A. 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,

B. Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers,

C. yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.

D. But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar;

E. not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.

F. For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you:

E’. because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.

D’. And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee,

C’. neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee.

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

A’. 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. And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word,

A. 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. And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme;

B. and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.

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

D. And when we were all fallen to the earth,

E. 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.

F. And I said, Who art thou, Lord?

E’. And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

D’. But rise, and stand upon thy feet:

C’1. for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose,

C’2. to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen,

C’3. and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;

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

A’. 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.

A. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself.

B. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself: 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:

C. 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.

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

E. Which knew me from the beginning,

D’. if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

C’. And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come.

B’. For which hope’s sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews. Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?

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

A. 17  And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. 18 And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, 19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:

B. 20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house,

C.  21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

D. 22 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: 23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.

E. 24  But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

F. 25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. 26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.

G. 27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

F’. 28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

E’. 29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

D’. 32 And now, brethren,

C’. I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

B’. 33 I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel. 34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.  35 I have shewed
you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

A. 36 And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all. 37 And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him, 38 Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.

A (23) 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.

B (24) God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth,

C (24) dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

D(25) Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

C1 (26) And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell

B1 (26) on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

A1 (27) 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:

1A. 34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

1B. 36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ:(he is Lord of all:) 37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; 38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were op pressed of the devil; for God was with him.

1C. 39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem;

1D. whom they slew and hanged on a tree: 40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;

1C’. 41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.

1B’. 42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.

1A’. 43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

2A. 44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

2B. 45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

2C. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.

2B’. Then answered Peter, 47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

2A’. 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

A. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

B. And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.

B’. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

A. And he commanded the chariot to stand still:and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

(From Ruth)

The place of the scripture which he read was this,

A. He was led as a sheep to the slaughter;

B. and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:

C. In his humiliation his judgment was taken away:

B’ and who shall declare his generation?

A. for his life is taken from the earth.

A (41) And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.

B (42a) Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven;

C (42b-43) as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness? Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.

D (44a) Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness,

E (44b) as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.

F (45a) Which also our fathers that came after brought in

G (45b) with Joshua into the possession of the Gentiles,

F’ (45c) whom God drave out before the face of our fathers,

E’ (45d-46) unto the days of David; Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.

D’ (47) But Solomon built him an house.

C’ (48) Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,

B’ (49) Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?

A’ (50) Hath not my hand made all these things?