Bible in a Year.

On day 345, we observe Paul on trial before Felix, reaffirming his mission and faith. In Galatians 1-3, we learn about freedom in Christ and the importance of living in God's grace, while Proverbs 29:12-14 guides us to lead with justice and integrity in the community of faith.

1. And after five days the high priest Ananias came down, with some of the ancients, and one Tertullus an orator, who went to the governor against Paul.

2. And Paul being called for, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: Whereas through thee we live in much peace, and many things are rectified by thy providence,

3. We accept it always and in all places, most excellent Felix, with all thanksgiving.

4. But that I be no further tedious to thee, I desire thee of thy clemency to hear us in few words.

5. We have found this to be a pestilent man, and raising seditions among all the Jews throughout the world, and author of the sedition of the sect of the Nazarenes.

6. Who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom, we having apprehended, would also have judged according to our law.

7. But Lysias the tribune coming upon us, with great violence took him away out of our hands;

8. Commanding his accusers to come to thee: of whom thou mayest thyself, by examination, have knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him.

9. And the Jews also added, and said that these things were so.

10. Then Paul answered, (the governor making a sign to him to speak:) Knowing that for many years thou hast been judge over this nation, I will with good courage answer for myself.

11. For thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days, since I went up to adore in Jerusalem:

12. And neither in the temple did they find me disputing with any man, or causing any concourse of the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city:

13. Neither can they prove unto thee the things whereof they now accuse me.

14. But this I confess to thee, that according to the way, which they call a heresy, so do I serve the Father and my God, believing all things which are written in the law and the prophets:

15. Having hope in God, which these also themselves look for, that there shall be a resurrection of the just and unjust.

16. And herein do I endeavour to have always a conscience without offence toward God, and towards men.

17. Now after many years, I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings, and vows.

18. In which I was found purified in the temple: neither with multitude, nor with tumult.

19. But certain Jews of Asia, who ought to be present before thee, and to accuse, if they had any thing against me:

20. Or let these men themselves say, if they found in me any iniquity, when standing before the council,

21. Except it be for this one voice only that I cried, standing among them, Concerning the resurrection of the dead am I judged this day by you.

22. And Felix put them off, having most certain knowledge of this way, saying: When Lysias the tribune shall come down, I will hear you.

23. And he commanded a centurion to keep him, and that he should be easy, and that he should not prohibit any of his friends to minister unto him.

24. And after some days, Felix, coming with Drusilla his wife, who was a Jew, sent for Paul, and heard of him the faith, that is in Christ Jesus.

25. And as he treated of justice, and chastity, and of the judgment to come, Felix being terrified, answered: For this time, go thy way: but when I have a convenient time, I will send for thee.

26. Hoping also withal, that money should be given him by Paul; for which cause also oftentimes sending for him, he spoke with him.

27. But when two years were ended, Felix had for successor Portius Festus. And Felix being willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.

Chapter 1

1. Paul, an apostle, not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead,

2. And all the brethren who are with me, to the churches of Galatia.

3. Grace be to you, and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,

4. Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present wicked world, according to the will of God and our Father:

5. To whom is glory for ever and ever. Amen.

6. I wonder that you are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ, unto another gospel.

7. Which is not another, only there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

8. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach a gospel to you besides that which we have preached to you, let him be anathema.

9. As we said before, so now I say again: If any one preach to you a gospel, besides that which you have received, let him be anathema.

10. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? If I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

11. For I give you to understand, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.

12. For neither did I receive it of man, nor did I learn it; but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

13. For you have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion: how that, beyond measure, I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it.

14. And I made progress in the Jews' religion above many of my equals in my own nation, being more abundantly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

15. But when it pleased him, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,

16. To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles, immediately I condescended not to flesh and blood.

17. Neither went I to Jerusalem, to the apostles who were before me: but I went into Arabia, and again I returned to Damascus.

18. Then, after three years, I went to Jerusalem, to see Peter, and I tarried with him fifteen days.

19. But other of the apostles I saw none, saving James the brother of the Lord.

20. Now the things which I write to you, behold, before God, I lie not.

21. Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia.

22. And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea, which were in Christ:

23. But they had heard only: He, who persecuted us in times past, doth now preach the faith which once he impugned:

24. And they glorified God in me.

Chapter 2

1. Then, after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus also with me.

2. And I went up according to revelation; and communicated to them the gospel, which I preach among the Gentiles, but apart to them who seemed to be some thing: lest perhaps I should run, or had run in vain.

3. But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Gentile, was compelled to be circumcised.

4. But because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privately to spy our liberty, which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into servitude.

5. To whom we yielded not by subjection, no not for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

6. But of them who seemed to be some thing, (what they were some time, it is nothing to me, God accepteth not the person of man,) for to me they that seemed to be some thing added nothing.

7. But contrariwise, when they had seen that to me was committed the gospel of the uncircumcision, as to Peter was that of the circumcision.

8. (For he who wrought in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, wrought in me also among the Gentiles.)

9. And when they had known the grace that was given to me, James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship: that we should go unto the Gentiles, and they unto the circumcision:

10. Only that we should be mindful of the poor: which same thing also I was careful to do.

11. But when Cephas was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.

12. For before that some came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them who were of the circumcision.

13. And to his dissimulation the rest of the Jews consented, so that Barnabas also was led by them into that dissimulation.

14. But when I saw that they walked not uprightly unto the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all: If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of the Gentiles, and not as the Jews do, how dost thou compel the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

15. We by nature are Jews, and not of the Gentiles sinners.

16. But knowing that man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ; we also believe in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: because by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.

17. But if while we seek to be justified in Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners; is Christ then the minister of sin? God forbid.

18. For if I build up again the things which I have destroyed, I make myself a prevaricator.

19. For I, through the law, am dead to the law, that I may live to God: with Christ I am nailed to the cross.

20. And I live, now not I; but Christ liveth in me. And that I live now in the flesh: I live in the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered himself for me.

21. I cast not away the grace of God. For if justice be by the law, then Christ died in vain.

Chapter 3

1. O senseless Galatians, who hath bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been set forth, crucified among you?

2. This only would I learn of you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

3. Are you so foolish, that, whereas you began in the Spirit, you would now be made perfect by the flesh?

4. Have you suffered so great things in vain? If it be yet in vain.

5. He therefore who giveth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you; doth he do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of the faith?

6. As it is written: Abraham believed God, and it was reputed to him unto justice.

7. Know ye therefore, that they who are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

8. And the scripture, foreseeing, that God justifieth the Gentiles by faith, told unto Abraham before: In thee shall all nations be blessed.

9. Therefore they that are of faith, shall be blessed with faithful Abraham.

10. For as many as are of the works of the law, are under a curse. For it is written: Cursed is every one, that abideth not in all things, which are written in the book of the law to do them.

11. But that in the law no man is justified with God, it is manifest: because the just man liveth by faith.

12. But the law is not of faith: but, He that doth those things, shall live in them.

13. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written: Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

14. That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Christ Jesus: that we may receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.

15. Brethren (I speak after the manner of man,) yet a man's testament, if it be confirmed, no man despiseth, nor addeth to it.

16. To Abraham were the promises made and to his seed. He saith not, And to his seeds, as of many: but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

17. Now this I say, that the testament which was confirmed by God, the law which was made after four hundred and thirty years, doth not disannul, to make the promise of no effect.

18. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise. But God gave it to Abraham by promise.

19. Why then was the law? It was set because of transgressions, until the seed should come, to whom he made the promise, being ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

20. Now a mediator is not of one: but God is one.

21. Was the law then against the promises of God? God forbid. For if there had been a law given which could give life, verily justice should have been by the law.

22. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise, by the faith of Jesus Christ, might be given to them that believe.

23. But before the faith came, we were kept under the law shut up, unto that faith which was to be revealed.

24. Wherefore the law was our pedagogue in Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

25. But after the faith is come, we are no longer under a pedagogue.

26. For you are all the children of God by faith, in Christ Jesus.

27. For as many of you as have been baptized in Christ, have put on Christ.

28. There is neither Jew nor Greek: there is neither bond nor free: there is neither male nor female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.

29. And if you be Christ's, then are you the seed of Abraham, heirs according to the promise.

12. A prince that gladly heareth lying words, hath all his servants wicked.

13. The poor man and the creditor have met one another: the Lord is the enlightener of them both.

14. The king that judgeth the poor in truth, his throne shall be established for ever.