Chapter 1

Ascension and Reign of Jesus

The Ascension of Jesus

1 The former account I made, O ^a Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

2 ^b until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit ^c had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen,

3 ^d To these men He also showed Himself alive by many infallible proofs after His suffering, being seen by them forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God.

4 ^e And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have ^f heard from Me;

5 ^g for John indeed baptized with water, ^h but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

7 And He said to them, ⁱ “It is not for you to ^j know the times or the seasons that the Father has set by His own authority.

8 ^k But you will receive power ^l when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And ^m you will be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in ⁿ Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

9 ^o Now when He had spoken these things, while they were looking, ^p He was taken up and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in ^q white clothing,

11 who also said, “You men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven ^r will come in like manner as you have watched Him go into heaven.”

Replacement for Judas

12 ^s Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is a Sabbath day’s journey from Jerusalem.

13 And when they had entered the city, they went up ^t to an upper room where they were staying: ^u Peter and James and John and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and ^v Simon the Zealot, and ^w Judas the son of James.

14 ^x These all continued with one mind in prayer with ^y the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with ^z His brothers.

15 Now in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the brothers (the number ^a of the group was about a hundred and twenty), and said,

16 “Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled ^b that the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, ^c who was a guide to those who took Jesus.

17 “For ^d he was numbered with us and had obtained a part in ^e this ministry.”

18 ^f (Now this man purchased a field with ^g the reward of iniquity, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out.

19 And it became known to all who were living in Jerusalem, so that the field is called in their own language, Akeldama, that is to say, The Field of Blood.)

20 “For it is written in the book of Psalms, ^h ‘Let his habitation be desolate, and let no one dwell in it,’ and, ⁱ ‘Let another take his place.’

21 “Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us—

22 beginning from the baptism of John to that day when ^j He was taken up from us—one of these must ^k become a witness with us of His resurrection.”

23 And they set forth two, Joseph called ^l Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.

24 Then they prayed and said, “You, Lord, ^m who know the hearts of all men, show which of these two You have chosen,

25 ⁿ so that he may take part in this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, so that he might go to his own place.”

26 Then they cast their lots and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Chapter 2

The Spirit Comes upon the Apostles

The Holy Spirit Descends at Pentecost

1 Now when ^a the day of Pentecost came, ^b they were all together in one place.

2 Then suddenly there came a sound from heaven like a rushing mighty wind. And ^c it filled all the house where they were sitting.

3 Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire being distributed, and it sat upon each of them.

4 And ^d they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began ^e to speak with other languages as the Spirit gave them the ability.

International Visitors

5 Now there were Jews dwelling in Jerusalem, ^f devout men out of every nation under heaven.

6 And when this sound occurred, the ^g multitude came together. And they were confused because everyone heard them speaking in his own language.

7 And they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, “Behold, are not all these who speak ^h Galileans?

8 And how is it that we each one hear them in our own native dialects where we were born?

9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents in Mesopotamia, Judea and ⁱ Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,

10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, Jews and proselytes,

11 Cretans and Arabians; we hear them speaking in our languages the wonderful works of God.”

12 And they were all amazed and were in doubt, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”

13 Others mocking, said, “These men are full of new wine.”

Peter’s Sermon: The Kingdom Reign of Jesus

14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice and said to them, “You men of Judea and all you who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words.

15 For these men are not drunken as you suppose, ^j since it is only the third hour of the day.

16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel:

17 ‘And ^k it will come to pass in the last days,’ God says, ^l ‘that I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh. And your sons and ^m your daughters will prophesy, and your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.

18 And on My men and women bondservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. ⁿ And they will prophesy.

19 And ^o I will show wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth beneath: blood and fire and vapor of smoke.

20 ^p The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before that great and glorious day of the Lord comes.

21 And it will come to pass that ^q whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

Jesus Confirmed by God

22 You men of Israel, hear these words. Jesus of Nazareth was a Man approved by God among you ^r by mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know.

23 He ^s was delivered by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, and ^t you by lawless hands have crucified and killed.

24 But ^u God raised Him up, having loosed the pangs of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.

25 For David says concerning Him, ^v ‘I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for He is at my right hand, so that I should not be shaken.

26 Therefore, my heart rejoiced and my tongue was glad. Moreover, my flesh will also rest in hope

27 because You will not leave My soul in ^w Hades, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see ^x decay.

28 You have made known to me the ways of life. You will make me full of joy with Your presence.’

29 Brethren, let me freely speak to you ^y of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.

30 Therefore, being a prophet, ^z he knew that God had sworn to him with an oath that of the fruit of his body, He would seat one on his throne.

31 Foreseeing this, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, ^a that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see decay.

32 ^b This Jesus God has raised up, ^c to which we all are witnesses.

33 Therefore, ^d being exalted at ^e the right hand of God, and ^f having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has ^g poured out this that you now see and hear.

34 For David did not ascend into the heavens. But he says himself, ^h ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand

35 until I make Your enemies Your footstool.”’

36 Therefore, let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this same Jesus whom you have crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

The Church Begins

37 Now when they heard this, ⁱ they were cut to the heart. And they said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what will we do?”

38 Then Peter said to them, ^j “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

39 For the promise is to you and ^k to your children, and ^l to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”

40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted, saying, “Save yourselves from this perverse generation.”

41 Then those who received his word were baptized. And the same day there were added to them about three thousand souls.

42 ^m And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching, and fellowship in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

43 And fear came upon every soul. And ⁿ many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.

44 Now all who believed were together and ^o had all things in common.

45 And they sold their possessions and goods and ^p divided them to all, as everyone had need.

46 And ^q continuing daily with one accord ^r in the temple and ^s breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and sincerity of heart,

47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And ^t the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Chapter 3

Healing of a Cripple

The Lame Man Healed at the Temple Gate

1 Now Peter and John went up together ^a into the temple at the hour of prayer, ^b the ninth hour.

2 And ^c a certain man who was lame from his mother’s womb was carried to the temple, whom they laid daily at the gate that is called Beautiful, ^d to ask alms of those who entered into the temple.

3 When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked for alms.

4 Then Peter, fixing his eyes on him with John, said, “Look at us.”

5 And he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.

6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I have I give to you. ^e In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.”

7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up. And immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

8 And ^f leaping up, he stood and walked. Then he entered with them into the temple, walking and leaping and praising God.

9 ^g Now all the people saw him walking and praising God.

10 And they knew that it was he who ^h sat for alms at the gate called Beautiful of the temple. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Peter Speaks at Solomon’s Porch

11 Now as the lame man who was healed held to Peter and John, all the people, full of amazement, ran together to them at what was ⁱ called the Porch of Solomon.

12 And when Peter saw it, he answered to the people, “You men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why do you look so earnestly at us as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man walk?

13 ^j The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has ^k glorified His Son Jesus, whom you ^l delivered up and ^m denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go.

14 But you denied ⁿ the Holy and ^o Just One, and ^p asked for a murderer to be granted to you.

15 And you killed the Prince of life, ^q whom God has raised from the dead, ^r of which we are witnesses.

16 ^s And on the basis of faith in His name, this man, whom you see and know, was made strong. Yes, the faith that comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

17 And now, brethren, I know that ^t through ignorance you did it, as did also your rulers.

18 But ^u those things that God before had announced ^v by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ should suffer, He has thus fulfilled.

Call to Repentance and Restoration

19 Therefore, ^w repent and be converted so that your sins may be blotted out, in order that the times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.

20 And that He may send Christ Jesus, who was before appointed for you,

21 ^x whom heaven must receive until the times of ^y restoration of all things ^z that God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.

22 For Moses truly said to the fathers, ^a ‘A prophet will the Lord your God raise up to you from your brethren, like me. Him you will hear in all things whatever He will say to you.

23 And it will come to pass that every soul who will not hear that prophet will be destroyed from among the people.’

24 Yes, ^b all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold these days.

25 ^c You are the sons of the prophets, and of the covenant that God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ^d ‘And in your seed will all the families of the earth be blessed.’

26 God raised up His Servant Jesus and He sent Him to you ^e first to bless you ^f by turning every one of you away from his iniquities."

Chapter 4

Testimony of a True Miracle

Peter and John Before the Council

1 Now as they spoke to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the ^a Sadducees came upon them,

2 being disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

3 So they laid hands on them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.

4 But many of those who heard the word believed, and the number of the men was about five thousand.

5 Now it came to pass on the next day that their rulers and elders and scribes,

6 and ^b Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together in Jerusalem.

7 And when they had set them in their midst, they asked, ^c “By what authority or by what name have you done this?”

8 ^d Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “You rulers of the people and elders of Israel,

9 if we this day are judged for a good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he has been made whole,

10 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, ^e that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, ^f whom God raised from the dead, even by Him this man stands here before you whole.

11 He is the ^g stone which was rejected by you builders, who has become the chief cornerstone.

12 And ^h there is salvation in no other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

The Boldness of Peter and John

13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, ⁱ and perceived that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they marveled. And they took note of them, that they had been with Jesus.

14 And seeing the man who was healed ^j standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the Council, they conferred among themselves,

16 saying, ^k “What shall we do to these men? For indeed a notable miracle has been done by them and is ^l apparent to all those who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.

17 But in order that it spread no further among the people, let us sternly threaten them so that they speak no longer to anyone in this name.”

18 And ^m they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, ⁿ “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you more than to God, you judge.

20 ^o For we cannot but speak the things that ^p we have seen and heard.”

21 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way that they might punish them ^q because of the people, for all ^r glorified God for ^s what was done.

22 For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing was worked.

The Believers Pray for Boldness

23 And being let go, ^t they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.

24 Now when they heard this, they lifted up their voices to God with one accord and said, “Lord, ^u You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them,

25 who through the Holy Spirit by the mouth of our father, Your servant David, said, ^v ‘Why did the nations rage and the people devise futile things?

26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against His Christ.’

27 For ^w truly in this city there were gathered together against ^x Your holy Servant Jesus, ^y whom You have anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel,

28 ^z to do whatever Your hand and Your counsel determined before to be done.

29 “And now, Lord, behold their threats and grant to Your servants ^a that with all boldness they may speak Your word,

30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, ^b and that signs and wonders may be done ^c through the name of ^d Your holy Servant Jesus.”

31 Now when they had prayed, ^e the place was shaken where they were assembled together. Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, ^f and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

Fellowship of the Believers

32 Now the multitude of those who believed ^g were of one heart and one soul, ^h and no one said that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.

33 And with ⁱ great power the apostles gave ^j witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and ^k great grace was upon them all.

34 Nor was there any among them who lacked, ^l for as many as were owners of land or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold

35 ^m and laid them at the apostles’ feet. ⁿ And distribution was made to everyone according as each had need.

36 And Joseph, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas (which is translated, The Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus,

37 ^o having land, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Chapter 5

Ananias and Sapphira

1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession.

2 And he kept back some of the price, his wife also being aware of it. And he brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

3 ^a But Peter said, “Ananias, why has ^b Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land?

4 While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your own authority? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God.”

5 And as he heard these words, Ananias ^c fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came on all those who heard these things.

6 And the young men arose, ^d wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.

7 Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.

8 And Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?” And she said, “Yes, for so much.”

9 Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together ^e to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and will carry you out.”

10 ^f Then she fell down immediately at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband.

11 And ^g great fear came upon all the church and upon as many as heard these things.

Witness of the Apostles

12 And ^h by the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. ⁱ And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch.

13 And ^j the rest did not dare join with them, ^k but the people highly esteemed them.

14 And all the more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.

15 As a result, they brought out the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and pallets so ^l that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.

16 There also came a multitude out of the cities around Jerusalem, bringing ^m sick people and those who were afflicted with unclean spirits. And they were all being healed.

Persecution of the Apostles

17 ⁿ Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (that is the sect of the Sadducees), and were filled with indignation.

18 And ^o they laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison.

19 But during the night ^p the angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out. And he said,

20 “Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people ^q all the words of this life.”

21 Now when they heard this, they entered into the temple early in the morning and taught. ^r But the high priest came and those who were with him. And they called the Council together and all the Senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.

22 But when the officers came and did not find them in the prison, they returned and reported,

23 saying, “Truly, we found the prison securely shut and the guards standing before the doors. But when we opened the doors, we found no man inside!”

24 Now when ^s the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard these things, they wondered what the result would be to this.

25 Then one came and told them, “Behold, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple courtyard and teaching the people.”

26 Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, ^t for they feared the people, lest they might be stoned.

27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the Council. And the high priest asked them,

28 saying, ^u “Did we not strictly command you that you should not teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching ^v and intend to bring this Man’s ^w blood upon us!”

29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, ^x “We must obey God rather than men.

30 ^y The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed and ^z hanged on a tree.

31 ^a God has exalted Him to His right hand to be a ^b Prince and a ^c Savior, ^d to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.

32 “And ^e we are His witnesses of these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit ^f whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

33 When they heard this, they were ^g cut to the heart and plotted to kill them.

34 Then one in the Council stood up, a Pharisee named ^h Gamaliel, a doctor of the law respected among all the people. And he commanded them to put the apostles out for a short time.

35 Then he said to them, “You men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do concerning these men.

36 “For some time ago Theudas rose up, boasting himself to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves with him. But he was killed, and as many as followed him were scattered and brought to nothing.

37 “After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the taxing. And he drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all those who followed him were scattered.

38 “And now I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone. For if their purpose or this work is from men, it will come to nothing.

39 ⁱ But if it is from God, you cannot overthrow it, lest you even be found ^j fighting against God.”

40 So they agreed with him. And after they ^k called the apostles ^l and had beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus. Then they let them go.

41 So they departed from the presence of the council, ^m rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.

42 And daily ⁿ in the temple and in every house, ^o they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

Chapter 6

The Seven Servants

1 Now in those days ^a when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a murmuring of the ^b Grecian Jews against the Hebraic Jews, because their widows were neglected ^c in the daily distribution of food.

2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples and said, ^d “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.

3 “Therefore, brethren, ^e look out from among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may designate over this ^f business.

4 “But we ^g will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. Then they chose Stephen, ^h a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and ⁱ Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and ^j Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch.

6 And these they set before the apostles. Now ^k when they had prayed, they ^l laid their hands on them.

7 So ^m the word of God increased. And the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly. And a great company ⁿ of the priests were obedient to the faith.

8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, did great ^o wonders and miracles among the people.

9 Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen.

10 Now ^p they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spoke.

11 ^q Then they secretly stirred up men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”

12 So they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes. Then they came upon him and caught him. And they brought him to the Council.

13 Then they set up false witnesses who said, “This man does not cease to speak words against this holy place and the law.

14 ^r For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses delivered us.”

15 Then all who sat in the Council, looking steadfastly on him, saw his face as it was the face of an angel.

Chapter 7

Stephen’s History of Israel

1 Then the high priest said, “Are these things so?”

2 And he said, ^a “Men, brethren, and fathers, listen. The ^b God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in ^c Haran.

3 “And He said to him, ^d ‘Get out of your country and from your relatives, and come into the land that I will show you.’

4 “Then ^e he came out of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Haran. And from there, when his father was ^f dead, he moved him into this land in which you now dwell.

5 “And He gave him no inheritance in it, not even enough to set his foot on. But when he had no child, ^g He promised to give it to him as a possession, and to his descendants after him.

6 “And God spoke in this way, ^h that his seed would dwell in a foreign land and be brought into ⁱ bondage and mistreated four hundred years.

7 ^j ‘And the nation to whom they will be in bondage I will ^k judge,’ said God, ^l ‘and after that they will come out and serve Me in this place.’

8 “And ^m He gave him the covenant of circumcision. And ⁿ so Abraham begot Isaac and circumcised him the eighth day. ^o Isaac begot Jacob, and ^p Jacob begot the twelve patriarchs.

9 “And ^q the patriarchs became jealous of Joseph and ^r sold him into Egypt. ^s But God was with him,

10 “and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and ^t gave him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. And he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.

11 ^u “Now there came a famine and great affliction over all the land of Egypt and Canaan. And our fathers found no food.

12 “But ^v when Jacob heard there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first.

13 “On the ^w second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family was made known to Pharaoh.

14 ^x “Then Joseph sent and called his father Jacob and ^y all his relatives, seventy-five souls.

15 ^z “So Jacob went down to Egypt, ^a and he died, he and our fathers.

16 “Then ^b they were carried back to Shechem and laid in ^c the tomb that Abraham had purchased from the sons of Hamor in Shechem for a sum of money.

17 “But when ^d the time of the promise drew near that God had sworn to Abraham, ^e the people grew and multiplied in Egypt

18 “until another king ^f arose who did not know Joseph.

19 “This king dealt treacherously with our people and ill-treated our fathers, ^g forcing them to throw out their babies so that they would not live.

20 ^h “In that time Moses was born, and he ⁱ was well pleasing to God, and nurtured in his father’s house three months.

21 “Now ^j when he was set out, ^k Pharaoh’s daughter took him away and nurtured him as her own son.

22 “And Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was ^l mighty in words and in deeds.

23 ^m “When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel.

24 “Seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him and avenged him who was oppressed, and struck down the Egyptian,

25 “for he supposed his brethren would have understood that God by his hand would deliver them. But they did not understand.

26 “And the next day he appeared to them as they were fighting together and tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brethren. Why do you wrong one another?’

27 “But he who did his neighbor wrong pushed him away, saying, ⁿ ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us?’

28 ‘Will you kill me as you did the Egyptian yesterday?’

29 ^o “Then at this saying Moses fled and became a foreigner in the land of Midian, where he ^p had two sons.

30 “Now ^q when forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai in a flame of fire in a bush.

31 “When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight. As he drew near to observe, the voice of the Lord came to him,

32 “saying, ^r ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ Then Moses shook with fear and dared not look.

33 ^s “Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.

34 I have ^t seen the oppression of My people in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come down to deliver them. Now come, I will ^u send you to Egypt.’

35 “This Moses whom they rejected, saying, ^v ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’—is the one God sent to be a ruler and deliverer ^w by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush.

36 ^x “He brought them out after ^y showing wonders and signs in Egypt, ^z at the Red Sea, and ^a in the wilderness forty years.

37 “This is that Moses who said to the children of Israel, ^b ‘A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you from your brethren, like unto me.’

38 ^c “This is the one who was in the assembly in the wilderness with ^d the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, ^e who received the living ^f oracles to give to us.

39 “Our fathers ^g would not obey him but rejected him, and in their hearts turned back to Egypt,

40 ^h “saying to Aaron, ‘Make us gods to go before us. As for this Moses who brought us out of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’

41 “And ⁱ they made a calf and offered sacrifice to the idol, and ^j rejoiced in the works of their own hands.

42 “Then ^k God turned and gave them up to worship ^l the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the Prophets, ^m ‘O house of Israel, did you offer Me slain animals and sacrifices forty years in the wilderness?

43 You took up the tabernacle of Moloch and the star of your god Remphan, figures which you made to worship. And ⁿ I will carry you away beyond Babylon.’

44 “Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as He appointed, speaking to Moses ^o that he should make it according to the pattern he had seen.

45 “And ^p having received it in their turn, our fathers brought it with Joshua into the land of the Gentiles, ^q whom God drove out before our fathers, until the ^r days of David,

46 ^s “who found favor before God and ^t asked to find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.

47 “But ^u Solomon built Him a house.

48 “However, ^v the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says:

49 ‘Heaven ^w is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What house will you build for Me?’ says the Lord, ‘Or what is the place of My rest?

50 Has not My hand ^x made all these things?’

51 “You ^y stiff-necked and ^z uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.

52 ^a “Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of ^b the Just One, of whom you have now become the betrayers and murderers,

53 ^c “you who received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.”

Stoning of Stephen

54 ^d When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth.

55 But he, ^e being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven and saw the ^f glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.

56 And he said, “Behold, ^g I see the heavens opened and the ^h Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord.

58 They cast him out of the city and stoned him. And ⁱ the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.

59 They stoned Stephen as he called upon the Lord and said, “Lord Jesus, ^j receive my spirit.”

60 Then he kneeled down and cried with a loud voice, ^k “Lord, do not lay this sin to their charge.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.

Chapter 8

Persecution of the Disciples

1 Now Saul was consenting to his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church that was at Jerusalem. And ^a they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and ^b made great lamentation over him.

3 As for Saul, ^c he made havoc of the church, entering into every house and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.

Philip in Samaria

4 Therefore, ^d those who were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word.

5 Then ^e Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.

6 Now the people with one accord gave attention to those things that Philip spoke, hearing and seeing the signs that he did.

7 For ^f unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed. And many who were paralyzed and lame were healed.

8 And there was great joy in that city.

Simon the Sorcerer

9 But there was a certain man called Simon, who formerly in the city ^g practiced magic and ^h astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great.

10 They all, from the least to the greatest, gave heed to him, saying, “This man is the great power of God.”

11 Now they were giving heed to him because he had for a long time astonished them with his sorceries.

12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things ⁱ concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

13 Then Simon himself also believed. And when he was baptized, he continued with Philip. And he was amazed, seeing the mighty works and signs that were done.

14 Now when the ^j apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John,

15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them ^k so that they might receive the Holy Spirit.

16 For ^l as yet He had fallen on none of them. ^m They were only baptized in ⁿ the name of the Lord Jesus.

17 Then ^o they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

18 Now when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,

19 saying, “Give me also this authority, so that on whom I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit.”

20 But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because ^p you thought that ^q the gift of God could be purchased with money.

21 “You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your ^r heart is not right in the sight of God.

22 “Therefore, repent of this your wickedness and pray the Lord that, ^s if possible, the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.

23 “For I perceive that you are ^t full of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.”

24 Then Simon answered and said, ^u “Pray to the Lord for me so that none of these things that you have spoken come upon me.”

25 Now when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

The Ethiopian Eunuch

26 And an angel of the Lord spoke to ^v Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert.

27 So he arose and went. And behold, ^w a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and ^x had come to Jerusalem to worship,

28 was returning and sitting in his chariot. And he was reading Isaiah the prophet.

29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and join this chariot.”

30 So Philip ran up and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. And he said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

31 And he said, “How can I, except someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

32 The place of the Scripture that he was reading was this: ^y “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter. And as a lamb silent before its shearer, ^z so He did not open His mouth.

33 In His humiliation His ^a judgment was taken away. And who will declare His generation? For His life is ^b taken from the earth.”

34 Then 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, ^c and beginning at this Scripture he preached Jesus to him.

36 Now as they went along the road they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water! ^d What hinders me from being baptized?”

37 [And Philip said, ^e “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, ^f “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”]

38 Then he commanded the chariot to stand still. And they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.

39 Now when they came up out of the water, ^g the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip so that the eunuch saw him no more. And he went on his way rejoicing.

40 But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities until he came to ^h Caesarea.

Chapter 9

The Call of Paul

1 Now ^a Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest.

2 And he asked from him ^b letters to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

3 And ^c as he journeyed, he came near Damascus. Then suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven.

4 And he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, ^d why are you persecuting Me?”

5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And the Lord said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.

6 “But arise and go into the city, and it will be told you what you must do.”

7 Now ^e the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing the sound, but seeing no one.

8 Now Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened, he could see nothing. But they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus.

9 Now he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus ^f named Ananias. And to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”

11 Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street that is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul ^g of Tarsus, for he is praying.

12 “And he has seen in a vision 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, ^h how much evil he has done to Your saints at Jerusalem.

14 “And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all ⁱ who call on Your name.”

15 But the Lord said to him, “Go your way, ^j for he is a chosen vessel to Me, to bear My name before the ^k Gentiles and ^l kings and the ^m children of Israel.

16 “For ⁿ I will show him how many things he must suffer for My ^o name’s sake.”

17 ^p So Ananias went his way and entered into the house. And ^q putting his hands on him, said, “Brother Saul, the Lord who appeared to you on the road as you came has sent me so that you might receive your sight and ^r be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

18 Then immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales. And he received his sight and arose and was baptized.

19 Now when he had received food, he was strengthened. ^s Then Saul spent some days with the disciples who were at Damascus.

Beginning of Paul’s Ministry

20 And immediately he preached Jesus in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.

21 But all who heard him were amazed, and said, ^t “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and came here for that intent, that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?”

22 But Saul increased more in strength ^u and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.

23 Now after many days had passed, ^v the Jews plotted to kill him.

24 ^w But their plot became known to Saul. And they were watching the gates day and night to kill him.

25 Then the disciples took him by night and ^x let him down by the wall in a basket.

26 And ^y when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to associate with the disciples, but they were all afraid of him. And they did not believe that he was a disciple.

27 ^z But 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, ^a and how he had preached boldly in Damascus in the name of Jesus.

28 And ^b he was with them in Jerusalem coming in and going out.

29 And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the ^c Grecian Jews. ^d But they attempted to kill him.

30 When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus.

31 ^e Then the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and were ^f edified. And walking in the ^g fear of the Lord and in the ^h comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were ⁱ multiplied.

Aeneas and Dorcas

32 Now it came to pass as Peter passed ^j throughout all those regions, he came down also to the saints who dwelt at Lydda.

33 And there he found a certain man named Aeneas who had been bedridden eight years, for he was paralyzed.

34 Then Peter said to him, “Aeneas, ^k Jesus Christ makes you whole. Arise and make your bed.” And he arose immediately.

35 Now all who dwelt at Lydda and ^l Sharon saw him and ^m turned to the Lord.

36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, who by translation is called Dorcas. This woman was full ⁿ of good works and charitable works that she did.

37 Now it came to pass in those days that she was sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an ^o upper room.

38 And since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent to him two men, asking him that he would not delay to come to them.

39 Then Peter arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him into the upper room. And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the coats and garments that Dorcas made while she was with them.

40 But Peter ^p put them all out. And he ^q kneeled down and prayed. And turning to the body he ^r said, “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 Now this became known throughout all Joppa, ^s and many believed on the Lord.

43 So it came to pass that he stayed many days in Joppa with one ^t Simon a tanner.

Chapter 10

Cornelius

1 There was a certain man in ^a Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian cohort,

2 ^b a devout man, and one who ^c feared God with all his house, who gave many alms to the people, and always prayed to God.

3 About the ninth hour of the day ^d he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God coming in to him, and saying to him, “Cornelius.”

4 Now when he looked on him, he was afraid. And he said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.

5 “And now, ^e send men to Joppa and call for Simon whose surname is Peter.

6 “He is staying with ^f Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. ^g He will tell you what you must do.”

7 Now when the angel who spoke to Cornelius had departed, he called two of his household servants and a devout soldier of those who waited on him continually.

8 And when he had explained all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa.

Peter’s Vision

9 On the next day, as they went on their journey and drew near to the city, about the sixth hour ^h Peter went up on the housetop to pray.

10 And he became very hungry, and wanted to eat. But while they made ready, he fell into a trance.

11 Then he ⁱ saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet descending to the ground by four corners.

12 In it were all kinds of four-footed beasts of the earth, wild beasts and creeping things, and birds of the air.

13 And there came a voice to him, “Rise, Peter. Kill and eat.”

14 But Peter said, “Not so, Lord, ^j for I have never eaten anything common or unclean.”

15 Then the voice spoke to him again the second time, ^k “What God has cleansed, you must not consider common.”

16 This was done three times. And the object was taken up again into heaven.

17 Now while Peter was perplexed in himself what this vision that he had seen meant, behold, the men who were sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house. And they stood before the gate.

18 Then they called and asked whether Simon, who was surnamed Peter, was lodging there.

19 While Peter thought about the vision, ^l the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you.”

20 ^m “Arise therefore, and go down and go with them, doubting nothing, for I have sent them.”

21 Then Peter went down to the men and said, “Behold, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?”

22 And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a just man, and one who fears God and ⁿ has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear words from you.”

23 Then he called them in and lodged them. And on the next day Peter went away with them, ^o and some brethren from Joppa accompanied him.

Conversion of Cornelius

24 Now the following day they entered Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends.

25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him.

26 But Peter took him up, saying, ^p “Stand up. I myself also am a man.”

27 Now as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together.

28 Then he said to them, “You know that it is an ^q unlawful thing for a man who is a Jew to keep company with or come to one of another nation. But ^r God has showed me that I should not call anyone common or unclean.

29 “Therefore, I came to you without any objection as soon as I was sent for. Therefore, I ask for what reason you have sent for me?”

30 Then Cornelius said, “Four days ago to this hour I was praying in my house during the ninth hour. And behold, ^s a man stood before me ^t in shining clothes.

31 “And he said, ‘Cornelius, ^u your prayer has been heard and ^v your alms have been remembered in the sight of God.

32 ‘Therefore, send to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodged by the sea in the house of Simon a tanner.’

33 “Immediately, therefore, I sent to you and you have been kind to come. Now therefore, we are all here present before God to hear all things that are commanded you by the Lord.”

34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said, ^w “Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons.

35 “But ^x in every nation he who fears Him and works righteousness is ^y accepted by Him.

36 “The word that God sent to the children of Israel, ^z preaching peace through Jesus Christ—^a He is Lord of all—

37 “that word, I say, you know. That word was published throughout all Judea, ^b beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John preached:

38 “how ^c God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He ^d went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, ^e for God was with Him.

39 “And we are ^f witnesses of all things that He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they also ^g killed by hanging Him on a tree.

40 ^h “God raised Him up the third day and granted that He be manifested,

41 ⁱ “not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us ^j who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead.

42 “And ^k He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify ^l that it is He who was ordained by God to be the Judge ^m of the living and the dead.

43 ⁿ “To Him all the prophets bear witness, that through His name ^o everyone who believes in Him will receive ^p remission of sins.”

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, ^q the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the word.

45 And ^r those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, ^s because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out also on the Gentiles.

46 For they heard them speak with languages and magnify God. Then Peter answered,

47 “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit ^t as well as we?”

48 ^u And he commanded them to be baptized ^v in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for a few days.

Chapter 11

Explaining Gentile Evangelism

1 Now the apostles and brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.

2 So when Peter came up to Jerusalem, ^a those who were of the circumcision disputed with him,

3 saying, ^b “You went in to uncircumcised men ^c and ate with them.”

4 But Peter rehearsed the matter from ^d the beginning, and explained it in order to them, saying,

5 ^e “I was in the city of Joppa praying. And in a trance I saw a vision, a certain object descending like a great sheet lowered by four corners from the sky. And it came even to me.

6 “When I gazed on it intently and was observing it, I saw four-footed animals of the earth and wild beasts and creeping things and birds of the air.

7 “Then I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Arise, Peter. Kill and eat.’

8 “But I said, ‘Not so, Lord. For nothing common or unclean has at any time entered into my mouth.’

9 “But the voice answered me again from heaven, ‘What God has cleansed, you must no longer call common.’

10 “And this was done three times, and everything was drawn up again into heaven.

11 “And behold, at that moment there were three men already at the house where I was staying, having been sent to me from Caesarea.

12 “And ^f the Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing. Moreover, ^g these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man’s house.

13 ^h “And he showed us how he had seen an angel in his house who stood and 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 house will be saved.’

15 “And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just ⁱ as on us at the beginning.

16 “Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ^j ‘John indeed baptized with water, but ^k you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’

17 ^l “Therefore, if God gave them the like gift as He also gave to us after having believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand against God?”

18 When they heard these things, they held their peace and glorified God, saying, ⁿ “Then God has also granted repentance to life to the Gentiles.”

The Disciples in Antioch

19 ^o Now those who were scattered abroad after the persecution that arose over Stephen, traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, preaching the word to no one except the Jews.

20 And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to ^p the Greeks, preaching the Lord Jesus.

21 And ^q the hand of the Lord was with them. And a great number believed and ^r turned to the Lord.

22 Then news of these things came to the ears of the church that was in Jerusalem. And they sent ^s Barnabas off to Antioch.

23 Now when he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad. And he ^t encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they remain faithful to the Lord.

24 For he was a good man, and ^u full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. ^v And many people were added to the Lord.

25 Then Barnabas went to ^w Tarsus to look for Saul.

26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And it came to pass for a whole year that they assembled with the church and taught many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

27 Now at this time ^x prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.

28 Then one of them named ^y Agabus stood up and signified by the Spirit that there would be a great famine throughout all the world. And this came to pass in the days of ^z Claudius Caesar.

29 Then the disciples, everyone according to his ability, determined to send ^a relief to the brethren who dwelt in Judea.

30 ^b This they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

Chapter 13

Paul and Barnabas Sent Out

1 Now there were ^a in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers: ^b Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and ^c Lucius of Cyrene, and 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, “Separate for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work ^e to which I have called them.”

3 Then when ^f they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

Mission to Cyprus

4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they departed to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to ^g Cyprus.

5 Now when they were at Salamis, ^h they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had ⁱ John as their apprentice.

6 Now when they had gone through the whole island to Paphos, they found ^j a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus,

7 who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and desired to hear the word of God.

8 But ^k Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the deputy away from the faith.

9 Then Saul, who is also called Paul, ^l filled with the Holy Spirit, fixed his gaze on him,

10 And he said, “You who are full of all deceit and all fraud, ^m you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the right ways of the Lord?

11 “And now, behold, ⁿ the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.” And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness. And he went about seeking someone to lead him by the hand.

12 Then the deputy, when he saw what had happened, believed, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

Mission to Antioch

13 Now when Paul and his company set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia. But ^o John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem.

14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia. And they ^p went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down.

15 And ^q after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Men and brethren, if you have ^r any word of exhortation for the people, say it.”

16 Then Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand, said, “Men of Israel, and ^s you who fear God, listen.

17 “The God of this people ^t chose our fathers and exalted the people ^u when they dwelt as foreigners in the land of Egypt. And with an uplifted arm, He ^v brought them out of it.

18 “For a period of about forty years He was ^w forbearing with them in the wilderness.

19 “And when He had destroyed ^x seven nations in the land of Canaan, ^y He divided their land to them by lot—

20 “which all took about four hundred and fifty years. And after these things ^z He gave them judges ^a until Samuel the prophet.

21 “Then they asked for a king. So God gave to them ^c Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.

22 “And ^d when He had removed him, ^e He raised up for them David to be their king, to whom He also gave testimony and said, ^f ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, ^g a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’

23 “From this man’s seed, according ⁱ to promise, God raised up for Israel ^j a Savior, Jesus,

24 “after John had first preached before His coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

25 “And as John was completing his ministry, he said, ^l ‘Who do you think I am? I am not He. But behold, ^m there is One coming after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’

26 “Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and ⁿ whoever among you fears God, ^o to you the word of this salvation has been sent.

27 “For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, ^p because they did not know Him, nor the voices of the prophets who are read every Sabbath, they have fulfilled them in condemning Him.

28 “And ^q though they found no grounds for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be killed.

29 “Now when they had fulfilled all that was written about Him, ^s they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb.

30 “But ^t God raised Him from the dead.

31 “And ^u 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 “Now we declare to you the good news, ^v that promise which was made to the fathers,

33 “that God has fulfilled the same to us their children in that He has raised up Jesus, as it is also written in the second Psalm, ^w ‘You are My Son. This day I have begotten You.’

34 “Now concerning the fact that He raised Him up from the dead no more to return to decay, He said on this, ^x ‘I will give You the sure mercies of David.’

35 “Therefore, He says also in another Psalm, ^y ‘You will not allow Your Holy One to see decay.’

36 “For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, ^z fell asleep. And he was laid with his fathers and saw decay.

37 “But He whom God raised up saw no decay.

38 “Therefore, let it be known to you, brethren, that ^a through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins,

39 “and ^b by Him all who believe are justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.

40 “Beware therefore, lest that come on you which is spoken in the prophets,

41 ‘Behold, ^c you despisers, and marvel and perish! For I work a work in your days, a work that you will in no way believe, though a man declare it to you.’”

42 And when they went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles kept begging that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.

43 Now when the assembly was broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, ^d persuaded them to continue in ^e the 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 ^f opposed those things that were spoken by Paul.

46 Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, ^g “It was necessary that the word of God should first be spoken to you. ^h Since you reject it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, ⁱ we turn to the Gentiles.

47 “For so has the Lord commanded us, ^j ‘I have set you to be a light of the Gentiles so that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’”

48 Then when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. ^k And as many as were disposed unto eternal life believed.

49 So the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.

50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the leading men of the city, and ^l raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their district.

51 ^m But they shook off the dust of their feet against them and came to Iconium.

52 And the disciples ⁿ were filled with joy and ^o with the Holy Spirit.

Chapter 14

Mission to Iconium

1 Now it came to pass in Iconium that they went together into the synagogue of the Jews. And so they spoke so that a great multitude, both of the Jews and of the ^a Greeks, believed.

2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and embittered their minds against the brethren.

3 Therefore, they stayed there a long time speaking boldly in the Lord, ^b who gave testimony to the word of His grace, granting signs and ^c wonders to be done by their hands.

4 But the multitude of the city was ^d divided. Some sided with the Jews and some with the ^e apostles.

5 And when there was an attempt made both by the Gentiles and by the Jews with their rulers ^f to mistreat and stone them,

6 they became aware of it and ^g fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region.

7 And there they preached the gospel.

Mission to Lystra and Derbe

8 And ^h there sat a certain man at Lystra without strength in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb who had never walked.

9 This man heard Paul speaking. Paul then looked intently on him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,

10 he said with a loud voice, ⁱ “Stand up on your feet.” And he leaped and walked.

11 And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the language of Lycaonia, ^j “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men.”

12 So they called Barnabas, Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the leading speaker.

13 Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates. And he ^k wanted to offer sacrifice with the people.

14 But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of it, ^l they tore their clothes and ran in among the people, crying out

15 and saying, “Men, ^m why are you doing these things? ⁿ We also are men with the same nature as you. And we preach to you that you should turn from ^o these useless things ^p to the living God ^q who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all things that are in them,

16 ^r who in past generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways.

17 ^s Nevertheless, He did not leave Himself without witness in that He did good and ^t gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with ^u food and gladness.”

18 And saying these things they scarcely restrained the multitudes from offering sacrifice to them.

19 ^v Then Jews came there from Antioch and Iconium, who, having persuaded the people, ^w stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be ^x dead.

20 However, as the disciples stood around him, he rose up and came into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

Return to Antioch of Syria

21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and ^y had taught many, they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch,

22 confirming the souls of the disciples and ^z exhorting them to continue in the faith, and teaching that ^a we must through many afflictions enter into the kingdom of God.

23 And when they had ^b designated elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord on whom they believed.

24 Now after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.

25 And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.

26 Now from there they sailed to Antioch, from where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they fulfilled.

27 Now when they had come and gathered the church together, ^c they reported all that God had done with them and how He had ^d opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

28 So there they remained a long time with the disciples.

Chapter 15

Defense Against Legal Religiosity

1 Now ^a certain men who came down from Judea taught the brethren, ^b “Except you are circumcised after the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

2 Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, they determined that ^c Paul and Barnabas, and certain others of them, should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this question.

3 Therefore, ^d being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, ^e explaining the conversion of the Gentiles. And they caused great joy to all the brethren.

4 Now when they came to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and elders. And they reported all things that God had done with them.

5 But there rose up some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”

6 Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter.

7 And when there had been much debate, Peter rose up and said to them, ^f “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God made a choice among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe.

8 “And God, ^g who knows the hearts, testified to them, ^h giving them the Holy Spirit just as He also did to us.

9 “And ⁱ He put no distinction between us and them, ^j purifying their hearts by the faith.

10 “Now therefore, why do you test God ^k by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

11 “But ^l we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus we will be saved in the same way as they.”

12 Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring what signs and wonders God had ^m worked among the Gentiles through them.

13 And after they stopped speaking, ⁿ James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me.

14 ^o Simeon 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, as it is written,

16 ‘After ^p this I will return and will build again the tabernacle of David that is fallen down. And I will build again the ruins of it. And I will set it up,

17 so that the rest of mankind may seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by My name, says the Lord who does these things,

18 and makes them known from the beginning of the ages.’

19 “Therefore, ^q my judgment is that we not trouble those from among the Gentiles who ^r are turning to God,

20 “but that we ^s write to them that they abstain ^t from things polluted by idols, and ^u from fornication, and ^v from things strangled, and from blood.

21 “For Moses from ancient generations has in every city those who preach him, ^w being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

Letter to the Gentile Disciples

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 named ^x Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren.

23 And they wrote this letter by them: “The apostles and elders and brethren send greetings to the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.

24 “Since we have heard that ^y some went out from us, to whom we gave no commandment, have troubled you with their words, ^z unsettling your souls,

25 “it seemed good to us, being assembled with one mind, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

26 ^a men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

27 “Therefore, we have sent Judas and Silas, who will also tell you the same things by word of mouth.

28 “For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us, to lay on you no greater burden than these necessary things:

29 ^b that you abstain from things offered to idols, and ^c from blood, and from things strangled, and from ^d fornication. If you keep yourselves free from these, you will do well. Farewell.”

30 So when they were sent away, they came to Antioch. And when they gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.

31 When they read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement.

32 And Judas and Silas, ^e being prophets also themselves, ^f exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words.

33 Now after they had stayed there for a time, they were ^g sent away in peace from the brethren to those who sent them.

34 But it seemed good to Silas to remain there.

35 ^h Paul and Barnabas also continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord with many others also.

Disagreement over Mark

36 Now after some days, Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go again and visit our brothers in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.”

37 And Barnabas desired to take with them ⁱ John, whose surname was Mark.

38 But Paul did not think it good to take with them ^j the one who departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work.

39 Now the disagreement was so sharp between them that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to ^k Cyprus,

40 and Paul chose Silas and departed, ^l being commended by the brothers to the grace of God.

41 So he went through Syria and Cilicia, ^m strengthening the churches.

Chapter 16

Paul, Silas and Timothy

1 Then he came to ^a Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, ^b named Timothy, ^c the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was a Greek.

2 He was well spoken of by the brethren who were in Lystra and Iconium.

3 Paul wanted to have him go with him. So he ^d took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those regions, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

4 Now as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the ^e decrees to observe ^f that were decided upon by the apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem.

5 ^g So the churches were strengthened in the faith and increased in number daily.

Call to Macedonia

6 Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of ^h Galatia, and having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia,

7 and after they came to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia. But the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.

8 Now passing by Mysia, they ⁱ came down to Troas.

9 Then a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A ^j man of Macedonia was standing and pleading to him, and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”

10 Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go ^k into Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Conversion of Lydia’s Household

11 Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day to Neapolis,

12 and from there to ^l Philippi, which is the principal city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we were staying in that city for some days.

13 Now on the Sabbath we went out of the city to a riverside where prayer was customarily made. And we sat down and spoke to the women who had assembled.

14 Now a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple from the city of ^m Thyatira, who worshiped God, heard us. ⁿ The Lord opened her heart to give heed to 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.” And ^o she persuaded us.

Paul and Silas in Prison

16 Now it came to pass as we went to prayer, a certain slave girl ^p possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters ^q much profit by fortune-telling.

17 This girl followed Paul and us. And she cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God who proclaim to you the way of salvation.”

18 Now she did this for many days. But ^r being greatly annoyed, Paul turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” ^s And it came out the same hour.

19 Now ^t when her masters saw that the hope of their profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and ^u dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities.

20 So they brought them to the magistrates, saying, “These men, being Jews, ^v exceedingly trouble our city.”

21 “And they teach customs that are not lawful for us to accept nor to observe, being Romans.”

22 Then the multitude rose up together against them. And the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods.

23 Now when they had laid many stripes on them, they cast them into prison, commanding the jailor to keep them securely.

24 Having received such a command, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

Conversion of the Jailor

25 But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God. And the prisoners heard them.

26 Then ^x suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately ^y all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.

27 And the jailor of the prison, awaking out of his sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had fled.

28 But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.”

29 Then he called for a light and rushed in. And trembling with fear, he fell down before Paul and Silas.

30 Then he brought them out and said, ^z “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

31 And they said, ^a “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you and your household will be saved.”

32 And they spoke to him the word of the Lord, and to all who were in his house.

33 Then he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he was baptized, he and all his household.

34 Now when he had brought them into his house, ^b he set food before them and rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.

35 Now when it was day, the magistrates sent the officers, saying, “Let those men go.”

36 So the jailor of the prison told these words to Paul, “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 publicly without trial, men who are ^c Romans, and have thrown us into prison. And now do they throw us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and get us out.”

38 So the officers told these words to the magistrates. Now they feared when they heard that they were Romans.

39 Then they came and pleaded with them and brought them out, and ^d asked them to depart from the city.

40 So they went out of the prison and ^e entered into the house of Lydia. Now when they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them and departed.

Chapter 16 References: a At 14:6 b Rm 16:21 c 2 Tm 1:5; 3:15 d Gl 2:3; 5:2 e At 15:19-21 f At 15:28,29 g At 2:47; 15:41 h Gl 1:1,2 i 2 Co 2:12 j At 10:30 k 2 Co 2:13 l Ph 1:1 m Rv 1:11; 2:18,24 n Lk 24:45 o Jg 19:21 p 1 Sm 28:3,7 q At 19:24 r Mk 1:25,34 s Mk 16:17 t At 16:16; 19:25,26 u Mt 10:18 v At 17:8 w 1 Th 2:2 x At 4:31 y At 5:19; 12:7,10 z At 2:37; 9:6; 22:10 a Jn 3:16,36; 6:47 b Lk 5:29; 19:6 c At 22:25-29 d Mt 8:34 e At 16:14

Chapter 13

Paul and Barnabas Sent Out

1 Now there were ^a in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers: ^b Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and ^c Lucius of Cyrene, and 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, ^d “Separate for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work ^e to which I have called them.”

3 Then when ^f they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

Mission to Cyprus

4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they departed to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to ^g Cyprus.

5 Now when they were at Salamis, ^h they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had ⁱ John as their apprentice.

6 Now when they had gone through the whole island to Paphos, they found ^j a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus,

7 who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and desired to hear the word of God.

8 But ^k Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the deputy away from the faith.

9 Then Saul, who is also called Paul, ^l filled with the Holy Spirit, fixed his gaze on him,

10 And he said, “You who are full of all deceit and all fraud, ^m you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the right ways of the Lord?

11 “And now, behold, ⁿ the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.” And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness. And he went about seeking someone to lead him by the hand.

12 Then the deputy, when he saw what had happened, believed, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

Mission to Antioch

13 Now when Paul and his company set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia. But ^o John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem.

14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia. And they ^p went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down.

15 And ^q after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Men and brethren, if you have ^r any word of exhortation for the people, say it.”

16 Then Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand, said, “Men of Israel, and ^s you who fear God, listen.

17 “The God of this people ^t chose our fathers and exalted the people ^u when they dwelt as foreigners in the land of Egypt. And with an uplifted arm, He ^v brought them out of it.

18 ^w “For a period of about forty years He was forbearing with them in the wilderness.

19 “And when He had destroyed ^x seven nations in the land of Canaan, ^y He divided their land to them by lot—

20 “which all took about four hundred and fifty years. And after these things ^z He gave them judges ^a until Samuel the prophet.

21 ^b “Then they asked for a king. So God gave to them ^c Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.

22 “And ^d when He had removed him, ^e He raised up for them David to be their king, to whom He also gave testimony and said, ^f ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, ^g a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’

23 ^h “From this man’s seed, according ⁱ to promise, God raised up for Israel ^j a Savior, Jesus,

24 ^k “after John had first preached before His coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

25 “And as John was completing his ministry, he said, ^l ‘Who do you think I am? I am not He. But behold, ^m there is One coming after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’

26 “Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and ⁿ whoever among you fears God, ^o to you the word of this salvation has been sent.

27 “For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, ^p because they did not know Him, nor the voices of the prophets who are read every Sabbath, they have fulfilled them in condemning Him.

28 “And ^q though they found no grounds for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be killed.

29 ^r “Now when they had fulfilled all that was written about Him, ^s they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb.

30 “But ^t God raised Him from the dead.

31 “And ^u 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 “Now we declare to you the good news, ^v that promise which was made to the fathers,

33 “that God has fulfilled the same to us their children in that He has raised up Jesus, as it is also written in the second Psalm, ^w ‘You are My Son. This day I have begotten You.’

34 “Now concerning the fact that He raised Him up from the dead no more to return to decay, He said on this, ^x ‘I will give You the sure mercies of David.’

35 “Therefore, He says also in another Psalm, ^y ‘You will not allow Your Holy One to see decay.’

36 “For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, ^z fell asleep. And he was laid with his fathers and saw decay.

37 “But He whom God raised up saw no decay.

38 “Therefore, let it be known to you, brethren, that ^a through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins,

39 “and ^b by Him all who believe are justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.

40 “Beware therefore, lest that come on you which is spoken in the prophets,

41 ‘Behold, ^c you despisers, and marvel and perish! For I work a work in your days, a work that you will in no way believe, though a man declare it to you.’”

42 And when they went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles kept begging that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.

43 Now when the assembly was broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, ^d persuaded them to continue in ^e the 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 ^f opposed those things that were spoken by Paul.

46 Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, ^g “It was necessary that the word of God should first be spoken to you. ^h Since you reject it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, ⁱ we turn to the Gentiles.

47 “For so has the Lord commanded us, ^j ‘I have set you to be a light of the Gentiles so that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’”

48 Then when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. ^k And as many as were disposed unto eternal life believed.

49 So the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.

50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the leading men of the city, and ^l raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their district.

51 ^m But they shook off the dust of their feet against them and came to Iconium.

52 And the disciples ⁿ were filled with joy and ^o with the Holy Spirit.

Chapter 13 References: a At 14:26 b At 11:22 c Rm 16:21 d Gl 1:15; 2:9 e Hb 5:4 f At 6:6 g At 4:36 h At 13:46 i At 12:25; 15:37 j At 8:9 k Ex 7:11 l At 2:4; 4:8 m Mt 13:38 n 1 Sm 5:6 o At 15:38 p At 16:13 q Lk 4:16 r Hb 13:22 s At 10:35 t Dt 7:6-8 u At 7:17 v Ex 14:8 w Nm 14:34 x Dt 7:1 y Ja 14:1,2; 19:51 z Jg 2:16 a 1 Sm 3:20 b 1 Sm 8:5 c 1 Sm 10:20-24 d 1 Sm 15:23,26,28 e 1 Sm 16:1,12,13 f Ps 89:20 g 1 Sm 13:14 h Is 11:1 i Ps 132:11 j Mt 1:21 k Lk 3:3 l Mk 1:7 m Jn 1:20,27 n Ps 66:16 o Mt 10:6 p Lk 23:34 q Mt 27:22,23 r Lk 18:31 s Mt 27:57-61 t Mt 12:39,40; 28:6 u At 1:3,11 v Gn 3:15 w Ps 2:7; Hb 1:5; 5:5 x Ps 89:28; Is 55:3 y Ps 16:10 z At 2:29 a Jr 31:34 b Is 53:11 c Hk 1:5 d At 11:23 e Ti 2:11 f 1 Pt 4:4 g Rm 1:16 h Ex 32:10 i At 18:6 j Is 42:6; 49:6 k At 2:47 l 2 Tm 3:11 m Mt 10:14 n Jn 16:22 o At 2:4; 4:8,31; 13:9

Chapter 14

Mission to Iconium

1 Now it came to pass in Iconium that they went together into the synagogue of the Jews. And so they spoke so that a great multitude, both of the Jews and of the ^a Greeks, believed.

2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and embittered their minds against the brethren.

3 Therefore, they stayed there a long time speaking boldly in the Lord, ^b who gave testimony to the word of His grace, granting signs and ^c wonders to be done by their hands.

4 But the multitude of the city was ^d divided. Some sided with the Jews and some with the ^e apostles.

5 And when there was an attempt made both by the Gentiles and by the Jews with their rulers ^f to mistreat and stone them,

6 they became aware of it and ^g fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region.

7 And there they preached the gospel.

Mission to Lystra and Derbe

8 And ^h there sat a certain man at Lystra without strength in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb who had never walked.

9 This man heard Paul speaking. Paul then looked intently on him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,

10 he said with a loud voice, ⁱ “Stand up on your feet.” And he leaped and walked.

11 And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the language of Lycaonia, ^j “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men.”

12 So they called Barnabas, Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the leading speaker.

13 Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates. And he ^k wanted to offer sacrifice with the people.

14 But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of it, ^l they tore their clothes and ran in among the people, crying out

15 and saying, “Men, ^m why are you doing these things? ⁿ We also are men with the same nature as you. And we preach to you that you should turn from ^o these useless things ^p to the living God ^q who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all things that are in them,

16 ^r who in past generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways.

17 ^s Nevertheless, He did not leave Himself without witness in that He did good and ^t gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with ^u food and gladness.”

18 And saying these things they scarcely restrained the multitudes from offering sacrifice to them.

19 ^v Then Jews came there from Antioch and Iconium, who, having persuaded the people, ^w stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be ^x dead.

20 However, as the disciples stood around him, he rose up and came into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

Return to Antioch of Syria

21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and ^y had taught many, they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch,

22 confirming the souls of the disciples and ^z exhorting them to continue in the faith, and teaching that ^a we must through many afflictions enter into the kingdom of God.

23 And when they had ^b designated elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord on whom they believed.

24 Now after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.

25 And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.

26 Now from there they sailed to Antioch, from where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they fulfilled.

27 Now when they had come and gathered the church together, ^c they reported all that God had done with them and how He had ^d opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

28 So there they remained a long time with the disciples.

Chapter 14 References: a At 18:4 b Hb 2:4 c At 5:12 d Lk 12:51 e At 13:2,3 f 2 Tm 3:11 g Mt 10:23 h At 3:2 i Is 35:6 j At 8:10; 28:6 k Dn 2:46 l Mt 26:65 m At 10:26 n Js 5:17 o 1 Co 8:4 p 1 Th 1:9 q Rv 14:7 r Ps 81:12 s Rm 1:19,20 t Dt 11:14 u Ps 145:16 v At 13:45,50; 14:2-5 w 2 Co 11:25 x 2 Co 12:1-4 y Mt 28:19 z At 11:23 a 2 Tm 2:12; 3:12 b Ti 1:5 c At 15:4,12 d 2 Co 2:12

Chapter 15

Defense Against Legal Religiosity

1 Now ^a certain men who came down from Judea taught the brethren, ^b “Except you are circumcised after the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

2 Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, they determined that ^c Paul and Barnabas, and certain others of them, should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this question.

3 Therefore, ^d being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, ^e explaining the conversion of the Gentiles. And they caused great joy to all the brethren.

4 Now when they came to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and elders. And they reported all things that God had done with them.

5 But there rose up some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”

6 Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter.

7 And when there had been much debate, Peter rose up and said to them, ^f “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God made a choice among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe.

8 “And God, ^g who knows the hearts, testified to them, ^h giving them the Holy Spirit just as He also did to us.

9 “And ⁱ He put no distinction between us and them, ^j purifying their hearts by the faith.

10 “Now therefore, why do you test God ^k by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

11 “But ^l we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus we will be saved in the same way as they.”

12 Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring what signs and wonders God had ^m worked among the Gentiles through them.

13 And after they stopped speaking, ⁿ James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me.

14 ^o Simeon 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, as it is written,

16 ‘After ^p this I will return and will build again the tabernacle of David that is fallen down. And I will build again the ruins of it. And I will set it up,

17 so that the rest of mankind may seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by My name, says the Lord who does these things,

18 and makes them known from the beginning of the ages.’

19 “Therefore, ^q my judgment is that we not trouble those from among the Gentiles who ^r are turning to God,

20 “but that we ^s write to them that they abstain ^t from things polluted by idols, and ^u from fornication, and ^v from things strangled, and from blood.

21 “For Moses from ancient generations has in every city those who preach him, ^w being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

Letter to the Gentile Disciples

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 named ^x Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren.

23 And they wrote this letter by them: “The apostles and elders and brethren send greetings to the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.

24 “Since we have heard that ^y some went out from us, to whom we gave no commandment, have troubled you with their words, ^z unsettling your souls,

25 “it seemed good to us, being assembled with one mind, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

26 ^a “men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

27 “Therefore, we have sent Judas and Silas, who will also tell you the same things by word of mouth.

28 “For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us, to lay on you no greater burden than these necessary things:

29 ^b “that you abstain from things offered to idols, and ^c from blood, and from things strangled, and from ^d fornication. If you keep yourselves free from these, you will do well. Farewell.”

30 So when they were sent away, they came to Antioch. And when they gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.

31 When they read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement.

32 And Judas and Silas, ^e being prophets also themselves, ^f exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words.

33 Now after they had stayed there for a time, they were ^g sent away in peace from the brethren to those who sent them.

34 But it seemed good to Silas to remain there.

35 ^h Paul and Barnabas also continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord with many others also.

Disagreement over Mark

36 Now after some days, Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go again and visit our brothers in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.”

37 And Barnabas desired to take with them ⁱ John, whose surname was Mark.

38 But Paul did not think it good to take with them ^j the one who departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work.

39 Now the disagreement was so sharp between them that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to ^k Cyprus,

40 and Paul chose Silas and departed, ^l being commended by the brothers to the grace of God.

41 So he went through Syria and Cilicia, ^m strengthening the churches.

Chapter 15 References: a Gl 2:12 b Ph 3:2 c Gl 2:1 d Rm 15:24 e At 14:27; 15:4,12 f At 10:20 g At 1:24 h At 2:4; 10:44,47 i Rm 10:12 j At 10:15,28 k Mt 23:4 l Rm 3:4; 5:15 m At 14:27; 15:3,4 n At 12:17 o At 15:7 p Am 9:11,12 q At 15:28; 21:25 r 1 Th 1:9 s At 21:25 t 1 Co 8:1; 10:20,28 u 1 Co 6:9 v Lv 3:17 w At 13:15,27 x At 1:23 y Ti 1:10,11 z Gl 1:7; 5:10 a At 13:50; 14:19 b At 15:20; 21:25 c Lv 17:14 d Cl 3:5 e Ep 4:11 f At 14:22; 18:23 g Hb 11:31 h At 13:1 i At 12:12,25 j At 13:13 k At 4:36; 13:4 l At 11:23; 14:26 m At 16:5

Chapter 16

Paul, Silas, and Timothy

1 Then he came to ^a Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, ^b named Timothy, ^c the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was a Greek.

2 He was well spoken of by the brethren who were in Lystra and Iconium.

3 Paul wanted to have him go with him. So he ^d took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those regions, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

4 Now as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the ^e decrees to observe ^f that were decided upon by the apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem.

5 ^g So the churches were strengthened in the faith and increased in number daily.

Call to Macedonia

6 Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of ^h Galatia, and having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia,

7 and after they came to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia. But the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.

8 Now passing by Mysia, they ⁱ came down to Troas.

9 Then a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A ^j man of Macedonia was standing and pleading with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”

10 Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go ^k into Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Conversion of Lydia’s Household

11 Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day to Neapolis,

12 and from there to ^l Philippi, which is the principal city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we were staying in that city for some days.

13 Now on the Sabbath we went out of the city to a riverside where prayer was customarily made. And we sat down and spoke to the women who had assembled.

14 Now a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple from the city of ^m Thyatira, who worshiped God, heard us. ⁿ The Lord opened her heart to give heed to 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.” And ^o she persuaded us.

Paul and Silas in Prison

16 Now it came to pass as we went to prayer, a certain slave girl ^p possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters ^q much profit by fortune-telling.

17 This girl followed Paul and us, and she cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God who proclaim to you the way of salvation.”

18 Now she did this for many days. But ^r being greatly annoyed, Paul turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” ^s And it came out the same hour.

19 Now ^t when her masters saw that the hope of their profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and ^u dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities.

20 So they brought them to the magistrates, saying, “These men, being Jews, ^v exceedingly trouble our city.”

21 “And they teach customs that are not lawful for us to accept nor to observe, being Romans.”

22 Then the multitude rose up together against them. And the magistrates tore off their clothes and ^w commanded them to be beaten with rods.

23 Now when they had laid many stripes on them, they cast them into prison, commanding the jailor to keep them securely.

24 Having received such a command, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

Conversion of the Jailor

25 But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God. And the prisoners heard them.

26 Then ^x suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately ^y all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.

27 And the jailor of the prison, awaking out of his sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had fled.

28 But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.”

29 Then he called for a light and rushed in. And trembling with fear, he fell down before Paul and Silas.

30 Then he brought them out and said, ^z “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

31 And they said, ^a “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you and your household will be saved.”

32 And they spoke to him the word of the Lord, and to all who were in his house.

33 Then he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he was baptized, he and all his household.

34 Now when he had brought them into his house, ^b he set food before them and rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.

35 Now when it was day, the magistrates sent the officers, saying, “Let those men go.”

36 So the jailor of the prison told these words to Paul, “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 publicly without trial, men who are ^c Romans, and have thrown us into prison. And now do they throw us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and get us out.”

38 So the officers told these words to the magistrates. Now they feared when they heard that they were Romans.

39 Then they came and pleaded with them and brought them out, and ^d asked them to depart from the city.

40 So they went out of the prison and ^e entered into the house of Lydia. Now when they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them and departed.

Chapter 16 References: a At 14:6 b Rm 16:21 c 2 Tm 1:5; 3:15 d Gl 2:3; 5:2 e At 15:19-21 f At 15:28,29 g At 2:47; 15:41 h Gl 1:1,2 i 2 Co 2:12 j At 10:30 k 2 Co 2:13 l Ph 1:1 m Rv 1:11; 2:18,24 n Lk 24:45 o Jg 19:21 p 1 Sm 28:3,7 q At 19:24 r Mk 1:25,34 s Mk 16:17 t At 16:16; 19:25,26 u Mt 10:18 v At 17:8 w 1 Th 2:2 x At 4:31 y At 5:19; 12:7,10 z At 2:37; 9:6; 22:10 a Jn 3:16,36; 6:47 b Lk 5:29; 19:6 c At 22:25-29 d Mt 8:34 e At 16:14

Chapter 17

Mission to Thessalonica

1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to ^a Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.

2 And Paul, as his custom was, ^b went in to them, and for three Sabbaths ^c reasoned with them from the Scriptures,

3 explaining and giving evidence ^d that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I proclaim to you is the Christ.”

4 ^e And some of them were persuaded and joined with Paul and ^f Silas, a great multitude of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women.

5 But the Jews, becoming ^g envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace and gathered a company. And they set all the city in an uproar and assaulted the house of ^h Jason, and they sought to bring them out to the people.

6 And when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, ⁱ “These who have turned the world upside down have come here also,

7 “and Jason has received them. These all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, ^j saying that there is another king, Jesus.”

8 So they stirred up the people and the rulers of the city when they heard these things.

9 Now when they had received a pledge from Jason and the others, they let them go.

Mission to Berea

10 Then ^k the 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 nobleminded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind and ^l searched the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.

12 Therefore, many of them believed, and also not a few of the prominent Greek women, as well as men.

13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica learned that the word of God was preached by Paul in Berea, they came there also and stirred up the people.

14 ^m Then immediately the brethren sent Paul out to go as far as the sea. But Silas and Timothy remained there.

15 And those who conducted Paul brought him to Athens. And then he left ⁿ with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible.

Mission to Athens

16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, ^o his spirit was provoked within him when he observed that the city was full of idols.

17 Therefore, he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the devout Gentiles, and daily in the marketplace with those who happened to be present.

18 Then also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers disputed with him. And some said, “What does this idle babbler want to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of strange gods,”—because he preached to them ^p Jesus and the resurrection.

19 And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is about which you speak?

20 “For you bring certain strange things to our ears. Therefore, we want to know what these things mean.”

21 (Now all the Athenians and foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else than to tell or to hear some new thing.)

22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious.

23 “For as I passed by and observed your objects of worship, I found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore, the One whom you worship in ignorance, Him I declare to you.

24 ^q “The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is ^r Lord of heaven and earth, ^s does not dwell in temples made with hands.

25 “Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands as though He needed anything, since He ^t gives life to all, breath and all things.

26 “And He has made of one man all nations of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their appointed times and ^u the boundaries of their habitation,

27 ^v “so that they should seek the Lord, if perhaps they might grope after Him and find Him, ^w though He is not far from every one of us;

28 “for ^x in Him we live and move and have our being, ^y as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’

29 “Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, ^z we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like unto gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man.

30 “And ^a the times of this ignorance God has overlooked, but ^b now He commands all men everywhere to repent,

31 “because He has appointed a day in which ^c He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given proof to all men by ^d raising Him from the dead.”

32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again concerning this.”

33 So Paul departed from among them.

34 However, certain men joined him and believed. Among them was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

Chapter 17 References: a 1 Th 1:1 b Lk 4:16 c 1 Th 2:1-16 d At 18:5,28 e At 28:24 f At 15:22,27,32,40 g At 13:45 h Rm 16:21 i At 16:20 j 1 Pt 2:13 k At 9:25; 17:14 l Jn 5:39 m Mt 10:23 n At 18:5 o 2 Pt 2:8 p 1 Co 15:12 q At 14:15 r Mt 11:25 s At 7:48-50 t Is 42:5 u Dt 32:8 v Rm 1:20 w Jr 23:23,24 x Hb 1:3 y Ti 1:12 z Is 40:18,19 a Rm 3:25 b Ti 2:11,12 c At 10:42 d At 2:24

Chapter 18

Mission to Corinth

1 After these things Paul departed from Athens and came to Corinth.

2 And he found a certain Jew named ^a Aquila, born in Pontus, having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all Jews to leave Rome. And he came to them.

3 And because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them ^b and worked, for by trade they were tentmakers.

4 And ^c he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.

5 Now ^d when Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul was ^e compelled in the spirit and testified to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.

6 And ^f when they resisted and blasphemed, ^g he shook his garments and said to them, ^h “Your blood be upon your own heads. ⁱ I am clean. ^j From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”

7 So he departed from there and entered into a certain man’s house named Titius Justus, one who worshiped God, whose house was next to the synagogue.

8 ^k Then Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians hearing, believed, and were baptized.

9 Then ^l the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak. And do not hold your peace.

10 ^m “For I am with you and no man will attack you to hurt you, for I have many people in this city.”

11 So he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

12 Now when Gallio was the proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him before the judgment seat,

13 saying, “This man persuades men to worship God contrary to the law.”

14 Now when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrong or wicked crime, O Jews, there would be a reason why I should put up with you.

15 “But if it is a ⁿ question of words and names and your law, look to it yourselves, for I will not be a judge of such matters.”

16 And he drove them from the judgment seat.

17 Then they all took ^o Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. But Gallio was not concerned about any of these things.

18 Now Paul still remained there a good while. Then he took leave from the brethren and sailed for Syria, and with him were Priscilla and Aquila. In ^p Cenchrea ^q he had his hair cut off, for he had made a vow.

19 Then he came to Ephesus and left them there. But he himself entered into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.

20 When they asked him to stay longer with them, he did not consent.

21 But he bid them farewell, saying, ^r “I will return again to you if ^s God wills.” Then he sailed from Ephesus.

22 And when he had landed at ^t Caesarea, and gone up and greeted the church, he went down to Antioch.

23 And after he had spent some time there, he departed and went over the region of ^u Galatia and Phrygia in order, ^v strengthening all the disciples.

Apollos at Ephesus

24 And ^w a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus.

25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord. And being ^x fervent in the spirit, he spoke and taught diligently the things of the Lord, ^y knowing only the baptism of John.

26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. But 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 go to Achaia, the brethren encouraged him and wrote the disciples to receive him. And when he arrived, ^z he greatly helped those who had believed through grace,

28 for he powerfully refuted the Jews publicly, ^a showing by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.

Chapter 18 References: a 1 Co 16:19 b At 20:34 c At 17:2 d At 17:14,15 e At 18:28 f At 13:45 g Ne 5:13 h 2 Sm 1:16 i Ez 3:18,19 j At 13:46-48; 28:28 k 1 Co 1:14 l At 23:11 m Jr 1:18,19 n At 23:29; 25:19 o 1 Co 1:1 p Rm 16:1 q At 21:24 r At 19:21; 20:16 s 1 Co 4:19 t At 8:40 u Gl 1:2 v At 14:22; 15:32,41 w Ti 3:13 x Rm 12:11 y At 19:3 z 1 Co 3:6 a At 9:22; 17:3; 18:5

Chapter 19

Mission to Ephesus

1 Now it came to pass while ^a Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through ^b the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding certain disciples,

2 he said to them, “Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed?” And they said to him, ^c “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”

3 Then he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” And they said, ^d “Into John’s baptism.”

4 Then Paul said, ^e “John indeed baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Jesus.”

5 When they heard this, they were baptized ^f into the name of the Lord Jesus.

6 And when Paul had ^g laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them. And ^h they spoke with languages and prophesied.

7 There were in all about twelve men.

8 And ⁱ he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading about the ^j things concerning the kingdom of God.

9 But ^k when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil ^l of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and separated the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.

10 Now ^m this continued for two years, so that all those who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

11 And ⁿ God worked special powers by the hands of Paul,

12 ^o so that from his body were brought to the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them and the evil spirits went out of them.

13 ^p Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists ^q took it upon themselves to call over those who had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, “I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul ^r preaches.”

14 Now there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, who were doing this.

15 And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know. But who are you?”

16 Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them and overcame them. And he prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

17 And this was known to all, both Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus. Then ^s fear fell on them all and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

18 So many who believed kept coming, ^t confessing and disclosing their practices.

19 Many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the price of them and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver.

20 ^u So the word of God grew mightily and prevailed.

21 ^v After these things were finished, Paul ^w purposed in the spirit that when he had passed through ^x Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, ^y I must also see Rome.”

22 So he sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, ^z Timothy and ^a Erastus. But he himself stayed in Asia for a while.

Riot in Ephesus

23 Then ^b about that time there arose a great disturbance concerning ^c the Way.

24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines for Artemis, was bringing ^d no little profit to the craftsmen,

25 whom he called together with the workers of similar occupation. And he said, “Sirs, you know that by this craft we have our wealth.

26 “Moreover, you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying ^e that gods made with hands are not gods.

27 “So not only is this our craft in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be despised, and she be dethroned from her magnificence, whom all Asia and the world worship.”

28 And when they heard this, they were full of wrath. And they cried out, saying, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

29 So the whole city was filled with confusion. And having caught ^f Gaius and ^g Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theater.

30 Now when Paul wanted to go into the assembly, the disciples did not allow him.

31 Then some of the officials of Asia who were his friends sent to him, pleading with him that he not venture into the theater.

32 Therefore, some cried one thing and some another, for the assembly was confused. And most of them did not know why they had come together.

33 So they brought ^h Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander ⁱ motioned with his hand and wanted to make his defense to the people.

34 But when they recognized that he was a Jew, all with one voice for about two hours cried out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

35 Now when the town clerk had quieted the people, he said, “Men of Ephesus, what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is a worshiper of the great goddess Artemis and of the image that fell down from heaven?

36 “Therefore, since these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash.

37 “For you have brought here these men who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess.

38 “Therefore, if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another.

39 “But if you want anything concerning other matters, it will be determined in a lawful assembly.

40 “For we are in danger of being called in question for this day’s uproar, since there is no cause by which we may give an account of this disorderly gathering.”

41 And when he had spoken these things, he dismissed the assembly.

Chapter 19 References: a 1 Co 1:12; 3:5,6 b At 18:23 c 1 Sm 3:7 d At 18:25 e Mt 3:11 f At 8:12,16; 10:48 g At 6:6; 8:17 h At 2:4; 10:46 i At 17:2; 18:4 j At 1:3; 28:23 k 2 Tm 1:15 l At 9:2; 19:23; 22:4; 24:14 m At 19:8; 20:31 n Mk 16:20 o At 5:15 p Mt 12:27 q Mk 9:38 r 1 Co 1:23; 2:2 s Lk 1:65; 7:16 t Mt 3:6 u At 6:7; 12:24 v Rm 15:25 w At 20:22 x At 20:1 y Rm 1:13; 15:22-29 z 1 Tm 1:2 a Rm 16:23 b 2 Co 1:8 c At 9:2 d At 16:16,19 e Is 44:10-20 f Rm 16:23 g Cl 4:10 h 2 Tm 4:14 i At 12:17

Chapter 20

Mission through Macedonia & Greece

Celebrating with the Disciples

1 Now after the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples and embraced them. He then ^a departed to go to Macedonia.

2 Now when he had gone over those regions and had given them much exhortation, he came into ^b Greece.

3 Now he stayed there three months. And ^c when the Jews plotted against him as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia.

4 And he was accompanied by Sopater of Berea, the son of Pyrrhus, and by ^d Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and ^e Gaius of Derbe, and ^f Timothy, and ^g Tychicus and ^h Trophimus of Asia.

5 These going ahead, waited for us in ⁱ Troas.

6 Now we sailed away from Philippi after the days of ^j Unleavened Bread. And in five days we came to them ^k at Troas, where we stayed seven days.

Celebrating with the Disciples

7 Now on ^l the first day of the week when we were gathered together ^m to break bread, Paul had discussions with them, intending to depart the next day. And he continued his speaking until midnight.

8 Now there were many lights ⁿ in the upper room where we were gathered together.

9 And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, sinking into a deep sleep. And as Paul continued speaking, he was overcome by sleep and fell down from the third floor and was taken up dead.

10 So Paul went down and ^o fell on him, and embracing him, said, ^p “Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him.”

11 When he had come up again and had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, even until daybreak, he departed.

12 Then they brought the young boy in alive. And they were not a little comforted.

Farewell to Ephesian Shepherds

13 Then we went ahead to the ship and sailed to Assos, intending there to take Paul on board; for so he had arranged it, intending himself to go on foot.

14 Now when he met with us at Assos, we took him on board and came to Mitylene.

15 Then we sailed from there and came the next day opposite Chios. On the next day we arrived at Samos and stayed at Trogyllium. And the next day we came to Miletus.

16 For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus because he did not want to spend time in Asia, for ^q he was hurrying ^r to be in Jerusalem, if possible, on ^s the day of Pentecost.

17 So from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the presbyters of the church.

18 Now when they came to him, he said to them, “You know, ^t from the first day that I came to Asia, how I was with you the whole time,

19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and trials that happened to me ^u by the plotting of the Jews;

20 how ^v I kept nothing back that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house,

21 ^w testifying both to the Jews and also to the Greeks, ^x repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

22 And now, behold, ^y I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there,

23 except that ^z the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me.

24 But ^a I do not consider my life of any worth to myself, ^b so that I might finish my race with joy ^c and the ministry ^d that I have received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

25 And now, behold, I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more.

26 Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am ^e innocent of the blood of all men.

27 For I have not shunned to declare to you ^f all the counsel of God.

28 ^g Therefore, take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit ^h has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God ⁱ that He has purchased ^j with His own blood.

29 For I know this, that after my departure ^k grievous wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

30 Also ^l from your own selves will men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.

31 Therefore watch, and remember that ^m for a period of three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.

32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God and ⁿ to the word of His grace that is able ^o to build you up and to give you ^p an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

33 I have coveted no man’s silver or gold or clothes.

34 You yourselves know ^q that these hands have ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me.

35 I have showed you all things, that ^r by laboring as this you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

36 And when he had said these things, he kneeled down and prayed with them all.

37 And they all ^s wept aloud and ^t fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him,

38 sorrowing most of all because of the words that he spoke, that they would see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.

Chapter 21

Destined for Jerusalem

1 Now it came to pass that after we had departed from them and set sail, we ran a straight course to Cos and the next day to Rhodes and from there to Patara.

2 And finding a ship sailing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail.

3 Now when we had sighted Cyprus, we left it on the left hand and sailed to Syria, and landed at Tyre; for there the ship was to unload its cargo.

4 And finding the disciples, we stayed there seven days. ^a They said to Paul by the Spirit that he should not go up to Jerusalem.

5 Now when we had come to the end of those days, we departed and went our way. And they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, until we were out of the city. Then ^b we kneeled down on the shore and prayed.

6 Now when we had taken our leave of one another, we boarded ship and they returned ^c home.

7 And when we had finished our voyage from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais and greeted the brethren. And we stayed with them one day.

8 Then the next day we left and came to ^d Caesarea. And we entered into the house of Philip ^e the evangelist, ^f who was one of the seven. And we stayed with him.

9 Now this man had four virgin daughters ^g who prophesied.

10 And as we were staying there many days there came down from Judea a certain prophet, named ^h Agabus.

11 Now when he came to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own hands and feet. Then he said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ⁱ ‘So will the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt and will deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’”

12 Now when we heard these things, both we and those of that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem.

13 Then Paul answered, ^j “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

14 And when he would not be dissuaded, we kept silent, saying, ^k “The will of the Lord be done.”

15 And after those days we prepared and went up to Jerusalem.

16 There went with us also some of the disciples of Caesarea. And they brought with them Mnason of Cyprus, a long-standing disciple with whom we were to lodge.

Paul’s Last Effort for Israel

17 Now ^l when we came to Jerusalem, the brethren gladly received us.

18 Now the following day Paul went in with us to ^m James, and all the elders were present.

19 And when he had greeted them, ⁿ he declared in detail those things God had worked among the Gentiles ^o through his ministry.

20 Now when they heard it, they glorified the Lord. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are who believe. And they are all ^p zealous for the law.

21 “And they are informed about you, that you teach all the Jews that are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, nor to walk according to the customs.

22 “Therefore, what must be done? They will certainly hear that you have come.

23 “Therefore, do this that we tell you. We have four men who have taken a vow.

24 “Take them and purify yourself along with them, and pay their fees so that they may ^q shave their heads. Then all will know that there is nothing to the things that they have been told about you, but that you yourself also walk orderly and keep the law.

25 “As touching the Gentiles who believe, ^r we have written that they keep themselves from things offered to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication.”

Paul’s Arrest in Jerusalem

26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them, ^s entered into the temple ^t to announce the completion of the days of purification, until the sacrifice was offered for each one of them.

27 Now when the seven days were almost ended, ^u the Jews who were from Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people and ^v laid hands on him,

28 crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man ^w who teaches all men everywhere against the people and the law and this place. And furthermore, he brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.”

29 For they had seen ^x Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple courtyard.

30 Then ^y all the city was disturbed, and the people ran together. And they took Paul and dragged him out of the temple courtyard. Then immediately the gates were shut.

31 Now as they were ^z seeking to kill him, news came up to the commander of the Roman cohort that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.

32 ^a He immediately took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. And when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.

33 Then the ^b commander came near and took him. And he ^c commanded him to be bound with two chains, and asked who he was and what he had done.

34 But some among the multitude cried out one thing and some another. And when he could not find out the reason for the uproar, he commanded him to be carried into the barracks.

35 Now when he came to the stairs, he was carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob.

36 For the multitude of the people followed after, crying out, ^d “Away with him!”

Paul Addresses the Multitude

37 Now as Paul was about to be led into the barracks, he said to the commander, “May I speak to you?” And he said, “Can you speak Greek?

38 ^e “Are you not the Egyptian who some time ago stirred up a revolt and led out into the wilderness four thousand men who were assassins?”

39 But Paul said, ^f “I am a Jew of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. And I beg you, allow me to speak to the people.”

40 And when he had given him permission, Paul stood on the stairs and ^g motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great silence, he spoke to them in the ^h Hebrew language, saying,

Chapter 22

Paul’s Defense before the People

1 “Brethren ^a and fathers, hear my defense I now make to you.”

2 And when they heard that he spoke to them in the ^b Hebrew language, they became even more silent. And he said,

3 ^c “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, brought up in this city ^d at the feet of ^e Gamaliel, taught ^f according to the strictness of the law of the fathers, ^g being zealous toward God ^h as you all are this day.

4 ⁱ “I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering both men and women into prisons,

5 “as also the high priest bears me witness, and ^j all the Council of the elders. ^k From them also I received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus ^l to bring those who were there bound to Jerusalem to be punished.

6 “Now ^m it came to pass as I made my journey, and came near to Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light around me.

7 “And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’

8 “And I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth whom you are persecuting.’

9 “Now ⁿ those who were with me saw indeed the light. But they did not understand the voice of Him who spoke to me.

10 “And I said, ‘What should I do, Lord?’ Then the Lord said to me, ‘Arise and go into Damascus, and there it will be told you all things that are appointed for you to do.’

11 “But since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and I came into Damascus.

12 “Then ^o a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, ^p having a good reputation with all the ^q Jews who dwelt there,

13 “came to me. And he stood and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And the same hour I looked up at him.

14 “And he said, ^r ‘The God of our fathers ^s has chosen you to ^t know His will and to ^u see the Just One and to ^v hear the voice of His mouth.

15 ‘For you will be His witness to all men of ^x what you have seen and heard.

16 ‘And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized and ^y wash away your sins, ^z calling on the name of the Lord.’

Paul’s Vision in the Temple

17 “Now ^a it came to pass when I came again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, that I was in a trance.

18 “And ^b I saw Him saying to me, ^c ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me.’

19 “And I said, ‘Lord, ^d they know that I imprisoned and ^e beat in every synagogue those who believed on You.

20 ‘And ^f when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by and ^g consenting, and kept the clothes of those who were killing him.’

21 “And He said to me, ‘Depart, ^h for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”

Paul’s Rights of Roman Citizenship

22 They listened to him until this statement, and then they lifted up their voices and said, ⁱ “Away with such a fellow from the earth, for it is not fit that ^j he should live!”

23 Now as they cried out and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air,

24 the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks, stating that he should be examined by scourging so that he might know why they shouted so against him.

25 And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who stood by, ^k “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman and uncondemned?”

26 When the centurion heard this, he went and told the commander, saying, “Take heed what you do, for this man is a Roman.”

27 Then the commander came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman?” He said, “Yes.”

28 And the commander answered, “With a great sum of money I obtained this freedom.” And Paul said, “But I was born a citizen.”

29 Then immediately those who were about to examine him let go of him. And the commander also was afraid after he found out that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.

Paul Before the Sanhedrin

30 On the next day, because he wanted to know for certain why he had been accused by the Jews, he released him from his bonds and commanded the chief priests and all the Council to appear. And he brought Paul down and set him before them.

Chapter 23

And Paul, earnestly looking at the Council, said, “Men and brethren, ^a I have lived in all good conscience before God to this day.”

And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him ^b to strike him on the mouth.

Then Paul said to him, “God will smite you, you whitewashed wall. For you sit to judge me after the law, and ^c do you command me to be smitten contrary to the law?”

Now those who stood by said, “Do you revile God’s high priest?”

Then Paul said, ^d “I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ^e ‘You will not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”

But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the Council, “Men and brethren, ^f I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I am being judged for ^g the hope and resurrection of the dead!”

Now when he had said this, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees. And the multitude was divided.

^h For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit. But the Pharisees confess both.

Then there arose a great outcry. And the scribes who were of the Pharisees’ party arose and heatedly protested, saying, ⁱ “We find no evil in this man. But what ^j if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him.”

Now when there arose a great dissension, the commander, fearing lest Paul should be torn to pieces by them, ordered the soldiers to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks.

And ^k the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul, for as you have solemnly witnessed for Me in ^l Jerusalem, so must you also bear witness at ^m Rome.”

Murder Plot Against Paul

Now when it was day, ⁿ some of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had ^o killed Paul.

And there were more than forty who had formed this conspiracy.

Then they came to the chief priests and ^p elders and said, “We have bound ourselves under a great oath that we will eat nothing until we have killed Paul.

“Now therefore, you and the Council notify the commander that he bring him down to you, as though you were going to inquire something more accurately concerning him. And we, before he comes near, are ready to kill him.”

And when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their ambush, he went and entered into the barracks and told Paul.

Then Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, “Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to tell him.”

So he took him and brought him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner called me to him and asked me to bring this young man to you, who has something to say to you.”

Then the commander took him by the hand and went aside and privately asked him, “What is it that you have to tell me?”

And he said, ^q “The Jews have agreed to ask that you bring Paul down tomorrow to the Council, as though they would inquire something more accurately about him.

“But do not yield to them, for more than forty of them lie in wait for him who have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink until they have killed him. And now they are ready, waiting for a promise from you.”

So the commander let the young man depart, and instructed him, “Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me.”

Transfer to Caesarea

Then he called to him two centurions, saying, “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to ^r Caesarea at the third hour of the night.

“And provide mounts so that they may set Paul on and take him safely to Felix the governor.”

Now he wrote a letter after this manner:

“Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix, greetings.

^s “This man was taken by the Jews and would have been killed by them. Then I came with an army and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.

“And ^t when I wanted to know the reason why they accused him, I brought him before their Council.

“And I found him to be accused over questions ^u concerning their law, ^v but had nothing charged against him worthy of death or of chains.

“And ^w when it was told me how there would be a plot against the man, I immediately sent him to you, and ^x also gave orders to his accusers to say before you what they had against him. Farewell.”

Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.

On the next day they left the horsemen to go with him, and they returned to the barracks.

When they came to ^y Caesarea and delivered the ^z letter to the governor, they also presented Paul before him.

And when the governor had read the letter, he asked from what province he was. And when he understood that he was from ^a Cilicia,

he said, ^b “I will hear you when your accusers have also come.” And he commanded him to be kept in ^c Herod’s Praetorium.

Chapter 24

Paul Before Felix

1 Now after ^a five days ^b Ananias the high priest came down with the elders and with a certain orator named Tertullus. And they brought charges to the governor against Paul.

2 And when he was called upon, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, “Seeing that through you we enjoy great peace, and since reforms are done to this nation by your providence,

3 “we always accept this in all places, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness.

4 “Nevertheless, so that I not be further tedious to you, I beg you that you would hear, by your kindness, a few words from us.

5 ^c “For we have found this man a pestilent fellow and a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.

6 ^d “He has also tried to profane the temple; and then we seized him. And we wanted ^e to judge him according to our law.

7 ^f “But the commander Lysias came, and with great violence, took him out of our hands,

8 ^g “commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself, you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him.”

9 And the Jews also joined in the attack, saying that these things were so.

10 Then Paul, after the governor had nodded to him to speak, answered, “Inasmuch as I know that you have been for many years a judge to this nation, I do gladly make my defense,

11 “because you may take note that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem ^h to worship.

12 ⁱ “And they neither found me in the temple disputing with anyone nor inciting the people, neither in the synagogues nor in the city.

13 “Nor can they prove the things about which they now accuse me.

14 “But this I confess to you, that according to ^j the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the ^k God of my fathers, believing all things that are written in ^l the Law and in the Prophets.

15 “And ^m I have hope in God, that they themselves also accept, ⁿ that there will be a resurrection both of the just and unjust.

16 ^o “In view of this, I exercise myself to have always a conscience without offense toward God and men.

17 “Now after many years ^p I came to bring alms and offerings to my nation.

18 ^q “I was purified when they found me ^r in the temple doing this. But there are some Jews from Asia

19 ^s “who ought to be here before you to object if they had anything against me.

20 “Or else let these who are here say what wrongdoing they have found in me while I stood before the Council,

21 “unless it is for this one statement that I cried out standing among them, ^t ‘Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged by you this day.’”

22 But when Felix heard these things, having a more accurate knowledge of the ^u Way, he adjourned them and said, “When ^v Lysias the commander comes down, I will make a decision on your case.”

23 Then he commanded a centurion to keep Paul and to let him have liberty, and ^w that he should not forbid any of his friends from ministering to him.

24 Now after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla who was a Jewess, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the ^x faith in Christ.

25 Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control and judgment to come, Felix became frightened and answered, “Go away for now. When I have a convenient time, I will call for you.”

26 He hoped at the same time that ^y money would be given him by Paul. Therefore, he often sent for him and conversed with him.

27 But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix. And Felix, ^z willing to do the Jews a favor, left Paul imprisoned.

Chapter 25

Paul Before Festus

1 Now when Festus had come to the province, after three days he went up from ^a Caesarea to Jerusalem.

2 ^b Then the chief priests and the leading men of the Jews informed him against Paul. And they were urging him,

3 and asking a favor from him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem, ^c while making a plot to kill him on the way.

4 But Festus answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly.

5 “Therefore,” he said, “let the influential men among you go down with me and accuse this man, to see ^d if there is any fault in him.”

6 And when he had stayed among them more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day sitting on the judgment seat, he commanded Paul to be brought.

7 Now when he had come, the Jews who came down from Jerusalem stood around and ^e laid many serious charges against Paul that they could not prove,

8 while he answered for himself, ^f “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I offended in anything at all.”

9 But Festus, ^g desiring to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul and said, ^h “Will you go up to Jerusalem and there be judged before me concerning these things?”

10 Then Paul said, “I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you very well know.

11 ⁱ “For if I am an offender, or have committed anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse me, no one can deliver me to them. ^j I appeal to Caesar.”

12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the Council, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar? To Caesar you will go.”

Festus and King Agrippa

13 Now after some days King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to greet Festus.

14 And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul’s cause to the king, saying, ^k “There is a certain man left in prison by Felix,

15 ^l “about whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him,

16 ^m “to whom I answered, ‘It is not the custom of the Romans to deliver anyone to die before the accused meets his accusers face to face and has an opportunity to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.’

17 “Therefore, when they had come together, ⁿ without any delay, the next day I sat on the judgment seat and commanded the man to be brought forth.

18 “When the accusers stood up, they brought no charges against him of such things as I supposed.

19 ^o “But they had some questions against him about their own religion, and about one named Jesus who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

20 “And being at a loss how to investigate such matters, I asked him whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and there be judged about these matters.

21 “But when Paul ^p appealed to be held over for the decision of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept until I could send him to Caesar.”

22 Then ^q Agrippa said to Festus, “I would also like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” he said, “you will hear him.”

Paul Before Agrippa

23 Now on the next day when Agrippa and Bernice had come with great pomp, and had entered into the place of hearing with the commanders and principal men of the city, at Festus’ command ^r Paul was brought forth.

24 Then Festus said, “King Agrippa and all men who are here present with us, you see this man about whom ^s all the multitude of the Jews have appealed to me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying out that ^t he ought not to live any longer.

25 “But when I found that ^u he had committed nothing worthy of death, ^v and that he himself has appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.

26 “I have nothing definite about him to write to my lord. Therefore, I have brought him out before you, and especially before you, O King Agrippa, so that after examination has taken place, I might have something to write.

27 “For it seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner and not to signify the charges laid against him.”

Chapter 26

Paul Before Agrippa

1 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and answered for himself.

2 “I consider myself fortunate, King Agrippa, because I will answer ^b for myself this day before you concerning all the things of which I am ^c accused by the Jews,

3 especially because you are an expert in all customs and questions that have to do with the Jews. Therefore, I beg you to patiently hear me.

4 “All the Jews know my manner of life from my youth up, which from the beginning was spent among my own nation at Jerusalem.

5 “They knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after ^d the strictest sect of our religion I lived as a Pharisee.

6 “And ^e now I stand and am judged for the hope of ^f the promise made by God to our fathers.

7 “To this promise ^g our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God ^h night and day, ⁱ hope to attain. For this hope’s sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews.

8 “Why should it be thought an incredible thing with you that God raises the dead?

9 ^j “Truly, I thought to myself that I had to do many things contrary to the name of ^k Jesus of Nazareth.

10 ^l “This I also did in Jerusalem. And many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority ^m from the chief priests. And when they were put to death, I gave my vote against them.

11 “And ⁿ I often punished them in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme. And being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.

12 ^o “As I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,

13 “at midday, O King, I saw in the road a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me.

14 “And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me, and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’

15 “Then I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.’

16 ‘But rise and stand on your feet. For I have appeared to you for this purpose, ^p to make you a minister and a witness, both of these things that you have seen, and of those things in which I will show to you;

17 ‘delivering you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles ^q to whom I send you,

18 ^r ‘to open their eyes in order ^s to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, ^t that they may receive forgiveness of sins and ^u an inheritance among those who are ^v sanctified by faith in Me.’

19 “So then, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.

20 “But ^w I preached first to those of Damascus and also at Jerusalem, and then throughout all the regions of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their ^x works.

21 “For these reasons the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.

22 “Therefore, having obtained help from God, I continue to this day testifying both to small and great, saying no other things than those ^y that the Prophets and ^z Moses said would come,

23 ^a “that the Christ would suffer, and ^b that He would be the first who would rise from the dead, and ^c would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”

24 And as he thus defended himself, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, ^d you are beside yourself. Much learning is driving you mad.”

25 But he said, “I am not mad most excellent Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason.

26 “For the king ^e knows about these things, before whom also I speak with confidence. For I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him, for this was not done in secret.

27 “King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.”

28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time you almost persuade me to become a Christian.”

29 And Paul said, ^f “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am, except for these chains.”

30 Now when he had spoken these things, the king rose up and the governor, and Bernice, and those who sat with them.

31 And when they had gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, ^g “This man does nothing worthy of death or of chains.”

32 Then Agrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been set ^h free ⁱ if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

Chapter 27

Paul Goes to Rome

1 Now when ^a it was decided that we should sail to Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to one named Julius, a centurion of the Augustan cohort.

2 And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we embarked, intending to sail along the coasts of Asia. ^b Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, was with us.

3 And the next day we landed at Sidon. And Julius courteously ^c treated Paul and gave him freedom to go to his friends to receive care.

4 And when we had embarked from there, we sailed under the shelter of Cyprus because the winds were contrary.

5 Now when we had sailed over the sea off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.

6 And there the centurion found ^d an Alexandrian ship sailing to Italy, and he put us on board.

7 Now when we had sailed slowly many days, and with difficulty had arrived off Cnidus, since the wind did not permit us to proceed, we sailed under the shelter of ^e Crete, off Salmone.

8 And passing it with difficulty, we came to a place that is called The Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea.

9 Now when much time had passed and when sailing was now ^f dangerous, because the Fast was already past, Paul admonished them.

10 And he said to them, “Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will end in disaster and much damage, not only of the cargo and ship, but also of our lives.”

11 Nevertheless, the centurion believed the pilot and the owner of the ship more than the things that were spoken by Paul.

12 And because the harbor was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised to depart from there also, if by any means they might reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, facing southwest and northwest, and winter there.

The Storm at Sea

13 Now when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, launching from there, they sailed close by Crete.

14 But not long after there arose a tempestuous head wind called Euraquilo.

15 And when the ship was caught and could not face into the wind, we let ourselves be driven along.

16 Then running under the shelter of a certain island called Clauda, we secured the ship’s boat with difficulty.

17 When they had taken it on board, they used supporting cables in undergirding the ship. And fearing that they might run aground on the sands of Syrtis, they let down the sea anchor and so were driven.

18 And because we were exceedingly tossed by a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship.

19 On the third day, with our own hands ^g we threw overboard the tackling of the ship.

20 And when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small storm beat on us, all hope that we would be saved was then given up.

21 But after a long abstinence from food, Paul stood up in the midst of them and said, “Sirs, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this damage and loss.

22 “And now I exhort you to be of good cheer, for there will be no loss of anyone’s life among you, but only the ship.

23 ^h “For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am and ⁱ whom I serve,

24 “saying, ‘Do not fear, Paul. You must be brought before Caesar. And behold, God has given you all those who sail with you.’

25 “Therefore, sirs, be of good cheer, ^j for I believe God that it will be even as it was told me.

26 “However, ^k we must run aground on a certain island.”

Shipwrecked on Malta

27 But when the fourteenth night came, as we were driven up and down in the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors assumed that they drew near to some land.

28 So they took soundings and found it to be twenty fathoms. And when they went a little further, they took soundings again and found it to be fifteen fathoms.

29 Then fearing that we should run aground on rocks, they threw four anchors out off the stern and wished for the day.

30 Now as the sailors were about to flee from the ship, when they had let down the ship’s boat into the sea, under the pretense of intending to lay out anchors from the bow,

31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, “Unless these stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.”

32 Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the ship’s boat and let it fall away.

33 Now while the day was about to dawn, Paul was encouraging them all to take some food, saying, “This day is the fourteenth day that you have waited and continued without eating, having taken nothing.

34 “Therefore, I urge you to take some food, for this is for your health, ^l for not a hair from the head of any of you will perish.”

35 Now when he had spoken these things, he took bread and ^m gave thanks to God in the presence of them all. And when he had broken it, he began to eat.

36 Then they were all of good cheer, and they also took some food.

37 And in all we were 276 ⁿ souls on the ship.

38 Now when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship and threw out the wheat into the sea.

39 Then when it was day, they did not recognize the land. But they discovered a certain bay with a beach, onto which they resolved to run the ship if they could.

40 And when they had taken up the anchors, they left them in the sea while loosing the rudder ropes. Then they hoisted up the mainsail to the wind and made for the shore.

41 And striking a reef where two seas met, ^o they ran the ship aground. And the bow stuck fast and remained immovable, but the stern was being broken up by the violence of the waves.

42 Then the soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim away and escape.

43 But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, kept them from their purpose. And he commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first and get to land,

44 and the rest should follow, some on boards and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass ^p that they all safely escaped to land.

Chapter 28

Hospitality of Malta

1 And when they had escaped, then they found out that ^a the island was called Malta.

2 Now the ^b nationals showed us extraordinary kindness, for they kindled a fire and received us all because of the rain and because of the cold.

3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand.

4 And when the nationals saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said among themselves, “Without doubt this man is a murderer, and though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow him to live.”

5 But he shook off the creature into the fire and ^c suffered no harm.

6 However, they were expecting that he was about to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had looked for some time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and ^d said that he was a god.

7 In the same region was an estate of the leading citizen of the island, whose name was Publius, who received us and courteously entertained us for three days.

8 Now it came to pass that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and dysentery. Paul went in to him and ^e prayed, and ^f laid his hands on him and healed him.

9 So when this was done, others who had diseases on the island also came and were healed.

10 They also honored us in many ^g ways. And when we departed, they supplied us with such things as were ^h necessary.

Paul in Rome

11 And after three months we departed on ⁱ an Alexandrian ship that had wintered at the island, which had the Twin Brothers for its figurehead.

12 And landing at Syracuse, we stayed there three days.

13 And from there we circled around and arrived at Rhegium. And after one day the south wind blew and we came the next day to Puteoli.

14 There we found ^j brethren, and were invited to stay with them seven days. And so we went toward Rome.

15 And from there, when the brethren heard about us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum and Three Inns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.

16 Now when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard. But ^k Paul was allowed to stay by himself with the soldier who guarded him.

Preaching in Rome

17 Now it came to pass that after three days Paul called together the leaders of the Jews. And when they had come together, he said to them, “Men and brethren, ^l though I have committed nothing against our people or customs of our fathers, yet ^m I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans,

18 “who, ⁿ when they had examined me, wanted to let me go because there was no cause for putting me to death.

19 “But when the Jews objected, ^o I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not that I had any accusation against my nation.

20 “For this reason, therefore, I have called for you, to see you and to speak with you, because ^p for the hope of Israel I am bound with ^q this chain.”

21 Then they said to him, “We neither received letters out of Judea concerning you, nor any of the brethren that came showed or spoke anything bad about you.

22 “But we desire to hear from you what you think, for as concerning this sect we know that ^r it is spoken against everywhere.”

23 And when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, ^s to whom he explained and testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, ^t both out of the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning until evening.

24 And ^u some believed the things that were spoken and some did not believe.

25 And when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had spoken one final word, “The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers,

26 “saying, ^v ‘Go to this people and say, “Hearing you will hear, and will not understand. And seeing you will see, and not perceive.

27 For the heart of this people has become dull, and their ears are hard of hearing. And their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart and should be converted, and I should heal them.”’

28 “Therefore, let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent ^w to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!”

29 Now when he had said these words, the Jews departed and had a great dispute among themselves.

30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all who came to him,

31 ^x preaching the kingdom of God and teaching those things that concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.