Study Desk

"King Agrippa! I consider myself fortunate that today I am to defend myself before you from all the things these Jews accuse me of,

the very thing that the twelve tribes of our people hope to receive, as they worship God day and night. And it is because of this hope, Your Majesty, that I am being accused by these Jews!

‘Who are you, Lord?' I asked. And the Lord answered, ‘I am Jesus, whom you persecute.

Paul answered, "I am not mad, Your Excellency! I am speaking the sober truth.

King Agrippa! I can speak to you with all boldness, because you know about these things. I am sure that you have taken notice of every one of them, for this thing has not happened hidden away in a corner.

"Whether a short time or a long time," Paul answered, "my prayer to God is that you and all the rest of you who are listening to me today might become what I am—except, of course, for these chains!"

That is why I asked to see you and talk with you. As a matter of fact, I am bound in chains like this for the sake of him for whom the people of Israel hope."

So then, I am eager to preach the Good News to you also who live in Rome.

Certainly you will understand what I am about to say, my friends, because all of you know about law. The law rules over people only as long as they live.

We know that the Law is spiritual; but I am a mortal, sold as a slave to sin.

So I am not really the one who does this thing; rather it is the sin that lives in me.

I know that good does not live in me—that is, in my human nature. For even though the desire to do good is in me, I am not able to do it.

If I do what I don't want to do, this means that I am no longer the one who does it; instead, it is the sin that lives in me.

What an unhappy man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is taking me to death?

For I am certain that nothing can separate us from his love: neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers or powers, neither the present nor the future,

I am speaking the truth; I belong to Christ and I do not lie. My conscience, ruled by the Holy Spirit, also assures me that I am not lying

I am not saying that the promise of God has failed; for not all the people of Israel are the people of God.

I ask, then: Did God reject his own people? Certainly not! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin.

"Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me."

I am speaking now to you Gentiles: As long as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I will take pride in my work.