Chapter 1
1: In the first book, O The-oph’ilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach,
2: until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.
3: To them he presented himself alive after his passion by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of God.
4: And while staying with them he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me,
5: for John baptized with water, but before many days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
6: So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7: He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by his own authority.
8: But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Sama’ria and to the end of the earth.”
9: And when he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.
10: And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes,
11: and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
12: Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away;
13: and when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James.
14: All these with one accord devoted themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
15: In those days Peter stood up among the brethren (the company of persons was in all about a hundred and twenty), and said,
16: “Brethren, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David, concerning Judas who was guide to those who arrested Jesus.
17: For he was numbered among us, and was allotted his share in this ministry.
18: (Now this man bought a field with the reward of his wickedness; and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out.
19: And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their language Akel’dama, that is, Field of Blood.)
20: For it is written in the book of Psalms, `Let his habitation become desolate, and let there be no one to live in it’; and `His office let another take.’
21: So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
22: beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us — one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.”
23: And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsab’bas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthi’as.
24: And they prayed and said, “Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show which one of these two thou hast chosen
25: to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside, to go to his own place.”
26: And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthi’as; and he was enrolled with the eleven apostles.
Chapter 2
1: When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.
2: And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3: And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them.
4: And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5: Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven.
6: And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in his own language.
7: And they were amazed and wondered, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?
8: And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?
9: Par’thians and Medes and E’lamites and residents of Mesopota’mia, Judea and Cappado’cia, Pontus and Asia,
10: Phryg’ia and Pamphyl’ia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyre’ne, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,
11: Cretans and Arabians, we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.”
12: And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”
13: But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”
14: But 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.
15: For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day;
16: but this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17: `And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;
18: yea, and on my menservants and my maidservants in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.
19: And I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth beneath, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;
20: the sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and manifest day.
21: And it shall be that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
22: “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs which God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know —
23: this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.
24: But God raised him up, having loosed the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.
25: For David says concerning him, `I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;
26: therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; moreover my flesh will dwell in hope.
27: For thou wilt not abandon my soul to Hades, nor let thy Holy One see corruption.
28: Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou wilt make me full of gladness with thy presence.’
29: “Brethren, I may say to you confidently of the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.
30: Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants upon his throne,
31: he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.
32: This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.
33: Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this which you see and hear.
34: For David did not ascend into the heavens; but he himself says, `The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand,
35: till I make thy enemies a stool for thy feet.’
36: Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
37: Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?”
38: And Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39: For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are far off, every one whom the Lord our God calls to him.”
40: And he testified with many other words and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.”
41: So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
42: And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
43: And fear came upon every soul; and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
44: And all who believed were together and had all things in common;
45: and they sold their possessions and goods and distributed them to all, as any had need.
46: And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they partook of food with glad and generous hearts,
47: praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Chapter 3
1: Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.
2: And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at that gate of the temple which is called Beautiful to ask alms of those who entered the temple.
3: Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked for alms.
4: And Peter directed his gaze at him, with John, and said, “Look at us.”
5: And he fixed his attention upon them, expecting to receive something from them.
6: But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but I give you what I have; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”
7: And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.
8: And leaping up he stood and walked and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.
9: And all the people saw him walking and praising God,
10: and recognized him as the one who sat for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
11: While he clung to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s, astounded.
12: And when Peter saw it he addressed the people, “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk?
13: The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him.
14: But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,
15: and killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.
16: And his name, by faith in his name, has made this man strong whom you see and know; and the faith which is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.
17: “And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers.
18: But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled.
19: Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
20: and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,
21: whom heaven must receive until the time for establishing all that God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old.
22: Moses said, `The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet from your brethren as he raised me up. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you.
23: And it shall be that every soul that does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’
24: And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came afterwards, also proclaimed these days.
25: You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God gave to your fathers, saying to Abraham, `And in your posterity shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’
26: God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you in turning every one of you from your wickedness.”
Chapter 4
1: And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sad’ducees came upon them,
2: annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
3: And they arrested them and put them in custody until the morrow, for it was already evening.
4: But many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to about five thousand.
5: On the morrow their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem,
6: with Annas the high priest and Ca’iaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family.
7: And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?”
8: Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders,
9: if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a cripple, by what means this man has been healed,
10: be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by him this man is standing before you well.
11: This is the stone which was rejected by you builders, but which has become the head of the corner.
12: And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
13: Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they wondered; and they recognized that they had been with Jesus.
14: But seeing the man that had been healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition.
15: But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred with one another,
16: saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is manifest to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.
17: But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to any one in this name.”
18: So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
19: But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge;
20: for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”
21: And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people; for all men praised God for what had happened.
22: For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.
23: When they were released they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them.
24: And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who didst make the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them,
25: who by the mouth of our father David, thy servant, didst say by the Holy Spirit, `Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples imagine vain things?
26: The kings of the earth set themselves in array, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’
27: for truly in this city there were gathered together against thy holy servant Jesus, whom thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,
28: to do whatever thy hand and thy plan had predestined to take place.
29: And now, Lord, look upon their threats, and grant to thy servants to speak thy word with all boldness,
30: while thou stretchest out thy hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of thy holy servant Jesus.”
31: And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness.
32: Now the company of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had everything in common.
33: And with great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.
34: There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of what was sold
35: and laid it at the apostles’ feet; and distribution was made to each as any had need.
36: Thus Joseph who was surnamed by the apostles Barnabas (which means, Son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus,
37: sold a field which belonged to him, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
Chapter 5
1: But a man named Anani’as with his wife Sapphi’ra sold a piece of property,
2: and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back some of the proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
3: But Peter said, “Anani’as, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land?
4: While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”
5: When Anani’as heard these words, he fell down and died. And great fear came upon all who heard of it.
6: The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.
7: After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
8: And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.”
9: But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Hark, the feet of those that have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”
10: Immediately she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
11: And great fear came upon the whole church, and upon all who heard of these things.
12: Now many signs and wonders were done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico.
13: None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high honor.
14: And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women,
15: so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and pallets, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them.
16: The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
17: But the high priest rose up and all who were with him, that is, the party of the Sad’ducees, and filled with jealousy
18: they arrested the apostles and put them in the common prison.
19: But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out and said,
20: “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.”
21: And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and taught. Now the high priest came and those who were with him and called together the council and all the senate of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
22: But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, and they returned and reported,
23: “We found the prison securely locked and the sentries standing at the doors, but when we opened it we found no one inside.”
24: Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were much perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to.
25: And some one came and told them, “The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.”
26: Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but without violence, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.
27: And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them,
28: saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.”
29: But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
30: The God of our fathers raised Jesus whom you killed by hanging him on a tree.
31: God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.
32: And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”
33: When they heard this they were enraged and wanted to kill them.
34: But a Pharisee in the council named Gama’li-el, a teacher of the law, held in honor by all the people, stood up and ordered the men to be put outside for a while.
35: And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you do with these men.
36: For before these days Theu’das arose, giving himself out to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him; but he was slain and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing.
37: After him Judas the Galilean arose in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him; he also perished, and all who followed him were scattered.
38: So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this undertaking is of men, it will fail;
39: but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!”
40: So they took his advice, and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
41: Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.
42: And every day in the temple and at home they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
Chapter 6
1: Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists murmured against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.
2: And the twelve summoned the body of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.
3: Therefore, brethren, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this duty.
4: But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
5: And what they said pleased the whole multitude, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Proch’orus, and Nica’nor, and Ti’mon, and Par’menas, and Nicola’us, a proselyte of Antioch.
6: These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands upon them.
7: And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.
8: And Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.
9: Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyre’nians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cili’cia and Asia, arose and disputed with Stephen.
10: But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke.
11: Then they secretly instigated men, who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.”
12: And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council,
13: and set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law;
14: for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place, and will change the customs which Moses delivered to us.”
15: And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
Chapter 7
1: And the high priest said, “Is this so?”
2: And Stephen said: “Brethren and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopota’mia, before he lived in Haran,
3: and said to him, `Depart from your land and from your kindred and go into the land which I will show you.’
4: Then he departed from the land of the Chalde’ans, and lived in Haran. And after his father died, God removed him from there into this land in which you are now living;
5: yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot’s length, but promised to give it to him in possession and to his posterity after him, though he had no child.
6: And God spoke to this effect, that his posterity would be aliens in a land belonging to others, who would enslave them and ill-treat them four hundred years.
7: `But I will judge the nation which they serve,’ said God, `and after that they shall come out and worship me in this place.’
8: And he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.
9: “And the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him,
10: and rescued him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him governor over Egypt and over all his household.
11: Now there came a famine throughout all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction, and our fathers could find no food.
12: But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent forth our fathers the first time.
13: And at the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family became known to Pharaoh.
14: And Joseph sent and called to him Jacob his father and all his kindred, seventy-five souls;
15: and Jacob went down into Egypt. And he died, himself and our fathers,
16: and they were carried back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.
17: “But as the time of the promise drew near, which God had granted to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt
18: till there arose over Egypt another king who had not known Joseph.
19: He dealt craftily with our race and forced our fathers to expose their infants, that they might not be kept alive.
20: At this time Moses was born, and was beautiful before God. And he was brought up for three months in his father’s house;
21: and when he was exposed, Pharaoh’s daughter adopted him and brought him up as her own son.
22: And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds.
23: “When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the sons of Israel.
24: And seeing one of them being wronged, he defended the oppressed man and avenged him by striking the Egyptian.
25: He supposed that his brethren understood that God was giving them deliverance by his hand, but they did not understand.
26: And on the following day he appeared to them as they were quarreling and would have reconciled them, saying, `Men, you are brethren, why do you wrong each other?’
27: But the man who was wronging his neighbor thrust him aside, saying, `Who made you a ruler and a judge over us?
28: Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’
29: At this retort Moses fled, and became an exile in the land of Mid’ian, where he became the father of two sons.
30: “Now when forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush.
31: When Moses saw it he wondered at the sight; and as he drew near to look, the voice of the Lord came,
32: `I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob.’ And Moses trembled and did not dare to look.
33: And the Lord said to him, `Take off the shoes from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.
34: I have surely seen the ill-treatment of my people that are in Egypt and heard their groaning, and I have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you to Egypt.’
35: “This Moses whom they refused, saying, `Who made you a ruler and a judge?’ God sent as both ruler and deliverer by the hand of the angel that appeared to him in the bush.
36: He led them out, having performed wonders and signs in Egypt and at the Red Sea, and in the wilderness for forty years.
37: This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, `God will raise up for you a prophet from your brethren as he raised me up.’
38: This is he who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our fathers; and he received living oracles to give to us.
39: Our fathers refused to obey him, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts they turned to Egypt,
40: saying to Aaron, `Make for us gods to go before us; as for this Moses who led us out from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’
41: And they made a calf in those days, and offered a sacrifice to the idol and rejoiced in the works of their hands.
42: But God turned and gave them over to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: `Did you offer to me slain beasts and sacrifices, forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?
43: And you took up the tent of Moloch, and the star of the god Rephan, the figures which you made to worship; and I will remove you beyond Babylon.’
44: “Our fathers had the tent of witness in the wilderness, even as he who spoke to Moses directed him to make it, according to the pattern that he had seen.
45: Our fathers in turn brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations which God thrust out before our fathers. So it was until the days of David,
46: who found favor in the sight of God and asked leave to find a habitation for the God of Jacob.
47: But it was Solomon who built a house for him.
48: Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made with hands; as the prophet says,
49: `Heaven is my throne, and earth my footstool. What house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest?
50: Did not my hand make all these things?’
51: “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you.
52: Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered,
53: you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.”
54: Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth against him.
55: But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God;
56: and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God.”
57: But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together upon him.
58: Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him; and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59: And as they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
60: And he knelt down and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Chapter 8
1: And Saul was consenting to his death. And on that day a great persecution arose against the church in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the region of Judea and Sama’ria, except the apostles.
2: Devout men buried Stephen, and made great lamentation over him.
3: But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.
4: Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.
5: Philip went down to a city of Sama’ria, and proclaimed to them the Christ.
6: And the multitudes with one accord gave heed to what was said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs which he did.
7: For unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, crying with a loud voice; and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.
8: So there was much joy in that city.
9: But there was a man named Simon who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the nation of Sama’ria, saying that he himself was somebody great.
10: They all gave heed to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is that power of God which is called Great.”
11: And they gave heed to him, because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic.
12: But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
13: Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed.
14: Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Sama’ria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John,
15: who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit;
16: for it had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
17: Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.
18: Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money,
19: saying, “Give me also this power, that any one on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20: But Peter said to him, “Your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!
21: You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.
22: Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.
23: For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.”
24: And Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”
25: Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.
26: But an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert road.
27: And he rose and went. And behold, an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a minister of the Can’dace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of all her treasure, had come to Jerusalem to worship
28: and was returning; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah.
29: And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.”
30: So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
31: And he said, “How can I, unless some one guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
32: Now the passage of the scripture which he was reading was this: “As a sheep led to the slaughter or a lamb before its shearer is dumb, so he opens not his mouth.
33: In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken up from the earth.”
34: And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, pray, does the prophet say this, about himself or about some one else?”
35: Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this scripture he told him the good news of Jesus.
36: And as they went along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What is to prevent my being baptized?”
38: And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.
39: And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught up Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.
40: But Philip was found at Azo’tus, and passing on he preached the gospel to all the towns till he came to Caesare’a.
Chapter 9
1: But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest
2: and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
3: Now as he journeyed he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed about him.
4: And he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
5: And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting;
6: but rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”
7: The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.
8: Saul arose from the ground; and when his eyes were opened, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.
9: And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
10: Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Anani’as. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Anani’as.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”
11: And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus named Saul; for behold, he is praying,
12: and he has seen a man named Anani’as come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.”
13: But Anani’as answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to thy saints at Jerusalem;
14: and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call upon thy name.”
15: But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;
16: for I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”
17: So Anani’as departed 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 that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
18: And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized,
19: and took food and was strengthened. For several days he was with the disciples at Damascus.
20: And in the synagogues immediately he proclaimed Jesus, saying, “He is the Son of God.”
21: And all who heard him were amazed, and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called on this name? And he has come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests.”
22: But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.
23: When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him,
24: but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night, to kill him;
25: but his disciples took him by night and let him down over the wall, lowering him in a basket.
26: And when he had come to Jerusalem he attempted to join the disciples; and they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple.
27: But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.
28: So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem,
29: preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists; but they were seeking to kill him.
30: And when the brethren knew it, they brought him down to Caesare’a, and sent him off to Tarsus.
31: So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Sama’ria had peace and was built up; and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit it was multiplied.
32: Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints that lived at Lydda.
33: There he found a man named Aene’as, who had been bedridden for eight years and was paralyzed.
34: And Peter said to him, “Aene’as, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose.
35: And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
36: Now there was at Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity.
37: In those days she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.
38: Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him entreating him, “Please come to us without delay.”
39: So Peter rose and went with them. And when he had come, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping, and showing tunics and other garments which Dorcas made while she was with them.
40: But Peter put them all outside and knelt down and prayed; then turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, rise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.
41: And he gave her his hand and lifted her up. Then calling the saints and widows he presented her alive.
42: And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.
43: And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner.
Chapter 10
1: At Caesare’a there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort,
2: a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms liberally to the people, and prayed constantly to God.
3: About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius.”
4: And he stared at him in terror, and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.
5: And now send men to Joppa, and bring one Simon who is called Peter;
6: he is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the seaside.”
7: When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those that waited on him,
8: and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
9: The next day, as they were on their journey and coming near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour.
10: And he became hungry and desired something to eat; but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance
11: and saw the heaven opened, and something descending, like a great sheet, let down by four corners upon the earth.
12: In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air.
13: And there came a voice to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”
14: But Peter said, “No, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.”
15: And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has cleansed, you must not call common.”
16: This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.
17: Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold, the men that were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood before the gate
18: and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there.
19: And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you.
20: Rise and go down, and accompany them without hesitation; for I have sent them.”
21: And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for; what is the reason for your coming?”
22: And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house, and to hear what you have to say.”
23: So he called them in to be his guests. The next day he rose and went off with them, and some of the brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
24: And on the following day they entered Caesare’a. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his kinsmen and close friends.
25: When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him.
26: But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.”
27: And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered;
28: and he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit any one of another nation; but God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
29: So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.”
30: And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was keeping the ninth hour of prayer in my house; and behold, a man stood before me in bright apparel,
31: saying, `Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God.
32: Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter; he is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the seaside.’
33: So I sent to you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God, to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”
34: And Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I perceive that God shows no partiality,
35: but in every nation any one who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.
36: You know the word which he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all),
37: the word which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism which John preached:
38: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
39: And we are witnesses to all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree;
40: but God raised him on the third day and made him manifest;
41: not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
42: And he commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that he is the one ordained by God to be judge of the living and the dead.
43: To him all the prophets bear witness that every one who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
44: While Peter was still saying this, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word.
45: And the believers from among the circumcised who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.
46: For they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared,
47: “Can any one forbid water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”
48: And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.
Chapter 11
1: Now the apostles and the brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.
2: So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him,
3: saying, “Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?”
4: But Peter began and explained to them in order:
5: “I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, something descending, like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came down to me.
6: Looking at it closely I observed animals and beasts of prey and reptiles and birds of the air.
7: And I heard a voice saying to me, `Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’
8: But I said, `No, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’
9: But the voice answered a second time from heaven, `What God has cleansed you must not call common.’
10: This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven.
11: At that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesare’a.
12: And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brethren also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house.
13: And he told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, `Send to Joppa and bring Simon called Peter;
14: he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’
15: As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning.
16: And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, `John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’
17: If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?”
18: When they heard this they were silenced. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance unto life.”
19: Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoeni’cia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to none except Jews.
20: But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyre’ne, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus.
21: And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number that believed turned to the Lord.
22: News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.
23: When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad; and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose;
24: for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a large company was added to the Lord.
25: So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul;
26: and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church, and taught a large company of people; and in Antioch the disciples were for the first time called Christians.
27: Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.
28: And one of them named Ag’abus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world; and this took place in the days of Claudius.
29: And the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brethren who lived in Judea;
30: and they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
Chapter 12
1: About that time Herod the king laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church.
2: He killed James the brother of John with the sword;
3: and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread.
4: And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people.
5: So Peter was kept in prison; but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.
6: The very night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison;
7: and behold, an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands.
8: And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your mantle around you and follow me.”
9: And he went out and followed him; he did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.
10: When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened to them of its own accord, and they went out and passed on through one street; and immediately the angel left him.
11: And Peter came to himself, and said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”
12: When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.
13: And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a maid named Rhoda came to answer.
14: Recognizing Peter’s voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and told that Peter was standing at the gate.
15: They said to her, “You are mad.” But she insisted that it was so. They said, “It is his angel!”
16: But Peter continued knocking; and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed.
17: But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell this to James and to the brethren.” Then he departed and went to another place.
18: Now when day came, there was no small stir among the soldiers over what had become of Peter.
19: And when Herod had sought for him and could not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesare’a, and remained there.
20: Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; and they came to him in a body, and having persuaded Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food.
21: On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and made an oration to them.
22: And the people shouted, “The voice of a god, and not of man!”
23: Immediately an angel of the Lord smote him, because he did not give God the glory; and he was eaten by worms and died.
24: But the word of God grew and multiplied.
25: And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their mission, bringing with them John whose other name was Mark.
Chapter 13
1: Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyre’ne, Man’a-en a member of the court of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
2: While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
3: Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
4: So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleu’cia; and from there they sailed to Cyprus.
5: When they arrived at Sal’amis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them.
6: When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet, named Bar-Jesus.
7: He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God.
8: But El’ymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) withstood them, seeking to turn away the proconsul from the faith.
9: But Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him
10: and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord?
11: And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand.
12: Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
13: Now Paul and his company set sail from Paphos, and came to Perga in Pamphyl’ia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem;
14: but they passed on from Perga and came to Antioch of Pisid’ia. And on the sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down.
15: After the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say it.”
16: So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said: “Men of Israel, and you that fear God, listen.
17: The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it.
18: And for about forty years he bore with them in the wilderness.
19: And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance, for about four hundred and fifty years.
20: And after that he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet.
21: Then they asked for a king; and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.
22: And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king; of whom he testified and said, `I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’
23: Of this man’s posterity God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised.
24: Before his coming John had preached a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
25: And as John was finishing his course, he said, `What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’
26: “Brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you that fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation.
27: For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets which are read every sabbath, fulfilled these by condemning him.
28: Though they could charge him with nothing deserving death, yet they asked Pilate to have him killed.
29: And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a tomb.
30: But God raised him from the dead;
31: and for many days he appeared to those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people.
32: And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers,
33: this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus; as also it is written in the second psalm, `Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee.’
34: And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he spoke in this way, `I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’
35: Therefore he says also in another psalm, `Thou wilt not let thy Holy One see corruption.’
36: For David, after he had served the counsel of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid with his fathers, and saw corruption;
37: but he whom God raised up saw no corruption.
38: Let it be known to you therefore, brethren, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you,
39: and by him every one that believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.
40: Beware, therefore, lest there come upon you what is said in the prophets:
41: `Behold, you scoffers, and wonder, and perish; for I do a deed in your days, a deed you will never believe, if one declares it to you.'”
42: As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next sabbath.
43: And when the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.
44: The next sabbath almost the whole city gathered together to hear the word of God.
45: But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with jealousy, and contradicted what was spoken by Paul, and reviled him.
46: And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.
47: For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, `I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the uttermost parts of the earth.'”
48: And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of God; and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
49: And the word of the Lord spread throughout all the region.
50: But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, and stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district.
51: But they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and went to Ico’nium.
52: And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Chapter 14
1: Now at Ico’nium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue, and so spoke that a great company believed, both of Jews and of Greeks.
2: But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren.
3: So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
4: But the people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles.
5: When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to molest them and to stone them,
6: they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycao’nia, and to the surrounding country;
7: and there they preached the gospel.
8: Now at Lystra there was a man sitting, who could not use his feet; he was a cripple from birth, who had never walked.
9: He listened to Paul speaking; and Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well,
10: said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he sprang up and walked.
11: And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycao’nian, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!”
12: Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, because he was the chief speaker, they called Hermes.
13: And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the people.
14: But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out among the multitude, crying,
15: “Men, why are you doing this? We also are men, of like nature with you, and bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.
16: In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways;
17: yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good and gave you from heaven rains and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.”
18: With these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifice to them.
19: But Jews came there from Antioch and Ico’nium; and having persuaded the people, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.
20: But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city; and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe.
21: When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Ico’nium and to Antioch,
22: strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.
23: And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they believed.
24: Then they passed through Pisid’ia, and came to Pamphyl’ia.
25: And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attali’a;
26: and from there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had fulfilled.
27: And when they arrived, they gathered the church together and declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.
28: And they remained no little time with the disciples.
Continue reading The Acts of the Apostles 15 to 28
