Acts 27:1-38 - Jon B

Acts 27:1–38 (ESV)

Acts 27:1 And when it was decided that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort named Julius.

Acts 27:2 And embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to the ports along the coast of Asia, we put to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica.

Acts 27:3 The next day we put in at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him leave to go to his friends and be cared for.

Acts 27:4 And putting out to sea from there we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were against us.

Acts 27:5 And when we had sailed across the open sea along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra in Lycia.

Acts 27:6 There the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing for Italy and put us on board.

Acts 27:7 We sailed slowly for a number of days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, and as the wind did not allow us to go farther, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone.

Acts 27:8 Coasting along it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lasea.

Acts 27:9 Since much time had passed, and the voyage was now dangerous because even the Fast was already over, Paul advised them,

Acts 27:10 saying, “Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.”

Acts 27:11 But the centurion paid more attention to the pilot and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul said.

Acts 27:12 And because the harbor was not suitable to spend the winter in, the majority decided to put out to sea from there, on the chance that somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, facing both southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there.

Acts 27:13 Now when the south wind blew gently, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close to the shore.

Acts 27:14 But soon a tempestuous wind, called the northeaster, struck down from the land.

Acts 27:15 And when the ship was caught and could not face the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along.

Acts 27:16 Running under the lee of a small island called Cauda, we managed with difficulty to secure the ship’s boat.

Acts 27:17 After hoisting it up, they used supports to undergird the ship. Then, fearing that they would run aground on the Syrtis, they lowered the gear, and thus they were driven along.

Acts 27:18 Since we were violently storm-tossed, they began the next day to jettison the cargo.

Acts 27:19 And on the third day they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands.

Acts 27:20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.

Acts 27:21 Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss.

Acts 27:22 Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.

Acts 27:23 For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship,

Acts 27:24 and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’

Acts 27:25 So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told.

Acts 27:26 But we must run aground on some island.”

Acts 27:27 When the fourteenth night had come, as we were being driven across the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors suspected that they were nearing land.

Acts 27:28 So they took a sounding and found twenty fathoms. A little farther on they took a sounding again and found fifteen fathoms.

Acts 27:29 And fearing that we might run on the rocks, they let down four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come.

Acts 27:30 And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, and had lowered the ship’s boat into the sea under pretense of laying out anchors from the bow,

Acts 27:31 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.”

Acts 27:32 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the ship’s boat and let it go.

Acts 27:33 As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued in suspense and without food, having taken nothing.

Acts 27:34 Therefore I urge you to take some food. For it will give you strength, for not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you.”

Acts 27:35 And when he had said these things, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat.

Acts 27:36 Then they all were encouraged and ate some food themselves.

Acts 27:37 (We were in all 276 persons in the ship.)

Acts 27:38 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea.

Acts 24:1-25:12 - Jon B

Acts 24:1–25:12 (ESV)

Acts 24:1 And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus. They laid before the governor their case against Paul.

Acts 24:2 And when he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: “Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight, most excellent Felix, reforms are being made for this nation,

Acts 24:3 in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude.

Acts 24:4 But, to detain you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly.

Acts 24:5 For we have found this man a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.

Acts 24:6 He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him.

Acts 24:8 By examining him yourself you will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him.”

Acts 24:9 The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that all these things were so.

Acts 24:10 And when the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul replied: “Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense.

Acts 24:11 You can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem,

Acts 24:12 and they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or in the city.

Acts 24:13 Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me.

Acts 24:14 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets,

Acts 24:15 having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.

Acts 24:16 So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.

Acts 24:17 Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings.

Acts 24:18 While I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult. But some Jews from Asia—

Acts 24:19 they ought to be here before you and to make an accusation, should they have anything against me.

Acts 24:20 Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council,

Acts 24:21 other than this one thing that I cried out while standing among them: ‘It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.’ ”

Acts 24:22 But Felix, having a rather accurate knowledge of the Way, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case.”

Acts 24:23 Then he gave orders to the centurion that he should be kept in custody but have some liberty, and that none of his friends should be prevented from attending to his needs.

Acts 24:24 After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.

Acts 24:25 And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.”

Acts 24:26 At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him.

Acts 24:27 When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.

Acts 25:1 Now three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.

Acts 25:2 And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews laid out their case against Paul, and they urged him,

Acts 25:3 asking as a favor against Paul that he summon him to Jerusalem—because they were planning an ambush to kill him on the way.

Acts 25:4 Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea and that he himself intended to go there shortly.

Acts 25:5 “So,” said he, “let the men of authority among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them bring charges against him.”

Acts 25:6 After he stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought.

Acts 25:7 When he had arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him that they could not prove.

Acts 25:8 Paul argued in his defense, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I committed any offense.”

Acts 25:9 But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and there be tried on these charges before me?”

Acts 25:10 But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you yourself know very well.

Acts 25:11 If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar.”

Acts 25:12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, “To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go.”

Acts 23:12-35 - Jon B

Acts 23:12–35 (ESV)
 

Acts 23:12 When it was day, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.
Acts 23:13 There were more than forty who made this conspiracy.
Acts 23:14 They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food till we have killed Paul.
Acts 23:15 Now therefore you, along with the council, give notice to the tribune to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case more exactly. And we are ready to kill him before he comes near.”
Acts 23:16 Now the son of Paul’s sister heard of their ambush, so he went and entered the barracks and told Paul.
Acts 23:17 Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the tribune, for he has something to tell him.”
Acts 23:18 So he took him and brought him to the tribune and said, “Paul the prisoner called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, as he has something to say to you.”
Acts 23:19 The tribune took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?”
Acts 23:20 And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more closely about him.
Acts 23:21 But do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of their men are lying in ambush for him, who have bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they have killed him. And now they are ready, waiting for your consent.”
Acts 23:22 So the tribune dismissed the young man, charging him, “Tell no one that you have informed me of these things.”
Acts 23:23 Then he called two of the centurions and said, “Get ready two hundred soldiers, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go as far as Caesarea at the third hour of the night.
Acts 23:24 Also provide mounts for Paul to ride and bring him safely to Felix the governor.”
Acts 23:25 And he wrote a letter to this effect:
Acts 23:26 “Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency the governor Felix, greetings.
Acts 23:27 This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them when I came upon them with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman citizen.
Acts 23:28 And desiring to know the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their council. 
Acts 23:29 I found that he was being accused about questions of their law, but charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment.
Acts 23:30 And when it was disclosed to me that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, ordering his accusers also to state before you what they have against him.”
Acts 23:31 So the soldiers, according to their instructions, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.
Acts 23:32 And on the next day they returned to the barracks, letting the horsemen go on with him.
Acts 23:33 When they had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul also before him.
Acts 23:34 On reading the letter, he asked what province he was from. And when he learned that he was from Cilicia,
Acts 23:35 he said, “I will give you a hearing when your accusers arrive.” And he commanded him to be guarded in Herod’s praetorium.

Acts 16:1-15 - Jon B

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Passage

Acts 16:1–15 (ESV)
Acts 16:1 Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. 
Acts 16:2 He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. 
Acts 16:3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 
Acts 16:4 As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. 
Acts 16:5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily. 
Acts 16:6 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 
Acts 16:7 And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 
Acts 16:8 So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. 
Acts 16:9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 
Acts 16:10 And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. 
Acts 16:11 So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, 
Acts 16:12 and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. 
Acts 16:13 And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. 
Acts 16:14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. 
Acts 16:15 And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.

Acts 12:1-19 - Jon B

Acts 12:1–19 (ESV)

Acts 12:1 About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. Acts 12:2 He killed James the brother of John with the sword,
Acts 12:3 and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread.
Acts 12:4 And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people.
Acts 12:5 So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church. Acts 12:6 Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison.
Acts 12:7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands.
Acts 12:8 And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.”
Acts 12:9 And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.
Acts 12:10 When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him.
Acts 12:11 When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”
Acts 12:12 When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.
Acts 12:13 And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer.
Acts 12:14 Recognizing Peter’s voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate.
Acts 12:15 They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!”
Acts 12:16 But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed.
Acts 12:17 But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place.
Acts 12:18 Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter.
Acts 12:19 And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there.