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Paul before the Council

30 Since he wanted to find out what Paul^* was being accused of by the Jews, the next day he released him and ordered the chief priests and the entire council to meet. He brought Paul down and had him stand before them.

6 When Paul noticed that some were Sadducees and others were Pharisees, he called out in the council, ‘Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. I am on trial concerning the hope of the resurrection^* of the dead.’ ⁷When he said this, a dissension began between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. ⁸(The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, or angel, or spirit; but the Pharisees acknowledge all three.) ⁹Then a great clamour arose, and certain scribes of the Pharisees’ group stood up and contended, ‘We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?’ ¹⁰When the dissension became violent, the tribune, fearing that they would tear Paul to pieces, ordered the soldiers to go down, take him by force, and bring him into the barracks.

11 That night the Lord stood near him and said, ‘Keep up your courage! For just as you have testified for me in Jerusalem, so you must bear witness also in Rome.’

Psalm 16

Song of Trust and Security in God

A Miktam of David.
¹ Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
² I say to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord;
   I have no good apart from you.’^*

³ As for the holy ones in the land, they are the noble,
   in whom is all my delight.

⁴ Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows;^*
   their drink-offerings of blood I will not pour out
   or take their names upon my lips.

⁵ The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
   you hold my lot.
⁶ The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
   I have a goodly heritage.

⁷ I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
   in the night also my heart instructs me.
⁸ I keep the Lord always before me;
   because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

⁹ Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices;
   my body also rests secure.
¹⁰ For you do not give me up to Sheol,
   or let your faithful one see the Pit.

¹¹ You show me the path of life.
   In your presence there is fullness of joy;
   in your right hand are pleasures for evermore.

20 ‘I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, ²¹that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us,^* so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²²The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, ²³I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. ²⁴Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

25 ‘Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. ²⁶I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.’