Bible in 90 Days
8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
9 Then there arose certain from the synagogue which is called the Synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and those of Cilicia and of Asia, and they disputed with Stephen.
10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.
11 Then they suborned men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”
12 And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and came upon him and caught him, and brought him to the council.
13 And they set up false witnesses who said, “This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law;
14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered to us.”
15 And all who sat on the council, looking steadfastly on him, saw his face as though it were the face of an angel.
7 Then said the high priest, “Are these things so?”
2 And Stephen said, “Men, brethren and fathers, hearken! The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran,
3 and said unto him, ‘Get thee out of thy country and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall show thee.’
4 Then he came out of the land of the Chaldeans, and dwelt in Haran; and from thence, when his father was dead, He removed himself into this land wherein ye now dwell.
5 And He gave him no inheritance in it — no, not so much as to set his foot on; yet He promised that He would give it to him as a possession and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.
6 And God spoke in this way: that his seed should sojourn in a strange land, and that they should be brought into bondage and be mistreated for four hundred years.
7 ‘And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge,’ said God, ‘and after that shall they come forth, and serve Me in this place.’
8 And He gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so Abraham begot Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot the twelve patriarchs.
9 And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him
10 and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him governor over Egypt and all his house.
11 “Now there came a dearth and great affliction over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and our fathers found no sustenance.
12 But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he first sent out our fathers.
13 And on the second visit Joseph was made known to his brethren, and Joseph’s kindred were made known unto Pharaoh.
14 Then Joseph sent and called his father Jacob to him and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls.
15 So Jacob went down into Egypt and died, he and our fathers.
16 And they were carried back into Shechem, and laid in the sepulcher that Abraham had bought for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem.
17 “But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt,
18 until another king arose who knew not Joseph.
19 The same dealt craftily with our kindred and illtreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end that they might not live.
20 At that time Moses was born and was exceedingly fair, and was nourished in his father’s house three months.
21 And when he was cast out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up and nourished him as her own son.
22 And Moses became learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.
23 “And when he was fully forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel.
24 And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him who was oppressed, and struck down the Egyptian,
25 for he supposed his brethren would have understood how God, by his hand, would deliver them; but they understood not.
26 And the next day he showed himself unto them as they were quarreling, and would have set them at one again, saying, ‘Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one another?’
27 But he that was doing his neighbor wrong thrust him away, saying, ‘Who made thee a ruler and judge over us?
28 Wilt thou kill me as thou didst the Egyptian yesterday?’
29 Then Moses fled at this saying and became a stranger in the land of Midian, where he begot two sons.
30 “And when forty years had expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai an angel of the Lord, in a flame of fire in a bush.
31 When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight; and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him, saying,
32 ‘I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.’ Then Moses trembled and dared not behold.
33 Then said the Lord to him, ‘Put off thy shoes from thy feet, for the place where thou standest is holy ground.
34 I have seen, I have seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning and have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt.’
35 “This Moses whom they refused, saying, ‘Who made thee a ruler and a judge?’ was the same whom God sent to be a ruler and a deliverer, by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush.
36 He brought them out after he had shown wonders and signs in the land of Egypt and in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness forty years.
37 This is that Moses who said unto the children of Israel, ‘A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you from your brethren, like unto me; Him shall ye hear.’
38 This is he, who in the church in the wilderness was with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers—the one who received the living oracles to give unto us,
39 to whom our fathers would not be obedient, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,
40 saying unto Aaron, ‘Make us gods to go before us; for as for this Moses, who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we know not what has become of him.’
41 And they made a calf in those days and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.
42 “Then God turned, and gave them up to the worship of the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the Prophets: ‘O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to Me slain beasts and sacrifices for the space of forty years in the wilderness?
43 Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch and the star of your god Remphan, images which ye made to worship them. And I will carry you away beyond Babylon.’
44 “Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as He had appointed, speaking unto Moses that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen,
45 which also our fathers, who came later, brought with Joshua into the territory of the Gentiles, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers until the days of David.
46 David found favor before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.
47 But Solomon built Him a house.
48 “However, the Most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands, as saith the prophet:
49 ‘Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What house will ye build Me? saith the Lord. Or what is the place of My rest?
50 Hath not My hand made all these things?’
51 “Ye stiffnecked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost! As your fathers did, so do ye!
52 Which of the prophets have your fathers not persecuted? And they have slain those who foretold the coming of the Just One. Of Him ye have now been the betrayers and murderers,
53 ye who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.”
54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed with their teeth at him.
55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly 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 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
58 and cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man whose name was Saul.
59 And they stoned Stephen as he called upon God and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!”
60 And he kneeled down and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, charge not this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
8 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church. Entering into every house and haling men and women, he committed them to prison.
4 Therefore those who were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the Word.
5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spoke, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
7 For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed with them; and many taken with palsies and who were lame, were healed.
8 And there was great joy in that city.
9 But there was a certain man called Simon, who earlier in the same city had used sorcery and bewitched the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great,
10 to whom they all gave heed from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is great with the power of God.”
11 And for him they had regard, because for a long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
12 But when they believed Philip’s preaching of the things concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
13 Then Simon himself believed also; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that amaria had received the Word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John,
15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Ghost.
16 (For as yet, He had fallen upon none of them, for 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 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 also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.”
20 But Peter said unto him, “Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money!
21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter, for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God that perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.”
24 Then Simon answered and said, “Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.”
25 And they, when they had testified and preached the Word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem and preached the Gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.
26 And the angel of the Lord spoke unto Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south unto the road that goeth down from Jerusalem into Gaza, which is desert.”
27 And he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasure and had come to Jerusalem to worship,
28 was returning; and sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet.
29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, “Go near and join thyself to this chariot.”
30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Understandest thou what thou readest?”
31 And he said, “How can I, unless some man should guide me?” And he besought Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
32 The place of the Scripture from which he read was this: “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb before his shearer is dumb, so opened He not His mouth.
33 In His humiliation, His judgment was taken away. And who shall declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.”
34 And the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? Of himself, or of some other man?”
35 Then Philip opened his mouth and began at the same Scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water; and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What doth hinder me from being baptized?”
37 And Philip said, “If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still, and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.
39 And when they had come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip. And the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.
40 But Philip was found at Azotus, and passing through, he preached in all the cities until he came to Caesarea.
9 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
2 and asked of him letters to the synagogues at Damascus, that if he found any who were of this Way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
3 And as he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly there shone round about him a light from heaven.
4 And he fell to the earth and heard a voice saying unto him, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?”
5 And he said, “Who art Thou, Lord?” And the Lord said, “I am Jesus whom thou persecutest; it is hard for thee to kick against the goads.”
6 And he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?” And the Lord said unto him, “Arise and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.”
7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no man.
8 And Saul arose from the earth, and when his eyes were opened, he could see no man; but they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.
9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did he eat nor drink.
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 And the Lord said unto him, “Arise and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for the one called Saul of Tarsus; for behold, he prayeth
12 and hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.”
13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many of this man, and how much evil he hath done to Thy saints in Jerusalem.
14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Thy name.”
15 But the Lord said unto him, “Go thy way, for he is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.
16 For I will show him what great things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”
17 And Ananias went his way and entered into the house, and putting his hands on him said, “Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus who appeared unto thee on the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight and be filled with the Holy Ghost.”
18 And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received sight forthwith, and arose and was baptized.
19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples who were at Damascus.
20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.
21 But all that heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this he that destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither with the intent that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?”
22 But Saul increased the more in strength and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that Jesus is the very Christ.
23 And after many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him.
24 But their lying in wait became known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.
25 Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down through the wall in a basket.
26 And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join himself to the disciples, but they were all afraid of him and believed not that he was a disciple.
27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord on the way and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached 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 disputed against the Grecians, but they went about to slay him.
30 And when the brethren heard of this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him forth to Tarsus.
31 Then the churches throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had rest and were edified, and, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.
32 And it came to pass, as Peter was passing throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints who dwelt at Lydda.
33 And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had kept to his bed for eight years and was sick with the palsy.
34 And Peter said unto him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed.” And he arose immediately.
35 And all who dwelt in Lydda and Sharon saw him, and turned to the Lord.
36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha (which interpreted is called Dorcas). This woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.
37 And it came to pass in those days that she was sick and died; and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper chamber.
38 And inasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he should not delay to come to them.
39 Then Peter arose and went with them. And when he had come, they brought him into the upper chamber; and all the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made while she was with them.
40 But Peter put them all outside and kneeled down and prayed, and turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.
41 And he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and calling in the saints and widows, he presented her alive.
42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.
43 And it came to pass that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon, a tanner.
10 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian Band,
2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his house, who gave many alms to the people and prayed to God always.
3 He saw in a vision clearly, about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming in to him and saying unto him, “Cornelius!”
4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid and said, “What is it, lord?” And he said unto him, “Thy prayers and thine alms have risen up as a memorial before God.
5 And now send men to Joppa and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter.
6 He lodgeth with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the seaside; he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.”
7 And when the angel who spoke unto Cornelius had departed, he called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from those who waited on him continually.
8 And when he had related all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.
9 On the morrow, as they went on their journey and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour.
10 And he became very hungry and would have eaten; but while they were making ready he fell into a trance,
11 and saw heaven opened and a certain vessel descending unto him as though it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners and let down to the earth,
12 wherein were all kinds of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts and creeping things and fowls of the air.
13 And there came a voice to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”
14 But Peter said, “Not so, Lord, for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.”
15 And the voice spoke unto him again the second time, “What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.”
16 This was done thrice, and the vessel was received up again into heaven.
17 Now while Peter wondered to himself what this vision which he had seen could mean, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house and stood before the gate,
18 and called and asked whether Simon, who was surnamed Peter, was lodged there.
19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, “Behold, three men seek thee.
20 Arise therefore, and get thee down and go with them, doubting nothing, for I have sent them.”
21 Then Peter went down to the men who were sent unto him from Cornelius and said, “Behold, I am he whom ye seek. What is the cause for which ye have come?”
22 And they said, “Cornelius the centurion, a just man and one who feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by a holy angel to send for thee into his house and to hear words from thee.”
23 Then Peter called them in and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
24 And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends.
25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him.
26 But Peter took him up, saying, “Stand up; I myself also am a man.”
27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together.
28 And he said unto them, “Ye know that it is an unlawful thing for a man who is a Jew to keep company with or to come unto one of another nation. But God hath shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
29 Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying as soon as I was sent for. I ask therefore, with what intent ye have sent for me?”
30 And Cornelius said, “Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
31 and said, ‘Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms have been remembered in the sight of God.
32 Send therefore to Joppa and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter. He is lodged in the house of one Simon, a tanner, by the seaside. He, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.’
33 Immediately therefore I sent to thee, and thou hast done well, that thou hast come. Now therefore are we all here present before God to hear all things that are commanded thee from God.”
34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said, “In truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons,
35 but in every nation he that feareth Him and worketh righteousness is accepted by Him.
36 The Word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all) —
37 that Word, I say, ye know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached:
38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power, and how He 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 which He did, both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem — He whom they hanged on a tree and slew.
40 Him God raised up the third day and showed Him openly,
41 not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead.
42 And He commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be the Judge of the quick and dead.
43 To Him all the prophets bear witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins.”
44 While Peter was yet speaking these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all those who heard the Word.
45 And those of the Circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Ghost was poured out also on the Gentiles.
46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
47 “Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Ghost, as well as we?”
48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they entreated him to tarry certain days.
11 And the apostles and the brethren 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 who were of the Circumcision contended with him,
3 saying, “Thou wentest in to uncircumcised men and didst eat with them.”
4 But Peter reviewed the matter from the beginning and expounded it in order unto them, saying,
5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. A certain vessel descended as though it had been a great sheet let down from heaven by four corners, and it came even to me.
6 And when I had fastened my eyes on it, I considered it and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things and fowls of the air.
7 And I heard a voice saying unto me, ‘Arise, Peter; slay and eat.’
8 But I said, ‘Not so, Lord, for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth.’
9 But the voice answered me again from heaven, ‘What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.’
10 And this was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven.
11 And behold, immediately three men had already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me.
12 And the Spirit bade me go with them, doubting nothing. Moreover these six brethren accompanied 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 unto him, ‘Send men to Joppa and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter,
14 who shall tell thee words whereby thou and all of thy house shall be saved.’
15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
16 Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.’
17 If therefore God gave them the same gift as He did unto us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?”
18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, “Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.”
19 Now those who had been scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose on account of Stephen, traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, preaching the Word to none but unto the Jews only.
20 And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke unto the Greeks, preaching the Lord Jesus.
21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned unto the Lord.
22 Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem, and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.
23 And when he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad and exhorted them all that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord,
24 for he was a good man and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith. And many people were added unto the Lord.
25 Then Barnabas departed to Tarsus to seek out Saul;
26 and when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass that for a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught many people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
27 And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.
28 And one of them named Agabus stood up, and signified by the Spirit that there would be a great dearth throughout all the world, which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.
29 Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren who dwelt in Judea.
30 This also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
12 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
3 And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (This was during the Days of Unleavened Bread.)
4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to guard him, intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
5 Peter therefore was kept in prison, but prayer was made without ceasing by the church unto God for him.
6 And when Herod would have brought him forth, that same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains; and the keepers were guarding the door of the prison.
7 And behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison; and he smote Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise up quickly.” And his chains fell off from his hands.
8 And the angel said unto him, “Gird thyself and bind on thy sandals.” And so he did. And the angel said unto him, “Cast thy garment about thee and follow me.”
9 And he went out and followed him, and knew not whether what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he saw a vision.
10 When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city, which opened to them of his own accord. And they went out and passed on through one street, and forthwith the angel departed from him.
11 And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know in truth that the Lord hath sent His angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod and from all the expectations of the people of the Jews.”
12 And when he had considered this thing, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying.
13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel named Rhoda came to ask who was there.
14 And when she recognized Peter’s voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in and told how Peter stood before the gate.
15 And they said unto her, “Thou art mad.” But she continued to affirm that it was even so. Then they said, “It is his angel.”
16 But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.
17 But he, beckoning unto them with his hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Go and tell these things unto James and to the brethren.” And he departed and went into another place.
18 Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers over what had become of Peter.
19 And when Herod had sought him and found him not, he examined the guards and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judea to Caesarea and there stayed.
20 And Herod was highly displeased with those from Tyre and Sidon. But they came with one accord to him and, having made Blastus the king’s chamberlain their friend, they asked for peace, because their country was nourished by the king’s country.
21 And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne and delivered an oration unto them.
22 And the people gave a shout, saying, “It is the voice of a god, and not of a man!”
23 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory; and he was eaten by worms and gave up the ghost.
24 But the Word of God grew and multiplied.
25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.
13 Now there were in the church at Antioch certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene,and Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
3 And when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia, and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.
5 And when they were at Salamis, they preached the Word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had also John in their ministry.
6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus.
7 He was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the Word of God.
8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.
9 Then Saul (who also is called Paul), filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him
10 and said, “O, full of all guile and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?
11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season.” And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness, and he went about seeking someone to lead him by the hand.
12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.
13 Now when Paul and his company cast loose from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia; and John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem.
14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down.
15 And after the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, “Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.”
16 Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said: “Men of Israel and ye that fear God, give audience!
17 The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm He brought them out of it.
18 And for about forty years, He suffered their ways in the wilderness.
19 And when He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He divided their land among them by lot.
20 And after that, He gave unto them judges for about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.
21 And afterward they desired a king, and God gave unto them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for the space of forty years.
22 And when He had removed him, He raised up unto them David to be their king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after Mine own heart, who shall fulfill all My will.’
23 Of this man’s seed hath God, according to His promise, raised unto Israel a Savior, Jesus.
24 John had first preached, before His coming, the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
25 And as John was fulfilling his course, he said, ‘Whom think ye that I am? I am not He. But behold, there cometh One after me, the shoes of whose feet I am not worthy to loose.’
26 “Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.
27 For those who dwell in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they knew Him not nor yet understood the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath day, have fulfilled them in condemning Him.
28 And though they found no cause for death in Him, yet they asked Pilate that He should be slain.
29 And when they had fulfilled all that was written of Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a sepulcher.
30 But God raised Him from the dead;
31 and He was seen many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses unto the people.
32 And we declare unto you glad tidings of the promise which was made unto the fathers:
33 God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that He hath raised up Jesus again, as it is also written in the second Psalm: ‘Thou art My Son; this day have I begotten Thee.’
34 And concerning that He raised Him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, He said thus: ‘I will give you the sure mercies of David.’
35 Therefore He saith also in another Psalm: ‘Thou shalt not suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption.’
36 For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers, and saw corruption.
37 But He whom God raised again saw no corruption.
38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins;
39 and by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the Law of Moses.
40 Beware therefore, lest that come upon you which is spoken of in the Prophets:
41 ‘Behold, ye despisers, and wonder and perish; for I work a work your days, a work in which you shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.’”
42 And when the Jews had gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.
43 Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
44 And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the Word of God.
45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes they were filled with envy, and spoke against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.
46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold and said, “It was necessary that the Word of God should first have been spoken to you. But seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, ‘I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest bring salvation unto the ends of the earth.’”
48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the Word of the Lord; and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
49 And the Word of the Lord was spread abroad throughout all the region.
50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and honorable women and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their borders.
51 But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.
52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Ghost.
14 And it came to pass in Iconium that together they both went into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude of both the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.
2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and planted evil in their minds against the brethren.
3 A long time therefore they tarried among them, speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of His grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
4 But the multitude of the city was divided, and part held with the Jews and part with the apostles.
5 And when there was an assault made both by the Gentiles and also the Jews, with their rulers, to use them spitefully and to stone them,
6 they were aware of it and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about.
7 And there they preached the Gospel.
8 And there sat at Lystra a certain man, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked.
9 This same one heard Paul speak who, steadfastly beholding him and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,
10 said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on thy feet!” And he leaped and walked.
11 And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the language of Lycaonia, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men.”
12 And they called Barnabas, Jupiter, and Paul, Mercury, because he was the chief speaker.
13 Then the priest of Jupiter, who was in front of the city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates and would have done sacrifice along with the people.
14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they rent their clothes and ran in among the people, crying out and saying,
15 “Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions as you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all things that are therein,
16 and who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.
17 Nevertheless, He left not Himself without witness, in that He did good, and gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.”
18 But even with these sayings they scarcely restrained the people from doing sacrifice unto them.
19 And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium who persuaded the people; and having stoned Paul, they dragged him out of the city, supposing he was dead.
20 However, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up and came into the city; and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.
21 And when they had preached the Gospel to that city and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra and to Iconium and Antioch,
22 confirming the souls of the disciples and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God.
23 And when they had ordained elders in every church and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they believed.
24 And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.
25 And when they had preached the Word in Perga, they went down into Attalia
26 and thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had fulfilled.
27 And when they had come and had gathered the church together, they recounted all that God had done with them, and how He had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.
28 And there they remained a long time with the disciples.
15 And certain men who came down from Judea taught the brethren and said, “Unless ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.”
2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
3 And being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.
4 And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and by the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.
5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying that it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the Law of Moses.
6 And the apostles and the elders came together to consider this matter.
7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up and said unto them, “Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the Word of the Gospel and believe.
8 And God, who knoweth the hearts, bore them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost even as He did unto us,
9 and put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
10 Now therefore why tempt ye God to put a yoke upon the necks of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.”
12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul as they declared what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.
13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, hearken unto me.
14 Simon hath declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out from them a people for His name.
15 And to this agree the words of the Prophets, as it is written:
16 ‘After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down. And I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up,
17 that the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles upon whom My name is called, saith the Lord who doeth all these things.’
18 Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world.
19 Therefore my judgment is that we trouble not those from among the Gentiles who are turned to God,
20 but that we write unto them that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
21 For Moses from olden times hath in every city those who preach him, he being read in the synagogues every Sabbath day.”
22 Then it pleased the apostles and elders, together with the whole church, to send men chosen from their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely Judas surnamed Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren.
23 And they wrote letters to accompany them in this manner: “The apostles and elders and brethren send greetings unto the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:
24 Inasmuch as we have heard that certain ones who went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, ‘Ye must be circumcised and keep the law’ — to whom we gave no such commandment —
25 it seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26 men who have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.
28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:
29 that ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication. If ye keep yourselves from these things, ye shall do well. Fare ye well!”
30 So when they were sent off, they went to Antioch. And when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle;
31 and when they had read it, they rejoiced in its consolation.
32 And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and strengthened them.
33 And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace by the brethren to return unto the apostles.
34 Notwithstanding, it pleased Silas to remain there still.
35 Paul and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the Word of the Lord, with many others also.
36 And some days later, Paul said unto Barnabas, “Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the Word of the Lord, and see how they do.”
37 And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.
38 But Paul thought it not good to take him with them, as he had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them in the work.
39 And the contention was so sharp between them that they parted asunder, one from the other; and so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus.
40 And Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren unto the grace of God.
41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
16 Then Paul came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there named Timothy, the son of a certain woman who was a Jewess who believed, but whose father was a Greek.
2 He was well reported of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium.
3 Him Paul wanted to have go forth with him, and took and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those quarters, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered unto them the decrees to keep, that had been ordained by the apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem.
5 And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.
6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Ghost to preach the Word in Asia.
7 After they had come to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit suffered permit not.
8 And passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.
9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: there stood a man of Macedonia beseeching him, saying, “Come over into Macedonia and help us.”
10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavored to go into Macedonia, assuredly concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the Gospel unto them.
11 Therefore casting loose from Troas we made a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day Neapolis,
12 and from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony. And we stayed in that city a number of days.
13 And on the Sabbath, we went out of the city by a riverside where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down and spoke unto the women who resorted thither.
14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God, heard us; and the Lord opened her heart to give heed unto the things which were spoken by Paul.
15 And when she was baptized with her household, she besought us, saying, “If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and abide there.” And she constrained us.
16 And it came to pass as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed by a spirit of divination met us. She had brought her masters much gain by soothsaying.
17 The same followed Paul and us, crying out and saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who show unto us the way of salvation.”
18 And this she did many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, “I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that same hour.
19 And when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they caught Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace unto the rulers,
20 and brought them to the magistrates, saying, “These men, being Jews, trouble our city exceedingly,
21 and teach customs which are not lawful for us to receive nor to observe, being Romans.”
22 And the multitude rose up together against them, and the magistrates rent off their clothes and commanded that they be beaten.
23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely.
24 He, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison and made their feet fast in the stocks.
25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God, and the prisoners heard them.
26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s bands were loosed.
27 And the keeper of the prison, awakening out of his sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew out his sword and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had fled.
28 But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Do thyself no harm, for we are all here!”
29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling and fell down before Paul and Silas,
30 and brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”
32 And they spoke unto him the Word of the Lord, and to all who were in his house.
33 And he took them that same hour of the night and washed their stripes, and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
35 And when it was day, the magistrates sent the sergeants, saying, “Let those men go.”
36 And the keeper of the prison told these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go; now therefore depart and go in peace.”
37 But Paul said unto them, “They have beaten us openly, uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison. And now do they thrust us out privily? Nay verily! Let them come themselves and fetch us out.”
Copyright © 1994 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc.