Acts 1

Jesus Taken Up Into Heaven

1In my former book,a Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teachb 2until the day he was taken up to heaven,c after giving instructionsd through the Holy Spirit to the apostlese he had chosen.f 3After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to themg over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.h 4On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but waiti for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.j 5For John baptized with1 water,k but in a few days you will be baptized with2 the Holy Spirit.”l

6Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restorem the kingdom to Israel?”

7He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.n 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;o and you will be my witnessesp in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria,q and to the ends of the earth.”r

9After he said this, he was taken ups before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

10They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in whitet stood beside them. 11“Men of Galilee,”u they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come backv in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas

12Then the apostles returned to Jerusalemw from the hill called the Mount of Olives,x a Sabbath day’s walk3 from the city. 13When they arrived, they went upstairs to the roomy where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.z 14They all joined together constantly in prayer,a along with the womenb and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.c

15In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) 16and said, “Brothers and sisters,4^,d the Scripture had to be fulfillede in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas,f who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. 17He was one of our numberg and shared in our ministry.”h

18(With the paymenti he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field;j there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. 19Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their languagek Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)

20“For,” said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms:

and,

21Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, 22beginning from John’s baptismn to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witnesso with us of his resurrection.”

23So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24Then they prayed,p “Lord, you know everyone’s heart.q Show usr which of these two you have chosen 25to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” 26Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.s

Acts 2

The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost

1When the day of Pentecosta came, they were all togetherb in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.c 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spiritd and began to speak in other tongues1^,e as the Spirit enabled them. Map: Countries of People Mentioned at Pentecost

5Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearingf Jews from every nation under heaven. 6When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7Utterly amazed,g they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans?h 8Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia,i Pontusj and Asia,2^,k 10Phrygial and Pamphylia,m Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene;n visitors from Rome 11(both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

13Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”o

Peter Addresses the Crowd

14Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning!p 16No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

22“Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazarethx was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs,y which God did among you through him,z as you yourselves know. 23This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge;a and you, with the help of wicked men,4 put him to death by nailing him to the cross.b 24But God raised him from the dead,c freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.d 25David said about him:

29“Fellow Israelites,g I can tell you confidently that the patriarchh David died and was buried,i and his tomb is herej to this day. 30But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne.k 31Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay.l 32God has raised this Jesus to life,m and we are all witnessesn of it. 33Exaltedo to the right hand of God,p he has received from the Fatherq the promised Holy Spiritr and has poured outs what you now see and hear. 34For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,

36“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lordu and Messiah.”v

37When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”w

38Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized,x every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.y And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.z 39The promise is for you and your childrena and for all who are far offb—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

40With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”c 41Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their numberd that day.

The Fellowship of the Believers

42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teachinge and to fellowship, to the breaking of breadf and to prayer.g 43Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.h 44All the believers were together and had everything in common.i 45They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.j 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.k They broke breadl in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.m And the Lord added to their numbern daily those who were being saved.

Acts 3

Peter Heals a Lame Beggar

1One day Peter and Johna were going up to the templeb at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon.c 2Now a man who was lame from birthd was being carried to the temple gatee called Beautiful, where he was put every day to begf from those going into the temple courts. 3When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

6Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,g walk.” 7Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping,h and praising God. 9When all the peoplei saw him walking and praising God, 10they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful,j and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Peter Speaks to the Onlookers

11While the man held on to Peter and John,k all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade.l 12When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,m the God of our fathers,n has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him overo to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate,p though he had decided to let him go.q 14You disowned the Holyr and Righteous Ones and asked that a murderer be released to you.t 15You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead.u We are witnessesv of this. 16By faith in the name of Jesus,w this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.

17“Now, fellow Israelites,x I know that you acted in ignorance,y as did your leaders.z 18But this is how God fulfilleda what he had foretoldb through all the prophets,c saying that his Messiah would suffer.d 19Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out,e that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20and that he may send the Messiah,f who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. 21Heaven must receive himg until the time comes for God to restore everything,h as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.i 22For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you.j 23Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from their people.’1^,k

24“Indeed, beginning with Samuel, all the prophetsl who have spoken have foretold these days. 25And you are heirsm of the prophets and of the covenantn God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’2^,o 26When God raised upp his servant, he sent him firstq to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”

Acts 4

Peter and John Before the Sanhedrin

1The priests and the captain of the temple guarda and the Sadduceesb came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.c 3They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jaild until the next day. 4But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grewe to about five thousand.

5The next day the rulers,f the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas,g John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. 7They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”

8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit,h said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people!i 9If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lamej and are being asked how he was healed, 10then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,k whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead,l that this man stands before you healed. 11Jesus is

12Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”n

13When they saw the courage of Peter and Johno and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men,p they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.q 14But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrinr and then conferred together. 16“What are we going to do with these men?”s they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign,t and we cannot deny it. 17But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”

18Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.u 19But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him?v You be the judges! 20As for us, we cannot help speakingw about what we have seen and heard.”x

21After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the peopley were praising Godz for what had happened. 22For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

The Believers Pray

23On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God.a “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.b 25You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:c

27Indeed Herode and Pontius Pilatef met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus,g whom you anointed. 28They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.h 29Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.i 30Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wondersj through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”k

31After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken.l And they were all filled with the Holy Spiritm and spoke the word of Godn boldly.o

The Believers Share Their Possessions

32All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.p 33With great power the apostles continued to testifyq to the resurrectionr of the Lord Jesus. And God’s graces was so powerfully at work in them all 34that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them,t brought the money from the sales 35and put it at the apostles’ feet,u and it was distributed to anyone who had need.v

36Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabasw (which means “son of encouragement”), 37sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.x

Acts 5

Ananias and Sapphira

1Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself,a but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.b

3Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satanc has so filled your heartd that you have lied to the Holy Spirite and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?f 4Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal?g What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”h

5When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died.i And great fearj seized all who heard what had happened. 6Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body,k and carried him out and buried him.

7About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?”

“Yes,” she said, “that is the price.”l

9Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord?m Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”

10At that moment she fell down at his feet and died.n Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband.o 11Great fearp seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

The Apostles Heal Many

12The apostles performed many signs and wondersq among the people. And all the believers used to meet togetherr in Solomon’s Colonnade.s 13No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people.t 14Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.u 15As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.v 16Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.w

The Apostles Persecuted

17Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the partyx of the Sadducees,y were filled with jealousy. 18They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.z 19But during the night an angela of the Lord opened the doors of the jailb and brought them out.c 20“Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.”d

21At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people.

When the high priest and his associatese arrived, they called together the Sanhedrinf—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles. 22But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there.g So they went back and reported, 23“We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” 24On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priestsh were at a loss, wondering what this might lead to.

25Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.” 26At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the peoplei would stone them.

27The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrinj to be questioned by the high priest. 28“We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,”k he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”l

29Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!m 30The God of our ancestorsn raised Jesus from the deado—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross.p 31God exalted him to his own right handq as Prince and Saviorr that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins.s 32We are witnesses of these things,t and so is the Holy Spirit,u whom God has given to those who obey him.”

33When they heard this, they were furiousv and wanted to put them to death. 34But a Pharisee named Gamaliel,w a teacher of the law,x who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 35Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the censusy and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.z 39But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”a

40His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged.b Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

41The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicingc because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.d 42Day after day, in the temple courtse and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good newsf that Jesus is the Messiah.g

Acts 6

The Choosing of the Seven

1In those days when the number of disciples was increasing,a the Hellenistic Jews1^,b among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widowsc were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.d 2So the Twelve gathered all the disciplese together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of Godf in order to wait on tables. 3Brothers and sisters,g choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirith and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to themi 4and will give our attention to prayerj and the ministry of the word.”

5This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen,k a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit;l also Philip,m Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6They presented these men to the apostles, who prayedn and laid their hands on them.o

7So the word of God spread.p The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly,q and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

Stephen Seized

8Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signsr among the people. 9Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrenes and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Ciliciat and Asiau—who began to argue with Stephen. 10But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.v

11Then they secretlyw persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”x

12So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin.y 13They produced false witnesses,z who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy placea and against the law. 14For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this placeb and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”c

15All who were sitting in the Sanhedrind looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Acts 7

Stephen’s Speech to the Sanhedrin

1Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these charges true?”

2To this he replied: “Brothers and fathers,a listen to me! The God of gloryb appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Harran.c 3‘Leave your country and your people,’ God said, ‘and go to the land I will show you.’1^,d

4“So he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Harran. After the death of his father, God sent him to this land where you are now living.e 5He gave him no inheritance here,f not even enough ground to set his foot on. But God promised him that he and his descendants after him would possess the land,g even though at that time Abraham had no child. 6God spoke to him in this way: ‘For four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated.h 7But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves,’ God said, ‘and afterward they will come out of that country and worship me in this place.’2^,i 8Then he gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision.j And Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him eight days after his birth.k Later Isaac became the father of Jacob,l and Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs.m

9“Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph,n they sold him as a slave into Egypt.o But God was with himp 10and rescued him from all his troubles. He gave Joseph wisdom and enabled him to gain the goodwill of Pharaoh king of Egypt. So Pharaoh made him ruler over Egypt and all his palace.q

11“Then a famine struck all Egypt and Canaan, bringing great suffering, and our ancestors could not find food.r 12When Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our forefathers on their first visit.s 13On their second visit, Joseph told his brothers who he was,t and Pharaoh learned about Joseph’s family.u 14After this, Joseph sent for his father Jacob and his whole family,v seventy-five in all.w 15Then Jacob went down to Egypt, where he and our ancestors died.x 16Their bodies were brought back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem for a certain sum of money.y

17“As the time drew near for God to fulfill his promise to Abraham, the number of our people in Egypt had greatly increased.z 18Then ‘a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt.’3^,a 19He dealt treacherously with our people and oppressed our ancestors by forcing them to throw out their newborn babies so that they would die.b

20“At that time Moses was born, and he was no ordinary child.4 For three months he was cared for by his family.c 21When he was placed outside, Pharaoh’s daughter took him and brought him up as her own son.d 22Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptianse and was powerful in speech and action.

23“When Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his own people, the Israelites. 24He saw one of them being mistreated by an Egyptian, so he went to his defense and avenged him by killing the Egyptian. 25Moses thought that his own people would realize that God was using him to rescue them, but they did not. 26The next day Moses came upon two Israelites who were fighting. He tried to reconcile them by saying, ‘Men, you are brothers; why do you want to hurt each other?’

27“But the man who was mistreating the other pushed Moses aside and said, ‘Who made you ruler and judge over us?f 28Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’5 29When Moses heard this, he fled to Midian, where he settled as a foreigner and had two sons.g

30“After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai. 31When he saw this, he was amazed at the sight. As he went over to get a closer look, he heard the Lord say:h 32‘I am the God of your fathers,i the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.’6 Moses trembled with fear and did not dare to look.j

33“Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.k 34I have indeed seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come down to set them free. Now come, I will send you back to Egypt.’7^,l

35“This is the same Moses they had rejected with the words, ‘Who made you ruler and judge?’m He was sent to be their ruler and deliverer by God himself, through the angel who appeared to him in the bush. 36He led them out of Egyptn and performed wonders and signso in Egypt, at the Red Seap and for forty years in the wilderness.q

37“This is the Moses who told the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your own people.’8^,r 38He was in the assembly in the wilderness, with the angels who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors;t and he received living wordsu to pass on to us.v

39“But our ancestors refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.w 40They told Aaron, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who led us out of Egypt—we don’t know what has happened to him!’9^,x 41That was the time they made an idol in the form of a calf. They brought sacrifices to it and reveled in what their own hands had made.y 42But God turned away from themz and gave them over to the worship of the sun, moon and stars.a This agrees with what is written in the book of the prophets:

44“Our ancestors had the tabernacle of the covenant lawc with them in the wilderness. It had been made as God directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen.d 45After receiving the tabernacle, our ancestors under Joshua brought it with them when they took the land from the nations God drove out before them.e It remained in the land until the time of David,f 46who enjoyed God’s favor and asked that he might provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.11^,g 47But it was Solomon who built a house for him.h

48“However, the Most Highi does not live in houses made by human hands.j As the prophet says:

51“You stiff-necked people!m Your heartsn and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! 52Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute?o They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered himp— 53you who have received the law that was given through angelsq but have not obeyed it.”

The Stoning of Stephen

54When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furiousr and gnashed their teeth at him. 55But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit,s looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.t 56“Look,” he said, “I see heaven openu and the Son of Manv standing at the right hand of God.”

57At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58dragged him out of the cityw and began to stone him.x Meanwhile, the witnessesy laid their coatsz at the feet of a young man named Saul.a

59While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”b 60Then he fell on his kneesc and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”d When he had said this, he fell asleep.e

Acts 8

1And Saula approved of their killing him. Map: Philip’s and Peter’s Missionary Journeys

The Church Persecuted and Scattered

On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scatteredb throughout Judea and Samaria.c 2Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. 3But Sauld began to destroy the church.e Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.

Philip in Samaria

4Those who had been scatteredf preached the word wherever they went.g 5Philiph went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. 6When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many,i and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.j 8So there was great joy in that city.

Simon the Sorcerer

9Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorceryk in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great,l 10and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.”m 11They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery. 12But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of Godn and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized,o both men and women. 13Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miraclesp he saw.

14When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samariaq had accepted the word of God,r they sent Peter and Johns to Samaria. 15When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit,t 16because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them;u they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.v 17Then Peter and John placed their hands on them,w and they received the Holy Spirit.x

18When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

20Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!y 21You have no part or sharez in this ministry, because your heart is not righta before God. 22Repentb of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”

24Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for mec so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”

25After they had further proclaimed the word of the Lordd and testified about Jesus, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages.e

Philip and the Ethiopian

26Now an angelf of the Lord said to Philip,g “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian1^,h eunuch,i an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship,j 28and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. 29The Spirit toldk Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”

30Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.

31“How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

32This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading:

34The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” 35Then Philip beganm with that very passage of Scripturen and told him the good newso about Jesus.

36As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?”p [37]3 38And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away,q and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. 40Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the townsr until he reached Caesarea.s

Acts 9

Saul’s Conversion

9:1-19pp — Ac 22:3-16; 26:9-18

1Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples.a He went to the high priest 2and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus,b so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way,c whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.d 4He fell to the ground and heard a voicee say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” Chart: Timeline of Paul’s Life

5“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6“Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”f

7The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the soundg but did not see anyone.h 8Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing.i So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

10In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision,j “Ananias!”

“Yes, Lord,” he answered.

11The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsusk named Saul, for he is praying. 12In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands onl him to restore his sight.”

13“Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy peoplem in Jerusalem.n 14And he has come here with authority from the chief priestso to arrest all who call on your name.”p

15But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrumentq to proclaim my name to the Gentilesr and their kingss and to the people of Israel. 16I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”t

17Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands onu Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”v 18Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized,w 19and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Map: Roman Damascus

Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem

Saul spent several days with the disciplesx in Damascus.y 20At once he began to preach in the synagoguesz that Jesus is the Son of God.a 21All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name?b And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?”c 22Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.d

23After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him,e 24but Saul learned of their plan.f Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. 25But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.g

26When he came to Jerusalem,h he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27But Barnabasi took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him,j and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.k 28So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews,1^,l but they tried to kill him.m 30When the believersn learned of this, they took him down to Caesareao and sent him off to Tarsus.p

31Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samariaq enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.r

Aeneas and Dorcas

32As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord’s peoples who lived in Lydda. 33There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. 34“Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you.t Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up. 35All those who lived in Lydda and Sharonu saw him and turned to the Lord.v

36In Joppaw there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing goodx and helping the poor. 37About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room.y 38Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciplesz heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!”

39Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widowsa stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.

40Peter sent them all out of the room;b then he got down on his kneesc and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.”d She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. 41He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. 42This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.e 43Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.f

Acts 10

Cornelius Calls for Peter

1At Caesareaa there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2He and all his family were devout and God-fearing;b he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. 3One day at about three in the afternoonc he had a vision.d He distinctly saw an angele of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”

4Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked.

The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offeringf before God.g 5Now send men to Joppah to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. 6He is staying with Simon the tanner,i whose house is by the sea.”

7When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. 8He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.j

Peter’s Vision

10:9-32Ref — Ac 11:5-14

9About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roofk to pray. 10He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.l 11He saw heaven openedm and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. 13Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”

14“Surely not, Lord!”n Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”o

15The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”p

16This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.

17While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision,q the men sent by Corneliusr found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. 18They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.

19While Peter was still thinking about the vision,s the Spirit saidt to him, “Simon, three1 men are looking for you. 20So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”u

21Peter went down and said to the men, “I’m the one you’re looking for. Why have you come?”

22The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man,v who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.”w 23Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.

Peter at Cornelius’s House

The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believersx from Joppa went along.y 24The following day he arrived in Caesarea.z Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. 26But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”a

27While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people.b 28He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile.c But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean.d 29So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”

30Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothese stood before me 31and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ 33So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”

34Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritismf 35but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.g 36You know the messageh God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good newsi of peacej through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.k 37You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38how God anointedl Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healingm all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.n

39“We are witnesseso of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross,p 40but God raised him from the deadq on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41He was not seen by all the people,r but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ates and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42He commanded us to preach to the peoplet and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.u 43All the prophets testify about himv that everyonew who believesx in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”y

44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came onz all who heard the message. 45The circumcised believers who had come with Petera were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured outb even on Gentiles.c 46For they heard them speaking in tongues2^,d and praising God.

Then Peter said, 47“Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water.e They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.”f 48So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.g Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

Acts 11

Peter Explains His Actions

1The apostles and the believersa throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.b 2So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believersc criticized him 3and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.”d

4Starting from the beginning, Peter told them the whole story: 5“I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision.e I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. 6I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles and birds. 7Then I heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’

8“I replied, ‘Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’

9“The voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’f 10This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again.

11“Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesareag stopped at the house where I was staying. 12The Spirit toldh me to have no hesitation about going with them.i These six brothersj also went with me, and we entered the man’s house. 13He told us how he had seen an angelk appear in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. 14He will bring you a messagel through which you and all your householdm will be saved.’

15“As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came onn them as he had come on us at the beginning.o 16Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with1 water,p but you will be baptized with2 the Holy Spirit.’q 17So if God gave them the same giftr he gave uss who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?”

18When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.”t

The Church in Antioch

19Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killedu traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch,v spreading the word only among Jews. 20Some of them, however, men from Cyprusw and Cyrene,x went to Antiochy and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good newsz about the Lord Jesus. 21The Lord’s hand was with them,a and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.b

22News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabasc to Antioch. 23When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done,d he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.e 24He was a good man, full of the Holy Spiritf and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.g

25Then Barnabas went to Tarsush to look for Saul, 26and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciplesi were called Christians firstj at Antioch.

27During this time some prophetsk came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28One of them, named Agabus,l stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world.m (This happened during the reign of Claudius.)n 29The disciples,o as each one was able, decided to provide helpp for the brothers and sistersq living in Judea. 30This they did, sending their gift to the eldersr by Barnabass and Saul.t

Acts 12

Peter’s Miraculous Escape From Prison

1It was about this time that King Heroda arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2He had James, the brother of John,b put to death with the sword.c 3When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews,d he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread.e 4After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.f Map: The Spread of the Gospel

5So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.g

6The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains,h and sentries stood guard at the entrance. 7Suddenly an angeli of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.j

8Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. 9Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision.k 10They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself,l and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.

11Then Peter came to himselfm and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued men from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”

12When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark,o where many people had gathered and were praying.p 13Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door.q 14When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyedr she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!”

15“You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.”s

16But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 17Peter motioned with his handt for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell Jamesu and the other brothers and sistersv about this,” he said, and then he left for another place.

18In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. 19After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed.w Photo

Herod’s Death

Then Herod went from Judea to Caesareax and stayed there. 20He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon;y they now joined together and sought an audience with him. After securing the support of Blastus, a trusted personal servant of the king, they asked for peace, because they depended on the king’s country for their food supply.z

21On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. 22They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” 23Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angela of the Lord struck him down,b and he was eaten by worms and died.

24But the word of Godc continued to spread and flourish.d

Barnabas and Saul Sent Off

25When Barnabase and Saul had finished their mission,f they returned from1 Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark.g

Acts 13

1Now in the church at Antiocha there were prophetsb and teachers:c Barnabas,d Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene,e Manaen (who had been brought up with Herodf the tetrarch) and Saul. 2While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said,g “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the workh to which I have called them.”i 3So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on themj and sent them off.k Map: Paul’s First Missionary Journey c. ad 46–48 (Ac 13:4—14:28)

On Cyprus

4The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit,l went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.m 5When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of Godn in the Jewish synagogues.o Johnp was with them as their helper.

6They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcererq and false prophetr named Bar-Jesus, 7who was an attendant of the proconsul,s Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. 8But Elymas the sorcerert (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsulu from the faith.v 9Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit,w looked straight at Elymas and said, 10“You are a child of the devilx and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?y 11Now the hand of the Lord is against you.z You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun.”a

Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12When the proconsulb saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.

In Pisidian Antioch

13From Paphos,c Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia,d where Johne left them to return to Jerusalem. 14From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch.f On the Sabbathg they entered the synagogueh and sat down. 15After the reading from the Lawi and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have a word of exhortation for the people, please speak.”

16Standing up, Paul motioned with his handj and said: “Fellow Israelites and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me! 17The God of the people of Israel chose our ancestors; he made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt; with mighty power he led them out of that country;k 18for about forty years he endured their conduct1^,l in the wilderness;m 19and he overthrew seven nations in Canaan,n giving their land to his peopleo as their inheritance.p 20All this took about 450 years.

“After this, God gave them judgesq until the time of Samuel the prophet.r 21Then the people asked for a king,s and he gave them Sault son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin,u who ruled forty years. 22After removing Saul,v he made David their king.w God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart;x he will do everything I want him to do.’y

23“From this man’s descendantsz God has brought to Israel the Saviora Jesus,b as he promised.c 24Before the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel.d 25As John was completing his work,e he said: ‘Who do you suppose I am? I am not the one you are looking for.f But there is one coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’g

26“Fellow children of Abrahamh and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvationi has been sent. 27The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus,j yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophetsk that are read every Sabbath. 28Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed.l 29When they had carried out all that was written about him,m they took him down from the crossn and laid him in a tomb.o 30But God raised him from the dead,p 31and for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem.q They are now his witnessesr to our people.

32“We tell you the good news:s What God promised our ancestorst 33he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus.u As it is written in the second Psalm:

34God raised him from the dead so that he will never be subject to decay. As God has said,

35So it is also stated elsewhere:

36“Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep;y he was buried with his ancestorsz and his body decayed. 37But the one whom God raised from the deada did not see decay.

38“Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.b 39Through him everyone who believesc is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.d 40Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you:

42As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue,f the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath. 43When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.g

44On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy. They began to contradict what Paul was sayingh and heaped abusei on him.

46Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first.j Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.k 47For this is what the Lord has commanded us:

48When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord;n and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.

49The word of the Lordo spread through the whole region. 50But the Jewish leaders incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region.p 51So they shook the dust off their feetq as a warning to them and went to Iconium.r 52And the discipless were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.t

Acts 14

In Iconium

1At Iconiuma Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue.b There they spoke so effectively that a great numberc of Jews and Greeks believed. 2But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the other Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.d 3So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldlye for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders.f 4The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles.g 5There was a plot afoot among both Gentiles and Jews,h together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them.i 6But they found out about it and fledj to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country, 7where they continued to preachk the gospel.l Photo

In Lystra and Derbe

8In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way from birthm and had never walked. 9He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healedn 10and called out, “Stand up on your feet!”o At that, the man jumped up and began to walk.p

11When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!”q 12Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker.r 13The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them.

14But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothess and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: 15“Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human,t like you. We are bringing you good news,u telling you to turn from these worthless thingsv to the living God,w who made the heavens and the earthx and the sea and everything in them.y 16In the past, he letz all nations go their own way.a 17Yet he has not left himself without testimony:b He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons;c he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”d 18Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them.

19Then some Jewse came from Antioch and Iconiumf and won the crowd over. They stoned Paulg and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. 20But after the disciplesh had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.

The Return to Antioch in Syria

21They preached the gospeli in that city and won a large numberj of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconiumk and Antioch, 22strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith.l “We must go through many hardshipsm to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. 23Paul and Barnabas appointed elders1^,n for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting,o committed them to the Lord,p in whom they had put their trust. 24After going through Pisidia, they came into Pamphylia,q 25and when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.

26From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch,r where they had been committed to the grace of Gods for the work they had now completed.t 27On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through themu and how he had opened a doorv of faith to the Gentiles. 28And they stayed there a long time with the disciples.w

Acts 15

The Council at Jerusalem

1Certain peoplea came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers:b “Unless you are circumcised,c according to the custom taught by Moses,d you cannot be saved.” 2This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusaleme to see the apostles and eldersf about this question. 3The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoeniciag and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted.h This news made all the believers very glad. 4When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.i

5Then some of the believers who belonged to the partyj of the Phariseesk stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.”l

6The apostles and elders met to consider this question. 7After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe.m 8God, who knows the heart,n showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them,o just as he did to us. 9He did not discriminate between us and them,p for he purified their hearts by faith.q 10Now then, why do you try to test Godr by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yokes that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? 11No! We believe it is through the gracet of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

12The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wondersu God had done among the Gentiles through them.v 13When they finished, Jamesw spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me. 14Simon1 has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles.x 15The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:

19“It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols,a from sexual immorality,b from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.c 21For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”d

The Council’s Letter to Gentile Believers

22Then the apostles and elders,e with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antiochf with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas,g men who were leaders among the believers. 23With them they sent the following letter:

30So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter. 31The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message. 32Judas and Silas,q who themselves were prophets,r said much to encourage and strengthen the believers. 33After spending some time there, they were sent off by the believers with the blessing of peaces to return to those who had sent them. [34]4 35But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preachedt the word of the Lord.u

Disagreement Between Paul and Barnabas

36Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the townsv where we preached the word of the Lordw and see how they are doing.” 37Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark,x with them, 38but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted themy in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. 39They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40but Paul chose Silasz and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord.a 41He went through Syriab and Cilicia,c strengthening the churches.d

Acts 16

Timothy Joins Paul and Silas

1Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra,a where a disciple named Timothyb lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believerc but whose father was a Greek. 2The believersd at Lystra and Iconiume spoke well of him. 3Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.f 4As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and eldersg in Jerusalemh for the people to obey.i 5So the churches were strengthenedj in the faith and grew daily in numbers.k

Paul’s Vision of the Man of Macedonia

6Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygial and Galatia,m having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.n 7When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesuso would not allow them to. 8So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.p 9During the night Paul had a visionq of a man of Macedoniar standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10After Paul had seen the vision, wes got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospelt to them. Map: Paul’s Second Missionary Journey c. ad 49–52 or 50–53 (Ac 15:39—18:22)

Lydia’s Conversion in Philippi

11From Troasu we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day we went on to Neapolis. 12From there we traveled to Philippi,v a Roman colony and the leading city of that district1 of Macedonia.w And we stayed there several days.

13On the Sabbathx we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. 14One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatiray named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heartz to respond to Paul’s message. 15When she and the members of her householda were baptized,b she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.

Paul and Silas in Prison

16Once when we were going to the place of prayer,c we were met by a female slave who had a spiritd by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God,e who are telling you the way to be saved.” 18She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.f

19When her owners realized that their hope of making moneyg was gone, they seized Paul and Silash and draggedi them into the marketplace to face the authorities. 20They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproarj 21by advocating customs unlawful for us Romansk to accept or practice.”l

22The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods.m 23After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailern was commanded to guard them carefully. 24When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.o

25About midnightp Paul and Silasq were praying and singing hymnsr to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken.s At once all the prison doors flew open,t and everyone’s chains came loose.u 27The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped.v 28But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”

29The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.w 30He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”x

31They replied, “Believey in the Lord Jesus, and you will be savedz—you and your household.”a 32Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33At that hour of the nightb the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized.c 34The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; hed was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.

35When it was daylight, the magistrates sent their officers to the jailer with the order: “Release those men.” 36The jailere told Paul, “The magistrates have ordered that you and Silas be released. Now you can leave. Go in peace.”f

37But Paul said to the officers: “They beat us publicly without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens,g and threw us into prison. And now do they want to get rid of us quietly? No! Let them come themselves and escort us out.”

38The officers reported this to the magistrates, and when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they were alarmed.h 39They came to appease them and escorted them from the prison, requesting them to leave the city.i 40After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house,j where they met with the brothers and sistersk and encouraged them. Then they left.

Acts 17

In Thessalonica

1When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica,a where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue,b and on three Sabbathc days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,d 3explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffere and rise from the dead.f “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,”g he said. 4Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas,h as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women. Photo

5But other Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city.i They rushed to Jason’sj house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd.1 6But when they did not find them, they draggedk Jason and some other believersl before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have caused trouble all over the worldm have now come here,n 7and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.”o 8When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. 9Then they made Jasonp and the others post bond and let them go. Photo

In Berea

10As soon as it was night, the believers sent Paul and Silasq away to Berea.r On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue.s 11Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica,t for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scripturesu every day to see if what Paul said was true.v 12As a result, many of them believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.w

13But when the Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God at Berea,x some of them went there too, agitating the crowds and stirring them up. 14The believersy immediately sent Paul to the coast, but Silasz and Timothya stayed at Berea. 15Those who escorted Paul brought him to Athensb and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible.c

In Athens

16While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. 17So he reasoned in the synagogued with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. 18A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good newse about Jesus and the resurrection.f 19Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus,g where they said to him, “May we know what this new teachingh is that you are presenting? 20You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we would like to know what they mean.” 21(All the Atheniansi and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)

22Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagusj and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.k 23For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worshipl—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.

24“The God who made the world and everything in itm is the Lord of heaven and earthn and does not live in temples built by human hands.o 25And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.p 26From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.q 27God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.r 28‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’2^,s As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’3

29“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill.t 30In the past God overlookedu such ignorance,v but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.w 31For he has set a day when he will judgex the world with justicey by the man he has appointed.z He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”a

32When they heard about the resurrection of the dead,b some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.” 33At that, Paul left the Council. 34Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus,c also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.

Acts 18

In Corinth

1After this, Paul left Athensa and went to Corinth.b 2There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla,c because Claudiusd had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them.e 4Every Sabbathf he reasoned in the synagogue,g trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.

5When Silash and Timothyi came from Macedonia,j Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah.k 6But when they opposed Paul and became abusive,l he shook out his clothes in protestm and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads!n I am innocent of it.o From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”p

7Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God.q 8Crispus,r the synagogue leader,s and his entire householdt believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized.

9One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision:u “Do not be afraid;v keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10For I am with you,w and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” 11So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.x

12While Gallio was proconsuly of Achaia,z the Jews of Corinth made a united attack on Paul and brought him to the place of judgment. 13“This man,” they charged, “is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.”

14Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to them, “If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you. 15But since it involves questions about words and names and your own lawa—settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things.” 16So he drove them off. 17Then the crowd there turned on Sosthenesb the synagogue leaderc and beat him in front of the proconsul; and Gallio showed no concern whatever.

Priscilla, Aquila and Apollos

18Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sistersd and sailed for Syria,e accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila.f Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchreaeg because of a vow he had taken.h 19They arrived at Ephesus,i where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. 21But as he left, he promised, “I will come back if it is God’s will.”j Then he set sail from Ephesus. 22When he landed at Caesarea,k he went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch.l

23After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatiam and Phrygia,n strengthening all the disciples.o

24Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos,p a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus.q He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor1^,r and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John.s 26He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquilat heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.

27When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia,u the brothers and sistersv encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. 28For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scripturesw that Jesus was the Messiah.x

Acts 19

Paul in Ephesus

1While Apollosa was at Corinth,b Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus.c There he found some disciples 2and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spiritd when1 you believed?”

They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” Map: Paul’s Third Missionary Journey c. ad 53–57 (Ac 18:23—21:17)

3So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?”

“John’s baptism,” they replied.

4Paul said, “John’s baptisme was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”f 5On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.g 6When Paul placed his hands on them,h the Holy Spirit came on them,i and they spoke in tongues2^,j and prophesied. 7There were about twelve men in all.

8Paul entered the synagoguek and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God.l 9But some of themm became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way.n So Paul left them. He took the discipleso with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10This went on for two years,p so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asiaq heard the word of the Lord.r

11God did extraordinary miracless through Paul, 12so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were curedt and the evil spirits left them.

13Some Jews who went around driving out evil spiritsu tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesusv whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” 14Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” 16Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.

17When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus,w they were all seized with fear,x and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. 18Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done. 19A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.3 20In this way the word of the Lordy spread widely and grew in power.z

21After all this had happened, Paul decided4 to go to Jerusalem,a passing through Macedoniab and Achaia.c “After I have been there,” he said, “I must visit Rome also.”d 22He sent two of his helpers,e Timothyf and Erastus,g to Macedonia, while he stayed in the province of Asiah a little longer.

The Riot in Ephesus

23About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way.i 24A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen there. 25He called them together, along with the workers in related trades, and said: “You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business.j 26And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesusk and in practically the whole province of Asia.l He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all.m 27There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.”

28When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”n 29Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaiuso and Aristarchus,p Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia,q and all of them rushed into the theater together. 30Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciplesr would not let him. 31Even some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, sent him a message begging him not to venture into the theater.

32The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another.s Most of the people did not even know why they were there. 33The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander to the front, and they shouted instructions to him. He motionedt for silence in order to make a defense before the people. 34But when they realized he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”u

35The city clerk quieted the crowd and said: “Fellow Ephesians,v doesn’t all the world know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven? 36Therefore, since these facts are undeniable, you ought to calm down and not do anything rash. 37You have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed templesw nor blasphemed our goddess. 38If, then, Demetrius and his fellow craftsmenx have a grievance against anybody, the courts are open and there are proconsuls.y They can press charges. 39If there is anything further you want to bring up, it must be settled in a legal assembly. 40As it is, we are in danger of being charged with rioting because of what happened today. In that case we would not be able to account for this commotion, since there is no reason for it.” 41After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.

Acts 20

Through Macedonia and Greece

1When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciplesa and, after encouraging them, said goodbye and set out for Macedonia.b 2He traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece, 3where he stayed three months. Because some Jews had plotted against himc just as he was about to sail for Syria,d he decided to go back through Macedonia.e 4He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchusf and Secundus from Thessalonica,g Gaiush from Derbe, Timothyi also, and Tychicusj and Trophimusk from the province of Asia.l 5These men went on ahead and waited for usm at Troas.n 6But we sailed from Philippio after the Festival of Unleavened Bread, and five days later joined the others at Troas,p where we stayed seven days.

Eutychus Raised From the Dead at Troas

7On the first day of the weekq we came together to break bread.r Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. 8There were many lamps in the upstairs rooms where we were meeting. 9Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. 10Paul went down, threw himself on the young mant and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!”u 11Then he went upstairs again and broke breadv and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. 12The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.

Paul’s Farewell to the Ephesian Elders

13We went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we were going to take Paul aboard. He had made this arrangement because he was going there on foot. 14When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene. 15The next day we set sail from there and arrived off Chios. The day after that we crossed over to Samos, and on the following day arrived at Miletus.w 16Paul had decided to sail past Ephesusx to avoid spending time in the province of Asia,y for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem,z if possible, by the day of Pentecost.a

17From Miletus,b Paul sent to Ephesus for the eldersc of the church. 18When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you,d from the first day I came into the province of Asia.e 19I served the Lord with great humility and with tearsf and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents.g 20You know that I have not hesitated to preach anythingh that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. 21I have declared to both Jewsi and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentancej and have faith in our Lord Jesus.k

22“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem,l not knowing what will happen to me there. 23I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns mem that prison and hardships are facing me.n 24However, I consider my life worth nothing to me;o my only aim is to finish the racep and complete the taskq the Lord Jesus has given mer—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.s

25“Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdomt will ever see me again.u 26Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you.v 27For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.w 28Keep watch over yourselves and all the flockx of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.y Be shepherds of the church of God,1^,z which he boughta with his own blood.2^,b 29I know that after I leave, savage wolvesc will come in among you and will not spare the flock.d 30Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciplese after them. 31So be on your guard! Remember that for three yearsf I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.g

32“Now I commit you to Godh and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritancei among all those who are sanctified.j 33I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.k 34You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions.l 35In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

36When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed.m 37They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him.n 38What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again.o Then they accompanied him to the ship.p

Acts 21

On to Jerusalem

1After wea had torn ourselves away from them, we put out to sea and sailed straight to Kos. The next day we went to Rhodes and from there to Patara. 2We found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia,b went on board and set sail. 3After sighting Cyprus and passing to the south of it, we sailed on to Syria.c We landed at Tyre, where our ship was to unload its cargo. 4We sought out the disciplesd there and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirite they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. 5When it was time to leave, we left and continued on our way. All of them, including wives and children, accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray.f 6After saying goodbye to each other, we went aboard the ship, and they returned home.

7We continued our voyage from Tyreg and landed at Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and sistersh and stayed with them for a day. 8Leaving the next day, we reached Caesareai and stayed at the house of Philipj the evangelist,k one of the Seven. 9He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.l

10After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabusm came down from Judea. 11Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says,n ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bindo the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’ ”p

12When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 13Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to dieq in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”r 14When he would not be dissuaded, we gave ups and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”t

15After this, we started on our way up to Jerusalem.u 16Some of the disciples from Caesareav accompanied us and brought us to the home of Mnason, where we were to stay. He was a man from Cyprusw and one of the early disciples.

Paul’s Arrival at Jerusalem

17When we arrived at Jerusalem, the brothers and sistersx received us warmly.y 18The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James,z and all the eldersa were present. 19Paul greeted them and reported in detail what God had done among the Gentilesb through his ministry.c

20When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to Paul: “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealousd for the law.e 21They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses,f telling them not to circumcise their childreng or live according to our customs.h 22What shall we do? They will certainly hear that you have come, 23so do what we tell you. There are four men with us who have made a vow.i 24Take these men, join in their purification ritesj and pay their expenses, so that they can have their heads shaved.k Then everyone will know there is no truth in these reports about you, but that you yourself are living in obedience to the law. 25As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they should abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality.”l

26The next day Paul took the men and purified himself along with them. Then he went to the temple to give notice of the date when the days of purification would end and the offering would be made for each of them.m

Paul Arrested

27When the seven days were nearly over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him,n 28shouting, “Fellow Israelites, help us! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people and our law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place.”o 29(They had previously seen Trophimusp the Ephesianq in the city with Paul and assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple.)

30The whole city was aroused, and the people came running from all directions. Seizing Paul,r they dragged hims from the temple, and immediately the gates were shut. 31While they were trying to kill him, news reached the commander of the Roman troops that the whole city of Jerusalem was in an uproar. 32He at once took some officers and soldiers and ran down to the crowd. When the rioters saw the commander and his soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.t

33The commander came up and arrested him and ordered him to be boundu with twov chains.w Then he asked who he was and what he had done. 34Some in the crowd shouted one thing and some another,x and since the commander could not get at the truth because of the uproar, he ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks.y 35When Paul reached the steps,z the violence of the mob was so great he had to be carried by the soldiers. 36The crowd that followed kept shouting, “Get rid of him!”a

Paul Speaks to the Crowd

22:3-16pp — Ac 9:1-22; 26:9-18

37As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks,b he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?”

“Do you speak Greek?” he replied. 38“Aren’t you the Egyptian who started a revolt and led four thousand terrorists out into the wildernessc some time ago?”d

39Paul answered, “I am a Jew, from Tarsuse in Cilicia,f a citizen of no ordinary city. Please let me speak to the people.”

40After receiving the commander’s permission, Paul stood on the steps and motionedg to the crowd. When they were all silent, he said to them in Aramaic1:h