news of peace by Jesus Christ--he is Lord of all--
010:037 that spoken word you yourselves know, which was proclaimed
throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism
which John preached;
010:038 even 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.
010:039 We are witnesses of everything he did both in the country of the Jews,
and in Jerusalem; whom they also{TR omits "also"} killed,
hanging him on a tree.
010:040 God raised him up the third day, and gave him to be revealed,
010:041 not 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.
010:042 He charged 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.
010:043 All the prophets testify about him, that through his name
everyone who believes in him will receive remission of sins."
010:044 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit
fell on all those who heard the word.
010:045 They 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 nations.
010:046 For they heard them speaking in other languages and magnifying God.
Then Peter answered,
010:047 "Can any man forbid the water, that these who have received
the Holy Spirit as well as we should not be baptized?"
010:048 He commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
Then they asked him to stay some days.
011:001 Now the apostles and the brothers{The word for "brothers"
here and where context allows may also be correctly translated
"brothers and sisters" or "siblings."} who were in Judea
heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.
011:002 When Peter had come up to Jerusalem, those who were of the
circumcision contended with him,
011:003 saying, "You went in to uncircumcised men, and ate with them!"
011:004 But Peter began, and explained to them in order, saying,
011:005 "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.
011:006 When 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.
011:007 I also heard a voice saying to me, 'Rise, Peter, kill and eat!'
011:008 But I said, 'Not so, Lord, for nothing unholy or unclean has
ever entered into my mouth.'
011:009 But a voice answered me the second time out of heaven,
'What God has cleansed, don't you call unclean.'
011:010 This was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven.
011:011 Behold, immediately three men stood before the house where I was,
having been sent from Caesarea to me.
011:012 The Spirit told me to go with them, without discriminating.
These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered into
the man's house.
011:013 He 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,
011:014 who will speak to you words by which you will be saved,
you and all your house.'
011:015 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as on
us at the beginning.
011:016 I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, 'John indeed
baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit.'
011:017 If 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?"
011:018 When they heard these things, they held their peace,
and glorified God, saying, "Then God has also granted
to the Gentiles repentance to life!"
011:019 They 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.
011:020 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they
had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists,{A Hellenist
is someone who keeps Greek customs and culture.} preaching
the Lord Jesus.
011:021 The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed
and turned to the Lord.
011:022 The report concerning them came to the ears of the assembly
which was in Jerusalem. They sent out Barnabas to go
as far as Antioch,
011:023 who, 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.
011:024 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith,
and many people were added to the Lord.
011:025 Barnabas went out to Tarsus to look for Saul.
011:026 When 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.
011:027 Now in these days, prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.
011:028 One 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.
011:029 As any of the disciples had plenty, each determined to send
relief to the brothers who lived in Judea;
011:030 which they also did, sending it to the elders by the hands
of Barnabas and Saul.
012:001 Now about that time, Herod the king stretched out his hands
to oppress some of the assembly.
012:002 He killed James, the brother of John, with the sword.
012:003 When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize
Peter also. This was during the days of unleavened bread.
012:004 When 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.
012:005 Peter therefore was kept in the prison, but constant prayer
was made by the assembly to God for him.
012:006 The 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.
012:007 And 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.
012:008 The 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."
012:009 And 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.
012:010 When 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.
012:011 When 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."
012:012 Thinking 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.
012:013 When Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a maid named Rhoda
came to answer.
012:014 When 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.
012:015 They said to her, "You are crazy!" But she insisted that it was so.
They said, "It is his angel."
012:016 But Peter continued knocking. When they had opened, they saw him,
and were amazed.
012:017 But 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.
012:018 Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among
the soldiers about what had become of Peter.
012:019 When 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.
012:020 Now 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.
012:021 On an appointed day, Herod dressed himself in royal clothing,
sat on the throne, and gave a speech to them.
012:022 The people shouted, "The voice of a god, and not of a man!"
012:023 Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he didn't
give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died.
012:024 But the word of God grew and multiplied.
012:025 Barnabas and Saul returned to{TR reads "from" instead of
"to"} Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their service,
also taking with them John whose surname was Mark.
013:001 Now 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.
013:002 As 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."
013:003 Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands
on them, they sent them away.
013:004 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia.
From there they sailed to Cyprus.
013:005 When they were at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in
the Jewish synagogues. They had also John as their attendant.
013:006 When they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found
a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name
was Bar Jesus,
013:007 who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of understanding.
This man summoned Barnabas and Saul, and sought to hear
the word of God.
013:008 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation)
withstood them, seeking to turn aside the proconsul
from the faith.
013:009 But Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit,
fastened his eyes on him,
013:010 and 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?
013:011 Now, 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.
013:012 Then the proconsul, when he saw what was done, believed,
being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
013:013 Now Paul and his company set sail from Paphos, and came to Perga
in Pamphylia. John departed from them and returned to Jerusalem.
013:014 But they, passing on from Perga, came to Antioch of Pisidia.
They went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and sat down.
013:015 After 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."
013:016 Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, "Men of Israel,
and you who fear God, listen.
013:017 The God of this people{TR, NU add "Israel"} 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.
013:018 For a period of about forty years he put up with them
in the wilderness.
013:019 When he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan,
he gave them their land for an inheritance, for about four
hundred fifty years.
013:020 After these things he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet.
013:021 Afterward 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.
013:022 When 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.'
013:023 From this man's seed, God has brought salvation{TR, NU read
"a Savior, Jesus" instead of "salvation"} to Israel according
to his promise,
013:024 before his coming, when John had first preached the baptism of
repentance to Israel.{TR, NU read "to all the people of Israel"
instead of "to Israel"}
013:025 As 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.'
013:026 Brothers, children of the stock of Abraham, and those among you
who fear God, the word of this salvation is sent out to you.
013:027 For 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.
013:028 Though they found no cause for death, they still asked Pilate
to have him killed.
013:029 When they had fulfilled all things that were written about him,
they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a tomb.
013:030 But God raised him from the dead,
013:031 and he was seen for many days by those who came up with him
from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses to the people.
013:032 We bring you good news of the promise made to the fathers,
013:033 that God has fulfilled the same to us, their children, in that
he raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second psalm,
'You are my Son. Today I have become your father.'{Psalm 2:7}
013:034 "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.'{Isaiah 55:3}
013:035 Therefore he says also in another psalm, 'You will not allow
your Holy One to see decay.'{Psalm 16:10}
013:036 For David, after he had in his own generation served the
counsel of God, fell asleep, and was laid with his fathers,
and saw decay.
013:037 But he whom God raised up saw no decay.
013:038 Be it known to you therefore, brothers{The word for "brothers"
here and where the context allows may also be correctly
translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings."}, that through
this man is proclaimed to you remission of sins,
013:039 and by him everyone who believes is justified from all things,
from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.
013:040 Beware therefore, lest that come on you which is spoken
in the prophets:
013:041 'Behold, you scoffers, and wonder, and perish; for I work
a work in your days, a work which you will in no way believe,
if one declares it to you.'"{Habakkuk 1:5}
013:042 So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged
that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.
013:043 Now 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.
013:044 The next Sabbath almost the whole city was gathered together
to hear the word of God.
013:045 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled
with jealousy, and contradicted the things which were spoken
by Paul, and blasphemed.
013:046 Paul 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.
013:047 For so has the Lord commanded us, saying, 'I have set you
as a light for the Gentiles, that you should bring salvation
to the uttermost parts of the earth.'"{Isaiah 49:6}
013:048 As the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word
of God. As many as were appointed to eternal life believed.
013:049 The Lord's word was spread abroad throughout all the region.
013:050 But 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.
013:051 But they shook off the dust of their feet against them,
and came to Iconium.
013:052 The disciples were filled with joy with the Holy Spirit.
014:001 It 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.
014:002 But the disbelieving{or, disobedient} Jews stirred up and
embittered the souls of the Gentiles against the brothers.
014:003 Therefore 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.
014:004 But the multitude of the city was divided. Part sided with
the Jews, and part with the apostles.
014:005 When some of both the Gentiles and the Jews, with their rulers,
made a violent attempt to mistreat and stone them,
014:006 they became aware of it, and fled to the cities
of Lycaonia, Lystra, Derbe, and the surrounding region.
014:007 There they preached the Good News.
014:008 At Lystra a certain man sat, impotent in his feet, a cripple
from his mother's womb, who never had walked.
014:009 He was listening to Paul speaking, who, fastening eyes on him,
and seeing that he had faith to be made whole,
014:010 said with a loud voice, "Stand upright on your feet!"
He leaped up and walked.
014:011 When 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!"
014:012 They called Barnabas "Jupiter," and Paul "Mercury,"
because he was the chief speaker.
014:013 The 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.
014:014 But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of it, they tore
their clothes, and sprang into the multitude, crying out,
014:015 "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;
014:016 who in the generations gone by allowed all the nations to walk
in their own ways.
014:017 Yet he didn't leave himself without witness, in that he did
good and gave you{TR reads "us" instead of "you"} rains
from the sky and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with
food and gladness."
014:018 Even saying these things, they hardly stopped the multitudes
from making a sacrifice to them.
014:019 But 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.
014:020 But 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.
014:021 When they had preached the Good News to that city, and had made
many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch,
014:022 confirming 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.
014:023 When 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.
014:024 They passed through Pisidia, and came to Pamphylia.
014:025 When they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.
014:026 From there they sailed to Antioch, from where they had been committed
to the grace of God for the work which they had fulfilled.
014:027 When 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.
014:028 They stayed there with the disciples for a long time.
015:001 Some men came down from Judea and taught the brothers,
"Unless you are circumcised after the custom of Moses,
you can't be saved."
015:002 Therefore 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.
015:003 They, 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 the brothers.{The word for "brothers"
here and where the context allows may also be correctly
translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings."}
015:004 When 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.
015:005 But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up,
saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them, and to charge
them to keep the law of Moses."
015:006 The apostles and the elders were gathered together to see
about this matter.
015:007 When 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.
015:008 God, who knows the heart, testified about them, giving them
the Holy Spirit, just like he did to us.
015:009 He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their
hearts by faith.
015:010 Now 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?
015:011 But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the
Lord Jesus,{TR adds "Christ"} just as they are."
015:012 All the multitude kept silence, and they listened to Barnabas
and Paul reporting what signs and wonders God had done among
the nations through them.
015:013 After they were silent, James answered, "Brothers, listen to me.
015:014 Simeon has reported how God first visited the nations,
to take out of them a people for his name.
015:015 This agrees with the words of the prophets. As it is written,
015:016 'After these things I will return. I will again build the tent
of David, which has fallen. I will again build its ruins.
I will set it up,
015:017 That the rest of men may seek after the Lord; All the Gentiles
who are called by my name, Says the Lord, who does all
these things.{Amos 9:11-12}
015:018 All his works are known to God from eternity.'
015:019 "Therefore my judgment is that we don't trouble those from among
the Gentiles who turn to God,
015:020 but that we write to them that they abstain from the pollution
of idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled,
and from blood.
015:021 For Moses from generations of old has in every city those who
preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath."
015:022 Then 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 the brothers.{The word for "brothers"
here and where the context allows may also be correctly
translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings."}
015:023 They 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.
015:024 Because 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;
015:025 it seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose out
men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
015:026 men who have risked their lives for the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ.
015:027 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves will
also tell you the same things by word of mouth.
015:028 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay
no greater burden on you than these necessary things:
015:029 that 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."
015:030 So, when they were sent off, they came to Antioch.
Having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.
015:031 When they had read it, they rejoiced over the encouragement.
015:032 Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged the