BUT Saul was delighted with his execution. Now on that very day commenced a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and all, besides the apostles, were dispersed through the regions of Judea and Samaria.

And there was great joy in that city.

Then Simon also himself believed: and being baptised, he attached himself to Philip, and beholding the signs and great miracles which were performed, he was astonished.

Now when Simon saw, that by the imposition of the apostles' hands, the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

And he arose and went: and lo! an Ethiopian man, an eunuch, a person in power under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasury; he had gone to worship unto Jerusalem,

and was returning, and sitting in his chariot, was reading the prophet Isaiah.

The portion of scripture which he had been reading was this: "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and as a lamb before him who sheareth it is dumb, so he opened not his mouth:

in his humiliation his judgment was taken away: but his generation who can describe? for his life was taken away from the earth."

So advancing on his journey, he was drawing nigh to Damascus: and suddenly there shone around him a light from heaven:

And he was three days seeing nothing, and did neither eat nor drink.

Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said unto him in a vision, Ananias! And he said, Here I am, Lord.

Then went Ananias, and entered into the house; and laying his hands upon him, said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who was seen by thee in the way that thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest recover thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

And directly there fell from his eyes as it were scales: and he recovered sight instantly, and arose, and was baptised.

But Saul was endued with still greater power, and confounded the Jews who dwelt at Damascus, conclusively evincing that this person is the Messiah.

but their design was discovered to Saul. And they kept guard at the gates of the city day and night, that they might kill him.

But when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples: and they were all afraid of him, not crediting that he was a disciple.

And he was with them coming in, and going out at Jerusalem:

Now it came to pass, as Peter was passing through all parts, that he went down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.

And found there a certain man named AEneas, during six years stretched on a bed, who was paralytic.

But there was at Joppa a woman, a disciple, named Tabitha, (which by interpretation is called Dorcas:) this woman was full of good works and of alms which she did.

And as Lydda was near to Joppa, the disciples hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, entreating him without delay to come over to them.

Then Peter arose and went with them. And they carried him, on his arrival, into the upper room: and all the widows stood round him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas had made, whilst she was with them.

And it was known through all Joppa; and many believed on the Lord.

NOW there was a man at Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of the cohort called the Italic,

This was thrice repeated: and the vessel was again taken up into heaven.

But while Peter was perplexed in himself what was meant by the vision which he had seen, then, behold! the men which had been sent by Cornelius having inquired out the house of Simon, stood before the door,

But while Peter was musing upon the vision, the Spirit said to him, Lo! three men are inquiring after thee.

And the next day they entered into Caesarea. Now Cornelius was expecting them, having called together his relations and nearest friends.

And as Peter was entering, Cornelius met him, and falling at his feet, paid him homage.

Then Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting till this hour; and at the ninth hour I was praying in my house, and, lo! a man stood before me in shining apparel,

even that which was the common talk through all Judea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;

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

not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he was arisen from the dead.

While Peter was yet speaking these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all who heard the discourse.

And they of the circumcision who were believers, as many as came with Peter, were amazed, because even on the Gentiles the gift of the holy Ghost was poured out.

I was in the city of Joppa praying and I saw in a trance a vision, a certain vessel descending as a vast sheet let down from heaven by its four corners; and it came close to me:

Now this was repeated thrice: and the whole withdrawn again into heaven.

And, lo! immediately three men stood before the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me.

If God then gave an equal gift to them even as to us, on believing on the Lord Jesus Christ; I, indeed, who was I, that I should be able to restrain God?

And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a vast multitude believing, turned to the Lord.

And the report concerning them was heard in the ears of the church which was at Jerusalem: and they dispatched Barnabas, to go as far as Antioch.

For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and a great multitude was added to the Lord.

And one of them named Agabus, rising up, signified by the spirit that a great famine was coming upon the whole habitable globe: which also came in the reign of Claudius Caesar.

And seeing how agreeable this was to the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)

So then Peter was kept in prison: but fervent prayer was offered up by the church to God for him.

Now when Herod was going to bring him forth, the same night was Peter fast asleep between the two soldiers, fastened to them with two chains: and the guards before the door kept the prison.

And going out, he followed him; and knew not that it was a reality which was done by the angel; but he supposed he saw a vision.

Peter then knocking at the door of the gatetway, there came a damsel to ask who was there, named Rhoda.

And well knowing Peter's voice, she opened not the door for joy; but running in, told that Peter was standing before the door.

But they said, Thou art raving. But she confidently persisted that it was so. Then they said, It is his angel.

Now when the day broke, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what could possibly become of Peter.

Now Herod was fiercely bent on war against the Tyrians and Sidonians: but they presented themselves unanimously before him, and ingratiating themselves with Blastus who was over the king's bedchamber, they begged for peace; because their country received all their supply of provisions from the king's territories.

But the word of the Lord increased, and was widely diffused.

Then Barnabas and Saul departed from Jerusalem, having completed the distribution [of the sum entrusted with them]; and they took with them John, whose surname was Mark.

Now as they travelled through the island as far as Paphos, they found a certain person who professed magic, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus:

who was with the proconsul Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man; he inviting to his house Barnabas and Saul, desired earnestly to hear the word of God.

Then when the proconsul saw what was done, he believed, being struck with the doctrine of the Lord.

But as John was finishing his course, he said, Whom do ye suppose me to be? I am not [the Messiah]. But, behold! he is coming after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to loose.

and he was seen many days by those who went up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses to the people.

For David indeed, after having served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, and was placed with his fathers, and saw corruption.

and by this man shall every one who believeth be justified from all things, from which it was not possible that he should be justified by the law of Moses.

And when the synagogue was dismissed, many of the Jews and of the devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, exhorting them, persuaded them to abide stedfast in the grace of God.

Then Paul and Barnabas speaking with undaunted boldness, said, It was necessary that the word of God should be first spoken unto you: but since ye have thrust it from you, and judged yourselves not worthy of eternal life, lo! we turn to the Gentiles.

So the word of the Lord was diffused through the whole region.

So the multitude was divided: some indeed were with the Jews, but others with the apostles.

And when there was a strong effort made both by the Gentiles and Jews with their rulers to ill-treat and stone them,

And there was a certain man at Lystra, who having lost the use of his feet was sitting, being lame from his mother's womb, and who had never been able to walk:

Then the priest of Jupiter, who was the presiding deity of their city, brought bulls and garlands unto the gates of the city, and intended to offer a sacrifice with the people.

But up rose some of the pharisaical sect, who professed the faith, insisting, That it was necessary to circumcise them, and to enjoin them to observe the law of Moses.

Then it was determined by the apostles and presbyters with the whole church, to send select men from themselves unto Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren;

THEN he came to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold! a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman, who believed; but his father was a Greek:

who was highly spoken of by the brethren at Lystra and Iconium.

Him Paul resolved to take out with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places: for they all knew his father, that he was a Greek.

And on the sabbath-day we went forth out of the city to the river side, where an oratory was by custom established; and sitting down, we spoke to the women who there assembled.

So when she was baptised, and her house, she entreated, saying, Since ye have judged that I am faithful to the Lord, come and abide at my house. And she constrained us.

And this she did for several days. Then Paul was wearied out, and turning, said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out that very hour.

But when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they laid hold on Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the forum before the chief rulers,

And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the very foundations of the prison were shaken: and instantly all the doors flew open, and every man's chains were loosed.

And taking them that same hour of the night, he washed their stripes; and was baptised, himself and all who belonged to him immediately.

But when it was day, the magistrates sent the lictors, saying, Set those men at large.

SO journeying through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of Jews:

But when the Jews of Thessalonica knew that at Berea also the word of God was preached by Paul, they came thither, and stirred up the populace.

Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit within him was greatly grieved, beholding the city so devoted to idolatry.

For as I walked about, and attentively viewed the objects of your worship, I found even an altar on which was this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore you in ignorance adore, him I preach unto you.

But certain persons cleaving to him, believed: among whom was even Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

And as he was of the same occupation, he abode with them, and worked, (for by trade they were tent-makers:)

And when Silas and Timothy were come from Macedonia, Paul felt a strong impulse on his spirit, and forcibly testified to the Jews, that Jesus was the Messiah.

And departing thence, he came to the house of a person, called Justus, one who worshipped God, whose house was contiguous to the synagogue.

But when Gallio was the proconsul of Achaia, the Jews, with one accord, rose up against Paul, and brought him to the judgment-seat,

If indeed this was now a matter of injustice, or wicked knavery, with reason I should hear you patiently; but if it be merely a controversy about the word, and names, and a law peculiar to yourselves, settle it yourselves: for I will be no judge of these matters.

Now a certain Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, a man of eloquence, who was powerful in the Scriptures, had come to Ephesus.

He was instructed in the way of the Lord: and being fervent in spirit, he spake and taught very diligently the things concerning the Lord, though knowing only the baptism of John.

NOW it came to pass that during the time Apollos was at Corinth, Paul, after passing through the upper provinces, came to Ephesus; and finding certain disciples,

Then said Paul, John indeed baptised with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people, That they should believe on him who was coming after him, that is, in Christ Jesus.

And the man sprang upon them, in whom was the evil spirit, and getting the mastery over them, prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

And this was known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who dwelt at Ephesus: and fear fell on them all, and they magnified the name of the Lord.

And the whole city was filled with confusion; and they rushed unanimously into the theatre, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul's travelling companions.

So they were crying out some one thing and some another: for the assembly was a scene of confusion, and the greater part knew not on what account they were collected together.

But when they knew he was a Jew, one shout burst from all, crying for about the space of two hours, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

THEN after the tumult was quieted, Paul called to him the disciples, and taking his leave, departed to go into Macedonia.