Finally, I don't know if you read this portion of Acts 22 that was posted a few days ago:
Then Paul said, “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, and I was brought up and educated here in Jerusalem under Gamaliel. As his student, I was carefully trained in our Jewish laws and customs. I became very zealous to honor God in everything I did, just like all of you today. 4 And I persecuted the followers of the Way, hounding some to death, arresting both men and women and throwing them in prison. 5 The high priest and the whole council of elders can testify that this is so. For I received letters from them to our Jewish brothers in Damascus, authorizing me to bring the Christians from there to Jerusalem, in chains, to be punished. blueletterbible.org

It shows that Paul was Jewish and backed up his claim with proof.

"And I persecuted the followers of the Way, hounding some to death, arresting both men and women and throwing them in prison"

Guess that's just what a Jew born in Tarsus is expected to do... Thank god he saw the light and tried to save us from our selves. Too bad we tried to kill him so many times. I see the error of my ways, It isn't the Jews that suffered, its the Christians, and if we have suffered its our fault because we didn't accept your messiah.

<<Again Mujus refuses to acknowledge the seamy side of his religion. I guess ignoance breeds strength of faith.>>

I'm not ignoant. Or even ignorant. And there's nothing seamy about Jesus dying on the cross to save all men--Jews first and then the rest of the world, or about following his example and his teachings.

<<"Then Festus, wanting to please the Jews, asked him, “Are you willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there?”">>

Obviously wanting the please the group of Jews who were there complaining about Paul, namely, members of the Sanhedrin and the Chief Priest and his lawyer (orator).

<<“King Agrippa and all who are here, this is the man whose death is demanded by all the Jews, both here and in Jerusalem.">>

Paul didn't say that; Festus did; and who knows if he believed it or if he was hamming it up for this royal guests.

<<How many pogroms launched by such lines? What is the use of this book? What lesson are we supposed to get from this passage Mujus? how about you explain it???>>

Good questions. Re progroms, people who follow Jesus don't launch pogroms--those people were either following Satan or their own evil desires. And many of the ones who followed were just plain ignorant of their own "faith"--often a faith that was imposed on them by their rulers, for their own purposes. Do people use religion as a tool to gain power? Yes. Did these words launch pogroms? No. They were just taken out of context to be used to gain power through sowing death and destruction. Second question: The use of this book is to tell the story of what really happened after Jesus' death, the first part of the First Century AD (or CE). And it's very evenhanded in who gets to beat up on and/or imprison Paul, and who comes to Jesus--both Jews and gentiles in each case. Third question: What lesson are we supposed to get from this passage? Answer: When we pray and ask God for wisdom, he gives it to us. Each time we read a section of the Bible, God brings different points to mind. But one lesson I am getting from reading Acts 24 this time is the awareness of the fact that God has a plan for Paul's life, and even in prison he is able to share with people that he would otherwise never meet--two governors, a King and his Queen, and many others. The Good News is going out to Jews (including Queen Priscilla) and gentiles alike.

Queen Bernice, I think it was, not Priscilla. Regrets.

In Acts 26, Paul is once again on trial before Festus and Agrippa, who is present with his wife Bernice. My favorite verse is this one: 22 But God has protected me right up to this present time so I can testify to everyone, from the least to the greatest. I teach nothing except what the prophets and Moses said would happen— 23 that the Messiah would suffer and be the first to rise from the dead, and in this way announce God’s light to Jews and Gentiles alike.”
http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Act&c=26&v=1&t=NLT#1
Full text:
1 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You may speak in your defense.”
So Paul, gesturing with his hand, started his defense: 2 “I am fortunate, King Agrippa, that you are the one hearing my defense today against all these accusations made by the Jewish leaders, 3 for I know you are an expert on all Jewish customs and controversies. Now please listen to me patiently!
4 “As the Jewish leaders are well aware, I was given a thorough Jewish training from my earliest childhood among my own people and in Jerusalem. 5 If they would admit it, they know that I have been a member of the Pharisees, the strictest sect of our religion. 6 Now I am on trial because of my hope in the fulfillment of God’s promise made to our ancestors. 7 In fact, that is why the twelve tribes of Israel zealously worship God night and day, and they share the same hope I have. Yet, Your Majesty, they accuse me for having this hope! 8 Why does it seem incredible to any of you that God can raise the dead?
9 “I used to believe that I ought to do everything I could to oppose the very name of Jesus the Nazarene. [fn1] 10 Indeed, I did just that in Jerusalem. Authorized by the leading priests, I caused many believers [fn2] there to be sent to prison. And I cast my vote against them when they were condemned to death. 11 Many times I had them punished in the synagogues to get them to curse Jesus. [fn3] I was so violently opposed to them that I even chased them down in foreign cities.
12 “One day I was on such a mission to Damascus, armed with the authority and commission of the leading priests. 13 About noon, Your Majesty, as I was on the road, a light from heaven brighter than the sun shone down on me and my companions. 14 We all fell down, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, [fn4] ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is useless for you to fight against my will. [fn5] ’
15 “‘Who are you, lord?’ I asked.
“And the Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. 16 Now get to your feet! For I have appeared to you to appoint you as my servant and witness. You are to tell the world what you have seen and what I will show you in the future. 17 And I will rescue you from both your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles 18 to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me.’
19 “And so, King Agrippa, I obeyed that vision from heaven. 20 I preached first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that all must repent of their sins and turn to God—and prove they have changed by the good things they do. 21 Some Jews arrested me in the Temple for preaching this, and they tried to kill me. 22 But God has protected me right up to this present time so I can testify to everyone, from the least to the greatest. I teach nothing except what the prophets and Moses said would happen— 23 that the Messiah would suffer and be the first to rise from the dead, and in this way announce God’s light to Jews and Gentiles alike.”
24 Suddenly, Festus shouted, “Paul, you are insane. Too much study has made you crazy!”
25 But Paul replied, “I am not insane, Most Excellent Festus. What I am saying is the sober truth. 26 And King Agrippa knows about these things. I speak boldly, for I am sure these events are all familiar to him, for they were not done in a corner! 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do—”
28 Agrippa interrupted him. “Do you think you can persuade me to become a Christian so quickly?” [fn6]
29 Paul replied, “Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that both you and everyone here in this audience might become the same as I am, except for these chains.”
30 Then the king, the governor, Bernice, and all the others stood and left. 31 As they went out, they talked it over and agreed, “This man hasn’t done anything to deserve death or imprisonment.”
32 And Agrippa said to Festus, “He could have been set free if he hadn’t appealed to Caesar.”

Footnotes:
26:9 Or Jesus of Nazareth.
26:10 Greek many of God’s holy people.
26:11 Greek to blaspheme.
26:14 Or Hebrew.
26:14 Greek It is hard for you to kick against the oxgoads.
26:28 Or “A little more, and your arguments would make me a Christian.”
http://www.webdiplomacy.net/forum.php?viewthread=868339#868339

Jesus speaks directly to Paul, supernaturally.
15 “‘Who are you, lord?’ I asked.
“And the Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. 16 Now get to your feet! For I have appeared to you to appoint you as my servant and witness. You are to tell the world what you have seen and what I will show you in the future. 17 And I will rescue you from both your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles 18 to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me.’

In Acts 27, we see a frightening sea journey.
http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Act&c=27&v=1&t=NLT

Full text of Acts 27: http://www.blueletterbible.org/tools/printerFriendly.cfm?b=Act&c=27&t=NLTP&x=8&y=7
Paul Sails for Rome
1 When the time came, we set sail for Italy. Paul and several other prisoners were placed in the custody of a Roman officer [fn1] named Julius, a captain of the Imperial Regiment. 2 Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was also with us. We left on a ship whose home port was Adramyttium on the northwest coast of the province of Asia; [fn2] it was scheduled to make several stops at ports along the coast of the province.
3 The next day when we docked at Sidon, Julius was very kind to Paul and let him go ashore to visit with friends so they could provide for his needs. 4 Putting out to sea from there, we encountered strong headwinds that made it difficult to keep the ship on course, so we sailed north of Cyprus between the island and the mainland. 5 Keeping to the open sea, we passed along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, landing at Myra, in the province of Lycia. 6 There the commanding officer found an Egyptian ship from Alexandria that was bound for Italy, and he put us on board.
7 We had several days of slow sailing, and after great difficulty we finally neared Cnidus. But the wind was against us, so we sailed across to Crete and along the sheltered coast of the island, past the cape of Salmone. 8 We struggled along the coast with great difficulty and finally arrived at Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea. 9 We had lost a lot of time. The weather was becoming dangerous for sea travel because it was so late in the fall, [fn3] and Paul spoke to the ship’s officers about it.
10 “Men,” he said, “I believe there is trouble ahead if we go on—shipwreck, loss of cargo, and danger to our lives as well.” 11 But the officer in charge of the prisoners listened more to the ship’s captain and the owner than to Paul. 12 And since Fair Havens was an exposed harbor—a poor place to spend the winter—most of the crew wanted to go on to Phoenix, farther up the coast of Crete, and spend the winter there. Phoenix was a good harbor with only a southwest and northwest exposure.
The Storm at Sea
13 When a light wind began blowing from the south, the sailors thought they could make it. So they pulled up anchor and sailed close to the shore of Crete. 14 But the weather changed abruptly, and a wind of typhoon strength (called a “northeaster”) burst across the island and blew us out to sea. 15 The sailors couldn’t turn the ship into the wind, so they gave up and let it run before the gale.
16 We sailed along the sheltered side of a small island named Cauda, [fn4] where with great difficulty we hoisted aboard the lifeboat being towed behind us. 17 Then the sailors bound ropes around the hull of the ship to strengthen it. They were afraid of being driven across to the sandbars of Syrtis off the African coast, so they lowered the sea anchor to slow the ship and were driven before the wind.
18 The next day, as gale-force winds continued to batter the ship, the crew began throwing the cargo overboard. 19 The following day they even took some of the ship’s gear and threw it overboard. 20 The terrible storm raged for many days, blotting out the sun and the stars, until at last all hope was gone.
21 No one had eaten for a long time. Finally, Paul called the crew together and said, “Men, you should have listened to me in the first place and not left Crete. You would have avoided all this damage and loss. 22 But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down. 23 For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, 24 and he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.’ 25 So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said. 26 But we will be shipwrecked on an island.”
The Shipwreck
27 About midnight on the fourteenth night of the storm, as we were being driven across the Sea of Adria, [fn5] the sailors sensed land was near. 28 They dropped a weighted line and found that the water was 120 feet deep. But a little later they measured again and found it was only 90 feet deep. [fn6] 29 At this rate they were afraid we would soon be driven against the rocks along the shore, so they threw out four anchors from the back of the ship and prayed for daylight.
30 Then the sailors tried to abandon the ship; they lowered the lifeboat as though they were going to put out anchors from the front of the ship. 31 But Paul said to the commanding officer and the soldiers, “You will all die unless the sailors stay aboard.” 32 So the soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboat and let it drift away.
33 Just as day was dawning, Paul urged everyone to eat. “You have been so worried that you haven’t touched food for two weeks,” he said. 34 “Please eat something now for your own good. For not a hair of your heads will perish.” 35 Then he took some bread, gave thanks to God before them all, and broke off a piece and ate it. 36 Then everyone was encouraged and began to eat— 37 all 276 of us who were on board. 38 After eating, the crew lightened the ship further by throwing the cargo of wheat overboard.
39 When morning dawned, they didn’t recognize the coastline, but they saw a bay with a beach and wondered if they could get to shore by running the ship aground. 40 So they cut off the anchors and left them in the sea. Then they lowered the rudders, raised the foresail, and headed toward shore. 41 But they hit a shoal and ran the ship aground too soon. The bow of the ship stuck fast, while the stern was repeatedly smashed by the force of the waves and began to break apart.
42 The soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners to make sure they didn’t swim ashore and escape. 43 But the commanding officer wanted to spare Paul, so he didn’t let them carry out their plan. Then he ordered all who could swim to jump overboard first and make for land. 44 The others held on to planks or debris from the broken ship. [fn7] So everyone escaped safely to shore.


Footnotes:
27:1 Greek centurion; similarly in 27:6, 11, 31, 43.
27:2 Asia was a Roman province in what is now western Turkey.
27:9 Greek because the fast was now already gone by. This fast was associated with the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), which occurred in late September or early October.
27:16 Some manuscripts read Clauda.
27:27 The Sea of Adria includes the central portion of the Mediterranean.
27:28 Greek 20 fathoms . . . 15 fathoms [37 meters . . . 27 meters].
27:44 Or or were helped by members of the ship’s crew.

Acts 28: Shipwrecked on Malta; Arrival in Rome
http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Act&c=28&v=1&t=NLT

Full text of Acts 28:
Paul on the Island of Malta
1 Once we were safe on shore, we learned that we were on the island of Malta. 2 The people of the island were very kind to us. It was cold and rainy, so they built a fire on the shore to welcome us.
3 As Paul gathered an armful of sticks and was laying them on the fire, a poisonous snake, driven out by the heat, bit him on the hand. 4 The people of the island saw it hanging from his hand and said to each other, “A murderer, no doubt! Though he escaped the sea, justice will not permit him to live.” 5 But Paul shook off the snake into the fire and was unharmed. 6 The people waited for him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw that he wasn’t harmed, they changed their minds and decided he was a god.
7 Near the shore where we landed was an estate belonging to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us and treated us kindly for three days. 8 As it happened, Publius’s father was ill with fever and dysentery. Paul went in and prayed for him, and laying his hands on him, he healed him. 9 Then all the other sick people on the island came and were healed. 10 As a result we were showered with honors, and when the time came to sail, people supplied us with everything we would need for the trip.
Paul Arrives at Rome
11 It was three months after the shipwreck that we set sail on another ship that had wintered at the island—an Alexandrian ship with the twin gods [fn1] as its figurehead. 12 Our first stop was Syracuse, [fn2] where we stayed three days. 13 From there we sailed across to Rhegium. [fn3] A day later a south wind began blowing, so the following day we sailed up the coast to Puteoli. 14 There we found some believers, [fn4] who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome.
15 The brothers and sisters [fn5] in Rome had heard we were coming, and they came to meet us at the Forum [fn6] on the Appian Way. Others joined us at The Three Taverns. [fn7] When Paul saw them, he was encouraged and thanked God.
16 When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to have his own private lodging, though he was guarded by a soldier.
Paul Preaches at Rome under Guard
17 Three days after Paul’s arrival, he called together the local Jewish leaders. He said to them, “Brothers, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Roman government, even though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors. 18 The Romans tried me and wanted to release me, because they found no cause for the death sentence. 19 But when the Jewish leaders protested the decision, I felt it necessary to appeal to Caesar, even though I had no desire to press charges against my own people. 20 I asked you to come here today so we could get acquainted and so I could explain to you that I am bound with this chain because I believe that the hope of Israel—the Messiah—has already come.”
21 They replied, “We have had no letters from Judea or reports against you from anyone who has come here. 22 But we want to hear what you believe, for the only thing we know about this movement is that it is denounced everywhere.”
23 So a time was set, and on that day a large number of people came to Paul’s lodging. He explained and testified about the Kingdom of God and tried to persuade them about Jesus from the Scriptures. Using the law of Moses and the books of the prophets, he spoke to them from morning until evening. 24 Some were persuaded by the things he said, but others did not believe. 25 And after they had argued back and forth among themselves, they left with this final word from Paul: “The Holy Spirit was right when he said to your ancestors through Isaiah the prophet,
26 ‘Go and say to this people:
When you hear what I say,
you will not understand.
When you see what I do,
you will not comprehend.
27 For the hearts of these people are hardened,
and their ears cannot hear,
and they have closed their eyes—
so their eyes cannot see,
and their ears cannot hear,
and their hearts cannot understand,
and they cannot turn to me
and let me heal them.’ [fn8]
28 So I want you to know that this salvation from God has also been offered to the Gentiles, and they will accept it.” [fn9]
30 For the next two years, Paul lived in Rome at his own expense. [fn10] He welcomed all who visited him, 31 boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one tried to stop him.

Footnotes:
28:11 The twin gods were the Roman gods Castor and Pollux.
28:12 Syracuse was on the island of Sicily.
28:13 Rhegium was on the southern tip of Italy.
28:14-15 Greek brothers.
28:15 The Forum was about 43 miles (70 kilometers) from Rome.
28:15 The Three Taverns was about 35 miles (57 kilometers) from Rome.
28:26-27 Isa 6:9-10 (Greek version).
28:28 Some manuscripts add verse 29, And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, greatly disagreeing with each other.
28:30 Or in his own rented quarters.
http://www.blueletterbible.org/tools/printerFriendly.cfm?b=Act&c=28&t=NLTP&x=7&y=10

Today's Bible reading is Romans Chapter 1, in which Paul, a Jew who follows Jesus, writes to the gentile believers in Rome.
http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Rom&c=1&v=1&t=NLT

Full text of Romans 1:

Greetings from Paul
1 This letter is from Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News. 2 God promised this Good News long ago through his prophets in the holy Scriptures. 3 The Good News is about his Son. In his earthly life he was born into King David’s family line, 4 and he was shown to be [fn1] the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. [fn2] He is Jesus Christ our Lord. 5 Through Christ, God has given us the privilege [fn3] and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name.
6 And you are included among those Gentiles who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ. 7 I am writing to all of you in Rome who are loved by God and are called to be his own holy people.
May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
God’s Good News
8 Let me say first that I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith in him is being talked about all over the world. 9 God knows how often I pray for you. Day and night I bring you and your needs in prayer to God, whom I serve with all my heart [fn4] by spreading the Good News about his Son.
10 One of the things I always pray for is the opportunity, God willing, to come at last to see you. 11 For I long to visit you so I can bring you some spiritual gift that will help you grow strong in the Lord. 12 When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.
13 I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, [fn5] that I planned many times to visit you, but I was prevented until now. I want to work among you and see spiritual fruit, just as I have seen among other Gentiles. 14 For I have a great sense of obligation to people in both the civilized world and the rest of the world, [fn6] to the educated and uneducated alike. 15 So I am eager to come to you in Rome, too, to preach the Good News.
16 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. [fn7] 17 This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” [fn8]
God’s Anger at Sin
18 But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. [fn9] 19 They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. 20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.
21 Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. 22 Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. 23 And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.
24 So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. 25 They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. 26 That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. 27 And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved.
28 Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. 29 Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. 30 They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents. 31 They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy. 32 They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.

Footnotes:
1:4 Or and was designated.
1:4 Or by the Spirit of holiness; or in the new realm of the Spirit.
1:5 Or the grace.
1:9 Or in my spirit.
1:13 Greek brothers.
1:14 Greek to Greeks and barbarians.
1:16 Greek also the Greek.
1:17 Or “The righteous will live by faith.” Hab 2:4.
1:18 Or who, by their wickedness, prevent the truth from being known.
http://www.blueletterbible.org/tools/printerFriendly.cfm?b=Rom&c=1&t=NLTP&x=10&y=6

In Romans 2, Paul gives the definition of a true Jew, and emphasizes over and over that both Jews and gentiles are subject to God's judgment and his saving grace.
http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Rom&c=2&t=NLT#1

My favorite part is when Jesus dies.

Your favorite part should be when he walks out of the grave, with a mighty earthquake and a host of angels praising his name. Because from then on, He who has defeated death may now live in you.

Jesus died???

You just ruined the ending for me.

I DEMAND JUSTICE.

Oh, but Zultar--That's *not* the ending!!!

Yeah, my favorite part is the resurrection. You totally stopped reading too early there YJ.

Yeah! That's my favorite part too--up to now. But keep your fork, because there's something better coming (as was heard at the dinner table as plates were being cleared before dessert).

OH I'M *SO* EXCITED ;P :D X) !!!

Ha, I wonder why Mujus posted a link and not the whole part about jews. Oh yes, because he somehow thinks that he is a true Jew and I am not (even though he follows ridiculously few of gods commandments)

Guess his whole point of view makes more sense.

A "true" Jew

Really pouring it on heavy aren't you Mujus.

It's Paul's phrase, not mine. And I usually post the full text later in the day, but I'm happy to oblige you. Here it is:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans%202&version=NLT
Romans 2
New Living Translation (NLT)
God’s Judgment of Sin

2 You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. 2 And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. 3 Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things? 4 Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?

5 But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 He will judge everyone according to what they have done. 7 He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. 8 But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness. 9 There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile.[a] 10 But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism.

12 When the Gentiles sin, they will be destroyed, even though they never had God’s written law. And the Jews, who do have God’s law, will be judged by that law when they fail to obey it. 13 For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight. 14 Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. 15 They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right. 16 And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life.

The Jews and the Law

17 You who call yourselves Jews are relying on God’s law, and you boast about your special relationship with him. 18 You know what he wants; you know what is right because you have been taught his law. 19 You are convinced that you are a guide for the blind and a light for people who are lost in darkness. 20 You think you can instruct the ignorant and teach children the ways of God. For you are certain that God’s law gives you complete knowledge and truth.

21 Well then, if you teach others, why don’t you teach yourself? You tell others not to steal, but do you steal? 22 You say it is wrong to commit adultery, but do you commit adultery? You condemn idolatry, but do you use items stolen from pagan temples?[b] 23 You are so proud of knowing the law, but you dishonor God by breaking it. 24 No wonder the Scriptures say, “The Gentiles blaspheme the name of God because of you.”[c]

25 The Jewish ceremony of circumcision has value only if you obey God’s law. But if you don’t obey God’s law, you are no better off than an uncircumcised Gentile. 26 And if the Gentiles obey God’s law, won’t God declare them to be his own people? 27 In fact, uncircumcised Gentiles who keep God’s law will condemn you Jews who are circumcised and possess God’s law but don’t obey it.

28 For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision. 29 No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by God’s Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise[d] from God, not from people.

Footnotes:
Romans 2:9 Greek also for the Greek; also in 2:10.
Romans 2:22 Greek do you steal from temples?
Romans 2:24 Isa 52:5 (Greek version).
Romans 2:29 Or receives praise.

I think more than any other book, Romans expounds the theological basis of the Christian faith.

Actually I'm pretty erratic on when I post what. lol

But I usually post the link to the blueletterbible study page, and then separately, either the Biblegateway or the blueletterbible full text.

Today's Bible reading is Romans Chapter 2, which explains the value of the law and the only way to become "right" with God.
http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Rom&c=3&v=1&t=NLT#1
I think this section summarizes the chapter fairly well, but it's rich and detailed and has many interesting points, starting with the great benefit of being Jewish.
"19 Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. 20 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.
Christ Took Our Punishment
21 But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses [fn9] and the prophets long ago. 22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.
23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, 26 for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.
27 Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. 28 So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.
29 After all, is God the God of the Jews only? Isn’t he also the God of the Gentiles? Of course he is. 30 There is only one God, and he makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles. [fn10] 31 Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law."
http://www.blueletterbible.org/tools/printerFriendly.cfm?b=Rom&c=3&t=NLTP&x=6&y=5

I don't know what the whole stink from Paul is. Jews understand that god is truly a god of the gentiles too, and the gentiles have to follow divine law as well. The difference is that gentiles have to follow a less strict set of laws than jews. You have Paul dancing around and saying "all are gods children and must follow god's laws" yet instead of actually making gentiles follow god's laws he just makes the laws "jews" have to follow the laws that gentiles have to follow and throw in faith in Jesus.

So in summary, Christianity took Jews away from Jewish law, and had gentiles fulfilling laws that they were already supposed to fulfill.

That's actually dealt with in the next chapter, Romans 4. Here's a preview:
"The Faith of Abraham
1 Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God? 2 If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way. 3 For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” [fn1]
4 When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. 5 But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners. 6 David also spoke of this when he described the happiness of those who are declared righteous without working for it:
7 “Oh, what joy for those
whose disobedience is forgiven,
whose sins are put out of sight.
8 Yes, what joy for those
whose record the LORD has cleared of sin.” [fn2]
9 Now, is this blessing only for the Jews, or is it also for uncircumcised Gentiles? [fn3] Well, we have been saying that Abraham was counted as righteous by God because of his faith. 10 But how did this happen? Was he counted as righteous only after he was circumcised, or was it before he was circumcised? Clearly, God accepted Abraham before he was circumcised!
11 Circumcision was a sign that Abraham already had faith and that God had already accepted him and declared him to be righteous—even before he was circumcised. So Abraham is the spiritual father of those who have faith but have not been circumcised. They are counted as righteous because of their faith. 12 And Abraham is also the spiritual father of those who have been circumcised, but only if they have the same kind of faith Abraham had before he was circumcised."
http://www.blueletterbible.org/tools/printerFriendly.cfm?b=Rom&c=4&t=NLTP&x=12&y=12