but after we had already sufferedand been mistreatedin Philippi,as you know,we had the boldnessin our Godto speakto you the gospelof Godamidmuchopposition.
Thereforethey spenta longtime[there] speaking boldly[with reliance] upon the Lord,who was testifyingto the wordof His grace,grantingthat signsand wondersbe doneby their hands.
And whenan attemptwas madeby boththe Gentilesand the Jewswith their rulers,to mistreatand to stonethem,
and from thereto Philippi,whichis a leadingcityof the districtof Macedonia,a [Roman] colony;and we were stayingin thiscityfor somedays.
But when her masterssawthat their hopeof profitwas gone,they seizedPauland Silasand draggedthem into the market placebeforethe authorities,
But Paulsaidto them, "They have beatenus in publicwithout trial,menwho are Romans,and have thrownus into prison;and noware they sending us awaysecretly?Noindeed!But let them comethemselvesand bringus out."
Nowwhen they had traveled throughAmphipolisand Apollonia,they cameto Thessalonica,wherethere was a synagogueof the Jews.
Sohe was reasoningin the synagoguewith the Jewsand the God-fearing[Gentiles], and in the market placeeverydaywith thosewho happened to be present.
And he enteredthe synagogueand continued speaking out boldlyfor threemonths,reasoningand persuading[them] aboutthe kingdomof God.
Nowas they observedthe confidenceof Peterand Johnand understoodthat they were uneducatedand untrainedmen,they were amazed,and [began] to recognizethem as having beenwith Jesus.
for we cannotstopspeakingabout whatwe have seenand heard."
And when they had prayed,the placewherethey had gathered togetherwas shaken,and they were allfilledwith the HolySpiritand [began] to speakthe wordof Godwith boldness.
Sothey went on their wayfrom the presenceof the Council,rejoicingthat they had been considered worthyto suffershamefor [His] name.
Paul,a bond-servantof ChristJesus,called[as] an apostle,set apartfor the gospelof God,
Thereforehavingsucha hope,we usegreatboldness in [our] speech,
For I wantyou to knowhow greata struggleI haveon your behalfand for thosewhoare at Laodicea,and for all those whohave not personallyseenmy face,
for our gospeldid not cometo you in wordonly,but alsoin powerand in the HolySpiritand with fullconviction;justas you knowwhat kind of menwe provedto be amongyou for your sake.
For thisreasonI alsosufferthese things,but I am not ashamed;for I knowwhomI have believedand I am convincedthat He is ableto guardwhat I have entrustedto Him untilthat day.
Beloved,while I was makingeveryeffortto writeyou aboutour commonsalvation,I feltthe necessityto writeto you appealingthat you contend earnestlyfor the faithwhich was once for allhanded downto the saints.
