And while staying with them, he commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, "Which," he said, "you heard of from me;

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth."

But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: "Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words.

'And in the last days it shall be, God says, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;

even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they shall prophesy.

For David says concerning him, 'I saw the Lord always before me; for he is at my right hand, so that I will not be shaken.

Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue rejoiced; moreover my flesh also will live in hope,

because you will not abandon my soul to hades, nor let your Holy One see decay.

You have made known to me the ways of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.'

"Brethren, I may say to you confidently of the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.

For David did not ascend into heaven, but he says himself: 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand,

Repent therefore, and turn again, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,

and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,

Moses said, 'The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brethren; you shall listen to everything he tells you.

But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer to any one in this name."

Peter said to her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price." And she said, "Yes, that was the price."

but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God."

Therefore, brethren, pick out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this duty.

And he said: "Hear me, brethren and fathers! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran,

'But I will judge the nation which they serve,' said God, 'and after that they will come out and worship me in this place.'

Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?'

I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to rescue them. Come now, and I will send you to Egypt.'

This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, 'God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brethren.'

But God turned away and gave them over to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: 'Did you offer to me slain beasts and sacrifices, forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?

'Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me? says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest?

Has not my hand made all these things?'

And as they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."

saying, "Give me also this power, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit."

But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!

Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.

And Simon answered, "Pray for me to the Lord, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me."

And he said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

And the eunuch said to Philip, "Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?"

And as they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?"

And he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"

But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;

for I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name."

So Ananias departed and entered the house. And after laying his hands on him said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."

And he said to them, "You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; but God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. I ask then why you sent for me."

Cornelius said, "Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during the ninth hour; and behold, a man stood before me in shining garments,

"I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, something descending like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came down to me.

Then I heard a voice saying to me, 'Get up, Peter. Kill and eat!'

But I said, 'No, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.'

And behold, at that moment three men appeared at the house in which we were staying, having been sent to me from Caesarea.

The Spirit told me to go with them with no hesitation. These six brethren also went with me, and we entered the man's house.

And the angel said to him, "Dress yourself and put on your sandals." And he did so. And he said to him, "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me."

When Peter came to himself, he said, "Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting."

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

And after he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king; concerning whom he testified and said, 'I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.'

And as John was completing his course, he said, 'What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.'

he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: 'You are my Son; today I have begotten you.'

Therefore take care, so that what is said in the prophets may not come upon you:

For so the Lord has commanded us: 'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'"

After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "Brethren, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe.

After they finished speaking, James replied, "Brethren, listen to me.

so that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name,'

Therefore it is my judgment that we should not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles,

When she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay." And she prevailed upon us.

And they took hold of him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, "May we know what this new teaching is which you present?

But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, "If it were a matter of wrong or of vicious crime, O Jews, it would be reasonable for me to put up with you;

serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews;

And now, behold, bound in the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there,

except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me.

But I do not consider my life of any account nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

And now, behold, I know that all of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will see my face no more.

I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;

You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my own needs and to the men who were with me.

Then Paul answered, "What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."

take these men and purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses, so that they may shave their heads. Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself live in observance of the law.

As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the commander, "May I say something to you?" And he said, "Do you know Greek?

Paul replied, "I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no insignificant city; I beg you, let me speak to the people."

"Brethren and fathers, hear my defense which I now offer to you."

"As I made my journey and drew near to Damascus, about noon a bright light from heaven suddenly flashed around me.

And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?'

And I answered, 'Who are you, Lord?' And he said to me, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.'

And those who were with me saw the light, but did not hear the voice of the one who was speaking to me.

And I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to me, 'Get up and go on into Damascus, and there you will be told of all that has been appointed for you to do.'

But since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me and came into Damascus.

came to me, and standing near said to me, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight!' And at that very time I looked up at him.

and saw him saying to me, 'Make haste, and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.'

And he said to me, 'Go; for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.'"

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

And Paul, looking intently at the council, said, "Brethren, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day."

Then Paul said to him, "God shall strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?"

The following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Take courage, for as you have testified about me at Jerusalem, so you must bear witness also at Rome."

So he took him and brought him to the commander and said, "Paul the prisoner called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, since he has something to tell you."

The commander took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, "What is it that you have to tell me?"

So the commander dismissed the young man, instructing him, "Tell no one that you have informed me of this."

But, that I may not weary you further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly.

When the governor had motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: "Realizing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense.

They did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues, or in the city.

Neither can they prove to you the charges they are now making against me.

And so I do my best always to have a clear conscience before God and men.

Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings.

As I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without any crowd or uproar. But there were some Jews from Asia

who ought to be here before you and to make accusation, if they should have anything against me.

"Therefore," he said, "let the men of authority among you go there with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them prosecute him."

But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there on these charges?"

If, then, I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die; but if none of the charges brought against me is true, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar."