"[And when] these patriarchs, [still living in Canaan as young men], became jealous of [their brother] Joseph, they sold him [as a slave to traveling merchants who took him] to Egypt. But God was with him [during all that time],

And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.

Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance.

Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls.

now while the time was approaching to accomplish what God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew numerous in Egypt,

The same dealt craftily with our race, and ill-treated our fathers, that they should cast out their babes to the end they might not live.

During which time Moses was born (and he was well-formed by God) who was reared three months in his father's house.

And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.

But when he was well-nigh forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.

Seeing one of them wrongfully treated he took his part, and secured justice for the ill-treated man by striking down the Egyptian.

And on the following day, he made an appearance to them [while they] were fighting and was attempting to reconcile them in peace, saying, 'Men [and] brothers, why are you doing wrong to one another?'

But the man who was ill-treating his fellow workman pushed Moses aside saying--'Who made you a ruler and judge over us?

Will you put me to death as you did the Egyptian yesterday?

I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt.

This is the Moses who said to the children of Israel, ‘God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your countrymen.’

saying to Aaron, 'Make us gods who will go on before us! For this Moses, who led us out from the land of Egypt--we do not know what has happened to him!'

So God turned from them and left them to the worship of the Starry Host, as is written in the Book of the Prophets--'Did you offer victims and sacrifices to me, O House of Israel, all those forty years in the Desert?

Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.

Howbeit, he that is highest of all dwelleth not in temples made with hands, as saith the prophet,

Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?

Hath not my hand made all these things?

"You people, stubborn in will, heathenish in hearts and ears, you are always resisting the Holy Spirit, as your forefathers did, too.

And, while they were hearing these things, they were being pierced in their hearts, and began gnashing their teeth against him.

But with loud cries, and stopping their ears, they made an attack on him all together,

They continued stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, “Lord Jesus, receive and accept and welcome my spirit!”

And he kneeled down and cried with a loud voice: Lord, let not this sin stand against them. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. And Saul was well pleased with his death.

And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.

Now the disciples, who had become scattered all over, went everywhere preaching the message [of God].

while Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed Christ there.

And all the people gave attention to the words which Philip said, when they saw the signs which he did.

For unclean spirits came out from those who had them, crying with a loud voice; and a number of those who were ill and broken in body were made well.

A man named Simon had previously practiced sorcery in that city and astounded the Samaritan people, while claiming to be somebody great.

To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.

"Give me too," he said, "that power, so that every one on whom I place my hands will receive the Holy Spirit."

But Peter said to him, "You and your money will both be destroyed for thinking you could buy the gift from God with money.

You have no part or share in this matter, because your heart (motive, purpose) is not right before God.

Repent, therefore, from this thy baseness, and entreat of the Lord - whether, after all, the purpose of thy heart shall be forgiven thee;

But Simon answered [and] said, "You pray to the Lord for me so that nothing of what you have said will come upon me."

And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,

And Philip ran up, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, Well, but dost thou understand what thou art reading?

And he said, "So how could I, unless someone will guide me?" And he invited Philip to come up [and] sit with him.

Now the place in the book where he was reading was this: He was taken, like a sheep, to be put to death; and as a lamb is quiet when its wool is being cut, so he made no sound:

In His humiliation justice was denied Him.
Who will describe His generation?
For His life is taken from the earth.

then Philip enter'd upon the subject, and show'd how the whole passage was applicable to Jesus.

And while they were going on their way, they came to some water, and the Ethiopian said, See, here is water; why may I not have baptism?

And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.

But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.

And while he was journeying, he came near Damascus; and suddenly he saw a light from heaven shining round him;

And Saul said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He answered, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,

now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

the mean while the men who accompany'd him, remain'd astonish'd, hearing a voice, but seeing no one.

The Lord said to him, "Get up and go to Straight Street and ask for a person named Saul, from Tarsus, at the home of Judas; you will find him [there] praying."

"But, Lord," Ananias answered, "many people have told me about all the mischief this man has done to thy saints at Jerusalem!

And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

But the Lord said to him, "Go; I have chosen him to be the means of bringing my Name before the Gentiles and their kings as well as before the sons of Israel.

For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

All at once something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again.

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?

But Saul increased in strength more and more, and continued to perplex the Jews who lived in Damascus by examining [theological evidence] and proving [with Scripture] that this Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed).

And after a good while, the Jews took counsel together among themselves, to kill him.

Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.

And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.

So, Barnabas brought him to the [other] apostles and explained to them how he had seen the Lord [while] traveling on the road [to Damascus] and how he had boldly preached in the name of Jesus in that city.

Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.

And he found there a certain man named Eneas, who had kept his bed eight years, being ill of a palsy.

And Peter said unto him, AEneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.

And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.

Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, that is, Dorcas: this woman was given to good works and acts of mercy at all times.

But, as it happened, just at that time she was taken ill and died. After washing her body they laid it out in a room upstairs.

Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.

But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.

New a certain man in Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of a band, called the Italian band??2 devout, and fearing God with all his house, giving many alms to the people, and praying to God continually??3 saw in a vision manifestly, about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming in to him, and saying to him, "Cornelius!"

A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea-side: he will tell thee what thou oughtest to do.

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;

And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.

The next day, while they were still on their journey and were getting near the town, about noon Peter went up on the house-top to pray.

And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,

Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

This happened three times, and then suddenly it was all taken up into the heavens.

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 thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.

But get up, go down, and go with them--not hesitating at all, because I have sent them."

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.

and the day after that they reached Caesarea. There Cornelius was awaiting their arrival, and had invited all his relatives and intimate friends to be present.

but Peter rais'd him, saying, stand up; I am but a man, as well as you.

While talking with him, he went on in and found that many had come together there.

And said unto the - Ye, well know, how unlawful it is, for, a Jew, to be joining himself or coming in unto one of another race. And yet, unto me, hath God pointed out that I should be calling no man, common or unclean.

Cornelius replied, "Four days ago at this very hour, three o'clock in the afternoon, I was praying in my home. All at once a man in radiant clothes stood in front of me

Send therefore to Joppa and fetch Simon, who is surnamed Peter; he lodges in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea who when he is come will speak to thee.

Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.

Then Peter began. "I see, beyond all doubt," he said, "that 'God does not show partiality,'

but in all people, he that feareth him and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)

That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;

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.