But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

“Repent,” Peter said to them, “and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

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

There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people, and we must be saved by it.”

When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place.

Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock that the Holy Spirit has appointed you to as overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.

The people here were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, since they welcomed the message with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages, as the Spirit gave them ability for speech.

So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”

So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about 3,000 people were added to them.

After He had said this, He was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud took Him out of their sight.

On the first day of the week, we assembled to break bread. Paul spoke to them, and since he was about to depart the next day, he extended his message until midnight.

They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen Him going into heaven.”

Therefore repent and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped out, that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,

“Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God now commands all people everywhere to repent,

In those days, as the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint by the Hellenistic Jews against the Hebraic Jews that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution.

Then Peter began to speak: “Now I really understand that God doesn’t show favoritism,

As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas off to Berea. On arrival, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.

I wrote the first narrative, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach

From one man He has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live.

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest

“Men of Israel, listen to these words: This Jesus the Nazarene was a man pointed out to you by God with miracles, wonders, and signs that God did among you through Him, just as you yourselves know.

Then Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the proceeds from the field?

When they heard this, they came under deep conviction and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles: “Brothers, what must we do?”

And it will be in the last days, says God,
that I will pour out My Spirit on all humanity;
then your sons and your daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
and your old men will dream dreams.

While He was together with them, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise. “This,” He said, “is what you heard from Me;

how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were under the tyranny of the Devil, because God was with Him.

In the church that was at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen, a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

An angel of the Lord spoke to Philip: “Get up and go south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is the desert road.)

But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men.

Now the large group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one said that any of his possessions was his own, but instead they held everything in common.

So when they had come together, they asked Him, “Lord, are You restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?”

“Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah!”

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

For in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’

The young men got up, wrapped his body, carried him out, and buried him.

While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions and came to Ephesus. He found some disciples

Then he escorted them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

and when he found him he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught large numbers. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.

Some men came down from Judea and began to teach the brothers: “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom prescribed by Moses, you cannot be saved!”

And now, why delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins by calling on His name.’

The God who made the world and everything in it—He is Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in shrines made by hands.

As she followed Paul and us she cried out, “These men, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation, are the slaves of the Most High God.”

After He had suffered, He also presented Himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during 40 days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

praising God and having favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to them those who were being saved.

Now all the believers were together and held all things in common.

In every way I’ve shown you that by laboring like this, it is necessary to help the weak and to keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus, for He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

But Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed to them: “Men of Judah and all you residents of Jerusalem, let me explain this to you and pay attention to my words.

for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

Then everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.

All these were continually united in prayer, along with the women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and His brothers.

Though He was delivered up according to God’s determined plan and foreknowledge, you used lawless people to nail Him to a cross and kill Him.

But I count my life of no value to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God’s grace.

Once, as we were on our way to prayer, a slave girl met us who had a spirit of prediction. She made a large profit for her owners by fortune-telling.

Now from Miletus, he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church.

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came down on all those who heard the message.

Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple complex, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with a joyful and humble attitude,

As they were traveling down the road, they came to some water. The eunuch said, “Look, there’s water! What would keep me from being baptized?”

strengthening the disciples by encouraging them to continue in the faith and by telling them, “It is necessary to pass through many troubles on our way into the kingdom of God.”

to open their eyes so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that by faith in Me they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified.’

Now Peter and John were going up together to the temple complex at the hour of prayer at three in the afternoon.

There was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment.

When they had appointed elders in every church and prayed with fasting, they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

because He has set a day when He is going to judge the world in righteousness by the Man He has appointed. He has provided proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”

He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by His own authority.

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

Saul agreed with putting him to death.

On that day a severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the land of Judea and Samaria.

I testified to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus.

“And now I commit you to God and to the message of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all who are sanctified.

As they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work I have called them to.”

Then Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that you are extremely religious in every respect.

For he was one of our number and was allotted a share in this ministry.”

They all paid attention to him, from the least of them to the greatest, and they said, “This man is called the Great Power of God!”

They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia and were prevented by the Holy Spirit from speaking the message in Asia.

When they arrived, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying:

Peter, John,
James, Andrew,
Philip, Thomas,
Bartholomew, Matthew,
James the son of Alphaeus,
Simon the Zealot,
and Judas the son of James.

A woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God, was listening. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was spoken by Paul.

When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and glorified the message of the Lord, and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed.

All the prophets testify about Him that through His name everyone who believes in Him will receive forgiveness of sins.”

During these days Peter stood up among the brothers—the number of people who were together was about 120—and said:

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

They took him and brought him to the Areopagus, and said, “May we learn about this new teaching you’re speaking of?

While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was troubled within him when he saw that the city was full of idols.

So he turned to them, expecting to get something from them.

When they heard this they became silent. Then they glorified God, saying, “So God has granted repentance resulting in life even to the Gentiles!”

There was an interval of about three hours; then his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.

For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

Now as they were speaking to the people, the priests, the commander of the temple police, and the Sadducees confronted them,

In it were all the four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth, and the birds of the sky.

Therefore, since He has been exalted to the right hand of God and has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, He has poured out what you both see and hear.

In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. She was always doing good works and acts of charity.

“You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are always resisting the Holy Spirit; as your ancestors did, so do you.

When the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had welcomed God’s message, they sent Peter and John to them.

Then the Spirit told me to accompany them with no doubts at all. These six brothers accompanied me, and we went into the man’s house.

After this, he left Athens and went to Corinth,

About that time King Herod cruelly attacked some who belonged to the church,

When they observed the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and recognized that they had been with Jesus.

Heaven must welcome Him until the times of the restoration of all things, which God spoke about by the mouth of His holy prophets from the beginning.

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

so the rest of humanity
may seek the Lord—
even all the Gentiles
who are called by My name,
declares the Lord who does these things,

And I have a hope in God, which these men themselves also accept, that there is going to be a resurrection, both of the righteous and the unrighteous.

In this way the Lord’s message flourished and prevailed.

[And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart you may.” And he replied, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”]

until the day He was taken up, after He had given orders through the Holy Spirit to the apostles He had chosen.

Then they traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.

So the preaching about God flourished, the number of the disciples in Jerusalem multiplied greatly, and a large group of priests became obedient to the faith.

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called the Mount of Olives, which is near Jerusalem—a Sabbath day’s journey away.

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 and whom God raised from the dead—by Him this man is standing here before you healthy.

But Stephen, filled by the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven. He saw God’s glory, with Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and he said,

As usual, Paul went to the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures,

Many signs and wonders were being done among the people through the hands of the apostles. By common consent they would all meet in Solomon’s Colonnade.

A man named Simon had previously practiced sorcery in that city and astounded the Samaritan people, while claiming to be somebody great.

Those who had been scattered as a result of the persecution that started because of Stephen made their way as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the message to no one except Jews.

When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak God’s message with boldness.

Then he went on to Derbe and Lystra, where there was a disciple named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish woman, but his father was a Greek.

“Can anyone withhold water and prevent these people from being baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”

and rescued him out of all his troubles. He gave him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and over his whole household.

The apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles had welcomed God’s message also.

God exalted this man to His right hand as ruler and Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

God raised Him up, ending the pains of death, because it was not possible for Him to be held by it.

for I did not shrink back from declaring to you the whole plan of God.

But the Lord said to him, “Go! For this man is My chosen instrument to take My name to Gentiles, kings, and the Israelites.

But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it’s right in the sight of God for us to listen to you rather than to God, you decide;

For it was the Holy Spirit’s decision—and ours—to put no greater burden on you than these necessary things:

After they had Peter and John stand before them, they asked the question: “By what power or in what name have you done this?”

A Jew named Apollos, a native Alexandrian, an eloquent man who was powerful in the use of the Scriptures, arrived in Ephesus.

Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty.

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

Moses said:

The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to Him in everything He will say to you.

On the contrary, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

“Tell me,” Peter asked her, “did you sell the field for this price?”

“Yes,” she said, “for that price.”

So those who were scattered went on their way preaching the message of good news.

They continued their journey from Perga and reached Antioch in Pisidia. On the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down.

“God has resurrected this Jesus. We are all witnesses of this.

They were stoning Stephen as he called out: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!”

During the night a vision appeared to Paul: A Macedonian man was standing and pleading with him, “Cross over to Macedonia and help us!”

“Brothers, I can confidently speak to you about the patriarch David: He is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.

This became known to all the residents of Jerusalem, so that in their own language that field is called Hakeldama (that is, Field of Blood).

Therefore, let it be known to you, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is being proclaimed to you,

The next day, as they were traveling and nearing the city, Peter went up to pray on the housetop about noon.

For what you say sounds strange to us, and we want to know what these ideas mean.”

and everyone who believes in Him is justified from everything that you could not be justified from through the law of Moses.

And tongues, like flames of fire that were divided, appeared to them and rested on each one of them.

“Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled that the Holy Spirit through the mouth of David spoke in advance about Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.

After some time had passed, Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit the brothers in every town where we have preached the message of the Lord and see how they’re doing.”

We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

Simeon has reported how God first intervened to take from the Gentiles a people for His name.

When they heard this, they all raised their voices to God and said, “Master, You are the One who made the heaven, the earth, and the sea, and everything in them.

While He was going, they were gazing into heaven, and suddenly two men in white clothes stood by them.

He did this so they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.

The proposal pleased the whole company. So they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte from Antioch.

Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them.

“For, in fact, in this city both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed,

“No, Lord!” Peter said. “For I have never eaten anything common and ritually unclean!”

But Peter said, “I don’t have silver or gold, but what I have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!”

Then the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, decided to select men who were among them and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas, called Barsabbas, and Silas, both leading men among the brothers.

He is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness together with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors. He received living oracles to give to us.

After removing him, He raised up David as their king and testified about him: ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man loyal to Me, who will carry out all My will.’

He knocked at the door in the gateway, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer.

After they were released, they went to their own people and reported everything the chief priests and the elders had said to them.

So the church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace, being built up and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, and it increased in numbers.

because You will not leave me in Hades
or allow Your Holy One to see decay.

but instead we should write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from eating anything that has been strangled, and from blood.

Then fear came over everyone, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles.

When Jacob heard there was grain in Egypt, he sent our ancestors the first time.

Then the high priest took action. He and all his colleagues, those who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy.

Then he ordered the chariot to stop, and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.

and that I did not shrink back from proclaiming to you anything that was profitable or from teaching it to you in public and from house to house.

Now this man acquired a field with his unrighteous wages. He fell headfirst and burst open in the middle, and all his insides spilled out.

When they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city officials, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here too,

They were attentive to him because he had astounded them with his sorceries for a long time.

As he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him.

He continued, “I am a Jewish man, born in Tarsus of Cilicia but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel and educated according to the strict view of our patriarchal law. Being zealous for God, just as all of you are today,

“Brothers and fathers,” he said, “listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he settled in Haran,

Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying.

And with many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be saved from this corrupt generation!”

Every day in the temple complex, and in various homes, they continued teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.

He commanded us to preach to the people and to solemnly testify that He is the One appointed by God to be the Judge of the living and the dead.

And they were astounded and amazed, saying, “Look, aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans?

Then Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders:

He reported to us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa, and call for Simon, who is also named Peter.

“Therefore, from among the men who have accompanied us during the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us—

Being God’s offspring then, we shouldn’t think that the divine nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image fashioned by human art and imagination.

There were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven.

Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn an oath to him to seat one of his descendants on his throne.

Neither is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives everyone life and breath and all things.

He sent the message to the Israelites, proclaiming the good news of peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all.

God was performing extraordinary miracles by Paul’s hands,

But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the preaching ministry.”

Now all the Athenians and the foreigners residing there spent their time on nothing else but telling or hearing something new.

The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had murdered by hanging Him on a tree.

So Philip proceeded to tell him the good news about Jesus, beginning from that Scripture.

“Men! Why are you doing these things? We are men also, with the same nature as you, and we are proclaiming good news to you, that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them.

As they were yelling and flinging aside their robes and throwing dust into the air,

In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him so he can regain his sight.”

For as I was passing through and observing the objects of your worship, I even found an altar on which was inscribed:

TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.

Therefore, what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you.

Seeing this in advance, he spoke concerning the resurrection of the Messiah:

He was not left in Hades,
and His flesh did not experience decay.

although He did not leave Himself without a witness, since He did what is good by giving you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons and satisfying your hearts with food and happiness.”

This Jesus is

the stone rejected by you builders,
which has become the cornerstone.

to take the place in this apostolic service that Judas left to go to his own place.”

“Is this true?” the high priest asked.

Instead, I preached to those in Damascus first, and to those in Jerusalem and in all the region of Judea, and to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works worthy of repentance.

King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you believe.”

Then Peter said to her, “Why did you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out!”

The second time, Joseph was revealed to his brothers, and Joseph’s family became known to Pharaoh.

On the contrary, we believe we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same way they are.”

So Paul, having stayed on for many days, said good-bye to the brothers and sailed away to Syria. Priscilla and Aquila were with him. He shaved his head at Cenchreae because he had taken a vow.

There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!”

“Here I am, Lord!” he said.

Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed the Lord, along with his whole household. Many of the Corinthians, when they heard, believed and were baptized.

Joseph, a Levite and a Cypriot by birth, the one the apostles called Barnabas, which is translated Son of Encouragement,

where he found a Jewish man named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul came to them,

And now, Lord, consider their threats, and grant that Your slaves may speak Your message with complete boldness,

So Ananias left and entered the house. Then he placed his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road you were traveling, has sent me so that you can regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

She recognized Peter’s voice, and because of her joy, she did not open the gate but ran in and announced that Peter was standing at the gateway.

When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many had assembled and were praying.

Then the Twelve summoned the whole company of the disciples and said, “It would not be right for us to give up preaching about God to handle financial matters.

When Paul realized that one part of them were Sadducees and the other part were Pharisees, he cried out in the Sanhedrin, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees! I am being judged because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead!”

The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you handed over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him.

Then a famine and great suffering came over all of Egypt and Canaan, and our ancestors could find no food.

For it was not David who ascended into the heavens, but he himself says:

The Lord declared to my Lord,
‘Sit at My right hand

And for about 40 years He put up with them in the wilderness;

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

After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them: “Brothers, you are aware that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the gospel message and believe.

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

For there was not a needy person among them, because all those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the proceeds of the things that were sold,

The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors, exalted the people during their stay in the land of Egypt, and led them out of it with a mighty arm.

After they arrived and gathered the church together, they reported everything God had done with them and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began to speak in other languages and to prophesy.

Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”

And though they asked him to stay for a longer time, he declined,

Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat!”

But they were unable to stand up against his wisdom and the Spirit by whom he was speaking.

known from long ago.

Then great fear came on the whole church and on all who heard these things.

“Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.

So what is to be done? They will certainly hear that you’ve come.

except that in town after town the Holy Spirit testifies to me that chains and afflictions are waiting for me.

Instantly she dropped dead at his feet. When the young men came in, they found her dead, carried her out, and buried her beside her husband.

Joseph then invited his father Jacob and all his relatives, 75 people in all,

If we are being examined today about a good deed done to a disabled man—by what means he was healed—

Then they persuaded some men to say, “We heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God!”

Also provide mounts so they can put Paul on them and bring him safely to Felix the governor.”

While Peter was deeply perplexed about what the vision he had seen might mean, the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions to Simon’s house, stood at the gate.

Then, taking him by the right hand he raised him up, and at once his feet and ankles became strong.

Motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he explained to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. “Report these things to James and the brothers,” he said. Then he departed and went to a different place.

So he jumped up, stood, and started to walk, and he entered the temple complex with them—walking, leaping, and praising God.

They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; so they came, dragged him off, and took him to the Sanhedrin.

They were all astounded and perplexed, saying to one another, “What could this be?”

This happened three times, and then the object was taken up into heaven.

Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have obligated themselves with a vow.

After they went down there, they prayed for them, so the Samaritans might receive the Holy Spirit.

He brought them into his house, set a meal before them, and rejoiced because he had believed God with his entire household.

Bringing them before the chief magistrates, they said, “These men are seriously disturbing our city. They are Jews

So after sending two of those who assisted him, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.

And he has authority here from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name.”

All the people saw him walking and praising God,

[After he said these things, the Jews departed, while engaging in a prolonged debate among themselves.]

Peter, however, kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astounded.

and are promoting customs that are not legal for us as Romans to adopt or practice.”

the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks, directing that he be examined with the scourge, so he could discover the reason they were shouting against him like this.

“You’re crazy!” they told her. But she kept insisting that it was true. Then they said, “It’s his angel!”

I will show him how much he must suffer for My name!”

but he said good-bye and stated, “I’ll come back to you again, if God wills.” Then he set sail from Ephesus.

Then they asked for a king, so God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for 40 years.

Therefore, if God gave them the same gift that He also gave to us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, how could I possibly hinder God?”

and they recognized that he was the one who used to sit and beg at the Beautiful Gate of the temple complex. So they were filled with awe and astonishment at what had happened to him.

At the same time he was also hoping that money would be given to him by Paul. For this reason he sent for him quite often and conversed with him.

Even though they said these things, they barely stopped the crowds from sacrificing to them.

This all took about 450 years. After this, He gave them judges until Samuel the prophet.

They called out, asking if Simon, who was also named Peter, was lodging there.

The Lord’s hand was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.

But there were some of them, Cypriot and Cyrenian men, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Hellenists, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus.

then after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, He gave their land to them as an inheritance.

They also presented false witnesses who said, “This man does not stop speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the law.

None of the rest dared to join them, but the people praised them highly.

Get up, go downstairs, and accompany them with no doubts at all, because I have sent them.”

I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore, I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after this examination is over, I may have something to write.

He had been very angry with the Tyrians and Sidonians. Together they presented themselves before him. They won over Blastus, who was in charge of the king’s bedroom, and through him they asked for peace, because their country was supplied with food from the king’s country.

They wrote this letter to be delivered by them:

From the apostles and the elders, your brothers,

To the brothers among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:

Greetings.

At daylight, there was a great commotion among the soldiers as to what could have become of Peter.

After Herod had searched and did not find him, he interrogated the guards and ordered their execution. Then Herod went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there.

He wrote a letter of this kind:

Then the report about them was heard by the church that was at Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to travel as far as Antioch.

I will even pour out My Spirit
on My male and female slaves in those days,
and they will prophesy.

Receiving such an order, he put them into the inner prison and secured their feet in the stocks.

So on an appointed day, dressed in royal robes and seated on the throne, Herod delivered a public address to them.

“I wish before God,” replied Paul, “that whether easily or with difficulty, not only you but all who listen to me today might become as I am—except for these chains.”

After they had inflicted many blows on them, they threw them in jail, ordering the jailer to keep them securely guarded.

I will display wonders in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below:
blood and fire and a cloud of smoke.

and Jacob went down to Egypt. He and our ancestors died there,

And after taking some food, he regained his strength.

Saul was with the disciples in Damascus for some days.

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

After two years had passed, Felix received a successor, Porcius Festus, and because he wished to do a favor for the Jews, Felix left Paul in prison.

In addition, a large group came together from the towns surrounding Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

And since they saw the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in response.

And all who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

For a person named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of Artemis, provided a great deal of business for the craftsmen.

“From this man’s descendants, according to the promise, God brought the Savior, Jesus, to Israel.

Then God’s message flourished and multiplied.

The assembled people began to shout, “It’s the voice of a god and not of a man!”

Then, fearing we might run aground in some rocky place, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight to come.

For we heard him say that Jesus, this Nazarene, will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.”

Then as John was completing his life’s work, he said, ‘Who do you think I am? I am not the One. But look! Someone is coming after me, and I am not worthy to untie the sandals on His feet.’

Therefore my heart was glad,
and my tongue rejoiced.
Moreover, my flesh will rest in hope,

After they had ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin, they conferred among themselves,

who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And large numbers of people were added to the Lord.

On landing at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church and went down to Antioch.

and when he was left outside, Pharaoh’s daughter adopted and raised him as her own son.

“As the time was drawing near to fulfill the promise that God had made to Abraham, the people flourished and multiplied in Egypt

While Peter was thinking about the vision, the Spirit told him, “Three men are here looking for you.

When they heard about resurrection of the dead, some began to ridicule him. But others said, “We’d like to hear from you again about this.”

saying, “What should we do with these men? For an obvious sign, evident to all who live in Jerusalem, has been done through them, and we cannot deny it!

But all who heard him were astounded and said, “Isn’t this the man who, in Jerusalem, was destroying those who called on this name and then came here for the purpose of taking them as prisoners to the chief priests?”

However, some men joined him and believed, including Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

Take these men, purify yourself along with them, and pay for them to get their heads shaved. Then everyone will know that what they were told about you amounts to nothing, but that you yourself are also careful about observing the law.

However, so this does not spread any further among the people, let’s threaten them against speaking to anyone in this name again.”

And a man who was lame from birth was carried there and placed every day at the temple gate called Beautiful, so he could beg from those entering the temple complex.

because they were provoked that they were teaching the people and proclaiming the resurrection from the dead, using Jesus as the example.

They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who has a good reputation with the whole Jewish nation, was divinely directed by a holy angel to call you to his house and to hear a message from you.”

At this time Moses was born, and he was beautiful in God’s sight. He was cared for in his father’s home three months,

Because we have heard that some without our authorization went out from us and troubled you with their words and unsettled your hearts,

but his disciples took him by night and lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the wall.

Even some of the provincial officials of Asia, who were his friends, sent word to him, pleading with him not to take a chance by going into the amphitheater.

until a different king who did not know Joseph ruled over Egypt.

From there they sailed back to Antioch where they had been entrusted to the grace of God for the work they had now completed.

The next day, since he wanted to find out exactly why Paul was being accused by the Jews, he released him and instructed the chief priests and all the Sanhedrin to convene. Then he brought Paul down and placed him before them.

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As they stretched him out for the lash, Paul said to the centurion standing by, “Is it legal for you to scourge a man who is a Roman citizen and is uncondemned?”

shouting, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people, our law, and this place. What’s more, he also brought Greeks into the temple and has profaned this holy place.”

After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him,

After leaving the jail, they came to Lydia’s house where they saw and encouraged the brothers, and departed.

Then Peter went down to the men and said, “Here I am, the one you’re looking for. What is the reason you’re here?”

For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating through the Scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah.

But an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail during the night, brought them out, and said,

For the residents of Jerusalem and their rulers, since they did not recognize Him or the voices of the prophets that are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled their words by condemning Him.

and was sitting in his chariot on his way home, reading the prophet Isaiah aloud.

and when they had left they talked with each other and said, “This man is doing nothing that deserves death or chains.”

He dealt deceitfully with our race and oppressed our ancestors by making them leave their infants outside, so they wouldn’t survive.

Before He came to public attention, John had previously proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

saying, “Give me this power too, so that anyone I lay hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.”

When the centurion heard this, he went and reported to the commander, saying, “What are you going to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.”

“As he was approaching the age of 40, he decided to visit his brothers, the Israelites.

For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed, and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed.

for this sign of healing had been performed on a man over 40 years old.

However, he kept back part of the proceeds with his wife’s knowledge, and brought a portion of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

So they arrested the apostles and put them in the city jail.

They did this, sending it to the elders by means of Barnabas and Saul.

For I see you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.”

Claudius Lysias,

To the most excellent governor Felix:

Greetings.

So they seized them and put them in custody until the next day, since it was already evening.

After the disciples surrounded him, he got up and went into the town. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.

while You stretch out Your hand for healing, signs, and wonders to be performed through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”

In obedience to this, they entered the temple complex at daybreak and began to teach.

When the high priest and those who were with him arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin—the full Senate of the sons of Israel—and sent orders to the jail to have them brought.

The crowds paid attention with one mind to what Philip said, as they heard and saw the signs he was performing.

You have no part or share in this matter, because your heart is not right before God.

“Go and stand in the temple complex, and tell the people all about this life.”

Devout men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him.

Then he became hungry and wanted to eat, but while they were preparing something, he went into a visionary state.

Someone came and reported to them, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple complex and teaching the people.”

When they had heard this, they were filled with rage and began to cry out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

Peter then invited them in and gave them lodging.

The next day he got up and set out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went with him.

After threatening them further, they released them. They found no way to punish them, because the people were all giving glory to God over what had been done;

Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains came loose.

but their plot became known to Saul. So they were watching the gates day and night intending to kill him,

“We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing in front of the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside!”

So not only do we run a risk that our business may be discredited, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be despised and her magnificence come to the verge of ruin—the very one all of Asia and the world adore.”

As they were trying to kill him, word went up to the commander of the regiment that all Jerusalem was in chaos.

When he heard these words, Ananias dropped dead, and a great fear came on all who heard.

As the commander of the temple police and the chief priests heard these things, they were baffled about them, as to what could come of this.

Then the next day, Paul took the men, having purified himself along with them, and entered the temple, announcing the completion of the purification days when the offering for each of them would be made.

Paul said, “I am a Jewish man from Tarsus of Cilicia, a citizen of an important city. Now I ask you, let me speak to the people.”

The rest were to follow, some on planks and some on debris from the ship. In this way, everyone safely reached the shore.

With regard to the Gentiles who have believed, we have written a letter containing our decision that they should keep themselves from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from what is strangled, and from sexual immorality.”

So there was great joy in that city.

Though Paul wanted to go in before the people, the disciples did not let him.

to do whatever Your hand and Your plan had predestined to take place.

When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter too, during the days of Unleavened Bread.

The kings of the earth took their stand
and the rulers assembled together
against the Lord and against His Messiah.

However, when the city clerk had calmed the crowd down, he said, “Men of Ephesus! What man is there who doesn’t know that the city of the Ephesians is the temple guardian of the great Artemis, and of the image that fell from heaven?

Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel and rescued me from Herod’s grasp and from all that the Jewish people expected.”

But when the temple police got there, they did not find them in the jail, so they returned and reported,

“At this disclosure, Moses fled and became an exile in the land of Midian, where he fathered two sons.

When Peter went up to Jerusalem, those who stressed circumcision argued with him,

After they passed the first and second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them by itself. They went outside and passed one street, and immediately the angel left him.