Bible in 90 Days
18 “If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first.(A) 19 If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you.(B) 20 Remember the word I spoke to you,[a] ‘No slave is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.(C) 21 And they will do all these things to you on account of my name,[b] because they do not know the one who sent me.(D) 22 If I had not come and spoken[c] to them, they would have no sin; but as it is they have no excuse for their sin.(E) 23 Whoever hates me also hates my Father.(F) 24 If I had not done works among them that no one else ever did, they would not have sin; but as it is, they have seen and hated both me and my Father.(G) 25 But in order that the word written in their law[d] might be fulfilled, ‘They hated me without cause.’(H)
26 “When the Advocate comes whom I will send[e] you from the Father, the Spirit of truth that proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me.(I) 27 And you also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.(J)
Chapter 16
1 “I have told you this so that you may not fall away. 2 They will expel you from the synagogues; in fact, the hour[f] is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God.(K) 3 They will do this because they have not known either the Father or me.(L) 4 I have told you this so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you.(M)
Jesus’ Departure; Coming of the Advocate.[g] “I did not tell you this from the beginning, because I was with you. 5 But now I am going to the one who sent me, and not one of you asks me,[h] ‘Where are you going?’(N) 6 But because I told you this, grief has filled your hearts. 7 But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you.(O) But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 [i]And when he comes he will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and condemnation: 9 sin, because they do not believe in me;(P) 10 righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; 11 condemnation, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.(Q)
12 “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. 13 [j]But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth.(R) He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. 14 He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. 15 Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.
16 “A little while and you will no longer see me, and again a little while later and you will see me.”(S) 17 So some of his disciples said to one another, “What does this mean that he is saying to us, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” 18 So they said, “What is this ‘little while’ [of which he speaks]? We do not know what he means.” 19 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Are you discussing with one another what I said, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? 20 Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.(T) 21 When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish because her hour has arrived; but when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy that a child has been born into the world.(U) 22 So you also are now in anguish. But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.(V) 23 On that day you will not question me about anything. Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.(W) 24 Until now you have not asked anything in my name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.
25 [k](X)“I have told you this in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures but I will tell you clearly about the Father. 26 On that day you will ask in my name, and I do not tell you that I will ask the Father for you.(Y) 27 For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have come to believe that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and have come into the world. Now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”(Z) 29 His disciples said, “Now you are talking plainly, and not in any figure of speech. 30 Now we realize that you know everything and that you do not need to have anyone question you. Because of this we believe that you came from God.”[l] 31 Jesus answered them, “Do you believe now? 32 Behold, the hour is coming and has arrived when each of you will be scattered[m] to his own home and you will leave me alone. But I am not alone, because the Father is with me.(AA) 33 I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.”(AB)
Chapter 17
The Prayer of Jesus.[n] 1 When Jesus had said this, he raised his eyes to heaven[o] and said, “Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your son, so that your son may glorify you,(AC) 2 [p]just as you gave him authority over all people,(AD) so that he may give eternal life to all you gave him. 3 [q]Now this is eternal life,(AE) that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ. 4 I glorified you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do. 5 Now glorify me, Father, with you, with the glory that I had with you before the world began.(AF)
6 “I revealed your name[r] to those whom you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything you gave me is from you, 8 because the words you gave to me I have given to them, and they accepted them and truly understood that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have given me, because they are yours,(AG) 10 and everything of mine is yours and everything of yours is mine, and I have been glorified in them.(AH) 11 And now I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, while I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are. 12 When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me, and I guarded them, and none of them was lost except the son of destruction, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled.(AI) 13 But now I am coming to you. I speak this in the world so that they may share my joy completely.(AJ) 14 I gave them your word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world.(AK) 15 [s]I do not ask that you take them out of the world(AL) but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. 17 Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth.(AM) 18 As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world.(AN) 19 And I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth.
20 “I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me.(AO) 22 And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me. 24 Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am[t] they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world.(AP) 25 Righteous Father, the world also does not know you, but I know you, and they know that you sent me.(AQ) 26 I made known to them your name and I will make it known,[u] that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them.”
Chapter 18
Jesus Arrested.[v] 1 When he had said this, Jesus went out[w] with his disciples across the Kidron valley to where there was a garden, into which he and his disciples entered.(AR) 2 Judas his betrayer also knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas got a band of soldiers[x] and guards from the chief priests and the Pharisees and went there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.(AS) 4 Jesus, knowing everything that was going to happen to him, went out and said to them, “Whom are you looking for?” 5 They answered him, “Jesus the Nazorean.”[y] He said to them, “I AM.” Judas his betrayer was also with them. 6 When he said to them, “I AM,” they turned away and fell to the ground. 7 So he again asked them, “Whom are you looking for?” They said, “Jesus the Nazorean.” 8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I AM. So if you are looking for me, let these men go.” 9 [z](AT)This was to fulfill what he had said, “I have not lost any of those you gave me.” 10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus.[aa] 11 Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its scabbard. Shall I not drink the cup[ab] that the Father gave me?”(AU)
12 (AV)So the band of soldiers, the tribune, and the Jewish guards seized Jesus, bound him, 13 and brought him to Annas[ac] first. He was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.(AW) 14 It was Caiaphas who had counseled the Jews that it was better that one man should die rather than the people.(AX)
Peter’s First Denial.(AY) 15 Simon Peter and another disciple[ad] followed Jesus. Now the other disciple was known to the high priest, and he entered the courtyard of the high priest with Jesus. 16 But Peter stood at the gate outside. So the other disciple, the acquaintance of the high priest, went out and spoke to the gatekeeper and brought Peter in. 17 Then the maid who was the gatekeeper said to Peter, “You are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” 18 Now the slaves and the guards were standing around a charcoal fire that they had made, because it was cold, and were warming themselves. Peter was also standing there keeping warm.
The Inquiry Before Annas.(AZ) 19 The high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his doctrine. 20 Jesus answered him, “I have spoken publicly to the world. I have always taught in a synagogue or in the temple area[ae] where all the Jews gather, and in secret I have said nothing.(BA) 21 Why ask me? Ask those who heard me what I said to them. They know what I said.” 22 When he had said this, one of the temple guards standing there struck Jesus and said, “Is this the way you answer the high priest?”(BB) 23 Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong; but if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?” 24 Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas[af] the high priest.(BC)
Peter Denies Jesus Again.(BD) 25 Now Simon Peter was standing there keeping warm. And they said to him, “You are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” 26 One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the one whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Didn’t I see you in the garden with him?” 27 Again Peter denied it. And immediately the cock crowed.[ag]
The Trial Before Pilate. 28 (BE)Then they brought Jesus from Caiaphas to the praetorium.[ah] It was morning. And they themselves did not enter the praetorium, in order not to be defiled so that they could eat the Passover. 29 So Pilate came out to them and said, “What charge do you bring [against] this man?” 30 They answered and said to him, “If he were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.” 31 At this, Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law.” The Jews answered him, “We do not have the right to execute anyone,”[ai] 32 [aj]in order that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled that he said indicating the kind of death(BF) he would die. 33 So Pilate went back into the praetorium and summoned Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this on your own or have others told you about me?” 35 Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?”(BG) 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants [would] be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here.”(BH) 37 So Pilate said to him, “Then you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say I am a king.[ak] For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”(BI) 38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”(BJ)
When he had said this, he again went out to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in him. 39 But you have a custom that I release one prisoner to you at Passover.[al] Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” 40 They cried out again, “Not this one but Barabbas!”[am] Now Barabbas was a revolutionary.
Chapter 19
1 [an](BK)Then Pilate took Jesus and had him scourged. 2 And the soldiers wove a crown out of thorns and placed it on his head, and clothed him in a purple cloak, 3 and they came to him and said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they struck him repeatedly. 4 Once more Pilate went out and said to them, “Look, I am bringing him out to you, so that you may know that I find no guilt in him.”(BL) 5 So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple cloak. And he said to them, “Behold, the man!”(BM) 6 When the chief priests and the guards saw him they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him. I find no guilt in him.”(BN) 7 [ao]The Jews answered,(BO) “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.” 8 Now when Pilate heard this statement, he became even more afraid, 9 and went back into the praetorium and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” Jesus did not answer him.(BP) 10 So Pilate said to him, “Do you not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you and I have power to crucify you?” 11 Jesus answered [him], “You would have no power over me if it had not been given to you from above. For this reason the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.”(BQ) 12 Consequently, Pilate tried to release him; but the Jews cried out, “If you release him, you are not a Friend of Caesar.[ap] Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.”(BR)
13 When Pilate heard these words he brought Jesus out and seated him[aq] on the judge’s bench in the place called Stone Pavement, in Hebrew, Gabbatha. 14 It was preparation day for Passover, and it was about noon.[ar] And he said to the Jews, “Behold, your king!” 15 They cried out, “Take him away, take him away! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your king?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” 16 Then he handed him over to them to be crucified.[as]
The Crucifixion of Jesus. So they took Jesus, 17 (BS)and carrying the cross himself[at] he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha. 18 There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus in the middle. 19 [au]Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, “Jesus the Nazorean, the King of the Jews.” 20 Now many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. 21 So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that he said, ‘I am the King of the Jews.’”(BT) 22 Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”
23 [av]When the soldiers had crucified Jesus,(BU) they took his clothes and divided them into four shares, a share for each soldier.(BV) They also took his tunic, but the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top down. 24 So they said to one another, “Let’s not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it will be,” in order that the passage of scripture might be fulfilled [that says]:
“They divided my garments among them,
and for my vesture they cast lots.”
This is what the soldiers did. 25 [aw](BW)Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. 26 When Jesus saw his mother[ax] and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.”(BX) 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.
28 (BY)After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled,[ay] Jesus said, “I thirst.”(BZ) 29 There was a vessel filled with common wine.[az] So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth. 30 [ba]When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, “It is finished.”(CA) And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.
The Blood and Water. 31 Now since it was preparation day, in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath, for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken and they be taken down.(CB) 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, 34 [bb](CC)but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out. 35 An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is true; he knows[bc] that he is speaking the truth, so that you also may [come to] believe.(CD) 36 For this happened so that the scripture passage might be fulfilled:
“Not a bone of it will be broken.”(CE)
37 And again another passage says:
“They will look upon him whom they have pierced.”(CF)
The Burial of Jesus.[bd] 38 (CG)After this, Joseph of Arimathea, secretly a disciple of Jesus for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate if he could remove the body of Jesus. And Pilate permitted it. So he came and took his body. 39 Nicodemus, the one who had first come to him at night, also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes weighing about one hundred pounds.(CH) 40 They took the body of Jesus and bound it with burial cloths along with the spices, according to the Jewish burial custom. 41 Now in the place where he had been crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had yet been buried. 42 So they laid Jesus there because of the Jewish preparation day; for the tomb was close by.
Chapter 20[be]
The Empty Tomb.[bf] 1 On the first day of the week,(CI) Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark,[bg] and saw the stone removed from the tomb. (CJ) 2 So she ran[bh] and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” 3 [bi]So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. 4 They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; 5 he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. 6 (CK)When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths[bj] there, 7 and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.(CL) 8 Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. 9 [bk](CM)For they did not yet understand the scripture that he had to rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples returned home.
The Appearance to Mary of Magdala.[bl] 11 But Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping.(CN) And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the body of Jesus had been. 13 And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him.” 14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus.(CO) 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?”(CP) She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,”[bm] which means Teacher. 17 Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me,[bn] for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”(CQ) 18 Mary of Magdala went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and what he told her.
Appearance to the Disciples.[bo] 19 On the evening of that first day of the week,(CR) when the doors were locked, where the disciples[bp] were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.[bq] The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.(CS) 21 [br][Jesus] said to them again,(CT) “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22 [bs]And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,(CU) “Receive the holy Spirit. 23 [bt](CV)Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”
Thomas. 24 Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”(CW) 26 Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”(CX) 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” 28 [bu](CY)Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 [bv]Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me?(CZ) Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”
Conclusion.[bw] 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of [his] disciples that are not written in this book.(DA) 31 But these are written that you may [come to] believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.(DB)
IV. Epilogue: The Resurrection Appearance in Galilee
Chapter 21
The Appearance to the Seven Disciples. 1 [bx]After this, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way.(DC) 2 Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons,[by] and two others of his disciples. 3 [bz]Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We also will come with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.(DD) 4 When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.(DE) 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.”(DF) 6 So he said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish. 7 So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad, and jumped into the sea. 8 The other disciples came in the boat, for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards, dragging the net with the fish. 9 [ca](DG)When they climbed out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore full of one hundred fifty-three[cb] large fish. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn.(DH) 12 Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.” And none of the disciples dared to ask him,[cc] “Who are you?” because they realized it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish.(DI) 14 [cd]This was now the third time(DJ) Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead.
Jesus and Peter.[ce] 15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter,[cf] “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”[cg] He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He then said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” [Jesus] said to him, “Feed my sheep.(DK) 18 [ch]Amen, amen, I say to you,(DL) when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”(DM)
The Beloved Disciple. 20 Peter turned and saw the disciple following whom Jesus loved, the one who had also reclined upon his chest during the supper and had said, “Master, who is the one who will betray you?”(DN) 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” 22 Jesus said to him, “What if I want him to remain until I come?[ci] What concern is it of yours? You follow me.”(DO) 23 [cj]So the word spread among the brothers that that disciple would not die. But Jesus had not told him that he would not die, just “What if I want him to remain until I come? [What concern is it of yours?]”
Conclusion. 24 It is this disciple who testifies to these things and has written them,[ck] and we know that his testimony is true.(DP) 25 There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written.(DQ)
I. The Preparation for the Christian Mission
Chapter 1[cl]
The Promise of the Spirit. 1 In the first book,(DR) Theophilus, I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught 2 until the day he was taken up, after giving instructions through the holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.(DS) 3 He presented himself alive to them by many proofs after he had suffered, appearing to them during forty days[cm] and speaking about the kingdom of God.(DT) 4 While meeting with them, he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for “the promise of the Father[cn] about which you have heard me speak;(DU) 5 for John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the holy Spirit.”(DV)
The Ascension of Jesus. 6 When they had gathered together they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going[co] to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 [cp]He answered them,(DW) “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority. 8 [cq]But you will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you,(DX) and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9 When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.(DY) 10 While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them.(DZ) 11 They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.”(EA) 12 (EB)Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away.
The First Community in Jerusalem. 13 When they entered the city they went to the upper room where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer, together with some women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.(EC)
The Choice of Judas’s Successor. 15 During those days Peter stood up in the midst of the brothers (there was a group of about one hundred and twenty persons in the one place). He said, 16 “My brothers, the scripture had to be fulfilled which the holy Spirit spoke beforehand through the mouth of David, concerning Judas, who was the guide for those who arrested Jesus.(ED) 17 He was numbered among us and was allotted a share in this ministry. 18 (EE)He bought a parcel of land with the wages of his iniquity, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle, and all his insides spilled out.[cr] 19 This became known to everyone who lived in Jerusalem, so that the parcel of land was called in their language ‘Akeldama,’ that is, Field of Blood. 20 For it is written in the Book of Psalms:
‘Let his encampment become desolate,
and may no one dwell in it.’
And:
‘May another take his office.’(EF)
21 Therefore, it is necessary that one of the men who accompanied us the whole time the Lord Jesus came and went among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day on which he was taken up from us, become with us a witness to his resurrection.”(EG) 23 So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this apostolic ministry from which Judas turned away to go to his own place.” 26 [cs](EH)Then they gave lots to them, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was counted with the eleven apostles.
Chapter 2
The Coming of the Spirit. 1 [ct]When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together.(EI) 2 And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind,[cu] and it filled the entire house in which they were.(EJ) 3 Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire,[cv] which parted and came to rest on each one of them.(EK) 4 And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues,[cw] as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.(EL)
5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem. 6 At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, “Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans?(EM) 8 Then how does each of us hear them in his own native language? 9 We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene, as well as travelers from Rome, 11 both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs, yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God.”(EN) 12 They were all astounded and bewildered, and said to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others said, scoffing, “They have had too much new wine.”(EO)
II. The Mission in Jerusalem
Peter’s Speech at Pentecost. 14 [cx]Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed to them, “You who are Jews, indeed all of you staying in Jerusalem. Let this be known to you, and listen to my words. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. 16 No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
17 ‘It will come to pass in the last days,’ God says,
‘that I will pour out a portion of my spirit
upon all flesh.
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions,
your old men shall dream dreams.(EP)
18 Indeed, upon my servants and my handmaids
I will pour out a portion of my spirit in those days,
and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will work wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below:
blood, fire, and a cloud of smoke.
20 The sun shall be turned to darkness,
and the moon to blood,
before the coming of the great and splendid day of the Lord,
21 and it shall be that everyone shall be saved who calls on the name of the Lord.’(EQ)
22 You who are Israelites, hear these words. Jesus the Nazorean was a man commended to you by God with mighty deeds, wonders, and signs, which God worked through him in your midst, as you yourselves know.(ER) 23 This man, delivered up by the set plan and foreknowledge of God, you killed, using lawless men to crucify him.(ES) 24 But God raised him up, releasing him from the throes of death, because it was impossible for him to be held by it.(ET) 25 For David says of him:
‘I saw the Lord ever before me,(EU)
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
26 Therefore my heart has been glad and my tongue has exulted;
my flesh, too, will dwell in hope,
27 because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld,
nor will you suffer your holy one to see corruption.(EV)
28 You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence.’
29 My brothers, one can confidently say to you about the patriarch David that he died and was buried, and his tomb is in our midst to this day. 30 But since he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants upon his throne,(EW) 31 he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that neither was he abandoned to the netherworld nor did his flesh see corruption.(EX) 32 God raised this Jesus; of this we are all witnesses. 33 Exalted at the right hand of God,[cy] he received the promise of the holy Spirit from the Father and poured it forth, as you [both] see and hear.(EY) 34 For David did not go up into heaven, but he himself said:
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand(EZ)
35 until I make your enemies your footstool.”’
36 Therefore let the whole house of Israel know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.”(FA)
37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and they asked Peter and the other apostles, “What are we to do, my brothers?”(FB) 38 Peter [said] to them, “Repent and be baptized,[cz] every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the holy Spirit.(FC) 39 For the promise is made to you and to your children and to all those far off, whomever the Lord our God will call.”(FD) 40 He testified with many other arguments, and was exhorting them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”(FE) 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand persons were added that day.(FF)
Communal Life.[da] 42 (FG)They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers.(FH) 43 Awe came upon everyone, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.(FI) 44 All who believed were together and had all things in common;(FJ) 45 they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one’s need. 46 Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes. They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and enjoying favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
Chapter 3
Cure of a Crippled Beggar. 1 [db]Now Peter and John were going up to the temple area for the three o’clock hour of prayer.[dc] 2 (FK)And a man crippled from birth was carried and placed at the gate of the temple called “the Beautiful Gate” every day to beg for alms from the people who entered the temple. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked for alms. 4 But Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 5 He paid attention to them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 [dd]Peter said, “I have neither silver nor gold, but what I do have I give you: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, [rise and] walk.”(FL) 7 Then Peter took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles grew strong. 8 He leaped up, stood, and walked around, and went into the temple with them, walking and jumping and praising God.(FM) 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the one who used to sit begging at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with amazement and astonishment at what had happened to him.
Peter’s Speech. 11 As he clung to Peter and John, all the people hurried in amazement toward them in the portico called “Solomon’s Portico.”(FN) 12 When Peter saw this, he addressed the people, “You Israelites, why are you amazed at this, and why do you look so intently at us as if we had made him walk by our own power or piety?(FO) 13 The God of Abraham, [the God] of Isaac, and [the God] of Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has glorified[de] his servant Jesus whom you handed over and denied in Pilate’s presence, when he had decided to release him.(FP) 14 You denied the Holy and Righteous One[df] and asked that a murderer be released to you.(FQ) 15 [dg]The author of life you put to death, but God raised him from the dead; of this we are witnesses.(FR) 16 And by faith in his name, this man, whom you see and know, his name has made strong, and the faith that comes through it has given him this perfect health, in the presence of all of you. 17 Now I know, brothers, that you acted out of ignorance,[dh] just as your leaders did;(FS) 18 but God has thus brought to fulfillment what he had announced beforehand through the mouth of all the prophets,[di] that his Messiah would suffer.(FT) 19 Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away,(FU) 20 and that the Lord may grant you times of refreshment and send you the Messiah already appointed for you, Jesus,[dj] 21 whom heaven must receive until the times of universal restoration[dk] of which God spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old. 22 For Moses said:[dl]
‘A prophet like me will the Lord, your God, raise up for you
from among your own kinsmen;
to him you shall listen in all that he may say to you.(FV)
23 Everyone who does not listen to that prophet
will be cut off from the people.’(FW)
24 Moreover, all the prophets who spoke, from Samuel and those afterwards, also announced these days. 25 You are the children of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your ancestors when he said to Abraham, ‘In your offspring all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’(FX) 26 For you first, God raised up his servant and sent him to bless you by turning each of you from your evil ways.”(FY)
Chapter 4
1 While they were still speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees[dm] confronted them, 2 disturbed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.(FZ) 3 They laid hands on them and put them in custody until the next day, since it was already evening. 4 But many of those who heard the word came to believe and [the] number of men grew to [about] five thousand.
Before the Sanhedrin. 5 On the next day, their leaders, elders, and scribes were assembled in Jerusalem, 6 with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly class. 7 They brought them into their presence and questioned them, “By what power or by what name have you done this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the holy Spirit, answered them, “Leaders of the people and elders:(GA) 9 If we are being examined today about a good deed done to a cripple, namely, by what means he was saved, 10 then all of you and all the people of Israel should know that it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead; in his name this man stands before you healed. 11 (GB)He is ‘the stone rejected by you,[dn] the builders, which has become the cornerstone.’ 12 [do](GC)There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved.”
13 Observing the boldness of Peter and John and perceiving them to be uneducated, ordinary men, they were amazed, and they recognized them as the companions of Jesus. 14 Then when they saw the man who had been cured standing there with them, they could say nothing in reply. 15 So they ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin, and conferred with one another, saying, 16 “What are we to do with these men? Everyone living in Jerusalem knows that a remarkable sign was done through them, and we cannot deny it. 17 But so that it may not be spread any further among the people, let us give them a stern warning never again to speak to anyone in this name.”(GD)
18 So they called them back and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 Peter and John, however, said to them in reply, “Whether it is right in the sight of God for us to obey you rather than God, you be the judges.(GE) 20 It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.” 21 After threatening them further, they released them, finding no way to punish them, on account of the people who were all praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man on whom this sign of healing had been done was over forty years old.
Prayer of the Community. 23 After their release they went back to their own people and reported what the chief priests and elders had told them. 24 And when they heard it, they raised their voices to God with one accord and said, “Sovereign Lord, maker of heaven and earth and the sea and all that is in them, 25 you said by the holy Spirit through the mouth of our father David, your servant:
‘Why did the Gentiles rage(GF)
and the peoples entertain folly?
26 The kings of the earth took their stand
and the princes gathered together
against the Lord and against his anointed.’
27 Indeed they gathered in this city against your holy servant Jesus whom you anointed, Herod[dp] and Pontius Pilate, together with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,(GG) 28 to do what your hand and [your] will had long ago planned to take place. 29 And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and enable your servants to speak your word with all boldness, 30 as you stretch forth [your] hand to heal, and signs and wonders are done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 [dq]As they prayed, the place where they were gathered shook, and they were all filled with the holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.(GH)
Life in the Christian Community.[dr] 32 The community of believers was of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 With great power the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great favor was accorded them all. 34 (GI)There was no needy person among them, for those who owned property or houses would sell them, bring the proceeds of the sale, 35 and put them at the feet of the apostles, and they were distributed to each according to need.
36 (GJ)Thus Joseph, also named by the apostles Barnabas (which is translated “son of encouragement”), a Levite, a Cypriot by birth, 37 sold a piece of property that he owned, then brought the money and put it at the feet of the apostles.
Chapter 5
Ananias and Sapphira.[ds] 1 A man named Ananias, however, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property. 2 He retained for himself, with his wife’s knowledge, some of the purchase price, took the remainder, and put it at the feet of the apostles. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart so that you lied to the holy Spirit and retained part of the price of the land?(GK) 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain yours? And when it was sold, was it not still under your control? Why did you contrive this deed? You have lied not to human beings, but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last, and great fear came upon all who heard of it. 6 The young men came and wrapped him up, then carried him out and buried him.
7 After an interval of about three hours, his wife came in, unaware of what had happened. 8 Peter said to her, “Tell me, did you sell the land for this amount?” She answered, “Yes, for that amount.” 9 Then Peter said to her, “Why did you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen, the footsteps of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 At once, she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men entered they found her dead, so they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.(GL)
Signs and Wonders of the Apostles.[dt] 12 Many signs and wonders were done among the people at the hands of the apostles. They were all together in Solomon’s portico.(GM) 13 None of the others dared to join them, but the people esteemed them. 14 Yet more than ever, believers in the Lord, great numbers of men and women, were added to them. 15 Thus they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on one or another of them.(GN) 16 A large number of people from the towns in the vicinity of Jerusalem also gathered, bringing the sick and those disturbed by unclean spirits, and they were all cured.
Trial Before the Sanhedrin.[du] 17 Then the high priest rose up and all his companions, that is, the party of the Sadducees, and, filled with jealousy,(GO) 18 laid hands upon the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19 But during the night, the angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison, led them out, and said,(GP) 20 “Go and take your place in the temple area, and tell the people everything about this life.” 21 When they heard this, they went to the temple early in the morning and taught. When the high priest and his companions arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin, the full senate of the Israelites, and sent to the jail to have them brought in. 22 But the court officers who went did not find them in the prison, so they came back and reported, 23 “We found the jail securely locked and the guards stationed outside the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” 24 When they heard this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were at a loss about them, as to what this would come to. 25 Then someone came in and reported to them, “The men whom you put in prison are in the temple area and are teaching the people.” 26 Then the captain and the court officers went and brought them in, but without force, because they were afraid of being stoned by the people.(GQ)
27 When they had brought them in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, the high priest questioned them, 28 “We gave you strict orders [did we not?] to stop teaching in that name. Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and want to bring this man’s blood upon us.”(GR) 29 But Peter and the apostles said in reply, “We must obey God rather than men.(GS) 30 [dv]The God of our ancestors raised Jesus,(GT) though you had him killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand[dw] as leader and savior to grant Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins.(GU) 32 We are witnesses of these things, as is the holy Spirit that God has given to those who obey him.”(GV)
33 When they heard this, they became infuriated and wanted to put them to death. 34 [dx]But a Pharisee in the Sanhedrin named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, respected by all the people, stood up, ordered the men to be put outside for a short time,(GW) 35 and said to them, “Fellow Israelites, be careful what you are about to do to these men. 36 [dy]Some time ago, Theudas appeared, claiming to be someone important, and about four hundred men joined him, but he was killed, and all those who were loyal to him were disbanded and came to nothing. 37 After him came Judas the Galilean at the time of the census. He also drew people after him, but he too perished and all who were loyal to him were scattered. 38 So now I tell you, have nothing to do with these men, and let them go. For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself. 39 But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God.” They were persuaded by him. 40 After recalling the apostles, they had them flogged, ordered them to stop speaking in the name of Jesus, and dismissed them.(GX) 41 So they left the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.(GY) 42 And all day long, both at the temple and in their homes, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the Messiah, Jesus.(GZ)
Chapter 6
The Need for Assistants. 1 [dz]At that time, as the number of disciples continued to grow, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.(HA) 2 [ea]So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said, “It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table.[eb] 3 Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, 4 whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 The proposal was acceptable to the whole community, so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the holy Spirit, also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6 (HB)They presented these men to the apostles who prayed and laid hands on them.[ec] 7 The word of God continued to spread, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly; even a large group of priests were becoming obedient to the faith.(HC)
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