RSV 062 Acts Act 1: 1 In the first book, O The-oph'ilus, I have dealt Act 1: 2 with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until Act 1: 2 the day when he was taken up, after he had given Act 1: 2 commandment through the Holy Spirit to the Act 1: 3 apostles whom he had chosen. To them he presented Act 1: 3 himself alive after his passion by many proofs, Act 1: 3 appearing to them during forty days, and speaking Act 1: 4 of the kingdom of God. And while staying with them Act 1: 4 he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but Act 1: 4 to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he Act 1: 5 said, "you heard from me, for John baptized with Act 1: 5 water, but before many days you shall be baptized Act 1: 6 with the Holy Spirit." Act 1: 6 So when they had come together, they asked Act 1: 6 him, "Lord, will you at this time restore the Act 1: 7 kingdom to Israel?" He said to them, "It is not Act 1: 7 for you to know times or seasons which the Father Act 1: 8 has fixed by his own authority. But you shall Act 1: 8 receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon Act 1: 8 you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem Act 1: 8 and in all Judea and Sama'ria and to the end of Act 1: 9 the earth." And when he had said this, as they Act 1: 9 were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud Act 1:10 took him out of their sight. And while they were Act 1:10 gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men Act 1:11 stood by them in white robes, and said, "Men of Act 1:11 Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? Act 1:11 This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, Act 1:11 will come in the same way as you saw him go into Act 1:12 heaven." Act 1:12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount Act 1:12 called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath Act 1:13 day's journey away; and when they had entered, Act 1:13 they went up to the upper room, where they were Act 1:13 staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Act 1:13 Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James Act 1:13 the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas Act 1:14 the son of James. All these with one accord Act 1:14 devoted themselves to prayer, together with the Act 1:14 women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his Act 1:15 brothers. Act 1:15 In those days Peter stood up among the Act 1:15 brethren (the company of persons was in all about Act 1:16 a hundred and twenty), and said, "Brethren, the Act 1:16 scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Act 1:16 Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David, Act 1:16 concerning Judas who was guide to those who Act 1:17 arrested Jesus. For he was numbered among us, and Act 1:18 was allotted his share in this ministry. (Now this Act 1:18 man bought a field with the reward of his Act 1:18 wickedness; and falling headlong he burst open in Act 1:19 the middle and all his bowels gushed out. And it Act 1:19 became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Act 1:19 so that the field was called in their language Act 1:20 Akel'dama, that is, Field of Blood.) For it is Act 1:20 written in the book of Psalms, Act 1:20 `Let his habitation become desolate, Act 1:20 and let there be no one to live in it'; Act 1:20 and Act 1:20 `His office let another take.' Act 1:21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during Act 1:21 all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out Act 1:22 among us, beginning from the baptism of John until Act 1:22 the day when he was taken up from us -- one of Act 1:22 these men must become with us a witness to his Act 1:23 resurrection." And they put forward two, Joseph Act 1:23 called Barsab'bas, who was surnamed Justus, and Act 1:24 Matthi'as. And they prayed and said, "Lord, who Act 1:24 knowest the hearts of all men, show which one of Act 1:25 these two thou hast chosen to take the place in Act 1:25 this ministry and apostleship from which Judas Act 1:26 turned aside, to go to his own place." And they Act 1:26 cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthi'as; Act 2: 1 and he was enrolled with the eleven apostles. Act 2: 1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were Act 2: 2 all together in one place. And suddenly a sound Act 2: 2 came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, Act 2: 2 and it filled all the house where they were Act 2: 3 sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of Act 2: 3 fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. Act 2: 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and Act 2: 4 began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit Act 2: 5 gave them utterance. Act 2: 5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, Act 2: 6 devout men from every nation under heaven. And at Act 2: 6 this sound the multitude came together, and they Act 2: 6 were bewildered, because each one heard them Act 2: 7 speaking in his own language. And they were amazed Act 2: 7 and wondered, saying, "Are not all these who are Act 2: 8 speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, Act 2: 9 each of us in his own native language? Par'thians Act 2: 9 and Medes and E'lamites and residents of Act 2: 9 Mesopota'mia, Judea and Cappado'cia, Pontus and Act 2:10 Asia, Phryg'ia and Pamphyl'ia, Egypt and the parts Act 2:10 of Libya belonging to Cyre'ne, and visitors from Act 2:11 Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Act 2:11 Arabians, we hear them telling in our own tongues Act 2:12 the mighty works of God." And all were amazed and Act 2:12 perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this Act 2:13 mean?" But others mocking said, "They are filled Act 2:14 with new wine." Act 2:14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up Act 2:14 his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and Act 2:14 all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to Act 2:15 you, and give ear to my words. For these men are Act 2:15 not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the Act 2:16 third hour of the day; but this is what was spoken Act 2:17 by the prophet Joel: Act 2:17 `And in the last days it shall be, God declares, Act 2:17 that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, Act 2:17 and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Act 2:17 and your young men shall see visions, Act 2:17 and your old men shall dream dreams; Act 2:18 yea, and on my menservants and my maidservants in those days Act 2:18 I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. Act 2:19 And I will show wonders in the heaven above Act 2:19 and signs on the earth beneath, Act 2:19 blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; Act 2:20 the sun shall be turned into darkness Act 2:20 and the moon into blood, Act 2:20 before the day of the Lord comes, Act 2:20 the great and manifest day. Act 2:21 And it shall be that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall Act 2:21 be saved.' Act 2:22 "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Act 2:22 Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty Act 2:22 works and wonders and signs which God did through Act 2:23 him in your midst, as you yourselves know -- this Act 2:23 Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan Act 2:23 and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed Act 2:24 by the hands of lawless men. But God raised him Act 2:24 up, having loosed the pangs of death, because it Act 2:25 was not possible for him to be held by it. For Act 2:25 David says concerning him, Act 2:25 `I saw the Lord always before me, Act 2:25 for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; Act 2:26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; Act 2:26 moreover my flesh will dwell in hope. Act 2:27 For thou wilt not abandon my soul to Hades, Act 2:27 nor let thy Holy One see corruption. Act 2:28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; Act 2:28 thou wilt make me full of gladness with thy presence.' Act 2:29 "Brethren, I may say to you confidently of the Act 2:29 patriarch David that he both died and was buried, Act 2:30 and his tomb is with us to this day. Being Act 2:30 therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had Act 2:30 sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of Act 2:31 his descendants upon his throne, he foresaw and Act 2:31 spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he Act 2:31 was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see Act 2:32 corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that Act 2:33 we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at Act 2:33 the right hand of God, and having received from Act 2:33 the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has Act 2:34 poured out this which you see and hear. For David Act 2:34 did not ascend into the heavens; but he himself Act 2:34 says, Act 2:34 `The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, Act 2:35 till I make thy enemies a stool for thy feet.' Act 2:36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know Act 2:36 assuredly that God has made him both Lord and Act 2:37 Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified." Act 2:37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the Act 2:37 heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the Act 2:38 apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?" And Peter Act 2:38 said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one Act 2:38 of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the Act 2:38 forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive Act 2:39 the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to Act 2:39 you and to your children and to all that are far Act 2:39 off, every one whom the Lord our God calls to Act 2:40 him." And he testified with many other words and Act 2:40 exhorted them, saying, "Save yourselves from this Act 2:41 crooked generation." So those who received his Act 2:41 word were baptized, and there were added that day Act 2:42 about three thousand souls. And they devoted Act 2:42 themselves to the apostles' teaching and Act 2:42 fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the Act 2:43 prayers. Act 2:43 And fear came upon every soul; and many Act 2:44 wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Act 2:44 And all who believed were together and had all Act 2:45 things in common; and they sold their possessions Act 2:45 and goods and distributed them to all, as any had Act 2:46 need. And day by day, attending the temple Act 2:46 together and breaking bread in their homes, they Act 2:47 partook of food with glad and generous hearts, Act 2:47 praising God and having favor with all the people. Act 2:47 And the Lord added to their number day by day Act 3: 1 those who were being saved. Act 3: 1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple Act 3: 2 at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man Act 3: 2 lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid Act 3: 2 daily at that gate of the temple which is called Act 3: 2 Beautiful to ask alms of those who entered the Act 3: 3 temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the Act 3: 4 temple, he asked for alms. And Peter directed his Act 3: 5 gaze at him, with John, and said, "Look at us." Act 3: 5 And he fixed his attention upon them, expecting to Act 3: 6 receive something from them. But Peter said, "I Act 3: 6 have no silver and gold, but I give you what I Act 3: 6 have; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Act 3: 7 walk." And he took him by the right hand and Act 3: 7 raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles Act 3: 8 were made strong. And leaping up he stood and Act 3: 8 walked and entered the temple with them, walking Act 3: 9 and leaping and praising God. And all the people Act 3:10 saw him walking and praising God, and recognized Act 3:10 him as the one who sat for alms at the Beautiful Act 3:10 Gate of the temple; and they were filled with Act 3:11 wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. Act 3:11 While he clung to Peter and John, all the Act 3:11 people ran together to them in the portico called Act 3:12 Solomon's, astounded. And when Peter saw it he Act 3:12 addressed the people, "Men of Israel, why do you Act 3:12 wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as Act 3:12 though by our own power or piety we had made him Act 3:13 walk? The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Act 3:13 Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his Act 3:13 servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in Act 3:13 the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to Act 3:14 release him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous Act 3:14 One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to Act 3:15 you, and killed the Author of life, whom God Act 3:16 raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. Act 3:16 And his name, by faith in his name, has made this Act 3:16 man strong whom you see and know; and the faith Act 3:16 which is through Jesus has given the man this Act 3:17 perfect health in the presence of you all. Act 3:17 "And now, brethren, I know that you acted in Act 3:18 ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God Act 3:18 foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that Act 3:19 his Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled. Act 3:19 Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins Act 3:19 may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may Act 3:20 come from the presence of the Lord, and that he Act 3:21 may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom Act 3:21 heaven must receive until the time for Act 3:21 establishing all that God spoke by the mouth of Act 3:22 his holy prophets from of old. Moses said, `The Act 3:22 Lord God will raise up for you a prophet from your Act 3:22 brethren as he raised me up. You shall listen to Act 3:23 him in whatever he tells you. And it shall be that Act 3:23 every soul that does not listen to that prophet Act 3:24 shall be destroyed from the people.' And all the Act 3:24 prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those Act 3:25 who came afterwards, also proclaimed these days. Act 3:25 You are the sons of the prophets and of the Act 3:25 covenant which God gave to your fathers, saying to Act 3:25 Abraham, `And in your posterity shall all the Act 3:26 families of the earth be blessed.' God, having Act 3:26 raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to Act 3:26 bless you in turning every one of you from your Act 4: 1 wickedness." Act 4: 1 And as they were speaking to the people, the Act 4: 1 priests and the captain of the temple and the Act 4: 2 Sad'ducees came upon them, annoyed because they Act 4: 2 were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus Act 4: 3 the resurrection from the dead. And they arrested Act 4: 3 them and put them in custody until the morrow, for Act 4: 4 it was already evening. But many of those who Act 4: 4 heard the word believed; and the number of the men Act 4: 5 came to about five thousand. Act 4: 5 On the morrow their rulers and elders and Act 4: 6 scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem, with Act 4: 6 Annas the high priest and Ca'iaphas and John and Act 4: 6 Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly Act 4: 7 family. And when they had set them in the midst, Act 4: 7 they inquired, "By what power or by what name did Act 4: 8 you do this?" Then Peter, filled with the Holy Act 4: 8 Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and Act 4: 9 elders, if we are being examined today concerning Act 4: 9 a good deed done to a cripple, by what means this Act 4:10 man has been healed, be it known to you all, and Act 4:10 to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Act 4:10 Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom Act 4:10 God raised from the dead, by him this man is Act 4:11 standing before you well. This is the stone which Act 4:11 was rejected by you builders, but which has become Act 4:12 the head of the corner. And there is salvation in Act 4:12 no one else, for there is no other name under Act 4:12 heaven given among men by which we must be saved." Act 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and Act 4:13 John, and perceived that they were uneducated, Act 4:13 common men, they wondered; and they recognized Act 4:14 that they had been with Jesus. But seeing the man Act 4:14 that had been healed standing beside them, they Act 4:15 had nothing to say in opposition. But when they Act 4:15 had commanded them to go aside out of the council, Act 4:16 they conferred with one another, saying, "What Act 4:16 shall we do with these men? For that a notable Act 4:16 sign has been performed through them is manifest Act 4:16 to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot Act 4:17 deny it. But in order that it may spread no Act 4:17 further among the people, let us warn them to Act 4:18 speak no more to any one in this name." So they Act 4:18 called them and charged them not to speak or teach Act 4:19 at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John Act 4:19 answered them, "Whether it is right in the sight Act 4:19 of God to listen to you rather than to God, you Act 4:20 must judge; for we cannot but speak of what we Act 4:21 have seen and heard." And when they had further Act 4:21 threatened them, they let them go, finding no way Act 4:21 to punish them, because of the people; for all men Act 4:22 praised God for what had happened. For the man on Act 4:22 whom this sign of healing was performed was more Act 4:23 than forty years old. Act 4:23 When they were released they went to their Act 4:23 friends and reported what the chief priests and Act 4:24 the elders had said to them. And when they heard Act 4:24 it, they lifted their voices together to God and Act 4:24 said, "Sovereign Lord, who didst make the heaven Act 4:25 and the earth and the sea and everything in them, Act 4:25 who by the mouth of our father David, thy servant, Act 4:25 didst say by the Holy Spirit, Act 4:25 `Why did the Gentiles rage, Act 4:25 and the peoples imagine vain things? Act 4:26 The kings of the earth set themselves in array, Act 4:26 and the rulers were gathered together, Act 4:26 against the Lord and against his Anointed' -- Act 4:27 for truly in this city there were gathered Act 4:27 together against thy holy servant Jesus, whom thou Act 4:27 didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with Act 4:28 the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do Act 4:28 whatever thy hand and thy plan had predestined to Act 4:29 take place. And now, Lord, look upon their Act 4:29 threats, and grant to thy servants to speak thy Act 4:30 word with all boldness, while thou stretchest out Act 4:30 thy hand to heal, and signs and wonders are Act 4:30 performed through the name of thy holy servant Act 4:31 Jesus." And when they had prayed, the place in Act 4:31 which they were gathered together was shaken; and Act 4:31 they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and Act 4:32 spoke the word of God with boldness. Act 4:32 Now the company of those who believed were of Act 4:32 one heart and soul, and no one said that any of Act 4:32 the things which he possessed was his own, but Act 4:33 they had everything in common. And with great Act 4:33 power the apostles gave their testimony to the Act 4:33 resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace Act 4:34 was upon them all. There was not a needy person Act 4:34 among them, for as many as were possessors of Act 4:34 lands or houses sold them, and brought the Act 4:35 proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the Act 4:35 apostles' feet; and distribution was made to each Act 4:36 as any had need. Thus Joseph who was surnamed by Act 4:36 the apostles Barnabas (which means, Son of Act 4:37 encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold Act 4:37 a field which belonged to him, and brought the Act 5: 1 money and laid it at the apostles' feet. Act 5: 1 But a man named Anani'as with his wife Act 5: 2 Sapphi'ra sold a piece of property, and with his Act 5: 2 wife's knowledge he kept back some of the Act 5: 2 proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at Act 5: 3 the apostles' feet. But Peter said, "Anani'as, why Act 5: 3 has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Act 5: 3 Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of Act 5: 4 the land? While it remained unsold, did it not Act 5: 4 remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not Act 5: 4 at your disposal? How is it that you have Act 5: 4 contrived this deed in your heart? You have not Act 5: 5 lied to men but to God." When Anani'as heard these Act 5: 5 words, he fell down and died. And great fear came Act 5: 6 upon all who heard of it. The young men rose and Act 5: 6 wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. Act 5: 7 After an interval of about three hours his Act 5: 8 wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Act 5: 8 Peter said to her, "Tell me whether you sold the Act 5: 8 land for so much." And she said, "Yes, for so Act 5: 9 much." But Peter said to her, "How is it that you Act 5: 9 have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Act 5: 9 Lord? Hark, the feet of those that have buried Act 5: 9 your husband are at the door, and they will carry Act 5:10 you out." Immediately she fell down at his feet Act 5:10 and died. When the young men came in they found Act 5:10 her dead, and they carried her out and buried her Act 5:11 beside her husband. And great fear came upon the Act 5:11 whole church, and upon all who heard of these Act 5:12 things. Act 5:12 Now many signs and wonders were done among the Act 5:12 people by the hands of the apostles. And they were Act 5:13 all together in Solomon's Portico. None of the Act 5:13 rest dared join them, but the people held them in Act 5:14 high honor. And more than ever believers were Act 5:14 added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and Act 5:15 women, so that they even carried out the sick into Act 5:15 the streets, and laid them on beds and pallets, Act 5:15 that as Peter came by at least his shadow might Act 5:16 fall on some of them. The people also gathered Act 5:16 from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick Act 5:16 and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they Act 5:17 were all healed. Act 5:17 But the high priest rose up and all who were Act 5:17 with him, that is, the party of the Sad'ducees, Act 5:18 and filled with jealousy they arrested the Act 5:19 apostles and put them in the common prison. But at Act 5:19 night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors Act 5:20 and brought them out and said, "Go and stand in Act 5:20 the temple and speak to the people all the words Act 5:21 of this Life." And when they heard this, they Act 5:21 entered the temple at daybreak and taught. Act 5:21 Now the high priest came and those who were Act 5:21 with him and called together the council and all Act 5:21 the senate of Israel, and sent to the prison to Act 5:22 have them brought. But when the officers came, Act 5:22 they did not find them in the prison, and they Act 5:23 returned and reported, "We found the prison Act 5:23 securely locked and the sentries standing at the Act 5:23 doors, but when we opened it we found no one Act 5:24 inside." Now when the captain of the temple and Act 5:24 the chief priests heard these words, they were Act 5:24 much perplexed about them, wondering what this Act 5:25 would come to. And some one came and told them, Act 5:25 "The men whom you put in prison are standing in Act 5:26 the temple and teaching the people." Then the Act 5:26 captain with the officers went and brought them, Act 5:26 but without violence, for they were afraid of Act 5:27 being stoned by the people. Act 5:27 And when they had brought them, they set them Act 5:27 before the council. And the high priest questioned Act 5:28 them, saying, "We strictly charged you not to Act 5:28 teach in this name, yet here you have filled Act 5:28 Jerusalem with your teaching and you intend to Act 5:29 bring this man's blood upon us." But Peter and the Act 5:29 apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than Act 5:30 men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus whom you Act 5:31 killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him Act 5:31 at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give Act 5:32 repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And Act 5:32 we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Act 5:32 Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Act 5:33 him." Act 5:33 When they heard this they were enraged and Act 5:34 wanted to kill them. But a Pharisee in the council Act 5:34 named Gama'li-el, a teacher of the law, held in Act 5:34 honor by all the people, stood up and ordered the Act 5:35 men to be put outside for a while. And he said to Act 5:35 them, "Men of Israel, take care what you do with Act 5:36 these men. For before these days Theu'das arose, Act 5:36 giving himself out to be somebody, and a number of Act 5:36 men, about four hundred, joined him; but he was Act 5:36 slain and all who followed him were dispersed and Act 5:37 came to nothing. After him Judas the Galilean Act 5:37 arose in the days of the census and drew away some Act 5:37 of the people after him; he also perished, and all Act 5:38 who followed him were scattered. So in the present Act 5:38 case I tell you, keep away from these men and let Act 5:38 them alone; for if this plan or this undertaking Act 5:39 is of men, it will fail; but if it is of God, you Act 5:39 will not be able to overthrow them. You might even Act 5:40 be found opposing God!" Act 5:40 So they took his advice, and when they had Act 5:40 called in the apostles, they beat them and charged Act 5:40 them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let Act 5:41 them go. Then they left the presence of the Act 5:41 council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy Act 5:42 to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day in Act 5:42 the temple and at home they did not cease teaching Act 6: 1 and preaching Jesus as the Christ. Act 6: 1 Now in these days when the disciples were Act 6: 1 increasing in number, the Hellenists murmured Act 6: 1 against the Hebrews because their widows were Act 6: 2 neglected in the daily distribution. And the Act 6: 2 twelve summoned the body of the disciples and Act 6: 2 said, "It is not right that we should give up Act 6: 3 preaching the word of God to serve tables. Act 6: 3 Therefore, brethren, pick out from among you seven Act 6: 3 men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of Act 6: 4 wisdom, whom we may appoint to this duty. But we Act 6: 4 will devote ourselves to prayer and to the Act 6: 5 ministry of the word." And what they said pleased Act 6: 5 the whole multitude, and they chose Stephen, a man Act 6: 5 full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Act 6: 5 and Proch'orus, and Nica'nor, and Ti'mon, and Act 6: 6 Par'menas, and Nicola'us, a proselyte of Antioch. Act 6: 6 These they set before the apostles, and they Act 6: 7 prayed and laid their hands upon them. Act 6: 7 And the word of God increased; and the number Act 6: 7 of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, Act 6: 7 and a great many of the priests were obedient to Act 6: 8 the faith. Act 6: 8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, did Act 6: 9 great wonders and signs among the people. Then Act 6: 9 some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Act 6: 9 Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Act 6: 9 Cyre'nians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those Act 6: 9 from Cili'cia and Asia, arose and disputed with Act 6:10 Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom Act 6:11 and the Spirit with which he spoke. Then they Act 6:11 secretly instigated men, who said, "We have heard Act 6:11 him speak blasphemous words against Moses and Act 6:12 God." And they stirred up the people and the Act 6:12 elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and Act 6:13 seized him and brought him before the council, and Act 6:13 set up false witnesses who said, "This man never Act 6:13 ceases to speak words against this holy place and Act 6:14 the law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus Act 6:14 of Nazareth will destroy this place, and will Act 6:15 change the customs which Moses delivered to us." Act 6:15 And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw Act 7: 1 that his face was like the face of an angel. Act 7: 2 And the high priest said, "Is this so?" And Act 7: 2 Stephen said: "Brethren and fathers, hear me. The Act 7: 2 God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when Act 7: 3 he was in Mesopota'mia, before he lived in Haran, Act 7: 3 and said to him, `Depart from your land and from Act 7: 3 your kindred and go into the land which I will Act 7: 4 show you.' Then he departed from the land of the Act 7: 4 Chalde'ans, and lived in Haran. And after his Act 7: 4 father died, God removed him from there into this Act 7: 5 land in which you are now living; yet he gave him Act 7: 5 no inheritance in it, not even a foot's length, Act 7: 5 but promised to give it to him in possession and Act 7: 5 to his posterity after him, though he had no Act 7: 6 child. And God spoke to this effect, that his Act 7: 6 posterity would be aliens in a land belonging to Act 7: 6 others, who would enslave them and ill-treat them Act 7: 7 four hundred years. `But I will judge the nation Act 7: 7 which they serve,' said God, `and after that they Act 7: 8 shall come out and worship me in this place.' And Act 7: 8 he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so Act 7: 8 Abraham became the father of Isaac, and Act 7: 8 circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac Act 7: 8 became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the Act 7: 9 twelve patriarchs. Act 7: 9 "And the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold Act 7:10 him into Egypt; but God was with him, and rescued Act 7:10 him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favor Act 7:10 and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made Act 7:10 him governor over Egypt and over all his Act 7:11 household. Now there came a famine throughout all Act 7:11 Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction, and our Act 7:12 fathers could find no food. But when Jacob heard Act 7:12 that there was grain in Egypt, he sent forth our Act 7:13 fathers the first time. And at the second visit Act 7:13 Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Act 7:14 Joseph's family became known to Pharaoh. And Act 7:14 Joseph sent and called to him Jacob his father and Act 7:15 all his kindred, seventy-five souls; and Jacob Act 7:15 went down into Egypt. And he died, himself and our Act 7:16 fathers, and they were carried back to Shechem and Act 7:16 laid in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a sum Act 7:17 of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem. Act 7:17 "But as the time of the promise drew near, Act 7:17 which God had granted to Abraham, the people grew Act 7:18 and multiplied in Egypt till there arose over Act 7:19 Egypt another king who had not known Joseph. He Act 7:19 dealt craftily with our race and forced our Act 7:19 fathers to expose their infants, that they might Act 7:20 not be kept alive. At this time Moses was born, Act 7:20 and was beautiful before God. And he was brought Act 7:21 up for three months in his father's house; and Act 7:21 when he was exposed, Pharaoh's daughter adopted Act 7:22 him and brought him up as her own son. And Moses Act 7:22 was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, Act 7:23 and he was mighty in his words and deeds. Act 7:23 "When he was forty years old, it came into his Act 7:24 heart to visit his brethren, the sons of Israel. Act 7:24 And seeing one of them being wronged, he defended Act 7:24 the oppressed man and avenged him by striking the Act 7:25 Egyptian. He supposed that his brethren understood Act 7:25 that God was giving them deliverance by his hand, Act 7:26 but they did not understand. And on the following Act 7:26 day he appeared to them as they were quarreling Act 7:26 and would have reconciled them, saying, `Men, you Act 7:27 are brethren, why do you wrong each other?' But Act 7:27 the man who was wronging his neighbor thrust him Act 7:27 aside, saying, `Who made you a ruler and a judge Act 7:28 over us? Do you want to kill me as you killed the Act 7:29 Egyptian yesterday?' At this retort Moses fled, Act 7:29 and became an exile in the land of Mid'ian, where Act 7:30 he became the father of two sons. Act 7:30 "Now when forty years had passed, an angel Act 7:30 appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, Act 7:31 in a flame of fire in a bush. When Moses saw it he Act 7:31 wondered at the sight; and as he drew near to Act 7:32 look, the voice of the Lord came, `I am the God of Act 7:32 your fathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and Act 7:32 of Jacob.' And Moses trembled and did not dare to Act 7:33 look. And the Lord said to him, `Take off the Act 7:33 shoes from your feet, for the place where you are Act 7:34 standing is holy ground. I have surely seen the Act 7:34 ill-treatment of my people that are in Egypt and Act 7:34 heard their groaning, and I have come down to Act 7:34 deliver them. And now come, I will send you to Act 7:35 Egypt.' Act 7:35 "This Moses whom they refused, saying, `Who Act 7:35 made you a ruler and a judge?' God sent as both Act 7:35 ruler and deliverer by the hand of the angel that Act 7:36 appeared to him in the bush. He led them out, Act 7:36 having performed wonders and signs in Egypt and at Act 7:36 the Red Sea, and in the wilderness for forty Act 7:37 years. This is the Moses who said to the Act 7:37 Israelites, `God will raise up for you a prophet Act 7:38 from your brethren as he raised me up.' This is he Act 7:38 who was in the congregation in the wilderness with Act 7:38 the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and Act 7:38 with our fathers; and he received living oracles Act 7:39 to give to us. Our fathers refused to obey him, Act 7:39 but thrust him aside, and in their hearts they Act 7:40 turned to Egypt, saying to Aaron, `Make for us Act 7:40 gods to go before us; as for this Moses who led us Act 7:40 out from the land of Egypt, we do not know what Act 7:41 has become of him.' And they made a calf in those Act 7:41 days, and offered a sacrifice to the idol and Act 7:42 rejoiced in the works of their hands. But God Act 7:42 turned and gave them over to worship the host of Act 7:42 heaven, as it is written in the book of the Act 7:42 prophets: Act 7:42 `Did you offer to me slain beasts and sacrifices, Act 7:42 forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? Act 7:43 And you took up the tent of Moloch, Act 7:43 and the star of the god Rephan, Act 7:43 the figures which you made to worship; Act 7:43 and I will remove you beyond Babylon.' Act 7:44 "Our fathers had the tent of witness in the Act 7:44 wilderness, even as he who spoke to Moses directed Act 7:44 him to make it, according to the pattern that he Act 7:45 had seen. Our fathers in turn brought it in with Act 7:45 Joshua when they dispossessed the nations which Act 7:45 God thrust out before our fathers. So it was until Act 7:46 the days of David, who found favor in the sight of Act 7:46 God and asked leave to find a habitation for the Act 7:47 God of Jacob. But it was Solomon who built a house Act 7:48 for him. Yet the Most High does not dwell in Act 7:49 houses made with hands; as the prophet says, Act 7:49 `Heaven is my throne, Act 7:49 and earth my footstool. Act 7:49 What house will you build for me, says the Lord, Act 7:49 or what is the place of my rest? Act 7:50 Did not my hand make all these things?' Act 7:51 "You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in Act 7:51 heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. Act 7:52 As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the Act 7:52 prophets did not your fathers persecute? And they Act 7:52 killed those who announced beforehand the coming Act 7:52 of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed Act 7:53 and murdered, you who received the law as Act 7:54 delivered by angels and did not keep it." Act 7:54 Now when they heard these things they were Act 7:55 enraged, and they ground their teeth against him. Act 7:55 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven Act 7:55 and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at Act 7:56 the right hand of God; and he said, "Behold, I see Act 7:56 the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at Act 7:57 the right hand of God." But they cried out with a Act 7:57 loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed Act 7:58 together upon him. Then they cast him out of the Act 7:58 city and stoned him; and the witnesses laid down Act 7:58 their garments at the feet of a young man named Act 7:59 Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, Act 7:60 "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." And he knelt down Act 7:60 and cried with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold Act 7:60 this sin against them." And when he had said this, Act 8: 1 he fell asleep. Act 8: 1 And Saul was consenting to his death. Act 8: 1 And on that day a great persecution arose Act 8: 1 against the church in Jerusalem; and they were all Act 8: 1 scattered throughout the region of Judea and Act 8: 2 Sama'ria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Act 8: 3 Stephen, and made great lamentation over him. But Act 8: 3 Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house Act 8: 3 after house, he dragged off men and women and Act 8: 4 committed them to prison. Act 8: 4 Now those who were scattered went about Act 8: 5 preaching the word. Philip went down to a city of Act 8: 6 Sama'ria, and proclaimed to them the Christ. And Act 8: 6 the multitudes with one accord gave heed to what Act 8: 6 was said by Philip, when they heard him and saw Act 8: 7 the signs which he did. For unclean spirits came Act 8: 7 out of many who were possessed, crying with a loud Act 8: 7 voice; and many who were paralyzed or lame were Act 8: 9 healed. So there was much joy in that city. Act 8: 9 But there was a man named Simon who had Act 8: 9 previously practiced magic in the city and amazed Act 8: 9 the nation of Sama'ria, saying that he himself was Act 8:10 somebody great. They all gave heed to him, from Act 8:10 the least to the greatest, saying, "This man is Act 8:11 that power of God which is called Great." And they Act 8:11 gave heed to him, because for a long time he had Act 8:12 amazed them with his magic. But when they believed Act 8:12 Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom Act 8:12 of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were Act 8:13 baptized, both men and women. Even Simon himself Act 8:13 believed, and after being baptized he continued Act 8:13 with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles Act 8:14 performed, he was amazed. Act 8:14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Act 8:14 Sama'ria had received the word of God, they sent Act 8:15 to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed Act 8:16 for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit; Act 8:16 for it had not yet fallen on any of them, but they Act 8:16 had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Act 8:17 Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they Act 8:18 received the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that Act 8:18 the Spirit was given through the laying on of the Act 8:19 apostles' hands, he offered them money, saying, Act 8:19 "Give me also this power, that any one on whom I Act 8:20 lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit." But Act 8:20 Peter said to him, "Your silver perish with you, Act 8:20 because you thought you could obtain the gift of Act 8:21 God with money! You have neither part nor lot in Act 8:21 this matter, for your heart is not right before Act 8:22 God. Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, Act 8:22 and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent Act 8:23 of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that Act 8:23 you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond Act 8:24 of iniquity." And Simon answered, "Pray for me to Act 8:24 the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may Act 8:25 come upon me." Act 8:25 Now when they had testified and spoken the Act 8:25 word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, Act 8:25 preaching the gospel to many villages of the Act 8:26 Samaritans. Act 8:26 But an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Rise Act 8:26 and go toward the south to the road that goes down Act 8:27 from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is a desert road. Act 8:27 And he rose and went. And behold, an Ethiopian, a Act 8:27 eunuch, a minister of the Can'dace, queen of the Act 8:27 Ethiopians, in charge of all her treasure, had Act 8:28 come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning; Act 8:28 seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Act 8:29 Isaiah. And the Spirit said to Philip, "Go up and Act 8:30 join this chariot." So Philip ran to him, and Act 8:30 heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and asked, Act 8:31 "Do you understand what you are reading?" And he Act 8:31 said, "How can I, unless some one guides me?" And Act 8:32 he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Now Act 8:32 the passage of the scripture which he was reading Act 8:32 was this: Act 8:32 "As a sheep led to the slaughter Act 8:32 or a lamb before its shearer is dumb, Act 8:32 so he opens not his mouth. Act 8:33 In his humiliation justice was denied him. Act 8:33 Who can describe his generation? Act 8:33 For his life is taken up from the earth." Act 8:34 And the eunuch said to Philip, "About whom, pray, Act 8:34 does the prophet say this, about himself or about Act 8:35 some one else?" Then Philip opened his mouth, and Act 8:35 beginning with this scripture he told him the good Act 8:36 news of Jesus. And as they went along the road Act 8:36 they came to some water, and the eunuch said, Act 8:36 "See, here is water! What is to prevent my being Act 8:38 baptized?" And he commanded the chariot to stop, Act 8:38 and they both went down into the water, Philip and Act 8:39 the eunuch, and he baptized him. And when they Act 8:39 came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord Act 8:39 caught up Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, Act 8:40 and went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was Act 8:40 found at Azo'tus, and passing on he preached the Act 8:40 gospel to all the towns till he came to Caesare'a. Act 9: 1 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder Act 9: 1 against the disciples of the Lord, went to the Act 9: 2 high priest and asked him for letters to the Act 9: 2 synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any Act 9: 2 belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring Act 9: 3 them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he journeyed he Act 9: 3 approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from Act 9: 4 heaven flashed about him. And he fell to the Act 9: 4 ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Act 9: 5 Saul, why do you persecute me?" And he said, "Who Act 9: 5 are you, Lord?" And he said, "I am Jesus, whom you Act 9: 6 are persecuting; but rise and enter the city, and Act 9: 7 you will be told what you are to do." The men who Act 9: 7 were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing Act 9: 8 the voice but seeing no one. Saul arose from the Act 9: 8 ground; and when his eyes were opened, he could Act 9: 8 see nothing; so they led him by the hand and Act 9: 9 brought him into Damascus. And for three days he Act 9:10 was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. Act 9:10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Act 9:10 Anani'as. The Lord said to him in a vision, Act 9:11 "Anani'as." And he said, "Here I am, Lord." And Act 9:11 the Lord said to him, "Rise and go to the street Act 9:11 called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas Act 9:11 for a man of Tarsus named Saul; for behold, he is Act 9:12 praying, and he has seen a man named Anani'as come Act 9:12 in and lay his hands on him so that he might Act 9:13 regain his sight." But Anani'as answered, "Lord, I Act 9:13 have heard from many about this man, how much evil Act 9:14 he has done to thy saints at Jerusalem; and here Act 9:14 he has authority from the chief priests to bind Act 9:15 all who call upon thy name." But the Lord said to Act 9:15 him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to Act 9:15 carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and Act 9:16 the sons of Israel; for I will show him how much Act 9:17 he must suffer for the sake of my name." So Act 9:17 Anani'as departed and entered the house. And Act 9:17 laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, Act 9:17 the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by Act 9:17 which you came, has sent me that you may regain Act 9:18 your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Act 9:18 And immediately something like scales fell from Act 9:18 his eyes and he regained his sight. Then he rose Act 9:19 and was baptized, and took food and was Act 9:19 strengthened. Act 9:19 For several days he was with the disciples at Act 9:20 Damascus. And in the synagogues immediately he Act 9:21 proclaimed Jesus, saying, "He is the Son of God." Act 9:21 And all who heard him were amazed, and said, "Is Act 9:21 not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of Act 9:21 those who called on this name? And he has come Act 9:21 here for this purpose, to bring them bound before Act 9:22 the chief priests." But Saul increased all the Act 9:22 more in strength, and confounded the Jews who Act 9:22 lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Act 9:23 Christ. Act 9:23 When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to Act 9:24 kill him, but their plot became known to Saul. Act 9:24 They were watching the gates day and night, to Act 9:25 kill him; but his disciples took him by night and Act 9:25 let him down over the wall, lowering him in a Act 9:26 basket. Act 9:26 And when he had come to Jerusalem he attempted Act 9:26 to join the disciples; and they were all afraid of Act 9:26 him, for they did not believe that he was a Act 9:27 disciple. But Barnabas took him, and brought him Act 9:27 to the apostles, and declared to them how on the Act 9:27 road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and Act 9:27 how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name Act 9:28 of Jesus. So he went in and out among them at Act 9:29 Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Act 9:29 Lord. And he spoke and disputed against the Act 9:30 Hellenists; but they were seeking to kill him. And Act 9:30 when the brethren knew it, they brought him down Act 9:31 to Caesare'a, and sent him off to Tarsus. Act 9:31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee Act 9:31 and Sama'ria had peace and was built up; and Act 9:31 walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort Act 9:32 of the Holy Spirit it was multiplied. Act 9:32 Now as Peter went here and there among them Act 9:32 all, he came down also to the saints that lived at Act 9:33 Lydda. There he found a man named Aene'as, who had Act 9:34 been bedridden for eight years and was paralyzed. Act 9:34 And Peter said to him, "Aene'as, Jesus Christ Act 9:34 heals you; rise and make your bed." And Act 9:35 immediately he rose. And all the residents of Act 9:35 Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Act 9:36 Lord. Act 9:36 Now there was at Joppa a disciple named Act 9:36 Tabitha, which means Dorcas. She was full of good Act 9:37 works and acts of charity. In those days she fell Act 9:37 sick and died; and when they had washed her, they Act 9:38 laid her in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Act 9:38 Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was Act 9:38 there, sent two men to him entreating him, "Please Act 9:39 come to us without delay." So Peter rose and went Act 9:39 with them. And when he had come, they took him to Act 9:39 the upper room. All the widows stood beside him Act 9:39 weeping, and showing tunics and other garments Act 9:40 which Dorcas made while she was with them. But Act 9:40 Peter put them all outside and knelt down and Act 9:40 prayed; then turning to the body he said, Act 9:40 "Tabitha, rise." And she opened her eyes, and when Act 9:41 she saw Peter she sat up. And he gave her his hand Act 9:41 and lifted her up. Then calling the saints and Act 9:42 widows he presented her alive. And it became known Act 9:42 throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Act 9:43 Lord. And he stayed in Joppa for many days with Act 10: 1 one Simon, a tanner. Act 10: 1 At Caesare'a there was a man named Cornelius, Act 10: 1 a centurion of what was known as the Italian Act 10: 2 Cohort, a devout man who feared God with all his Act 10: 2 household, gave alms liberally to the people, and Act 10: 3 prayed constantly to God. About the ninth hour of Act 10: 3 the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God Act 10: 4 coming in and saying to him, "Cornelius." And he Act 10: 4 stared at him in terror, and said, "What is it, Act 10: 4 Lord?" And he said to him, "Your prayers and your Act 10: 5 alms have ascended as a memorial before God. And Act 10: 5 now send men to Joppa, and bring one Simon who is Act 10: 6 called Peter; he is lodging with Simon, a tanner, Act 10: 7 whose house is by the seaside." When the angel who Act 10: 7 spoke to him had departed, he called two of his Act 10: 7 servants and a devout soldier from among those Act 10: 8 that waited on him, and having related everything Act 10: 9 to them, he sent them to Joppa. Act 10: 9 The next day, as they were on their journey Act 10: 9 and coming near the city, Peter went up on the Act 10:10 housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. And he Act 10:10 became hungry and desired something to eat; but Act 10:10 while they were preparing it, he fell into a Act 10:11 trance and saw the heaven opened, and something Act 10:11 descending, like a great sheet, let down by four Act 10:12 corners upon the earth. In it were all kinds of Act 10:13 animals and reptiles and birds of the air. And Act 10:13 there came a voice to him, "Rise, Peter; kill and Act 10:14 eat." But Peter said, "No, Lord; for I have never Act 10:15 eaten anything that is common or unclean." And the Act 10:15 voice came to him again a second time, "What God Act 10:16 has cleansed, you must not call common." This Act 10:16 happened three times, and the thing was taken up Act 10:17 at once to heaven. Act 10:17 Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to Act 10:17 what the vision which he had seen might mean, Act 10:17 behold, the men that were sent by Cornelius, Act 10:17 having made inquiry for Simon's house, stood Act 10:18 before the gate and called out to ask whether Act 10:19 Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. And Act 10:19 while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit Act 10:19 said to him, "Behold, three men are looking for Act 10:20 you. Rise and go down, and accompany them without Act 10:21 hesitation; for I have sent them." And Peter went Act 10:21 down to the men and said, "I am the one you are Act 10:22 looking for; what is the reason for your coming?" Act 10:22 And they said, "Cornelius, a centurion, an upright Act 10:22 and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the Act 10:22 whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel Act 10:22 to send for you to come to his house, and to hear Act 10:23 what you have to say." So he called them in to be Act 10:23 his guests. Act 10:23 The next day he rose and went off with them, Act 10:23 and some of the brethren from Joppa accompanied Act 10:24 him. And on the following day they entered Act 10:24 Caesare'a. Cornelius was expecting them and had Act 10:25 called together his kinsmen and close friends. Act 10:25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell Act 10:26 down at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter Act 10:26 lifted him up, saying, "Stand up; I too am a man." Act 10:27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found Act 10:28 many persons gathered; and he said to them, "You Act 10:28 yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to Act 10:28 associate with or to visit any one of another Act 10:28 nation; but God has shown me that I should not Act 10:29 call any man common or unclean. So when I was sent Act 10:29 for, I came without objection. I ask then why you Act 10:30 sent for me." Act 10:30 And Cornelius said, "Four days ago, about this Act 10:30 hour, I was keeping the ninth hour of prayer in my Act 10:30 house; and behold, a man stood before me in bright Act 10:31 apparel, saying, `Cornelius, your prayer has been Act 10:31 heard and your alms have been remembered before Act 10:32 God. Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who Act 10:32 is called Peter; he is lodging in the house of Act 10:33 Simon, a tanner, by the seaside.' So I sent to you Act 10:33 at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Act 10:33 Now therefore we are all here present in the sight Act 10:33 of God, to hear all that you have been commanded Act 10:34 by the Lord." Act 10:34 And Peter opened his mouth and said: "Truly I Act 10:35 perceive that God shows no partiality, but in Act 10:35 every nation any one who fears him and does what Act 10:36 is right is acceptable to him. You know the word Act 10:36 which he sent to Israel, preaching good news of Act 10:37 peace by Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), the Act 10:37 word which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, Act 10:37 beginning from Galilee after the baptism which Act 10:38 John preached: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth Act 10:38 with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went Act 10:38 about doing good and healing all that were Act 10:39 oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. And Act 10:39 we are witnesses to all that he did both in the Act 10:39 country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him Act 10:40 to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised Act 10:41 him on the third day and made him manifest; not to Act 10:41 all the people but to us who were chosen by God as Act 10:41 witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he Act 10:42 rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach Act 10:42 to the people, and to testify that he is the one Act 10:42 ordained by God to be judge of the living and the Act 10:43 dead. To him all the prophets bear witness that Act 10:43 every one who believes in him receives forgiveness Act 10:44 of sins through his name." Act 10:44 While Peter was still saying this, the Holy Act 10:45 Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the Act 10:45 believers from among the circumcised who came with Act 10:45 Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Act 10:46 Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. Act 10:46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and Act 10:47 extolling God. Then Peter declared, "Can any one Act 10:47 forbid water for baptizing these people who have Act 10:48 received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" And he Act 10:48 commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Act 10:48 Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some Act 11: 1 days. Act 11: 1 Now the apostles and the brethren who were in Act 11: 1 Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received Act 11: 2 the word of God. So when Peter went up to Act 11: 3 Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, Act 11: 3 saying, "Why did you go to uncircumcised men and Act 11: 4 eat with them?" But Peter began and explained to Act 11: 5 them in order: "I was in the city of Joppa Act 11: 5 praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, something Act 11: 5 descending, like a great sheet, let down from Act 11: 6 heaven by four corners; and it came down to me. Act 11: 6 Looking at it closely I observed animals and Act 11: 7 beasts of prey and reptiles and birds of the air. Act 11: 7 And I heard a voice saying to me, `Rise, Peter; Act 11: 8 kill and eat.' But I said, `No, Lord; for nothing Act 11: 9 common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.' But Act 11: 9 the voice answered a second time from heaven, Act 11:10 `What God has cleansed you must not call common.' Act 11:10 This happened three times, and all was drawn up Act 11:11 again into heaven. At that very moment three men Act 11:11 arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me Act 11:12 from Caesare'a. And the Spirit told me to go with Act 11:12 them, making no distinction. These six brethren Act 11:12 also accompanied me, and we entered the man's Act 11:13 house. And he told us how he had seen the angel Act 11:13 standing in his house and saying, `Send to Joppa Act 11:14 and bring Simon called Peter; he will declare to Act 11:14 you a message by which you will be saved, you and Act 11:15 all your household.' As I began to speak, the Holy Act 11:15 Spirit fell on them just as on us at the Act 11:16 beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, Act 11:16 how he said, `John baptized with water, but you Act 11:17 shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' If then Act 11:17 God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us Act 11:17 when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was Act 11:18 I that I could withstand God?" When they heard Act 11:18 this they were silenced. And they glorified God, Act 11:18 saying, "Then to the Gentiles also God has granted Act 11:19 repentance unto life." Act 11:19 Now those who were scattered because of the Act 11:19 persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as Act 11:19 far as Phoeni'cia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking Act 11:20 the word to none except Jews. But there were some Act 11:20 of them, men of Cyprus and Cyre'ne, who on coming Act 11:20 to Antioch spoke to the Greeks also, preaching the Act 11:21 Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with Act 11:21 them, and a great number that believed turned to Act 11:22 the Lord. News of this came to the ears of the Act 11:22 church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Act 11:23 Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he Act 11:23 was glad; and he exhorted them all to remain Act 11:24 faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose; for Act 11:24 he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of Act 11:25 faith. And a large company was added to the Lord. Act 11:26 So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul; and Act 11:26 when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. Act 11:26 For a whole year they met with the church, and Act 11:26 taught a large company of people; and in Antioch Act 11:26 the disciples were for the first time called Act 11:27 Christians. Act 11:27 Now in these days prophets came down from Act 11:28 Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named Act 11:28 Ag'abus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that Act 11:28 there would be a great famine over all the world; Act 11:29 and this took place in the days of Claudius. And Act 11:29 the disciples determined, every one according to Act 11:29 his ability, to send relief to the brethren who Act 11:30 lived in Judea; and they did so, sending it to the Act 12: 1 elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul. Act 12: 1 About that time Herod the king laid violent Act 12: 2 hands upon some who belonged to the church. He Act 12: 3 killed James the brother of John with the sword; Act 12: 3 and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he Act 12: 3 proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during Act 12: 4 the days of Unleavened Bread. And when he had Act 12: 4 seized him, he put him in prison, and delivered Act 12: 4 him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, Act 12: 4 intending after the Passover to bring him out to Act 12: 5 the people. So Peter was kept in prison; but Act 12: 5 earnest prayer for him was made to God by the Act 12: 6 church. Act 12: 6 The very night when Herod was about to bring Act 12: 6 him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, Act 12: 6 bound with two chains, and sentries before the Act 12: 7 door were guarding the prison; and behold, an Act 12: 7 angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in Act 12: 7 the cell; and he struck Peter on the side and woke Act 12: 7 him, saying, "Get up quickly." And the chains fell Act 12: 8 off his hands. And the angel said to him, "Dress Act 12: 8 yourself and put on your sandals." And he did so. Act 12: 8 And he said to him, "Wrap your mantle around you Act 12: 9 and follow me." And he went out and followed him; Act 12: 9 he did not know that what was done by the angel Act 12:10 was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When Act 12:10 they had passed the first and the second guard, Act 12:10 they came to the iron gate leading into the city. Act 12:10 It opened to them of its own accord, and they went Act 12:10 out and passed on through one street; and Act 12:11 immediately the angel left him. And Peter came to Act 12:11 himself, and said, "Now I am sure that the Lord Act 12:11 has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Act 12:11 Herod and from all that the Jewish people were Act 12:12 expecting." Act 12:12 When he realized this, he went to the house of Act 12:12 Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Act 12:12 Mark, where many were gathered together and were Act 12:13 praying. And when he knocked at the door of the Act 12:14 gateway, a maid named Rhoda came to answer. Act 12:14 Recognizing Peter's voice, in her joy she did not Act 12:14 open the gate but ran in and told that Peter was Act 12:15 standing at the gate. They said to her, "You are Act 12:15 mad." But she insisted that it was so. They said, Act 12:16 "It is his angel!" But Peter continued knocking; Act 12:16 and when they opened, they saw him and were Act 12:17 amazed. But motioning to them with his hand to be Act 12:17 silent, he described to them how the Lord had Act 12:17 brought him out of the prison. And he said, "Tell Act 12:17 this to James and to the brethren." Then he Act 12:18 departed and went to another place. Act 12:18 Now when day came, there was no small stir Act 12:19 among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. Act 12:19 And when Herod had sought for him and could not Act 12:19 find him, he examined the sentries and ordered Act 12:19 that they should be put to death. Then he went Act 12:20 down from Judea to Caesare'a, and remained there. Act 12:20 Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre Act 12:20 and Sidon; and they came to him in a body, and Act 12:20 having persuaded Blastus, the king's chamberlain, Act 12:20 they asked for peace, because their country Act 12:21 depended on the king's country for food. On an Act 12:21 appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took Act 12:21 his seat upon the throne, and made an oration to Act 12:22 them. And the people shouted, "The voice of a god, Act 12:23 and not of man!" Immediately an angel of the Lord Act 12:23 smote him, because he did not give God the glory; Act 12:24 and he was eaten by worms and died. Act 12:25 But the word of God grew and multiplied. And Act 12:25 Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when Act 12:25 they had fulfilled their mission, bringing with Act 13: 1 them John whose other name was Mark. Act 13: 1 Now in the church at Antioch there were Act 13: 1 prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was Act 13: 1 called Niger, Lucius of Cyre'ne, Man'a-en a member Act 13: 2 of the court of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. Act 13: 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, Act 13: 2 the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas Act 13: 2 and Saul for the work to which I have called Act 13: 3 them." Then after fasting and praying they laid Act 13: 4 their hands on them and sent them off. Act 13: 4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they Act 13: 4 went down to Seleu'cia; and from there they sailed Act 13: 5 to Cyprus. When they arrived at Sal'amis, they Act 13: 5 proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of Act 13: 6 the Jews. And they had John to assist them. When Act 13: 6 they had gone through the whole island as far as Act 13: 6 Paphos, they came upon a certain magician, a Act 13: 7 Jewish false prophet, named Bar-Jesus. He was with Act 13: 7 the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of Act 13: 7 intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and Act 13: 8 sought to hear the word of God. But El'ymas the Act 13: 8 magician (for that is the meaning of his name) Act 13: 8 withstood them, seeking to turn away the proconsul Act 13: 9 from the faith. But Saul, who is also called Paul, Act 13: 9 filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at Act 13:10 him and said, "You son of the devil, you enemy of Act 13:10 all righteousness, full of all deceit and Act 13:10 villainy, will you not stop making crooked the Act 13:11 straight paths of the Lord? And now, behold, the Act 13:11 hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be Act 13:11 blind and unable to see the sun for a time." Act 13:11 Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him and he Act 13:11 went about seeking people to lead him by the hand. Act 13:12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had Act 13:12 occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of Act 13:13 the Lord. Act 13:13 Now Paul and his company set sail from Paphos, Act 13:13 and came to Perga in Pamphyl'ia. And John left Act 13:14 them and returned to Jerusalem; but they passed on Act 13:14 from Perga and came to Antioch of Pisid'ia. And on Act 13:14 the sabbath day they went into the synagogue and Act 13:15 sat down. After the reading of the law and the Act 13:15 prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to Act 13:15 them, saying, "Brethren, if you have any word of Act 13:16 exhortation for the people, say it." So Paul stood Act 13:16 up, and motioning with his hand said: Act 13:16 "Men of Israel, and you that fear God, listen. Act 13:17 The God of this people Israel chose our fathers Act 13:17 and made the people great during their stay in the Act 13:17 land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them Act 13:18 out of it. And for about forty years he bore with Act 13:19 them in the wilderness. And when he had destroyed Act 13:19 seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them Act 13:19 their land as an inheritance, for about four Act 13:20 hundred and fifty years. And after that he gave Act 13:21 them judges until Samuel the prophet. Then they Act 13:21 asked for a king; and God gave them Saul the son Act 13:21 of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty Act 13:22 years. And when he had removed him, he raised up Act 13:22 David to be their king; of whom he testified and Act 13:22 said, `I have found in David the son of Jesse a Act 13:23 man after my heart, who will do all my will.' Of Act 13:23 this man's posterity God has brought to Israel a Act 13:24 Savior, Jesus, as he promised. Before his coming Act 13:24 John had preached a baptism of repentance to all Act 13:25 the people of Israel. And as John was finishing Act 13:25 his course, he said, `What do you suppose that I Act 13:25 am? I am not he. No, but after me one is coming, Act 13:25 the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to Act 13:26 untie.' Act 13:26 "Brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and Act 13:26 those among you that fear God, to us has been sent Act 13:27 the message of this salvation. For those who live Act 13:27 in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did Act 13:27 not recognize him nor understand the utterances of Act 13:27 the prophets which are read every sabbath, Act 13:28 fulfilled these by condemning him. Though they Act 13:28 could charge him with nothing deserving death, yet Act 13:29 they asked Pilate to have him killed. And when Act 13:29 they had fulfilled all that was written of him, Act 13:29 they took him down from the tree, and laid him in Act 13:31 a tomb. But God raised him from the dead; and for Act 13:31 many days he appeared to those who came up with Act 13:31 him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his Act 13:32 witnesses to the people. And we bring you the good Act 13:33 news that what God promised to the fathers, this Act 13:33 he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Act 13:33 Jesus; as also it is written in the second psalm, Act 13:33 `Thou art my Son, Act 13:33 today I have begotten thee.' Act 13:34 And as for the fact that he raised him from the Act 13:34 dead, no more to return to corruption, he spoke in Act 13:34 this way, Act 13:34 `I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.' Act 13:35 Therefore he says also in another psalm, Act 13:35 `Thou wilt not let thy Holy One see corruption.' Act 13:36 For David, after he had served the counsel of God Act 13:36 in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid Act 13:37 with his fathers, and saw corruption; but he whom Act 13:38 God raised up saw no corruption. Let it be known Act 13:38 to you therefore, brethren, that through this man Act 13:39 forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by Act 13:39 him every one that believes is freed from Act 13:39 everything from which you could not be freed by Act 13:40 the law of Moses. Beware, therefore, lest there Act 13:41 come upon you what is said in the prophets: Act 13:41 `Behold, you scoffers, and wonder, and perish; Act 13:41 for I do a deed in your days, Act 13:41 a deed you will never believe, if one declares it to you.'" Act 13:42 As they went out, the people begged that these Act 13:43 things might be told them the next sabbath. And Act 13:43 when the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Act 13:43 Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul Act 13:43 and Barnabas, who spoke to them and urged them to Act 13:44 continue in the grace of God. Act 13:44 The next sabbath almost the whole city Act 13:45 gathered together to hear the word of God. But Act 13:45 when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled Act 13:45 with jealousy, and contradicted what was spoken by Act 13:46 Paul, and reviled him. And Paul and Barnabas spoke Act 13:46 out boldly, saying, "It was necessary that the Act 13:46 word of God should be spoken first to you. Since Act 13:46 you thrust it from you, and judge yourselves Act 13:46 unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Act 13:47 Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us, Act 13:47 saying, Act 13:47 `I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles, Act 13:47 that you may bring salvation to the uttermost parts of the earth.'" Act 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were Act 13:48 glad and glorified the word of God; and as many as Act 13:49 were ordained to eternal life believed. And the Act 13:49 word of the Lord spread throughout all the region. Act 13:50 But the Jews incited the devout women of high Act 13:50 standing and the leading men of the city, and Act 13:50 stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, Act 13:51 and drove them out of their district. But they Act 13:51 shook off the dust from their feet against them, Act 13:52 and went to Ico'nium. And the disciples were Act 14: 1 filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. Act 14: 1 Now at Ico'nium they entered together into the Act 14: 1 Jewish synagogue, and so spoke that a great Act 14: 2 company believed, both of Jews and of Greeks. But Act 14: 2 the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and Act 14: 3 poisoned their minds against the brethren. So they Act 14: 3 remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Act 14: 3 Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, Act 14: 3 granting signs and wonders to be done by their Act 14: 4 hands. But the people of the city were divided; Act 14: 4 some sided with the Jews, and some with the Act 14: 5 apostles. When an attempt was made by both Act 14: 5 Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to molest Act 14: 6 them and to stone them, they learned of it and Act 14: 6 fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycao'nia, and Act 14: 7 to the surrounding country; and there they Act 14: 8 preached the gospel. Act 14: 8 Now at Lystra there was a man sitting, who Act 14: 8 could not use his feet; he was a cripple from Act 14: 9 birth, who had never walked. He listened to Paul Act 14: 9 speaking; and Paul, looking intently at him and Act 14:10 seeing that he had faith to be made well, said in Act 14:10 a loud voice, "Stand upright on your feet." And he Act 14:11 sprang up and walked. And when the crowds saw what Act 14:11 Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying Act 14:11 in Lycao'nian, "The gods have come down to us in Act 14:12 the likeness of men!" Barnabas they called Zeus, Act 14:12 and Paul, because he was the chief speaker, they Act 14:13 called Hermes. And the priest of Zeus, whose Act 14:13 temple was in front of the city, brought oxen and Act 14:13 garlands to the gates and wanted to offer Act 14:14 sacrifice with the people. But when the apostles Act 14:14 Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their Act 14:14 garments and rushed out among the multitude, Act 14:15 crying, "Men, why are you doing this? We also are Act 14:15 men, of like nature with you, and bring you good Act 14:15 news, that you should turn from these vain things Act 14:15 to a living God who made the heaven and the earth Act 14:16 and the sea and all that is in them. In past Act 14:16 generations he allowed all the nations to walk in Act 14:17 their own ways; yet he did not leave himself Act 14:17 without witness, for he did good and gave you from Act 14:17 heaven rains and fruitful seasons, satisfying your Act 14:18 hearts with food and gladness." With these words Act 14:18 they scarcely restrained the people from offering Act 14:19 sacrifice to them. Act 14:19 But Jews came there from Antioch and Ico'nium; Act 14:19 and having persuaded the people, they stoned Paul Act 14:19 and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he Act 14:20 was dead. But when the disciples gathered about Act 14:20 him, he rose up and entered the city; and on the Act 14:21 next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. When Act 14:21 they had preached the gospel to that city and had Act 14:21 made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and Act 14:22 to Ico'nium and to Antioch, strengthening the Act 14:22 souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue Act 14:22 in the faith, and saying that through many Act 14:23 tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. And Act 14:23 when they had appointed elders for them in every Act 14:23 church, with prayer and fasting they committed Act 14:24 them to the Lord in whom they believed. Act 14:24 Then they passed through Pisid'ia, and came to Act 14:25 Pamphyl'ia. And when they had spoken the word in Act 14:26 Perga, they went down to Attali'a; and from there Act 14:26 they sailed to Antioch, where they had been Act 14:26 commended to the grace of God for the work which Act 14:27 they had fulfilled. And when they arrived, they Act 14:27 gathered the church together and declared all that Act 14:27 God had done with them, and how he had opened a Act 14:28 door of faith to the Gentiles. And they remained Act 15: 1 no little time with the disciples. Act 15: 1 But some men came down from Judea and were Act 15: 1 teaching the brethren, "Unless you are circumcised Act 15: 1 according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be Act 15: 2 saved." And when Paul and Barnabas had no small Act 15: 2 dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas Act 15: 2 and some of the others were appointed to go up to Act 15: 2 Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about Act 15: 3 this question. So, being sent on their way by the Act 15: 3 church, they passed through both Phoeni'cia and Act 15: 3 Sama'ria, reporting the conversion of the Act 15: 3 Gentiles, and they gave great joy to all the Act 15: 4 brethren. When they came to Jerusalem, they were Act 15: 4 welcomed by the church and the apostles and the Act 15: 4 elders, and they declared all that God had done Act 15: 5 with them. But some believers who belonged to the Act 15: 5 party of the Pharisees rose up, and said, "It is Act 15: 5 necessary to circumcise them, and to charge them Act 15: 6 to keep the law of Moses." Act 15: 6 The apostles and the elders were gathered Act 15: 7 together to consider this matter. And after there Act 15: 7 had been much debate, Peter rose and said to them, Act 15: 7 "Brethren, you know that in the early days God Act 15: 7 made choice among you, that by my mouth the Act 15: 7 Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and Act 15: 8 believe. And God who knows the heart bore witness Act 15: 8 to them, giving them the Holy Spirit just as he Act 15: 9 did to us; and he made no distinction between us Act 15:10 and them, but cleansed their hearts by faith. Now Act 15:10 therefore why do you make trial of God by putting Act 15:10 a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which Act 15:10 neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? Act 15:11 But we believe that we shall be saved through the Act 15:12 grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will." Act 15:12 And all the assembly kept silence; and they Act 15:12 listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what Act 15:12 signs and wonders God had done through them among Act 15:13 the Gentiles. After they finished speaking, James Act 15:14 replied, "Brethren, listen to me. Simeon has Act 15:14 related how God first visited the Gentiles, to Act 15:15 take out of them a people for his name. And with Act 15:15 this the words of the prophets agree, as it is Act 15:16 written, Act 15:16 `After this I will return, Act 15:16 and I will rebuild the dwelling of David, which has fallen; Act 15:16 I will rebuild its ruins, Act 15:16 and I will set it up, Act 15:17 that the rest of men may seek the Lord, Act 15:17 and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, Act 15:18 says the Lord, who has made these things known from of old.' Act 15:19 Therefore my judgment is that we should not Act 15:20 trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, but Act 15:20 should write to them to abstain from the Act 15:20 pollutions of idols and from unchastity and from Act 15:21 what is strangled and from blood. For from early Act 15:21 generations Moses has had in every city those who Act 15:21 preach him, for he is read every sabbath in the Act 15:22 synagogues." Act 15:22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the Act 15:22 elders, with the whole church, to choose men from Act 15:22 among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Act 15:22 Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsab'bas, and Act 15:23 Silas, leading men among the brethren, with the Act 15:23 following letter: "The brethren, both the apostles Act 15:23 and the elders, to the brethren who are of the Act 15:23 Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cili'cia, Act 15:24 greeting. Since we have heard that some persons Act 15:24 from us have troubled you with words, unsettling Act 15:24 your minds, although we gave them no instructions, Act 15:25 it has seemed good to us, having come to one Act 15:25 accord, to choose men and send them to you with Act 15:26 our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked Act 15:26 their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. Act 15:27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who Act 15:27 themselves will tell you the same things by word Act 15:28 of mouth. For it has seemed good to the Holy Act 15:28 Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden Act 15:29 than these necessary things: that you abstain from Act 15:29 what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood Act 15:29 and from what is strangled and from unchastity. If Act 15:29 you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Act 15:30 Farewell." Act 15:30 So when they were sent off, they went down to Act 15:30 Antioch; and having gathered the congregation Act 15:31 together, they delivered the letter. And when they Act 15:32 read it, they rejoiced at the exhortation. And Act 15:32 Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, Act 15:32 exhorted the brethren with many words and Act 15:33 strengthened them. And after they had spent some Act 15:33 time, they were sent off in peace by the brethren Act 15:35 to those who had sent them. But Paul and Barnabas Act 15:35 remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the Act 15:36 word of the Lord, with many others also. Act 15:36 And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, Act 15:36 "Come, let us return and visit the brethren in Act 15:36 every city where we proclaimed the word of the Act 15:37 Lord, and see how they are." And Barnabas wanted Act 15:38 to take with them John called Mark. But Paul Act 15:38 thought best not to take with them one who had Act 15:38 withdrawn from them in Pamphyl'ia, and had not Act 15:39 gone with them to the work. And there arose a Act 15:39 sharp contention, so that they separated from each Act 15:39 other; Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away Act 15:40 to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and departed, Act 15:40 being commended by the brethren to the grace of Act 15:41 the Lord. And he went through Syria and Cili'cia, Act 16: 1 strengthening the churches. Act 16: 1 And he came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A Act 16: 1 disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Act 16: 1 Jewish woman who was a believer; but his father Act 16: 2 was a Greek. He was well spoken of by the brethren Act 16: 3 at Lystra and Ico'nium. Paul wanted Timothy to Act 16: 3 accompany him; and he took him and circumcised him Act 16: 3 because of the Jews that were in those places, for Act 16: 4 they all knew that his father was a Greek. As they Act 16: 4 went on their way through the cities, they Act 16: 4 delivered to them for observance the decisions Act 16: 4 which had been reached by the apostles and elders Act 16: 5 who were at Jerusalem. So the churches were Act 16: 5 strengthened in the faith, and they increased in Act 16: 6 numbers daily. Act 16: 6 And they went through the region of Phry'gia Act 16: 6 and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Act 16: 7 Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they Act 16: 7 had come opposite My'sia, they attempted to go Act 16: 7 into Bithyn'ia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not Act 16: 8 allow them; so, passing by My'sia, they went down Act 16: 9 to Tro'as. And a vision appeared to Paul in the Act 16: 9 night: a man of Macedo'nia was standing beseeching Act 16: 9 him and saying, "Come over to Macedo'nia and help Act 16:10 us." And when he had seen the vision, immediately Act 16:10 we sought to go on into Macedo'nia, concluding Act 16:10 that God had called us to preach the gospel to Act 16:11 them. Act 16:11 Setting sail therefore from Tro'as, we made a Act 16:11 direct voyage to Sam'othrace, and the following Act 16:12 day to Ne-ap'olis, and from there to Philip'pi, Act 16:12 which is the leading city of the district of Act 16:12 Macedo'nia, and a Roman colony. We remained in Act 16:13 this city some days; and on the sabbath day we Act 16:13 went outside the gate to the riverside, where we Act 16:13 supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat Act 16:13 down and spoke to the women who had come together. Act 16:14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the Act 16:14 city of Thyati'ra, a seller of purple goods, who Act 16:14 was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart Act 16:15 to give heed to what was said by Paul. And when Act 16:15 she was baptized, with her household, she besought Act 16:15 us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful Act 16:15 to the Lord, come to my house and stay." And she Act 16:16 prevailed upon us. Act 16:16 As we were going to the place of prayer, we Act 16:16 were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of Act 16:16 divination and brought her owners much gain by Act 16:17 soothsaying. She followed Paul and us, crying, Act 16:17 "These men are servants of the Most High God, who Act 16:18 proclaim to you the way of salvation." And this Act 16:18 she did for many days. But Paul was annoyed, and Act 16:18 turned and said to the spirit, "I charge you in Act 16:18 the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And Act 16:19 it came out that very hour. Act 16:19 But when her owners saw that their hope of Act 16:19 gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and Act 16:19 dragged them into the market place before the Act 16:20 rulers; and when they had brought them to the Act 16:20 magistrates they said, "These men are Jews and Act 16:21 they are disturbing our city. They advocate Act 16:21 customs which it is not lawful for us Romans to Act 16:22 accept or practice." The crowd joined in attacking Act 16:22 them; and the magistrates tore the garments off Act 16:23 them and gave orders to beat them with rods. And Act 16:23 when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they Act 16:23 threw them into prison, charging the jailer to Act 16:24 keep them safely. Having received this charge, he Act 16:24 put them into the inner prison and fastened their Act 16:25 feet in the stocks. Act 16:25 But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying Act 16:25 and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were Act 16:26 listening to them, and suddenly there was a great Act 16:26 earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison Act 16:26 were shaken; and immediately all the doors were Act 16:27 opened and every one's fetters were unfastened. Act 16:27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors Act 16:27 were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill Act 16:27 himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. Act 16:28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, "Do not harm Act 16:29 yourself, for we are all here." And he called for Act 16:29 lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he Act 16:30 fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them Act 16:31 out and said, "Men, what must I do to be saved?" Act 16:31 And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you Act 16:32 will be saved, you and your household." And they Act 16:32 spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all that Act 16:33 were in his house. And he took them the same hour Act 16:33 of the night, and washed their wounds, and he was Act 16:34 baptized at once, with all his family. Then he Act 16:34 brought them up into his house, and set food Act 16:34 before them; and he rejoiced with all his Act 16:35 household that he had believed in God. But when it Act 16:35 was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, Act 16:36 "Let those men go." And the jailer reported the Act 16:36 words to Paul, saying, "The magistrates have sent Act 16:36 to let you go; now therefore come out and go in Act 16:37 peace." But Paul said to them, "They have beaten Act 16:37 us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman Act 16:37 citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do Act 16:37 they now cast us out secretly? No! let them come Act 16:38 themselves and take us out." The police reported Act 16:38 these words to the magistrates, and they were Act 16:38 afraid when they heard that they were Roman Act 16:39 citizens; so they came and apologized to them. And Act 16:39 they took them out and asked them to leave the Act 16:40 city. So they went out of the prison, and visited Act 16:40 Lydia; and when they had seen the brethren, they Act 17: 1 exhorted them and departed. Act 17: 1 Now when they had passed through Amphip'olis Act 17: 1 and Apollo'nia, they came to Thessaloni'ca, where Act 17: 2 there was a synagogue of the Jews. And Paul went Act 17: 2 in, as was his custom, and for three weeks he Act 17: 3 argued with them from the scriptures, explaining Act 17: 3 and proving that it was necessary for the Christ Act 17: 3 to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, Act 17: 3 "This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Act 17: 4 Christ." And some of them were persuaded, and Act 17: 4 joined Paul and Silas; as did a great many of the Act 17: 5 devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. Act 17: 5 But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked Act 17: 5 fellows of the rabble, they gathered a crowd, set Act 17: 5 the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Act 17: 6 Jason, seeking to bring them out to the people. Act 17: 6 And when they could not find them, they dragged Act 17: 6 Jason and some of the brethren before the city Act 17: 6 authorities, crying, "These men who have turned Act 17: 7 the world upside down have come here also, and Act 17: 7 Jason has received them; and they are all acting Act 17: 7 against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there Act 17: 8 is another king, Jesus." And the people and the Act 17: 8 city authorities were disturbed when they heard Act 17: 9 this. And when they had taken security from Jason Act 17:10 and the rest, they let them go. Act 17:10 The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas Act 17:10 away by night to Beroe'a; and when they arrived Act 17:11 they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Act 17:11 Jews were more noble than those in Thessaloni'ca, Act 17:11 for they received the word with all eagerness, Act 17:11 examining the scriptures daily to see if these Act 17:12 things were so. Many of them therefore believed, Act 17:12 with not a few Greek women of high standing as Act 17:13 well as men. But when the Jews of Thessaloni'ca Act 17:13 learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Act 17:13 Paul at Beroe'a also, they came there too, Act 17:14 stirring up and inciting the crowds. Then the Act 17:14 brethren immediately sent Paul off on his way to Act 17:15 the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there. Act 17:15 Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Act 17:15 Athens; and receiving a command for Silas and Act 17:15 Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they Act 17:16 departed. Act 17:16 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, Act 17:16 his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that Act 17:17 the city was full of idols. So he argued in the Act 17:17 synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, Act 17:17 and in the market place every day with those who Act 17:18 chanced to be there. Some also of the Epicurean Act 17:18 and Stoic philosophers met him. And some said, Act 17:18 "What would this babbler say?" Others said, "He Act 17:18 seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities" -- Act 17:19 because he preached Jesus and the resurrection. Act 17:19 And they took hold of him and brought him to the Act 17:19 Are-op'agus, saying, "May we know what this new Act 17:20 teaching is which you present? For you bring some Act 17:20 strange things to our ears; we wish to know Act 17:21 therefore what these things mean." Now all the Act 17:21 Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent Act 17:21 their time in nothing except telling or hearing Act 17:22 something new. Act 17:22 So Paul, standing in the middle of the Act 17:22 Are-op'agus, said: "Men of Athens, I perceive that Act 17:23 in every way you are very religious. For as I Act 17:23 passed along, and observed the objects of your Act 17:23 worship, I found also an altar with this Act 17:23 inscription, `To an unknown god.' What therefore Act 17:24 you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. Act 17:24 The God who made the world and everything in it, Act 17:24 being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in Act 17:25 shrines made by man, nor is he served by human Act 17:25 hands, as though he needed anything, since he Act 17:25 himself gives to all men life and breath and Act 17:26 everything. And he made from one every nation of Act 17:26 men to live on all the face of the earth, having Act 17:26 determined allotted periods and the boundaries of Act 17:27 their habitation, that they should seek God, in Act 17:27 the hope that they might feel after him and find Act 17:28 him. Yet he is not far from each one of us, for Act 17:28 `In him we live and move and have our being'; Act 17:28 as even some of your poets have said, Act 17:28 `For we are indeed his offspring.' Act 17:29 Being then God's offspring, we ought not to Act 17:29 think that the Deity is like gold, or silver, or Act 17:29 stone, a representation by the art and imagination Act 17:30 of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but Act 17:31 now he commands all men everywhere to repent, Act 17:31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge Act 17:31 the world in righteousness by a man whom he has Act 17:31 appointed, and of this he has given assurance to Act 17:32 all men by raising him from the dead." Act 17:32 Now when they heard of the resurrection of the Act 17:32 dead, some mocked; but others said, "We will hear Act 17:33 you again about this." So Paul went out from among Act 17:34 them. But some men joined him and believed, among Act 17:34 them Dionys'ius the Are-op'agite and a woman named Act 18: 1 Dam'aris and others with them. Act 18: 1 After this he left Athens and went to Corinth. Act 18: 2 And he found a Jew named Aq'uila, a native of Act 18: 2 Pontus, lately come from Italy with his wife Act 18: 2 Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Act 18: 3 Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them; and Act 18: 3 because he was of the same trade he stayed with Act 18: 3 them, and they worked, for by trade they were Act 18: 4 tentmakers. And he argued in the synagogue every Act 18: 5 sabbath, and persuaded Jews and Greeks. Act 18: 5 When Silas and Timothy arrived from Act 18: 5 Macedo'nia, Paul was occupied with preaching, Act 18: 6 testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus. Act 18: 6 And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook Act 18: 6 out his garments and said to them, "Your blood be Act 18: 6 upon your heads! I am innocent. From now on I will Act 18: 7 go to the Gentiles." And he left there and went to Act 18: 7 the house of a man named Titius Justus, a Act 18: 7 worshiper of God; his house was next door to the Act 18: 8 synagogue. Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, Act 18: 8 believed in the Lord, together with all his Act 18: 8 household; and many of the Corinthians hearing Act 18: 9 Paul believed and were baptized. And the Lord said Act 18: 9 to Paul one night in a vision, "Do not be afraid, Act 18:10 but speak and do not be silent; for I am with you, Act 18:10 and no man shall attack you to harm you; for I Act 18:11 have many people in this city." And he stayed a Act 18:11 year and six months, teaching the word of God Act 18:12 among them. Act 18:12 But when Gallio was proconsul of Acha'ia, the Act 18:12 Jews made a united attack upon Paul and brought Act 18:13 him before the tribunal, saying, "This man is Act 18:13 persuading men to worship God contrary to the Act 18:14 law." But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Act 18:14 Gallio said to the Jews, "If it were a matter of Act 18:14 wrongdoing or vicious crime, I should have reason Act 18:15 to bear with you, O Jews; but since it is a matter Act 18:15 of questions about words and names and your own Act 18:15 law, see to it yourselves; I refuse to be a judge Act 18:16 of these things." And he drove them from the Act 18:17 tribunal. And they all seized Sos'thenes, the Act 18:17 ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of Act 18:17 the tribunal. But Gallio paid no attention to Act 18:18 this. Act 18:18 After this Paul stayed many days longer, and Act 18:18 then took leave of the brethren and sailed for Act 18:18 Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aq'uila. At Act 18:19 Cen'chre-ae he cut his hair, for he had a vow. And Act 18:19 they came to Ephesus, and he left them there; but Act 18:19 he himself went into the synagogue and argued with Act 18:20 the Jews. When they asked him to stay for a longer Act 18:21 period, he declined; but on taking leave of them Act 18:21 he said, "I will return to you if God wills," and Act 18:22 he set sail from Ephesus. Act 18:22 When he had landed at Caesare'a, he went up Act 18:22 and greeted the church, and then went down to Act 18:23 Antioch. After spending some time there he Act 18:23 departed and went from place to place through the Act 18:23 region of Galatia and Phryg'ia, strengthening all Act 18:24 the disciples. Act 18:24 Now a Jew named Apol'los, a native of Act 18:24 Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent Act 18:25 man, well versed in the scriptures. He had been Act 18:25 instructed in the way of the Lord; and being Act 18:25 fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately Act 18:25 the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only Act 18:26 the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in Act 18:26 the synagogue; but when Priscilla and Aq'uila Act 18:26 heard him, they took him and expounded to him the Act 18:27 way of God more accurately. And when he wished to Act 18:27 cross to Acha'ia, the brethren encouraged him, and Act 18:27 wrote to the disciples to receive him. When he Act 18:27 arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace Act 18:28 had believed, for he powerfully confuted the Jews Act 18:28 in public, showing by the scriptures that the Act 19: 1 Christ was Jesus. Act 19: 1 While Apol'los was at Corinth, Paul passed Act 19: 1 through the upper country and came to Ephesus. Act 19: 2 There he found some disciples. And he said to Act 19: 2 them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you Act 19: 2 believed?" And they said, "No, we have never even Act 19: 3 heard that there is a Holy Spirit." And he said, Act 19: 3 "Into what then were you baptized?" They said, Act 19: 4 "Into John's baptism." And Paul said, "John Act 19: 4 baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling Act 19: 4 the people to believe in the one who was to come Act 19: 5 after him, that is, Jesus." On hearing this, they Act 19: 6 were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And Act 19: 6 when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Act 19: 6 Spirit came on them; and they spoke with tongues Act 19: 7 and prophesied. There were about twelve of them in Act 19: 8 all. Act 19: 8 And he entered the synagogue and for three Act 19: 8 months spoke boldly, arguing and pleading about Act 19: 9 the kingdom of God; but when some were stubborn Act 19: 9 and disbelieved, speaking evil of the Way before Act 19: 9 the congregation, he withdrew from them, taking Act 19: 9 the disciples with him, and argued daily in the Act 19:10 hall of Tyran'nus. This continued for two years, Act 19:10 so that all the residents of Asia heard the word Act 19:11 of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. Act 19:11 And God did extraordinary miracles by the Act 19:12 hands of Paul, so that handkerchiefs or aprons Act 19:12 were carried away from his body to the sick, and Act 19:12 diseases left them and the evil spirits came out Act 19:13 of them. Then some of the itinerant Jewish Act 19:13 exorcists undertook to pronounce the name of the Act 19:13 Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, Act 19:13 saying, "I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul Act 19:14 preaches." Seven sons of a Jewish high priest Act 19:15 named Sceva were doing this. But the evil spirit Act 19:15 answered them, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but Act 19:16 who are you?" And the man in whom the evil spirit Act 19:16 was leaped on them, mastered all of them, and Act 19:16 overpowered them, so that they fled out of that Act 19:17 house naked and wounded. And this became known to Act 19:17 all residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks; Act 19:17 and fear fell upon them all; and the name of the Act 19:18 Lord Jesus was extolled. Many also of those who Act 19:18 were now believers came, confessing and divulging Act 19:19 their practices. And a number of those who Act 19:19 practiced magic arts brought their books together Act 19:19 and burned them in the sight of all; and they Act 19:19 counted the value of them and found it came to Act 19:20 fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of Act 19:21 the Lord grew and prevailed mightily. Act 19:21 Now after these events Paul resolved in the Act 19:21 Spirit to pass through Macedo'nia and Acha'ia and Act 19:21 go to Jerusalem, saying, "After I have been there, Act 19:22 I must also see Rome." And having sent into Act 19:22 Macedo'nia two of his helpers, Timothy and Act 19:23 Eras'tus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while. Act 19:23 About that time there arose no little stir Act 19:24 concerning the Way. For a man named Deme'trius, a Act 19:24 silversmith, who made silver shrines of Ar'temis, Act 19:25 brought no little business to the craftsmen. These Act 19:25 he gathered together, with the workmen of like Act 19:25 occupation, and said, "Men, you know that from Act 19:26 this business we have our wealth. And you see and Act 19:26 hear that not only at Ephesus but almost Act 19:26 throughout all Asia this Paul has persuaded and Act 19:26 turned away a considerable company of people, Act 19:27 saying that gods made with hands are not gods. And Act 19:27 there is danger not only that this trade of ours Act 19:27 may come into disrepute but also that the temple Act 19:27 of the great goddess Ar'temis may count for Act 19:27 nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her Act 19:27 magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world Act 19:28 worship." Act 19:28 When they heard this they were enraged, and Act 19:29 cried out, "Great is Ar'temis of the Ephesians!" Act 19:29 So the city was filled with the confusion; and Act 19:29 they rushed together into the theater, dragging Act 19:29 with them Ga'ius and Aristar'chus, Macedo'nians Act 19:30 who were Paul's companions in travel. Paul wished Act 19:30 to go in among the crowd, but the disciples would Act 19:31 not let him; some of the A'si-archs also, who were Act 19:31 friends of his, sent to him and begged him not to Act 19:32 venture into the theater. Now some cried one Act 19:32 thing, some another; for the assembly was in Act 19:32 confusion, and most of them did not know why they Act 19:33 had come together. Some of the crowd prompted Act 19:33 Alexander, whom the Jews had put forward. And Act 19:33 Alexander motioned with his hand, wishing to make Act 19:34 a defense to the people. But when they recognized Act 19:34 that he was a Jew, for about two hours they all Act 19:34 with one voice cried out, "Great is Ar'temis of Act 19:35 the Ephesians!" And when the town clerk had Act 19:35 quieted the crowd, he said, "Men of Ephesus, what Act 19:35 man is there who does not know that the city of Act 19:35 the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great Act 19:35 Ar'temis, and of the sacred stone that fell from Act 19:36 the sky? Seeing then that these things cannot be Act 19:36 contradicted, you ought to be quiet and do nothing Act 19:37 rash. For you have brought these men here who are Act 19:37 neither sacrilegious nor blasphemers of our Act 19:38 goddess. If therefore Deme'trius and the craftsmen Act 19:38 with him have a complaint against any one, the Act 19:38 courts are open, and there are proconsuls; let Act 19:39 them bring charges against one another. But if you Act 19:39 seek anything further, it shall be settled in the Act 19:40 regular assembly. For we are in danger of being Act 19:40 charged with rioting today, there being no cause Act 19:41 that we can give to justify this commotion." And Act 20: 1 when he had said this, he dismissed the assembly. Act 20: 1 After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the Act 20: 1 disciples and having exhorted them took leave of Act 20: 2 them and departed for Macedo'nia. When he had gone Act 20: 2 through these parts and had given them much Act 20: 3 encouragement, he came to Greece. There he spent Act 20: 3 three months, and when a plot was made against him Act 20: 3 by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, Act 20: 4 he determined to return through Macedo'nia. Act 20: 4 Sop'ater of Beroe'a, the son of Pyrrhus, Act 20: 4 accompanied him; and of the Thessalo'nians, Act 20: 4 Aristar'chus and Secun'dus; and Ga'ius of Derbe, Act 20: 4 and Timothy; and the Asians, Tych'icus and Act 20: 5 Troph'imus. These went on and were waiting for us Act 20: 6 at Tro'as, but we sailed away from Philip'pi after Act 20: 6 the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we Act 20: 6 came to them at Tro'as, where we stayed for seven Act 20: 7 days. Act 20: 7 On the first day of the week, when we were Act 20: 7 gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with Act 20: 7 them, intending to depart on the morrow; and he Act 20: 8 prolonged his speech until midnight. There were Act 20: 8 many lights in the upper chamber where we were Act 20: 9 gathered. And a young man named Eu'tychus was Act 20: 9 sitting in the window. He sank into a deep sleep Act 20: 9 as Paul talked still longer; and being overcome by Act 20: 9 sleep, he fell down from the third story and was Act 20:10 taken up dead. But Paul went down and bent over Act 20:10 him, and embracing him said, "Do not be alarmed, Act 20:11 for his life is in him." And when Paul had gone up Act 20:11 and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with Act 20:11 them a long while, until daybreak, and so Act 20:12 departed. And they took the lad away alive, and Act 20:13 were not a little comforted. Act 20:13 But going ahead to the ship, we set sail for Act 20:13 Assos, intending to take Paul aboard there; for so Act 20:14 he had arranged, intending himself to go by land. Act 20:14 And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board Act 20:15 and came to Mityle'ne. And sailing from there we Act 20:15 came the following day opposite Chi'os; the next Act 20:15 day we touched at Samos; and the day after that we Act 20:16 came to Mile'tus. For Paul had decided to sail Act 20:16 past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend Act 20:16 time in Asia; for he was hastening to be at Act 20:17 Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost. Act 20:17 And from Mile'tus he sent to Ephesus and Act 20:18 called to him the elders of the church. And when Act 20:18 they came to him, he said to them: Act 20:18 "You yourselves know how I lived among you all Act 20:18 the time from the first day that I set foot in Act 20:19 Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with Act 20:19 tears and with trials which befell me through the Act 20:20 plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from Act 20:20 declaring to you anything that was profitable, and Act 20:21 teaching you in public and from house to house, Act 20:21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of Act 20:21 repentance to God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Act 20:22 Christ. And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, Act 20:22 bound in the Spirit, not knowing what shall befall Act 20:23 me there; except that the Holy Spirit testifies to Act 20:23 me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions Act 20:24 await me. But I do not account my life of any Act 20:24 value nor as precious to myself, if only I may Act 20:24 accomplish my course and the ministry which I Act 20:24 received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the Act 20:25 gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I Act 20:25 know that all you among whom I have gone preaching Act 20:26 the kingdom will see my face no more. Therefore I Act 20:26 testify to you this day that I am innocent of the Act 20:27 blood of all of you, for I did not shrink from Act 20:28 declaring to you the whole counsel of God. Take Act 20:28 heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which Act 20:28 the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care Act 20:28 for the church of God which he obtained with the Act 20:29 blood of his own Son. I know that after my Act 20:29 departure fierce wolves will come in among you, Act 20:30 not sparing the flock; and from among your own Act 20:30 selves will arise men speaking perverse things, to Act 20:31 draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be Act 20:31 alert, remembering that for three years I did not Act 20:31 cease night or day to admonish every one with Act 20:32 tears. And now I commend you to God and to the Act 20:32 word of his grace, which is able to build you up Act 20:32 and to give you the inheritance among all those Act 20:33 who are sanctified. I coveted no one's silver or Act 20:34 gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these Act 20:34 hands ministered to my necessities, and to those Act 20:35 who were with me. In all things I have shown you Act 20:35 that by so toiling one must help the weak, Act 20:35 remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, how he Act 20:35 said, `It is more blessed to give than to Act 20:36 receive.'" Act 20:36 And when he had spoken thus, he knelt down and Act 20:37 prayed with them all. And they all wept and Act 20:38 embraced Paul and kissed him, sorrowing most of Act 20:38 all because of the word he had spoken, that they Act 20:38 should see his face no more. And they brought him Act 21: 1 to the ship. Act 21: 1 And when we had parted from them and set sail, Act 21: 1 we came by a straight course to Cos, and the next Act 21: 2 day to Rhodes, and from there to Pat'ara. And Act 21: 2 having found a ship crossing to Phoeni'cia, we Act 21: 3 went aboard, and set sail. When we had come in Act 21: 3 sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left we sailed Act 21: 3 to Syria, and landed at Tyre; for there the ship Act 21: 4 was to unload its cargo. And having sought out the Act 21: 4 disciples, we stayed there for seven days. Through Act 21: 4 the Spirit they told Paul not to go on to Act 21: 5 Jerusalem. And when our days there were ended, we Act 21: 5 departed and went on our journey; and they all, Act 21: 5 with wives and children, brought us on our way Act 21: 5 till we were outside the city; and kneeling down Act 21: 5 on the beach we prayed and bade one another Act 21: 6 farewell. Then we went on board the ship, and they Act 21: 7 returned home. Act 21: 7 When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we Act 21: 7 arrived at Ptolema'is; and we greeted the brethren Act 21: 8 and stayed with them for one day. On the morrow we Act 21: 8 departed and came to Caesare'a; and we entered the Act 21: 8 house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the Act 21: 9 seven, and stayed with him. And he had four Act 21:10 unmarried daughters, who prophesied. While we were Act 21:10 staying for some days, a prophet named Ag'abus Act 21:11 came down from Judea. And coming to us he took Act 21:11 Paul's girdle and bound his own feet and hands, Act 21:11 and said, "Thus says the Holy Spirit, `So shall Act 21:11 the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this Act 21:11 girdle and deliver him into the hands of the Act 21:12 Gentiles.'" When we heard this, we and the people Act 21:13 there begged him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Act 21:13 Paul answered, "What are you doing, weeping and Act 21:13 breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be Act 21:13 imprisoned but even to die at Jerusalem for the Act 21:14 name of the Lord Jesus." And when he would not be Act 21:14 persuaded, we ceased and said, "The will of the Act 21:15 Lord be done." Act 21:15 After these days we made ready and went up to Act 21:16 Jerusalem. And some of the disciples from Act 21:16 Caesare'a went with us, bringing us to the house Act 21:16 of Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom Act 21:17 we should lodge. Act 21:17 When we had come to Jerusalem, the brethren Act 21:18 received us gladly. On the following day Paul went Act 21:18 in with us to James; and all the elders were Act 21:19 present. After greeting them, he related one by Act 21:19 one the things that God had done among the Act 21:20 Gentiles through his ministry. And when they heard Act 21:20 it, they glorified God. And they said to him, "You Act 21:20 see, brother, how many thousands there are among Act 21:20 the Jews of those who have believed; they are all Act 21:21 zealous for the law, and they have been told about Act 21:21 you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Act 21:21 Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to Act 21:22 circumcise their children or observe the customs. Act 21:22 What then is to be done? They will certainly hear Act 21:23 that you have come. Do therefore what we tell you. Act 21:24 We have four men who are under a vow; take these Act 21:24 men and purify yourself along with them and pay Act 21:24 their expenses, so that they may shave their Act 21:24 heads. Thus all will know that there is nothing in Act 21:24 what they have been told about you but that you Act 21:25 yourself live in observance of the law. But as for Act 21:25 the Gentiles who have believed, we have sent a Act 21:25 letter with our judgment that they should abstain Act 21:25 from what has been sacrificed to idols and from Act 21:25 blood and from what is strangled and from Act 21:26 unchastity." Then Paul took the men, and the next Act 21:26 day he purified himself with them and went into Act 21:26 the temple, to give notice when the days of Act 21:26 purification would be fulfilled and the offering Act 21:27 presented for every one of them. Act 21:27 When the seven days were almost completed, the Act 21:27 Jews from Asia, who had seen him in the temple, Act 21:28 stirred up all the crowd, and laid hands on him, Act 21:28 crying out, "Men of Israel, help! This is the man Act 21:28 who is teaching men everywhere against the people Act 21:28 and the law and this place; moreover he also Act 21:28 brought Greeks into the temple, and he has defiled Act 21:29 this holy place." For they had previously seen Act 21:29 Troph'imus the Ephesian with him in the city, and Act 21:29 they supposed that Paul had brought him into the Act 21:30 temple. Then all the city was aroused, and the Act 21:30 people ran together; they seized Paul and dragged Act 21:30 him out of the temple, and at once the gates were Act 21:31 shut. And as they were trying to kill him, word Act 21:31 came to the tribune of the cohort that all Act 21:32 Jerusalem was in confusion. He at once took Act 21:32 soldiers and centurions, and ran down to them; and Act 21:32 when they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they Act 21:33 stopped beating Paul. Then the tribune came up and Act 21:33 arrested him, and ordered him to be bound with two Act 21:33 chains. He inquired who he was and what he had Act 21:34 done. Some in the crowd shouted one thing, some Act 21:34 another; and as he could not learn the facts Act 21:34 because of the uproar, he ordered him to be Act 21:35 brought into the barracks. And when he came to the Act 21:35 steps, he was actually carried by the soldiers Act 21:36 because of the violence of the crowd; for the mob Act 21:37 of the people followed, crying, "Away with him!" Act 21:37 As Paul was about to be brought into the Act 21:37 barracks, he said to the tribune, "May I say Act 21:37 something to you?" And he said, "Do you know Act 21:38 Greek? Are you not the Egyptian, then, who Act 21:38 recently stirred up a revolt and led the four Act 21:38 thousand men of the Assassins out into the Act 21:39 wilderness?" Paul replied, "I am a Jew, from Act 21:39 Tarsus in Cili'cia, a citizen of no mean city; I Act 21:40 beg you, let me speak to the people." And when he Act 21:40 had given him leave, Paul, standing on the steps, Act 21:40 motioned with his hand to the people; and when Act 21:40 there was a great hush, he spoke to them in the Act 22: 1 Hebrew language, saying: Act 22: 1 "Brethren and fathers, hear the defense which Act 22: 2 I now make before you." Act 22: 2 And when they heard that he addressed them in Act 22: 2 the Hebrew language, they were the more quiet. And Act 22: 3 he said: Act 22: 3 "I am a Jew, born at Tarsus in Cili'cia, but Act 22: 3 brought up in this city at the feet of Gama'li-el, Act 22: 3 educated according to the strict manner of the law Act 22: 3 of our fathers, being zealous for God as you all Act 22: 4 are this day. I persecuted this Way to the death, Act 22: 4 binding and delivering to prison both men and Act 22: 5 women, as the high priest and the whole council of Act 22: 5 elders bear me witness. From them I received Act 22: 5 letters to the brethren, and I journeyed to Act 22: 5 Damascus to take those also who were there and Act 22: 6 bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished. Act 22: 6 "As I made my journey and drew near to Act 22: 6 Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven Act 22: 7 suddenly shone about me. And I fell to the ground Act 22: 7 and heard a voice saying to me, `Saul, Saul, why Act 22: 8 do you persecute me?' And I answered, `Who are Act 22: 8 you, Lord?' And he said to me, `I am Jesus of Act 22: 9 Nazareth whom you are persecuting.' Now those who Act 22: 9 were with me saw the light but did not hear the Act 22:10 voice of the one who was speaking to me. And I Act 22:10 said, `What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said Act 22:10 to me, `Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you Act 22:10 will be told all that is appointed for you to do.' Act 22:11 And when I could not see because of the brightness Act 22:11 of that light, I was led by the hand by those who Act 22:12 were with me, and came into Damascus. Act 22:12 "And one Anani'as, a devout man according to Act 22:12 the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived Act 22:13 there, came to me, and standing by me said to me, Act 22:13 `Brother Saul, receive your sight.' And in that Act 22:14 very hour I received my sight and saw him. And he Act 22:14 said, `The God of our fathers appointed you to Act 22:14 know his will, to see the Just One and to hear a Act 22:15 voice from his mouth; for you will be a witness Act 22:15 for him to all men of what you have seen and Act 22:16 heard. And now why do you wait? Rise and be Act 22:16 baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his Act 22:17 name.' Act 22:17 "When I had returned to Jerusalem and was Act 22:18 praying in the temple, I fell into a trance and Act 22:18 saw him saying to me, `Make haste and get quickly Act 22:18 out of Jerusalem, because they will not accept Act 22:19 your testimony about me.' And I said, `Lord, they Act 22:19 themselves know that in every synagogue I Act 22:20 imprisoned and beat those who believed in thee. Act 22:20 And when the blood of Stephen thy witness was Act 22:20 shed, I also was standing by and approving, and Act 22:21 keeping the garments of those who killed him.' And Act 22:21 he said to me, `Depart; for I will send you far Act 22:22 away to the Gentiles.'" Act 22:22 Up to this word they listened to him; then Act 22:22 they lifted up their voices and said, "Away with Act 22:22 such a fellow from the earth! For he ought not to Act 22:23 live." And as they cried out and waved their Act 22:24 garments and threw dust into the air, the tribune Act 22:24 commanded him to be brought into the barracks, and Act 22:24 ordered him to be examined by scourging, to find Act 22:25 out why they shouted thus against him. But when Act 22:25 they had tied him up with the thongs, Paul said to Act 22:25 the centurion who was standing by, "Is it lawful Act 22:25 for you to scourge a man who is a Roman citizen, Act 22:26 and uncondemned?" When the centurion heard that, Act 22:26 he went to the tribune and said to him, "What are Act 22:26 you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen." Act 22:27 So the tribune came and said to him, "Tell me, are Act 22:28 you a Roman citizen?" And he said, "Yes." The Act 22:28 tribune answered, "I bought this citizenship for a Act 22:28 large sum." Paul said, "But I was born a citizen." Act 22:29 So those who were about to examine him withdrew Act 22:29 from him instantly; and the tribune also was Act 22:29 afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman Act 22:30 citizen and that he had bound him. Act 22:30 But on the morrow, desiring to know the real Act 22:30 reason why the Jews accused him, he unbound him, Act 22:30 and commanded the chief priests and all the Act 22:30 council to meet, and he brought Paul down and set Act 23: 1 him before them. Act 23: 1 And Paul, looking intently at the council, Act 23: 1 said, "Brethren, I have lived before God in all Act 23: 2 good conscience up to this day." And the high Act 23: 2 priest Anani'as commanded those who stood by him Act 23: 3 to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, Act 23: 3 "God shall strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are Act 23: 3 you sitting to judge me according to the law, and Act 23: 3 yet contrary to the law you order me to be Act 23: 4 struck?" Those who stood by said, "Would you Act 23: 5 revile God's high priest?" And Paul said, "I did Act 23: 5 not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; Act 23: 5 for it is written, `You shall not speak evil of a Act 23: 6 ruler of your people.'" Act 23: 6 But when Paul perceived that one part were Act 23: 6 Sad'ducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out Act 23: 6 in the council, "Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son Act 23: 6 of Pharisees; with respect to the hope and the Act 23: 7 resurrection of the dead I am on trial." And when Act 23: 7 he had said this, a dissension arose between the Act 23: 7 Pharisees and the Sad'ducees; and the assembly was Act 23: 8 divided. For the Sad'ducees say that there is no Act 23: 8 resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but the Act 23: 9 Pharisees acknowledge them all. Then a great Act 23: 9 clamor arose; and some of the scribes of the Act 23: 9 Pharisees' party stood up and contended, "We find Act 23: 9 nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an Act 23:10 angel spoke to him?" And when the dissension Act 23:10 became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul Act 23:10 would be torn in pieces by them, commanded the Act 23:10 soldiers to go down and take him by force from Act 23:11 among them and bring him into the barracks. Act 23:11 The following night the Lord stood by him and Act 23:11 said, "Take courage, for as you have testified Act 23:11 about me at Jerusalem, so you must bear witness Act 23:12 also at Rome." Act 23:12 When it was day, the Jews made a plot and Act 23:12 bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor Act 23:13 drink till they had killed Paul. There were more Act 23:14 than forty who made this conspiracy. And they went Act 23:14 to the chief priests and elders, and said, "We Act 23:14 have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste Act 23:15 no food till we have killed Paul. You therefore, Act 23:15 along with the council, give notice now to the Act 23:15 tribune to bring him down to you, as though you Act 23:15 were going to determine his case more exactly. And Act 23:16 we are ready to kill him before he comes near." Act 23:16 Now the son of Paul's sister heard of their Act 23:16 ambush; so he went and entered the barracks and Act 23:17 told Paul. And Paul called one of the centurions Act 23:17 and said, "Take this young man to the tribune; for Act 23:18 he has something to tell him." So he took him and Act 23:18 brought him to the tribune and said, "Paul the Act 23:18 prisoner called me and asked me to bring this Act 23:18 young man to you, as he has something to say to Act 23:19 you." The tribune took him by the hand, and going Act 23:19 aside asked him privately, "What is it that you Act 23:20 have to tell me?" And he said, "The Jews have Act 23:20 agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the Act 23:20 council tomorrow, as though they were going to Act 23:21 inquire somewhat more closely about him. But do Act 23:21 not yield to them; for more than forty of their Act 23:21 men lie in ambush for him, having bound themselves Act 23:21 by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they have Act 23:21 killed him; and now they are ready, waiting for Act 23:22 the promise from you." So the tribune dismissed Act 23:22 the young man, charging him, "Tell no one that you Act 23:23 have informed me of this." Act 23:23 Then he called two of the centurions and said, Act 23:23 "At the third hour of the night get ready two Act 23:23 hundred soldiers with seventy horsemen and two Act 23:24 hundred spearmen to go as far as Caesare'a. Also Act 23:24 provide mounts for Paul to ride, and bring him Act 23:25 safely to Felix the governor." And he wrote a Act 23:26 letter to this effect: Act 23:26 "Claudius Lys'ias to his Excellency the Act 23:27 governor Felix, greeting. This man was seized by Act 23:27 the Jews, and was about to be killed by them, when Act 23:27 I came upon them with the soldiers and rescued Act 23:28 him, having learned that he was a Roman citizen. Act 23:28 And desiring to know the charge on which they Act 23:29 accused him, I brought him down to their council. Act 23:29 I found that he was accused about questions of Act 23:29 their law, but charged with nothing deserving Act 23:30 death or imprisonment. And when it was disclosed Act 23:30 to me that there would be a plot against the man, Act 23:30 I sent him to you at once, ordering his accusers Act 23:30 also to state before you what they have against Act 23:31 him." Act 23:31 So the soldiers, according to their Act 23:31 instructions, took Paul and brought him by night Act 23:32 to Antip'atris. And on the morrow they returned to Act 23:32 the barracks, leaving the horsemen to go on with Act 23:33 him. When they came to Caesare'a and delivered the Act 23:33 letter to the governor, they presented Paul also Act 23:34 before him. On reading the letter, he asked to Act 23:34 what province he belonged. When he learned that he Act 23:35 was from Cili'cia he said, "I will hear you when Act 23:35 your accusers arrive." And he commanded him to be Act 24: 1 guarded in Herod's praetorium. Act 24: 1 And after five days the high priest Anani'as Act 24: 1 came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Act 24: 1 Tertul'lus. They laid before the governor their Act 24: 2 case against Paul; and when he was called, Act 24: 2 Tertul'lus began to accuse him, saying: Act 24: 2 "Since through you we enjoy much peace, and Act 24: 2 since by your provision, most excellent Felix, Act 24: 3 reforms are introduced on behalf of this nation, Act 24: 3 in every way and everywhere we accept this with Act 24: 4 all gratitude. But, to detain you no further, I Act 24: 5 beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly. For Act 24: 5 we have found this man a pestilent fellow, an Act 24: 5 agitator among all the Jews throughout the world, Act 24: 6 and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. He Act 24: 6 even tried to profane the temple, but we seized Act 24: 8 him. By examining him yourself you will be able to Act 24: 8 learn from him about everything of which we accuse Act 24: 9 him." Act 24: 9 The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming Act 24:10 that all this was so. And when the governor had Act 24:10 motioned to him to speak, Paul replied: Act 24:10 "Realizing that for many years you have been Act 24:10 judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my Act 24:11 defense. As you may ascertain, it is not more than Act 24:11 twelve days since I went up to worship at Act 24:12 Jerusalem; and they did not find me disputing with Act 24:12 any one or stirring up a crowd, either in the Act 24:13 temple or in the synagogues, or in the city. Act 24:13 Neither can they prove to you what they now bring Act 24:14 up against me. But this I admit to you, that Act 24:14 according to the Way, which they call a sect, I Act 24:14 worship the God of our fathers, believing Act 24:14 everything laid down by the law or written in the Act 24:15 prophets, having a hope in God which these Act 24:15 themselves accept, that there will be a Act 24:16 resurrection of both the just and the unjust. So I Act 24:16 always take pains to have a clear conscience Act 24:17 toward God and toward men. Now after some years I Act 24:18 came to bring to my nation alms and offerings. As Act 24:18 I was doing this, they found me purified in the Act 24:18 temple, without any crowd or tumult. But some Jews Act 24:19 from Asia -- they ought to be here before you and Act 24:19 to make an accusation, if they have anything Act 24:20 against me. Or else let these men themselves say Act 24:20 what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the Act 24:21 council, except this one thing which I cried out Act 24:21 while standing among them, `With respect to the Act 24:21 resurrection of the dead I am on trial before you Act 24:22 this day.'" Act 24:22 But Felix, having a rather accurate knowledge Act 24:22 of the Way, put them off, saying, "When Lys'ias Act 24:23 the tribune comes down, I will decide your case." Act 24:23 Then he gave orders to the centurion that he Act 24:23 should be kept in custody but should have some Act 24:23 liberty, and that none of his friends should be Act 24:24 prevented from attending to his needs. Act 24:24 After some days Felix came with his wife Act 24:24 Drusil'la, who was a Jewess; and he sent for Paul Act 24:25 and heard him speak upon faith in Christ Jesus. Act 24:25 And as he argued about justice and self-control Act 24:25 and future judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, Act 24:25 "Go away for the present; when I have an Act 24:26 opportunity I will summon you." At the same time Act 24:26 he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So Act 24:27 he sent for him often and conversed with him. But Act 24:27 when two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Act 24:27 Porcius Festus; and desiring to do the Jews a Act 25: 1 favor, Felix left Paul in prison. Act 25: 1 Now when Festus had come into his province, Act 25: 1 after three days he went up to Jerusalem from Act 25: 2 Caesare'a. And the chief priests and the principal Act 25: 2 men of the Jews informed him against Paul; and Act 25: 3 they urged him, asking as a favor to have the man Act 25: 3 sent to Jerusalem, planning an ambush to kill him Act 25: 4 on the way. Festus replied that Paul was being Act 25: 4 kept at Caesare'a, and that he himself intended to Act 25: 5 go there shortly. "So," said he, "let the men of Act 25: 5 authority among you go down with me, and if there Act 25: 5 is anything wrong about the man, let them accuse Act 25: 6 him." Act 25: 6 When he had stayed among them not more than Act 25: 6 eight or ten days, he went down to Caesare'a; and Act 25: 6 the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and Act 25: 7 ordered Paul to be brought. And when he had come, Act 25: 7 the Jews who had gone down from Jerusalem stood Act 25: 7 about him, bringing against him many serious Act 25: 8 charges which they could not prove. Paul said in Act 25: 8 his defense, "Neither against the law of the Jews, Act 25: 8 nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I Act 25: 9 offended at all." But Festus, wishing to do the Act 25: 9 Jews a favor, said to Paul, "Do you wish to go up Act 25: 9 to Jerusalem, and there be tried on these charges Act 25:10 before me?" But Paul said, "I am standing before Act 25:10 Caesar's tribunal, where I ought to be tried; to Act 25:10 the Jews I have done no wrong, as you know very Act 25:11 well. If then I am a wrongdoer, and have committed Act 25:11 anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek Act 25:11 to escape death; but if there is nothing in their Act 25:11 charges against me, no one can give me up to them. Act 25:12 I appeal to Caesar." Then Festus, when he had Act 25:12 conferred with his council, answered, "You have Act 25:13 appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you shall go." Act 25:13 Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the Act 25:13 king and Berni'ce arrived at Caesare'a to welcome Act 25:14 Festus. And as they stayed there many days, Festus Act 25:14 laid Paul's case before the king, saying, "There Act 25:15 is a man left prisoner by Felix; and when I was at Act 25:15 Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Act 25:15 Jews gave information about him, asking for Act 25:16 sentence against him. I answered them that it was Act 25:16 not the custom of the Romans to give up any one Act 25:16 before the accused met the accusers face to face, Act 25:16 and had opportunity to make his defense concerning Act 25:17 the charge laid against him. When therefore they Act 25:17 came together here, I made no delay, but on the Act 25:17 next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered Act 25:18 the man to be brought in. When the accusers stood Act 25:18 up, they brought no charge in his case of such Act 25:19 evils as I supposed; but they had certain points Act 25:19 of dispute with him about their own superstition Act 25:19 and about one Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul Act 25:20 asserted to be alive. Being at a loss how to Act 25:20 investigate these questions, I asked whether he Act 25:20 wished to go to Jerusalem and be tried there Act 25:21 regarding them. But when Paul had appealed to be Act 25:21 kept in custody for the decision of the emperor, I Act 25:21 commanded him to be held until I could send him to Act 25:22 Caesar." And Agrippa said to Festus, "I should Act 25:22 like to hear the man myself." "Tomorrow," said he, Act 25:23 "you shall hear him." Act 25:23 So on the morrow Agrippa and Berni'ce came Act 25:23 with great pomp, and they entered the audience Act 25:23 hall with the military tribunes and the prominent Act 25:23 men of the city. Then by command of Festus Paul Act 25:24 was brought in. And Festus said, "King Agrippa and Act 25:24 all who are present with us, you see this man Act 25:24 about whom the whole Jewish people petitioned me, Act 25:24 both at Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought Act 25:25 not to live any longer. But I found that he had Act 25:25 done nothing deserving death; and as he himself Act 25:26 appealed to the emperor, I decided to send him. Act 25:26 But I have nothing definite to write to my lord Act 25:26 about him. Therefore I have brought him before Act 25:26 you, and, especially before you, King Agrippa, Act 25:26 that, after we have examined him, I may have Act 25:27 something to write. For it seems to me Act 25:27 unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to Act 26: 1 indicate the charges against him." Act 26: 1 Agrippa said to Paul, "You have permission to Act 26: 1 speak for yourself." Then Paul stretched out his Act 26: 2 hand and made his defense: Act 26: 2 "I think myself fortunate that it is before Act 26: 2 you, King Agrippa, I am to make my defense today Act 26: 3 against all the accusations of the Jews, because Act 26: 3 you are especially familiar with all customs and Act 26: 3 controversies of the Jews; therefore I beg you to Act 26: 4 listen to me patiently. Act 26: 4 "My manner of life from my youth, spent from Act 26: 4 the beginning among my own nation and at Act 26: 5 Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews. They have Act 26: 5 known for a long time, if they are willing to Act 26: 5 testify, that according to the strictest party of Act 26: 6 our religion I have lived as a Pharisee. And now I Act 26: 6 stand here on trial for hope in the promise made Act 26: 7 by God to our fathers, to which our twelve tribes Act 26: 7 hope to attain, as they earnestly worship night Act 26: 7 and day. And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O Act 26: 8 king! Why is it thought incredible by any of you Act 26: 9 that God raises the dead? Act 26: 9 "I myself was convinced that I ought to do Act 26: 9 many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Act 26:10 Nazareth. And I did so in Jerusalem; I not only Act 26:10 shut up many of the saints in prison, by authority Act 26:10 from the chief priests, but when they were put to Act 26:11 death I cast my vote against them. And I punished Act 26:11 them often in all the synagogues and tried to make Act 26:11 them blaspheme; and in raging fury against them, I Act 26:12 persecuted them even to foreign cities. Act 26:12 "Thus I journeyed to Damascus with the Act 26:13 authority and commission of the chief priests. At Act 26:13 midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from Act 26:13 heaven, brighter than the sun, shining round me Act 26:14 and those who journeyed with me. And when we had Act 26:14 all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying Act 26:14 to me in the Hebrew language, `Saul, Saul, why do Act 26:14 you persecute me? It hurts you to kick against the Act 26:15 goads.' And I said, `Who are you, Lord?' And the Act 26:16 Lord said, `I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. Act 26:16 But rise and stand upon your feet; for I have Act 26:16 appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you Act 26:16 to serve and bear witness to the things in which Act 26:16 you have seen me and to those in which I will Act 26:17 appear to you, delivering you from the people and Act 26:18 from the Gentiles -- to whom I send you to open Act 26:18 their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to Act 26:18 light and from the power of Satan to God, that Act 26:18 they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place Act 26:19 among those who are sanctified by faith in me.' Act 26:19 "Wherefore, O King Agrippa, I was not Act 26:20 disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared Act 26:20 first to those at Damascus, then at Jerusalem and Act 26:20 throughout all the country of Judea, and also to Act 26:20 the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to Act 26:21 God and perform deeds worthy of their repentance. Act 26:21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple Act 26:22 and tried to kill me. To this day I have had the Act 26:22 help that comes from God, and so I stand here Act 26:22 testifying both to small and great, saying nothing Act 26:22 but what the prophets and Moses said would come to Act 26:23 pass: that the Christ must suffer, and that, by Act 26:23 being the first to rise from the dead, he would Act 26:23 proclaim light both to the people and to the Act 26:24 Gentiles." Act 26:24 And as he thus made his defense, Festus said Act 26:24 with a loud voice, "Paul, you are mad; your great Act 26:25 learning is turning you mad." But Paul said, "I am Act 26:25 not mad, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking Act 26:26 the sober truth. For the king knows about these Act 26:26 things, and to him I speak freely; for I am Act 26:26 persuaded that none of these things has escaped Act 26:27 his notice, for this was not done in a corner. Act 26:27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know Act 26:28 that you believe." And Agrippa said to Paul, "In a Act 26:29 short time you think to make me a Christian!" And Act 26:29 Paul said, "Whether short or long, I would to God Act 26:29 that not only you but also all who hear me this Act 26:29 day might become such as I am -- except for these Act 26:30 chains." Act 26:30 Then the king rose, and the governor and Act 26:31 Berni'ce and those who were sitting with them; and Act 26:31 when they had withdrawn, they said to one another, Act 26:31 "This man is doing nothing to deserve death or Act 26:32 imprisonment." And Agrippa said to Festus, "This Act 26:32 man could have been set free if he had not Act 27: 1 appealed to Caesar." Act 27: 1 And when it was decided that we should sail Act 27: 1 for Italy, they delivered Paul and some other Act 27: 1 prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort, Act 27: 2 named Julius. And embarking in a ship of Act 27: 2 Adramyt'tium, which was about to sail to the ports Act 27: 2 along the coast of Asia, we put to sea, Act 27: 2 accompanied by Aristar'chus, a Macedo'nian from Act 27: 3 Thessaloni'ca. The next day we put in at Sidon; Act 27: 3 and Julius treated Paul kindly, and gave him leave Act 27: 4 to go to his friends and be cared for. And putting Act 27: 4 to sea from there we sailed under the lee of Act 27: 5 Cyprus, because the winds were against us. And Act 27: 5 when we had sailed across the sea which is off Act 27: 5 Cili'cia and Pamphyl'ia, we came to Myra in Act 27: 6 Ly'cia. There the centurion found a ship of Act 27: 6 Alexandria sailing for Italy, and put us on board. Act 27: 7 We sailed slowly for a number of days, and arrived Act 27: 7 with difficulty off Cni'dus, and as the wind did Act 27: 7 not allow us to go on, we sailed under the lee of Act 27: 8 Crete off Salmo'ne. Coasting along it with Act 27: 8 difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, Act 27: 9 near which was the city of Lase'a. Act 27: 9 As much time had been lost, and the voyage was Act 27: 9 already dangerous because the fast had already Act 27:10 gone by, Paul advised them, saying, "Sirs, I Act 27:10 perceive that the voyage will be with injury and Act 27:10 much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but Act 27:11 also of our lives." But the centurion paid more Act 27:11 attention to the captain and to the owner of the Act 27:12 ship than to what Paul said. And because the Act 27:12 harbor was not suitable to winter in, the majority Act 27:12 advised to put to sea from there, on the chance Act 27:12 that somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Act 27:12 Crete, looking northeast and southeast, and winter Act 27:13 there. Act 27:13 And when the south wind blew gently, supposing Act 27:13 that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed Act 27:14 anchor and sailed along Crete, close inshore. But Act 27:14 soon a tempestuous wind, called the northeaster, Act 27:15 struck down from the land; and when the ship was Act 27:15 caught and could not face the wind, we gave way to Act 27:16 it and were driven. And running under the lee of a Act 27:16 small island called Cauda, we managed with Act 27:17 difficulty to secure the boat; after hoisting it Act 27:17 up, they took measures to undergird the ship; Act 27:17 then, fearing that they should run on the Syr'tis, Act 27:18 they lowered the gear, and so were driven. As we Act 27:18 were violently storm-tossed, they began next day Act 27:19 to throw the cargo overboard; and the third day Act 27:19 they cast out with their own hands the tackle of Act 27:20 the ship. And when neither sun nor stars appeared Act 27:20 for many a day, and no small tempest lay on us, Act 27:20 all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. Act 27:21 As they had been long without food, Paul then Act 27:21 came forward among them and said, "Men, you should Act 27:21 have listened to me, and should not have set sail Act 27:22 from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. I Act 27:22 now bid you take heart; for there will be no loss Act 27:23 of life among you, but only of the ship. For this Act 27:23 very night there stood by me an angel of the God Act 27:24 to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, Act 27:24 `Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Act 27:24 Caesar; and lo, God has granted you all those who Act 27:25 sail with you.' So take heart, men, for I have Act 27:25 faith in God that it will be exactly as I have Act 27:26 been told. But we shall have to run on some Act 27:27 island." Act 27:27 When the fourteenth night had come, as we were Act 27:27 drifting across the sea of A'dria, about midnight Act 27:27 the sailors suspected that they were nearing land. Act 27:28 So they sounded and found twenty fathoms; a little Act 27:28 farther on they sounded again and found fifteen Act 27:29 fathoms. And fearing that we might run on the Act 27:29 rocks, they let out four anchors from the stern, Act 27:30 and prayed for day to come. And as the sailors Act 27:30 were seeking to escape from the ship, and had Act 27:30 lowered the boat into the sea, under pretense of Act 27:31 laying out anchors from the bow, Paul said to the Act 27:31 centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay Act 27:32 in the ship, you cannot be saved." Then the Act 27:32 soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat, and let Act 27:33 it go. Act 27:33 As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all Act 27:33 to take some food, saying, "Today is the Act 27:33 fourteenth day that you have continued in suspense Act 27:34 and without food, having taken nothing. Therefore Act 27:34 I urge you to take some food; it will give you Act 27:34 strength, since not a hair is to perish from the Act 27:35 head of any of you." And when he had said this, he Act 27:35 took bread, and giving thanks to God in the Act 27:36 presence of all he broke it and began to eat. Then Act 27:36 they all were encouraged and ate some food Act 27:37 themselves. (We were in all two hundred and Act 27:38 seventy-six persons in the ship.) And when they Act 27:38 had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, Act 27:39 throwing out the wheat into the sea. Act 27:39 Now when it was day, they did not recognize Act 27:39 the land, but they noticed a bay with a beach, on Act 27:39 which they planned if possible to bring the ship Act 27:40 ashore. So they cast off the anchors and left them Act 27:40 in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes Act 27:40 that tied the rudders; then hoisting the foresail Act 27:41 to the wind they made for the beach. But striking Act 27:41 a shoal they ran the vessel aground; the bow stuck Act 27:41 and remained immovable, and the stern was broken Act 27:42 up by the surf. The soldiers' plan was to kill the Act 27:43 prisoners, lest any should swim away and escape; Act 27:43 but the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them Act 27:43 from carrying out their purpose. He ordered those Act 27:43 who could swim to throw themselves overboard first Act 27:44 and make for the land, and the rest on planks or Act 27:44 on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all Act 28: 1 escaped to land. Act 28: 1 After we had escaped, we then learned that the Act 28: 2 island was called Malta. And the natives showed us Act 28: 2 unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and Act 28: 2 welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and Act 28: 3 was cold. Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and Act 28: 3 put them on the fire, when a viper came out Act 28: 4 because of the heat and fastened on his hand. When Act 28: 4 the natives saw the creature hanging from his Act 28: 4 hand, they said to one another, "No doubt this man Act 28: 4 is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, Act 28: 5 justice has not allowed him to live." He, however, Act 28: 5 shook off the creature into the fire and suffered Act 28: 6 no harm. They waited, expecting him to swell up or Act 28: 6 suddenly fall down dead; but when they had waited Act 28: 6 a long time and saw no misfortune come to him, Act 28: 6 they changed their minds and said that he was a Act 28: 7 god. Act 28: 7 Now in the neighborhood of that place were Act 28: 7 lands belonging to the chief man of the island, Act 28: 7 named Publius, who received us and entertained us Act 28: 8 hospitably for three days. It happened that the Act 28: 8 father of Publius lay sick with fever and Act 28: 8 dysentery; and Paul visited him and prayed, and Act 28: 9 putting his hands on him healed him. And when this Act 28: 9 had taken place, the rest of the people on the Act 28:10 island who had diseases also came and were cured. Act 28:10 They presented many gifts to us; and when we Act 28:11 sailed, they put on board whatever we needed. Act 28:11 After three months we set sail in a ship which Act 28:11 had wintered in the island, a ship of Alexandria, Act 28:12 with the Twin Brothers as figurehead. Putting in Act 28:13 at Syracuse, we stayed there for three days. And Act 28:13 from there we made a circuit and arrived at Act 28:13 Rhe'gium; and after one day a south wind sprang Act 28:14 up, and on the second day we came to Pute'oli. Act 28:14 There we found brethren, and were invited to stay Act 28:15 with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome. Act 28:15 And the brethren there, when they heard of us, Act 28:15 came as far as the Forum of Ap'pius and Three Act 28:15 Taverns to meet us. On seeing them Paul thanked Act 28:16 God and took courage. And when we came into Rome, Act 28:16 Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the Act 28:17 soldier that guarded him. Act 28:17 After three days he called together the local Act 28:17 leaders of the Jews; and when they had gathered, Act 28:17 he said to them, "Brethren, though I had done Act 28:17 nothing against the people or the customs of our Act 28:17 fathers, yet I was delivered prisoner from Act 28:18 Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. When they Act 28:18 had examined me, they wished to set me at liberty, Act 28:18 because there was no reason for the death penalty Act 28:19 in my case. But when the Jews objected, I was Act 28:19 compelled to appeal to Caesar -- though I had no Act 28:20 charge to bring against my nation. For this reason Act 28:20 therefore I have asked to see you and speak with Act 28:20 you, since it is because of the hope of Israel Act 28:21 that I am bound with this chain." And they said to Act 28:21 him, "We have received no letters from Judea about Act 28:21 you, and none of the brethren coming here has Act 28:22 reported or spoken any evil about you. But we Act 28:22 desire to hear from you what your views are; for Act 28:22 with regard to this sect we know that everywhere Act 28:23 it is spoken against." Act 28:23 When they had appointed a day for him, they Act 28:23 came to him at his lodging in great numbers. And Act 28:23 he expounded the matter to them from morning till Act 28:23 evening, testifying to the kingdom of God and Act 28:23 trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Act 28:24 law of Moses and from the prophets. And some were Act 28:24 convinced by what he said, while others Act 28:25 disbelieved. So, as they disagreed among Act 28:25 themselves, they departed, after Paul had made one Act 28:25 statement: "The Holy Spirit was right in saying to Act 28:26 your fathers through Isaiah the prophet: Act 28:26 `Go to this people, and say, Act 28:26 You shall indeed hear but never understand, Act 28:26 and you shall indeed see but never perceive. Act 28:27 For this people's heart has grown dull, Act 28:27 and their ears are heavy of hearing, Act 28:27 and their eyes they have closed; Act 28:27 lest they should perceive with their eyes, Act 28:27 and hear with their ears, Act 28:27 and understand with their heart, Act 28:27 and turn for me to heal them.' Act 28:28 Let it be known to you then that this salvation of Act 28:28 God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will Act 28:30 listen." And he lived there two whole years at his Act 28:31 own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, Act 28:31 preaching the kingdom of God and teaching about Act 28:31 the Lord Jesus Christ quite openly and unhindered.