Verse 12

Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.

Other Translations

Referenced Verses

  • Rom 8:28 : 28 And we know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.
  • 2 Tim 2:9 : 9 For this gospel I suffer hardship, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained.
  • Acts 28:1-9 : 1 After we were brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta. 2 The local people showed us extraordinary kindness. They lit a fire and welcomed all of us because it was raining and cold. 3 When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and placed them on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, latched onto his hand. 4 When the locals saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to one another, "Surely this man is a murderer! Although he escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live." 5 But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead, but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god. 7 Nearby, there were lands that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us and hosted us kindly for three days. 8 The father of Publius was bedridden, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went to him, prayed, laid his hands on him, and healed him. 9 After this happened, the rest of the people on the island who were sick came and were healed. 10 They honored us in many ways, and when we were ready to sail, they provided us with the supplies we needed. 11 After three months, we set sail on an Alexandrian ship that had wintered at the island. Its figurehead was the Twin Brothers. 12 We landed at Syracuse and stayed there for three days. 13 From there, we sailed around and arrived at Rhegium. The next day, when a south wind arose, we sailed on and reached Puteoli. 14 There we found some fellow believers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome. 15 From there, the brothers and sisters, having heard about us, came as far as Appius Forum and the Three Taverns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he gave thanks to God and was encouraged. 16 When we came to Rome, the centurion handed over the prisoners to the commander of the guard, but Paul was allowed to live by himself with the soldier who was guarding him. 17 After three days, Paul called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had gathered, he said to them, 'Brothers, though I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, I was handed over as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.' 18 They examined me and wanted to release me because there was no basis for a death sentence against me. 19 But when the Jews objected, I felt compelled to appeal to Caesar—not because I had any accusation to bring against my own people. 20 For this reason, I have asked to see you and to speak with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain. 21 They replied, 'We have not received any letters about you from Judea, nor has any of the brothers who came here reported or said anything bad about you.' 22 But we would like to hear from you what you think, because we know that people everywhere are speaking against this sect. 23 They arranged to meet with him on a certain day, and many came to the place where he was staying. From morning until evening, Paul was explaining and testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them about Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets. 24 Some were convinced by what he said, but others did not believe. 25 They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: 'The Holy Spirit was right in speaking to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah:' 26 'Go to this people and say, "You will indeed hear but never understand; you will indeed see but never perceive."' 27 For this people's heart has grown calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise, they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.' 28 Therefore, let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen! 29 After he said these words, the Jews departed, having a great debate among themselves. 30 For two whole years, Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31 He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance.
  • Rom 8:37 : 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
  • Exod 18:11 : 11 Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods, for He acted against those who treated Israel arrogantly.
  • Esth 9:1 : 1 On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, the king’s decree and command were to be carried out. On the day the enemies of the Jews had hoped to dominate them, the situation was reversed, and the Jews gained mastery over those who hated them.
  • Ps 76:10 : 10 When God rose up to judge, to save all the humble of the earth. Selah.
  • Acts 8:4 : 4 Those who had been scattered went about spreading the good news of the word.
  • Acts 11:19-21 : 19 Now those who had been scattered as a result of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word only to Jews. 20 But some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and also began speaking to the Greeks, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.
  • Acts 21:28-36 : 28 Shouting, 'Fellow Israelites, help us! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people, our law, and this place. And now he has even brought Greeks into the temple, defiling this holy place.' 29 They had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with Paul in the city and assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple. 30 The whole city was stirred up, and there was a commotion. They seized Paul, dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the gates were shut. 31 While they were trying to kill him, news reached the commander of the Roman cohort that all Jerusalem was in uproar. 32 At once, he took soldiers and centurions and ran down to the crowd. When the people saw the commander and his soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33 The commander came up, arrested Paul, ordered him to be bound with two chains, and asked who he was and what he had done. 34 Some in the crowd shouted one thing and some another. Because the commander could not get at the truth due to the uproar, he ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks. 35 When Paul reached the steps, the violence of the crowd was so great that he had to be carried by the soldiers. 36 The crowd that followed kept shouting, 'Take him away!'
  • Acts 22:1-9 : 1 Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you. 2 When they heard that he was speaking to them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet, and he said: 3 I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city and educated at the feet of Gamaliel, strictly according to the law of our ancestors. I was zealous for God, just as all of you are today. 4 I persecuted this Way to the point of death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison. 5 As the high priest and the council of elders can testify, I even obtained letters from them to the brothers in Damascus and went there to bring back these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished. 6 But as I was traveling and approaching Damascus, about noon, a bright light from heaven suddenly flashed around me. 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ 8 I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, the one you are persecuting.’ 9 Now those who were with me saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me. 10 I asked, ‘What should I do, Lord?’ The Lord told me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus. There you will be told everything that has been assigned for you to do.’ 11 Since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me and went into Damascus. 12 A man named Ananias, a devout observer of the law who was well spoken of by all the Jews living there, 13 He came to me, stood by, and said, 'Brother Saul, regain your sight!' At that moment, I looked up and could see him. 14 Then he said, 'The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know His will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear words from His mouth. 15 For you will be His witness to all people of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now, why delay? Get up, be baptized, and wash away your sins by calling on His name. 17 After I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance. 18 I saw Him saying to me, 'Hurry and leave Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about Me.' 19 But I said, 'Lord, they themselves know that I used to imprison and beat those who believed in You in the synagogues. 20 And when the blood of Your servant Stephen was being shed, I stood there, giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.' 21 Then He said to me, 'Go, because I am sending you far away to the Gentiles.' 22 They listened to him until this statement. Then they raised their voices, shouting, 'Rid the earth of this man! He should not be allowed to live!' 23 As they were shouting, throwing off their cloaks, and flinging dust into the air, 24 the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks and directed that he be interrogated under flogging to understand the reason they were shouting against him like this. 25 As they stretched him out for the lash, Paul said to the centurion standing there, 'Is it lawful for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn’t been condemned?' 26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and reported it, saying, 'What are you about to do? This man is a Roman citizen.' 27 The commander came and asked him, 'Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?' Paul said, 'Yes.' 28 The commander responded, 'I acquired this citizenship for a large sum of money.' But Paul said, 'I was born a citizen.' 29 Immediately, those who were about to interrogate him stepped away. The commander was also afraid, realizing that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him. 30 The next day, wanting to know for certain why Paul was being accused by the Jews, the commander released him and ordered the chief priests and the entire council to assemble. Then he brought Paul down and had him stand before them.