Bible Verses About Select Readings

nor is he served by human hands, as if he lacked something; since it is he himself who gives life and breath and everything to everyone.

“From one man he made every nation living on the entire surface of the earth, and he fixed the limits of their territories and the periods when they would flourish.

God did this so that people would look for him and perhaps reach out and find him although in fact, he is not far from each one of us,

‘for in him we live and move and exist.’ Indeed, as some of the poets among you have said, ‘We are actually his children.’

So, since we are children of God, we shouldn’t suppose that God’s essence resembles gold, silver or stone shaped by human technique and imagination.

“In the past, God overlooked such ignorance; but now he is commanding all people everywhere to turn to him from their sins.

For he has set a Day when he will judge the inhabited world, and do it justly, by means of a man whom he has designated. And he has given public proof of it by resurrecting this man from the dead.”

After five days, the cohen hagadol Hananyah came down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they presented their case against Sha’ul to the governor.

Sha’ul was called, and Tertullus began to make the charges: “Felix, your Excellency, it is because of you that we enjoy unbroken peace, and it is your foresight that has brought to this nation

so many reforms in so many areas. It is with the utmost gratitude that we receive this.

But, in order not to take up too much of your time, I beg your indulgence to give us a brief hearing.

“We have found this man a pest. He is an agitator among all the Jews throughout the world and a ringleader of the sect of the Natzratim.

He even tried to profane the Temple, but we arrested him.

But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands,

By questioning this man yourself, you will be able to learn all about the things of which we are accusing him.”

The Judeans also joined in the accusation and alleged that these were the facts.

When the governor motioned for Sha’ul to speak, he replied, “I know that you have been judge over this nation for a number of years, so I am glad to make my defense.

As you can verify for yourself, it has not been more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Yerushalayim;

and neither in the Temple nor in the synagogues nor anywhere else in the city did they find me either arguing with anyone or collecting a crowd.

Nor can they give any proof of the things of which they are accusing me.

“But this I do admit to you: I worship the God of our fathers in accordance with the Way (which they call a sect). I continue to believe everything that accords with the Torah and everything written in the Prophets.

And I continue to have a hope in God — which they too accept — that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.

Indeed, it is because of this that I make a point of always having a clear conscience in the sight of both God and man.

“After an absence of several years, I came to Yerushalayim to bring a charitable gift to my nation and to offer sacrifices.

It was in connection with the latter that they found me in the Temple. I had been ceremonially purified, I was not with a crowd, and I was not causing a disturbance.