Study Desk

For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.

Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God [fn] which He purchased with His own blood.

"So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

When he had greeted them, he told in detail those things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.

"I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers' law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today.

Then he said, "The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth.

Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, "Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day."

Then Paul said to him, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the law?"

Then there arose a loud outcry. And the scribes of the Pharisees' party arose and protested, saying, "We find no evil in this man; but if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God." [fn]

But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets.

I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, [fn] both of the just and the unjust.

This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.

And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers.

To this promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain. For this hope's sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews.

Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead?

to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.'

but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.

Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come--

And Paul said, "I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains."

For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve,