So, when they came together, they began to ask him, "Master, are you at this time about to restore the kingdom of Israel?"

"yet you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you are to be my witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and to the very ends of the earth."

The were beside themselves with wonder. "Are not these Galileans who are speaking?" they exclaimed.

But others were saying with jeer, "These men are full of sweet wine."

"These men are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only nine o'clock in the morning.

This Jesus God has raised up, of this we are all witnesses.

"For the promise belongs to you and to your children and to all who are afar off, whomever the Lord may call."

When he saw this, Peter said to the people. "Men of Israel, why are you wondering at this? Why do you stare at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made this man to walk?

"The Pioneer of Life you put to death. But God has raised him from the dead, and we are witnesses of that fact.

"You are the sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, "And in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

"Rulers and elders of the people, if we are being examined today concerning a benefit conferred upon a cripple, as to how has this man been cured,

"Ananias," said Peter, "why has Satan so filled your heart that you are lying to the Holy Spirit, and keeping back part of the price of the land?

"Why was it," said Peter, "that you both agreed to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Lo, the feet of those who buried your husband are at the door, and they shall carry you out."

"And we are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him."

He said: "Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men.

"So, brothers, find from among your own number seven men of good reputation who are full of the Spirit and of wisdom, and we will appoint them over this business.

And the high priest said, "Are these things so?"

"Next day he came upon two of them fighting, and tried to make peace between them. "'Sirs,' he said, 'you are brothers. Why are you wronging each other?'

"And the Lord said: "Take off your sandals, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.

"Stiff-necked, uncircumcised in heart and ears! You are always resisting the Holy Ghost! As your fathers did, so do you.

So Philip ran up, and heard him reading Isaiah the Prophet, and said to him. "Do you understand what you are reading?"

He fell to the ground, and heard a voice which said to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"

And he said, "Who are you Lord?"

"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he said: "Stand up and go into the city, and there you shall be told what you must do."

"Three men are now looking for you. Rise, go down and go with them, nothing doubting; for it is I who have sent them."

So Peter went down to the men and said: "I am the man you are looking for. What is the reason of your coming?"

and said: "'Cornelius, your prayer is heard, and your alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.

"So I sent for you without delay, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God, to listen to what the Lord has commanded you to speak."

"You are mad," they said. But she confidently insisted that it was so. "It is his angel," they said.

"For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor the utterances of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him.

"For many days he was seen by those that came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, and are now his witnesses to the people.

And he sprang up and began to walk about. Then the crowds, when they saw what Paul had done, shouted in the Lycaonian tongue, saying, "The gods are come down to us in human form."

"Men, why are you doing all this? We also are men, with natures like your own! We are bringing you good tidings, that you are to turn from these empty things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and the sea and all that in them is.

But some men came down from Judea and attempted to teach the brethren, saying, "Unless you are circumcised according to Moses' custom, you cannot be saved."

"Now then, why are you tempting God by laying on the necks of these disciples a yoke which neither our forefathers nor we have been able to bear?

"So that the rest of men may seek after the Lord, Even all the Gentiles, who are called by my name,

She used to follow after Paul and us, crying out again and again, "These men are servants of the most high God, who proclaimed to you the way of salvation."

Then they brought them before the praetors, saying. "These fellows are Jews, who are making a great disturbance in our city.

"They are teaching customs which it is not lawful for us as Romans to adopt or practise."

But Paul shouted loudly to him. "Do yourself no harm; for we are all here!"

But Paul said: "They have flogged us publicly, uncondemned, men that are Roman citizens; and have thrown us into prison. Are they now going to get rid of us secretly? No, indeed! Let them come here, themselves and take us out."

And when they had failed to find Paul and Silas, they began to drag Jason and some of the brethren before the politarchs, shouting. "These fellows who have upset the habitable earth are come hither also.

"For you are bringing certain strange things to our ears. We want to know, therefore, what these things mean."

So Paul stood up in the center of Mars Hill, and said: "Men of Athens, I perceive that in all respects you are remarkably religious.

"For as I was passing along and observing your objects of worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, 'TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.' What you are worshiping in ignorance, this I am proclaiming to you.

"for in him we live and move and have our being; as certain even of your own poets have said, "'For we also are his offspring.'

"Since then we are God's offspring, we ought not to imagine that the Godhead is like to gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and device of man.

but as these are merely questions about words and names and your own law, you yourselves must see to it. I am not willing to be a judge of these matters."

But the evil spirit answered, "Jesus I know, and Paul I have heard of, but who are you?"

"And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but almost throughout all of Asia, this fellow Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, by telling them that they are no gods at all who are made with hands.

"For you have brought these men here, who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess.

If then Demetrius and his craftsmen have a grievance against any one, the courts are open and there are the proconsuls; let them accuse one another.

For indeed we are in danger of being accused in regard to this day's riot, since there is no cause for it, nor shall we be able to give account for this disorderly gathering."

except that in city after city the Holy Spirit is warning me that bonds and afflictions are awaiting me.

"And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace. He is able to build you up, and to give you your inheritance among all those who are consecrated.

And they, when they heard it, glorified God, and said to him. "You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews, of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the Law.

"Now what they have been told about you, again and again, is that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles, to forsake Moses, and not to circumcise their children, nor to follow the old customs.

"What then ought to be done? They will certainly hear that you are come.

"Do you know Greek?" said the tribune; "Are you not, then, the Egyptian who in days gone by stirred up to sedition, and let into the wilderness the four thousand cutthroats?"

"I am a Jew," he said, "born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strict manner of the Law of our forefathers, ardent for God, even as you all are this day.

"To this the high priest and all the council of elders are witnesses. It was from them that I received letters to the brothers in Damascus, and I was already on my way to bring those also who were there back to Jerusalem, in bonds, for punishment.

"I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, "'Saul! Saul! why are you persecuting me?'

"'Who are you, Lord?' I asked. "'I am Jesus, the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting,' he answered me.

"And I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' and the Lord said to me, 'Rise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told about all that you are destined to do.'

When the centurion heard that, he went to the tribune and said to him. "What are you intending to do? This man is a Roman citizen."

So the tribune came to Paul and asked him, "Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?" "Yes," he said.

"You whited sepulcher," exclaimed Paul, "God will strike you! You are sitting there to judge me according to the law, are you? And do you command me to be struck, contrary to the Law?"

"Now do you and the Sanhedrin ask the tribune to bring him down to you, as though you would judge his case more exactly; and we are ready to kill him, before he comes near the place."

"Now do not let them persuade, for more than forty men are lying in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse, not to eat nor drink until they have killed him; even now they are all ready, awaiting your consent."

"I will hear your case when your accusers also are come." And he ordered him to be kept in custody in Herod's palace.

From him you will be able, by examining Paul yourself, to learn the truth of all these charges we are bringing against him."

"Nor can they prove the charges which they are now bringing against me.

"Let those then," he said, "who are in authority among you, go down with me, and if there is anything amiss in the man, let them accuse him."

"King Agrippa," said Festus, "and all men who are present with us, you see here the man about whom the entire body of the Jews at Jerusalem, and here also, sent to me, crying out that he ought not to live any longer.

Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You are permitted to speak for yourself." So Paul stretched forth his hand and began to make his defense.

"especially since you are an export in all Jewish customs and questions. I pray you, expert in all Jewish customs and questions. I pray you, hear me with patience.

"They know me of old, if they are willing to testify, how that according to the strict sect of our religion, I lived a Pharisee.

"We all fell to the ground; and I heard a voice saying to me in Hebrew. "'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goad.'

"'Who are you, Lord?' I said." And the Lord said: 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.

"'so that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, in order to receive remission of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'

As Paul thus made his defense, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice. "Paul, you are raving mad; your great learning is driving you mad."

Agrippa answered, "In short, you are doing your best to persuade me to become a Christian."

"Long or short," answered Paul, "my prayer to God is that not only you but all who are my hearers this day might become such as I am, save for these chains."

"'Fear not, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. Behold, God has granted you the lives of all who are sailing with you.'

"But we are eager to hear from you what it is that you believe; for we all know that as for this sect it is everywhere spoken against."

For this people's heart is grown obtuse, Their ears are heavy of hearing, Their eyes have they closed, Lest they should see with their eyes And hear with their ears, Lest they understand with their heart, And turn again, and heal them.