Paul

1Paul came to the town of Derbe and then to Lystra. A follower of Jesus named Timothy lived there. His mother was Jewish and believed in Jesus. His father was Greek.

Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:

NoteJewish means a person from the family God chose long ago. Greek means his father came from a different people, not Jewish.

2The believers in Lystra and Iconium said good things about Timothy.

Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.

3Paul wanted Timothy to travel with him. So he had Timothy circumcised because of the Jews living in that area. They all knew his father was Greek.

Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.

NoteCircumcision was a small cut made on a boy's body. It was a sign that he belonged to the Jewish people. Paul did this so Jewish people would listen to Timothy.

4As they went from town to town, they passed on the rules to obey. The apostles and leaders in Jerusalem had decided on them. Apostles were the men Jesus sent out to teach.

And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.

NoteThese rules came from a big meeting of leaders in Jerusalem. They decided what people who were not Jewish should do.

5So the groups of believers grew stronger in what they believed. More people joined them every day.

And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

6The Holy Spirit would not let them speak God's message in the area called Asia. So they traveled through Phrygia and Galatia instead.

Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,

NoteThe King James Bible says "the Holy Ghost." Ghost was an old word for spirit. It means God's own Spirit, who guides people.

7When they came near Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia. But the Spirit would not let them.

After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.

NotePhrygia, Galatia, Mysia and Bithynia were all areas of land nearby. Today that land is the country called Turkey. Asia here does not mean the whole huge continent. It was just one small area on the coast.

8So they went past Mysia and down to the town of Troas.

And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.

9That night Paul saw a vision, like a picture God showed him. A man from Macedonia stood and begged him, "Come to Macedonia and help us."

And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.

NoteMacedonia was a land across the sea from where Paul was. Today it is part of Greece.

10As soon as Paul saw this, we got ready to leave for Macedonia. We were sure God had called us to tell those people the good news.

And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.

NoteNotice the word "we." The man writing this book joined the trip here. His name was Luke.

11We sailed from Troas straight to the island of Samothrace. The next day we went on to Neapolis.

Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis;

12From there we went to Philippi. It was the main city in that part of Macedonia, and Rome ruled it. We stayed there several days.

And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days.

NoteRome was a big city far away that ruled many lands. In Philippi people followed Roman laws and Roman ways.

13On the Sabbath, the Jewish day of rest, we went outside the city to a river. People often prayed there. We sat down and talked with the women who had come.

And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.

NoteThe Sabbath was the seventh day of each week. Jewish people rested on it and worshiped God. They met by the river because there was no meeting house in that city.

14One woman listening was named Lydia. She came from the city of Thyatira and sold purple cloth. She worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to take in what Paul said.

And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.

NotePurple cloth cost a great deal of money. Mostly rich and important people wore it. So Lydia's work brought her plenty of money. Lydia was not Jewish, but she prayed to the God of the Jewish people.

15She and everyone in her house were baptized. That means they were washed with water to show they now followed Jesus. Then she said, "If you believe I really trust the Lord, come and stay at my house." She kept asking until we agreed.

And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.

NoteA slave was a person owned by someone else. Slaves could not leave or keep their own pay. Her "house" meant her family and the workers who lived with her.

16One day we were going to the place of prayer. A slave girl met us. A spirit in her let her tell people what would happen to them. She earned a lot of money for her owners this way.

And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:

NoteA slave was a person owned by someone else. She had to work for her owners and give them the money.

17She followed Paul and the rest of us and shouted, "These men serve the Most High God! They are telling you the way to be saved!"

The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.

Note"Most High God" means the God who is above everything and everyone. To be saved means to be rescued and brought safe to God.

18She did this for many days. At last Paul had had enough. He turned and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ, I order you to come out of her!" The spirit left her right then.

And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

19Her owners saw that their way of making money was gone. They grabbed Paul and Silas. They dragged them to the leaders in the market place.

And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,

NoteThe market place was the busy middle of the town. It was where people bought food and where leaders heard complaints.

20They brought them to the city judges and said, "These men are Jews. They are making trouble all over our city."

And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,

NoteMagistrates were the men who ran the city. They also decided when someone had broken the law.

21"They teach ways that we Romans are not allowed to take up or follow."

And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.

22The crowd joined in against them. The judges had their clothes torn off. Then they ordered the two men beaten with sticks.

And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.

NoteThe men's clothes were pulled off so the sticks hit bare skin. Roman officers carried bundles of sticks for beating people.

23The men were hit many times. Then they were thrown into jail. The jailer was told to guard them carefully.

And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:

NoteThe King James Bible says "stripes." That meant the sore marks left on skin after a beating.

24Because of that order, the jailer put them in the deepest room of the jail. He locked their feet into heavy wooden blocks called stocks.

Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

NoteStocks were heavy blocks of wood with holes cut in them. A prisoner's ankles were locked inside so he could not walk.

25About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing songs to God. The other prisoners were listening to them.

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

26Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the jail down to its base. All the doors flew open at once. Every prisoner's chains came loose.

And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.

27The jailer woke up and saw the jail doors standing open. He pulled out his sword to kill himself. He thought all the prisoners had run away.

And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.

NoteA Roman guard who let prisoners escape could be put to death himself. That is why he was so afraid.

28But Paul shouted in a loud voice, "Do not hurt yourself! We are all still here!"

But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.

29The jailer called for lights. He rushed in, shaking with fear, and fell down in front of Paul and Silas.

Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,

30He brought them outside and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

NoteTo be saved means to be rescued and made safe with God forever.

31They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved. This is true for you and for everyone in your house."

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

32Then Paul and Silas told God's message to him and to all the people living in his house.

And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.

33At that same hour of the night, the jailer washed their sore places. Right away he and all his family were baptized.

And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

NoteBaptized means dipped in water. It showed that a person now belonged to Jesus.

34He brought them into his home and set food in front of them. He and his whole family were full of joy that they now believed in God.

And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.

35When morning came, the judges sent officers with this order: "Let those men go."

And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.

NoteThese officers worked for the judges. They carried the sticks and passed on the judges' orders.

36The jailer told Paul, "The judges have sent word to set you free. So you may leave now and go in peace."

And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace.

37But Paul said to the officers, "They beat us in front of everyone, with no trial. And we are Roman citizens! Then they threw us in jail. Now do they want to push us out in secret? No! Let them come here and lead us out themselves."

But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.

NoteA Roman citizen belonged to Rome and had special rights. It was against the law to beat one without a trial first. A trial is when leaders listen carefully before deciding if someone did wrong.

38The officers told the judges what Paul had said. The judges were scared when they heard the men were Roman citizens.

And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.

39So the judges came and spoke kindly to them. They led them out of the jail. Then they asked them to leave the city.

And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city.

40Paul and Silas left the jail and went to Lydia's house. They saw the believers there and cheered them up. Then they left the city.

And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.

1Paul and his friends traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia. Then they came to the city of Thessalonica. There was a synagogue there, a place where Jewish people met to pray and learn.

Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:

NoteAmphipolis, Apollonia, and Thessalonica were towns in Greece. Paul and his friends walked the roads between them.

2Paul went in, as he always did. For three Sabbath days he talked with the people there about the Scriptures. The Sabbath was the Jewish day of rest.

And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,

NoteA synagogue was a building where Jewish people met. They prayed there and read God's word out loud. The Scriptures were their holy books. Christians now call them the Old Testament.

3He explained and showed them that the Christ had to suffer and then rise from the dead. Christ means God's chosen King. Paul said, "This Jesus I am telling you about is the Christ."

Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.

Note"Risen again from the dead" means came back to life after dying. Most people expected God's chosen King to win, not to suffer. That is why Paul had to explain it so carefully.

4Some of them believed and joined Paul and Silas. Many Greeks who worshiped God believed too. So did quite a few important women.

And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.

NoteThe King James says they "consorted with" Paul. That just means they joined him and stayed with him. Silas was Paul's friend who traveled with him. Some Greeks were not Jewish but had learned to love Israel's God.

5But some of the Jews did not believe, and they were jealous. They gathered rough troublemakers from the market and made a mob. Soon the whole city was in an uproar. They rushed to Jason's house to drag Paul and Silas out to the crowd.

But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.

NoteThe King James calls them "lewd fellows of the baser sort." In old English that meant rough, no-good men who liked trouble. An uproar is a loud, angry crowd making noise.

6They could not find them there. So they dragged Jason and some other believers to the city leaders. They shouted, "These men have turned the world upside down. Now they have come here too!"

And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;

Note"Brethren" is an old word for brothers. Here it means the other people who believed. "Turned the world upside down" was an insult. It meant these men changed everything wherever they went.

7"Jason has taken them into his house. They all go against the rules of Caesar, the ruler of Rome. They say there is another king, named Jesus!"

Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.

NoteCaesar was the emperor, the top ruler of Rome. Saying someone else was king sounded like fighting against him. That was a very serious thing to be accused of.

8The crowd and the city leaders heard this. It upset them very much.

And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.

9The leaders made Jason and the others pay money as a promise to keep the peace. Then they let them go.

And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.

NoteThe King James says they "taken security of Jason." Jason paid money to promise there would be no more trouble. He would get it back if the city stayed calm.

10As soon as it was night, the believers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. When they got there, they went into the synagogue.

And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.

NoteBerea was another town in Greece, about a day away.

11The people in Berea were more fair-minded than the people in Thessalonica. They were glad to listen to the message. Every day they read the Scriptures to see if it was true.

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

NoteThe King James says these people were "more noble." It does not mean they were rich or royal. It means they listened fairly and checked things for themselves.

12So many of them believed. Quite a few important Greek women and men believed too.

Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

Note"Honourable women" means women that other people looked up to and listened to.

13Then the Jews in Thessalonica heard that Paul was teaching God's word in Berea. So they came there too and stirred up the crowds.

But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.

14Right away the believers sent Paul off toward the sea. Silas and Timothy stayed behind in Berea.

And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.

NoteThey sent Paul toward the sea so he could sail away safely. Timothy was a young helper who traveled with Paul.

15The men who traveled with Paul brought him all the way to Athens. Then they went back with this message for Silas and Timothy: come to Paul as fast as you can.

And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.

NoteAthens was a famous Greek city. People came there to learn and to talk about ideas.

16Paul waited for them in Athens. He was troubled inside when he saw the city was full of idols.

Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.

NoteAn idol is a statue that people pray to as if it were a god. Athens had many of them, in temples and on street corners.

17So he talked in the synagogue with the Jews and with Greeks who worshiped God. Every day he also talked in the market with anyone he met.

Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.

NoteThe market was the big open square in the middle of town. People shopped there, and they stood around talking all day.

18Some thinkers called Epicureans and Stoics argued with him. Some of them said, "What is this babbler trying to say?" Others said, "He seems to be talking about foreign gods." They said this because Paul told about Jesus and about rising from the dead.

Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.

NoteEpicureans and Stoics were two groups of teachers. Each group had its own ideas about how to live. "Babbler" was a rude name. It meant someone who picks up bits of other people's ideas and chatters. "Strange gods" means gods from other countries that they had never heard of.

19They took Paul to the Areopagus, a meeting place on a hill. They asked him, "May we know what this new teaching of yours is?"

And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?

NoteThe Areopagus was a rocky hill in Athens. Important men met there to talk and to decide things. New teachers were brought there so everyone could hear them.

20"You are telling us strange new things. We want to know what they mean."

For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.

21The people of Athens, and the visitors living there, spent their time on nothing else. All they did was tell and hear new ideas.

(For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)

Note"Strangers" here means visitors from other places who lived in the city.

22So Paul stood up in the middle of that meeting on the hill. He said, "Men of Athens, I can see that you are very religious in every way."

Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.

Note"Mars' hill" is another name for the Areopagus. Mars was a Roman god of war, and the hill was named for him. The King James says "too superstitious." Back then that word meant very careful about the gods. Paul was saying they paid a lot of attention to religion.

23"As I walked around, I looked at the things you worship. I even found an altar with these words on it: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. You worship him without knowing him. Now I will tell you who he is."

For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

NoteAn altar is a stone table where people gave gifts to a god. The words carved on it said TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. That meant a god they did not know the name of.

24"God made the world and everything in it. He is Lord of heaven and earth. He does not live in buildings that people build."

God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

NoteA temple is a special building made for a god to live in. Paul says the true God is far too big for any building.

25"People cannot take care of him with their hands, as if he needed something. He is the one who gives everyone life and breath and everything else."

Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

26"From one man he made every nation of people. He meant for them to live all over the earth. He decided when they would live and where their lands would be."

And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

Note"Nations" means all the different groups of people on earth. Each one has its own land and its own language.

27"He did this so people would look for him. Maybe they would reach out for him and find him. He is not far from any one of us."

That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

NoteThe King James says "if haply they might feel after him." "Haply" is an old word for maybe. To "feel after" is to reach out in the dark, like feeling for a door.

28"We live and move and exist because of him. Some of your own poets said it too: 'We are his children.'"

For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

NotePoets are people who write poems. Paul used lines from Greek poems his listeners already knew.

29"So we are God's children. Then we should not think that God is like gold or silver or stone. Those are only shapes made by people's hands and ideas."

Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.

Note"Graven by art and man's device" means carved and shaped by human hands. A statue is only a shape a person made. Paul says God is not like that.

30"Long ago people did not know these things, and God let that pass. But now he tells everyone everywhere to repent. That means to turn away from wrong and turn to God."

And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

NoteThe King James says God "winked at" those times. That does not mean a wink with the eye. It means he let it pass for a while without punishing.

31"He has picked a day when he will judge the world fairly. He has chosen a man to do the judging. God has shown this to everyone by raising that man from the dead."

Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

NoteTo judge the world means to decide what was right and wrong in what everyone did.

32When they heard about people rising from the dead, some laughed at Paul. Others said, "We want to hear you talk about this again."

And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.

Note"Some mocked" means some people laughed at him and made fun.

33So Paul left the meeting and went away.

So Paul departed from among them.

34But some men joined him and believed. One was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus council. A woman named Damaris believed too, and others with them.

Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

NoteAn Areopagite was a member of the group that met on that hill. It was an important job in the city.

1After this, Paul left the city of Athens. He went to the city of Corinth.

After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;

NoteAthens and Corinth are cities in Greece. Corinth was busy and full of ships and traders. Paul walked and sailed a long way between the two.

2There he met a Jew named Aquila, who was born in Pontus. Aquila had just come from Italy with his wife, Priscilla. They came because Claudius, the ruler of Rome, had ordered all Jews to leave that city. Paul went to see them.

And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.

NoteJews are God's people, the family of Israel. Pontus was a land far away, by the Black Sea. Rome was the biggest, strongest city in the world then. Its ruler could order people to move away, and they had to go.

3Paul stayed with them and worked with them. They made tents for a living, and so did Paul.

And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.

NoteTents were made of tough cloth or leather, sewn by hand. Travelers and soldiers slept in them. Teachers like Paul often had a trade so they could pay for their own food.

4Every Sabbath, the Jewish day of rest, Paul talked with people in the synagogue, the place where Jews met to worship. He tried to help both Jews and Greeks believe.

And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.

NoteThe Sabbath was the day each week when Jews rested. They did no work and met to worship God. Greeks were people who were not Jews. Many of them came to listen too.

5Then Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia. After that, Paul spent all his time teaching. He told the Jews that Jesus is the Christ, the King God had promised to send.

And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.

NoteChrist means "the chosen one." God's people had waited a very long time for him. Macedonia was a land to the north, where Paul had been before.

6But they argued with him and said insulting things. So Paul shook out his clothes and said to them, "What happens to you is your own fault. I have done my part. From now on I will go to the Gentiles, people who are not Jews."

And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.

NoteShaking out your clothes was a sign, like brushing off dust. It meant, "I have said all I can say here." The old words "Your blood be upon your own heads" mean the choice is now theirs.

7So Paul left there and went into the house of a man named Justus. Justus worshiped God. His house was right next door to the synagogue.

And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man’s house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue.

NoteJustus was not a Jew, but he loved the God of Israel. He came to the synagogue to listen and pray.

8Crispus was the leader of the synagogue. He believed in the Lord, and so did everyone in his house. Many other people in Corinth heard and believed too. They were baptized, washed in water to show they now followed Jesus.

And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.

NoteThe leader of a synagogue kept the building and chose who would speak. Being baptized meant going down into water and coming up again.

9One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision, a picture God showed him. He said, "Do not be afraid. Keep speaking. Do not stay quiet."

Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:

NoteA vision is something God shows a person, like a dream while awake.

10"I am with you. No one will attack you and hurt you. Many people in this city belong to me."

For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.

11So Paul stayed there for a year and a half. He taught God's word to the people.

And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

12Gallio was the Roman ruler of the land called Achaia. In those days the Jews joined together against Paul. They took him to the judge's seat.

And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat,

NoteAchaia was the part of Greece around Corinth. Rome ruled it and sent a man to be in charge. The judge's seat was a raised stone platform outside. The ruler sat there so everyone could see and hear.

13They said, "This man tells people to worship God in a way that goes against the law."

Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.

NoteThe Jews meant God's law, given long ago to Moses. Gallio thought they meant the laws of Rome. That is why he would not listen.

14Paul was just about to speak. But Gallio said to the Jews, "If this were a real crime or something truly evil, I would listen to you."

And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you:

NoteThe old words here are "wrong or wicked lewdness." They mean stealing, hurting someone, or another real crime.

15"But this is only about words and names and your own law. Take care of it yourselves. I will not be the judge of such things."

But if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters.

16Then Gallio made them leave the judge's seat.

And he drave them from the judgment seat.

17Then the Greeks grabbed Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue. They beat him in front of the judge's seat. Gallio did not care at all.

Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things.

NoteSosthenes was a leader at the synagogue. The crowd knew Gallio would not stop them, so they hurt him.