Evil people are afraid of everything. But a good person is as brave as a lion.
Acts 23:1 - Easy To Read Version Paul looked at the Jewish council meeting and said, “Brothers, I have lived my life in a good way before God. I have always done what I thought was right.” Tuilleadh leaganachaKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition THEN PAUL, gazing earnestly at the council (Sanhedrin), said, Brethren, I have lived before God, doing my duty with a perfectly good conscience until this very day [as a citizen, a true and loyal Jew]. American Standard Version (1901) And Paul, looking stedfastly on the council, said, Brethren, I have lived before God in all good conscience until this day. Common English Bible Paul stared at the council and said, “Brothers, I have lived my life with an altogether clear conscience right up to this very day.” Catholic Public Domain Version Then Paul, gazing intently at the council, said, "Noble brothers, I have spoken with all good conscience before God, even to this present day." Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version AND Paul looking upon the council, said: Men, brethren, I have conversed with all good conscience before God until this present day. |
Evil people are afraid of everything. But a good person is as brave as a lion.
But I tell you, don’t be angry with another person. Every person is your brother. If you are angry with other people, you will be judged. And if you say bad things to another person, you will be judged by the Jewish council. And if you call another person a fool, you will be in danger of the fire of hell.
Paul said, “My brothers and my fathers, listen to me! I will make my defense to you.”
The high priest {\cf2\super [437]} and the whole council of older Jewish leaders can tell you that this is true! One time these leaders gave me some letters. The letters were to the Jewish brothers in the city of Damascus. I was going there to arrest the followers of Jesus and bring them back to Jerusalem for punishment.
So this is what we want you to do: Send a message to the commander from you and all the Jewish leaders. Tell the commander you want him to bring Paul out to you. Tell the commander that you want to ask Paul more questions. We will be waiting to kill Paul while he is on the way here.”
The young man said, “Some Jews have decided to ask you to bring Paul down to their council meeting tomorrow. Those Jews want you to think that they plan to ask Paul more questions.
I wanted to know why they were accusing him. So I brought him before their council meeting.
Some of the men in the meeting were Sadducees {\cf2\super [454]} and some others were Pharisees. {\cf2\super [455]} So Paul had an idea: He shouted to them, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee and my father was a Pharisee! I am on trial here because I hope (believe) that people will rise from death!”
This is why I always try to do what I believe is right before God and men.
All the people sitting in the meeting watched Stephen closely. His face looked like the face of an angel, and they saw it.
I don’t know of any wrong that I have done. But that does not make me innocent (without guilt). The Lord is the One who judges me.
This is what we are proud of, and I can say with all my heart that it is true: In all the things we have done in the world, we have done everything with an honest and pure heart from God. And this is even more true in the things we have done with you. We did this by God’s grace (kindness), not by the kind of wisdom the world has.
But we have turned away from secret and shameful ways. We don’t use trickery, and we don’t change the teaching of God. No! We teach the truth plainly. This is how we show people who we are. And this is how they can know in their hearts what kind of people we are before God.
I always remember you in my prayers day and night. I thank God for you in those prayers. He is the God my ancestors {\cf2\super [2]} served. I have always served him, doing what I know is right.
Continue praying for us. We feel right about the things we do, because we always try to do the best thing.
But answer those people in a gentle way with respect. Always be able to feel that you are doing right. When you do that, the people who say bad things about you will be made ashamed. They say these bad things about the good way you live in Christ. They will be made ashamed for the bad things they said about you.