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;

When the commanding officer<n id="1" /> had given him permission,<n id="2" /> Paul stood<n id="3" /> on the steps and gestured<n id="4" /> to the people with his hand. When they had become silent,<n id="5" /> he addressed<n id="6" /> them in Aramaic,<n id="7" />p>

Then Paul said to him, &#8220;God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall!<n id="1" /> Do<n id="2" /> you sit there judging me according to the law,<n id="3" /> and in violation of the law<n id="4" /> you order me to be struck?&#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;

When the argument became<n id="1" /> so great the commanding officer<n id="2" /> feared that they would tear Paul to pieces,<n id="3" /> he ordered the detachment<n id="4" /> to go down, take him away from them by force,<n id="5" /> and bring him into the barracks.<n id="6" />p>

So the centurion<n id="1" /> took him and brought him to the commanding officer<n id="2" /> and said, &#8220;The prisoner Paul called<n id="3" /> me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.&#8221;

<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" />

Paul replied,<n id="1" /> &#8220;I am standing before Caesar&#8217;s<n id="2" /> judgment seat,<n id="3" /> where I should be tried.<n id="4" /> I have done nothing wrong<n id="5" /> to the Jews, as you also know very well.<n id="6" />

<t /><p class="bodytext">So the next day Agrippa<n id="1" /> and Bernice came with great pomp<n id="2" /> and entered the audience hall,<n id="3" /> along with the senior military officers<n id="4" /> and the prominent men of the city. When Festus<n id="5" /> gave the order,<n id="6" /> Paul was brought in.

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>

<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.

<p class="bodytext">As day was about to dawn,<n id="1" /> Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, &#8220;Today is the fourteenth day you have been in suspense<n id="2" /> and have gone<n id="3" /> without food; you have eaten nothing.<n id="4" />

The father<n id="1" /> of Publius lay sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him<n id="2" /> and after praying, placed<n id="3" /> his hands on him and healed<n id="4" /> him.

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.

<t /><p class="bodytext">From Paul,<n id="1" /> an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God that is in Corinth,<n id="2" /> with all the saints who are in all Achaia.<n id="3" />

<t /><p class="bodytext">Now I, Paul, appeal to you<n id="1" /> personally<n id="2" /> by the meekness and gentleness<n id="3" /> of Christ (I who am meek<n id="4" /> when present among<n id="5" /> you, but am full of courage<n id="6" /> toward you when away!) &#8211;

if indeed you remain in the faith, established and firm,<n id="1" /> without shifting<n id="2" /> from the hope of the gospel that you heard. This gospel has also been preached in all creation under heaven, and I, Paul, have become its servant.p>

Both Paul and Barnabas replied courageously,<n id="1" /> &#8220;It was necessary to speak the word of God<n id="2" /> to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy<n id="3" /> of eternal life, we<n id="4" /> are turning to the Gentiles.<n id="5" />

Then Paul took the men the next day,<n id="1" /> and after he had purified himself<n id="2" /> along with them, he went to the temple and gave notice<n id="3" /> of the completion of the days of purification,<n id="4" /> when<n id="5" /> the sacrifice would be offered for each<n id="6" /> of them.