But whenSilasand Timothycame downfrom Macedonia,Paul[began] devoting himself completelyto the word,solemnly testifyingto the Jewsthat Jesuswas the Christ.
But if I say,"I will not rememberHim Or speakanymorein His name,"Then in my heartit becomeslike a burningfireShutup in my bones;And I am wearyof holding[it] in, And I cannotendure[it].
But I am fullof the wrathof the LORD;I am wearywith holding[it] in. "Pour[it] out on the childrenin the streetAnd on the gatheringof youngmentogether;For bothhusbandand wifeshall be taken,The agedand the veryold.
So the Spiritliftedme up and tookme away; and I wentembitteredin the rageof my spirit,and the handof the LORDwas strongon me.
On the otherhandI am filledwith power--With the Spiritof the LORD--And with justiceand courageTo makeknownto Jacobhis rebelliousact,Even to Israelhis sin.
"But I havea baptismto undergo,and howdistressedI am untilit is accomplished!
for I havefivebrothers--in orderthat he may warnthem, sothat they will not alsocometo thisplaceof torment.'
He foundfirsthis ownbrotherSimonand saidto him, "We have foundthe Messiah"(whichtranslatedmeansChrist).
The Jewsthengathered aroundHim, and were sayingto Him, "How longwill You keepus in suspense?IfYou are the Christ,tellus plainly."
and you [will] testifyalso,becauseyou have beenwith Me from the beginning.
"You yourselvesare my witnessesthat I said,I amnot the Christ,'but, 'I have beensentaheadof Him.'
"And He orderedus to preachto the people,and solemnly to testifythat thisis the One who has been appointedby Godas Judgeof the livingand the dead.
Thenit seemed goodto the apostlesand the elders,with the wholechurch,to choosemenfrom amongthem to sendto Antiochwith Pauland Barnabas--JudascalledBarsabbas,and Silas,leadingmenamongthe brethren,
Paul camealsoto Derbeand to Lystra.And a disciplewas there,namedTimothy,the sonof a Jewishwomanwho was a believer,but his fatherwas a Greek,
and from thereto Philippi,whichis a leadingcityof the districtof Macedonia,a [Roman] colony;and we were stayingin thiscityfor somedays.
A visionappearedto Paulin the night:a manof Macedoniawas standingand appealingto him, and saying,"Come overto Macedoniaand helpus."
explainingand giving evidencethat the Christhadto sufferand rise againfrom the dead,and [saying], "ThisJesuswhomI am proclaimingto you is the Christ."
for he powerfullyrefutedthe Jewsin public,demonstratingby the Scripturesthat Jesuswas the Christ.
"Thereforelet allthe houseof Israelknowfor certainthat Godhas madeHim bothLordand Christ--thisJesuswhomyou crucified."
solemnly testifyingto bothJewsand Greeksof repentancetowardGodand faithin our LordJesusChrist.
exceptthat the HolySpiritsolemnly testifiesto me in everycity,sayingthat bondsand afflictionsawaitme.
"But I do not considermy lifeof anyaccountas dearto myself,sothat I may finishmy courseand the ministrywhichI receivedfrom the LordJesus,to testify solemnlyof the gospelof the graceof God.
for we cannotstopspeakingabout whatwe have seenand heard."
But Saulkept increasing in strengthand confoundingthe Jewswho livedat Damascusby provingthat this[Jesus] is the Christ.
For the Sonof God,ChristJesus,who was preachedamongyou by us-- by me and Silvanusand Timothy--was not yesand no,but is yesin Him.
and when I was presentwith you and was in need,I was not a burdento anyone;for when the brethrencamefrom Macedoniathey fully suppliedmy need,and in everythingI keptmyselffrom being a burdento you, and will continueto do so.
For the loveof Christcontrolsus, having concludedthis,that onediedfor all,thereforealldied;
But I am hard-pressedfrom both[directions], havingthe desireto departand be with Christ,for [that] is very muchbetter;
and we sentTimothy,our brotherand God'sfellow workerin the gospelof Christ,to strengthenand encourageyou as to your faith,
But nowthat Timothyhas cometo us from you, and has brought us good newsof your faithand love,and that you alwaysthinkkindlyof us, longingto seeus justas we alsolong to see you,
ThroughSilvanus,our faithfulbrother(for soI regard[him]), I have writtento you briefly,exhortingand testifyingthat thisis the true graceof God.Stand firmin it!
