Chapter 1
Chapter 1 Verse 1
1. The first account I prepared, Theophilus [God-lover],[1] concerned all that Jesus began to do and to teach[2]
Chapter 1 Verse 2
2. until the day in which He was taken back,[3] after He had given commandment, by Holy Spirit,[4] to the apostles whom He had chosen;
Chapter 1 Verse 3
3. to whom He also showed Himself alive, after His suffering, by many convincing evidences, appearing to them during forty days and speaking of things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.[5]
Chapter 1 Verse 4
4. And being together He directed them not to go away from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father,[6] “which you heard from me;
Chapter 1 Verse 5
5. John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with Holy Spirit not many days from now.”[7]
Chapter 1 Verse 6
6. Well then, being together[8] they asked Him saying, “Lord, are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel at this time?”[9]
Chapter 1 Verse 7
7. So He said to them: “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has placed within His own authority.
Chapter 1 Verse 8
8. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be witnesses to me[10]—both in Jerusalem, and all Judea and Samaria, and even to the last part of the earth.”[11]
Chapter 1 Verse 9
9. Upon saying these things, as they watched, He was lifted up, and a cloud took Him out of their sight.
Chapter 1 Verse 10
10. And as they were staring into the sky, while He was going, suddenly two men in white clothing[12] stood beside them;
Chapter 1 Verse 11
11. and they said: “Men of Galilee,[13] why do you stand gazing up into the sky? This very Jesus who is being taken up from you into the sky, He will come again in the precise manner that you observed Him going into the sky.”[14]
Chapter 1 Verse 12
12. They then returned to Jerusalem from the mount called ‘of Olives’, which is near Jerusalem (a Sabbath day’s journey).[15]
Chapter 1 Verse 13
13. When they had entered [the city] they went up into the upper room[16] where they were staying: namely Peter and James, John and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas of James.[17]
Chapter 1 Verse 14
14. All these were continuing with one purpose in prayer and petition, along with the women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.[18]
Chapter 1 Verse 15
15. Well in those days Peter stood up in the middle of the disciples[19] (the number of people assembled there was about 120) and said:
Chapter 1 Verse 16
16. “Men,[20] brothers: It was necessary that this Scripture be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by David’s mouth[21] concerning Judas, who was guide to those who arrested Jesus;
Chapter 1 Verse 17
17. in that he was numbered with us and obtained his share in this ministry.”
Chapter 1 Verse 18
18. (In fact this man acquired a field with the wages of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle, and all his innards were spilled out.[22]
Chapter 1 Verse 19
19. And it became known to all who lived in Jerusalem, so that in their own language that field came to be called ‘Akeldama’, that is, ‘Field of Blood’.)
Chapter 1 Verse 20
20. “Because it stands written in Book of Psalms: ‘Let his residence become desolate, and may no one live in it’ and, ‘Let another take his office.’[23]
Chapter 1 Verse 21
21. So then, of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
Chapter 1 Verse 22
22. beginning from the baptism of John until the day when He was taken up from us, of these one must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”[24]
Chapter 1 Verse 23
23. So they nominated two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
Chapter 1 Verse 24
24. And praying they said: “You, Lord, Knower of all hearts, show which one of these two You have chosen[25]
Chapter 1 Verse 25
25. to receive the portion of this ministry and apostleship, out of which Judas turned aside to go into his own place.”[26]
Chapter 1 Verse 26
26. And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven Apostles.
Chapter 2
Chapter 2 Verse 1
1. When the day of Pentecost had come,[1] they were all together with one purpose.[2]
Chapter 2 Verse 2
2. And suddenly a roar came out of the sky, like the rushing of a violent wind,[3] and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.[4]
Chapter 2 Verse 3
3. Fiery tongues appeared and were distributed to them, and it [a tongue] landed[5] on each one of them.
Chapter 2 Verse 4
4. And they were all filled with Holy Spirit and began to speak different languages,[6] as the Spirit was granting to them to speak out.[7]
Chapter 2 Verse 5
5. Now there were devout men, Jews, from every nation under heaven, dwelling in Jerusalem.[8]
Chapter 2 Verse 6
6. So when that roar occurred, the crowd came together, and was bewildered, because each one was hearing them speaking to him in his own dialect.[9]
Chapter 2 Verse 7
7. So they were amazed and marveled, saying to one another:[10] “Hey, aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans?
Chapter 2 Verse 8
8. So how can each of us be hearing our own dialect in which we were born?
Chapter 2 Verse 9
9. Parthians and Medes and Elamites; those dwelling in Mesopotamia, in Judea and Cappadocia, in Pontus and Asia,
Chapter 2 Verse 10
10. in Phrygia and Pamphylia, in Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene; and visitors from Rome—both Jews and proselytes—
Chapter 2 Verse 11
11. Cretans and Arabians; we hear them declaring the great works of God in our own languages.”
Chapter 2 Verse 12
12. Yes they were all amazed and perplexed, saying one to another, “Whatever is going on?”
Chapter 2 Verse 13
13. But different ones were jeering, saying, “They are full of sweet wine!”[11]
Chapter 2 Verse 14
14. So Peter, standing with the eleven,[12] raised his voice and proclaimed to them: “Men—Jews and all who are dwelling in Jerusalem—let this be known to you; indeed, listen to my speech!
Chapter 2 Verse 15
15. Because these are not drunk, as you suppose (since it is only the third hour of the day),
Chapter 2 Verse 16
16. but this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
Chapter 2 Verse 17
17. ‘It will be in the last days, says God: I will pour out from my Spirit upon all flesh; your sons and your daughters will prophesy; your young men will see visions; your old men will dream a dream.[13]
Chapter 2 Verse 18
18. In those days I will indeed pour out from my Spirit upon my male slaves and upon my female slaves, and they will prophesy.[14]
Chapter 2 Verse 19
19. I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below: blood and fire and smoke vapor.
Chapter 2 Verse 20
20. The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into ‘blood’ before the great and glorious day of the LORD will come.
Chapter 2 Verse 21
21. And it will be: whoever calls on the name of the LORD[15] will be saved!’
Chapter 2 Verse 22
22. “Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Natsorean,[16] a man from God attested to you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by Him in your midst, as you yourselves well know,[17]
Chapter 2 Verse 23
23. Him—being delivered up by the established purpose and foreknowledge of God—you murdered, having taken Him with lawless hands and crucified Him;[18]
Chapter 2 Verse 24
24. whom God raised up, ending the labor pains of death,[19] because it was not possible that He should be held by it.
Chapter 2 Verse 25
25. For David says concerning Him: ‘I always saw the LORD before my face, because He is at my right side so that I not be shaken.[20]
Chapter 2 Verse 26
26. Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue rejoiced. Furthermore, even my flesh will repose upon hope,[21]
Chapter 2 Verse 27
27. because You will not abandon my soul in Hades,[22] nor will You allow Your Holy One to see decay.
Chapter 2 Verse 28
28. You have made known to me roads of life;[23] with Your presence You make me full of gladness.’[24]
Chapter 2 Verse 29
29. “Men, brothers, be it permitted to speak to you plainly about the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.[25]
Chapter 2 Verse 30
30. So then, he being a prophet and knowing that God had sworn to him with an oath that of the fruit, according to flesh,[26] of his loins[27] He would raise up the Messiah[28] to sit on his throne,
Chapter 2 Verse 31
31. he foreseeing this[29] spoke about the resurrection of the Messiah, that His soul[30] was not abandoned in Hades, nor did His flesh see decay.[31]
Chapter 2 Verse 32
32. “This Jesus God raised, to which we all are witnesses.
Chapter 2 Verse 33
33. Therefore, having been exalted to God’s right hand, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this that you now see and hear.
Chapter 2 Verse 34
34. Further, David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says: ‘The LORD said to my Lord:[32] Sit at my right hand
Chapter 2 Verse 35
35. until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.’
Chapter 2 Verse 36
36. Therefore, let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made Him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified!”[33]
Chapter 2 Verse 37
37. Now upon hearing this they were cut to the heart and said to Peter, and the rest of the Apostles, “Men, brothers, what shall we do?!”
Chapter 2 Verse 38
38. So Peter said to them: “Repent and be baptized, each one of you, upon the name of Jesus Christ,[34] for forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Chapter 2 Verse 39
39. For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all who are far away[35]—as many, that is, as the Lord our God may call.”
Chapter 2 Verse 40
40. With many different words he both testified and kept exhorting, saying, “Escape from this perverse generation!”[36]
Chapter 2 Verse 41
41. Then those who gladly[37] received his word were baptized, and that day about three thousand souls were added.
Chapter 2 Verse 42
42. And they continued steadfastly in the Apostles’ teaching and in the fellowship, both in the breaking of the bread and in the prayers.[38]
Chapter 2 Verse 43
43. Fear came upon every soul—many wonders and signs were taking place through the Apostles.[39]
Chapter 2 Verse 44
44. Now all who believed were together and had all things in common;
Chapter 2 Verse 45
45. they started selling both possessions and goods and were distributing to all according as anyone had need.[40]
Chapter 2 Verse 46
46. So day by day they continued steadfastly with one purpose in the temple[41] and broke bread from house to house;[42] they received their share of food with gladness and singleness of heart,[43]
Chapter 2 Verse 47
47. praising God and having favor with all the people. And day by day the Lord added[44] to the Church[45] those who were being saved.
Chapter 3
Chapter 3 Verse 1
1. Now Peter and John were going up together into the temple at the hour (the ninth)[1] of prayer.[2]
Chapter 3 Verse 2
2. And a certain man, who had actually been lame from his mother’s womb, was being carried (they would lay him daily at the temple gate, the one called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple),
Chapter 3 Verse 3
3. who, upon seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, began asking for alms.
Chapter 3 Verse 4
4. So Peter, with John, fastening his gaze on him said, “Look at us.”
Chapter 3 Verse 5
5. So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.
Chapter 3 Verse 6
6. But Peter said: “I do not have silver and gold, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ the Natsorean, get up and walk!”[3]
Chapter 3 Verse 7
7. And grasping him by his right hand he lifted him up;[4] immediately his feet and ankles were strengthened.
Chapter 3 Verse 8
8. So jumping up he stood, and began to walk![5] And he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping[6] and praising God.
Chapter 3 Verse 9
9. Well all the people saw him walking and praising God;
Chapter 3 Verse 10
10. and they recognized him—that he was the one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, with a view to alms—and they were filled with wonder and amazement because of what had happened to him.
Chapter 3 Verse 11
11. Now as the lame man who had been healed held on[7] to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the portico, the one called ‘Solomon’s’, really wondering.
Chapter 3 Verse 12
12. So upon observing this Peter responded to the people: “Men of Israel, why are you marveling at this, or why are you staring at us as if we have made him walk by our own power or godliness?[8]
Chapter 3 Verse 13
13. The God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up; and you repudiated Him to Pilate’s face, when he was intending to release Him.[9]
Chapter 3 Verse 14
14. Yes you repudiated the holy and righteous One, and you asked that a murderer be granted to you,[10]
Chapter 3 Verse 15
15. while you killed the Originator of the Life,[11] whom God raised from among the dead, to which we are witnesses.
Chapter 3 Verse 16
16. Well His name, based on faith in His name,[12] made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith that is through Him[13] has given him this wholeness in the presence of you all.
Chapter 3 Verse 17
17. “So now, brothers, I know that you did it in ignorance, as also your rulers.
Chapter 3 Verse 18
18. But the things that God foretold through the mouth of all His prophets, that the Messiah would suffer, He has thus fulfilled.
Chapter 3 Verse 19
19. Repent therefore, and turn around, so that your sins may be erased, in order that times of refreshing may come from the Lord’s face[14]
Chapter 3 Verse 20
20. and that He may send Jesus, who had been ordained to be your Messiah,[15]
Chapter 3 Verse 21
21. whom Heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things,[16] of which times[17] God spoke long ago by the mouth of all His holy prophets.
Chapter 3 Verse 22
22. “For example, Moses said to the fathers:[18] ‘The Lord our[19] God will raise up for you a Prophet, like me, from among your brothers. You must listen to Him, in all that He may say to you.
Chapter 3 Verse 23
23. It will be that every person who will not listen to that Prophet will be extirpated from among the people.’[20]
Chapter 3 Verse 24
24. “Yes and all the prophets, from Samuel on down,[21] as many as have spoken, have also foretold[22] these days.
Chapter 3 Verse 25
25. You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘Yes, in your seed[23] all the families[24] of the earth will be blessed.’
Chapter 3 Verse 26
26. God, having raised up His Servant Jesus,[25] sent Him to you first,[26] to bless you by turning each of you away from your iniquities.”[27]
Chapter 4
Chapter 4 Verse 1
1. Now as they were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came at them,
Chapter 4 Verse 2
2. being upset because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.[1]
Chapter 4 Verse 3
3. And they laid hands on them and put them in custody until the next day, because it was already evening.
Chapter 4 Verse 4
4. (However, many of those who heard the message believed; the number of the men[2] came to be about five thousand.)
Chapter 4 Verse 5
5. So the next day an assembly of their rulers, both elders and scribes, occurred in Jerusalem,[3]
Chapter 4 Verse 6
6. along with Annas the high priest,[4] and Caiaphas, John and Alexander, and as many as were of high-priestly descent.
Chapter 4 Verse 7
7. And having placed them in the middle [of the assembly] they started questioning: “By what power, or by what name did you do this?”[5]
Chapter 4 Verse 8
8. Then Peter, full of Holy Spirit,[6] said to them: “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel:[7]
Chapter 4 Verse 9
9. If we are being examined today about a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well,
Chapter 4 Verse 10
10. be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Natsorean, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead,[8] by Him this man stands here before you whole.
Chapter 4 Verse 11
11. This is ‘the stone which was despised by you, the builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’
Chapter 4 Verse 12
12. Also, the salvation[9] does not exist in anyone else, because there is no other name under heaven, given among men, by which we must be saved.”
Chapter 4 Verse 13
13. Now upon observing the boldness of Peter and John and perceiving that they were uneducated and unskilled men,[10] they marveled; and they recognized that they had been with Jesus.
Chapter 4 Verse 14
14. Further, seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
Chapter 4 Verse 15
15. So ordering them to go out from the council they began to confer among themselves,
Chapter 4 Verse 16
16. saying: “What can we do to these men? Because, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.[11]
Chapter 4 Verse 17
17. But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them to no longer speak to anyone in this name.”
Chapter 4 Verse 18
18. So summoning them they commanded them absolutely not to speak or teach in the name of ‘Jesus’.
Chapter 4 Verse 19
19. But in answer Peter and John said to them: “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, judge for yourselves;
Chapter 4 Verse 20
20. because we cannot help but speak the things we have seen and heard.”[12]
Chapter 4 Verse 21
21. So threatening them some more they released them, not finding any way to punish them, because of the people, since they were all glorifying God over what had happened;
Chapter 4 Verse 22
22. because the man on whom this miracle of healing had been performed was over forty years old.[13]
Chapter 4 Verse 23
23. So upon being released they went to their own group and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.
Chapter 4 Verse 24
24. Well upon hearing it, with one mind they called out[14] to God and said: “O Sovereign![15] You are God,[16] the Maker of sky and earth and ocean, and all that is in them;
Chapter 4 Verse 25
25. You who said through the mouth of Your servant David:[17] ‘Why did nations snort[18] and peoples plot vain things?
Chapter 4 Verse 26
26. The kings of the earth took a stand, and the rulers were gathered together, against the LORD and against His Messiah.’[19]
Chapter 4 Verse 27
27. Well, in fact, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, together with Gentiles and peoples of Israel, were gathered together[20] against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed,
Chapter 4 Verse 28
28. to do whatever Your hand and Your counsel foreordained to happen.[21]
Chapter 4 Verse 29
29. As for the present, Lord, consider their threats, and grant to Your slaves to speak Your word with all boldness,
Chapter 4 Verse 30
30. while You stretch out Your hand to heal and that signs and wonders may occur through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”
Chapter 4 Verse 31
31. Well when they had prayed, the place where they were gathered was shaken, and they were all filled with Holy Spirit and spoke the Word of God with boldness.[22]
Chapter 4 Verse 32
32. Now the multitude of those who believed was of one heart and soul; indeed not one was saying that any of his belongings was his own, but they had all things in common.
Chapter 4 Verse 33
33. (Also the Apostles were giving witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus with great power.[23]) Yes, great grace was on them all,
Chapter 4 Verse 34
34. because there were not any needy among them—as many as were owners of lands or houses were selling them and bringing the proceeds of the sold items
Chapter 4 Verse 35
35. and placing them at the Apostles’ feet, and they were distributed to each according as anyone had need.
Chapter 4 Verse 36
36. So Joses, who was named Barnabas by the Apostles (which is, being translated, ‘Son of encouragement’), a Levite of the country of Cyprus,
Chapter 4 Verse 37
37. having a field, sold it, brought the money and placed it at the Apostles’ feet.[24]
Chapter 5
Chapter 5 Verse 1
1. Now a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession
Chapter 5 Verse 2
2. and kept back part of the price for himself, his wife also being party to it; bringing a certain part he placed it at the Apostles’ feet.
Chapter 5 Verse 3
3. So Peter said: “Ananias, on what basis[1] has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the price of the land?
Chapter 5 Verse 4
4. While it remained unsold was it not yours, and once sold was it not in your power? How is it that you have conceived this thing in your heart? You did not lie to men but to God.”[2]
Chapter 5 Verse 5
5. Well upon hearing these words Ananias fell down and expired! (Great fear came on all who heard these things.)
Chapter 5 Verse 6
6. So the young men got up and wrapped him, and carrying him out they buried him.[3]
Chapter 5 Verse 7
7. Now after an interval of some three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.[4]
Chapter 5 Verse 8
8. So Peter addressed her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” So she said, “Yes, for so much.”
Chapter 5 Verse 9
9. Peter said to her: “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out!”
Chapter 5 Verse 10
10. So she immediately fell down at his feet and expired! So upon entering the young men found her dead, and carrying her out they buried her beside her husband.[5]
Chapter 5 Verse 11
11. So great fear came on the whole assembly and on all who heard these things.[6]
Chapter 5 Verse 12
12. Now many signs and wonders were being performed among the people by the hands of the Apostles; and they were all in Solomon’s Porch with one purpose.[7]
Chapter 5 Verse 13
13. None of the rest dared to join them,[8] but the people were magnifying them.
Chapter 5 Verse 14
14. Believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,[9]
Chapter 5 Verse 15
15. to the point that they kept carrying the sick into the streets, placing them on cots and pallets, so that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them.[10]
Chapter 5 Verse 16
16. Further, the multitude from the surrounding cities also kept coming into Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.[11]
Chapter 5 Verse 17
17. Then the high priest rose up, and all those with him (being the sect of the Sadducees); they were filled with jealousy[12]
Chapter 5 Verse 18
18. and laid their hands on the Apostles and put them in the common prison.
Chapter 5 Verse 19
19. But, during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison, and leading them out he said,
Chapter 5 Verse 20
20. “Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.”[13]
Chapter 5 Verse 21
21. So upon hearing it they entered the temple about daybreak[14] and started to teach. Then the high priest and those with him arrived and convened the Sanhedrin, even all the council of elders of the sons of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
Chapter 5 Verse 22
22. Well, upon arriving the operatives did not find them in the jail, so they returned and reported,
Chapter 5 Verse 23
23. saying: “We certainly found the prison securely locked, and the guards standing in front of the doors, but upon opening them we found no one inside!”
Chapter 5 Verse 24
24. Now when the high priest,[15] the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these words, they were really perplexed as to what the implications might be.[16]
Chapter 5 Verse 25
25. But someone came and told them, “Hey, the men whom you put in the jail are standing in the temple and teaching the people!”
Chapter 5 Verse 26
26. Then the captain went with the operatives and brought them without violence, because they were afraid that the people might stone them.
Chapter 5 Verse 27
27. So bringing them they set them before the Sanhedrin; and the high priest addressed them
Chapter 5 Verse 28
28. saying: “Did we not emphatically command you not to teach in this name? Just look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood on us!”[17]
Chapter 5 Verse 29
29. So in answer Peter and the Apostles said: “One must obey God rather than men.
Chapter 5 Verse 30
30. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you murdered by hanging on a tree.
Chapter 5 Verse 31
31. Him God has exalted to His right hand as Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.[18]
Chapter 5 Verse 32
32. And we are witnesses to these statements about Him, as also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those obeying Him.”[19]
Chapter 5 Verse 33
33. Well upon hearing it they became infuriated and started plotting to kill them.
Chapter 5 Verse 34
34. But someone in the council stood up[20] (a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law respected by all the people) and commanded to put the Apostles out for a bit.
Chapter 5 Verse 35
35. He then said to them: “Men, Israelites, take heed to yourselves concerning these men, as to what you are about to do.
Chapter 5 Verse 36
36. For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody; with whom about four hundred men joined up; who was killed, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing.
Chapter 5 Verse 37
37. Later Judas the Galilean rose up, in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed.
Chapter 5 Verse 38
38. So now I say to you, keep away from these men and leave them alone; because if this counsel or this work should be of men, it will be abolished;
Chapter 5 Verse 39
39. but if it is of God,[21] you will not be able to overthrow it—lest you even be found to be fighting against God!”[22]
Chapter 5 Verse 40
40. Well they were persuaded by him,[23] and summoned the Apostles; after beating them they commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
Chapter 5 Verse 41
41. So they went out rejoicing[24] from the presence of the council, in that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name of the Christ.[25]
Chapter 5 Verse 42
42. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.[26]
Chapter 6
Chapter 6 Verse 1
1. Now in those days, as the disciples were multiplying, a complaint arose from the Hellenists against the Hebrews, because their widows[1] were being overlooked in the daily distribution.
Chapter 6 Verse 2
2. So summoning the multitude of the disciples the twelve said: “It is not advantageous that we should forsake the Word of God to serve at tables.
Chapter 6 Verse 3
3. Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men[2] of good reputation, full of Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we will appoint over this need.
Chapter 6 Verse 4
4. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the Word.”[3]
Chapter 6 Verse 5
5. The statement pleased the whole multitude; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and Holy[4] Spirit, and Philip and Prochorus and Nicanor and Timon and Parmenas and Nicholas, a proselyte from Antioch,[5]
Chapter 6 Verse 6
6. whom they set before the Apostles; and after praying they laid hands on them.
Chapter 6 Verse 7
7. Well the Word of God kept spreading, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem kept multiplying at a great rate, and a large company of the priests were obeying the faith.
Chapter 6 Verse 8
8. While Stephen, full of faith[6] and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.[7]
Chapter 6 Verse 9
9. Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen.
Chapter 6 Verse 10
10. And they were not able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke.
Chapter 6 Verse 11
11. Then they instigated men to say, “We have heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God.”
Chapter 6 Verse 12
12. And they stirred up the people, and the elders and the scribes;[8] and coming upon him they seized him, and brought him in to the Sanhedrin;
Chapter 6 Verse 13
13. and they put forward false witnesses who said: “This man never stops speaking blasphemous words against the holy place and the law;
Chapter 6 Verse 14
14. for we have heard him saying that this Jesus the Natsorean will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses delivered to us.”[9]
Chapter 6 Verse 15
15. All who sat in the council, looking intently at him, saw his face like the face of an angel.[10]
Chapter 7
Chapter 7 Verse 1
1. Then the high priest said, “Can these things be so?”[1]
Chapter 7 Verse 2
2. So he said: “Men, brothers and fathers, listen:[2] The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he resided in Haran,
Chapter 7 Verse 3
3. and said to him, ‘Leave your country and your relatives, and come into a land that I will show you.’
Chapter 7 Verse 4
4. Then he left the land of the Chaldeans and resided in Haran.[3] From there, after his father died,[4] God moved him to this land in which you now live;[5]
Chapter 7 Verse 5
5. yet He did not give him an inheritance in it, not even a footstep. He promised to give it to him for a possession, that is, to his seed after him, though he had no child.[6]
Chapter 7 Verse 6
6. Further, God spoke like this: that his offspring would be aliens in a foreign land—and that they would be enslaved and oppressed—four hundred years.[7]
Chapter 7 Verse 7
7. ‘I will judge the nation to which they will be in bondage,’ said God,[8] ‘and after that they will come out and serve Me in this place.’
Chapter 7 Verse 8
8. And He gave him a covenant of circumcision;[9] and so he begot Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day;[10] and Isaac did the same to Jacob, and Jacob to the twelve patriarchs.
Chapter 7 Verse 9
9. “The patriarchs, being envious, sold Joseph into Egypt; yet God was with him
Chapter 7 Verse 10
10. and delivered him out of all his adversities, and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.
Chapter 7 Verse 11
11. And a famine came upon all the land of Egypt and Canaan, even a great affliction, and our fathers could not find food.
Chapter 7 Verse 12
12. But upon hearing that there was wheat in Egypt, Jacob first sent our fathers.
Chapter 7 Verse 13
13. On the second trip Joseph was made known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family was presented to Pharaoh.
Chapter 7 Verse 14
14. Joseph sent and summoned his father Jacob and all his relatives, seventy-five souls.[11]
Chapter 7 Verse 15
15. So Jacob went down to Egypt; and he died, he and our fathers;
Chapter 7 Verse 16
16. and they were transferred to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham bought for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor of Shechem.[12]
Chapter 7 Verse 17
17. “Now as the time of the promise was approaching which God had sworn to Abraham, the people increased and were multiplied in Egypt,
Chapter 7 Verse 18
18. until a different[13] king arose who had not known Joseph.
Chapter 7 Verse 19
19. This man took advantage of our race and oppressed our fathers, making them expose their babies so that they would not stay alive.[14]
Chapter 7 Verse 20
20. At that time Moses was born, and was well pleasing to God; he was nurtured in his father’s house for three months.
Chapter 7 Verse 21
21. When he was exposed, Pharaoh’s daughter took him to herself and brought him up as her own son.
Chapter 7 Verse 22
22. So Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians; he was mighty in words and deeds.
Chapter 7 Verse 23
23. Now when he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the sons of Israel.[15]
Chapter 7 Verse 24
24. Well seeing one of them being wronged, he defended and avenged the one being oppressed, striking down the Egyptian.
Chapter 7 Verse 25
25. Now he supposed that his brothers understood that God was giving them deliverance by his hand,[16] but they did not understand.
Chapter 7 Verse 26
26. The next day he appeared to them as they were fighting and tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers; why do you wrong one another?’
Chapter 7 Verse 27
27. But the one who was wronging his neighbor pushed Moses away, saying: ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us?
Chapter 7 Verse 28
28. Do you want to kill me as you did the Egyptian yesterday?’
Chapter 7 Verse 29
29. Well Moses fled at that word, and became a stranger in the land of Midian, where he begot two sons.[17]
Chapter 7 Verse 30
30. “And when another forty years had passed, Angel of the LORD[18] appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai,[19] in a flame of fire in a bush.
Chapter 7 Verse 31
31. Well upon seeing it Moses was amazed at the sight, but as he approached for a closer look the voice of the LORD came to him:
Chapter 7 Verse 32
32. ‘I am the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.’[20] Moses started trembling and did not dare to look.
Chapter 7 Verse 33
33. So the LORD said to him: ‘Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.
Chapter 7 Verse 34
34. I have definitely seen the mistreatment of my people in Egypt, and have heard their groaning; and I have come down[21] to deliver them. So now come, I will send you to Egypt.’
Chapter 7 Verse 35
35. “This Moses whom they refused, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’—God sent him as leader and deliverer by the hand of the Angel who appeared to him in the bush.
Chapter 7 Verse 36
36. This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in the land of Egypt and in the Red Sea, and for forty years in the wilderness.
Chapter 7 Verse 37
37. “This is the Moses who said to the sons of Israel, ‘The LORD our[22] God will raise up to you a Prophet from among your brothers, like me.’[23]
Chapter 7 Verse 38
38. This is he who was in the assembly in the wilderness, who was with the Angel who spoke with him on Mount Sinai and was with our fathers,[24] who received living oracles[25] to give to us;
Chapter 7 Verse 39
39. to whom our fathers did not want to be obedient; rather they rejected him and turned back in their heart to Egypt,
Chapter 7 Verse 40
40. saying to Aaron, ‘Make us gods that will go before us; because this Moses, who led us out of the land of Egypt—we do not know what has become of him.’[26]
Chapter 7 Verse 41
41. Well they made a calf in those days and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and started rejoicing in the works of their hands.
Chapter 7 Verse 42
42. But God turned away and gave them over to serve the army of the heaven,[27] just as it is written in Book of the Prophets: ‘House of Israel, did you offer me slaughtered animals and sacrifices during forty years in the wilderness?
Chapter 7 Verse 43
43. Actually you took along the tent of Moloch, and the star of your god, Rephan, the images that you made to worship; so I will relocate you beyond Babylon.’[28]
Chapter 7 Verse 44
44. “The tent of the testimony, according to the pattern that Moses had seen, just as the One speaking to him had commanded to make it, was with our fathers in the wilderness;
Chapter 7 Verse 45
45. which, having received it in turn, our fathers with Joshua brought into the possession of the nations, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers, until the days of David;
Chapter 7 Verse 46
46. who found favor before God and asked to find a dwelling for the God[29] of Jacob,
Chapter 7 Verse 47
47. but Solomon built Him a house.
Chapter 7 Verse 48
48. However, the Most High does not dwell in handmade sanctuaries, just as the prophet says:
Chapter 7 Verse 49
49. ‘Heaven is my throne, while the earth is a footstool for my feet. What kind of house will you build me,’ says the LORD, ‘or what place for my rest?
Chapter 7 Verse 50
50. Did not my hand make all these things?’[30]
Chapter 7 Verse 51
51. “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always oppose the Holy Spirit;[31] as your fathers did, so you do.
Chapter 7 Verse 52
52. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, of whom you have now become betrayers and murderers;[32]
Chapter 7 Verse 53
53. you who received the Law as ‘ordinances of angels’ and have not kept it!”
Chapter 7 Verse 54
54. Well as they heard these things their hearts were being sawed in half,[33] and they started gnashing their teeth at him.
Chapter 7 Verse 55
55. But he, being full of Holy Spirit and looking intently into the heaven, he saw the glory of God and Jesus standing[34] on God’s right,
Chapter 7 Verse 56
56. and said, “Wow! I see the heavens opened and the Son of the Man standing at God’s right!”
Chapter 7 Verse 57
57. Yelling at the top of their voice[35] they covered their ears and rushed at him all at once,
Chapter 7 Verse 58
58. and throwing him out of the city they stoned him![36] (The witnesses placed their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.)
Chapter 7 Verse 59
59. Yes, they stoned Stephen as he called out and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
Chapter 7 Verse 60
60. Then kneeling down he called out at the top of his voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” And upon saying this he fell asleep.[37] (Saul was in full agreement with his murder.)
Chapter 8
Chapter 8 Verse 1
1. At that time a major persecution arose against the church that was in Jerusalem, so all, except the Apostles, were scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria.
Chapter 8 Verse 2
2. (Devout men had buried Stephen and made a great lamentation over him.)
Chapter 8 Verse 3
3. As for Saul, he was trying to destroy the Church; invading house after house and dragging away both men and women, he was putting them in prison.
Chapter 8 Verse 4
4. So on their part those who were scattered abroad went about preaching the Word.
Chapter 8 Verse 5
5. Now Philip, having gone down to a city of Samaria,[1] was proclaiming the Christ to them;
Chapter 8 Verse 6
6. and the crowds gave heed with one accord to what Philip was saying, as they heard the words and saw the signs that he kept performing.[2]
Chapter 8 Verse 7
7. Because unclean spirits came out screaming from many who had them, and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed.
Chapter 8 Verse 8
8. Yes, there was great joy in that city![3]
Chapter 8 Verse 9
9. Now a certain man named Simon was in the city first, practicing sorcery and astounding the people of Samaria, affirming himself to be someone great,
Chapter 8 Verse 10
10. to whom they used to pay attention, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God.”[4]
Chapter 8 Verse 11
11. They listened to him because he had amazed them with his sorceries for a long time.
Chapter 8 Verse 12
12. But, when they believed Philip, as he proclaimed the good news concerning the Kingdom of God and the name, Jesus Christ,[5] they were baptized, both men and women.
Chapter 8 Verse 13
13. Even Simon himself believed, and having been baptized he stayed right with Philip; observing miracles and signs occurring, he was amazed.[6]
Chapter 8 Verse 14
14. Now when the Apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,
Chapter 8 Verse 15
15. who upon coming down prayed about them, so that they might receive Holy Spirit,
Chapter 8 Verse 16
16. because He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had only been baptized into the name of Jesus, the Christ.[7]
Chapter 8 Verse 17
17. Then they laid their hands upon them and they received Holy Spirit.
Chapter 8 Verse 18
18. Well, upon observing that the Holy[8] Spirit was given through the laying on of the Apostles’ hands, Simon offered them money
Chapter 8 Verse 19
19. saying, “Give this power to me also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive Holy Spirit.”
Chapter 8 Verse 20
20. But Peter said to him: “May your silver go with you into perdition,[9] for thinking that the gift of God could be acquired with money!
Chapter 8 Verse 21
21. You have neither part nor portion in this matter, because your heart is not right before God.
Chapter 8 Verse 22
22. Turn away therefore from this your wickedness and make petition to God,[10] in case the intent of your heart may be forgiven you;
Chapter 8 Verse 23
23. for I see you being into a gall of bitterness and a fetter of unrighteousness.”[11]
Chapter 8 Verse 24
24. So in answer Simon said, “You[12] make petition to the Lord on my behalf, so that nothing of what you have spoken may come upon me!”
Chapter 8 Verse 25
25. So when they had both[13] thoroughly testified and spoken the Word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem; they also evangelized many Samaritan villages.
Chapter 8 Verse 26
26. Then an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, “Get up and go south on the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza;[14] it is desolate.”
Chapter 8 Verse 27
27. So he got up and went; and there, a man, an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court-official of Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasury, who had come worshipping to Jerusalem[15]
Chapter 8 Verse 28
28. —he was returning, sitting in his chariot and reading aloud the prophet Isaiah.
Chapter 8 Verse 29
29. And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go forward and join this chariot.”
Chapter 8 Verse 30
30. So running up Philip heard him reading the prophet Isaiah and said, “Do you really understand what you are reading?”
Chapter 8 Verse 31
31. So he said, “Well how can I, unless someone guides me?” And he urged Philip to come up and sit with him.[16]
Chapter 8 Verse 32
32. Now the portion of the Scripture that he was reading was this: “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so He does not open His mouth.
Chapter 8 Verse 33
33. In His humiliation His justice was removed, and who will recount His generation? Because His life is removed from the earth.”[17]
Chapter 8 Verse 34
34. So continuing the eunuch said to Philip, “I ask you, about whom does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?”
Chapter 8 Verse 35
35. So opening his mouth and beginning from this Scripture, Philip preached Jesus to him.
Chapter 8 Verse 36
36. Now as they were going down the road they came upon some water, and the eunuch said: “Look, water! What is keeping me from being baptized?”[18]
Chapter 8 Verse 37
Chapter 8 Verse 38
38. So he ordered the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.
Chapter 8 Verse 39
39. Now when they came up out of the water, Spirit of the Lord[19] snatched Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him any more, because he went on his way rejoicing.[20]
Chapter 8 Verse 40
40. Philip was found at Azotus,[21] and as he passed through he evangelized all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
Chapter 9
Chapter 9 Verse 1
1. Meanwhile Saul, still exhaling murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest
Chapter 9 Verse 2
2. and asked for letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he should find any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
Chapter 9 Verse 3
3. So it happened, as he was going, that he got close to Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him;
Chapter 9 Verse 4
4. and falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
Chapter 9 Verse 5
5. So he said, “Who are you, Lord?” So the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting;[1]
Chapter 9 Verse 6
6. but get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
Chapter 9 Verse 7
7. The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the sound but seeing no one.
Chapter 9 Verse 8
8. Then Saul got up from the ground, and upon opening his eyes he saw no one; so leading him by the hand they brought him into Damascus.
Chapter 9 Verse 9
9. He was without sight for three days, and neither ate nor drank.[2]
Chapter 9 Verse 10
10. Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!” So he said, “Here I am, Lord.”
Chapter 9 Verse 11
11. So the Lord said to him: “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas inquire by name for Saul of Tarsus; because, you see, he is praying,
Chapter 9 Verse 12
12. and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and placing a hand on him, so that he might recover his sight.”
Chapter 9 Verse 13
13. But Ananias answered: “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how many evil things he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.
Chapter 9 Verse 14
14. Moreover here he has authority from the chief priests[3] to bind all who are calling on Your name.”
Chapter 9 Verse 15
15. But the Lord said to him: “Get moving, because this man is a chosen vessel to me, to carry my name before nations and kings, also the children of Israel;
Chapter 9 Verse 16
16. for I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name’s sake.”
Chapter 9 Verse 17
17. So Ananias went and entered the house, and placing his hands on him he said, “Brother[4] Saul, the Lord,[5] who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me so that you may recover your sight and be filled by Holy Spirit.”
Chapter 9 Verse 18
18. Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he recovered his sight forthwith;[6] and getting up he was baptized,[7]
Chapter 9 Verse 19
19. and upon receiving food he was strengthened. So Saul was with the disciples in Damascus for a number of days.
Chapter 9 Verse 20
20. Immediately he started proclaiming Jesus[8] in the synagogues, that He is the Son of the God.
Chapter 9 Verse 21
21. Well, all who heard him were astounded and started saying: “Isn’t this the one who tried to destroy, in Jerusalem, those who called on this name? Even here he had come with that purpose, that he might take them bound to the high priests.”
Chapter 9 Verse 22
22. But Saul kept growing stronger and kept on confounding the Jews who lived in Damascus, proving that ‘This One is the Christ.’
Chapter 9 Verse 23
23. Now when a good many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him;
Chapter 9 Verse 24
24. but their plot became known to Saul. They started watching the gates day and night, so that they might kill him;
Chapter 9 Verse 25
25. so the disciples[9] took him by night and passed him through the wall, lowering him in a hamper.[10]
Chapter 9 Verse 26
26. Now upon arriving in Jerusalem Saul kept trying to join himself to the disciples;[11] but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.
Chapter 9 Verse 27
27. But Barnabas took him in tow and brought him to the apostles, and described to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken fearlessly in the name of the Lord Jesus.[12]
Chapter 9 Verse 28
28. So he was with them in Jerusalem, going in and out, and speaking fearlessly in the name of Jesus.[13]
Chapter 9 Verse 29
29. He kept on speaking and debating with the Hellenists, so they started trying to kill him.[14]
Chapter 9 Verse 30
30. Upon finding it out, the brothers brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
Chapter 9 Verse 31
31. So then the congregations[15] throughout all Judea and Galilee, and Samaria, had peace and were built up; and proceeding in the fear of the Lord and in the enabling of the Holy Spirit[16] they were being multiplied.
Chapter 9 Verse 32
32. Now it happened, as Peter went through all those parts, that he also went down to the saints who were living in Lydda.
Chapter 9 Verse 33
33. And there he found a certain man named Aeneas who was paralyzed—he had been lying on a pallet for eight years.
Chapter 9 Verse 34
34. Peter said to him: “Aeneas, Jesus the Messiah[17] is healing you. Get up and make your bed!”[18] And immediately he stood up!
Chapter 9 Verse 35
35. All who were living in Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned[19] to the Lord.
Chapter 9 Verse 36
36. Now there was a certain disciple in Joppa named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds that she kept doing.
Chapter 9 Verse 37
37. But it happened in those days that she took sick and died; so when they had washed her they placed her in the upper room.[20]
Chapter 9 Verse 38
38. Now Lydda was near Joppa; the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent to him imploring him not to delay in coming to them.
Chapter 9 Verse 39
39. So Peter got up and went with them; upon arriving they took him up to the upper room; all the widows stood around him weeping and showing the coats and garments that Dorcas was making[21] while she was with them.
Chapter 9 Verse 40
40. So Peter put them all out,[22] kneeled down and prayed. Turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, get up!” So she opened her eyes, and upon seeing Peter she sat up.[23]
Chapter 9 Verse 41
41. Then he gave her a hand and lifted her up, and calling the saints and widows he presented her alive.
Chapter 9 Verse 42
42. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord.
Chapter 9 Verse 43
43. So it was that he stayed many days in Joppa with a certain Simon, a tanner.
Chapter 10
Chapter 10 Verse 1
1. Now there was a certain man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment,
Chapter 10 Verse 2
2. devout and fearing God with all his household, both giving alms generously to the people and praying to God about everything.[1]
Chapter 10 Verse 3
3. About the ninth hour of the day,[2] in a vision, he saw clearly an angel of God entering his presence and saying to him, “Cornelius!”
Chapter 10 Verse 4
4. Well, staring at him and being frightened he said, “What is it, Lord?” So he said to him: “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.
Chapter 10 Verse 5
5. Now send men to Joppa and summon Simon, who is surnamed Peter;
Chapter 10 Verse 6
6. he is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.”[3]
Chapter 10 Verse 7
7. So when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who were faithful to him,
Chapter 10 Verse 8
8. and explaining everything to them he sent them to Joppa.
Chapter 10 Verse 9
9. Now on the next day, as they were traveling and drawing near to the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray at about noon.[4]
Chapter 10 Verse 10
10. Well he became hungry and wanted to eat; but while they were preparing, a trance fell on him,
Chapter 10 Verse 11
11. and he saw the heaven opened and a container like a great sheet descending to him—it was tied at the four corners and was being let down to the earth—
Chapter 10 Verse 12
12. in which were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth (both wild animals and reptiles) and birds of the sky.[5]
Chapter 10 Verse 13
13. Then a voice came to him, “Get up, Peter, slaughter and eat!”
Chapter 10 Verse 14
14. But Peter said: “No way, Lord! Never have I eaten anything ‘common’[6] or unclean!”
Chapter 10 Verse 15
15. So the voice came to him a second time, “What (pl) God has made clean you must not call ‘common’!”
Chapter 10 Verse 16
16. Well this happened three times, and then the object was taken back up into the sky.
Chapter 10 Verse 17
17. Now as Peter was really perplexed within himself as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, well the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having inquired and found Simon’s house, stood before the gate,
Chapter 10 Verse 18
18. and calling out they inquired whether Simon, who was surnamed Peter, was staying there as a guest.
Chapter 10 Verse 19
19. So as Peter was pondering the vision the Spirit said to him: “Listen, some men are looking for you;
Chapter 10 Verse 20
20. so get up and go downstairs; and go with them, doubting nothing, for I have sent them.”
Chapter 10 Verse 21
21. So going down to the men[7] Peter said: “Yes, I am the one you are looking for. For what reason have you come?”
Chapter 10 Verse 22
22. So they said: “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man, well spoken of by all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by an angel[8] to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you.”
Chapter 10 Verse 23
23. So he invited them in and put them up. On to Caesarea The next day Peter set out with them, also some of the brothers from Joppa went with him;
Chapter 10 Verse 24
24. and the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them,[9] having called together his relatives and close friends.
Chapter 10 Verse 25
25. So when Peter actually arrived, Cornelius met him, fell at his feet and worshipped.
Chapter 10 Verse 26
26. But Peter lifted him up, saying: “Stand up! I myself am also a man.”
Chapter 10 Verse 27
27. And conversing with him he went in and found many gathered there.
Chapter 10 Verse 28
28. Then he said to them: “You know how it is unlawful for a Jewish man to associate with or to approach a different race; but God has shown me that I should not call any man ‘common’ or unclean.
Chapter 10 Verse 29
29. Therefore also I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. So I ask, for what reason did you send for me?”
Chapter 10 Verse 30
30. So Cornelius said: “I have been fasting[10] during four days until this very hour; yes, it was the ninth hour,[11] I was praying in my house when wow, a man stood before me in shining clothing
Chapter 10 Verse 31
31. and said: ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms are remembered before God.
Chapter 10 Verse 32
32. Send therefore to Joppa and summon Simon, who is surnamed Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea; upon arriving he will speak to you.’[12]
Chapter 10 Verse 33
33. So I sent to you at once, and you did well to come. Now then, we are all present before God to hear all the things commanded you by God.”[13]
Chapter 10 Verse 34
34. So opening his mouth Peter said: “Really, I comprehend that God is not One to show partiality,
Chapter 10 Verse 35
35. but in every ethnic nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is acceptable to Him.[14]
Chapter 10 Verse 36
36. The word that He sent to the sons[15] of Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all—
Chapter 10 Verse 37
37. that spoken word you know, that was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism that John preached:[16]
Chapter 10 Verse 38
38. Jesus of Natsareth, how God anointed Him with Holy Spirit and power, who went about doing good and healing all those being oppressed by the devil,[17] because God was with Him
Chapter 10 Verse 39
39. —yes, we are witnesses of all that He did, both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem—whom they also killed, hanging Him on a tree.
Chapter 10 Verse 40
40. Him God raised on the third day, and gave Him to become visible,
Chapter 10 Verse 41
41. not to all the people but to witnesses who had been chosen beforehand by God, to us, who ate and drank with Him after He arose out from the dead.[18]
Chapter 10 Verse 42
42. And He ordered us to proclaim to the people, that is, to testify that He is the One who has been ordained by God as Judge of living and dead.
Chapter 10 Verse 43
43. To Him all the prophets bear witness[19] that through His name[20] everyone who believes into Him will receive forgiveness of sins.”[21]
Chapter 10 Verse 44
44. While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all who were hearing the message.[22]
Chapter 10 Verse 45
45. Well the believers of the circumcision [Jews] who had come with Peter were astonished, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had also been poured out on the Gentiles,
Chapter 10 Verse 46
46. in that they heard them speaking languages[23] and magnifying God. Then Peter responded:
Chapter 10 Verse 47
47. “Surely no one can forbid the water, can he, that these should not be baptized[24] who received the Holy Spirit just like we did?”
Chapter 10 Verse 48
48. So he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.[25] Then they asked him to stay a few days.
Chapter 11
Chapter 11 Verse 1
1. Now the Apostles and the brothers throughout Judea[1] heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.
Chapter 11 Verse 2
2. When Peter went up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision party started contending with him,
Chapter 11 Verse 3
3. saying, “You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!”[2]
Chapter 11 Verse 4
4. So Peter began by explaining it to them in order, saying:
Chapter 11 Verse 5
5. “I was in the town of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision: a certain object like a great sheet coming down out of the sky, being lowered by its four corners; and it came to me.
Chapter 11 Verse 6
6. Upon peering into it I observed and distinguished the quadrupeds of the earth—both the wild animals and the reptiles—and the birds of the sky.
Chapter 11 Verse 7
7. Then I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Get up, Peter, slaughter and eat!’
Chapter 11 Verse 8
8. So I said: ‘No way, Lord! Never has anything ‘common’ or unclean entered my mouth!’
Chapter 11 Verse 9
9. But the voice answered me, a second time, from heaven, ‘Things that God has made clean you must not call ‘common’.’
Chapter 11 Verse 10
10. Well this was done three times, and it was all pulled back up into the sky.
Chapter 11 Verse 11
11. At that very moment three men stopped in front of the house where I was, having been sent from Caesarea to me.
Chapter 11 Verse 12
12. The Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing. These six brothers also went with me,[3] and we entered the man’s house.
Chapter 11 Verse 13
13. He then related to us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying to him, ‘Send to Joppa and summon Simon, who is called Peter,
Chapter 11 Verse 14
14. who will speak words to you by which you and all your household will be saved.’
Chapter 11 Verse 15
15. Well as I began to speak,[4] the Holy Spirit fell on them, just as on us at the beginning.
Chapter 11 Verse 16
16. I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you will be baptized with Holy Spirit.’[5]
Chapter 11 Verse 17
17. So if God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed upon the Lord Jesus,[6] who was I to be able to withstand God?”
Chapter 11 Verse 18
18. Upon hearing these things they acquiesced and started glorifying God, saying, “So then, God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance into life!”[7]
Chapter 11 Verse 19
19. Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that came about in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews only.[8]
Chapter 11 Verse 20
20. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who upon entering Antioch started speaking to the Greek-speakers,[9] preaching the good news of the Lord Jesus.
Chapter 11 Verse 21
21. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.
Chapter 11 Verse 22
22. Well the report concerning them reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch.
Chapter 11 Verse 23
23. Upon arriving and seeing the grace of God, he was glad, and he kept encouraging them all to remain true to the Lord with purpose of heart[10]
Chapter 11 Verse 24
24. (for he was a good man, full of Holy Spirit and of faith). And a considerable crowd was added to the Lord.
Chapter 11 Verse 25
25. Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to look for Saul,
Chapter 11 Verse 26
26. and upon finding him he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they met with the congregation and taught a great many people. The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
Chapter 11 Verse 27
27. Now in these days, prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch.
Chapter 11 Verse 28
28. One of them, named Agabus, stood up and indicated by the Spirit that a great famine was about to come upon the whole world (this indeed happened while Claudius was Caesar).
Chapter 11 Verse 29
29. Then the disciples, to the extent that any had plenty, each of them determined to send relief to the brothers who lived in Judea;
Chapter 11 Verse 30
30. which they also did, sending it to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.
Chapter 12
Chapter 12 Verse 1
1. Now about that time, Herod the king laid hands on some from the church to mistreat them.
Chapter 12 Verse 2
2. James, the brother of John, he put to death by sword.[1]
Chapter 12 Verse 3
3. When he saw that it was pleasing to the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter as well (it was during the days of the unleavened loaves)
Chapter 12 Verse 4
4. —upon seizing him he put him in prison, turning him over to sixteen soldiers[2] to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover.
Chapter 12 Verse 5
5. Well Peter was being held in the prison all right, but the congregation was making earnest prayer to God on his behalf.
Chapter 12 Verse 6
6. So when Herod was about to bring him out,[3] that night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, with guards protecting the prison in front of the doors.
Chapter 12 Verse 7
7. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord was there, and a light shone in the cell; striking Peter on the side he roused him saying, “Quick, get up!” and the chains fell away from his wrists.
Chapter 12 Verse 8
8. Then the angel said to him, “Fasten your belt and put on your sandals.” So he did. Then he said to him, “Put on your cloak and follow me.”
Chapter 12 Verse 9
9. So he went out and started following him, not realizing that what the angel was doing was real; he supposed he was seeing a vision.
Chapter 12 Verse 10
10. Passing through the first and second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, that opened for them by itself;[4] upon exiting they advanced one block, and suddenly the angel left him.
Chapter 12 Verse 11
11. When Peter had come to himself he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord sent His angel and delivered me out of Herod’s hand and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.”
Chapter 12 Verse 12
12. Upon reflection he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John (the one called Mark), where a considerable number had gathered and were praying.
Chapter 12 Verse 13
13. When Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer.
Chapter 12 Verse 14
14. Upon recognizing Peter’s voice, she was so glad she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter was standing before the gate!
Chapter 12 Verse 15
15. But they said to her, “You’re crazy!” but she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, “It is his angel.”
Chapter 12 Verse 16
16. But Peter kept on knocking; so when they opened the door and saw him, they were astounded.[5]
Chapter 12 Verse 17
17. Motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he related to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. Then he said, “Tell these things to James[6] and the brothers.” And going out he went off to a different place.[7]
Chapter 12 Verse 18
18. Now as soon as it was day, there was no small commotion among the soldiers about what had become of Peter!
Chapter 12 Verse 19
19. Well after searching for him and not finding him, Herod examined the guards and ordered that they be executed. Going down from Judea to Caesarea, he stayed there.[8]
Chapter 12 Verse 20
20. Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; so they came with one accord to him, and having won over Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country was supplied with food from the king’s.[9]
Chapter 12 Verse 21
21. So on an appointed day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on the throne and started to deliver an address to them.
Chapter 12 Verse 22
22. But the crowd started calling out, “The voice of a god and not of a man!”
Chapter 12 Verse 23
23. Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give glory to God, and being eaten by worms, he died.[10]
Chapter 12 Verse 24
24. And the Word of God kept growing and multiplying.[11]
Chapter 12 Verse 25
25. Now Barnabas and Saul returned to Antioch,[12] having fulfilled their mission, also taking with them John, the one called Mark.
Chapter 13
Chapter 13 Verse 1
1. Now in the congregation that was in Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon (the one called Niger), Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch), and Saul.
Chapter 13 Verse 2
2. As they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart to me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them!”
Chapter 13 Verse 3
3. Then, having fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them off.
Chapter 13 Verse 4
4. So, having been sent out by the Holy Spirit,[1] they went down to Seleucia; and from there they sailed to Cyprus.[2]
Chapter 13 Verse 5
5. And upon arriving in Salamis, they started proclaiming the Word of God in the synagogues of the Jews (also they had John as assistant).
Chapter 13 Verse 6
6. Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew named Bar-Jesus,
Chapter 13 Verse 7
7. who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul, really wanting to hear the Word of God.
Chapter 13 Verse 8
8. But the sorcerer Elymas (for so his name is translated) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.
Chapter 13 Verse 9
9. Then Saul, also called Paul,[3] filled with Holy Spirit and looking intently at him,
Chapter 13 Verse 10
10. said: “O full of all deceit and all trickery, son of a devil, enemy of all righteousness![4] Will you not stop perverting the straight ways of the Lord?
Chapter 13 Verse 11
11. Well now, the Lord’s hand is against you and you will be blind, not seeing the sun until next season!” Immediately mist and darkness engulfed him, and he started going around looking for someone to lead him by the hand.
Chapter 13 Verse 12
12. Then the proconsul believed, when he saw[5] what had happened, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
Chapter 13 Verse 13
13. Then Paul and his party set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphilia (here John left them and returned to Jerusalem).[6]
Chapter 13 Verse 14
14. Going on from Perga they arrived in Antioch of Pisidia; and entering the synagogue on the Sabbath day, they sat down.
Chapter 13 Verse 15
15. After the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue leaders sent to them, saying, “Men, brothers, if you have a word of encouragement[7] for the people, do speak.”
Chapter 13 Verse 16
16. So standing up and motioning with his hand, Paul said: “Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen.
Chapter 13 Verse 17
17. The God of this people chose our fathers, and prospered the people during their sojourn in the land of Egypt, and brought them out of it with an uplifted arm.
Chapter 13 Verse 18
18. For a period of about forty years He put up with them in the wilderness.
Chapter 13 Verse 19
19. And when He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He gave them possession of their land.
Chapter 13 Verse 20
20. After these things, He gave judges for about four hundred and fifty[8] years, until Samuel the prophet.[9]
Chapter 13 Verse 21
21. And then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul, a son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.[10]
Chapter 13 Verse 22
22. And removing him He raised up for them David as king, about whom He gave witness and said, ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’
Chapter 13 Verse 23
23. God, from this man’s seed, according to promise, has brought[11] Salvation[12] to Israel,
Chapter 13 Verse 24
24. John having heralded beforehand, in advance of His coming, a baptism of repentance to Israel.[13]
Chapter 13 Verse 25
25. Well, as John was fulfilling his course, he said: ‘Whom do you suppose me to be? No I am not—but indeed He comes after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’[14]
Chapter 13 Verse 26
26. “Men, brothers, sons of the stock of Abraham, and those among you who fear God: to you[15] the word of this salvation has been sent.
Chapter 13 Verse 27
27. The Jerusalem dwellers and their rulers, understanding neither Him nor the voices of the prophets that are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning Him.
Chapter 13 Verse 28
28. Though they found no cause for death, they asked Pilate to have Him executed.
Chapter 13 Verse 29
29. When they had fulfilled all things that were written about Him, they took Him down from the cross[16] and placed Him in a tomb.
Chapter 13 Verse 30
30. But God raised Him from the dead;
Chapter 13 Verse 31
31. and for many days He was seen by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are[17] His witnesses to the people.
Chapter 13 Verse 32
32. “Yes we proclaim to you the good news: the promise that was made to the fathers,
Chapter 13 Verse 33
33. God has fulfilled the same to us, their children, when He raised up Jesus;[18] as also it stands written in the second Psalm: ‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you.’[19]
Chapter 13 Verse 34
34. And that He raised Him from the dead,[20] no longer to return to corruption,[21] He has spoken thus, ‘I will give you the holy things guaranteed to David.’[22]
Chapter 13 Verse 35
35. Further, it is stated elsewhere, ‘You will not allow your Holy One to see decay.’[23]
Chapter 13 Verse 36
36. Now David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw decay;
Chapter 13 Verse 37
37. but the One whom God raised up did not see decay.[24]
Chapter 13 Verse 38
38. Therefore, let it be known to you, men, brothers, that through this One forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you;
Chapter 13 Verse 39
39. and by Him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the Law of Moses.[25]
Chapter 13 Verse 40
40. So take care, lest there come upon you that which has been spoken in the prophets:
Chapter 13 Verse 41
41. ‘Look you despisers, marvel and perish! For I am working a work in your days to which you will not give credence, even if someone were to explain it in detail to you.’”[26]
Chapter 13 Verse 42
42. Now as the Jews were going out of the synagogue, the Gentiles implored repeatedly[27] that these words might be spoken to them the next Sabbath.
Chapter 13 Verse 43
43. The synagogue service having been dismissed, many of the Jews and the devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who started addressing them, urging them to continue in the grace of God.
Chapter 13 Verse 44
44. Well the next Sabbath almost the whole city was gathered to hear the Word of God.[28]
Chapter 13 Verse 45
45. But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with envy[29] and started speaking against the things said by Paul, contradicting and[30] blaspheming.
Chapter 13 Verse 46
46. But Paul and Barnabas speaking boldly said: “It was necessary that God’s Word should be spoken to you first.[31] But since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life,[32] now we are being turned to the Gentiles.
Chapter 13 Verse 47
47. Because that is just how the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have set you to be a light for ethnic nations, that you should be for salvation up to the last place on earth.’”[33]
Chapter 13 Verse 48
48. Now upon hearing this, the Gentiles rejoiced and glorified the Word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal live believed.[34]
Chapter 13 Verse 49
49. Well the Word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region.[35]
Chapter 13 Verse 50
50. But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women[36] and the chief men of the city, and raised up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their borders.
Chapter 13 Verse 51
51. So they shook off the dust from their feet against them,[37] and went to Iconium.
Chapter 13 Verse 52
52. But the disciples were filled with joy and with Holy Spirit.[38]
Chapter 14
Chapter 14 Verse 1
1. Now it happened in Iconium that they went together into the synagogue of the Jews, and they spoke to such effect that a large number of both Jews and Greeks believed.
Chapter 14 Verse 2
2. But the disobedient Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.
Chapter 14 Verse 3
3. Even so they stayed there a considerable time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, giving signs and wonders to take place by their hands.[1]
Chapter 14 Verse 4
4. Well the population of the city became divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles.
Chapter 14 Verse 5
5. But when a plot was hatched by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat and stone them,
Chapter 14 Verse 6
6. they became aware of it and escaped to the cities of Lycaonia—Lystra, Derbe and the surrounding area—
Chapter 14 Verse 7
7. where they continued to preach the Gospel.
Chapter 14 Verse 8
8. Well in Lystra a certain man with helpless feet was sitting (lame from his mother’s womb, who had never walked).
Chapter 14 Verse 9
9. This man was listening to Paul speaking; who looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be healed,
Chapter 14 Verse 10
10. said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” And the man jumped up and began to walk![2]
Chapter 14 Verse 11
11. Now when the crowd saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in Lycaonian, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!”
Chapter 14 Verse 12
12. And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.
Chapter 14 Verse 13
13. Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought bulls and garlands to the gates, intending to make a sacrifice, along with the crowd.[3]
Chapter 14 Verse 14
14. But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of it, they tore their clothes and rushed into the crowd, crying out
Chapter 14 Verse 15
15. and saying: “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, giving you good news, telling you to turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them;
Chapter 14 Verse 16
16. who in the former generations allowed all the ethnic nations to walk in their own ways.
Chapter 14 Verse 17
17. Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, doing good, giving you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.”[4]
Chapter 14 Verse 18
18. Even saying these things, they barely stopped the crowd from sacrificing to them.
Chapter 14 Verse 19
19. Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came, and having persuaded the crowd and having stoned Paul,[5] they dragged him out of the city,[6] supposing him to have died.
Chapter 14 Verse 20
20. But as the disciples stood around him,[7] he got up and entered the city. The next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.
Chapter 14 Verse 21
21. When they had evangelized that city and discipled a good number, they returned to Lystra[8] and Iconium and Antioch,
Chapter 14 Verse 22
22. strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.”[9]
Chapter 14 Verse 23
23. When they had appointed elders for them in every congregation,[10] having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord into whom they had believed.[11]
Chapter 14 Verse 24
24. After going through Pisidia, they came to Pamphilia.
Chapter 14 Verse 25
25. When they had declared the Word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.
Chapter 14 Verse 26
26. From there they sailed to Antioch, from where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had completed.
Chapter 14 Verse 27
27. So upon arriving and gathering the congregation, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
Chapter 14 Verse 28
28. And they stayed there a long time with the disciples.
Chapter 15
Chapter 15 Verse 1
1. Then some men came down from Judea and started teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
Chapter 15 Verse 2
2. Well this provoked serious dissension and argument between Paul and Barnabas and them, so Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with certain others of them, to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question.
Chapter 15 Verse 3
3. So being sent on their way by the congregation, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brothers.
Chapter 15 Verse 4
4. Upon arriving in Jerusalem, they were received by the congregation and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them.
Chapter 15 Verse 5
5. But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the Law of Moses.”[1]
Chapter 15 Verse 6
6. So the apostles and the elders came together to consider this matter.
Chapter 15 Verse 7
7. When there had been plenty of discussion, Peter got up and said to them: “Men, brothers, you know that a good while ago God made a choice among you,[2] that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the message of the Gospel and believe.
Chapter 15 Verse 8
8. And the heart-knowing God acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us;
Chapter 15 Verse 9
9. and He made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
Chapter 15 Verse 10
10. Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?
Chapter 15 Verse 11
11. Rather, we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus,[3] in the same manner as they.”[4]
Chapter 15 Verse 12
12. Then the whole assembly kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul reporting what signs and wonders God had done among the ethnic nations through them.
Chapter 15 Verse 13
13. Now when they finished, James reacted saying: “Men, brothers, listen to me.
Chapter 15 Verse 14
14. Simeon has described how God first intervened to extract from the Gentiles a people for His name.
Chapter 15 Verse 15
15. And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:
Chapter 15 Verse 16
16. ‘After these things I will return, and I will rebuild David’s tent, the fallen one; yes, I will rebuild its ruins and restore it;
Chapter 15 Verse 17
17. so that the remnant of mankind may seek the LORD, even all the Gentiles—the ones, that is, upon whom my name has been called—says the LORD who does all these things.’[5]
Chapter 15 Verse 18
18. All His works are known to God from eternity.[6]
Chapter 15 Verse 19
19. Therefore I judge that we should not create difficulty for those who are turning to God from among the ethnic nations,[7]
Chapter 15 Verse 20
20. but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from fornication, from what is strangled, and from blood.
Chapter 15 Verse 21
21. For from ancient generations Moses has in every city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
Chapter 15 Verse 22
22. Then it pleased the apostles and the elders, with the whole congregation, to send chosen men from among them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas (the one called Barsabas) and Silas, leading men among the brothers.
Chapter 15 Verse 23
23. They wrote by their hand the following: “The apostles and the elders and the[8] brothers, to the Gentile brothers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia: Greetings.
Chapter 15 Verse 24
24. Since we have heard that some who went out from among us have disturbed you with words, unsettling your souls, saying that you must be circumcised and keep the Law[9]—to whom we gave no such authorization—
Chapter 15 Verse 25
25. it seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
Chapter 15 Verse 26
26. men who have risked their lives for the sake of the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Chapter 15 Verse 27
27. So we have sent Judas and Silas, who will also confirm these things by word of mouth.[10]
Chapter 15 Verse 28
28. It seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us,[11] to place no greater burden upon you than these necessary things:
Chapter 15 Verse 29
29. to abstain from things offered to idols,[12] from ‘blood’, from anything strangled and from fornication;[13] it will be in your own best interest to keep away from these things. Farewell.”
Chapter 15 Verse 30
30. So when they were sent off they came to Antioch, and gathering the crowd they delivered the letter.
Chapter 15 Verse 31
31. When they had read it, they rejoiced over the encouragement.
Chapter 15 Verse 32
32. Both Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words.
Chapter 15 Verse 33
33. After some time, they were released with peace from the brothers to the apostles.[14]
Chapter 15 Verse 34
Chapter 15 Verse 35
35. But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the Word of the Lord, with many others also.
Chapter 15 Verse 36
36. Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return now and visit our brothers in each city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.”
Chapter 15 Verse 37
37. Now Barnabas resolved to take John (the one called Mark) along as well.
Chapter 15 Verse 38
38. But Paul insisted on not taking someone who had deserted them in Pamphilia and not gone with them to the work.
Chapter 15 Verse 39
39. Well the contention became so sharp that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus;[15]
Chapter 15 Verse 40
40. while Paul chose Silas and set out, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of God.[16]
Chapter 15 Verse 41
41. He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the congregations.
Chapter 16
Chapter 16 Verse 1
1. So he came to Derbe and Lystra. Well now, a certain disciple was there named Timothy, son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was a Greek;
Chapter 16 Verse 2
2. he was well spoken of by the brothers in Lystra and Iconium.
Chapter 16 Verse 3
3. Paul wanted to have him go on with him, so he took and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts, because they all knew that his father was a Greek.[1]
Chapter 16 Verse 4
4. As they were going through the cities they were delivering the dogmas to them, to keep—the ones that had been determined by the apostles and the elders in Jerusalem.[2]
Chapter 16 Verse 5
5. So the congregations kept on being strengthened in the faith, and were increasing in number daily.[3]
Chapter 16 Verse 6
6. Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia,
Chapter 16 Verse 7
7. they approached Mysia and tried to go to Bythinia, but the Spirit[4] did not permit them.
Chapter 16 Verse 8
8. So they bypassed Mysia and went down to Troas.[5]
Chapter 16 Verse 9
9. A vision appeared to Paul during the night: a man of Macedonia was standing, appealing to him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
Chapter 16 Verse 10
10. So when he saw the vision, we[6] immediately prepared to go over to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord[7] had called us to evangelize them.
Chapter 16 Verse 11
11. So setting sail from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day to Neapolis;
Chapter 16 Verse 12
12. and from there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony.[8] We stayed some days in that city.
Chapter 16 Verse 13
13. On the Sabbath day we went outside the city by a river, where prayer was customarily made,[9] and sitting down we started speaking to the assembled women.[10]
Chapter 16 Verse 14
14. A certain woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who worshipped God, really listened, whose heart the Lord opened to give heed to the things spoken by Paul.
Chapter 16 Verse 15
15. When she and her household were baptized, she appealed saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay.” So she persuaded us.
Chapter 16 Verse 16
16. Now it happened, as we were going to prayer, that a certain slave girl having a spirit of divination met us, who brought considerable profit to her owners by divination.
Chapter 16 Verse 17
17. Following Paul and Silas[11] this girl kept calling out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to us the way of salvation!”[12]
Chapter 16 Verse 18
18. She kept this up for many days![13] So Paul, becoming increasingly annoyed,[14] turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out that very hour.
Chapter 16 Verse 19
19. But when her owners saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market place to the rulers,[15]
Chapter 16 Verse 20
20. and bringing them before the magistrates they said, “These men, being Jews, are agitating our city,
Chapter 16 Verse 21
21. and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or do.”
Chapter 16 Verse 22
22. The crowd joined in the attack against them, and the magistrates tore the clothes off of them and ordered a beating with rods.
Chapter 16 Verse 23
23. When they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them securely;
Chapter 16 Verse 24
24. who, having received such a charge, threw them into the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.[16]
Chapter 16 Verse 25
25. Well about midnight Paul and Silas were singing hymns to God in prayer; and the other prisoners were listening to them.
Chapter 16 Verse 26
26. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, enough to shake the foundations of the prison; immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.[17]
Chapter 16 Verse 27
27. But the jailer, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew sword, intending to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.[18]
Chapter 16 Verse 28
28. But Paul shouted out, “Don’t harm yourself, because we are all here!”[19]
Chapter 16 Verse 29
29. So calling for a light he ran in and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.
Chapter 16 Verse 30
30. He then brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”[20]
Chapter 16 Verse 31
31. So they said, “Believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ[21] and you will be saved, you and your household.”
Chapter 16 Verse 32
32. Then they spoke the Word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.
Chapter 16 Verse 33
33. In that same hour of the night he took them aside and washed their wounds, and thereupon he and all his family were baptized.[22]
Chapter 16 Verse 34
34. Then he brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he was really rejoicing, having believed in God with his whole family.
Chapter 16 Verse 35
35. Now when it was day the magistrates sent the officers saying, “Let those men go.”
Chapter 16 Verse 36
36. So the jailer reported these words to Paul, “The magistrates have sent to release you; so now you can leave and go in peace.”
Chapter 16 Verse 37
37. But Paul said to them:[23] “After severely beating us in public, although we were uncondemned Romans, they threw us into prison, and now do they toss us out on the sly? No way! Rather, let them come themselves and escort us out!”
Chapter 16 Verse 38
38. So the officers reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans;
Chapter 16 Verse 39
39. and they came and appealed to them, and leading them out they asked them to leave the city.
Chapter 16 Verse 40
40. So exiting the prison they entered Lydia’s place, and upon seeing the brothers they encouraged them and departed.
Chapter 17
Chapter 17 Verse 1
1. Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
Chapter 17 Verse 2
2. So Paul, as was his custom, went in to them and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
Chapter 17 Verse 3
3. explaining and demonstrating that the Messiah had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and that “this Jesus whom I proclaim to you is the Messiah.”
Chapter 17 Verse 4
4. Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of devout Greeks and not a few of the prominent women.
Chapter 17 Verse 5
5. But the disobedient Jews[1] rounded up some wicked men from the marketplace, and forming a mob they created an uproar in the city; and attacking the house of Jason, they wanted to bring them out to the crowd.
Chapter 17 Verse 6
6. But not finding them they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials vociferating: “These who have upset the whole world[2] have come here too,
Chapter 17 Verse 7
7. to whom Jason has given lodging. These all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king—Jesus.”
Chapter 17 Verse 8
8. Well they agitated the crowd and the city officials when they heard these things.
Chapter 17 Verse 9
9. Then they took a security bond from Jason and the rest and let them go.
Chapter 17 Verse 10
10. Immediately, during the night, the brothers sent both Paul and Silas away to Berea; on arriving they went into the synagogue of the Jews.
Chapter 17 Verse 11
11. Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all good-will, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things might be so.[3]
Chapter 17 Verse 12
12. Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men.
Chapter 17 Verse 13
13. But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the Word of God was also being proclaimed by Paul in Berea, they came too, agitating the crowds.
Chapter 17 Verse 14
14. So then, without delay, the brothers sent Paul away, as if to go by sea, while both Silas and Timothy remained there.
Chapter 17 Verse 15
15. But those who were conducting Paul actually took him all the way to Athens;[4] and receiving a command to Silas and Timothy that they should come to him as quickly as possible, they started back.
Chapter 17 Verse 16
16. Now while Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was increasingly aroused within him as he observed that the city was full of idols.
Chapter 17 Verse 17
17. So he reasoned both in the synagogue with the Jews and devout persons, and in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.
Chapter 17 Verse 18
18. Then certain philosophers, both Epicureans and Stoics, encountered him. Some said, “What might this idea-scavenger[5] want to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign deities”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection.
Chapter 17 Verse 19
19. So taking him in tow they led him to the Areopagus and said: “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?
Chapter 17 Verse 20
20. Because you are bringing some strange things to our ears, and we would like to know what they might mean.”[6]
Chapter 17 Verse 21
21. (Now all Athenians and resident foreigners spent their time in nothing else but to tell, or else to hear, some novelty.)
Chapter 17 Verse 22
22. So standing in the middle of the Areopagus Paul said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious;
Chapter 17 Verse 23
23. because as I went along and scrutinized the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO UNKNOWN GOD. Now then, the one you worship as ‘unknown’, this is the One I proclaim to you:
Chapter 17 Verse 24
24. The God who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples built by hands,
Chapter 17 Verse 25
25. neither is He cared for by men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself has always given life and breath to all.[7]
Chapter 17 Verse 26
26. And from one blood[8] He made every ethnic nation of men to dwell on all the surface of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,[9]
Chapter 17 Verse 27
27. so that they should seek the Lord,[10] if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;
Chapter 17 Verse 28
28. because in Him we live and move and have our being.[11] As also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also his offspring.’[12]
Chapter 17 Verse 29
29. Therefore, since we are God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divinity is like gold or silver or stone—something shaped by human skill and imagination.[13]
Chapter 17 Verse 30
30. Such times of ignorance God did indeed overlook, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent,
Chapter 17 Verse 31
31. because He has appointed a day in which He will judge the inhabited world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained; He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”[14]
Chapter 17 Verse 32
32. Well when they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some started scoffing,[15] while others said, “We will hear you again about this.”[16]
Chapter 17 Verse 33
33. And with that Paul went out from among them.[17]
Chapter 17 Verse 34
34. However some men believed and joined him, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, also a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
Chapter 18
Chapter 18 Verse 1
1. Now after these things Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.
Chapter 18 Verse 2
2. And encountering a certain Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to depart from Rome), he joined them;
Chapter 18 Verse 3
3. and because he practiced the same trade, he stayed on with them and worked (their trade was tentmaker).[1]
Chapter 18 Verse 4
4. Every Sabbath in the synagogue he would reason with both Jews and Greeks, trying to persuade them.
Chapter 18 Verse 5
5. But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was constrained by the Spirit,[2] solemnly insisting to the Jews: Jesus is the Christ.[3]
Chapter 18 Verse 6
6. But since they kept contradicting and blaspheming, he shook his clothes[4] and said to them: “Your blood be upon your own heads! I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
Chapter 18 Verse 7
7. So he moved from there into the house of a man named Justus, a worshiper of God, whose house was next door to the synagogue.
Chapter 18 Verse 8
8. Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household; and as they were hearing, many of the Corinthians were believing and being baptized.
Chapter 18 Verse 9
9. Now the Lord said to Paul by a vision at night: “Do not be afraid; rather speak and do not keep silent,
Chapter 18 Verse 10
10. because I am with you and no one will attack you to harm you,[5] because I have many people in this city.”
Chapter 18 Verse 11
11. So he stayed on for a year and six months, teaching the Word of God among them.[6]
Chapter 18 Verse 12
12. Now while Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him to the judgment seat,
Chapter 18 Verse 13
13. saying, “This fellow persuades the people to worship God contrary to the law.”
Chapter 18 Verse 14
14. But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews: “If there really was some misdeed or wicked crime, O Jews, there would be reason for me to bear with you;
Chapter 18 Verse 15
15. but since it is an issue over a word and names and your own law, see to it yourselves; because I refuse to be a judge of such matters.”
Chapter 18 Verse 16
16. And he drove them from the judgment seat.
Chapter 18 Verse 17
17. Then all the Greeks[7] took Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue,[8] and beat him in front of the judgment seat. But none of this was a delay to Gallio.[9]
Chapter 18 Verse 18
18. Paul still remained there a good while, then took leave of the brothers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila (he had shaved his head in Cenchrea, because he had a vow).[10]
Chapter 18 Verse 19
19. He came to Ephesus and left them there (after having entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews).
Chapter 18 Verse 20
20. When they asked him to stay a longer time with them, he did not consent;
Chapter 18 Verse 21
21. rather he took leave of them saying, “I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem;[11] but I will return again to you, God willing.”[12] Then he set sail from Ephesus.
Chapter 18 Verse 22
22. When he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up and greeted the church [in Jerusalem],[13] he returned to Antioch.
Chapter 18 Verse 23
23. After spending some time there, he departed and went through the region of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.
Chapter 18 Verse 24
24. Now a certain Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, an eloquent man, mighty in the Scriptures, arrived in Ephesus.
Chapter 18 Verse 25
25. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and being fervent in the Spirit he was speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus,[14] although he knew only the baptism of John.
Chapter 18 Verse 26
26. So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.
Chapter 18 Verse 27
27. When he decided to go across into Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to receive him;[15] upon arriving he was a great help to those who had believed through the Grace;
Chapter 18 Verse 28
28. because he kept refuting the Jews vigorously, publicly, demonstrating Jesus to be the Christ, from the Scriptures.[16]
Chapter 19
Chapter 19 Verse 1
1. Now it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul, having passed through the upper country, came to Ephesus. Disciples of John And finding certain disciples
Chapter 19 Verse 2
2. he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “But we have not so much as heard that there is a Holy Spirit!”
Chapter 19 Verse 3
3. So he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.”[1]
Chapter 19 Verse 4
4. So Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe into the One who would come after him, that is, into Jesus, the Christ.”[2]
Chapter 19 Verse 5
5. So upon hearing this they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
Chapter 19 Verse 6
6. And as Paul laid his hands on them the Holy Spirit came upon them,[3] and they started speaking languages and prophesying.
Chapter 19 Verse 7
7. There were about twelve men in all.
Chapter 19 Verse 8
8. During three months Paul kept going to the synagogue and speaking boldly, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the Kingdom of God.
Chapter 19 Verse 9
9. But when some became hardened and disobedient, maligning the Way before the crowd, he withdrew from them and separated the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of a certain Tyrannus.[4]
Chapter 19 Verse 10
10. Now this continued for two years, so that all who lived in Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the Word of the Lord Jesus.[5]
Chapter 19 Verse 11
11. Further, God kept working unusual miracles by the hands of Paul,
Chapter 19 Verse 12
12. so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that he touched were applied to the sick, and the diseases left them and the wicked spirits went out from them.[6]
Chapter 19 Verse 13
13. Well some among the itinerant Jewish exorcists attempted to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had wicked spirits saying, “We adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.”
Chapter 19 Verse 14
14. In fact there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who were doing this.
Chapter 19 Verse 15
15. But a particular wicked spirit reacted and said, “Jesus I know, and I am acquainted with Paul, but who are you?”
Chapter 19 Verse 16
16. And the man in whom the wicked spirit was jumped on them and overpowered them; he was so much stronger that they ran out of that house naked and wounded.
Chapter 19 Verse 17
17. Now this became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who lived in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was being exalted.
Chapter 19 Verse 18
18. And many of those who had believed started coming, confessing and disclosing their practices.
Chapter 19 Verse 19
19. In fact, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them up, in front of everybody[7] (they had calculated their value and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver).
Chapter 19 Verse 20
20. With power like that it was that the word of the Lord kept growing and prevailing.
Chapter 19 Verse 21