They were brought back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham had bought at a high price from Hamor's descendants in Shechem.

By taking a cunning advantage of our race he oppressed our forefathers by forcing them to expose their infants so that they should not live.

He supposed that his brothers would understand that God through his instrumentality was going to deliver them, but they did not.

And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?

This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush.

But our forefathers would not listen to him, but pushed him aside, and in their hearts they hankered after Egypt;

and they said to Aaron, 'Make us gods to march in front of us, for as for this Moses, who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him!'

In those days they even made a calf, and offered sacrifice to their idol, and held a celebration over the works of their own hands.

Then God turned himself, and gave them up, that they should worship the stars of the sky, as it is written in the book of the prophets, 'O ye of the house of Israel: gave ye to me sacrifices and meat offerings by the space of forty years in the wilderness?

This tent our forefathers brought in and passed on when under Joshua they dispossessed the nations which God drove out before them, and it remained until the time of David.

Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:

As they continued to listen to this address, they were becoming infuriated and began to grind their teeth at him.

But they raised a great shout and held their ears, and all together rushed upon him,

and having cast him forth outside of the city, they were stoning him -- and the witnesses did put down their garments at the feet of a young man called Saul --

They continued stoning Stephen as he continued praying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!"

And he kneeled down and cried with a loud voice, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. For they know not what they do." And when he had thus spoken he fell asleep.

And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.

Devout men buried Stephen as they mourned loudly for him.

Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

As the crowds continued to listen to his message and continued to see his wonder-works which he was performing, with one mind they became interested in what was said by Philip.

Unclean spirits screamed with a loud voice as they came out of the many people they had possessed, and many paralyzed and lame people were healed.

To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.

They kept running after him, because for a long time he had thrilled them with his magical performances.

But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

And Simon also himself believed: and having been immersed, he was persovering with Philip, beholding the signs and great powers having been, they were astonished.

When the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted God's message, they sent Peter and John there.

They came and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit,

for as yet He had not come upon any of them, but they had been baptized merely in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Then they laid their hands upon them, and one by one they received the Holy Spirit.

saying, Confer on me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay my hands, they may receive the Holy Ghost.

So after they had given their testimony and spoken the Lord's message, they started back to Jerusalem, and on the way continued to tell the good news in many Samaritan villages.

And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

38 He commanded the chariot to stand still, and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.

And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away; the official saw him no more, for he went on home rejoicing;

And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

His fellow-travelers stood speechless, for they heard the voice but could not see anyone.

Then Saul got up off the ground, but he could not see anything, although his eyes were wide open. So they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus,

All who heard him were amazed. "Is not this," they asked, "the man who worked havoc in Jerusalem among those that invoke this Name, and who had also come here for the express purpose of having such persons put in chains and taken before the Chief Priests?"

but their plot was found out by Saul. Day and night they kept guarding the city gates, to murder him,

Now when Saul arrived at Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples there, but they were all afraid of him, because they did not believe that he was really a disciple.

and he continued to speak courageously in the name of the Lord, and to speak and debate with the Greek-speaking Jews. But they kept trying to murder him.

So when the brothers found this out, they took him down to Caesarea, and from there sent him back to Tarsus.

Then, indeed, the assemblies throughout all Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria, had peace, being built up, and, going on in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.

Then all the people who lived at Lydda and Sharon saw him, and so they turned to the Lord.

Just at that time it happened that she had been taken ill and had died. They washed her body and laid her out in a room upstairs.

And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.

So Peter at once got up and went with them. When he reached there, they took him to the room upstairs, and all the widows took their stand around him, crying and showing him the shirts and coats that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.

On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:

But he got very hungry and wanted something to eat. While they were getting it ready, he fell into a trance

and they called and inquired if Simon who was called Peter was staying there.

They answered, "Cornelius, a colonel in the army, an upright man and one who reveres God, and a man of high reputation with the whole Jewish nation, was instructed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to listen to a message you would bring."

then he invited them in, and they lodged there. On the morrow, Peter departed with them, and some of his brethren from Joppa accompanied him.

The next day he started off with them, and some of the brothers in Joppa went along with him. The day after that they reached Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for him, as he had invited in his kinsmen and close friends.

As they talked, Peter went into the house and found many people gathered together [there].

We are witnesses of everything that He did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. Yet they murdered Him by hanging Him upon a tree.

"They hung him on a tree and killed him, but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear

To him it is that all the Prophets bear witness, when they say that every one who believes in him receives through his Name forgiveness of sins."

And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

for they heard them speaking in foreign languages and telling of the greatness of God. Then Peter asked,

"No one can refuse the use of water, can he, for these to be baptized, since they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did ourselves?"

So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they begged him to stay on there a few days.

And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,

They said, "You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them!"

So Peter began to relate the facts to them as they had occurred.

And this was done thrice: and then they were all drawn up again to heaven.

"At that very moment three men arrived at the house where we were staying. They had been sent to me from Caesarea.

If then God gave them, when they had faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the same as he gave to us, who was I to go against God?

When they heard this, they had no answer to make, but gave God the glory, saying, "So God has given even the heathen the repentance that leads to life."

Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.

And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.

And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number - they who believed - turned unto the Lord.

Now the news about them came to the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and so they sent Barnabas all the way to Antioch.

Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.

and after he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. Now for a whole year their meeting with the church lasted, and they taught large numbers of people. It was at Antioch too that the disciples first came to be known as "Christians."

So all of the disciples decided they would send a contribution to the brothers living in Judea, as they were able,

And this they did and sent it to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.

and having seen that it is pleasing to the Jews, he added to lay hold of Peter also -- and they were the days of the unleavened food --

They passed the first guard, then the second, and at last came to the iron gate which led into the city. The gate of itself opened to them, and they passed out and proceeded one block when all at once the angel left him.

And, recognizing the voice of Peter, by reason of her joy, she opened not the porch, - but, running in, bare tidings that Peter was standing before the porch. But, they, unto her, said - Thou art raving

They said to her, "You are crazy!" But she persistently insisted that it was so. Then they said, "It is his guardian angel!"

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

Then beckoning with the hand that they should be silent, he informed them in what manner the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Tell James and the brethren these things. And departing thence he went into another place.

And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode.

Now Herod cherished a bitter grudge against the people of Tyre and Sidon. So in a united body they came to meet him, and after winning the favor of Blastus, the king's chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country depended for its food supply upon the king's country.

When Barnabas and Saul had finished their helpful service, they returned from Jerusalem, and took along with them John who was called Mark.

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul, for the work to which I have called them."

So after fasting and praying, they laid their hands upon them and let them go.

So, as they were sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from that port sailed away to Cyprus.

When they reached Salamis, they began to preach God's message in the Jewish synagogues. They had John with them as their assistant.

Then they went through the whole island as far as Paphos, and there they found a Jewish magician and false prophet whose name was Barjesus.

Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.

but they went on from Perga and arrived at Antioch in Pisidia. On the sabbath they went to the synagogue and took seats.

And, after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the wardens of the synagogue sent word to them. "Brothers," they said, "if you have any word of encouragement to the people, say it."

The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it.

Then they demanded a king, and for forty years God gave them Saul, the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin.

His coming occurred after John [the Immerser] had preached to Israel that those who repented should be immersed [as evidence that they had done so].

For the people of Jerusalem and their leaders, because they were ignorant of Him, by condemning Him have actually fulfilled the utterances of the prophets which are read every Sabbath,

and although they could not find Him guilty of a capital offense, they begged Pilate to have Him put to death.

When they had carried out everything that had been written in the Scriptures about Him, they took Him down from the cross and laid Him in a tomb.