Bible in 90 Days

¹⁸ If the world hates you, you know that it hated me before it hated you. ¹⁹ If you were of the world, the world would love its own. However because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. ²⁰ Remember the saying that I said to you: the servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, so will they persecute you. If they have kept my sayings, so will they keep yours. ²¹ But they will do all these things to you for my name’s sake, because they have not known him who sent me. ²² If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have had sin. But now they have nothing to cloak their sin with.

²³ He who hates me, hates my Father. ²⁴ If I had not done works among them which no other man did, they would not have sin. But now they have seen, and yet have hated both me and my Father, ²⁵ even so that the saying is fulfilled that is written in their law: They hated me without a cause.

²⁶ But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send to you from the Father, which is the Spirit of truth who proceeds of the Father, he will testify of me. ²⁷ And you shall bear witness also, because you have been with me from the beginning.

Consolation for trouble. Prayers are heard through Christ.

16 These things I have said to you so that you are not made to stumble. ² They will excommunicate you; yea, the time shall come that whoever kills you will think that he does God service. ³ And such things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor me. ⁴ But I have told you these things so that when that hour comes, you may remember them, that I told you so. 

I did not say these things to you at the beginning, because I was present with you. ⁵ But now I go my way to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, Where are you going? ⁶ But because I have said such things to you, your hearts are full of sorrow. ⁷ Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is better for you that I go away. For if I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you. But if I depart, I will send him to you. ⁸ And when he is come, he will rebuke the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: ⁹ of sin, because they do not believe on me; ¹⁰ of righteousness, because I go to my Father and you will see me no more; ¹¹ and of judgment, because the chief ruler of this world is judged already.

¹² I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot receive them now. ¹³ However, when he is come (I mean the Spirit of truth), he will lead you into all truth. He will not speak of himself, but whatever he hears, that he will speak, and he will show you things to come. ¹⁴ He will glorify me, for he will receive of mine and will show it to you. ¹⁵ All things that the Father has are mine. Therefore I said to you that he will take of mine and show it to you.

¹⁶ After a while you will not see me, and again after a while you will see me, because I go to the Father.

¹⁷ Then some of his disciples said between themselves, What is this that he says to us, After a while you will not see me, and again after a while you will see me? and, Because I go to the Father? ¹⁸ They said therefore, What is this that he says, After a while? We cannot understand what he says.

¹⁹ Jesus perceived that they wanted to question him and said to them, You enquire about this between yourselves, that I said, After a while you will not see me, and again after a while you will see me. ²⁰ Truly truly I say to you, you will weep and lament, and the world will rejoice. You will sorrow; but your sorrow will be turned to joy.

²¹ A woman when she travails has sorrow, because her hour is come. But as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembers no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. ²² And you now are in sorrow. But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. ²³ And in that day you will ask me no question. Truly truly I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you. ²⁴ Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, so that your joy may be full.

²⁵ These things I have spoken to you in parables. The time will come when I will speak no more to you in figures, but I will show you plainly from my Father. ²⁶ At that day, you will ask in my name. And I say not to you that I will speak to my Father for you. ²⁷ For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came out from God. ²⁸ I went out from the Father and came into the world, and I leave the world again and go to the Father.

²⁹ His disciples said to him, Lo, now you speak plainly, and you use no parable. ³⁰ Now we know that you understand all things, and there is no need for anyone to ask you any question. Therefore we believe that you came from God.

³¹ Jesus answered them, Now you do believe. ³² Behold, the hour draws near, and is already come, that you shall be scattered every man his ways, and will leave me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.

³³ These words I have spoken to you so that in me you may have peace. For in the world you will have tribulation. But be of good cheer: I have overcome the world.

The most hearty and loving prayer of Christ to his Father for all those who receive the truth.

17 These words Jesus spoke, and lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, Father, the hour is come. Glorify your Son so that your Son may glorify you. ² For you have given him power over all flesh, so that he may give eternal life to as many as you have given him. ³ This is life eternal: to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

⁴ I have glorified you on the earth. I have finished the work that you gave me to do. ⁵ And now glorify me, Father, with your own self – with the glory that I had with you before the world was. ⁶ I have declared your name to the men that you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your sayings. ⁷ Now they know that all things, whatsoever you have given me, are of you. ⁸ For I have given to them the words that you gave me and they have received them, and know surely that I came out from you, and do believe that you did send me.

⁹ I pray for them – and pray not for the world, but for those whom you have given me. For they are yours. ¹⁰ And all mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. ¹¹ And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I come to you. Holy Father, keep in your own name those whom you have given me so that they may be one, as we are. ¹² While I was with them in the world, I kept them in your name. Those whom you gave me I have kept, and none of them is lost except that lost child, so that the scripture may be fulfilled.

¹³ Now I come to you. And I speak these words in the world so that they may have my joy full in them. ¹⁴ I have given them your words. And the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁵ I ask not that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from evil. ¹⁶ They are not of the world, as I am not of the world. ¹⁷ Sanctify them with your truth. Your word is truth. ¹⁸ As you sent me into the world, so have I sent them into the world. ¹⁹ And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified through the truth.

²⁰ I pray not for them alone, but also for those who will believe on me through their preaching: ²¹ that they all may be one, as you, Father, are in me, and I in you; that they may also be one in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²² And the glory that you gave me, I have given them, so that they may be one as we are one, ²³ I in them and you in me, so that they may be made perfect in one, and so that the world may know that you have sent me, and have loved them as you have loved me.

²⁴ Father, I will that those whom you have given me be with me where I am, that they may see the glory that you have given me. For you loved me before the making of the world. ²⁵ O righteous Father, the very world has not known you, but I have known you, and these have known that you have sent me. ²⁶ And I have declared to them your name, and will declare it, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and so that I may be in them.

Christ is betrayed. The words of his mouth smite the officers to the ground. Peter strikes off Malchus’ ear. Jesus is brought before Annas, Caiaphas, and Pilate.

18 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Kidron, where there was a garden into which he entered with his disciples. ² Judas who betrayed him also knew the place, for Jesus often resorted there with his disciples. ³ Judas then, after he had received a band of men, and officers of the high priests and Pharisees, went there with lanterns and firebrands and weapons.

⁴ Then Jesus, knowing all things that would come on him, went forth and said to them, Whom do you seek? ⁵ They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus said to them, I am he.

Judas who betrayed him also stood with them. ⁶ But as soon as Jesus had said to them, I am he, they went backwards and fell to the ground. ⁷ And he asked them again, Whom do you seek? They said, Jesus of Nazareth. ⁸ Jesus answered, I said to you, I am he. If you seek me, let these go their way. ⁹ This was to fulfil the saying that he had spoken: Of those whom you gave me, I have not lost one.

¹⁰ Simon Peter had a sword, and drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. ¹¹ Then Jesus said to Peter, Put up your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink of the cup which my Father has given me?

¹² Then the company of men and the captain and the officers of the Jews took Jesus and bound him, ¹³ and led him away to Annas first. For he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was the high priest that same year. ¹⁴ Caiaphas was the one who gave counsel to the Jews that it was good that one man should die for the people.

¹⁵ And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. That disciple was known to the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest. ¹⁶ But Peter stood at the door outside.

Then that other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the maid that kept the door, and brought Peter in. ¹⁷ Then the maid that kept the door said to Peter, Are you not one of this man’s disciples? He said, I am not. ¹⁸ The servants and the officers were standing there, and had made a fire of coals, for it was cold and they were warming themselves. Peter also stood among them and warmed himself.

¹⁹ The high priest asked Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. ²⁰ Jesus answered him, I spoke openly in the world. I always taught in the synagogue and in the temple where all the Jews come together, and in secret I have said nothing. ²¹ Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard me what I said to them. They can tell what I said.

²² When he had thus spoken, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus on the face, saying, Is this how you answer the high priest?

²³ Jesus answered him, If I have spoken wrongly, bear witness of the wrong. If I have spoken well, why do you hit me?

²⁴ And Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas, the high priest.

²⁵ Simon Peter was standing and warming himself, and they said to him, Are you not also one of his disciples? He denied it and said, I am not. ²⁶ One of the servants of the high priest (a relative of the man whose ear Peter cut off) said to him, Did I not see you in the garden with him?

²⁷ Peter denied it again; and immediately, the cock crew.

²⁸ Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas into the hall of judgment. It was the morning, and they themselves did not go into the judgment hall lest they should be defiled, but so that they could eat the Passover lamb.

²⁹ Pilate then went out to them and said, What accusation do you bring against this man? ³⁰ They answered and said to him, If he were not an evil-doer, we would not have delivered him to you.

³¹ Then Pilate said to them, You take him and judge him according to your own law.

Then the Jews said to him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death. ³² This was to fulfil the words of Jesus, which he spoke signifying how he would die.

³³ Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus and said to him, Are you the king of the Jews? ³⁴ Jesus answered, Do you say that of yourself, or did others tell you this about me?

³⁵ Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Your own nation and high priests have delivered you to me. What have you done?

³⁶ Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, then my servants would surely fight so that I would not be delivered to the Jews. But now my kingdom is not from here.

  ³⁷ Pilate said to him, Are you a king then?

Jesus answered, You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I came into the world: that I should bear witness to the truth. And all who are of the truth hear my voice.

³⁸ Pilate said to him, What is truth?

And when he had said that, Pilate went out again to the Jews and said to them, I find in him no fault at all. ³⁹ You have a custom that I should set one prisoner free to you at Passover. Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?

⁴⁰ Then they all cried out again, saying, Not him, but Barabbas!

Now that Barabbas was a robber.

Christ is crucified. He commits his mother to John’s care, sheds his blood, and is buried.

19 Then Pilate took Jesus and scourged him. ² And the soldiers wound a crown of thorns and put it on his head. And they put on him a purple garment, ³ and said, Hail, King of the Jews! And they struck him on the face.

⁴ Pilate went forth again and said to the people, Look, I am bringing him out to you so that you may know that I find no fault in him. ⁵ Then Jesus came forth wearing the crown of thorns and the robe of purple. And Pilate said to them, Behold the man!

⁶ When the high priests and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him! Pilate said to them, You take him and crucify him, for I find no fault in him. ⁷ The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.

⁸ When Pilate heard these words, he was the more afraid, ⁹ and went again into the judgment hall and said to Jesus, Where are you from? But Jesus gave him no answer. ¹⁰ Then Pilate said to him, Will you not speak to me? Do you not know that I have the power to crucify you, and have the power to set you free?

¹¹ Jesus answered, You could have no power at all against me unless it were given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me to you is more in sin.

¹² And from then on Pilate sought means to release him. But the Jews cried out, saying, If you let him go, you are not Caesar’s friend! For whoever makes himself a king, is against Caesar.

¹³ When Pilate heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth and sat down to give sentence in a place called The Pavement, but in the Hebrew tongue, Gabbatha. ¹⁴ It was the day before the Sabbath that falls in the Passover feast, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, Behold your king! ¹⁵ They cried, Away with him, away with him, crucify him! Pilate said to them, Shall I crucify your king? The high priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.

¹⁶ Then Pilate delivered him to them, to be crucified.

¹⁷ And they took Jesus and led him away. And he bore his cross, and went out to a place called the Place of Dead Men’s Skulls, which is named in Hebrew, Golgotha. ¹⁸ There they crucified him, and two others with him, one on either side, and Jesus in the middle. ¹⁹ And Pilate wrote his title and put it on the cross. The writing was, jesus of nazareth, king of the jews. ²⁰ Many of the Jews read this title, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city. And it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin.

²¹ Then the high priests of the Jews said to Pilate, Do not write King of the Jews, but that he said, I am King of the Jews. ²² Pilate answered, What I have written, I have written.

²³ Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat. The coat was without seam, woven throughout, ²⁴ and they said to one another, Let us not tear it, but cast lots who should have it. This was to fulfil the scripture that says: They parted my garments among them, and for my coat did cast lots. ²⁵ And the soldiers did such things indeed.

Then there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister Mary, the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. ²⁶ When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing by, he said to his mother, Woman, behold your son. ²⁷ Then he said to the disciple, Behold your mother. And from that hour, the disciple took her for his own.

²⁸ After that, when Jesus perceived that all things were performed, so that the scripture would be fulfilled, he said, I thirst! ²⁹ There was standing nearby a vessel full of vinegar, and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and wound it about with hyssop, and put it to his mouth. ³⁰ As soon as Jesus had received of the vinegar, he said, It is finished! And he bowed his head and gave up the spirit.

³¹ The Jews then, because it was the day before the Sabbath, in order that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the Sabbath day (for that Sabbath day was a high day), requested Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken down. ³² Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man and of the other that was crucified with Jesus. ³³ But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was dead already, they did not break his legs. ³⁴ But one of the soldiers thrust him in the side with a spear, and immediately there came out blood and water.

³⁵ And he who saw it has borne witness, and his testimony is true. And he knows that he speaks the truth, so that you may believe also. ³⁶ These things were done so that the scripture would be fulfilled: Not one of his bones shall be broken. ³⁷ And again another scripture says: They shall look on him whom they pierced.

³⁸ After that, Joseph of Arimathea (who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews) asked Pilate if he could take down the body of Jesus. And Pilate gave him permission.

³⁹ And Nicodemus came also, who at the beginning had gone to Jesus by night, and brought myrrh and aloes mingled together, about a hundred pound weight. ⁴⁰ Then they took the body of Jesus and wound it in linen cloths with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. ⁴¹ And in the place where Jesus was crucified was a garden, and in the garden a new sepulchre, in which no man had ever been laid. ⁴² There they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Sabbath eve. For the sepulchre was near at hand.

The resurrection of Christ, who appears to Mary Magdalene and to all his disciples, to their great comfort.

20 The morrow after the Sabbath day, Mary Magdalene came early to the sepulchre when it was still dark, and saw the stone taken away from the tomb. ² Then she ran and went to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.

³ Peter went out, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. ⁴ They ran both together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came first to the sepulchre. ⁵ And he stooped down and saw the linen cloths lying there, but did not go in. ⁶ Then came Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre and saw the linen cloths lying there, ⁷ and the cloth that had been around his head not lying with the linen cloth, but wrapped together in a place by itself. ⁸ Then that other disciple went in also, who had come first to the sepulchre; and he saw and believed. ⁹ For as yet they did not know the scriptures, that he must rise again from death. ¹⁰ And the disciples went away again to their own homes.

¹¹ Mary stood outside at the sepulchre, weeping. And as she wept, she bowed herself into the sepulchre ¹² and saw two angels in white sitting, the one at the head and the other at the feet where they had laid the body of Jesus. ¹³ And they said to her, Woman, why do you weep? She said to them, Because they have taken away my Lord and I do not know where they have laid him.

¹⁴ When she had said this, she turned herself back and saw Jesus standing, but did not know that it was Jesus. ¹⁵ Jesus said to her, Woman, why do you weep? Whom are you seeking?

She, supposing he was a gardener, said to him, Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him so that I may get him.

¹⁶ Jesus said to her, Mary!

She turned herself about and said to him, Rabboni! (which is to say, Teacher!).

¹⁷ Jesus said to her, Do not touch me, for I am not yet ascended to my Father. But go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.

¹⁸ Mary Magdalene went and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken such things to her.

¹⁹ The same day at night, which was the day after the Sabbath day, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled together for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, Peace be with you. ²⁰ And when he had so said, he showed to them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.

²¹ Then Jesus said to them again, Peace be with you. As my Father sent me, so I also send you.

²² And when he had said that, he breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³ Whosever sins you remit, they are remitted to them, and whosever sins you retain, they are retained.

²⁴ But Thomas (called Didymus), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. ²⁵ The other disciples said to him, We have seen the Lord! And he said to them, Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger in the marks of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.

²⁶ And after eight days his disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Then Jesus came when the doors were shut and stood in their midst and said, Peace be with you.

²⁷ After that he said to Thomas, Bring your finger here, and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side; and be not faithless, but believing.

²⁸ Thomas answered and said to him, My Lord and my God!

²⁹ Jesus said to him, Thomas, because you have seen me, therefore you believe. Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe!

³⁰ And Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. ³¹ These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is Christ, the Son of God, and so that in believing you may have life through his name.

He appears to his disciples again by the Sea of Tiberias, and commands Peter earnestly to feed his sheep.

21 After that, Jesus showed himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. And this is how he showed himself: ² there were together Simon Peter, and Thomas who is called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana (a town of Galilee), and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of the disciples. ³ Simon Peter said to them, I’m going fishing. They said to him, We also will go with you.

They went their way and entered into a boat straightaway, and that night they caught nothing. ⁴ But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore. Nevertheless, the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. ⁵ Jesus said to them, Sirs, do you have any fish? They answered him, No. ⁶ And he said to them, Cast out the net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.

They cast out, and then they were not able to draw the net in for the number of fishes.

⁷ Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, It is the Lord! When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girded his mantle to him (for he had stripped down), and sprang into the sea.

⁸ The other disciples came by boat – for they were not far from land, but about a hundred yards – and they drew in the net with fishes. ⁹ As soon as they had come to land they saw hot coals, and fish laid on them, and bread. ¹⁰ Jesus said to them, Bring some of the fish that you have now caught. ¹¹ Simon Peter stepped forth and drew the net to land full of great fishes, a hundred and fifty-three. And for all there were so many, yet the net was not torn.

¹² Jesus said to them, Come and eat. And none of the disciples ventured to ask him, Who are you? because they knew that it was the Lord. ¹³ Jesus then came and took bread and gave it to them, and the fish likewise.

¹⁴ And this is now the third time that Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was risen again from death.

¹⁵ When they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon son of Jonah, do you love me more than these?

He said to him, Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.

Jesus said to him, Feed my lambs. ¹⁶ He said to him again the second time, Simon son of Jonah, do you love me?

He said to him, Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.

Jesus said to him, Feed my sheep. ¹⁷ He said to him the third time, Simon, do you love me?

And Peter sorrowed because he said to him the third time, Do you love me? And he said to him, Lord, you know all things. You know that I love you.

Jesus said to him, Feed my sheep. ¹⁸ Truly truly I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you wished. But when you are old, you will stretch forth your hands, and another will gird you and lead you where you do not wish.

¹⁹ He spoke this signifying by what death Peter would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, Follow me.

²⁰ Peter turned about and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on his breast at supper and said, Lord, who is it that will betray you? ²¹ When Peter saw him he said to Jesus, Lord, what about this man?

²² Jesus said to him, If I desire him to remain till I come, what is that to you? Follow me.

²³ Then there went out a saying among the brethren that that disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, If I desire him to remain till I come, what is that to you?

²⁴ The same disciple is he who testifies of these things and wrote these things. And we know that his testimony is true.

²⁵ There are also many other things that Jesus did, which, if they were written every one, I suppose the world could not contain the books that would be written.

Here ends the gospel
of Saint John.

The ascension of Christ. Matthias is chosen in Judas’ place.

1 In the former treatise (dear friend Theophilus), I have written of all that Jesus began to do and teach ² until the day in which he was taken up, after he through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom he had chosen. ³ To them also he showed himself alive after his passion by many certain proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking of the kingdom of God. ⁴ And he gathered them together and instructed them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father – Of which (he said) you have heard from me; ⁵ for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit, and that within this few days.

⁶ When they had come together, they asked him, saying, Lord, will you at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? ⁷ And he said to them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons which the Father has put in his own power. ⁸ But you will receive power from the Holy Spirit, who shall come on you. And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the world’s end.

⁹ After he had spoken these things, while they looked on, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. ¹⁰ And while they looked steadfastly up to heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, ¹¹ who also said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who is taken up from you into heaven, will come back in the same way as you have seen him go into heaven.

¹² Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is near Jerusalem a Sabbath day’s journey. ¹³ And when they had come in, they went up into an upper room where abode both Peter and James, John and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas, James’ son. ¹⁴ These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication with the women, and with Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

¹⁵ And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (the number of names that were together was about a hundred and twenty), and said, ¹⁶ Men and brethren, this scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was a guide to those who took Jesus. ¹⁷ For he was numbered with us, and had obtained fellowship in this ministry. ¹⁸ And this Judas has now possessed a plot of ground with the reward of iniquity, and when he was hanged, burst in the middle, and all his bowels gushed out. ¹⁹ And this is known to all the inhabiters of Jerusalem, insomuch that this field is called in their mother tongue Akel Dama; that is to say, the Field of Blood.

²⁰ It is written in the book of Psalms: Let his habitation be void, and let no one dwell in it; and his office, let another take. ²¹ Therefore, of these men who have been with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, ²² beginning at the baptism of John to the same day that he was taken up from us, one must bear witness with us of his resurrection.

²³ And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, whose surname was Justus, and Matthias. ²⁴ And they prayed, saying, You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which of these two you have chosen, ²⁵ so that one may take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas, by transgression, fell, that he might go to his own place.

²⁶ And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was counted with the eleven apostles.

The coming of the Holy Spirit. The sermon of Peter before the crowds of people at Jerusalem, and the increase of the faithful.

2 When the fiftieth day was come, they were all with one accord together in one place. ² And suddenly there came a sound from heaven like the coming of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they sat. ³ And there appeared to them cloven tongues, as if of fire, which sat upon each of them. ⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, even as the Spirit gave them utterance.

⁵ And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, who were from all nations under heaven. ⁶ Hearing of this, a large crowd came together. And the people were astonished, because everyone heard them speak his own tongue. ⁷ They all wondered and marvelled, saying among themselves, Are not all these who speak from Galilee? ⁸ And how is that we hear each his own tongue in which he was born? ⁹ Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, and the inhabiters of Mesopotamia, of Judea, and of Cappadocia, of Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰ Phrygia, Pamphylia, and of Egypt, and of the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, and strangers from Rome, Jews and converts, ¹¹ Greeks and Arabians: we have heard them speak with our own tongues about the great works of God. ¹² They were all amazed, and wondered, saying to one another, What does this mean? ¹³ Others mocked them, saying, They are full of new wine.

¹⁴ But Peter stepped forth with the eleven, and lifted up his voice and said to them, Men of Judea, and all ye who inhabit Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and with your ears hear my words. ¹⁵ These are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is yet but the third hour of the day. ¹⁶ But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel: ¹⁷ It shall be in the last days, says God, I will pour out of 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 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out of my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. ¹⁹ And I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath: blood and fire, and the vapour of smoke. ²⁰ The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord comes. ²¹ And it shall be that whosoever calls on the name of the Lord, shall be saved.

²² Ye men of Israel, hear these words. Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God among you with miracles, wonders, and signs that God did by him in the midst of you, as you yourselves know. ²³ Him you have taken by the hands of unrighteous persons, after he was delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, and have crucified and slain. ²⁴ But God has raised him up, and loosed the sorrows of death, because it was impossible that he should be held by it. ²⁵ For David speaks of him: I foresaw God always before me. For he is on my right hand, that I should not be shaken. ²⁶ Therefore my heart rejoiced and my tongue was glad. Moreover also, my flesh shall rest in hope, ²⁷ because you will not leave my soul in hell, nor suffer your Holy One to see corruption. ²⁸ You have shown me the ways of life, and will make me full of joy with your countenance.

²⁹ Men and brethren, let me freely speak to you of the patriarch David. For he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre remains with us to this day. ³⁰ Therefore, seeing he was a prophet, and knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that the fruit of his loins would sit on his seat, ³¹ in that Christ would rise again in the flesh, he saw beforehand and spoke of the resurrection of Christ – that his soul would not be left in hell, nor would his flesh see corruption. ³² This Jesus, God has raised up – whereof we are all witnesses.

³³ Since now he is exalted by the right hand of God, and has received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has shed forth that which you now see and hear. ³⁴ For David did not ascend into heaven, but he said: The Lord said to my Lord, Sit on my right hand ³⁵ until I make your enemies your footstool. ³⁶ So therefore, let all the house of Israel know most certainly that God has made this same Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.

³⁷ When they heard this, they were pricked in their hearts and said to Peter and to the other apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

³⁸ Peter said to them, Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ For the promise was made to you and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God will call.

⁴⁰ And with many other words he bore witness and exhorted them, saying, Save yourselves from this perverse generation. ⁴¹ Then those who gladly received his preaching were baptized, and the same day there were added to them about three thousand souls.

⁴² And they continued in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayer. ⁴³ And fear came over every soul. And many wonders and signs were shown by the apostles. ⁴⁴ And all who believed kept themselves together, and had all things in common, ⁴⁵ and sold their possessions and goods, and distributed them to all, as anyone had need. ⁴⁶ And they continued daily with one accord in the temple, and broke bread in every house, and ate their food together, with gladness and singleness of heart praising God, ⁴⁷ and had favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the congregation daily such as were to be saved.

The crippled man is restored to his feet. Peter preaches Christ to the people.

3 Peter and John went up together into the temple at the ninth hour of prayer. ² And there was a certain man crippled from his mother’s womb, whom they brought and laid at the temple gate called Beautiful, to ask alms of the people that entered into the temple; ³ which man, when he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, requested alms. ⁴ And Peter fastened his eyes on him with John and said, Look on us. ⁵ And he gave heed to them, trusting to receive something from them. ⁶ Then said Peter, Silver and gold I do not have, but such as I have, I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk! ⁷ And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up. And immediately his feet and anklebones received strength. ⁸ And he sprang up, stood, and also walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking and leaping and lauding God.

⁹ And all the people saw him walk and laud God. ¹⁰ And they knew him, that it was the man who sat and begged at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. And they were filled with wonder and astonishment at what had happened to him. ¹¹ And as the lame man who was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran amazed to them in Solomon’s porch.

¹² When Peter saw this, he spoke to the people: Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why do you look so steadfastly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man walk? ¹³ The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his Son Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate when he had determined to release him. ¹⁴ But you denied the Holy and Just One, and asked for a murderer to be given to you, ¹⁵ and killed the Lord of Life – whom God has raised from death, of which we are witnesses. ¹⁶ And his name, through the faith of his name, has made this man sound, whom you see and know. And the faith which is by him has given this man health in the presence of you all.

¹⁷ And now, brethren, I know well that you did it through ignorance, as did also your leaders. ¹⁸ But those things that God before had shown by the mouth of all his prophets, how the Christ would suffer, he has fulfilled this way. ¹⁹ Repent therefore, and turn, so that your sins may be put away when the time of refreshing comes, which we will have from the presence of the Lord, ²⁰ and when God will send him who now before is preached to you; that is to say, Jesus Christ, ²¹ who must receive heaven until the time that all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began, are restored again.

²² For Moses said to the fathers: The Lord your God will raise up a prophet for you, even from among your brethren, as he did me. Him you must hear, in all things whatsoever he says to you. ²³ For the time will come that every soul who will not hear that same prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. ²⁴ Also all the prophets from Samuel onwards, as many as have spoken, have likewise told of these days.

²⁵ You are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant that God made to our fathers, saying to Abraham: Even in your seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. ²⁶ First unto you has God raised up his Son Jesus, and him he has sent to bless you, that every one of you should turn from your wickedness.

The apostles are taken and brought before the council. They are forbidden to preach, but they turn themselves to prayer, and are more obedient to God than to men.

4 As they spoke to the people, the priests and the chief warden of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, ² taking it grievously that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from death. ³ And they laid hands on them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was now evening. ⁴ However, many of those who heard the word believed, and the number of the men was about five thousand.

⁵ And it happened on the next day that their rulers and elders and scribes, ⁶ as Annas the chief priest, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priests, gathered together at Jerusalem, ⁷ and set the apostles before them and asked, By what power or in what name have you done this, Sirs?

⁸ Then Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, said to them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, ⁹ if we this day are examined concerning the good deed done to the sick man, how he has been made whole, ¹⁰ let it be known to you all, and to the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth – whom you crucified, and whom God raised again from death – even by him does this man stand here present before you, healed. ¹¹ Jesus is the stone cast aside by you builders, which is set in the chief place of the corner. ¹² Neither is there salvation in any other, nor yet also is there any other name given to mankind in which we can be saved.

¹³ When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and understood that they were unlearned men and lay people, they marvelled. And they knew them, that they had been with Jesus. ¹⁴ And seeing also the man that was healed standing with them, they could not speak against it. ¹⁵ But they ordered them to go aside out of the council, and conferred among themselves, ¹⁶ saying, What shall we do with these men? For a manifest sign has been done by them, and is openly known to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. ¹⁷ But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us threaten them, and charge them to speak to no one in this name from now on.

¹⁸ And they called them and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. ¹⁹ But Peter and John answered them and said, Whether it is right in the sight of God to obey you more than God, you judge. ²⁰ For we cannot but speak that which we have seen and heard.

²¹ So they threatened them and let them go, and found no way to punish them, because of the people. For all the people lauded God for the miracle that was done. ²² For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been shown.

²³ As soon as they were let go, they went to their companions and told them all that the high priests and elders had said to them. ²⁴ And when they heard that, they lifted up their voices to God with one accord and said, Lord, you are God who has made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, ²⁵ who by the mouth of your servant David has said: Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? ²⁶ The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers came together against the Lord and against his Christ. ²⁷ For of a truth, against your holy child Jesus, whom you have anointed, both Herod and also Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, gathered themselves together, ²⁸ to do whatever your hand and your counsel determined before to be done. ²⁹ And now, Lord, look upon their threatenings, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all confidence, ³⁰ and stretch forth your hand so that healing and signs and wonders may be done by the name of the holy child Jesus.

³¹ And as soon as they had prayed, the place moved where they were assembled together, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God boldly.

³² And the whole number of those who believed were of one heart and of one soul. Also, none of them said that any of the things that he possessed was his own, but had all things in common. ³³ And with great power the apostles gave witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was with them all. ³⁴ Neither was there any among them that lacked, for as many as possessed lands or houses sold them, and brought the money from the things that were sold, ³⁵ and laid it down at the apostles’ feet. And distribution was made to every person according to his need. ³⁶ And Joses, who was also called Barnabas by the apostles (which means, son of consolation), who was a Levite of the country of Cyprus, ³⁷ had land and sold it, and laid the money down at the apostles’ feet.

The dissembling of Ananias and Sapphira is punished. Miracles are done by the apostles, who are seized, but the angel of God brings them out of prison. They are brought before the council. The advice of Gamaliel. The apostles are beaten. They rejoice in trouble.

5 A certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold some property, ² and kept back part of the money (his wife also knowing of it), and brought a certain part and laid it down at the apostles’ feet. ³ Then Peter said, Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you would lie to the Holy Spirit and keep away part of the proceeds of the land? ⁴ Did it not belong to you alone? And after it was sold, was the money not at your own disposal? How is it that you have conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God.

⁵ When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and gave up the spirit. And great fear came on all them that heard these things. ⁶ And the young men rose up, and put Ananias apart, and carried him out and buried him.

⁷ And then, about the space of three hours after, his wife came in, unaware of what had happened. ⁸ And Peter said to her, Tell me, did you sell the land for so much? And she said, Yes, for so much. ⁹ Then Peter said to her, Why have you agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and will carry you out.

¹⁰ Then she fell down straightaway at his feet and yielded up the spirit. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carried her out and buried her by her husband.

¹¹ And great fear came on all the congregation, and on as many as heard these things.

¹² By the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were shown among the people. And they were all together with one accord in Solomon’s porch. ¹³ And none of the rest dared join himself to them; nevertheless, the people held them in high regard.

¹⁴ The number of those who believed in the Lord, both of men and women, grew more and more, ¹⁵ insomuch that they brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and pallets so that at least the shadow of Peter, when he came by, might fall on some of them. ¹⁶ Many people also came from the towns round about Jerusalem, bringing sick folks and those who were vexed with unclean spirits. And they were healed, every one.

¹⁷ Then the chief priest rose up, and all they that were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and were full of indignation, ¹⁸ and laid hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. ¹⁹ But the angel of the Lord opened the prison doors by night and brought them out, and said, ²⁰ Go; step forth, and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. ²¹ When they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning and taught.

The chief priest came, and those who were with him, and called a council together with all the elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to fetch the apostles. ²² When the officers came and did not find them in the prison, they returned and reported, saying, ²³ We found the prison shut as securely as was possible, and the guards standing outside before the doors. But when we opened up, we found no one within.

  ²⁴ When the most chief priest and the chief warden of the temple and the high priests heard these things, they were fearful about them, what this might grow into. ²⁵ Then someone came and told them, Behold, the men that you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.

²⁶ Then the chief warden of the temple went with officers, and brought them without violence because they feared to be stoned by the people.

²⁷ And when they had brought the apostles, they set them before the council. And the chief priest asked them, ²⁸ saying, Did we not strictly order you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.

²⁹ Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought more to obey God than men. ³⁰ The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you slew, hanging him on a tree. ³¹ Him God has lifted up with his right hand, to be a ruler and a saviour, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. ³² And we are his witnesses concerning these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.

³³ When they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and thought to kill them. ³⁴ Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a doctor of law greatly respected among all the people, and directed that the apostles be put apart for a little while, ³⁵ and said to them, Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves, what you intend to do regarding these men. ³⁶ Before these days, one Theudas rose up, claiming himself to be somebody, and a number of men joined him – about four hundred. But he was slain, and all the people who believed him were scattered abroad and brought to nothing. ³⁷ After this man, Judas of Galilee arose, in the time when tribute began, and he drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all, even as many as followed him, are scattered abroad. ³⁸ And now I say to you, restrain yourselves concerning these men. Let them alone. For if the counsel of this work is of men, it will come to nothing. ³⁹ But if it is of God, you cannot destroy it, and you might even be found to be striving against God.

⁴⁰ And they agreed with him, and called the apostles, and beat them, and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

⁴¹ And they departed from the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer rebuke for his name. ⁴² And daily in the temple and in every house they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus Christ.

Ministers (or deacons) are ordained in the congregation to do service in necessary things of the body so that the apostles may attend only to the word of God. Stephen is accused.

6 In those days, as the number of the disciples grew, there arose a grudge among the Greeks against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. ² Then the twelve called all of the disciples together and said, It is not right that we should leave the word of God and serve at the tables. ³ Therefore, brethren, choose from among you seven men of good reputation, and full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint to this needful business. ⁴ But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.

⁵ And this proposal pleased the whole assembly. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a convert from Antioch. ⁶ These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.

⁷ And the word of God advanced, and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly, and a great company of the priests accepted the faith.