Psalms 23; Psalms 24; Psalms 25; Acts 21:18-40

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need.

2 He lets me rest in green pastures. He leads me to calm water.

3 He gives me new strength. He leads me on paths that are right for the good of his name.

4 Even if I walk through a very dark valley, I will not be afraid, because you are with me. Your rod and your walking stickn comfort me

5 You prepare a meal for me in front of my enemies. You pour oil on my head; you fill my cup to overflowing.

6 Surely your goodness and love will be with me all my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever. A psalm of David.

1 The earth belongs to the Lord, and everything in it -- the world and all its people.

2 He built it on the waters and set it on the rivers.

3 Who may go up on the mountain of the Lord?

4 Only those with clean hands and pure hearts, who have not worshiped idols, who have not made promises in the name of a false god.

5 They will receive a blessing from the Lord; the God who saves them will declare them right.

6 They try to follow God; they look to the God of Jacob for help. Selah

7 Gates, open all the way. Open wide, aged doors so the glorious King will come in.

8 Who is this glorious King? The Lord, strong and mighty. The Lord, the powerful warrior.

9 Gates, open all the way. Open wide, aged doors so the glorious King will come in.

10 Who is this glorious King? he is the glorious King. Selah Of David.

1 Lord, I give myself to you;

2 my God, I trust you. Do not let me be disgraced; do not let my enemies laugh at me.

3 No one who trusts you will be disgraced, but those who sin without excuse will be disgraced.

4 Lord, tell me your ways. Show me how to live.

5 Guide me in your truth, and teach me, my God, my Savior. I trust you all day long.

6 Lord, remember your mercy and love that you have shown since long ago.

7 Do not remember the sins and wrong things I did when I was young. But remember to love me always because you are good, Lord.

8 The Lord is good and right; he points sinners to the right way.

9 He shows those who are humble how to do right, and he teaches them his ways.

10 All the Lord's ways are loving and true for those who follow the demands of his agreement.

11 For the sake of your name, Lord, forgive my many sins.

12 Are there those who respect the Lord? He will point them to the best way.

13 They will enjoy a good life, and their children will inherit the land.

14 The Lord tells his secrets to those who respect him; he tells them about his agreement.

15 My eyes are always looking to the Lord for help. He will keep me from any traps.

16 Turn to me and have mercy on me, because I am lonely and hurting.

17 My troubles have grown larger; free me from my problems.

18 Look at my suffering and troubles, and take away all my sins.

19 Look at how many enemies I have! See how much they hate me!

20 Protect me and save me. I trust you, so do not let me be disgraced.

21 My hope is in you, so may goodness and honesty guard me.

22 God, save Israel from all their troubles! Of David.

18 The next day Paul went with us to visit James, and all the elders were there.

19 Paul greeted them and told them everything God had done among the non-Jewish people through him.

20 When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to Paul, "Brother, you can see that many thousands of Jews have become believers. And they think it is very important to obey the law of Moses.

21 They have heard about your teaching, that you tell the Jews who live among those who are not Jews to leave the law of Moses. They have heard that you tell them not to circumcise their children and not to obey Jewish customs.

22 What should we do? They will learn that you have come.

23 So we will tell you what to do: Four of our men have made a promise to God.

24 Take these men with you and share in their cleansing ceremony. Pay their expenses so they can shave their heads. Then it will prove to everyone that what they have heard about you is not true and that you follow the law of Moses in your own life.

25 We have already sent a letter to the non-Jewish believers. The letter said: 'Do not eat food that has been offered to idols, or blood, or animals that have been strangled. Do not take part in sexual sin.'"

26 The next day Paul took the four men and shared in the cleansing ceremony with them. Then he went to the Temple and announced the time when the days of the cleansing ceremony would be finished. On the last day an offering would be given for each of the men.

27 When the seven days were almost over, some Jews from Asia saw Paul at the Temple. They caused all the people to be upset and grabbed Paul.

28 They shouted, "People of Israel, help us! This is the man who goes everywhere teaching against the law of Moses, against our people, and against this Temple. Now he has brought some Greeks into the Temple and has made this holy place unclean!"

29 (The Jews said this because they had seen Trophimus, a man from Ephesus, with Paul in Jerusalem. The Jews thought that Paul had brought him into the Temple.)

30 All the people in Jerusalem became upset. Together they ran, took Paul, and dragged him out of the Temple. The Temple doors were closed immediately.

31 While they were trying to kill Paul, the commander of the Roman army in Jerusalem learned that there was trouble in the whole city.

32 Immediately he took some officers and soldiers and ran to the place where the crowd was gathered. When the people saw them, they stopped beating Paul.

33 The commander went to Paul and arrested him. He told his soldiers to tie Paul with two chains. Then he asked who he was and what he had done wrong.

34 Some in the crowd were yelling one thing, and some were yelling another. Because of all this confusion and shouting, the commander could not learn what had happened. So he ordered the soldiers to take Paul to the army building.

35 When Paul came to the steps, the soldiers had to carry him because the people were ready to hurt him.

36 The whole mob was following them, shouting, "Kill him!"

37 As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the army building, he spoke to the commander, "May I say something to you?" The commander said, "Do you speak Greek?

38 I thought you were the Egyptian who started some trouble against the government not long ago and led four thousand killers out to the desert."

39 Paul said, "No, I am a Jew from Tarsus in the country of Cilicia. I am a citizen of that important city. Please, let me speak to the people."

40 The commander gave permission, so Paul stood on the steps and waved his hand to quiet the people. When there was silence, he spoke to them in the Jewish language.