I ¹  persecuted this Way ²  even to the point of death, ³  tying up ⁴  both men and women and putting ⁵  them in prison,

Then I ¹  fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’

Since I wanted to know ¹  what charge they were accusing him of, ²  I brought him down to their council. ³ 

He ordered the centurion ¹  to guard Paul, ²  but to let him have some freedom, ³  and not to prevent any of his friends ⁴  from meeting his needs. ⁵ 

So the chief priests and the most prominent men ¹  of the Jews brought formal charges ²  against Paul to him.

because you are especially ¹  familiar with all the customs and controversial issues ²  of the Jews. Therefore I ask ³  you to listen to me patiently.

After we had sailed across the open sea ¹  off Cilicia and Pamphylia, ²  we put in ³  at Myra ⁴  in Lycia. ⁵ 

Because they were afraid ¹  that we would run aground on the rocky coast, ²  they threw out ³  four anchors from the stern and wished ⁴  for day to appear. ⁵ 

that is, that we may be mutually comforted by one another’s faith, ¹  both yours and mine.

There will be ¹  affliction and distress on everyone ²  who does evil, on the Jew first and also the Greek, ³ 

but ¹  glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, for the Jew first and also the Greek.

What then? Are we better off? Certainly not, for we have already charged that Jews and Greeks alike are all under sin,

Indeed, the signs of an apostle were performed among you with great perseverance ¹  by signs and wonders and powerful deeds. ² 

while God confirmed their witness ¹  with signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed ²  according to his will.

For it is impossible in the case of those who have once been enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift, become partakers of the Holy Spirit,

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, sure and steadfast, which reaches inside behind the curtain, ¹ 

At times you were publicly exposed to abuse and afflictions, and at other times you came to share with others who were treated in that way.

And those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all they found, both bad and good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

Immediately ¹  one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, ²  put it on a stick, ³  and gave it to him to drink.

So they hurried off and located Mary and Joseph, and found the baby lying in a manger. ¹