Study Desk

But Paul answered, "I am not insane, most excellent Festus; I am speaking words of truth and sobriety.

"Short time or long," Paul replied, "I wish to God that not only you but all who hear me this day may become what I am, except for these chains."

"Men, I can see that our voyage will be filled with disaster and great loss, not only to ship and cargo, but to our own lives as well."

But contrary to Paul's advice, the centurion was persuaded by the pilot and by the owner of the ship.

But it was not long before a cyclone called the Northeaster swept down across the island.

But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because you will not experience any loss of life, but only of the ship.

But Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men remain with the ship, you cannot be saved."

When daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but they sighted a bay with a sandy beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could.

But the vessel struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was being broken up by the pounding of the waves.

But the centurion, wanting to spare Paul's life, thwarted their plan. He commanded those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land.

But Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.

The islanders were expecting him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. But after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.

But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, even though I have no charge to bring against my nation.

But we consider your views worth hearing, because we know that people everywhere are speaking against this sect."

Some of them were convinced by what he said, but others refused to believe.

'Go to this people and say, "You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving."

I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, how often I planned to come to you (but have been prevented from visiting until now), in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.

For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts.

Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things are worthy of death, they not only continue to do these things, but also approve of those who practice them.

But because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of wrath, when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.