Paul

1King Agrippa said to Paul, "You may speak for yourself." Paul lifted his hand and began to speak.

Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:

NoteAgrippa was a king. The Romans let him rule part of the land. Paul was a prisoner. He had to explain to the king why he was not guilty. Lifting your hand was how a speaker showed he was ready to talk.

2"King Agrippa, I am glad to stand before you today. The Jews say I have done wrong. Now I can answer them in front of you."

I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:

NotePaul was on trial. That means important men were deciding if he had done wrong.

3"You know all about Jewish customs and the things Jews argue about. So please listen to me patiently."

Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.

4"All the Jews know how I have lived since I was a boy. I grew up among my own people in Jerusalem."

My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;

5"They have known me a long time. They can tell you, if they are willing, that I was a Pharisee. Pharisees kept the rules of our religion in the strictest way."

Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

NoteA Pharisee was a Jewish man who studied God's rules. Pharisees tried to keep every rule perfectly.

6"I am on trial today because of a hope I hold. It is hope in a promise God made to our fathers long ago."

And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:

Note"Our fathers" means the Jewish people who lived long, long ago. It means grandfathers and great-grandfathers, not just dads.

7"Our twelve family groups serve God day and night. They hope to see that promise come true. King, that same hope is why the Jews accuse me."

Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope’s sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.

NoteThe Jewish people came from twelve brothers. Each brother's family became one of the twelve groups, called tribes.

8"Why do you think it is impossible for God to raise dead people back to life?"

Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?

9"I once was sure I should fight against the name of Jesus of Nazareth."

I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

NoteNazareth was the small town where Jesus grew up. People often named a person after his hometown.

10"That is what I did in Jerusalem. The leading priests gave me power to do it. I put many of God's people in prison. When they were put to death, I voted against them."

Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.

NoteThe leading priests were the men in charge at the temple. A priest helped people worship God. Paul says he "voted": he agreed when others said Jesus' followers should die.

11"Many times I had them punished in the synagogues, the places where Jews met to worship. I tried to make them speak against God. I was so angry that I chased them into faraway cities."

And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.

NoteA synagogue was a building where Jews met to pray and learn. To speak against God means to say rude, insulting things about him.

12"That is why I was going to the city of Damascus. The leading priests had given me power to do this."

Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,

NoteDamascus was a big city far to the north. Walking there from Jerusalem took about a week.

13"At noon, O king, I was on the road. I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun. It shone all around me and the men with me."

At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.

NoteNoon is the middle of the day. The sun is brightest then, so this light was very bright indeed.

14"We all fell to the ground. I heard a voice speak to me in the Hebrew language. It said, 'Saul, Saul, why do you hurt me? It hurts you to kick against the sharp stick.'"

And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

NoteHebrew was the old language of the Jewish people. Saul was Paul's other name, the one he had first. A farmer used a long pointed stick to guide his oxen. If the animal kicked at the stick, it only hurt itself.

15"I said, 'Who are you, Lord?' He said, 'I am Jesus. I am the one you are hurting.'"

And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

16"'Now get up and stand on your feet. I have shown myself to you for a reason. I am making you my worker and my witness. You will tell others what you have seen. You will also tell them what I will show you later.'"

But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;

NoteA witness is someone who saw something happen. A witness tells other people what he saw.

17"'I will keep you safe from your own people. I will keep you safe from people who are not Jews. I am sending you to them.'"

Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,

NoteThe Jews called everyone else "Gentiles." It just means people from other nations.

18"'You will open their eyes. They will turn from darkness to light. They will turn from Satan's power to God. Then God will forgive their sins. They will share what God gives his holy people, because they trust me.'"

To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

NoteSatan is God's enemy. To forgive sins means God stops holding your wrong things against you.

19"So, King Agrippa, I obeyed what I saw from heaven."

Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:

NotePaul saw and heard Jesus while he was wide awake. People called that a vision.

20"I spoke first to people in Damascus, then in Jerusalem, then all around Judea. Then I spoke to people who are not Jews. I told them to be sorry for their sins and turn to God. I told them to live in a way that shows they really changed."

But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

NoteJudea was the part of the country around Jerusalem. To turn to God means to be sorry and start living his way.

21"That is why some Jews grabbed me at the temple and tried to kill me."

For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.

NoteThe temple in Jerusalem was a huge, beautiful building. It was the special place where Jews worshiped God.

22"God has helped me, so I am still here today. I tell everyone, important people and ordinary people. I say only what Moses and the prophets said would happen. The prophets were men who told people what God said."

Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:

NoteMoses led the Jewish people long ago. God gave Moses his laws to write down. Prophets were people who told others what God said.

23"They said the Christ, the king God promised, would suffer. He would be the first to rise from the dead. Then he would bring light to our people and to people who are not Jews."

That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.

Note"Christ" is a title, not a last name. It means the special king God promised to send.

24While Paul was saying this, Festus shouted at him. Festus was the Roman governor. He said, "Paul, you are out of your mind! All your studying has made you crazy!"

And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.

NoteFestus was the governor. Rome put him in charge of that whole area.

25Paul said, "I am not crazy, honored Festus. What I am saying is true and sensible."

But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.

NotePaul calls him "most noble Festus." That was a polite way to speak to a ruler.

26"The king knows about these things. That is why I can speak openly to him. I am sure he has heard all of it. None of this happened in secret."

For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.

27"King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do."

King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.

28Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think you can make me a Christian so quickly?"

Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

NoteA Christian is someone who follows Jesus. The name was quite new back then.

29Paul said, "Quickly or slowly, I ask God for this. I wish you and everyone listening today could be like me. But I would not wish these chains on you."

And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.

NotePaul was wearing chains because he was a prisoner. He wanted others to know Jesus, but not to be locked up.

30Then the king stood up. The governor stood up too, and Bernice, and everyone sitting with them.

And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:

NoteBernice was King Agrippa's sister. She lived with him and went where he went.

31As they walked out, they talked to each other. They said, "This man has done nothing that deserves death or prison."

And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.

32Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have gone free. But he asked Caesar, the ruler of Rome, to judge his case."

Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.

NoteCaesar was the emperor, the top ruler of Rome. Any Roman citizen could ask Caesar to judge his case. Once Paul asked, no one else was allowed to let him go.

1It was decided that we would sail by ship to Italy. Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a man named Julius. Julius was a centurion, a Roman officer in charge of about a hundred soldiers. He belonged to the group of soldiers called the Imperial Regiment.

And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus’ band.

NoteA prisoner is someone soldiers keep so he cannot leave. Paul was not free to go where he wanted. Italy is the land where the city of Rome was. Paul was being taken there to have his case heard.

2We got on a ship from the town of Adramyttium. It was going to stop at ports along the coast of Asia. A man named Aristarchus came with us. He was from the city of Thessalonica, in the land of Macedonia.

And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.

NoteHere "Asia" does not mean the whole big continent. It was the name of one Roman area, in what is now Turkey. A port is a town where ships stop to load and unload.

3The next day we landed at the city of Sidon. Julius was kind to Paul. He let Paul go and see his friends so they could care for him.

And the next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself.

4We left Sidon and sailed close to the island of Cyprus. We stayed on the sheltered side, because the winds blew against us.

And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.

NoteWind pushes hard on one side of an island. The other side is calm and quiet. Sailors call that the sheltered side. Ships hid there to stay safe.

5We sailed across the open sea near the lands of Cilicia and Pamphylia. Then we came to the city of Myra, in the land of Lycia.

And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.

6There the officer found a ship from the city of Alexandria. It was sailing to Italy. He put us on board.

And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy; and he put us therein.

NoteAlexandria was a large city in Egypt. Big ships from there carried grain across the sea to Rome.

7We sailed slowly for many days. It was hard to get near the city of Cnidus. The wind kept holding us back. So we sailed to the sheltered side of the island of Crete, near a place called Salmone.

And when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce were come over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over against Salmone;

8We moved along the coast with great trouble. At last we came to a place called Fair Havens. The town of Lasea was nearby.

And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called The fair havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.

NoteA haven is a harbor, a safe spot where ships can rest. The name Fair Havens means "good harbor."

9A lot of time had gone by. Sailing was now dangerous, because the day called the Fast had already passed. So Paul warned the men.

Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them,

NoteThe Fast was a special day when Jewish people ate no food. It came in the fall. After that day, the sea grew stormy. Sailors knew this was a bad time to travel.

10He said, "Men, I can see that this trip will go badly. It will bring harm and great loss. The ship and everything it carries will be lost. Our lives will be lost too."

And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives.

11But the officer did not listen to Paul. He believed the ship's pilot and the ship's owner instead.

Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.

NoteThe pilot was the man who steered the ship. He knew the way across the sea.

12The harbor was not a good place to stay all winter. Most of the men wanted to sail on. They hoped to reach Phoenix and spend the winter there. Phoenix is a harbor in Crete that faces southwest and northwest.

And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west.

NoteIn winter the sea was cold and full of storms. Ships stayed in a harbor and waited for spring.

13A gentle wind began to blow from the south. The men thought they would get what they wanted. So they pulled up the anchor and sailed close to the shore of Crete.

And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.

NoteAn anchor is a heavy weight tied to a rope. Sailors drop it in the water to hold the ship still.

14Soon a very strong wind rushed down from the island. The sailors called this wind the Northeaster.

But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.

NoteSailors gave names to winds, like we name storms. This one blew hard from the northeast.

15The wind caught the ship. The ship could not turn to face the wind. So we gave up and let the wind push us along.

And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive.

16We passed the sheltered side of a small island called Clauda. There we worked hard to pull in the ship's little boat.

And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat:

NoteA big ship pulled a little boat behind it. Sailors used the little boat to reach the shore.

17The men lifted the little boat on board. Then they tied ropes around the ship to hold it together. They were afraid of the sandbars near Syrtis. So they lowered the sail and let the wind drive them.

Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven.

NoteThe men wrapped strong ropes all around the ship. This held the wooden planks together in the waves. A sandbar is a hill of sand hiding under shallow water. Ships get stuck on it. Syrtis was a place with many sandbars, and sailors were afraid of it.

18The storm tossed us very hard. The next day the men began throwing the load into the sea.

And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship;

19On the third day they threw out the ship's ropes and gear with their own hands.

And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.

NoteThe gear was the ropes, poles and sails used to run the ship. It was heavy, so throwing it out helped the ship float higher.

20For many days we saw no sun and no stars. The big storm kept beating on us. We gave up all hope of being saved.

And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.

NoteSailors long ago had no maps on screens. They looked at the sun and the stars to know where they were. Thick clouds hid both, so no one knew where the ship was going.

21The men had gone a long time without food. Paul stood up in front of them and said, "Men, you should have listened to me. You should not have sailed away from Crete. Then all this harm and loss would not have come.

But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.

22But now I ask you to be brave. Not one of you will lose his life. Only the ship will be lost.

And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship.

23Last night an angel stood beside me. He was sent by God. I belong to God, and I serve him.

For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,

NoteAn angel is a messenger God sends to speak for him.

24The angel said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand before Caesar, the ruler of Rome. And God has given you the lives of everyone sailing with you.'

Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.

NoteCaesar was the most powerful ruler in Rome. Paul had asked for Caesar himself to hear his case.

25So be brave, men. I trust God. It will happen just the way he told me.

Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.

26But our ship must run onto the shore of some island."

Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.

27It was the fourteenth night of the storm. The wind was still driving us across the Adriatic Sea. Around midnight the sailors sensed that land was near.

But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country;

NoteBack then, people used the name Adriatic for a wide part of the sea. It covered more water than the sea called Adriatic today.

28They dropped a weighted line to measure the water. It was twenty fathoms deep. A little farther on they measured again. This time it was fifteen fathoms.

And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms.

NoteA fathom is about six feet deep. That is how wide a man's arms reach when he spreads them out. Sailors tied a weight to a rope and let it sink. That told them how deep the water was.

29They were afraid the ship would crash on rocks. So they dropped four anchors from the back of the ship. Then they waited and hoped for morning to come.

Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.

30The sailors wanted to get away from the ship. They let the little boat down into the sea. They pretended they were dropping anchors from the front of the ship.

And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship,

31Paul said to the officer and the soldiers, "These men must stay on the ship. If they leave, you cannot be saved."

Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.

32So the soldiers cut the ropes of the little boat. They let it fall away into the sea.

Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.

33Just before morning Paul begged them all to eat. He said, "For fourteen days you have waited and worried. You have eaten nothing at all.

And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing.

34Please eat some food. It will help you stay alive. Not one hair will fall from your heads."

Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you.

Note"Not one hair will fall from your heads" was a common saying. It meant nobody would get hurt at all.

35Then Paul took some bread. He thanked God in front of them all. He broke the bread and began to eat.

And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat.

NoteJewish people always thanked God before they ate. Paul did this in front of everyone on the ship.

36That made all the men feel better. They ate some food too.

Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat.

37There were 276 of us on the ship in all.

And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.

NoteThat is a lot of people for one boat. Grain ships were very large and carried big crowds.

38When they had eaten enough, they made the ship lighter. They threw the wheat into the sea.

And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea.

NoteWheat is the grain that bread is made from. The ship was carrying it to Rome to sell.

39When morning came, they did not know what land they saw. But they spotted a bay with a sandy beach. They planned to run the ship onto it if they could.

And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship.

40They cut the anchors loose and left them in the sea. They untied the ropes that held the steering oars. Then they raised the front sail to the wind and headed for the beach.

And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoised up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore.

NoteShips then had no steering wheel. Two big oars at the back turned the ship. They were tied up during the storm.

41The ship ran onto a place where two seas met. The front of the ship stuck fast and would not move. The back of the ship began to break apart in the waves.

And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves.

NoteA place where two seas met is a spot where water comes at the ship from two sides.

42The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners. They did not want any of them to swim away and escape.

And the soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.

NoteIf a prisoner ran away, the soldiers guarding him were punished. Sometimes they were even killed. That is why the soldiers made this plan.

43But the officer wanted to save Paul. So he stopped their plan. He told the men who could swim to jump in first and get to land.

But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land:

44The rest went on boards and broken pieces of the ship. And so every single person reached land safely.

And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.

1When we were safe on land, we found out the island was called Malta.

And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.

NotePaul and the others had just been in a shipwreck. A storm broke their boat apart in the sea. Malta is a small island south of Italy.

2The people who lived there were very kind to us. It was raining and cold. They made a fire and welcomed every one of us.

And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.

NoteThe King James calls them "barbarous people." That did not mean they were rude or mean. It meant they spoke a language the writer did not know.

3Paul picked up a bundle of sticks. He laid them on the fire. The heat drove out a viper, a snake with poison. It bit his hand and held on.

And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.

4The island people saw the snake hanging from his hand. They said to each other, "This man must be a killer. He got away from the sea. But justice will still not let him live."

And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.

NoteThese people believed in a goddess named Justice. They thought she punished people who had done wrong. So they thought the snake bite was her punishment.

5Paul shook the snake off into the fire. He was not hurt at all.

And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.

6They waited for him to swell up, or to drop down dead. They watched a long time. Nothing bad happened to him. So they changed their minds. They said he was a god.

Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.

NoteBack then most people believed in many gods. They thought gods sometimes came and walked among people.

7Nearby was land that belonged to the most important man on the island. His name was Publius. He welcomed us and cared for us kindly for three days.

In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously.

NotePublius was the Roman leader in charge of the whole island. His house and fields were the biggest ones there.

8The father of Publius was sick in bed. He had a fever and a bad sickness in his belly. Paul went in to him. Paul prayed and put his hands on him. Then the man got well.

And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.

NoteThe King James calls this sickness a "bloody flux." It made a person's belly hurt very badly. Long ago it made many people very sick.

9After that happened, other sick people on the island came too. They were made well.

So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed:

10The people showed us honor in many ways. When we sailed away, they gave us everything we needed.

Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary.

NoteShips did not give food to the people riding on them. Travelers had to bring their own food and blankets. So the island people packed what Paul's group would need.

11Three months later we sailed away on a ship from the city of Alexandria. It had waited out the winter at the island. Its front was carved with Castor and Pollux, twin brothers from old stories.

And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux.

NoteAlexandria was a big city in Egypt. Ships from there carried grain to Rome. Ships stayed in port all winter because the sea was too stormy. Sailors believed the twins Castor and Pollux kept ships safe. Many ships had them carved on the front.

12We stopped at the city of Syracuse and stayed there three days.

And landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days.

NoteSyracuse was a city on Sicily, a big island next to Italy.

13From there we sailed around the coast and came to Rhegium. A day later the wind blew from the south. The next day we reached Puteoli.

And from thence we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium: and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli:

NoteRhegium and Puteoli were towns in Italy. Puteoli was a busy harbor where big ships unloaded. Rome was still many days away by road.

14There we found some brothers who followed Jesus. They asked us to stay with them a week. Then we went on toward Rome.

Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome.

NoteRome was the biggest city in the world then. The ruler of the whole empire lived there.

15The believers in Rome heard we were coming. They walked out to meet us. They came as far as the Market of Appius and a place called Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and felt braver.

And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.

NoteThe Market of Appius was about forty miles from Rome. Three Taverns was closer, about thirty miles out. Both were rest stops along the big road into Rome. Paul's friends walked a long way to meet him.

16When we got to Rome, the officer handed the prisoners to the captain of the guard. But Paul was allowed to live by himself, with one soldier to watch him.

And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.

NoteThe officer was a centurion. That is a Roman soldier in charge of about a hundred men. Paul was still a prisoner. He was likely chained to the soldier guarding him.

17Three days later Paul called the Jewish leaders to come together. When they came, he said, "Brothers, I have done nothing wrong to our people. I have not gone against the ways our fathers taught us. Even so, I was taken prisoner in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans.

And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.

NoteMany Jewish people lived in Rome, far from Jerusalem. These were their leaders there. "The ways our fathers taught us" means the rules and worship passed down for hundreds of years.

18They asked me questions. They wanted to let me go. I had done nothing that deserved death.

Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.

19But some of the Jewish leaders spoke against that. So I had to ask Caesar, the ruler of Rome, to hear my case. I am not blaming my own people for anything.

But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.

NotePaul was born a citizen of Rome. Citizens had a special right. They could ask the emperor himself to hear their case. That is why Paul was sent all the way to Rome.

20That is why I asked to see you and talk with you. I wear this chain because of the hope of Israel."

For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.

NoteIsrael is another name for the Jewish people. For a long time they hoped God would send a rescuer. Paul said this chain was because of that hope.

21They said to him, "No letters about you came to us from Judea. No brother who came here said anything bad about you.

And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee.

NoteJudea was the land around Jerusalem. That is where Paul had been arrested.

22But we would like to hear what you think. We know that people everywhere speak against this group."

But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.

NoteThe King James word here is "sect." It means a smaller group inside a bigger group. Here it means the people who followed Jesus.

23So they picked a day to meet him. Many people came to the house where he was staying. From morning until evening Paul explained about God's kingdom. He tried to get them to believe what he said about Jesus. He used the law of Moses and the books of the prophets, men who spoke God's messages long ago.

And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.

NoteThe law of Moses and the prophets were the Jewish holy books. They are the part of the Bible written before Jesus was born.

24Some believed what he said. Others did not believe.

And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.

25They did not agree with each other, so they began to leave. Before they went, Paul said one more thing. "The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to our fathers through the prophet Isaiah.

And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,

NoteThe King James says "the Holy Ghost." Ghost was just the old word for Spirit. Isaiah was a prophet who lived hundreds of years before Paul.

26God said, 'Go to these people and tell them this. You will hear and hear, but you will not understand. You will look and look, but you will not see.

Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:

27The hearts of these people have grown hard. Their ears hardly hear. They have shut their eyes. If they had not, they would see with their eyes. They would hear with their ears. They would understand in their hearts. They would turn back to me, and I would heal them.'

For the heart of this people is waxed 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.

NoteThe King James says their heart "is waxed gross." That means it grew thick and hard. It is a picture for people who stop listening.

28So know this. God has sent his saving help to the people who are not Jews. They will listen to it."

Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.

NoteAnyone who was not Jewish was called a Gentile. That meant most people in the world.

29When Paul said this, the Jews left. They argued about it a lot among themselves.

And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.

NoteSome very old copies of this book do not have this verse. That is why some Bibles skip from verse 28 to verse 30.

30Paul stayed there two whole years in a house he paid for. He welcomed everyone who came to see him.

And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,

NotePaul paid rent for this house, like paying for a room. He was still a prisoner and could not leave. But people were allowed to come and visit him.

31He told them about God's kingdom. He taught them about the Lord Jesus Christ. He spoke boldly, and no one stopped him.

Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

NoteThis is the last verse in the book of Acts. The story stops here, with Paul still waiting in Rome.

1Paul is writing this letter. He is a servant of Jesus Christ. God called him to be an apostle, a messenger sent out by Jesus. God set him apart to tell people the good news.

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

NotePaul was a man who traveled to many cities long ago. He went from place to place telling people about Jesus.

2God promised this good news long ago. He promised it through his prophets, people who told others what God said. Their words are written in the holy writings.

(Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)

NoteThe holy writings are the first part of the Bible. People read them for hundreds of years before Jesus was born.

3The good news is about God's Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. As a human, he was born into the family of King David.

Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;

NoteDavid was a famous king of Israel long, long ago. God had promised that a special king would come from David's family.

4The Spirit of holiness showed with power that Jesus is God's Son. God showed this by raising him from the dead.

And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

NoteJesus died and was buried in a grave. Then God made him alive again. That is what "raised from the dead" means.

5Through Jesus we were given God's kindness and a job to do. Our job is to help people in every nation trust and obey God. We do this for Jesus and his name.

By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

NoteThe word for God's kindness is "grace." It means God is good to people even when they have not earned it.

6You in Rome are some of those people. Jesus Christ has called you to belong to him.

Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:

NoteRome was a huge, powerful city far away from Paul. The rulers there ruled over many lands and many people.

7This letter is for everyone in Rome whom God loves. God has called you to be his own holy people. May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you kindness and peace.

To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Note"Holy people" means people God has picked to be his own. The old word for this is "saints."

8First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you. People all over the world talk about how you trust God.

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

Note"All over the world" means all the lands people knew about then. It was much smaller than the world we know now.

9God knows that this is true. I serve him with my whole heart by telling the good news about his Son. I pray for you all the time, and I never stop.

For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;

NoteWhen Paul says God knows it is true, he is making a promise. It is like saying, "I really mean this."

10In my prayers I keep asking God for one thing. I ask that by his will I may at last find a way to come to you.

Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.

NoteTraveling then was slow and hard. People walked for weeks or sailed on wooden ships. Storms and robbers made trips dangerous.

11I really want to see you. I want to share a gift from God's Spirit with you. That gift will make you strong.

For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;

NoteA gift from God's Spirit is something God helps a person do. It might be teaching, or helping, or being brave.

12I mean that we can cheer each other up. Your trust in God helps me. My trust in God helps you.

That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

13Brothers and sisters, I want you to know something. Many times I planned to come to you. But each time something stopped me. I wanted good things to grow among you, as they have among other nations.

Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.

NotePaul calls them brothers and sisters. He does not mean his family at home. He means they all belong to God together.

14I owe this good news to everyone. I owe it to Greeks and to people who are not Greeks. I owe it to wise people and to simple people.

I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.

NoteGreeks spoke the Greek language and were proud of their schools. They called everyone else "barbarians" because other speech sounded odd to them.

15So I am eager to come and tell the good news to you in Rome too.

So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

1I am Paul, and I am asking you kindly myself. I ask you the way Christ is kind and gentle. When I am with you face to face, I am humble. When I am away from you, I am bold.

Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:

NotePaul was a teacher who traveled around telling people about Jesus. He wrote this letter to a church in a city called Corinth. Christ is a name for Jesus. In the old words, "base among you" means low or humble. It does not mean bad.

2I am asking you this. When I come, do not make me be bold with you. Some people think we live by selfish human ways. I am ready to speak firmly to them.

But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.

3It is true that we live in human bodies. But we do not fight the way the world fights.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

NotePaul is not talking about a real war with swords. He means the struggle over what is true.

4The weapons we fight with are not the world's weapons. God makes our weapons strong. They can pull down strong walls.

(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

NoteLong ago, cities had thick stone walls called strong holds. Soldiers pulled the walls down to win. Paul uses that picture for wrong ideas.

5We tear down false arguments. We tear down proud ideas that stand against knowing God. We take hold of every thought and make it obey Christ.

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

NoteThe old word "imaginations" here means arguments people make up. In a war, soldiers caught enemies and led them away. Paul says he catches thoughts the same way.

6We are ready to punish every act of disobeying. We will wait until you have fully obeyed.

And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

NoteIn the old words, "revenge" means to punish fairly. It does not mean getting even.

7You are looking at how people seem on the outside. Someone may be sure that he belongs to Christ. He should remember that we belong to Christ just as much.

Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s.

8The Lord gave us authority, which means the right to lead you. He gave it to build you up, not to tear you down. Even if I boast about it somewhat more, I will not be ashamed.

For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:

NoteTo boast means to talk big about yourself. Authority means the right to lead, the way a teacher leads a class.

9I do not want to seem like I am trying to scare you with my letters.

That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.

NotePaul was far away, so he sent letters. Someone read each letter out loud to the whole church.

10Some people say, "His letters are strong and forceful. But in person he is weak, and his speaking is nothing much."

For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.

NoteIn Paul's time, people loved listening to fine speakers. Some said Paul was not a good one. "Contemptible" means they thought his speaking was poor.

11Those people should think about this. What we say in our letters when we are away, we will do when we are there with you.

Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.

12Some people praise themselves. We would not dare to put ourselves in their group or compare ourselves with them. They measure themselves by themselves. They compare themselves with each other. That is not wise.

For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

13We will not boast about more than what belongs to us. God gave us a work with a size and a place. That work reaches all the way to you.

But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.

NotePaul talks about his work like a piece of land. God marked out how far that land goes. Corinth was inside Paul's part.

14We are not stretching too far. We really did come to you. We were the first to bring you the good news about Christ.

For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ:

NoteThe gospel means the good news about Jesus.

15We do not boast about work that other people did. But we hope your faith will keep growing. Then our work among you can grow much more, inside the limits God gave us.

Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men’s labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,

16Then we can tell the good news in places beyond you. We will not boast about work already done in another man's area.

To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s line of things made ready to our hand.

NoteA "line" was a rope used to mark where land ended. Paul means work being done in someone else's area.

17If anyone wants to boast, he should boast about the Lord.

But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

NotePaul is borrowing words from an older part of the Bible. Here "glory" means to boast.

18The person who praises himself is not the one who is approved. The one the Lord praises is approved.

For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

NoteApproved means someone looked at the work and said it is good.