He motioned to them with his hand to be quiet and then related how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. He said, "Tell James and the brothers these things," and then he left and went to another place.

Some of the crowd concluded it was about Alexander because the Jews had pushed him to the front. Alexander, gesturing with his hand, was wanting to make a defense before the public assembly.

When the commanding officer had given him permission, Paul stood on the steps and gestured to the people with his hand. When they had become silent, he addressed them in Aramaic,

Men

Brothers, descendants of Abraham's family, and those Gentiles among you who fear God, the message of this salvation has been sent to us.

"Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man clearly attested to you by God with powerful deeds, wonders, and miraculous signs that God performed among you through him, just as you yourselves know --

When Peter saw this, he declared to the people, "Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this? Why do you stare at us as if we had made this man walk by our own power or piety?

And ye

As Paul and Barnabas were going out, the people were urging them to speak about these things on the next Sabbath.

He was a devout, God-fearing man, as was all his household; he did many acts of charity for the people and prayed to God regularly.

Then they will obey you throughout their lifetimes as they live on the land you gave to our ancestors.

May God bless us! Then all the ends of the earth will give him the honor he deserves.

Certainly his loyal followers will soon experience his deliverance; then his splendor will again appear in our land.

O family of Levi, praise the Lord! You loyal followers of the Lord, praise the Lord!

from generation to generation he is merciful to those who fear him.

But the other rebuked him, saying, "Don't you fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?

Give

But Peter stood up with the eleven, raised his voice, and addressed them: "You men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, know this and listen carefully to what I say.

"Brothers and fathers, listen to my defense that I now make to you."

he said to them, "Keep in mind all the words I am solemnly proclaiming to you today; you must command your children to observe carefully all the words of this law.

For the music director, a psalm by the Korahites. Listen to this, all you nations! Pay attention, all you inhabitants of the world!

A well-written song by Asaph. Pay attention, my people, to my instruction! Listen to the words I speak!

But I am full of the courage that the Lord's Spirit gives, and have a strong commitment to justice. This enables me to confront Jacob with its rebellion, and Israel with its sin.

The one who has ears had better listen!

The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will permit him to eat from the tree of life that is in the paradise of God.'