Bible in 90 Days
8 Now Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
9 Then there arose certain ones out of the synagogue who are called ‘Freedmen’ – as well as Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and ones from Cilicia and Asia - and disputed with Stephen.
10 But they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.
11 Then they incited men, who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God!”
12 Thus they moved the people and the elders, and the scribes. And running after him, caught him, and brought him to the Council.
13 And they set forth false witnesses, who said, “This man does not cease 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 ordinances which Moses gave us!”
15 And as all who sat in the Council looked steadfastly at him, they saw his face as the face of an angel.
7 Then the High Priest said, “Are these things so?”
2 And he said, “You men! Brothers and fathers! Listen! The God of Glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was in Mesopotamia (before he lived in Haran),
3 “and said to him, ‘Come out of our country, and from your kindred. And come into the land which I shall show you.’
4 “Then he came out of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Haran. And after his father died, God brought him from there into this land wherein you now dwell.
5 “And He gave him no inheritance in it; no, not the breadth of a foot. Yet, He promised that He would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when he still had no child.
6 “But God said this: ‘that his seed would be a sojourner in a strange land. And that they would keep it in bondage and mistreat it four hundred years.
7 ‘But the nation to whom they shall be in bondage, I will judge,’ says God, ‘And after that, they shall come forth and serve Me in this place.’
8 “He also gave him the Covenant of Circumcision. And Abraham begat Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day. And Isaac begat Jacob, and Jacob 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 his whole house.
11 “Then there came a famine over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction, so that our fathers found no sustenance.
12 “But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent our fathers first.
13 “And the second time, Joseph was known by his brethren, and Joseph’s kindred were made known to Pharaoh.
14 “Then Joseph had his father and all his kindred brought, even seventy-five souls.
15 “So Jacob went down into Egypt, and he and our fathers died.
16 “And they were removed to Shechem and were put in the sepulcher which Abraham had bought for money from the sons of Hamor of Shechem.
17 “But when the time of the promise which God had sworn to Abraham drew near, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt.
18 “Until another King arose who did not know Joseph.
19 “The same dealt craftily with our kindred, and mistreated our fathers, and made them abandon their young children, so that they would not live.
20 “At the same time, Moses was born, and was acceptable to God. He was nursed in his father’s house for three months.
21 “And when he was abandoned, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up, and brought him up as her own son.
22 “And Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was mighty in words and in deeds.
23 “Now when he was fully forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel.
24 “And when he saw one of them being wronged, he defended him, and avenged the one who had been harmed, and killed the Egyptian.
25 “For he assumed that his brothers would have understood that God, by His hand, would give them deliverance. But they did not understand that.
26 “And the next day, he showed himself to them as they fought, and tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Sirs, you are brothers. Why do you wrong each other?’
27 “But the one who had wronged his neighbor thrust him away, saying, ‘Who made you a prince and a judge over us?
28 ‘Will you kill me as you did the Egyptian yesterday?’
29 “Then Moses fled at those words, and was a stranger in the land of Midian, where he had two sons.
30 “And after forty years had passed, an Angel of the Lord in a flame of fire appeared to him in a bush, in the wilderness of mount Sinai.
31 “And when Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight. And as he drew near to examine it, the voice of the Lord came to him, saying,
32 ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ Then Moses trembled, and dared not look at it.
33 “Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off your shoes from your feet. For the place where you stand is Holy Ground.
34 ‘Seeing, 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, and I will send you into Egypt.
35 “This Moses whom they forsook, saying, ‘Who made you a prince and a judge?’ The same man God sent as a prince and a deliverer, by the hand of the Angel which appeared to him in the bush.
36 “He brought them out, doing wonders and miracles in the land of Egypt, and in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness, forty years.
37 “This is that Moses who said to the children of Israel, ‘The Lord your God shall raise up to you a Prophet like me from your brothers. Him you shall hear.
38 “This is he who was in the congregation in the wilderness, with the Angel which spoke to him on mount Sinai, and with our fathers who received the living oracles to give to us;
39 “whom our fathers would not obey, but refused, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,
40 ‘saying to Aaron, ‘Make us gods that may go before us. For we do not know what has become of this Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt.’
41 “And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.
42 “Then God turned Himself away, and gave them up to serve the host of heaven, as it is written in the Book of the Prophets, ‘O House of Israel, have you offered to Me slain beasts and sacrifices for forty years in the wilderness?
43 “‘And you took up the Tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan - figures which you made to worship them. Therefore, I will carry you away beyond Babylon.’
44 “Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as He had appointed; speaking to Moses so that he would make it according to the pattern which he had seen,
45 “which our fathers also received and (with Joshua) brought into the land possessed by the Gentiles, whom God drove out before our fathers until the days of David,
46 “who found favor before God, and desired that he might find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.
47 “But Solomon built him a house.
48 “However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands. As says the Prophet,
49 ‘Heaven is My throne. And Earth is My footstool. What house will you build for Me?’, says the Lord. ‘Or, what place is it that I should rest in?
50 ‘Has not My hand made all these things?’
51 “You stiff-necked! With uncircumcised hearts and ears! You have always resisted the Holy Ghost. As your fathers did, so do you!
52 “Which of the Prophets have your fathers not persecuted? And they have killed those who foretold of the coming of the Just One, Of Whom you are now the betrayers and murderers.
53 “Who have received the law by the ordinance of angels and have not kept it.”
54 And when they heard these things, they were cut to the quick. And they gnashed at him with their teeth.
55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked steadfastly into Heaven, and saw the Glory of God; and Jesus, standing at the right hand of God,
56 and said, “Behold, I see the heavens open! And the Son of Man, standing at the right hand of God!”
57 Then they gave a shout with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him violently all at once,
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 named Saul.
59 And they stoned Stephen, who called out, saying, “Lord Jesus! Receive my spirit!”
60 And he kneeled down and cried with a loud voice, “Lord! Do not lay this sin to their charge!” And when he had spoken this, he slept.
8 And Saul consented to his death. And at that time, there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem. And they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the Apostles.
2 Then God-fearing men carried Stephen to be buried and made great lamentation for him.
3 But Saul defiled the Church, and entered into every house, and drew out both men and women, and put them into prison.
4 Therefore, those who were scattered throughout, went to and fro preaching the word.
5 Then Philip came into the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.
6 And the people paid attention to those things which Philip spoke, with one mind, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
7 For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed. And many taken with palsies, and who were lame, were healed.
8 And there was great joy in that city.
9 And there had been in the city, a certain man called Simon, who used witchcraft, and bewitched the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was some great man;
10 to whom they paid attention, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God!”
11 And they paid attention to him because he had bewitched them with sorceries for a long time.
12 But as soon as they believed Philip (who preached things concerning the Kingdom of God and the Name of Jesus Christ), they were baptized, both men and women.
13 Then Simon himself also believed and was baptized. And he continued with Philip. And when he saw the signs and great miracles which were done, he wondered.
14 Now when the Apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.
15 Who, when they had come down, prayed for them to receive the Holy Ghost.
16 For as yet He had not fallen down on any of them. But they had been baptized only in the Name of the Lord Jesus.
17 Then they laid their hands on them. And they received the Holy Ghost.
18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the Apostles’ hands, the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
19 saying, “Give me this power also! So that whomever I lay hands upon may receive the Holy Ghost!”
20 Then Peter said to him, “Your money dies with you because you think that the gift of God may be obtained with money.
21 “You have neither part nor fellowship in this Word. For your heart is not right in the sight of God.
22 “Therefore repent of this, your wickedness. And pray to God that if it be possible, the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.
23 “For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.”
24 Then Simon answered, and said, “Pray to the Lord for me, that none of these things which you have spoken come upon me!”
25 So after they had testified and preached the Word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem and preached the Gospel in many Samaritan towns.
26 Then the Angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise, and go towards the south to the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza, which is a wasteland.”
27 And he arose and went on. And behold, a certain eunuch of Ethiopia (Candace the Queen of the Ethiopians’ Chief Governor, who had the rule over all her treasure) who came to Jerusalem to worship,
28 was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he read Isaiah the Prophet.
29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and enjoin this chariot.”
30 And Philip ran there, and heard him read the Prophet Isaiah, and said, “But do you understand what you read?”
31 And he said, “How can I unless I have a guide?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him.
32 Now the place of the Scripture which he read was this, “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter. And like a lamb, mute before his shearer, so also did He not open His mouth.
33 “In His humility, His judgment has been exalted. But who shall declare His generation? For His life is taken from the Earth.”
34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, “I ask you, of Whom does the Prophet say this, of himself, or of some other Man?”
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same Scripture, and preached Jesus to him.
36 And as they went on their way, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What must I do to be baptized?”
37 And Philip said to him, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” Then he answered, and said, “I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
38 Then he commanded the chariot to stop. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water. And he baptized him.
39 And as soon as they had come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more. So, he went on his way, rejoicing.
40 But Philip was found at Azotus. And he walked to and fro, preaching in all the cities, until he came to Caesarea.
9 And Saul, still breathing out threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the High Priest,
2 and asked for letters to Damascus, to the synagogues, so that if he found any who were of the Way, (either men or women) he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
3 Now as he journeyed, it so happened that as he drew near to Damascus, there suddenly shone around him a light from Heaven.
4 And he fell to the Earth, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?”
5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And the Lord said, “I am Jesus, Whom you persecute. It is hard for you to kick against goads.”
6 Then, both trembling and astonished, he said, “Lord, what will You have me do?” And the Lord said to him, “Arise, and go into the city. And it shall be told to you what you shall do.”
7 The men who journeyed with him also stood amazed - hearing the voice but seeing no one.
8 And Saul arose from the ground and opened his eyes but saw no man. Then, led they him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus,
9 where he was without sight for three days, and neither ate nor drank.
10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Behold, I am here, Lord.”
11 Then the Lord said to him, “Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight. And look in the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus. For behold, he prays.”
12 “And in a vision, he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hands on him, so that he might receive his sight.”
13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man; how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem.
14 “Moreover, here he has the authority of the chief priests to bind all that call on Your Name.”
15 Then the Lord said to him, “Go. For he is a vessel chosen by Me to bear My Name before the Gentiles, and Kings, and the children of Israel.
16 “For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My Name’s sake.”
17 Then Ananias went, and entered that house, and put his hands on him, and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, Who appeared to you on the way as you came, has sent me, so that you might receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Ghost.”
18 And immediately something like ‘scales’ fell from his eyes. And suddenly he received sight, and arose, and was baptized,
19 and received food and was strengthened. So, Saul was with the Damascus disciples for some days.
20 And immediately he preached Christ in the synagogues, that He was the Son of God.
21 So that all who heard him were amazed, and said, “Is not this he who harassed those who called on this Name in Jerusalem, and came here for that purpose, so that he could bring them bound to the chief priests?”
22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt at Damascus, confirming that this was the Christ.
23 And after that many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him.
24 But their plot was known by Saul. Now, they watched the gates day and night, so that they might kill him.
25 Then the disciples took him at night. And, by rope, they let him down through the wall in a basket.
26 And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. But they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple.
27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the Apostles, and told them how he had seen the Lord on the road. And that he had spoken to Him. And how he had spoken boldly at Damascus in the Name of Jesus.
28 And he was with them, coming in and going out, at Jerusalem.
29 And he spoke boldly in the Name of the Lord Jesus and spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they sought to kill him.
30 But when the brothers knew it, they brought him to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.
31 Then the Churches had rest through all Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria, and were edified, and walked in the fear of the Lord, and were multiplied by the comfort of the Holy Ghost.
32 And it so happened that as Peter walked throughout all quarters, he also came to the saints who dwelt in Lydda.
33 And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been sick of the palsy and lying on a mat for eight years.
34 Then Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ makes you whole. Arise, and make your bed.” And he arose immediately.
35 And all who dwelt in Lydda and Sharon, saw him, and turned to the Lord.
36 There was also a certain woman in Joppa, a disciple named Tabitha (which means ‘Dorcas’). She was full of good works and alms which she did.
37 And it so happened in those days that she fell sick and died. And after they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.
38 Now since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, asking that he not delay in coming to them.
39 Then Peter arose and came with them. And when he had come, they brought him into the upper room, where all the weeping widows stood by him and showed him the coats and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them.
40 But Peter put them all out; and kneeled down, and prayed, and turned to the body, and said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes. And when she saw Peter, she sat up.
41 Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up, and called the saints and widows, and presented her alive.
42 And it was known throughout all Joppa. And many believed in the Lord.
43 And it so happened that he stayed in Joppa many days with one Simon, a tanner.
10 Furthermore, there was a certain man in Caesarea named Cornelius - a captain of the band called the ‘Italian’ -
2 a devout man, and one who feared God with all his household, who gave many alms to the people, and prayed to God continually.
3 Evidently, he saw an angel of God in a vision (about the ninth hour of the day) coming in to him and saying, “Cornelius.”
4 But when he looked at him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up in remembrance before God.
5 “Now, therefore, send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter.
6 “He lodges with one Simon, a Tanner, whose house is by the seaside. He shall tell you what you ought to do.”
7 And when the angel who spoke to Cornelius had departed, he called two of his servants and a God-fearing soldier (one of those who waited on him continually).
8 And he told them all things and sent them to Joppa.
9 The next day, about the sixth hour, as they went on their journey and drew near to the city, Peter went up on the house to pray.
10 Then he became hungry and wished to eat. But while they prepared it, he fell into a trance.
11 And he saw the sky opened. And a certain vessel came down to him, like a great sheet, tied at the four corners, and being let down to the Earth.
12 Inside were all kinds of four-footed beasts of the Earth, and wild beasts and creeping things, and birds of the heaven.
13 And there came a voice to him, “Arise, Peter. Kill, and eat.”
14 But Peter said, “Not so, Lord. For I have never eaten anything that is polluted or unclean.”
15 And the voice spoke to him again a second time, “The things which God has cleansed, do not make common.”
16 This was done three times. And the vessel was drawn up again into Heaven.
17 Now, while Peter questioned in himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold the men who were sent from Cornelius had inquired after Simon’s house, and stood at the gate,
18 calling and asking whether Simon (who was surnamed Peter) was lodged there.
19 And while Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men seek you.
20 “Therefore, rise up. And get down. And go with them. And doubt nothing. For I have sent them.”
21 Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, “Behold, I am he whom you seek. Why have you come?”
22 And they said, “Cornelius the Captain - a just man, and one who fears God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews - was warned from Heaven by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear your words.”
23 Then he called them in and lodged them. And the next day, Peter went with them, and some brothers from Joppa accompanied him.
24 And the day after that, they entered into Caesarea. Now Cornelius waited for them and had called together his family and special friends.
25 And it so happened, as Peter came in, that Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up. For I myself am also a man.”
27 And as he talked with him, he came in and found many who had gathered.
28 And he said to them, “You know that it is an unlawful thing for a man who is a Jew to keep company with, or come near, one of another Nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common, or unclean.
29 “Therefore I came to you without saying no when I was summoned. I ask, then, the reason why have you sent for me?”
30 Then Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I fasted. And at the ninth hour, I prayed in my house. And behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
31 “and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer is heard. And your alms are held in remembrance in the sight of God.
32 ‘Therefore, send to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter (he is lodged in the house of Simon a Tanner by the seaside) When he comes, he shall speak to you.’
33 “Then sent I for you immediately. And you have done well to come. Now, therefore, are we all present here before God to hear all things that have been commanded you by God.”
34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, “Truthfully, I perceive that God is no respecter of persons.
35 “But in every Nation, the one who fears Him, and works righteousness, is acceptable to Him.
36 “The Word - which God has sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ, Who is Lord of all -
37 “you know the Word which came through all Judea, beginning in Galilee, after the Baptism which John preached;
38 “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost, and with power - Who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil - for God was with Him.
39 “And we are witnesses of all things done by Him Whom they killed and hung on a tree (things in both the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem).
40 “God raised Him up the third day, and showed Him openly -
41 “not to all the people, but to the witnesses chosen by God beforehand - to those of us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.
42 “And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that He has been ordained by God as a judge of quick and dead.
43 “To Him also give all the Prophets witness, that through His Name all who believe in Him shall receive forgiveness of sins.”
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Ghost fell upon all those who heard the word.
45 So those of the circumcision who believed (as many as had come with Peter), were astonished because the gift of the Holy Ghost was also poured out on the Gentiles.
46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered,
47 “Can anyone forbid water, so that these who have received the Holy Ghost, as we have, should not be baptized?”
48 So he commanded them to be baptized in the Name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay some days.
11 Now the Apostles and the brothers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the Word of God.
2 And when Peter had come up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision examined him,
3 saying, “You went to uncircumcised men and have eaten with them.”
4 Then Peter began expounding it in order to them, saying,
5 “I was in the city of Joppa, praying. And while in a trance, I saw this vision: a certain vessel, coming down as a great sheet, let down from Heaven by the four corners. And it came to me.
6 “When I had fastened my eyes on it, I considered, and saw four-footed beasts of the Earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and birds of the heaven.
7 “Also I heard a voice, saying to me, ‘Arise, Peter. Kill and eat.’
8 “And I said, ‘Absolutely not, Lord! For nothing common or unclean has ever entered into my mouth.’
9 “But the voice answered me a second time from the sky, ‘The things that God has purified, do not make common.’
10 “And this was done three times, and all were taken up again into the sky.
11 “Then behold, immediately there were three men who had already come to the house where I was, sent to me from Caesarea.
12 “And the Spirit said to me that I should go with them, without doubting. Moreover, these six brothers came with me. And we entered into the man’s house.
13 “And he showed us how he had seen an angel in his house, who stood and said to him, ‘Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter.
14 ‘He shall speak words to you, whereby both you and all your house shall be saved.’
15 “And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, just as upon us at the beginning.
16 “Then I remembered the Word of the Lord. How He said, ‘John baptized with water. But you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.’
17 “If, then, God gave them a similar gift to the one He gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?”
18 When they heard these things, they kept silent, and glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted repentance unto life to the Gentiles.”
19 And those who were scattered because of the affliction which arose about Stephen, passed through until they came to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, preaching the Word to no one except the Jews.
20 Now some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come into Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, and preached the Lord Jesus.
21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, so that a great number believed and turned to the Lord.
22 Then, word of those things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem. And they sent forth Barnabas, to go as far as Antioch;
23 who, when he had come and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and encouraged all to continue in the Lord with purpose of heart.
24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost, and faith. And many people joined themselves to the Lord.
25 Then Barnabas left for Tarsus to seek Paul.
26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And it so happened that they met with the church a whole year and taught many people. And the disciples were first called “Christians” in Antioch.
27 In those days, Prophets also came from Jerusalem to Antioch.
28 And one named Agabus stood up and signified by the Spirit that there would be great famine throughout all the world (which also happened under Claudius Caesar).
29 Then the disciples, everyone according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brothers who dwelt in Judea;
30 which they also did, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
12 Now about that time, Herod the King stretched forth his hand to afflict some of the church,
2 And he killed James, the brother of John, with the sword.
3 And when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further, to take Peter also (during the Days of Unleavened Bread.)
4 And when he had caught him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to be kept, intending to bring him forth to the people after the Passover.
5 So Peter was kept in prison. But earnest prayer was made to God for him by the church.
6 And the night when Herod wished to have him brought out to the people, Peter slept between two soldiers, bound with two chains. And the guards before the door kept the prison.
7 And behold, the Angel of the Lord came upon them. And a light shined in the house. And he struck Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands.
8 And the Angel said to him, “Dress yourself. And put on your sandals.” And so, he did. Then he said to him, “Wrap your garment around you, and follow me.”
9 So Peter came out and followed him; and did not know that what was done by the Angel was real, but thought he had seen a vision.
10 Now, after they had passed the first and the second guards, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them by itself. And they went out and passed through one street. And immediately the Angel departed from him.
11 And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent his Angel, and has delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectations of the Jewish people.”
12 And as he considered it, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John (whose surname was Mark), where many were gathered together and prayed.
13 And when Peter knocked at the entry door, a girl named Rhoda came forth to answer it.
14 But when she recognized Peter’s voice, she did not open the gate. But with gladness, she ran in and told how Peter stood before the gate.
15 But they said to her, “You are mad.” Still she kept affirming that it was so. Then they said, “It is his angel.”
16 But Peter continued knocking. And when they had opened it, and saw him, they were astonished.
17 And with his hand he asked them to be silent. And he told them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Go show these things to James and to the brothers.” And he departed and went into another place.
18 Now as soon as it was day, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter.
19 And when Herod had asked for and not found him, he examined the guards, and commanded them to be led away for punishment. And he went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there.
20 Then Herod was angry with those of Tyre and Sidon. But they all came to him with one mind. And having befriended Blastus, the King’s chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country was nourished by the King.
21 And upon an appointed day, Herod clothed himself in royal apparel, and sat on the judgment seat, and made a speech to them.
22 And the people gave a shout, saying, “The voice of God, and not of man!”
23 But immediately the Angel of the Lord struck him - so that he was eaten by worms and gave up the ghost - because he did not give glory to God.
24 And the Word of God grew and multiplied.
25 So, when they had fulfilled their ministry, Barnabas and Saul took John with them (whose surname was Mark), and returned from Jerusalem.
13 Now in the church that was in Antioch, there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas and Simeon (called Niger), and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the Tetrarch) and Saul.
2 Now as they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, “Separate Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
3 Then they fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, and let them go.
4 And after they were sent forth by the Holy Ghost, they came down to Seleucia. And from there 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 also had John as their attendant.
6 So after they had gone through the island, to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer (a false prophet, a Jew) named Bar-Jesus,
7 who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man. He called Barnabas and Saul to him and asked to hear the Word of God.
8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for such is the meaning of his name) opposed them and sought to turn the proconsul away from the faith.
9 Then Saul (who is also called Paul) being full of the Holy Ghost, stared at him,
10 and said, “O, child of the devil, the enemy of all righteousness, full of all subtlety and all mischief! Will you not cease to pervert the straight ways of the Lord?!
11 “Now, therefore, behold the hand of the Lord upon you! And you shall be blind, not seeing the Sun for a time!” And immediately a mist and a darkness fell on him. And he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand.
12 Then the proconsul, when he saw what had been done, believed, and was astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.
13 Now when Paul and those who were with him had departed by ship from Paphos, they came to Perga of Pamphylia. Then John left them and returned to Jerusalem.
14 But when they left Perga, they came to Antioch of Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and sat down.
15 And after the reading of the Law and Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, “Men, brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, speak.”
16 Then Paul stood up and beckoned with the hand, and said, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, hear me!
17 “The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers and exalted the people when they dwelt in the land of Egypt. And with a high arm, He brought them out of there.
18 “And for about forty years, He endured their manners in the wilderness.
19 “And He destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan and divided their land to them by lot.
20 “Then afterward, He gave them Judges for about four hundred and fifty years, until the time of Samuel the Prophet.
21 “So after that, they desired a King. And God gave them Saul (the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin) for forty years.
22 “And after He had taken him away, he raised up David to be their King. Of whom He testified, saying, ‘I have found David of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all things that I will.
23 “Of this man’s seed, God has raised up the Savior Jesus, according to His promise to Israel.
24 “Before His coming, John had first preached the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
25 “And when John had fulfilled his course, he said, ‘Whom do you think that I am? I am not He. But behold, there comes One after me, whose shoe of His feet I am not worthy to untie.’
26 “Men, brothers, children of the generation of Abraham, and whoever among you fears God, to you is the Word of this salvation sent.
27 “For the inhabitants of Jerusalem and their rulers - because they did not know Him, or even the words of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath - have fulfilled them in condemning Him.
28 “And even though they found no cause for death, they still asked Pilate to kill Him.
29 “And when they had fulfilled all things that were written of Him, they took Him down from the tree, and put Him in a sepulcher.
30 “But God raised Him up from the dead.
31 “And He was seen by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem (who are his witnesses to the people) for many days.
32 “And we declare to you concerning the promise made to the fathers:
33 “that God has fulfilled it to us, their children, in that He raised up Jesus; even as it is written in the second Psalm, ‘You are My Son. This day have I begotten You.’
34 “And considering that He raised Him up from the dead, to return no more to decay, He has said this, ‘I will give you the holy things of David, which are faithful.’
35 “Therefore He also says in another place, ‘You will not allow Your Holy One to see decay.’
36 “For David - after he had served his time, by the counsel of God - slept, and was laid with his fathers, and saw decay.
37 “But He Whom God raised up, saw no decay.
38 “Therefore, be it known to you, brothers, that the forgiveness of sins is preached to you through this Man.
39 “And by Him, everyone who believes is justified from all things which the Law of Moses could not justify.
40 “Therefore beware, so that that which is spoken of in the Prophets does not come upon you:
41 ‘Behold, you despisers, and wonder, and vanish away. For I work a work in your days; a work which you shall not believe, if one should declare it you.’”
42 And when they had come out of the synagogue of the Jews, the Gentiles begged them to preach these words to them the next Sabbath.
43 Now, after the congregation had dispersed, many of the Jews (and proselytes who feared God) followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and encouraged them to continue in the grace of God.
44 And the next Sabbath, almost the whole city came together to hear the Word of God.
45 But when the Jews saw the people, they were full of envy. And contradicting and blaspheming, they spoke against those things which were spoken by Paul.
46 Then Paul and Barnabas spoke boldly, and said, “It was necessary that the Word of God should have been spoken first to you. But seeing you reject it - and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life - lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
47 “For so has the Lord commanded us, saying, “I have made you a light of the Gentiles, so that you should be for salvation to the end of the world.”
48 And when the Gentiles heard it, they were glad, and glorified the Word of the Lord. And as many as were appointed to eternal life, believed.
49 Thus, the Word of the Lord was spread throughout the whole country.
50 But the Jews stirred up devout and honorable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their region.
51 But they shook off the dust of their feet against them and came to Iconium.
52 And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.
14 And it so happened in Iconium that they went together into the synagogue of the Jews and spoke, so that a great multitude of both the Jews and the Hellenists believed.
2 And the unbelieving Jews stirred up and corrupted the minds of the Gentiles against the brothers.
3 So therefore they stayed there a long time, and spoke boldly in the Lord, Who gave testimony to the Word of His grace, and caused signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
4 But the multitude of the city was divided. And some were with the Jews, and some with the Apostles.
5 And when a violent attempt to stone them was made by both the Gentiles and the Jews, with their rulers,
6 they were made aware of it, and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region,
7 and preached the Gospel there.
8 Now there sat a certain man at Lystra, without strength in his feet, who had been a cripple from his mother’s womb, and had never walked.
9 He heard Paul speak - who, looking at him and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,
10 said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet!” - And he leaped up and walked.
11 Then, when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, “Gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!”
12 And they called Barnabas ‘Zeus’, and Paul ‘Hermes’, because he was the chief speaker.
13 Then the priest of Zeus, who dwelt in front of their city, brought bulls with garlands to the gates, and would have sacrificed with the people.
14 But when the Apostles Barnabas and Paul heard it, they tore their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying,
15 and saying, “O men, why do you do these things!? We are just men, subject to the same passions that you are. And we preach to you that you should turn from these meaningless things, to the living God; Who made Heaven and Earth, and the sea, and all things in them!
16 “Who in times past allowed all the Gentiles to walk in their own ways.
17 “Nevertheless, He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from the heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.”
18 And, speaking these things, they scarcely restrained the multitude from sacrificing to them.
19 Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium who - when they had persuaded the people - stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing he was dead.
20 But as the disciples stood around him, he rose up, and came into the city. And the next day he left for Derbe with Barnabas.
21 And after they had preached the glad tidings of the Gospel to that city (and had taught many) they returned to Lystra, and to Iconium, and to Antioch,
22 confirming the disciples’ hearts and exhorting them to continue in the faith that we must enter into the Kingdom of God through many afflictions.
23 And when they had prayed and fasted and ordained them as elders by election in every church, they commended them to the Lord in Whom they believed.
24 Thus they went throughout Pisidia and came to Pamphylia.
25 And when they had preached the Word in Perga, they came down to Attalia,
26 And from there sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had fulfilled.
27 And when they had come and gathered the church together, they recounted all the things which God had done through them, and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
28 So they stayed there with the disciples a long time.
15 Then some from Judea came down and taught the brothers, saying, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
2 And when there was great dissension and disputation by Paul and Barnabas against them, they ordained that Paul and Barnabas, and certain others of them, should go up to Jerusalem (to the apostles and elders) about this question.
3 Thus, being sent forth by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles. And they brought great joy to all the brothers.
4 And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church, and by the apostles and elders. And they told what things God had done through them.
5 “But,” they said, “some of the Pharisee sect who believed, rose up, saying that it was necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the Law of Moses.”
6 Then the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter.
7 And when there had been great disputation, Peter rose up, and said to them, “Men, brothers, you know that a good while ago, God chose me from among us. So that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the Word of the Gospel and believe.
8 “And God, Who knows the hearts, bore them witness in giving the Holy Ghost to them even as to us.
9 “And after He had purified their hearts by faith, He made no distinction between us and them.
10 “Now, therefore, why do you tempt God, to lay a yoke on the disciples’ necks which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
11 “But we believe we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, just as they are.”
12 Then all the multitude kept silent and heard Barnabas and Paul, who told what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.
13 And after their silence, James answered, saying, “Men, brothers, hear me.
14 “Simeon has declared how God first visited the Gentiles, to take a people to His Name.
15 “And the words of the Prophets agree with this. As it is written,
16 ‘After this I will return, and will rebuild the Tabernacle of David, which has fallen down. And I will rebuild the ruins thereof, and I will set it up.
17 ‘So that the remaining men - and all the Gentiles upon whom My Name is called - might seek after the Lord, says the Lord Who does all these things.’
18 “From the beginning of the world, God knows all His works.
19 “Therefore my judgment is that we do not trouble those of the Gentiles who have turned to God,
20 “but that we write to them to abstain from filthiness of idols, and from fornication, and from that which is strangled, and from blood.
21 “For Moses has, for generations, had those who preach him in every city (seeing he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath).”
22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and elders (with the whole church) to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: namely, Judas (whose surname was Barsabas) and Silas, leaders among the brothers.
23 And they wrote letters by them like this, “The Apostles, and the Elders, and the Brothers, to the Gentile Brothers in Antioch, and in Syria, and in Cilicia, greetings,
24 “Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, and upset your minds, saying, ‘You must be circumcised and keep the Law’ (to whom we gave no such commandment),
25 “It therefore seemed good to us - after we had come together with one mind - to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul.
26 “Men who have given up their lives for the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 “We have therefore sent 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 no more burden upon you other than these necessary things:
29 “that you abstain from things offered to idols, and blood, and that which is strangled, and from fornication. If you keep yourselves from these, you shall do well. Farewell.”
30 Now when they had left, they came to Antioch. And after they had assembled the multitude, they delivered the letter.
31 And when they had read it, they rejoiced for the consolation.
32 And Judas and Silas, being Prophets, encouraged the brothers with many words, and strengthened them.
33 And after they had stayed there a time, they were sent back in peace by the brothers to the apostles.
34 However, Silas thought it good to remain there.
35 Paul and Barnabas also stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching (with many others) the Word of the Lord.
36 But after some days, Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit our brothers in every city where we have preached the Word of the Lord and see how they are doing.”
37 And Barnabas planned to take John (called Mark) with them.
38 But Paul did not think it good to take with them one who had left them in Pamphylia, and not gone with them to do the work.
39 Therefore there was such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another. And Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus.
40 And Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brothers to the grace of God.
41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, establishing the churches.
16 Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there named Timothy - the son of a believing Jewish woman, but whose father was Greek
2 of whom the brothers at Lystra and Iconium reported well.
3 Paul wanted him to go forth with him. So, he took and circumcised him, because of the Jews who were in that area (for they all knew that his father was Greek).
4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered the decrees to keep, ordained by the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.
5 And so the churches were 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 Then they came to Mysia and sought to go into Bithynia. But the Spirit did not allow them.
8 Therefore they passed through Mysia, and came down to Troas,
9 where a vision appeared to Paul in the night: A Macedonian man stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come into Macedonia, and help us!”
10 And after he had seen the vision, we immediately prepared to go into Macedonia, being assured that the Lord had called us to preach the Gospel to them.
11 Then went we forth from Troas. And with a straight course, we came to Samothrace, and the next day to Neapolis;
12 and from there to Philippi (which is the chief city in the parts of Macedonia, and whose inhabitants came from Rome to dwell there). And we stayed in that city some days.
13 And on the Sabbath day, we went out of the city, to a riverside where they customarily prayed. And we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together.
14 And a certain woman named Lydia (a seller of purple, of the city of the Thyatirians), who worshipped God, heard us. The Lord opened her heart, so that she paid attention to the things which Paul spoke.
15 And when she was baptized, and her household, she implored us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay.” And she insisted.
16 And it happened that as we went to prayer, a certain maid having a spirit of divination (who made her masters much money with divining) met us.
17 She followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who show to you the way of salvation!”
18 And she did this for many days. But Paul, being annoyed, turned around and said to the spirit, “I command you in the Name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out the same hour.
19 Now when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace, to the Magistrates.
20 And they brought them to the governors, saying, “These Jewish men trouble our city,
21 “and preach ordinances which are not lawful for us to receive, nor to observe, seeing we are Romans!”
22 Then the people rose up together against them. And the governors tore their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods.
23 And when they had beaten them terribly, they cast them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely
24 (who, having received such a commandment, cast them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks).
25 Now at midnight, Paul and Silas prayed, and sang Psalms to God. And the prisoners heard them.
26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundation of the prison was shaken. And immediately all the doors opened. And all the shackles were loosened.
27 Then the keeper of the prison awoke from his sleep. And when he saw the prison doors open, he drew out his sword and was about to kill himself (having assumed that the prisoners had escaped).
28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm! For we all are here!”
29 Then he called for a light and rushed in, trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas.
30 And he brought them out, and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you and your household shall be saved.”
32 And they preached the Word of the Lord to him, and to all who were in the house.
33 Afterward, that same hour of the night, he took them and washed their wounds. And he was baptized immediately, with all who belonged to him.
34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them, and rejoiced that he, with all his household, believed in God.
35 And when it was day, the governors sent the sergeants, saying, “Let those men go!”
36 Then the keeper of the prison told these words to Paul, saying, “The governors have sent word to free you. Therefore, leave now. And go in peace.”
37 Then Paul said to them, “After they have beaten us openly (uncondemned Romans) and have cast us into prison, now they wish to thrust us out secretly? Certainly not! But let them come and bring us out.”
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