After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth…and he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. And when Silas and Timothy were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.

And when the Jews opposed themselves, and blasphemed, Paul shook his clothing, and said unto them, "Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from here on I will go unto the Gentiles." And he departed from there, and entered into a certain man's house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined…to the synagogue. And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.

Then spoke the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, "Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not your peace: For I am with you, and no man shall set on you to hurt you: for I have much people in this city." And Paul continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. (During this time Paul wrote letters to the believers in Thessalonica.)

And Paul after this stayed there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed from there into Syria…. And he came to Ephesus, and…entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews. And he sailed from Ephesus. And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch. And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.

And it came to pass, that…Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus…. And he went into the synagogue, and spoke boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.

And when some were hardened, and believed not, but spoke evil of that Way before the crowd, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus. And this continued by the space of two years, so that all they which lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

And God worked special miracles by the hands of Paul: And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also living at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. And many that believed came, and confessed, and showed their deeds. So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed. (During this time Paul wrote a letter to the believers in Corinth.)

After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, "After I have been there, I must also see Rome." So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timothy and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a time.

And the same time there arose no small stir about that Way. And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia. (While in Macedonia Paul wrote another letter to the believers in Corinth.)

And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece, and there remained three months. (While in Greece Paul wrote letters to the believers in Galaita and in Rome.) And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia.

"And we sailed away from Philippi…and came unto them to Troas…where we stayed seven days. And we went before to ship, and sailed unto Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, intending himself to go afoot. And when Paul met with us at Assos, we took him in, and came to Mitylene.

"…From Miletus Paul sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. And when they were come to him, he said unto them, ‘…Behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Spirit witnessed in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions awaits me.

" ‘But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

" ‘And now, look, I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. Therefore I take you to record this day that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

‘ "Take care therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over…which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he has purchased with his own blood. For I know this that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn everyone night and day with tears.

‘ "And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.’ And when Paul had thus spoken, he knelt down, and prayed with them all. And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him…. And they escorted him unto the ship. And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.

"And…the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw Paul in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him, and all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and immediately the doors were shut.

"And as they went about to kill him, news came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. He immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them: and when the people saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they stopped beating…Paul. Then the chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle….

"The next day, because the chief captain would have known the certainty for what Paul was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them.

"And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.

"The night following the Lord stood by Paul, and said, ‘Be of good cheer, Paul: for as you have testified of me in Jerusalem, so must you bear witness also at Rome.’

"And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band. And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was permitted to live by himself with a soldier that kept him.

"And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, ‘Men and brothers, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.’

"And they said unto him, ‘We neither received letters out of Judea concerning you, neither any of the brethren that came showed or spoke any harm of you. But we desire to hear of you what you think: for as concerning this sect, we know that everywhere it is spoken against.’

"And when they had appointed Paul a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. And some believed the things, which were spoken, and some believed not.

"And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, ‘Well spoke the Holy Spirit by Isaiah the prophet unto our fathers, saying, "Go unto this people, and say, hearing you shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing you shall see, and not perceive: For the heart of this people is calloused, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them."

" ‘Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.’ And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves. And Paul lived two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things, which concern the Lord Jesus Christ…. (During this time Paul wrote letters to Philemon, and to the believers in Colossia, Ephesis and Philipi.

After being released from prison Paul traveled to Macedonia and Ephesus and wrote Timothy and Titus letters. Also during this time Peter wrote his letters to the Christians scattered throughout the provinces of Rome, Jude wrote his letter and the letter addressed to the Hebrews was written.

A few years after his release Paul was again imprisoned in Rome and wrote his last letter, a second one to Timothy, shortly before his martyrdom in 68 AD. About two years after Paul’s death John wrote his three short letters to the believers and the book of Revelation.)

REFERENCES

Acts 18:1,4-11, 18a, 19,21b-23; Acts 19:1,8-11,17-18, 21-23; Acts 20:1-3,6,13-14, 17-18a, 22-32, 36-37, 38b; Acts 21:17, 27, 30-32; Acts 22:24a, 30; Acts 23:10-11. Acts 27:1; Acts 28:16-17, 20-31.

CHAPTER 96