Acts 8-12
Revised Geneva Translation
8 And Saul consented to his death. And at that time, there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem. And they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the Apostles.
2 Then God-fearing men carried Stephen to be buried and made great lamentation for him.
3 But Saul defiled the Church, and entered into every house, and drew out both men and women, and put them into prison.
4 Therefore, those who were scattered throughout, went to and fro preaching the word.
5 Then Philip came into the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.
6 And the people paid attention to those things which Philip spoke, with one mind, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
7 For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed. And many taken with palsies, and who were lame, were healed.
8 And there was great joy in that city.
9 And there had been in the city, a certain man called Simon, who used witchcraft, and bewitched the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was some great man;
10 to whom they paid attention, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God!”
11 And they paid attention to him because he had bewitched them with sorceries for a long time.
12 But as soon as they believed Philip (who preached things concerning the Kingdom of God and the Name of Jesus Christ), they were baptized, both men and women.
13 Then Simon himself also believed and was baptized. And he continued with Philip. And when he saw the signs and great miracles which were done, he wondered.
14 Now when the Apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.
15 Who, when they had come down, prayed for them to receive the Holy Ghost.
16 For as yet He had not fallen down on any of them. But they had been baptized only in the Name of the Lord Jesus.
17 Then they laid their hands on them. And they received the Holy Ghost.
18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the Apostles’ hands, the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
19 saying, “Give me this power also! So that whomever I lay hands upon may receive the Holy Ghost!”
20 Then Peter said to him, “Your money dies with you because you think that the gift of God may be obtained with money.
21 “You have neither part nor fellowship in this Word. For your heart is not right in the sight of God.
22 “Therefore repent of this, your wickedness. And pray to God that if it be possible, the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.
23 “For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.”
24 Then Simon answered, and said, “Pray to the Lord for me, that none of these things which you have spoken come upon me!”
25 So after they had testified and preached the Word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem and preached the Gospel in many Samaritan towns.
26 Then the Angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise, and go towards the south to the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza, which is a wasteland.”
27 And he arose and went on. And behold, a certain eunuch of Ethiopia (Candace the Queen of the Ethiopians’ Chief Governor, who had the rule over all her treasure) who came to Jerusalem to worship,
28 was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he read Isaiah the Prophet.
29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and enjoin this chariot.”
30 And Philip ran there, and heard him read the Prophet Isaiah, and said, “But do you understand what you read?”
31 And he said, “How can I unless I have a guide?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him.
32 Now the place of the Scripture which he read was this, “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter. And like a lamb, mute before his shearer, so also did He not open His mouth.
33 “In His humility, His judgment has been exalted. But who shall declare His generation? For His life is taken from the Earth.”
34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, “I ask you, of Whom does the Prophet say this, of himself, or of some other Man?”
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same Scripture, and preached Jesus to him.
36 And as they went on their way, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What must I do to be baptized?”
37 And Philip said to him, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” Then he answered, and said, “I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
38 Then he commanded the chariot to stop. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water. And he baptized him.
39 And as soon as they had come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more. So, he went on his way, rejoicing.
40 But Philip was found at Azotus. And he walked to and fro, preaching in all the cities, until he came to Caesarea.
9 And Saul, still breathing out threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the High Priest,
2 and asked for letters to Damascus, to the synagogues, so that if he found any who were of the Way, (either men or women) he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
3 Now as he journeyed, it so happened that as he drew near to Damascus, there suddenly shone around him a light from Heaven.
4 And he fell to the Earth, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?”
5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And the Lord said, “I am Jesus, Whom you persecute. It is hard for you to kick against goads.”
6 Then, both trembling and astonished, he said, “Lord, what will You have me do?” And the Lord said to him, “Arise, and go into the city. And it shall be told to you what you shall do.”
7 The men who journeyed with him also stood amazed - hearing the voice but seeing no one.
8 And Saul arose from the ground and opened his eyes but saw no man. Then, led they him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus,
9 where he was without sight for three days, and neither ate nor drank.
10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Behold, I am here, Lord.”
11 Then the Lord said to him, “Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight. And look in the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus. For behold, he prays.”
12 “And in a vision, he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hands on him, so that he might receive his sight.”
13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man; how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem.
14 “Moreover, here he has the authority of the chief priests to bind all that call on Your Name.”
15 Then the Lord said to him, “Go. For he is a vessel chosen by Me to bear My Name before the Gentiles, and Kings, and the children of Israel.
16 “For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My Name’s sake.”
17 Then Ananias went, and entered that house, and put his hands on him, and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, Who appeared to you on the way as you came, has sent me, so that you might receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Ghost.”
18 And immediately something like ‘scales’ fell from his eyes. And suddenly he received sight, and arose, and was baptized,
19 and received food and was strengthened. So, Saul was with the Damascus disciples for some days.
20 And immediately he preached Christ in the synagogues, that He was the Son of God.
21 So that all who heard him were amazed, and said, “Is not this he who harassed those who called on this Name in Jerusalem, and came here for that purpose, so that he could bring them bound to the chief priests?”
22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt at Damascus, confirming that this was the Christ.
23 And after that many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him.
24 But their plot was known by Saul. Now, they watched the gates day and night, so that they might kill him.
25 Then the disciples took him at night. And, by rope, they let him down through the wall in a basket.
26 And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. But they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple.
27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the Apostles, and told them how he had seen the Lord on the road. And that he had spoken to Him. And how he had spoken boldly at Damascus in the Name of Jesus.
28 And he was with them, coming in and going out, at Jerusalem.
29 And he spoke boldly in the Name of the Lord Jesus and spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they sought to kill him.
30 But when the brothers knew it, they brought him to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.
31 Then the Churches had rest through all Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria, and were edified, and walked in the fear of the Lord, and were multiplied by the comfort of the Holy Ghost.
32 And it so happened that as Peter walked throughout all quarters, he also came to the saints who dwelt in Lydda.
33 And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been sick of the palsy and lying on a mat for eight years.
34 Then Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ makes you whole. Arise, and make your bed.” And he arose immediately.
35 And all who dwelt in Lydda and Sharon, saw him, and turned to the Lord.
36 There was also a certain woman in Joppa, a disciple named Tabitha (which means ‘Dorcas’). She was full of good works and alms which she did.
37 And it so happened in those days that she fell sick and died. And after they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.
38 Now since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, asking that he not delay in coming to them.
39 Then Peter arose and came with them. And when he had come, they brought him into the upper room, where all the weeping widows stood by him and showed him the coats and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them.
40 But Peter put them all out; and kneeled down, and prayed, and turned to the body, and said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes. And when she saw Peter, she sat up.
41 Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up, and called the saints and widows, and presented her alive.
42 And it was known throughout all Joppa. And many believed in the Lord.
43 And it so happened that he stayed in Joppa many days with one Simon, a tanner.
10 Furthermore, there was a certain man in Caesarea named Cornelius - a captain of the band called the ‘Italian’ -
2 a devout man, and one who feared God with all his household, who gave many alms to the people, and prayed to God continually.
3 Evidently, he saw an angel of God in a vision (about the ninth hour of the day) coming in to him and saying, “Cornelius.”
4 But when he looked at him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up in remembrance before God.
5 “Now, therefore, send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter.
6 “He lodges with one Simon, a Tanner, whose house is by the seaside. He shall tell you what you ought to do.”
7 And when the angel who spoke to Cornelius had departed, he called two of his servants and a God-fearing soldier (one of those who waited on him continually).
8 And he told them all things and sent them to Joppa.
9 The next day, about the sixth hour, as they went on their journey and drew near to the city, Peter went up on the house to pray.
10 Then he became hungry and wished to eat. But while they prepared it, he fell into a trance.
11 And he saw the sky opened. And a certain vessel came down to him, like a great sheet, tied at the four corners, and being let down to the Earth.
12 Inside were all kinds of four-footed beasts of the Earth, and wild beasts and creeping things, and birds of the heaven.
13 And there came a voice to him, “Arise, Peter. Kill, and eat.”
14 But Peter said, “Not so, Lord. For I have never eaten anything that is polluted or unclean.”
15 And the voice spoke to him again a second time, “The things which God has cleansed, do not make common.”
16 This was done three times. And the vessel was drawn up again into Heaven.
17 Now, while Peter questioned in himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold the men who were sent from Cornelius had inquired after Simon’s house, and stood at the gate,
18 calling and asking whether Simon (who was surnamed Peter) was lodged there.
19 And while Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men seek you.
20 “Therefore, rise up. And get down. And go with them. And doubt nothing. For I have sent them.”
21 Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, “Behold, I am he whom you seek. Why have you come?”
22 And they said, “Cornelius the Captain - a just man, and one who fears God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews - was warned from Heaven by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear your words.”
23 Then he called them in and lodged them. And the next day, Peter went with them, and some brothers from Joppa accompanied him.
24 And the day after that, they entered into Caesarea. Now Cornelius waited for them and had called together his family and special friends.
25 And it so happened, as Peter came in, that Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up. For I myself am also a man.”
27 And as he talked with him, he came in and found many who had gathered.
28 And he said to them, “You know that it is an unlawful thing for a man who is a Jew to keep company with, or come near, one of another Nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common, or unclean.
29 “Therefore I came to you without saying no when I was summoned. I ask, then, the reason why have you sent for me?”
30 Then Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I fasted. And at the ninth hour, I prayed in my house. And behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
31 “and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer is heard. And your alms are held in remembrance in the sight of God.
32 ‘Therefore, send to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter (he is lodged in the house of Simon a Tanner by the seaside) When he comes, he shall speak to you.’
33 “Then sent I for you immediately. And you have done well to come. Now, therefore, are we all present here before God to hear all things that have been commanded you by God.”
34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, “Truthfully, I perceive that God is no respecter of persons.
35 “But in every Nation, the one who fears Him, and works righteousness, is acceptable to Him.
36 “The Word - which God has sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ, Who is Lord of all -
37 “you know the Word which came through all Judea, beginning in Galilee, after the Baptism which John preached;
38 “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost, and with power - Who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil - for God was with Him.
39 “And we are witnesses of all things done by Him Whom they killed and hung on a tree (things in both the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem).
40 “God raised Him up the third day, and showed Him openly -
41 “not to all the people, but to the witnesses chosen by God beforehand - to those of us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.
42 “And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that He has been ordained by God as a judge of quick and dead.
43 “To Him also give all the Prophets witness, that through His Name all who believe in Him shall receive forgiveness of sins.”
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Ghost fell upon all those who heard the word.
45 So those of the circumcision who believed (as many as had come with Peter), were astonished because the gift of the Holy Ghost was also poured out on the Gentiles.
46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered,
47 “Can anyone forbid water, so that these who have received the Holy Ghost, as we have, should not be baptized?”
48 So he commanded them to be baptized in the Name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay some days.
11 Now the Apostles and the brothers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the Word of God.
2 And when Peter had come up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision examined him,
3 saying, “You went to uncircumcised men and have eaten with them.”
4 Then Peter began expounding it in order to them, saying,
5 “I was in the city of Joppa, praying. And while in a trance, I saw this vision: a certain vessel, coming down as a great sheet, let down from Heaven by the four corners. And it came to me.
6 “When I had fastened my eyes on it, I considered, and saw four-footed beasts of the Earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and birds of the heaven.
7 “Also I heard a voice, saying to me, ‘Arise, Peter. Kill and eat.’
8 “And I said, ‘Absolutely not, Lord! For nothing common or unclean has ever entered into my mouth.’
9 “But the voice answered me a second time from the sky, ‘The things that God has purified, do not make common.’
10 “And this was done three times, and all were taken up again into the sky.
11 “Then behold, immediately there were three men who had already come to the house where I was, sent to me from Caesarea.
12 “And the Spirit said to me that I should go with them, without doubting. Moreover, these six brothers came with me. And we entered into the man’s house.
13 “And he showed us how he had seen an angel in his house, who stood and said to him, ‘Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter.
14 ‘He shall speak words to you, whereby both you and all your house shall be saved.’
15 “And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, just as upon us at the beginning.
16 “Then I remembered the Word of the Lord. How He said, ‘John baptized with water. But you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.’
17 “If, then, God gave them a similar gift to the one He gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?”
18 When they heard these things, they kept silent, and glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted repentance unto life to the Gentiles.”
19 And those who were scattered because of the affliction which arose about Stephen, passed through until they came to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, preaching the Word to no one except the Jews.
20 Now some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come into Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, and preached the Lord Jesus.
21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, so that a great number believed and turned to the Lord.
22 Then, word of those things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem. And they sent forth Barnabas, to go as far as Antioch;
23 who, when he had come and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and encouraged all to continue in the Lord with purpose of heart.
24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost, and faith. And many people joined themselves to the Lord.
25 Then Barnabas left for Tarsus to seek Paul.
26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And it so happened that they met with the church a whole year and taught many people. And the disciples were first called “Christians” in Antioch.
27 In those days, Prophets also came from Jerusalem to Antioch.
28 And one named Agabus stood up and signified by the Spirit that there would be great famine throughout all the world (which also happened under Claudius Caesar).
29 Then the disciples, everyone according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brothers who dwelt in Judea;
30 which they also did, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
12 Now about that time, Herod the King stretched forth his hand to afflict some of the church,
2 And he killed James, the brother of John, with the sword.
3 And when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further, to take Peter also (during the Days of Unleavened Bread.)
4 And when he had caught him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to be kept, intending to bring him forth to the people after the Passover.
5 So Peter was kept in prison. But earnest prayer was made to God for him by the church.
6 And the night when Herod wished to have him brought out to the people, Peter slept between two soldiers, bound with two chains. And the guards before the door kept the prison.
7 And behold, the Angel of the Lord came upon them. And a light shined in the house. And he struck Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands.
8 And the Angel said to him, “Dress yourself. And put on your sandals.” And so, he did. Then he said to him, “Wrap your garment around you, and follow me.”
9 So Peter came out and followed him; and did not know that what was done by the Angel was real, but thought he had seen a vision.
10 Now, after they had passed the first and the second guards, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them by itself. And they went out and passed through one street. And immediately the Angel departed from him.
11 And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent his Angel, and has delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectations of the Jewish people.”
12 And as he considered it, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John (whose surname was Mark), where many were gathered together and prayed.
13 And when Peter knocked at the entry door, a girl named Rhoda came forth to answer it.
14 But when she recognized Peter’s voice, she did not open the gate. But with gladness, she ran in and told how Peter stood before the gate.
15 But they said to her, “You are mad.” Still she kept affirming that it was so. Then they said, “It is his angel.”
16 But Peter continued knocking. And when they had opened it, and saw him, they were astonished.
17 And with his hand he asked them to be silent. And he told them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Go show these things to James and to the brothers.” And he departed and went into another place.
18 Now as soon as it was day, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter.
19 And when Herod had asked for and not found him, he examined the guards, and commanded them to be led away for punishment. And he went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there.
20 Then Herod was angry with those of Tyre and Sidon. But they all came to him with one mind. And having befriended Blastus, the King’s chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country was nourished by the King.
21 And upon an appointed day, Herod clothed himself in royal apparel, and sat on the judgment seat, and made a speech to them.
22 And the people gave a shout, saying, “The voice of God, and not of man!”
23 But immediately the Angel of the Lord struck him - so that he was eaten by worms and gave up the ghost - because he did not give glory to God.
24 And the Word of God grew and multiplied.
25 So, when they had fulfilled their ministry, Barnabas and Saul took John with them (whose surname was Mark), and returned from Jerusalem.
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