beginning from his baptism by John until the day he was taken up from us -- one of these must become a witness of his resurrection together with us."

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

So the young men came, wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him.

So the twelve called the whole group of the disciples together and said, "It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to wait on tables.

They did so, sending their financial aid to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.

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

But the magician Elymas (for that is the way his name is translated) opposed them, trying to turn the proconsul away from the faith.

But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard about it, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting,

When they had appointed elders for them in the various churches, with prayer and fasting they entrusted them to the protection of the Lord in whom they had believed.

And God, who knows the heart, has testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us,

Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to send men chosen from among them, Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, leaders among the brothers, to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas.

From Miletus he sent a message to Ephesus, telling the elders of the church to come to him.

Watch out for yourselves and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God that he obtained with the blood of his own Son.

On the next day we left and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. (He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.)

The next day Paul went in with us to see James, and all the elders were there.

if it is exhortation, he must exhort; if it is contributing, he must do so with sincerity; if it is leadership, he must do so with diligence; if it is showing mercy, he must do so with cheerfulness.

Now I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea,

Greet Andronicus and Junia, my compatriots and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me.

I say this to your shame! Is there no one among you wise enough to settle disputes between fellow Christians?

So then, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.

But any woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered disgraces her head, for it is one and the same thing as having a shaved head.

Does not nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace for him,

And God has placed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, gifts of healing, helps, gifts of leadership, different kinds of tongues.

And God has placed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, gifts of healing, helps, gifts of leadership, different kinds of tongues.

and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.

From Paul, an apostle (not from men, nor by human agency, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead)

But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother.

(for he who empowered Peter for his apostleship to the circumcised also empowered me for my apostleship to the Gentiles)

because you have been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.

Now this secret was not disclosed to people in former generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit,

It was he who gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,

It was he who gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,

From Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the overseers and deacons.

Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who labor among you and preside over you in the Lord and admonish you,

Do not treat prophecies with contempt.

Likewise also their wives must be dignified, not slanderous, temperate, faithful in every respect.

Do not address an older man harshly but appeal to him as a father. Speak to younger men as brothers,

Elders who provide effective leadership must be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard in speaking and teaching.

Elders who provide effective leadership must be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard in speaking and teaching.

The reason I left you in Crete was to set in order the remaining matters and to appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.

For the overseer must be blameless as one entrusted with God's work, not arrogant, not prone to anger, not a drunkard, not violent, not greedy for gain.

Remember your leaders, who spoke God's message to you; reflect on the outcome of their lives and imitate their faith.

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls and will give an account for their work. Let them do this with joy and not with complaints, for this would be no advantage for you.

And above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath. But let your "Yes" be yes and your "No" be no, so that you may not fall into judgment.

Is anyone among you ill? He should summon the elders of the church, and they should pray for him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.

So as your fellow elder and a witness of Christ's sufferings and as one who shares in the glory that will be revealed, I urge the elders among you:

But I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and by her teaching deceives my servants to commit sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.

The wall of the city has twelve foundations, and on them are the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.