Hey curlfriends, I'm Bianca Renee and you're watching Bianca Renee Today and today I have a special guest, MJ Acosta. I feel like you have to say your last name like that, Acosta. A little flair, I like it.  We are talking about the Afro Latina community, curls in the Afro Latina community and she also is a news anchor, correct? A sportscaster. Sportscaster for the NFL Network. So she's rocking her curls on television, which is not something we see often. And she was also one of the judges for Miss Teen USA, who is also curly. So we have a lot of fun things to talk about. But let's start off with your background and growing up Afro Latina. What is your ethnicity? So my parents are both from the Dominican Republic. Okay. And in the Dominican Republic, it could be 105 degrees and it often is. And every Sunday, the ritual was roller set your hair flat and on out. Wow. So it was equated. Especially in the culture. Just in the culture, always press your hair, relax your hair, keep it straight. You know, the more European, the more white you look, that was equated more with like status and even beauty. And that was kind of like the beauty standard growing up. If your hair was nice and straight, the flatter the better, then they considered you ready to go.  Did I? It wasn't out of malice. It was just what the culture was, is what they were used to. So how long were you straightening your hair and going through that process for you with natural? Up until about a year and a half ago. Oh, really? Yes. Recent. Very recent. Look how bomber curls look for only being a year-ish natural. It was like an accelerated process. Yeah, it is. This is amazing. It was nuts. Before I started just wearing it completely curly, I did stop chemically straightening so I grew out all of that relaxer, all of that fried hair. I mean, year? No, that took several years. Okay. That took like two and a half, three years and like trimming. My hair was already short because it was far right, completely done. So it was probably right under my ears and just destroyed. And then big chop or transition? Transition a little bit. But I chopped it pretty short, kind of like in a bob once I did decide to wear it curly. But it took a long time. Well, I get a lot of messages from multiple different cultures, honestly, for whether it's Indian, Egyptian, black, Latino, about girls dealing with this fight with their parents. Because like you said, like the parents wanted to be straight because of how they were raised or maybe the culture. Yeah. How did you deal with that? Like with your parents or what advice would you give to someone that's like really wants to go natural but like their parents just won't let them? Yeah. I mean, I know I was super grown by the time. Yeah. I didn't even fight it as a kid. I didn't fight. As a kid it just was what it was, right?  Yeah. And it just was what it was.  Unless I was at the beach or, you know, it was a very like off sort of moment. And it was tough. It was really tough because I didn't know like, hey, it's okay to wear your hair like this.  That just, it was ritual every single week.  She's like, you're free my child. I remember it. My dad on the other hand was like, oh, how long are we? Really? How long are we doing this? Yeah. He's like, you look beautiful. Don't go around. I mean the dad like wouldn't care because of the dads, but that's interesting. Not at all. Well, he was concerned more so for my professional career. I was this kind of trans. I was already, you know, I've been working in broadcasting for 10 years now. So he's like, how is this going to work? Like, are your bosses going to be okay? Like, is this acceptable? And I was like, quite frankly, I'm not sure. Yeah. I have never really tried. And how crazy is that? Like, is the hair you were born with acceptable for television? What that's going to be watched by regular normal people? Yeah. How was that transition? Like, did you start off with straight hair on air? Yeah. And then you end up going, okay. So how was that transition? So it's so funny because I would straighten my hair just to curl it again. Right? That's the crazy part. You know, curling irons all over the place. And it's like, why? My hair is already curled. Comment below if you could relate for rails. I bet you everybody can.  And the theology behind that is that, you know, it's not about you. You don't want to just track from the stories. And I get that, but I don't think that should be at the consequence of who you are. And the way you were born. And moreover, like who says that curly hair can't be professional. I'm so done with that narrative. And that was one of the biggest pushes to why I decided, all right, I'm just going to wear it like this all the time. So tell us about your first day when you walked in like, okay, I'm just going to go with my curly hair. It wasn't curly like this. It was like a, because it was so damaged at that point.  It wouldn't even take a shape. But it was coming off of a weekend where I let my hair breathe. I tried to do that every so often. And it was kind of a crazy schedule that day. I was running. I had to go to a practice in the morning for a time in San Diego. And then haul back to the station and like put my show together, produce it, write it, edit the highlights. And I was like, I'm not going to have time to do my hair before this. Things we have to think about.  And I said, you know what, whatever, I'm here. Let me just like, judge it up in the front and like, see what happens. And the response was overwhelmingly positive. My co-workers are like some people that are watching. Both. So my co-workers immediate response, right?  I don't even know you had curly hair. And I was like, I just thought it was straight. Okay. But what else would they know? Right? If you're going in there every day with a flat iron. Surprise. Yeah. I was like, oh, and then they were like, you should wear them more often. And I was like, maybe I'll do it tomorrow. Oh. And so I went the next day. And the next day. And the next day. And eventually my boss was like, okay, so are we doing this? Or, and it wasn't, you know, to their credit at that, I was in San Diego at the time. They were very open to it. They're like, if you want to keep it this way, like, we'll take new head shots for you. Like the whole thing. And I was not expecting that whatsoever. That's great. I'm so relieved. Yeah. But the jobs aren't like that. Just even normal corporate jobs. I've had people write me saying that their boss is literally like threatened. Like you have to fix your hair or you can't come into work tomorrow. Like, but luckily we have that new law. Is that just New York? Yeah. The Crown Act. Well, the Crown Act is now here in California. And it's been passed by the Senate. So now it goes to the governor where they're really trying to push to make it a law where they cannot discriminate against anyone based on their hair or their style. And that's also for schools too, right? Yes. And in schools, students. So, I mean, the fact that we even need a law that allows us to wear our hair the way it's grown, like it's just crazy. But I'm happy to have it, I guess. But, you know, one step forward. Yes. Little baby steps, but we'll take them. And we'll also take that step and that crown. If you guys watch Miss Teen USA, she was one of the judges and she actually wrote me like before the show, like, just want to let you know there's some current girls in the competition. I'm really excited. And then the fact that she won with her natural hair like, you know that all of the girls in the pageant, I mean, majority probably had straight hair or they at least had that thought or conversation of should I straighten it for this to look like the rest of the girls? Is it too big or the judge is going to like it? Like, there probably had to be a thought process. You interviewed her, though, right? Yes. So what did she say when you asked her? I'm sure you asked her about her. That was the first question. She walked in and out. First of all, she's stunning and so poised and so confident. So she catch Kaley. She catches your attention the second she walks in the room. But the very first round of the competition is the interview. This is the part nobody sees. It's not televised. It's just a panel interview in front of the judges, which is intimidating. If you can imagine being 17 standing in front of judges, all the girls were incredible. But she walked in and having competed in pageants myself, I knew how difficult that decision must have been for her to say, I'm going to own this. I'm going to go in there. These girls couldn't even decide that for prom.  So she just walked in beaming. And I was like, yes, curls. And that was the first question I said to her. I was a curly girl, a curly girl. Why did you choose to compete in all your curly glory? And you just explained to all of us to the panel at that point that she's mixed.  Her father is black. And so her whole life, she was trying to emulate her mom, you know? And her mom didn't know about curly hair, but like, tried to help her as much as she could.   And she started to embrace it more and more. She got older and she walked in there and it was like, and they were so healthy and moisturized. I think on her Instagram, I saw like her earlier pictures. She didn't have straight hair. It's like the type of transition they have between these photos. And it wasn't even like when it was curly, but also wasn't like long curls or like wavy curls. Like the more quote unquote, acceptable curls. It looked like she could have just came off of a big chop and she wore them short. I assume that she did. And she told me, I wasn't that long ago that, you know, I cut it off and really started embracing them. So like for me, of course, I'm empathizing with this as a curly girl and having been there, but there's a panel of judges and we're not allowed to talk to each other. We're not allowed to influence one another. Like you have your opinion, you write on your sheet, they collect them, they audit it. It's very, I can't be like Bianca, like, Connecticut, right? Like she's like, you cannot do that. So I had no idea if the judges would see what I saw in her, which was not just about her curls, but about who she was as a person, how brave she was and how confident she was in who she was. Yeah. She wrote me saying that she actually watches my channel. So I was like, ah! We talked about you. I was like, yes. I was like, okay. So are you following Curly Blockers? I'll tag you. She's like, well, I follow Bianca. And I was like, girl, really? Me too. Oh.  I know she's doing her whole like circuit right now, but spoiler alert guys, I'm really trying to get her on my channel. Comment below if you want her here. Tag her on her Instagram. But I know you want her on Bianca Renee today. That happened. And then a little bit later, Miss USA, also Curly. Well, it's her nationality, you know? Chesley, she's mixed as well, I believe. White and black. Black and white? Yeah. So we have two Curly wins.  Yeah. So it was all unprecedented. Black girl magic all the way around. We had two naturals. Like it was just shook it. Yeah. A moment. We're out here winning. Okay. Taking over. I don't even know. Well, and that was the big thing with Teen USA and Miss USA where, and it sucks that this is how even we think. I was like, there's no way that Chesley are now Miss USA. I was like, there's no way she's been a win. We already have one for the girl. Like they're not going to pick two. Like why can't there be more than one? Yeah. We're the ones that think that. Yes.   And that's it. And that's enough. And that's enough. Thank you. You guys have had your moment. So I like broke down in tears watching it. I was like, yeah, we're out of here. So not only is MJ the Curly girl on TV. She's also in the sports world. So being a woman, talking about sports is another bear that she is crossing. How is it in the sports world? And do you ever talk about curls with like the athletes or anything? One of the interesting parts of my job is how many are going to NFL locker rooms and talk to these guys during media availability. Where you go in the locker room? Yes. In the locker room. That's when, you know, that's when the guys are kind of available to speak to the media. We can just go and chat either on camera or off. But it's about like building the relationships with these guys that I'm covering on a week to week basis. So so many times you'll see so many of these athletes and they'll have like a diva curl, um, bottle in there or can to or shame. In the locker. In the locker. That's amazing. And not just as well like a tub, right? So I'll walk in and like, I'll mention it. Yes. Icebreaker. Totally. So I was like, okay, I see you rocking the floor over there. And they're like, y'all was about to ask you like, what products are you using? And then it's a full on product conversation in the middle of an NFL locker room. And it's fantastic. We've traded products before on occasion. Philip Lindsey. I gave him a little tiny bottle of product once. I was like, I'm going to help you out, bro. Like, I got to help you out in the aisles at Walmart locker room during the game. And this was at, uh, right before NFL honors was like big award show at the end of the season. Um, and he had the red carpet the next day. So as he's passing by the red carpet, he's like, did I do good? Did I do okay? You do that. Amazing. He's so great. I was like, make sure your hair is soaking wet when you apply the product. He's like, all right, all right.  I was like, I see the moisture. I was so proud. I bet. I mean, surprisingly, my male videos, which is like six or seven videos, way outnumber the views in my girl videos. I really should do more for men because there's one, there's not as many guy curly vloggers. Right. I guess it's not as saturated. Right. But like guys don't really know what to do, but I don't know what else you guys want to do. If you're a guy watching, please comment and let me know what you videos you guys want. But like my curl sponge video got like four million views. Wow. I can't believe it, man. So I'm like, yeah, I'm going to get back on videos for the guys and, you know, how to apply it, soaking my hair. Yeah. They want to know too. Even my boyfriend who has curly hair, most of the time wears it like in a fade. When he does that, I grow out. I'm like, I'm running a little low on product. It's running out quicker than you. I'm just going to want sulfates in my hair either, babe. I mean, I don't respect that. That's the thing. I can't even be mad about it. So like dudes out there are holding it down. They want to know they're part of this curly community too, even professional athletes. So, you know, it just reminds us that they're people too. They're athletes. They're just like... Yeah. If you guys have any more comments or any questions or if you also can relate to the story of maybe being the token curly girl at your school, being Afro Latina growing up with a mom or dad that might not want it or think it's better to straighten your hair, let's start the conversation below. And make sure you also follow MJ on Instagram, which is... MJ Acosta TV. When can they watch you on TV? When can they tune in? Man, we're on all the time. On NFL Network, the season doesn't stop just because games aren't going on.  If you guys enjoyed this video, make sure you give it a thumbs up and subscribe. I post two new videos every week. Once on Friday and once on Sunday. And you can follow me on Instagram at MsBjongrené. I'll see you guys next time. Thanks for watching Bjongrené today.


to you all and I will be presenting you the work we have been developing at the Royal Louise of Troyer on the topic of audience development, how we attract people to the sides. So what is this concept? Basically it is a concept used in marketing, business planning, in different types of areas and brands and it means how to engage people and communities and toward the social object and our object is archaeological heritage. So how do we bring people to the side to sustain this heritage and what is this heritage that I'm speaking about? So I work here from 11 years from now. This is the largest fish salting center from the Roman Empire and it is a national monument since 910 and it's now on the Portuguese world heritage indicative list because it really fulfills a gap which didn't exist so far in regarding world heritage. So we are preparing our classification. For the ones who don't know Troyer and Roman Louise of Troyer, Sofia already knows it, we are looking at 50 kilometers away from Lisbon in the shoreline of Southern River and we are only casing Portugal of a private management in archaeological heritage. So this brought us new challenges to face and well and advantages as well. So we were compelled to use strategic planning and marketing rules into everything we do. So I introduce you to mine. This is how Forbes forecasted how consumer would behave in 2015. Do you think he is still addicted? Well he is because what we have recent studies have shown is that 53% of the world's population is now on internet and 93% of those people use mobile devices. We have a test to do because in the guidelines we were told to bring our watches to see how much time did we have, how many of us have watches or and how many of us have mobile devices. I wanted to bring mine but I forgot. So how do we become viral or at least how do we relate to the people this 93% of people that are using social media and internet because we have to communicate with these people because we need them to keep our goals through. So we embrace these new technologies and these new ways of communicate. Of course we already have a lot of communication done offline so we were able to do this online and we used it as a powerful tool to bring audiences to the side. So of course to be relevant in social media we already have a lot of data done so far and we have our historical background studied. So we were able to define which were our segments, which were the people we already attracted, which were the people that already liked us and the ones who would engage better online as well and which were the people that we didn't have so far. So lesson learned. We were able to enroll to a digital communication plan using social media more often. Of course we have the advantage to be included in a resource, in a resource we have also a marketing department but of course internet and social media is so wide that we had to do it ourselves and acquire all the knowledge that we needed. So this is one of the examples we've done. We've done a lot of things. We used YouTube to enroll students for our summer schools. We use apps to make story trails to provide a different experience. So we wanted to reach people before the visit, during the visit and after the visit to gain their fidelity, make that keep coming to the site. So this is the example of our story trail included in FOIA Resort app. We are now developing another app called Guardians of the Roman Ruins because we have a different project which aims to empower citizens on the safeguarding of the heritage. So we don't want to create a game, well not now but for instance but we want to empower them through a game to help us to preserve the site from different threats or hazards so that we will be able to do that using a game without using technology in them. So we define different targets to different magazines, online magazines and online platforms for our most common groups like children and seniors which we weren't reaching and this of course gives a lot of feedback from other newspapers online and offline and we try to hear in all the agendas online and newsletters from the region and also we never forget the history, the scientific purpose of the site. So of course whenever we can we try to engage different projects, different scientific projects and to base all our activities from that knowledge through the scientific knowledge. This is an example of one of the activities we've made this year so our main target was family since we are in our resort and also the resort aim is to be the best known resort for families and of course we know children they love archaeology so why not to engage these influencers and to invite them to a weekend of experience with a lot of Roman activities so this of course have a lot of impact in social media, Instagram, Facebook, I mean different types of media which provide us a lot of visitors as well that all those money bloggers and of course moving forward is to create our future the way we communicate now is the way we will be seen in the future and we have to keep studying our analytics and that's what social media brought us so it gives us more data to study as well we like to study we're archaeologists so and we have to do that to keep meeting the expectations of our audience because if we say we're going to do something online we we better provide it when they are at the site so bear in mind that we have to call the customer visit until the end and we have to build this relationship mega brands do that so why not why can't we do this in archaeology as well because this is what will provide our future so we keep people interested in archaeology and heritage because we are the main persons who already like it so to be easier to speak about that for sure they will preserve it for the future and we want to do that by adding value in each contact points so not only when they're looking through our website they will have a different story telling a different there will be keys to come to the site and when they come to the site they have to meet their goal so their value for money and after they visit the site they have to keep on you know interested with the site so they keep coming and we gave their fidelity which is all brands want so sorry and of course this will all ensure the site preservation I finished by adding some of our rings so you can follow us when you want to do so thank you so much


what's going on guys it's your boy dpj here today with another destiny video and in today's video we're going to be checking out my nightfall loot results for the past week now with the introduction of all these new year 2 upgrades of these exotics I was looking forward to see if I did obtain any also with the XP increase as well we are getting there with nightfalls we really are so let's take a look at the loot I received starting with my hunter I received a 310 last word which I suppose ain't too bad easy now 1337 got 20 strange coins moving on to my titan and I got the calipoli sleeves dropping at 292 defense offering 61 intellect and 63 strength mods were increasing amount of fusion rifle ammunition you can carry and increased agility for five seconds after a arc double kill easy now got the hunter exotic leg armor the radiant dance machines dropping at 310 defense moving on to my warlock and I received the exotic claws of our home car dropping at 310 defense easy now got a custom honky mystery bag but that's it guys no new upgraded exotics for me but how about you did any of you guys obtain any of their recently announced year 2 upgraded exotics let me know down below in that comment section but that's it for another video hope you guys enjoyed it do drop a like I do appreciate the support thanks for stopping by as always and I'll catch you guys on the next one peace out until next time


In this presentation, we are going to discuss the DHIS2 Customization Database. This is the second database system that we've created for you in order to do your customization exercises throughout this module. It's a bit different when compared to Trainingland, and we just wanted to describe this in a bit more detail. The DHIS2 Customization Database is essentially a blank DHIS2 system that has been created in order for you to perform the exercises during this customization module. This has been preconfigured in order to create an optimal environment as possible for performing your own configuration practice during the exercises. We will discuss and introduce some new concepts in this presentation. However, we will not get into a detailed discussion regarding how to set up these various components that we are showing you within DHIS2 during this academy. If you're interested in learning more about the concepts that we're discussing here, have a look at the customization academy information. So the first thing that we're going to discuss is the concept of DHIS2 sharing. Previously, we had discussed sharing in terms of outputs, so sharing favorites and dashboards with other user groups, for example. The concept of sharing, however, can further be extended to the various items and objects that we create in DHIS2. So we refer to these items as metadata, and this could be items such as data elements or data sets as an example. And we will show you how to create these during this module. What this means essentially is that we can control which users have access to which objects in the system. At its core, sharing is separated into public versus private access. This is similar to before when we shared our favorites and our dashboards. You will notice this distinction between public and private objects when you are navigating the DHIS2 maintenance application. And we will show you this very quickly in a moment. For the purposes of this academy, you have the ability to create private objects. What this means is that all of the items you create will only be seen by yourself and the system or course administrators. None of the other participants can interact with any of the objects that you create during this module. The type of setup that you will see here is largely achieved by creating a user role that allows the user to only create private objects in the system. So let's have a look at what we mean when we're discussing this type of sharing within DHIS2. What we're looking at now are data elements in the data element management application. And we will discuss the data element management application in much more detail later on. What I've done is logged in as one of the course administrators. This administrator has access to all of the data elements that have been created by the various participants within this course. We can see that there is a column, public access. All of these data elements are marked as no public access. What this means is that these data elements, which have not yet been shared with other user groups, can only be seen by the course administrator as well as the individual who created this particular data element. If I right click on one of the data elements and go to sharing settings, we can see that by default public access is turned off. We see that both CanView and CanEdit are not selected. When we create the various objects during this customization module, they will all be set to private, which means it will say no public access in the column beside the item that we have created. This means that other users won't be able to interfere with what you are doing. As an example, now I've logged in with a user who's enrolled in the course. This user cannot see any of those other data elements that were created by the other participants. This particular user will only be able to see new objects that they create within the DHIS2 system. Essentially, the DHIS2 customization database acts as your own system when you are creating objects. You will only see the items that you have created yourself and will not be able to interact with the objects that other users have made. Another item that we will discuss is organization units. What we have done in DHIS2 is create a new organization unit for every person that has enrolled in this particular course. This is automatically created when the user registers in this DHIS2 customization database. We have done this so other users do not see the organization units that you are creating. Let's show you an example of what has been done in the system itself. We will discuss organization unit management within this module. All we wanted to do for now is show you the organization unit that gets generated when you register in this particular DHIS2 system. What it does is take the email that you have registered with and creates a root organization unit. What this does is ensure that other users will not be able to see the organization units that you have created during the course of your assignments. The last item that we will discuss in relation to the customization database are data sets. We will discuss the creation of data sets later on within this module. When we create data sets, the user role must be updated. You will see this in action during the course of the data set creation demonstration. We do not discuss user management in a lot of detail within this fundamentals level course. As we cannot only give partial access to modify the user role, you will not be able to perform this function directly later on. We have done this because if someone modifies the user role by mistake, this could affect other users' interaction with the system, as it may not allow them to perform certain functions that they should be able to do. Because of this, we create an empty data set for you to modify and assign it to your user role when your account is created in this DHIS2 customization system. In DHIS2, when you go to data set management, you will see that a data set is created using the email that you registered with. This is similar to the organization units. You will be able to edit this data set later on when you perform your assignment. The main reason that we have done this is because we need to assign the data set to a user role. As mentioned, we do not discuss user management in a lot of detail in this particular course. So we have taken care of assigning this data set to your user role in the background. As this is done automatically for you already. This was a brief introduction to the customization system. You will be performing various exercises within this system. We just wanted to give you a better idea of how some of the exercises link to the setup that we have created for you to perform these various exercises. And if any questions come up during the exercises in relation to either the data elements, organization units, or data sets, please let us know.


Story number 15 of Hallbott's story of the Bible. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Hallbott's story of the Bible by Jesse Lyman Hallbott, part 7. The Speech on the Stairs Acts chapter 21 from verse 17 to verse 29 of chapter 22. When Paul and his friends came to Jerusalem, they met with the church in that city and gave them the money which had been gathered among the Gentiles to help those of the Jewish believers in Christ who were Paul. The Apostle James, the Lord's brother, who was at the head of the church in Jerusalem, gave to Paul and his friends a glad welcome and praised God for the good work wrought among the Gentiles. About a week after Paul had come to Jerusalem, he was worshiping in the temple. When some Jews from the lands around Ephesus saw him, they at once stared up a crowd and took hold of Paul crying out, Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against our people and against our law and against this temple. Besides, he has brought Gentiles into the temple and thus has made the Holy House unclean. They had seen with Paul walking in the city, one of his friends from Ephesus who was not a Jew and they started the false report that Paul had taken him into the temple. When the Jews set up this cry against Paul, all the city was stirred up and a great crowd gathered around Paul. They dragged Paul out of the temple into the outer courts and were about to kill him in their rage, but in the castle on the north of the temple was a Roman guard of soldiers, a thousand men under the command of an officer whom we should call a cornel, but who they called the chief captain. Word came to this officer that all Jerusalem was in a riot and that a wild mob had seized the temple. They called out companies of soldiers and their centurions or captains and rushed quickly into the temple and into the midst of the crowd who were beating and trampling upon Paul. The chief captain took Paul from their hands and thinking that he must have done something very wicked to call first such a riot ordered him to be fastened with two chains. Then he asked who this man was and what he had done. Paul began to answer at once, some shouting one thing and some another, and as the chief captain could understand nothing in the confusion, he commanded the soldiers to take him into the castle. The crowd made a rush to seize Paul and take him away from the soldiers, but they carried him through the trunk and up the stone steps that led into the castle, while all around at the foot of the stairs was the multitude of angry Jews crying out, away with him, killing. Just as they reached the platform at the door of the castle, Paul in a quiet manner spoke to the chief captain in his own language, which was the Greek tongue. He said, may I say something to you? The officer was surprised and he answered Paul, do you know Greek? Are you not that man from Egypt who some time ago rose up against the rulers and let out into the wilderness four thousand men who were moderates? But Paul said, I am a Jew of Thassos in Cilicia. I belong to no mean city. I pray you give me leave to speak to the people. The chief captain thought that if this man should speak to the people, he might learn something about him, so he gave him leave. Then Paul, standing on the stairs, beckoned with his hand to the crowd to show that he wished to speak. Soon, everybody became quiet, for all wanted to hear, and then Paul began to speak to the people, but he did not speak in Greek as he had spoken to the chief captain. He spoke in the Hebrew tongue, their own language which they loved to hear, and when they heard him speak in Hebrew, their own tongue, they were all the more ready to listen to him, and this was what Paul said, brethren and fathers, hear the words that I speak to you. I am a Jew born in Thassos of Cilicia, but brought up in the city at the feet of the wise teacher, Gamaliel, and taught in a strict way in the law of our fathers, and I was earnest for God, as all of you are this day, and I was a bitter enemy of the way of Christ, binding and putting in prison both men and women who believed in Jesus. The High Priest himself knows this, and all the Council of the Elders, for they gave me letters to our people in Damascus, and I went on a journey to that place to bring in chains from Damascus to Jerusalem, those who followed Jesus to punish them, and it came to pass as I made my journey and drew night to Damascus. Suddenly they are shown from heaven a great light round about me, and I fell to the ground and had a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why are thou fighting against me and doing me harm? And I answered, who are thou, Lord? And he said to me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are trying to destroy. Those who were with me saw the lights, but they did not hear the voice that spoke to me. And I said, what shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said to me, rise up and go into Damascus, and it shall be told thee what things are given to thee to do. When I stood up, I could not see, from the glory of that light, and I was led by the hands of those who were with me into Damascus. And a man named Ananias, a man who worshiped God and kept the law, of whom all the Jews in the city spoke well, came to me and standing by me said, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And in that very hour, I looked up and saw him, and he said to me, the God of our fathers had chosen thee to know his will, and to see the Holy One, and to hear his voice.  And afterward, when I came back to Jerusalem, and was praying in the temple, I saw the Lord again, and he spoke to me, go forth, and I will send thee far hence to the Gentiles. The Jews listened to Paul quietly, until he spoke that word, Gentiles, which roused up all their wrought.  It is not fit that he should live. And as the flung of their garments, and threw dust into the air in their rage, the chief captain ordered that Paul should be taken into the castle and beaten with rods, until he should tell what dreadful thing he had done to arouse such anger. For the chief captain, not knowing the Jews' language, had not understood what Paul had said. They took Paul into the castle, and were tying him up to beat him when Paul said to the centurion who stood by, have you any right to beat a Roman citizen who has not been tried before a judge? When the centurion heard this, he went in haste to the chief captain, and said to him, take care what you do to that man, for he is a Roman citizen. Then the chief captain came and said to Paul, tell me, are you a Roman citizen? And Paul answered, yes I am. The chief captain said, I bought this right to be a citizen with a great sum of money. And Paul said to him, but I am a freeborn citizen. When those who were about to beat Paul knew that he was a Roman citizen, they went away from him in haste, and the chief captain was afraid because he had bound Paul. For no one might place a chain on a Roman citizen until he had been tried before a Roman judge. They took Paul into the castle, but were careful not to do him any harm. End of story number 15. After Paul had been rescued from the Jewish mob, he was taken to the castle on the north of the temple for safekeeping. The chief captain wished to know for what reason the Jews were so bitter in their hate against Paul, and to learn this he commanded the chief priests and rulers to meet together, and brought Paul down from the castle and set him before them. Paul looked earnestly upon the council and said to them, brethren, I have lived with a right feeling toward God all my life until this day. The high priest, whose name was Ananias, was sitting in the council, clad in the white garments worn by all priests. He was so enraged at those words that he said to those who were standing near Paul, strike him on the mouth.  Those that were standing by, said to Paul, do you speak such words against the high priest of God? I did not know, answered Paul, that he was high priest. It is written in the law not to speak evil of a ruler of your people. Paul saw that there were two parties in the council, and by a few wise words he made some of the rulers friendly to him, so that they stood up and said, We find no evil in this man. Perhaps a spirit has spoken to him, or an angel. This made the rulers of the other side all the more furious, and such a quarrel arose between them that the chief captain feared that Paul would be torn in pieces, and he again sent down soldiers to take him by force from the council, and bring him into the castle. On the night after this, while Paul was in his room in the castle, the Lord stood by him and said, Be of good cheer, Paul, for as you have spoken for me at Jerusalem, so shall you speak for me at Rome. Early on the next morning more than forty of the Jews laid a plan to kill Paul, and bound themselves together by an oath, swearing that they would neither eat nor drink until they had slain him. These men came to the chief priests and said, We have bound ourselves under a great oath that we will taste nothing until we have killed Paul. Now do you ask the chief captain to bring Paul down again to meet the council, so that they may hear him and try his case once more, and while he shall be on his way to the council we will rush in and kill him. Now Paul had a sister living in Jerusalem and her son heard of this plot and came to the castle and told it to Paul. Then Paul called one of the officers and said to him, Take this young man to the chief captain, for he has something to tell him. So the officer brought the young man to the chief captain and said to him, Paul, the prisoner, called me to him and asked me to bring this young man to you, for he has something to say to you. Then the chief captain took the young man aside and asked him, What is it that you have to say to me? And he said, The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul before the council again, but do not let him go, for there are more than forty men watching for him who have sworn an oath together that they will neither eat nor drink until they have killed Paul. The chief captain listened carefully and then sent the young man away after saying to him, Do not tell anyone that you have spoken of these things to me. And after the young man had gone the chief captain called to him two centurions, captains over a hundred men, and he said to them, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go as far as Caesarea and seventy men on horseback and two hundred men with spears at nine o'clock at night. And he told him also to have ready horses for Paul so that he might send him safe to Felix, the governor of the land at Caesarea. And he wrote a letter in this manner. Claudius Lyceus sends greetings to the most noble Governor Felix. This man was seized by the Jews and would have been killed by them, but I came upon him with the soldiers and took him from their hands, having learned that he was a citizen of Rome. And to find out the reasons why they were so strongly against him I brought him down to their council. But I found that the charges against him were about questions of their law, but nothing deserving death or bonds. When I heard there was a plot to kill the man I sent him at once to you and told his enemies to go before you with their charges. So in the night almost five hundred men were sent with a guard for Paul. He was brought out of the castle and taken that night as far as to enter Patris, about forty miles. On the next day the soldiers left him, thinking him to be no longer in danger and return to Jerusalem while the horsemen rode on with him to Caesarea, where the governor Felix lived. The officer in charge gave the letter to the governor. He read the letter and then asked Paul from what land he had come. Paul told him that he belonged to the land of Cilicia in Asia Minor. And Felix said, I will hear your case when those who bring charges against you have come. And he sent Paul to be kept in a castle which had once belonged to Herod. After five days the High Priest and Anias and some others came to Caesarea, bringing with them a lawyer named Tertullus. And when Paul was brought before them in presence of Felix, the governor, Tertullus made a speech charging him with riot and law-breaking and many evil deeds. They also said that he was a ringleader in the party of the Nazarenes, which was the name they gave to the Church of Christ. And the Jews all joined in the charge, saying that all these things were true. After they had spoken the governor motioned with his hand toward Paul, showing that he might speak, and Paul began, I know that you have been for many years a judge over this people, and for that reason I speak to you willingly. For you may know that it is only twelve days since I went up to worship at Jerusalem. Nor was I quarreling with anyone in the temple, nor stirring up a crowd in the temple, or the synagogues, or in the city. Nor can they prove to you the things they have said against me. But I do own to this, that after the way which they call the party of the Nazarenes, so do I serve the God of our fathers, believing all things in the law and in the prophets, and having a hope in God that the dead shall be raised up. And I have always tried to keep my heart free from wrong toward God and toward men. Now, after many years, I came to bring gifts to my people and offerings for the altar. And with these they found me in the temple, not with a crowd, nor with a riot. But there were certain Jews from Asia Minor who ought to have been here, if they have anything against me. Felix knew somewhat about the Church of Christ, and he said, When Lysias, the chief captain, shall come down, I will settle this case. And he ordered Paul to be kept under guard, but that his friends might freely come to see him. After a few days, Felix and his wife Drisilla, who was a Jewess, sent for Paul, and heard him with regard to the Gospel of Christ. And as Paul preached to him, of right living and of ruling oneself, and of the judgment of God that should come upon sinners, Felix was alarmed and said, Go away for this time when a fit time comes, and I am ready to listen, I will send for you. Felix was not a just judge, for he hoped that Paul might give him money, so that he might set Paul free. And with this in his mind he sent for Paul and talked with him many times. Two whole years passed away, and Paul was still in prison at Caesarea. At the end of that time Felix was called back to Rome, and a man named Porcius Vestis was sent back as Governor in his place. Felix wished to please the Jews, and he left Paul a prisoner. End of Story 16 Story 17 of Hurlbut's Story of the Bible. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Hurlbut's Story of the Bible by Jesse Lyman Hurlbut, Part 7. The Story That Paul Told to the King. Acts 25, Verse 1 to 26, Verse 32. When Vestis came to rule over the land of Judea, in the place of Felix, who had kept Paul in prison so long, he went up to Jerusalem to visit that city. There the chief priest and the leading men spoke to him against Paul, and they asked that he might be sent to Jerusalem to be tried. It was their plan to kill Paul on the way. But Vestis told them that Paul should be kept at Caesarea and that he himself would soon go there. Let your leaders go down with me, said Vestis, and bring your charges against him, if you have any. When Vestis came down to Caesarea, he called them all together and sat upon the judge's seat and commanded Paul to be brought. Then the Jews said evil things about Paul, declaring that he had done wickedly. But they could not prove any of the things which they spoke against him. And Paul said, I have done no wrong against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against the rule of Caesar, the emperor. Vestis wished to please the Jews, for he did not know their secret purpose to kill Paul. He said, are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and there be tried upon these charges before me? But Paul said, I am standing before the Roman court where I ought to be judged. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as thou knowest very well, and no men shall give me into their hands. I ask for a trial before Caesar, the emperor, at Rome. It was the law throughout the Roman lands that any citizen of Rome, as Paul was, could ask to be tried at Rome before Caesar, the emperor. When Vestis heard Paul's words, he said, do you ask to be tried before Caesar? Then unto Caesar you shall go. So Paul was taken back to the prison at Caesarea to be sent to Rome when his time should come. A few days after this a Jewish ruler named Agrippa and his sister Bernice came to visit Vestis. He was called King Agrippa, and he ruled over a part of the land on the east of the River Jordan. While Agrippa and Bernice were at Caesarea, Vestis said to them, there is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix, of whom the chief priest and elders of the Jews asked, when I was at Jerusalem, that I should give orders to have him put to death or given into their hands. I told them that the Romans never give judgment against any man until he stands face to face before his enemies, and can make answer to their charges. When they came down to this place, and the man was brought before them, their charges were not the wicked acts that I expected to hear of. But they had some questions about their ways of worship, and about somebody named Jesus, who was dead, but who Paul said was alive. As I could not understand these questions, I asked Paul whether he would go up to Jerusalem and there be tried. But Paul asked for a trial before Caesar, and I am keeping him to be sent to the emperor at Rome. I would like, said Agrippa, to hear this man myself. Tomorrow, said Vestis, you shall hear him. So on the next day Agrippa and his sister Bernice and Vestis, with the chief men of the city and the officers of the army, came in great state to the hall of judgment, and Paul was brought before them, chained to a Roman soldier. And after a few words by Vestis, Agrippa said to Paul, you may now speak for yourself. Then Paul spoke in words like these. I think myself happy, King Agrippa, to give answer before thee of all the things charged against me by the Jews, because I am sure that thou dost know all the Jewish ways and the questions about the law. I ask thee, then, to hear me. My way of life from my youth, all the Jews know, for I have lived among them, and if they tell the truth, they would say that I was one of those who kept the laws of our people most carefully. And now I stand here to be judged for the sake of the promise which God made to our fathers, that promise to which our twelve tribes, serving God day and night, hoped to come. And on account of this hopeful king, the Jews charged me with doing evil, because I believe that Jesus Christ rose from the dead to be the king of Israel. Why, should it be something thou canst not believe, that God does raise the dead to life? In former times I really thought with myself that I ought to do many things against the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And this I did in Jerusalem, for I shut up many good men and women in prisons, and when they were put to death I gave my voice against them. I caused them to be beaten, and I tried to make them curse the name of Jesus. And being exceedingly mad against them, I sought for them even in cities far away. And as I journeyed to Damascus with letters from the chief priests at midday, O King, I saw on the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining around me and those who were with me. And as we all fell down upon the ground, I heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why are you fighting against me? And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom you are trying to destroy, but rise up and stand upon your feet, for I have shown myself to you to make you my servant and my messenger to tell of what you have seen, and of what I will show you. I will keep you safe from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I send you, to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan, the evil one, to God, that their sins may be forgiven, and that they may receive a reward among those that are made holy by faith in me. O King Agrippa, I did not disobey the voice from heaven, but first at Damascus, and then at Jerusalem, and throughout all the land of Judea, and also among the Gentiles, I have spoken, telling men to turn from sin to God, and to show deeds of right doing.  Having gained help from God, I stand unto this day speaking to people, small and great, saying only what is given in the law of Moses and in the prophets, that the Christ must suffer and die, and that he by rising from the dead should give light to our people and to the Gentiles. While Paul was speaking, Vesta said with a loud voice, Paul, you are mad, your great learning has turned you to madness. For Festus, being a Roman, knew nothing of Jesus or of the truths which Paul spoke. But Paul said to him, I am not mad most noble Festus, I speak only sober and truthful words. The king knows of these things, and I speak freely to him. None of these things are hidden from him, for these things were not done in secret. King Agrippa, does Thou believe the prophets? I know that Thou dost believe. And Agrippa said to Paul, a little more and you will persuade me to become a Christian. And Paul said, I would before God, that whether with little or with much, that not only Thou, but also all that hear me this day, might become such as I am, except these chains. After these words King Agrippa and Bernice and Festus the governor, and those who were there, went away by themselves, and they said to each other, this man has done nothing deserving death or prison. And Agrippa said to Festus, this man might have been set free if he had not asked to be tried before Caesar. Chapter 27 Verse 1 to Chapter 28 Verse 1 When Paul chose to be tried before Caesar the emperor, which was his right as a Roman, it became necessary to send him from Caesarea in Judea to Rome in Italy, where Caesar lived. In those years there were no ships sailing at regular times from city to city. But people who wished to go to places over the sea waited until they could find ships with loads sailing to those places. Paul and some other prisoners were given into the charge of a Roman centurion or captain named Julius to be taken to Rome. Julius found a ship sailing from Caesarea to places on the shore of Asia Minor, which would take them a part of the way to Rome. He took Paul and the other prisoners on board this ship, and with Paul went his friends, Luke, the doctor, and Aristarchus from Thessalonica. Perhaps Timothy also was with them, but of this we are not certain. They set sail from Caesarea, after Paul had been in prison more than two years, and they followed the coast northward to Sidon. There they stopped for a day, and Julius the centurion was very kind to Paul and let him go ashore to see his friends who were living there. From Sidon they turned to the northwest and sailed past the island of Cyprus and then westward by the shore of Asia Minor. At a city called Myra they left the ship and went on board another ship, which was sailing from Alexandria to Italy with a load of wheat from the fields of Egypt. Soon a heavy wind began to blow against the ship, and it sailed very slowly for many days, but at last came to the large island of Crete and followed its southern shore in the face of the wind until they found a harbor, and they stayed for a few days. But this harbor was not a good one, and they thought to leave it and sail to another. Paul now said to them, Sirs, I see that this voyage will be with great loss to the load and the ship, and with great danger to the lives of us all. And he urged them to stay where they were at anchor. But the owner of the ship and its captain thought that they might sail in safety, and Julius the centurion listened to them rather than to Paul. So when a gentle south wind began to blow, they set sail once more, closely following the shore of the island of Crete. But soon the wind grew into a great storm, and the ship could not face it, and was driven out of its course. Behind the ship was a little boat, and this they drew up on board, and as the ship creaked and seemed in danger of going to pieces, they tied ropes around it to hold it together. The storm grew and drove the ship away from the island into the open sea. To make the vessel lighter, they threw overboard a part of the load, and the next day they cast into the sea all the loose ropes and everything on the ship that could be spared. Day after day went on with no sight of the sun, and night after night with no sight of the stars. The great waves rolled over the ship and beat upon it, until those on board hardly hoped to save their lives. In their fear, for days the men and the prisoners had eaten nothing, but in the midst of the storm Paul stood up among them and said, Sirs, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete, for then we might have been saved much harm and loss. But even as it is, be of good cheer, for though the ship will be lost, all of us on board shall be saved. This night there stood by me an angel of the Lord to whom I belong and whom I serve, and the angel said to me, Fear not, Paul, you shall yet stand before Caesar, and God has given to you all those who are sailing with you. Now, friends, be of good cheer, for I believe, God, that it shall be even as the angel said to me, but we must cast upon some island. When the storm had lasted fourteen days, at night the sailors thought that they were coming near to land. They dropped down the line and found that the water was twenty fathoms deep, then after a little they let down the line again and found the water only fifteen fathoms deep. They were sure now that land was near, but they were afraid that the ship might be driven upon the rocks, so they threw out from the stern, or rear end, four anchors to hold the ship, and then they longed for the day to come. The sailors let down the little boat, saying that they would throw out some more anchors from the bow or front of the ship, but really intending to row away in the boat and leave the ship and all on board to be destroyed, but Paul saw their purpose and he said to the centurion, Unless these sailors stay in the ship, none of us can be saved. Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat and let it fall off so that the sailors could not get away, and as it drew toward daylight Paul urged them all to take some food, he said. This is the fourteenth day that you have waited without any food. Now I beg you to eat, for you need it to keep your lives safely. You will all be saved, not an hair shall fall from the head of one of you. He took some bread and gave thanks to God before them all, then he broke it and began to eat. This encouraged all the others, so that they too took food. There were in all on board the ship, sailors and soldiers and prisoners and others, two hundred and seventy-six people. After they had eaten enough they threw out into the sea what was left of its load of wheat, so that the ship might be less heavy upon the waves and might go nearer to the shore. As soon as the day dawned they could see land, but did not know what land it was. They saw a bay with a beach into which they thought they might run the ship. So they cut loose the anchors, leaving them in the sea, and they hoisted up the foresail to the wind and made toward the shore. The ship ran aground and the front end was stuck fast in the sand, but the rear part began to break in pieces from the beating of the waves. Now came another danger, just as they were beginning to hope for their lives. By the Roman law a soldier who had charge of a prisoner must take his prisoner's place if he escaped from his care. These soldiers feared that their prisoners might sail ashore and get free, so they asked the centurion to let them kill all the prisoners while they were still on board the ship. But Julius the centurion loved Paul, and to save Paul's life kept them from killing the prisoners. He commanded that those who could swim should leap overboard and get first to the land. Then the rest went ashore, some on planks and some on broken pieces of the ship, and all came safe to the shore, not one life being lost. And then they found that they were on the island of Melita, which is in the great sea, south of the larger island of Sicily. End of story number eighteen. Recording by John Leader, Bloomington, Illinois. Story number nineteen of Hurlbit's story of the Bible. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by John Leader. Hurlbit's Story of the Bible by Jesse Lyman Hurlbit. How Paul came to Rome and how he lived there. Acts chapter twenty-eight, verses two to thirty-one. The people who lived on the island of Melita were very kind to the strangers who had been thrown by the sea upon their shore. It was cold and rainy, and the men from the ship were in garments drenched by the waves. But the people made a fire and brought them all around it and gave them good care. Very soon they found that many of the men were prisoners who were under guard of the soldiers. Paul gathered a bundle of sticks and placed them on the fire when suddenly a poisonous snake came from the pile, driven out by the heat, and seized Paul's hand with its teeth. When the people saw the snake hanging from his hand they said to each other, This man must be a murderer. He has saved his life from the sea, but the just gods will not let him live on account of his wickedness. But Paul shook off the snake into the fire and took no harm. They looked to see his arms swell with poison and to see him fall down dead suddenly. But when they watched him for a long time and saw no evil come to him they changed their minds and said that he was a god and were ready to worship him. Near the place where the ship was wrecked were lands and buildings belonging to the ruler of the island whose name was Publius. He took Paul and his friends into his house and treated them very kindly. The father of Publius was very ill, with a fever and a disease called dysentery, from which people often died. But Paul went into his room and prayed by his side, then he laid his hands on him and the sick man became well. As soon as the people of the island heard this many others troubled with diseases were brought to Paul and all were cured. The people of Melita after this gave a great honor to Paul and those who were with him and when they sailed away they put on the ship as gifts for them all things that they would need. The Centurion found at anchor by the island a ship from Alexandria on its way to Italy which had been waiting there through the winter. The name of this ship was the Twin Brothers. After three months in the isle the Centurion sent on board this ship his soldiers and prisoners with Paul's friends and they sailed away from Melita. After stopping at a few places on their voyage they left the ship at Putioli in the south of Italy and from that place they were led toward Rome. The church at Rome to which Paul had written a letter in other days heard that he was coming and some of the brethren went out to meet him a few miles from the city. When Paul saw them and knew that they were glad to meet him even though he was in chains he thanked God and took heart once more. He had long wished to go to Rome and now came into the city at last but as a prisoner chained to a Roman soldier. When they came to Rome the good Centurion Julius gave his prisoners to the captain of the guard in the city but from the kind word spoken by Julius Paul was allowed to go to a house by himself though with the soldier who guarded him always at his side. After three days in Rome Paul sent for the chief men among the Jews of the city to meet in his house because he could not go to the synagogue to meet with them. When they came he said to them, Brethren, though I have done no harm to our people or against our law yet I was made a prisoner in Jerusalem and given into the hands of the Romans. When the Romans had given me a trial they found no cause for putting me to death and wished to set me free. But the Jews spoke against me and I had to ask for a trial before Caesar though I have no charge to bring against my own people. I have asked to see you and to speak with you because for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain. They said to Paul, No letters have come to us from Judea nor have any of the brethren brought to us any evil report of you. But we would like to hear from you about this people who follow Jesus of Nazareth for they are a people everywhere spoken against. So Paul named a day and on the day they came in great number to Paul's room. He talked with them explaining the teaching of the Old Testament about Christ from morning until evening. Some believed the words of Paul and others refused to believe. And when they would not agree Paul said to them as they were leaving. Truly indeed did the Holy Spirit say of this people in the words of Isaiah the prophet, hearing ye shall hear and shall not understand, and seeing ye shall see and yet not see. For this people's heart is become hard, and their ears are dull, and their eyes they have shut, for they are not willing to see nor to hear nor to understand nor to turn from their sins to God. But know this, that the salvation of Christ is sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen to it even though you do not. And after this Paul lived two years in the house which he had hired. Every day a soldier was brought from the camp, and Paul was chained to him for all that day. And the next day another soldier came, each day a new soldier was chained to Paul, and to each one Paul spoke the Gospel, until after a time many of the soldiers in the camp were believers in Christ, and when these soldiers were sent away they often carried the Gospel with them to other lands. So Paul, though a prisoner, was still doing good and working for Christ. Then too some of Paul's friends were with him in Rome, the young Timothy whom Paul loved to call his son in the Gospel, and Luke the Doctor, of whom he wrote as the beloved physician, were there, perhaps in the same house. Aristarchus of Thessalonica, who had been with him in the ship and in the storm, was still with Paul. Mark, the young man who years before went with Paul and Barnabas on their first journey from Antioch, visited Paul in Rome. At one time, when Paul had been a prisoner nearly two years, a friend came to see him from Philippi in Macedonia. His name was Epaphroditus, and he brought to Paul a loving message from that church, and also gifts to help Paul in his need. In return Paul wrote to the church at Philippi a letter, the Epistle to the Philippians, full of tender and gentle words. It was taken to the church by Epaphroditus and by Timothy, whom Paul sent with him, perhaps because in Rome Epaphroditus was very ill, and Paul may have thought it better not to have him go home alone. In Rome a man named Onesimus met Paul. He was a runaway slave who belonged to a friend of Paul named Philemon, living at Colossae in Asia Minor not far from Ephesus. Paul led Onesimus to give his heart to Christ, and then, although he would have liked to keep him with himself, he sent him back to Philemon his master. But he asked Philemon to take him, no longer as a slave, but as a brother in Christ. This he wrote in a letter which he sent by Onesimus called the Epistle to Philemon. Onesimus carried at the same time another letter to the church at Colossae. This letter is the Epistle to the Colossians, and about the same time Paul wrote one of the greatest and most wonderful of all his letters, the Epistle to the Ephesians which he sent to the church in Ephesus. So all the world has been richer ever since Paul's time by having the four letters which he wrote while he was a prisoner at Rome. It is thought, though it is not certain, that Paul was set free from prison after two years, that he lived a free man preaching in many lands for a few years, that he wrote during those years the first Epistle to Timothy, whom he had sent to care for the church at Ephesus, and the Epistle to Titus, who was over the churches in the island of Crete, that he was again made a prisoner and taken to Rome, and from his Roman prison wrote his last letter, the second Epistle to Timothy, and that soon after this the wicked Emperor Nero caused him to be put to death. Among his last words in the letter to Timothy were these, I have fought a good fight, I have run my race, I have kept the faith, and now there is waiting for me the crown which the Lord himself shall give me. End of Story 19 Recording by John Leader Bloomington, Illinois Story 20 of Hurlbut's Story of the Bible This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Hurlbut's Story of the Bible by Jesse Lyman Hurlbut Part 7 The Throne of God Revelation 1 verses 9 to 20 and Revelation 4 verses 1 to 14. You remember the Apostle John, the disciple whom Jesus loved. When John was an old man he was made a prisoner by a cruel Emperor of Rome, and was kept in a little island called the Isle of Patmos, which is in the Aegean Sea, not far from Ephesus. While John was shut up on this island, the Lord Jesus Christ came to him and showed him some things which were to come to pass. It was on the Lord's Day, the first day of the week, when suddenly John heard behind him a loud voice, as loud as the sound of a trumpet. He turned to see from whom the voice came, and then he saw seven golden candlesticks standing, and among them one whom John knew at once as his Lord Jesus Christ. Yet Christ, as he saw him, was far more glorious than he had been while living as a man on the earth. He was dressed in a long white garment with a girdle of gold over his breast. His hair and his face were so shining that they seemed as white as snow. His eyes flashed like fire, his feet were like polished brass, glowing as a furnace.  In his right hand were held seven stars, and a glory came from him brighter than the sun. When John saw his Lord in all this splendor, he fell at his feet in great terror. Then he felt the right hand of Christ laid upon him, and heard his voice saying, Fear not, I am the first and the last and the living one. I was dead, and now I am alive for evermore. Write the things which you have seen, and other things which I will show you, and send them to the seven churches in Asia. The seven stars which you see in my hand are the ministers of the seven churches, and the seven candlesticks standing around me are the seven churches. Then the Lord gave John the words of a letter which he commanded John to write to the seven churches in that part of Asia, of which churches that at Ephesus was the first. To each church was to be sent a different letter. The word of the Lord Jesus to that church, praising it for some things, and rebuking it for others. When these words had been given to the churches, John saw a door opened in heaven, and he heard a voice like the sound of a trumpet saying to him, Come up to this place, and I will show thee things that shall come to pass. Then at once John was taken up to heaven, and he saw the throne of God, and one sitting upon it whom he could scarcely see for the dazzling glory around him. And over the throne was a rainbow of many colors. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and upon them sat twenty-four old men, the elders of the church, dressed in white with crowns of gold on their heads. Out of the throne came lightning and thunder, and the sound of voices. Before the throne was a sea of glass like crystal, and beside the throne were four strange living creatures, each having six wings. And these living ones were saying, Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, which was, and which is, and which is to come. And then the elders would fall down and worship him who sits on the throne, and lay their crowns at his feet and say, Thou art worthy, O God, our Lord, to have the honor and the glory and the power for Thou didst create and make all things. Then John saw in the right hand of the one sitting on the throne a book in the form of a roll, written on both sides and sealed with seven seals.  And no one in all the heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to loosen its seals. Then John began to weep, because there was found no one worthy to open the book or even to look upon it. But one of the twenty-four elders spoke to John saying, Weep not, see the lion of the tribe of Judah, he who came from David, has won the right to open the book and its seven seals. Then before the throne and among the elders and the four living creatures, John saw standing the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, with the wounds of the cross upon him, in hands and feet and side. He came and took the book from the right hand of the one who was sitting on the throne.  Each held a harp and a golden bowl full of incense, such as was used in the temple as a sign of the prayers of God's people. And they all sang a new song with the words, Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to have the power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing. End of Story 20, Recording by David Lawrence, June 30, 2008 in Brampton, Ontario. Story number 21 of Hurlbut's Story of the Bible. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Hurlbut's Story of the Bible by Jesse Lyman Hurlbut, part seven, The City of God, Revelation 7, 9 to 17, 21, 1 to 27, 22, 1 to 17. Again John saw the throne of God and before it and before the Lamb of God stood a multitude of people so great that no man could count them. They were dressed in white robes and branches of palm were in their hands and they cried with a loud voice, salvation unto our God upon the throne and unto the Lamb. And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the four living creatures and around the seats of the 24 elders and the angels fell down on their faces and worshiped God saying, Amen, blessing and glory and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be unto our God forever and ever. Then one of the elders spoke to John and said, Who are these dressed in white robes and whence did they come? And John answered, My Lord, thou knowest who they are and whence they came, but I do not know. Then the elder said, These are they who have come up out of great trouble and sorrow and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. For that cause they are before the throne of God and they serve him day and night in his temple and he that sitteth upon the throne shall spread his tent over them. They shall hunger no more, neither shall they thirst any more nor shall the heat of the sun strike upon them. But the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne shall lead them as shepherd and shall guide them unto the fountains of waters of life.  After this John heard a great voice out of the throne saying, Behold the tabernacle of God is with men and God shall dwell among men and they shall be his people and he shall be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death, neither shall there be weeping or crying nor pain any more. And he that was sitting upon the throne said, Behold I make all things new, I will give to him who is thirsty of the fountain of the water of life freely. Then John seemed to be standing upon a great and high mountain and he saw a glorious city, the new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Over the city was a rich light, like that which glows in some precious stone clear as crystal. Around the city was a lofty wall and on each side of the wall were three gates, for the city was four square, having 12 gates in all. Beside each gate stood an angel and on the gates were written the names of the 12 tribes of Israel and the wall had 12 foundations and on them were written the names of the 12 apostles of the Lord. The wall was like Jasper and the city was built of pure gold but a gold which seemed clear like glass. The 12 gates were 12 pearls, each one of the gates was one great pearl and the street of the city was pure gold as clear as glass. John could see no temple in the city and it needs none for the Lord God and Jesus Christ the Lamb of God are its temple and the city has no need of the sun nor of the moon to shine upon it for the glory of God gives it light and the Lamb of God is as a lamp in it and the gates of the city shall not be shut by day for there shall be no night there and the nations of men shall walk in the light of this city and the kings of the earth bring their glory into it and all the honor and glory of the nations of earth shall be brought into it and into it shall never come anything that is evil or unclean or anyone who does what God hates or anyone who makes a lie but they only shall come into it whose names are written in the Lord's book and John saw a river of water of life clear as crystal coming forth from the throne of God and of the Lamb and flowing through the street of the city on each side of the river was growing the tree of life bearing its fruit every month 12 times in the year and the leaves of the tree were to heal all people of their diseases and in the city the Lord God and the Lamb of God shall reign as kings when John had seen and heard all these things he fell down to worship the angel who had showed them to him but the angel said to him do not worship me for I am a fellow servant with you and with your brethren the prophets and with those who keep the word of the book worship God and the angel said to John do not seal up the words of what you have heard and seen but tell them to all men and the church and the bride the church of Christ say come and let him that hears say come and let him that is thirsty come and whoever will let him take the water of life freely end of story 21 end of hurlbut story of the bible by jessie lineman hurlbut part seven recording by John McGahy cc.tactapeguy.net