grace but as debt but to him who doesn't work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly his faith is accounted for righteousness even as David also pronounces blessing on the man to whom God counts righteousness apart from works blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven whose sins are covered blessed is the man whom the Lord will by no means charge with sin is this blessing then pronounced on the circumcised or on the uncircumcised also for we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness how then was it counted when he was in circumcision or an uncircumcision not in circumcision but in uncircumcision he received the sign of circumcision a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while he was in uncircumcision that he might be the father of all those who believe though they be in uncircumcision that righteousness might also be accounted to them the father of the circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham which he had in uncircumcision for the promise to Abraham and to his seed that he should be heir of the world wasn't through the law but through the righteousness of faith for if those who are of the law are heirs faith is made void and the promise is made of no effect for the law works wrath for where there is no law neither is there disobedience for this cause it is of faith that it may be according to grace to the end that the promise may be sure to all the seed not to that only which is of the law but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham who is the father of us all as it is written I have made you a father of many nations this is in the presence of him whom he believed God who gives life to the dead all the things that are not as though they were who in hope believed against hope to the end that he might become father of many nations according to that which had been spoken so will your seed be without being weakened in faith he didn't consider his own body already having been worn out he being about a hundred years old and the deadness of Sarah's womb yet looking to the promise of God he didn't waver through unbelief but grew strong through faith giving glory to God and being fully assured that what he had promised he was able also to perform therefore it also was reckoned to him for righteousness now it was not written that it was accounted to him for his sake alone but for our sake also to whom it will be accounted who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead who was delivered up for our trespasses who raised for our justification chapter 5 being therefore justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ through whom we also have our access by faith into this grace in which we stand we rejoice in hope of the glory of God not only this but we also rejoice in our sufferings knowing that suffering works perseverance and perseverance proven character and proven character hope and hope doesn't disappoint us because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us for while we were yet weak at the right time Christ died for the ungodly for one will hardly die for a righteous man yet perhaps for a righteous person someone would even dare to die but God commends his own love to us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us much more than being now justified by his blood we will be saved from God's wrath through him for if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of his son much more being reconciled we will be saved by his life not only so but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ for we are reconcilation therefore as sin entered into the world through one man and death through sin and so death passed to all men because all sinned for until the law sin was in the world but sin is not charged when there is no law nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses even over those who sins weren't like Adams or disobedience who was a foreshadowing of him who was to come but the free gift isn't like the trespass for if by the trespass of the one the many died much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one man Jesus Christ abound to the many the gift is not as through one who sinned for the judgment came by one to condemnation but the free gift came of many trespasses to justification for if by the trespass of the one death reigned through the one so much more were those who received the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reigned in life through the one Jesus Christ so then as through one trespass all men were condemned even so through one act of righteousness all men were justified to life for as through the one man's disobedience many were made sinners even so through the obedience of the one many will be made righteous the law came in besides that the trespass might abound but where sin abounded grace abounded more exceedingly that as sin reigned in death even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our lord chapter 6 what shall we say then shall we continue in sin that grace may abound may it never be we who died to sin how could we live in it any longer or don't you know that all we who were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death we were buried therefore with him through baptism to death that just like Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the father so we might also walk in newness of life for if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death we will also be part of his resurrection knowing this that our old man was crucified with him that the body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be in bondage to sin for he who has died has been free from sin but if we died in Christ we believe that we will also live with him knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dies no more death no more has dominion over him for the death that he died he died to sin one time but the life that he lives he lives to God thus consider yourselves also to be dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord therefore don't let sin reign in your mortal body that you should obey it in its lusts neither present your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness but present yourselves to God as alive from the dead as instruments of righteousness to God for sin will not have dominion over you for you are not under law but under grace what then? shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace may it never be don't you know that to whom you present yourselves as servants to obedience his servants you are whom you obey whether of sin to death or of obedience to righteousness but thanks be to God that whereas you were bondservants of sin you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching where until you were delivered being made free from sin you became bondservants of righteousness I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh for as you presented your members as servants to uncleanness and to wickedness upon wickedness even so now present your members as servants to righteousness for sanctification for when you were servants of sin you were free in regard to righteousness what fruit then did you have at that time in the things of which you are now ashamed for the end of those things is death but now being made free from sin and having become servants of God you have your fruit of sanctification and the result of eternal life for the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord end of chapters 1 through 6 of the book of romans chapters 7 through 11 of the book of romans from the world english bible this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit vox.org chapter 7 or don't you know brothers for I speak to men who know the law that the law has dominion over a man for as long as he lives for the woman that has a husband is bound by law to the husband while he lives but if the husband dies she is discharged from the law of the husband so then if while the husband lives she is joined to another man she is called an adulteress but if the husband dies she is free from the law so that she is no adulteress though she is joined to another man therefore my brothers you also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ that you would be joined to another to him who was raised from the dead that we might bring forth fruit to God for when we were in the flesh the sinful passions which were through the law that we might bring forth fruit to death but now we have been discharged from the law having died to that in which we were held so that we serve in newness of the spirit and not in oldness of the letter what shall we say then is the law sin may it never be however I wouldn't have known sin except through the law for I wouldn't have known coveting unless the law had said but sin finding occasion through the commandment produced in me all kinds of coveting for apart from the law sin is dead I was alive apart from the law once but when the commandment came sin revived and I died the commandment which was for life this I found to be for death for sin finding occasion through the commandment deceived me and through it killed me therefore the law indeed is holy and the commandment holy and righteous and good did then that which is good become death to me may it never be but sin that it might be shown to be sin by working death to me through that which is good that through the commandment sin might become exceedingly sinful for we know that the law is spiritual but I am fleshly sold under sin for I don't know what I am doing for I don't practice what I desire to do but what I hate that I do but if what I don't desire that I do I consent to the law that it is good so now it is no more I that do it but sin which dwells in me for I know that in me that is in my flesh dwells no good thing for desire is present with me but I don't find it doing that which is good for the good which I desire I don't do but the evil which I don't desire that I practice but if what I don't desire that I do it is no more I that do it but sin which dwells in me I find then the law that to me while I desire to do good evil is present for I delight in God's law after the inward man but I see a different law in my members warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into captivity under the law of sin which is in my members what a wretched man I am who will deliver me out of the body of this death I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord so then with the mind I myself serve God's law but with the flesh the sin's law Chapter 8 there is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus who don't walk according to the flesh but according to the spirit for the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death for what the law couldn't do in that it was weak through the flesh God did sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin he condemned sin in the flesh that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit for those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh but those who live according to the spirit the things of the spirit for the mind of the flesh is death but the mind of the spirit is life and peace because the mind of the flesh is hostile towards God for it is not subject to God's law neither indeed can it be those who are in the flesh can't please God but you are not in the flesh but in the spirit if it is so that the spirit of God dwells in you but if any man doesn't have the spirit of Christ he is not his if Christ is in you the body is dead because of sin but the spirit is alive because of righteousness but if the spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you he who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his spirit who dwells in you so then brothers we are debtors not to the flesh to live after the flesh for if you live after the flesh you must die but if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live for as many as are led by the spirit of God these are children of God even to receive the spirit of bondage again to fear you receive the spirit of adoption by whom we cry Abba father the spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God and if children then heirs heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ if indeed we suffer with him that we may also be glorified with him for I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which will be revealed toward us for the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed for the creation was subjected to vanity not of its own will but because of him who subjected it in hope that the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of decay into the liberty of the glory of the children of God for we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now not only so but ourselves also who have the first fruits of the spirit even we ourselves grown within ourselves waiting for adoption the redemption of our body for we were saved in hope but hope that is seen is not hope for who hopes for that which he sees but if we hope for that which we don't see we wait for it with patience in the same way the spirit also helps our weaknesses for we don't know how to pray as we ought but the spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which can't be uttered he who searches the hearts knows what is on the spirit's mind because he makes intercession for the saints according to God we know that all things work together for good for those who love God to those who are called according to his purpose for whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son to be for the first born among many brothers whom he predestined those he also called whom he called those he also justified whom he justified those he also glorified what then shall we say about these things if God is for us who can be against us he who didn't spare his own son but delivered him up for us all how will he not also with him freely give us all things against God's chosen ones it is God who justifies who is he who condemns it is Christ who died yes rather who was raised from the dead who is at the right hand of God who also makes intercession for us who shall separate us from the love of Christ could oppression or anguish or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword even as it is written for your sake we are killed all day long we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter no in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us for I am persuaded that neither death nor life nor angels nor principalities nor things present nor things to come nor powers nor height nor depth nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Chapter 9 I tell the truth in Christ I am not lying my conscience testifying with me in the Holy Spirit that I have great sorrow and unceasing pain in my heart for I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brother's sake my relatives according to the flesh who are Israelites who's is the adoption the glory the covenants the giving of the law the service and the promises of whom are the fathers whom whom is Christ as concerning the flesh who is overall God blessed forever amen but it is not as though the word of God has come to nothing for they are not all Israel that are of Israel neither because they are Abraham's seed are they all children but in Isaac will your seed be called that is it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God but the children of the promise of the seed for this is a word of promise at the appointed time I will come and Sarah will have a son not only so but Rebecca also conceived by one by our father Isaac for being not yet born neither having done anything good or bad that the purpose of God according to election might stand not of works but of him who calls it was said to her the elder will serve the younger as it is written Jacob I loved but Esau I hated what shall we say then is there unrighteousness with God may it never be for he said to Moses I will have mercy on whom I have mercy and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion so then it is not of him who wills nor of him who runs but of God who has mercy for the scripture says to Pharaoh for this very purpose I caused you to be raised up that I might show in you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth so then he has mercy on whom he desires and he hardens whom he desires you will say then to me why does he still find fault for who withstands his will but indeed oh man who are you to reply against God will the thing formed ask him who formed it why did you make me like this or hasn't the potter a right over the clay from the same lump to make one part a vessel for honor and another for dishonor what if God willing to show his wrath and to make his power known endured with much patience vessels of wrath made for destruction and that he might make known the riches of his glory on vessels of mercy and for glory us whom he also called not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles as he says also in Hosea I will call them my people which were not my people and her beloved who was not beloved it will be that in the place where it was said to them you are not my people there they will be called children of the living God I will cry concerning Israel if the number of the children of Israel are as the sand of the sea it is the remnant who will be saved for he will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness because the Lord will make a short work upon the earth as Isaiah has said before unless the Lord of armies had left us a seed we would have become like Sodom and would have been made like Gomorrah what shall we say then that the Gentiles who didn't follow after righteousness attained to righteousness even the righteousness which is of faith but Israel following after a law of righteousness didn't arrive at the law of righteousness why? because they didn't seek it by faith but as it were by works of the law they stumbled over the stumbling stone even as it is written behold I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and a rock of offence and no one who believes in him will be disappointed chapter 10 brothers my heart's desire and my prayer to God is for Israel that they may be saved for I testify about them that they have a zeal for God but not according to knowledge for being ignorant of God's righteousness and seeking to establish their own righteousness they didn't subject themselves to the righteousness of God for Christ is the fulfillment of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes for Moses writes about the righteousness of the law the one who does them will live by them but the righteousness which is of faith says this don't say in your heart who will ascend into heaven that is to bring Christ down or who will descend into the abyss that is to bring Christ up from the dead and what does it say the word is near you in your mouth and in your heart that is the word of faith which we preach that if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you will be saved for with the heart one believes unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek for the same Lord is Lord of all and is rich to all who call on him for whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved how then will they call on him in whom they have not believed how will they believe in him whom they have not heard how will they hear without a preacher and how will they preach unless they are sent how beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news of peace who bring glad tidings of good things but they didn't all listen to the glad news for Isaiah says Lord who has believed our report so faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God but I say didn't they hear yes most certainly their sound went out into all the earth their words to the ends of the world but I ask didn't Israel know first Moses says I will provoke you to jealousy with that which is no nation with a nation void of understanding I will make you angry Isaiah is very bold and says I was found by those who didn't seek me I was revealed to those who didn't ask for me but as to Israel he says all day long I stretched out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people chapter 11 I ask then did God reject his people may it never be for I am also in Israelite a descendant of Abraham of the tribe of Benjamin God didn't reject his people which he foreknew or don't you know what the scripture says how he pleads with God against Israel Lord they have killed your prophets they have broken down your altars and I am left alone and they seek my life but how does God answer him I have reserved for myself 7000 men who have not bowed the knee to Baal even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace and if by grace then it is no longer of works otherwise grace is no longer grace but if it is of works it is no longer grace otherwise work is no longer work what then that which Israel seeks for that he didn't obtain but the chosen ones obtained it and the rest were hardened according as it is written God gave them a spirit of stupor eyes that they should not see and ears that they should not hear to this very day David says let their table be made a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution to them let their eyes be darkened that they may not see bow down their backs always I ask then did they stumble that they might fall may it never be but by their fall salvation has come to the Gentiles to provoke them to jealousy now if their fall is the riches of the world and their loss the riches of the Gentiles how much more their fullness for I speak to you who are Gentiles since then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles I glorify my ministry if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and may save some of them for if the rejection of them is the reconciling of the world what would their acceptance be but life from the dead if the first fruit is holy so is the lump if the root is holy so are the branches but if some of the branches were broken off and you, being a wild olive were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the root and of the richness of the olive tree don't boast over the branches but if you boast it is not you who support the root but the root supports you you will say then branches were broken off that I might be grafted in true by their unbelief they were broken off and you stand by your faith don't be conceited but fear for if God didn't spare the natural branches neither will he spare you see then the goodness and severity of God toward those who fell severity but toward you, goodness if you continue in his goodness otherwise you also will be cut off they also, if they don't continue in their unbelief will be grafted in for God is able to graft them in again for if you were cut out of that which is by nature a wild olive tree and were grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree how much more will these which are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree for I don't desire you to be ignorant brothers of this mystery so that you won't be wise in your own conceits that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in and so all Israel will be saved even as it is written there will come out of Zion the deliverer and he will turn away ungodliness from Jacob this is my covenant to them when I will take away their sins concerning the good news they are enemies for your sake but concerning the election they are beloved for the Father's sake for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable for as you in time past were disobedient to God but now have obtained mercy by their disobedience even so these also have now been disobedient that by the mercy shown to you they may also obtain mercy for God has shut up all to disobedience that he might have mercy on all oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God how unsearchable are his judgments and his ways past tracing out for who has known the mind of the Lord or who has been his counselor or who has first given to him and it will be repaid to him again for of him and through him and to him are all things to him be the glory forever Amen Chapter 12 to think of himself more highly than he ought to think but to think reasonably as God has apportioned to each person a measure of faith for even as we have the same members in one body and all the members don't have the same function so we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us if prophecy according to the proportion of our faith or service let us give ourselves to service or he who teaches to his teaching or he who exhorts to his exhorting he who gives let him do it with liberality he who rules with diligence he who shows mercy with cheerfulness let love be without hypocrisy abhor that which is evil cling to that which is good in love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate to one another in honor preferring one another not lagging in diligence fervent in spirit serving the Lord rejoicing in hope enduring in troubles continuing steadfastly in prayer contributing to the needs of the saints given to hospitality bless those who persecute you bless and don't curse rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep be of the same mind toward one another don't set your mind on high things but associate with the humble don't be wise in your own conceits repay no one evil for evil respect what is honorable in the sight of all men if it is possible as much as it is up to you be at peace with all men don't seek revenge yourselves beloved but give place to God's wrath for it is written vengeance belongs to me I will repay says the Lord therefore if your enemy is hungry feed him if he is thirsty give him a drink for in doing so you will heap coals of fire on his head don't be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good Chapter 13 let every soul be in subjection to the higher authorities for there is no authority except from God and those who exist are ordained by God therefore he who resists the authority withstands the ordinance of God and those who withstand will receive to themselves judgment for rulers are not a terror to the good work but to the evil do you desire to have no fear of the authority? do that which is good and you will have praise from the same for he is a servant of God to you for good but if you do that which is evil be afraid for he doesn't bear the sword in vain for he is a servant of God and avenger for wrath to him who does evil therefore you need to be in subjection not only because of the wrath but also for conscience's sake for this reason you also pay taxes for they are servants of God's service attending continually on this very thing give therefore to everyone what you owe taxes to whom taxes are due customs to whom customs respect to whom respect honor to whom honor oh no one anything except to love one another for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law for the commandments you shall not commit adultery you shall not murder you shall not steal you shall not give false testimony you shall not covet and whatever other commandments there are are all summed up in this saying namely you shall love your neighbor as yourself love doesn't harm a neighbor love therefore is the fulfillment of the law do this knowing the time for salvation is now nearer to us than when we first believed the night is far gone and the day is near let's therefore throw off the works of darkness and let's put on the armor of light let us walk properly as in the day not in reveling and drunkenness not in sexual promiscuity and lustful acts and not in strife and jealousy but put on the Lord Jesus Christ make no provision for the flesh for its lusts now accept one who is weak in faith but not for disputes over opinions one man has faith to eat all things but he who is weak eats only vegetables don't let him who eats despise him who doesn't eat don't let him who doesn't eat judge him who eats for God has accepted him who are you to judge another's servant to his own Lord he stands or falls yes he will be made to stand for God has the power to make him stand one man esteems one day is more important another esteems every day alike let each man be fully assured in his own mind he who observes the day observes it to the Lord he who does not observe the day to the Lord he does not observe it he who eats eats to the Lord for he gives God thanks for none of us lives to himself and none dies to himself for if we live we live to the Lord or if we die we die to the Lord if therefore we live or die we are the Lord's for to this end Christ died rose and lived again that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living but you why do you judge your brother or you again why do you despise your brother for we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ for it is written as I live says the Lord to me every knee will bow every tongue will confess to God so then each one of us will give a count of himself to God therefore let's not judge one another anymore but judge this rather then put a stumbling block in his brother's way or an occasion for falling I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean of itself except that to him who considers anything to be unclean to him it is unclean yet if because of food your brother is grieved you walk no longer in love don't destroy with food him for whom Christ died then don't let your good be slandered for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking but righteousness peace and joy in the Holy Spirit for he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men so then let us follow after things which make for peace and things by which we may build one another up don't overthrow God's work for food's sake all things indeed are clean however it is evil for that man who creates a stumbling block by eating it is good not to eat meat drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles is offended or is made weak do you have faith have it to yourself before God happy is he who doesn't judge himself in that which he approves but he who doubts is condemned if he eats because it isn't of faith and whatever is not of faith is sin him who is able to establish you according to my good news and the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret through long ages but is now revealed and by the scriptures of the prophets according to the commandment of the eternal God is made known for obedience of faith to all the nations to the only wise God through Jesus Christ to whom be the glory forever amen chapter 15 now we who are strong ought to bear with the weaknesses of the weak and not to please ourselves let each one of us please his neighbor for that which is good to be building him up for even Christ didn't please himself but as it is written the reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me for whatever things were written before were written for our learning that through patience and through encouragement ever we might have hope now the God of patience and of encouragement grant you to be of the same mind one with another according to Christ Jesus that with one accord you may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ therefore accept one another even as Christ also accepted you to the glory of God now I say that Christ has been made a servant of the circumcision of God that he might confirm the promises given to the fathers and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy as it is written therefore I will give praise to you among the Gentiles and sing to your name again he says rejoice you Gentiles with his people again praise the Lord all you Gentiles let all the peoples praise him again Isaiah says there will be the root of Jesse he who arises to rule over the Gentiles in him the Gentiles will hope now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace and believing that you may abound in hope in the power of the Holy Spirit I myself am also persuaded about you my brothers that you yourselves are full of goodness filled with all knowledge able also to admonish others but I write the more boldly to you in part as reminding you because of the grace that was given to me by God that I should be a servant of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles serving as a priest the good news of God that the offering up of the Gentiles might be made acceptable sanctified by the Holy Spirit I have therefore my boasting in Christ Jesus in things pertaining to God for I will not dare to speak of any things except those which Christ worked through me for the obedience of the Gentiles by word indeed in the power of signs and wonders of God's Spirit so that from Jerusalem and around as far as to Illyricum I have fully preached the good news of Christ yes, making it my aim to preach the good news not where Christ was already named that I might not build on another's foundation but as it is written they will see to whom no news of him came they who haven't heard will understand therefore also I was hindered these many times from coming to you but now no longer having any place in these regions and having these many years of longing to come to you whenever I journey to Spain I will come to you for I hope to see you on my journey and to be helped on my way there by you if first I may enjoy your company for a while but now I say I am going to Jerusalem serving the saints for it has been the good pleasure of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution among the saints who are in Jerusalem yes, it has been their good pleasure and they are their debtors for if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things they owe it to them also to serve them in fleshly things when therefore I have accomplished this and have sealed to them this fruit I will go on by way of you to Spain I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing of the good news of Christ I beg you brothers by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit that you strive together with me and your prayers to God for me that I may be delivered from those who are disobedient in Judea and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints that I may come to you in joy through the will of God and together with you find rest now the God of peace be with you all amen that you Phoebe, our sister who is a servant of the assembly that is in Centrie that you receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and that you assist her in whatever matter she may need from you for she herself also has been a helper of many and of my own self greet Priscilla and Aquila my fellow workers in Christ Jesus who for my life laid down their own necks to whom not only I give thanks but also all the assemblies of the Gentiles greet the assembly that is in their house greet Epinatus, my beloved who is the first fruits of Achaia to Christ greet Mary, who labored much for us greet Andronicus and Junius my relatives and fellow prisoners who are notable among the apostles who also were in Christ before me greet Amplius, my brother in the Lord greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ and Stacus, my beloved greet Apelles, the approved in Christ greet those who are in the household of Aristobulus greet Herodian, my kinsmen greet them of the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord greet Trifania and Trifosa who labored in the Lord greet Persis, the beloved who labored much in the Lord greet Rufus, the chosen in the Lord and his mother in mine greet Asancritus Flegon, Hermes Patrabas, Hermos and the brothers who are with them greet Philologus and Julia Narius and his sister and Olympus and all the saints who are with them greet one another with a holy kiss the assemblies of Christ greet you now I beg you brothers look out for those who are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling contrary to the doctrine which you learned and turn away from them for those who are such don't serve our Lord Jesus Christ but their own belly and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the innocent for your obedience has become known to all I rejoice therefore over you but I desire to have you wise in that which is good but innocent in that which is evil and the God of peace will quickly crush Satan under your feet the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you Timothy, my fellow worker greets you as do Lucius, Jason and saucipator, my relatives I, Tertius, who write the letter greet you and the Lord Gaius, my host and host of the whole assembly greets you Erastus, the treasurer of the city greets you as does Quartus, the brother the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all Amen End of the book of Romans For more information or to volunteer please visit Paul called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God in our brother Sosthenes to the assembly of God which is at Corinth those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus called to be saints with all who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, both theirs and ours Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ I always thank my God concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus that in everything you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you so that you come behind in no gift waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ who will also confirm you until the end blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ God is faithful through whom you were called into the fellowship of his son Jesus Christ our Lord Now I beg you brothers through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that you all speak the same thing and that there will be no divisions among you but that you are perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment for it has been reported to me concerning you my brothers by those who are from Chloe's household that there are contentions among you Now I mean this, that each of you says I follow Paul, I follow Apollos I follow Cephas and I follow Christ Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized into the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Christmas and Gaius so that no one should say that I had baptized you into my own name I also baptized the household of Cephanus besides them I don't know whether I baptized any other for Christ sent me not to baptize but to preach the good news not in wisdom of words so that the cross of Christ wouldn't be made void For the word of the cross does foolishness to those who are dying but to us who are saved it is the power of God For it is written I will destroy the wisdom of the wise I will bring the discernment of the discerning to nothing Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the lawyer of this world? Hasn't God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For seeing that in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom didn't know God it was God's good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save those who believe For Jews ask for signs Greeks ask after wisdom but we preach Christ crucified A stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Greeks but to those who are called both Jews and Greeks Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men and the weakness of God is stronger than men For if you see your calling, brothers that not many are wise according to the flesh not many mighty and not many noble but God chose the foolish things of the world that he might put to shame those who are wise God chose the weak things of the world that he might put to shame the things that are strong and God chose the lowly things of the world and the things that are despised and the things that are not that he might bring to nothing the things that are that no flesh should boast before God but of you you are in Christ Jesus who is made to us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption that according as it is written he who boasts let him boast in the Lord Chapter 2 When I came to you brothers I didn't come with excellence of speech or of wisdom proclaiming to you the testimony of God for I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified I was with you in weakness, in fear and in much trembling My speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of human wisdom but in demonstration of the spirit and of power that your faith wouldn't stand in the wisdom of men but in the power of God We speak wisdom however among those who are full grown yet a wisdom not of this world nor of the rulers of this world who are coming to nothing but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery the wisdom that has been hidden which God foreordained before the worlds of our glory which none of the rulers of this world has known for had they known it they crucified the Lord of glory but as it is written things which I didn't see and ear didn't hear which didn't enter into the heart of man whatever things God prepared for those who love him but to us God revealed them through the spirit for the spirit searches all things yes the deep things of God for who among men knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him even so no one knows the things of God except God's spirit but we received not the spirit of the world but the spirit which is from God that we might know the things that were freely given to us by God which things also we speak not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches comparing spiritual things with spiritual things now the natural man doesn't receive the things of the God's spirit for they are foolishness to him and he can't know them because they are spiritually discerned but he who is spiritual discerns all things and he himself is judged by no one for who has known the mind of the Lord that he should instruct him but we have Christ's mind Chapter 3 Brothers I couldn't speak to you as to spiritual but as to fleshly as to babes in Christ I fed you with milk not with meat for you weren't yet ready indeed not even now are you ready for you are still fleshly for insofar as there is jealousy strife and factions among you aren't you fleshly and don't you walk in the ways of men for when one says I follow Paul and another I follow Apollos aren't you fleshly who then is Apollos and who is Paul but servants through whom you believed and each as the Lord gave to him I planted Apollos watered but God gave the increase so then neither he who plants is anything nor he who waters but God who gives the increase now he who plants and he who waters are the same but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor for we are God's fellow workers you are God's farming God's building according to the grace of God which was given to me as a wise master builder I laid a foundation and another builds on it but let each man be careful how he builds on it for no one can lay any other foundation than that which has been laid which is Jesus Christ but if anyone builds on the foundation with gold silver costly stones wood, hay, or stubble each man's work will be revealed for the day will declare it because it is revealed in fire and the fire itself will test what sort of work each man's work is if any man's work remains which he built on it he will receive a reward if any man's work is burned he will suffer loss but he himself will be saved but as through fire don't you know that you are a temple of God and that God's spirit lives in you? if anyone destroys the temple of God God will destroy him for God's temple is holy which you are let no one deceive himself if anyone thinks that he is wise among you in the world let him become a fool that he may become wise for the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God for it is written he has taken the wise in their craftiness and again the Lord knows the reasoning of the wise that it is worthless therefore let no one boast in men for all things are yours whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come all are yours and you are Christ's and Christ is God's Chapter 4 So let a man think of us as Christ's servants and stewards of God's mysteries here moreover it is required of stewards that they be found faithful but with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you by man's judgment yes I don't judge myself for I know nothing against myself yet I am not justified by this but he who judges me is the Lord therefore judge nothing before the time until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts then each man will get his praise from God now these things brothers I have in a figure transferred to myself an Apollos for your sakes that in us you might learn not to think beyond the things which are written that none of you be puffed up against one another for who makes you different and what do you have that you didn't receive but if you did receive it why do you boast as if you have not received it you were already filled you have already become rich you have come to reign without us yes and I wish that you did reign that we also might reign with you for I think that God has displayed us the apostles last of all like men sentenced to death for we are made a spectacle to the world both to angels and to men we are fools for Christ's sake but you are wise in Christ we are weak but you are strong you have honor but we have dishonor even to this present hour we hunger thirst are naked are beaten and have no certain dwelling place we toil working with our own hands being reviled we bless being persecuted we endure being defamed we entreat we are made as the filth of the world the dirt wiped off by all even until now I don't write these things to shame you but to admonish you as my beloved children for though you have ten thousand tutors in Christ yet not many fathers for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel I beg you therefore be imitators of me because of this I have sent Timothy to you who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord who will remind you of my ways which are in Christ even as I teach everywhere and every assembly now some are puffed up as though I were not coming to you but I will come to you shortly if the Lord is willing and I will know not the word of those who are puffed up but the power for the kingdom of God is not in word but in power what do you want will I come to you with a rod or in love and a spirit of gentleness Chapter 5 it is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles that one has his father's wife you are puffed up and didn't rather mourn that he would have done this deed might be removed from among you for I most assuredly as being absent in body but present in spirit have already as though I were present judged him who has done this thing and the name of our Lord Jesus Christ you being gathered together and my spirit with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ are to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus your boasting is not good don't you know that a little yeast leavens the whole lump purge out the old yeast that you may be a new lump even as you are unleavened for indeed Christ our Passover has been sacrificed in our place therefore let us keep the feast not with old yeast neither with the yeast of malice and wickedness but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth I wrote to you in my letter to have no company with sexual sinners yet not at all meaning with the sexual sinners of this world or with the covetous and extortioners or with idolaters for then you would have to leave the world but as it is I wrote to you not to keep company if any man who is named a brother is a sexual sinner or covetous or an idolater or a slanderer or a drunkard or an extortioner don't even eat with such a person for what have I to do with also judging those who are outside don't you judge those who are within but those who are outside God judges put away the wicked man from among yourselves Chapter 6 dare any of you having a matter against his neighbor go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints don't you know that the saints will judge the world and if the world is judged by you are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters don't you know that we will judge angels how much more things that pertain to this life if then you have to judge things pertaining to this life do you set them to judge who are of no account in the assembly I say this to move you to shame what can't there be one wise man among you who will be able to decide between his brothers but brother goes to law with brother and that before unbelievers therefore it is already all together a defect in you that you have lawsuits with one another why not rather be wronged why not rather be defrauded no but you yourselves do wrong and defraud and that against your brothers or don't you know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God don't be deceived neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexuals nor thieves nor covetous nor drunkards nor slanderers nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God such were some of you but you were washed but you were sanctified but you were justified in the name of our Lord Jesus and in the spirit of our God all things are lawful for me but not all things are expedient all things are lawful for me but I will not be brought under the power of anything foods for the belly and the belly for foods but God will bring to nothing both it and them but the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord and the Lord for the body now God raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by his power don't you know that your bodies are members of Christ? will I then take away the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? certainly not or don't you know that he who is joined to a prostitute is one body? for the two says he will become one flesh but he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit flee sexual immorality every sin that a man does is outside the body or don't you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you which you have from God? you are not your own for you were bought with a price therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit which are God's End of chapters 1 to 6