When the centurion heard this, he went to the commanding officer and reported it, saying, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.”

Paul replied, “I did not realize, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You must not speak evil about a ruler of your people.’”

The commanding officer took him by the hand, withdrew privately, and asked, “What is it that you want to report to me?”

This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him, when I came up with the detachment and rescued him, because I had learned that he was a Roman citizen.

When I was informed there would be a plot against this man, I sent him to you at once, also ordering his accusers to state their charges against him before you.

As you can verify for yourself, not more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship.

I have a hope in God (a hope that these men themselves accept too) that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.

“So,” he said, “let your leaders go down there with me, and if this man has done anything wrong, they may bring charges against him.”

We went on board a ship from Adramyttium that was about to sail to various ports along the coast of the province of Asia and put out to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica.

With difficulty we sailed along the coast of Crete and came to a place called Fair Havens that was near the town of Lasea.

Since considerable time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous because the fast was already over, Paul advised them,

But we would like to hear from you what you think, for regarding this sect we know that people everywhere speak against it.”

To all those loved by God in Rome, called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, because they are understood through what has been made. So people are without excuse.

For whenever the Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature the things required by the law, these who do not have the law are a law to themselves.

For circumcision has its value if you practice the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.

For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would inherit the world was not fulfilled through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.

Against hope Abraham believed in hope with the result that he became the father of many nations according to the pronouncement, “so will your descendants be.”

But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.