10:1Now there was a certain man in Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment,10:2a devout man, and one who feared God with all his house, who gave gifts for the needy generously to the people, and always prayed to God.10:3At aboutthe ninth hour of the day, he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God coming to him, and saying to him, "Cornelius!"
10:4He, fastening his eyes on him, and being frightened, said, "What is it, Lord?"
He said to him, "Your prayers and your gifts to the needy have gone up for a memorial before God.10:5Now send men to Joppa, and get Simon, who is surnamed Peter.10:6He lodges with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the seaside.*"
10:7When the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier of those who waited on him continually.10:8Having explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.10:9Now on the next day as they were on their journey, and got close to the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray at about noon.10:10He became hungry and desired to eat, but while they were preparing, he fell into a trance.10:11He saw heaven opened and a certain container descending to him, like a great sheet let down by four corners on the earth,10:12in which were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, reptiles, and birds of the sky.10:13A voice came to him, "Rise, Peter, kill and eat!"
10:14But Peter said, "Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean."
10:15A voice came to him again the second time, "What God has cleansed, you must not call unclean."10:16This was done three times, and immediately the vessel was received up into heaven.10:17Now while Peter was very perplexed in himself what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon's house, stood before the gate,10:18and called and asked whether Simon, who was surnamed Peter, was lodging there.10:19While Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold,threemen seek you.10:20But arise, get down, and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them."
10:21Peter went down to the men, and said, "Behold, I am he whom you seek. Why have you come?"
10:22They said, "Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous man and one who fears God, and well spoken of by all the nation of the Jews, was directed by a holy angel to invite you to his house, and to listen to what you say."10:23So he called them in and lodged them. On the next day Peter arose and went out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him.10:24On the next day they entered into Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his relatives and his near friends.10:25When it happened that Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell down at his feet, and worshiped him.10:26But Peter raised him up, saying, "Stand up! I myself am also a man."10:27As he talked with him, he went in and found many gathered together.10:28He said to them, "You yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man who is a Jew to join himself or come to one of another nation, but God has shown me that I shouldn't call any man unholy or unclean.10:29Therefore also I came without complaint when I was sent for. I ask therefore, why did you send for me?"
10:30Cornelius said, "Four days ago, I was fasting until this hour, and atthe ninth hour,I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,10:31and said, 'Cornelius, your prayer is heard, and your gifts to the needy are remembered in the sight of God.10:32Send therefore to Joppa, and summon Simon, who is surnamed Peter. He lodges in the house of Simon a tanner, by the seaside. When he comes, he will speak to you.'10:33Therefore I sent to you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God to hear all things that have been commanded you by God."
10:34Peter opened his mouth and said, "Truly I perceive that God doesn't show favoritism;10:35but in every nation he who fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him.10:36The word which he sent to the children of Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ--he is Lord of all--10:37that spoken word you yourselves know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;10:38even 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.10:39We are witnesses of everything he did both in the country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom theyalsokilled, hanging him on a tree.10:40God raised him up the third day, and gave him to be revealed,10:41not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen before by God, to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.10:42He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that this is he who is appointed by God as the Judge of the living and the dead.10:43All the prophets testify about him, that through his name everyone who believes in him will receive remission of sins."
10:44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the word.10:45They of the circumcision who believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was also poured out on the Gentiles.10:46For they heard them speaking in other languages and magnifying God.
Then Peter answered,10:47"Can any man forbid the water, that these who have received the Holy Spirit as well as we should not be baptized?"10:48He commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay some days.
11:1Now the apostles and thebrotherswho were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.11:2When Peter had come up to Jerusalem, those who were of the circumcision contended with him,11:3saying, "You went in to uncircumcised men, and ate with them!"
11:4But Peter began, and explained to them in order, saying,11:5"I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision: a certain container descending, like it was a great sheet let down from heaven by four corners. It came as far as me.11:6When I had looked intently at it, I considered, and saw the four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, creeping things, and birds of the sky.11:7I also heard a voice saying to me, 'Rise, Peter, kill and eat!'11:8But I said, 'Not so, Lord, for nothing unholy or unclean has ever entered into my mouth.'11:9But a voice answered me the second time out of heaven, 'What God has cleansed, don't you call unclean.'11:10This was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven.11:11Behold, immediately three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent from Caesarea to me.11:12The Spirit told me to go with them, without discriminating. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house.11:13He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and saying to him, 'Send to Joppa, and get Simon, whose surname is Peter,11:14who will speak to you words by which you will be saved, you and all your house.'11:15As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as on us at the beginning.11:16I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, 'John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit.'11:17If then God gave to them the same gift as us, when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I could withstand God?"
11:18When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, "Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life!"
11:19They therefore who were scattered abroad by the oppression that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews only.11:20But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to theHellenists,preaching the Lord Jesus.11:21The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.11:22The report concerning them came to the ears of the assembly which was in Jerusalem. They sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch,11:23who, when he had come, and had seen the grace of God, was glad. He exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they should remain near to the Lord.11:24For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, and many people were added to the Lord.
11:25Barnabas went out to Tarsus to look for Saul.11:26When he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. It happened, that for a whole year they were gathered together with the assembly, and taught many people. The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
11:27Now in these days, prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.11:28One of them named Agabus stood up, and indicated by the Spirit that there should be a great famine all over the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius.11:29As any of the disciples had plenty, each determined to send relief to the brothers who lived in Judea;11:30which they also did, sending it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
12:1Now about that time, Herod the king stretched out his hands to oppress some of the assembly.12:2He killed James, the brother of John, with the sword.12:3When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This was during the days of unleavened bread.12:4When he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover.12:5Peter therefore was kept in the prison, but constant prayer was made by the assembly to God for him.12:6The same night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. Guards in front of the door kept the prison.
12:7And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side, and woke him up, saying, "Stand up quickly!" His chains fell off from his hands.12:8The angel said to him, "Get dressed and put on your sandals." He did so. He said to him, "Put on your cloak, and follow me."12:9And he went out and followed him. He didn't know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he saw a vision.12:10When they were past the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them by itself. They went out, and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.
12:11When Peter had come to himself, he said, "Now I truly know that the Lord has sent out his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from everything the Jewish people were expecting."12:12Thinking about that, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.12:13When Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a maid named Rhoda came to answer.12:14When she recognized Peter's voice, she didn't open the gate for joy, but ran in, and reported that Peter was standing in front of the gate.
12:15They said to her, "You are crazy!" But she insisted that it was so. They said, "It is his angel."12:16But Peter continued knocking. When they had opened, they saw him, and were amazed.12:17But he, beckoning to them with his hand to be silent, declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. He said, "Tell these things to James, and to the brothers." Then he departed, and went to another place.
12:18Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter.12:19When Herod had sought for him, and didn't find him, he examined the guards, and commanded that they should be put to death. He went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.12:20Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus, the king's personal aide, their friend, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king's country for food.12:21On an appointed day, Herod dressed himself in royal clothing, sat on the throne, and gave a speech to them.12:22The people shouted, "The voice of a god, and not of a man!"12:23Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he didn't give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died.
12:24But the word of God grew and multiplied.12:25Barnabas and Saul returnedtoJerusalem, when they had fulfilled their service, also taking with them John whose surname was Mark.
13:1Now in the assembly that was at Antioch there were some prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen the foster brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.13:2As they served the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Separate Barnabas and Saul for me, for the work to which I have called them."
13:3Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.13:4So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia. From there they sailed to Cyprus.13:5When they were at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. They had also John as their attendant.13:6When they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar Jesus,13:7who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of understanding. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul, and sought to hear the word of God.13:8But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn aside the proconsul from the faith.13:9But Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fastened his eyes on him,13:10and said, "Full of all deceit and all cunning, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?13:11Now, behold, the hand of the Lord is on you, and you will be blind, not seeing the sun for a season!"
Immediately a mist and darkness fell on him. He went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand.13:12Then the proconsul, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
13:13Now Paul and his company set sail from Paphos, and came to Perga in Pamphylia. John departed from them and returned to Jerusalem.13:14But they, passing on from Perga, came to Antioch of Pisidia. They went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and sat down.13:15After the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, "Brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, speak."
13:16Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, "Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen.13:17The God of this people*chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they stayed as aliens in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm, he led them out of it.13:18For a period of about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness.13:19When he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land for an inheritance, for about four hundred fifty years.13:20After these things he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet.13:21Afterward they asked for a king, and God gave to them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.13:22When he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, to whom he also testified, 'I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after my heart, who will do all my will.'13:23From this man's seed, God has broughtsalvationto Israel according to his promise,13:24before his coming, when John had first preached the baptism of repentanceto Israel.13:25As John was fulfilling his course, he said, 'What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. But behold, one comes after me the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.'13:26Brothers, children of the stock of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, the word of this salvation is sent out to you.13:27For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they didn't know him, nor the voices of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him.13:28Though they found no cause for death, they still asked Pilate to have him killed.13:29When they had fulfilled all things that were written about him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a tomb.13:30But God raised him from the dead,13:31and he was seen for many days by those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses to the people.13:32We bring you good news of the promise made to the fathers,13:33that God has fulfilled the same to us, their children, in that he raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second psalm,
13:34"Concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he has spoken thus: 'I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.'*13:35Therefore he says also in another psalm, 'You will not allow your Holy One to see decay.'*13:36For David, after he had in his own generation served the counsel of God, fell asleep, and was laid with his fathers, and saw decay.13:37But he whom God raised up saw no decay.13:38Be it known to you therefore,brothers, that through this man is proclaimed to you remission of sins,13:39and by him everyone who believes is justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.13:40Beware therefore, lest that come on you which is spoken in the prophets:
13:42So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.13:43Now when the synagogue broke up, 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.13:44The next Sabbath almost the whole city was gathered together to hear the word of God.13:45But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with jealousy, and contradicted the things which were spoken by Paul, and blasphemed.
13:46Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, and said, "It was necessary that God's word should be spoken to you first. Since indeed you thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.13:47For so has the Lord commanded us, saying,
13:48As the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of God. As many as were appointed to eternal life believed.13:49The Lord's word was spread abroad throughout all the region.13:50But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, and stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and threw them out of their borders.13:51But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came to Iconium.13:52The disciples were filled with joy with the Holy Spirit.
14:1It happened in Iconium that they entered together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of Jews and of Greeks believed.14:2But thedisbelievingJews stirred up and embittered the souls of the Gentiles against the brothers.14:3Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who testified to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.14:4But the multitude of the city was divided. Part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles.14:5When some of both the Gentiles and the Jews, with their rulers, made a violent attempt to mistreat and stone them,14:6they became aware of it, and fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra, Derbe, and the surrounding region.14:7There they preached the Good News.
14:8At Lystra a certain man sat, impotent in his feet, a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked.14:9He was listening to Paul speaking, who, fastening eyes on him, and seeing that he had faith to be made whole,14:10said with a loud voice, "Stand upright on your feet!" He leaped up and walked.14:11When the multitude saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voice, saying in the language of Lycaonia, "The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!"14:12They called Barnabas "Jupiter," and Paul "Mercury," because he was the chief speaker.14:13The priest of Jupiter, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and would have made a sacrifice along with the multitudes.14:14But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of it, they tore their clothes, and sprang into the multitude, crying out,14:15"Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to the living God, who made the sky and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them;14:16who in the generations gone by allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways.14:17Yet he didn't leave himself without witness, in that he did good and gaveyourains from the sky and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness."
14:18Even saying these things, they hardly stopped the multitudes from making a sacrifice to them.14:19But some Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there, and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul, and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.
14:20But as the disciples stood around him, he rose up, and entered into the city. On the next day he went out with Barnabas to Derbe.14:21When they had preached the Good News to that city, and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch,14:22confirming the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that through many afflictions we must enter into the Kingdom of God.14:23When they had appointed elders for them in every assembly, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed.
14:24They passed through Pisidia, and came to Pamphylia.14:25When they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.14:26From there they sailed to Antioch, from where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work which they had fulfilled.14:27When they had arrived, and had gathered the assembly together, they reported all the things that God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith to the nations.14:28They stayed there with the disciples for a long time.
15:1Some men came down from Judea and taught the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised after the custom of Moses, you can't be saved."15:2Therefore when Paul and Barnabas had no small discord and discussion with them, they appointed Paul and Barnabas, and some others of them, to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question.15:3They, being sent on their way by the assembly, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles. They caused great joy to all thebrothers.15:4When they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the assembly and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all things that God had done with them.
15:5But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses."
15:6The apostles and the elders were gathered together to see about this matter.15:7When there had been much discussion, Peter rose up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that a good while ago God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the nations should hear the word of the Good News, and believe.15:8God, who knows the heart, testified about them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just like he did to us.15:9He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.15:10Now therefore why do you tempt God, that you should put a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?15:11But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus,*just as they are."
15:12All the multitude kept silence, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul reporting what signs and wonders God had done among the nations through them.15:13After they were silent, James answered, "Brothers, listen to me.15:14Simeon has reported how God first visited the nations, to take out of them a people for his name.15:15This agrees with the words of the prophets. As it is written,
15:19"Therefore my judgment is that we don't trouble those from among the Gentiles who turn to God,15:20but that we write to them that they abstain from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood.15:21For Moses from generations of old has in every city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath."
15:22Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole assembly, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among thebrothers.15:23They wrote these things by their hand:
"The apostles, the elders, and the brothers, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: greetings.15:24Because we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, 'You must be circumcised and keep the law,' to whom we gave no commandment;15:25it seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,15:26men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.15:27We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves will also tell you the same things by word of mouth.15:28For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay no greater burden on you than these necessary things:15:29that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality, from which if you keep yourselves, it will be well with you. Farewell."
15:30So, when they were sent off, they came to Antioch. Having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.15:31When they had read it, they rejoiced over the encouragement.15:32Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers with many words, and strengthened them.15:33After they had spent some time there, they were sent back with greetings from the brothers to the apostles.15:34*15:35But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
15:36After some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let's return now and visit our brothers in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing."15:37Barnabas planned to take John, who was called Mark, with them also.15:38But Paul didn't think that it was a good idea to take with them someone who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia, and didn't go with them to do the work.15:39Then the contention grew so sharp that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him, and sailed away to Cyprus,15:40but Paul chose Silas, and went out, being commended by the brothers to the grace of God.15:41He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the assemblies.
16:1He came to Derbe and Lystra: and behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewess who believed; but his father was a Greek.16:2The brothers who were at Lystra and Iconium gave a good testimony about him.16:3Paul wanted to have him go out with him, and he took and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts; for they all knew that his father was a Greek.16:4As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered the decrees to them to keep which had been ordained by the apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem.16:5So the assemblies were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.
16:6When they had gone through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.16:7When they had come opposite Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit didn't allow them.16:8Passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.16:9A vision appeared to Paul in the night. There was a man of Macedonia standing, begging him, and saying, "Come over into Macedonia and help us."16:10When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go out to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the Good News to them.16:11Setting sail therefore from Troas, we made a straight course to Samothrace, and the day following to Neapolis;16:12and from there to Philippi, which is a city of Macedonia, the foremost of the district, a Roman colony. We were staying some days in this city.
16:13On the Sabbath day we went forth outside of the city by a riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down, and spoke to the women who had come together.16:14A certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, one who worshiped God, heard us; whose heart the Lord opened to listen to the things which were spoken by Paul.16:15When she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and stay." So she persuaded us.
16:16It happened, as we were going to prayer, that a certain girl having a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much gain by fortune telling.16:17Following Paul and us, she cried out, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation!"16:18She was doing this for many days.
But Paul, becoming greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!" It came out that very hour.16:19But when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers.16:20When they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, "These men, being Jews, are agitating our city,16:21and set forth customs which it is not lawful for us to accept or to observe, being Romans."
16:22The multitude rose up together against them, and the magistrates tore their clothes off of them, and commanded them to be beaten with rods.16:23When they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely,16:24who, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison, and secured their feet in the stocks.
16:25But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.16:26Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were loosened.16:27The jailer, being roused out of sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.16:28But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, "Don't harm yourself, for we are all here!"
16:29He called for lights and sprang in, and, fell down trembling before Paul and Silas,16:30and brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
16:31They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household."16:32They spoke the word of the Lord to him, and to all who were in his house.
16:33He took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes, and was immediately baptized, he and all his household.16:34He brought them up into his house, and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, with all his household, having believed in God.
16:35But when it was day, the magistrates sent the sergeants, saying, "Let those men go."
16:36The jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, "The magistrates have sent to let you go; now therefore come out, and go in peace."
16:37But Paul said to them, "They have beaten us publicly, without a trial, men who are Romans, and have cast us into prison! Do they now release us secretly? No, most certainly, but let them come themselves and bring us out!"
16:38The sergeants reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans,16:39and they came and begged them. When they had brought them out, they asked them to depart from the city.16:40They went out of the prison, and entered into Lydia's house. When they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them, and departed.
17:1Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.17:2Paul, as was his custom, went in to them, and for three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures,17:3explaining 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."
17:4Some of them were persuaded, and joined Paul and Silas, of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and not a few of the chief women.17:5But the unpersuaded Jews took alongsome wicked men from the marketplace, and gathering a crowd, set the city in an uproar. Assaulting the house of Jason, they sought to bring them out to the people.17:6When they didn't find them, they dragged Jason and certainbrothersbefore the rulers of the city, crying, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here also,17:7whom Jason has received. These all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus!"17:8The multitude and the rulers of the city were troubled when they heard these things.17:9When they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.17:10The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Beroea. When they arrived, they went into the Jewish synagogue.
17:11Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of the mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.17:12Many of them therefore believed; also of the prominent Greek women, and not a few men.17:13But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Beroea also, they came there likewise, agitating the multitudes.17:14Then the brothers immediately sent out Paul to go as far as to the sea, and Silas and Timothy still stayed there.17:15But those who escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens. Receiving a commandment to Silas and Timothy that they should come to him very quickly, they departed.
17:16Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw the city full of idols.17:17So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who met him.17:18Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophersalsowere conversing with him. Some said, "What does this babbler want to say?"
Others said, "He seems to be advocating foreign deities," because he preached Jesus and the resurrection.
17:19They took hold of him, and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, "May we know what this new teaching is, which is spoken by you?17:20For you bring certain strange things to our ears. We want to know therefore what these things mean."17:21Now all the Athenians and the strangers living there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell or to hear some new thing.
17:22Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus, and said, "You men of Athens, I perceive that you are very religious in all things.17:23For 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 in ignorance, this I announce to you.17:24The God who made the world and all things in it, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, doesn't dwell in temples made with hands,17:25neither is he served by men's hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself gives to all life and breath, and all things.17:26He made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the surface of the earth, having determined appointed seasons, and the boundaries of their dwellings,17:27that they should seek the Lord, if perhaps they might reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.17:28'For in him we live, and move, and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also his offspring.'17:29Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold, or silver, or stone, engraved by art and design of man.17:30The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked. But now he commands that all people everywhere should repent,17:31because he has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he has ordained; of which he has given assurance to all men, in that he has raised him from the dead."
17:32Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked; but others said, "We want to hear you again concerning this."
17:33Thus Paul went out from among them.17:34But certain men joined with him, and believed, among whom also was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
18:1After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth.18:2He found a certain Jew named Aquila, a man of Pontus by race, who had recently come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome. He came to them,18:3and because he practiced the same trade, he lived with them and worked, for by trade they were tent makers.18:4He reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded Jews and Greeks.18:5But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.18:6When they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook out his clothing and said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am clean. From now on, I will go to the Gentiles!"
18:7He departed there, and went into the house of a certain man named Justus, one who worshiped God, whose house was next door to the synagogue.18:8Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his house. Many of the Corinthians, when they heard, believed and were baptized.18:9The Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, "Don't be afraid, but speak and don't be silent;18:10for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many people in this city."
18:11He lived there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.18:12But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him before the judgment seat,18:13saying, "This man persuades men to worship God contrary to the law."
18:14But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, "If indeed it were a matter of wrong or of wicked crime, you Jews, it would be reasonable that I should bear with you;18:15but if they are questions about words and names and your own law, look to it yourselves. For I don't want to be a judge of these matters."18:16He drove them from the judgment seat.
18:17Then all the Greeks laid hold on Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. Gallio didn't care about any of these things.
18:18Paul, having stayed after this many more days, took his leave of thebrothers,and sailed from there for Syria, together with Priscilla and Aquila. He shaved his head in Cenchreae, for he had a vow.18:19He came to Ephesus, and he left them there; but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.18:20When they asked him to stay with them a longer time, he declined;18:21but taking his leave of them, and saying, "I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem, but I will return again to you if God wills," he set sail from Ephesus.
18:22When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the assembly, and went down to Antioch.18:23Having spent some time there, he departed, and went through the region of Galatia, and Phrygia, in order, establishing all the disciples.18:24Now a certain Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by race, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus. He was mighty in the Scriptures.18:25This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, although he knew only the baptism of John.18:26He 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.
18:27When he had determined to pass over into Achaia, the brothers encouraged him, and wrote to the disciples to receive him. When he had come, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace;18:28for he powerfully refuted the Jews, publicly showing by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.
19:1It happened that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul, having passed through the upper country, came to Ephesus, and found certain disciples.19:2He said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?"
They said to him, "No, we haven't even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."
19:3He said, "Into what then were you baptized?"
They said, "Into John's baptism."
19:4Paul said, "John indeed baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe in the one who would come after him, that is, in Jesus."
19:5When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.19:6When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke with other languages and prophesied.19:7They were about twelve men in all.19:8He entered into the synagogue, and spoke boldly for a period of three months, reasoning and persuading about the things concerning the Kingdom of God.
19:9But 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.19:10This continued for two years, so that all those who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
19:11God worked special miracles by the hands of Paul,19:12so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were carried away from his body to the sick, and the evil spirits went out.19:13But some of the itinerant Jews, exorcists, took on themselves to invoke over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, "We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches."19:14There were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did this.
19:15The evil spirit answered, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?"19:16The man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.19:17This became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who lived at Ephesus. Fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.19:18Many also of those who had believed came, confessing, and declaring their deeds.19:19Many of those who practiced magical arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. They counted the price of them, and found it to befifty thousand pieces of silver.19:20So the word of the Lord was growing and becoming mighty.
19:21Now after these things had ended, Paul determined 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."
19:22Having sent into Macedonia two of those who served him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.19:23About that time there arose no small stir concerning the Way.19:24For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen,19:25whom he gathered together, with the workmen of like occupation, and said, "Sirs, you know that by this business we have our wealth.19:26You see and hear, that not at Ephesus alone, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are no gods, that are made with hands.19:27Not only is there danger that this our trade come into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be counted as nothing, and her majesty destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worships."
19:28When they heard this they were filled with anger, and cried out, saying, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"19:29The whole city was filled with confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the theater, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel.19:30When Paul wanted to enter in to the people, the disciples didn't allow him.19:31Certain also of the Asiarchs, being his friends, sent to him and begged him not to venture into the theater.19:32Some therefore cried one thing, and some another, for the assembly was in confusion. Most of them didn't know why they had come together.19:33They brought Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. Alexander beckoned with his hand, and would have made a defense to the people.19:34But when they perceived that he was a Jew, all with one voice for a time of about two hours cried out, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"
19:35When the town clerk had quieted the multitude, he said, "You men of Ephesus, what man is there who doesn't know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great goddess Artemis, and of the image which fell down from Zeus?19:36Seeing then that these things can't be denied, you ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rash.19:37For you have brought these men here, who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of your goddess.19:38If therefore Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a matter against anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls. Let them press charges against one another.19:39But if you seek anything about other matters, it will be settled in the regular assembly.19:40For indeed we are in danger of being accused concerning this day's riot, there being no cause. Concerning it, we wouldn't be able to give an account of this commotion."19:41When he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.
20:1After the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, took leave of them, and departed to go into Macedonia.20:2When he had gone through those parts, and had encouraged them with many words, he came into Greece.20:3When he had spent three months there, and a plot was made against him by Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he determined to return through Macedonia.20:4These accompanied him as far as Asia: Sopater of Beroea; Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians; Gaius of Derbe; Timothy; and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia.20:5But these had gone ahead, and were waiting for us at Troas.20:6We sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and came to them at Troas in five days, where we stayed seven days.
20:7On the first day of the week, when the disciples were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and continued his speech until midnight.20:8There were many lights in the upper chamber wherewewere gathered together.20:9A certain young man named Eutychus sat in the window, weighed down with deep sleep. As Paul spoke still longer, being weighed down by his sleep, he fell down from the third story, and was taken up dead.20:10Paul went down, and fell upon him, and embracing him said, "Don't be troubled, for his life is in him."
20:11When he had gone up, and had broken bread, and eaten, and had talked with them a long while, even until break of day, he departed.20:12They brought the boy in alive, and were greatly comforted.
20:13But we who went ahead to the ship set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul aboard there, for he had so arranged, intending himself to go by land.20:14When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard, and came to Mitylene.20:15Sailing from there, we came the following day opposite Chios. The next day we touched at Samos and stayed at Trogyllium, and the day after we came to Miletus.20:16For Paul had determined to sail past Ephesus, that he might not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening, if it were possible for him, to be in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.
20:17From Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called to himself the elders of the assembly.20:18When they had come to him, he said to them, "You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you all the time,20:19serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears, and with trials which happened to me by the plots of the Jews;20:20how I didn't shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, teaching you publicly and from house to house,20:21testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus.*20:22Now, behold, I go bound by the Spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there;20:23except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions wait for me.20:24But these things don't count; nor do I hold my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to fully testify to the Good News of the grace of God.
20:25"Now, behold, I know that you all, among whom I went about preaching the Kingdom of God, will see my face no more.20:26Therefore I testify to you this day that I am clean from the blood of all men,20:27for I didn't shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.20:28Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly ofthe Lord andGod which he purchased with his own blood.20:29For I know that after my departure, vicious wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock.20:30Men will arise from among your own selves, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.20:31Therefore watch, remembering that for a period of three years I didn't cease to admonish everyone night and day with tears.20:32Now,brothers,I entrust you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build up, and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.20:33I coveted no one's silver, or gold, or clothing.20:34You yourselves know that these hands served my necessities, and those who were with me.20:35In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring you ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
20:36When he had spoken these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.20:37They all wept a lot, and fell on Paul's neck and kissed him,20:38sorrowing most of all because of the word which he had spoken, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.
21:1When it happened that we had parted from them and had set sail, we came with a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara.21:2Having found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard, and set sail.21:3When we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left hand, we sailed to Syria, and landed at Tyre, for there the ship was to unload her cargo.21:4Having found disciples, we stayed there seven days. These said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.21:5When it happened that we had accomplished the days, we departed and went on our journey. They all, with wives and children, brought us on our way until we were out of the city. Kneeling down on the beach, we prayed.21:6After saying goodbye to each other, we went on board the ship, and they returned home again.
21:7When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais. We greeted the brothers, and stayed with them one day.21:8On the next day, we, who were Paul's companions, departed, and came to Caesarea.
We entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him.21:9Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.21:10As we stayed there some days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.21:11Coming to us, and taking Paul's belt, he bound his own feet and hands, and said, "Thus says the Holy Spirit: 'So will the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and will deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.'"
21:12When we heard these things, both we and they of that place begged him not to go up to Jerusalem.21:13Then Paul answered, "What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."
21:14When he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, "The Lord's will be done."
21:15After these days we took up our baggage and went up to Jerusalem.21:16Some of the disciples from Caesarea also went with us, bringing one Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we would stay.
21:17When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly.21:18The day following, Paul went in with us to James; and all the elders were present.21:19When he had greeted them, he reported one by one the things which God had worked among the Gentiles through his ministry.21:20They, when they heard it, glorified God. They said to him, "You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law.21:21They have been informed about you, that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children neither to walk after the customs.21:22What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come.21:23Therefore do what we tell you. We have four men who have taken a vow.21:24Take them, and purify yourself with them, and pay their expenses for them, that they may shave their heads. Then all will know that there is no truth in the things that they have been informed about you, but that you yourself also walk keeping the law.21:25But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written our decision that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from food offered to idols, from blood, from strangled things, and from sexual immorality."
21:26Then Paul took the men, and the next day, purified himself and went with them into the temple, declaring the fulfillment of the days of purification, until the offering was offered for every one of them.21:27When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the multitude and laid hands on him,21:28crying out, "Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place. Moreover, he also brought Greeks into the temple, and has defiled this holy place!"21:29For they had seen Trophimus, the Ephesian, with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.
21:30All the city was moved, and the people ran together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple. Immediately the doors were shut.21:31As they were trying to kill him, news came up to the commanding officer of the regiment that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.21:32Immediately he took soldiers and centurions, and ran down to them. They, when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, stopped beating Paul.21:33Then the commanding officer came near, arrested him, commanded him to be bound with two chains, and inquired who he was and what he had done.21:34Some shouted one thing, and some another, among the crowd. When he couldn't find out the truth because of the noise, he commanded him to be brought into the barracks.
21:35When he came to the stairs, it happened that he was carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd;21:36for the multitude of the people followed after, crying out, "Away with him!"21:37As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he asked the commanding officer, "May I speak to you?"
He said, "Do you know Greek?21:38Aren't you then the Egyptian, who before these days stirred up to sedition and led out into the wilderness the four thousand men of the Assassins?"
21:39But Paul said, "I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no insignificant city. I beg you, allow me to speak to the people."
21:40When he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the stairs, beckoned with his hand to the people. When there was a great silence, he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, saying,