From: "FamilyNet" 

Bible Reading for December 06

Acts 26
[1] Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself.
Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself: [2] I think
myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day
before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:
[3] Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and
questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me
patiently. [4] My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first
among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews; [5] Which knew me
from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest
sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. [6] And now I stand and am judged
for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:
[7] Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and
night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of
the Jews.
[8] Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should
raise the dead?
[9] I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary
to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
[10] Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut
up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when
they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. [11] And I punished
them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being
exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.
[12] Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the
chief priests,
[13] At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the
brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with
me.
[14] And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking
unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou
me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. [15] And I said, Who
art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
[16] But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for
this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things
which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto
thee;
[17] Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now
I send thee,
[18] To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from
the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and
inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. [19]
Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
[20] But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and
throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they
should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. [21] For
these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.
[22] Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day,
witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those
which the prophets and Moses did say should come: [23] That Christ should
suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and
should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.
[24] And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul,
thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad. [25] But he
said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth
and soberness.
[26] For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely:
for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this
thing was not done in a corner.
[27] King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.
[28] Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a
Christian.
[29] And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that
hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except
these bonds.
[30] And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and
Bernice, and they that sat with them: [31] And when they were gone aside,
they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of
death or of bonds. [32] Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have
been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.

Acts 27
[1] And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they
delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a
centurion of Augustus' band.
[2] And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail
by the coasts of Asia; one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being
with us.
[3] And the next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated
Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself. [4]
And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the
winds were contrary.
[5] And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came
to Myra, a city of Lycia.
[6] And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy;
and he put us therein.
[7] And when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce were come over
against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over
against Salmone;
[8] And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called The fair
havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea. [9] Now when much time was
spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already
past, Paul admonished them, [10] And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that
this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and
ship, but also of our lives. [11] Nevertheless the centurion believed the
master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken
by Paul. [12] And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the
more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain
to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth
toward the south west and north west.
[13] And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained
their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete. [14] But not
long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.
[15] And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we
let her drive.
[16] And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much
work to come by the boat:
[17] Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship;
and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so
were driven.
[18] And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they
lightened the ship;
[19] And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.
[20] And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small
tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.
[21] But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and
said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from
Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss. [22] And now I exhort you to
be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you,
but of the ship. [23] For there stood by me this night the angel of God,
whose I am, and whom I serve,
[24] Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo,
God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. [25] Wherefore, sirs, be
of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.
[26] Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island. [27] But when the
fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about
midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country;
[28] And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a
little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms. [29] Then
fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out
of the stern, and wished for the day. [30] And as the shipmen were about to
flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under
colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship,
[31] Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in
the ship, ye cannot be saved.
[32] Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.
[33] And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat,
saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued
fasting, having taken nothing.
[34] Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health:
for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you. [35] And when
he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of
them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat. [36] Then were they
all of good cheer, and they also took some meat. [37] And we were in all in
the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.
[38] And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out
the wheat into the sea.
[39] And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a
certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it were
possible, to thrust in the ship.
[40] And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto
the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoised up the mainsail to the
wind, and made toward shore.
[41] And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship
aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the
hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves. [42] And the
soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim
out, and escape.
[43] But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose;
and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into
the sea, and get to land:
[44] And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship.
And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.

Acts 28
[1] And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.
[2] And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled
a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because
of the cold.
[3] And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the
fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. [4] And
when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said
among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath
escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. [5] And he shook off
the beast into the fire, and felt no harm. [6] Howbeit they looked when he
should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had
looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their
minds, and said that he was a god. [7] In the same quarters were
possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who
received us, and lodged us three days courteously.
[8] And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and
of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands
on him, and healed him.
[9] So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island,
came, and were healed:
[10] Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they
laded us with such things as were necessary. [11] And after three months we
departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose
sign was Castor and Pollux. [12] And landing at Syracuse, we tarried there
three days. [13] And from thence we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium:
and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli:
[14] Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven
days: and so we went toward Rome.
[15] And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us
as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he
thanked God, and took courage.
[16] And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the
captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a
soldier that kept him.
[17] And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of
the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men
and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or
customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into
the hands of the Romans.
[18] Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there
was no cause of death in me.
[19] But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto
Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of. [20] For this cause
therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because
that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.
[21] And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea
concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any
harm of thee.
[22] But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning
this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against. [23] And when
they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to
whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them
concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets,
from morning till evening. [24] And some believed the things which were
spoken, and some believed not. [25] And when they agreed not among
themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake
the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,
[26] Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall
not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: [27] For the
heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing,
and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and
hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be
converted, and I should heal them. [28] Be it known therefore unto you,
that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will
hear it. [29] And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had
great reasoning among themselves.
[30] And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received
all that came in unto him,
[31] Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern
the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.


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