Was

So then, I too was convinced that I ought to do all I could to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

In this pursuit I was on my way to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests.

About noon, O king, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and my companions.

So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.

For the king knows about these matters, and I can speak freely to him. I am confident that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner.

When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius, who belonged to the Imperial Regiment.

We boarded an Adramyttian ship about to sail for ports along the coast of Asia, and we put out to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us.

By now much time had passed, and the voyage had already become dangerous because it was after the Fast. So Paul advised them,

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

Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided to sail on, hoping that somehow they could reach Phoenix to winter there. Phoenix was a harbor in Crete facing both southwest and northwest.

Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided to sail on, hoping that somehow they could reach Phoenix to winter there. Phoenix was a harbor in Crete facing both southwest and northwest.

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

Unable to head into the wind, the ship was caught up. So we gave way and let ourselves be driven along.

They took soundings and found that the water was twenty fathoms deep. Going a little farther, they took another set of soundings that read fifteen fathoms.

But the ship 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.

The rest were to follow on planks and various parts of the ship. In this way everyone was brought safely to land.

Once we were safely ashore, we learned that the island was called Malta.

The islanders showed us extraordinary kindness. They kindled a fire and welcomed all of us because it was raining and cold.

When the islanders saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “Surely this man is a murderer. Although he was saved from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.”

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.

The father of Publius was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him, and after praying and placing his hands on him, he healed the man.

The brothers there had heard about us and traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he was encouraged and gave thanks to God.

When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to stay by himself, with a soldier to guard him.

After three days, he called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had gathered, he said to them, “Brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, I was taken prisoner in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans.

They examined me and wanted to release me, because there was no basis for a death sentence against me.

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

So they set a day to meet with Paul, and many people came to the place he was staying. He expounded to them from morning to evening, testifying about the kingdom of God and persuading them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and the Prophets.

They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit was right when He spoke to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet:

…regarding His Son, who was a descendant of David according to the flesh,

…and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by His resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.

If Abraham was indeed justified by works, he had something to boast about, but not before God.

For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Is this blessing only on the circumcised, or also on the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness.

In what context was it credited? Was it after his circumcision, or before? It was not after, but before.

In what context was it credited? Was it after his circumcision, or before? It was not after, but before.

In what context was it credited? Was it after his circumcision, or before? It was not after, but before.

And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but are not circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them.

And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised, but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world was not given through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.

Without weakening in his faith, he acknowledged the decrepitness of his body (since he was about a hundred years old) and the lifelessness of Sarah’s womb.

Yet he did not waver through disbelief in the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,

…being fully persuaded that God was able to do what He had promised.

This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Now the words “it was credited to him” were written not only for Abraham,

He was delivered over to death for our trespasses and was raised to life for our justification.

He was delivered over to death for our trespasses and was raised to life for our justification.

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned.

For sin was in the world before the law was given; but sin is not taken into account when there is no law.

For sin was in the world before the law was given; but sin is not taken into account when there is no law.

We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life.

We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.

For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death no longer has dominion over Him.

Therefore, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God.

Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died.

So I discovered that the very commandment that was meant to bring life actually brought death.

Did that which is good, then, become death to me? Certainly not! But in order that sin might be exposed as sin, it produced death in me through what was good, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.

For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man, as an offering for sin. He thus condemned sin in the flesh,

For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man, as an offering for sin. He thus condemned sin in the flesh,

For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope

Who is there to condemn us? For Christ Jesus, who died, and more than that was raised to life, is at the right hand of God—and He is interceding for us.

…not by works but by Him who calls, she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”

…and, “It will happen that in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’”

Why not? Because their pursuit was not by faith, but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone,

And Isaiah boldly says: “I was found by those who did not seek Me; I revealed Myself to those who did not ask for Me.”

And what was the divine reply to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”

What then? What Israel was seeking, it failed to obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened,

For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.

For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.

In this way I have aspired to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation.

Greet also the church that meets at their house. Greet my beloved Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia.

Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow countrymen and fellow prisoners. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.

…because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you.

Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?

For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.

For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.

For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

I was not including the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world.

Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man still uncircumcised when called? He should not be circumcised.

Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man still uncircumcised when called? He should not be circumcised.

Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man still uncircumcised when called? He should not be circumcised.

Each one should remain in the situation he was in when he was called.

Each one should remain in the situation he was in when he was called.

For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord’s freedman. Conversely, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ’s slave.

For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord’s freedman. Conversely, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ’s slave.

For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord’s freedman. Conversely, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ’s slave.

For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord’s freedman. Conversely, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ’s slave.

Brothers, each one should remain in the situation he was in when God called him.

Isn’t He actually speaking on our behalf? Indeed, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they should also expect to share in the harvest.

…and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.

Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the wilderness.

But if someone tells you, “This food was offered to idols,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience—

Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread,

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I set aside childish ways.

…that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

…that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not in vain. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not in vain. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.

The spiritual, however, was not first, but the natural, and then the spiritual.