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

1 The LORD is my shepherd. He gives me everything I need.

2 He lets me lie down in fields of green grass. He leads me beside quiet waters.

3 He gives me new strength. He guides me in the right paths for the honor of his name.

4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid. You are with me. Your shepherd's rod and staff comfort me

5 You prepare a feast for me right in front of my enemies. You pour oil on my head. My cup runs over.

6 I am sure that your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life. And I will live in the house of the LORD forever.

1 The earth belongs to the Lord. And so does everything in it. The world belongs to him. And so do all those who live in it.

2 He set it firmly on the oceans. He made it secure on the waters.

3 Who can go up to the temple on the hill of the Lord? Who can stand in his holy place?

4 Anyone who has clean hands and a pure heart. He does not worship the statue of a god. He doesn't use the name of that god when he makes a promise.

5 People like that will receive the LORD's blessing. When God their Savior hands down his sentence, it will be in their favor.

6 The people who look to God are like that. God of Jacob, they look to you. "Selah"

7 Open wide, you gates. Open up, you age-old doors. Then the King of glory will come in.

8 Who is the King of glory? The Lord, who is strong and mighty. The Lord, who is mighty in battle.

9 Open wide, you gates. Open wide, you age-old doors. Then the King of glory will come in.

10 Who is he, this King of glory? The LORD who rules over all. He is the King of glory. "Selah"

1 Lord, I worship you.

2 My God, I trust in you. Don't let me be put to shame. Don't let my enemies win the battle over me.

3 Those who put their hope in you will never be put to shame. But those who can't be trusted will be put to shame. They have no excuse.

4 Lord, show me your ways. Teach me how to follow you.

5 Guide me in your truth. Teach me. You are God my Savior. I put my hope in you all day long.

6 Lord, remember your great mercy and love. You have shown them to your people for a long time.

7 Don't remember the sins I committed when I was young. Don't remember how often I refused to obey you. Remember me because you love me. Lord, you are good.

8 The LORD is honest and good. He teaches sinners to walk in his ways.

9 He shows those who aren't proud how to do what is right. He teaches them his ways.

10 All of the LORD's ways are loving and faithful for those who obey what his covenant commands.

11 Lord, be true to your name. Forgive my sin, even though it is great.

12 Who is the man who has respect for the Lord? God will teach him the way he has chosen for him.

13 Things will always go well for him. His children will be given the land.

14 The LORD shares his plans with those who have respect for him. He makes his covenant known to them.

15 My eyes always look to the Lord. He alone can set my feet free from the trap.

16 Turn to me and show me your favor. I am lonely and hurting.

17 The troubles of my heart have increased. Set me free from my great pain.

18 Look at how I'm hurting! See how much I suffer! Take away all of my sins.

19 Look at how many enemies I have! See how terrible their hatred is for me!

20 Guard my life. Save me. Don't let me be put to shame. I go to you for safety.

21 May my honest and good life keep me safe. I have put my hope in you.

22 God, set Israel free from all of their troubles!

18 The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James. All the elders were there.

19 Paul greeted them. Then he reported everything God had done among the non-Jews through his work.

20 When they heard this, they praised God. Then they spoke to Paul. "Brother," they said, "you see that thousands of Jews have become believers. All of them try very hard to obey the law.

21 They have been told that you teach all the Jews who live among the non-Jews to turn away from Moses. They think that you teach them not to circumcise their children. They think that you teach them to give up our Jewish ways.

22 "What should we do? They will certainly hear that you have come.

23 So do what we tell you. There are four men with us who have made a promise to God.

24 Take them with you. Join them in the Jewish practice that makes people pure and clean. Pay their expenses so they can have their heads shaved. Then everybody will know that these reports about you are not true in any way. They will know that you yourself obey the law.

25 "We have already given written directions to the believers who are not Jews. They must not eat food that has been offered to statues of gods. They must not drink blood. They must not eat the meat of animals that have been choked to death. And they must not commit sexual sins."

26 The next day Paul took the men with him. They all made themselves pure and clean in the usual way. Then Paul went to the temple. There he reported the date when the days of cleansing would end. At that time the proper offering would be made for each of them.

27 The seven days of cleansing were almost over. Some Jews from Asia Minor saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd. They arrested Paul.

28 "Men of Israel, help us!" they shouted. "This is the man who teaches everyone in all places against our people. He speaks against our law and against this holy place. Besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple area. He has made this holy place unclean."

29 They said this because they had seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with Paul. They thought Paul had brought him into the temple area.

30 The whole city was stirred up. People came running from all directions. They grabbed Paul and dragged him out of the temple. Right away the temple gates were shut.

31 The people were trying to kill Paul. But news reached the commander of the Roman troops. He heard that people were making trouble in the whole city of Jerusalem.

32 At once he took some officers and soldiers with him. They ran down to the crowd. The people causing the trouble saw the commander and his soldiers. So they stopped beating Paul.

33 The commander came up and arrested Paul. He ordered him to be held with two chains. Then he asked who Paul was and what he had done.

34 Some in the crowd shouted one thing, some another. But the commander couldn't get the facts because of all the noise. So he ordered that Paul be taken into the fort.

35 Paul reached the steps. But then the mob became so wild that he had to be carried by the soldiers.

36 The crowd that followed kept shouting, "Kill him!"

37 The soldiers were about to take Paul into the fort. Then he asked the commander, "May I say something to you?" "Do you speak Greek?" he replied.

38 "Aren't you the Egyptian who turned some of our people against their leaders? Didn't you lead 4,000 terrorists out into the desert some time ago?"

39 Paul answered, "I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia. I am a citizen of an important city. Please let me speak to the people."

40 The commander told him he could. So Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. When all of them were quiet, he spoke to them in the Aramaic language.