For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit {not many days from now}."

But he said to them, "It is not for you to know [the] times or seasons that the Father has set by his own authority.

(Now this man acquired a field for the wages of [his] wickedness, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his intestines spilled out.

"For it is written in the book of Psalms, 'Let his residence become deserted, and let there be no one to live in it,' and, 'Let another person take his position.'

And they prayed [and] said, "You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show clearly which one of these two you have chosen

Now there were Jews residing in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven.

But others jeered [and] said, "They are full of sweet new wine!"

"Israelite men, listen to these words! Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, just as [you] yourselves know--

Therefore, [because he] was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat {one of his descendants} on his throne,

Therefore let all the house of Israel know beyond a doubt, that God has made him both Lord and Christ--this Jesus whom you crucified!"

Now [when they] heard [this], they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "What should we do, men [and] brothers?"

Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth [hour].

And on the basis of faith in his name, his name has made this man strong, whom you see and know, and the faith [that is] through him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.

And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers did also.

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that is given among people by which we must be saved."

Now [when they] saw the boldness of Peter and John, and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were astonished, and recognized them, that they had been with Jesus.

But in order that it may not spread much [further] among the people, let us warn them to speak no more in this name {to anyone at all}."

So [after] threatening [them] further, they released them, finding no way to punish them on account of the people, because they were all praising God for what had happened.

And now, Lord, concern yourself with their threats and grant your slaves to speak your message with all boldness,

Now the group of those who believed were one heart and soul, and no one said anything of what belonged to him was his own, but all [things] were theirs in common.

Now a certain man {named} Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property,

Now many signs and wonders were being performed among the people through the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico.

Now the high priest rose up and all those [who were] with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), [and] they were filled with jealousy.

And [when they] heard [this], they entered at daybreak into the temple [courts] and began teaching. Now [when] the high priest and those with him arrived, they summoned the Sanhedrin--even the whole council of elders of the sons of Israel--and sent to the prison to have them brought.

saying, "We found the prison locked with all security and the guards standing at the doors, but [when we] opened [them], we found no one inside!"

Now when both the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed concerning them, [as to] what this might be.

Now [when] they heard [this], they were infuriated, and were wanting to execute them.

And now I tell you, keep away from these men, and leave them alone, because if this plan or this matter is from people, it will be overthrown.

Now in these days, [as] the disciples were increasing [in number], a complaint arose by the {Greek-speaking Jews} against the {Hebraic Jews} because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution [of food].

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

Then he went out from the land of the Chaldeans [and] settled in Haran. And from there, after his father died, he caused him to move to this land in which you now live.

until another king arose over Egypt who did not know Joseph.

{I have certainly seen} the mistreatment of my people [who are] in Egypt and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you to Egypt.'

saying to Aaron, 'Make us gods who will go on before us! For this Moses, who led us out from the land of Egypt--we do not know what has happened to him!'

Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand about the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become,

Now [when they] heard these [things], they were infuriated in their hearts and gnashed [their] teeth at him.

And Saul was agreeing with his murder. Now there happened on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

Now those who had been scattered went about proclaiming the good news [of] the word.

Now a certain man {named} Simon had been in the city practicing magic and astonishing the people of Samaria, saying he was someone great.

Now [when] the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,

Now Simon, [when he] saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, offered them money,

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

Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, "Get up and go toward the south on the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." (This is a desert [road].)

Now the passage of scripture that he was reading aloud was this: "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and like a lamb before its shearer [is] silent, so he did not open his mouth.

Now as [he] proceeded, it happened that [when] he approached Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.

(Now the men who were traveling together with him stood speechless, [because they] heard the voice but saw no one.)

Now there was a certain disciple in Damascus {named} Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias!" And he said, "Behold, [here] I [am], Lord!"

Now it happened that [as] Peter was traveling through all [the places], [he] also came down to the saints who lived [in] Lydda.

Now in Joppa there was a certain female disciple {named} Tabitha (which translated means "Dorcas"). She was full of good deeds and charitable giving which she was constantly doing.

Now it happened that in those days [after] becoming sick, she died. And [after] washing [her], they placed her in an upstairs room.

Now [there was] a certain man in Caesarea {named} Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Cohort,

And now, send men to Joppa and summon a certain Simon, who is also called Peter.

Now while Peter was greatly perplexed within himself [as to] what the vision that he had seen might be, behold, the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having found the house of Simon by asking around, stood at the gate.

And he said to them, "You know that it is forbidden for a Jewish man to associate with or to approach a foreigner. And to me God has shown [that] I should call no man common or unclean.

Therefore I sent for you at once, and you {were kind enough to come}. So now we all are present before God to hear all the things that have been commanded to you by the Lord."

you know the thing that happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism that John proclaimed:

"Surely no one can withhold the water for these [people] to be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit as we also did!"

Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had accepted the word of God.

Now those who had been scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, proclaiming the message to no one except Jews alone.

Now in those days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.

Now at that time, Herod the king laid hands on some of those from the church to harm [them].

And [when he] saw that it was pleasing to the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. ({Now this was during the feast} of Unleavened Bread.)

Now when Herod was about to bring him [out], on that [very] night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards before the door were watching the prison.

And he went out [and] was following [him]. And he did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but was thinking [he] was seeing a vision.

And [when] Peter came to himself, he said, "Now I know truly that the Lord has sent out his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and all {that the Jewish people expected}!"

Now [when] day came, there was not a little commotion among the soldiers [as to] what then had become of Peter.

Now he was very angry with the Tyrians and Sidonians. So they came to him with one purpose, and [after] persuading Blastus, {the king's chamberlain}, they asked for peace, because their country was supported with food from the king's country.

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

And [while] they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart now for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."

And now behold, the hand of the Lord [is] against you, and you will be blind, not seeing the sun {for a while}. And immediately mist and darkness fell over him, and he was going around looking for [people] to lead [him] by the hand.

Now {Paul and his companions} put out to sea from Paphos [and] came to Perga in Pamphylia, but John departed from them [and] returned to Jerusalem.

And [although they] found no charge [worthy] of death, they asked Pilate [that] he be executed.

who appeared for many days to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem--who are now his witnesses to the people.

But that he has raised him from the dead, no more going to return to decay, he has spoken in this way: 'I will give you the reliable divine decrees of David.'

Now it happened that in Iconium they entered {together} into the synagogue of the Jews and spoke in such a way that a large number of both Jews and Greeks believed.

And they stayed no little time with the disciples.

And [after] there was no little strife and debate by Paul and Barnabas against them, they appointed Paul and Barnabas and some others from among them to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem concerning this issue.

And [after] there was much debate, Peter stood up [and] said to them, "Men [and] brothers, you know that in the early days God chose among you through my mouth [that] the Gentiles should hear the message of the gospel and believe.

And he made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.

So now why are you putting God to the test [by] placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?

Because we have heard that some have gone out from among us--to whom we gave no orders--[and] have thrown you into confusion by words upsetting your {minds},

For it seemed best to the Holy Spirit and to us to place on you no greater burden except these necessary things:

Now Barnabas wanted to take John who was called Mark along also,

Paul wanted this one to go with him, and he took [him] [and] circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for [they] all knew that his father was Greek.

Now about midnight, Paul and Silas were praying [and] singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

But Paul called out with a loud voice, saying, "Do no harm to yourself, for we are all here!"

And the jailer reported these words to Paul: "The chief magistrates have sent [an order] that you should be released. So come out now [and] go in peace!"

But Paul said to them, "They beat us in public without due process--men who are Roman citizens--[and] threw [us] into prison, and now they are wanting to release us secretly? Certainly not! Rather let them come themselves [and] bring us out!"

Now [after they] traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.

Now the brothers sent away both Paul and Silas at once, during the night, to Berea. {They} went into the synagogue of the Jews [when they] arrived.

Now these were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica. {They} accepted the message with all eagerness, examining the scriptures every day [to see] if these [things] were so.

Now while Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was provoked within him [when he] observed the city was full of idols.

And they took hold of him [and] brought [him] to the Areopagus, saying, "May we learn what [is] this new teaching being proclaimed by you?

For you are bringing some astonishing things to our ears. Therefore we want to know what {these things mean}."

(Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who stayed there used to spend [their] time in nothing else than telling something or listening to something new.)

Therefore [although] God has overlooked the times of ignorance, he now commands all people everywhere to repent,

Now [when they] heard about the resurrection of the dead, [some] scoffed, but [others] said, "We will hear you about this again also."

Now when both Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul began to be occupied with the message, solemnly testifying to the Jews [that] the Christ was Jesus.

And [when] they resisted and reviled [him], he shook out [his] clothes [and] said to them, "Your blood [be] on your [own] heads! I [am] guiltless! From now on I will go to the Gentiles!"

because I am with you and no one will attack you to harm you, because many people are mine in this city."