Study Desk

and told them, “Men, I can see that this voyage is headed toward disaster and heavy loss, not only of the cargo and the ship but also of our lives.”

But the centurion paid attention to the captain and the owner of the ship rather than to what Paul said.

But before long, a fierce wind called the “northeaster” rushed down from the island.

Now I urge you to take courage, because there will be no loss of any of your lives, but only of the ship.

But we have to run aground on some island.”

When daylight came, they did not recognize the land but sighted a bay with a beach. They planned to run the ship ashore if they could.

But they struck a sandbar and ran the ship aground. The bow jammed fast and remained immovable, while the stern began to break up by the pounding of the waves.

But the centurion kept them from carrying out their plan because he wanted to save Paul, and so he ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land.

But he shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no harm.

But we want to hear what your views are, since we know that people everywhere are speaking against this sect.”

Some were persuaded by what he said, but others did not believe.

Now I don’t want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I often planned to come to you (but was prevented until now) in order that I might have a fruitful ministry among you, just as I have had among the rest of the Gentiles.

Although they know God’s just sentence—that those who practice such things deserve to die—they not only do them, but even applaud others who practice them.

but wrath and anger to those who are self-seeking and disobey the truth while obeying unrighteousness.

but glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does what is good, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.

For the hearers of the law are not righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be justified.

Circumcision benefits you if you observe the law, but if you are a lawbreaker, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.

A man who is physically uncircumcised, but who keeps the law, will judge you who are a lawbreaker in spite of having the letter of the law and circumcision.

On the contrary, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart—by the Spirit, not the letter. That person’s praise is not from people but from God.

But if our unrighteousness highlights God’s righteousness, what are we to say? I am using a human argument: Is God unrighteous to inflict wrath?