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

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

For He had not yet come down on any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him any longer. But he went on his way rejoicing.

and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

Peter said to them, “You know it’s forbidden for a Jewish man to associate with or visit a foreigner. But God has shown me that I must not call any person common or unclean.

That’s why I came without any objection when I was sent for. So I ask: Why did you send for me?”

After the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any message of encouragement for the people, you can speak.”

However, so that I will not burden you any further, I beg you in your graciousness to give us a brief hearing.

and while I was doing this, some Jews from Asia found me ritually purified in the temple, without a crowd and without any uproar.

He ordered that the centurion keep Paul under guard, though he could have some freedom, and that he should not prevent any of his friends from serving him.

“Therefore,” he said, “let the men of authority among you go down with me and accuse him, if there is any wrong in this man.”

I answered them that it’s not the Romans’ custom to give any man up before the accused confronts the accusers face to face and has an opportunity to give a defense concerning the charges.

Then Festus said: “King Agrippa and all men present with us, you see this man about whom the whole Jewish community has appealed to me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he should not live any longer.

Why is it considered incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?

For the king knows about these matters. It is to him I am actually speaking boldly. For I am convinced that none of these things escapes his notice, since this was not done in a corner.

Now I urge you to take courage, because there will be no loss of any of your lives, but only of the ship.

Therefore I urge you to take some food. For this has to do with your survival, since none of you will lose a hair from your head.”

Because the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar; it was not as though I had any accusation against my nation.

Then they said to him, “We haven’t received any letters about you from Judea. None of the brothers has come and reported or spoken anything evil about you.