<p class="bodytext">&#8220;And now<n id="1" /> I know that none<n id="2" /> of you among whom I went around proclaiming the kingdom<n id="3" /> will see me<n id="4" /> again.

I replied,<n id="1" /> &#8216;Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and beat those in the various synagogues<n id="2" /> who believed in you.

<p class="bodytext">Paul looked directly<n id="1" /> at the council<n id="2" /> and said, &#8220;Brothers, I have lived my life with a clear conscience<n id="3" /> before God to this day.&#8221;

other than<n id="1" /> this one thing<n id="2" /> I shouted out while I stood before<n id="3" /> them: &#8216;I am on trial before you today concerning the resurrection of the dead.&#8217;&#8221;<n id="4" />p>

Because I was at a loss<n id="1" /> how I could investigate these matters,<n id="2" /> I asked if he were willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried<n id="3" /> there on these charges.<n id="4" />

But I found that he had done nothing that deserved death,<n id="1" /> and when he appealed<n id="2" /> to His Majesty the Emperor,<n id="3" /> I decided to send him.<n id="4" />

<p class="bodytext">Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The<n id="1" /> Lord<n id="2" /> said to him in a vision, &#8220;Ananias,&#8221; and he replied, &#8220;Here I am,<n id="3" /> Lord.&#8221;

&#8220;I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision,<n id="1" /> an object something like a large sheet descending,<n id="2" /> being let down from heaven<n id="3" /> by its four corners, and it came to me.

Therefore if God<n id="1" /> gave them the same gift<n id="2" /> as he also gave us after believing<n id="3" /> in the Lord Jesus Christ,<n id="4" /> who was I to hinder<n id="5" /> God?&#8221;

But while John was completing his mission,<n id="1" /> he said repeatedly,<n id="2" /> &#8216;What do you think I am? I am not he. But look, one is coming after me. I am not worthy to untie the sandals on his feet!&#8217;<n id="3" />

<p class="otpoetry">&#8216;<b><i>Look, you scoffers; be amazed and perish!i>b><n id="1" />p> <p class="otpoetry"><b><i>For I am doing a work in your days,i>b>p> <p class="otpoetry"><i><b>a work you would never believe, even if someone tells youb>.i>&#8217;&#8221;<n id="2" />p>

explaining and demonstrating<n id="1" /> that the Christ<n id="2" /> had to suffer and to rise from the dead,<n id="3" /> saying,<n id="4" /> &#8220;This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.&#8221;<n id="5" />

For as I went around and observed closely your objects of worship,<n id="1" /> I even found an altar with this inscription:<n id="2" /> &#8216;To an unknown god.&#8217; Therefore what you worship without knowing it,<n id="3" /> this I proclaim to you.

When they opposed him<n id="1" /> and reviled him,<n id="2" /> he protested by shaking out his clothes<n id="3" /> and said to them, &#8220;Your blood<n id="4" /> be on your own heads! I am guiltless!<n id="5" /> From now on I will go to the Gentiles!&#8221;

Then Paul replied, &#8220;What are you doing, weeping and breaking<n id="1" /> my heart? For I am ready not only to be tied up,<n id="2" /> but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.&#8221;

Paul answered,<n id="1" /> &#8220;I am a Jew<n id="2" /> from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of an important city.<n id="3" /> Please<n id="4" /> allow me to speak to the people.&#8221;

<p class="bodytext">Then when Paul noticed<n id="1" /> that part of them were Sadducees<n id="2" /> and the others Pharisees,<n id="3" /> he shouted out in the council,<n id="4" /> &#8220;Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. I am on trial concerning the hope of the resurrection<n id="5" /> of the dead!&#8221;

And that is what I did in Jerusalem: Not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons by the authority I received<n id="1" /> from the chief priests, but I also cast my vote<n id="2" /> against them when they were sentenced to death.<n id="3" />

Paul replied, &#8220;I pray to God that whether in a short or a long time<n id="1" /> not only you but also all those who are listening to me today could become such as I am, except for these chains.&#8221;<n id="2" />p>

&#8220;I am a Jew,<n id="1" /> born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up<n id="2" /> in this city, educated with strictness<n id="3" /> under<n id="4" /> Gamaliel<n id="5" /> according to the law of our ancestors,<n id="6" /> and was<n id="7" /> zealous<n id="8" /> for God just as all of you are today.