“ Watch out! You will be handed over to the local courts. You will be whipped in the synagogues. You will stand in front of governors and kings because of me. In that way you will be witnesses to them.

但你们要谨慎；因为人要把你们交给公会，并且你们在会堂里要受鞭打，又为我的缘故站在诸侯与君王面前，对他们作见证。

但你们自己要谨慎；因为有人要把你们交给议会，并且你们在会堂里要受鞭打，又为我的缘故站在统治者和君王面前，对他们作见证。

但你们自己要谨慎；因为有人要把你们交给议会，并且你们在会堂里要受鞭打，又为我的缘故站在统治者和君王面前，对他们作见证。

“你们要小心，因为你们将被送上法庭，将在会堂里受鞭打，又将为了我的缘故在官长和君王面前做见证。

但你们要小心！因为人要把你们交给公议会，你们要在会堂里被鞭打，又要为我的缘故站在总督和君王面前，向他们作见证。

“你们自己要当心。他们将要把你们送交议会；你们会在会堂里受鞭打。为我的缘故，你们将站在总督和君王面前，好对他们做见证。

但你們要謹慎；因為人要把你們交給公會，並且你們在會堂裏要受鞭打，又為我的緣故站在諸侯與君王面前，對他們作見證。

但你們自己要謹慎；因為有人要把你們交給議會，並且你們在會堂裏要受鞭打，又為我的緣故站在統治者和君王面前，對他們作見證。

但你們自己要謹慎；因為有人要把你們交給議會，並且你們在會堂裏要受鞭打，又為我的緣故站在統治者和君王面前，對他們作見證。

「你們要小心，因為你們將被送上法庭，將在會堂裡受鞭打，又將為了我的緣故在官長和君王面前做見證。

但你們要小心！因為人要把你們交給公議會，你們要在會堂裡被鞭打，又要為我的緣故站在總督和君王面前，向他們作見證。

『但是你們、要自己謹慎；因為人必把你們送交議會，你們必在會堂裏受打；你們必為我的緣故站在統治官和君王面前，對他們作見證。

「你們自己要當心。他們將要把你們送交議會；你們會在會堂裡受鞭打。為我的緣故，你們將站在總督和君王面前，好對他們做見證。

爾宜自慎、人將付爾於公會、撻爾於會堂、且為我故、將立於侯王前而為之證、

故當自謹、蓋為我故、人將解爾至公會、扑爾於會堂、立爾於侯王前以為證、

爾當自慎、蓋人將解爾於公會、撲爾於會堂、且為我故、爾將被解至侯王前、以為之證、

爾當戒慎、爾將因予之故、被人執交公會、撻於會堂、解至王侯之前、以證吾道。

“ You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them.

“ But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them.

“ When these things begin to happen, watch out! You will be handed over to the local councils and beaten in the synagogues. You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell them about me.

“ But you, be on your guard! They will hand you over to local courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings because of me, as a witness to them.

“ But be on your guard; for they will hand you over to the courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them.

“ But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them.

But take ye heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in synagogues shall ye be beaten; and before governors and kings shall ye stand for my sake, for a testimony unto them.

“ But you, be on your guard! They will hand you over to sanhedrins, and you will be flogged in the synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings because of Me, as a witness to them.

But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.

“ You must watch out for yourselves. You will be handed over to councils and beaten in the synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings because of me, as a witness to them.

But watch yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils. You will be beaten in synagogues. You will stand before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them.

Watch out! You will be handed over to the local courts. You will be whipped in the synagogues.You will be brought to governors and kings because of me. You will be witnesses to them and to the Gentiles.

Jesus said to them,“ Keep watch! Be careful that no one fools you.

You will be thrown out of the synagogue. In fact, the time is coming when someone may kill you. And they will think they are doing God a favor.

Three days after Festus arrived, he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem.There the chief priests and the Jewish leaders came to Festus. They brought their charges against Paul.They tried very hard to get Festus to have Paul taken to Jerusalem. They asked for this as a favor. They were planning to hide and attack Paul along the way. They wanted to kill him.Festus answered,“ Paul is being held at Caesarea. Soon I’ll be going there myself.Let some of your leaders come with me. If the man has done anything wrong, they can bring charges against him there.”Festus spent eight or ten days in Jerusalem with them. Then he went down to Caesarea. The next day he called the court together. He ordered Paul to be brought to him.When Paul arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him. They brought many strong charges against him. But they couldn’t prove that these charges were true.Then Paul spoke up for himself. He said,“ I’ve done nothing wrong against the law of the Jews or against the temple. I’ve done nothing wrong against Caesar.”But Festus wanted to do the Jews a favor. So he said to Paul,“ Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem? Are you willing to go on trial there? Are you willing to face these charges in my court?”Paul answered,“ I’m already standing in Caesar’s court. This is where I should go on trial. I haven’t done anything wrong to the Jews. You yourself know that very well.If I am guilty of anything worthy of death, I’m willing to die. But the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true. No one has the right to hand me over to them. I make my appeal to Caesar!”Festus talked it over with the members of his court. Then he said,“ You have made an appeal to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”A few days later King Agrippa and Bernice arrived in Caesarea. They came to pay a visit to Festus.They were spending many days there. So Festus talked with the king about Paul’s case. He said,“ There’s a man here that Felix left as a prisoner.When I went to Jerusalem, the Jewish chief priests and the elders brought charges against the man. They wanted him to be found guilty.“ I told them that this is not the way Romans do things. We don’t judge people before they have faced those bringing charges against them. They must have a chance to argue against the charges for themselves.When the Jewish leaders came back with me, I didn’t waste any time. I called the court together the next day. I ordered the man to be brought in.Those bringing charges against him got up to speak. But they didn’t charge him with any of the crimes I had expected.Instead, they argued with him about their own beliefs. They didn’t agree about a man named Jesus. They said Jesus was dead, but Paul claimed Jesus was alive.I had no idea how to look into such matters. So I asked Paul if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem. There he could be tried on these charges.But Paul made an appeal to have the Emperor decide his case. So I ordered him to be held until I could send him to Caesar.”Then Agrippa said to Festus,“ I would like to hear this man myself.” Festus replied,“ Tomorrow you will hear him.”The next day Agrippa and Bernice arrived. They were treated like very important people. They entered the courtroom. The most important military officers and the leading men of the city came with them. When Festus gave the command, Paul was brought in.Festus said,“ King Agrippa, and everyone else here, take a good look at this man! A large number of Jews have come to me about him. They came to me in Jerusalem and also here in Caesarea. They keep shouting that he shouldn’t live any longer.I have found that he hasn’t done anything worthy of death. But he made his appeal to the Emperor. So I decided to send him to Rome.I don’t have anything certain to write about him to His Majesty. So I have brought him here today. Now all of you will be able to hear him. King Agrippa, it will also be very good for you to hear him. As a result of this hearing, I will have something to write.

Remember what I told you. I said,‘ A slave is not more important than his master.’( John 13:16) If people hated me and tried to hurt me, they will do the same to you. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.

Five days later Ananias the high priest went down to Caesarea. Some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus went with him. They brought their charges against Paul to the governor.So Paul was called in. Tertullus began to bring the charges against Paul. He said to Felix,“ We have enjoyed a long time of peace while you have been ruling. You are a wise leader. You have made this a better nation.Most excellent Felix, we gladly admit this everywhere and in every way. And we are very thankful.I don’t want to bother you. But would you be kind enough to listen to us for a short time?“ We have found that Paul is a troublemaker. This man stirs up trouble among Jews all over the world. He is a leader of those who follow Jesus of Nazareth.He even tried to make our temple impure. So we arrested him.

They brought them to the judges.“ These men are Jews,” her owners said.“ They are making trouble in our city.They are suggesting practices that are against Roman law. These are practices we can’t accept or take part in.”The crowd joined the attack against Paul and Silas. The judges ordered that Paul and Silas be stripped and beaten with rods.They were whipped without mercy. Then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was commanded to guard them carefully.When he received these orders, he put Paul and Silas deep inside the prison. He fastened their feet so they couldn’t get away.

It seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of a parade. We are like people sentenced to die in front of a crowd. We have been made a show for the whole creation to see. Angels and people are staring at us.We are fools for Christ. But you are so wise in Christ! We are weak. But you are so strong! You are honored. But we are looked down on!Up to this very hour we are hungry and thirsty. We are dressed in rags. We are being treated badly. We have no homes.We work hard with our own hands. When others curse us, we bless them. When we are attacked, we put up with it.When others say bad things about us, we answer with kind words. We have become the world’s garbage. We are everybody’s trash, right up to this moment.

Here is what he has given you to do for Christ. You must not only believe in him. You must also suffer for him.

Meanwhile, Saul continued to oppose the Lord’s followers. He said they would be put to death. He went to the high priest.He asked the priest for letters to the synagogues in Damascus. He wanted to find men and women who belonged to the Way of Jesus. The letters would allow him to take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

Don’t be afraid of what you are going to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you. You will be treated badly for ten days. Be faithful, even if it means you must die. Then I will give you life as your crown of victory.

“ Lord,” Ananias answered,“ I’ve heard many reports about this man. They say he has done great harm to your holy people in Jerusalem.Now he has come here to arrest all those who worship you. The chief priests have given him authority to do this.”

‘ I know that you live where Satan has his throne. But you remain faithful to me. You did not give up your faith in me. You didn’t give it up even in the days of Antipas. Antipas, my faithful witness, was put to death in your city, where Satan lives.

I will show him how much he must suffer for me.”

Even your parents, brothers, sisters, relatives and friends will hand you over to the authorities. The authorities will put some of you to death.Everyone will hate you because of me.But not a hair on your head will be harmed.

Are they serving Christ? I am serving him even more. I’m out of my mind to talk like this! I have worked much harder. I have been in prison more often. I have suffered terrible beatings. Again and again I almost died.Five times the Jews gave me 39 strokes with a whip.Three times I was beaten with sticks. Once they tried to kill me by throwing stones at me. Three times I was shipwrecked. I spent a night and a day in the open sea.I have had to keep on the move. I have been in danger from rivers. I have been in danger from robbers. I have been in danger from my fellow Jews and in danger from Gentiles. I have been in danger in the city, in the country, and at sea. I have been in danger from people who pretended they were believers.I have worked very hard. Often I have gone without sleep. I have been hungry and thirsty. Often I have gone without food. I have been cold and naked.

The Lamb broke open the fifth seal. I saw souls under the altar. They were the souls of people who had been killed. They had been killed because of God’s word and their faithful witness.They called out in a loud voice.“ How long, Lord and King, holy and true?” they asked.“ How long will you wait to judge those who live on the earth? How long will it be until you pay them back for killing us?”Then each of them was given a white robe.“ Wait a little longer,” they were told.“ There are still more of your believing brothers and sisters who will be killed. They will be killed just as you were.”

The people were trying to kill Paul. But news reached the commander of the Roman troops. He heard that people were making trouble in the whole city of Jerusalem.Right away he took some officers and soldiers with him. They ran down to the crowd. The people causing the trouble saw the commander and his soldiers. So they stopped beating Paul.The commander came up and arrested Paul. He ordered him to be held with two chains. Then he asked who Paul was and what he had done.Some in the crowd shouted one thing, some another. But the commander couldn’t get the facts because of all the noise. So he ordered that Paul be taken into the fort.Paul reached the steps. But then the mob became so wild that he had to be carried by the soldiers.The crowd that followed kept shouting,“ Get rid of him!”The soldiers were about to take Paul into the fort. Then he asked the commander,“ May I say something to you?”“ Do you speak Greek?” he replied.“ Aren’t you the Egyptian who turned some of our people against their leaders? Didn’t you lead 4,000 terrorists out into the desert some time ago?”Paul answered,“ I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia. I am a citizen of an important city. Please let me speak to the people.”The commander told him he could. So Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. When all of them were quiet, he spoke to them in the Aramaic language.

Some places may not welcome you or listen to you. If they don’t, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet. That will be a witness against the people living there.”

Some people may not welcome you. If they don’t, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet. This will be a witness against the people living there.”

Peter and John were speaking to the people. The priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees came up to the apostles.They were very upset by what the apostles were teaching the people. The apostles were saying that people can be raised from the dead. They said this can happen because Jesus rose from the dead.So the temple authorities arrested Peter and John. It was already evening, so they put them in prison until the next day.But many who heard the message believed. The number of men who believed grew to about 5,000.The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem.Annas, the high priest, was there. So were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and other people in the high priest’s family.They had Peter and John brought to them. They wanted to question them.“ By what power did you do this?” they asked.“ And through whose name?”Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit. He said to them,“ Rulers and elders of the people!Are you asking us to explain our actions today? Do you want to know why we were kind to a man who couldn’t walk? Are you asking how he was healed?Then listen to this, you and all the people of Israel! You nailed Jesus Christ of Nazareth to the cross. But God raised him from the dead. It is through Jesus’ name that this man stands healed in front of you.Scripture says that Jesus is“‘ the stone you builders did not accept. But it has become the most important stone of all.’( Psalm 118:22)You can’t be saved by believing in anyone else. God has given people no other name under heaven that will save them.”The leaders saw how bold Peter and John were. They also realized that Peter and John were ordinary men with no training. This surprised the leaders. They realized that these men had been with Jesus.The leaders could see the man who had been healed. He was standing there with them. So there was nothing they could say.They ordered Peter and John to leave the Sanhedrin. Then they talked things over.“ What can we do with these men?” they asked.“ Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed an unusual miracle. We can’t say it didn’t happen.We have to stop this thing. It must not spread any further among the people. We have to warn these men. They must never speak to anyone in Jesus’ name again.”Once again the leaders called in Peter and John. They commanded them not to speak or teach at all in Jesus’ name.But Peter and John replied,“ Which is right from God’s point of view? Should we listen to you? Or should we listen to God? You be the judges!There’s nothing else we can do. We have to speak about the things we’ve seen and heard.”The leaders warned them again. Then they let them go. They couldn’t decide how to punish Peter and John. They knew that all the people were praising God for what had happened.

“‘ Lord,’ I replied,‘ these people know what I used to do. I went from one synagogue to another and put believers in prison. I also beat them.Stephen was a man who told other people about you. I stood there when he was killed. I had agreed that he should die. I even guarded the coats of those who were killing him.’

“ Then people will hand you over to be treated badly and killed. All nations will hate you because of me.At that time, many will turn away from their faith. They will hate each other. They will hand each other over to their enemies.

The high priest and all his companions were Sadducees. They were very jealous of the apostles.So they arrested them and put them in the public jail.But during the night an angel of the Lord came. He opened the doors of the jail and brought the apostles out.“ Go! Stand in the temple courtyard,” the angel said.“ Tell the people all about this new life.”Early the next day they did as they had been told. They entered the temple courtyard. There they began to teach the people. The high priest and his companions arrived. They called the Sanhedrin together. The Sanhedrin was a gathering of all the elders of Israel. They sent for the apostles who were in jail.The officers arrived at the jail. But they didn’t find the apostles there. So they went back and reported it.“ We found the jail locked up tight,” they said.“ The guards were standing at the doors. But when we opened the doors, we didn’t find anyone inside.”When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this report, they were bewildered. They wondered what would happen next.Then someone came and said,“ Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courtyard. They are teaching the people.”So the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles back. But they didn’t use force. They were afraid the people would kill them by throwing stones at them.They brought the apostles to the Sanhedrin. The high priest questioned them.“ We gave you clear orders not to teach in Jesus’ name,” he said.“ But you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching. You want to make us guilty of this man’s death.”Peter and the other apostles replied,“ We must obey God instead of people!You had Jesus killed by nailing him to a cross. But the God of our people raised Jesus from the dead.Now Jesus is Prince and Savior. God has proved this by giving Jesus a place of honor with him. He did it to turn Israel away from their sins and forgive them.We are telling people about these things. And so is the Holy Spirit. God has given the Spirit to those who obey him.”When the leaders heard this, they became very angry. They wanted to put the apostles to death.But a Pharisee named Gamaliel stood up in the Sanhedrin. He was a teacher of the law. He was honored by all the people. He ordered the apostles to be taken outside for a little while.Then Gamaliel spoke to the Sanhedrin.“ Men of Israel,” he said,“ think carefully about what you plan to do to these men.Some time ago Theudas appeared. He claimed he was really somebody. About 400 people followed him. But he was killed. All his followers were scattered. So they accomplished nothing.After this, Judas from Galilee came along. This was in the days when the Romans made a list of all the people. Judas led a gang of men against the Romans. He too was killed. All his followers were scattered.So let me give you some advice. Leave these men alone! Let them go! If their plans and actions only come from people, they will fail.But if their plans come from God, you won’t be able to stop these men. You will only find yourselves fighting against God.”His speech won the leaders over. They called the apostles in and had them whipped. The leaders ordered them not to speak in Jesus’ name. Then they let the apostles go.

He came over to us. Then he took Paul’s belt and tied his own hands and feet with it. He said,“ The Holy Spirit says,‘ This is how the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will tie up the owner of this belt. They will hand him over to the Gentiles.’ ”

When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they became very angry. They were so angry they ground their teeth at Stephen.But he was full of the Holy Spirit. He looked up to heaven and saw God’s glory. He saw Jesus standing at God’s right hand.“ Look!” he said.“ I see heaven open. The Son of Man is standing at God’s right hand.”When the Sanhedrin heard this, they covered their ears. They yelled at the top of their voices. They all rushed at him.They dragged him out of the city. They began to throw stones at him to kill him. The people who had brought false charges against Stephen took off their coats. They placed them at the feet of a young man named Saul.While the members of the Sanhedrin were throwing stones at Stephen, he prayed.“ Lord Jesus, receive my spirit,” he said.Then he fell on his knees. He cried out,“ Lord! Don’t hold this sin against them!” When he had said this, he died.And Saul had agreed with the Sanhedrin that Stephen should die. On that day the church in Jerusalem began to be attacked and treated badly. All except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.Godly Jews buried Stephen. They mourned deeply for him.But Saul began to destroy the church. He went from house to house. He dragged away men and women and put them in prison.

About this time, King Herod arrested some people who belonged to the church. He planned to make them suffer greatly.He had James killed with a sword. James was John’s brother.Herod saw that the death of James pleased some Jews. So he arrested Peter also. This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin.“ My brothers,” he said,“ I have always done my duty to God. To this day I feel that I have done nothing wrong.”Ananias the high priest heard this. So he ordered the men standing near Paul to hit him on the mouth.

All of this proves that when God judges, he is fair. So you will be considered worthy to enter God’s kingdom. You are suffering for his kingdom.

“ Don’t tell this to anyone,” he said.“ Go and show yourself to the priest. Offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded. It will be a witness to the priest and the people that you are‘ clean.’ ”

So I am sending you prophets, wise people, and teachers. You will kill some of them. You will nail some to a cross. Others you will whip in your synagogues. You will chase them from town to town.So you will pay for all the godly people’s blood spilled on earth. I mean from the blood of godly Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Berekiah. Zechariah was the one you murdered between the temple and the altar.What I’m about to tell you is true. All this will happen to those who are now living.“ Jerusalem! Jerusalem! You kill the prophets and throw stones in order to kill those who are sent to you. Many times I have wanted to gather your people together. I have wanted to be like a hen who gathers her chicks under her wings. And you would not let me!

Then in secret they talked some men into lying about Stephen. They said,“ We heard Stephen speak evil things against Moses and against God.”So the people were stirred up. The elders and the teachers of the law were stirred up too. They arrested Stephen and brought him to the Sanhedrin.They found witnesses who were willing to tell lies. These liars said,“ This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place. He also speaks against the law.We have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place. He says Jesus will change the practices that Moses handed down to us.”All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked right at Stephen. They saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

I, John, am a believer like you. I am a friend who suffers like you. As members of Jesus’ royal family, we can put up with anything that happens to us. I was on the island of Patmos because I taught God’s word and what Jesus said.