All these were continually united in prayer, along with the women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and His brothers.

During these days Peter stood up among the brothers—the number of people who were together was about 120—and said:

beginning from the baptism of John until the day He was taken up from us—from among these, it is necessary that one become a witness with us of His resurrection.”

Then they prayed, “You, Lord, know the hearts of all; show which of these two You have chosen

And they were astounded and amazed, saying, “Look, aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans?

For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it’s only nine in the morning.

“Men of Israel, listen to these words: This Jesus the Nazarene was a man pointed out to you by God with miracles, wonders, and signs that God did among you through Him, just as you yourselves know.

“In addition, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those after him, have also announced these days.

saying, “What should we do with these men? For an obvious sign, evident to all who live in Jerusalem, has been done through them, and we cannot deny it!

When he heard these words, Ananias dropped dead, and a great fear came on all who heard.

Then great fear came on the whole church and on all who heard these things.

As the commander of the temple police and the chief priests heard these things, they were baffled about them, as to what could come of this.

We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

He said to them, “Men of Israel, be careful about what you’re going to do to these men.

And now, I tell you, stay away from these men and leave them alone. For if this plan or this work is of men, it will be overthrown;

Did not My hand make all these things?

When they heard these things, they were enraged in their hearts and gnashed their teeth at him.

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came down on all those who heard the message.

“Can anyone withhold water and prevent these people from being baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”

Then the Spirit told me to accompany them with no doubts at all. These six brothers accompanied me, and we went into the man’s house.

Motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he explained to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. “Report these things to James and the brothers,” he said. Then he departed and went to a different place.

As they were leaving, the people begged that these matters be presented to them the following Sabbath.

“Men! Why are you doing these things? We are men also, with the same nature as you, and we are proclaiming good news to you, that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them.

Even though they said these things, they barely stopped the crowds from sacrificing to them.

After these things I will return
and rebuild David’s fallen tent.
I will rebuild its ruins
and set it up again,

so the rest of humanity
may seek the Lord—
even all the Gentiles
who are called by My name,
declares the Lord who does these things,

For it was the Holy Spirit’s decision—and ours—to put no greater burden on you than these necessary things:

that you abstain from food offered to idols, from blood, from eating anything that has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. You will do well if you keep yourselves from these things.

Farewell.

As she followed Paul and us she cried out, “These men, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation, are the slaves of the Most High God.”

Bringing them before the chief magistrates, they said, “These men are seriously disturbing our city. They are Jews

The jailer reported these words to Paul: “The magistrates have sent orders for you to be released. So come out now and go in peace.”

Then the police reported these words to the magistrates. They were afraid when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens.

When they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city officials, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here too,

The Jews stirred up the crowd and the city officials who heard these things.

The people here were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, since they welcomed the message with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

For what you say sounds strange to us, and we want to know what these ideas mean.”

But if these are questions about words, names, and your own law, see to it yourselves. I don’t want to be a judge of such things.”

Then they all seized Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the judge’s bench. But none of these things concerned Gallio.

When these events were over, Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem. “After I’ve been there,” he said, “I must see Rome as well!”

Therefore, since these things are undeniable, you must keep calm and not do anything rash.

For you have brought these men here who are not temple robbers or blasphemers of our goddess.

These men went on ahead and waited for us in Troas,

Then we went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, intending to take Paul on board there. For these were his instructions, since he himself was going by land.

You yourselves know that these hands have provided for my needs and for those who were with me.

After these days we got ready and went up to Jerusalem.

Take these men, purify yourself along with them, and pay for them to get their heads shaved. Then everyone will know that what they were told about you amounts to nothing, but that you yourself are also careful about observing the law.

These men went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves under a solemn curse that we won’t eat anything until we have killed Paul.

When these men entered Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him.

After five days Ananias the high priest came down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus. These men presented their case against Paul to the governor.

commanding his accusers to come to you.] By examining him yourself you will be able to discern all these things we are accusing him of.”

The Jews also joined in the attack, alleging that these things were so.

And I have a hope in God, which these men themselves also accept, that there is going to be a resurrection, both of the righteous and the unrighteous.

Either let these men here state what wrongdoing they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin,

Then Festus, wanting to do a favor for the Jews, replied to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem, there to be tried before me on these charges?”

If then I am doing wrong, or have done anything deserving of death, I do not refuse to die, but if there is nothing to what these men accuse me of, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar!”

Since I was at a loss in a dispute over such things, I asked him if he wished to go to Jerusalem and be tried there concerning these matters.

“I was traveling to Damascus under these circumstances with authority and a commission from the chief priests.

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.

“I wish before God,” replied Paul, “that whether easily or with difficulty, not only you but all who listen to me today might become as I am—except for these chains.”

Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.”

After he said these things and had taken some bread, he gave thanks to God in the presence of all of them, and when he broke it, he began to eat.

[After he said these things, the Jews departed, while engaging in a prolonged debate among themselves.]