Bible in a Year.

On day 344, we follow Paul facing imprisonment and conflict in Acts 23. In 2 Corinthians 12-13, he shares his experience of suffering and trust in God, while Proverbs 29:8-11 teaches us to act with prudence and discernment in challenging situations.

1. And Paul looking upon the council, said: Men, brethren, I have conversed with all good conscience before God until this present day.

2. And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to strike him on the mouth.

3. Then Paul said to him: God shall strike thee, thou whited wall. For sittest thou to judge me according to the law, and contrary to the law commandest me to be struck?

4. And they that stood by said: Dost thou revile the high priest of God?

5. And Paul said: I knew not, brethren, that he is the high priest. For it is written: Thou shalt not speak evil of the prince of thy people.

6. And Paul knowing that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, cried out in the council: Men, brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees: concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

7. And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the multitude was divided.

8. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.

9. And there arose a great cry. And some of the Pharisees rising up, strove, saying: We find no evil in this man. What if a spirit hath spoken to him, or an angel?

10. And when there arose a great dissension, the tribune fearing lest Paul should be pulled in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.

11. And the night following the Lord standing by him, said: Be constant; for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.

12. And when day was come, some of the Jews gathered together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying, that they would neither eat, nor drink, till they killed Paul.

13. And they were more than forty men that had made this conspiracy.

14. Who came to the chief priests and the ancients, and said: We have bound ourselves under a great curse that we will eat nothing till we have slain Paul.

15. Now therefore do you with the council signify to the tribune, that he bring him forth to you, as if you meant to know something more certain touching him. And we, before he come near, are ready to kill him.

16. Which when Paul's sister's son had heard, of their lying in wait, he came and entered into the castle and told Paul.

17. And Paul, calling to him one of the centurions, said: Bring this young man to the tribune, for he hath some thing to tell him.

18. And he taking him, brought him to the tribune, and said: Paul, the prisoner, desired me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath some thing to say to thee.

19. And the tribune taking him by the hand, went aside with him privately, and asked him: What is it that thou hast to tell me?

20. And he said: The Jews have agreed to desire thee, that thou wouldst bring forth Paul to morrow into the council, as if they meant to inquire some thing more certain touching him.

21. But do not thou give credit to them; for there lie in wait for him more than forty men of them, who have bound themselves by oath neither to eat, nor to drink, till they have killed him: and they are now ready, looking for a promise from thee.

22. The tribune therefore dismissed the young man, charging him that he should tell no man, that he had made known these things unto him.

23. Then having called two centurions, he said to them: Make ready two hundred soldiers to go as far as Caesarea, and seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen for the third hour of the night:

24. And provide beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe to Felix the governor.

25. (For he feared lest perhaps the Jews might take him away by force and kill him, and he should afterwards be slandered, as if he was to take money.) And he wrote a letter after this manner:

26. Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor, Felix, greeting.

27. This man being taken by the Jews, and ready to be killed by them, I rescued coming in with an army, understanding that he is a Roman:

28. And meaning to know the cause which they objected unto him, I brought him forth into their council.

29. Whom I found to be accused concerning questions of their law; but having nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bands.

30. And when I was told of ambushes that they had prepared for him, I sent him to thee, signifying also to his accusers to plead before thee. Farewell.

31. Then the soldiers, according as it was commanded them, taking Paul, brought him by night to Antipatris.

32. And the next day, leaving the horsemen to go with him, they returned to the castle.

33. Who, when they were come to Caesarea, and had delivered the letter to the governor, did also present Paul before him.

34. And when he had read it, and had asked of what province he was, and understood that he was of Cilicia;

35. I will hear thee, said he, when thy accusers come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's judgment hall.

Chapter 12

1. If I must glory (it is not expedient indeed): but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

2. I know a man in Christ above fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I know not, or out of the body, I know not; God knoweth), such a one caught up to the third heaven.

3. And I know such a man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I know not: God knoweth):

4. That he was caught up into paradise, and heard secret words, which it is not granted to man to utter.

5. For such an one I will glory; but for myself I will glory nothing, but in my infirmities.

6. For though I should have a mind to glory, I shall not be foolish; for I will say the truth. But I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth in me, or any thing he heareth from me.

7. And lest the greatness of the revelations should exalt me, there was given me a sting of my flesh, an angel of Satan, to buffet me.

8. For which thing thrice I besought the Lord, that it might depart from me.

9. And he said to me: My grace is sufficient for thee; for power is made perfect in infirmity. Gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

10. For which cause I please myself in my infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ. For when I am weak, then am I powerful.

11. I am become foolish: you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you: for I have no way come short of them that are above measure apostles, although I be nothing.

12. Yet the signs of my apostleship have been wrought on you, in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

13. For what is there that you have had less than the other churches, but that I myself was not burthensome to you? Pardon me this injury.

14. Behold now the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burthensome unto you. For I seek not the things that are yours, but you. For neither ought the children to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

15. But I most gladly will spend and be spent myself for your souls; although loving you more, I be loved less.

16. But be it so: I did not burthen you: but being crafty, I caught you by guile.

17. Did I overreach you by any of them whom I sent to you?

18. I desired Titus, and I sent with him a brother. Did Titus overreach you? Did we not walk with the same spirit? did we not in the same steps?

19. Of old, think you that we excuse ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ; but all things, my dearly beloved, for your edification.

20. For I fear lest perhaps when I come I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found by you such as you would not. Lest perhaps contentions, envyings, animosities, dissensions, detractions, whisperings, swellings, seditions, be among you.

21. Lest again, when I come, God humble me among you: and I mourn many of them that sinned before, and have not done penance for the uncleanness, and fornication, and lasciviousness, that they have committed.

Chapter 13

1. Behold, this is the third time I am coming to you: In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word stand.

2. I have told before, and foretell, as present, and now absent, to them that sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again, I will not spare.

3. Do you seek a proof of Christ that speaketh in me, who towards you is not weak, but is mighty in you?

4. For although he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him: but we shall live with him by the power of God towards you.

5. Try your own selves if you be in the faith; prove ye yourselves. Know you not your own selves, that Christ Jesus is in you, unless perhaps you be reprobates?

6. But I trust that you shall know that we are not reprobates.

7. Now we pray God, that you may do no evil, not that we may appear approved, but that you may do that which is good, and that we may be as reprobates.

8. For we can do nothing against the truth; but for the truth.

9. For we rejoice that we are weak, and you are strong. This also we pray for, your perfection.

10. Therefore I write these things, being absent, that, being present, I may not deal more severely, according to the power which the Lord hath given me unto edification, and not unto destruction.

11. For the rest, brethren, rejoice, be perfect, take exhortation, be of one mind, have peace; and the God of peace and of love shall be with you.

12. Salute one another with a holy kiss. All the saints salute you.

13. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the charity of God, and the communication of the Holy Ghost be with you all. Amen.

8. Corrupt men bring a city to ruin: but wise men turn away wrath.

9. If a wise man contend with a fool, whether he be angry or laugh, he shall find no rest.

10. Bloodthirsty men hate the upright: but just men seek his soul.

11. A fool uttereth all his mind: a wise man deferreth, and keepeth it till afterwards.