WEBVTT 00:00:01.000 --> 00:00:03.700 Hello, this is Father Paul, and I'm glad we're 00:00:03.700 --> 00:00:05.740 taking this journey together to read the Bible 00:00:05.740 --> 00:00:09.000 in a year. Today's reading is the last chapter 00:00:09.000 --> 00:00:11.320 of the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans, chapter 00:00:11.320 --> 00:00:15.099 16, as well as chapters 20 and 21 from the Book 00:00:15.099 --> 00:00:19.399 of Acts. Romans, chapter 16. I commend to you 00:00:19.399 --> 00:00:22.179 Phoebe, our sister, who is a servant of the church 00:00:22.179 --> 00:00:25.120 in St. Crea. that you may receive her in the 00:00:25.120 --> 00:00:28.000 Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist 00:00:28.000 --> 00:00:30.399 her in whatever business she has need of you. 00:00:30.480 --> 00:00:33.259 For indeed she has been a helper of many, and 00:00:33.259 --> 00:00:36.460 of myself also. Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my 00:00:36.460 --> 00:00:38.920 fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risk their 00:00:38.920 --> 00:00:42.140 own necks for my life, to whom not only I give 00:00:42.140 --> 00:00:44.820 thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. 00:00:45.060 --> 00:00:47.780 Likewise, greet the church that is in their house. 00:00:48.140 --> 00:00:51.479 Greet my beloved Epinatus, who is the firstfruits 00:00:51.479 --> 00:00:54.770 of Achaia to Christ. Greet Mary, who labored 00:00:54.770 --> 00:00:58.490 much for us. Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen 00:00:58.490 --> 00:01:01.070 and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among 00:01:01.070 --> 00:01:03.549 the apostles, who also were in Christ before 00:01:03.549 --> 00:01:07.390 me. Greet Amplius, my beloved in the Lord. Greet 00:01:07.390 --> 00:01:10.290 Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, 00:01:10.450 --> 00:01:13.829 my beloved. Greet Apelles, approved in Christ. 00:01:14.150 --> 00:01:17.650 Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. 00:01:17.909 --> 00:01:21.030 Greet Herodion, my countrymen. Greet those who 00:01:21.030 --> 00:01:23.890 are of the household of Narcissus, who are in 00:01:23.890 --> 00:01:27.650 the Lord. Greet Trophina and Trophosa, who have 00:01:27.650 --> 00:01:30.170 labored in the Lord. Greet the beloved Perses, 00:01:30.310 --> 00:01:33.709 who labored much in the Lord. Greet Rufus, chosen 00:01:33.709 --> 00:01:36.989 in the Lord, and his mother, and mine. Greet 00:01:36.989 --> 00:01:41.549 Asyncretus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, 00:01:41.629 --> 00:01:45.069 and the brethren who are with them. Greet Philologos 00:01:45.069 --> 00:01:48.510 and Julia, Neros and his sister, and Olympas, 00:01:48.780 --> 00:01:51.120 and all the saints who are with them. Greet one 00:01:51.120 --> 00:01:53.480 another with a holy kiss, the churches of Christ 00:01:53.480 --> 00:01:57.159 greet you. Now I urge you, brethren, note those 00:01:57.159 --> 00:02:00.099 who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to 00:02:00.099 --> 00:02:02.480 the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. 00:02:02.700 --> 00:02:05.560 For those who are such do not serve our Lord 00:02:05.560 --> 00:02:08.580 Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth 00:02:08.580 --> 00:02:11.419 words and flattering speech deceive the hearts 00:02:11.419 --> 00:02:13.740 of the simple. For your obedience has become 00:02:13.740 --> 00:02:16.590 known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf, 00:02:16.750 --> 00:02:19.569 but I want you to be wise in what is good, and 00:02:19.569 --> 00:02:22.090 simple concerning evil. And the God of peace 00:02:22.090 --> 00:02:25.110 will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The 00:02:25.110 --> 00:02:27.610 grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. 00:02:28.330 --> 00:02:31.270 Timothy, my fellow worker, and Lucius, Jason, 00:02:31.490 --> 00:02:34.909 and Sociopater, my countrymen, greet you. I, 00:02:35.030 --> 00:02:38.150 Tertius, who wrote this epistle, greet you in 00:02:38.150 --> 00:02:40.909 the Lord. Gaius, my host, and the host of the 00:02:40.909 --> 00:02:43.770 whole church, greets you. erastus the treasurer 00:02:43.770 --> 00:02:46.250 of the city greets you and quartus a brother 00:02:46.250 --> 00:02:48.750 the grace of our lord jesus christ be with you 00:02:48.750 --> 00:02:52.150 all amen now to him who is able to establish 00:02:52.150 --> 00:02:54.830 you according to my gospel and the preaching 00:02:54.830 --> 00:02:57.889 of jesus christ according to the revelation of 00:02:57.889 --> 00:03:00.530 the mystery kept secret since the world began 00:03:01.080 --> 00:03:04.020 but now made manifest, and by the prophetic scriptures 00:03:04.020 --> 00:03:07.199 made known to all nations, according to the commandment 00:03:07.199 --> 00:03:09.919 of the everlasting God for obedience to the faith, 00:03:10.060 --> 00:03:13.659 to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ 00:03:13.659 --> 00:03:22.360 forever. Amen. After the uproar had ceased, Paul 00:03:22.360 --> 00:03:24.819 called the disciples to himself, embraced them, 00:03:24.939 --> 00:03:27.810 and departed to go to Macedonia. Now when he 00:03:27.810 --> 00:03:30.210 had gone over that region and encouraged them 00:03:30.210 --> 00:03:32.849 with many words, he came to Greece and stayed 00:03:32.849 --> 00:03:35.409 three months. And when the Jews plotted against 00:03:35.409 --> 00:03:38.370 him as he was about to sail to Syria, he decided 00:03:38.370 --> 00:03:41.469 to return through Macedonia. And so Pater of 00:03:41.469 --> 00:03:44.889 Berea accompanied him to Asia. Also Aristarchus 00:03:44.889 --> 00:03:48.110 and Secundus of the Thessalonians and Gaius of 00:03:48.110 --> 00:03:51.289 Derbe and Timothy and Tychicus and Trophimus 00:03:51.289 --> 00:03:54.430 of Asia. These men going ahead waited for us 00:03:54.430 --> 00:03:57.270 at Troas, but we sailed away from Philippi after 00:03:57.270 --> 00:03:59.889 the days of unleavened bread, and in five days 00:03:59.889 --> 00:04:03.110 joined them at Troas, where we stayed seven days. 00:04:03.389 --> 00:04:05.870 Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples 00:04:05.870 --> 00:04:09.210 came together to break bread, Paul, ready to 00:04:09.210 --> 00:04:11.629 depart the next day, spoke to them and continued 00:04:11.629 --> 00:04:14.370 his message until midnight. There were many lamps 00:04:14.370 --> 00:04:16.689 in the upper room where they were gathered together. 00:04:17.120 --> 00:04:19.639 And in a window sat a certain young man named 00:04:19.639 --> 00:04:22.259 Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep. 00:04:22.519 --> 00:04:24.959 He was overcome by sleep, and as Paul continued 00:04:24.959 --> 00:04:27.740 speaking, he fell down from the third story and 00:04:27.740 --> 00:04:30.779 was taken up dead. But Paul went down, fell on 00:04:30.779 --> 00:04:33.220 him, and embracing him said, Do not trouble yourselves, 00:04:33.540 --> 00:04:36.379 for his life is in him. Now when he had come 00:04:36.379 --> 00:04:39.420 up, had broken bread and eaten, and talked a 00:04:39.420 --> 00:04:42.079 long while, even till daybreak, he departed. 00:04:42.399 --> 00:04:44.660 And they brought the young man in alive, and 00:04:44.660 --> 00:04:47.529 they were not a little comforted. Then we went 00:04:47.529 --> 00:04:50.689 ahead to the ship and sailed to Assos, there 00:04:50.689 --> 00:04:53.509 intending to take Paul on board, for so he had 00:04:53.509 --> 00:04:56.110 given orders, intending himself to go on foot. 00:04:56.310 --> 00:04:59.230 And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board 00:04:59.230 --> 00:05:02.610 and came to Mytilene. We sailed from there, and 00:05:02.610 --> 00:05:05.910 the next day came opposite Caius. The following 00:05:05.910 --> 00:05:09.170 day we arrived at Samos and stayed at Trigilium. 00:05:09.230 --> 00:05:12.100 The next day we came to Miletus. For Paul had 00:05:12.100 --> 00:05:14.600 decided to sail past Ephesus so that he would 00:05:14.600 --> 00:05:17.819 not have to spend time in Asia, for he was hurrying 00:05:17.819 --> 00:05:20.279 to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of 00:05:20.279 --> 00:05:23.100 Pentecost. From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and 00:05:23.100 --> 00:05:25.740 called for the elders of the church. And when 00:05:25.740 --> 00:05:28.100 they had come to him, he said to them, You know 00:05:28.100 --> 00:05:30.819 from the first day that I came to Asia in what 00:05:30.819 --> 00:05:33.500 manner I always lived among you, serving the 00:05:33.500 --> 00:05:36.420 Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials, 00:05:36.600 --> 00:05:38.779 which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews. 00:05:39.279 --> 00:05:41.680 how I kept back nothing that was helpful but 00:05:41.680 --> 00:05:43.959 proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly 00:05:43.959 --> 00:05:46.920 and from house to house, testifying to Jews and 00:05:46.920 --> 00:05:50.120 also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith 00:05:50.120 --> 00:05:53.720 toward our Lord Jesus Christ. And see now I go 00:05:53.720 --> 00:05:56.180 bound in the Spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing 00:05:56.180 --> 00:05:58.420 the things that will happen to me there, except 00:05:58.420 --> 00:06:00.939 that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, 00:06:01.019 --> 00:06:03.839 saying that chains and tribulations await me. 00:06:04.189 --> 00:06:06.870 But none of these things move me, nor do I count 00:06:06.870 --> 00:06:10.050 my life dear to me, so that I may finish my race 00:06:10.050 --> 00:06:12.990 with joy and a ministry which I received from 00:06:12.990 --> 00:06:15.790 the Lord Jesus to testify to the gospel of the 00:06:15.790 --> 00:06:19.209 grace of God. And indeed now I know that you 00:06:19.209 --> 00:06:21.810 all among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom 00:06:21.810 --> 00:06:25.629 of God will see my face no more. Therefore I 00:06:25.629 --> 00:06:28.370 testify to you this day that I am innocent of 00:06:28.370 --> 00:06:31.220 the blood of all men. For I have not shunned 00:06:31.220 --> 00:06:34.720 to declare to you the whole counsel of God. Therefore 00:06:34.720 --> 00:06:37.079 take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, 00:06:37.279 --> 00:06:40.259 among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, 00:06:40.360 --> 00:06:43.279 to shepherd the church of God, which he purchased 00:06:43.279 --> 00:06:46.199 with his own blood. For I know this, that after 00:06:46.199 --> 00:06:49.060 my departure, savage wolves will come in among 00:06:49.060 --> 00:06:52.480 you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves 00:06:52.480 --> 00:06:55.779 men will rise up speaking perverse things to 00:06:55.779 --> 00:06:58.980 draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore 00:06:58.980 --> 00:07:02.019 watch and remember that for three years I did 00:07:02.019 --> 00:07:04.819 not cease to warn everyone night and day with 00:07:04.819 --> 00:07:07.959 tears. So now, brethren, I commend you to God 00:07:07.959 --> 00:07:10.720 and to the word of his grace, which is able to 00:07:10.720 --> 00:07:13.139 build you up and give you an inheritance among 00:07:13.139 --> 00:07:16.100 all those who are sanctified. I have coveted 00:07:16.100 --> 00:07:19.720 no one's silver or gold or apparel. Yes, you 00:07:19.720 --> 00:07:22.060 yourselves know. that these hands have provided 00:07:22.060 --> 00:07:25.060 for my necessities and for those who were with 00:07:25.060 --> 00:07:27.959 me. I have shown you in every way, by laboring 00:07:27.959 --> 00:07:31.139 like this, that you must support the weak. And 00:07:31.139 --> 00:07:33.439 remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he 00:07:33.439 --> 00:07:36.240 said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. 00:07:36.560 --> 00:07:39.100 And when he had said these things, he knelt down 00:07:39.100 --> 00:07:41.879 and prayed with them all. Then they all wept 00:07:41.879 --> 00:07:44.120 freely and fell on Paul's neck and kissed him, 00:07:44.259 --> 00:07:46.519 sorrowing most of all for the words which he 00:07:46.519 --> 00:07:48.980 spoke, that they would see his face no more. 00:07:49.160 --> 00:07:54.470 And they accompanied him, to the ship. Chapter 00:07:54.470 --> 00:08:22.120 21 And finding disciples, we stayed there seven 00:08:22.120 --> 00:08:25.379 days. They told Paul through the Spirit not to 00:08:25.379 --> 00:08:28.060 go up to Jerusalem. When we had come to the end 00:08:28.060 --> 00:08:30.759 of those days, we departed and went on our way. 00:08:30.879 --> 00:08:33.639 And they all accompanied us, with wives and children, 00:08:33.820 --> 00:08:36.620 till we were out of the city. And we knelt down 00:08:36.620 --> 00:08:39.179 on the shore and prayed. When we had taken our 00:08:39.179 --> 00:08:41.919 leave of one another, we boarded the ship, and 00:08:41.919 --> 00:08:44.340 they returned home. And when we had finished 00:08:44.340 --> 00:08:47.059 our voyage from Tyre, we came to Ptolemaeus. 00:08:47.440 --> 00:08:49.720 greeted the brethren, and stayed with them one 00:08:49.720 --> 00:08:53.460 day. On the next day, we, who were Paul's companions, 00:08:53.860 --> 00:08:56.519 departed and came to Caesarea, and entered the 00:08:56.519 --> 00:08:58.720 house of Philip the Evangelist, who was one of 00:08:58.720 --> 00:09:01.100 the seven, and stayed with him. Now this man 00:09:01.100 --> 00:09:04.039 had four virgin daughters who prophesied. And 00:09:04.039 --> 00:09:06.419 as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named 00:09:06.419 --> 00:09:09.559 Agapos came down from Judea. When he had come 00:09:09.559 --> 00:09:12.419 to us, he took Paul's belt, bound his own hands 00:09:12.419 --> 00:09:14.940 and feet, and said, Thus says the Holy Spirit, 00:09:17.279 --> 00:09:20.039 Bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him 00:09:20.039 --> 00:09:22.720 into the hands of the Gentiles. Now when we heard 00:09:22.720 --> 00:09:25.759 these things, both we and those from that place 00:09:25.759 --> 00:09:29.080 pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then 00:09:29.080 --> 00:09:31.720 Paul answered, What do you mean by weeping and 00:09:31.720 --> 00:09:34.580 breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to 00:09:34.580 --> 00:09:37.580 be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the 00:09:37.580 --> 00:09:39.980 name of the Lord Jesus. So when he would not 00:09:39.980 --> 00:09:42.860 be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of 00:09:42.860 --> 00:09:45.990 the Lord be done. And after those days we packed 00:09:45.990 --> 00:09:48.690 and went up to Jerusalem. Also some of the disciples 00:09:48.690 --> 00:09:51.529 from Caesarea went with us and brought with them 00:09:51.529 --> 00:09:54.549 a certain Nason of Cyprus, an early disciple, 00:09:54.710 --> 00:09:57.409 with whom we were to lodge. And when we had come 00:09:57.409 --> 00:09:59.789 to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. 00:10:00.029 --> 00:10:03.049 On the following day, Paul went in with us to 00:10:03.049 --> 00:10:05.610 James, and all the elders were present. When 00:10:05.610 --> 00:10:08.149 we had greeted them, he told in detail those 00:10:08.149 --> 00:10:10.429 things which God had done among the Gentiles 00:10:10.429 --> 00:10:12.759 through his ministry. And when they heard it, 00:10:12.820 --> 00:10:15.179 they glorified the Lord. And they said to him, 00:10:15.519 --> 00:10:18.279 You see, brother, how many myriads of Jews there 00:10:18.279 --> 00:10:21.279 are who have believed, and they are all zealous 00:10:21.279 --> 00:10:23.779 for the law. But they have been informed about 00:10:23.779 --> 00:10:26.259 you that you teach all the Jews who are among 00:10:26.259 --> 00:10:29.559 the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they 00:10:29.559 --> 00:10:32.179 ought not to circumcise their children nor to 00:10:32.179 --> 00:10:35.019 walk according to the customs. What then? The 00:10:35.019 --> 00:10:37.320 assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear 00:10:37.320 --> 00:10:40.220 that you have come. Therefore, do what we tell 00:10:40.220 --> 00:10:42.919 you. We have four men who have taken a vow, take 00:10:42.919 --> 00:10:45.220 them and be purified with them, and pay their 00:10:45.220 --> 00:10:47.419 expenses so that they may shave their heads, 00:10:47.539 --> 00:10:50.220 and that all may know that those things of which 00:10:50.220 --> 00:10:52.600 they were informed concerning you are nothing, 00:10:52.779 --> 00:10:55.759 but that you yourself also walk orderly and keep 00:10:55.759 --> 00:10:58.419 the law. But concerning the Gentiles who believe, 00:10:58.659 --> 00:11:00.960 we have written and decided that they should 00:11:00.960 --> 00:11:03.779 observe no such thing, except that they should 00:11:03.779 --> 00:11:06.220 keep themselves from things offered to idols, 00:11:06.379 --> 00:11:09.460 from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual 00:11:09.460 --> 00:11:12.519 immorality. Then Paul took the men, and the next 00:11:12.519 --> 00:11:15.080 day, having been purified with them, entered 00:11:15.080 --> 00:11:17.320 the temple to announce the expiration of the 00:11:17.320 --> 00:11:19.860 days of purification, at which time an offering 00:11:19.860 --> 00:11:22.639 should be made for each one of them. Now when 00:11:22.639 --> 00:11:25.039 the seven days were almost ended, the Jews from 00:11:25.039 --> 00:11:27.720 Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the 00:11:27.720 --> 00:11:30.600 whole crowd and laid hands on him, crying out, 00:11:30.779 --> 00:11:34.059 Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches 00:11:34.059 --> 00:11:37.129 all men everywhere against the people. the law 00:11:37.129 --> 00:11:40.210 and this place. And furthermore, he also brought 00:11:40.210 --> 00:11:43.309 Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy 00:11:43.309 --> 00:11:45.710 place. For they had previously seen Trophimus 00:11:45.710 --> 00:11:48.110 the Ephesian with him in the city, whom they 00:11:48.110 --> 00:11:50.389 supposed that Paul had brought into the temple. 00:11:50.570 --> 00:11:52.730 And all the city was disturbed, and the people 00:11:52.730 --> 00:11:55.509 ran together, seized Paul and dragged him out 00:11:55.509 --> 00:11:57.690 of the temple. And immediately the doors were 00:11:57.690 --> 00:12:00.870 shut. Now as they were seeking to kill him, news 00:12:00.870 --> 00:12:03.149 came to the commander of the garrison that all 00:12:03.149 --> 00:12:06.059 Jerusalem was in an uproar. He immediately took 00:12:06.059 --> 00:12:08.559 soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. 00:12:08.700 --> 00:12:10.659 And when they saw the commander and the soldiers, 00:12:10.840 --> 00:12:13.279 they stopped beating Paul. Then the commander 00:12:13.279 --> 00:12:15.539 came near and took him and commanded him to be 00:12:15.539 --> 00:12:18.480 bound with two chains. And he asked who he was 00:12:18.480 --> 00:12:21.360 and what he had done. And some among the multitude 00:12:21.360 --> 00:12:24.399 cried one thing and some another. So when he 00:12:24.399 --> 00:12:26.940 could not ascertain the truth because of the 00:12:26.940 --> 00:12:29.740 tumult, He commanded him to be taken into the 00:12:29.740 --> 00:12:32.039 barracks. When he reached the stairs, he had 00:12:32.039 --> 00:12:33.820 to be carried by the soldiers because of the 00:12:33.820 --> 00:12:36.059 violence of the mob. For the multitude of the 00:12:36.059 --> 00:12:38.820 people followed after, crying out, away with 00:12:38.820 --> 00:12:41.379 him. Then as Paul was about to be led into the 00:12:41.379 --> 00:12:43.639 barracks, he said to the commander, may I speak 00:12:43.639 --> 00:12:46.399 to you? He replied, can you speak Greek? Are 00:12:46.399 --> 00:12:48.960 you not the Egyptian who sometime ago stirred 00:12:48.960 --> 00:12:52.259 up a rebellion and led the 4 ,000 assassins out 00:12:52.259 --> 00:12:55.240 into the wilderness? But Paul said, I am a Jew 00:12:55.240 --> 00:12:58.299 from Tarsus in Cilicia. a citizen of no mean 00:12:58.299 --> 00:13:01.080 city, and I implore you, permit me to speak to 00:13:01.080 --> 00:13:03.200 the people. So when he had given him permission, 00:13:03.480 --> 00:13:06.039 Paul stood on the stairs and motioned with his 00:13:06.039 --> 00:13:08.639 hand to the people. And when there was a great 00:13:08.639 --> 00:13:11.100 silence, he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, 00:13:11.299 --> 00:13:18.879 saying, I hope you enjoyed today's reading as 00:13:18.879 --> 00:13:21.100 much as I did, and I look forward to seeing you 00:13:21.100 --> 00:13:23.460 again tomorrow to continue on our journey. God 00:13:23.460 --> 00:13:24.799 bless you and have a great day.