A man named Joseph from Arimathea was brave enough to go to Pilate and ask for Jesus’ body. Joseph was an important member of the Jewish council. He was one of the people that wanted the kingdom of God to come.
Acts 17:12 - Easy To Read Version Many of these Jews believed. Many important Greek men and Greek women also believed. Tuilleadh leaganachaKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition Many of them therefore became believers, together with not a few prominent Greeks, women as well as men. American Standard Version (1901) Many of them therefore believed; also of the Greek women of honorable estate, and of men, not a few. Common English Bible Many came to believe, including a number of reputable Greek women and many Greek men. Catholic Public Domain Version And indeed, many believed among them, as well as not a few among the honorable Gentile men and women. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version And many indeed of them believed, and of honourable women that were Gentiles, and of men not a few. |
A man named Joseph from Arimathea was brave enough to go to Pilate and ask for Jesus’ body. Joseph was an important member of the Jewish council. He was one of the people that wanted the kingdom of God to come.
If a person wants to do what God wants, then that person will know that my teaching comes from God. That person will know that this teaching is not my own.
But Paul and Barnabas spoke very boldly. They said, “We must speak the message {\cf2\super [277]} of God to you Jews first. But you refuse to listen. You are making yourselves lost—not worthy of having eternal life! So we will now go to the people of other nations!
But the Jews caused some of the important religious women and the leaders of the city to become angry and to be against Paul and Barnabas. These people did things against Paul and Barnabas and threw them out of town.
Paul and Barnabas went to the city of Iconium. They entered the Jewish synagogue. {\cf2\super [282]} (This is what they did in every city.) They spoke to the people there. Paul and Barnabas spoke so well that many Jews and Greeks (non-Jews) believed what they said.
The believers praised God, and all the people liked them. More and more people were being saved every day; the Lord was adding those people to the group \{of believers\}.
Brothers and sisters, God called (chose) you. Think about that! And not many of you were wise in the way the world judges wisdom. Not many of you had great influence. Not many of you came from important families.
And everything that is made easy to see can become light. This is why we say:
Believers who are rich should be glad when bad things happen that make them humble. Why? Because even rich people will die as quickly as wild flowers:
So put out of your life every evil thing and every kind of wrong thing you do. Be humble and accept God’s teaching that is planted in your hearts. This teaching can save you.