Acts

New Testament · 28 chapters · 1,007 verses.

Chapter 1

1:1The former account I made, O Theophilus, concerning all that Jesus began both to do and to teach,
1:2until the day He was taken up, after He had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom He had chosen.
1:3To them He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many sure proofs, appearing to them over forty days and speaking concerning the Kingdom of God.
1:4And while gathered with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, “which you heard from Me;
1:5for John indeed immersed in water, but you will be immersed in the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
1:6Therefore, when they had come together, they questioned Him, saying, “Lord, are You restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?”
1:7And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father appointed by His own authority;
1:8but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be witnesses for Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
1:9And after saying these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him from their sight.
1:10And as they were looking intently into Heaven while He went, behold, two men stood by them in white garments,
1:11who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing into Heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into Heaven, will come in the same manner as you saw Him go into Heaven.”
1:12Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which was near Jerusalem, about half a mile away.
1:13And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James.
1:14These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, Mary the mother of Jesus, and His brothers.
1:15And in those days Peter rose in the midst of the disciples and said—the number of persons gathered there was about one hundred twenty—
1:16“Men, brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who seized Jesus;
1:17for he was numbered among us and received a share in this ministry.”
1:18(Now this man acquired a field with the reward of unrighteousness; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle, and all his inward parts poured out.
1:19And it became known to all who dwell in Jerusalem, so that in their own language that field was called Aceldama, that is, Field of Blood.)
1:20“For it is written in the Book of Psalms: ‘Let his dwelling place become desolate, and let no one dwell in it,’ and, ‘Let another take his oversight.’
1:21It is necessary, therefore, that one of the men who accompanied us throughout all the time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
1:22beginning from the immersion of John until the day He was taken up from us, become with us a witness of His resurrection.”
1:23And they put forward two: Joseph called Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
1:24And having prayed, they said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You chose
1:25to take the share of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.”
1:26And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Chapter 2

2:1And when the day of the Feast of Weeks had fully come, they were all with one accord in the same place.
2:2And suddenly there came from Heaven a sound like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
2:3And divided tongues, as of fire, appeared to them and rested on each one of them.
2:4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
2:5And there were Jews dwelling in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under Heaven.
2:6And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in his own language.
2:7And they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Behold, are not all these who speak Galileans?
2:8And how is it that each of us hears in the language of our birth?
2:9Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and those who dwell in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
2:10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and converts,
2:11Cretans and Arabians—we hear them speaking in our tongues the mighty works of God.”
2:12And they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”
2:13But others mocked and said, “They are full of new wine.”
2:14And Peter, standing with the Eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.
2:15For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day.
2:16But this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
2:17‘And it will come to pass in the last days,’ says God, ‘that I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.
2:18Even upon My male servants and female servants, in those days, I will pour out My Spirit, and they will prophesy.
2:19And I will give wonders in Heaven above and signs on the earth beneath: blood and fire and vapor of smoke.
2:20The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the Day of the Lord, the great and glorious day.
2:21And it will come to pass that everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved.’
2:22Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested by God to you by mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know—
2:23this Man, delivered up by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you took and, by lawless hands, crucified and killed;
2:24whom God raised up, having loosed the pangs of death, because it was not possible for Him to be held by it.
2:25For David says concerning Him: ‘I saw the Lord always before me, for He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken.
2:26Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; moreover my flesh also will dwell in hope,
2:27because You will not leave my soul in the realm of the dead, nor will You give Your Holy One to see decay.
2:28You made known to me the ways of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence.’
2:29Men, brothers, I may speak freely to you concerning the patriarch David: he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.
2:30Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn to him with an oath that from the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Anointed One to sit on his throne,
2:31foreseeing this, he spoke concerning the resurrection of the Anointed One: His soul was not left in the realm of the dead, nor did His flesh see decay.
2:32God raised up this Jesus, of whom we are all witnesses;
2:33therefore, having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.
2:34For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand,
2:35until I make Your enemies Your footstool.”’
2:36Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God made Him both Lord and Anointed One—this Jesus whom you crucified.”
2:37And when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “What shall we do, men, brothers?”
2:38And Peter said to them, “Repent, and let each of you be immersed in the Name of Jesus the Anointed One for the forgiveness of sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
2:39For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all those far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
2:40And with many other words he solemnly testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this crooked generation.”
2:41Then those who gladly received his word were immersed, and that day about three thousand souls were added.
2:42And they continued steadfastly in the teaching of the apostles and the fellowship, in the breaking of the bread and the prayers.
2:43And fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.
2:44And all who believed were together and had all things in common.
2:45And they were selling their possessions and goods and distributing them to all, as anyone had need.
2:46And day by day, continuing with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and sincerity of heart,
2:47praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added daily to the assembly those who were being saved.

Chapter 3

3:1Now Peter and John were going up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.
3:2And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was being carried, whom they laid every day at the gate of the temple called Beautiful, to ask alms from those entering the temple.
3:3Seeing Peter and John about to enter the temple, he asked to receive alms.
3:4And Peter, looking intently at him with John, said, “Look at us.”
3:5And he gave heed to them, expecting to receive something from them.
3:6But Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have; but what I have, I give you. In the Name of Jesus the Anointed One of Nazareth, rise and walk.”
3:7And taking him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were strengthened.
3:8And leaping up, he stood and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking and leaping and praising God.
3:9And all the people saw him walking and praising God.
3:10And they recognized him as the one who sat asking alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
3:11And while the lame man who had been healed held on to Peter and John, all the people, greatly amazed, ran together to them in the colonnade called Solomon’s.
3:12And when Peter saw this, he answered the people: “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why do you gaze at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made him walk?
3:13The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied before Pilate, though he had judged to release Him.
3:14But you denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,
3:15and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead; and of this we are witnesses.
3:16And by faith in His Name, His Name has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith that is through Him has given him this complete soundness before you all.
3:17And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your rulers also.
3:18But God fulfilled in this way what He declared beforehand through the mouth of all His prophets: that the Anointed One would suffer.
3:19Repent, therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
3:20and that He may send Jesus the Anointed One, who was proclaimed to you beforehand,
3:21whom Heaven must indeed receive until the times of the restoration of all things, of which God spoke through the mouth of all His holy prophets from ancient times.
3:22For Moses indeed said to the fathers, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from among your brothers. You shall hear Him in all things, whatever He speaks to you.
3:23And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’
3:24And all the prophets also, from Samuel and those who followed, as many as spoke, likewise foretold these days.
3:25You are sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your Seed all the families of the earth will be blessed.’
3:26To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you by turning each of you away from your wicked ways.”

Chapter 4

4:1And as they were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees came upon them,
4:2being grieved because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
4:3And they laid hands on them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.
4:4But many of those who heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.
4:5And it came to pass on the next day that their rulers, elders, and scribes gathered in Jerusalem,
4:6with Annas the chief priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the chief priest.
4:7And having set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?”
4:8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel,
4:9if we are examined today concerning a good deed done to an ailing man, by what means he has been made well,
4:10let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the Name of Jesus the Anointed One of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands before you whole.
4:11This is ‘the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’
4:12And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other Name under Heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
4:13And seeing the boldness of Peter and John, and perceiving that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they marveled; and they recognized that they had been with Jesus.
4:14And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say against it.
4:15But after ordering them to go out of the council, they conferred with one another,
4:16saying, “What shall we do to these men? For a notable sign has indeed been done through them, evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.
4:17But so that it spreads no farther among the people, let us strictly threaten them to speak no longer to any man in this Name.”
4:18And having called them, they commanded them not to speak at all nor to teach in the Name of Jesus.
4:19But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right before God to listen to you rather than to God, judge for yourselves;
4:20for we cannot but speak the things we have seen and heard.”
4:21And after threatening them further, they let them go, finding no way to punish them because of the people, for all were glorifying God for what had been done.
4:22For the man on whom this sign of healing had been done was more than forty years old.
4:23And being released, they went to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.
4:24And when they heard it, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord and said, “O Master, You are God, who made Heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them,
4:25who through the mouth of Your servant David said: ‘Why did the nations rage, and the peoples meditate on vain things?
4:26The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against His Anointed One.’
4:27For truly, against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the nations and the peoples of Israel, were gathered together
4:28to do whatever Your hand and Your counsel predetermined to come to pass.
4:29And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to Your slaves to speak Your word with all boldness,
4:30while You stretch out Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders come to pass through the Name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”
4:31And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness.
4:32Now the multitude of those who believed had one heart and one soul; and not one said that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they held all things in common.
4:33And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.
4:34For there was not a needy one among them, for as many as possessed lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of the things sold,
4:35and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and distribution was made to each as anyone had need.
4:36And Joses, who was surnamed Barnabas by the apostles—which is translated Son of Encouragement—a Levite, a Cypriot by birth,
4:37having a field, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Chapter 5

5:1But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession
5:2and kept back part of the price, his wife also knowing it; and he brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
5:3And Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land?
5:4While it remained unsold, did it not remain yours? And after it was sold, was it not under your authority? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”
5:5And on hearing these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came upon all who heard these things.
5:6And the young men rose, wrapped him, carried him out, and buried him.
5:7And it came to pass, about three hours later, that his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in.
5:8And Peter answered her, “Tell me, did you sell the land for this amount?” And she said, “Yes, for this amount.”
5:9And Peter said to her, “How is it that you agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”
5:10And immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in, found her dead, carried her out, and buried her by her husband.
5:11And great fear came upon the whole assembly and upon all who heard these things.
5:12And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Colonnade.
5:13Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high regard.
5:14And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,
5:15so that they carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and mats, that as Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on some of them.
5:16And a multitude also came together from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those tormented by unclean spirits; and they were all healed.
5:17Then the chief priest rose up with all those who were with him—being the sect of the Sadducees—and they were filled with jealousy.
5:18They laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the public prison.
5:19But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison, brought them out, and said,
5:20“Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.”
5:21And when they heard this, they entered the temple at dawn and taught. But the chief priest and those with him came and called together the council and the whole body of elders of the sons of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
5:22But the officers came and did not find them in the prison; and returning, they reported,
5:23saying, “We indeed found the prison securely shut and the guards standing outside before the doors; but when we opened it, we found no one inside.”
5:24Now when the priest, the captain of the temple guard, and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what might come of this.
5:25And someone came and reported to them, saying, “Behold, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.”
5:26Then the captain of the temple guard went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned.
5:27And having brought them, they set them before the council; and the chief priest questioned them,
5:28saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this Name? Yet behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this Man’s blood upon us.”
5:29And Peter and the apostles answered and said, “We must obey God rather than men.
5:30The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed by hanging Him on a tree.
5:31God exalted this One to His right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.
5:32And we are His witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God gave to those who obey Him.”
5:33And when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and intended to kill them.
5:34But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law held in honor by all the people, rose in the council and commanded that the apostles be put outside for a little while.
5:35And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves concerning what you are about to do to these men.
5:36For before these days Theudas rose up, saying that he was someone, and a number of about four hundred men joined themselves to him. He was killed; and all who followed him were scattered and came to nothing.
5:37After this man Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away people after him. He also perished, and all who followed him were scattered.
5:38And now I say to you, keep away from these men and leave them alone; for if this plan or this work is from men, it will be overthrown.
5:39But if it is from God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found fighting against God.”
5:40And they agreed with him; and calling the apostles, they flogged them and commanded them not to speak in the Name of Jesus, and released them.
5:41So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for His Name.
5:42And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Anointed One.

Chapter 6

6:1And in those days, as the disciples multiplied, a complaint arose among the Greek-speaking Jews against the Hebrew-speaking Jews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution.
6:2Then the Twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.
6:3Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men of good testimony, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this need;
6:4but we will devote ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
6:5And the proposal pleased the whole multitude, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a convert from Antioch,
6:6whom they set before the apostles; and they, having prayed, laid their hands on them.
6:7And the word of God increased, and the number of the disciples multiplied exceedingly in Jerusalem; and a great multitude of the priests became obedient to the faith.
6:8And Stephen, full of faith and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.
6:9Then some from the Synagogue of the Freedmen—including Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia—rose up and disputed with Stephen.
6:10And they could not resist the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke.
6:11Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God.”
6:12And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; and coming upon him, they seized him and brought him to the council.
6:13And they set up false witnesses, saying, “This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the Law;
6:14for we have heard him saying that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses delivered to us.”
6:15And all who sat in the council, gazing at him, saw his face as the face of an angel.

Chapter 7

7:1And the chief priest said, “Are then these things so?”
7:2And he said, “Men, brothers and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran,
7:3and said to him, ‘Go forth from your land and from your relatives, and come to a land that I will show you.’
7:4Then he went out from the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Haran. From there, after his father died, God moved him to this land in which you now dwell.
7:5And He gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot’s breadth, yet promised to give it to him as a possession and to his offspring after him, though he had no child.
7:6And God spoke in this way: his offspring would dwell as strangers in a foreign land, and they would enslave and mistreat them for four hundred years.
7:7‘And the nation to which they will be enslaved I will judge,’ God said, ‘and after that they will come out and serve Me in this place.’
7:8And He gave him a covenant of circumcision. And so Abraham begot Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day; Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob the twelve patriarchs.
7:9And the patriarchs, moved with jealousy, sold Joseph into Egypt; but God was with him
7:10and delivered him out of all his afflictions and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh king of Egypt; and Pharaoh appointed him governor over Egypt and all his house.
7:11And a famine came over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, with great affliction, and our fathers found no food.
7:12But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our fathers the first time.
7:13And the second time Joseph was made known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family became known to Pharaoh.
7:14And Joseph sent and called for his father Jacob and all his relatives, seventy-five souls in all.
7:15And Jacob went down to Egypt; and he died, as did our fathers.
7:16And they were carried over to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.
7:17And as the time of the promise which God had sworn to Abraham drew near, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt,
7:18until another king arose who did not know Joseph.
7:19This king dealt craftily with our people and oppressed our fathers, forcing them to expose their infants so they would not live.
7:20At that time Moses was born, and he was beautiful before God. He was brought up three months in his father’s house.
7:21And when he was exposed, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up and raised him as her own son.
7:22And Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in words and deeds.
7:23And when he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the sons of Israel.
7:24And seeing one of them treated unjustly, he defended him and avenged the oppressed man by striking the Egyptian.
7:25And he supposed his brothers would understand that God was giving them deliverance through his hand, but they did not understand.
7:26And on the next day he appeared to them as they fought and urged them to peace, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers. Why do you wrong one another?’
7:27But the one who wronged his neighbor pushed him away, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us?
7:28Do you wish to kill me, as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’
7:29And at this word Moses fled and became a sojourner in the land of Midian, where two sons were born to him.
7:30And when forty years had passed, the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush.
7:31And when Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight; and as he drew near to look, the voice of the Lord came to him:
7:32‘I am the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ And Moses became terrified and did not dare look.
7:33And the Lord said to him, ‘Take the sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy ground.
7:34I have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning and have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you to Egypt.’
7:35This Moses, whom they rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’—this man God sent as a ruler and a redeemer by the hand of the Angel who appeared to him in the bush.
7:36This man led them out, having performed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness forty years.
7:37This is the Moses who said to the sons of Israel, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from among your brothers. You shall hear Him.’
7:38This is he who was in the assembly in the wilderness with the Angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai and with our fathers, and who received living oracles to give to us.
7:39Our fathers refused to obey him; instead they pushed him away and in their hearts turned back to Egypt,
7:40saying to Aaron, ‘Make us gods who will go before us; for this Moses, who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him.’
7:41And they made a calf in those days, offered a sacrifice to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their hands.
7:42But God turned away and gave them up to serve the host of Heaven, as it is written in the Book of the Prophets: ‘Did you offer slain beasts and sacrifices to Me forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?
7:43You also took up the dwelling place of Moloch and the star of your god Remphan, the images that you made to worship; and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.’
7:44The Dwelling Place of the Testimony was with our fathers in the wilderness, as God appointed when He spoke to Moses, commanding him to make it according to the pattern he had seen;
7:45which our fathers, having received it in succession, also brought in with Joshua when they took possession of the land of the nations whom God drove out before our fathers, until the days of David,
7:46who found favor before God and asked to find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.
7:47And Solomon built Him a house.
7:48Yet the Most High does not dwell in sanctuaries made by hands, as the prophet says:
7:49‘Heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool. What house will you build for Me?’ says the Lord. ‘Or what is the place of My rest?
7:50Has My hand not made all these things?’
7:51You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.
7:52Which 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,
7:53you who received the Law as ordained by angels and did not keep it.”
7:54And when they heard these things, they were cut to the heart and gnashed their teeth at him.
7:55But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into Heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,
7:56and said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
7:57Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and rushed upon him with one accord.
7:58And they cast him outside the city and began stoning him. And the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.
7:59And as they stoned Stephen, he called out and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
7:60Then kneeling down, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And after saying this, he fell asleep.

Chapter 8

8:1And Saul was consenting to his death. And on that day a great persecution arose against the assembly in Jerusalem, and all were scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
8:2And devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him.
8:3But Saul was ravaging the assembly, entering house after house, dragging away both men and women, and delivering them to prison.
8:4Therefore those who were scattered went about proclaiming the good news of the word.
8:5And Philip went down to a city of Samaria and proclaimed the Anointed One to them.
8:6And the crowds with one accord gave heed to the things spoken by Philip, when they heard and saw the signs he was doing.
8:7For unclean spirits came out of many who had them, crying with a loud voice; and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.
8:8And there was great joy in that city.
8:9Now a certain man named Simon had previously practiced magic in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was someone great.
8:10They all gave heed to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God.”
8:11And they gave heed to him because for a long time he had astonished them with his magic.
8:12But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news concerning the Kingdom of God and the Name of Jesus the Anointed One, both men and women were immersed.
8:13Then Simon himself also believed; and after being immersed, he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great works of power being done, he was amazed.
8:14And when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.
8:15When they had come down, they prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit;
8:16for He had not yet fallen upon any of them, but they had only been immersed into the Name of the Lord Jesus.
8:17Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
8:18And when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money,
8:19saying, “Give me this authority also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
8:20But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought the gift of God could be acquired with money!
8:21You have neither part nor share in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.
8:22Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to God, that perhaps the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.
8:23For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and the bond of unrighteousness.”
8:24And Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that none of the things you have spoken may come upon me.”
8:25Therefore, after they had solemnly testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, proclaiming the good news in many villages of the Samaritans.
8:26And an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Rise and go toward the south, to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert road.
8:27And he rose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch and high official under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasury, had come to Jerusalem to worship.
8:28He was returning and sitting in his chariot, reading the prophet Isaiah.
8:29And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and join yourself to this chariot.”
8:30And Philip ran near and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
8:31And he said, “How could I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
8:32Now the passage of Scripture that he was reading was this: “As a sheep He was led to slaughter; and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so He does not open His mouth.
8:33In His humiliation His judgment was taken away. Who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.”
8:34And the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this—of himself, or of someone else?”
8:35Then Philip opened his mouth and, beginning from this Scripture, proclaimed to him the good news of Jesus.
8:36And as they went along the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “Behold, water! What prevents me from being immersed?”
8:37And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus the Anointed One is the Son of God.”
8:38And he commanded the chariot to stop. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip immersed him.
8:39And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but went on his way rejoicing.
8:40But Philip was found at Azotus; and passing through, he proclaimed the good news in all the cities until he came to Caesarea.

Chapter 9

9:1And Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the chief priest
9:2and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
9:3And as he journeyed, he drew near Damascus, and suddenly a light from Heaven shone around him.
9:4And falling to the earth, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?”
9:5And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you persecute. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”
9:6And trembling and astonished, he said, “Lord, what do You wish me to do?” And the Lord said to him, “Rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
9:7And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing the voice indeed, but seeing no one.
9:8Then Saul rose from the earth; and though his eyes were open, he saw no one. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.
9:9And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
9:10Now there was a certain disciple in Damascus named Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Behold me, Lord.”
9:11And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one named Saul of Tarsus; for behold, he is praying.
9:12And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and laying a hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”
9:13But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to Your holy ones in Jerusalem.
9:14And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your Name.”
9:15But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is a chosen vessel for Me, to bear My Name before nations and kings, and the sons of Israel.
9:16For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My Name.”
9:17And Ananias went and entered the house. And laying his hands on him, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me so that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
9:18And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he received his sight at once. Then he rose and was immersed.
9:19And after receiving food, he was strengthened. And Saul was with the disciples in Damascus for some days.
9:20And immediately he proclaimed the Anointed One in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.
9:21And all who heard were amazed and said, “Is this not the man who ravaged those in Jerusalem who called on this Name, and who came here for this purpose, to bring them bound to the chief priests?”
9:22But Saul grew still stronger and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that Jesus is the Anointed One.
9:23And when many days had passed, the Jews plotted together to kill him.
9:24But their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night, that they might kill him.
9:25Then the disciples took him by night and lowered him through the wall in a basket.
9:26And when Saul came to Jerusalem, he tried to join himself to the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.
9:27But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and declared to them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the Name of Jesus.
9:28And he was with them, going in and out in Jerusalem
9:29and speaking boldly in the Name of the Lord Jesus. And he spoke and disputed with the Greek-speaking Jews, but they attempted to kill him.
9:30And when the brothers learned of it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus.
9:31Then the assembly throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was built up; and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.
9:32And it came to pass, as Peter went through all the regions, that he also came down to the holy ones who dwelt at Lydda.
9:33There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had lain on a pallet for eight years and was paralyzed.
9:34And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus the Anointed One heals you. Rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose.
9:35And all who dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
9:36Now in Joppa there was a certain female disciple named Tabitha, which translated is Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and acts of kindness that she did.
9:37And it came to pass in those days that she became ill and died. And after washing her, they laid her in an upper room.
9:38And since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him, “Do not delay in coming to us.”
9:39Then Peter rose and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him into the upper room; and all the widows stood by him, weeping and showing the tunics and garments that Dorcas had made while she was with them.
9:40But Peter put them all outside, knelt down, and prayed. And turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes; and seeing Peter, she sat up.
9:41And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then calling the holy ones and the widows, he presented her alive.
9:42And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord;
9:43and it came to pass that he stayed many days in Joppa with a certain Simon, a tanner.

Chapter 10

10:1Now there was a certain man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a captain of a hundred from what was called the Italian Cohort.
10:2He was devout and feared God with all his household, gave many alms to the people, and prayed to God continually.
10:3About the ninth hour of the day, he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God coming in to him and saying to him, “Cornelius.”
10:4And looking intently at him and becoming afraid, he said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.
10:5And now send men to Joppa and summon Simon, who is surnamed Peter.
10:6He is lodging with a certain Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do.”
10:7And when the angel who spoke to Cornelius had departed, he called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him continually.
10:8And after explaining all things to them, he sent them to Joppa.
10:9On the next day, as they were journeying and drawing near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour.
10:10And he became very hungry and wished to eat; but while they were preparing the food, a trance fell upon him.
10:11And he saw Heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending to him like a great sheet, bound at the four corners and let down to the earth.
10:12In it were all kinds of four-footed beasts of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the sky.
10:13And a voice came to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”
10:14But Peter said, “By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything common or unclean.”
10:15And a voice came to him again a second time: “What God has cleansed, you must not call common.”
10:16And this was done three times, and the vessel was taken up again into Heaven.
10:17Now while Peter was perplexed within himself as to what the vision he had seen might mean, behold, the men sent from Cornelius, having inquired for Simon’s house, stood at the gate.
10:18And calling out, they asked whether Simon, who was surnamed Peter, was lodging there.
10:19And while Peter was thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you.
10:20Rise, therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing, for I have sent them.”
10:21Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius and said, “Behold, I am the one you seek. For what reason have you come?”
10:22And they said, “Cornelius, a captain of a hundred, a righteous man who fears God and is well spoken of by the whole nation of the Jews, was instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house and hear words from you.”
10:23Then he called them in and lodged them. And on the next day Peter went out with them, and certain brothers from Joppa accompanied him.
10:24And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his relatives and close friends.
10:25And as Peter was entering, Cornelius met him, fell at his feet, and worshiped him.
10:26But Peter raised him up, saying, “Stand up; I myself also am a man.”
10:27And as he talked with him, he went in and found many gathered together.
10:28And he said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to associate with or visit one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should call no man common or unclean.
10:29Therefore I came without objection when I was summoned. So I ask: for what reason did you send for me?”
10:30And Cornelius said, “Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I was praying in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in radiant clothing
10:31and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms have been remembered before God.
10:32Therefore send to Joppa and summon Simon, who is surnamed Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. When he comes, he will speak to you.’
10:33Therefore I sent to you at once, and you have done well to come. Now then, we are all present before God to hear all things that God has commanded you.”
10:34Then Peter opened his mouth and said, “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality,
10:35but in every nation the one who fears Him and works righteousness is acceptable to Him.
10:36The word that He sent to the sons of Israel, proclaiming the good news of peace through Jesus the Anointed One—He is Lord of all—
10:37you yourselves know: the word that spread throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the immersion that John proclaimed;
10:38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the Devil, for God was with Him.
10:39And we are witnesses of all things He did, both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also killed Him by hanging Him on a tree.
10:40This One God raised up on the third day and gave Him to become manifest,
10:41not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen beforehand by God—to us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead.
10:42And He commanded us to preach to the people and solemnly testify that He is the One appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead.
10:43To Him all the Prophets testify, that through His Name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”
10:44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word.
10:45And the believers from the circumcision who had come with Peter were astonished, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had also been poured out on the nations.
10:46For they heard them speaking in tongues and magnifying God.
10:47Then Peter answered, “Can anyone forbid the water, that these should not be immersed who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”
10:48And he commanded them to be immersed in the Name of the Lord. Then they implored him to remain for some days.

Chapter 11

11:1Now the apostles and the brothers who were in Judea heard that the nations also had received the word of God.
11:2And when Peter went up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision contended with him,
11:3saying, “You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!”
11:4But Peter began and explained it to them in order, saying,
11:5“I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision: a certain vessel descending like a great sheet, let down from Heaven by its four corners, and it came to me.
11:6When I looked intently at it and considered it, I saw the four-footed beasts of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the sky.
11:7And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’
11:8But I said, ‘By no means, Lord, for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’
11:9But the voice answered me a second time from Heaven, ‘What God has cleansed, you must not call common.’
11:10And this was done three times, and all was drawn up again into Heaven.
11:11And behold, immediately three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent to me from Caesarea.
11:12And the Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s house.
11:13And he told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying to him, ‘Send men to Joppa and summon Simon, who is surnamed Peter.
11:14He will speak words by which you and all your household will be saved.’
11:15And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, just as upon us at the beginning.
11:16Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed immersed in water, but you will be immersed in the Holy Spirit.’
11:17Therefore, if God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus the Anointed One, who was I that I could withstand God?”
11:18And when they heard these things, they became silent and glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the nations repentance leading to life.”
11:19Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews only.
11:20But some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene who, when they entered Antioch, spoke to the Greek-speaking Jews, proclaiming the good news of the Lord Jesus.
11:21And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.
11:22And the report concerning them reached the ears of the assembly in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to go as far as Antioch.
11:23When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and exhorted them all, with purpose of heart, to remain devoted to the Lord.
11:24For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith. And a great multitude was added to the Lord.
11:25Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to seek Saul.
11:26And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And it came to pass that for a whole year they gathered with the assembly and taught a great multitude. And the disciples were first called followers of the Anointed One in Antioch.
11:27And in those days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch.
11:28And one of them, named Agabus, rose and signified through the Spirit that a great famine was about to come over the whole inhabited world—which also came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.
11:29Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brothers dwelling in Judea.
11:30And this they also did, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

Chapter 12

12:1Now about that time Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the assembly, to mistreat them.
12:2And he killed James, the brother of John, with the sword,
12:3and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. These were the days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
12:4And after seizing him, he put him in prison and delivered him to four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover.
12:5Therefore Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer was being made by the assembly to God for him.
12:6And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains; and guards before the door were keeping the prison.
12:7And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell. And striking Peter on the side, he raised him, saying, “Rise quickly!” And his chains fell from his hands.
12:8And the angel said to him, “Fasten your clothes and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your garment around you and follow me.”
12:9And going out, he followed him, and did not know that what was being done through the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.
12:10And when they had passed the first and second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them of its own accord. And going out, they went along one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.
12:11And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know with certainty that the Lord sent His angel and delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.”
12:12And after considering this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was surnamed Mark, where many were gathered together and praying.
12:13And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer.
12:14And recognizing Peter’s voice, because of her joy she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter was standing before the gate.
12:15But they said to her, “You are mad!” Yet she kept insisting that it was so. And they said, “It is his angel.”
12:16But Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.
12:17And motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Report these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place.
12:18Now when day came, there was no small disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter.
12:19And when Herod had searched for him and did not find him, he examined the guards and commanded that they be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and remained there.
12:20Now Herod was fiercely angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. But they came to him with one accord; and having won over Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country was supplied with food by the king’s country.
12:21And on an appointed day Herod, arrayed in royal clothing, sat on the judgment seat and delivered an address to them.
12:22And the people shouted, “The voice of a god and not of a man!”
12:23And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God; and being eaten by worms, he breathed his last.
12:24And the word of God grew and multiplied,
12:25and Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem after fulfilling their ministry, taking with them John, who was surnamed Mark.

Chapter 13

13:1Now in the assembly at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas; Simeon, who was called Niger; Lucius the Cyrenian; Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch; and Saul.
13:2And as they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
13:3Then, after fasting and praying and laying their hands on them, they sent them away.
13:4So they, being sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.
13:5And when they came to Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they also had John as an assistant.
13:6And after going through the island as far as Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus.
13:7He was with the proconsul Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God.
13:8But Elymas the sorcerer—for so his name is translated—opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.
13:9Then Saul, who is also Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him
13:10and said, “O man full of all deceit and all fraud, son of the Devil, enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord?
13:11And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.” And immediately a mist and darkness fell upon him, and going about, he sought someone to lead him by the hand.
13:12Then the proconsul, seeing what had happened, believed, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
13:13And Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. But John departed from them and returned to Jerusalem.
13:14And going on from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia. And they entered the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down.
13:15And after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Men, brothers, if you have a word of exhortation for the people, speak.”
13:16Then Paul rose, motioned with his hand, and said, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, hear me.
13:17The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and exalted the people during their sojourn in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He brought them out of it.
13:18And for about forty years He endured their conduct in the wilderness.
13:19And after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, He distributed their land to them by lot.
13:20And after these things, for about four hundred fifty years, He gave them judges until Samuel the prophet.
13:21And afterward they asked for a king; and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.
13:22And after removing him, He raised up David as king for them, to whom He also bore witness and said, ‘I found David the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who will do all My will.’
13:23From this man’s offspring, according to promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior—Jesus.
13:24Before His coming, John had first proclaimed an immersion of repentance to all the people of Israel.
13:25And as John was completing his course, he said, ‘Who do you suppose I am? I am not He. But behold, One comes after me, whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.’
13:26Men, brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to you the word of this salvation has been sent.
13:27For those who dwell in Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Him; and by condemning Him, they fulfilled the words of the Prophets that are read every Sabbath.
13:28And though they found no cause for death, they asked Pilate that He be killed.
13:29And when they had fulfilled all things written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb.
13:30But God raised Him from the dead.
13:31And for many days He was seen by those who had come up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people.
13:32And we proclaim to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers:
13:33God has fulfilled this to us, their children, by raising up Jesus, as it is also written in the second Psalm: ‘You are My Son; today I have begotten You.’
13:34And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to decay, He has spoken in this way: ‘I will give you the holy and faithful mercies of David.’
13:35Therefore He also says in another place: ‘You will not give Your Holy One to see decay.’
13:36For David, after serving his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was laid with his fathers, and saw decay.
13:37But He whom God raised did not see decay.
13:38Therefore let it be known to you, men, brothers, that through this One forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you;
13:39and from all things from which you could not be declared righteous by the Law of Moses, everyone who believes in Him is declared righteous.
13:40Therefore beware, lest what is spoken in the Prophets come upon you:
13:41‘Behold, you scoffers, and wonder and perish; for I work a work in your days, a work that you will by no means believe, though someone declares it to you.’”
13:42And as they went out of the synagogue of the Jews, the nations implored that these words be spoken to them the next Sabbath.
13:43And when the synagogue had been dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
13:44And on the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered together to hear the word of God.
13:45But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and contradicted the things spoken by Paul, contradicting and slandering.
13:46Then Paul and Barnabas spoke boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first. But since you thrust it away and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the nations.
13:47For so the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have set you as a light for the nations, that you should be for salvation to the end of the earth.’”
13:48And when the nations heard this, they rejoiced and glorified the word of the Lord; and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.
13:49And the word of the Lord spread throughout the whole region.
13:50But the Jews stirred up the devout and honorable women and the leading men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their borders.
13:51And shaking off the dust from their feet against them, they came to Iconium.
13:52And the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.

Chapter 14

14:1Now in Iconium they entered together into the synagogue of the Jews and spoke in such a way that a great multitude of both Jews and Greeks believed.
14:2But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the nations and embittered their minds against the brothers.
14:3Therefore they remained a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who bore witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done through their hands.
14:4But the multitude of the city was divided: some sided with the Jews, and others with the apostles.
14:5And when an attempt was made by both the nations and the Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat and stone them,
14:6they became aware of it and fled to the cities of Lycaonia—Lystra and Derbe—and the surrounding region;
14:7and there they continued proclaiming the good news.
14:8And in Lystra a certain man sat, powerless in his feet, lame from his mother’s womb, who had never walked.
14:9This man heard Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be healed,
14:10said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet!” And he sprang up and began walking.
14:11And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices in the Lycaonian language, saying, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!”
14:12And they called Barnabas Zeus, and Paul Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.
14:13Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was before the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wished to offer sacrifice with the crowds.
14:14But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their garments and rushed into the crowd, crying out
14:15and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men of like nature with you, proclaiming good news to you, that you should turn from these vain things to the living God, who made Heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.
14:16In generations past He permitted all the nations to walk in their own ways.
14:17Yet He did not leave Himself without witness, doing good, giving you rains from Heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.”
14:18And saying these things, they scarcely restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.
14:19But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium; and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, supposing he was dead.
14:20But as the disciples stood around him, he rose and entered the city. And the next day he went out with Barnabas to Derbe.
14:21And after proclaiming the good news to that city and making many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch,
14:22strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the Kingdom of God.”
14:23And after appointing elders for them in every assembly, and praying with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
14:24And passing through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.
14:25And after speaking the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.
14:26And from there they sailed to Antioch, from where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had fulfilled.
14:27And when they had come and gathered the assembly together, they reported all that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the nations.
14:28And they remained there with the disciples for a long time.

Chapter 15

15:1And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
15:2Therefore, when no small dissension and debate arose between Paul and Barnabas and them, they appointed Paul and Barnabas and certain others from among them to go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.
15:3So, being sent on their way by the assembly, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the nations; and they caused great joy to all the brothers.
15:4And when they came to Jerusalem, they were received by the assembly, the apostles, and the elders; and they reported all that God had done with them.
15:5But certain men from the sect of the Pharisees who had believed rose and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and command them to keep the Law of Moses.”
15:6Now the apostles and elders gathered together to consider this matter.
15:7And after much debate, Peter rose and said to them, “Men, brothers, you know that from early days God made a choice among us, that through my mouth the nations should hear the word of the good news and believe.
15:8And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us,
15:9and made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.
15:10Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
15:11But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus the Anointed One we shall be saved, in the same manner as they.”
15:12Then all the multitude became silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many signs and wonders God had done among the nations through them.
15:13And after they became silent, James answered and said, “Men, brothers, listen to me.
15:14Simeon has declared how God first visited the nations to take from them a people for His Name.
15:15And with this the words of the Prophets agree, as it is written:
15:16‘After these things I will return, and I will rebuild the fallen booth of David; I will rebuild its ruins and set it upright,
15:17so that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the nations upon whom My Name has been called, says the Lord, who does all these things.’
15:18Known to God from eternity are all His works.
15:19Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the nations who are turning to God,
15:20but write to them to abstain from the pollutions of idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood.
15:21For from ancient generations Moses has had those who proclaim him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
15:22Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole assembly, to choose men from among themselves and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas, surnamed Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers.
15:23They wrote this by their hand: “The apostles, the elders, and the brothers, to the brothers from among the nations in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.
15:24Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, ‘Be circumcised and keep the Law,’ though we gave them no command,
15:25it seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
15:26men who have risked their lives for the Name of our Lord Jesus the Anointed One.
15:27We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will report the same things by word of mouth.
15:28For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:
15:29that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from what is strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”
15:30So when they were sent away, they went to Antioch; and gathering the multitude together, they delivered the letter.
15:31When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement.
15:32And Judas and Silas, themselves also being prophets, exhorted and strengthened the brothers with many words.
15:33After they had stayed for a time, they were sent away in peace from the brothers to the apostles.
15:34But it seemed good to Silas to remain there.
15:35Paul and Barnabas also remained in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming the good news of the word of the Lord, with many others also.
15:36And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit our brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.”
15:37Now Barnabas intended to take John, called Mark, with them.
15:38But Paul considered it unwise to take with them the one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work.
15:39Then a sharp disagreement arose, so that they separated from one another. And Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus;
15:40but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brothers to the grace of God.
15:41And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the assemblies.

Chapter 16

16:1And he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish woman, but his father was a Greek.
16:2He was well spoken of by the brothers in Lystra and Iconium.
16:3Paul wished him to go with him; and he took and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
16:4And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep that had been determined by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem.
16:5So the assemblies were strengthened in the faith and increased in number daily.
16:6And they passed through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.
16:7When they came to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them.
16:8So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.
16:9And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a certain man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
16:10And when he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to proclaim the good news to them.
16:11Therefore setting sail from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day to Neapolis,
16:12and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of that district of Macedonia, a colony. And we remained in this city some days.
16:13And on the Sabbath day we went outside the city beside a river, where prayer was customarily made; and sitting down, we spoke to the women who had gathered.
16:14And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God, heard us. The Lord opened her heart to give heed to the things spoken by Paul.
16:15And when she and her household had been immersed, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me faithful to the Lord, enter my house and remain.” And she prevailed upon us.
16:16Now it came to pass, as we were going to prayer, that a certain servant girl having a spirit of divination met us; she brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling.
16:17This girl followed Paul and us and cried out, saying, “These men are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation!”
16:18And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly troubled, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the Name of Jesus the Anointed One to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.
16:19But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers.
16:20And bringing them to the magistrates, they said, “These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city,
16:21and they proclaim customs that it is not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or practice.”
16:22Then the crowd rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore the garments off them and commanded that they be beaten with rods.
16:23And after laying many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely.
16:24Having received such a command, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
16:25And about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.
16:26And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s bonds were loosed.
16:27And the jailer, waking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing the prisoners had fled.
16:28But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here!”
16:29Then he called for lights, rushed in, and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.
16:30And bringing them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
16:31And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus the Anointed One, and you will be saved—you and your household.”
16:32Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.
16:33And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and immediately he and all his household were immersed.
16:34And bringing them into his house, he set food before them and rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.
16:35And when day came, the magistrates sent the officers, saying, “Release those men.”
16:36And the jailer reported these words to Paul: “The magistrates have sent to release you. Now therefore, come out and go in peace.”
16:37But Paul said to them, “They beat us publicly, uncondemned, though we are Romans, and threw us into prison; and now do they cast us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and bring us out.”
16:38And the officers reported these words to the magistrates; and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans.
16:39And they came and pleaded with them; and bringing them out, they asked them to depart from the city.
16:40And going out of the prison, they entered the house of Lydia; and when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.

Chapter 17

17:1And passing through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
17:2And according to his custom, Paul went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
17:3explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Anointed One to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I proclaim to you is the Anointed One.”
17:4And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a great multitude of devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women.
17:5But the Jews who refused to believe became jealous, took certain wicked men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set the city in an uproar. They assaulted the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the people.
17:6But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and certain brothers before the city rulers, crying out, “These men who have thrown the world into turmoil have come here also,
17:7and Jason has received them. They all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king—Jesus.”
17:8And the crowd and the city rulers were troubled when they heard these things.
17:9And after taking security from Jason and the rest, they released them.
17:10And the brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.
17:11These were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with all readiness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.
17:12Therefore many of them believed, and not a few of the honorable Greek women and men.
17:13But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was also proclaimed by Paul in Berea, they came there also, stirring up the crowds.
17:14Then the brothers immediately sent Paul away to go as far as the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there.
17:15And those who escorted Paul brought him to Athens; and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed.
17:16Now while Paul waited for them in Athens, his spirit was stirred within him when he saw the city full of idols.
17:17Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there.
17:18Then certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods,” because he proclaimed Jesus and the resurrection as good news.
17:19And taking him, they brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you speak?
17:20For you are bringing certain strange things to our ears; therefore we wish to know what these things mean.”
17:21Now all the Athenians and the foreigners dwelling there spent their time in nothing else but telling or hearing something new.
17:22And Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious;
17:23for as I passed through and observed your objects of worship, I even found an altar on which was inscribed: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing is the One I proclaim to you.
17:24God, who made the world and all things in it, being Lord of Heaven and earth, does not dwell in sanctuaries made by hands,
17:25nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all life and breath and all things.
17:26And He made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation,
17:27that they should seek the Lord, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;
17:28for in Him we live and move and are, as certain of your own poets also have said, ‘For we also are His offspring.’
17:29Therefore, being offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone—an image carved by human skill and imagination.
17:30God indeed overlooked the times of ignorance, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,
17:31because He has appointed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”
17:32And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked; but others said, “We will hear you again concerning this.”
17:33And so Paul departed from among them.
17:34But certain men joined him and believed, among whom were Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

Chapter 18

18:1And after these things Paul departed from Athens and came to Corinth.
18:2And finding a certain Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome, he went to them.
18:3And because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked, for by trade they were tentmakers.
18:4And he was reasoning in the synagogue every Sabbath, persuading both Jews and Greeks.
18:5And when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, solemnly testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Anointed One.
18:6But when they opposed him and slandered, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood is upon your own heads. I am clean. From now on I will go to the nations.”
18:7And departing from there, he entered the house of a certain man named Justus, one who worshiped God, whose house was next to the synagogue.
18:8And Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were immersed.
18:9And the Lord said to Paul through a vision in the night, “Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be silent,
18:10for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many people in this city.”
18:11And he continued a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
18:12And when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews rose up with one accord against Paul and brought him to the judgment seat,
18:13saying, “This man persuades men to worship God contrary to the Law.”
18:14But as Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If indeed it were some wrongdoing or wicked crime, O Jews, I would have reason to bear with you;
18:15but if it is a question about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves, for I do not wish to be a judge of these matters.”
18:16And he drove them from the judgment seat.
18:17Then all the Greeks seized Sosthenes, ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. But Gallio cared for none of these things.
18:18And Paul remained many days longer. Then taking leave of the brothers, he sailed for Syria, and Priscilla and Aquila were with him. He had shorn his head at Cenchrea, for he had a vow.
18:19And he came to Ephesus and left them there; but he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.
18:20And when they asked him to remain with them a longer time, he did not consent,
18:21but took leave of them, saying, “I must by all means keep the coming feast in Jerusalem; but I will return to you again, God willing.” And he sailed from Ephesus.
18:22And landing at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the assembly, and then went down to Antioch.
18:23And after spending some time there, he departed and passed successively through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
18:24Now a certain Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, an eloquent man, mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus.
18:25He had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning the Lord, though he knew only the immersion of John.
18:26And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained the Way of God to him more accurately.
18:27And when he wished to cross into Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to receive him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace,
18:28for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Anointed One.

Chapter 19

19:1And it came to pass, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding certain disciples,
19:2he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said to him, “We did not even hear whether there is a Holy Spirit.”
19:3And he said to them, “Into what, then, were you immersed?” And they said, “Into John’s immersion.”
19:4And Paul said, “John indeed immersed with an immersion of repentance, telling the people that they should believe in the One coming after him—that is, in Jesus the Anointed One.”
19:5And when they heard this, they were immersed into the Name of the Lord Jesus.
19:6And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.
19:7Now there were about twelve men in all.
19:8And entering the synagogue, he spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the Kingdom of God.
19:9But when some were hardened and refused to believe, speaking evil of the Way before the multitude, he withdrew from them and separated the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.
19:10And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
19:11And God worked extraordinary works of power through the hands of Paul,
19:12so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were carried from his body to the ailing, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out.
19:13Then certain wandering Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to invoke the Name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul proclaims.”
19:14And there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did this.
19:15And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize; but who are you?”
19:16Then the man who had the evil spirit leaped upon them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
19:17And this became known to all the Jews and Greeks dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell upon them all, and the Name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
19:18And many of those who had believed came, confessing and declaring their deeds.
19:19And many of those who practiced magic brought their scrolls together and burned them before all. And they calculated their prices and found them to be fifty thousand pieces of silver.
19:20Thus the word of God grew mightily and prevailed.
19:21And when these things were fulfilled, Paul purposed in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.”
19:22And sending into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a time.
19:23And about that time there arose no small disturbance concerning the Way.
19:24For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no small profit to the craftsmen.
19:25He gathered them together, along with workers in similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that from this trade we have our wealth.
19:26And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great multitude, saying that gods made by hands are not gods.
19:27And not only is there danger that this trade of ours will fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be counted as nothing, and her greatness brought down—she whom all Asia and the world worship.”
19:28And hearing this, they were filled with wrath and cried out, saying, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
19:29And the whole city was filled with confusion; and they rushed with one accord into the theater, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians and Paul’s fellow travelers.
19:30And when Paul wished to enter among the people, the disciples would not permit him.
19:31And some of the officials of Asia, who were his friends, sent to him and pleaded with him not to venture into the theater.
19:32Some therefore cried one thing and some another, for the assembly was confused, and most did not know why they had come together.
19:33And they drew Alexander out of the crowd, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander motioned with his hand and wished to make a defense to the people.
19:34But when they recognized that he was a Jew, one voice arose from all for about two hours, crying, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
19:35And when the city clerk had quieted the crowd, he said, “Men of Ephesus, what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great Artemis and of the image that fell from Zeus?
19:36Therefore, since these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rashly.
19:37For you have brought these men here who are neither temple robbers nor blasphemers of your goddess.
19:38Therefore, if Demetrius and the craftsmen with him have a complaint against anyone, courts are open and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another.
19:39But if you seek anything concerning other matters, it shall be settled in the lawful assembly.
19:40For we are in danger of being accused of insurrection concerning this day, there being no cause by which we can give an account of this gathering.”
19:41And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.

Chapter 20

20:1And after the uproar had ceased, Paul called the disciples to him, embraced them, and departed to go into Macedonia.
20:2And when he had passed through those regions and exhorted them with many words, he came to Greece.
20:3After remaining three months, when a plot was formed against him by the Jews as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia.
20:4And Sopater son of Pyrrhus, from Berea, accompanied him as far as Asia, along with Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius of Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia.
20:5These went ahead and waited for us at Troas.
20:6And after the days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, we sailed from Philippi and came to them at Troas in five days, where we remained seven days.
20:7And on the first day of the week, when the disciples had gathered to break bread, Paul spoke to them, intending to depart the next day, and continued his discourse until midnight.
20:8Now there were many lamps in the upper room where they were gathered.
20:9And a certain young man named Eutychus sat in the window and was overcome by deep sleep as Paul continued speaking. Sinking down in sleep, he fell from the third story and was taken up dead.
20:10But Paul went down, fell upon him, and embraced him, saying, “Do not be troubled, for his life is in him.”
20:11And when he had gone up, broken bread and eaten, and spoken with them for a long time, until daybreak, he departed.
20:12And they brought the young man away alive and were greatly comforted.
20:13But we went ahead to the ship and sailed to Assos, intending to take Paul aboard there; for so he had arranged, intending himself to go on foot.
20:14And when he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and came to Mitylene.
20:15Sailing from there, we came the next day opposite Chios; the following day we arrived at Samos, and after stopping at Trogyllium, we came the next day to Miletus.
20:16For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he would not spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying, if possible, to be in Jerusalem on the day of the Feast of Weeks.
20:17And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the assembly.
20:18And when they had come to him, he said to them, “You know, from the first day I entered Asia, how I was with you the whole time,
20:19serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials that befell me through the plots of the Jews;
20:20how I held back nothing profitable, but declared it to you and taught you publicly and from house to house,
20:21testifying fully to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus the Anointed One.
20:22And now, behold, bound in the Spirit, I go to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will befall me there,
20:23except that the Holy Spirit testifies fully in every city, saying that bonds and tribulations await me.
20:24But I count none of these things, nor do I hold my life precious to myself, so that I may finish my course with joy and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus: to testify fully to the good news of the grace of God.
20:25And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I went proclaiming the Kingdom of God will see my face again.
20:26Therefore I testify to you this day that I am clear from the blood of all,
20:27for I did not hold back from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.
20:28Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among whom the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of God, which He acquired through His own blood.
20:29For I know that after my departure savage wolves will enter among you, not sparing the flock.
20:30And from among your own selves men will rise, speaking perverse things, to draw the disciples away after them.
20:31Therefore watch, remembering that for three years, night and day, I did not cease warning each one with tears.
20:32And now, brothers, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
20:33I coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothing.
20:34You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my needs and to those who were with me.
20:35In all things I showed you that by laboring in this way we must support the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
20:36And after saying these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.
20:37Then they all wept greatly, fell upon Paul’s neck, and kissed him,
20:38grieving most of all over the word he had spoken, that they would see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.

Chapter 21

21:1And when we had parted from them and set sail, we ran a straight course to Cos, the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara.
21:2And finding a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail.
21:3When Cyprus came into sight, we left it on the left, sailed to Syria, and landed at Tyre, for the ship was to unload its cargo there.
21:4And finding the disciples, we remained there seven days. Through the Spirit they told Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.
21:5But when we had completed those days, we departed and went on our way; and they all, with wives and children, accompanied us outside the city. Then we knelt on the shore and prayed.
21:6And after embracing one another, we boarded the ship, and they returned home.
21:7And when we had completed the voyage from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, greeted the brothers, and remained with them one day.
21:8On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea. And entering the house of Philip the proclaimer of good news, who was one of the seven, we remained with him.
21:9Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.
21:10And as we remained there many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
21:11Coming to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit: ‘In this way the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man whose belt this is and deliver him into the hands of the nations.’”
21:12And when we heard these things, both we and those of that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem.
21:13Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the Name of the Lord Jesus.”
21:14And since he would not be persuaded, we became silent, saying, “The will of the Lord be done.”
21:15And after these days we packed our belongings and went up to Jerusalem.
21:16Some of the disciples from Caesarea also went with us, bringing us to Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we were to lodge.
21:17And when we came to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly.
21:18On the next day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders came.
21:19And after greeting them, he related one by one the things God had done among the nations through his ministry.
21:20And when they heard, they glorified the Lord. Then they said to him, “You see, brother, how many tens of thousands of Jews have believed, and they are all zealous for the Law.
21:21But they have been informed concerning you that you teach all the Jews among the nations to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or walk according to the customs.
21:22What then is to be done? The multitude must certainly come together, for they will hear that you have come.
21:23Therefore do what we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow.
21:24Take these men, purify yourself with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads. Then all will know that there is nothing in the things they have been told concerning you, but that you yourself also walk in order, keeping the Law.
21:25But concerning those from among the nations who have believed, we wrote and gave judgment that they should observe no such thing, except that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, from blood, from what is strangled, and from sexual immorality.”
21:26Then Paul took the men, and the next day, having purified himself with them, entered the temple, giving notice of the completion of the days of purification, when the offering would be presented for each one of them.
21:27And when the seven days were nearly completed, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him,
21:28crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against the people, the Law, and this place. Moreover, he has even brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place!”
21:29For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city and supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.
21:30And the whole city was moved, and the people ran together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the doors were shut.
21:31And as they were seeking to kill him, word came to the commander of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion.
21:32He immediately took soldiers and captains of hundreds and ran down to them. And when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.
21:33Then the commander came near, seized him, and ordered him to be bound with two chains; and he inquired who he was and what he had done.
21:34Some in the crowd cried one thing and some another. And when he could not learn the truth because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks.
21:35When Paul came to the steps, he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd,
21:36for the multitude of the people followed, crying out, “Away with him!”
21:37And as Paul was about to be led into the barracks, he said to the commander, “May I say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek?
21:38Are you not, then, the Egyptian who some time ago stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins into the wilderness?”
21:39But Paul said, “I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no insignificant city. I ask you, permit me to speak to the people.”
21:40And when he had given permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great silence, he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, saying:

Chapter 22

22:1“Men, brothers, and fathers, hear now my defense before you.”
22:2And when they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they became even more silent. Then he said,
22:3“I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of the ancestral Law, and zealous for God, as all of you are today.
22:4I persecuted this Way to death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women,
22:5as also the high priest and the whole body of elders bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers and went to Damascus to bring even those who were there bound to Jerusalem to be punished.
22:6Now it came to pass, as I journeyed and came near Damascus, about noon, that suddenly a great light from Heaven shone around me.
22:7And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?’
22:8And I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you persecute.’
22:9Now those who were with me indeed saw the light and became afraid, but they did not hear the voice of the One speaking to me.
22:10And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things appointed for you to do.’
22:11And because I could not see for the glory of that light, those who were with me led me by the hand, and I came into Damascus.
22:12And a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the Law, well spoken of by all the Jews dwelling there,
22:13came to me, stood by me, and said, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that very hour I looked upon him.
22:14And he said, ‘The God of our fathers chose you beforehand to know His will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear a voice from His mouth.
22:15For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.
22:16And now, why do you delay? Rise, be immersed, and wash away your sins, calling on the Name of the Lord.’
22:17And it came to pass, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I came into a trance
22:18and saw Him saying to me, ‘Hurry and go quickly out of Jerusalem, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me.’
22:19And I said, ‘Lord, they know that in every synagogue I was imprisoning and beating those who believe in You.
22:20And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was being shed, I myself stood by, consenting to his death and guarding the garments of those who killed him.’
22:21Then He said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the nations.’”
22:22And they listened to him until this word. Then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a man from the earth, for he is not fit to live!”
22:23And as they cried out, threw off their garments, and cast dust into the air,
22:24the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks, saying that he should be examined by scourging, so that he might learn why they were shouting so against him.
22:25And as they stretched him out with the straps, Paul said to the captain of a hundred standing by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a Roman citizen who has not been condemned?”
22:26When the captain of a hundred heard this, he went to the commander and reported it, saying, “Take care what you are about to do, for this man is a Roman.”
22:27Then the commander came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman?” And he said, “Yes.”
22:28And the commander answered, “I obtained this citizenship with a large sum.” But Paul said, “I was born a citizen.”
22:29Then those who were about to examine him immediately withdrew from him; and the commander also was afraid after learning that he was a Roman, because he had bound him.
22:30On the next day, wishing to know for certain why he was accused by the Jews, he released him from his bonds and commanded the chief priests and all their council to assemble. And bringing Paul down, he set him before them.

Chapter 23

23:1And Paul, looking intently at the council, said, “Men, brothers, I have conducted myself before God in all good conscience to this day.”
23:2Then the high priest Ananias commanded those standing by him to strike him on the mouth.
23:3Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit judging me according to the Law, yet contrary to the Law order me to be struck?”
23:4And those who stood by said, “Do you revile God’s high priest?”
23:5Then Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was high priest; for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”
23:6But when Paul knew that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Men, brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. Concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!”
23:7And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the multitude was divided.
23:8For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess both.
23:9Then a great outcry arose. And the scribes of the Pharisees’ party rose and contended, saying, “We find no evil in this man. But if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God.”
23:10And when a great dissension arose, the commander, fearing that Paul would be torn apart by them, ordered the soldiers to go down, take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks.
23:11And the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, Paul, for as you have testified fully concerning Me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”
23:12And when day came, certain Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under a curse, saying they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.
23:13Now there were more than forty who had made this conspiracy.
23:14They came to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves under a curse to taste nothing until we have killed Paul.
23:15Now therefore, you, together with the council, notify the commander to bring him down to you tomorrow, as though you were going to inquire more exactly concerning him. And before he comes near, we are ready to kill him.”
23:16But when the son of Paul’s sister heard of their ambush, he went and entered the barracks and told Paul.
23:17Then Paul called one of the captains of hundreds and said, “Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to tell him.”
23:18So he took him, brought him to the commander, and said, “Paul the prisoner called me to him and asked me to bring this young man to you, for he has something to say to you.”
23:19Then the commander took him by the hand, withdrew privately, and asked, “What is it that you have to tell me?”
23:20And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire more exactly concerning him.
23:21Therefore do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of their men lie in wait for him. They have bound themselves under a curse neither to eat nor drink until they have killed him; and now they are ready, waiting for your consent.”
23:22So the commander let the young man go, charging him, “Tell no one that you have disclosed these things to me.”
23:23And calling two of the captains of hundreds, he said, “Prepare two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen, at the third hour of the night.
23:24Also provide mounts to set Paul upon and bring him safely to Felix the governor.”
23:25And he wrote a letter in this form:
23:26“Claudius Lysias, to the most noble governor Felix: Greetings.
23:27This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them. But I came with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.
23:28And wishing to know the cause for which they accused him, I brought him down to their council.
23:29I found him accused concerning questions of their Law, but charged with nothing worthy of death or bonds.
23:30And when it was disclosed to me that a plot against the man was about to be carried out by the Jews, I sent him to you at once, also commanding his accusers to state before you the things they have against him. Farewell.”
23:31Then the soldiers, according to what was commanded them, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.
23:32On the next day they permitted the horsemen to go on with him, and they returned to the barracks.
23:33When the horsemen entered Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and also presented Paul before him.
23:34And when the governor had read it, he asked what province Paul was from. And learning that he was from Cilicia,
23:35he said, “I will hear you when your accusers also have come.” And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s palace.

Chapter 24

24:1And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with the elders and a certain advocate named Tertullus. They presented their case against Paul to the governor.
24:2And when Paul had been called, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, “Since through you we enjoy much peace, and worthy reforms are being made for this nation through your foresight,
24:3we accept it always and everywhere, most noble Felix, with all gratitude.
24:4But that I may not detain you further, I ask you in your kindness to hear us briefly.
24:5For we have found this man a plague, one who stirs up dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.
24:6He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him and wished to judge him according to our Law.
24:7But Lysias the commander came and took him from our hands with great violence,
24:8commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself, you will be able to learn the truth concerning all these things of which we accuse him.”
24:9And the Jews also joined in the accusation, affirming that these things were so.
24:10Then Paul, after the governor motioned for him to speak, answered, “Knowing that for many years you have been a judge to this nation, I cheerfully make my defense concerning myself.
24:11You can ascertain that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship.
24:12And they did not find me disputing with anyone in the temple or stirring up a crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city.
24:13Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me.
24:14But this I confess to you: according to the Way that they call a sect, so I serve the God of the fathers, believing all things written in the Law and the Prophets,
24:15having hope in God, which they themselves also await, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the righteous and the unrighteous.
24:16And in this I strive always to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.
24:17Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation and offerings,
24:18While I was bringing these, certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, without a crowd and without an uproar.
24:19They ought to have been present before you to accuse me if they had anything against me.
24:20Or let these men themselves say whether they found any wrongdoing in me when I stood before the council,
24:21except concerning this one cry that I raised while standing among them: ‘Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged by you today.’”
24:22And when Felix heard these things, having more exact knowledge of the Way, he postponed their case, saying, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case.”
24:23And he directed the captain of a hundred to keep Paul in custody, yet let him have some liberty, and to forbid none of his own people from ministering to him or coming to him.
24:24And after some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and heard him concerning faith in the Anointed One.
24:25And as Paul reasoned concerning righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix became afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I find an opportunity, I will call for you.”
24:26At the same time he also hoped that Paul would give him money so that he might release him. Therefore he sent for him often and conversed with him.
24:27But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix. And Felix, wishing to gain favor with the Jews, left Paul bound.

Chapter 25

25:1Festus therefore, having arrived in the province, after three days went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem.
25:2Then the chief priest and the leading men of the Jews presented their charges against Paul and pleaded with Festus,
25:3asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem, while they prepared an ambush to kill him on the way.
25:4But Festus answered that Paul was being kept in Caesarea and that he himself was about to depart there shortly.
25:5“Therefore,” he said, “let those among you who are able go down with me and accuse this man, if there is anything against him.”
25:6And after remaining among them more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea. The next day, sitting on the judgment seat, he ordered Paul to be brought.
25:7And when he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges against Paul that they could not prove.
25:8Paul made his defense, saying, “Neither against the Law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I committed any offense.”
25:9But Festus, wishing to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paul and said, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and be judged before me there concerning these things?”
25:10Then Paul said, “I stand before Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well.
25:11For if I am an offender and have committed anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if there is nothing in the things of which these men accuse me, no one can hand me over to them as a favor. I appeal to Caesar!”
25:12Then Festus, after conferring with his advisers, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you will go.”
25:13And after some days King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to greet Festus.
25:14And as they remained there many days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying, “There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix,
25:15concerning whom, when I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and elders of the Jews presented charges, asking for a sentence against him.
25:16I answered them that it is not the custom of the Romans to hand any man over as a favor before the accused has his accusers face to face and receives an opportunity to make his defense concerning the charge.
25:17Therefore, when they had come together here, I made no delay, but the next day sat on the judgment seat and ordered the man to be brought.
25:18When his accusers stood up, they brought no charge against him of the evils I had supposed,
25:19but had certain questions against him concerning their own religion and concerning a certain Jesus, who had died, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
25:20And being perplexed concerning how to investigate these matters, I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and be judged there concerning them.
25:21But when Paul appealed to be kept for the decision of the Emperor, I ordered him to be kept until I could send him to Caesar.”
25:22Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I myself would also like to hear the man.” And he said, “Tomorrow you will hear him.”
25:23Therefore, on the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice came with great display and entered the audience hall with the commanders and the prominent men of the city, at Festus’s command Paul was brought in.
25:24And Festus said, “King Agrippa, and all men present with us, you see this man about whom the whole multitude of the Jews petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, crying out that he ought not to live any longer.
25:25But I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death; and since he himself appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.
25:26Yet I have nothing certain to write to my lord concerning him. Therefore I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the examination I may have something to write.
25:27For it seems unreasonable to me, when sending a prisoner, not also to specify the charges against him.”

Chapter 26

26:1Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” So Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense:
26:2“Concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, King Agrippa, I consider myself blessed to make my defense before you today,
26:3especially because you are acquainted with all the customs and questions among the Jews. Therefore I ask you to hear me patiently.
26:4The manner of my life from my youth, which from the beginning was among my own nation in Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews.
26:5They knew me beforehand from the first, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our worship I lived as a Pharisee.
26:6And now I stand judged for the hope of the promise made by God to the fathers,
26:7to which our twelve tribes, earnestly serving night and day, hope to attain. Concerning this hope, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews.
26:8Why is it judged incredible among you that God raises the dead?
26:9I indeed thought to myself that I ought to do many things contrary to the Name of Jesus of Nazareth.
26:10And this I also did in Jerusalem. I shut up many of the holy ones in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.
26:11And often punishing them in every synagogue, I tried to compel them to speak evil. Being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.
26:12While doing these things, I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
26:13at midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from Heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those journeying with me.
26:14And when we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
26:15And I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you persecute.
26:16But rise and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose: to appoint you a servant and a witness both of the things you have seen and of the things in which I will appear to you,
26:17delivering you from the people and from the nations, to whom I now send you,
26:18to open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light and from the authority of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.’
26:19Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,
26:20but proclaimed first to those in Damascus and Jerusalem, then throughout all the region of Judea, and to the nations, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance.
26:21Because of these things the Jews seized me in the temple and attempted to kill me.
26:22Therefore, having obtained help from God, I stand to this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying nothing beyond what the Prophets and Moses said was about to come:
26:23that the Anointed One would suffer and, being the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to the people and to the nations.”
26:24And as he made this defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “You are mad, Paul! Much learning drives you mad!”
26:25But he said, “I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak words of truth and sound judgment.
26:26For the king knows concerning these things, before whom I also speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things is hidden from him, since this has not been done in a corner.
26:27Do you believe the Prophets, King Agrippa? I know that you believe.”
26:28Then Agrippa said to Paul, “In so little time you persuade me to become a follower of the Anointed One?”
26:29And Paul said, “Whether in little or much, I would pray to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become such as I am—except for these bonds.”
26:30And when he had said these things, the king rose, and the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them.
26:31And after withdrawing, they spoke to one another, saying, “This man is doing nothing worthy of death or bonds.”
26:32Then Agrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

Chapter 27

27:1And when it was decided that we should sail to Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners to a captain of a hundred named Julius, of the Augustan cohort.
27:2And having boarded a ship of Adramyttium that was about to sail to ports along the coast of Asia, we put to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, was with us.
27:3The next day we put in at Sidon; and Julius treated Paul kindly and permitted him to go to his friends and receive their care.
27:4And putting to sea from there, we sailed under the shelter of Cyprus because the winds were contrary.
27:5And when we had sailed across the sea along Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra in Lycia.
27:6There the captain of a hundred found a ship of Alexandria sailing to Italy and put us aboard it.
27:7And after sailing slowly for many days and coming with difficulty off Cnidus, the wind not permitting us to go farther, we sailed under the shelter of Crete, off Salmone.
27:8And passing it with difficulty, we came to a certain place called Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lasea.
27:9And much time having passed, and sailing now being dangerous because even the Fast was already over, Paul warned them,
27:10saying, “Men, I perceive that the voyage is about to be with injury and great loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.”
27:11But the captain of a hundred was more persuaded by the pilot and the shipowner than by the things spoken by Paul.
27:12And because the harbor was not suitable for wintering, the greater part advised sailing from there, if somehow they might reach Phoenix and winter there—a harbor of Crete facing southwest and northwest.
27:13And when a south wind began to blow gently, supposing they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed close along Crete.
27:14But not long afterward, a violent wind called the Northeaster swept down from the island.
27:15And the ship being caught and unable to face the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along.
27:16And running under the shelter of a small island called Clauda, we were scarcely able to secure the boat.
27:17After hoisting it up, they used supports to undergird the ship; and fearing that they might run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the gear and so were driven along.
27:18And as we were violently storm-tossed, the next day they began throwing the cargo overboard.
27:19And on the third day we threw the ship’s gear overboard with our own hands.
27:20And when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small storm lay upon us, all hope of our being saved was at last taken away.
27:21And after they had gone long without food, Paul stood in their midst and said, “Men, you should indeed have listened to me and not set sail from Crete, and so have avoided this injury and loss.
27:22And now I urge you to take courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.
27:23For this night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me,
27:24saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’
27:25Therefore take courage, men, for I believe God, that it will be just as it was spoken to me.
27:26But we must be cast upon a certain island.”
27:27And when the fourteenth night came, as we were being driven about in the Adriatic Sea, toward midnight the sailors supposed that some land was drawing near.
27:28And taking soundings, they found the depth to be about one hundred twenty feet; and going a little farther, they sounded again and found it to be about ninety feet.
27:29And fearing that we might run upon rocky places, they cast four anchors from the stern and wished for day to come.
27:30And as the sailors sought to flee from the ship and had lowered the boat into the sea under pretense of laying out anchors from the bow,
27:31Paul said to the captain of a hundred and to the soldiers, “Unless these men remain in the ship, you cannot be saved.”
27:32Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat and let it fall away.
27:33And as day was about to come, Paul urged them all to take food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day you have continued waiting and fasting, taking nothing.
27:34Therefore I urge you to take food, for this is for your safety; for not a hair will fall from the head of any one of you.”
27:35And after saying these things, he took bread, gave thanks to God before them all, broke it, and began to eat.
27:36Then they all took courage and also took food.
27:37And we were in all two hundred seventy-six persons in the ship.
27:38And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship by casting the wheat into the sea.
27:39And when day came, they did not recognize the land, but they perceived a certain bay with a beach, onto which they resolved, if possible, to drive the ship.
27:40And casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea; at the same time they loosened the rudder ropes, hoisted the foresail to the wind, and made for the shore.
27:41But striking a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the bow stuck fast and remained immovable, but the stern was broken apart by the force of the waves.
27:42And the soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any should swim away and escape.
27:43But the captain of a hundred, desiring to save Paul, kept them from their plan and commanded those able to swim to cast themselves overboard first and get to land,
27:44and the rest to follow, some on planks and some on pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass that all escaped safely to land.

Chapter 28

28:1And after we had escaped, we learned that the island was called Malta.
28:2And the islanders showed us no ordinary kindness, for they kindled a fire and received us all because of the rain that had set in and because of the cold.
28:3But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand.
28:4And when the islanders saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “Surely this man is a murderer. Though he escaped from the sea, Justice has not permitted him to live.”
28:5But he shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm.
28:6And they expected that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.
28:7Now in the region around that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us and lodged us courteously for three days.
28:8And it came to pass that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. Paul went in to him, prayed, laid his hands on him, and healed him.
28:9Therefore, when this had been done, the rest of those on the island who had sicknesses also came and were healed.
28:10They also honored us with many honors; and when we were about to sail, they supplied the things we needed.
28:11And after three months, we set sail in a ship of Alexandria that had wintered at the island, whose sign was the Twin Brothers.
28:12And putting in at Syracuse, we remained three days.
28:13From there we made a circuit and came to Rhegium; and after one day a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli.
28:14There we found brothers and were urged to remain with them seven days; and so we came to Rome.
28:15And from there, when the brothers heard about us, they came to meet us as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he gave thanks to God and took courage.
28:16And when we came to Rome, the captain of a hundred delivered the prisoners to the commander of the barracks; but Paul was permitted to remain by himself with the soldier guarding him.
28:17And it came to pass after three days that Paul called together the principal men of the Jews. And when they had come together, he said to them, “Men, brothers, though I had done nothing against the people or the customs of the fathers, I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.
28:18After examining me, they wished to release me because there was no cause of death in me.
28:19But when the Jews spoke against it, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar—not as though I had anything of which to accuse my nation.
28:20For this reason, therefore, I called for you, to see you and speak with you, for because of the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.”
28:21And they said to him, “We have neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor has any of the brothers who came reported or spoken anything evil about you.
28:22But we consider it right to hear from you what you think, for concerning this sect, it is known to us that it is spoken against everywhere.”
28:23And having appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging. From morning until evening he explained and solemnly testified of the Kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets.
28:24And some were persuaded by the things spoken, but others refused to believe.
28:25And disagreeing with one another, they began to depart after Paul had spoken one word: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers,
28:26saying, ‘Go to this people and say, “With hearing you will hear, but you will not understand; and seeing you will see, but you will not perceive.
28:27For the heart of this people has grown dull, and with their ears they scarcely hear, and they have closed their eyes, lest they should see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with the heart, turn back, and I should heal them.”’
28:28Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the nations; they also will hear.”
28:29And when he had said these things, the Jews departed, having much debate among themselves.
28:30And Paul remained two full years in his own rented house and received all who came to him,
28:31proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus the Anointed One with all boldness, without hindrance.