Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel,

弟兄们，我愿意你们知道，我所遭遇的事更是叫福音兴旺，

弟兄们，我要你们知道，我所遭遇的事反而使福音更兴旺，

弟兄们，我要你们知道，我所遭遇的事反而使福音更兴旺，

弟兄姊妹，我希望你们知道，我的遭遇反而会使福音传得更广，

弟兄们，我愿意你们知道，我所遭遇的反而使福音更加兴旺了，

弟兄们，我愿你们知道，我的遭遇反而促进了福音的进展，

弟兄們，我願意你們知道，我所遭遇的事更是叫福音興旺，

弟兄們，我要你們知道，我所遭遇的事反而使福音更興旺，

弟兄們，我要你們知道，我所遭遇的事反而使福音更興旺，

弟兄姊妹，我希望你們知道，我的遭遇反而會使福音傳得更廣，

弟兄們，我願意你們知道，我所遭遇的反而使福音更加興旺了，

弟兄們，我願你們明白我的景況反而促成了福音之進步，

弟兄們，我願你們知道，我的遭遇反而促進了福音的進展，

兄弟乎、我欲爾知、我所遭之事、適以廣福音之傳、

我欲兄弟知我遇難、福音益以廣布、

我欲兄弟知我所遇之事、更有益於福音、

茲欲告慰於兄弟者、即予所遭受之一切、適足促成福音之發揚光大也。

Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.

Brothers and sisters, here is what I want you to know. What has happened to me has actually helped to spread the good news.

I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel,

And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News.

Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually advanced the gospel,

But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel,

Now I would have you know, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the progress of the gospel;

Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has actually resulted in the advance of the gospel,

But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things[ which happened] unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;

I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that my situation has actually turned out to advance the gospel:

Now I desire to have you know, brothers, that the things which happened to me have turned out rather to the progress of the Good News,

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned.

So then those who were scattered because of the persecution that occurred in connection with Stephen made their way to Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews alone.But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks as well, preaching the good news of the Lord Jesus.And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.

“ Brothers and fathers, hear my defense which I now offer to you.”And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew dialect, they became even more quiet; and he* said,“ I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated under Gamaliel, strictly according to the Law of our fathers, being zealous for God just as you all are today.I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and putting both men and women into prisons,as also the high priest and all the Council of the elders can testify. From them I also received letters to the brothers, and started off for Damascus in order to bring even those who were there to Jerusalem as prisoners to be punished.“ But it happened that as I was on my way, approaching Damascus at about noon, a very bright light suddenly flashed from heaven all around me,and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me,‘ Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’And I answered,‘ Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me,‘ I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.’And those who were with me saw the light, but did not understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me.And I said,‘ What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me,‘ Get up and go on into Damascus, and there you will be told about everything that has been appointed for you to do.’But since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I came into Damascus being led by the hand by those who were with me.“ Now a certain Ananias, a man who was devout by the standard of the Law and well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there,came to me, and standing nearby he said to me,‘ Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ And at that very moment I looked up at him.And he said,‘ The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and to hear a message from His mouth.For you will be a witness for Him to all people of what you have seen and heard.Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins by calling on His name.’“ It happened when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I fell into a trance,and I saw Him saying to me,‘ Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about Me.’And I said,‘ Lord, they themselves understand that in one synagogue after another I used to imprison and beat those who believed in You.And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was being shed, I also was standing nearby and approving, and watching over the cloaks of those who were killing him.’And He said to me,‘ Go! For I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ”They listened to him up to this statement, and then they raised their voices and said,“ Away with such a man from the earth, for he should not be allowed to live!”And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and tossing dust into the air,the commander ordered that he be brought into the barracks, saying that he was to be interrogated by flogging so that he would find out the reason why they were shouting against him that way.But when they stretched him out with straps, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by,“ Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman and uncondemned?”When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and told him, saying,“ What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman.”The commander came and said to Paul,“ Tell me, are you a Roman?” And he said,“ Yes.”The commander answered,“ I acquired this citizenship for a large sum of money.” And Paul said,“ But I was actually born a citizen.”Therefore, those who were about to interrogate him immediately backed away from him; and the commander also was afraid when he found out that he was a Roman, and because he had put him in chains.Now on the next day, wanting to know for certain why Paul had been accused by the Jews, he released him and ordered the chief priests and all the Council to assemble, and he brought Paul down and placed him before them.

Therefore, those who had been scattered went through places preaching the word.

When they had been brought safely through, then we found out that the island was called Malta.The natives showed us extraordinary kindness, for they kindled a fire and took us all in because of the rain that had started and because of the cold.But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand.When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they began saying to one another,“ Undoubtedly this man is a murderer, and though he has been saved from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live.”However, Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm.Now they were expecting that he was going to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had waited a long time and had seen nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and began to say that he was a god.Now in the neighboring parts of that place were lands belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us warmly for three days.And it happened that the father of Publius was lying in bed afflicted with a recurring fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him, and after he prayed, he laid his hands on him and healed him.After this happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases were coming to him and being cured.They also showed us many honors, and when we were about to set sail, they supplied us with everything we needed.After three months we set sail on an Alexandrian ship which had wintered at the island, and which had the Twin Brothers for its figurehead.After we put in at Syracuse, we stayed there for three days.From there we sailed around and arrived at Rhegium, and a day later a south wind came up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli.There we found some brothers and sisters, and were invited to stay with them for seven days; and that is how we came to Rome.And from there the brothers and sisters, when they heard about us, came as far as the Market of Appius and the Three Inns to meet us; and when Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.After three days Paul called together those who were the leading men of the Jews, and when they came together, he began saying to them,“ Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was handed over to the Romans as a prisoner from Jerusalem.And when they had examined me, they were willing to release me because there were no grounds for putting me to death.But when the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar, not that I had any accusation against my nation.For this reason, therefore, I requested to see you and to speak with you, since I am wearing this chain for the sake of the hope of Israel.”They said to him,“ We have neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor has any of the brothers come here and reported or spoken anything bad about you.But we desire to hear from you what your views are; for regarding this sect, it is known to us that it is spoken against everywhere.”When they had set a day for Paul, people came to him at his lodging in large numbers; and he was explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening.Some were being persuaded by the things said by Paul, but others would not believe.And when they disagreed with one another, they began leaving after Paul said one parting statement:“ The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers,saying,‘ Go to this people and say,“ You will keep on hearing, and will not understand; And you will keep on seeing, and will not perceive;For the hearts of this people have become insensitive, And with their ears they hardly hear, And they have closed their eyes; Otherwise they might see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart and return, And I would heal them.” ’Therefore, let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will also listen.”

Now I know that the Lord is greater than all the gods; indeed, it was proven when they acted insolently against the people.”

Now in the twelfth month( that is, the month Adar), on the thirteenth day, when the king’s command and edict were to be put into effect, on the day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to gain the mastery over them, it turned out to the contrary so that the Jews themselves gained mastery over those who hated them.

crying out,“ Men of Israel, help! This is the man who instructs everyone everywhere against our people and the Law and this place; and besides, he has even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place!”For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, and they thought that Paul had brought him into the temple.Then the whole city was provoked and the people rushed together, and taking hold of Paul they dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the doors were shut.While they were intent on killing him, a report came up to the commander of the Roman cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion.He immediately took along some soldiers and centurions and ran down to the crowd; and when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.Then the commander came up and took hold of him, and ordered that he be bound with two chains; and he began asking who he was and what he had done.But among the crowd, some were shouting one thing and some another, and when he could not find out the facts because of the uproar, he ordered that Paul be brought into the barracks.When Paul got to the stairs, it came about that he was carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob;for the multitude of people kept following them, shouting,“ Away with him!”

For the wrath of mankind shall praise You; You will encircle Yourself with a remnant of wrath.