And after taking some food, he regained his strength.

Saul was with the disciples in Damascus for some days.

He lost no time in preaching throughout the synagogues that Jesus was the Son of God ??21 to the amazement of all his hearers, who said, "Is this not the man who in Jerusalem harried those who invoke this Name, the man who came here for the express purpose of carrying them all in chains to the high priests?"

But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?

Saul, however, gained more and more influence, and as for the Jews living in Damascus, he bewildered them with his proofs that Jesus is the Christ.

but he found out about their plan. And so they watched the gates [of the city] day and night [looking for their chance] to kill him.

And when he came to Jerusalem, he made an attempt to be joined to the disciples, but they were all in fear of him, not taking him for a disciple.

But Barnabas got hold of him and introduced him to the apostles, and he told them how on his journey he had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken to him, and how boldly he had spoken for the cause of Jesus at Damascus.

Preaching in the name of the Lord without fear; and he had discussions with the Greek Jews; but they were working for his death.

So the church all over Judea, Galilee, and Samaria enjoyed peace, and as it continued to be built up spiritually and to live in reverence for the Lord, it continued to increase in numbers through the encouragement that the Holy Spirit gave.

There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years.

and Peter said to him, 'Aeneas, heal thee doth Jesus the Christ; arise and spread for thyself;' and immediately he rose,

In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was known for her good actions and acts of charity that she was always doing.

When the disciples heard that Peter was at Lydda (for Joppa is not far from Lydda), they sent two men to beg him to "Come on to us without delay."

And he took her hand, lifting her up; and, sending for the saints and widows, he gave her to them, living.

And he was living in Joppa for some time with Simon, a leather-worker.

He was a devout man and feared God along with his whole household. He did many charitable deeds for the Jewish people and always prayed to God.

And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.

And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:

AM if calculating by Roman time], to the top of the house to pray [Note: The roofs of houses were flat areas, often used for resting, meals, prayer, etc.].

And when the angel who said these words to him had gone away, he sent for two of his house-servants, and a God-fearing man of the army, one of those who were waiting on him at all times;

Now the day after, when they were on their journey and were near the town, Peter went up to the top of the house for prayer, about the sixth hour:

Then waxed he a hungered, and would have eaten. But while they made ready for him, he fell into a trance,

when he saw the heaven open, and something descending in the form of a great sheet, ty'd at the four corners, and let down to the earth:

And a voice came to him, saying, Come, Peter; take them for food.

But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.

And the voice [came] again to him for the second time: "[The things] which God has made clean, you must not consider unclean!"

And this was for thrice: and again was the vessel taken up into heaven.

Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,

While Peter was thinking about the vision, the Spirit told him, “Three men are here looking for you.

Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.

Then Peter went down to the men and said, “Here I am, the one you’re looking for. What is the reason you’re here?”

And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.

So he took them in for the night. And the day after, he went with them, taking some of the brothers from Joppa with him.

And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends.

And when it came about for Peter to enter, Cornelius, having met him, after falling down at his feet, worshiped.

But Peter took him up, saying, "Stand Up: for even I myself am a man."

And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?

send, therefore, to Joppa, and call for Simon, who is surnamed Peter; this one doth lodge in the house of Simon a tanner, by the sea, who having come, shall speak to thee;

Therefore I immediately sent for you, and you did the right thing in coming. So we are all present before God, to hear everything you have been commanded by the Lord.”

but in every nation the person who fears God and does what is right [by seeking Him] is acceptable and welcomed by Him.

[As for] the message that he sent to the sons of Israel, proclaiming the good news of peace through Jesus Christ--this one is Lord of all--

You yourselves know the story which spread through all Judea, how, beginning form Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed--

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

As for what he did in the land of the Jews and of Jerusalem, we can testify to that. They slew him by hanging him on a gibbet,

However, God raised Him up the third day and made it possible for Him to appear [following His resurrection],

Not unto all the people, but unto witnesses who had been fore-appointed by God, unto us, who, indeed, did eat and drink with him after his rising from among the dead.

To him all the prophets testify, for all believing on him to receive remission of sins through his name.

Now the Jewish believers who had accompanied Peter were amazed that the gift of the holy Spirit had actually been poured out on the Gentiles ??46 for they heard them speak with 'tongues' and magnify God. At this Peter asked,

For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

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

And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for a few days.

for having visited and eaten with men who were not Jews.

And a voice came to my ears saying, Come, Peter; take them for food.

But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth.

But the voice replied from heaven for the second time, '[The things] which God has made clean, you must not consider unclean!'

And this was for thrice: and again all was drawn up into heaven.

Just at that moment three men, who had been sent from Caesarea for me, stopped at the house where we were staying.

And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;

For he will tell you truths, which will prove the means of Salvation to you and all your household.'

And having heard these, they were silent, and honoured God, saying, For also God gave the nations repentance to life.

For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.

Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:

and when he found him he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught large numbers. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.

and the disciples, according as any one was prospering, determined each of them to send for ministration to the brethren dwelling in Judea,

[After he] had arrested {him}, he also put [him] in prison, handing [him] over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him {out for public trial} after the Passover.

Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

On the night before Herod was to bring him out for execution, Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while the sentries in front of the door guarded the prison.

And he went out after him; and he was not certain if what was done by the angel was a fact, for it seemed to him that he was seeing a vision.

And [after they] had passed the first and second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened for them by itself, and they went out [and] went forward [along] one narrow street, and at once the angel departed from him.

Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel and rescued me from Herod’s grasp and from all that the Jewish people expected.”

And when he became clear about this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John named Mark, where a number of them had come together for prayer.

And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.

But he motioned with his hand for silence, and then described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. "Tell all this to James and the brethren," he added. Then he left them, and went to another place.

And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode.

He had been very angry with the Tyrians and Sidonians. Together they presented themselves before him. They won over Blastus, who was in charge of the king’s bedroom, and through him they asked for peace, because their country was supplied with food from the king’s country.

Barnabas and Saul returned [to Antioch] from Jerusalem after they had fulfilled their mission [i.e., of taking the contribution for the famine-stricken people of Judea. See 11:27-30]. They took John Mark [back to Antioch with them].

As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

Then, as these prophets and teachers fasted and prayed [for the two men], they placed their hands on them [signifying their appointment for this ministry] and sent them away.

being thus appointed missionarys by the holy spirit, they went to Seleucia, where they embark'd for Cyprus.

when they were arrived at Salamis, they preach'd the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews, and had John for their assistant.

Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.

But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.

and said, "You expert in every form of deception and sleight-of-hand, you son of the devil, you enemy of all that is right, will you never stop trying to make the Lord's straight paths crooked!

And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.

Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had happened, for he was amazed at the teaching of the Lord.

From Paphos Paul and his party set sail for Perga in Pamphylia; but John Mark left them and went back to Jerusalem.

And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.

thereupon Paul stood up, and having made sign with his hand for their attention, he said, men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.

And for about 40 years He put up with them in the wilderness;

And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land for an inheritance, for about four hundred and fifty years:

and gave them their land as an inheritance for about four hundred and fifty years. And after that He gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet.

Then they asked for a king, so God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for 40 years.

and having removed him, He did raise up to them David for king, to whom also having testified, he said, I found David, the son of Jesse, a man according to My heart, who shall do all My will.

From the posterity of this man, God, according to his promise, raised up for Israel a Savior, Jesus;

as John, before His coming, had already preached baptism as an expression of repentance, for all the people of Israel.

And as John was closing his career he said, 'What do you take me for? I am not He; no, he is coming after me, and I am not fit to untie the sandals on his feet!'

"You brothers, descendants of Abraham's family and those of you who respect God very much, this message of salvation was intended for us.

For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.

Though they found no grounds for the death penalty, they asked Pilate to have Him killed.