Bible in 90 Days

Accusation against Stephen.^{[a] 8} Stephen, a man filled with grace and power, began to work great wonders and signs among the people. ⁹ Then certain members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen, people from Cyrene and Alexandria, as well as others from Cilicia and Asia, came forward to debate with Stephen. ¹⁰ However, they were unable to refute him because of his wisdom and the Spirit who inspired his speech.

¹¹ So they bribed some men to say, “We heard this Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” ¹² After this, stirring up the people as well as the elders and the scribes, they seized Stephen, placed him under arrest, and brought him before the Sanhedrin.

¹³ Then they called forward false witnesses who claimed, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and the Law. ¹⁴ For we have heard him assert that Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the traditions that Moses handed down to us.” ¹⁵ All those who sat in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and his face appeared like the face of an angel.

Chapter 7

Stephen’s Discourse. ¹ Then the high priest asked him, “Are these things true?” ² He replied, “Brethren and fathers, listen to me. The God of glory appeared to our ancestor Abraham while he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, ³ and said to him, ‘Leave your country and your relatives and go to the land that I will show you.’

⁴ “Therefore, he departed from the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. And after his father died, God led him to the land where you now dwell. ⁵ He did not give him any of this land as a heritage, not even as little as a foot, but he promised to give it to him as his possession, and to his descendants after him, even though he was childless.

⁶ “This is what God said: ‘His descendants will reside in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years. ⁷ But I will bring judgment on the nation that enslaved them,’ God said, ‘and after that they will come out and worship me in this place.’ ⁸ Then he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so, when he became the father of Isaac, he circumcised him on the eighth day, as Isaac did for Jacob, and Jacob did for the twelve patriarchs.

⁹ “The patriarchs were jealous of Joseph and they sold him into Egypt, but God was with him ¹⁰ and rescued him from all his afflictions. He gave Joseph wisdom and the favor of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, who appointed him governor of Egypt and his entire household.

¹¹ “Then a severe famine struck all of Egypt and Canaan, causing severe affliction, and our ancestors could find no food. ¹² However, when Jacob learned that there was grain available in Egypt, he sent our ancestors there on their first visit. ¹³ During their second visit, Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and his ancestry became known to Pharaoh. ¹⁴ Then Joseph sent for his father Jacob and his entire family, seventy-five people in all.

¹⁵ “Jacob migrated to Egypt, and after he and our ancestors had died there, ¹⁶ they were brought back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had purchased from the sons of Hamor at Shechem for a sum of money.

¹⁷ “When the time of the promise that God had pledged to Abraham drew near, our people in Egypt had greatly increased in number. ¹⁸ Then a new king came to power who had never heard of Joseph. ¹⁹ He dealt treacherously with our people and forced our ancestors to abandon their infants so that they could not survive.

²⁰ “It was at this time that Moses was born, who was pleasing to God. For three months he was nursed in his father’s house, ²¹ but after he had been abandoned, the daughter of Pharaoh adopted him and brought him up as her own son. ²² Moses was trained in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was powerful both in word and in deed.

²³ “When he was forty years old, he decided to visit his fellow countrymen, the children of Israel. ²⁴ When he saw one of them being maltreated, he went to his aid and avenged the victim by slaying the Egyptian. ²⁵ He thought that his brethren would realize that God was offering them deliverance through him, but they did not understand.

²⁶ “The next day, he came upon two of them fighting, and he tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brethren! Why are you trying to hurt one another?’ ²⁷ But the man who had wronged his neighbor pushed him aside, saying, ‘Who appointed you to be our ruler and judge? ²⁸ Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’ ²⁹ Moses fled when he heard this, and he dwelt as an alien in Midian and became the father of two sons.

³⁰ “After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the desert near Mount Sinai in the flame of a burning bush. ³¹ When Moses saw it, he was amazed, and as he approached to examine it, the voice of the Lord said to him, ³² ‘I am the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’

“Moses was terrified and did not dare to look. ³³ Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground. ³⁴ I have seen the oppression of my people in Egypt and have heard their sighs, and I have come down to rescue them. Now come! I will send you to Egypt.’

³⁵ “This Moses whom they rejected by saying ‘Who appointed you to be our ruler and judge?’ God now sent forth as both ruler and liberator through the angel who appeared to him in the bush. ³⁶ It was he who led them out, performing wonders and signs in Egypt, at the Red Sea, and for forty years in the desert. ³⁷ It was this Moses who said to the children of Israel, ‘God will raise up for you, from your own people, a prophet like me.’ ³⁸ It was he who was in the assembly in the desert with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai and with our ancestors, and who received words of life to hand on to us.

³⁹ “This is the man whom our ancestors refused to obey. Instead they thrust him aside, and in their hearts they turned back to Egypt, ⁴⁰ saying to Aaron, ‘Make gods for us who will lead us on the way. As for this Moses, who led us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him.’

⁴¹ “It was then that they made a calf, offered a sacrifice to the idol, and rejoiced over the work of their hands. ⁴² So God turned away from them and gave them up to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the Prophets:

⁴⁴ “While they were in the desert, our ancestors had the Tent of Testimony, as God commanded when he directed Moses to make it according to the pattern he had been shown. ⁴⁵ Our ancestors with Joshua brought it with them when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before our ancestors. It remained there until the time of David, ⁴⁶ who found favor with God and desired to provide a dwelling for the God of Jacob.

⁴⁷ “However, it was Solomon who built a house for him. ⁴⁸ Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made with human hands. As the prophet says,

⁵¹ “You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are always resisting the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do. ⁵² Was there ever a prophet whom your fathers did not persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, and now you have become his betrayers and murderers. ⁵³ You received the Law through God’s angels, and yet you have not observed it.”

⁵⁴ Stephen’s Martyrdom. When they heard this, they became enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. ⁵⁵ But Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at God’s right hand. ⁵⁶ “Look!” he cried. “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

⁵⁷ On hearing these words, they covered their ears, cried out loudly, and rushed en masse against him. ⁵⁸ Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. The witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.^[b]

⁵⁹ While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed aloud, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” ⁶⁰ Then he knelt down and cried out in a clear voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And with these words he fell asleep.

Chapter 8

The Church Becomes Open to the Gentiles.^{[c] 1} Saul approved of his death. That day marked the beginning of a severe persecution of the Church in Jerusalem, and everyone except the apostles scattered to the country districts of Judea and Samaria. ² Stephen was buried by devout men who made loud lamentations over him. ³ Saul, meanwhile, began to inflict great harm on the Church. He entered house after house, dragging off men and women and sending them to prison. ⁴ Now those who had been scattered went from place to place proclaiming the word.

The Mission in Judea and Samaria

Springtime in Samaria.^{[d] 5} Philip went down to a city in Samaria and began proclaiming the Christ to them. ⁶ The crowds welcomed the message proclaimed by Philip because they had heard and seen the signs he was doing. ⁷ For unclean spirits emerged with loud shrieks from many people who were possessed, and many others who were paralyzed or crippled were cured. ⁸ Thus, there was great joy in that city.

The Encounter with Magic.^{[e] 9} A man named Simon had been in that city for some time practicing magic and had astounded the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great. ¹⁰ All of them, from the least to the greatest, believed in him, declaring, “This man is the power of God that is called ‘The Great One.’ ”^{[f] 11} And they listened to him because for a long time they had been captivated by his magic.

¹² However, when the people came to believe Philip as he preached about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. ¹³ Even Simon himself became a believer. After his baptism, he was constantly in Philip’s company, and he was astonished when he saw the great signs and mighty deeds that were taking place.

¹⁴ The Holy Spirit. When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. ¹⁵ When they arrived there, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, ¹⁶ for as yet he had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ¹⁷ Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

¹⁸ Condemnation of Simony. When Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed by the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, ¹⁹ saying, “Give me this power too so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” ²⁰ But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought that you could obtain God’s gift with money. ²¹ You have no part or share in this, for your heart is not upright in the eyes of God. ²² Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours and beg the Lord that if possible you may be forgiven for devising your evil scheme. ²³ I see that you are engulfed in the gall of bitterness and the chains of wickedness.”

²⁴ Simon said in reply, “Pray for me to the Lord that nothing of what you have spoken about may befall me.” ²⁵ Then, after giving their testimony and proclaiming the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the good news to many Samaritan villages.

²⁶ Baptism of a High Official.^[g] Then the angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and head south along the road that leads from Jerusalem down to Gaza, the desert road.” ²⁷ Therefore, he got up and set out.

Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch,^[h] an official at the court of the Candace, that is, the queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship ²⁸ and was now returning home. As he sat in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah.

²⁹ Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join that chariot.” ³⁰ When Philip ran up, he heard him reading from the prophet Isaiah, and he asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” ³¹ He replied, “How can I, unless I have someone to instruct me?” Then he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him.

³² This was the Scripture passage he had been reading:

³⁴ Then the eunuch said to Philip, “Please tell me, about whom is the prophet speaking—about himself or someone else?” ³⁵ And so Philip, starting with this text of Scripture, proceeded to explain to him the good news of Jesus.

³⁶ As they were traveling along the road, they came to some water. The eunuch said, “Look, here is some water. What is to prevent me from being baptized?” [ ³⁷ And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” The eunuch said in reply, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”]^{[i] 38} Then he ordered the chariot to stop, and Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water, and he baptized him.

³⁹ When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but he went on his way rejoicing. ⁴⁰ Philip, however, appeared in Azotus^[j] and continued his journey, proclaiming the good news in every town until he reached Caesarea.

Chapter 9

Conversion of Saul on the Road to Damascus.^{[k] 1} Now, Saul,^[l] still breathing threats and violence against the Lord’s disciples, went to the high priest ² and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus,^[m] authorizing him to arrest any men or women there who were followers of the Way and bring them back to Jerusalem.

³ While he was drawing near Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from the sky flashed around him. ⁴ He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” ⁵ He asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. ⁶ Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you have to do.”

⁷ The men who were traveling with him stood there speechless, for they had heard the voice but had seen no one. ⁸ Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was unable to see. Therefore, they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. ⁹ For three days, he was without sight and neither ate nor drank.

¹⁰ Saul’s Baptism. There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. In a vision, the Lord said to him, “Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.” ¹¹ The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the Street called Straight,^[n] to the house of Judas, and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying, ¹² and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he may regain his sight.”

¹³ Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many people about this man and how much harm he has done to your saints^[o] in Jerusalem. ¹⁴ Now he has come here with authority from the chief priests to imprison all who invoke your name.”

¹⁵ However, the Lord said to him, “Go, for this is the man I have chosen as a vessel to bring my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. ¹⁶ I myself will show him how much he will have to suffer for the sake of my name.”

¹⁷ And so Ananias went forth and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on your way has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”^{[p] 18} Immediately, something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. He got up and was baptized; ¹⁹ then, after taking some food, he regained his strength.

Saul Preaches in Damascus. For several days, Saul stayed with the disciples in Damascus, ²⁰ and he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. ²¹ All those who heard him were astounded, and they said, “Is not this the man who in Jerusalem was persecuting those who invoked this name? And did he not come here for the specific purpose of arresting them so that they might be taken to the chief priests?” ²² But Saul’s strength continued to increase, and he confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by showing that Jesus is indeed the Christ.

²³ After some time had passed, the Jews devised a plan to kill him, ²⁴ but their plot became known to Saul. They were keeping watch on the city gates day and night so that they might kill him, ²⁵ but his disciples took him one night and let him down in a basket over the wall.

²⁶ Saul in Jerusalem and Tarsus. When he arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him because they did not believe that he had become a disciple. ²⁷ However, Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He related to them how on his journey Saul had seen the Lord who had spoken to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.

²⁸ Saul then moved about with them in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. ²⁹ He also engaged in debate with the Hellenists^[q] but they began planning to kill him. ³⁰ When the brethren learned of this, they brought him to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.^[r]

³¹ Period of Peace for the Church.^[s]Meanwhile, the Church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria enjoyed peace, building up strength and living in the fear of the Lord. Encouraged by the Holy Spirit,^[t] the Church grew in numbers.

³² Peter Heals Aeneas at Lydda. As Peter traveled throughout the region, he went down to visit the saints living in Lydda.^{[u] 33} While there, he found a man named Aeneas who had been bedridden for eight years, for he was paralyzed. ³⁴ Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed.” He immediately stood up. ³⁵ All the inhabitants of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

³⁶ Peter Restores Tabitha to Life. In Joppa, there was a disciple named Tabitha, or Dorcas in Greek, whose life was devoted to performing good works and giving to those in need. ³⁷ In those days, she became ill and died. After they had washed her body, they laid her out in an upper room.^{[v] 38} Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, on hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, “Please come to us without delay.”

³⁹ Peter immediately set out with them, and when he arrived, they escorted him to the upper room. All the widows stood around him, weeping and showing him the tunics and other clothes that Dorcas had made while she was with them.

⁴⁰ Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed. Then he turned to the body and said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up. ⁴¹ He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then he called the saints and the widows, and he showed her to them alive. ⁴² It came to be known throughout Joppa, causing many to come to believe in the Lord. ⁴³ Peter stayed on for many days in Joppa at the house of a tanner^[w] named Simon.

Baptism of the Centurion Cornelius

Chapter 10

The Vision of Cornelius.^{[x] 1} In Caesarea, there was a man named Cornelius who was a centurion of the so-called Italian cohort.^{[y] 2} He was a devout and God-fearing man, as were all the members of his household. He gave alms generously to the people and prayed constantly to God.

³ One afternoon about three o’clock,^[z] he had a vision in which he clearly saw an angel of God approaching him and calling to him, “Cornelius!” ⁴ He stared at him in terror and asked, “What is it, Lord?”

The angel said, “Your prayers and acts of charity have ascended as a memorial offering before God. ⁵ Now send some men to Joppa and summon a man named Simon, who is also called Peter. ⁶ He is lodging with another Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” ⁷ When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he summoned two of his servants and a devout soldier on his staff. ⁸ He told them all that had happened and sent them to Joppa.

The Vision of Peter.^{[aa] 9} About noon^[ab] the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. ¹⁰ He became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while it was being prepared, he fell into a trance. ¹¹ He then saw heaven opened and something that looked like a large sheet descending, being lowered to the ground by its four corners. ¹² In it were all kinds of four-footed animals as well as reptiles and birds of the air.

¹³ A voice then said to him, “Get up, Peter! Kill and eat!” ¹⁴ But Peter said, “Certainly not, Lord. For I have never eaten anything profane or unclean.” ¹⁵ The voice spoke again to him, for a second time, “What God has made clean, you must not call profane.” ¹⁶ This happened three times, and then immediately the object was taken up into heaven again.

¹⁷ While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision he had seen, suddenly the men who were sent by Cornelius appeared. They had asked for directions to Simon’s house, and now they were standing at the entrance ¹⁸ and inquiring whether Simon known as Peter was lodging there.

¹⁹ As Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Some men have come to see you. ²⁰ Hurry down and go with them without any hesitation, for I have sent them.”

²¹ Then Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason you have come?” ²² They replied, “A centurion named Cornelius, who is greatly respected by the entire Jewish nation as an upright and Godfearing man, was directed by a holy angel to summon you to his house and to hear what you have to say.” ²³ So he invited them in and gave them lodging.

The next day, he set out with them, accompanied by some of the brethren from Joppa. ²⁴ On the following day, they reached Caesarea. Cornelius had been expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. ²⁵ When Peter arrived, Cornelius came out to meet him and, falling at his feet, did him reverence. ²⁶ But Peter helped him up, saying, “Stand up. I am only a man myself.”

²⁷ While they conversed together, they went inside where a large crowd had gathered. ²⁸ Peter said to them, “You are well aware that Jews are forbidden to associate with or visit a Gentile. However, God has shown me that I should not call anyone profane or unclean. ²⁹ That is why I came without offering any objection when I was summoned. I would like to know exactly why you sent for me.”

³⁰ Cornelius replied, “Four days ago, at this very hour, three o’clock in the afternoon,^[ac] I was in my house praying when suddenly I saw a man in shining robes standing before me. ³¹ He said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your almsgiving has not been forgotten by God. ³² Therefore, send to Joppa and ask for Simon, who is also called Peter. He is lodging at the house of Simon the tanner, by the sea.’ ³³ And so I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. Now all of us have assembled here in the presence of God to listen to everything that the Lord has commanded you to say.”

³⁴ Peter’s Speech. Then Peter addressed them: “I now understand how true it is that God has no favorites, ³⁵ but that in every nation all those who fear God and do what is right are acceptable to him. ³⁶ He sent his word to the children of Israel and proclaimed the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is the Lord of all.

³⁷ “You are well aware of what was proclaimed all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism of John, ³⁸ how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went around doing good and healing all those who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

³⁹ “We are witnesses to everything he did in the Jewish countryside and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, ⁴⁰ but God raised him to life on the third day and allowed him to be seen ⁴¹ not by all the people but by witnesses who were chosen by God in advance—by us who ate and drank with him^[ad] after he rose from the dead. ⁴² He commanded us to preach to the people and to bear witness that he is the one designated by God as Judge of the living and the dead. ⁴³ To him all the Prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name.”

⁴⁴ The Baptism of Cornelius. While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit descended upon all who were listening to his message. ⁴⁵ The circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit should have been poured out on the Gentiles also. ⁴⁶ For they heard them speaking in tongues and proclaiming the greatness of God.

Peter said further, ⁴⁷ “Can anyone withhold the water of baptism from these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” ⁴⁸ Then he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. ⁴⁹ Afterward, they asked him to stay with them for a few days.

Chapter 11

Peter’s Explanation of Cornelius’ Baptism. ¹ The apostles and the brethren in Judea heard that the Gentiles too had accepted the word of God. ² Therefore, when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers protested to him, ³ saying, “Why did you enter the house of uncircumcised men and eat with them?”

⁴ Peter replied by explaining the facts to them step by step, saying, ⁵ “While I was praying one day in the city of Joppa, I fell into a trance and had a vision. I saw something like a large sheet lowered down from heaven by its four corners, and it landed close to me.

⁶ “I looked into it carefully and observed four-footed animals, wild beasts, reptiles, and birds. ⁷ I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Get up, Peter! Kill and eat!’ ⁸ But I said, ‘Certainly not, Lord. For nothing profane or unclean has ever been in my mouth.’ ⁹ But the voice spoke to me from heaven for a second time, ‘What God has made clean, you must not call profane.’ ¹⁰ This happened three times, and then everything was taken up into heaven again.

¹¹ “At that very moment, three men arrived at the house where we were staying. They had been sent to me from Caesarea. ¹² The Spirit instructed me to go with them without any hesitation. These six brethren also went with me, and we entered the man’s house. ¹³ He told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house who said, ‘Send to Joppa and ask for Simon who is also called Peter. ¹⁴ He will give you a message that will grant salvation to you and your entire household.’

¹⁵ “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit descended upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning, ¹⁶ and I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ ¹⁷ If then God gave them the same gift that he gave to us when we came to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to oppose God?”

¹⁸ When they heard this, they held their peace, and they praised God, saying, “God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life.”

¹⁹ A Church at Antioch.^[ae] Meanwhile, those who had scattered after the persecution that arose because of Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia,^[af] Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word only to Jews. ²⁰ However, among them there were some natives of Cyprus and Cyrene who went to Antioch where they started preaching also to the Greeks, proclaiming to them the good news of the Lord Jesus. ²¹ The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number of them became believers and turned to the Lord.

²² News of this reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. ²³ When he arrived and perceived the grace of God, he rejoiced, and he encouraged them all to remain faithful to the Lord with resolute devotion, ²⁴ for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and with faith. And a large number of people were added to the Lord.

²⁵ Barnabas then went to Tarsus^[ag] to look for Saul, ²⁶ and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a large number of people. It was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.

Threats against the Church^[ah]

²⁷ A Famine in the World.^[ai] During these days, some prophets^[aj] came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. ²⁸ One of them, named Agabus, stood up and predicted through the Spirit that a severe famine would afflict the entire world. This in fact occurred during the reign of Claudius. ²⁹ The disciples decided to send relief to the brethren living in Judea, each according to his means. ³⁰ This they did, delivering it to the elders^[ak] through Barnabas and Saul.

Chapter 12

Persecution, Death, and Imprisonment.^{[al] 1} It was about this period of time that King Herod^[am] persecuted certain members of the Church. ² He had James, the brother of John, killed with the sword, ³ and when he noted that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter as well. Since this happened during the feast of Unleavened Bread, ⁴ he imprisoned him and assigned four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to subject him to a public trial after Passover. ⁵ While Peter was thus imprisoned, the Church prayed fervently to God for him.

⁶ On the night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter, secured by two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while guards outside the door were keeping watch over the prison. ⁷ Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light flooded the building. He tapped Peter on the side and awakened him, saying, “Get up quickly!” And the chains fell away from his wrists. ⁸ Next, the angel said to him, “Fasten your belt and put on your sandals.” After he did so, the angel instructed him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.”

⁹ Accordingly, Peter followed him out. He did not realize that the intervention of the angel was real, thinking that he was seeing a vision. ¹⁰ After passing through the first guard post and then the second, they reached the iron gate that led out to the city. This opened for them of its own accord. They went outside and had walked the length of one street when suddenly the angel left him.

¹¹ Then Peter came to his senses and said, “Now I am positive that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.” ¹² As soon as he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John, also called Mark,^[an] where many had assembled and were at prayer.

¹³ When he knocked at the outer door, a maid named Rhoda came to answer it. ¹⁴ Recognizing Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the door, she ran in with the news that Peter was standing outside. ¹⁵ They said to her, “You are out of your mind,” but she insisted that it was true. Then they said, “It must be his angel.”

¹⁶ Meanwhile, Peter continued to knock, and when they opened the door they saw him and were astounded. ¹⁷ He motioned to them with his hand to be silent. After he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison, he said, “Report this to James^[ao] and the brethren.” Then he left and went to another place.

¹⁸ At daybreak, there was a great deal of commotion among the soldiers about what had become of Peter. ¹⁹ After instituting a search for him and being unable to find him, Herod interrogated the guards and ordered their execution. Then he left Judea to reside for a while in Caesarea.

²⁰ Death of Herod Agrippa I.^[ap] For a long time, Herod had been very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, who now came to him in a body. After gaining the support of Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for peace because their country depended on the king’s territory for their food supplies.

²¹ On the designated day, Herod donned his royal robes and, seated on a throne, delivered a public address to them. ²² They began to acclaim him, shouting, “This is the voice of a god, not a man!” ²³ Immediately, the angel of the Lord struck him down because he had not attributed the honor to God. He was eaten away by worms and died.

²⁴ Return of Barnabas and Saul to Jerusalem.^[aq] Meanwhile, the word of God continued to spread and gain more followers. ²⁵ Then, after Barnabas and Saul had completed their mission, they returned to Jerusalem, bringing with them John, also called Mark.^[ar]

Antioch^[as]

Paul’s First Missionary Journey^[at]

Chapter 13

Barnabas and Paul Sent Out on Mission.^{[au] 1} In the Church at Antioch, there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. ² On one occasion, while they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set Barnabas and Saul apart for me to do the work to which I have called them.” ³ Then, after completing their fasting and prayer, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

⁴ Having been sent on their mission by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia,^[av] and from there they set sail for Cyprus. ⁵ When they arrived in Salamis,^[aw] they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues, while John served as their assistant.

At Cyprus Facing a Proconsul and a Magician.^{[ax] 6} When they had traveled through the whole island as far as Paphos,^[ay] they encountered a magician named Bar-Jesus, who was a Jewish false prophet. ⁷ He was an attendant of the proconsul Sergius Paulus, a learned man who had summoned Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. ⁸ However, the magician Elymas (for that is the translation of his name) opposed them in an attempt to prevent the proconsul’s conversion to the faith.

⁹ Then Saul, also known as Paul,^[az] filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at Elymas ¹⁰ and said, “You offspring of the devil, you enemy of righteousness, filled with every kind of deceit and fraud, will you never cease to pervert the straight paths of the Lord? ¹¹ Now take note of how the hand of the Lord will strike you. You will be blind, and for a period of time you will not be able to see the sun.” Immediately, he was enveloped in a dark mist, and he groped about for someone to lead him by the hand. ¹² When the proconsul saw what had happened, he became a believer, having been deeply impressed by the teaching of the Lord.

¹³ Paul’s Arrival at Antioch in Pisidia.^[ba]Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and arrived at Perga^[bb] in Pamphylia. There, John left them and returned to Jerusalem. ¹⁴ Then they went on from Perga and arrived at Antioch^[bc] in Pisidia.

On the Sabbath, they went into the synagogue and took their seats. ¹⁵ After the readings from the Law and the Prophets, the officials of the synagogue sent this message to them, “Brethren, if you have any words of exhortation to offer to the people, please do so.”

¹⁶ Paul’s Speech in the Synagogue. Then Paul stood up, motioned with his hand, and began to speak, saying, “Listen, men of Israel and you others who fear God!^{[bd] 17} The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors and made our people great while they were dwelling as foreigners in Egypt. With uplifted arm, he led them out, ¹⁸ and for about forty years he endured their conduct in the desert.

¹⁹ “After he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave their land to his people as their inheritance ²⁰ at the end of about four hundred and fifty years.^[be] After that, he appointed judges for them until the time of the prophet Samuel.

²¹ “Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul, son of Kish, a man from the tribe of Benjamin. He reigned for forty years, ²² after which God removed him and raised up David as their king. In commending him, he said, ‘I have found David, the son of Jesse, to be a man after my own heart. He will carry out my every wish.’

²³ “From this man’s descendants, God has fulfilled his promise by raising up for Israel a savior, Jesus. ²⁴ Prior to his coming, John had already proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. ²⁵ And as John was nearing the end of his work, he said, ‘I am not the one you believe me to be. One is coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy to unfasten.’

²⁶ “Brethren, children of the family of Abraham, and those others among you who fear God, we are the ones to whom this message of salvation has been sent. ²⁷ The people of Jerusalem and their leaders failed to recognize Jesus or to understand the words of the Prophets that are read on every Sabbath, and they fulfilled those prophecies by condemning him. ²⁸ Even though they found no basis to justify his execution, they asked Pilate to have him killed.

²⁹ “When they had carried out everything that was written about him, they took him down from the tree and placed him in a tomb. ³⁰ However, God raised him from the dead, ³¹ and over a period of many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. These are now his witnesses before the people.

³² “We have come here to proclaim to you the good news—what God promised to our ancestors ³³ he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising Jesus up as it is written in the second psalm:

³⁴ “God raised him from the dead, never to be subjected to corruption. He declares it in these words, ‘To you I will give the blessings promised to David.’ ³⁵ And he also says in another psalm, ‘You will not allow your Holy One to suffer corruption.’ ³⁶ When David had served God’s purposes during his lifetime, he fell asleep, and he was buried with his ancestors, and he saw corruption. ³⁷ However, the one whom God raised up did not see corruption. ³⁸ “You must understand, brethren, that it is through him that forgiveness of sins is being proclaimed to you. ³⁹ All those who believe are justified from all the things from which they could not be justified by the Law of Moses. ⁴⁰ Beware, then, lest what the Prophets have foretold will happen to you:

⁴² As they were leaving the synagogue, the people urged them to speak further on these subjects on the following Sabbath. ⁴³ After the congregation had dispersed, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and urged them to remain faithful to the grace of God.

⁴⁴ Paul’s Speech to the Gentiles. On the next Sabbath, almost the entire city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. ⁴⁵ When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, and with blasphemy they contradicted whatever Paul said. ⁴⁶ Then both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God should be proclaimed to you first. However, since you have rejected it and judge yourselves to be unworthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. ⁴⁷ For so has the Lord commanded us to do, saying,

⁴⁸ When the Gentiles heard this, they were delighted, and they praised the word of the Lord. All those who were destined for eternal life became believers. ⁴⁹ Thus, the word of the Lord continued to spread throughout the entire region.

⁵⁰ However, the Jews incited the devout women of the upper classes and the leading men of the city. As a result, a campaign of persecution was stirred up against Paul and Barnabas, and they were driven out of the territory. ⁵¹ And so they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium.^{[bf] 52} And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Chapter 14

Jews and Gentiles at Iconium.^{[bg] 1} In Iconium, they went into the Jewish synagogue and spoke so effectively that a great number of both Jews and Greeks became believers. ² However, the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren. ³ Therefore, they stayed there for a considerable period of time, speaking boldly on behalf of the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to work signs and wonders.

⁴ However, the people in the city were divided, some siding with the Jews, others with the apostles. ⁵ Eventually, a plot was hatched by both the Gentiles and the Jews, together with their leaders, to attack and stone them. ⁶ When they became aware of this, they fled to the Lycaonian cities^[bh] of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding area. ⁷ There they preached the good news.

At Lystra Paul and Barnabas Are Taken for Gods.^{[bi] 8} At Lystra, there was a man who was crippled. Lame from birth, he had never once been able to walk. ⁹ He listened to Paul speaking. Paul looked intently at him, and, seeing that he had the faith to be healed, ¹⁰ called out to him in a loud voice, “Stand up on your feet.” The man sprang up and began to walk.

^11 [bj]When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they shouted in Lycaonian, “The gods have come down to us in human form!” ¹² They called Barnabas Zeus, and since Paul was the chief speaker, they called him Hermes. ¹³ And the priest of Zeus, who was on the outskirts of the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, since he and the people intended to offer sacrifice.

¹⁴ However, when the apostles Barnabas and Paul learned about this, they tore their clothes^[bk] and rushed into the crowd, shouting, ¹⁵ “Men, why are you doing this? We are only human beings, just like you. We proclaim to you the good news so that you may turn from these idols to the living God who made heaven and earth and the sea and all that is in them.

¹⁶ “In the past, God allowed all the Gentiles to go their own way. ¹⁷ However, even then he did not leave you without a witness in doing good, for he sends you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons, and he provides you with food and fills your hearts with joy.” ¹⁸ Yet, even with these words, they were barely able to prevent the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.

¹⁹ End of the First Mission.^[bl] Shortly thereafter, some Jews arrived on the scene from Antioch and Iconium, and they won over the crowds. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the town, believing that he was dead. ²⁰ But when the disciples gathered around him, he got up and entered the city. On the next day, he and Barnabas departed for Derbe.

²¹ After they had proclaimed the good news in that city and gained a considerable number of disciples, they returned to Lystra and then moved on to Iconium and Antioch. ²² They strengthened the disciples and encouraged them to persevere in the faith, saying, “It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships in order to enter the kingdom of God.” ²³ In each Church, they appointed presbyters for them, and with prayer and fasting they commended them to the Lord in whom they had come to believe.

²⁴ Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. ²⁵ After proclaiming the word at Perga, they went down to Attalia,^{[bm] 26} and from there they sailed to Antioch,^[bn] where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had completed. ²⁷ When they arrived, they called the church together and related all that God had accomplished through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. ²⁸ And they stayed there with the disciples for some time.

Chapter 15

The Council of Jerusalem^[bo]

The Question of Circumcision. Some men who had come down from Judea were teaching the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised in accordance with the tradition of Moses, you cannot be saved.” ² As a result, Paul and Barnabas engaged in a lengthy and acrimonious debate with them, and finally it was decided that Paul and Barnabas and some of the others should go up to Jerusalem to discuss this question with the apostles and the elders.

³ So the church sent them on their journey; and as they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, they reported how the Gentiles had been converted, and this news was received with great joy by all the brethren. ⁴ When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the Church and by the apostles and the elders, and they gave a report of all that God had accomplished through them. ⁵ But some from the group of Pharisees who had become believers stood up and declared, “It is necessary for the Gentiles to be circumcised and ordered to observe the Law of Moses.”

Salvation through the Grace of Christ. ⁶ The apostles and the elders convened to consider this matter. ⁷ After a long period of debate, Peter stood up to address them. “Brethren,” he said, “you are well aware that in the early days God made his choice among you that it would be through my mouth that the Gentiles would hear the message of the gospel and become believers. ⁸ And God, who knows the heart, bore witness by giving to them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us. ⁹ He made no distinction between them and us, for he purified their hearts by faith.

¹⁰ “Therefore, why are you determined to try God’s patience by laying a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither we nor our ancestors have found easy to bear? ¹¹ On the contrary, we believe that we are saved in the same way as they are, through the grace of the Lord Jesus.” ¹² On hearing this, the whole assembly fell silent, and they listened as Barnabas and Paul described all the signs and wonders that God had worked through them among the Gentiles.

¹³ James on Dietary Law. After they had finished speaking, James responded, “Brethren, listen to me. ¹⁴ Simon^[bp] has related how God first looked favorably upon the Gentiles and took from among them a people for his name. ¹⁵ This agrees with the words of the Prophets, as it is written,

¹⁹ “Therefore, I have come to this decision. We should not make things more difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. ²⁰ Rather, we should send a letter simply instructing them to abstain from things that have been polluted by idols, from unchastity, from the meat of animals that have been strangled, and from blood. ²¹ For in every town for many generations, Moses has had those who proclaim him, for he is read aloud in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”

²² The Letter of the Apostles. Then the apostles and the elders, with the approval of the whole Church, decided to choose representatives from their number and to send them with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch. They sent Judas, who was called Barsabbas,^[bq] and Silas, leaders in the community, ²³ to deliver the following letter:

The apostles and the elders, your brethren,

To the brethren in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:

Greetings.

²⁴ It has come to our attention that some of our number, without having received any instructions from us, have upset you with their teachings and disturbed your peace of mind. ²⁵ Therefore, we have decided unanimously to choose representatives and send them to you together with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, ²⁶ men who have dedicated their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁷ And so we are sending Judas and Silas who will confirm these things by word of mouth.

²⁸ It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and also our decision not to lay any further burden upon you beyond these essentials: ²⁹ you are to abstain from food that has been sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of animals that have been strangled, and from unchastity. If you avoid these, you will be doing what is right.

Farewell.

³⁰ Delegates at Antioch. So the men departed. When they reached Antioch, they summoned together the entire congregation and delivered the letter. ³¹ Upon reading it, the community rejoiced at its encouragement.

³² Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, spoke at length to strengthen and encourage the brethren. ³³ After they had spent some time there, they were sent off in peace by the brethren to return to those who had sent them. ³⁴ [But Silas decided to remain there.]^{[br] 35} Meanwhile, Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, where, along with many others, they taught and proclaimed the word of God.

Paul’s Second Missionary Journey^[bs]

³⁶ Paul and Barnabas Separate.^[bt] After some time had passed, Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the brethren in all the cities where we proclaimed the word of the Lord so that we can see how they are progressing.” ³⁷ Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, ³⁸ but Paul was adamant about not taking with them a man who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued to share in their work.

³⁹ As a result, there was such a sharp disagreement that they parted company, and Barnabas sailed to Cyprus with Mark. ⁴⁰ However, Paul chose Silas and set out on his journey, as the brethren commended him to the grace of the Lord.

⁴¹ Pastoral Visit to Asia Minor.^[bu] He traveled through Syria and Cilicia, bringing strength to the churches.

Chapter 16

¹ He then moved on to Derbe and Lystra where there was a disciple named Timothy,^[bv] the son of a Jewish woman who had become a believer, but his father was a Greek. ² The brethren of Lystra and Iconium regarded him highly, ³ and Paul decided to take him along. Therefore, he had him circumcised, because of the Jews in that region who all knew that his father was a Greek.

⁴ As they traveled from town to town, they made known to the brethren there the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and the elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. ⁵ Day by day, the churches grew strong in the faith and increased in numbers.

⁶ They traveled through the region of Phrygia^[bw] and Galatia because they had been told by the Holy Spirit not to preach the word in the province of Asia. ⁷ When they approached the border of Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but since the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to do so, ⁸ they passed through Mysia and came down to Troas.^[bx]

Paul at Philippi.^{[by] 9} During the night, Paul had a vision in which a man of Macedonia appeared to him and pleaded with him, saying, “Cross over to Macedonia and help us.” ¹⁰ Once he had seen this vision, we immediately arranged for passage to Macedonia, convinced that God had summoned us to proclaim the good news to them.

¹¹ We set sail from Troas and made a straight run to Samothrace.^[bz] On the following day, we reached Neapolis, ¹² and from there we sailed to Philippi,^[ca] a leading city in the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We spent some time in that city.

¹³ On the Sabbath, we went outside the city gate alongside the river where we assumed there would be a place of prayer. We sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there. ¹⁴ One of the women, whose name was Lydia, was a worshiper of God. She was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart to accept what Paul was saying. ¹⁵ When she and her household had been baptized, she urged us insistently, “If you regard me as a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my home.” And she won us over.

¹⁶ Paul Imprisoned at Philippi.^[cb]On one occasion, as we were on our way to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who was possessed by a spirit of divination and brought large profits to her owners by fortune-telling. ¹⁷ She began to follow Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to proclaim to you a way of salvation.” ¹⁸ She kept doing this for many days, until Paul became very greatly troubled. He turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And the spirit came out of her instantly.

¹⁹ When her owners realized that their hope of making money from her was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities. ²⁰ They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are causing a disturbance in our city. They are Jews, ²¹ and they are advocating practices that it is illegal for us as Romans to adopt or follow.”

²² The crowd joined in the attack against them, and the magistrates had them stripped and ordered them to be beaten. ²³ After they had inflicted a severe beating on them, they threw them into prison and instructed the jailer to guard them closely. ²⁴ Following these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and locked their feet in the stocks.

²⁵ Paul Set Free. About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. ²⁶ Suddenly, there was such a huge earthquake that the very foundations of the prison were shaken. At once, all the doors flew open, and everyone’s chains were loosened.

²⁷ When the jailer awakened and saw all the doors of the prison wide open, he drew his sword, intending to kill himself, since he assumed that the prisoners had escaped. ²⁸ However, Paul shouted in a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.”

²⁹ The jailer called for lights and, rushing in, he threw himself before Paul and Silas, trembling with fear. ³⁰ Then he brought them outside and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” ³¹ They answered, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, and so too will your household.” ³² After this, they preached the word of the Lord to him and to everyone in his house.

³³ At that late hour of the night, the jailer took them and bathed their wounds. Then he and his entire family were baptized without delay. ³⁴ Afterward, he brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced over their belief in God.

³⁵ When it was daylight, the magistrates sent police officers with the order, “Let those men go.” ³⁶ The jailer reported the message to Paul, saying, “The magistrates sent word to let you go. Now you can come out and depart in peace.” ³⁷ But Paul said to the officers, “We are Roman citizens. They gave us a public beating and threw us into prison without a trial. And now they are going to release us secretly. Absolutely not! Let them come in person and escort us out themselves.”