Bible in a Year.

On day 346, Paul faces new challenges during his trial in Acts 25. In Galatians 4-6, he reinforces Christian freedom, love for others, and the practice of faith, while Proverbs 29:15-17 reminds us of the importance of discipline, correction, and guidance for righteous and wise living.

1. Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.

2. And the chief priests, and principal men of the Jews, went unto him against Paul: and they besought him,

3. Requesting favour against him, that he would command him to be brought to Jerusalem, laying wait to kill him in the way.

4. But Festus answered: That Paul was kept in Caesarea, and that he himself would very shortly depart thither.

5. Let them, therefore, saith he, among you that are able, go down with me, and accuse him, if there be any crime in the man.

6. And having tarried among them no more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea, and the next day he sat in the judgment seat; and commanded Paul to be brought.

7. Who being brought, the Jews stood about him, who were come down from Jerusalem, objecting many and grievous causes, which they could not prove;

8. Paul making answer for himself: Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I offended in any thing.

9. But Festus, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, answering Paul, said: Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?

10. Then Paul said: I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no injury, as thou very well knowest.

11. For if I have injured them, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die. But if there be none of these things whereof they accuse me, no man may deliver me to them: I appeal to Caesar.

12. Then Festus having conferred with the council, answered: Hast thou appealed to Caesar? To Caesar shalt thou go.

13. And after some days, king Agrippa and Bernice came down to Caesarea to salute Festus.

14. And as they tarried there many days, Festus told the king of Paul, saying: A certain man was left prisoner by Felix.

15. About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests, and the ancients of the Jews, came unto me, desiring condemnation against him.

16. To whom I answered: It is not the custom of the Romans to condemn any man, before that he who is accused have his accusers present, and have liberty to make his answer, to clear himself of the things laid to his charge.

17. When therefore they were come hither, without any delay, on the day following, sitting in the judgment seat, I commanded the man to be brought.

18. Against whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no accusation of things which I thought ill of:

19. But had certain questions of their own superstition against him, and of one Jesus deceased, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

20. I therefore being in a doubt of this manner of question, asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things.

21. But Paul appealing to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept, till I might send him to Caesar.

22. And Agrippa said to Festus: I would also hear the man, myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.

23. And on the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice were come with great pomp, and had entered into the hall of audience, with the tribunes, and principal men of the city, at Festus' commandment, Paul was brought forth.

24. And Festus saith: King Agrippa, and all ye men who are here present with us, you see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews dealt with me at Jerusalem, requesting and crying out that he ought not to live any longer.

25. Yet have I found nothing that he hath committed worthy of death. But forasmuch as he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.

26. Of whom I have nothing certain to write to my lord. For which cause I have brought him forth before you, and especially before thee, O king Agrippa, that examination being made, I may have what to write.

27. For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not to signify the things laid to his charge.

Chapter 4

1. Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;

2. But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed by the father:

3. So we also, when we were children, were serving under the elements of the world.

4. But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent his Son, made of a woman, made under the law:

5. That he might redeem them who were under the law: that we might receive the adoption of sons.

6. And because you are sons, God hath sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying: Abba, Father.

7. Therefore now he is not a servant, but a son. And if a son, an heir also through God.

8. But then indeed, not knowing God, you served them, who, by nature, are not gods.

9. But now, after that you have known God, or rather are known by God: how turn you again to the weak and needy elements, which you desire to serve again?

10. You observe days, and months, and times, and years.

11. I am afraid of you, lest perhaps I have laboured in vain among you.

12. Be ye as I, because I also am as you: brethren, I beseech you: you have not injured me at all.

13. And you know, how through infirmity of the flesh, I preached the gospel to you heretofore: and your temptation in my flesh,

14. You despised not, nor rejected: but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

15. Where is then your blessedness? For I bear you witness, that, if it could be done, you would have plucked out your own eyes, and would have given them to me.

16. Am I then become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?

17. They are zealous in your regard not well: but they would exclude you, that you might be zealous for them.

18. But be zealous for that which is good in a good thing always: and not only when I am present with you.

19. My little children, of whom I am in labour again, until Christ be formed in you.

20. And I would willingly be present with you now, and change my voice: because I am ashamed for you.

21. Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, have you not read the law?

22. For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, and the other by a free woman.

23. But he who was of the bondwoman, was born according to the flesh: but he of the free woman, was by promise.

24. Which things are said by an allegory. For these are the two testaments. The one from mount Sina, engendering unto bondage; which is Agar:

25. For Sina is a mountain in Arabia, which hath affinity to that Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.

26. But that Jerusalem, which is above, is free: which is our mother.

27. For it is written: Rejoice, thou barren, that bearest not: break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for many are the children of the desolate, more than of her that hath a husband.

28. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

29. But as then he, that was born according to the flesh, persecuted him that was after the spirit; so also it is now.

30. But what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son; for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman.

31. So then, brethren, we are not the children of the bondwoman, but of the free: by the freedom wherewith Christ has made us free.

Chapter 5

1. Stand fast, and be not held again under the yoke of bondage.

2. Behold, I Paul tell you, that if you be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.

3. And I testify again to every man circumcising himself, that he is a debtor to the whole law.

4. You are made void of Christ, you who are justified in the law: you are fallen from grace.

5. For we in spirit, by faith, wait for the hope of justice.

6. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision: but faith that worketh by charity.

7. You did run well, who hath hindered you, that you should not obey the truth?

8. This persuasion is not from him that calleth you.

9. A little leaven corrupteth the whole lump.

10. I have confidence in you in the Lord: that you will not be of another mind: but he that troubleth you, shall bear the judgment, whosoever he be.

11. And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? Then is the scandal of the cross made void.

12. I would they were even cut off, who trouble you.

13. For you, brethren, have been called unto liberty: only make not liberty an occasion to the flesh, but by charity of the spirit serve one another.

14. For all the law is fulfilled in one word: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

15. But if you bite and devour one another; take heed you be not consumed one of another.

16. I say then, walk in the spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh.

17. For the flesh lusteth against the spirit: and the spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary one to another: so that you do not the things that you would.

18. But if you are led by the spirit, you are not under the law.

19. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are fornication, uncleanness, immodesty, luxury,

20. Idolatry, witchcrafts, enmities, contentions, emulations, wraths, quarrels, dissensions, sects,

21. Envies, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like. Of the which I foretell you, as I have foretold to you, that they who do such things shall not obtain the kingdom of God.

22. But the fruit of the Spirit is, charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity, goodness, longanimity,

23. Mildness, faith, modesty, continency, chastity. Against such there is no law.

24. And they that are Christ's, have crucified their flesh, with the vices and concupiscences.

25. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

26. Let us not be made desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying on another.

Chapter 6

1. Brethren, and if a man be overtaken in any fault, you, who are spiritual, instruct such a one in the spirit of meekness, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

2. Bear ye one another's burdens; and so you shall fulfil the law of Christ.

3. For if any man think himself to be some thing, whereas he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

4. But let every one prove his own work, and so he shall have glory in himself only, and not in another.

5. For every one shall bear his own burden.

6. And let him that is instructed in the word, communicate to him that instructeth him, in all good things.

7. Be not deceived, God is not mocked.

8. For what things a man shall sow, those also shall he reap. For he that soweth in his flesh, of the flesh also shall reap corruption. But he that soweth in the spirit, of the spirit shall reap life everlasting.

9. And in doing good, let us not fail. For in due time we shall reap, not failing.

10. Therefore, whilst we have time, let us work good to all men, but especially to those who are of the household of the faith.

11. See what a letter I have written to you with my own hand.

12. For as many as desire to please in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer the persecution of the cross of Christ.

13. For neither they themselves who are circumcised, keep the law; but they will have you to be circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.

14. But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ; by whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world.

15. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

16. And whosoever shall follow this rule, peace on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

17. From henceforth let no man be troublesome to me; for I bear the marks of the Lord Jesus in my body.

18. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.

15. The rod and reproof give wisdom: but the child that is left to his own will bringeth his mother to shame.

16. When the wicked are multiplied, crimes shall be multiplied: but the just shall see their downfall.

17. Instruct thy son, and he shall refresh thee, and shall give delight to thy soul.