But many who heard the message believed. The number of men who believed grew to about 5,000.

但听道之人有许多信的，男丁数目约到五千。

但听道的人有许多信了，男人的数目约有五千。

但听道的人有许多信了，男人的数目约有五千。

但有许多听道的人信了，男人的数目约有五千人。

然而有许多听道的人信了，男人的数目，约有五千。

然而听了这话语的人中，有许多人相信了；男人的数目约有五千。

但聽道之人有許多信的，男丁數目約到五千。

但聽道的人有許多信了，男人的數目約有五千。

但聽道的人有許多信了，男人的數目約有五千。

但有許多聽道的人信了，男人的數目約有五千人。

然而有許多聽道的人信了，男人的數目，約有五千。

但聽道的人有許多信的；人數添到五千。

然而聽了這話語的人中，有許多人相信了；男人的數目約有五千。

然聽道者多信之、人數約五千焉、○

然聽道信從者、數約五千人、○

然聽道者多信之、數約五千人、

然聞道而信者益眾、數約五千。

But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.

But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

But many of the people who heard their message believed it, so the number of men who believed now totaled about 5,000.

But many of those who heard the message believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

But many of those who had heard the message believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

But many of them that heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

But many of those who heard the message believed, and the number of the men came to about 5,000.

Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.

But many of those who had listened to the message believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

But many of those who heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

Those who accepted his message were baptized. About 3,000 people joined the believers that day.

Brothers and sisters, here is what I want you to know. What has happened to me has actually helped to spread the good news.One thing has become clear. I am being held by chains because I am a witness for Christ. All the palace guards and everyone else know it.And because I am a prisoner, most of the believers have become bolder in the Lord. They now dare even more to preach the good news without fear.It’s true that some preach about Christ because they are jealous. But others preach about Christ to help me in my work.The last group acts out of love. They know I have been put here to be a witness for the good news.But the others preach about Christ only to get ahead. They preach Christ for the wrong reasons. They think they can stir up trouble for me while I am being held by chains.But what does it matter? Here is the important thing. Whether for right or wrong reasons, Christ is being preached about. That makes me very glad. And I will continue to be glad.

I am suffering for it. I have even been put in chains like someone who has committed a crime. But God’s word is not held back by chains.So I put up with everything for the good of God’s chosen people. Then they also can be saved. Christ Jesus saves them. He gives them glory that will last forever.

They will say,‘ The Lord is the only one who can save us. Only he can make us strong.’ ” All those who have been angry with the Lord will come to him. And they will be put to shame.

The right to rule will not leave Judah. The ruler’s scepter will not be taken from between his feet. It will be his until the king it belongs to will come. The nations will obey that king.

Some believed what he said, and others did not.

What I’m about to tell you is true. Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only one seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.

So I will give him a place of honor among those who are great. He will be rewarded just like others who win the battle. That’s because he was willing to give his life as a sacrifice. He was counted among those who had committed crimes. He took the sins of many people on himself. And he gave his life for those who had done what is wrong.”

Give thanks to God! He always leads us as if we were prisoners in Christ’s victory parade. Through us, God spreads the knowledge of Christ everywhere like perfume.God considers us to be the pleasing smell that Christ is spreading. He is spreading it among people who are being saved and people who are dying.To those who are dying, we are the smell of death. To those who are being saved, we are the perfume of life. Who is able to do this work?Unlike many people, we aren’t selling God’s word to make money. In fact, it is just the opposite. Because of Christ we speak honestly before God. We speak like people God has sent.