Reference: Acts of the Apostles
American
A canonical book of the New Testament, written by Luke as a sequel to his gospel, and a history in part of the early church. It is not, however, a record of the acts of all the apostles, but chiefly of those of Peter and Paul. In his gospel, Luke described the founding of Christianity in what Christ did, taught, and suffered; in the Acts he illustrates its diffusion, selecting what was best fitted to show how the first followers of Christ in building up his church. Beginning were his gospel indeed, he narrates the ascension of the Savior and the conduct of the disciples thereupon; the outpouring of the Holy Spirit according to Christ's promise; the miraculous preaching of the apostles, their amazing success, and the persecutions raised against them; with other events of moment to the church at Jerusalem, till they were scattered abroad. He then shows how Judaism was superseded, and how Peter was led to receive to Christian fellowship converts from the Gentiles. The remainder of the narrative is devoted to the conversion and calling of the apostle Paul, his missionary zeal, labors, and sufferings, and the ends with his two years' imprisonment at Rome.
Luke himself witnessed, to a great extent, the events he narrates. His Greek is the most classical in the New Testament; and the view he gives of the spirit of the early church so many of whose members had "been with the Lord," is invaluable. The book was probably written about A. D. 64, that is, soon after the time at which the narration terminates. The place where it was written is not known.
In order to read the Acts of the Apostles with intelligence and profit, it is necessary to have a sufficient acquaintance with geography, with the manners of the times and people referred to, and with the leading historical events. The power of the Romans, with the nature and names of the public offices they established, and the distinctions among them, must be understood, as well as the disposition and political opinions of the unconverted Jewish nation, which were to prevalent among the Christianized Hebrews.
Easton
the title now given to the fifth and last of the historical books of the New Testament. The author styles it a "treatise" (Ac 1:1). It was early called "The Acts," "The Gospel of the Holy Ghost," and "The Gospel of the Resurrection." It contains properly no account of any of the apostles except Peter and Paul. John is noticed only three times; and all that is recorded of James, the son of Zebedee, is his execution by Herod. It is properly therefore not the history of the "Acts of the Apostles," a title which was given to the book at a later date, but of "Acts of Apostles," or more correctly, of "Some Acts of Certain Apostles."
As regards its authorship, it was certainly the work of Luke, the "beloved physician" (comp. Lu 1:1-4; Ac 1:1). This is the uniform tradition of antiquity, although the writer nowhere makes mention of himself by name. The style and idiom of the Gospel of Luke and of the Acts, and the usage of words and phrases common to both, strengthen this opinion. The writer first appears in the narrative in Ac 16:11, and then disappears till Paul's return to Philippi two years afterwards, when he and Paul left that place together (Ac 20:6), and the two seem henceforth to have been constant companions to the end. He was certainly with Paul at Rome (28; Col 4:14). Thus he wrote a great portion of that history from personal observation. For what lay beyond his own experience he had the instruction of Paul. If, as is very probable, 2 Tim. was written during Paul's second imprisonment at Rome, Luke was with him then as his faithful companion to the last (2Ti 4:11). Of his subsequent history we have no certain information.
The design of Luke's Gospel was to give an exhibition of the character and work of Christ as seen in his history till he was taken up from his disciples into heaven; and of the Acts, as its sequel, to give an illustration of the power and working of the gospel when preached among all nations, "beginning at Jerusalem." The opening sentences of the Acts are just an expansion and an explanation of the closing words of the Gospel. In this book we have just a continuation of the history of the church after Christ's ascension. Luke here carries on the history in the same spirit in which he had commenced it. It is only a book of beginnings, a history of the founding of churches, the initial steps in the formation of the Christian society in the different places visited by the apostles. It records a cycle of "representative events."
All through the narrative we see the ever-present, all-controlling power of the ever-living Saviour. He worketh all and in all in spreading abroad his truth among men by his Spirit and through the instrumentality of his apostles.
The time of the writing of this history may be gathered from the fact that the narrative extends down to the close of the second year of Paul's first imprisonment at Rome. It could not therefore have been written earlier than A.D. 61 or 62, nor later than about the end of A.D. 63. Paul was probably put to death during his second imprisonment, about A.D. 64, or, as some think, 66.
The place where the book was written was probably Rome, to which Luke accompanied Paul.
The key to the contents of the book is in Ac 1:8, "Ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." After referring to what had been recorded in a "former treatise" of the sayings and doings of Jesus Christ before his ascension, the author proceeds to give an account of the circumstances connected with that event, and then records the leading facts with reference to the spread and triumphs of Christianity over the world during a period of about thirty years. The record begins with Pentecost (A.D. 33) and ends with Paul's first imprisonment (A.D. 63 or 64). The whole contents of the book may be divided into these three parts:
(1.) Chaps. 1-12, describing the first twelve years of the Christian church. This section has been entitled "From Jerusalem to Antioch." It contains the history of the planting and extension of the church among the Jews by the ministry of Peter.
(2.) Chaps. 13-21, Paul's missionary journeys, giving the history of the extension and planting of the church among the Gentiles.
(3.) Chaps. 21-28, Paul at Rome, and the events which led to this. Chaps. 13-28 have been entitled "From Antioch to Rome."
In this book it is worthy of note that no mention is made of the writing by Paul of any of his epistles. This may be accounted for by the fact that the writer confined himself to a history of the planting of the church, and not to that of its training or edification. The relation, however, between this history and the epistles of Paul is of such a kind, i.e., brings to light so many undesigned coincidences, as to prove the genuineness and authenticity of both, as is so ably shown by Paley in his Horae Paulinae. "No ancient work affords so many tests of veracity; for no other has such numerous points of contact in all directions with contemporary history, politics, and topography, whether Jewish, or Greek, or Roman." Lightfoot. (See Paul.)
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Forasmuch as many took in hand to arrange in order a narrative concerning the facts that have been fully confirmed among us, even as those who from the beginning were eye-witnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us; read more. it seemed good to me also, having traced all things accurately from the first, to write to you an orderly account, most noble Theophilus; that you may fully know the certainty of the words wherein you were instructed.
The first narrative I made, O Theophilus, concerning all things that Jesus began both to do and to teach,
The first narrative I made, O Theophilus, concerning all things that Jesus began both to do and to teach,
but ye shall receive power, the Holy Spirit having come upon you, and ye shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and Samaria, and to the utmost limit of the earth."
Having set sail, therefore, from Troas, we ran in a straight course to Samothrace, and on the following day to Neapolis;
and we sailed away from Philippi, after the days of unleavened bread, and came to them to Troas in five days; where we tarried seven days.
Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, salute you.
Only Luke is with me. Taking Mark, bring him with you; for he is useful to me for ministering.
Fausets
The second treatise, in continuation of the Gospel as recorded by Luke. The style confirms the identity of authorship; also the address to the same person, Theophilus, probably a man of rank, judging from the title "most excellent." The Gospel was the life of Jesus in the flesh, the Acts record His life in the Spirit; Chrysostom calls it "The Gospel of the Holy Spirit." Hence Luke says: "The former treatise I made of all that Jesus began to do and teach;" therefore the Acts give a summary of what Jesus continued to do and teach by His Spirit in His disciples after He was taken up. The book breaks off at the close of Paul's imprisonment, A.D. 63, without recording his release; hence it is likely Luke completed it at this date, just before tidings of the apostle's release reached him.
There is a progressive development and unity of plan throughout. The key is Ac 1:8; "Ye shall be witnesses unto Me in (1) Jerusalem, and (2) in all Judaea, and (3) in Samaria, and (4) unto the uttermost part of the earth." It begins with Jerusalem, the metropolis of the Jewish dispensation, and ends with Rome, the metropolis of the whole Gentile world. It is divisible into three portions:
I. From the ascension to the close of Acts 11, which describes the rise of the first purely Gentile church, at Antioch, where the disciples consequently were first called See CHRISTIANS (see);
II. Thence down to the special vision at Troas (Acts 16), which carried the gospel, through Paul, to Europe;
III. Thence onward, until it reached Rome. In each of the three periods the church has a distinct aspect: in the first, Jewish; in the second, Gentile with a strong Jewish admixture; in the third, after the council at Jerusalem (Acts 15), Gentile in a preponderating degree. At first the gospel was preached to the Jews only; then to the Samaritans (Ac 8:1-5); then to the Ethiopian eunuch, a proselyte of righteousness (Ac 8:27); then, after a special revelation as Peter's warrant, to Cornelius, a proselyte of the gate; then to Gentile Greeks (not Grecians, i.e. Greek speaking Jews, but pagan Greeks, on the whole the best supported reading, Ac 11:20); then Peter, who, as "the apostle of the circumcision," had been in the first period the foremost preacher, gives place from Acts 13 to Paul, "the apostle of the uncircumcision," who successively proclaimed the word in Asia Minor, Macedonia, Greece, and Rome. Luke joined Paul at Troas (about A.D. 53), as appears from the "we" taking the place of "they" at that point in his history (Ac 16:8-10). The repetition of the account of the ascension in Acts 1 shows that an interval of some time had elapsed since writing the more summary account of it at the end of Luke 24; for repetition would have been superfluous unless some time had intervened.
Matthew's Gospel, as adapted to Jewish readers, answers to the first period ending about A.D. 40, and was written probably in and for Jerusalem and Judaea; Mark answers to the second or Judaeo-Gentile period, A.D. 40-50, as his Gospel abounds in Latinisms, and is suited to Gentile converts, such as were the Roman soldiers concentrated at Caesarea, their head quarters in Palestine, the second great center of gospel preaching, the scene of Cornelius' conversion by Mark's father in the faith, Peter. Luke's Gospel has a Greek tinge, and answers to the third period, A.D. 50-63, being suited to Greeks unfamiliar with Palestinian geography; written perhaps at Antioch, the third great center of gospel diffusion.
Antioch is assigned by tradition as his residence (A.D. 52) before joining Paul when entering Europe. Beginning it there, he probably completed it under Paul's guidance, and circulated it from Philippi, where he was left behind, among the Greek churches. Probably Paul (A.D. 57) alludes to his Gospel in 2Co 8:18; "the brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches." Certainly he quotes his Gospel as Scripture, and by inspiration stamps it as such in 1Ti 5:18. His having been chosen by the Macedonian churches joint trustee with Paul of their contributions to Jerusalem implies a long residence, during which he completed and circulated his work. As Acts was the fruit of his second connection with Paul, whose labors down to his imprisonment in Rome form the chief part of the book, so he wrote the Gospel through the help he got in his first connection with him, from Troas down to Philippi. (See Birks' Horse Evarig., 192, etc., for the probability that Theophilus lived at Antioch.) Jerome says Luke published his Gospel "in the parts of Achaia and Baeotia."
The Book of Acts links itself with the Gospels, by describing the foundation and extension of the church, which Christ in the Gospels promised; and with the Pauline epistles by undesigned, because not obvious, coincidences. It forms with the Gospels a historical Pentateuch, on which the Epistles are the inspired commentary, as the Psalms and Prophets are on the Old Testament historical books. Tertullian De Bapt., 17, and Jerome, Vir. Illustr., Luc., 7, mention that John pronounced spurious the Acts of Paul and Thecla, published at Ephesus. As Luke's Acts of the Apostles was then current, John's condemnation of the spurious Acts is a virtual sanction of ours as genuine; especially as Re 3:2 assigns this office of testing the true and the false to John's own church' of Ephesus. The epistle of the churches of Lyons and Vienna to those of Asia and Phrygia (A.D. 177) quotes it. Irenseus, Adv.
Hser., 1:31, Clemens Alexandrinus, Strom., 5, and Origen, in Euseb. H. E., 6:23, attest the book. Eusebius, H.E., 3:25, ranks it among "the universally recognized Scriptures." Its rejection by the Manicheans on purely doctrinal grounds implies its acceptance by the early church catholic. Luke never names himself. But the identity of the writer with the writer of the Gospel (Lu 1:3) is plain, and that the first person plural (Ac 16:10,17; 21:1,18; 27:1; 28:16) includes the writer in the first person singular (Ac 1:1). Paul's other companions are distinguished from the writer (Ac 20:4-6,15). The sacred writers keep themselves in the background, so as to put forward their grand subject. The first person gives place to the third at Ac 17:1, as Paul and Silas left Luke behind at Philippi. The nonmention of Luke in Paul's epistles is due to his not having been with him at Corinth (Acts 18), whence the two epistles to the Thessalonians were written; nor at Ephesus (Acts 19), whence he wrote to the Romans; nor at Corinth again, whence he wrote to the Galatians.
The first person is not resumed until Ac 20:5-6, at Philippi, the very place where the first person implies he was with Paul two years before (Acts 16); in this interval Luke probably made Philippi his head quarters. Thenceforward to the close, which leaves Paul at Rome, the first person shows Luke was his companion. Col 4:14; Phm 1:24, written there and then, declare his presence with Paul in Rome. The undesigned coincidence remarkably confirms the truth of his authorship and of the history. Just in those epistles written from places where in Acts the first person is dropped, Luke is not mentioned, but Silas and Timothy are; 1Th 1:1; 2Th 1:1; 2Co 1:19 compared with Ac 18:5.
But in the epistles written where we know, from Acts 28, the writer was with Paul we find Luke mentioned. Alford conjectures that as, just before Luke's joining Paul at Troas (Ac 16:10), Paul had passed through Galatia, where he was detained by sickness (Ga 4:13, Greek "Ye know that because of an infirmity of my flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first"), and Phrygia, and as the epistle to Colossae in Phrygia terms Luke "the beloved physician," Luke became Paul's companion owing to the weak state of the apostle's health, and left him at Philippi when he was recovered, which would account for the warm epithet "beloved."
In Ac 21:10 Agabus is introduced as if he had never been mentioned before, which he was in Ac 11:28. Probably Luke used different written sources of information, guided in the selection by the Holy spirit. This view accounts for the Hebraistic style of the earlier parts (drawn from Hebrew sources), and the Grecian style of the
See Verses Found in Dictionary
I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven; and whatsoever you shall bind on the earth shall have been bound in Heaven, and whatsoever you shall loose on the earth shall have been loosed in Heaven."
I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven; and whatsoever you shall bind on the earth shall have been bound in Heaven, and whatsoever you shall loose on the earth shall have been loosed in Heaven."
it seemed good to me also, having traced all things accurately from the first, to write to you an orderly account, most noble Theophilus;
it seemed good to me also, having traced all things accurately from the first, to write to you an orderly account, most noble Theophilus;
The first narrative I made, O Theophilus, concerning all things that Jesus began both to do and to teach,
The first narrative I made, O Theophilus, concerning all things that Jesus began both to do and to teach,
but ye shall receive power, the Holy Spirit having come upon you, and ye shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and Samaria, and to the utmost limit of the earth."
but ye shall receive power, the Holy Spirit having come upon you, and ye shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and Samaria, and to the utmost limit of the earth."
This Man, delivered up by the settled counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye, having fastened to the cross, through the hand of lawless ones, did slay:
This Man, delivered up by the settled counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye, having fastened to the cross, through the hand of lawless ones, did slay:
This is the Stone That was set at naught by you, the builders, Which was made into a head of a corner.
This is the Stone That was set at naught by you, the builders, Which was made into a head of a corner.
And Saul was approving of his death. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the assembly which was in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the countries of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
And Saul was approving of his death. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the assembly which was in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the countries of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was laying waste the assembly, entering house after house; and, dragging men and women, was committing them to prison.
But Saul was laying waste the assembly, entering house after house; and, dragging men and women, was committing them to prison. Those, therefore, who were dispersed, went about, proclaiming the good tidings of the word.
Those, therefore, who were dispersed, went about, proclaiming the good tidings of the word. And Philip, having come down to the city of Samaria, preached to them the Christ.
And Philip, having come down to the city of Samaria, preached to them the Christ.
And, having arisen, he went on; and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch, a state-officer of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship;
And, having arisen, he went on; and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch, a state-officer of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship;
[And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."]
[And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."]
And he said, "Who art Thou, Lord?" And He said, "I am Jesus Whom you are persecuting.
And he said, "Who art Thou, Lord?" And He said, "I am Jesus Whom you are persecuting. But arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told you what you must do."
But arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told you what you must do."
but the brethren, learning it, brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.
but the brethren, learning it, brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.
And Peter, opening his mouth, said, "Of a truth, I perceive that God is not a respecter of persons;
And Peter, opening his mouth, said, "Of a truth, I perceive that God is not a respecter of persons;
And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene; who, indeed, having come to Antioch, were speaking to the Greeks also, publishing the glad tidings of the Lord Jesus.
And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene; who, indeed, having come to Antioch, were speaking to the Greeks also, publishing the glad tidings of the Lord Jesus.
and one of them??gabus by name??tanding up, signified through the Spirit that there was about to be a great famine over all the inhabited earth; which, indeed, happened under Claudius.
and one of them??gabus by name??tanding up, signified through the Spirit that there was about to be a great famine over all the inhabited earth; which, indeed, happened under Claudius.
and one of them??gabus by name??tanding up, signified through the Spirit that there was about to be a great famine over all the inhabited earth; which, indeed, happened under Claudius.
and one of them??gabus by name??tanding up, signified through the Spirit that there was about to be a great famine over all the inhabited earth; which, indeed, happened under Claudius.
which also they did, sending it to the elders through the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
which also they did, sending it to the elders through the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
Now about that time Herod the king put forth his bands to harm some of the assembly.
Now about that time Herod the king put forth his bands to harm some of the assembly. And he slew James, the brother of John, with the sword;
And he slew James, the brother of John, with the sword; and, seeing that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. And then were the days of unleavened bread.
and, seeing that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. And then were the days of unleavened bread. And, having seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him to four quaternions of soldiers to guard him; intending, after the passover, to bring him up to the people.
And, having seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him to four quaternions of soldiers to guard him; intending, after the passover, to bring him up to the people. Peter, therefore, was kept in the prison; but prayer was being earnestly made by the assembly to God in his behalf.
Peter, therefore, was kept in the prison; but prayer was being earnestly made by the assembly to God in his behalf. And, when Herod was about to bring him forth, in that night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains; and guards before the door were keeping the prison.
And, when Herod was about to bring him forth, in that night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains; and guards before the door were keeping the prison. And, behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shined in the cell; and, smiting the side of Peter, he raised him up, saying, "Rise up quickly!" And his chains fell off from his hands.
And, behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shined in the cell; and, smiting the side of Peter, he raised him up, saying, "Rise up quickly!" And his chains fell off from his hands. And the angel said to him, "Gird yourself, and bind on your sandals." And he did so. And he says to him, "Cast your garment around you, and follow me."
And the angel said to him, "Gird yourself, and bind on your sandals." And he did so. And he says to him, "Cast your garment around you, and follow me." And, going forth, he was following him; and he knew not that it was true, which was being done by the angel, but was thinking that he saw a vision.
And, going forth, he was following him; and he knew not that it was true, which was being done by the angel, but was thinking that he saw a vision. And, having passed the first and second watch; they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and, going out, they passed on through one street, and straightway the angel departed from him.
And, having passed the first and second watch; they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and, going out, they passed on through one street, and straightway the angel departed from him. And Peter, having come to himself, said, "Now I know truly that the Lord sent forth His angel, and delivered me out of Herod's hand, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.
And Peter, having come to himself, said, "Now I know truly that the Lord sent forth His angel, and delivered me out of Herod's hand, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews. And, having considered it, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who is surnamed Mark; where many were gathered together and were praying.
And, having considered it, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who is surnamed Mark; where many were gathered together and were praying. And, when he knocked at the door of the gate, a maid came near to answer, Rhoda by name.
And, when he knocked at the door of the gate, a maid came near to answer, Rhoda by name. And, recognizing the voice of Peter, she opened not the gate for joy; but, running in, she told them that Peter was standing before the gate.
And, recognizing the voice of Peter, she opened not the gate for joy; but, running in, she told them that Peter was standing before the gate. And they said to her, "You are mad!" But she kept confidently affirming that it was so. And they said, "It is his angel"
And they said to her, "You are mad!" But she kept confidently affirming that it was so. And they said, "It is his angel" But Peter continued knocking; and, opening, they saw him, and were amazed.
But Peter continued knocking; and, opening, they saw him, and were amazed. But, beckoning to them with his hand to be silent, he declared to them, how the Lord brought him forth out of the prison. And he Said, "Declare these things to James, and to the brethren." And, going forth, he went to another place.
But, beckoning to them with his hand to be silent, he declared to them, how the Lord brought him forth out of the prison. And he Said, "Declare these things to James, and to the brethren." And, going forth, he went to another place. And, when it became day, there was no small commotion among the soldiers, as to what, consequently, became of Peter.
And, when it became day, there was no small commotion among the soldiers, as to what, consequently, became of Peter. And Herod, having sought for him, and not finding him, having examined the guards, ordered that they be led away to death. And, going down from Judaea to Caesarea, he tarried there.
And Herod, having sought for him, and not finding him, having examined the guards, ordered that they be led away to death. And, going down from Judaea to Caesarea, he tarried there.
From the seed of this one, God, according to promise, brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus;
From the seed of this one, God, according to promise, brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus;
and saying, "Men, why do ye these things? We also are men of like nature with you, proclaiming to you glad tidings, that ye should turn from these vanities to the living God, Who made the heaven, and the earth, and the sea, and all things that are in them;
and saying, "Men, why do ye these things? We also are men of like nature with you, proclaiming to you glad tidings, that ye should turn from these vanities to the living God, Who made the heaven, and the earth, and the sea, and all things that are in them; Who, in the past generations, suffered all the nations to walk in their own ways;
Who, in the past generations, suffered all the nations to walk in their own ways; and yet He left not Himself without witness, doing good, giving you rains from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness."
and yet He left not Himself without witness, doing good, giving you rains from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness."
and, passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul by night: a certain man of Macedonia was standing, and beseeching him, saying, "Crossing over into Macedonia, help us!"
And a vision appeared to Paul by night: a certain man of Macedonia was standing, and beseeching him, saying, "Crossing over into Macedonia, help us!" And, when he saw the vision, straightway we sought to go forth into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to proclaim the Good News to them.
And, when he saw the vision, straightway we sought to go forth into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to proclaim the Good News to them.
And, when he saw the vision, straightway we sought to go forth into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to proclaim the Good News to them.
And, when he saw the vision, straightway we sought to go forth into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to proclaim the Good News to them.
And, when he saw the vision, straightway we sought to go forth into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to proclaim the Good News to them.
And, when he saw the vision, straightway we sought to go forth into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to proclaim the Good News to them.
The same, following after Paul and us, kept crying, saying, "These men are servants of the Most High God; who, indeed, declare to you a way of salvation."
The same, following after Paul and us, kept crying, saying, "These men are servants of the Most High God; who, indeed, declare to you a way of salvation."
And, having passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews;
And, having passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews;
But the Jews, moved with jealousy, and taking to themselves certain evil men of the rabble, and gathering a multitude, were setting the city in an uproar; and, assaulting the house of Jason, they were seeking them to lead them, forth to the populace.
But the Jews, moved with jealousy, and taking to themselves certain evil men of the rabble, and gathering a multitude, were setting the city in an uproar; and, assaulting the house of Jason, they were seeking them to lead them, forth to the populace.
But those conducting Paul brought him as far as Athens; and, having received a command to Silas and Timothy, that they should come to him as soon as possible, they departed.
But those conducting Paul brought him as far as Athens; and, having received a command to Silas and Timothy, that they should come to him as soon as possible, they departed. And, while Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him, observing that the city was full of idols.
And, while Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him, observing that the city was full of idols.
And, while Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him, observing that the city was full of idols.
And, while Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him, observing that the city was full of idols. So, he was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the market-place every day with those who met him.
So, he was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the market-place every day with those who met him.
So, he was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the market-place every day with those who met him.
So, he was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the market-place every day with those who met him. And some also of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were encountering him. And some said, "What would this babbler wish to say?" And others said, He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods;" because he proclaimed the good tidings of Jesus and the resurrection.
And some also of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were encountering him. And some said, "What would this babbler wish to say?" And others said, He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods;" because he proclaimed the good tidings of Jesus and the resurrection.
And some also of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were encountering him. And some said, "What would this babbler wish to say?" And others said, He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods;" because he proclaimed the good tidings of Jesus and the resurrection.
And some also of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were encountering him. And some said, "What would this babbler wish to say?" And others said, He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods;" because he proclaimed the good tidings of Jesus and the resurrection. And, laying hold of him, they led him upon Mars Hill, saying, "May we know what this new teaching is, that is being spoken by you!
And, laying hold of him, they led him upon Mars Hill, saying, "May we know what this new teaching is, that is being spoken by you! for you bring to our ears certain strange things; we wish, therefore, to know what these things mean."
for you bring to our ears certain strange things; we wish, therefore, to know what these things mean." Now all Athenians and the sojourning foreigners were wont to spend their leisure in nothing else, than either to tell or to hear something new.
Now all Athenians and the sojourning foreigners were wont to spend their leisure in nothing else, than either to tell or to hear something new.
for, passing through, and considering your objects of worship, I found also an altar on which had been inscribed, TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. What, therefore, in ignorance ye worship, this I declare to you.
for, passing through, and considering your objects of worship, I found also an altar on which had been inscribed, TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. What, therefore, in ignorance ye worship, this I declare to you. The God Who made the world and all things therein, The Same being Lord of Heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands,
The God Who made the world and all things therein, The Same being Lord of Heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands, nor is ministered to by human hands, as if needing anything; Himself giving to all life, and breath, and all things;
nor is ministered to by human hands, as if needing anything; Himself giving to all life, and breath, and all things; and He made of one every nation of men to dwell upon all the face of the earth, having marked out their appointed seasons, and the bounds of their habitation;
and He made of one every nation of men to dwell upon all the face of the earth, having marked out their appointed seasons, and the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek God, if, perhaps, they might feel after Him, and find Him, although, in truth, He is not far from each one of us;
that they should seek God, if, perhaps, they might feel after Him, and find Him, although, in truth, He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live, and move, and are; as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we also are His offspring.'
for in Him we live, and move, and are; as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we also are His offspring.'
for in Him we live, and move, and are; as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we also are His offspring.'
for in Him we live, and move, and are; as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we also are His offspring.' "Being, therefore, God's offspring, we ought not to suppose that the God-head is like gold, or silver, or stone, graven by man's art and device!
"Being, therefore, God's offspring, we ought not to suppose that the God-head is like gold, or silver, or stone, graven by man's art and device! God, therefore, having overlooked the time of ignorance, now commands all men everywhere to repent;
God, therefore, having overlooked the time of ignorance, now commands all men everywhere to repent; inasmuch as He appointed a day in which He intendeth to judge the inhabited earth in righteousness, by a Man Whom He appointed, having given assurance to all by raising Him from the dead."
inasmuch as He appointed a day in which He intendeth to judge the inhabited earth in righteousness, by a Man Whom He appointed, having given assurance to all by raising Him from the dead."
And, finding a certain Jew, Aquila by name, a native of Pontus, having recently come from Italy, and Priscilla his wife (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart out of Rome), he came to them;
And, finding a certain Jew, Aquila by name, a native of Pontus, having recently come from Italy, and Priscilla his wife (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart out of Rome), he came to them;
And, when both Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was being constrained by the word, fully testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.
And, when both Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was being constrained by the word, fully testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.
And there accompanied him Sopater, son of Pyrrhus, a Beraean; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Galas of Derbe, and, Timothy; and, of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.
And there accompanied him Sopater, son of Pyrrhus, a Beraean; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Galas of Derbe, and, Timothy; and, of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus. And these, having gone before, were waiting for us at Troas;
And these, having gone before, were waiting for us at Troas;
And these, having gone before, were waiting for us at Troas;
And these, having gone before, were waiting for us at Troas; and we sailed away from Philippi, after the days of unleavened bread, and came to them to Troas in five days; where we tarried seven days.
and we sailed away from Philippi, after the days of unleavened bread, and came to them to Troas in five days; where we tarried seven days.
and we sailed away from Philippi, after the days of unleavened bread, and came to them to Troas in five days; where we tarried seven days.
and we sailed away from Philippi, after the days of unleavened bread, and came to them to Troas in five days; where we tarried seven days.
And sailing thence, we came the following day over against Chios; and the next day we touched at Samos; and, on the following day, we came to Miletus.
And sailing thence, we came the following day over against Chios; and the next day we touched at Samos; and, on the following day, we came to Miletus.
serving the Lord with all humility, and with tears, and with trials which befell me in the plottings of the Jews;
serving the Lord with all humility, and with tears, and with trials which befell me in the plottings of the Jews;
But I make not my soul of any value as dear to myself, so that I may accomplish my course, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to fully testify the Gospel of the grace of God.
But I make not my soul of any value as dear to myself, so that I may accomplish my course, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to fully testify the Gospel of the grace of God.
Wherefore, watch, remembering that for three years, night and day, I ceased not to admonish every one with tears.
Wherefore, watch, remembering that for three years, night and day, I ceased not to admonish every one with tears. "And now I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you the inheritance among all the sanctified.
"And now I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you the inheritance among all the sanctified.
And, when it came to pass that we, having been torn away from them, had set sail, we came with a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and thence to Patara;
And, when it came to pass that we, having been torn away from them, had set sail, we came with a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and thence to Patara;
And, on the morrow, going forth, we came to Caesarea; and, entering into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was of the seven, we abode with him.
And, on the morrow, going forth, we came to Caesarea; and, entering into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was of the seven, we abode with him.
And, as we tarried there several days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, Agabus by name.
And, as we tarried there several days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, Agabus by name.
And, on the following day, Paul went in with us to James; and all the elders were present.
And, on the following day, Paul went in with us to James; and all the elders were present.
who also attempted to desecrate the temple; whom also we seized.??7 [But the chief captain Lysias came, and with great violence took him away out of our hands, commanding his accusers to come before you;]
who also attempted to desecrate the temple; whom also we seized.??7 [But the chief captain Lysias came, and with great violence took him away out of our hands, commanding his accusers to come before you;]
from whom you will be able, after having examined him yourself, to obtain full knowledge of all these things of which we accuse him."
from whom you will be able, after having examined him yourself, to obtain full knowledge of all these things of which we accuse him."
And, when it was decided that we should sail to Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion, Julius by name, of the Augustan band.
And, when it was decided that we should sail to Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion, Julius by name, of the Augustan band.
saying, 'Fear not, Paul; it is necessary that you should stand before Caesar, and, behold, God has granted to you as a favor all those sailing with you.'
saying, 'Fear not, Paul; it is necessary that you should stand before Caesar, and, behold, God has granted to you as a favor all those sailing with you.'
And, when we came to Rome, it was permitted Paul to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him.
And, when we came to Rome, it was permitted Paul to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him.
because that which is known of God is manifested in them; for God manifested it to them.
because that which is known of God is manifested in them; for God manifested it to them. For His invisible things, since the creation of the world, are clearly seen, being perceived by the things that are made, even His everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse:
For His invisible things, since the creation of the world, are clearly seen, being perceived by the things that are made, even His everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse: because, having known God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor did they give thanks; but they became vain in their reasonings, and their senseless heart was darkened.
because, having known God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor did they give thanks; but they became vain in their reasonings, and their senseless heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and quadrupeds, and reptiles.
and changed the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and quadrupeds, and reptiles. Wherefore, God gave them up in the desires of their hearts unto the uncleanness of dishonoring their bodies among themselves;
Wherefore, God gave them up in the desires of their hearts unto the uncleanness of dishonoring their bodies among themselves; who, indeed, change the truth of God into falsehood; and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, Who is blessed forever. Amen.
who, indeed, change the truth of God into falsehood; and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, Who is blessed forever. Amen.
but, after your hardness and impenitent heart, you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and of the revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
but, after your hardness and impenitent heart, you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and of the revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
Whom God set forth as a propitiation, through faith in His blood, for the manifestation of His righteousness, because of the passing over of the formerly-committed sins in the forbearance of God:
Whom God set forth as a propitiation, through faith in His blood, for the manifestation of His righteousness, because of the passing over of the formerly-committed sins in the forbearance of God:
For, not through law, was the promise to Abraham, or to his seed, that he should be heir of the world, but it was through the righteousness of faith.
For, not through law, was the promise to Abraham, or to his seed, that he should be heir of the world, but it was through the righteousness of faith.
Be not deceived; evil companionships corrupt good morals.
Be not deceived; evil companionships corrupt good morals.
And we sent with him the brother whose praise in the Gospel is in all the assemblies;
And we sent with him the brother whose praise in the Gospel is in all the assemblies;
In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king guarded the city of the Damascenes in order to arrest me;
In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king guarded the city of the Damascenes in order to arrest me;
I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago (whether in the body I know not, or whether out of the body I know not, God knoweth), such a one caught up even to the Third Heaven.
I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago (whether in the body I know not, or whether out of the body I know not, God knoweth), such a one caught up even to the Third Heaven.
Then, fourteen years later, I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking with me Titus also.
Then, fourteen years later, I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking with me Titus also.
Now to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his Seed. He saith not, "And to seeds," as of many; but as of One, "and to your Seed"; which is Christ.
Now to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his Seed. He saith not, "And to seeds," as of many; but as of One, "and to your Seed"; which is Christ.
but ye know that through weakness of the flesh I proclaimed the Gospel to you formerly;
but ye know that through weakness of the flesh I proclaimed the Gospel to you formerly;
having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the chief corner-stone;
having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the chief corner-stone;
For many are walking, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ.
For many are walking, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ.
and He is before all things, and in Him all things have held together.
and He is before all things, and in Him all things have held together.
because it was pleasing that in Him all the fulness should dwell;
because it was pleasing that in Him all the fulness should dwell;
Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, salute you.
Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, salute you.
Paul, and Sylvanus, and Timothy, to the assembly of Thessalonians in God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ: grace to you, and peace.
Paul, and Sylvanus, and Timothy, to the assembly of Thessalonians in God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ: grace to you, and peace.
For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle the ox while threshing," and "The laborer is worthy of his wages."
For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle the ox while threshing," and "The laborer is worthy of his wages."
I have contended in the noble contest, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;
I have contended in the noble contest, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;
One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always false, evil beasts, idle gluttons."
One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always false, evil beasts, idle gluttons."
And, if ye call on Him as Father, Who, without respect of persons, judgeth according to each one's work, pass the time of your sojourning in fear;
And, if ye call on Him as Father, Who, without respect of persons, judgeth according to each one's work, pass the time of your sojourning in fear;
but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot;
but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot;
To you, therefore, who believe is the preciousness; but to those who disbelieve, a stone which the builders rejected, this was made into a head of a corner,"
To you, therefore, who believe is the preciousness; but to those who disbelieve, a stone which the builders rejected, this was made into a head of a corner,"
Become watchful, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your works complete before My God.
Become watchful, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your works complete before My God.
Hastings
ACTS OF THE APOSTLES
1. Summary of contents.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Forasmuch as many took in hand to arrange in order a narrative concerning the facts that have been fully confirmed among us,
it seemed good to me also, having traced all things accurately from the first, to write to you an orderly account, most noble Theophilus;
Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar??ontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the country of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,
"But when ye see Jerusalem encompassed by armies, then know that her desolation has drawn near.
Now this He spake, signifying by what manner of death he would glorify God. And, having spoken this, He saith to him, "Follow Me."
The first narrative I made, O Theophilus, concerning all things that Jesus began both to do and to teach,
The first narrative I made, O Theophilus, concerning all things that Jesus began both to do and to teach,
These all were continuing with one accord in prayer, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
and it became known to all those dwelling at Jerusalem; so that place was called, in their own language, Akeldama, that is, 'Field of blood.'
Those, therefore, who gladly received his word, were immersed; and there were added to them on that day about three thousand souls;
And, when they had prayed, the place in which they had assembled was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and were speaking the word of God with boldness.
Now in these days, when the disciples were being multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecian Jews against the Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily ministration.
But Saul was laying waste the assembly, entering house after house; and, dragging men and women, was committing them to prison.
And Philip, having come down to the city of Samaria, preached to them the Christ.
But, when they believed Philip proclaiming the glad tidings concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being immersed, both men and women.
asked from him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that, if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
but the brethren, learning it, brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.
and one of them??gabus by name??tanding up, signified through the Spirit that there was about to be a great famine over all the inhabited earth; which, indeed, happened under Claudius.
and one of them??gabus by name??tanding up, signified through the Spirit that there was about to be a great famine over all the inhabited earth; which, indeed, happened under Claudius.
Now about that time Herod the king put forth his bands to harm some of the assembly.
Now there were in Antioch, in the assembly which was there, prophets and teachers; both Barnabas and Symeon who is called Niger, and Lucius the Cyrenean, and Manaen, the foster-brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
And, having arrived in Salamis, they declared the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews; and they had John also as an attendant. And, having gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-Jesus, read more. who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man; the same having called for Barnabas and Saul, desired to hear the word of God; but Elymas, the sorcerer (for so his name is interpreted) withstood them, seeking to turn aside the proconsul from the faith.
Now setting sail from Paphos, Paul's company came to Perga in Pamphylia; and John, withdrawing from them, returned to Jerusalem.
Now setting sail from Paphos, Paul's company came to Perga in Pamphylia; and John, withdrawing from them, returned to Jerusalem. But they, passing through from Perga, came to Antioch in Pisidia; and, entering into the synagogue on the sabbath day, they sat down.
and, having removed him, He raised up for them David to be their king; to whom bearing testimony, He said, 'I found David the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who will do all My will.'
But the Jews urged on the devout and reputable women, and the principal men of the city, and stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and cast them out of their borders;
But the Jews urged on the devout and reputable women, and the principal men of the city, and stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and cast them out of their borders;
Now it came to pass in Iconium that they entered together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of Jews and of Greeks believed.
and there they were proclaiming the Good News.
And the multitudes, seeing what Paul did, lifted up their voice in the language of Lycaonia, saying, "The gods, made like to men, came down to us!"
But the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, hearing of it, having rent their garments, leaped forth among the multitude, crying out,
And, having proclaimed the glad tidings to that city, and having made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, and Iconium, and Antioch;
And, when Paul and Barnabas had no little dissension and discussion with them, they arranged that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders, concerning this question.
that ye abstain from idol-sacrifices, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which keeping yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well."
And they passed through the Phrygian and Galatian country, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; and, having come over against Mysia, they were trying to go on into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them; read more. and, passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul by night: a certain man of Macedonia was standing, and beseeching him, saying, "Crossing over into Macedonia, help us!" And, when he saw the vision, straightway we sought to go forth into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to proclaim the Good News to them.
And, when he saw the vision, straightway we sought to go forth into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to proclaim the Good News to them.
and thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of the district of Macedonia, a colony. And we were tarrying in this city certain days. And, on the sabbath day, we went forth without the gate by a river, where we were supposing there was a place of prayer; and, sitting down, we were speaking to the women who had assembled together.
And, on the sabbath day, we went forth without the gate by a river, where we were supposing there was a place of prayer; and, sitting down, we were speaking to the women who had assembled together. And a certain woman, Lydia by name, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, who worshipped God, was listening, whose heart the Lord opened to attend to the things spoken by Paul. read more. And, when she was immersed, and her household, she besought us, saying, "If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, having entered into my house, abide there." And she constrained us.
And, when it was day, the magistrates sent forth the serjeants, saying, "Release these men."
But Paul said to them "Having beaten us in public, uncondemned, being Romans, they cast us into prison; and now are they casting us out secretly? Nay, verily; but, coming themselves, let them lead us out."
And, having passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews;
And, having passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews;
And some of them were persuaded, and cast in their lot with Paul and Silas; also, of the devout Greeks, a great number; and, of the principal women, not a few.
But, not finding them, they dragged Jason and certain brethren before the rulers of the city, shouting, "These who turned the inhabited earth upside down are present here also;
But the brethren straightway sent away both Paul and Silas by night to Beraea; who, indeed, having arrived, went into the synagogue of the Jews.
Many, of them, therefore, believed; also, of the reputable Grecian women, and of men, not a few.
But those conducting Paul brought him as far as Athens; and, having received a command to Silas and Timothy, that they should come to him as soon as possible, they departed. And, while Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him, observing that the city was full of idols.
And, while Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him, observing that the city was full of idols.
And, laying hold of him, they led him upon Mars Hill, saying, "May we know what this new teaching is, that is being spoken by you!
But certain men, joining themselves to him, believed; among whom also were Dionysius??he Areopagite??nd a woman, Damaris by name, and others with them.
And he was reasoning in the synagogue every sabbath, and was persuading Jews and Greeks. And, when both Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was being constrained by the word, fully testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.
And Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house: and many of the Corinthians, having heard, were believing, and being immersed.
But, when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul, and brought him to the judgment-seat,
And they came down to Ephesus, and he left them there; but he himself, entering into the synagogue, reasoned with the Jews.
And it came to pass, while Apollos was in Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper districts, came to Ephesus, and found certain disciples;
And, entering into the synagogue, he was speaking boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading as to the things concerning the Kingdom of God.
And some also of the chief men of Asia, being his friends, sending to him, were beseeching him not to venture himself into the theater.
And these, having gone before, were waiting for us at Troas;
For 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.
In all things I showed you that, thus laboring, ye 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."
being distressed especially on account of the word which he had spoken, that they were to see his face no more. And they were escorting him to the ship.
And, having 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.
And, when it came to pass that we completed the days, going forth, we were resuming our journey; they all, with wives and children, accompanying us out of the city; and, kneeling down on the beach, having prayed, we bade one another farewell;
And this man had four daughters, virgins, who prophesied.
and I persecuted this Way unto death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women;
And, as they stretched him out for the thongs, Paul said to the centurion standing by, "Is it lawful for you to scourge a man, who is a Roman, and uncondemned?"
But, when two years were completed, Felix received a successor, Porcius Festus; and, wishing to gain favor with the Jews, Felix left Paul bound.
And, when it was decided that we should sail to Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion, Julius by name, of the Augustan band. And, embarking upon a ship of Adramyttium, about to sail along the coasts of Asia, we put to Sea, Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.
And, thence putting out to sea, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.
And, when the fourteenth night came, as we were being driven along the Adria, about midnight the sailors were surmising that some country was approaching them;
But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and he commanded that those able to swim, throwing themselves first into the sea, should get out upon the land;
And the barbarians were extending to us no ordinary kindness; for, having kindled a fire, they took us all in, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.
Now, in the districts round about that place, were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, by name Publius; who, receiving us, entertained us hospitably three days.
And it came to pass, after three days, that he called together those who were chief men of the Jews; and, when they came together, he said to them, "Brethren, having done nothing contrary to the people, or to our ancestral customs, I was delivered a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans;
And he remained two whole years in his own hired dwelling, and was wont to welcome all who came to him;
But now abides faith, hope, love; these three; and the greatest of these is love.
Accordingly, therefore, ye are no longer strangers and sojourners; but ye are fellow-citizens of the saints and of the house-hold of God;
Only demean yourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ; that, whether coming and seeing you, or being absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye are standing fast in one spirit, with one soul striving together for the faith of the Gospel;
Aristarchus, my fellow-captive, salutes you, and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas, concerning whom ye received commandments (if he come to you, receive him),
Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, salute you.
Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, salute you.
Wherefore, when no longer able to endure it, we were well pleased to be left behind at Athens alone,
for Demas forsook me, having loved this present age, and went to Thessalonica; Crescens, to Galatia; Titus, to Dalmatia.
"I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith, even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
And it was given to him to give spirit to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as worship not the image of the beast should be killed.
Morish
The introduction to this book compared with the introduction to the gospel by Luke makes it plain that the two were written by the same person. The Acts ends with the two years' imprisonment of the apostle Paul at Rome: it could not therefore have been written before the end of that time, and was probably written very soon afterwards or it would have given the issue of Paul's trial. This would place the date about A.D. 63.
The 'Acts' forms a link between the Gospels and the Epistles, as the ascension of Christ formed a link between the Gospels and the Acts. It occupies a sort of transition time, for though the church was soon formed, the doctrine of the church was not made known until Paul's epistles. The title, 'Acts of the Apostles,' might have led us to expect a more general account of the labours of all the Twelve; but their mission in the ways of God is superseded by that of Paul, both as minister of the gospel of the glory of Christ, and of the church. A wise selection of the fruits of apostolic energy has been made, verifying some things stated in the Gospels, and forming an indispensable introduction to the Epistles.
After the ascension of the Lord, and the choosing an apostle to fill the place of Judas, the first great event recorded is the day of Pentecost. The Lord had said, "I will build my church," Mt 16:18 ; and the descent of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost is the answer to the question, when did the incorporation of the church begin? 1Co 12:13 proves that it was by the gift of the Holy Spirit, though, as it has been said, the doctrine of the church was not revealed till afterwards.
Ananias was charged with lying to the Holy Spirit, by whom God was then dwelling in the church. Our Lord had promised that on His departure He would send them another Comforter, the Holy Spirit, to abide with and be in them. This also was fulfilled at Pentecost. Peter, Stephen, etc. were full of the Holy Spirit: cf. Ac 4:31.
After this another call was made to Israel to receive Jesus as the Christ. They had killed the Prince of life, but God had raised Him from the dead, and now in mercy and on the ground of their ignorance one more appeal was made to them to repent and be converted that their sins might be blotted out, and that God might send again Jesus Christ who was then in heaven. The rulers however were grieved that they preached by Jesus the resurrection from among the dead, and commanded Peter and John not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. Stephen, being accused before the Sanhedrim, rehearsed the history of Israel from the beginning, and charged them with resisting the Holy Spirit, as their fathers had done. The indictment of Israel as man in the flesh, and the exposure of his enmity to God led to the final sin of rejecting the glorified Christ, expressed by the stoning of Stephen who calling upon the Lord not to lay the sin to their charge, exemplified the life of Christ in his body.
This ends the first phase of the acts of the Holy Spirit, and clears the way for the going out of the gospel and the revelation of the truth of the church. The persecution that followed led to the spread of the gospel. Philip preached Christ to the Samaritans and many believed. Peter went from Jerusalem, laid his hands upon them and they received the Holy Spirit. Peter was then used at Caesarea in opening the door to the Gentiles (answering to his having the keys of the kingdom committed to him, Mt 16:19), and they also received the Holy Spirit.
In the meantime Saul had been converted, and immediately preached that Jesus was the Son of God. The churches had rest, and walking in the fear of the Lord and comfort of the Holy Spirit, were multiplied. Ac 9:31. Herod Agrippa however soon began to persecute the church; he killed James the brother of John, and put Peter into prison, who was however miraculously delivered. Herod died a miserable death; and the word of God grew and multiplied. Acts 12. This ends the phase of the church's history in connection with the remnant of Israel.
Antioch, instead of Jerusalem, now became a centre of evangelisation, independent of apostolic authority, yet without breaking the unity of the Spirit by forming a separate church. Barnabas and Saul are separated to the work by the Holy Spirit, and with John Mark take a missionary journey.
Certain persons from Judaea insisting at Antioch that the Gentile converts must be circumcised or they could not be saved, the question was referred to the church at Jerusalem. In their decision they could say, "It seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves ye shall do well. Fare ye well." Ac 15:28-29.
Paul with Silas took a second missionary journey, extending to Europe and returned to Antioch. Ac 18:22. From thence Paul went a third journey. (For the particulars of these journeys and from whence Paul wrote some of his epistles, see the article PAUL.) It may be noted that while at Ephesus, because of the opposition of the Jews in the synagogues, Paul separated the disciples and they met in a building distinct from the synagogue, commencing a further development of the church's history. Ac 19:9.
At the close of the third missionary journey Paul, led by deep spiritual affection for his nation, but forbidden by the Spirit in whose energy the ministry entrusted to him had hitherto been carried out, went up to Jerusalem, where he was arrested. The rest of the book details his trials and danger from the Jews; his journey to Rome, where he calls together the chief of the Jews, to whom he preaches Jesus. We read no more of any of his labours, and the Acts leaves him a prisoner.
The book embraces a period of about thirty years: the mystery of the church, and the gospel of the glory committed to Paul, as well as the state of the assemblies must be gathered from the Epistles. During the above period Paul wrote the two epistles to the Thessalonians, the two to the Corinthians, to the Galatians, Romans, Colossians, Philemon, Ephesians, and Philippians.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And I also say to you, that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My assembly, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven; and whatsoever you shall bind on the earth shall have been bound in Heaven, and whatsoever you shall loose on the earth shall have been loosed in Heaven."
And, when they had prayed, the place in which they had assembled was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and were speaking the word of God with boldness.
The assembly, therefore, throughout the whole of Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, was having peace, being built up; and, walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the consolation of the Holy Spirit, was being multiplied.
For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that ye abstain from idol-sacrifices, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which keeping yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well."
and, landing at Cesarea, going up and saluting the assembly, he went down to Antioch.
But, when some were hardening themselves and were disbelieving, speaking evil of the Way before the multitude, he, withdrawing from them, separated the disciples; reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.
for, indeed, in one Spirit were we all immersed into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all made to drink of one Spirit.
Smith
Acts of the Apostles,
the fifth book in the New testament and the second treatise by the author of the third Gospel, traditionally known as Luke. The book commences with an inscription to one Theophilus, who was probably a man of birth and station. The readers were evidently intended to be the members of the Christian Church, whether Jews or Gentiles; for its contents are such as are of the utmost consequence to the whole Church. They are the fulfillment of the promise of the Father by the descent of the Holy Spirit, and the results of that outpouring by the dispersion of the gospel among the Jews and Gentiles. Under these leading heads all the personal and subordinate details may be arranged. First St. Peter becomes the prime actor under God int he founding of the Church. He is the centre of the first group of sayings and doings. The opening of the door to Jews, ch. 2, and Gentiles, ch. 10, is his office, and by him, in good time, is accomplished. Then the preparation of Saul of Tarsus for the work to be done, the progress, in his hand, of that work, his journeyings, preachings and perils, his stripes and imprisonments, his testifying in Jerusalem and being brought to testify in Rome, --these are the subjects of the latter half of the book, of which the great central figure is the apostle Paul. The history given in the Acts occupies about 33 years, and the reigns of the Roman emperors Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius and Nero. It seems most probable that the place of writing was Roma, and the time about two years from the date of St. Paul's arrival there, as related in
This would give us fro the publication about 63 A.D.
Watsons
ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. This book, in the very beginning, professes itself to be a continuation of the Gospel of St. Luke; and its style bespeaks it to be written by the same person. The external evidence is also very satisfactory; for besides allusions in earlier authors, and particularly in Clement of Rome, Polycarp, and Justin Martyr, the Acts of the Apostles are not only quoted by Irenaeus, as written by Luke the evangelist, but there are few things recorded in this book which are not mentioned by that ancient father. This strong testimony in favour of the genuineness of the Acts of the Apostles is supported by Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, Jerome, Eusebius, Theodoret, and most of the later fathers. It may be added, that the name of St. Luke is prefixed to this book in several ancient Greek manuscripts of the New Testament, and also in the old Syriac version.
2. This is the only inspired work which gives us any historical account of the progress of Christianity after our Saviour's ascension. It comprehends a period of about thirty years, but it by no means contains a general history of the church during that time. The principal facts recorded in it are, the choice of Matthias to be an Apostle in the room of the traitor Judas; the descent of the Holy Ghost on the day of pentecost; the preaching, miracles, and sufferings of the Apostles at Jerusalem; the death of Stephen, the first martyr; the persecution and dispersion of the Christians; the preaching of the Gospel in different parts of Palestine, especially in Samaria; the conversion of St. Paul; the call of Cornelius, the first Gentile convert; the persecution of the Christians by Herod Agrippa; the preaching of Paul and Barnabas to the Gentiles, by the express command of the Holy Ghost; the decree made at Jerusalem, declaring that circumcision, and a conformity to other Jewish rites and ceremonies, were not necessary in Gentile converts; and the latter part of the book is confined to the history of St. Paul, of whom St. Luke was the constant companion for several years.
3. As this account of St. Paul is not continued beyond his two years' imprisonment at Rome, it is probable that this book was written soon after his release, which happened in the year 63; we may therefore consider the Acts of the Apostles as written about the year 64.
4. The place of its publication is more doubtful. The probability appears to be in favour of Greece, though some contend for Alexandria in Egypt. This latter opinion rests upon the subscriptions at the end of some Greek manuscripts, and of the copies of the Syriac version; but the best critics think, that these subscriptions, which are also affixed to other books of the New Testament, deserve but little weight; and in this case they are not supported by any ancient authority.
5. It must have been of the utmost importance in the early times of the Gospel, and certainly not of less importance to every subsequent age, to have an authentic account of the promised descent of the Holy Ghost, and of the success which attended the first preachers of the Gospel both among the Jews and Gentiles. These great events completed the evidence of the divine mission of Christ, established the truth of the religion which he taught, and pointed out in the clearest manner the comprehensive nature of the redemption which he purchased by his death.
OEcumenius calls the Acts, the "Gospel of the Holy Ghost; and St. Chrysostom, the "Gospel of our Saviour's resurrection," or the Gospel of Jesus Christ risen from the dead. Here, in the lives and preaching of the Apostles, we have the most miraculous instances of the power of the Holy Ghost; and in the account of those who were the first believers, we have received the most excellent pattern of the true Christian life.