"For thisreason,therefore,I requestedto seeyou and to speakwith you, for I am wearingthischainfor the sakeof the hopeof Israel."
The wordwhichcameto Jeremiahfrom the LORDafterNebuzaradancaptainof the bodyguardhad releasedhim from Ramah,when he had takenhim boundin chainsamongallthe exilesof Jerusalemand Judahwho were being exiledto Babylon.
"That is whyI camewithoutevenraising any objectionwhen I was sentfor. SoI askfor whatreasonyou have sentfor me."
"SoI sentfor you immediately,and you have been kind enoughto come.Nowthen,we are allhere presentbeforeGodto hearallthat you have been commandedby the Lord."
Thenthe commandercameup and took holdof him, and orderedhim to be boundwith twochains;and he [began] askingwhohe was and whathe had done.
But perceivingthat onegroupwere Sadduceesand the otherPharisees,Paul[began] cryingout in the Council,"Brethren,I ama Pharisee,a sonof Pharisees;I am on trialfor the hopeand resurrectionof the dead!"
havinga hopein God,whichthese mencherishthemselves,that there shall certainlybe a resurrectionof boththe righteousand the wicked.
And Paul[said], "I would wishto God,that whetherin a shortorlong time,not onlyyou, but alsoallwho hearme this day,might becomesuchas I am,exceptfor thesechains."
AfterthreedaysPaul called togetherthosewho were the leading menof the Jews,and when they came together,he [began] sayingto them, "Brethren,though I had donenothingagainstour peopleorthe customsof our fathers,yet I was deliveredas a prisonerfrom Jerusaleminto the handsof the Romans.
For thisreasonI, Paul,the prisonerof ChristJesusfor the sakeof you Gentiles--
ThereforeI, the prisonerof the Lord,imploreyou to walkin a manner worthyof the callingwith whichyou have been called,
for whichI am an ambassadorin chains;that in [proclaiming] it I may speak boldly,as I oughtto speak.
sothat my imprisonmentin [the cause of] Christhas becomewell knownthroughoutthe wholepraetorian guardand to everyoneelse,
I, Paul,write thisgreetingwith my ownhand.Remembermy imprisonment.Gracebe with you.
but nowhas been revealedby the appearingof our SaviorChristJesus,who abolisheddeathand broughtlifeand immortalityto lightthroughthe gospel,
for whichI suffer hardshipevento imprisonmentas a criminal;but the wordof Godis not imprisoned.
I appealto you for my childOnesimus,whomI have begottenin my imprisonment,
whomI wishedto keepwith me, sothat on your behalfhe might ministerto me in my imprisonmentfor the gospel;
