Study Desk

On Saturday evening we gathered together for the fellowship meal. Paul spoke to the people and kept on speaking until midnight, since he was going to leave the next day.

Then he went back upstairs, broke bread, and ate. After talking with them for a long time, even until sunrise, Paul left.

I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit has warned me that prison and troubles wait for me.

For I have not held back from announcing to you the whole purpose of God.

Watch, then, and remember that with many tears, day and night, I taught every one of you for three years.

"And now I commend you to the care of God and to the message of his grace, which is able to build you up and give you the blessings God has for all his people.

We continued our voyage, sailing from Tyre to Ptolemais, where we greeted the believers and stayed with them for a day.

We had been there for several days when a prophet named Agabus arrived from Judea.

But he answered, "What are you doing, crying like this and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be tied up in Jerusalem but even to die there for the sake of the Lord Jesus."

After spending some time there, we got our things ready and left for Jerusalem.

But as for the Gentiles who have become believers, we have sent them a letter telling them we decided that they must not eat any food that has been offered to idols, or any blood, or any animal that has been strangled, and that they must keep themselves from sexual immorality."

So Paul took the men and the next day performed the ceremony of purification with them. Then he went into the Temple and gave notice of how many days it would be until the end of the period of purification, when a sacrifice would be offered for each one of them.

The commander gave him permission, so Paul stood on the steps and motioned with his hand for the people to be silent. When they were quiet, Paul spoke to them in Hebrew:

I asked, ‘What shall I do, Lord?' and the Lord said to me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told everything that God has determined for you to do.'

For you will be a witness for him to tell everyone what you have seen and heard.

‘Go,' the Lord said to me, ‘for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.'"

But when they had tied him up to be whipped, Paul said to the officer standing there, "Is it lawful for you to whip a Roman citizen who hasn't even been tried for any crime?"

The commander wanted to find out for sure what the Jews were accusing Paul of; so the next day he had Paul's chains taken off and ordered the chief priests and the whole Council to meet. Then he took Paul and made him stand before them.

(For the Sadducees say that people will not rise from death and that there are no angels or spirits; but the Pharisees believe in all three.)

That night the Lord stood by Paul and said, "Don't be afraid! You have given your witness for me here in Jerusalem, and you must also do the same in Rome."