The Acts of the Apostles
11 The first book I wrote,
Theophilus, concerned all that Jesus began both to do and to teach, 12 until
the day in which he was received up, after he had given commandment through the
Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 13 To
these he also showed himself alive after he suffered, by many proofs, appearing
to them over a period of forty days, and speaking about God’s Kingdom. 14 Being
assembled together with them, he commanded them, “Don’t depart from Jerusalem,
but wait for the promise of the Father, which you heard from me. 15 For John indeed baptized in
water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
16 Therefore when they had come
together, they asked him, “Lord, are you now restoring the kingdom to Israel?”
17 He said to them, “It isn’t for
you to know times or seasons which the Father has set within his own
authority. 18 But
you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be
witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost
parts of the earth.”
19 When he had said these things,
as they were looking, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their
sight. 110 While they were looking
steadfastly into the sky as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white
clothing, 111 who also said, “You men of
Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who was received up
from you into the sky, will come back in the same way as you saw him going into
the sky.”
112 Then they returned to Jerusalem
from the mountain called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s
journey away. 113 When they had come in, they
went up into the upper room where they were staying; that is Peter, John,
James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus,
Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. 114 All
these with one accord continued steadfastly in prayer and supplication, along
with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
115 In these days, Peter stood up
in the middle of the disciples (and the number of names was about one hundred
twenty), and said, 116 “Brothers, it was necessary
that this Scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by
the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was guide to those who took Jesus. 117 For
he was counted with us, and received his portion in this ministry. 118 Now
this man obtained a field with the reward for his wickedness, and falling
headlong, his body burst open, and all his intestines gushed out. 119 It
became known to everyone who lived in Jerusalem that in their language that
field was called ‘Akeldama,’ that is, ‘The field of blood.’ 120 For
it is written in the book of Psalms,
‘Let his habitation be made
desolate.
Let
no one dwell in it;
and,
‘Let another
take his office.’
121 “Of the men therefore who have
accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 122 beginning
from the baptism of John, to the day that he was received up from us, of these
one must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”
123 They put forward two, Joseph
called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. 124 They
prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of
these two you have chosen 125 to take part in this ministry
and apostleship from which Judas fell away, that he might go to his own place.”
126 They
drew lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was counted with the
eleven apostles. 1
21 Now when the day of Pentecost
had come, they were all with one accord in one place. 22 Suddenly
there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it
filled all the house where they were sitting. 23 Tongues
like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them. 24 They
were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages,
as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak. 25 Now
there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under the
sky. 26 When this sound was heard, the
multitude came together and were bewildered, because everyone heard them
speaking in his own language. 27 They were all amazed and
marveled, saying to one another, “Behold, aren’t all these who speak Galileans?
28 How
do we hear, everyone in our own native language? 29 Parthians,
Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, 210 Phrygia,
Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both
Jews and proselytes, 211 Cretans and Arabians: we hear
them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!” 212 They
were all amazed, and were perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this
mean?” 213 Others, mocking, said, “They
are filled with new wine.”
214 But Peter, standing up with the
eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke out to them, “You men of Judea, and all
you who dwell at Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words. 215 For
these aren’t drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is only the third hour of the
day.[1]
216 But
this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel:
‘It will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out
my Spirit on all flesh.
Your sons and your daughters will prophesy.
Your young men will see visions. Your old men will dream
dreams.
Yes,
and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days, I will pour out my
Spirit, and they will prophesy.
I will show wonders in the sky
above, and signs on the earth beneath: blood, and fire, and billows
of smoke.
The sun will be turned into
darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and glorious day
of the Lord comes.
It will be that whoever will call
on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
222 “Men of Israel, hear these
words! Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God to you by mighty works and
wonders and signs which God did by him among you, even as you yourselves know, 223 him,
being delivered up by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have
taken by the hand of lawless men, crucified and killed; 224 whom
God raised up, having freed him from the agony of death, because it was not
possible that he should be held by it. 225 For
David says concerning him,
‘I saw the Lord always before my
face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved.
Therefore my heart was glad, and
my tongue rejoiced. Moreover my flesh also will dwell in
hope;
because you will not leave my soul
in Hades, neither will you allow your Holy One to see decay.
You made known to me the ways of
life. You will make me full of gladness with your presence.’
229 “Brothers, I may tell you
freely of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb
is with us to this day. 230 Therefore, being a prophet, and
knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body,
according to the flesh, he would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, 231 he
foreseeing this spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that his soul
wasn’t left in Hades,[2]
and his flesh didn’t see decay. 232 This Jesus God raised up, to
which we all are witnesses. 233 Being therefore exalted by the
right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy
Spirit, he has poured out this, which you now see and hear. 234 For
David didn’t ascend into the heavens, but he says himself,
‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit by
my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’
236 “Let all the house of Israel
therefore know certainly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus
whom you crucified.”
237 Now when they heard this, they
were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles,
“Brothers, what shall we do?”
238 Peter said to them, “Repent,
and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the
forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 239 For
the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all who are far off, even
as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.” 240 With
many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from
this crooked generation!”
241 Then those who gladly received
his word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand souls. 242 They
continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking
of bread, and prayer. 243 Fear came on every soul, and
many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 244 All
who believed were together, and had all things in common. 245 They
sold their possessions and goods, and distributed them to all, according as
anyone had need. 246 Day by day, continuing
steadfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they
took their food with gladness and singleness of heart, 247 praising
God, and having favor with all the people. The Lord added to the assembly day
by day those who were being saved. 2
31 Peter and John were going up
into the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.[3]
32 A
certain man who was lame from his mother’s womb was being carried, whom they
laid daily at the door of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask gifts
for the needy of those who entered into the temple. 33 Seeing
Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive gifts for the
needy. 34 Peter, fastening his eyes on
him, with John, said, “Look at us.” 35 He listened to them, expecting
to receive something from them. 36 But Peter said, “I have no
silver or gold, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ
of Nazareth, get up and walk!” 37 He took him by the right hand
and raised him up. Immediately his feet and his ankle bones received strength. 38 Leaping
up, he stood and began to walk. He entered with them into the temple, walking,
leaping, and praising God. 39 All the people saw him walking
and praising God. 310 They recognized him, that it
was he who used to sit begging for gifts for the needy at the Beautiful Gate of
the temple. They were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to
him. 311 As the lame man who was healed
held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch
that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.
312 When Peter saw it, he responded
to the people, “You men of Israel, why do you marvel at this man? Why do you
fasten your eyes on us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made him
walk? 313 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his Servant Jesus, whom you
delivered up, and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had determined to
release him. 314 But you denied the Holy and
Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 315 and
killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, to which we are
witnesses. 316 By faith in his name, his name
has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which is
through him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
317 “Now, brothers,[4]
I know that you did this in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 318 But
the things which God announced by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ
should suffer, he thus fulfilled.
319 “Repent therefore, and turn
again, that your sins may be blotted out, so that there may come times of
refreshing from the presence of the Lord, 320 and
that he may send Christ Jesus, who was ordained for you before, 321 whom
heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God
spoke long ago by the mouth of his holy prophets. 322 For
Moses indeed said to the fathers, ‘The Lord God will raise up a prophet for you
from among your brothers, like me. You shall listen to him in all things
whatever he says to you. 323 It will be that every soul that
will not listen to that prophet will be utterly destroyed from among the
people.’ 324 Yes, and all the prophets from
Samuel and those who followed after, as many as have spoken, they also told of
these days. 325 You are the children of the
prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to
Abraham, ‘All the families of the earth will be blessed through your
offspring.’ 326 God, having raised up his
servant Jesus, sent him to you first to bless you, in turning away every one of
you from your wickedness.” 3
41 As they spoke to the people,
the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came to them, 42 being
upset because they taught the people and proclaimed in Jesus the resurrection
from the dead. 43 They laid hands on them, and
put them in custody until the next day, for it was now evening. 44 But
many of those who heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to be
about five thousand.
45 In the morning, their rulers,
elders, and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem. 46 Annas
the high priest was there, with Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and as many as were
relatives of the high priest. 47 When they had stood Peter and
John in the middle of them, they inquired, “By what power, or in what name,
have you done this?”
48 Then Peter, filled with the
Holy Spirit, said to them, “You rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, 49 if
we are examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what
means this man has been healed, 410 may it be known to you all, and
to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom
you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, this man stands here before you
whole in him. 411 He is ‘the stone which was
regarded as worthless by you, the builders, which has become the head of the
corner.’ 412 There is salvation in no one
else, for there is no other name under heaven that is given among men, by which
we must be saved!”
413 Now when they saw the boldness
of Peter and John, and had perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men,
they marveled. They recognized that they had been with Jesus. 414 Seeing
the man who was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. 415 But
when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred
among themselves, 416 saying, “What shall we do to
these men? Because indeed a notable miracle has been done through them, as can
be plainly seen by all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we can’t deny it. 417 But
so that this spreads no further among the people, let’s threaten them, that
from now on they don’t speak to anyone in this name.” 418 They
called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of
Jesus.
419 But Peter and John answered
them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to
God, judge for yourselves, 420 for we can’t help telling the
things which we saw and heard.”
421 When they had further
threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the
people; for everyone glorified God for that which was done. 422 For
the man on whom this miracle of healing was performed was more than forty years
old.
423 Being let go, they came to
their own company and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had
said to them. 424 When they heard it, they lifted
up their voice to God with one accord, and said, “O Lord, you are God, who made
the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all that is in them; 425 who
by the mouth of your servant, David, said,
and the peoples plot a vain thing?
The kings of the earth take a
stand,
and the rulers take council together,
against
the Lord,
and against his Christ.’
427 “For truly, both Herod and
Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered
together against your holy servant, Jesus, whom you anointed, 428 to
do whatever your hand and your council foreordained to happen. 429 Now,
Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with
all boldness, 430 while you stretch out your hand
to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of your holy
Servant Jesus.”
431 When they had prayed, the place
was shaken where they were gathered together. They were all filled with the
Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. 432 The
multitude of those who believed were of one heart and soul. Not one of them
claimed that anything of the things which he possessed was his own, but they
had all things in common. 433 With great power, the apostles
gave their testimony of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Great grace was on
them all. 434 For neither was there among
them any who lacked, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them,
and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, 435 and
laid them at the apostles’ feet, and distribution was made to each, according
as anyone had need. 436 Joses, who by the apostles was
also called Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, Son of Encouragement), a
Levite, a man of Cyprus by race, 437 having a field, sold it and
brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 4
51 But a certain man named
Ananias, with Sapphira, his wife, sold a possession, 52 and
kept back part of the price, his wife also being aware of it, then brought a
certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 53 But
Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit
and to keep back part of the price of the land? 54 While
you kept it, didn’t it remain your own? After it was sold, wasn’t it in your
power? How is it that you have conceived this thing in your heart? You haven’t
lied to men, but to God.”
55 Ananias, hearing these words,
fell down and died. Great fear came on all who heard these things. 56 The
young men arose and wrapped him up, and they carried him out and buried him. 57 About
three hours later, his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in. 58 Peter
answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.”
She said, “Yes, for so much.”
59 But Peter asked her, “How is it
that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet
of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you
out.”
510 She fell down immediately at
his feet and died. The young men came in and found her dead, and they carried
her out and buried her by her husband. 511 Great
fear came on the whole assembly, and on all who heard these things. 512 By
the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people.
They were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch. 513 None
of the rest dared to join them, however the people honored them. 514 More
believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women. 515 They
even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on cots and
mattresses, so that as Peter came by, at the least his shadow might overshadow
some of them. 516 The multitude also came
together from the cities around Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who
were tormented by unclean spirits: and they were all healed.
517 But the high priest rose up,
and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they
were filled with jealousy 518 and laid hands on the apostles,
then put them in public custody. 519 But an angel of the Lord opened
the prison doors by night, and brought them out and said, 520 “Go
stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.”
521 When they heard this, they entered
into the temple about daybreak and taught. But the high priest came, and those
who were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the
children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 522 But
the officers who came didn’t find them in the prison. They returned and
reported, 523 “We found the prison shut and
locked, and the guards standing before the doors, but when we opened them, we
found no one inside!”
524 Now when the high priest, the
captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these words, they were very
perplexed about them and what might become of this. 525 One
came and told them, “Behold, the men whom you put in prison are in the temple,
standing and teaching the people.” 526 Then the captain went with the
officers, and brought them without violence, for they were afraid that the
people might stone them.
527 When they had brought them,
they set them before the council. The high priest questioned them, 528 saying,
“Didn’t we strictly command you not to teach in this name? Behold, you have
filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man’s blood on
us.”
529 But Peter and the apostles
answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 530 The
God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed, hanging him on a tree. 531 God
exalted him with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance
to Israel, and remission of sins. 532 We are his witnesses of these
things; and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey
him.”
533 But they, when they heard this,
were cut to the heart, and were determined to kill them. 534 But
one stood up in the council, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law,
honored by all the people, and commanded to put the apostles out for a little
while. 535 He said to them, “You men of
Israel, be careful concerning these men, what you are about to do. 536 For
before these days Theudas rose up, making himself out to be somebody; to whom a
number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves. He was slain; and all, as
many as obeyed him, were dispersed, and came to nothing. 537 After
this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the enrollment, and drew away
some people after him. He also perished, and all, as many as obeyed him, were
scattered abroad. 538 Now I tell you, withdraw from
these men, and leave them alone. For if this counsel or this work is of men, it
will be overthrown. 539 But if it is of God, you will
not be able to overthrow it, and you would be found even to be fighting against
God!”
540 They agreed with him. Summoning
the apostles, they beat them and commanded them not to speak in the name of
Jesus, and let them go. 541 They therefore departed from
the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer
dishonor for Jesus’ name.
542 Every day, in the temple and at
home, they never stopped teaching and preaching Jesus, the Christ. 5
61 Now in those days, when the
number of the disciples was multiplying, a complaint arose from the Hellenists[5]
against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily service. 62 The
twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not appropriate
for us to forsake the word of God and serve tables. 63 Therefore
select from among you, brothers, seven men of good report, full of the Holy
Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 64 But
we will continue steadfastly in prayer and in the ministry of the word.”
65 These words pleased the whole
multitude. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit,
Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of
Antioch; 66 whom they set before the
apostles. When they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. 67 The
word of God increased and the number of the disciples greatly multiplied in
Jerusalem. A great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
68 Stephen, full of faith and
power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. 69 But
some of those who were of the synagogue called “The Libertines”, and of the
Cyrenians, of the Alexandrians, and of those of Cilicia and Asia arose,
disputing with Stephen. 610 They weren’t able to withstand
the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. 611 Then
they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words
against Moses and God.” 612 They stirred up the people, the
elders, and the scribes, and came against him and seized him, then brought him
in to the council, 613 and set up false witnesses who
said, “This man never stops speaking blasphemous words against this holy place
and the law. 614 For we have heard him say that
this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place, and will change the customs
which Moses delivered to us.” 615 All who sat in the council,
fastening their eyes on him, saw his face like it was the face of an angel. 6
71 The high priest said, “Are
these things so?”
72 He said, “Brothers and fathers,
listen. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in
Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, 73 and
said to him, ‘Get out of your land and away from your relatives, and come into
a land which I will show you.’ 74 Then he came out of the land of
the Chaldaeans and lived in Haran. From there, when his father was dead, God
moved him into this land, where you are now living. 75 He
gave him no inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on. He
promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his offspring
after him, when he still had no child. 76 God
spoke in this way: that his offspring would live as aliens in a strange land,
and that they would be enslaved and mistreated for four hundred years. 77 ‘I
will judge the nation to which they will be in bondage,’ said God, ‘and after
that they will come out, and serve me in this place.’ 78 He
gave him the covenant of circumcision. So Abraham became the father of Isaac,
and circumcised him the eighth day. Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob
became the father of the twelve patriarchs.
79 “The patriarchs, moved with
jealousy against Joseph, sold him into Egypt. God was with him, 710 and
delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favor and wisdom before
Pharaoh, king of Egypt. He made him governor over Egypt and all his house. 711 Now
a famine came over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction. Our
fathers found no food. 712 But when Jacob heard that there
was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers the first time. 713 On
the second time Joseph was made known to his brothers, and Joseph’s race was
revealed to Pharaoh. 714 Joseph sent and summoned Jacob,
his father, and all his relatives, seventy-five souls. 715 Jacob
went down into Egypt and he died, himself and our fathers, 716 and
they were brought back to Shechem, and laid in the tomb that Abraham bought for
a price in silver from the children of Hamor of Shechem.
717 “But as the time of the promise
came close which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in
Egypt, 718 until there arose a different
king, who didn’t know Joseph. 719 The same took advantage of our
race, and mistreated our fathers, and forced them to throw out their babies, so
that they wouldn’t stay alive. 720 At that time Moses was born,
and was exceedingly handsome. He was nourished three months in his father’s
house. 721 When he was thrown out,
Pharaoh’s daughter took him up and reared him as her own son. 722 Moses
was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians. He was mighty in his words
and works. 723 But when he was forty years
old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers,[6]
the children of Israel. 724 Seeing one of them suffer
wrong, he defended him, and avenged him who was oppressed, striking the Egyptian.
725 He
supposed that his brothers understood that God, by his hand, was giving them
deliverance; but they didn’t understand.
726 “The day following, he appeared
to them as they fought, and urged them to be at peace again, saying, ‘Sirs, you
are brothers. Why do you wrong one another?’ 727 But
he who did his neighbor wrong pushed him away, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler
and a judge over us? 728 Do you want to kill me, as you
killed the Egyptian yesterday?’ 729 Moses fled at this saying, and
became a stranger in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two
sons.
730 “When forty years were
fulfilled, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount
Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush. 731 When
Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight. As he came close to see, a voice of the
Lord came to him, 732 ‘I am the God of your fathers,
the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ Moses trembled,
and dared not look. 733 The Lord said to him, ‘Take off
your sandals, for the place where you stand is holy ground. 734 I
have surely seen the affliction of my people that is in Egypt, and have heard
their groaning. I have come down to deliver them. Now come, I will send you
into Egypt.’
735 “This Moses, whom they refused,
saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’—God has sent him as both a ruler
and a deliverer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. 736 This
man led them out, having worked wonders and signs in Egypt, in the Red Sea, and
in the wilderness for forty years. 737 This is that Moses, who said to
the children of Israel, ‘The Lord our God will raise up a prophet for you from
among your brothers, like me.’ 738 This
is he who was in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel that spoke to
him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, who received living revelations to
give to us, 739 to whom our fathers wouldn’t be
obedient, but rejected him, and turned back in their hearts to Egypt, 740 saying
to Aaron, ‘Make us gods that will go before us, for as for this Moses, who led
us out of the land of Egypt, we don’t know what has become of him.’ 741 They
made a calf in those days, and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and rejoiced in
the works of their hands. 742 But God turned, and gave them
up to serve the army of the sky,[7]
as it is written in the book of the prophets,
‘Did you offer to me slain animals and sacrifices forty
years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?
You took up the tabernacle of Moloch, the
star of your god Rephan, the figures which you made to worship.
I
will carry you away beyond Babylon.’
744 “Our fathers had the tabernacle
of the testimony in the wilderness, even as he who spoke to Moses commanded him
to make it according to the pattern that he had seen; 745 which
also our fathers, in their turn, brought in with Joshua when they entered into
the possession of the nations, whom God drove out before the face of our
fathers, to the days of David, 746 who found favor in the sight of
God, and asked to find a habitation for the God of Jacob. 747 But
Solomon built him a house. 748 However, the Most High doesn’t
dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says,
and the earth a footstool for my feet.
What kind of house will you build
me?’
says the Lord.
‘Or what is the place of my rest?
Didn’t my hand make all these
things?’
751 “You stiff-necked and
uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit! As your
fathers did, so you do. 752 Which of the prophets didn’t
your fathers persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the
Righteous One, of whom you have now become betrayers and murderers. 753 You
received the law as it was ordained by angels, and didn’t keep it!”
754 Now when they heard these
things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. 755 But
he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven and saw
the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 756 and
said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the
right hand of God!”
757 But they cried out with a loud
voice and stopped their ears, then rushed at him with one accord. 758 They
threw him out of the city and stoned him. The witnesses placed their garments
at the feet of a young man named Saul. 759 They
stoned Stephen as he called out, saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” 760 He
kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, don’t hold this sin against
them!” When he had said this, he fell asleep. 7
81 Saul was consenting to his
death. A great persecution arose against the assembly which was in Jerusalem in
that day. They were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and
Samaria, except for the apostles. 82 Devout men buried Stephen and
lamented greatly over him. 83 But Saul ravaged the assembly,
entering into every house and dragged both men and women off to prison. 84 Therefore
those who were scattered abroad went around preaching the word. 85 Philip
went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed to them the Christ. 86 The
multitudes listened with one accord to the things that were spoken by Philip
when they heard and saw the signs which he did. 87 For
unclean spirits came out of many of those who had them. They came out, crying
with a loud voice. Many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed. 88 There
was great joy in that city.
89 But there was a certain man,
Simon by name, who used to practice sorcery in the city and amazed the people
of Samaria, making himself out to be some great one, 810 to
whom they all listened, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is
that great power of God.” 811 They listened to him, because
for a long time he had amazed them with his sorceries. 812 But
when they believed Philip preaching good news concerning God’s Kingdom and the
name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 813 Simon
himself also believed. Being baptized, he continued with Philip. Seeing signs
and great miracles occurring, he was amazed.
814 Now when the apostles who were
at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter
and John to them, 815 who, when they had come down,
prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit; 816 for
as yet he had fallen on none of them. They had only been baptized in the name
of Christ Jesus. 817 Then they laid their hands on
them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 818 Now
when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the
apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 819 saying,
“Give me also this power, that whomever I lay my hands on may receive the Holy
Spirit.” 820 But Peter said to him, “May
your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of
God with money! 821 You have neither part nor lot
in this matter, for your heart isn’t right before God. 822 Repent
therefore of this, your wickedness, and ask God if perhaps the thought of your
heart may be forgiven you. 823 For I see that you are in the
poison of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.”
824 Simon answered, “Pray for me to
the Lord, that none of the things which you have spoken happen to me.”
825 They therefore, when they had
testified and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached
the Good News to many villages of the Samaritans. 826 But
an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise, and go toward the south
to the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is a desert.”
827 He arose and went; and behold,
there was a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen
of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to
worship. 828 He was returning and sitting in
his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.
829 The Spirit said to Philip, “Go
near, and join yourself to this chariot.”
830 Philip ran to him, and heard
him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are
reading?”
831 He said, “How can I, unless
someone explains it to me?” He begged Philip to come up and sit with him. 832 Now
the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this,
“He was led as a sheep to the slaughter. As a lamb before his
shearer is silent, so he doesn’t open his mouth.
In his humiliation, his judgment was taken away. Who will
declare His generation? For his life is taken from the earth.”
834 The eunuch answered Philip,
“Who is the prophet talking about? About himself, or about someone else?”
835 Philip opened his mouth, and beginning
from this Scripture, preached to him about Jesus. 836 As
they went on the way, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Behold,
here is water. What is keeping me from being baptized?”
838 He commanded the chariot to
stand still, and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the
eunuch, and he baptized him.
839 When they came up out of the
water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, and the eunuch didn’t see him
any more, for he went on his way rejoicing. 840 But
Philip was found at Azotus. Passing through, he preached the Good News to all
the cities, until he came to Caesarea. 8
91 But Saul, still breathing
threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high
priest 92 and asked for letters from him
to the synagogues of Damascus, that if he found any who were of the Way,
whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 93 As
he traveled, he got close to Damascus, and suddenly a light from the sky shone
around him. 94 He fell on the earth, and heard
a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
95 He said, “Who are you, Lord?”
The Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 96 But
rise up and enter into the city, then you will be told what you must do.”
97 The men who traveled with him
stood speechless, hearing the sound, but seeing no one. 98 Saul
arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened, he saw no one. They led
him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. 99 He
was without sight for three days, and neither ate nor drank.
910 Now there was a certain
disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision,
“Ananias!”
He said, “Behold, it’s me, Lord.”
911 The Lord said to him, “Arise,
and go to the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of
Judah for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus. For behold, he is praying, 912 and
in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and laying his hands on
him, that he might receive his sight.”
913 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I
have heard from many about this man, how much evil he did to your saints at
Jerusalem. 914 Here he has authority from the
chief priests to bind all who call on your name.”
915 But the Lord said to him, “Go
your way, for he is my chosen vessel to bear my name before the nations and
kings, and the children of Israel. 916 For
I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name’s sake.”
917 Ananias departed and entered
into the house. Laying his hands on him, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord, who
appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me that you may receive
your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 918 Immediately
something like scales fell from his eyes, and he received his sight. He arose
and was baptized. 919 He took food and was
strengthened. Saul stayed several days with the disciples who were at Damascus.
920 Immediately
in the synagogues he proclaimed the Christ, that he is the Son of God. 921 All
who heard him were amazed, and said, “Isn’t this he who in Jerusalem made havoc
of those who called on this name? And he had come here intending to bring them
bound before the chief priests!”
922 But Saul increased more in
strength, and confounded the Jews who lived at Damascus, proving that this is
the Christ. 923 When many days were fulfilled,
the Jews conspired together to kill him, 924 but
their plot became known to Saul. They watched the gates both day and night that
they might kill him, 925 but his disciples took him by
night and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket. 926 When
Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join himself to the disciples; but they
were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. 927 But
Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and declared to them how he
had seen the Lord on the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how at
Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. 928 He
was with them entering into Jerusalem, 929 preaching
boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus. He spoke and disputed against the
Hellenists,[8]
but they were seeking to kill him. 930 When the brothers[9]
knew it, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him off to Tarsus. 931 So
the assemblies throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace, and were
built up. They were multiplied, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the
comfort of the Holy Spirit.
932 As Peter went throughout all
those parts, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. 933 There
he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years,
because he was paralyzed. 934 Peter said to him, “Aeneas,
Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed!” Immediately he arose. 935 All
who lived at Lydda and in Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
936 Now there was at Joppa a
certain disciple named Tabitha, which when translated, means Dorcas.[10]
This woman was full of good works and acts of mercy which she did. 937 In
those days, she became sick, and died. When they had washed her, they laid her
in an upper room. 938 As Lydda was near Joppa, the
disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him not
to delay in coming to them. 939 Peter got up and went with
them. When he had come, they brought him into the upper room. All the widows
stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas had made
while she was with them. 940 Peter sent them all out, and
knelt down and prayed. Turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, get up!” She
opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 941 He
gave her his hand, and raised her up. Calling the saints and widows, he
presented her alive. 942 This became known throughout
all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 943 He
stayed many days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon. 9
101 Now there was a certain man in
Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of what was called the Italian
Regiment, 102 a devout man, and one who
feared God with all his house, who gave gifts for the needy generously to the
people, and always prayed to God. 103 At about the ninth hour of the
day,[11]
he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God coming to him, and saying to him,
“Cornelius!”
104 He, fastening his eyes on him, and
being frightened, said, “What is it, Lord?”
He said to him, “Your prayers and your gifts to the needy
have gone up for a memorial before God. 105 Now
send men to Joppa, and get Simon, who is also called Peter. 106 He
is staying with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the seaside.
107 When the angel who spoke to him
had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout
soldier of those who waited on him continually. 108 Having
explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa. 109 Now
on the next day as they were on their journey, and got close to the city, Peter
went up on the housetop to pray at about noon. 1010 He
became hungry and desired to eat, but while they were preparing, he fell into a
trance. 1011 He saw heaven opened and a
certain container descending to him, like a great sheet let down by four
corners on the earth, 1012 in which were all kinds of
four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, reptiles, and birds of the sky.
1013 A
voice came to him, “Rise, Peter, kill and eat!”
1014 But Peter said, “Not so, Lord;
for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.”
1015 A voice came to him again the
second time, “What God has cleansed, you must not call unclean.” 1016 This
was done three times, and immediately the vessel was received up into heaven. 1017 Now
while Peter was very perplexed in himself what the vision which he had seen
might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for
Simon’s house, stood before the gate, 1018 and
called and asked whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was lodging there. 1019 While
Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men seek
you. 1020 But arise, get down, and go
with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.”
1021 Peter went down to the men, and
said, “Behold, I am he whom you seek. Why have you come?”
1022 They said, “Cornelius, a
centurion, a righteous man and one who fears God, and well spoken of by all the
nation of the Jews, was directed by a holy angel to invite you to his house,
and to listen to what you say.” 1023 So he called them in and
provided a place to stay. On the next day Peter arose and went out with them,
and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. 1024 On
the next day they entered into Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them, having
called together his relatives and his near friends. 1025 When
Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell down at his feet, and worshiped him. 1026 But
Peter raised him up, saying, “Stand up! I myself am also a man.” 1027 As
he talked with him, he went in and found many gathered together. 1028 He
said to them, “You yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man who is
a Jew to join himself or come to one of another nation, but God has shown me
that I shouldn’t call any man unholy or unclean. 1029 Therefore
I also came without complaint when I was sent for. I ask therefore, why did you
send for me?”
1030 Cornelius said, “Four days ago,
I was fasting until this hour, and at the ninth hour,[12]
I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, 1031 and
said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer is heard, and your gifts to the needy are
remembered in the sight of God. 1032 Send therefore to Joppa, and summon
Simon, who is also called Peter. He is staying in the house of a tanner named
Simon, by the seaside. When he comes, he will speak to you.’ 1033 Therefore
I sent to you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now therefore we are all
here present in the sight of God to hear all things that have been commanded
you by God.”
1034 Peter opened his mouth and
said, “Truly I perceive that God doesn’t show favoritism; 1035 but
in every nation he who fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him. 1036 The
word which he sent to the children of Israel, preaching good news of peace by
Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all— 1037 you yourselves know what
happened, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee,
after the baptism which John preached; 1038 even
Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power,
who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for
God was with him. 1039 We are witnesses of everything
he did both in the country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they also
killed, hanging him on a tree. 1040 God raised him up the third
day, and gave him to be revealed, 1041 not to all the people, but to
witnesses who were chosen before by God, to us, who ate and drank with him after
he rose from the dead. 1042 He commanded us to preach to
the people and to testify that this is he who is appointed by God as the Judge
of the living and the dead. 1043 All the prophets testify about
him, that through his name everyone who believes in him will receive remission
of sins.”
1044 While Peter was still speaking
these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the word. 1045 They
of the circumcision who believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter,
because the gift of the Holy Spirit was also poured out on the Gentiles. 1046 For
they heard them speaking in other languages and magnifying God.
Then Peter answered, 1047 “Can
anyone forbid these people from being baptized with water? They have received
the Holy Spirit just like us.” 1048 He commanded them to be
baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay some days. 10
111 Now the apostles and the
brothers[13]
who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. 112 When
Peter had come up to Jerusalem, those who were of the circumcision contended
with him, 113 saying, “You went in to
uncircumcised men, and ate with them!”
114 But Peter began, and explained
to them in order, saying, 115 “I was in the city of Joppa
praying, and in a trance I saw a vision: a certain container descending, like
it was a great sheet let down from heaven by four corners. It came as far as
me. 116 When I had looked intently at
it, I considered, and saw the four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, creeping
things, and birds of the sky. 117 I also heard a voice saying to
me, ‘Rise, Peter, kill and eat!’ 118 But
I said, ‘Not so, Lord, for nothing unholy or unclean has ever entered into my
mouth.’ 119 But a voice answered me the
second time out of heaven, ‘What God has cleansed, don’t you call unclean.’ 1110 This
was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven. 1111 Behold,
immediately three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent from
Caesarea to me. 1112 The Spirit told me to go with
them, without discriminating. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we
entered into the man’s house. 1113 He told us how he had seen the
angel standing in his house, and saying to him, ‘Send to Joppa, and get Simon,
who is called Peter, 1114 who will speak to you words by
which you will be saved, you and all your house.’ 1115 As
I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as on us at the beginning.
1116 I
remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John indeed baptized in water,
but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit.’ 1117 If
then God gave to them the same gift as us, when we believed in the Lord Jesus
Christ, who was I, that I could withstand God?”
1118 When they heard these things,
they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to
the Gentiles repentance to life!”
1119 They therefore who were
scattered abroad by the oppression that arose about Stephen traveled as far as
Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews
only. 1120 But there were some of them,
men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the
Hellenists,[14]
preaching the Lord Jesus. 1121 The hand of the Lord was with
them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. 1122 The
report concerning them came to the ears of the assembly which was in Jerusalem.
They sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch, 1123 who,
when he had come, and had seen the grace of God, was glad. He exhorted them
all, that with purpose of heart they should remain near to the Lord. 1124 For
he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, and many people
were added to the Lord.
1125 Barnabas went out to Tarsus to
look for Saul. 1126 When he had found him, he
brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they were gathered together with the
assembly, and taught many people. The disciples were first called Christians in
Antioch.
1127 Now in these days, prophets
came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 1128 One
of them named Agabus stood up, and indicated by the Spirit that there should be
a great famine all over the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius.
1129 As
any of the disciples had plenty, each determined to send relief to the brothers
who lived in Judea; 1130 which they also did, sending it
to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. 11
121 Now about that time, King Herod
stretched out his hands to oppress some of the assembly. 122 He
killed James, the brother of John, with the sword. 123 When
he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This was
during the days of unleavened bread. 124 When
he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of
four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after
the Passover. 125 Peter therefore was kept in the
prison, but constant prayer was made by the assembly to God for him. 126 The
same night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between
two soldiers, bound with two chains. Guards in front of the door kept the
prison.
127 And behold, an angel of the
Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side,
and woke him up, saying, “Stand up quickly!” His chains fell off his hands. 128 The
angel said to him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” He did so. He said to
him, “Put on your cloak and follow me.” 129 And
he went out and followed him. He didn’t know that what was being done by the
angel was real, but thought he saw a vision. 1210 When
they were past the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate that
leads into the city, which opened to them by itself. They went out, and went
down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.
1211 When Peter had come to himself,
he said, “Now I truly know that the Lord has sent out his angel and delivered
me out of the hand of Herod, and from everything the Jewish people were
expecting.” 1212 Thinking about that, he came to
the house of Mary, the mother of John who was called Mark, where many were
gathered together and were praying. 1213 When Peter knocked at the door
of the gate, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. 1214 When
she recognized Peter’s voice, she didn’t open the gate for joy, but ran in, and
reported that Peter was standing in front of the gate.
1215 They said to her, “You are
crazy!” But she insisted that it was so. They said, “It is his angel.” 1216 But
Peter continued knocking. When they had opened, they saw him, and were amazed. 1217 But
he, beckoning to them with his hand to be silent, declared to them how the Lord
had brought him out of the prison. He said, “Tell these things to James and to
the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place.
1218 Now as soon as it was day,
there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter. 1219 When
Herod had sought for him, and didn’t find him, he examined the guards, then
commanded that they should be put to death. He went down from Judea to
Caesarea, and stayed there. 1220 Now Herod was very angry with
the people of Tyre and Sidon. They came with one accord to him, and, having
made Blastus, the king’s personal aide, their friend, they asked for peace,
because their country depended on the king’s country for food. 1221 On
an appointed day, Herod dressed himself in royal clothing, sat on the throne,
and gave a speech to them. 1222 The people shouted, “The voice
of a god, and not of a man!” 1223 Immediately an angel of the
Lord struck him, because he didn’t give God the glory. Then he was eaten by
worms and died.
1224 But the word of God grew and
multiplied. 1225 Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem when they had
fulfilled their service, also taking with them John who was called Mark.
131 Now in the assembly that was at
Antioch there were some prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called
Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen the foster brother of Herod the tetrarch, and
Saul. 132 As they served the Lord and
fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Separate Barnabas and Saul for me, for the work
to which I have called them.”
133 Then, when they had fasted and
prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. 134 So,
being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia. From there they
sailed to Cyprus. 135 When they were at Salamis, they
proclaimed God’s word in the Jewish synagogues. They also had John as their
attendant. 136 When they had gone through the
island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose
name was Bar Jesus, 137 who was with the proconsul,
Sergius Paulus, a man of understanding. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul,
and sought to hear the word of God. 138 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so
is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul
away from the faith. 139 But Saul, who is also called
Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fastened his eyes on him, 1310 and
said, “You son of the devil, full of all deceit and all cunning, you enemy of
all righteousness, will you not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? 1311 Now,
behold, the hand of the Lord is on you, and you will be blind, not seeing the
sun for a season!”
Immediately a mist and darkness fell on him. He went around
seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 1312 Then
the proconsul, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the
teaching of the Lord.
1313 Now Paul and his company set
sail from Paphos, and came to Perga in Pamphylia. John departed from them and
returned to Jerusalem. 1314 But they, passing on from
Perga, came to Antioch of Pisidia. They went into the synagogue on the Sabbath
day, and sat down. 1315 After the reading of the law
and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Brothers,
if you have any word of exhortation for the people, speak.”
1316 Paul stood up, and beckoning
with his hand said, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen. 1317 The
God of this people chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they stayed
as aliens in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm, he led them out of
it. 1318 For a period of about forty
years he put up with them in the wilderness. 1319 When
he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land
for an inheritance for about four hundred fifty years. 1320 After
these things, he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. 1321 Afterward
they asked for a king, and God gave to them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the
tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. 1322 When he had removed him, he
raised up David to be their king, to whom he also testified, ‘I have found
David the son of Jesse, a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’ 1323 From
this man’s offspring, God has brought salvation to Israel according to his
promise, 1324 before his coming, when John
had first preached the baptism of repentance to Israel. 1325 As
John was fulfilling his course, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am
not he. But behold, one comes after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not
worthy to untie.’ 1326 Brothers, children of the stock
of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, the word of this salvation is
sent out to you. 1327 For those who dwell in
Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they didn’t know him, nor the voices of
the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him. 1328 Though
they found no cause for death, they still asked Pilate to have him killed. 1329 When
they had fulfilled all things that were written about him, they took him down
from the tree, and laid him in a tomb. 1330 But
God raised him from the dead, 1331 and he was seen for many days
by those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses
to the people. 1332 We bring you good news of the
promise made to the fathers, 1333 that God has fulfilled this to
us, their children, in that he raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the
second psalm,
‘You are my Son.
Today I have become your
father.’
1334 “Concerning that he raised him
up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he has spoken thus: ‘I
will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’ 1335 Therefore
he says also in another psalm, ‘You will not allow your Holy One to see decay.’
1336 For
David, after he had in his own generation served the counsel of God, fell
asleep, was laid with his fathers, and saw decay. 1337 But
he whom God raised up saw no decay. 1338 Be it known to you therefore,
brothers,[15]
that through this man is proclaimed to you remission of sins, 1339 and
by him everyone who believes is justified from all things, from which you could
not be justified by the law of Moses. 1340 Beware
therefore, lest that come on you which is spoken in the prophets:
“’Behold, you scoffers, and wonder, and perish;
for I work a work in your days, a
work which you will in no way believe, if one declares it to you.’”
1342 So when the Jews went out of
the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them
the next Sabbath. 1343 Now when the synagogue broke up,
many of the Jews and of the devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas; who,
speaking to them, urged them to continue in the grace of God. 1344 The
next Sabbath, almost the whole city was gathered together to hear the word of
God. 1345 But when the Jews saw the
multitudes, they were filled with jealousy, and contradicted the things which
were spoken by Paul, and blasphemed.
1346 Paul and Barnabas spoke out
boldly, and said, “It was necessary that God’s word should be spoken to you
first. Since indeed you thrust it from yourselves, and judge yourselves
unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. 1347 For
so has the Lord commanded us, saying,
‘I have set you as a light for the Gentiles,
that you should bring salvation to the uttermost parts of the
earth.’”
1348 As the Gentiles heard this,
they were glad, and glorified the word of God. As many as were appointed to
eternal life believed. 1349 The Lord’s word was spread
abroad throughout all the region. 1350 But the Jews stirred up the devout
and prominent women and the chief men of the city, and stirred up a persecution
against Paul and Barnabas, and threw them out of their borders. 1351 But
they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came to Iconium. 1352 The
disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. 13
141 In Iconium, they entered
together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude
both of Jews and of Greeks believed. 142 But
the disbelieving Jews stirred up and embittered the souls of the Gentiles
against the brothers. 143 Therefore they stayed there a
long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who testified to the word of his grace,
granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. 144 But
the multitude of the city was divided. Part sided with the Jews, and part with
the apostles. 145 When some of both the Gentiles
and the Jews, with their rulers, made a violent attempt to mistreat and stone
them, 146 they became aware of it and
fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra, Derbe, and the surrounding region. 147 There
they preached the Good News.
148 At Lystra a certain man sat,
impotent in his feet, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked. 149 He
was listening to Paul speaking, who, fastening eyes on him, and seeing that he
had faith to be made whole, 1410 said with a loud voice, “Stand
upright on your feet!” He leaped up and walked. 1411 When
the multitude saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voice, saying in the
language of Lycaonia, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” 1412 They
called Barnabas “Jupiter”, and Paul “Mercury”, because he was the chief
speaker. 1413 The priest of Jupiter, whose
temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and
would have made a sacrifice along with the multitudes. 1414 But
when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of it, they tore their clothes, and
sprang into the multitude, crying out, 1415 “Men,
why are you doing these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and
bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to the living
God, who made the sky, the earth, the sea, and all that is in them; 1416 who
in the generations gone by allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. 1417 Yet
he didn’t leave himself without witness, in that he did good and gave you rains
from the sky and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.”
1418 Even saying these things, they
hardly stopped the multitudes from making a sacrifice to them. 1419 But
some Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there, and having persuaded the
multitudes, they stoned Paul, and dragged him out of the city, supposing that
he was dead.
1420 But as the disciples stood
around him, he rose up, and entered into the city. On the next day he went out
with Barnabas to Derbe. 1421 When they had preached the Good
News to that city, and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra,
Iconium, and Antioch, 1422 strengthening the souls of the
disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that through many
afflictions we must enter into God’s Kingdom. 1423 When
they had appointed elders for them in every assembly, and had prayed with
fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed.
1424 They passed through Pisidia,
and came to Pamphylia. 1425 When they had spoken the word
in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 1426 From
there they sailed to Antioch, from where they had been committed to the grace
of God for the work which they had fulfilled. 1427 When
they had arrived, and had gathered the assembly together, they reported all the
things that God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith to
the nations. 1428 They stayed there with the
disciples for a long time. 14
151 Some men came down from Judea
and taught the brothers,[16]
“Unless you are circumcised after the custom of Moses, you can’t be saved.” 152 Therefore
when Paul and Barnabas had no small discord and discussion with them, they
appointed Paul and Barnabas, and some others of them, to go up to Jerusalem to
the apostles and elders about this question. 153 They,
being sent on their way by the assembly, passed through both Phoenicia and
Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles. They caused great joy to all
the brothers. 154 When they had come to
Jerusalem, they were received by the assembly and the apostles and the elders,
and they reported everything that God had done with them.
155 But some of the sect of the
Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them,
and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”
156 The apostles and the elders
were gathered together to see about this matter. 157 When
there had been much discussion, Peter rose up and said to them, “Brothers, you
know that a good while ago God made a choice among you that by my mouth the
nations should hear the word of the Good News and believe. 158 God,
who knows the heart, testified about them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just
like he did to us. 159 He made no distinction between
us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. 1510 Now
therefore why do you tempt God, that you should put a yoke on the neck of the
disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 1511 But
we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they
are.”
1512 All the multitude kept silence,
and they listened to Barnabas and Paul reporting what signs and wonders God had
done among the nations through them. 1513 After
they were silent, James answered, “Brothers, listen to me. 1514 Simeon
has reported how God first visited the nations to take out of them a people for
his name. 1515 This agrees with the words of
the prophets. As it is written,
‘After these
things I will return.
I will again build the tabernacle of David, which has fallen.
I will again build its ruins.
I will set it up that
the rest of men may seek after the Lord;
all the Gentiles who are called by my name,
says the Lord, who does all these things.’
1518 “All of God’s works are known to
him from eternity. 1519 Therefore my judgment is that
we don’t trouble those from among the Gentiles who turn to God, 1520 but
that we write to them that they abstain from the pollution of idols, from
sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood. 1521 For
Moses from generations of old has in every city those who preach him, being
read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
1522 Then it seemed good to the
apostles and the elders, with the whole assembly, to choose men out of their
company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas called
Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brothers. [17]
1523 They
wrote these things by their hand:
“The apostles, the elders, and the brothers, to the brothers
who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: greetings. 1524 Because
we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words,
unsettling your souls, saying, ‘You must be circumcised and keep the law,’ to
whom we gave no commandment; 1525 it seemed good to us, having come
to one accord, to choose out men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas
and Paul, 1526 men who have risked their lives
for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1527 We
have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves will also tell you the same
things by word of mouth. 1528 For it seemed good to the Holy
Spirit, and to us, to lay no greater burden on you than these necessary things:
1529 that
you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled,
and from sexual immorality, from which if you keep yourselves, it will be well
with you. Farewell.”
1530 So, when they were sent off,
they came to Antioch. Having gathered the multitude together, they delivered
the letter. 1531 When they had read it, they rejoiced
over the encouragement. 1532 Judas and Silas, also being
prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers with many words and strengthened
them. 1533 After they had spent some time
there, they were sent back with greetings from the brothers to the apostles. 1534 [18]
1535 But
Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the
Lord, with many others also.
1536 After some days Paul said to
Barnabas, “Let’s return now and visit our brothers in every city in which we
proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.” 1537 Barnabas
planned to take John, who was called Mark, with them also. 1538 But
Paul didn’t think that it was a good idea to take with them someone who had
withdrawn from them in Pamphylia, and didn’t go with them to do the work. 1539 Then
the contention grew so sharp that they separated from each other. Barnabas took
Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, 1540 but
Paul chose Silas and went out, being commended by the brothers to the grace of
God. 1541 He went through Syria and
Cilicia, strengthening the assemblies. 15
(The
major events of Acts, including the coming of the Holy Spirit and the main
issues regarding the law were addressed by this point in Acts. The remainder of
Acts mostly details more of Paul’s preaching of the gospel in various cities,
and his resulting trials and hearings by Jewish authorities. Eventually Paul is
sent to Rome because he was a Roman citizen and had the right to appeal his
case to Roman officials. Paul was allowed to teach, preach, and write under the
watch of soldiers. Next we will look at portions of Paul’s letter to the
Romans, and all of his letter to the Ephesians.)
[1]2:15 about 9:00 a.m.
[2]2:31 or, Hell
[3]3:1 3:00 p.m.
[4]3:17 The word for “brothers” here may be also correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”
[5]6:1 The Hellenists used Greek language and culture, even though they were also of Hebrew descent.
[6]7:23 The word for “brothers” here and where the context allows may be also correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”
[7]7:42 This idiom could also be translated “host
of heaven”, or “angelic beings”, or “heavenly bodies.”
[8]9:29 The Hellenists were Hebrews who used Greek language and culture.
[9]9:30 The word for “brothers” here and where the context allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”
[10]9:36 “Dorcas” is Greek for “Gazelle.”
[11]10:3 3:00 p.m.
[12]10:30 3:00 p.m.
[13]11:1 The word for “brothers” here and where context allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”
[14]11:20 A Hellenist is someone who keeps Greek customs and culture.
[15]13:38 The word for “brothers” here and where the context allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”
[16]15:1 The word for “brothers” here and where the context allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”
[17]15:22 The word for “brothers” here and where the context allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”
[18]15:34 Some manuscripts add: But
it seemed good to Silas to stay there.