Acts

Chapter 1

¹ I made the first account, O Theophilus, about all that Jesus began both to do and to teach, ² until that day when he was taken up, having given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen, ³ to whom also, after he had suffered, he presented himself living with many proofs, appearing to them for 40 days and speaking things concerning the kingdom of God. ⁴ And meeting together with them, he commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to await the promise of the Father, “which you heard from me, ⁵ that John indeed baptized with water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit after these not many days.”

⁶ They therefore having assembled, they were asking him, saying, “Lord, if you are restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?” ⁷ But he said to them, “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons that the Father has set by his own authority. ⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” ⁹ And having said these things, as they were looking, he was raised up, and a cloud hid him from their eyes. ¹⁰ And while they were looking intently into heaven as he was going up, and behold, two men stood by them in white clothes. ¹¹ And they said, “Men, Galileans, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, thus will come, the way you saw him going into heaven.”

¹² Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill that is called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, having a journey of a Sabbath. ¹³ And when they arrived, they went up into the upper chamber where they were staying, both Peter and John, and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas of James. ¹⁴ They all were continuing unanimously in prayer, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus and with his brothers.

¹⁵ And in those days Peter, having stood up in the midst of the brothers, said (and the multitude of names to the same was about 120), ¹⁶ “Men, brothers, it was necessary for the scripture to be fulfilled that the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to the ones arresting Jesus. ¹⁷ For he was numbered with us and received a share of this ministry.” ¹⁸ (Now indeed this one bought a field from the wage of unrighteousness, and having fallen headfirst, he burst open in the middle, and all his entrails were poured out. ¹⁹ And it became known to all those living in Jerusalem. Therefore that field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) ²⁰ “For it is written in the book of Psalms,

     ‘Let his habitation be made desolate,

     and let not one dwelling be in it,’ and

     ‘Let another take his overseership.’

²¹ Therefore it is necessary, of the men who accompanied us during all the time in which the Lord Jesus came in and went out among us, ²² beginning from the baptism of John until the day on which he was taken up from us—one of these {is} to become a witness with us of his resurrection.” ²³ And they stood up two, Joseph, called Barsabbas, who was named Justus, and Matthias. ²⁴ And praying, they said, “You, Lord, heart-knower of all, show which one from these two you have chosen ²⁵ to take this place of ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” ²⁶ And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias, and he was chosen together with the 11 apostles.

Chapter 2

¹ And when the day of Pentecost was completely filled, they were all together to the same. ² And suddenly a sound came from heaven, as of a strong wind being borne along, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ And tongues as if of fire appeared to them, distributing themselves, and they sat upon each one of them. ⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit was giving them to speak out.

⁵ Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, godly men, from every nation of those under heaven. ⁶ And when this sound happened, the multitude came together and was confused, because each one was hearing them speaking in his own language. ⁷ And they were all amazed and were marveling, saying, “Behold, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? ⁸ And how are we hearing, each in our own language in which we were born? ⁹ Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and those inhabiting Mesopotamia, Judea and also Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰ Phrygia and also Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya that {are} near Cyrene, and Romans visiting, ¹¹ both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians, we are hearing them speaking in our tongues the great things of God.” ¹² So they were all amazed and were perplexed, saying one to another, “What does this want to be?” ¹³ But others, mocking, were saying, “They are filled with sweet wine.”

¹⁴ But Peter, having stood with the eleven, raised up his voice and spoke out to them, “Men, Jews, and all who are inhabiting Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and take my words into your ears. ¹⁵ For these are not drunk as you are assuming, for it is the third hour of the day. ¹⁶ But this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

     ¹⁷ ‘“And it will be in the last days,” God says,

     “I will pour out from my Spirit on all flesh,

     and your sons and your daughters will prophesy

     and your young men will see visions

     and your old men will dream dreams.

     ¹⁸ And even on my male servants and on my female servants in those days

     I will pour out from my Spirit, and they will prophesy.

     ¹⁹ And I will give wonders in the heaven above

     and signs on the earth below,

     blood and fire and vapor of smoke.

     ²⁰ The sun will be turned to darkness,

     and the moon to blood

     before the great and remarkable day of the Lord comes.

     ²¹ And it will be, everyone who may call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”’

²² Men, Israelites, hear these words: Jesus the Nazarene {was} a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in the midst of you, as you yourselves know. ²³ This one, given up by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you killed by the hand of the lawless, having fastened, ²⁴ whom God raised up, having loosed the agonies of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. ²⁵ For David says about him,

     ‘I saw the Lord before me through all,

     for he is at my right so that I should not be moved.

     ²⁶ Because of this, my heart was glad and my tongue exulted.

     And indeed, my flesh will also dwell in hope.

     ²⁷ For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,

     nor will you allow your Holy One to see decay.

     ²⁸ You made known to me the paths of life;

     you will fill me with gladness with your face.’

²⁹ Men, brothers, it is possible to speak with confidence to you about the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. ³⁰ Therefore, being a prophet and having known that God had sworn to him with an oath to set from the fruit of his loins upon his throne, ³¹ having foreseen this, he spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was he abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see decay.

³² This Jesus, God has raised up, of which we all are witnesses. ³³ Therefore, having been exalted to the right of God and having received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, he has poured out this which you both see and hear.

³⁴ For David did not ascend to the heavens, but he himself says,

     ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right

     ³⁵ until I make your enemies a stool for your feet.”’

³⁶ Therefore, let all the house of Israel know certainly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

³⁷ And hearing this they were pierced in the heart, and they said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men, brothers, what should we do?” ³⁸ Then Peter said to them, “Repent and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ For the promise is to you and to your children and to all who are at a distance, as many as the Lord our God may call.” ⁴⁰ And with many other words he testified and urged them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” ⁴¹ Therefore, having received his word, they were baptized, and about 3,000 souls were added in that day. ⁴² And they were continuing in the teaching of the apostles and in fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in prayers.

⁴³ And fear was coming on every soul, and many wonders and signs were happening through the apostles. ⁴⁴ And all those believing were to the same and had all things in common, ⁴⁵ and they were selling properties and possessions and they were distributing them to all, as anyone might have need ⁴⁶ and, continuing unanimously every day in the temple and breaking bread in each house, they were sharing food with exultation and sincerity of heart, ⁴⁷ praising God and having favor with the whole people, and each day the Lord was adding the ones being saved to the same.

Chapter 3

¹ Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. ² And a certain man, being lame from the womb of his mother, was being carried, whom each day they placed at the gate of the temple that is called Beautiful to ask for alms from those going into the temple, ³ who, seeing Peter and John being about to enter into the temple, asked to receive alms. ⁴ But Peter, looking intently at him with John, said, “Look at us.” ⁵ So he paid attention to them, expecting to receive something from them. ⁶ But Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not possess, but what I have, this I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, walk.” ⁷ And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. ⁸ And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and he entered with them into the temple, walking and leaping and praising God. ⁹ And all the people saw him walking and praising God. ¹⁰ And they recognized him, that he was the one sitting for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

¹¹ And as he was holding Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, marveling. ¹² But Peter, seeing this, replied to the people, “Men, Israelites, why do you marvel at this? Or why do you look intently at us, as if we have made him to walk by our own power or godliness? ¹³ The God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his Servant Jesus, whom you indeed delivered up and rejected before the face of Pilate, when that one had decided to release him. ¹⁴ But you rejected the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a man, a murderer, to be granted to you, ¹⁵ and you killed the Originator of Life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. ¹⁶ And by faith in his name, this one whom you see and know, his name has made strong. And the faith that {is} through him has given to him this complete health in the presence of all of you. ¹⁷ And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as also your rulers. ¹⁸ But what God foretold through the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he has fulfilled thus. ¹⁹ Repent, therefore, and turn back for your sins to be wiped away, ²⁰ so that times of refreshment may come from the face of the Lord and he may send the one appointed for you, Christ Jesus, ²¹ whom it is necessary for heaven to receive until the times of the restoration of all things, about which God spoke from the age through the mouth of his holy prophets. ²² Moses indeed said, ‘The Lord our God ^[1] will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You will listen to him according to everything—whatever he may speak to you. ²³ But it will be that every soul that does not listen to that prophet will be destroyed from the people.’ ²⁴ And indeed, all the prophets from Samuel and those after him, as many as have spoken, have also announced these days. ²⁵ You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed will all the families of the earth be blessed.’ ²⁶ God, having raised up his Servant, sent him to you first, blessing you by turning each of you from your wickedness.”

Chapter 4

¹ And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came up to them, ² greatly troubled because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection that {is} from the dead. ³ And 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 had heard the word believed, and the number of the men became about 5,000.

⁵ And it happened that on the next day their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem, ⁶ and Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were from the high priestly family. ⁷ And having set them in {their} midst, they asked them, “By what power or in what name have you done this?” ⁸ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, ⁹ if we are being questioned today concerning a good deed to a sick man, by what means he was made well, ¹⁰ let it be known to you all and to all the people of Israel that in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by this one this {man} stands before you healthy. ¹¹ He is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the head of the corner. ¹² And there is no salvation in anyone else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

¹³ And seeing the boldness of Peter and John, and realizing that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they marveled, and they recognized them, that they had been with Jesus. ¹⁴ But seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in opposition. ¹⁵ But having commanded them to go outside the Sanhedrin, they conferred among themselves, ¹⁶ saying, “What should we do to these men? For it is evident to everyone living in Jerusalem that a notable sign has happened through them, and we are not able to deny it. ¹⁷ But so that it may not be spread unto more among the people, let us warn them no longer to speak in this name to any of men.” ¹⁸ And summoning them, they commanded them neither to speak nor to teach at all in the name of Jesus. ¹⁹ But answering, Peter and John said to them, “Whether it is right before God to listen to you rather than to God, you judge. ²⁰ For we are not able not to speak what we have seen and heard.” ²¹ So, having warned them further, they released them, finding nothing for which they might punish them, on account of the people, for they were all glorifying God for what had happened. ²² For the man to whom this sign of healing had happened was more than 40 years old.

²³ But having been released, they came to {their} own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. ²⁴ And having heard, they raised their voice unanimously to God and said, “Lord, you {are} the one having made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that {is} in them, ²⁵ the one having said by the Holy Spirit from the mouth of our father David, your servant,

     ‘Why did the nations rage,

     and the peoples imagine useless things?

     ²⁶ The kings of the earth took their stand

     and the rulers were gathered to the same

     against the Lord and against his Christ.’

²⁷ For in truth both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the nations and the people of Israel, were gathered together in this city against your holy Servant Jesus, whom you anointed, ²⁸ to do all that your hand and your counsel had predetermined to happen. ²⁹ And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness ³⁰ as you stretch out your hand to heal and for signs and wonders to happen through the name of your holy Servant Jesus.” ³¹ And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak the word of God with boldness.

³² Now the multitude of those who believed was one in heart and soul. And not one said that any of the things that were to him was his own, but everything was common to them. ³³ And with great power the apostles were proclaiming the testimony of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. ³⁴ For there was not anyone needy among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses, selling them, were bringing the price of the things being sold ³⁵ and they were laying it at the feet of the apostles, and it was being distributed to each one, according as anyone had need.

³⁶ Then Joseph, called Barnabas by the apostles (which, being translated, is Son of Encouragement), a Levite from Cyprus by lineage, ³⁷ selling a field that was to him, brought the money and laid it at the feet of the apostles.

Chapter 5

¹ Now a certain man, Ananias by name, with Sapphira his wife, sold a piece of land, ² and he kept back from the price, {his} wife also knowing, and bringing a certain portion, he laid it at the feet of the apostles. ³ But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart for you to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back from the price of the land? ⁴ While it remained, did it not remain yours, and being sold, was it {not} in your authority? How {is it} that you placed this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God.” ⁵ And hearing these words, Ananias, falling down, expired, and great fear came upon all who heard. ⁶ So rising up, the young men wrapped him up and, carrying him out, they buried him.

⁷ And an interval of about three hours happened, and his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in. ⁸ And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” ⁹ So Peter said to her, “How {is it} that it was agreed together by you to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who buried your husband {are} at the door, and they will carry you out.” ¹⁰ And immediately she fell down at his feet and expired. And having come in, the young men found her dead, and carrying her out, they buried her beside her husband. ¹¹ And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all those hearing these things.

¹² And many signs and wonders were happening through the hands of the apostles among the people, and they were all unanimously at the Porch of Solomon. ¹³ But none of the others dared to join them; however, the people extolled them. ¹⁴ And more believers were being added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and of women, ¹⁵ so that they even carried the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, so that as Peter came by, at least {his} shadow might overshadow any one of them. ¹⁶ And a multitude also came together from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted by unclean spirits, who were all healed.

¹⁷ But rising up, the high priest and all those with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees) were filled with jealousy, ¹⁸ and they laid hands on the apostles and put them in the public prison. ¹⁹ But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison, bringing them out, and said, ²⁰ “Go and, standing in the temple, speak to the people all the words of this life.” ²¹ And having heard this, they entered into the temple about daybreak and were teaching. And having arrived, the high priest and those with him called together the Sanhedrin, even all the elders of the sons of Israel, and sent to the prison to bring the apostles. ²² But having arrived, the officers did not find them in the prison, so having returned, they reported, ²³ saying, “We found the prison shut in all security and the guards standing at the doors, but having opened, we found no one inside.” ²⁴ And when both the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were perplexed concerning them, as to what this might become. ²⁵ Then someone, having arrived, reported to them, “Behold, the men whom you put in the prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” ²⁶ Then the captain, going with the officers, brought them back, not with violence, for they feared the people, lest they stone them. ²⁷ And having brought them, they set them in the Sanhedrin, and the high priest interrogated them, ²⁸ saying, “We commanded you with a command not to teach in this name, and behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you desire to bring upon us the blood of this man.” ²⁹ But answering, Peter and the apostles said, “It is necessary to obey God rather than men. ³⁰ The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed, having hung him on a tree. ³¹ God has exalted this one to his right as Prince and Savior, to give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. ³² And we are witnesses of these things, and the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those obeying him.”

³³ But having heard this, they were furious and wanted to kill them. ³⁴ But a certain Pharisee, Gamaliel by name, a law teacher, honored by all the people, rising up in the Sanhedrin, commanded to put the apostles outside for a little. ³⁵ And he said to them, “Men, Israelites, pay attention to yourselves, what you are about to do to these men. ³⁶ For before these days, Theudas rose up, saying himself to be somebody, to whom was joined a number of men, about 400, who was killed, and all, as many as were persuaded by him, were dispersed, and they came to nothing. ³⁷ After this one, Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away people after him. That one also perished, and all, as many as were persuaded by him, were scattered. ³⁸ And now I say these things to you: Keep away from these men and release them, for if this counsel or this work is from men, it will be destroyed, ³⁹ but if it is from God, you will not be able to destroy them, lest you may even be found God-opposers.” And they were persuaded by him. ⁴⁰ And summoning the apostles, having beaten them, they commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and they released them. ⁴¹ Therefore, they indeed were going out from the face of the Sanhedrin rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name. ⁴² And every day, in the temple and in each house, they did not cease teaching and proclaiming the gospel—Jesus {is} the Christ.

Chapter 6

¹ Now in those days, when the disciples were multiplying, a complaint by the Hellenists began against the Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving. ² So summoning the multitude of the disciples, the Twelve said, “It is not acceptable for us to leave behind the word of God to serve tables. ³ So brothers, choose from among yourselves seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this task. ⁴ But we will continue in prayer and in the ministry of the word.” ⁵ And the statement was pleasing before the whole multitude. So they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte from Antioch. ⁶ They brought them before the apostles, and having prayed, they placed their hands upon them.

⁷ So the word of God kept spreading, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly, and a large crowd of the priests became obedient to the faith.

⁸ Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. ⁹ But there arose some people who {were} from the synagogue that is called Freedmen, and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia. They were debating with Stephen. ¹⁰ But they were not able to stand against the wisdom and the Spirit by whom he spoke. ¹¹ Then they bribed men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” ¹² They also stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and approaching him, they seized him and brought him to the Sanhedrin. ¹³ And they brought false witnesses, saying, “This man does not stop speaking words against the holy place and the law. ¹⁴ For we have heard him say that this Jesus the Nazarene will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.” ¹⁵ And looking intently at him, everyone sitting in the Sanhedrin saw his face as the face of an angel.

Chapter 7

¹ Then the high priest said, “Are these things thus?” ² Then he said,

“Men, brothers and fathers, listen to me: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, even before he lived in Haran; ³ and he said to him, ‘Go out from your land and from your relatives, and come into the land that I will show you.’ ⁴ Then going out from the land of the Chaldeans, he lived in Haran. And from there, after the death of his father, he brought him into this land, in which you live now. ⁵ But he did not give him an inheritance in it—not even a footstep. But he promised to give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him—although he did not have a child. ⁶ But God spoke to him like this, that his seed would be a stranger in a foreign land, and that they would enslave him and treat him badly for 400 years. ⁷ ‘But I will judge the nation that will enslave him,’ said God, ‘and after that they will come out and serve me in this place.’ ⁸ And he gave him the covenant of circumcision, and so he fathered Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac, Jacob; and Jacob, the 12 patriarchs. ⁹ And the patriarchs, envying Joseph, sold him into Egypt. But God was with him ¹⁰ and he rescued him from all his afflictions, and he gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he appointed him governor over Egypt and all his household. ¹¹ Then came a famine over all Egypt and Canaan, and great tribulation, and our fathers did not find food. ¹² But having heard there was grain in Egypt, Jacob sent our fathers first. ¹³ And during the second {time}, Joseph was made known to his brothers, and the family of Joseph became known to Pharaoh. ¹⁴ Then, sending them back, Joseph summoned Jacob, his father, and all {his} relatives, in souls 75. ¹⁵ So Jacob went down to Egypt, and he and our fathers died. ¹⁶ And they were carried over to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham bought for a price in silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem. ¹⁷ And as the time of the promise that God had sworn to Abraham approached, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt, ¹⁸ until another king arose over Egypt who did not know Joseph. ¹⁹ He, exploiting our people, mistreated {our} fathers, to make their babies exposed, in order not to keep them alive. ²⁰ At that time Moses was born, and he was beautiful to God. He was raised for three months in the house of {his} father. ²¹ But when he was exposed, the daughter of Pharaoh took him up and raised him for herself as a son. ²² And Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and works. ²³ But when a 40-year time was filled to him, it came up on his heart to visit his brothers, the sons of Israel. ²⁴ And seeing a certain one being mistreated, he defended him and made vengeance for the one being oppressed, striking the Egyptian: ²⁵ and he was thinking {his} brothers would understand that God was giving salvation to them by his hand, but they did not understand. ²⁶ And on the next day he appeared to them as they were quarreling, and he urged them to peace, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers. Why is it that you are hurting each other?’ ²⁷ But the one injuring {his} neighbor pushed him away, saying, ‘Who appointed you a ruler and a judge over us? ²⁸ You do not want to kill me the way you killed the Egyptian yesterday, do you?’ ²⁹ Then Moses ran away at this word, and he became a foreigner in the land of Midian, where he fathered two sons. ³⁰ And 40 years having been filled, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush. ³¹ And Moses, seeing it, admired the sight; and as he approached to look, the voice of the Lord came: ³² ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob.’ And Moses, becoming terrified, did not dare to look. ³³ And the Lord said to him, ‘Untie the sandal of your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground. ³⁴ I have certainly seen the oppression of my people who {are} in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and I have come down to rescue them. And now come, let me send you to Egypt.’ ³⁵ This Moses, whom they rejected, saying, ‘Who appointed you a ruler and a judge?’—this one God sent as both a ruler and a redeemer with the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. ³⁶ This one led them out, doing wonders and signs in the land of Egypt and at the Red Sea, and in the wilderness during 40 years. ³⁷ This is the Moses who said to the sons of Israel, ‘God will raise up a prophet like me for you from your brothers.’ ³⁸ This is the one having been in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel {who was} speaking to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, who received living words to give to us, ³⁹ to whom our fathers were not willing to be obedient; instead, they pushed him away and turned back in their hearts to Egypt, ⁴⁰ saying to Aaron, ‘Make for us gods who will go ahead of us. For this Moses, who brought us from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him.’ ⁴¹ So they made an image of a calf in those days and brought a sacrifice to the idol and rejoiced in the works of their hands. ⁴² But God turned away and abandoned them to serve the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets,

     ‘You did not offer slain beasts and offerings to me

     for 40 years in the wilderness, did you, O house of Israel?

     ⁴³ And you took up the tabernacle of Molech

     and the star of your god Rephan—

     the images that you made to worship them—

     and I will remove you beyond Babylon.’

⁴⁴ The tabernacle of the testimony was with our fathers in the wilderness, just as the one speaking to Moses had commanded, to make it according to the pattern that he had seen, ⁴⁵ which also our fathers, having received it in turn, brought in with Joshua in the possessing of the nations that God drove out from the face of our fathers, until the days of David, ⁴⁶ who found favor before God, and he asked to find a dwelling for the house of Jacob. ^{[1] 47} However, Solomon built the house for him. ⁴⁸ But the Most High does not live in {houses} made with hands, as the prophet says,

     ⁴⁹ ‘Heaven {is} my throne, and the earth {is} the footstool for my feet.

     What kind of house will you build for me? says the Lord,

     or what {is} the place for my rest?

     ⁵⁰ Did my hand not make all these things?’

⁵¹ O stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit! As your fathers, also you. ⁵² Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed the ones telling in advance about the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become, ⁵³ who received the law by directions of angels, but did not keep it.”

⁵⁴ Now hearing these things, they were cut to their hearts, and they ground {their} teeth at him. ⁵⁵ But being full of the Holy Spirit, looking intently into heaven, he saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right of God. ⁵⁶ And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right of God.” ⁵⁷ But shouting with a loud voice, they covered their ears and rushed at him unanimously. ⁵⁸ And throwing him outside the city, they stoned him. And the witnesses laid aside their outer garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. ⁵⁹ And they were stoning Stephen as he was calling out and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” ⁶⁰ But having put down {his} knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And having said this, he fell asleep.

Chapter 8

¹ And Saul was agreeing with his execution.

And on that day a great persecution began against the church that {was} in Jerusalem, and they all were scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. ² And devout men carried away Stephen and made great lamentation over him. ³ But Saul was harming the church. Entering by houses, dragging out both men and women, he was delivering them to prison.

⁴ Then the ones having been scattered went about proclaiming the word. ⁵ And Philip, going down to the city of Samaria, was proclaiming Christ to them. ⁶ And the crowds were paying attention unanimously to the things being spoken by Philip when they heard them and saw the signs that he was doing. ⁷ For many of those having unclean spirits, shouting with a loud voice, they were coming out. And many paralyzed and lame were healed. ⁸ And there was much joy in that city.

⁹ But a certain man, Simon by name, was already practicing sorcery in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, saying himself to be someone great, ¹⁰ to whom they all, from little to great, were paying attention, saying, “This is the power of God that is called Great.” ¹¹ And they were paying attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with sorceries. ¹² But when they believed Philip, proclaiming the gospel about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, both men and women. ¹³ And Simon himself also believed and, having been baptized, he was continuing with Philip. And seeing great signs and works happening, he marveled.

¹⁴ And the apostles in Jerusalem, having heard that Samaria had received the word of God, sent to them Peter and John, ¹⁵ who, having come down, prayed for them, so that they might receive the Holy Spirit. ¹⁶ For he had not yet fallen upon any of them, but they had only been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. ¹⁷ Then they were laying {their} hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit. ¹⁸ And Simon, seeing that the Spirit was being given through the laying on of the hands of the apostles, offered them money, ¹⁹ saying, “Give to me also this authority, so that on whomever I lay {my} hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit.” ²⁰ But Peter said to him, “May your silver be with you unto destruction, because you thought to obtain the gift of God through money! ²¹ No part or share in this matter is to you, because your heart is not right before God. ²² Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord, if therefore the intention of your heart will be forgiven to you. ²³ For I see you being in the gall of bitterness and the bond of unrighteousness.” ²⁴ But answering, Simon said, “You pray to the Lord for me, so that nothing of which you have spoken may come upon me.”

²⁵ Then the ones having testified and having spoken the word of the Lord were returning to Jerusalem and proclaiming the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans. ²⁶ Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south on the road going down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is desert.) ²⁷ And arising, he went, and behold, a man, an Ethiopian, a eunuch, an official of the Kandake, the queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship, ²⁸ and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. ²⁹ And the Spirit said to Philip, “Approach and join this chariot.” ³⁰ So having run to him, Philip heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and he said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” ³¹ And he said, “For how would I be able, unless someone will guide me?” And he invited Philip to sit with him, having come up. ³² Now the passage of Scripture that he was reading was this:

     “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,

     and like a lamb before its shearer {is} silent,

     thus he does not open his mouth.

     ³³ In humiliation his justice was taken away.

     Who will describe his generation?

     For his life is taken from the earth.”

³⁴ And answering, the eunuch said to Philip, “I beg of you, about whom is the prophet saying this—about himself, or about some other?” ³⁵ And Philip, opening his mouth and beginning with this scripture, proclaimed Jesus to him. ³⁶ And as they were going along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch says, “Behold, water! What is preventing my being baptized?” ^37[1] [And Philip said to him, “If you believe from your whole heart, you will be saved.” And answering he said, “I believe in Christ, the Son of God.”] ³⁸ And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. ³⁹ And when they came up from the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him anymore, for he went on his way rejoicing. ⁴⁰ But Philip was found at Azotus and, passing through, he was proclaiming the gospel to all the cities until he came to Caesarea.

Chapter 9

¹ But Saul, still breathing threat and murder against the disciples of the Lord, going to the high priest, ² requested letters from him to Damascus, to the synagogues, so that if he found any being of the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. ³ And as he was traveling, it happened that he came near to Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven surrounded him; ⁴ and, falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” ⁵ And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he {said}, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting; ⁶ but get up and enter into the city, and it will be told to you what thing it is necessary for you to do.” ⁷ But the men traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. ⁸ And Saul rose up from the ground, but his eyes being opened, he was seeing nothing. But leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus. ⁹ And he was not seeing for three days, and he neither ate nor drank.

¹⁰ Now there was a certain disciple in Damascus named Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!” And he said, “Behold, I, Lord.” ¹¹ And the Lord {said} to him, “Arising, go to the street called Straight, and in the house of Judas seek Saul by name, from Tarsus, for behold, he is praying, ¹² and in a vision he has seen a man, Ananias by name, coming in and laying hands on him so that he might see again.” ¹³ But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how many evils he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. ¹⁴ And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all the ones calling upon your name.” ¹⁵ But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this is to me an instrument of choosing, to carry my name before the nations, and also kings, and the sons of Israel; ¹⁶ for I will show him how much it is necessary for him to suffer for my name.” ¹⁷ And Ananias departed, and entered into the house. And having laid {his} hands on him, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord has sent me—Jesus, the one having appeared to you on the road on which you were going—so that you might see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” ¹⁸ And immediately {something} like scales fell from his eyes, and he saw again, and rising up, he was baptized; ¹⁹ and having taken food, he was strengthened.

And he was with the disciples in Damascus for some days. ²⁰ And immediately in the synagogues he proclaimed Jesus, that this is the Son of God. ²¹ And all the ones hearing were marveling and were saying, “Is not this the one having destroyed in Jerusalem the ones calling on this name? And he had come here for this, that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?” ²² But Saul was becoming more powerful and stirring up the Jews living in Damascus, proving that Jesus is the Christ.

²³ But when many days were filled, the Jews took counsel together to kill him. ²⁴ But their plot became known to Saul. But they were even watching the gates both day and night in order to kill him. ²⁵ But his disciples, taking him by night, let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket.

²⁶ And having come to Jerusalem, he was attempting to join the disciples, but they were all fearing him, not believing that he was a disciple. ²⁷ But taking hold of him, Barnabas 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 in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus. ²⁸ And he was with them coming in and going out in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. ²⁹ He was both speaking and debating with the Hellenists, but they were attempting to kill him. ³⁰ But the brothers, having learned of this, brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus.

³¹ Then the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria was having peace; being built up and journeying in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it was multiplying. ³² Now it happened that Peter, going throughout all, came down also to the saints inhabiting Lydda. ³³ And there he found a certain man, Aeneas by name, lying in a bed for eight years, who was paralyzed. ³⁴ And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed for yourself,” and immediately he arose. ³⁵ And all the ones living in Lydda and in Sharon saw him, who turned to the Lord.

³⁶ Now a certain disciple was in Joppa, Tabitha by name, which, being translated, is said “Dorcas.” She was full of good works and of almsgivings that she was doing. ³⁷ And it happened in those days that, having been sick, she died. And having washed her, they laid her in an upper room. ³⁸ And Lydda being near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter was in it, sent two men to him, urging him, “Do not delay to come to us.” ³⁹ So, arising, Peter went with them, whom, having arrived, they brought up to the upper room, and all the widows stood by him, weeping and showing him coats and garments, as many as Dorcas used to make, being with them. ⁴⁰ But Peter, having put them all out and having put down {his} knees, prayed, and having turned to the body, he said, “Tabitha, arise!” Then she opened her eyes and, seeing Peter, she sat up. ⁴¹ And giving her {his} hand, he raised her up and, calling the saints and the widows, he presented her living. ⁴² And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord. ⁴³ Now it happened that he stayed many days in Joppa with a certain Simon, a tanner.

Chapter 10

¹ Now a certain man was in Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion from the regiment called Italian, ² devout and fearing God with all his household, making many gifts of alms to the people and praying to God through all. ³ About the ninth hour of the day, he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming to him and saying to him, “Cornelius!” ⁴ But he, staring at him and having become terrified, said, “What is it, lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have gone up for a memorial offering before God. ⁵ And now, send men to Joppa and summon a certain Simon who is called Peter. ⁶ He is being hosted by a certain Simon, a tanner, to whom is a house by the sea.” ⁷ And when the angel speaking to him left, calling two of {his} house servants and a devout soldier of the ones serving him, ⁸ And having told them everything, he sent them to Joppa.

⁹ And on the next day, as those were traveling and approaching the city, Peter went up to the housetop to pray at about the sixth hour. ¹⁰ And he became hungry and was wanting to eat, but while they were preparing, a vision came upon him, ¹¹ and he sees the sky opened and a certain container, like a large sheet, descending, being let down by four corners to the earth, ¹² in which were all the four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth and birds of the sky. ¹³ And a voice came to him: “Peter, arising, kill and eat.” ¹⁴ But Peter said, “Not at all, Lord; for I have never eaten anything common and unclean.” ¹⁵ And the voice {came} to him again, for a second {time}: “What God has cleansed, you must not make common.” ¹⁶ And this happened three times, and the container was immediately taken back up to the sky.

¹⁷ And while Peter was doubting within himself what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men sent by Cornelius, having found by inquiry the house of Simon, stood before the gate. ¹⁸ And calling out, they were asking whether Simon, called Peter, was being hosted there. ¹⁹ And while Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you. ^{[1] 20} But arising, go down and go with them; do not hesitate, because I have sent them.” ²¹ So Peter, having gone down to the men, said, “Behold, I am {he} whom you are seeking. What {is} the reason for which you are here?” ²² And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a man righteous and fearing God and attested by the whole nation of the Jews, was directed by a holy angel to summon you to his house and to hear words from you.” ²³ Therefore, having invited them, he hosted them.

And on the next day, arising, he went out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. ²⁴ And on the next day they came to Caesarea. And Cornelius was awaiting them, having called together his relatives and close friends. ²⁵ And as it happened that Peter intended to enter, Cornelius, meeting him {and} falling down at {his} feet, worshiped him. ²⁶ But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Arise! I too am a man myself.” ²⁷ And talking with him, he went in and finds many gathered together. ²⁸ And he was saying to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to associate or to visit with a foreigner, but God has shown me not to call any man common or unclean. ²⁹ And therefore, having been summoned, I came without objection. Therefore I ask you, for what reason did you summon me?” ³⁰ And Cornelius was saying, “Four days ago, at this hour, I was praying at the ninth {hour} in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, ³¹ and he says, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms have been remembered before God. ³² Therefore, send to Joppa and summon Simon who is called Peter. He is being hosted in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ ^{[2] 33} So immediately I sent for you, and you did well {in} coming. Now therefore, we are all here before God to hear all the things you have been instructed by the Lord {to say}.” ^{[3] 34} And opening {his} mouth, Peter said, “In truth, I perceive that God is not a favoritism-shower. ³⁵ Instead, in every nation the one fearing him and working righteousness is acceptable to him. ³⁶ The word that he sent to the sons of Israel, proclaiming peace through Jesus Christ—he is the Lord of all— ³⁷ you know the word having happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism that John announced; ³⁸ Jesus, the one from Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all the ones being oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. ³⁹ And we {are} witnesses of all that he did, both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they also killed, hanging him on a tree. ⁴⁰ God raised this one up on the third day and caused him to be seen, ⁴¹ not by all the people, but by witnesses chosen beforehand by God—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. ⁴² And he commanded us to announce to the people and to testify that he is the one chosen by God as a Judge of the living and the dead. ⁴³ To this one all the prophets bear witness, that everyone believing in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

⁴⁴ While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all the ones listening to {his} word. ⁴⁵ And the faithful from the circumcision—as many as had come with Peter—marveled, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out also on the Gentiles. ⁴⁶ For they heard them speaking in languages and praising God. Then Peter responded, ⁴⁷ “No one is able to withhold water, is he, so that these are not baptized who have received the Holy Spirit as we also {did}?” ⁴⁸ And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for several days.

Chapter 11

¹ Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. ² And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those from the circumcision disputed with him; ³ they said, “You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!” ⁴ But Peter began to explain to them in an orderly manner, saying, ⁵ “I was praying in the city of Joppa, and I saw in a trance a vision of a certain container coming down, like a large sheet being let down from the sky by {its} four corners, and it came as far as me. ⁶ Gazing at it, I looked closely and saw the four-legged animals of the earth, and the wild beasts, and the creeping animals, and the birds of the sky. ⁷ Then I also heard a voice saying to me, “Having arisen, Peter; kill and eat!” ⁸ But I said, “By no means, Lord; for the profane or unclean has never entered into my mouth.” ⁹ But the voice answered for a second {time} from heaven, “What God has cleansed, you must not make unclean.” ¹⁰ And this happened three times, and then everything was pulled back up to the sky again. ¹¹ And behold, right away three men stood at the house in which we were, having been sent from Caesarea to me. ¹² And the Spirit told me to go with them, not making any distinction. And these six brothers also went with me, and we entered into the house of the man. ¹³ Then he reported to us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, “Send to Joppa and summon Simon, who is called Peter. ¹⁴ He will speak to you a word by which you will be saved—you and all your household.” ¹⁵ But as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them, just as also on us in the beginning. ¹⁶ Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, “John baptized with water; but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit.” ¹⁷ If, therefore, God gave to them the same gift as also to us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, able to oppose God?” ¹⁸ And when they heard these things, they became quiet and glorified God, saying, “Then God has given repentance unto life to the Gentiles also.”

¹⁹ Then those who had been scattered from the persecution that happened over Stephen spread as far as Phoenicia, and Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except only to Jews. ²⁰ But there were some from them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch {and} spoke also to the Greeks, proclaiming the gospel—the Lord Jesus. ²¹ And the hand of the Lord was with them; and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. ²² And the report about them came to the ears of the church that was in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas as far as Antioch. ²³ When he came and saw the grace that {is} of God, he was glad and exhorted them all to remain with the Lord with purpose of heart. ²⁴ For he was a good man and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, and a considerable crowd was added to the Lord. ²⁵ And he went out to Tarsus to search for Saul. ²⁶ And when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So indeed it happened that for an entire year they were gathered together with the church and taught a considerable crowd. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

²⁷ Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. ²⁸ And one from them, named Agabus, arose {and} indicated by the Spirit that a great famine was about to occur over the whole world. This happened in the days of Claudius. ²⁹ So, the disciples, just as anyone prospered, each of them decided to send to the service to the brothers living in Judea, ³⁰ which they also did, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

Chapter 12

¹ Now about that time, Herod the king laid hands on some of those from the church to harm them. ² And he killed James, the brother of John, with the sword. ³ And when he saw that this is pleasing to the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. And those were the days of unleavened bread. ⁴ And having arrested him, he put him in prison, handing him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him; he was intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover. ⁵ So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer was being made earnestly to God for him by the church. ⁶ And when Herod was going to bring him out for trial, that night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards before the door were keeping watch over the prison. ⁷ And behold, an angel of the Lord appeared by him, and a light shone in the prison cell. And he struck Peter on the side {and} woke him, saying, “Get up in haste,” and his chains fell away from {his} hands. ⁸ And the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and put on your sandals.” So he did thus. And he said to him, “Put on your outer garment and follow me.” ⁹ And going out, he followed him, but he did not know that what is being done by the angel is real, but he thought he is seeing a vision. ¹⁰ But when they had passed by the first guard and the second, they came to the iron gate that led into the city; it opened for them by itself. And having gone out, they went down a street, and right away the angel went away from him. ¹¹ And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I truly know that the Lord has sent his angel and delivered me from the hand of Herod, and from all the expectations of the Jewish people.” ¹² And having realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John, who was called Mark, where many people were gathered together and are praying. ¹³ And when he knocked at the door of the gate, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. ¹⁴ And when she recognized the voice of Peter, from joy she did not open the gate; instead, running inside, she reported, “Peter stands at the gate!” ¹⁵ But they said to her, “You are insane.” But she insisted that it was thus. So they said, “It is his angel.” ¹⁶ But Peter continued knocking, and opening, they saw him and were amazed. ¹⁷ And after motioning to them with {his} hand to be silent, he reported to them how the Lord had led him from the prison. And he said, “Report these things to James and the brothers.” And having gone out, he went to another place. ¹⁸ Now when it became day, there was no small disturbance among the soldiers over what then had happened to Peter. ¹⁹ And Herod, having searched for him and not having found him, questioned the guards {and} ordered them to be put to death. And having gone down from Judea to Caesarea, he stayed there.

²⁰ Now he was very angry with Tyre and Sidon. So they went to him together, and having persuaded Blastus, the one in charge of the bedchamber of the king, they asked for peace, because their food for {their} country was from the king’s country. ²¹ And on a set day, Herod clothed himself in royal clothing, and sitting on the throne, he made a speech to them. ²² But the people shouted, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” ²³ And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give the glory to God; and becoming worm-eaten, he died.

²⁴ But the word of God increased and was multiplied.

²⁵ And Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem, ^[1] having completed {their} service, having brought with them John, who was called Mark.

Chapter 13

¹ Now there were in Antioch, in the church that was {there}, prophets and teachers: both Barnabas and Simeon (who is called Niger), and Lucius the Cyrenaean, both Manaen (one brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. ² And while they are ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart, then, for me, Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” ³ Then having fasted and prayed and laid {their} hands on them, they sent them off.

⁴ So they, having been sent out by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia; and from there they sailed away to Cyprus. ⁵ And having arrived in Salamis, they were proclaiming the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they also had John as an assistant. ⁶ And having passed through the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a certain man, a magician, a Jewish false prophet whose name {was} Bar Jesus. ⁷ He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus—an intelligent man. He summoned Barnabas and Saul, seeking to hear the word of God. ⁸ But Elymas “the magician” (for thus his name is translated) opposed them; he sought to turn the proconsul away from the faith. ⁹ But Saul, who {is} also Paul, having been filled with the Holy Spirit, stared at him intently ¹⁰ {and} said, “O one full of all deceit and all wickedness, son of the devil, enemy of all righteousness, will you not stop perverting the straight paths of the Lord? ¹¹ And now behold, the hand of the Lord upon you, and you will be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.” And immediately a mist and darkness fell on Elymas, and he is going around seeking one to lead him by the hand. ¹² Then having seen what had happened, the proconsul believed, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

¹³ Now having set sail from Paphos, those around Paul came to Perga in Pamphylia. But John, withdrawing from them, returned to Jerusalem. ¹⁴ But they having passed through from Perga, came to Antioch of Pisidia, and having gone into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, they sat down. ¹⁵ And after the reading of the law and the prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Men, brothers, if there is among you any word of exhortation for the people, speak it.” ¹⁶ So having arisen and motioned with {his} hand, Paul said, “Men, Israelites and ones who fear God, listen. ¹⁷ The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and exalted the people when they stayed in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm he led them from it. ¹⁸ And for a time of about 40 years, he put up with them in the wilderness. ^{[1] 19} And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land for an inheritance. ²⁰ And about 450 years after these things, he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. ²¹ And then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul, son of Kish, a man from the tribe of Benjamin, for 40 years. ²² And having removed him, he raised up David for them as {their} king, to whom having testified, he also said, ‘I have found David, son of Jesse, a man according to my heart, who will do all my will.’ ²³ From the descendants of this one according to promise, God brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus. ²⁴ John announced beforehand, before the face of his coming, a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. ²⁵ And as John was completing {his} work, he was saying, ‘Who do you think I am? I am not him. But behold, one is coming after me, of whom the sandals of {his} feet I am not worthy to untie.’ ²⁶ Men, brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us the word about this salvation has been sent. ²⁷ For those who are living in Jerusalem, and their rulers, did not recognize this one, and they fulfilled the voices of the prophets that are being read every Sabbath, condemning him. ²⁸ And though they found no reason for death, they asked Pilate to kill him. ²⁹ And when they had completed all that had been written about him, taking him down from the tree, they laid him in a tomb. ³⁰ But God raised him from the dead. ³¹ He was seen for many days by those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people. ³² And we are proclaiming to you the gospel, the promise that was to {our} fathers. ³³ For God has fulfilled this for our children, by raising up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm:

     ‘You are my Son; today I have fathered you.’

³⁴ And that he raised him up from the dead, never to be about to return to decay, he has spoken in this way:

     ‘I will give you the holy {and} trustworthy {blessings} of David.’

³⁵ On account of this he also says in another place:

     ‘You will not allow your Holy One to see decay.’

³⁶ For indeed, David, having served the counsel of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid with his fathers, and saw decay. ³⁷ But he whom God raised up did not see decay. ³⁸ So let it be known to you, men, brothers, that because of this, forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and {freedom} from everything which you were not able to be justified in the law of Moses. ^{[2] 39} In this one every one who believes is justified. ⁴⁰ So then be careful that the thing spoken about in the prophets may not happen to you:

     ⁴¹ ‘Look, you despisers, and be astonished and perish!

     For I am doing a work in your days,

     A work that you would never believe, even if someone would announce it to you.’”

⁴² And as they were leaving, they begged them to speak to them these same words on the next Sabbath. ⁴³ And when the synagogue meeting had ended, many of the Jews and the worshiping proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who speaking to them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.

⁴⁴ And on the next Sabbath, almost the whole city was gathered together to hear the word of the Lord. ⁴⁵ But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and spoke against the things that were said by Paul, blaspheming. ⁴⁶ And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly {and} said, “It was necessary for the word of God first to be spoken to you. Since you reject it and judge yourselves not worthy of eternal life, behold, we will turn to the Gentiles. ⁴⁷ For thus has the Lord commanded us:

     ‘I have placed you as a light for the Gentiles,

     that you should be for salvation as far as the end of the earth.’”

⁴⁸ But hearing this, the Gentiles were glad and glorified the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. ⁴⁹ And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout the whole region. ⁵⁰ But the Jews stirred up the worshiping, influential women, and the leading men of the city, and a persecution arose against Paul and Barnabas, and they threw them out from their boundaries. ⁵¹ But when they had shaken off the dust from {their} feet against them, they went to Iconium. ⁵² But the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Chapter 14

¹ And it happened that in Iconium they entered together into the synagogue of the Jews and spoke in such a way so that a great multitude both of Jews and of Greeks believed. ² But the Jews who were disobedient stirred up and embittered the souls of the Gentiles against the brothers. ³ So they stayed there for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord who is testifying to the word of his grace by granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. ⁴ But the population of the city was divided; and some were with the Jews, but some with the apostles. ⁵ But when an attempt happened of both the Gentiles and the Jews (with their rulers) to mistreat and stone them, ⁶ having become aware of it, they fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra, and Derbe, and the surrounding region, ⁷ and there they continued to proclaim the gospel.

⁸ And in Lystra a certain man sat, powerless in {his} feet, lame from the womb of his mother, who never had walked. ⁹ This one heard Paul speaking. He looked intently at him and saw that he has faith to be saved. ¹⁰ He said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet,” and he jumped up and walked around. ¹¹ And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they raised their voice, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods being made like men have come down to us.” ¹² And they were calling Barnabas “Zeus,” and Paul “Hermes,” because he was the main speaker. ¹³ And the priest of the temple of Zeus, which was in front of the city, brought oxen and wreaths to the gates, wanting to sacrifice with the crowds. ¹⁴ But when hearing of it, the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, having torn their clothing, rushed out into the crowd, crying out ¹⁵ and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same feelings as you. We are proclaiming the gospel to you, to turn from these useless things to a living God, who made the heaven, and the earth, and the sea, and all that {is} in them. ¹⁶ In the generations gone by, he allowed all the nations to go {their} own ways. ¹⁷ And yet, he did not leave himself without witness; doing good, giving you rains from the sky and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.” ¹⁸ And even saying these words, they barely restrained the crowds from sacrificing to them.

¹⁹ But Jews from Antioch and Iconium came and persuaded the crowds. So having stoned Paul, they dragged him out of the city, thinking him to be dead. ²⁰ But as the disciples surrounded him, arising, he entered into the city, and the next day, he went with Barnabas to Derbe. ²¹ After they had both proclaimed the gospel in that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, and to Iconium, and to Antioch. ²² They were strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and {saying}, “It is necessary for us to enter into the kingdom of God through many afflictions.” ²³ And when they had appointed for them elders in every church, having prayed with fasting, they entrusted them to the Lord, in whom they had believed. ²⁴ And when they passed through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. ²⁵ And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. ²⁶ From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed. ²⁷ And when they arrived and gathered together the church, they reported all that God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith for the Gentiles. ²⁸ And they stayed for not a little time with the disciples.

Chapter 15

¹ And certain ones coming down from Judea taught the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised in the custom of Moses, you are not able to be saved.” ² And when not a little dispute and debate happened to Paul and Barnabas with them, they appointed Paul and Barnabas, along with certain others from among them, to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem about this question. ³ Therefore, the ones who had been sent by the church passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria announcing the conversion of the Gentiles, and they brought great joy to all the brothers. ⁴ And when they arrived at Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, and the apostles, and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them. ⁵ But certain ones who had believed, who {were} from the sect of the Pharisees, stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the law of Moses.” ⁶ And the apostles and the elders gathered together to see about this matter. ⁷ And after much debate happened, Peter arose {and} said to them,

“Men, brothers, you know that from days of old among you, God chose the Gentiles to hear by my mouth the word of the gospel, and to believe. ⁸ And God, the heart-knower, testified to them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just as also to us; ⁹ and he did not distinguish between us and them, having made their hearts clean by faith. ¹⁰ Now therefore why are you testing God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? ¹¹ But we believe to be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, and they according to that {same} manner.”

¹² And all the crowd kept silent and were listening to Barnabas and Paul explaining how many the signs and wonders God had worked among the Gentiles through them. ¹³ And after they stopped speaking, James answered, saying,

“Men, brothers, listen to me. ¹⁴ Simon has explained how God first concerned himself to take from the Gentiles a people for his name. ¹⁵ And this agrees with the words of the prophets, just as it is written,

     ¹⁶ ‘After these things I will return,

     and I will rebuild the tent of David, which has fallen down;

     and I will rebuild its ruins and will restore it,

     ¹⁷ so that the remnant of men may seek the Lord,

     including all the Gentiles upon whom my name has been called upon them,

     says the Lord who is doing these things ¹⁸ known from eternity.’ ^[1]

¹⁹ Therefore, I am judging not to trouble those from the Gentiles who are turning to God, ²⁰ but to write to them to keep away from the pollution of idols, and sexual immorality, and things that are strangled, and blood. ²¹ For Moses has in every city, from ancient generations, those proclaiming him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

²² Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas chosen men from among them—Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers. ²³ They wrote by their hand: “The apostles and the elders, brothers, to those throughout Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, who {are} brothers from among the Gentiles. Greetings! ²⁴ Now, having heard that certain ones having gone out from us to disturb you with teachings that are upsetting your souls, who were not ordered by us, ²⁵ it seemed good to us, having come together with one mind, to send to you chosen men along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, ²⁶ men who have handed over their souls for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁷ Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas, and they are reporting to you the {same} thing in words. ²⁸ For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to be laid upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: ²⁹ to abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and blood, and things strangled, and sexual immorality. Keeping yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”

³⁰ So when they were dismissed, they came down to Antioch; and having gathered the crowd together, they delivered the letter. ³¹ And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of the encouragement. ³² Both Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, exhorted the brothers with many words and strengthened them. ³³ And after they had spent time there, they were sent away with peace from the brothers to those who had sent them. ^34[2] [But it seemed good to Silas for him to remain there, so only judas traveled.] ³⁵ But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming the gospel (with also many others), the word of the Lord.

³⁶ But after some days, Paul said to Barnabas, “Having returned, then, let us visit the brothers in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord—how they are.” ³⁷ But Barnabas wanted to also take with them John who was called Mark. ³⁸ But Paul thought it wise not to take along him who had withdrawn from them from Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work. ³⁹ And there arose a sharp disagreement, so as to separate them from each other, and Barnabas took Mark with him to sail away to Cyprus. ⁴⁰ But Paul, having chosen Silas, left, after he had been entrusted by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. ⁴¹ And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Chapter 16

¹ And he also came down to Derbe and to Lystra; and behold, a certain disciple named Timothy was there, the son of a believing Jewish woman; but {his} father {was} a Greek. ² He was well spoken of by the brothers in Lystra and Iconium. ³ Paul wanted this one to go out with him, and so having taken him, he circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. ⁴ And as they were going through the cities, they were delivering to them to keep the decrees that had been decided by the apostles and elders who {were} in Jerusalem. ⁵ So the churches were being strengthened in the faith and were increasing in number each day.

⁶ And they went through the regions of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. ⁷ And when they had come near Mysia, they were attempting to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them. ⁸ And so passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. ⁹ And a vision appeared to Paul during the night: A certain man of Macedonia was standing and calling him and saying, “Having coming over to Macedonia, help us.” ¹⁰ And so when he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go out to Macedonia, reasoning together that God had called us to proclaim the gospel to them.

¹¹ And setting sail from Troas, we made a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day to Neapolis, ¹² from there to Philippi, which is the first city in the district of Macedonia, a colony, and we stayed in this city for some days. ¹³ And on the Sabbath day, we went outside the city gate by a river, where we thought to be a place of prayer. And having sat down, we spoke to the women who had come together. ¹⁴ And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple of the city of Thyatira, worshiping God, was listening, of whom the Lord opened the heart to pay attention to what was being said by Paul. ¹⁵ And when she was baptized, and her household, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, entering into my house, stay.” And she persuaded us. ¹⁶ And it happened that, as we were going to the place of prayer, a certain young female slave having a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much gain by fortune-telling. ¹⁷ She, following after Paul and us, was shouting, saying, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” ¹⁸ And she did this for many days. But Paul, being greatly annoyed and having turned to the spirit, said, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out from her.” And it came out that same hour.

¹⁹ But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, having seized Paul and Silas, they dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities. ²⁰ And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are stirring up our city. They are Jews. ²¹ And they are proclaiming customs that are not possible for us to accept nor to practice, being Romans.” ²² And then the crowd rose up together against them, and the magistrates tore {their} garments off them, commanding them to be beaten with rods. ²³ And when they had laid many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, having commanded the jailer to guard them securely, ²⁴ who, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. ²⁵ But around midnight, Paul and Silas, praying, were singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. ²⁶ But suddenly a great earthquake happened, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and the chains of everyone were unfastened. ²⁷ But the jailer became awake, and seeing the prison doors had been opened, having drawn {his} sword, he was about to kill himself, thinking the prisoners had escaped. ²⁸ But Paul shouted with a loud voice, saying, “Do not cause harm to yourself, because we are all here.” ²⁹ And so having called for lights, he rushed in, and being terrified, fell down before Paul and Silas, ³⁰ and having brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do in order to be saved?” ³¹ And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” ³² And they spoke the word of the Lord to him, together with everyone who {was} in his house. ³³ And having taken them at that same hour of the night, he washed them from the blows, and he was baptized immediately—he and all those {who were} his. ³⁴ And having brought them up into {his} house, he set a table before them and exulted with {his} household, having believed in God.

³⁵ Now when it was day, the magistrates sent the officers, saying, “Release those men.” ³⁶ And the jailer reported the words to Paul, “The magistrates have sent that you may be released. Now therefore, having come out, go in peace.” ³⁷ But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us in public without trial—men being Romans—they threw us into prison, and now they cast us out secretly? No indeed! Instead, coming themselves, let them lead us out.” ³⁸ But the officers reported these words to the magistrates, and they were terrified when they heard that they are Romans. ³⁹ And having come, they apologized to them and having brought them out, they begged them to go away from the city. ⁴⁰ But going out from the prison, they came to the house of Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they exhorted them and departed.

Chapter 17

¹ Now having passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. ² And according to {his} custom, Paul went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, ³ fully opening and demonstrating that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and {saying}, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” ⁴ And some from them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, both a large number of worshiping Greeks, and not a few of the leading women. ⁵ But the Jews, having become jealous, and having taken certain wicked men of the marketplace, and having gathered a crowd together, they set the city in an uproar. And having assaulted the house of Jason, they sought to lead them to the people. ⁶ But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and certain brothers before the city officials, crying out, “Those who have turned the inhabited world upside down—they are here in this place also, ⁷ whom Jason and all these men have welcomed, acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king—Jesus.” ⁸ And the crowd and the city officials were disturbed, hearing these things. ⁹ And after they had received a bond from Jason and the rest of them, they released them.

¹⁰ But immediately by night, the brothers sent away both Paul and Silas to Berea, who, when they arrived there, went into the synagogue of the Jews. ¹¹ Now these were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, who received the word with all readiness, examining the Scriptures each day, whether these things were so. ¹² Therefore many from them believed, including influential Greek women and not a few men. ¹³ But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was also being proclaimed by Paul at Berea, they came and there stirred up and troubled the crowds. ¹⁴ But then immediately, the brothers sent Paul away to go as far as to the sea, but both Silas and Timothy stayed there. ¹⁵ But those who were leading Paul down took him as far as Athens, and after receiving a command to Silas and Timothy that they would come to him as quickly as possible, they departed.

¹⁶ Now while Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him, seeing the city being full of idols. ¹⁷ So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and those who were worshiping, and in the marketplace every day with those whom he met there. ¹⁸ But also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to argue with him. And some said, “What is this babbler wanting to say?” But others {said}, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods,” because he was proclaiming the gospel about Jesus and the resurrection. ¹⁹ And taking hold of him, they brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “Are we able to know what {is} this new teaching which is being spoken by you? ²⁰ For you are bringing some strange things to our ears. Therefore, we want to know what these things want to be.” ²¹ (Now all the Athenians and the foreigners living there spent their time in nothing other than either to tell something or to listen to something new.) ²² And Paul, having been stood in the middle of the Areopagus, said,

“Men of Athens, I see that you are very religious in every way. ²³ For passing through and observing your objects of worship, I even found an altar on which had been inscribed, “To an Unknown God.” What therefore you worship in ignorance, this I announce to you. ²⁴ The God who made the world and all that {is} in it, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples built with hands. ²⁵ Neither is he served by hands of men, as though he needed anything, himself giving to all life and breath and all things. ²⁶ And from one man he made every nation of men to live on all the face of the earth, having determined {their} appointed seasons and the boundaries of their habitation, ²⁷ to seek God and perhaps they might feel around for him and find him. Yet he is not far from each one of us. ²⁸ For in him we live and move and exist, as also a certain one of your own poets has said,

‘For we also are {his} offspring.’ ²⁹ Therefore, being offspring of God, we ought not to consider the divine being to be like gold, or silver, or stone—images of the skill and imagination of man. ³⁰ Therefore God, having overlooked the times of ignorance, now commands all men everywhere to repent, ³¹ because he has set a day in which he is about to judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he has appointed. He has provided signs to all, having raised him from the dead.”

³² Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked him; but others said, “We will hear you again concerning this matter.” ³³ So, Paul went out from their midst. ³⁴ But certain men who joined him believed, among whom included Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

Chapter 18

¹ After these things, having departed from Athens, he went to Corinth. ² And when he found a certain Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy, and Priscilla, his wife, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to depart from Rome, he approached them, ³ and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade. ⁴ And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, persuading both Jews and Greeks. ⁵ But when both Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself to the word, solemnly testifying to the Jews Jesus to be the Christ. ⁶ But as they are opposing and insulting him, shaking out {his} garment, he said to them, “Your blood be upon your head! I am clean! From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” ⁷ And having departed from there, he went to the house of a certain man named Titius Justus who worships God, whose house was next to the synagogue. ⁸ But Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all those in his house; and many of the Corinthians, hearing about it, were believing and were being baptized. ⁹ And through a vision in the night, the Lord said to Paul, “Do not be afraid, but continue speaking and do not be silent. ¹⁰ For I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many people in this city.” ¹¹ And so he stayed there for a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

¹² But Gallio being governor of Achaia, the Jews rose up together against Paul and brought him before the judgment seat, ¹³ saying, “This one persuades men to worship God contrary to the law.” ¹⁴ But when Paul was about to open {his} mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “O Jews, if it were some crime or evil wrongdoing, according to reason I would have endured you. ¹⁵ But if these are questions about a word and names and your law, you will see to it yourselves. I do not want to be a judge of these matters.” ¹⁶ And so he sent them away from the judgment seat. ¹⁷ But they all, having seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, were beating him in front of the judgment seat. But none of these things mattered to Gallio.

¹⁸ And Paul, after having stayed there many days, left the brothers {and} sailed to Syria, and Priscilla and Aquila {were} with him. He had cut the hair of {his} head in Cenchrea because he had a vow. ¹⁹ And when they came to Ephesus, he left them there, but he himself, having gone into the synagogue, reasoned with the Jews. ²⁰ But when they asked him to stay for a longer time, he did not consent. ²¹ But having left them and having said, “I will return again to you, God is willing” he set sail from Ephesus.

²² And having landed at Caesarea, having gone up and having greeted the church, he went down to Antioch. ²³ And having spent some time there, he departed, going through the region of Galatia and Phrygia in succession, strengthening all the disciples.

²⁴ Now a certain Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came down to Ephesus, being mighty in the Scriptures. ²⁵ He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, knowing only the baptism of John. ²⁶ And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but hearing him, Priscilla and Aquila took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. ²⁷ And when he desired to pass over into Achaia, the brothers encouraged him {and} wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed by grace. ²⁸ For he was powerfully refuting the Jews publicly, showing by the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.

Chapter 19

¹ And it happened that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper parts to come down to Ephesus, and to find certain disciples. ² And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” But they said to him, “No, we have not even heard if there is a Holy Spirit.” ³ And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” And they said, “Into the baptism of John.” ⁴ But Paul replied, “John baptized a baptism of repentance, telling the people that they should believe in the one who is coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” ⁵ And having heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ⁶ And when Paul had laid {his} hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them and they began to speak in tongues and prophesy. ⁷ And they were about 12 men in all.

⁸ And having gone into the synagogue, he was speaking boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. ⁹ But when some were hardened and being disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the crowd, having departed from them, he took the disciples with him, reasoning with them each day in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. ¹⁰ And this happened for two years, so that all those who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. ¹¹ And God was doing not ordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, ¹² so that even handkerchiefs and aprons from his body were taken to the sick and {their} illnesses departed from them, and the evil spirits came out of them. ¹³ But some traveling Jewish exorcists also tried to call on the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I command you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” ¹⁴ And seven certain sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. ¹⁵ But answering, an evil spirit said to them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” ¹⁶ And the man in whom was the evil spirit, after leaping on them, overpowering them, prevailed over each of them so that they fled from that house naked and wounded. ¹⁷ And this became known to all those living in Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. ¹⁸ And many of those who believed were coming, confessing and declaring their deeds. ¹⁹ And many of those who practiced the magical arts, having brought {their} books together, burned them before everyone. And they counted the value of them, and they found it to be 50,000 pieces of silver. ²⁰ So the word of the Lord was spreading and prevailing according to power.

²¹ Now as soon as this was completed, Paul determined in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia to travel to Jerusalem, having said, “After I have been there, it is necessary for me also to see Rome.” ²² And having sent to Macedonia two of those helping him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a time.

²³ But at about that time, there was no small disturbance concerning the Way. ²⁴ For a certain silversmith named Demetrius, making silver shrines of Artemis, brought in not a little business for the craftsmen. ²⁵ And he, having gathered together the workmen of that occupation, said, “Men, you know that our prosperity is from this business. ²⁶ And you see and hear that, not only at Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this Paul has persuaded {and} turned away a considerable crowd. He is saying that the things that are being made with hands are not gods. ²⁷ And not only is this trade in peril for us to come to disrepute, but that even the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be considered as nothing. And indeed, her majesty is about to be destroyed—she whom all Asia and the world worships.” ²⁸ And having heard this and having become filled with anger, they cried out, saying, “Great {is} Artemis of the Ephesians.” ²⁹ And the city was filled with confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus the Macedonian, Paul's travel companions. ³⁰ But when Paul was desiring to enter in among the people, the disciples did not permit him. ³¹ And also, some of the officials of Asia who {were} his friends sent to him exhorted him not to offer himself in the theater. ³² So then different ones were shouting a different thing, for the assembly was confused, and the majority did not know for what reason they had come together. ³³ And some from the crowd instructed Alexander, whom the Jews had pushed forward. And Alexander motioned with {his} hand, wanting to give a defense to the assembly. ³⁴ But when they had become aware that he is a Jew, there was one voice from all of them, as for two hours they are crying out, “Great {is} Artemis of the Ephesians.” ³⁵ But when the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he says, “Men of Ephesus, what man indeed is there who does not know that the city of Ephesus is temple keeper of the great Artemis and of that which is fallen down from heaven? ³⁶ So since these things are undeniable, it is necessary for you to be calmed and to do nothing rash. ³⁷ For you brought these men {who are} neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess. ³⁸ Therefore, if Demetrius and the craftsmen with him have a word against anyone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. Let them accuse one another. ³⁹ But if you seek anything about other matters, it will be settled in the regular assembly. ⁴⁰ For indeed we are in danger of being accused of rioting concerning this day. There is no reason about which we will be able to give an account concerning this disorder.” ^{[1] 41} And having said this, he dismissed the assembly. ^[2]

Chapter 20

¹ And after the uproar had ended, Paul summoned the disciples and after he encouraged them {and} said farewell, he departed to go to Macedonia. ² And when he had gone through those regions and had exhorted them with many words, he came to Greece. ³ And after he had spent three months there, a plot was formed against him by the Jews as he is about to sail to Syria, so he decided to return through Macedonia. ⁴ And accompanying him {were} Sopater of Pyrrhus from Berea, and Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, and Gaius from Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus, and Trophimus from Asia. ⁵ But they had gone before us {and} were waiting for us at Troas. ⁶ And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and in five days we came to them in Troas, where we stayed for seven days.

⁷ And on the first of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul spoke to them. He is about to depart the next day, and so he continued {his} message until midnight. ⁸ And there were many lamps in the upper room where we were meeting together. ⁹ And sitting on the window a certain young man named Eutychus, was falling into a deep sleep. As Paul is speaking even longer, having been overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was picked up dead. ¹⁰ But having gone down, Paul stretched out on him, and having embraced him, said, “Do not be upset, for his life is in him.” ¹¹ And when he had gone up and had broken bread and had eaten, he also talked with them much longer until dawn. In this way, he left. ¹² But they brought back the boy alive and were not moderately comforted.

¹³ But we, having gone ahead to the ship, sailed away to Assos, from where we intended to take Paul on board, for thus he had arranged; he himself was intending to go on foot. ¹⁴ And when he met us at Assos, taking him on board, we went to Mitylene. ¹⁵ And having sailed from there we arrived the next day opposite Chios. And the following day, we landed at Samos, and the next day, we came to Miletus. ¹⁶ For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he would not spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be, if it was possible for him, in Jerusalem for the day of Pentecost.

¹⁷ And from Miletus, having sent to Ephesus, he summoned the elders of the church. ¹⁸ And when they came to him, he said to them,

“You yourselves know, from the first day from when I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time, ¹⁹ serving the Lord with all humility and tears and trials that happened to me in the plots of the Jews; ²⁰ how I kept back nothing that was useful which I did not declare to you, and I taught you in public and according to houses, ²¹ testifying to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus. ²² And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, having been bound by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me in it, ²³ except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city, saying that chains and afflictions await me. ²⁴ But I do not consider {my} life to myself the value of a single word, so as to finish my race and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to solemnly testify to the gospel of the grace of God. ²⁵ And now, behold, I know that you all, among whom I went about proclaiming the kingdom, will see my face no more. ²⁶ Therefore I testify to you this present day that I am innocent from the blood of all. ²⁷ For I did not hold back from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. ²⁸ Guard yourselves and all the flock among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to shepherd the church of God, which he purchased with his own blood. ^{[1] 29} I know that after my departure, vicious wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. ³⁰ Even from you yourselves, men will arise speaking perverted things to draw away the disciples after them. ³¹ So be alert, remembering that for three years I did not stop admonishing each one with tears night and day. ³² And now I am entrusting you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. ³³ I coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothing. ³⁴ You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my needs and to those who were with me. ³⁵ In all things, I showed you that in this way it is necessary to work hard to help those who are weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

³⁶ And having said these things, having bowed his knees, he prayed with them all. ³⁷ But there was much weeping among them all, and having fallen upon Paul’s neck, they were kissing him, ³⁸ grieving mostly because of the word which he had spoken, that they were never going to see his face again. And then they escorted him to the ship.

Chapter 21

¹ And it happened that when we set sail, having been torn from them, having run a straight course, we came to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. ² And when we found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, having gone aboard, we set sail. ³ And having sighting Cyprus and leaving it behind on the left, we sailed on to Syria and landed at Tyre, for the ship was to unload {its} cargo there. ⁴ And having found the disciples, we stayed there seven days. Through the Spirit they kept saying to Paul not to go to Jerusalem. ⁵ Now when our days to supply happened, having departed, we went on our way, they all with {their} wives and children accompanying us as far as outside the city. And having knelt down on the shore {and} having prayed, ⁶ we said farewell to each other, and we went up into the ship, and they returned to their own.

⁷ And when we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and having greeted the brothers, we stayed with them for one day. ⁸ And on the next day, having departed, we went to Caesarea and, having entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was from the seven, we stayed with him. ⁹ Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesy. ¹⁰ And as we stayed there for many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. ¹¹ And having come to us and having taken Paul’s belt, having bound his own feet and hands, he said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt, and they will hand him over into the hands of the Gentiles.’” ¹² And when we heard these things, both we and the local people were begging him not to go up to Jerusalem. ¹³ Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready, not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” ¹⁴ But since he would not be persuaded, we remained silent, saying, “Let the will of the Lord happen.”

¹⁵ And after having made preparations these days, we went up to Jerusalem. ¹⁶ And {some} of the disciples from Caesarea also came along with us, bringing us to Mnason, a certain early disciple from Cyprus, with whom we would stay.

¹⁷ And when we had arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers welcomed us gladly. ¹⁸ And the next day Paul went with us to James, and all the elders were present. ¹⁹ And having greeted them, he reported according to each thing that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. ²⁰ And when they heard it, they glorified God and said to him, “You see, brother, how many myriads there are who have believed among the Jews, and they are all zealous for the law. ²¹ And they have been told about you, that you teach apostasy from Moses to all the Jews who {are} among the Gentiles, telling them not to circumcise {their} children, nor to walk in the customs. ²² What therefore is it? They will certainly hear that you have come. ²³ So do this that we say to you. There are four men with us having a vow from themselves. ²⁴ Having taken these men, be purified with them, and pay the expenses for them, so that they will shave {their} heads, and then everyone will know that what they have been told about you is false, but that you yourself walk in and obey the law. ²⁵ But concerning the Gentiles who have believed, we sent, having given judgment to keep themselves from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what is strangled, and from sexual immorality.” ²⁶ Then Paul, having taken the men the next day, having been purified with them, went into the temple, announcing the fulfillment of the days of purification, until the offering which was offered for each one of them.

²⁷ But when the seven days were about to be finished, the Jews from Asia, having seen Paul in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd, and laid {their} hands on him, ²⁸ shouting, “Men of Israel, help us. This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place. And besides, he has both brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” ²⁹ For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, whom they thought that Paul brought into the temple. ³⁰ And the whole city was stirred up, and there became a mob of the people, and having laid hold of Paul, they dragged him outside the temple, and the doors were immediately shut. ³¹ And as they were seeking to kill him, a report came up to the commander of the guard that all Jerusalem was stirred up. ³² Right away, having taken soldiers and centurions, he ran down to them. And when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. ³³ Then, having approached him, the commander laid hold of him and commanded him to be bound with two chains. And then he asked who he is and what it is that he had done. ³⁴ But different ones in the crowd were shouting different things. But he, not being able to find out anything for certain because of the noise, commanded that he be brought into the fortress. ³⁵ But when he came to the steps, he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd. ³⁶ For the crowd of people followed after, shouting out, “Away with him!”

³⁷ And as Paul is about to be brought into the fortress, he says to the commander, “If it is permitted for me to say something to you … ?” But he replied, “Do you know Greek? ³⁸ Are you not then the Egyptian who before this day revolted and led the 4,000 men of the ‘Assassins’ out into the wilderness?” ³⁹ But Paul said, “I am a Jewish man from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of a not insignificant city. And I ask you, allow me to speak to the people.” ⁴⁰ And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, motioned with {his} hand to the people. And when there was a deep silence, he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, saying,

Chapter 22

¹ “Men, brothers, and fathers, listen to my defense to you now.”

² And when they heard that he was speaking to them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. And he said,

³ “I am a Jewish man, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but educated in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict ways of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, just as all of you are today. ⁴ I persecuted this Way as far as death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, ⁵ as also the high priest testifies for me, and all the elders from whom also having received letters to the brothers in Damascus, I was going there indeed to bring back in bonds to Jerusalem those who were there in order that they might be punished. ⁶ And it happened to me that, traveling and nearing Damascus, about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me. ⁷ And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ ⁸ And so I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.’ ⁹ But those who were with me saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me. ¹⁰ But I said, ‘What should I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Having arisen, go into Damascus, and there you will be told about everything that has been appointed for you to do.’ ¹¹ And when I could not see because of the glory of that light, being led by the hands by those who were with me, I came into Damascus. ¹² And a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, being testified to by all the Jews who lived there, ¹³ came to me and having stood by me, said to me, ‘Saul, brother, look up.’ And that very hour I looked up to him. ¹⁴ And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear the voice from his own mouth, ¹⁵ for you will be a witness for him to all men about what you have seen and heard. ¹⁶ And now why are you waiting? Having arisen, be baptized, and wash away your sins, having called on his name.’ ¹⁷ And it happened to me that when I had returned to Jerusalem and I was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance. ¹⁸ And I saw him saying to me, ‘Hurry and go away from Jerusalem in haste, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ ¹⁹ And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that I was imprisoning and beating those who believed in you according to the synagogues. ²⁰ And when the blood of Stephen your witness was spilled, I myself also was standing by and agreeing, and guarding the outer garments of those who killed him.’ ²¹ But he said to me, ‘Go, because I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”

²² And they listened to him until this word, and then they lifted up their voice, saying, “Remove such a one from the earth, for it is not right for him to live.” ²³ And as they were shouting and throwing off {their} outer garments, and throwing dust into the air, ²⁴ the commander commanded him to be brought in to the fortress, commanding him to be examined by flogging, so that he might know for what reason they were shouting against him like that. ²⁵ But when they had stretched him out for the whip, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “If it is lawful for you to whip a man who is a Roman and uncondemned … ?” ²⁶ And when the centurion heard this, having gone to the commander, he reported, saying, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman.” ²⁷ And so, having come, the commander said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman?” And he said, “Yes.” ²⁸ And the commander answered, “I bought this citizenship with a large amount of money.” But Paul said, “I, however, was indeed born {as one}.” ²⁹ Then those who were about to examine him drew back from him immediately, and the commander also was afraid, having learned that he was a Roman, and that he had bound him.

³⁰ And on the next day, wanting to know for certain that which he was being accused by the Jews, he released him and commanded the chief priests and all the Sanhedrin to assemble. And having brought down Paul, he placed him among them.

Chapter 23

¹ And having looked directly at the Sanhedrin, Paul said, “Men, brothers, I have lived as a citizen before God in all good conscience until this day.” ² But the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. ³ Then Paul said to him, “God is about to strike you, you whitewashed wall. And do you sit judging me by the law, yet command me to be struck, against the law?” ⁴ But those who stood by said, “Are you insulting the high priest of God?” ⁵ And Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he is a high priest. For it is written,

     You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.”

⁶ But when Paul realized that the one group was Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he shouted in the Sanhedrin, “Men, brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. I am being judged concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead.” ⁷ And when he said this, an argument began between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the crowd was divided. ⁸ For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection, nor angels, nor spirits, but the Pharisees confess all of them. ⁹ And so a large uproar occurred, and some of the scribes of the group of the Pharisees, having arisen, contended, saying, “We find nothing evil in this man. But what if a spirit has spoken to him, or an angel?” ¹⁰ And when a great argument happened, the commander, having feared that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down to seize him by force from the midst of them, and to bring him into the fortress.

¹¹ But the following night the Lord, having stood beside him, said, “Have courage, for as you have testified to things concerning me in Jerusalem, so it is necessary also for you to testify in Rome.”

¹² And when it became day, the Jews, having formed a conspiracy, cursed themselves, saying neither to eat nor to drink until they had killed Paul. ¹³ And there were more than 40 who had formed this conspiracy. ¹⁴ They, having gone to the chief priests and the elders, said, “We have cursed ourselves with a curse, to eat nothing until we have killed Paul. ¹⁵ Now, therefore, you along with the Sanhedrin report to the commander as if you are going to examine more seriously the things concerning him, so that he will bring him down to you. But we are ready to kill him before his arrival.” ¹⁶ But having heard of the ambush, the son of the sister of Paul went and, having entered into the fortress, reported this to Paul. ¹⁷ And so, having called one of the centurions, Paul said, “Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to report to him.” ¹⁸ So having taken him, he brought him to the commander and said, “The prisoner, Paul, having summoned me, asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to say to you.” ¹⁹ So the commander, having taken hold of his hand and having withdrawn to a private place. asked him, “What is it that you have to report to me?” ²⁰ So then he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you that tomorrow you might bring Paul down to the Sanhedrin, as if they were going to inquire something more concerning him. ²¹ Therefore you should not be persuaded by them, because more than 40 from these men lie in wait for him, who have cursed themselves neither to eat nor to drink until they have killed him. Even now they are ready, waiting for the promise from you.” ²² So the commander dismissed the young man, having commanded him, “Tell no one that you have reported these things to me.” ²³ And having summoned a certain two of the centurions, he said, “Prepare 200 soldiers so that they might go as far as Caesarea, and 70 horsemen, and 200 spearmen from the third hour of the night, ²⁴ and provide animals in order to, having set Paul on them, take him safely to Felix the governor.” ²⁵ Then he wrote a letter, having this form:

²⁶ “Claudius Lysias to the most excellent Governor Felix, greetings. ²⁷ This man, having been seized by the Jews and about to be killed by them, having come with detachment of soldiers, I rescued, having learned that he is a Roman. ²⁸ And wanting to know the charge with which they accused him, I took him down to their Sanhedrin. ²⁹ I learned that he was being accused concerning questions of their own law, but there was no accusation worthy of death or imprisonment. ³⁰ And when a plot was to be against the man was revealed to me, immediately I sent him to you, also having commanded {his} accusers to speak against him in your {presence}.”

³¹ So the soldiers, according to what had been commanded to them, having taken Paul, brought him by night to Antipatris. ³² And on the next day, having allowed the horsemen to continue with him, they returned to the fortress. ³³ When they had entered into Caesarea and had delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him. ³⁴ And when he had read the letter and had asked what province he is from, and had learned that {he was} from Cilicia, ³⁵ he said, “I will hear you fully when your accusers also may come here,” having commanded him to be kept in the palace of Herod.

Chapter 24

¹ And after five days, Ananias, the high priest, with certain elders, and an orator, a certain Tertullus, came down, who appeared to the governor against Paul. ² And when he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, “We have obtained great peace through you, and good reforms have happened to {our} nation through your foresight;

³ both in every way and everywhere we acknowledge this, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness. ⁴ However, in order that we may not bother you any longer, I beg you to briefly listen to us in your kindness. ⁵ For we have found this man to be a troublemaker and inciting rebellion among all the Jews who {are} throughout the world. Also, he is a leader of the sect of the Nazarenes. ⁶ He even tried to desecrate the temple, and so we arrested him. ^[1] [We wanted to judge him according to our law. ^7[2] But Lysias, the officer, having come, took him by force out of our hands, ^8[3] commanding his accusers to come to you.] Having inquired from him about all these matters, you yourself will be able to learn of what we are accusing him.” ⁹ And the Jews also agreed, affirming that these charges were so.

¹⁰ And the governor having motioned for him to speak, Paul answered, “Knowing that for many years you have been a judge to this nation, I gladly make my defense about the things concerning me.

¹¹ You are able to find out that it has not been more than 12 days from when I went up to worship in Jerusalem. ¹² And they found me neither in the temple arguing with anyone, nor causing a rebellion of the crowd, neither in the synagogues, nor throughout the city. ¹³ And they are not able to prove to you about that which they are now accusing me. ¹⁴ But I confess this to you, that according to the Way that they call a sect, in that way I serve the God of our fathers, faithful to all that is according to the law and that has been written in the prophets. ¹⁵ I have the hope in God which also these men themselves accept, that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. ¹⁶ In this also I myself always strive to have a blameless conscience before God and men. ¹⁷ Now after many years, I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings. ¹⁸ They found me in this, having been cleansed in the temple, not with a crowd nor with an uproar. ¹⁹ But there are certain Jews from Asia who ought to be present before you and to make accusations, if they have anything against me. ²⁰ Or let these here say what wrong they found when I stood before the Sanhedrin, ²¹ other than about this one thing that I shouted when I stood among them, ‘I am being judged before you today concerning the resurrection of the dead.’”

²² And then Felix, more accurately knowing the things concerning the Way, adjourned them, saying, “When Lysias the commander may come down, I will decide the things concerning you.” ²³ He had commanded the centurion for him to be kept in custody, but to have rest, and not to forbid his own friends to minister to him.

²⁴ But after some days, having returned with Drusilla, his own wife, who was a Jewess, Felix summoned Paul and he heard him concerning the faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁵ But as he is reasoning with him about righteousness, and self-control, and the judgment that is coming, Felix, having become frightened, answered, “Go away for now. But having found time, I will summon you.” ²⁶ At the same time, he also is hoping that money will be given to him by Paul, and therefore often summoning him, he was speaking to him. ²⁷ But when two years had passed, Felix received a successor—Porcius Festus. But wanting to gain favor with the Jews, Felix left Paul imprisoned.

Chapter 25

¹ Festus, then, having arrived in the province, after three days, went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem. ² Both the chief priests and the most prominent of the Jews made clear to him {the things} against Paul, and they begged him, ³ requesting a favor against him—that he might summon him to Jerusalem—for an ambush was forming to kill him along the way. ⁴ So Festus answered that Paul was being held at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to go there in haste. ⁵ He said, “Therefore, the leaders among you, having come down together, if there is something wrong with the man, let them accuse him.”

⁶ And after he had stayed with them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. The next day, having sat in the judgment seat, he commanded Paul to be brought to him. ⁷ And when he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges which they were not able to prove, ⁸ Paul, saying in defense, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I sinned in anything.” ⁹ But Festus, wanting to do a favor for the Jews, answering Paul, said, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and to be judged there before me about these things?” ¹⁰ But Paul said, “I am standing before the judgment seat of Caesar, where it is necessary for me to be judged. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, as you also very well know. ¹¹ Therefore, if I have done wrong and have done anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if there is nothing of which they can accuse me, no one is able to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar.” ¹² Then, after having talked with the council, Festus answered, “To Caesar you have appealed. To Caesar you will go!”

¹³ Now after some days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice, having come down to Caesarea, paid their respects to Festus. ¹⁴ And while they were staying there for many days, Festus presented to the king the things concerning Paul, saying, “There is a certain man who has been left behind by Felix, a prisoner. ¹⁵ When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges concerning him, requesting a judgment against him. ¹⁶ I replied to them that it is not the custom of the Romans to hand over any man, or before the one who is accused may have {his} accusers face to face and receives an opportunity of a defense concerning the accusation. ¹⁷ Therefore, when they had come together here, causing no delay, the next day, having sat in the judgment seat, I commanded the man to be brought in. ¹⁸ When the accusers had stood up, they brought no charge concerning him of evil which I expected. ¹⁹ Instead, they had certain disputes with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus who was dead, whom Paul asserted to be alive. ²⁰ And so I am uncertain about the things concerning this matter. I asked if he was willing to go to Jerusalem and there to be judged concerning these things. ²¹ But when Paul had appealed for him to be kept for the decision of the emperor, I commanded him to be kept until when I might send him to Caesar.” ²² And Agrippa replied to Festus, “I, myself, also was wanting to hear this man.” “Tomorrow,” he says, “you will hear him.”

²³ So on the next day, Agrippa and Bernice having come with much ceremony, and having entered into the hall with both the commanders and men who were prominent in the city, and having been commanded by Festus, Paul was brought in. ²⁴ And Festus said, “King Agrippa, and all who are present with us, you see this man, concerning whom all the multitude of the Jews petitioned me both in Jerusalem and here also, shouting that he ought not to live any longer. ²⁵ But I learned that he had done nothing worthy of death; but he himself having appealed to the emperor, I decided to send him. ²⁶ Concerning him, I do not have anything definite to write to my lord. For this reason, I have him before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after this examination has happened, I might have something to write. ²⁷ For it seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner and to not state the charges against him.”

Chapter 26

¹ And Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” Then Paul, having stretched out {his} hand, made {his} defense.

² “Concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, King Agrippa, I consider myself blessed that I am going to make my defense before you today; ³ especially since you are an expert according to all the Jewish customs and also {their} controversies. So I ask you to hear me patiently. ⁴ Indeed then, all the Jews know the manner of my life which {was} from my youth, that from the beginning has been among my nation and in Jerusalem, ⁵ Knowing me from the beginning, if they were willing to testify, that I lived as a Pharisee, according to the strictest sect of our religion. ⁶ And now I stand here being judged because of my hope of the promise that was made to our fathers by God, ⁷ to which our 12 tribes hope to attain, in earnest serving night and day. Concerning this hope, I am being accused by the Jews, O King. ⁸ Why is it judged unbelievable among you that God raises the dead? ⁹ Then, I thought to myself that it was necessary to do many things opposed to the name of Jesus the Nazarene. ¹⁰ And I did these things in Jerusalem, and I even locked up many of the saints in prison, having received the authority from the chief priests. and when they were being put to death, I cast my vote against them. ¹¹ And often punishing them in all the synagogues, I forced them to blaspheme, and being greatly enraged against them, I persecuted them even as far as to foreign cities. ¹² While doing this, traveling to Damascus with authority and a commission that {was} from the chief priests, ¹³ in the middle of the day, along the road, O King, I saw a light from heaven, beyond the brightness of the sun, shining around me and those who were traveling with me. ¹⁴ And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against a goad.’ ¹⁵ And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. ¹⁶ But get up and stand on your feet; because for this I appeared to you, to appoint you as a servant and a witness of both that which you have seen about me and of that which will be shown to you; ¹⁷ rescuing you from the people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, ¹⁸ to open their eyes to turn from darkness to light, and from the authority of Satan to God, for them to receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith that {is} in me.’ ¹⁹ Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision; ²⁰ but, to those in Damascus first, and also in Jerusalem, and in all the region of Judea, and to the Gentiles, I declared to repent and to turn to God, doing deeds worthy of repentance. ²¹ For the sake of this, the Jews, having seized me in the temple, attempted to kill me. ²² Therefore having received help which is from God until this day, I stand, testifying to both small and great, saying nothing other than what both the prophets and Moses said is going to happen— ²³ that the Christ {is} subject to suffering and that {as} the first from the resurrection of the dead, is going to proclaim light both to the people and to the Gentiles.”

²⁴ And as he is saying these things in his defense, Festus says with a loud voice, “Paul, you are insane; your great learning is turning you to insanity.” ²⁵ But Paul says, “I am not insane, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking words of truth and of sanity. ²⁶ For the king knows about these things, to whom I am indeed speaking boldly, for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this was not done in a corner. ²⁷ Do you believe the prophets, King Agrippa? I know that you believe.” ²⁸ But Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time, are you persuading me to become a Christian?” ²⁹ But Paul replied, “I pray to God for, either in a short time or in a long time, not you only, but also all those hearing me today to become such as I also am, but without these chains.”

³⁰ And then the king got up, and the governor, and Bernice, and those sitting with them; ³¹ and when they had left, they talked to one another, saying, “This man is not doing anything worthy of death or of chains.” ³² But Agrippa said to Festus, “This man was able to have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

Chapter 27

¹ And when it was decided for us to sail to Italy, they handed over both Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion named Julius of the Augustan regiment. ² And having boarded a ship from Adramyttium, being about to sail to places along Asia, we set sail. Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, was with us. ³ And the next day, we landed at Sidon, and Julius having treated Paul kindly, allowed him to go to {his} friends to receive {their} care. ⁴ And from there, having put to sea, we sailed under Cyprus because of the winds that were against us. ⁵ And when we had sailed across the sea past Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra of Lycia. ⁶ And there, the centurion having found a ship from Alexandria sailing to Italy, he put us on it. ⁷ And sailing slowly for many days and having arrived with difficulty near Cnidus, the wind no longer allowing us to go that way, we sailed along Crete, opposite Salmone. ⁸ And sailing along it with difficulty, we came to a certain place called Fair Havens, which was near the city of Lasea.

⁹ But much time having passed, and the voyage already being dangerous because even the fast had already passed, Paul was warning them, ¹⁰ saying to them, “Men, I see that the voyage is about to be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” ¹¹ But the centurion paid more attention to the pilot and to the owner of the ship than the things spoken by Paul. ¹² But the harbor being unsuitable for wintering, the majority made a decision to sail from there, if somehow they might be able to arrive at Phoenix, to spend the winter there—a harbor in Crete, looking toward the southwest and toward the northwest. ¹³ And when a south wind had blown gently, thinking they obtained {their} purpose, after they had weighed anchor, they sailed along close to Crete. ¹⁴ But not long after, a violent wind called the northeaster rushed down from it. ¹⁵ And having been seized and the ship not being able to face into the wind, having given way, we were driven along. ¹⁶ But sailing under the lee of a certain island called Cauda, we were able with difficulty to gain control of the lifeboat. ¹⁷ Having hoisted it up, they used ropes, binding the ship. And fearing lest they might run aground on Syrtis, having lowered the sea anchor, thus they were driven along. ¹⁸ But with us being exceedingly battered by the storm, the next day, they began the jettisoning of the cargo. ¹⁹ And on the third day, they threw overboard the equipment of the ship with their own hands. ²⁰ But neither sun nor stars appearing for many days, and no small storm assaulting us, all remaining hope for us to be saved was taken away. ²¹ And after being a long time without food, then having stood up in the midst of them, Paul said, “You men should indeed have obeyed me, to not set sail from Crete, and to suffer this injury and loss. ²² But now this I urge you, to take courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but {only} of the ship. ²³ For this night an angel of the God of whom I am and whom I serve, stood beside me ²⁴ saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand before Caesar, and behold, God has graciously granted to you all those who are sailing with you.’ ²⁵ Therefore take courage, men! For I trust God that thus it will be, according to the way it was told to me. ²⁶ But we must run aground upon some island.”

²⁷ And when the fourteenth night came, as we were being driven this way and that in the Adriatic Sea, about the middle of the night the sailors thought that they were approaching some land. ²⁸ And taking soundings, they found 20 fathoms; but when they had gone a little further, and again taking soundings, they found 15 fathoms. ²⁹ And fearing that we might crash somewhere against a rugged place, having lowered four anchors from the stern, they prayed for daytime to come. ³⁰ But as the sailors were seeking to flee from the ship, and as they had lowered the lifeboat into the sea on a pretext as if intending to lower anchors from the bow, ³¹ Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, “If these do not stay in the ship, you are not able to be saved.” ³² Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the lifeboat and let it fall away. ³³ And up until it was about to become daytime, Paul urged them all to take food, saying, “Today {is} the fourteenth day, anxiously waiting, you are continuing fasting, having eaten nothing. ³⁴ Therefore, I urge you to take food, for this is for your salvation. For a hair from the head of none of you will perish.” ³⁵ And having said this and having taken bread, he gave thanks to God before everyone, and having broken bread, he began to eat. ³⁶ And they were all encouraged and themselves took food. ³⁷ And in all, we were 276 souls in the ship. ³⁸ And when they had eaten enough food, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea. ³⁹ And when it was daytime, they did not recognize the land, but they saw a certain bay having a beach, onto which they discussed whether they might be able to drive the ship. ⁴⁰ And having cut loose the anchors, they left them in the sea. At the same time, having loosened the bands of the rudders and having raised the foresail to the wind, they headed to the beach. ⁴¹ But having come to a place between two seas, the ship ran aground, and the bow of the ship having stuck there, it remained immovable, but the stern was breaking up by the violence of the waves. ⁴² Now the plan of the soldiers was that they would kill the prisoners lest some of them, having swum away, would escape. ⁴³ But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, stopped their plan, and so he commanded those who were able to swim, first having jumped overboard, to get to the land, ⁴⁴ and then the rest, some on planks, and some on other things from the ship, and in this way, it happened that all were brought safely to the land.

Chapter 28

¹ And having been brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta. ² And the native people offered to us not ordinary kindness, for having lit a fire, they welcomed us all, because of the rain that was beginning, and because of the cold. ³ But when Paul had gathered a certain quantity of sticks and had placed them on the fire, a viper, having come out from the heat, fastened on to his hand. ⁴ And when the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “This man certainly is a murderer, who having been saved from the sea, justice has not permitted him to live.” ⁵ Then, he, shaking off the snake into the fire, suffered no harm. ⁶ But they were expecting him to begin to become inflamed or to suddenly fall down dead. But watching him for a long time and seeing nothing unusual happening to him, having changed their minds, they said that he is a god.

⁷ Now in the {area} near that same place were lands of the most important man of the island, named Publius, who having welcomed us, kindly entertained us for three days. ⁸ And it happened that the father of Publius was lying sick, having been afflicted with fever and dysentery. Paul went to him and having prayed, having placed {his} hands on him, he healed him. ⁹ And after this happened, the rest of those on the island who had sickness also were coming and were being healed. ¹⁰ They also honored us with many honors, and when we were setting sail, they gave us the things for {our} needs.

¹¹ And after three months, we set sail in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered at the island, with a “Heavenly Twins” figurehead. ¹² And having landing at Syracuse, we stayed three days. ¹³ Having sailed from there, we arrived at Rhegium, and after one day, a south wind having sprung up, we came to Puteoli the next day. ¹⁴ Having found brothers there, we were begged to stay with them for seven days, and in this way, we came to Rome. ¹⁵ From there, the brothers, having heard the things about us, came to a meeting with us as far as Forum of Appius and Three Taverns. Having seen them, Paul, having thanked God, took courage.

¹⁶ And when we entered into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself with the soldier guarding him.

¹⁷ And it happened that after three days, he called together those who were the most important of the Jews. And when they had come together, he said to them, “Men, brothers, having done nothing opposed to the people or the customs of {our} fathers, I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. ¹⁸ After they had questioned me, they were intending to release me, because there is no reason in me for a death penalty. ¹⁹ But the Jews objecting, I was forced to appeal to Caesar—not as if I have anything to accuse my nation. ²⁰ Therefore, for this reason, I summoned you, to see and to speak with you. For I am bound with this chain because of the hope of Israel.” ²¹ But they said to him, “We neither received letters from Judea about you, nor have any of the brothers come {and} reported or said anything evil about you. ²² But we want to hear from you what you think, for concerning this sect, it is known to us that it is spoken against everywhere.”

²³ And when they had appointed a day for him, more people came to him at his lodging. He was explaining to them, testifying about the kingdom of God and persuading them about Jesus, both from the law of Moses and from the prophets, from morning until evening. ²⁴ And some were convinced about the things which he was saying, but others did not believe. ²⁵ And being in disagreement with one another, they left after Paul had spoken one word, “The Holy Spirit spoke well through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers ²⁶ saying, ‘Go to this people and say,

     “By hearing you will hear, but you will certainly not understand;

     and by seeing you will see, but you will certainly not perceive.

     ²⁷ For the heart of this people has become dull,

     and with {their} ears they hardly heard,

     and they shut their eyes.

     Otherwise they might see with {their} eyes,

     and might hear with {their} ears,

     and might understand with {their} heart and might turn again,

     and I will heal them.”’

²⁸ Therefore, let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, they also will hear.” ^29[1] [And when he had said these things, the Jews went away, having a great dispute among themselves.]

³⁰ And he stayed for two whole years in his own rented house, and he was welcoming all those who are coming to him, ³¹ proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching the things about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, without hindrance.