and are advocating ¹  customs that are not lawful for us to accept ²  or practice, ³  since we are ⁴  Romans.”

If we allow him to go on in this way, ¹  everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away our sanctuary ²  and our nation.”

I answered them ¹  that it was not the custom of the Romans to hand over anyone ²  before the accused had met his accusers face to face ³  and had been given ⁴  an opportunity to make a defense against the accusation. ⁵ 

The police officers reported these words to the magistrates. They were frightened when they heard Paul and Silas ¹  were Roman citizens ² 

After three days ¹  Paul ²  called the local Jewish leaders ³  together. When they had assembled, he said to them, “Brothers, ⁴  although I had done ⁵  nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, ⁶  from Jerusalem ⁷  I was handed over as a prisoner to the Romans. ⁸ 

When ¹  they had heard my case, ²  they wanted to release me, ³  because there was no basis for a death sentence ⁴  against me.

For he will be handed over ¹  to the Gentiles; he will be mocked, ²  mistreated, ³  and spat on. ⁴ 

and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged severely ¹  and crucified. ²  Yet ³  on the third day, he will be raised.”

But Paul said to the police officers, ¹  “They had us beaten in public ²  without a proper trial ³  – even though we are Roman citizens ⁴  – and they threw us ⁵  in prison. And now they want to send us away ⁶  secretly? Absolutely not! They ⁷  themselves must come and escort us out!” ⁸ 

to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be glory forever! Amen.

“Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and experts in the law. ¹  They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles.

Pilate told them, ¹  “Take him yourselves and pass judgment on him ²  according to your own law!” ³  The Jewish leaders ⁴  replied, ⁵  “We cannot legally put anyone to death.” ⁶ 

He came ¹  to us, took ²  Paul’s belt, ³  tied ⁴  his own hands and feet with it, ⁵  and said, “The Holy Spirit says this: ‘This is the way the Jews in Jerusalem will tie up the man whose belt this is, and will hand him over ⁶  to the Gentiles.’”