Quotes About Faith

After we had been there several days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.

Coming over to us, he took Paulís belt, bound his own feet and hands, and said, “The Holy Spirit says: ëIn this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and hand him over to the Gentiles.í”

When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.

Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

When he would not be dissuaded, we fell silent and said, “The Lordís will be done.”

After these days, we packed up and went on to Jerusalem.

Some of the disciples from Caesarea accompanied us, and they took us to stay at the home of Mnason the Cypriot, an early disciple.

When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers welcomed us joyfully.

The next day Paul went in with us to see James, and all the elders were present.

Paul greeted them and recounted one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.

When they heard this, they glorified God. Then they said to Paul, “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law.

But they are under the impression that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or observe our customs.

What then should we do? They will certainly hear that you have come.

Therefore do what we advise you. There are four men with us who have taken a vow.

Take these men, purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so they can have their heads shaved. Then everyone will know that there is no truth to these rumors about you, but that you also live in obedience to the law.

As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they must abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality.”

So the next day Paul took the men and purified himself along with them. Then he entered the temple to give notice of the date when their purification would be complete and the offering would be made for each of them.

When the seven days were almost over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him,

The commander came up and arrested Paul, ordering that he be bound with two chains. Then he asked who he was and what he had done.

When Paul reached the steps, he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob.

As they were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?” “Do you speak Greek?” he replied.

Having received permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. A great hush came over the crowd, and he addressed them in Hebrew:

“Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you.”

When they heard him speak to them in Hebrew, they became even more silent. Then Paul declared,