WE MOVE TO THE 2ND PART OF THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES AND THE MISSION OF PAUL THE APOSTLE OF CHRIST TO SPREAD THE WORD OF GOD IN CHRIST THROUGHOUT GREECE AND TURKEY. THIS SYNOPSIS FOR HELPING PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE RECORD IS BASED UPON THE RECORD OF THE NEW KING JAMES VERSION OF THE BIBLE.
ACTS CHAPTER 14 SYNOPSIS:
PAUL AND BARNABAS WERE TOGETHER SPEAKING IN THE SYNAGOGUE AT ICONIUM. THEY WERE VERY CONVINCING BECAUSE A LARGE MULTITUDE OF JEWS AND GREEKS BELIEVED THEM.
THE UNBELIEVING JEWS WANTED TO STONE THE APOSTLES AND THEY FLED TO LYSTRA AND DERBE TO FURTHER PREACH THE GOSPEL.
THEY HEAL A CRIPPLED MAN AT LYSTRA AND THE PEOPLE IN THE CITY HAIL THEM AS PAGAN GODS. THEY CALL BARNABAS “JUPITER” AND PAUL “MERCURIUS.”
THE APOSTLES TELL THEM THEY ARE SIMPLY MEN.
SOME EVIL JEWS FROM ANTIOCH AND ICONIUM CAME AND PERSUADED THE PEOPLE TO STONE PAUL. THE DISCIPLES IN THE CITY REVIVE HIM AND HE LEAVES WITH BARNABAS TO DERBE. THEY PREACHED THERE AND THEN RETURNED TO LYSTRA, ICONIUM AND ANTIOCH.
THEY ORDAINED ELDERS IN EVERY CHURCH.
THEY MOVED ON TO OTHER CITIES, FINALLY RETURNING TO ANTIOCH.
ACTS CHAPTER 15 SYNOPSIS:
A GREAT DISSENSION ARISES IN ANTIOCH CONCERNING CIRCUMCISION BEING A PREREQUISITE TO SALVATION.
PAUL AND BARNABAS GO TO JERUSALEM TO SETTLE THE QUESTION WITH THE OTHER APOSTLES AND ELDERS.
IT IS DECIDED THAT THE GENTILES SHOULD ABSTAIN FROM MEATS OFFERED TO IDOLS, FROM BLOOD, AND FROM THINGS STRANGLED AND FROM FORNICATION.
CIRCUMCISION WOULD NOT BE NECESSARY FOR THE GENTILES.
PAUL AND BARNABAS GET INTO CONTENTION OVER WHETHER TO TAKE JOHN WITH THEM BACK TO ALL THE CITIES WHERE THEY HAD BEFORE PREACHED.
THEY SPLIT UP AND BARNABAS TAKES JOHN TO CYPRUS, PAUL TAKES SILAS THROUGH SYRIA AND CILICIA.
ACTS CHAPTER 16 SYNOPSIS:
PAUL GOES ON TO DERBE AND LYSTRA AGAIN AND THEN ON TO PHRYGIA AND GALATIA BUT WAS FORBIDDEN BY THE HOLY GHOST TO PREACH IN ASIA.
WHEN THEY CAME TO MYSIA AND BETHYNIA THE SPIRIT ALSO FORBADE THEM TO ENTER. THEY WENT ON TO TROAS.
IN A VISION THAT NIGHT, PAUL SAW A MAN OF MACEDONIA SAYING, “COME OVER INTO MACEDONIA, AND HELP US.”
SO THEY WENT THROUGH THE CITIES OF MACEDONIA TO PHILLIPI.
THEY MET A YOUNG WOMAN POSSESSED WITH A SPIRIT OF DIVINATION, WHICH BROUGHT HER MASTERS MUCH GAIN BY SOOTHSAYING. THE WOMAN FOLLOWED PAUL AND COMPANY CRYING (MOCKING), “THESE MEN ARE THE SERVANTS OF THE MOST HIGH GOD, WHICH SHOWS TO US THE WAY OF SALVATION.”
AND THIS SHE DID MANY DAYS.
BUT PAUL, BEING GRIEVED TURNED AND SAID TO THE SPIRIT, WHO POSSESSED HER, “I COMMAND YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST TO COME OUT OF HER.”AND HE CAME OUT.
WHEN HER MASTERS SAW THAT THEIR INVESTMENTS WERE GONE, THEY DREW PAUL AND SILAS TO THE MAGISTRATES, SAYING, “THESE JEWS TEACH CUSTOMS, WHICH ARE NOT LAWFUL FOR US TO RECEIVE OR TO OBSERVE SINCE WE ARE ROMANS.”
THE MULTITUDES ROSE UP AGAINST THE APOSTLES.
THE MAGISTRATES TORE THEIR CLOTHES, HAD THEM BEATEN AND PUT IN PRISON.
AT MIDNIGHT PAUL AND SILAS PRAYED AND SANG PRAISES TO GOD.
SUDDENLY THERE WAS A GREAT EARTHQUAKE, THE PRISON WAS SHAKEN AND ALL THE DOORS OPENED.
PAUL ANS SILAS’ BANDS WERE LOOSED.
THE GUARD WANTED TO KILL HIMSELF WITH HIS OWN SWORD WHEN HE SAW THE PRISON DOORS OPEN.
PAUL STOPS HIM SAYING, “DO YOURSELF NO HARM: FOR WE ARE ALL HERE.”
THE GUARD ASKS THEM, “SIRS, WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?”
THEY REPLY TO HIM, “BELIEVE CHRIST, AND YOU SHALL BE SAVED, AND YOUR HOUSEHOLD.”
THE MAGISTRATE DECIDED TO FREE PAUL AND SILAS TELLING THEM TO LEAVE THE CITY.
ACTS CHAPTER 17 SYNOPSIS:
PAUL AND SILAS CAME TO THESSALONICA (THE CAPITAL OF MACEDONIA) AND PREACHED IN A SYNAGOGUE. BUT THE UNBELIEVING JEWS STIRRED UP A COMPANY OF LEWD RUFFIANS AGAINST THEM.
PAUL AND SILAS WIND UP FLEEING THE CITY BY NIGHT. THEY GO TO BEREA, BUT THE UNBELIEVING JEWS FROM THESSALONICA CAME AND STIRRED UP THE PEOPLE THERE AGAINST THEM.
PAUL GOES ALONE TO ATHENS. PAUL’S SPIRIT WAS STIRRED IN HIM, WHEN HE SAW THE CITY WAS COMPLETELY GIVEN TO IDOLATRY. HE DISPUTED WITH THE JEWS IN THE SYNAGOGUES, AND IN THE MARKETS ON A DAILY BASIS.
THEN PAUL RAN INTO CERTAIN PHILOSOPHERS OF THE EPICUREANS (GREEK: BELIEVER IN SENSE PERCEPTION, AND PLEASURE THROUGH VIRTUE) AND THE STOICS (GREEK: METAPHYSICAL SYSTEM WHICH STRESSED THE RELATIONSHIP OF MAN AND NATURE, BY HOLDING ONE’S PASSIONS IN CHECK).
AND SOME OF THEM SAID, “WHAT WILL THIS BABBLER SAY?”
OTHERS SAID, “HE SEEMS TO BE SETTING FORTH THE IDEA OF STRANGE GODS.”
THEY TOOK HIM TO AREOPAGUS (THE CIVIL COUNCIL) SAYING, “WHAT IS THIS NEW DOCTRINE YOU SPEAK OF? WHAT DO THESE THINGS MEAN?”
FOR ALL THE ATHENIANS SPENT THEIR TIME IN NOTHING ELSE, BUT TO HEAR OR TELL SOME NEW THING.
PAUL SAID, “I PERCEIVE THAT IN ALL THINGS YOU ARE TOO SUPERSTITIOUS. FOR I PASSED BY, AND BEHELD AN ALTAR WITH THIS INSCRIPTION, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. A GOD THAT YOU IGNORANTLY WORSHIP, HIM I WILL DECLARE TO YOU.”
PAUL TELLS THEM ~
GOD MADE THE WORLD AND ALL THINGS THEREIN.
- HE GIVES LIFE TO ALL THINGS.
- GOD HAS DETERMINED THE TIMES BEFORE APPOINTED.
- MAN SHOULD SEEK THIS GOD.
- WE ARE HIS OFFSPRING.
- GOD IS NOT GOLD, OR SILVER, OR STONE.
- GOD NOW COMMANDS ALL MEN TO REPENT.
- GOD HAS APPOINTED JESUS CHRIST TO JUDGE THE WORLD.
- JESUS CHRIST WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD, GIVING MAN ASSURANCE OF HIS OWN RESURRECTION.
AND WHEN THEY HEARD THESE THINGS ABOUT THE RESURRECTION, SOME OF THEM MOCKED AND SOME OF THEM WANTED TO DEBATE AGAIN.
SO PAUL DEPARTED FROM THEM. ONLY A FEW OF THEM BELIEVED THE WORDS OF PAUL.
ACTS CHAPTER 18 SYNOPSIS:
PAUL LEAVES ATHENS FOR CORINTH. HE LIVES WITH A JEW NAMED AQUILA AND HIS WIFE. HE WORKS WITH THEM MAKING TENTS.
AND EVERY SABBATH HE WAS IN THE SYNAGOGUE TEACHING THE JEWS AND GREEKS. BUT THE JEWS OPPOSED HIM.
HE BECAME DISGUSTED AND SAID, “YOUR BLOOD IS UPON YOUR OWN HEADS; I AM CLEAN: FROM HENCEFORTH I WILL GO TO THE GENTILES.”
HE FINDS MANY BELIEVERS IN THE CORINTHIANS, AND LIVES IN CORINTH FOR A YEAR AND A HALF TEACHING.
PAUL LEAVES FOR SYRIA AND CAME TO EPHESUS (CAPITAL OF THE ROMAN PROVINCE OF ASIA AND A GREAT CENTER OF COMMERCE). HE TAUGHT IN THE SYNAGOGUE AND THEN SET SAIL FOR ANTIOCH, GALATIA AND OTHER PLACES STRENGTHENING ALL THE DISCIPLES.
ACTS CHAPTER 19 SYNOPSIS:
PAUL GOES TO EPHESUS. HE PREACHES FOR THREE MONTHS IN THE SYNAGOGUE THERE. HE PREACHES FOR ANOTHER TWO YEARS IN THE SCHOOL OF TYRANNUS.
AND GOD WROUGHT SPECIAL MIRACLES BY PAUL:
“SO THAT FROM HIS BODY WERE BROUGHT TO THE SICK HANDKERCHIEFS OR APRONS, AND THE DISEASE DEPARTED FROM THEM, AND THE EVIL SPIRIT WENT OUT OF THEM.”
THERE WERE SEVEN SONS OF SCEVA AND CHIEF OF THE PRIESTS (VAGABOND NON-COMMISSIONED EXORCISTS) THAT TOOK IT UPON THEMSELVES TO CALL OVER THEM WHICH HAD EVIL SPIRITS IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
THEY WOULD SAY, “WE ADJURE YOU BY JESUS WHOM PAUL PREACHES.”
THE EVIL SPIRIT ANSWERED, “JESUS I KNOW, AND PAUL I KNOW; BUT WHO ARE YOU?”
“AND THE MAN IN WHOM THE EVIL SPIRIT WAS LEAPED ON THEM, AND OVERCAME THEM, AND PREVAILED AGAINST THEM, SO THAT THEY FLED OUT OF THAT HOUSE, NAKED AND WOUNDED.”
(COMMENTARY: THIS IS A QUICK STORY ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES OF HAVING NO AUTHORITY. YOU CANNOT “BORROW” THE NAME OF CHRIST FOR ANY PURPOSE IF YOU ARE NOT A BELIEVER WITH FAITH, BAPTIZED AND A PART OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD.)
NOW THIS EVENT SHOOK UP THE JEWS AND GREEKS IN EPHESUS. MANY NEW BELIEVERS IN CHRIST WERE ADDED TO THE CHURCH.
“MANY OF THEM WHICH USED CURIOUS ARTS (SORCERY, WITCHCRAFT) BROUGHT THEIR BOOKS TOGETHER, AND BURNED THEM BEFORE ALL MEN: AND THEY COUNTED THE PRICE OF THEM, AND FOUND IT FIFTY THOUSAND PIECES OF SILVER.”
THE WORD OF GOD GREW AND PREVAILED IN EPHESUS.
PAUL DECIDES TO GO TO JERUSALEM AND THEN ON TO ROME IN THE FUTURE. BUT PAUL ACTUALLY STAYS IN EPHESUS ANOTHER SEASON.
THEN A MAN NAMED DEMETRIUS, A SILVERSMITH, WHICH MADE SILVER SHRINES FOR DIANA (A GODDESS ALSO KNOWN AS ARTEMIS, THE EPHESIANS REGARDED HER AS THE SOURCE OF THE FRUITFUL AND NURTURING POWERS OF NATURE. HER STATUE WAS REPRESENTED WITH MANY BREASTS. THE EPHESIANS BUILT A TEMPLE FOR HER.) AND ALSO BROUGHT GREAT COMMERCE TO THE LOCAL CRAFTSMAN CALLED THEM ALL TOGETHER SAYING,
“THROUGHOUT ASIA THIS PAUL HAS PERSUADED MANY PEOPLE THAT THERE ARE NO GODS, WHICH ARE MADE WITH HANDS. OUR CRAFT IS IN DANGER OF BEING NOTHING. BUT ALSO THE TEMPLE OF DIANA MAY BE DESPISED OR DESTROYED.”
WHEN THE CRAFTSMEN HEARD THIS THEY WERE FULL OF WRATH AND CRIED OUT, SAYING,
“GREAT IS DIANA OF THE EPHESIANS!” THE WHOLE CITY WAS FILLED WITH CONFUSION.
THE TOWNCLERK CALMED EVERYONE DOWN AND DISPERSED THE CROWD REMINDING THEM OF CONDUCTING LAWFUL ASSEMBLY IF THEY HAVE GRIEVANCES.
ACTS CHAPTER 20 SYNOPSIS:
PAUL LEAVES FOR MACEDONIA, AND GOES TO GREECE STAYING THREE MONTHS.
BUT THE JEWS LAY WAIT FOR HIM AND HE WENT FROM PHILLIPI TO TROAS TO MEET COMPANIONS.
THEY MEET FOR THE SABBATH AND PAUL PREACHES UNTIL MIDNIGHT.
HE HEALS A YOUNG MAN WHO HAD DIED FROM A SERIOUS FALL.
THE MAN HAD FALLEN FROM A LOFT AS HE FELL ASLEEP LISTENING TO THE LONG SERMON BY PAUL THAT NIGHT.
PAUL GOES ON TO ASSOS AND MITYLENE, CHIOS, SAMOS, TROGYLLIUM AND MILETUS. FROM THERE THE HOLY SPIRIT TELLS HIM TO GO TO JERUSALEM. HE CALLS TO THE ELDERS IN EPHESUS TO COME FOR A MEETING. HE TELLS THEM —
- I HAVE SERVED AND TAUGHT CHRIST FAITHFULLY TO THE JEWS AND TO THE GREEKS.
- I NOW GO TO JERUSALEM NOT KNOWING WHAT SHALL BEFALL ME THERE.
- YOU SHALL SEE MY FACE NO MORE.
- TAKE HEED TO OVERSEE THE CHURCH OF GOD BECAUSE AFTER I DEPART GRIEVOUS WOLVES SHALL ENTER AMONG YOU, NOT SPARING THE FLOCK. (YES FOLKS, THIS IS A REFERENCE TO THE COMING APOSTASY OF THE EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH.)
- ALSO, OF YOUR OWN SELVES SHALL MEN ARISE, SPEAKING PERVERSE THINGS TO DRAW AWAY DISCIPLES AFTER THEM.
- I HAVE COVETED NO MAN’S SILVER OR GOLD. MY OWN HANDS HAVE LABORED FOR MY NECESSITIES.
HE PRAYED WITH THEM AND SAID TEARFUL GOODBYES.
ACTS CHAPTER 21 SYNOPSIS:
PAUL TRAVELS THROUGH CAESAREA ON THE WAY TO JERUSALEM. HE STAYS AT THE HOME OF PHILIP THE EVANGELIST.
THEY GET A VISIT FROM THE PROPHET AGABUS. AGABUS WARNS PAUL THAT HE WILL BE BOUND BY FEET AND HANDS IN JERUSALEM. PAUL TELLS HIM HE IS READY TO DIE IN JERUSALEM.
PAUL ARRIVES IN JERUSALEM AND WHILE IN THE TEMPLE THE JEWS STIRRED UP THE PEOPLE AND THEY LAID HANDS ON HIM. THEY REMOVE HIM OUT OF THE TEMPLE AND BEGIN TO BEAT HIM.
THE ROMAN CENTURIONS (SOLDIERS) COME AND STOP THE BEATING. THEY CHAIN HIM AND CARRY HIM TO THE CASTLE.
PAUL ASKS THE CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD TO LET HIM SPEAK TO THE PEOPLE. THE CAPTAIN CONSENTS AND PAUL BEGINS A DISCOURSE TO THE ANGRY PEOPLE.
ACTS CHAPTER 22 SYNOPSIS:
PAUL RECOUNTS THE STORY OF HIS CONVERSION FROM BEING SAUL OF TARSUS, THE PERSECUTOR, TO PAUL THE APOSTLE. HE TELLS THEM OF HIS VISION OF JESUS ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS.
THE JEWS CRIED OUT, “AWAY WITH SUCH A FELLOW FROM THE EARTH: FOR IT IS NOT FIT THAT HE SHOULD LIVE.”
THE CHIEF CAPTAIN OF THE ROMANS BROUGHT HIM INTO THE CASTLE TO BE SCOURGED. PAUL SAYS TO HIM, “IS IT LAWFUL FOR YOU TO BEAT A MAN THAT IS A ROMAN?”
THE CHIEF CAPTAIN WAS AFRAID WHEN HE LEARNED THAT PAUL WAS TRULY A CITIZEN OF ROME.
THE NEXT DAY PAUL WAS FREED ONLY TO FACE THE CHIEF PRIESTS OF THE COUNCIL.
ACTS CHAPTER 23 SYNOPSIS:
PAUL IS BEATEN AT THE ORDER OF THE HIGH PRIEST, ANANIAS.
PAUL IS FOUND AT THE CENTER OF A VIOLENT DEBATE BETWEEN THE SADUCCEES AND THE PHARISEES OVER THE RESURRECTION.
THE ROMANS RESCUE PAUL FROM THE JEWISH COUNCIL AND BRING HIM BACK TO THE CASTLE.
THE NEXT NIGHT JESUS APPEARS TO PAUL AND SAYS, “BE OF GOOD CHEER, FOR AS YOU HAVE TESTIFIED OF ME IN JERUSALEM, SO MUST YOU BEAR WITNESS ALSO AT ROME.”
ONE OF PAUL’S FRIENDS UNCOVERS A PLOT BY 40 JEWS TO KILL PAUL. HE WARNS THE ROMANS AND THEY SEND PAUL AWAY TO THE GOVERNOR, FELIX AT CAESAREA.
THERE FELIX TELLS PAUL, “I WILL HEAR YOU, WHEN YOUR ACCUSERS ARE ALSO PRESENT.”
IN THE MEANTIME, PAUL IS KEPT PRISONER IN HEROD’S JUDGEMENT HALL.
ACTS CHAPTER 24 SYNOPSIS:
AFTER FIVE DAYS, THE HIGH PRIEST ANANIAS, THE ELDERS OF THE JEWS, AND AN ORATOR NAMED TERTULLUS ARRIVED. TERTULLUS ACCUSES PAUL BEFORE FELIX OF SEDITION, AND PROFANING THE TEMPLE.
PAUL ABLY DEFENDS HIMSELF AND AT THE SAME TIME EDUCATES FELIX ON THE GOSPEL TEACHINGS.
FELIX DEFERRED THE JEWS BY SAYING, “WHEN LYSIAS, THE CHIEF CAPTAIN OF THE ROMANS COMES I WILL KNOW THE FULL MATTER.”
PAUL IS KEPT GUARD BY A ROMAN CENTURION AND HE HAS SOME FREEDOM.
ON A CERTAIN DAY, FELIX AND HIS WIFE, DRUSILLA SEND FOR PAUL TO HEAR MORE CONCERNING HIS FAITH IN CHRIST. PAUL TAUGHT THEM OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, TEMPERANCE, AND THE JUDGEMENT TO COME. FELIX TREMBLED AT THIS WORDS AND HAD TO SEND HIM AWAY FROM HIS PRESENCE.
AFTER TWO YEARS, PORCIAS FESTUS AS GOVERNOR REPLACED FELIX AND PAUL WAS STILL THEIR PRISONER IN CASAEREA.
ACTS CHAPTER 25 SYNOPSIS:
THE JEWS CAME FROM JERUSALEM AGAIN TO ACCUSE PAUL BEFORE FESTUS. AGAIN THEY COULD PROVE NOTHING.
PAUL, BEFORE FESTUS, MAKES AN APPEAL TO CAESAR. FESTUS AGREES.
KING AGRIPPA (CAESAR) ARRIVES IN CAESAREA. HE AGREES TO HEAR PAUL.
ACTS CHAPTER 26 SYNOPSIS:
PAUL RECOUNTS HIS FORMER PERSECUTION OF THE SAINTS AS A PHARISEE. HE TESTIFIES OF THE VISION OF CHRIST ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS.
KING AGRIPPA HEARING THE WHOLE STORY SAYS TO PAUL, “YOU ALMOST PERSUADE ME TO BE A CHRISTIAN.”
PAUL TELLS HIM, “I WISH YOU WERE, AND ALL THOSE HERE TODAY WERE SUCH AS I AM.”
AGRIPPA AND FESTUS TALKED PRIVATELY AND DECIDED PAUL DID NOTHING WORTHY OF DEATH OR IMPRISONMENT. BUT AGRIPPA REMARKS TO THE GOVERNOR, “THIS MAN MIGHT HAVE BEEN SET AT LIBERTY, IF HE HAD NOT APPEALED TO CAESAR.”
ACTS CHAPTER 27 SYNOPSIS:
PAUL IS SENT TO ITALY BY SHIP AND TURNED OVER TO JULIUS, A ROMAN CENTURION. THE JOURNEY IS PERILOUS AND PAUL TRIES TO WARN THE CENTURIONS ABOUT WHAT LAY AHEAD, BUT THEY WOULD NOT LISTEN. A TERRIBLE STORM THAT LASTED DAYS TOSSED THE SHIP.
THEY ARE SHIPWRECKED AND ALL 216 PASSENGERS MAKE IT TO SHORE. AN ANGEL FROM HEAVEN ASSISTS IN THEIR SAFETY.
ACTS CHAPTER 28 SYNOPSIS:
THEY WERE SHIPWRECKED ON THE ISLAND OF MELITA. AND THE NATIVES HELP THEM.
WHILE GATHERING STICKS FOR THE FIRE, A VIPER BITES PAUL ON HIS HAND. HE SHOOK THE BEAST OFF INTO THE FIRE. THE NATIVES SAW HIM GET BITTEN AND KNEW HE WAS A DEAD MAN. BUT TIME PASSED AND PAUL’S HAND DID NOT SWELL, NOR DID HE DIE. THE NATIVES THEN THOUGHT HIM TO BE A GOD.
THE CHIEF MAN OF THE ISLAND, NAMED PUBLIUS, HAD A FATHER SICK WITH FEVER AND DYSENTARY. PAUL LAY HANDS ON HIM AND HEALED HIM.
HE WOUND UP HEALING MANY ON THIS ISLAND OF VARIOUS DISEASES.
AFTER THREE MONTHS, THEY ALL HITCH A RIDE ON ANOTHER SHIP MAKING THEIR WAY TO ITALY.
IN ROME THE CENTURION DELIVERED THE PRISONER TO THE CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD. PAUL IS ALLOWED TO HAVE A CENTURION GUARD AND SOME FREEDOM TO MOVE ABOUT.
PAUL CALLS THE JEWS OF ROME TOGETHER TO PREACH TO THEM. SOME OF THEM BELIEVE HIM AND SOME DO NOT. AND DECIDING TO DISAGREE THE MULTITUDE DEPARTED.
PAUL SAID OF THEM,
WELL DID ISAIAH THE PROPHET SAY TO OUR FATHER, “GO TO THE PEOPLE, AND SAY, HEARING YOU SHALL HEAR, AND SHALL NOT UNDERSTAND; AND SEEING YOU SHALL SEE, AND NOT PERCEIVE: FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME GROSS AND THEIR EARS ARE DULL OF HEARING, AND THEIR EYES HAVE THEY CLOSED, LEST THEY SHOULD SEE WITH THEIR EYES, AND HEAR WITH THEIR EARS AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND SHOULD BE CONVERTED, AND I SHOULD HEAL THEM.
“BE IT KNOWN TO YOU, THAT THE SALVATION OF GOD IS SENT TO THE GENTILES, AND THAT THEY WILL HEAR IT.”
AND PAUL WENT ON TEACHING FOR TWO YEARS AND WAS RELEASED BY THE ROMANS. BUT AT THE END OF FOUR YEARS, HE WAS TAKEN AGAIN TO ROME AND SUFFERED MARTYRDOM PROBABLY IN A.D. 65. ONCE AGAIN, ANOTHER APOSTLE OF CHRIST SEALS HIS TESTIMONY OF THE TRUTH WITH HIS OWN BLOOD.
NEXT . . . THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS WRITTEN BY PAUL