Acts

Chapter 1

1 In my first book, O Theophilus, I dealt with all that Jesus began both to do and to teach,

2 until the day when, having given commandments through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen, he was taken up.

3 To them he also presented himself alive after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them over forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God.

4 And while eating with them he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, "which you heard from me;

5 for John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."

6 So when they had come together, they asked him, saying, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?"

7 And he said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has set by his own authority;

8 but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth."

9 And when he had said these things, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.

10 And as they were gazing into heaven while he went, behold, two men stood by them in white garments,

11 who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day's journey away.

13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room where they were staying: Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James.

14 All these were persevering with one accord in prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus and his brothers.

15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren and said:

16 "Men, brethren, the scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit foretold through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus;

17 for he was numbered among us and received his share in this ministry.

18 Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out.

19 And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that 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 dwelling become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it,' and, 'Let another take his office.'

21 Therefore of the men who accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,

22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us — one of these must become with us a witness of his resurrection."

23 And they put forward two: Joseph called Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.

24 And they prayed and said, "You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen

25 to take the place of this 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 on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Chapter 2

1 And when the day of Pentecost was being fulfilled, they were all together in one place.

2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like the rushing of a violent wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.

3 And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributing themselves, and one sat upon each of them,

4 and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven.

6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together and was confounded, because each one heard them speaking in his own language.

7 And they were amazed and marveled, saying, "Behold, are not all these who are speaking Galileans?

8 And how do we each hear in our own language in which we were born?

9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,

10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene, and visitors from Rome,

11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians, we hear them speaking in our own tongues the mighty works of God."

12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?"

13 But others, mocking, said, "They are filled with new wine."

14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and declared to them: "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.

15 For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is the third hour of the day;

16 but this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

17 'And it shall be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out from my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;

18 and even upon my male servants and upon my female servants in those days I will pour out from my Spirit, and they shall 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 shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the great and manifest day of the Lord comes.

21 And it shall be that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.'

22 Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs which God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know

23 this man, delivered up by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you nailed up by the hand of lawless men and killed;

24 whom God raised up, having loosed the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.

25 For David says concerning him: 'I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken.

26 Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue rejoiced; moreover my flesh also shall dwell in hope,

27 because you will not abandon my soul to Hades, nor will you allow your Holy One to see corruption.

28 You have made known to me the ways of life; you will fill me with gladness with your presence.'

29 Men, brothers, I may say to you with confidence concerning the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is among us to this day.

30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn to him with an oath that from the fruit of his loins one would sit upon his throne,

31 he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was neither abandoned to Hades nor did his flesh see corruption.

32 This Jesus God raised up, of which we are all witnesses.

33 Therefore, being exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this which you both see and hear.

34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says: 'The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my right hand,

35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.'

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

37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "What shall we do, men, brothers?"

38 And Peter said to them, "Repent, and let 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 for you and for your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God shall call to himself."

40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this crooked generation."

41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added on that day about three thousand souls.

42 And they devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers.

43 And fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.

44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common,

45 and they sold their possessions and goods and distributed them to all, as anyone had need.

46 And day by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they partook of food with gladness and simplicity of heart,

47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added daily to their number those who were being saved.

Chapter 3

1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer.

2 And a certain man, lame from his mother's womb, was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple called Beautiful, to ask alms from those entering the temple;

3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked to receive alms.

4 And Peter, gazing intently at him, with John, said, "Look at us."

5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them.

6 But Peter said, "Silver and gold I have none, but what I have, this I give you: in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, [rise up and] walk."

7 And taking 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 walked, and 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 who sat 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 clung to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the portico called Solomon's, greatly amazed.

12 And when Peter saw it, he answered the people: "Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this, or why do you gaze at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk?

13 The God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied before the face of Pilate, when he had decided to release him;

14 but you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked that a murderer be granted to you,

15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.

16 And by faith in his name, his name has made this man strong, whom you see and know; and the faith that is through him has given him this complete health before you all.

17 And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers;

18 but what God foretold through the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled.

19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,

20 so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,

21 whom heaven must receive until the times of the restoration of all things, of which God spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old.

22 Moses said, 'The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet from among your brothers, as he raised up me; you shall listen to him in everything whatever he says to you.

23 And it shall be that every soul that does not listen to that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from the people.'

24 And indeed all the prophets, from Samuel and those who came after, as many as spoke, also announced these days.

25 You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, 'And in your seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.'

26 To you first, God, having raised up his servant, sent him to bless you, in turning each of you from your wickedness."

Chapter 4

1 While they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them,

2 being greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead,

3 and they laid hands on them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.

4 But many of those who heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

5 And it came to pass on the next day that their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem,

6 with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander and as many as were of the high-priestly family.

7 And setting them in the midst, they inquired, "By what power or by what name did you do this?"

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders,

9 if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a sick man, by what means this man has been healed,

10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man stands before you whole.

11 This is the stone that was rejected by you the builders, which has become the head of the corner.

12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

13 Now when they beheld the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlettered and common men, they marveled, and they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply.

15 But having ordered them to go outside the council, they conferred with one another,

16 saying, "What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has come to pass through them is manifest to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.

17 But so that it may spread no further among the people, let us threaten them to speak no more in this name to anyone."

18 And having called them, they charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.

19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, judge for yourselves;

20 for we cannot but speak the things we have seen and heard."

21 And when they had further threatened them, they released them, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were glorifying God for what had happened; 22 for the man on whom this sign of healing had been performed was more than forty years old.

23 And being released, they came to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.

24 And when they heard it, they lifted up their voice with one accord to God and said, "Master, you who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them,

25 who through the Holy Spirit by the mouth of our father David your servant said, 'Why did the nations rage, and the peoples devise vain things?

26 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against his Anointed.'

27 For truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,

28 to do whatever your hand and your counsel foreordained to come to pass.

29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness,

30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are done through the name of your holy servant Jesus."

31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and not one of them said that any of his possessions was his own, but they had all things in common.

33 And with great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.

34 For there was not a needy person among them, since as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold

35 and laid them at the feet of the apostles, and it was distributed to each as anyone had need.

36 And Joseph, who was surnamed Barnabas by the apostles (which is, being interpreted, Son of Encouragement), a Levite, a Cypriot by birth,

37 having a field, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the feet of the apostles.

Chapter 5

1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a piece of property,

2 and kept back part of the price, his wife also being aware of it, 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, that you should lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land?

4 While it remained, did it not remain your own? And when it was sold, was it not in your power? Why is it that you have conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God."

5 And hearing these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last, and great fear came upon all who heard it.

6 And the young men arose, wrapped him up, and carrying him out, buried him.

7 And it happened, after an interval of about three hours, that his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.

8 And Peter answered her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?" And she said, "Yes, for so much."

9 And Peter said to her, "Why is it that you have agreed together 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 breathed her last; and the young men came in and 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 who heard these things.

12 And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all together with one accord in Solomon's Portico,

13 but none of the rest dared to join them; yet the people magnified them.

14 And believers were all the more added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,

15 so that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and pallets, so that as Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on some of them.

16 And the multitude also came together from the cities around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those troubled by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

17 But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy,

18 and they laid hands on the apostles and put them in the public prison.

19 But an angel of the Lord during the night opened the doors of the prison, and bringing them out, said,

20 "Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this Life."

21 And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and were teaching. Now when the high priest and those with him arrived, they called together the council and all the senate of the sons of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.

22 But the officers who came did not find them in the prison; and returning, they reported,

23 saying, "We found the prison locked with all security, and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened it, we found no one inside."

24 Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, as to what this might come to.

25 But someone came and reported to them, "Behold, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people."

26 Then the captain went with the officers and brought them, but not with violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned.

27 And having brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them,

28 saying, "Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us."

29 But Peter and the apostles answered and said, "We must obey God rather than men.

30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree.

31 This one God has exalted at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.

32 And we are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."

33 But when they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them.

34 But a certain Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and ordered the men to be put outside for a little while,

35 and said to them, "Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men.

36 For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him; he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing.

37 After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away people after him; he too perished, and all who followed him were scattered.

38 And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will be overthrown,

39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them, lest you even be found fighting against God." And they were persuaded by him,

40 and calling in the apostles, they beat them and commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them.

41 So they went away from the presence of the council rejoicing that they had been counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name,

42 and every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching the good news of Jesus the Christ.

Chapter 6

1 In those days, as the disciples were multiplying, a complaint arose among the Hellenists against the Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution.

2 So the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not fitting that we should forsake the word of God to serve tables.

3 Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint over this need,

4 while we devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."

5 And the proposal pleased the whole multitude, and 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 of Antioch,

6 whom they set before the apostles; and having prayed, they laid their hands on them.

7 And the word of God grew, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem multiplied greatly, and a great crowd of the priests became obedient to the faith.

8 Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.

9 But some of those from the synagogue called that of the Freedmen, and of the Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up, disputing with Stephen,

10 and they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke.

11 Then they secretly instigated men who said, "We have heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and against God."

12 And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and coming upon him they seized him and brought him to the council,

13 and they set up false witnesses who said, "This man never ceases speaking words against this holy place and the law;

14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses handed down to us."

15 And all who sat in the council, gazing intently at him, saw his face like the face of an angel.

Chapter 7

1 Then the high priest said, "Are these things so?"

2 And he said, "Brothers and fathers, listen. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran,

3 and said to him, 'Go out from your land and from your kindred, and come into the land that I will show you.'

4 Then he went out from the land of the Chaldeans and lived in Haran. And from there, after his father died, God removed him to this land in which you now dwell,

5 and he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot's length, but he promised to give it to him as a possession, and to his offspring after him, though he had no child.

6 And God spoke thus: that his offspring would be sojourners in a foreign land, and they would enslave them and mistreat them four hundred years.

7 'And the nation to which they will be enslaved I will judge,' said God, 'and after this they will come out and will worship me in this place.'

8 And he gave him the covenant of circumcision; and so he became the father of Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day, and Isaac of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.

9 And the patriarchs, being jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt. And God was with him

10 and rescued him out of all his afflictions and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he appointed him ruler over Egypt and over all his household.

11 Now a famine came upon all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction, and our fathers could find no food.

12 But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers a first time.

13 And on the second visit Joseph was made known to his brothers, and Joseph's family became known to Pharaoh.

14 And Joseph sent and summoned Jacob his father and all his kindred, seventy-five souls.

15 And Jacob went down into Egypt, and he died, he and our fathers,

16 and they were carried back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.

17 But as the time of the promise drew near, which God had granted to Abraham, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt

18 until another king arose over Egypt who did not know Joseph.

19 He dealt craftily with our race and mistreated our fathers, forcing them to expose their infants so that they would not be kept alive.

20 At this time Moses was born, and he was beautiful before God; he was brought up for three months in his father's house,

21 and when he was exposed, Pharaoh's daughter took him up and brought him up as her own son.

22 And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds.

23 When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the sons of Israel.

24 And seeing one of them being wronged, he defended him and avenged the oppressed man by striking down the Egyptian.

25 He supposed that his brothers would understand that God was giving them salvation by his hand, but they did not understand.

26 And on the following day he appeared to them as they were quarreling and tried to reconcile them to peace, saying, 'Men, you are brothers; why do you wrong one another?'

27 But the one who was wronging his neighbor thrust him aside, saying, 'Who made you a ruler and a judge over us?

28 Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?'

29 At this word Moses fled and became a sojourner in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons.

30 And when forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush.

31 When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight, and as he drew near to look, there came the voice of the Lord:

32 'I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob.' And Moses trembled and did not dare to look.

33 Then the Lord said to him, 'Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.

34 I have surely seen the mistreatment of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you to Egypt.'

35 This Moses, whom they rejected, saying, 'Who made you a ruler and a judge?'—this man God sent as both ruler and redeemer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush.

36 This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in the land of Egypt and at the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years.

37 This is the Moses who said to the sons of Israel, 'God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers.'

38 This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers; he received living oracles to give to us.

39 Our fathers refused to obey him, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts they turned back to Egypt,

40 saying to Aaron, 'Make for us gods who will go before us; as for this Moses who led us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.'

41 And they made a calf in those days and offered a sacrifice to the idol and rejoiced in the works of their hands.

42 But God turned away and gave them over to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: 'Did you bring me slain beasts and sacrifices for forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?

43 You took up the tent of Moloch and the star of your god Rephan, the images that you made to worship; and I will remove you beyond Babylon.'

44 Our fathers had the tent of witness in the wilderness, just as he who spoke to Moses directed him to make it according to the pattern he had seen.

45 Our fathers in turn received it and brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before our fathers, until the days of David,

46 who found favor before God and asked to find a dwelling place for the house of Jacob.

47 But it was Solomon who built a house for him.

48 Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says:

49 'Heaven is my throne, and the earth is the footstool of my feet. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest?

50 Did not my hand make all these things?'

51 You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in hearts and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.

52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, of whom you have now become betrayers and murderers,

53 you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it."

54 Now when they heard these things, they were cut to their hearts, and they gnashed their teeth at him.

55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,

56 and he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."

57 But they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and rushed together at him,

58 and casting him out of the city, they stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul,

59 and they stoned Stephen as he called out and said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."

60 And falling to 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 consenting to his death. And on that day a great persecution arose against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

2 And devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him.

3 But Saul was ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he delivered them to prison.

4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.

5 And Philip, going down to the city of Samaria, proclaimed to them the Christ.

6 And the crowds with one accord gave heed to what was said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs which he did.

7 For many of those who had unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of them; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed.

8 And there was great joy in that city.

9 But a certain man named Simon had previously been in the city practicing magic and amazing the nation of Samaria, saying that he himself was someone great,

10 to whom all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This man is the power of God which is called Great."

11 And they gave heed to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic arts.

12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

13 And Simon himself also believed, and having been baptized he continued with Philip; and seeing signs and great miracles being done, he was amazed.

14 Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John,

15 who, when they came down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit;

16 for it had not yet fallen upon any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

17 Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

18 But when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money,

19 saying, "Give me also this power, that whomever I lay hands on may receive the Holy Spirit."

20 But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought to acquire the gift of God with money.

21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.

22 Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord, if perhaps the intent of your heart may be forgiven you;

23 for I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity."

24 And Simon answered and said, "Pray for me to the Lord, that none of the things you have spoken may come upon me."

25 So they, having testified and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.

26 But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, "Rise and go toward the south, to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is a desert road.

27 And he rose and went. And behold, an Ethiopian man, a eunuch, an official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship,

28 was returning, and sitting in his chariot he was reading the prophet Isaiah.

29 And the Spirit said to Philip, "Go up and join this chariot."

30 And Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?"

31 And he said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

32 Now the passage of the scripture which he was reading was this: "As a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth.

33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away. Who shall declare his generation? For his life is taken from the earth."

34 And the eunuch answered Philip and said, "I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself, or of someone else?"

35 And Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this scripture he preached to him the good news of Jesus.

36 And as they went along the road, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "Behold, water! What prevents me from being baptized?"

38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.

39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught up Philip, and the eunuch saw him no more, for he went on his way rejoicing.

40 But Philip was found at Azotus; and passing through, he preached the gospel to all the cities until he came to Caesarea.

Chapter 9

1 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest

2 and asked from him letters to Damascus, to the synagogues, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

3 And as he journeyed, it came about that he drew near to Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him,

4 and falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"

5 And he said, "Who are you, Lord?" And he said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

6 But rise and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do."

7 And the men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.

8 And Saul rose from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he saw nothing; and leading him by the hand they brought him into Damascus.

9 And for three days he was without sight, 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, "Here I am, Lord."

11 And the Lord said to him, "Rise and go to the street called Straight, and seek in the house of Judas a man named Saul of Tarsus; for behold, he is praying,

12 and he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and laying [his] hands on him so that he might regain his sight."

13 But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem;

14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call upon your name."

15 But the Lord said to him, "Go, for this man is a chosen vessel of mine to carry my name before Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;

16 for I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name."

17 So Ananias departed and entered the house, and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord has sent me; Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you came, so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."

18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight, and rising up he was baptized,

19 and taking food he was strengthened. And he was with the disciples in Damascus for some days,

20 and immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, that this man is the Son of God.

21 And all who heard were amazed and said, "Is this not the man who in Jerusalem ravaged those who call upon this name, and had he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound to the chief priests?"

22 But Saul grew all the stronger and confounded the Jews dwelling in Damascus, proving that this man is the Christ.

23 And when many days had passed, the Jews plotted together to kill him;

24 but their plot became known to Saul. And they were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him;

25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket.

26 And when he arrived in Jerusalem he tried to join the disciples, and all were afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.

27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and related to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, 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, going in and out at Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord,

29 and he spoke and disputed with the Hellenists, but they were attempting to kill him.

30 And when the brothers learned of it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus.

31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace, being built up; and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.

32 Now it came about that Peter, going through all those regions, came down also to the saints dwelling at Lydda.

33 And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been lying on a pallet for eight years, being paralyzed.

34 And Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed." And immediately he rose.

35 And all who dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

36 Now in Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which translated means Dorcas; she was full of good works and acts of charity which she did.

37 And it came about in those days that she fell sick and died; and having washed her, they laid in an upper room.

38 And since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, "Do not delay to come to us."

39 So Peter rose and went with them; and when he arrived they brought him up to the upper room, and all the widows stood beside him weeping and showing the tunics and garments that Dorcas had made while she was with them.

40 But Peter put them all outside, and kneeling down he prayed; and turning to the body he said, "Tabitha, arise." And 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 alive.

42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43And it came about that he stayed many days in Joppa with a certain Simon, a tanner.

Chapter 10

1 Now there was a certain man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of the cohort called the Italian,

2 devout and fearing God with all his household, giving many alms to the people and praying to God continually.

3 He saw clearly in a vision, about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming in to him and saying to him, "Cornelius."

4 And gazing at him and becoming terrified, he said, "What is it, Lord?" And he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have gone up as a memorial before God.

5 And now send men to Joppa and summon a certain Simon who is called Peter;

6 he is lodging with a certain Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea."

7 And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him,

8 and having explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

9 Now on the next day, as they were journeying and drawing near to the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour.

10 And he became hungry and wanted to eat; but while they were preparing food, a trance came upon him,

11 and he saw heaven opened and a certain vessel descending, like a great sheet, being let down by four corners upon the earth,

12 in which were all the four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth and birds of the heaven.

13 And a voice came to him: "Rise, Peter; kill and eat."

14 But Peter said, "By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything common or unclean."

15 And a voice came again a second time to him: "What God has cleansed, do not you call common."

16 And this happened three times, and immediately the vessel was taken up into heaven.

17 Now while Peter was perplexed in himself as to what the vision he had seen might mean, behold, the men sent by Cornelius, having asked their way to Simon's house, stood at the gate,

18 and calling out, they inquired whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there.

19 And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men are seeking you;

20 but rise, go down, and go with them without hesitating, for I have sent them."

21 And Peter went down to the men and said, "Behold, I am the one you are seeking; what is the reason for which you have come?"

22 And they said, "Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous man who fears God, well 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 So he invited them in and gave them lodging. And on the next day he rose and went out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him.

24 And on the following day he entered Caesarea. And Cornelius was expecting them, having called together his relatives and close friends.

25 And when Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell at his feet, and worshiped him.

26 But Peter raised him up, saying, "Stand up; I myself also am a man."

27 And conversing with him, he went in and found many gathered together,

28 and he said to them, "You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to associate with or approach a foreigner; but God has shown me that I should call no man common or unclean.

29 Therefore I came without objection when I was summoned. I ask, then, for what reason did you send for me?"

30 And Cornelius said, "Four days ago until this hour, I was praying at the ninth hour in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing

31 and said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms have been remembered before God.

32 Send therefore to Joppa and call for Simon who is called Peter; he is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.'

33 So at once I sent to you, and you have done well in coming. Now therefore we are all present before God to hear all that has been commanded you by the Lord."

34 And Peter opened his mouth and said, "In truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons,

35 but in every nation the one who fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him.

36 The word which he sent to the sons of Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ, he is Lord of all

37 you know the thing that happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed:

38 Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

39 And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree,

40 but God raised him on the third day and granted that he should become visible,

41 not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen beforehand by God, to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.

42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify solemnly that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead.

43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were hearing the word.

45 And the believers from the circumcision who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles;

46 for they heard them speaking in tongues and magnifying God. Then Peter answered,

47 "Can anyone withhold the water for these to be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?"

48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some 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 went up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision disputed with him,

3 saying, "You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them."

4 But Peter began and explained it to them in order, saying:

5 "I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision: a certain vessel descending, like a great sheet let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came right down to me.

6 Looking intently at it, I observed and saw the four-footed animals of the earth, and the wild beasts, and the reptiles, and the birds of the sky.

7 And I also heard a voice saying to me, 'Rise, Peter; kill and eat.'

8 But I said, 'By no means, Lord, for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.'

9 But the voice answered a second time from heaven, 'What God has cleansed, do not call common.'

10 This happened three times, and everything was drawn up again into heaven.

11 And behold, at that very moment three men stood at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesarea.

12 And the Spirit told me to go with them without making any distinction. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man's house.

13 And 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 who will speak words to you by which you will be saved, you and all your household.'

15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as upon us at the beginning.

16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'

17 If then God gave them the same gift as he also gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?"

18 When they heard these things they fell silent, and they glorified God, saying, "So then, to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance unto life."

19 Now those who had been scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews only.

20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, coming to Antioch, spoke also to the Hellenists, preaching the good news of 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 to go as far as Antioch.

23 When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose of heart,

24 for he was a good man, 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 seek Saul,

26 and having found him, he brought him to Antioch. And it came about that for a whole year they met with the church and taught a considerable crowd; and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.

27 In those days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.

28 And one of them, named Agabus, stood up and indicated through the Spirit that a great famine was about to come upon the whole world, which took place in the days of Claudius.

29 So the disciples, each according to his means, determined to send relief to the brothers dwelling in Judea;

30 which they also did, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

Chapter 12

1 About that time Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church, to harm them.

2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.

3 And seeing that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also, it was the days of Unleavened Bread

4 and having seized him he put him in prison, handing him over to four squads of four soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people.

5 So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer was being made earnestly by the church to God for him.

6 Now when Herod was about to bring him forth, 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 stood by, and a light shone in the cell; and striking Peter on the side, he woke him, saying, "Rise up quickly." And his chains fell off his hands.

8 And the angel said to him, "Gird yourself and put on your sandals." And he did so. And he says to him, "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me."

9 And going out he followed, and he did not know that what was being done through the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.

10 And passing the first guard and the second, they came to the iron gate leading into the city, which opened for them of its own accord; and going out they went along one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.

11 And Peter, coming to himself, said, "Now I know truly that the Lord sent forth his angel and delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all that the people of the Jews were expecting."

12 And realizing this, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, who was called Mark, where many were gathered together and praying.

13 And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer,

14 and recognizing Peter's voice, for joy she did not open the gate, but running in she reported that Peter was standing before the gate.

15 But they said to her, "You are mad." Yet she kept insisting that it was so. And they said, "It is his angel."

16 But Peter continued knocking; and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed.

17 And motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he related to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison, and he said, "Report these things to James and to the brothers." And going out, he went to another place.

18 Now when day came, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter.

19 And Herod, having searched for him and not found him, examined the guards and ordered that they be led away to execution; and going down from Judea to Caesarea, he stayed there.

20 Now he was furious with the people of Tyre and Sidon; and with one accord they came to him, and having won over Blastus, the king's chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country was fed from the king's country.

21 And on an appointed day Herod, having put on royal apparel and sat down on the tribunal, made a speech to them,

22 and the people cried out, "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 being eaten by worms, he breathed his last.

24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.

25 And Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem, having fulfilled their service, taking along with them John, who was called Mark.

Chapter 13

1 Now there were in Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers: Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius the Cyrenian, and Manaen, a companion brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

2 And as they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart 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, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia, and from there sailed away to Cyprus.

5 And when they were in Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they also had John as an assistant.

6 And having gone 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 who was with the proconsul Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. He summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God.

8 But Elymas the magician (for so his name is translated) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.

9 But Saul, who is also Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him

10 and said, "O you who are full of all deceit and all villainy, son of the devil, enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord?

11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time." And immediately a mist and darkness fell upon him, and going about he sought people to lead him by the hand.

12 Then the proconsul, seeing what had happened, believed, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

13 And having put out to sea from Paphos, Paul and his companions came to Perga in Pamphylia; but John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem.

14 But they, passing on from Perga, arrived at Pisidian Antioch, and having entered the synagogue on the sabbath day, they sat down.

15 And after the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, "Men, brothers, if there is among you any word of exhortation for the people, speak."

16 And Paul, standing up and motioning with his hand, said: "Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen.

17 The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and exalted the people during their sojourn in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm he led them out of it,

18 and for about forty years he bore with them in the wilderness,

19 and having destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance

20 about four hundred and fifty years. And after these things he gave judges until Samuel the prophet.

21 And then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.

22 And having removed him, he raised up David for them as king, of whom he also said in testimony: 'I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, who will do all my will.'

23 From this man's seed, according to promise, God brought to Israel a savior, Jesus,

24 John having proclaimed beforehand, before his coming, a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

25 And as John was completing his course, he said, 'What do you suppose me to be? I am not he. But behold, there comes after me one the sandal of whose 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 of this salvation has been sent out.

27 For those dwelling in Jerusalem and their rulers, not recognizing him, by condemning him fulfilled the voices of the prophets that are read every sabbath;

28 and though they found no cause for death, they asked Pilate that he be put to death.

29 And when they had completed all the things written about him, taking him down from the tree they laid him in a tomb.

30 But God raised him from the dead,

31 and he appeared for many days to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people.

32 And we bring you the good news of the promise made to the fathers,

33 that God has fulfilled this for us their children by raising up Jesus, as it is also written in the second psalm: 'You are my son; today I have begotten you.'

34 And that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken thus: 'I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.'

35 Therefore he also says in another place: 'You will not let your holy one see corruption.'

36 For David, having served the counsel of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption;

37 but he whom God raised did not see corruption.

38 Let it be known to you, therefore, men, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses,

39 in him everyone who believes is justified.

40 Watch, therefore, lest what is spoken in the prophets come upon you:

41 'Behold, you scoffers, and marvel and perish, for I am working a work in your days, a work you will by no means believe, even if someone recounts it to you.'"

42 And as they were going out, they begged that these words be spoken to them on the following sabbath.

43 And when the synagogue was dismissed, many of the Jews and of the devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.

44 On the coming sabbath, almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.

45 But the Jews, seeing the crowds, were filled with jealousy and contradicted the things spoken by Paul, blaspheming.

46 And Paul and Barnabas, speaking boldly, said, "It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you; since you thrust it away and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.

47 For thus the Lord has commanded us: 'I have set you as a light for the Gentiles, that you may be for salvation to the end of the earth.'"

48 And hearing this, the Gentiles rejoiced 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 carried through the whole region.

50 But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, and stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their borders.

51 But they, shaking off the dust of their feet against them, went to Iconium,

52 and the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Chapter 14

1 Now it came to pass in Iconium that they entered together into the synagogue of the Jews and spoke in such a way that a great multitude of both Jews and Greeks believed.

2 But the Jews who disbelieved stirred up and embittered the souls of the Gentiles against the brothers.

3 So they remained there a considerable time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done through their hands.

4 But the multitude of the city was divided, and some were with the Jews, and some with the apostles.

5 And when an attempt was made by both the Gentiles and the Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them and stone them,

6 they became aware of it and fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe, and the surrounding country,

7 and there they continued preaching the gospel.

8 And at Lystra there sat a certain man without strength in his feet, lame from his mother's womb, who had never walked.

9 This man heard Paul speaking; and Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be healed,

10 said with a loud voice, "Stand upright on your feet." And he leaped up and walked.

11 And the crowds, seeing what Paul had done, lifted up their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!"

12 And they called Barnabas Zeus, and Paul Hermes, since he was the chief speaker.

13 And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was before the city, brought bulls and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds.

14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out

15 and saying, "Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men of like nature with you, preaching to you the good news that you should turn from these vain things to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them;

16 who in past generations allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways;

17 yet he did not leave himself without witness, doing good, giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness."

18 And even saying these things, they scarcely restrained the crowds from sacrificing to them.

19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.

20 But when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and entered the city. And on the next day he went out with Barnabas to Derbe.

21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch,

22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.

23 And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

24 And passing through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia,

25 and having spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia;

26 and from there they sailed to Antioch, from where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work which they had fulfilled.

27 And when they arrived and had gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.

28 And they remained no little time with the disciples.

Chapter 15

1 And certain men came down from Judaea and taught the brethren, saying, Except ye be circumcised after the custom of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

3 They therefore, being brought on their way by the church, passed through both Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.

4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.

5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.

7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;

9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.

13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:

14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,

16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:

17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.

18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:

20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

21For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:

23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.

24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:

25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.

28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

30 So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:

31 Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.

32 And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.

33 And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.

35 Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

36 And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.

37 And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.

38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.

39 And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;

40 And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.

41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

Chapter 16

1 And he came also to Derbe and to Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but of a Greek father,

2 who was well spoken of by the brothers in Lystra and Iconium.

3 Paul wanted this man to go out with him, and taking 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 delivered to them the decrees to keep, which had been decided by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem.

5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith and increased in number daily.

6 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia;

7 and having come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them;

8 and having passed by Mysia, they went down to Troas.

9 And a vision appeared to Paul during the night: a certain man of Macedonia was standing and urging him and saying, “Having crossed over to Macedonia, help us.”

10 And when he saw the vision, immediately we sought to go out to Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

11 So setting sail from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and on the next day to Neapolis,

12 and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of that district of Macedonia, a colony. And we were spending some days in this city.

13 And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate by a river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and sitting down, we spoke to the women who had gathered.

14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, a worshiper of God, was listening, whose heart the Lord opened to pay attention to the things spoken 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, come into my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.

16 And it happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a certain slave girl having a spirit of divination met us, who brought much profit to her masters by fortune-telling.

17 Following Paul and us, she cried out, saying, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation.”

18 And she did this for many days. But Paul, being greatly annoyed, and turning, said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.

19 And when her masters saw that the hope of their profit was gone, seizing Paul and Silas, they dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers,

20 and having brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are throwing our city into confusion, being Jews,

21 and they proclaim customs which it is not lawful for us to accept or to practice, being Romans.”

22 And the crowd rose up together against them, and the magistrates, tearing off their clothes, ordered them to be beaten with rods.

23 And having laid many blows on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely.

24 Having received such a command, he threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

25 But about midnight Paul and Silas, praying, were singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains were unfastened.

27 And the jailer, waking up and seeing the doors of the prison open, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.

28 But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Do no harm to yourself, for we are all here.”

29 And asking for lights, he rushed in, and trembling, fell down before Paul and Silas,

30 and having brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do 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 all those in his house.

33 And taking them in that hour of the night, he washed their wounds, and he was baptized immediately, he and all his people.

34 And having brought them up into his house, he set a table before them, and rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.

35 And when day came, the magistrates sent the officers, saying, “Release those men.”

36 And the jailer reported these words to Paul: “The magistrates have sent to release you. Now therefore, come out and go in peace.”

37 But Paul said to them, “Having beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Romans, they threw us into prison, and now do they throw us out secretly? No indeed! But let them come themselves and bring us out.”

38 And the officers reported these words to the magistrates. And they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans,

39 and having come, they urged them, and having brought them out, they asked them to leave the city.

40 And having come out of the prison, they entered the house of Lydia, and having seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.

Chapter 17

1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.

2 And Paul went in, as was his custom, and for three sabbaths he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,

3 explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I proclaim to you is the Christ.”

4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women.

5 But the Jews, being jealous, took some wicked men of the rabble, gathered a crowd, and set the city in an uproar; and attacking the house of Jason, they sought to bring them out to the people.

6 And when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also,

7 and Jason has received them; and they all act against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.”

8 And they stirred up the crowd and the city authorities when they heard these things.

9 And when they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.

10 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea; and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.

11 Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

12 Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing and men.

13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Berea also, they came there too, stirring up and disturbing the crowds.

14 Then the brothers immediately sent Paul off to go as far as the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there.

15 Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed.

16 Now while Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols.

17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there.

18 Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him, and some said, “What would this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign divinities,” because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection.

19 And they took hold of him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?

20 For you bring some strange things to our ears; we wish therefore to know what these things mean.”

21 Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time in nothing else but telling or hearing something newer.

22 So Paul, standing in the middle of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious.

23 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To an unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.

24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by hands,

25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.

26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place,

27 that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.

28 For in him we live and move and have our being; as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are indeed his offspring.’

29 Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man.

30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,

31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

32 Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, but others said, “We will hear you again about this.”

33 So Paul went out from their midst. 34But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.

Chapter 18

1 After these things he departed from Athens and came to Corinth.

2 And finding a certain Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to depart from Rome, he went to 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, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.

5 And when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was pressed by the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.

6 But when they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook out his garments and said to them, "Your blood be upon your own head; I am clean; from now on I will go to the Gentiles."

7 And departing from there, he entered the house of a certain man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God, whose house adjoined the synagogue.

8 And Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with his whole household, and many of the Corinthians hearing believed and were baptized.

9 And the Lord said to Paul at night through a vision, "Do not fear, but speak 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 he settled there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

12 But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews rose up with one accord against Paul and brought him to the judgment seat,

13 saying, "This man persuades men to worship God contrary to the law."

14 And as Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, "If it were some wrongdoing or wicked crime, O Jews, I would reasonably bear with you;

15 but if there are questions about a word and names and your own law, see to it yourselves; I do not wish to be a judge of these matters."

16 And he drove them from the judgment seat.

17 Then they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat; and none of these things concerned Gallio.

18 But Paul, having remained many days longer, took leave of the brothers and sailed away for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila, having shorn his head at Cenchreae, for he had a vow.

19 And they arrived at Ephesus, and he left them there, but he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.

20 And when they asked him to remain a longer time, he did not consent,

21 but taking leave and saying, "I will return to you again, God willing," he set sail from Ephesus,

22 and having landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church, and went down to Antioch.

23 And after spending some time there, he departed, going through the Galatian region and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.

24 Now a certain Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, arrived at Ephesus, being mighty in the scriptures.

25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John;

26 and he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.

27 And when he wished to cross over to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him; and when he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace,

28 for he vigorously refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating through the scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.

Chapter 19

1 And it came to pass, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper districts, came down to Ephesus, and found certain disciples:

2 and he said unto them, Did ye receive the Holy Spirit when ye believed? And they said unto him, Nay, we did not so much as hear whether the Holy Spirit is.

3 And he said, Into what then were ye baptized? And they said, Into John's baptism.

4 And Paul said, John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people that they should believe on him that should come after him, that is, on Jesus.

5 And when they heard this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.

6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

7 And they were in all about twelve men.

8 And he entered into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, reasoning and persuading as to the things concerning the kingdom of God.

9 But when some were hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.

10 And this continued for the space of two years; so that all they that dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:

12 so that unto the sick were carried away from his body handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out.

13 But certain also of the strolling Jews, exorcists, took upon them to name over them that had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.

14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, a chief priest, who did this.

15 And the evil spirit answered and said unto them, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and mastering both of them, prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

17 And this became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, that dwelt at Ephesus; and fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

18 Many also of them that had believed came, confessing, and declaring their deeds.

19 And not a few of them that practised curious arts brought their books together, and burned them in the sight of all: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.

20 So mightily grew the word of the Lord and prevailed.

21 Now after these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.

22 And having sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.

23 And about that time there arose no small stir concerning the Way.

24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business unto the craftsmen;

25 whom he gathered together, with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this business we have our wealth.

26 And ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they are no gods, which are made with hands:

27 and not only is there danger that this our craft come into disrepute; but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis be accounted of no account, and that she should even be deposed from her magnificence, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.

28 And when they heard this, they were filled with wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Artemis of the Ephesians.

29 And the city was filled with the confusion: and they rushed with one accord into the theatre, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel.

30 And when Paul was minded to enter in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.

31 And certain also of the Asiarchs, being his friends, sent unto him and besought him not to adventure himself into the theatre.

32 Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.

33 And they brought Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made a defence unto the people.

34 But when they perceived that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Artemis of the Ephesians.

35 And when the townclerk had quieted the multitude, he saith, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there who knoweth not that the city of the Ephesians is temple-keeper of the great Artemis, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?

36 Seeing then that these things cannot be gainsaid, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rash.

37 For ye have brought these men, which are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess.

38 If therefore Demetrius, and the craftsmen that are with him, have a matter against any man, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls: let them accuse one another.

39 But if ye seek anything about other matters, it shall be settled in the regular assembly. 40For indeed we are in danger to be accused concerning this day's riot, there being no cause for it: and as touching it we shall not be able to give an account of this concourse. And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.

Chapter 20

1 After the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and having encouraged them, he took his leave and departed to go into Macedonia.

2 And when he had passed through those regions and had encouraged them with much speaking, he came to Greece,

3 and stayed three months. When a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return by way of Macedonia.

4 There accompanied him Sopater son of Pyrrhus, a Beroean; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and of the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus.

5 These went on ahead and waited for us at Troas,

6 while we sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and came to them at Troas in five days, where we spent seven days.

7 On the first day of the week, when we had gathered together to break bread, Paul discoursed with them, since he was about to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight.

8 There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered.

9 And a certain young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, was overcome by a deep sleep as Paul discoursed still longer, and being overcome by sleep he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead.

10 But Paul went down and fell upon him, and embracing him said, "Do not be troubled, for his life is in him."

11 Then he went up and broke the bread and ate, and after conversing a long while, until daybreak, he departed thus.

12 And they brought the boy away alive, and were comforted not moderately.

13 But we went ahead to the ship and set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul on board there; for so he had arranged, intending himself to go by land.

14 And when he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and came to Mitylene;

15 and sailing from there, on the following day we arrived opposite Chios, and on the next we touched at Samos, and on the day after we came to Miletus.

16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that it might not befall him to lose time in Asia; for he was hastening, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.

17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and summoned the elders of the church.

18 And when they had come to him, he said to them: "You yourselves know how, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, I was with you the whole time,

19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that befell me through the plots of the Jews;

20 how I kept back nothing that was profitable, but declared it to you and taught you publicly and from house to house,

21 testifying solemnly both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus.

22 And now behold, bound in the spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what things will befall me there,

23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in city after city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me.

24 But I count my life of no value as dear to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

25 "And now behold, I know that you will no longer see my face, all you among whom I went about proclaiming the kingdom.

26 Therefore I testify to you on this day that I am clean from the blood of all;

27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.

28 Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which he obtained through his own blood.

29 I know that after my departure grievous wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock,

30 and from among your own selves men will arise speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.

31 Therefore be watchful, remembering that for three years, night and day, I did not cease to admonish each one of you with tears.

32 "And now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give the inheritance among all those who have been 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 thus, by laboring, one must help the weak, and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down with them all and prayed.

37 And there was much weeping by all, and they fell on Paul's neck and kissed him tenderly,

38 grieving most of all over the word he had spoken, that they would no longer behold his face. And they escorted him to the ship.

Chapter 21

1 And when it came about that we put out to sea, having torn ourselves away from them, we ran a straight course and came to Cos, and on the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara;

2 and having found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail.

3 And after sighting Cyprus and leaving it behind on the left, we sailed to Syria and put in at Tyre; for there the ship was to unload its cargo.

4 And having sought out the disciples, we remained there seven days; and these kept telling Paul, through the Spirit, not to set foot in Jerusalem.

5 But when it came about that we had completed the days, we went out and journeyed on, while all of them, with wives and children, escorted us until we were outside the city; and kneeling down on the beach we prayed

6 and bade one another farewell, and we went aboard the ship, while they returned to their own homes.

7 And we, finishing the voyage from Tyre, arrived at Ptolemais, and having greeted the brothers we stayed one day with them.

8 And on the next day we set out and came to Caesarea, and entering into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we stayed with him.

9 Now this man had four daughters, virgins, who prophesied.

10 And while we remained several days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judaea,

11 and coming to us and taking up Paul's belt, he bound his own feet and hands and said: "Thus says the Holy Spirit: 'The man whose belt this is, so will the Jews bind him in Jerusalem and hand him over into the hands of the Gentiles.'"

12 And when we heard these things, both we and the local people urged him not to go up to Jerusalem.

13 Then Paul answered: "What are you doing, weeping and crushing my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."

14 And as he would not be persuaded, we fell silent, saying: "Let the will of the Lord be done."

15 And after these days, having made our preparations, we went up to Jerusalem;

16 and some of the disciples from Caesarea came along with us, bringing us to one Mnason, a Cypriot, a disciple of long standing, with whom we should lodge.

17 And when we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly.

18 And on the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present.

19 And having greeted them, he related one by one the things which 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 tens of thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealots for the law;

21 and they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews among the Gentiles apostasy from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs.

22 What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come.

23 Do this, therefore, which we tell you: we have four men who have a vow upon themselves.

24 Take these along, be purified with them, and pay the expenses for them so that they may shave their heads, and all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also walk in line, keeping the law.

25 But concerning the Gentiles who have believed, we ourselves sent a letter with our decision that they should guard themselves against what is sacrificed to idols, and blood, and what is strangled, and fornication."

26 Then Paul, taking the men along, on the next day was purified with them and entered the temple, giving notice of the fulfilment of the days of purification, until the offering should be presented for each one of them.

27 But when the seven days were about to be completed, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him,

28 crying out: "Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place; and moreover he has brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place."

29 For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.

30 And the whole city was set in motion, and the people rushed together; and seizing Paul they dragged him outside the temple, and immediately the doors were shut.

31 And while they were seeking to kill him, word came up to the commander of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion.

32 He at once took soldiers and centurions and ran down upon them; and they, seeing the commander and the soldiers, stopped beating Paul.

33 Then the commander came near and took hold of him and ordered him to be bound with two chains, and inquired who he might be and what he had done.

34 But some in the crowd were shouting out one thing, some another; and since he could not learn the certainty because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks.

35 And when he came upon the steps, it happened that he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd;

36 for the multitude of the people followed, crying out: "Away with him!"

37 And as he was about to be brought into the barracks, Paul says to the commander: "Is it permitted me to say something to you?" And he said: "Do you know Greek?

38 Are you not then the Egyptian who before these days stirred up a revolt and led out into the wilderness the four thousand men of the assassins?"

39 And Paul said: "I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no insignificant city; and I beg you, allow me to speak to the people."

40 And when he had given permission, Paul, standing on the steps, gestured with his hand to the people. And when a great silence had fallen, he addressed them in the Hebrew tongue, saying:

Chapter 22

1 "Men, brothers and fathers, hear my defense which I now make to you."

2 And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became all the more quiet. And he said:

3 "I am a Jewish man, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strictness of our fathers' law, being zealous for God just as all of you are today;

4 and I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering up to prisons both men and women,

5 as also the high priest bears me witness, and the whole council of the elders, from whom I also received letters to the brothers in Damascus, and was journeying there to bring those who were there in bonds to Jerusalem, so that they might be punished.

6 "But it happened to me, as I was journeying and drawing near to Damascus, that about midday suddenly a great light from heaven flashed around me,

7 and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?'

8 And I answered, 'Who are you, Lord?' And he said to me, 'I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.'

9 And those who were with me saw the light, but did not hear the voice of him who was speaking to me.

10 And I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to me, 'Rise up and go into Damascus, and there it shall be told you concerning all the things that have been appointed for you to do.'

11 And since I could not see because of the glory of that light, I came to Damascus led by the hand by those who were with me.

12 "And a certain Ananias, a man devout according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews dwelling there,

13 came to me and, standing by me, said to me, 'Saul, brother, receive your sight.' And in that very hour I looked up at him.

14 And he said, 'The God of our fathers appointed you beforehand to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth,

15 because you shall be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now why do you delay? Rise, be baptized and wash away your sins, calling upon his name.'

17 "And it happened to me, when I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I fell into a trance

18 and saw him saying to me, 'Make haste and go out quickly from Jerusalem, because they will not accept your testimony concerning me.'

19 And I said, 'Lord, they themselves know that I was imprisoning and flogging in the synagogues those who believe in you,

20 and when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and consenting and guarding the garments of those who were killing him.' 21 And he said to me, 'Go, for I will send you far away to the nations.'"

22 Now they listened to him up to this word, and then they lifted up their voice, saying, "Away with such a man from the earth, for it is not fitting that he should live!"

23 And as they were shouting and flinging off their garments and throwing dust into the air,

24 the tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks, saying that he should be examined by scourging, so that he might learn for what cause they were crying out against him in this way.

25 But when they had stretched him out for the thongs, Paul said to the centurion standing by, "Is it lawful for you to scourge a Roman man, and one uncondemned?"

26 And when the centurion heard this, he went to the tribune and reported it, saying, "What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman."

27 And the tribune came and said to him, "Tell me, are you a Roman?" And he said, "Yes."

28 And the tribune answered, "I acquired this citizenship for a large sum." But Paul said, "But I was even born so."

29 So immediately those who were about to examine him withdrew from him, and the tribune also was afraid when he learned that he was a Roman and that he had bound him.

30 But on the next day, wishing to know for certain what he was accused of by the Jews, he released him and ordered the chief priests and the whole council to assemble, and he brought Paul down and set him before them.

Chapter 23

1 And Paul, looking intently at the council, said: "Men, brothers, I have lived as a citizen before God with all good conscience up to this day."

2 But the high priest Ananias ordered those standing beside him to strike his mouth.

3 Then Paul said to him: "God is about to strike you, you whitewashed wall! And do you sit judging me according to the law, and, breaking the law, command me to be struck?"

4 But those standing by said: "Do you revile the high priest of God?"

5 And Paul said: "I did not know, brothers, that he is high priest; for it is written, 'You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.'"

6 But Paul, perceiving that the one party was of Sadducees and the other of Pharisees, cried out in the council: "Men, brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead [I] am being judged."

7 And when he had said this, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the multitude was divided.

8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them both.

9 And there arose a great outcry, and some of the scribes of the party of the Pharisees stood up and contended sharply, saying: "We find nothing evil in this man; but what if a spirit has spoken to him, or an angel?"

10 And as a great dissension was arising, the commander, fearing that Paul might be torn apart by them, ordered the troop to go down and snatch him out from their midst and bring him into the barracks.

11 And on the following night the Lord stood by him and said: "Take courage; for as you have borne witness of the things concerning me in Jerusalem, so must you also bear witness in Rome."

12 And when day came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.

13 And there were more than forty who had made this plot,

14 who came to the chief priests and the elders and said: "We have bound ourselves under a solemn curse to taste nothing until we have killed Paul.

15 Now therefore, you together with the council, make it known to the commander, so that he may bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine more exactly the things concerning him; and we, before he draws near, are ready to do away with him."

16 But the son of Paul's sister, having heard of the ambush, came and entered into the barracks and reported it to Paul.

17 And Paul called to him one of the centurions and said: "Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to report to him."

18 So he took him and brought him to the commander and says: "Paul the prisoner called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, as he has something to tell you."

19 And the commander took him by the hand and withdrew privately and inquired: "What is it that you have to report to me?"

20 And he said: "The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down tomorrow to the council, as though intending to inquire something more exactly concerning him.

21 Therefore do not be persuaded by them; for more than forty men of them are lying in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse neither to eat nor to drink until they have done away with him; and now they are ready, awaiting the promise from you."

22 So the commander dismissed the young man, charging him: "Tell no one that you have made these things known to me."

23 And he called to him two of the centurions and said: "Make ready two hundred soldiers, so that they may go as far as Caesarea, and seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen, from the third hour of the night,"

24 and to provide beasts, so that they might set Paul upon them and bring him safely through to Felix the governor,

25 having written 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 being about to be done away with by them, I rescued, coming upon them with the troop, having learned that he is a Roman.

28 And wishing to ascertain the charge on account of which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their council,

29 whom I found to be accused concerning questions of their law, but to have no charge worthy of death or bonds.

30 And when it was disclosed to me that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, charging his accusers also to speak against him before you."

31 So the soldiers, according to what had been ordered them, took up Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris;

32 and on the next day they let the horsemen go on with him, and returned to the barracks.

33 And they, entering into Caesarea and delivering the letter to the governor, presented Paul also to him.

34 And having read it and asked from what province he is, and learning that he was from Cilicia,

35 "I will hear you fully," he said, "when your accusers also arrive," having ordered him to be kept under guard in Herod's praetorium.

Chapter 24

1 And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with certain elders and a certain orator, Tertullus, who laid information before the governor against Paul.

2 And when he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: "Since we enjoy much peace through you, and reforms are coming about for this nation through your forethought,

3 in every way and in every place we acknowledge it, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness.

4 But, that I may not detain you further, I beg you to hear us briefly in your clemency.

5 For we have found this man to be a pestilence, and one stirring up factions among all the Jews throughout the inhabited world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes,

6 who even attempted to profane the temple, whom also we seized;

8 from whom you yourself will be able, by examining him, to learn about all these things of which we accuse him."

9 And the Jews too joined in the attack, asserting that these things were so.

10 And Paul answered, when the governor had nodded to him to speak: "Knowing that for many years you have been judge over this nation, I make my defence concerning my own affairs with good courage,

11 since you are able to ascertain that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship.

12 And they did not find me disputing with anyone in the temple, or making a gathering of a crowd, either in the synagogues or throughout the city;

13 nor can they prove to you the charges of which they now accuse me.

14 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, so do I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things that are according to the Law and that are written in the Prophets,

15 having a hope in God, which these men themselves also await, that there is to be a resurrection both of the just and of the unjust.

16 In this I too train myself always to have a conscience free of offence toward God and toward men.

17 Now after several years I arrived to bring alms to my nation, and offerings,

18 in the course of which they found me purified in the temple, not with a crowd nor with a tumult—

19 but certain Jews from Asia, who ought to have been present before you and to accuse me, if they had anything against me.

20 Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council,

21 other than concerning this one utterance, which I cried out standing among them, that concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged today before you."

22 But Felix adjourned them, knowing rather accurately the matters concerning the Way, and said: "When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case";

23 and he gave orders to the centurion that he be kept in custody, but have relief, and that none of his own people be hindered from serving him.

24 And after some days Felix arrived with Drusilla his own wife, who was a Jewess, and he sent for Paul and listened to him concerning faith in Christ Jesus.

25 And as he was discoursing about righteousness and self-control and the judgement to come, Felix became afraid and answered: "For the present, go your way; and when I find an opportunity I will summon you again"

26 at the same time also hoping that money would be given him by Paul; wherefore he sent for him rather frequently and conversed with him.

27 But when two years were completed, Felix received as his successor Porcius Festus; and wishing to lay up favour with the Jews, Felix left Paul in bonds.

Chapter 25

1 Now Festus, having entered upon his province, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea,

2 and the chief priests and the leading men of the Jews laid information before him against Paul, and they urged him,

3 asking a favor against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying an ambush to kill him along the way.

4 Festus therefore answered that Paul was being kept in Caesarea, and that he himself was about to set out shortly.

5 "So let those among you who are influential," he said, "go down with me, and if there is anything amiss in the man, let them bring their charge against him."

6 And having spent among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea, and on the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought.

7 And when he had arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many grave accusations which they were not able to prove,

8 while Paul made his defense: "Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I committed any offense."

9 But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul and said, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and there be judged before me concerning these matters?"

10 But Paul said, "I am standing before the tribunal of Caesar, where I must be judged. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you also know quite well.

11 If then I am in the wrong and have done anything deserving death, I do not beg off from dying; but if there is nothing in the things of which these men accuse me, no one can hand me over to them as a favor. I appeal to Caesar."

12 Then Festus, after conferring with his council, answered, "You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you shall go."

13 Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea, having come to greet Festus.

14 And as they were staying there several days, Festus laid Paul's case before the king, saying, "There is a certain man left behind as a prisoner by Felix,

15 concerning whom, when I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews laid information, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him.

16 To them I answered that it is not the custom of the Romans to hand over any man as a favor before the accused has his accusers face to face and receives an opportunity of defense concerning the charge.

17 So when they had come together here, I made no delay, but on the following day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought.

18 Concerning him the accusers, when they stood up, brought no charge of the evil deeds that I was suspecting,

19 but they had certain disputes with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus who had died, whom Paul asserted to be alive.

20 And being at a loss as to the investigation of these matters, I asked whether he wished to go to Jerusalem and there be judged concerning them.

21 But when Paul appealed to be kept for the decision of the Emperor, I ordered him to be kept until I could send him up to Caesar."

22 And Agrippa said to Festus, "I myself have been wishing to hear the man." "Tomorrow," he said, "you shall hear him."

23 So on the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with great pomp and had entered the audience hall together with the tribunes and the men of eminence in the city, and when Festus had given the order, Paul was brought in.

24 And Festus said, "King Agrippa, and all you men who are present with us, you behold this man, concerning whom the whole multitude of the Jews petitioned me both in Jerusalem and here, crying out that he ought no longer to live.

25 But I found that he had done nothing deserving death; and since he himself appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.

26 Concerning him I have nothing certain to write to my lord; therefore I have brought him forward before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that when the examination has taken place I may have something to write.

27 For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not also to indicate the charges against him."

Chapter 26

1 And Agrippa said to Paul, "You are permitted to speak for yourself." Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense:

2 "Concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, King Agrippa, I count myself fortunate that it is before you that I am about to make my defense today,

3 especially since you are acquainted with all the customs and controversies among the Jews; therefore I beg you to hear me patiently.

4 Now then, my manner of life from my youth, which was from the beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem, all the Jews know,

5 since they have known me from long ago, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived as a Pharisee.

6 And now I stand on trial for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers,

7 to which our twelve tribes, worshiping earnestly night and day, hope to attain; and concerning this hope I am accused by the Jews, O king.

8 Why is it judged incredible among you if God raises the dead?

9 "I myself, then, thought that I ought to do many things in opposition to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

10 And this I did in Jerusalem: I shut up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, and when they were being put to death I cast my vote against them.

11 And often, punishing them throughout all the synagogues, I tried to compel them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I pursued them even to cities outside.

12 "On such business I was traveling to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests,

13 when at midday, on the road, O king, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the brilliance of the sun, shining around me and those journeying with me.

14 And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew tongue, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'

15 And I said, 'Who are you, Lord?' And the Lord said, 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

16 But rise and stand upon your feet; for to this end I appeared to you, to appoint you a servant and a witness both of the things you have seen of me and of those in which I will appear to you,

17 delivering you from the people and from the nations, to whom I am sending you

18 to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the authority of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a portion among those sanctified by faith in me.'

19 "Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,

20 but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judea, and to the nations, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance.

21 For these reasons the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.

22 Having then obtained help from God, I stand to this day bearing witness to both small and great, saying nothing beyond what both the prophets and Moses said was going to happen:

23 that the Christ must suffer, and that he, first from the resurrection of the dead, would proclaim light both to the people and to the nations."

24 While he was making this defense, Festus said with a loud voice, "You are mad, Paul; your much learning is turning you to madness."

25 But Paul said, "I am not mad, most excellent Festus, but I utter words of truth and sober sense.

26 For the king knows about these things, to whom also I speak freely; for I am not persuaded that any of these things has escaped his notice, since this has not been done in a corner.

27 Do you believe the prophets, King Agrippa? I know that you believe."

28 And Agrippa said to Paul, "In a short while you are persuading me to become a Christian."

29 And Paul said, "I would pray to God that, whether in a short while or a long, not only you but also all who hear me today might become such as I am—apart from these bonds."

30 And the king rose, and the governor, and Bernice, and those seated with them;

31 and having withdrawn they spoke with one another, saying, "This man is doing nothing deserving of death or bonds."

32 And Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been released, had he not appealed to Caesar."

Chapter 27

1 And when it was decided that we should sail away to Italy, they handed over both Paul and certain other prisoners to a centurion named Julius, of the Augustan cohort.

2 And embarking on a ship of Adramyttium that was about to sail to the places along Asia, we put out to sea, Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.

3 And on the next day we put in at Sidon, and Julius, treating Paul kindly, permitted him to go to his friends and receive care.

4 And putting out from there we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary,

5 and having sailed across the open sea along Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came down to Myra in Lycia.

6 And there the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy and put us on board it.

7 And for a good many days we sailed slowly, and with difficulty came off Cnidus; and since the wind did not allow us to go on, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone,

8 and coasting along it with difficulty we came to a certain place called Fair Havens, near which was a city, Lasea.

9 And since considerable time had passed and the voyage was already dangerous, because even the Fast had already gone by, Paul admonished them,

10 saying to them: Men, I perceive that the voyage is going to be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.

11 But the centurion was persuaded by the helmsman and the shipowner rather than by what was said by Paul.

12 And since the harbor was unsuitable for wintering, the majority adopted the plan to put out from there, if somehow they might be able to reach Phoenix and winter there, a harbor of Crete looking toward the southwest and toward the northwest.

13 And when a south wind blew gently, supposing that they had attained their purpose, they weighed anchor and coasted along close to Crete.

14 But not long afterward a tempestuous wind, the one called Euraquilo, rushed down from it;

15 and when the ship was caught up and could not face into the wind, we gave way and were carried along.

16 And running under the lee of a certain small island called Cauda, we were with difficulty able to get control of the ship's boat,

17 which they hoisted aboard, and then used supports, undergirding the ship; and fearing that they might be cast upon the Syrtis, they lowered the gear and so were carried along.

18 And as we were violently storm-tossed, on the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard,

19 and on the third day, with their own hands, they threw out the ship's tackle.

20 And since neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small storm lay upon us, from then on all hope of our being saved was being taken away.

21 And when there had been long abstinence from food, then Paul stood up in their midst and said: Men, you ought indeed to have obeyed me and not put out from Crete, and so to have spared yourselves this injury and loss.

22 And now I urge you to be of good cheer, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.

23 For this night there stood by me an angel of the God whose I am and whom I also serve,

24 saying: Do not fear, Paul; you must stand before Caesar, and behold, God has granted you all those sailing with you.

25 Therefore be of good cheer, men; for I trust God that it will be just as it has been told me.

26 But we must be cast upon a certain island.

27 And when the fourteenth night came, as we were being driven about in the Adriatic, about the middle of the night the sailors suspected that some land was drawing near to them.

28 And taking a sounding, they found twenty fathoms; and after going a little farther and sounding again, they found fifteen fathoms.

29 And fearing that we might somewhere be cast upon rough places, they threw four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come.

30 But when the sailors were seeking to flee from the ship and had lowered the boat into the sea on the pretext that they were about to lay out anchors from the prow,

31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers: Unless these men remain in the ship, you cannot be saved.

32 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat and let it fall away.

33 And until it was about to become day, Paul urged them all to partake of food, saying: Today is the fourteenth day that you continue waiting without food, having taken nothing.

34 Therefore I urge you to partake of food, for this is for your preservation; for not a hair from the head of any of you shall perish.

35 And having said these things, he took bread, gave thanks to God before them all, and breaking it began to eat.

36 And they all became of good cheer, and themselves also took food.

37 And we were in all two hundred and seventy-six souls in the ship.

38 And when they had eaten their fill of food, they lightened the ship, throwing out the grain into the sea.

39 And when day came, they did not recognize the land, but they observed a certain bay having a beach, onto which they planned, if they could, to drive the ship.

40 And casting off the anchors, they let them go into the sea, at the same time loosening the lashings of the rudders; and hoisting the foresail to the breeze, they held course for the beach.

41 But falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the vessel aground; and the prow, sticking fast, remained immovable, while the stern was being broken up by the force.

42 And the soldiers' plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any should swim off and escape.

43 But the centurion, wishing to bring Paul safely through, prevented them from their purpose, and ordered that those able to swim should throw themselves off first and get to the land,

44 and the rest, some on planks, and some on pieces from the ship. And thus it came about that all were brought safely to the land.

Chapter 28

1 And when we had been brought safely through, we then learned that the island is called Malta.

2 And the natives showed us no ordinary kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because of the rain that had set in and because of the cold.

3 But when Paul had gathered a quantity of brushwood and laid it on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand.

4 And when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, "Surely this man is a murderer, whom, though he has been brought safely from the sea, Justice has not permitted to live."

5 He, however, shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm.

6 But they were expecting that he was about to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But when they had waited a long while and saw nothing untoward happening to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.

7 Now in the region around that place there were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, Publius by name, who received us and for three days entertained us hospitably.

8 And it happened that the father of Publius was lying sick, afflicted with fevers and dysentery; and Paul went in to him and prayed, and laying his hands on him he healed him.

9 And when this had happened, the rest also on the island who had ailments came and were cured;

10 and they honored us with many honors, and when we set sail they put on board the things we needed.

11 After three months we set sail in a ship of Alexandria that had wintered at the island, with the Dioscuri as its figurehead.

12 And putting in at Syracuse, we stayed three days,

13 and from there we weighed anchor and came to Rhegium. And after one day a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli,

14 where we found brothers and were invited to stay with them seven days; and so we came to Rome.

15 And from there the brothers, having heard the news about us, came to meet us as far as Appius' Forum and Three Taverns; and when Paul saw them, he gave thanks to God and took courage.

16 And when we entered Rome, Paul was permitted to stay by himself with the soldier who guarded him.

17 And it came about that after three days he called together those who were the leading men of the Jews; and when they had assembled he said to them: "I, brothers, having done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans,

18 who, when they had examined me, wished to release me, because there was no ground for a death sentence in my case.

19 But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not that I had any charge to bring against my nation.

20 For this reason, then, I asked to see you and to speak with you; for it is because of the hope of Israel that I wear this chain."

21 And they said to him, "We have neither received letters about you from Judea, nor has any of the brothers arrived and reported or said anything evil about you.

22 But we think it right to hear from you what you think; for concerning this sect it is known to us that everywhere it is spoken against."

23 And when they had appointed him a day, more of them came to him at his lodging, and to them he explained, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them about Jesus, both from the law of Moses and from the prophets, from morning until evening.

24 And some were persuaded by what was said, but others disbelieved;

25 and being in disagreement with one another they departed, after Paul had spoken one word: "Rightly did the Holy Spirit speak through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers,

26 saying, 'Go to this people and say: You will hear with your hearing and by no means understand, and seeing you will see and by no means perceive;

27 for the heart of this people has grown dull, and with their ears they have heard heavily, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I should heal them.'

28 Let it therefore be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the nations; they indeed will listen."

30 And he remained a full two years in his own hired dwelling, and welcomed all who came in to him,

31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, unhindered.