"But thisI admitto you, that accordingto the Waywhichthey calla sectI do servethe Godof our fathers,believingeverythingthat is in accordancewith the Lawand that is writtenin the Prophets;
and askedfor lettersfrom him to the synagoguesat Damascus,sothat ifhe foundanybelongingto the Way,bothmenand women,he might bringthem boundto Jerusalem.
But nowapartfrom the Law[the] righteousnessof Godhas been manifested,being witnessedby the Lawand the Prophets,
When they had seta dayfor Paul, they cameto him at his lodgingin large numbers;and he was explainingto them by solemnly testifyingabout the kingdomof Godand trying to persuadethem concerningJesus,from boththe Lawof Mosesand from the Prophets,from morninguntilevening.
"The Godof Abraham,Isaacand Jacob,the Godof our fathers,has glorifiedHis servantJesus,[the one] whomyou deliveredand disownedin the presenceof Pilate,when he had decidedto releaseHim.
"So,having obtainedhelpfrom God,I standto thisdaytestifyingbothto smalland great,statingnothingbut whatthe Prophetsand Mosessaidwas goingto take place;
"For we have foundthismana real pestand a fellow who stirsup dissensionamong allthe Jewsthroughoutthe world,and a ringleaderof the sectof the Nazarenes.
I thankGod,whomI servewith a clearconsciencethe waymy forefathersdid, as I constantlyrememberyou in my prayersnightand day,
"KingAgrippa,do you believethe Prophets?I knowthat you do."
ThenI fellat his feetto worshiphim. But he saidto me, "Do not dothat; I ama fellow servantof yoursand your brethrenwho holdthe testimonyof Jesus;worshipGod.For the testimonyof Jesusis the spiritof prophecy."
seeking to knowwhatpersonortimethe Spiritof Christwithinthem was indicatingas He predictedthe sufferingsof Christand the gloriesto follow.
Rejecta factiousmanaftera firstand secondwarning,
idolatry,sorcery,enmities,strife,jealousy,outbursts of anger,disputes,dissensions,factions,
For there mustalsobe factionsamongyou, sothat thosewho are approvedmay becomeevidentamongyou.
"And nowI am standingtrialfor the hopeof the promisemadeby Godto our fathers;
But Felix,havinga more exactknowledgeaboutthe Way,put them off,saying,"WhenLysiasthe commandercomes down,I will decideyour case."
"And he said,The Godof our fathershas appointedyou to knowHis willand to seethe Righteous Oneand to hearan utterancefrom His mouth.
But whensomewere becoming hardenedand disobedient,speaking evilof the Waybeforethe people,he withdrewfrom them and took awaythe disciples,reasoningdailyin the schoolof Tyrannus.
Afterthe readingof the Lawand the Prophetsthe synagogue officialssentto them, saying,"Brethren,ifyou have anywordof exhortationfor the people,sayit."
"Of Him allthe prophetsbear witnessthat throughHis nameeveryonewho believesin Him receivesforgivenessof sins."
I AM THE GODOF YOUR FATHERS,THE GODOF ABRAHAMAND ISAACAND JACOB.'Mosesshook with fearand would not ventureto look.
"The Godof our fathersraisedup Jesus,whomyou had put to deathby hangingHim on a cross.
PhilipfoundNathanaeland saidto him, "We have foundHim of whomMosesin the Lawand [also] the Prophetswrote--Jesusof Nazareth,the sonof Joseph."
NowHe saidto them, "Theseare My wordswhichI spoketo you while I was stillwith you, that all thingswhich are writtenaboutMe in the Lawof Mosesand the Prophetsand the Psalmsmustbe fulfilled."
Thenbeginningwith Mosesand with allthe prophets,He explainedto them the things concerningHimselfin allthe Scriptures.
"But Abrahamsaid,'They haveMosesand the Prophets;let them hearthem.'
"The Lawand the Prophets[were proclaimed] untilJohn;sincethat timethe gospelof the kingdomof Godhas been preached,and everyoneis forcing his wayinto it.
As He spokeby the mouthof His holyprophetsfrom of old--
"On thesetwocommandmentsdependthe wholeLawand the Prophets."
"ThereforeeveryonewhoconfessesMe beforemen,I will alsoconfesshim beforeMy Fatherwho is in heaven.
"In everything,therefore,treatpeoplethe same wayyou wantthem to treatyou, for thisis the Lawand the Prophets.
Manynationswill comeand say,"Comeand let us goup to the mountainof the LORDAnd to the houseof the Godof Jacob,That He may teachus aboutHis waysAnd that we may walkin His paths."For from Zionwill goforththe law,Even the wordof the LORDfrom Jerusalem.
"[As for] those who swearby the guiltof Samaria,Who say,'As your godlives,O Dan,'And, 'As the wayof Beershebalives,'They will falland not riseagain."
I will also speakof Your testimoniesbeforekingsAnd shall not be ashamed.
"O LORD,the Godof Abraham,Isaacand Israel,our fathers,preservethisforeverin the intentionsof the heartof Your people,and directtheir heartto You;
God,furthermore,saidto Moses,"Thusyou shall sayto the sonsof Israel,The LORD,the Godof your fathers,the Godof Abraham,the Godof Isaac,and the Godof Jacob,has sentme to you.' Thisis My nameforever,and thisis My memorial-nameto allgenerations.
Aboutthat timethere occurrednosmalldisturbanceconcerningthe Way.
But someof the sectof the Phariseeswho had believedstoodup, saying,"It is necessaryto circumcisethem and to directthem to observethe Lawof Moses."
while Paulsaid in his own defense,"I have committednooffenseeitheragainstthe Lawof the Jewsoragainstthe templeoragainstCaesar."
"So then,allJewsknowmy manner of lifefrom my youthup, which from the beginningwas spentamongmy [own] nationand at Jerusalem;
"But we desireto hearfrom you whatyour viewsare; for concerningthissect,it is knownto us that it is spoken againsteverywhere."
For God,whomI servein my spiritin the [preaching of the] gospelof His Son,is my witness[as to] howunceasinglyI makementionof you,
