After three days Paul called the local Jewish leaders to a meeting. When they had gathered, he said to them, "My fellow Israelites, even though I did nothing against our people or the customs that we received from our ancestors, I was made a prisoner in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans.

And so when you sent for me, I came without any objection. I ask you, then, why did you send for me?"

And so I sent for you at once, and you have been good enough to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God, waiting to hear anything that the Lord has instructed you to say."

When Paul saw that some of the group were Sadducees and the others were Pharisees, he called out in the Council, "Fellow Israelites! I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees. I am on trial here because of the hope I have that the dead will rise to life!"

I have the same hope in God that these themselves have, namely, that all people, both the good and the bad, will rise from death.

And now I stand here to be tried because of the hope I have in the promise that God made to our ancestors---

the very thing that the twelve tribes of our people hope to receive, as they worship God day and night. And it is because of this hope, Your Majesty, that I am being accused by these Jews!

"Whether a short time or a long time," Paul answered, "my prayer to God is that you and all the rest of you who are listening to me today might become what I am---except, of course, for these chains!"

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles, pray to God.

I urge you, then---I who am a prisoner because I serve the Lord: live a life that measures up to the standard God set when he called you.

For the sake of this gospel I am an ambassador, though now I am in prison. Pray that I may be bold in speaking about the gospel as I should.

As a result, the whole palace guard and all the others here know that I am in prison because I am a servant of Christ.

With my own hand I write this: Greetings from Paul.Do not forget my chains! May God's grace be with you.

but now it has been revealed to us through the coming of our Savior, Christ Jesus. He has ended the power of death and through the gospel has revealed immortal life.

Because I preach the Good News, I suffer and I am even chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not in chains,

So I make a request to you on behalf of Onesimus, who is my own son in Christ; for while in prison I have become his spiritual father.

I would like to keep him here with me, while I am in prison for the gospel's sake, so that he could help me in your place.