Acts, chapter 1
1: In the first book, O The-oph'ilus, I have dealt with all that
Jesus began to do and teach,
2: until the day when he was taken up, after he had given
commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.
3: To them he presented himself alive after his passion by many
proofs, appearing to them during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom
of God.
4: And while staying with them he charged them not to depart from
Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said,
"you heard from me,
5: for John baptized with water, but before many days you shall
be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
6: So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord,
wilt Thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?"
7: He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or
seasons which the Father has fixed by his own authority.
8: But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon
you; and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and
Sama'ria and to the end of the earth."
9: And when he had said this, as they were looking on, He was
lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.
10: And while they were gazing into heaven as He went, behold,
two men stood by them in white robes,
11: and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into
heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in
the same way as you saw him go into heaven."
12: Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet,
which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day's journey away;
13: and when they had entered, they went up to the upper room,
where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and
Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the
Zealot and Judas the son of James.
14: All these with one accord devoted themselves to prayer,
together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his
brothers.
15: In those days Peter stood up among the brethren (the company
of persons was in all about a hundred and twenty), and said,
16: "Brethren, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the
Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David, concerning Judas who
was guide to those who arrested Jesus.
17: For he was numbered among us, and was allotted his share in
this ministry.
18: (Now this man bought a field with the reward of his
wickedness; and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his
bowels gushed out.
19: And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so
that the field was called in their language Akel'dama, that is, Field of
Blood.)
20: For it is written in the book of Psalms, `Let his habitation
become desolate, and let there be no one to live in it'; and `His office
let another take.'
21: So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time
that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
22: beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was
taken up from us -- one of these men must become with us a witness to
his resurrection."
23: And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsab'bas, who was
surnamed Justus, and Matthi'as.
24: And they prayed and said, "Lord, who knows the hearts
of all men, show which one of these two Thou hast chosen
25: to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which
Judas turned aside, to go to his own place."
26: And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthi'as;
and he was enrolled with the eleven apostles.
Acts, chapter 2
1: When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in
one place.
2: And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a
mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3: And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and
resting on each one of them.
4: And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to
speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5: Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from
every nation under heaven.
6: And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were
bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in his own language.
7: And they were amazed and wondered, saying, "Are not all
these who are speaking Galileans?
8: And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native
language?
9: Par'thians and Medes and E'lamites and residents of
Mesopota'mia, Judea and Cappado'cia, Pontus and Asia,
10: Phryg'ia and Pamphyl'ia, Egypt and the parts of Libya
belonging to Cyre'ne, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,
11: Cretans and Arabians, we hear them telling in our own tongues
the mighty works of God."
12: And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another,
"What does this mean?"
13: But others mocking said, "They are filled with new
wine."
14: But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and
addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let
this be known to you, and give ear to my words.
15: For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only
the third hour of the day;
16: but this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17: `And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will
pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters
shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men
shall dream dreams;
18: yea, and on my menservants and my maidservants in those days
I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.
19: And I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the
earth beneath, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;
20: the sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into
blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and manifest day.
21: And it shall be that whoever calls on the name of the Lord
shall be saved.'
22: "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a
man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs which
God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know --
23: this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and
foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless
men.
24: But God raised him up, having loosed the pangs of death,
because it was not possible for him to be held by it.
25: For David says concerning him, `I saw the Lord always before
me, for He is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;
26: therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; moreover
my flesh will dwell in hope.
27: For Thou wilt not abandon my soul to Hades, nor let Thy Holy
One see corruption.
28: Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; Thou wilt make
me full of gladness with Thy presence.'
29: "Brethren, I may say to you confidently of the patriarch
David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this
day.
30: Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn
with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants upon his
throne,
31: he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that
He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption.
32: This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.
33: Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having
received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured
out this which you see and hear.
34: For David did not ascend into the heavens; but he himself
says, `The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand,
35: till I make Thy enemies a stool for Thy feet.'
36: Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly that God
has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."
37: Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said
to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we
do?"
38: And Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every
one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins;
and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39: For the promise is to you and to your children and to all
that are far off, every one whom the Lord our God calls to him."
40: And he testified with many other words and exhorted them,
saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation."
41: So those who received his word were baptized, and there were
added that day about three thousand souls.
42: And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and
fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
43: And fear came upon every soul; and many wonders and signs
were done through the apostles.
44: And all who believed were together and had all things in
common;
45: and they sold their possessions and goods and distributed
them to all, as any had need.
46: And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking
bread in their homes, they partook of food with glad and generous
hearts,
47: praising God and having favor with all the people. And the
Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Acts, chapter 3
1: Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of
prayer, the ninth hour.
2: And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid
daily at that gate of the temple, which is called Beautiful to ask alms
of those who entered the temple.
3: Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked
for alms.
4: And Peter directed his gaze at him, with John, and said,
"Look at us."
5: And he fixed his attention upon them, expecting to receive
something from them.
6: But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but I give
you what I have; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk."
7: And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and
immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.
8: And leaping up he stood and walked and entered the temple with
them, walking and leaping and praising God.
9: And all the people saw him walking and praising God,
10: and recognized him as the one who sat for alms at the
Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and
amazement at what had happened to him.
11: While he clung to Peter and John, all the people ran together
to them in the portico called Solomon's, astounded.
12: And when Peter saw it he addressed the people, "Men of
Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though
by our own power or piety we had made him walk?
13: The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob, the God of our
fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied
in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him.
14: But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a
murderer to be granted to you,
15: and killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead.
To this we are witnesses.
16: And His name, by faith in His name, has made this man strong
whom you see and know; and the faith, which is through Jesus, has given
the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.
17: "And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance,
as did also your rulers.
18: But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that
his Christ should suffer, He thus fulfilled.
19: Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be
blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the
Lord,
20: and that He may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,
21: whom heaven must receive until the time for establishing all
that God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old.
22: Moses said, `The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet
from your brethren as He raised me up. You shall listen to Him in
whatever he tells you.
23: And it shall be that every soul that does not listen to that
prophet shall be destroyed from the people.'
24: And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those
who came afterwards, also proclaimed these days.
25: You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which
God gave to your fathers, saying to Abraham, `And in your posterity
shall all the families of the earth be blessed.'
26: God, having raised up His servant, sent Him to you first, to
bless you in turning every one of you from your wickedness."
Acts, chapter 4
1: And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the
captain of the temple and the Sad'ducees came upon them,
2: annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming
in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
3: And they arrested them and put them in custody until the
morrow, for it was already evening.
4: But many of those who heard the word believed; and the number
of the men came to about five thousand.
5: On the morrow their rulers and elders and scribes were
gathered together in Jerusalem,
6: with Annas the high priest and Ca'iaphas and John and
Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family.
7: And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired,
"By what power or by what name did you do this?"
8: Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them,
"Rulers of the people and elders,
9: if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to
a cripple, by what means this man has been healed,
10: be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that
by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God
raised from the dead, by Him this man is standing before you well.
11: This is the stone which was rejected by you builders, but
which has become the head of the corner.
12: And
there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under
heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
13: Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John,
and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they wondered; and
they recognized that they had been with Jesus.
14: But seeing the man that had been healed standing beside them,
they had nothing to say in opposition.
15: But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the
council, they conferred with one another,
16: saying, "What shall we do with these men? For that a
notable sign has been performed through them is manifest to all the
inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.
17: But in order that it may spread no further among the people,
let us warn them to speak no more to any one in this name."
18: So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at
all in the name of Jesus.
19: But Peter and John answered them, "Whether it is right
in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge;
20: for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard."
21: And when they had further threatened them, they let them go,
finding no way to punish them, because of the people; for all men
praised God for what had happened.
22: For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was
more than forty years old.
23: When they were released they went to their friends and
reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them.
24: And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to
God and said, "Sovereign Lord, who didst make the heaven and the
earth and the sea and everything in them,
25: who by the mouth of our father David, Thy servant, didst say
by the Holy Spirit, `Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples imagine
vain things?
26: The kings of the earth set themselves in array, and the
rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against His
Anointed'
27: for truly in this city there were gathered together against
Thy holy servant Jesus, whom Thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius
Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,
28: to do whatever Thy hand and Thy plan had predestined to take
place.
29: And now, Lord, look upon their threats, and grant to Thy
servants to speak Thy word with all boldness,
30: while Thou stretches out Thy hand to heal, and signs and
wonders are performed through the name of Thy holy servant Jesus."
31: And when they had prayed, the place in which they were
gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy
Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness.
32: Now the company of those who believed were
of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things which he
possessed was his own, but they had everything in common.
33: And with great power the apostles gave their
testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was
upon them all.
34: There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were
possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of
what was sold
35: and laid it at the apostles' feet; and distribution was made
to each as any had need.
36: Thus Joseph who was surnamed by the apostles Barnabas (which
means, Son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus,
37: sold a field which belonged to him, and brought the money and
laid it at the apostles' feet.
Acts, chapter 5
1: But a man named Anani'as with his wife Sapphi'ra sold a piece
of property,
2: and with his wife's knowledge he kept back some of the
proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles' feet.
3: But Peter said, "Anani'as, why has Satan filled your
heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of
the land?
4: While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And
after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? How is it that you have
contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to
God."
5: When Anani'as heard these words, he fell down and died. And
great fear came upon all who heard of it.
6: The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and
buried him.
7: After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not
knowing what had happened.
8: And Peter said to her, "Tell me whether you sold the land
for so much." And she said, "Yes, for so much."
9: But Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed
together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Hark, the feet of those that
have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you
out."
10: Immediately she fell down at his feet and died. When the
young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and
buried her beside her husband.
11: And great fear came upon the whole church, and upon all who
heard of these things.
12: Now many signs and wonders were done among the people by the
hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico.
13: None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in
high honor.
14: And more than ever believers were added to the Lord,
multitudes both of men and women,
15: so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and
laid them on beds and pallets, that as Peter came by at least his shadow
might fall on some of them.
16: The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem,
bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they
were all healed.
17: But the high priest rose up and all who were with him, that
is, the party of the Sad'ducees, and filled with jealousy
18: they arrested the apostles and put them in the common prison.
19: But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and
brought them out and said,
20: "Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all
the words of this Life."
21: And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak
and taught. Now the high priest came and those who were with him and
called together the council and all the senate of Israel, and sent to
the prison to have them brought.
22: But when the officers came, they did not find them in the
prison, and they returned and reported,
23: "We found the prison securely locked and the sentries
standing at the doors, but when we opened it we found no one
inside."
24: Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests
heard these words, they were much perplexed about them, wondering what
this would come to.
25: And some one came and told them, "The men whom you put
in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people."
26: Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but
without violence, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.
27: And when they had brought them, they set them before the
council. And the high priest questioned them,
28: saying, "We strictly charged you not to teach in this
name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you
intend to bring this man's blood upon us."
29: But Peter and the apostles answered, "We
must obey God rather than men.
30: The God of our fathers raised Jesus whom you
killed by hanging him on a tree.
31: God exalted Him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to
give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.
32: And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy
Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him."
33: When they heard this they were enraged and wanted to kill
them.
34: But a Pharisee in the council named Gama'li-el, a teacher of
the law, held in honor by all the people, stood up and ordered the men
to be put outside for a while.
35: And he said to them, "Men of Israel, take care what you
do with these men.
36: For before these days Theu'das arose, giving himself out to
be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him; but he
was slain and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing.
37: After him Judas the Galilean arose in the days of the census
and drew away some of the people after him; he also perished, and all
who followed him were scattered.
38: So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men
and let them alone; for if this plan or this undertaking is of men, it
will fail;
39: but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them.
You might even be found opposing God!"
40: So they took his advice, and when they had called in the
apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of
Jesus, and let them go.
41: Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that
they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name.
42: And every day in the temple and at home they did not cease
teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
Acts, chapter 6
1: Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in
number, the Hellenists murmured against the Hebrews because their widows
were neglected in the daily distribution.
2: And the twelve summoned the body of the disciples and said,
"It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God
to serve tables.
3: Therefore, brethren, pick out from among you seven men of good
repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this
duty.
4: But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of
the word."
5: And what they said pleased the whole multitude, and they chose
Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and
Proch'orus, and Nica'nor, and Ti'mon, and Par'menas, and Nicola'us, a
proselyte of Antioch.
6: These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid
their hands upon them.
7: And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples
multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were
obedient to the faith.
8: And Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and
signs among the people.
9: Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the
Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyre'nians, and of the
Alexandrians, and of those from Cili'cia and Asia, arose and disputed
with Stephen.
10: But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with
which he spoke.
11: Then they secretly instigated men, who said, "We have
heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God."
12: And they stirred up the people and the elders and the
scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before
the council,
13: and set up false witnesses who said, "This man never
ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law;
14: 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."
15: And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his
face was like the face of an angel.
Acts, chapter 7
1: And the high priest said, "Is this so?"
2: And Stephen said: "Brethren and fathers, hear me. The God
of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopota'mia,
before he lived in Haran,
3: and said to him, `Depart from your land and from your kindred
and go into the land which I will show you.'
4: Then he departed from the land of the Chalde'ans, and lived in
Haran. And after his father died, God removed him from there into this
land in which you are now living;
5: yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot's
length, but promised to give it to him in possession and to his
posterity after him, though he had no child.
6: And God spoke to this effect, that his posterity would be
aliens in a land belonging to others, who would enslave them and
ill-treat them four hundred years.
7: `But I will judge the nation which they serve,' said God, `and
after that they shall come out and worship me in this place.'
8: And he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so Abraham
became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day; and
Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.
9: "And the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into
Egypt; but God was with him,
10: and rescued him out of all his afflictions, and gave him
favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him governor
over Egypt and over all his household.
11: Now there came a famine throughout all Egypt and Canaan, and
great affliction, and our fathers could find no food.
12: But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent
forth our fathers the first time.
13: And at the second visit Joseph made himself known to his
brothers, and Joseph's family became known to Pharaoh.
14: And Joseph sent and called to him Jacob his father and all
his kindred, seventy-five souls;
15: and Jacob went down into Egypt. And he died, himself and our
fathers,
16: and they were carried back to Shechem and laid in the tomb
that Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in
Shechem.
17: "But as the time of the promise drew near, which God had
granted to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt
18: till there arose over Egypt another king who had not known
Joseph.
19: He dealt craftily with our race and forced our fathers to
expose their infants, that they might not be kept alive.
20: At this time Moses was born, and was beautiful before God.
And he was brought up for three months in his father's house;
21: and when he was exposed, Pharaoh's daughter adopted him and
brought him up as her own son.
22: And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians,
and he was mighty in his words and deeds.
23: "When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to
visit his brethren, the sons of Israel.
24: And seeing one of them being wronged, he defended the
oppressed man and avenged him by striking the Egyptian.
25: He supposed that his brethren
understood that God was giving them deliverance by his hand,
but they did not understand.
26: And on the following day he appeared to them as they were
quarreling and would have reconciled them, saying, `Men, you are
brethren, why do you wrong each other?'
27: But the man who was wronging his neighbor thrust him aside,
saying, `Who made you a ruler and a judge over us?
28: Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?'
29: At this retort Moses fled, and became an exile in the land of
Mid'ian, where he became the father of two sons.
30: "Now when forty years had passed, an angel appeared to
him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush.
31: When Moses saw it he wondered at the sight; and as he drew
near to look, the voice of the Lord came,
32: `I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and of
Isaac and of Jacob.' And Moses trembled and did not dare to look.
33: And the Lord said to him, `Take
off the shoes from your feet, for the place where you are
standing is holy ground.
34: I have surely seen the ill-treatment of my people that are in
Egypt and heard their groaning, and I have come down to deliver them.
And now come, I will send you to Egypt.'
35: "This Moses whom they refused, saying, `Who made you a
ruler and a judge?' God sent as both ruler and deliverer by the hand of
the angel that appeared to him in the bush.
36: He led them out, having performed wonders and signs in Egypt
and at the Red Sea, and in the wilderness for forty years.
37: This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, `God will raise
up for you a prophet from your brethren as he raised me up.'
38: This is He who was in the congregation in the wilderness with
the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our fathers; and He
received living oracles to give to us.
39: Our fathers refused to obey him, but thrust him aside, and in
their hearts they turned to Egypt,
40: saying to Aaron, `Make for us gods to go before us; as for
this Moses who led us out from the land of Egypt, we do not know what
has become of him.'
41: And they made a calf in those days, and offered a sacrifice
to the idol and rejoiced in the works of their hands.
42: But God turned and gave them over to worship the host of
heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: `Did you offer to
me slain beasts and sacrifices, forty years in the wilderness, O house
of Israel?
43: And you took up the tent of Moloch, and the star of the god
Rephan, the figures which you made to worship; and I will remove you
beyond Babylon.'
44: "Our fathers had the tent of witness in the wilderness,
even as he who spoke to Moses directed him to make it, according to the
pattern that he had seen.
45: Our fathers in turn brought it in with Joshua when they
dispossessed the nations which God thrust out before our fathers. So it
was until the days of David,
46: who found favor in the sight of God and asked leave to find a
habitation for the God of Jacob.
47: But it was Solomon who built a house for him.
48: Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made with hands;
as the prophet says,
49: `Heaven is My throne, and earth My footstool. What house will
you build for Me, says the Lord, or what is the place of My rest?
50: Did not My hand make all these things?'
51: "You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and
ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you.
52: Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? And
they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous
One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered,
53: you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not
keep it."
54: Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they
ground their teeth against him.
55: But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw
the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God;
56: and he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the
Son of man standing at the right hand of God."
57: But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears
and rushed together upon him.
58: Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him; and the
witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named
Saul.
59: And as they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, "Lord
Jesus, receive my spirit."
60: And he knelt down and cried with a loud voice, "Lord, do
not hold this sin against them." And when he had said this, he fell
asleep.
Acts, chapter 8
1: And Saul was consenting to his death. And on that day a great
persecution arose against the church in Jerusalem; and they were all
scattered throughout the region of Judea and Sama'ria, except the
apostles.
2: Devout men buried Stephen, and made great lamentation over
him.
3: But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after
house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.
4: Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.
5: Philip went down to a city of Sama'ria, and proclaimed to them
the Christ.
6: And the multitudes with one accord gave heed to what was said
by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs which he did.
7: For unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed,
crying with a loud voice; and many who were paralyzed or lame were
healed.
8: So there was much joy in that city.
9: But there was a man named Simon who had previously practiced
magic in the city and amazed the nation of Sama'ria, saying that he
himself was somebody great.
10: They all gave heed to him, from the least to the greatest,
saying, "This man is that power of God which is called Great."
11: And they gave heed to him, because for a long time he had
amazed them with his magic.
12: But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about
the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized,
both men and women.
13: Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he
continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he
was amazed.
14: Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Sama'ria had
received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John,
15: who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the
Holy Spirit;
16: for it had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only
been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
17: Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy
Spirit.
18: Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the
laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money,
19: saying, "Give me also this power, that any one on whom I
lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit."
20: But Peter said to him, "Your silver perish with you,
because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!
21: You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart
is not right before God.
22: Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the
Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.
23: For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the
bond of iniquity."
24: And Simon answered, "Pray for me to the Lord, that
nothing of what you have said may come upon me."
25: Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord,
they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the
Samaritans.
26: But an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Rise and go
toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to
Gaza." This is a desert road.
27: And he rose and went. And behold, an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a
minister of the Can'dace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of all her
treasure, had come to Jerusalem to worship
28: and was returning; seated in his chariot, he was reading the
prophet Isaiah.
29: And the Spirit said to Philip, "Go up and join this
chariot."
30: So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the
prophet, and asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?"
31: And he said, "How can I, unless some one guides
me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
32: Now the passage of the scripture which he was reading was
this: "As a sheep led to the slaughter or a lamb before its shearer
is dumb, so he opens not his mouth.
33: In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe
his generation? For his life is taken up from the earth."
34: And the eunuch said to Philip, "About whom, pray, does
the prophet say this, about himself or about some one else?"
35: Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this
scripture he told him the good news of Jesus.
36: And as they went along the road they came to some water, and
the eunuch said, "See, here is water! What is to prevent my being
baptized?"
38: And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down
into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.
39: And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the
Lord caught up Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his
way rejoicing.
40: But Philip was found at Azo'tus, and passing on he preached
the gospel to all the towns till he came to Caesare'a.
Acts, chapter 9
1: But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the
disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest
2: and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so
that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring
them bound to Jerusalem.
3: Now as he journeyed he approached Damascus, and suddenly a
light from heaven flashed about him.
4: And he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him,
"Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?"
5: And he said, "Who art Thou, Lord?" And He said,
"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting;
6: but rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are
to do."
7: The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing
the voice but seeing no one.
8: Saul arose from the ground; and when his eyes were opened, he
could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into
Damascus.
9: And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor
drank.
10: Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Anani'as. The Lord
said to him in a vision, "Anani'as." And he said, "Here I
am, Lord."
11: And the Lord said to him, "Rise and go to the street
called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus
named Saul; for behold, he is praying,
12: and he has seen a man named Anani'as come in and lay his
hands on him so that he might regain his sight."
13: But Anani'as answered, "Lord, I have heard from many
about this man, how much evil he has done to Thy saints at Jerusalem;
14: and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all
who call upon Thy name."
15: But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen
instrument of mine to carry My name before the Gentiles and kings and
the sons of Israel;
16: for
I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of My name."
17: So Anani'as departed and entered the house. And
laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who
appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me that you may
regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
18: And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes and
he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized,
19: and took food and was strengthened. For several days he was
with the disciples at Damascus.
20: And in the synagogues immediately he proclaimed Jesus,
saying, "He is the Son of God."
21: And all who heard him were amazed, and said, "Is not
this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called on this
name? And he has come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before
the chief priests."
22: But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded
the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.
23: When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him,
24: but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the
gates day and night, to kill him;
25: but his disciples took him by night and let him down over the
wall, lowering him in a basket.
26: And when he had come to Jerusalem he attempted to join the
disciples; and they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe
that he was a disciple.
27: But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and
declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him,
and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.
28: So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem,
29: preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. And he spoke and
disputed against the Hellenists; but they were seeking to kill him.
30: And when the brethren knew it, they brought him down to
Caesare'a, and sent him off to Tarsus.
31: So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Sama'ria
had peace and was built up; and walking in the fear of the Lord and in
the comfort of the Holy Spirit it was multiplied.
32: Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down
also to the saints that lived at Lydda.
33: There he found a man named Aene'as, who had been bedridden
for eight years and was paralyzed.
34: And Peter said to him, "Aene'as, Jesus Christ heals you;
rise and make your bed." And immediately he rose.
35: And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they
turned to the Lord.
36: Now there was at Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which means
Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity.
37: In those days she fell sick and died; and when they had
washed her, they laid her in an upper room.
38: Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter
was there, sent two men to him entreating him, "Please come to us
without delay."
39: So Peter rose and went with them. And when he had come, they
took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping, and
showing tunics and other garments which Dorcas made while she was with
them.
40: But Peter put them all outside and knelt down and prayed;
then turning to the body he said, "Tabitha, rise." And she
opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.
41: And he gave her his hand and lifted her up. Then calling the
saints and widows he presented her alive.
42: And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed
in the Lord.
43: And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a
tanner.
Acts, chapter 10
1: At Caesare'a there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of
what was known as the Italian Cohort,
2: a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms
liberally to the people, and prayed constantly to God.
3: About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an
angel of God coming in and saying to him, "Cornelius."
4: And he stared at him in terror, and said, "What is it,
Lord?" And He said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have
ascended as a memorial before God.
5: And now send men to Joppa, and bring one Simon who is called
Peter;
6: he is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the
seaside."
7: When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of
his servants and a devout soldier from among those that waited on him,
8: and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
9: The next day, as they were on their journey and coming near
the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour.
10: And he became hungry and desired something to eat; but while
they were preparing it, he fell into a trance
11: and saw the heaven opened, and something descending, like a
great sheet, let down by four corners upon the earth.
12: In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the
air.
13: And there came a voice to him, "Rise, Peter; kill and
eat."
14: But Peter said, "No, Lord; for I have never eaten
anything that is common or unclean."
15: And the voice came to him again a second time, "What
God has cleansed, you must not call common."
16: This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once
to heaven.
17: Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision
which he had seen might mean, behold, the men that were sent by
Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon's house, stood before the gate
18: and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was
lodging there.
19: And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to
him, "Behold, three men are looking for you.
20: Rise and go down, and accompany them without hesitation; for
I have sent them."
21: And Peter went down to the men and said, "I am the one
you are looking for; what is the reason for your coming?"
22: And they said, "Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and
God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was
directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house, and to
hear what you have to say."
23: So he called them in to be his guests. The next day he rose
and went off with them, and some of the brethren from Joppa accompanied
him.
24: And on the following day they entered Caesare'a. Cornelius
was expecting them and had called together his kinsmen and close
friends.
25: When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his
feet and worshiped him.
26: But Peter lifted him up, saying, "Stand
up; I too am a man."
27: And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons
gathered;
28: and he said to them, "You yourselves know how unlawful
it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit any one of another nation;
but God has shown me that I should not call
any man common or unclean.
29: So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then
why you sent for me."
30: And Cornelius said, "Four days ago, about this hour, I
was keeping the ninth hour of prayer in my house; and behold, a man
stood before me in bright apparel,
31: saying, `Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms
have been remembered before God.
32: Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called
Peter; he is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the seaside.'
33: So I sent to you at once, and you have been kind enough to
come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God, to hear
all that you have been commanded by the Lord."
34: And Peter opened his mouth and said: "Truly
I perceive that God shows no partiality,
35: but in every nation any one who fears him and does what is
right is acceptable to him.
36: You know the word which he sent to Israel,
preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all),
37: the word which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning
from Galilee after the baptism which John preached:
38: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and
with power; how he went about doing good and healing all that were
oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
39: And we are witnesses to all that He did both in the country
of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put Him to death by hanging Him on a
tree;
40: but God raised Him on the third day and made Him manifest;
41: not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as
witnesses, who ate and drank with Him after he rose from the dead.
42: And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify
that He is the one ordained by God to be judge of the living and the
dead.
43: To Him all the prophets bear witness that every one who
believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name."
44: While Peter was still saying this, the Holy Spirit fell on
all who heard the word.
45: And the believers from among the circumcised who came with
Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured
out even on the Gentiles.
46: For they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God.
Then Peter declared,
47: "Can any one forbid water for baptizing these people who
have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?"
48: And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus
Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.
Acts, chapter 11
1: Now the apostles and the brethren who were in Judea heard that
the Gentiles also had received the word of God.
2: So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party
criticized him,
3: saying, "Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with
them?"
4: But Peter began and explained to them in order:
5: "I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I
saw a vision, something descending, like a great sheet, let down from
heaven by four corners; and it came down to me.
6: Looking at it closely I observed animals and beasts of prey
and reptiles and birds of the air.
7: And I heard a voice saying to me, `Rise, Peter; kill and eat.'
8: But I said, `No, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever
entered my mouth.'
9: But the voice answered a second time from heaven, `What God
has cleansed you must not call common.'
10: This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into
heaven.
11: At that very moment three men arrived at the house in which
we were, sent to me from Caesare'a.
12: And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no
distinction. These six brethren also accompanied me, and we entered the
man's house.
13: And he told us how he had seen the angel standing in his
house and saying, `Send to Joppa and bring Simon called Peter;
14: he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved,
you and all your household.'
15: As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on
us at the beginning.
16: And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, `John
baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'
17: If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when
we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand
God?"
18: When they heard this they were silenced. And they glorified
God, saying, "Then to the Gentiles also
God has granted repentance unto life."
19: Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that
arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoeni'cia and Cyprus and Antioch,
speaking the word to none except Jews.
20: But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyre'ne, who
on coming to Antioch spoke to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus.
21: And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number
that believed turned to the Lord.
22: News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and
they sent Barnabas to Antioch.
23: When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad; and he
exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose;
24: for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.
And a large company was added to the Lord.
25: So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul;
26: and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a
whole year they met with the church, and taught a large company of
people; and in Antioch the disciples were for
the first time called Christians.
27: Now in these days prophets came down from
Jerusalem to Antioch.
28: And one of them named Ag'abus stood up and foretold by the
Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world; and this
took place in the days of Claudius.
29: And the disciples determined, every one according to his
ability, to send relief to the brethren who lived in Judea;
30: and they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of
Barnabas and Saul.
Acts, chapter 12
1: About that time Herod the king laid violent hands upon some
who belonged to the church.
2: He killed James the brother of John with the sword;
3: and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to
arrest Peter also. This was during the days of unleavened bread.
4: And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, and
delivered him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after
the Passover to bring him out to the people.
5: So Peter was kept in prison; but earnest prayer for him was
made to God by the church.
6: The very night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter
was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries
before the door were guarding the prison;
7: and behold, an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone
in the cell; and he struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying,
"Get up quickly." And the chains fell off his hands.
8: And the angel said to him, "Dress yourself and put on
your sandals." And he did so. And he said to him, "Wrap your
mantle around you and follow me."
9: And he went out and followed him; he did not know that what
was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.
10: When they had passed the first and the second guard, they
came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened to them of its
own accord, and they went out and passed on through one street; and
immediately the angel left him.
11: And Peter came to himself, and said, "Now I am sure that
the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and
from all that the Jewish people were expecting."
12: When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the
mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered
together and were praying.
13: And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a maid named
Rhoda came to answer.
14: Recognizing Peter's voice, in her joy she did not open the
gate but ran in and told that Peter was standing at the gate.
15: They said to her, "You are mad." But she insisted
that it was so. They said, "It is his angel!"
16: But Peter continued knocking; and when they opened, they saw
him and were amazed.
17: But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he
described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he
said, "Tell this to James and to the brethren." Then he
departed and went to another place.
18: Now when day came, there was no small stir among the soldiers
over what had become of Peter.
19: And when Herod had sought for him and could not find him, he
examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then
he went down from Judea to Caesare'a, and remained there.
20: Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; and
they came to him in a body, and having persuaded Blastus, the king's
chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the
king's country for food.
21: On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his
seat upon the throne, and made an oration to them.
22: And the people shouted, "The voice of a god, and not of
man!"
23: Immediately an angel of the Lord smote him, because he did
not give God the glory; and he was eaten by worms and died.
24: But the word of God grew and multiplied.
25: And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had
fulfilled their mission, bringing with them John whose other name was
Mark.
Acts, chapter 13
1: Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers,
Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyre'ne, Man'a-en a
member of the court of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
2: While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy
Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to
which I have called them."
3: Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them
and sent them off.
4: So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to
Seleu'cia; and from there they sailed to Cyprus.
5: When they arrived at Sal'amis, they proclaimed the word of God
in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them.
6: When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos,
they came upon a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet, named
Bar-Jesus.
7: He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of
intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word
of God.
8: But El'ymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name)
withstood them, seeking to turn away the proconsul from the faith.
9: But Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy
Spirit, looked intently at him
10: and said, "You son of the devil, you enemy of all
righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making
crooked the straight paths of the Lord?
11: And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you
shall be blind and unable to see the sun for a time." Immediately
mist and darkness fell upon him and he went about seeking people to lead
him by the hand.
12: Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred,
for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
13: Now Paul and his company set sail from Paphos, and came to
Perga in Pamphyl'ia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem;
14: but they passed on from Perga and came to Antioch of Pisid'ia.
And on the sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down.
15: After the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of
the synagogue sent to them, saying, "Brethren, if you have any word
of exhortation for the people, say it."
16: So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said: "Men
of Israel, and you that fear God, listen.
17: The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the
people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted
arm he led them out of it.
18: And for about forty years he bore with them in the
wilderness.
19: And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of
Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance, for about four
hundred and fifty years.
20: And after that he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet.
21: Then they asked for a king; and God gave them Saul the son of
Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.
22: And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their
king; of whom he testified and said, `I have found in David the son of
Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.'
23: Of this man's posterity God has brought to Israel a Savior,
Jesus, as he promised.
24: Before his coming John had preached a baptism of repentance
to all the people of Israel.
25: And as John was finishing his course, he said, `What do you
suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but after me one is coming, the
sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.'
26: "Brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those
among you that fear God, to us has been sent the message of this
salvation.
27: For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because
they did not recognize Him nor understand the utterances of the prophets
which are read every sabbath, fulfilled these by condemning Him.
28: Though they could charge Him with nothing deserving death,
yet they asked Pilate to have Him killed.
29: And when they had fulfilled all that was written of Him, they
took Him down from the tree, and laid Him in a tomb.
30: But God raised Him from the dead;
31: and for many days He appeared to those who came up with Him
from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now His witnesses to the people.
32: And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the
fathers,
33: this He has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus;
as also it is written in the second psalm, `Thou art my Son, today I
have begotten Thee.'
34: And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, no more
to return to corruption, He spoke in this way, `I will give Thee the
holy and sure blessings of David.'
35: Therefore he says also in another psalm, `Thou wilt not let
Thy Holy One see corruption.'
36: For David, after he had served the counsel of God in his own
generation, fell asleep, and was laid with his fathers, and saw
corruption;
37: but He whom God raised up saw no corruption.
38: Let it be known to you therefore, brethren, that through this
man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you,
39: and by Him every one that believes is freed from everything
from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.
40: Beware, therefore, lest there come upon you what is said in
the prophets:
41: `Behold, you scoffers, and wonder, and perish; for I do a
deed in your days, a deed you will never believe, if one declares it to
you.'"
42: As they went out, the people begged that these things might
be told them the next sabbath.
43: And when the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and
devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them
and urged them to continue in the grace of God.
44: The next sabbath almost the whole city gathered together to
hear the word of God.
45: But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with
jealousy, and contradicted what was spoken by Paul, and reviled him.
46: And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, "It was
necessary that the word of God should be spoken first to you. Since
you thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life,
behold, we turn to the Gentiles.
47: For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, `I have
set you to be a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to
the uttermost parts of the earth.'"
48: And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and
glorified the word of God; and as many as
were ordained to eternal life believed.
49: And the word of the Lord spread throughout all the region.
50: But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and
the leading men of the city, and stirred up persecution against Paul and
Barnabas, and drove them out of their district.
51: But they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and
went to Ico'nium.
52: And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy
Spirit.
Acts, chapter 14
1: Now at Ico'nium they entered together into the Jewish
synagogue, and so spoke that a great company believed, both of Jews and
of Greeks.
2: But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned
their minds against the brethren.
3: So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the
Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and
wonders to be done by their hands.
4: But the people of the city were divided; some sided with the
Jews, and some with the apostles.
5: When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their
rulers, to molest them and to stone them,
6: they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of
Lycao'nia, and to the surrounding country;
7: and there they preached the gospel.
8: Now at Lystra there was a man sitting, who could not use his
feet; he was a cripple from birth, who had never walked.
9: He listened to Paul speaking; and Paul, looking intently at
him and seeing that he had faith to be made
well,
10: said in a loud voice, "Stand upright on your feet."
And he sprang up and walked.
11: And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up
their voices, saying in Lycao'nian, "The gods have come down to us
in the likeness of men!"
12: Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, because he was the chief
speaker, they called Hermes.
13: And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of the
city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer
sacrifice with the people.
14: But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they
tore their garments and rushed out among the multitude, crying,
15: "Men, why are you doing this? We also are men, of like
nature with you, and bring you good news, that you should turn from
these vain things to a living God who made the heaven and the earth and
the sea and all that is in them.
16: In past generations He allowed all the nations to walk in
their own ways;
17: yet He did not leave himself without witness, for He did good
and gave you from heaven rains and fruitful seasons, satisfying your
hearts with food and gladness."
18: With these words they scarcely restrained the people from
offering sacrifice to them.
19: But Jews came there from Antioch and Ico'nium; and having
persuaded the people, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city,
supposing that he was dead.
20: But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and
entered the city; and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe.
21: When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made
many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Ico'nium and to Antioch,
22: strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to
continue in the faith, and saying that through
many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.
23: And when they had appointed elders for them in
every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in
whom they believed.
24: Then they passed through Pisid'ia, and came to Pamphyl'ia.
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25:
And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attali'a;
26: and from there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been
commended to the grace of God for the work which they had fulfilled.
27: And when they arrived, they gathered the church together and
declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door
of faith to the Gentiles.
28: And they remained no little time with the disciples.
Acts, chapter 15
1: But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the
brethren, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of
Moses, you cannot be saved."
2: And when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate
with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go
up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question.
3: So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through
both Phoeni'cia and Sama'ria, reporting the conversion of the Gentiles,
and they gave great joy to all the brethren.
4: When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church
and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done
with them.
5: But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees
rose up, and said, "It is necessary to circumcise them, and to
charge them to keep the law of Moses."
6: The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider
this matter.
7: And after there had been much debate, Peter rose and said to
them, "Brethren, you know that in the early days God made choice
among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the
gospel and believe.
8: And God who knows the heart bore witness to them, giving them
the Holy Spirit just as He did to us;
9: and He made no distinction between us and them, but cleansed
their hearts by faith.
10: Now therefore why do you make trial of God by putting a yoke
upon the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we have
been able to bear?
11: But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of
the Lord Jesus, just as they will."
12: And all the assembly kept silence; and they listened to
Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done
through them among the Gentiles.
13: After they finished speaking, James replied, "Brethren,
listen to me.
14: Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to
take out of them a people for his name.
15: And with this the words of the prophets agree, as it is
written,
16: `After this I will return, and I will rebuild the dwelling of
David, which has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will set it up,
17: that the rest of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles
who are called by my name,
18: says the Lord, who has made these things known from of old.'
19: Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of
the Gentiles who turn to God,
20: but should write to them to abstain from the pollutions of
idols and from unchastity and from what is strangled and
from blood.
21: For from early generations Moses has had in every city those
who preach him, for he is read every sabbath in the synagogues."
22: Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the
whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch
with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsab'bas, and Silas,
leading men among the brethren,
23: with the following letter: "The brethren, both the
apostles and the elders, to the brethren who are of the Gentiles in
Antioch and Syria and Cili'cia, greeting.
24: Since we have heard that some persons from us have troubled
you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no
instructions,
25: it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to
choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26: men who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord
Jesus Christ.
27: We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will
tell you the same things by word of mouth.
28: For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay
upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:
29: that you abstain from what has
been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is
strangled and from unchastity. If you keep yourselves from these, you
will do well. Farewell."
30: So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch; and
having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter.
31: And when they read it, they rejoiced at the exhortation.
32: And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, exhorted
the brethren with many words and strengthened them.
33: And after they had spent some time, they were sent off in
peace by the brethren to those who had sent them.
35: But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and
preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
36: And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Come, let us
return and visit the brethren in every city where we proclaimed the word
of the Lord, and see how they are."
37: And Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark.
38: But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had
withdrawn from them in Pamphyl'ia, and had not gone with them to the
work.
39: And there arose a sharp contention, so that they separated
from each other; Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus,
40: but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the
brethren to the grace of the Lord.
41: And he went through Syria and Cili'cia, strengthening the
churches.
Acts, chapter 16
1: And he came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there,
named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer; but his
father was a Greek.
2: He was well spoken of by the brethren at Lystra and Ico'nium.
3: Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him; and he took him and
circumcised him because of the Jews that were in those places, for they
all knew that his father was a Greek.
4: As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered
to them for observance the decisions which had been reached by the
apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem.
5: So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they
increased in numbers daily.
6: And they went through the region of Phry'gia and Galatia,
having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.
7: And when they had come opposite My'sia, they attempted to go
into Bithyn'ia, but the Spirit of Jesus did
not allow them;
8: so, passing by My'sia, they went down to Tro'as.
9: And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of
Macedo'nia was standing beseeching him and saying, "Come over to
Macedo'nia and help us."
10: And when he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go
on into Macedo'nia, concluding that God had called us to preach the
gospel to them.
11: Setting sail therefore from Tro'as, we made a direct voyage
to Sam'othrace, and the following day to Ne-ap'olis,
12: and from there to Philip'pi, which is the leading city of the
district of Macedo'nia, and a Roman colony. We remained in this city
some days;
13: and on the sabbath day we went outside the gate to the
riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat
down and spoke to the women who had come together.
14: One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of
Thyati'ra, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The
Lord opened her heart to give heed to what was said by Paul.
15: And when she was baptized, with her household, she besought
us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come
to my house and stay." And she prevailed upon us.
16: As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a
slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much
gain by soothsaying.
17: She followed Paul and us, crying, "These men are
servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of
salvation."
18: And this she did for many days. But Paul was annoyed, and
turned and said to the spirit, "I charge you in the name of Jesus
Christ to come out of her." And it came out that very hour.
19: But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone,
they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market place before
the rulers;
20: and when they had brought them to the magistrates they said,
"These men are Jews and they are disturbing our city.
21: They advocate customs which it is not lawful for us Romans to
accept or practice."
22: The crowd joined in attacking them; and the magistrates tore
the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods.
23: And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw
them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely.
24: Having received this charge, he put them into the inner
prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
25: But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing
hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,
26: and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the
foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors
were opened and every one's fetters were unfastened.
27: When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open,
he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the
prisoners had escaped.
28: But Paul cried with a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself,
for we are all here."
29: And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with
fear he fell down before Paul and Silas,
30: and brought them out and said, "Men, what must I do to
be saved?"
31: And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will
be saved, you and your household."
32: And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all that
were in his house.
33: And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their
wounds, and he was baptized at once, with all his family.
34: Then he brought them up into his house, and set food before
them; and he rejoiced with all his household
that he had believed in God.
35: But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying,
"Let those men go."
36: And the jailer reported the words to Paul, saying, "The
magistrates have sent to let you go; now therefore come out and go in
peace."
37: But Paul said to them, "They have beaten us publicly,
uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison;
and do they now cast us out secretly? No! let them come themselves and
take us out."
38: The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they
were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens;
39: so they came and apologized to them. And they took them out
and asked them to leave the city.
40: So they went out of the prison, and visited Lydia; and when
they had seen the brethren, they exhorted them and departed.
Acts, chapter 17
1: Now when they had passed through Amphip'olis and Apollo'nia,
they came to Thessaloni'ca, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
2: And Paul went in, as was his custom, and for three weeks he
argued with them from the scriptures,
3: explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to
suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus, whom I
proclaim to you, is the Christ."
4: And some of them were persuaded, and joined Paul and Silas; as
did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading
women.
5: But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked fellows of
the rabble, they gathered a crowd, set the city in an uproar, and
attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the people.
6: And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some
of the brethren before the city authorities, crying, "These men who
have turned the world upside down have come here also,
7: and Jason has received them; and they are all acting against
the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus."
8: And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when
they heard this.
9: And when they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they
let them go.
10: The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to
Beroe'a; and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue.
11: Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessaloni'ca,
for they received the word with all eagerness, examining the scriptures
daily to see if these things were so.
12: Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women
of high standing as well as men.
13: But when the Jews of Thessaloni'ca learned that the word of
God was proclaimed by Paul at Beroe'a also, they came there too,
stirring up and inciting the crowds.
14: Then the brethren immediately sent Paul off on his way to the
sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there.
15: Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens; and
receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as
possible, they departed.
16: Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was
provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols.
17: So he argued in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout
persons, and in the market place every day with those who chanced to be
there.
18: Some also of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers met him.
And some said, "What would this babbler say?" Others said,
"He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities" -- because
he preached Jesus and the resurrection.
19: And they took hold of him and brought him to the Are-op'agus,
saying, "May we know what this new teaching is which you present?
20: For you bring some strange things to our ears; we wish to
know therefore what these things mean."
21: Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there
spent their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new.
22: So Paul, standing in the middle of the Are-op'agus, said:
"Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very
religious.
23: For as I passed along, and observed the objects of your
worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, `To an unknown
god.' What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.
24: The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord
of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by man,
25: nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed
anything, since he himself gives to all men life and breath and
everything.
26: And he made from one every nation of men to live on all the
face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries
of their habitation,
27: that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel
after Him and find Him. Yet He is not far from each one of us,
28: for `In Him we live and move and have our being'; as even
some of your poets have said, `For we are indeed His offspring.'
29: Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the
Deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, a representation by the art and
imagination of man.
30: The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now He commands
all men everywhere to repent,
31: because He has fixed a day on which He will judge the world
in righteousness by a man whom He has appointed, and of this He has
given assurance to all men by raising Him from the dead."
32: Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some
mocked; but others said, "We will hear you again about this."
33: So Paul went out from among them.
34: But some men joined him and believed, among them Dionys'ius
the Are-op'agite and a woman named Dam'aris and others with them.
Acts, chapter 18
1: After this he left Athens and went to Corinth.
2: And he found a Jew named Aq'uila, a native of Pontus, lately
come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius
had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see
them;
3: and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them, and
they worked, for by trade they were tentmakers.
4: And he argued in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded
Jews and Greeks.
5: When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedo'nia, Paul was
occupied with preaching, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was
Jesus.
6: And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his
garments and said to them, "Your blood be upon your heads! I am
innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles."
7: And he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius
Justus, a worshiper of God; his house was next door to the synagogue.
8: Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord,
together with all his household; and many of the Corinthians hearing
Paul believed and were baptized.
9: And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, "Do not
be afraid, but speak and do not be silent;
10: for I am with you, and no man shall attack you to harm you;
for I have many people in this city."
11: And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God
among them.
12: But when Gallio was proconsul of Acha'ia, the Jews made a
united attack upon Paul and brought him before the tribunal,
13: saying, "This man is persuading men to worship God
contrary to the law."
14: But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the
Jews, "If it were a matter of wrongdoing or vicious crime, I should
have reason to bear with you, O Jews;
15: but since it is a matter of questions about words and names
and your own law, see to it yourselves; I refuse to be a judge of these
things."
16: And he drove them from the tribunal.
17: And they all seized Sos'thenes, the ruler of the synagogue,
and beat him in front of the tribunal. But Gallio paid no attention to
this.
18: After this Paul stayed many days longer, and then took leave
of the brethren and sailed for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aq'uila.
At Cen'chre-ae he cut his hair, for he had a vow.
19: And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there; but he
himself went into the synagogue and argued with the Jews.
20: When they asked him to stay for a longer period, he declined;
21: but on taking leave of them he said, "I will return to
you if God wills," and he set sail from Ephesus.
22: When he had landed at Caesare'a, he went up and greeted the
church, and then went down to Antioch.
23: After spending some time there he departed and went from
place to place through the region of Galatia and Phryg'ia, strengthening
all the disciples.
24: Now a Jew named Apol'los, a native of Alexandria, came to
Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, well versed in the scriptures.
25: He had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being
fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning
Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John.
26: He began to speak boldly in the synagogue; but when Priscilla
and Aq'uila heard him, they took him and expounded to him the way of God
more accurately.
27: And when he wished to cross to Acha'ia, the brethren
encouraged him, and wrote to the disciples to receive him. When he
arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed,
28: for he powerfully confuted the Jews in public, showing by the
scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.
Acts, chapter 19
1: While Apol'los was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper
country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples.
2: And he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit
when you believed?" And they said, "No, we have never even
heard that there is a Holy Spirit."
3: And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?"
They said, "Into John's baptism."
4: And Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of
repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come
after him, that is, Jesus."
5: On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord
Jesus.
6: And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit
came on them; and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
7: There were about twelve of them in all.
8: And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke
boldly, arguing and pleading about the kingdom of God;
9: but when some were stubborn and disbelieved, speaking evil of
the way before the congregation, he withdrew from them, taking the
disciples with him, and argued daily in the hall of Tyran'nus.
10: This continued for two years, so that all the residents of
Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.
11: And God did extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul,
12: so that handkerchiefs or aprons were carried away from his
body to the sick, and diseases left them and the evil spirits came out
of them.
13: Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to
pronounce the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits,
saying, "I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches."
14: Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing
this.
15: But the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and
Paul I know; but who are you?"
16: And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them,
mastered all of them, and overpowered them, so that they fled out of
that house naked and wounded.
17: And this became known to all residents of Ephesus, both Jews
and Greeks; and fear fell upon them all; and the name of the Lord Jesus
was extolled.
18: Many also of those who were now believers came, confessing
and divulging their practices.
19: And a number of those who practiced magic arts brought their
books together and burned them in the sight of all; and they counted the
value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver.
20: So the word of the Lord grew and prevailed mightily.
21: Now after these events Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass
through Macedo'nia and Acha'ia and go to Jerusalem, saying, "After
I have been there, I must also see Rome."
22: And having sent into Macedo'nia two of his helpers, Timothy
and Eras'tus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.
23: About that time there arose no little stir concerning the way.
(way in capital - that they idol worship)
24: For a man named Deme'trius, a silversmith, who made silver
shrines of ar'temis, brought no little business to the craftsmen.
25: These he gathered together, with the workmen of like
occupation, and said, "Men, you know that from this business we
have our wealth.
26: And you see and hear that not only at Ephesus but almost
throughout all Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a
considerable company of people, saying that gods made with hands are not
gods.
27: And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come
into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess ar'temis
may count for nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her
magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship."
28: When they heard this they were enraged, and cried out,
"Great is ar'temis of the Ephesians!"
29: So the city was filled with the confusion; and they rushed
together into the theater, dragging with them Ga'ius and Aristar'chus,
Macedo'nians who were Paul's companions in travel.
30: Paul wished to go in among the crowd, but the disciples would
not let him;
31: some of the A'si-archs also, who were friends of his, sent to
him and begged him not to venture into the theater.
32: Now some cried one thing, some another; for the assembly was
in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together.
33: Some of the crowd prompted Alexander, whom the Jews had put
forward. And Alexander motioned with his hand, wishing to make a defense
to the people.
34: But when they recognized that he was a Jew, for about two
hours they all with one voice cried out, "Great is ar'temis of the
Ephesians!"
35: And when the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he said,
"Men of Ephesus, what man is there who does not know that the city
of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great ar'temis, and of the
sacred stone that fell from the sky?
36: Seeing then that these things cannot be contradicted, you
ought to be quiet and do nothing rash.
37: For you have brought these men here who are neither
sacrilegious nor blasphemers of our goddess.
38: If therefore Deme'trius and the craftsmen with him have a
complaint against any one, the courts are open, and there are
proconsuls; let them bring charges against one another.
39: But if you seek anything further, it shall be settled in the
regular assembly.
40: For we are in danger of being charged with rioting today,
there being no cause that we can give to justify this commotion."
41: And when he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.
Acts, chapter 20
1: After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples and
having exhorted them took leave of them and departed for Macedo'nia.
2: When he had gone through these parts and had given them much
encouragement, he came to Greece.
3: There he spent three months, and when a plot was made against
him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he determined to
return through Macedo'nia.
4: Sop'ater of Beroe'a, the son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and
of the Thessalo'nians, Aristar'chus and Secun'dus; and Ga'ius of Derbe,
and Timothy; and the Asians, Tych'icus and Troph'imus.
5: These went on and were waiting for us at Tro'as,
6: but we sailed away from Philip'pi after the days of unleavened
bread, (this
they capitalize, but for God there is no respect) and in five days we came to them
at Tro'as, where we stayed for seven days.
7: On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together
to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the
morrow; and he prolonged his speech until midnight.
8: There were many lights in the upper chamber where we were
gathered.
9: And a young man named Eu'tychus was sitting in the window. He
sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer; and being overcome
by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead.
10: But Paul went down and bent over him, and embracing him said,
"Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him."
11: And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he
conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed.
12: And they took the lad away alive, and were not a little
comforted.
13: But going ahead to the ship, we set sail for Assos, intending
to take Paul aboard there; for so he had arranged, intending himself to
go by land.
14: And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and came to
Mityle'ne.
15: And sailing from there we came the following day opposite
Chi'os; the next day we touched at Samos; and the day after that we came
to Mile'tus.
16: For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might
not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem,
if possible, on the day of Pentecost.
17: And from Mile'tus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the
elders of the church.
18: And when they came to him, he said to them: "You
yourselves know how I lived among you all the time from the first day
that I set foot in Asia,
19: serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with
trials which befell me through the plots of the Jews;
20: how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was
profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house,
21: testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance to God
and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
22: And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, bound in the
Spirit, not knowing what shall befall me there;
23: except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city
that imprisonment and afflictions await me.
24: But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to
myself, if only I may accomplish my course and the ministry which I
received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of
God.
25: And now, behold, I know that all you among whom I have gone
preaching the kingdom will see my face no more.
26: Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the
blood of all of you,
27: for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel
of God.
28: Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the
Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God which
he obtained with the blood of his own Son.
29: I
know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not
sparing the flock;
30: and from among your own selves will arise men
speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.
31: Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did
not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears.
32: And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace,
which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all
those who are sanctified.
33: I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel.
34: You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my
necessities, and to those who were with me.
35: In all things I have shown you that by so toiling one must
help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, `It
is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
36: And when he had spoken thus, he knelt down and prayed with
them all.
37: And they all wept and embraced Paul and kissed him,
38: sorrowing most of all because of the word he had spoken, that
they should see his face no more. And they brought him to the ship.
Acts, chapter 21
1: And when we had parted from them and set sail, we came by a
straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to
Pat'ara.
2: And having found a ship crossing to Phoeni'cia, we went
aboard, and set sail.
3: When we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left we
sailed to Syria, and landed at Tyre; for there the ship was to unload
its cargo.
4: And having sought out the disciples, we stayed there for seven
days. Through the Spirit they told Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.
5: And when our days there were ended, we departed and went on
our journey; and they all, with wives and children, brought us on our
way till we were outside the city; and kneeling down on the beach we
prayed and bade one another farewell.
6: Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home.
7: When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at
Ptolema'is; and we greeted the brethren and stayed with them for one
day.
8: On the morrow we departed and came to Caesare'a; and we
entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven,
and stayed with him.
9: And he had four unmarried daughters, who prophesied.
10: While we were staying for some days, a prophet named Ag'abus
came down from Judea.
11: And coming to us he took Paul's girdle and bound his own feet
and hands, and said, "Thus says the Holy Spirit, `So shall the Jews
at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this girdle and deliver him into the
hands of the Gentiles.'"
12: When we heard this, we and the people there begged him not to
go up to Jerusalem.
13: Then Paul answered, "What are you doing, weeping and
breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to
die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."
14: And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said,
"The will of the Lord be done."
15: After these days we made ready and went up to Jerusalem.
16: And some of the disciples from Caesare'a went with us,
bringing us to the house of Mason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with
whom we should lodge.
17: When we had come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us
gladly.
18: On the following day Paul went in with us to James; and all
the elders were present.
19: After greeting them, he related one by one the things that
God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.
20: And when they heard it, they glorified God. And they said to
him, "You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews
of those who have believed; they are all zealous for the law,
21: and they have been told about you that you teach all the Jews
who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to
circumcise their children or observe the customs.
22: What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you
have come.
23: Do therefore what we tell you. We have four men who are under
a vow;
24: take these men and purify yourself along with them and pay
their expenses, so that they may shave their heads. Thus all will know
that there is nothing in what they have been told about you but that you
yourself live in observance of the law.
25: But as for the Gentiles who have believed, we have sent a
letter with our judgment that they should abstain from what has been
sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from
unchastity."
26: Then Paul took the men, and the next day he purified himself
with them and went into the temple, to give notice when the days of
purification would be fulfilled and the offering presented for every one
of them.
27: When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from
Asia, who had seen him in the temple, stirred up all the crowd, and laid
hands on him,
28: crying out, "Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is
teaching men everywhere against the people and the law and this place;
moreover he also brought Greeks into the temple, and he has defiled this
holy place."
29: For they had previously seen Troph'imus the Ephesian with him
in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the
temple.
30: Then all the city was aroused, and the people ran together;
they seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and at once the
gates were shut.
31: And as they were trying to kill him, word came to the tribune
of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion.
32: He at once took soldiers and centurions, and ran down to
them; and when they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped
beating Paul.
33: Then the tribune came up and arrested him, and ordered him to
be bound with two chains. He inquired who he was and what he had done.
34: Some in the crowd shouted one thing, some another; and as he
could not learn the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be
brought into the barracks.
35: And when he came to the steps, he was actually carried by the
soldiers because of the violence of the crowd;
36: for the mob of the people followed, crying, "Away with
him!"
37: As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to
the tribune, "May I say something to you?" And he said,
"Do you know Greek?
38: Are you not the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a
revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the
wilderness?"
39: Paul replied, "I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cili'cia, a
citizen of no mean city; I beg you, let me speak to the people."
40: And when he had given him leave, Paul, standing on the steps,
motioned with his hand to the people; and when there was a great hush,
he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, saying:
Acts, chapter 22
1: "Brethren and fathers, hear the defense which I now make
before you."
2: And when they heard that he addressed them in the Hebrew
language, they were the more quiet. And he said:
3: "I am a Jew, born at Tarsus in Cili'cia, but brought up
in this city at the feet of Gama'li-el, educated according to the strict
manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as you all are
this day.
4: I persecuted this way to the death, binding and delivering to
prison both men and women,
5: as the high priest and the whole council of elders bear me
witness. From them I received letters to the brethren, and I journeyed
to Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to
Jerusalem to be punished.
6: "As I made my journey and drew near to Damascus, about
noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone about me.
7: And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me,
`Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?'
8: And I answered, `Who art Thou, Lord?' And He said to me, `I am
Jesus of Nazareth whom you are persecuting.'
9: Now those who were with me saw the light but did not hear the
voice of the one who was speaking to me.
10: And I said, `What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to me,
`Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is
appointed for you to do.'
11: And when I could not see because of the brightness of that
light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into
Damascus.
12: "And one Anani'as, a devout man according to the law,
well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there,
13: came to me, and standing by me said to me, `Brother Saul,
receive your sight.' And in that very hour I received my sight and saw
him.
14: And he said, `The God of our fathers appointed you to know
His will, to see the Just One and to hear a voice from His mouth;
15: for you will be a witness for Him to all men of what you have
seen and heard.
16: And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized, and wash away
your sins, calling on His name.'
17: "When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the
temple, I fell into a trance
18: and saw Him saying to me, `Make haste and get quickly out of
Jerusalem, because they will not accept your testimony about Me.'
19: And I said, `Lord, they themselves know that in every
synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believed in Thee.
20: And when the blood of Stephen Thy witness was shed, I also
was standing by and approving, and keeping the garments of those who
killed him.'
21: And He said to me, `Depart; for I will send you far away to
the Gentiles.'"
22: Up to this word they listened to him; then they lifted up
their voices and said, "Away with such a fellow from the earth! For
he ought not to live."
23: And as they cried out and waved their garments and threw dust
into the air,
24: the tribune commanded him to be brought into the barracks,
and ordered him to be examined by scourging, to find out why they
shouted thus against him.
25: But when they had tied him up with the thongs, Paul said to
the centurion who was standing by, "Is it lawful for you to scourge
a man who is a Roman citizen, and uncondemned?"
26: When the centurion heard that, he went to the tribune and
said to him, "What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman
citizen."
27: So the tribune came and said to him, "Tell me, are you a
Roman citizen?" And he said, "Yes."
28: The tribune answered, "I bought this citizenship for a
large sum." Paul said, "But I was born a citizen."
29: So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him
instantly; and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul
was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him.
30: But on the morrow, desiring to know the real reason why the
Jews accused him, he unbound him, and commanded the chief priests and
all the council to meet, and he brought Paul down and set him before
them.
Acts, chapter 23
1: And Paul, looking intently at the council, said,
"Brethren, I have lived before God in all good conscience up to
this day."
2: And the high priest Anani'as commanded those who stood by him
to strike him on the mouth.
3: Then Paul said to him, "God shall strike you, you
whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and
yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?"
4: Those who stood by said, "Would you revile God's high
priest?"
5: And Paul said, "I did not know, brethren, that he was the
high priest; for it is written, `You shall not speak evil of a ruler of
your people.'"
6: But when Paul perceived that one part were Sad'ducees and the
other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, "Brethren, I am a
Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; with respect to the hope and the
resurrection of the dead I am on trial."
7: And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the
Pharisees and the Sad'ducees; and the assembly was divided.
8: For the Sad'ducees say that there is no resurrection, nor
angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.
9: Then a great clamor arose; and some of the scribes of the
Pharisees' party stood up and contended, "We find nothing wrong in
this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?"
10: And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid
that Paul would be torn in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go
down and take him by force from among them and bring him into the
barracks.
11: The following night the Lord stood by him and said,
"Take courage, for as you have testified about me at Jerusalem, so
you must bear witness also at Rome."
12: When it was day, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by
an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.
13: There were more than forty who made this conspiracy.
14: And they went to the chief priests and elders, and said,
"We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food till
we have killed Paul.
15: You therefore, along with the council, give notice now to the
tribune to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine
his case more exactly. And we are ready to kill him before he comes
near."
16: Now the son of Paul's sister heard of their ambush; so he
went and entered the barracks and told Paul.
17: And Paul called one of the centurions and said, "Take
this young man to the tribune; for he has something to tell him."
18: So he took him and brought him to the tribune and said,
"Paul the prisoner called me and asked me to bring this young man
to you, as he has something to say to you."
19: The tribune took him by the hand, and going aside asked him
privately, "What is it that you have to tell me?"
20: And he said, "The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring
Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire
somewhat more closely about him.
21: But do not yield to them; for more than forty of their men
lie in ambush for him, having bound themselves by an oath neither to eat
nor drink till they have killed him; and now they are ready, waiting for
the promise from you."
22: So the tribune dismissed the young man, charging him,
"Tell no one that you have informed me of this."
23: Then he called two of the centurions and said, "At the
third hour of the night get ready two hundred soldiers with seventy
horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go as far as Caesare'a.
24: Also provide mounts for Paul to ride, and bring him safely to
Felix the governor."
25: And he wrote a letter to this effect:
26: "Claudius Lys'ias to his Excellency the governor Felix,
greeting.
27: This man was seized by the Jews, and was about to be killed
by them, when I came upon them with the soldiers and rescued him, having
learned that he was a Roman citizen.
28: And desiring to know the charge on which they accused him, I
brought him down to their council.
29: I found that he was accused about questions of their law, but
charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment.
30: And when it was disclosed to me that there would be a plot
against the man, I sent him to you at once, ordering his accusers also
to state before you what they have against him."
31: So the soldiers, according to their instructions, took Paul
and brought him by night to Antip'atris.
32: And on the morrow they returned to the barracks, leaving the
horsemen to go on with him.
33: When they came to Caesare'a and delivered the letter to the
governor, they presented Paul also before him.
34: On reading the letter, he asked to what province he belonged.
When he learned that he was from Cili'cia
35: he said, "I will hear you when your accusers
arrive." And he commanded him to be guarded in Herod's praetorium.
Acts, chapter 24
1: And after five days the high priest Anani'as came down with
some elders and a spokesman, one Tertul'lus. They laid before the
governor their case against Paul;
2: and when he was called, Tertul'lus began to accuse him,
saying: "Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your
provision, most excellent Felix, reforms are introduced on behalf of
this nation,
3: in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude.
4: But, to detain you no further, I beg you in your kindness to
hear us briefly.
5: For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, an agitator
among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of
the Nazarenes.
6: He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him.
8: By examining him yourself you will be able to learn from him
about everything of which we accuse him."
9: The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that all this
was so.
10: And when the governor had motioned to him to speak, Paul
replied: "Realizing that for many years you have been judge over
this nation, I cheerfully make my defense.
11: As you may ascertain, it is not more than twelve days since I
went up to worship at Jerusalem;
12: and they did not find me disputing with any one or stirring
up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues, or in the city.
13: Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against
me.
14: But this I admit to you, that according to the Way, which
they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything
laid down by the law or written in the prophets,
15: having a hope in God which these themselves accept, that
there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.
16: So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward God
and toward men.
17: Now after some years I came to bring to my nation alms and
offerings.
18: As I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple,
without any crowd or tumult. But some Jews from Asia --
19: they ought to be here before you and to make an accusation,
if they have anything against me.
20: Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they
found when I stood before the council,
21: except this one thing which I cried out while standing among
them, `With respect to the resurrection of the dead I am on trial before
you this day.'"
22: But Felix, having a rather accurate knowledge of the Way, put
them off, saying, "When Lys'ias the tribune comes down, I will
decide your case."
23: Then he gave orders to the centurion that he should be kept
in custody but should have some liberty, and that none of his friends
should be prevented from attending to his needs.
24: After some days Felix came with his wife Drusil'la, who was a
Jewess; and he sent for Paul and heard him speak upon faith in Christ
Jesus.
25: And as he argued about justice and self-control and future
judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, "Go away for the present;
when I have an opportunity I will summon you."
26: At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by
Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him.
27: But when two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by
Porcius Festus; and desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in
prison.
Acts, chapter 25
1: Now when Festus had come into his province, after three days
he went up to Jerusalem from Caesare'a.
2: And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews
informed him against Paul; and they urged him,
3: asking as a favor to have the man sent to Jerusalem, planning
an ambush to kill him on the way.
4: Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesare'a, and that
he himself intended to go there shortly.
5: "So," said he, "let the men of authority among
you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let
them accuse him."
6: When he had stayed among them not more than eight or ten days,
he went down to Caesare'a; and the next day he took his seat on the
tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought.
7: And when he had come, the Jews who had gone down from
Jerusalem stood about him, bringing against him many serious charges
which they could not prove.
8: Paul said in his defense, "Neither against the law of the
Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I offended at
all."
9: But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul,
"Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem, and there be tried on these
charges before me?"
10: But Paul said, "I am standing before Caesar's tribunal,
where I ought to be tried; to the Jews I have done no wrong, as you know
very well.
11: If then I am a wrongdoer, and have committed anything for
which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death; but if there is
nothing in their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I
appeal to Caesar."
12: Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council,
answered, "You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you shall
go."
13: Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Berni'ce
arrived at Caesare'a to welcome Festus.
14: And as they stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul's case
before the king, saying, "There is a man left prisoner by Felix;
15: and when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders
of the Jews gave information about him, asking for sentence against him.
16: I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to
give up any one before the accused met the accusers face to face, and
had opportunity to make his defense concerning the charge laid against
him.
17: When therefore they came together here, I made no delay, but
on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be
brought in.
18: When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge in his
case of such evils as I supposed;
19: but they had certain points of dispute with him about their
own superstition and about one Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul
asserted to be alive.
20: Being at a loss how to investigate these questions, I asked
whether he wished to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding them.
21: But when Paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the
decision of the emperor, I commanded him to be held until I could send
him to Caesar."
22: And Agrippa said to Festus, "I should like to hear the
man myself." "Tomorrow," said he, "you shall hear
him."
23: So on the morrow Agrippa and Berni'ce came with great pomp,
and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the
prominent men of the city. Then by command of Festus Paul was brought
in.
24: And Festus said, "King Agrippa and all who are present
with us, you see this man about whom the whole Jewish people petitioned
me, both at Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought not to live any
longer.
25: But I found that he had done nothing deserving death; and as
he himself appealed to the emperor, I decided to send him.
26: But I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him.
Therefore I have brought him before you, and, especially before you,
King Agrippa, that, after we have examined him, I may have something to
write.
27: For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not
to indicate the charges against him."
Acts, chapter 26
1: Agrippa said to Paul, "You have permission to speak for
yourself." Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense:
2: "I think myself fortunate that it is before you, King
Agrippa, I am to make my defense today against all the accusations of
the Jews,
3: because you are especially familiar with all customs and
controversies of the Jews; therefore I beg you to listen to me
patiently.
4: "My manner of life from my youth, spent from the
beginning among my own nation and at Jerusalem, is known by all the
Jews.
5: They have known for a long time, if they are willing to
testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I have
lived as a Pharisee.
6: And now I stand here on trial for hope in the promise made by
God to our fathers,
7: to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly
worship night and day. And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O king!
8: Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the
dead?
9: "I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in
opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
10: And I did so in Jerusalem; I not only shut up many of the
saints in prison, by authority from the chief priests, but when they
were put to death I cast my vote against them.
11: And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to
make them blaspheme; and in raging fury against them, I persecuted them
even to foreign cities.
12: "Thus I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and
commission of the chief priests.
13: At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven,
brighter than the sun, shining round me and those who journeyed with me.
14: And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice
saying to me in the Hebrew language, `Saul, Saul, why do you persecute
Me? It hurts you to kick against the goads.'
15: And I said, `Who art Thou, Lord?' And the Lord said, `I am
Jesus whom you are persecuting.
16: But rise and stand upon your feet; for I have appeared to you
for this purpose, to appoint you to serve and bear witness to the things
in which you have seen Me and to those in which I will appear to you,
17: delivering you from the people and from the Gentiles -- to
whom I send you
18: to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light
and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of
sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'
19: "Wherefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the
heavenly vision,
20: but declared first to those at Damascus, then at Jerusalem
and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that
they should repent and turn to God and perform deeds worthy of their
repentance.
21: For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to
kill me.
22: To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I
stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what
the prophets and Moses said would come to pass:
23: that the Christ must suffer, and that, by being the first to
rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to the people and to
the Gentiles."
24: And as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud
voice, "Paul, you are mad; your great learning is turning you
mad."
25: But Paul said, "I am not mad, most excellent Festus, but
I am speaking the sober truth.
26: For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak
freely; for I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his
notice, for this was not done in a corner.
27: King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you
believe."
28: And Agrippa said to Paul, "In a short time you think to
make me a Christian!"
29: And Paul said, "Whether short or long, I would to God
that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as
I am -- except for these chains."
30: Then the king rose, and the governor and Berni'ce and those
who were sitting with them;
31: and when they had withdrawn, they said to one another,
"This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment."
32: And Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been
set free if he had not appealed to Caesar."
Acts, chapter 27
1: And when it was decided that we should sail for Italy, they
delivered Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan
Cohort, named Julius.
2: And embarking in a ship of Adramyt'tium, which was about to
sail to the ports along the coast of Asia, we put to sea, accompanied by
Aristar'chus, a Macedo'nian from Thessaloni'ca.
3: The next day we put in at Sidon; and Julius treated Paul
kindly, and gave him leave to go to his friends and be cared for.
4: And putting to sea from there we sailed under the lee of
Cyprus, because the winds were against us.
5: And when we had sailed across the sea which is off Cili'cia
and Pamphyl'ia, we came to Myra in Ly'cia.
6: There the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing for
Italy, and put us on board.
7: We sailed slowly for a number of days, and arrived with
difficulty off Cni'dus, and as the wind did not allow us to go on, we
sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmo'ne.
8: Coasting along it with difficulty, we came to a place called
Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lase'a.
9: As much time had been lost, and the voyage was already
dangerous because the fast had already gone by, Paul advised them,
10: saying, "Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with
injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of
our lives."
11: But the centurion paid more attention to the captain and to
the owner of the ship than to what Paul said.
12: And because the harbor was not suitable to winter in, the
majority advised to put to sea from there, on the chance that somehow
they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, looking northeast and
southeast, and winter there.
13: And when the south wind blew gently, supposing that they had
obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete,
close inshore.
14: But soon a tempestuous wind, called the northeaster, struck
down from the land;
15: and when the ship was caught and could not face the wind, we
gave way to it and were driven.
16: And running under the lee of a small island called Cauda, we
managed with difficulty to secure the boat;
17: after hoisting it up, they took measures to under gird the
ship; then, fearing that they should run on the Syr'tis, they lowered
the gear, and so were driven.
18: As we were violently storm-tossed, they began next day to
throw the cargo overboard;
19: and the third day they cast out with their own hands the
tackle of the ship.
20: And when neither sun nor stars appeared for many a day, and
no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last
abandoned.
21: As they had been long without food, Paul then came forward
among them and said, "Men, you should have listened to me, and
should not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss.
22: I now bid you take heart; for there will be no loss of life
among you, but only of the ship.
23: For this very night there stood by me an angel of the God to
whom I belong and whom I worship,
24: and he said, `Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before
Caesar; and lo, God has granted you all those who sail with you.'
25: So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be
exactly as I have been told.
26: But we shall have to run on some island."
27: When the fourteenth night had come, as we were drifting
across the sea of A'dria, about midnight the sailors suspected that they
were nearing land.
28: So they sounded and found twenty fathoms; a little farther on
they sounded again and found fifteen fathoms.
29: And fearing that we might run on the rocks, they let out four
anchors from the stern, and prayed for day to come.
30: And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, and
had lowered the boat into the sea, under pretense of laying out anchors
from the bow,
31: Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless
these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved."
32: Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat, and let it
go.
33: As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some
food, saying, "Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued
in suspense and without food, having taken nothing.
34: Therefore I urge you to take some food; it will give you
strength, since not a hair is to perish from the head of any of
you."
35: And when he had said this, he took bread, and giving thanks
to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat.
36: Then they all were encouraged and ate some food themselves.
37: (We were in all two hundred and seventy-six persons in the
ship.)
38: And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship,
throwing out the wheat into the sea.
39: Now when it was day, they did not recognize the land, but
they noticed a bay with a beach, on which they planned if possible to
bring the ship ashore.
40: So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea, at the
same time loosening the ropes that tied the rudders; then hoisting the
foresail to the wind they made for the beach.
41: But striking a shoal they ran the vessel aground; the bow
stuck and remained immovable, and the stern was broken up by the surf.
42: The soldiers' plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any should
swim away and escape;
43: but the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from
carrying out their purpose. He ordered those who could swim to throw
themselves overboard first and make for the land,
44: and the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship. And so it
was that all escaped to land.
Acts, chapter 28
1: After we had escaped, we then learned that the island was
called Malta.
2: And the natives showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a
fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold.
3: Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire,
when a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand.
4: When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they
said to one another, "No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he
has escaped from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live."
5: He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered
no harm.
6: They waited, expecting him to swell up or suddenly fall down
dead; but when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to
him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.
7: Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to
the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us and
entertained us hospitably for three days.
8: It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and
dysentery; and Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him
healed him.
9: And when this had taken place, the rest of the people on the
island who had diseases also came and were cured.
10: They presented many gifts to us; and when we sailed, they put
on board whatever we needed.
11: After three months we set sail in a ship, which had wintered
in the island, a ship of Alexandria, with the Twin Brothers as
figurehead.
12: Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there for three days.
13: And from there we made a circuit and arrived at Rhe'gium; and
after one day a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to
Pute'oli.
14: There we found brethren, and were invited to stay with them
for seven days. And so we came to Rome.
15: And the brethren there, when they heard of us, came as far as
the Forum of Ap'pius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them Paul
thanked God and took courage.
16: And when we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by
himself, with the soldier that guarded him.
17: After three days he called together the local leaders of the
Jews; and when they had gathered, he said to them, "Brethren,
though I had done nothing against the people or the customs of our
fathers, yet I was delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of
the Romans.
18: When they had examined me, they wished to set me at liberty,
because there was no reason for the death penalty in my case.
19: But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to
Caesar -- though I had no charge to bring against my nation.
20: For this reason therefore I have asked to see you and speak
with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with
this chain."
21: And they said to him, "We have received no letters from
Judea about you, and none of the brethren coming here has reported or
spoken any evil about you.
22: But we desire to hear from you what your views are; for with
regard to this sect we know that everywhere it is spoken against."
23: When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at
his lodging in great numbers. And he expounded the matter to them from
morning till evening, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to
convince them about Jesus both from the law of Moses and from the
prophets.
24: And some were convinced by what he said, while others
disbelieved.
25: So, as they disagreed among themselves, they departed, after
Paul had made one statement: "The Holy Spirit was right in saying
to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet:
26: `Go to this people, and say, You shall indeed hear but never
understand, and you shall indeed see but never perceive.
27: For this people's heart has grown dull, and their ears are
heavy of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should
perceive with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with
their heart, and turn for me to heal them.'
28: Let it be known to you then that this salvation of God has
been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen."
30: And he lived there two whole years at his own expense, and
welcomed all who came to him,
31: preaching the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord
Jesus Christ quite openly and unhindered.
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