24 Then Simon answered and said, a“Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.”
25 So when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.
Christ Is Preached to an Ethiopian
26 Now an angel of the Lord spoke to aPhilip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is 1desert.
27 So he arose and went. And behold, aa man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and bhad come to Jerusalem to worship,
28 was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was *reading Isaiah the prophet.
29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.”
30 So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the *prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you *understand what you are reading?”
31 And he said, “How *can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him.
32 The place in the Scripture which he read was this:
a“He was led as a sheep to the slaughter;
And as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
bSo He opened not His mouth.
33 In His humiliation His ajustice* was taken away,
And who will declare His generation?
For His life is btaken from the earth.”
34 So the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?”
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, aand beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.
36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. aWhat hinders me from being baptized?”
37 1Then Philip said, a“If you believe with all your *heart, you may.” And he answered and said, b“I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.
39 Now when they came up out of the water, athe Spirit of the Lord *caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing.
40 But Philip was found at 1Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to aCaesarea.
The Damascus Road: Saul Converted
9
1 Then aSaul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest
2 and asked aletters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
3 aAs he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven.
4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, awhy are you persecuting Me?”
5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 1It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”
6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7 And athe men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but *seeing no one.
8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.
9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
Ananias Baptizes Saul
10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus anamed Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”
11 So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul aof Tarsus, for behold, he is praying.
12 “And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”
13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, ahow much 1harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.
14 “And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all awho call on Your name.”
15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for ahe is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before bGentiles, ckings, and the dchildren1 of Israel.
16 “For aI will show him how many things he must suffer for My bname’s sake.”
17 aAnd Ananias went his way and entered the house; and blaying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord 1Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has *sent me that you may receive your sight and cbe filled with the Holy Spirit.”
18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.
19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. aThen Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.
Saul Preaches Christ
20 Immediately he preached 1the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.
21 Then all who heard were amazed, and said, a“Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?”
22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, aand confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.
Saul Escapes Death
23 Now after many days were past, athe Jews plotted to kill him.
24 aBut their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night, to kill him.
25 Then the disciples took him by night and alet him down through the wall in a large basket.
Saul at Jerusalem
26 And awhen Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple.
27 aBut Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, band how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
28 So ahe was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out.
29 And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the aHellenists,1 bbut they attempted to kill him.
30 When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus.
The Church Prospers
31 aThen the 1churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were bedified.2 And walking in the cfear of the Lord and in the dcomfort of the Holy Spirit, they were emultiplied.
Aeneas Healed
32 Now it came to pass, as Peter went athrough all parts of the country, that he also came down to the saints who dwelt in Lydda.
33 There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years and was paralyzed.
34 And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, aJesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed.” Then he arose immediately.
35 So all who dwelt at Lydda and aSharon saw him and bturned to the Lord.
Dorcas Restored to Life
36 At Joppa there was a certain disciple named 1Tabitha, which is translated 2Dorcas. This woman was full aof good works and charitable deeds which she did.
37 But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in aan upper room.
38 And since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them.
39 Then Peter arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him to the upper room. And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them.
40 But Peter aput them all out, and bknelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he csaid, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.
41 Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive.
42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, aand many believed on the Lord.
43 So it was that he stayed many days in Joppa with aSimon, a tanner.
Cornelius Sends a Delegation
10
1 There was a certain man in aCaesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian 1Regiment,
2 aa devout man and one who bfeared* God with all his household, who gave 1alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.
3 About 1the ninth hour of the day ahe saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!”
4 And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?” So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.
5 “Now asend men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter.
6 “He is lodging with aSimon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. bHe1 will tell you what you must do.”
7 And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually.
8 So when he had explained all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa.
Peter’s Vision
9 The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, aPeter went up on the housetop to *pray, about 1the sixth hour.
10 Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance
11 and asaw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth.
12 In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air.
13 And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”
14 But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! aFor I have never eaten anything common or unclean.”
15 And a voice spoke to him again the second time, a“What God has 1cleansed you must not call common.”
16 This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.
Summoned to Caesarea
17 Now while Peter 1wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate.
18 And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there.
19 While Peter thought about the vision, athe *Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you.
20 a“Arise therefore, go down and go with them, *doubting nothing; for I have sent them.”
21 Then Peter went down to the men 1who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, “Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?”
22 And they said, “Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and ahas a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you.”
23 Then he invited them in and lodged them. On the next day Peter went away with them, aand some brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
Peter Meets Cornelius
24 And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close *friends.
25 As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him.
26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, a“Stand up; I myself am also a man.”
27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together.
28 Then he said to them, “You know how aunlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But bGod has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
29 “Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?”
30 So Cornelius said, 1“Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, aa man stood before me bin bright clothing,
31 “and said, ‘Cornelius, ayour prayer has been heard, and byour 1alms are remembered in the sight of God.
32 ‘Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. 1When he comes, he will speak to you.’
33 “So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.”
Preaching to Cornelius’ Household
34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: a“In truth I *perceive that God shows no partiality.
35 “But ain every nation whoever fears Him and *works righteousness is baccepted by Him.
36 “The word which God sent to the 1children of Israel, apreaching *peace through Jesus Christ—bHe is Lord of all—
37 “that *word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and abegan from Galilee after the baptism which John preached:
38 “how aGod anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with *power, who bwent about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, cfor God was with Him.
39 “And we are awitnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom 1they bkilled by hanging on a tree.
40 “Him aGod raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly,
41 a“not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us bwho ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.
42 “And aHe commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify bthat it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge cof the living and the dead.
43 a“To Him all the prophets *witness that, through His name, bwhoever believes in Him will receive cremission1* of sins.”
The Holy Spirit Falls on the Gentiles
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, athe Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.
45 aAnd 1those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, bbecause the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.
46 For they heard them speak with tongues and *magnify God. Then Peter answered,
47 “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit ajust as we have?”
48 aAnd he commanded them to be baptized bin the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.
Peter Defends God’s Grace
11
1 Now the apostles and brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.
2 And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, athose of the circumcision contended with him,
3 saying, a“You went in to uncircumcised men band ate with them!”
4 But Peter explained it to them ain order from the beginning, saying:
5 a“I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object descending like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came to me.
6 “When I observed it intently and considered, I saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air.
7 “And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’
8 “But I said, ‘Not so, Lord! For nothing common or unclean has at any time entered my mouth.’
9 “But the voice answered me again from heaven, ‘What God has cleansed you must not call common.’
10 “Now this was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven.
11 “At that very moment, three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent to me from Caesarea.
12 “Then athe Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing. Moreover bthese six brethren accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house.
13 a“And he told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house, who said to him, ‘Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon whose surname is Peter,
14 ‘who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.’
15 “And as I began to speak, the *Holy Spirit fell upon them, aas upon us at the beginning.
16 “Then I remembered the *word of the Lord, how He said, a‘John indeed baptized with water, but byou shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’
17 a“If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, bwho was I that I could withstand God?”
18 When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, a“Then God has also *granted to the Gentiles repentance to *life.”
Barnabas and Saul at Antioch
19 aNow those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only.
20 But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to athe Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus.
21 And athe hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and bturned to the Lord.
22 Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out aBarnabas to go as far as Antioch.
23 When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and aencouraged them all that with *purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.
24 For he was a *good man, afull of the Holy Spirit and of *faith. bAnd a great many people were added to the Lord.
25 Then Barnabas departed for aTarsus to seek Saul.
26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
Relief to Judea
27 And in these days aprophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch.
28 Then one of them, named aAgabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of bClaudius Caesar.
29 Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send arelief to the brethren dwelling in Judea.
30 aThis they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
Herod’s Violence to the Church
12
1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church.
2 Then he killed James athe brother of John with the sword.
3 And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during athe Days of Unleavened Bread.
4 So awhen he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four 1squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.
Peter Freed from Prison
5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but 1constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.
6 And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were 1keeping the prison.
7 Now behold, aan angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands.
8 Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.”
9 So he went out and *followed him, and adid not know that what was done by the angel was *real, but thought bhe was seeing a vision.
10 When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, awhich opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.
11 And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that athe Lord has sent His angel, and bhas delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.”
12 So, when he had considered this, ahe came to the house of Mary, the mother of bJohn whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together cpraying.
13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer.
14 When she *recognized Peter’s voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate.
15 But they said to her, “You are beside yourself!” Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, a“It is his angel.”
16 Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.
17 But amotioning to them with his hand to keep silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Go, tell these things to James and to the brethren.” And he departed and went to another place.
18 Then, as soon as it was day, there was no small 1stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter.
19 But when Herod had searched for him and not found him, he examined the guards and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.
Herod’s Violent Death
20 Now Herod had been very angry with the people of aTyre and Sidon; but they came to him *with one accord, and having made Blastus 1the king’s personal aide their friend, they asked for peace, because btheir country was 2supplied with food by the king’s country.
21 So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his *throne and gave an oration to them.
22 And the people kept shouting, “The voice of a god and not of a man!”
23 Then immediately an angel of the Lord astruck him, because bhe did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and 1died.
24 But athe word of God grew and multiplied.
Barnabas and Saul Appointed
25 And aBarnabas and Saul returned 1from Jerusalem when they had bfulfilled their ministry, and they also ctook with them dJohn whose surname was Mark.
13
1 Now ain the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: bBarnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, cLucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, a“Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work bto which I have called them.”
3 Then, ahaving fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.
Preaching in Cyprus
4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to aCyprus.
5 And when they arrived in Salamis, athey preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had bJohn as their assistant.
6 Now when they had gone through 1the island to Paphos, they found aa certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus,
7 who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God.
8 But aElymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) 1withstood* them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.
9 Then Saul, who also is called Paul, afilled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him
10 and said, “O full of all deceit and all fraud, ayou son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord?
11 “And now, indeed, athe hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.” And immediately a *dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand.
12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
At Antioch in Pisidia
13 Now when Paul and his party set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia; and aJohn, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem.
14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and awent into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down.
15 And aafter the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Men and brethren, if you have bany word of 1exhortation for the people, say on.”
16 Then Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, “Men of Israel, and ayou who fear God, listen:
17 “The God of this people 1Israel achose our fathers, and exalted the people bwhen they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with 2an uplifted arm He cbrought them out of it.
18 “Now afor a time of about forty years He put up with their ways in the wilderness.
19 “And when He had destroyed aseven nations in the land of Canaan, bHe distributed their land to them by allotment.
20 “After that aHe gave them judges for about four hundred and fifty years, buntil Samuel the prophet.
21 a“And afterward they asked for a king; so God gave them bSaul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.
22 “And awhen He had *removed him, bHe raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, c‘I have found David the son of Jesse, da man after My own heart, who will do all My *will.’
23 a“From this man’s seed, according bto the promise, God raised up for Israel ca1 *Savior—Jesus—
24 a“after John had first preached, before His coming, the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
25 “And as John was finishing his course, he said, a‘Who do you think I am? I am not He. But behold, bthere comes One after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to loose.’
26 “Men and brethren, sons of the 1family of Abraham, and athose among you who fear God, bto you the 2word of this salvation has been sent.
27 “For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, abecause they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him.
28 a“And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death.
29 a“Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, bthey took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb.
30 a“But God raised Him from the dead.
31 a“He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people.
32 “And we declare to you glad tidings—athat promise which was made to the fathers.
33 “God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm:
a‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.’
34 “And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to 1corruption, He has spoken thus:
a‘I will give you the sure 2mercies of David.’
35 “Therefore He also says in another Psalm:
a‘You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption.’
36 “For David, after he had served 1his own generation by the will of God, afell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and 2saw corruption;
37 “but He whom God raised up 1saw no corruption.
38 “Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that athrough this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins;
39 “and aby Him everyone who believes is *justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.
40 “Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you:
41 ‘Behold,a you despisers,
Marvel and perish!
For I work a work in your days,
A work which you will by no means believe,
Though one were to declare it to you.’ ”
Blessing and Conflict at Antioch
42 1So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.
43 Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes *followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, apersuaded them to continue in bthe grace of God.
44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God.
45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they aopposed the things spoken by Paul.
46 Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, a“It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but bsince you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of *everlasting life, behold, cwe turn to the Gentiles.
47 “For so the Lord has commanded us:
a‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles,
That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”
48 Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. aAnd as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.
49 And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region.
50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, araised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region.
51 aBut they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and came to Iconium.
52 And the disciples awere filled with joy and bwith the Holy Spirit.
At Iconium
14
1 Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the aGreeks believed.
2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and 1poisoned their 2minds against the brethren.
3 Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, awho was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and bwonders* to be done by their hands.
4 But the multitude of the city was adivided: part sided with the Jews, and part with the bapostles.
5 And when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, ato *abuse and stone them,
6 they became aware of it and afled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region.
7 And they were preaching the gospel there.
Idolatry at Lystra
8 aAnd in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked.
9 This man heard Paul speaking. 1Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed,
10 said with a loud voice, a“Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped and walked.
11 Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, a“The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!”
12 And Barnabas they called 1Zeus, and Paul, 2Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.
13 Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, aintending to sacrifice with the multitudes.
14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, athey tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out
15 and saying, “Men, awhy are you doing these things? bWe also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from cthese useless things dto the living God, ewho made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them,
16 a“who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways.
17 a“Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, bgave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with cfood and gladness.”
18 And with these sayings they could scarcely restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them.
Stoning, Escape to Derbe
19 aThen Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, bthey stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be cdead.
20 However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.
Strengthening the Converts
21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city aand made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch,
22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, aexhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, b“We must through many *tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”
23 So when they had aappointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
24 And after they had passed through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.
25 Now when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.
26 From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed.
27 Now when they had come and gathered the church together, athey reported all that God had done with them, and that He had bopened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
28 So they stayed there a long time with the disciples.
Conflict over Circumcision
15
1 And acertain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, b“Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
2 Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that aPaul and Barnabas and certain *others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.
3 So, abeing sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, bdescribing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren.
4 And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them.
5 But some of the *sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”
The Jerusalem Council
6 Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter.
7 And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: a“Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the *gospel and believe.
8 “So God, awho knows the heart, 1acknowledged them by bgiving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us,
9 a“and made no *distinction between us and them, bpurifying their hearts by faith.
10 “Now therefore, why do you test God aby putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
11 “But awe believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus 1Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.”
12 Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had aworked through them among the Gentiles.
13 And after they had 1become silent, aJames answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me:
14 a“Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name.
15 “And with this the words of the prophets *agree, just as it is written:
16 ‘Aftera this I will return
And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down;
I will rebuild its ruins,
And I will set it up;
17 So that the rest of mankind may seek the LORD,
Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name,
Says the 1LORD who does all these things.’
18 1“Known to God from eternity are all His works.
19 “Therefore aI judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who bare turning to God,
20 “but that we awrite to them to abstain bfrom things polluted by idols, cfrom 1sexual* immorality, dfrom things strangled, and from *blood.
21 “For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, abeing read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
The Jerusalem Decree
22 Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named aBarsabas,1 and Silas, leading men among the brethren.
23 They wrote this letter by them:
The apostles, the elders, and the brethren,
To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:
Greetings.
24 Since we have heard that asome who went out from us have *troubled you with words, bunsettling your souls, 1saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law”—to whom we gave no such commandment—
25 it seemed good to us, being assembled *with one 1accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26 amen who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth.
28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:
29 athat you abstain from things offered to idols, bfrom blood, from things strangled, and from csexual1 immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.
Farewell.
Continuing Ministry in Syria
30 So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.
31 When they had read it, they rejoiced over its *encouragement.
32 Now Judas and Silas, themselves being aprophets also, bexhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words.
33 And after they had stayed there for a time, they were asent back with greetings from the brethren to 1the apostles.
34 1However, it seemed good to Silas to remain there.
35 aPaul and Barnabas also remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
Division over John Mark
36 Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.”
37 Now Barnabas 1was determined to take with them aJohn called Mark.
38 But Paul insisted that they should not take with them athe one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work.
39 Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to aCyprus;
40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, abeing 1commended by the brethren to the grace of God.
41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, astrengthening the churches.
Timothy Joins Paul and Silas
16
1 Then he came to aDerbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, bnamed Timothy, cthe son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek.
2 He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium.
3 Paul wanted to have him go on with him. And he atook him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek.
4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the adecrees to keep, bwhich were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem.
5 aSo the churches were strengthened in the faith, and *increased in number daily.
The Macedonian Call
6 Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of aGalatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the *word in 1Asia.
7 After they had come to Mysia, they *tried to go into Bithynia, but the 1Spirit did not permit them.
8 So passing by Mysia, they acame down to Troas.
9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A aman of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
10 Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go ato Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.
Lydia Baptized at Philippi
11 Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day came to Neapolis,
12 and from there to aPhilippi, which is the 1foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we were staying in that city for some days.
13 And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there.
14 Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of aThyatira, who worshiped God. bThe Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.
15 And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So ashe persuaded us.
Paul and Silas Imprisoned
16 Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl apossessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters bmuch profit by fortune-telling.
17 This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the *servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.”
18 And this she did for many days. But Paul, agreatly 1annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” bAnd he came out that very hour.
19 But awhen her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and bdragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.
20 And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, “These men, being Jews, aexceedingly trouble our city;
21 “and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.”
22 Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes aand commanded them to be beaten with rods.
23 And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely.
24 Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
The Philippian Jailer Saved
25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.
26 aSuddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately ball the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.
27 And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself.
28 But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.”
29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.
30 And he brought them out and said, a“Sirs, what must I do to be *saved?”
31 So they said, a“Believe* on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.
33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.
34 Now when he had brought them into his house, ahe set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.
Paul Refuses to Depart Secretly
35 And when it was day, the magistrates sent the 1officers, saying, “Let those men go.”
36 So the keeper of the prison reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Now therefore depart, and go in peace.”
37 But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us openly, uncondemned aRomans, and have thrown us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and get us out.”
38 And the officers told these words to the magistrates, and they were *afraid when they heard that they were Romans.
39 Then they came and pleaded with them and brought them out, and aasked them to depart from the city.
40 So they went out of the prison aand entered the house of Lydia; and when they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them and departed.
Preaching Christ at Thessalonica
17
1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to aThessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
2 Then Paul, as his custom was, awent in to them, and for three Sabbaths breasoned with them from the Scriptures,
3 explaining and demonstrating athat the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.”
4 aAnd some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and bSilas.
Assault on Jason’s House
5 But the Jews 1who were not persuaded, 2becoming aenvious,* took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of bJason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, a“These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
7 “Jason has 1harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, asaying there is another king—Jesus.”
8 And they *troubled the crowd and the rulers of the city when they heard these things.
9 So when they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.
Ministering at Berea
10 Then athe brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.
11 These were more 1fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and asearched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.
12 Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men.
13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was preached by Paul at Berea, they came there also and stirred up the crowds.
14 aThen immediately the brethren sent Paul away, to go to the sea; but both Silas and Timothy *remained there.
15 So those who conducted Paul brought him to Athens; and areceiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him with all speed, they departed.
The Philosophers at Athens
16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, ahis spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was 1given over to idols.
17 Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there.
18 1Then certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, “What does this 2babbler want to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods,” because he preached to them aJesus and the resurrection.
19 And they took him and brought him to the 1Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this *new doctrine is of which you speak?
20 “For you are bringing some strange things to our ears. Therefore we want to know what these things mean.”
21 For all the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing.
Addressing the Areopagus
22 Then Paul stood in the midst of the 1Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious;
23 “for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription:
TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.
Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you:
24 a“God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is bLord of heaven and earth, cdoes not dwell in temples made with hands.
25 “Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He agives to all life, breath, and all things.
26 “And He has made from one 1blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and athe boundaries of their dwellings,
27 a“so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, bthough He is not far from each one of us;
28 “for ain Him we live and move and have our being, bas also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’
29 “Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, awe ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising.
30 “Truly, athese times of ignorance God overlooked, but bnow commands all men everywhere to *repent,
31 “because He has appointed a day on which aHe will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by braising Him from the dead.”
32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, “We will hear you again on this matter.”
33 So Paul departed from among them.
34 However, some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
Ministering at Corinth
18
1 After these things Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth.
2 And he found a certain Jew named aAquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome); and he came to them.
3 So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them aand worked; for by occupation they were tentmakers.
4 aAnd he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.
5 aWhen Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was bcompelled* 1by the Spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.
6 But awhen they opposed him and blasphemed, bhe shook his garments and said to them, c“Your blood be upon your own heads; dI am clean. eFrom now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
7 And he departed from there and entered the house of a certain man named 1Justus, one who worshiped God, whose house was next door to the synagogue.
8 aThen Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.
9 Now athe Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent;
10 a“for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.”
11 And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
12 When Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews *with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him to the 1judgment* seat,
13 saying, “This fellow persuades men to worship God contrary to the law.”
14 And when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or wicked crimes, O Jews, there would be reason why I should *bear with you.
15 “But if it is a aquestion of words and names and your own law, look to it yourselves; for I do not want to be a judge of such matters.”
16 And he drove them from the *judgment seat.
17 Then 1all the Greeks took aSosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. But Gallio took no notice of these things.
Paul Returns to Antioch
18 So Paul still remained 1a good while. Then he took leave of the brethren and sailed for Syria, and Priscilla and Aquila were with him. aHe had his hair cut off at bCenchrea, for he had taken a vow.
19 And he came to Ephesus, and left them there; but he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.
20 When they asked him to stay a longer time with them, he did not consent,
21 but took leave of them, saying, a“I1 must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem; but I will return again to you, bGod willing.” And he sailed from Ephesus.
22 And when he had landed at aCaesarea, and 1gone up and greeted the church, he went down to Antioch.
23 After he had spent some time there, he departed and went over the region of aGalatia and Phrygia 1in order, bstrengthening all the disciples.
Ministry of Apollos
24 aNow a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and *mighty in the *Scriptures, came to Ephesus.
25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being afervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, bthough he knew only the baptism of John.
26 So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.
27 And when he desired to cross to Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him; and when he arrived, ahe greatly helped those who had believed through grace;
28 for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, ashowing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.
Paul at Ephesus
19
1 And it happened, while aApollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through bthe upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples
2 he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, a“We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”
3 And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, a“Into John’s baptism.”
4 Then Paul said, a“John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.”
5 When they heard this, they were baptized ain the name of the Lord Jesus.
