&#8220;Brothers,<n id="1" /> the scripture had to be fulfilled that the Holy Spirit foretold through<n id="2" /> David concerning Judas &#8211; who became the guide for those who arrested Jesus &#8211;

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;Brothers,<n id="1" /> I can speak confidently<n id="2" /> to you about our forefather<n id="3" /> David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.

Which of the prophets did your ancestors<n id="1" /> not persecute?<n id="2" /> They<n id="3" /> killed those who foretold long ago the coming of the Righteous One,<n id="4" /> whose betrayers and murderers you have now become!<n id="5" />

When Paul and Barnabas had a major argument and debate<n id="1" /> with them, the church<n id="2" /> appointed Paul and Barnabas and some others from among them to go up to meet with<n id="3" /> the apostles and elders in Jerusalem<n id="4" /> about this point of disagreement.<n id="5" />

He had been instructed in<n id="1" /> the way of the Lord, and with great enthusiasm<n id="2" /> he spoke and taught accurately the facts<n id="3" /> about Jesus, although he knew<n id="4" /> only the baptism of John.

They have been informed about you &#8211; that you teach all the Jews now living<n id="1" /> among the Gentiles to abandon<n id="2" /> Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children<n id="3" /> or live<n id="4" /> according to our customs.

take them and purify<n id="1" /> yourself along with them and pay their expenses,<n id="2" /> so that they may have their heads shaved.<n id="3" /> Then<n id="4" /> everyone will know there is nothing in what they have been told<n id="5" /> about you, but that you yourself live in conformity with<n id="6" /> the law.<n id="7" />

So I asked,<n id="1" /> &#8216;What should I do, Lord?&#8217; The Lord said to me, &#8216;Get up<n id="2" /> and go to Damascus; there you will be told about everything<n id="3" /> that you have been designated<n id="4" /> to do.&#8217;

<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;

<p class="bodytext">The following night the Lord<n id="1" /> stood near<n id="2" /> Paul<n id="3" /> and said, &#8220;Have courage,<n id="4" /> for just as you have testified about me in Jerusalem,<n id="5" /> so you must also testify in Rome.&#8221;<n id="6" />p>

So now you and the council<n id="1" /> request the commanding officer<n id="2" /> to bring him down to you, as if you were going to determine<n id="3" /> his case<n id="4" /> by conducting a more thorough inquiry.<n id="5" /> We are ready to kill him<n id="6" /> before he comes near this place.&#8221;<n id="7" />p>

He replied,<n id="1" /> &#8220;The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council<n id="2" /> tomorrow, as if they were going to inquire more thoroughly about him.

<t /><p class="bodytext">When the governor gestured for him to speak, Paul replied, &#8220;Because I know<n id="1" /> that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I confidently make my defense.<n id="2" />

<t /><p class="bodytext">Some days later, when Felix<n id="1" /> arrived with his wife Drusilla,<n id="2" /> who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him speak<n id="3" /> about faith in Christ Jesus.<n id="4" />

While Paul<n id="1" /> was discussing<n id="2" /> righteousness, self-control,<n id="3" /> and the coming judgment, Felix<n id="4" /> became<n id="5" /> frightened and said, &#8220;Go away for now, and when I have an opportunity,<n id="6" /> I will send for you.&#8221;

But Festus,<n id="1" /> wanting to do the Jews a favor, asked Paul, &#8220;Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and be tried<n id="2" /> before me there on these charges?&#8221;<n id="3" />

I answered them<n id="1" /> that it was not the custom of the Romans to hand over anyone<n id="2" /> before the accused had met his accusers face to face<n id="3" /> and had been given<n id="4" /> an opportunity to make a defense against the accusation.<n id="5" />

But I have nothing definite<n id="1" /> to write to my lord<n id="2" /> about him.<n id="3" /> Therefore I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa,<n id="4" /> so that after this preliminary hearing<n id="5" /> I may have something to write.

For the king knows about these things, and I am speaking freely<n id="1" /> to him,<n id="2" /> because I cannot believe<n id="3" /> that any of these things has escaped his notice,<n id="4" /> for this was not done in a corner.<n id="5" />

The brothers from there,<n id="1" /> when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius<n id="2" /> and Three Taverns<n id="3" /> to meet us. When he saw them,<n id="4" /> Paul thanked God and took courage.