When I was informed<n id="1" /> there would be a plot<n id="2" /> against this man, I sent him to you at once, also ordering his accusers to state their charges<n id="3" /> against him before you.p>

As you can verify<n id="1" /> for yourself, not more than twelve days ago<n id="2" /> I went up to Jerusalem<n id="3" /> to worship.

But Peter said, &#8220;I have no silver or gold,<n id="1" /> but what I do have I give you. In the name<n id="2" /> of Jesus Christ<n id="3" /> the Nazarene, stand up and<n id="4" /> walk!&#8221;

But God turned away from them and gave them over<n id="1" /> to worship the host<n id="2" /> of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: &#8216;<b><i>It was not to me that you offered slain animals and sacrificesi>b><n id="3" /> <b><i>forty years in the wilderness, was it,i>b><n id="4" /> <b><i>house of Israel?i>b>

But the Lord said to him, &#8220;Go, because this man is my chosen instrument<n id="1" /> to carry my name before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel.<n id="2" />

The Spirit told me to accompany them without hesitation. These six brothers<n id="1" /> also went with me, and we entered the man&#8217;s house.

The angel said to him, &#8220;Fasten your belt<n id="1" /> and put on your sandals.&#8221; Peter<n id="2" /> did so. Then the angel<n id="3" /> said to him, &#8220;Put on your cloak<n id="4" /> and follow me.&#8221;

While they were serving<n id="1" /> the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, &#8220;Set apart<n id="2" /> for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.&#8221;

As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks,<n id="1" /> he said<n id="2" /> to the commanding officer,<n id="3" /> &#8220;May I say<n id="4" /> something to you?&#8221; The officer<n id="5" /> replied,<n id="6" /> &#8220;Do you know Greek?<n id="7" />

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;

as both the high priest and the whole council of elders<n id="1" /> can testify about me. From them<n id="2" /> I also received<n id="3" /> letters to the brothers in Damascus, and I was on my way<n id="4" /> to make arrests there and bring<n id="5" /> the prisoners<n id="6" /> to Jerusalem<n id="7" /> to be punished.

<p class="bodytext">Since many of them had no desire to eat,<n id="1" /> Paul<n id="2" /> stood up<n id="3" /> among them and said, &#8220;Men, you should have listened to me<n id="4" /> and not put out to sea<n id="5" /> from Crete, thus avoiding<n id="6" /> this damage and loss.

Then Festus<n id="1" /> said, &#8220;King Agrippa,<n id="2" /> and all you who are present here with us, you see this man about whom the entire Jewish populace<n id="3" /> petitioned<n id="4" /> me both in Jerusalem<n id="5" /> and here,<n id="6" /> shouting loudly<n id="7" /> that he ought not to live any longer.