Study Desk

and said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul. It is necessary for you to appear before Caesar. And indeed, God has graciously given you all those who are sailing with you.’

Then, fearing we might run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight to come.

So I urge you to take some food. For this is for your survival, since none of you will lose a hair from your head.”

After cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and headed for the beach.

Now in the area around that place was an estate belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us hospitably for three days.

After they examined me, they wanted to release me, since there was no reason for the death penalty in my case.

For this reason I’ve asked to see you and speak to you. In fact, it is for the hope of Israel that I’m wearing this chain.”

For the hearts of these peoplehave grown callous,their ears are hard of hearing,and they have shut their eyes;otherwise they might see with their eyesand hear with their ears,understand with their heartand turn,and I would heal them.

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God—

Through him we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the Gentiles,

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you because the news of your faith is being reported in all the world.

For I want very much to see you, so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you,

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.

For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth,

For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse.

For though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became worthless, and their senseless hearts were darkened.

and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles.

They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served what has been created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever. Amen.

For this reason God delivered them over to disgraceful passions. Their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones.