Next I noticed the man dressed in linen with the writing kit at his side bringing back word: “I have done just as you commanded me.”

Now, brothers and sisters, ¹  if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? ²  In that case the offense of the cross ³  has been removed. ⁴ 

But in your case, dear friends, even though we speak like this, we are convinced of better things relating to salvation.

You must not do anything to the young woman – she has done nothing deserving of death. This case is the same as when someone attacks another person ¹  and murders him,

Lord, you have always been fair whenever I have complained to you. ¹  However, I would like to speak with you about the disposition of justice. ²  Why are wicked people successful? ³  Why do all dishonest people have such easy lives?

Hear the Lord’s accusation, you mountains, you enduring foundations of the earth! For the Lord has a case against his people; he has a dispute with Israel! ¹ 

So in this case I say to you, stay away from these men and leave them alone, because if this plan or this undertaking originates with people, ¹  it will come to nothing, ² 

for the Lord will plead their case ¹  and will rob those who are robbing ²  them.

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.

They judged the people under normal circumstances; the difficult cases they would bring ¹  to Moses, but every small case they would judge themselves.

he said, “I will give you a hearing ¹  when your accusers arrive too.” Then ²  he ordered that Paul ³  be kept under guard in Herod’s palace. ⁴ 

So after they came back here with me, ¹  I did not postpone the case, ²  but the next day I sat ³  on the judgment seat ⁴  and ordered the man to be brought.

Whenever your countrymen who live in the cities bring a case before you ¹  (whether it involves a violent crime ²  or other matters related to the law, commandments, rules, and regulations), warn them that they must not sin against the Lord. If you fail to do so, God will be angry with you and your colleagues; but if you obey, you will be free of guilt. ³ 

The Lord takes his position to judge; he stands up to pass sentence on his people. ¹ 

You have seen the wrong done to me, O Lord; pronounce judgment on my behalf! ¹ 

Now this is the law pertaining to one who flees there in order to live, ¹  if he has accidentally killed another ²  without hating him at the time of the accident. ³ 

So now you and the council ¹  request the commanding officer ²  to bring him down to you, as if you were going to determine ³  his case ⁴  by conducting a more thorough inquiry. ⁵  We are ready to kill him ⁶  before he comes near this place.” ⁷ 

If controversy arises between people, ¹  they should go to court for judgment. When the judges ²  hear the case, they shall exonerate ³  the innocent but condemn ⁴  the guilty.

Absalom would then say to him, “Look, your claims are legitimate and appropriate. ¹  But there is no representative of the king who will listen to you.”

After five days the high priest Ananias ¹  came down with some elders and an attorney ²  named ³  Tertullus, and they ⁴  brought formal charges ⁵  against Paul to the governor.