Now the multitude of the believers was of one heart and one soul, nor did any one of them say that any of his possessions was his own; but they had all things common.

And the apostles continued with great power to give their witness concerning the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.

Nor was there any one of them in want, for all who owned houses or lands would sell them and bring the price of the things that were sold, and lay it at the apostles' feet;

In this way Joseph, whom the apostles called Barnabas ("Son of Encouragement" is what it means), who was a native Cyprus,

"While it remained unsold, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was not the price at your own disposal? How could you conceive this act in your heart? You have not lied unto men, but unto God."

"Why was it," said Peter, "that you both agreed to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Lo, the feet of those who buried your husband are at the door, and they shall carry you out."

In consequence people would even bring out their sick into the streets, and place them upon beds and pallets as Peter was passing, that at least his shadow might fall upon some of them.

"Years ago Theudas arose, claiming to be somebody, and was joined by about four hundred men. He was killed, and all of his followers dispersed and annihilated.

Now in these days while the number of the disciples was multiplying, the Grecian Jews began to murmur against the Hebrews, because their widows were habitually overlooked in the distribution of alms.

And the word of the Lord continued to spread; and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem was increasing exceedingly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

Stephen answered. "Listen, brothers and fathers. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran,

"What God said was this. "'His offspring will sojourn in a foreign land where they will be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years.

"But God was with him, and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him grace and wisdom, when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who appointed him Governor over Egypt, and over all the royal household.

"But Jacob heard that there was food in Egypt, and sent our ancestors there on their first visit.

"On their second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Pharaoh was informed of Joseph's parentage.

"In this time Moses was born, a divinely beautiful child, who was brought up for three months in his father's house.

"When he was exposed, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and brought him up as her own son.

"So Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in his words and works.

"And when he was forty years old it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel;

"(Now he supposed that his brothers would understand how God by his hand was bringing them deliverance; but they did not.)

"But the man who was ill-treating his neighbor thrust him aside, saying, "'Who made you a magistrate and ruler over us?

"When Moses saw it he was astonished at the sight. But when he drew near to look, the voice of the Lord said,

"This was he who brought them out, after he had shown signs and wonders in the wilderness, for forty years.

"It was this Moses who said to the Children of Israel, "God will raise up a Prophet for you from among your brothers, as he did me.

"This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness along with the angel who spoke to him in Mt. Sinai, and with our ancestors to whom he gave living words to hand down to us.

No, it was the Tabernacle of Moloch and the star-symbol of the god Rempha that you lifted up??he images which you made in order to worship them; so I will carry you away beyond Babylon.

"That tabernacle was brought in by our ancestors, in their turn, when they under Joshua entered on the possession of the nations whom God thrust out before them, until the days of David.

"But it was Solomon who built him a house.

But Saul was laying waste the church. He was wont to enter into every house, and to drag off men and women, and to commit them to prison.

But when they believed Philip, who was preaching glad tidings about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they began to be baptized, both men and women.

And Simon himself also believed, and after his baptism he remained with Philip, and was full of amazement as he beheld the signs and striking miracles which were performed.

But when Simon perceived that, by the laying on of the apostles' hands, the Spirit was given, he offered them money saying,

So he arose and went. And behold an Ethiopian man, a eunuch, who was a high official (a chief treasurer) of Candace, the queen of Ethiopia, who had come to Jerusalem to worship

Was now on his way home, and was reading the Prophet Isaiah as he sat in his chariot.

Now the portion of Scripture which he was reading was as follows. He was led a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is dumb, So he opened not his mouth.

In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who will declare his posterity? For his life is cut off from the earth.

And as he journeyed, when he was approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed round him.

Now there was in Damascus a disciple named Ananias, and the Lord spoke to him in a vision, saying, "Ananias!" And he answered, "Lo, I am here, Lord."

Instantly something like scales fell from his eyes, and he received his sight. He arose and was baptized.

Afterward he took food and was strengthened. And he remained for some time with the disciples at Damascus.

But Saul gained more and more influence, and kept putting the Jews who lived in Damascus to confusion by his proof that Jesus was the Christ.

but information of their plot was given Saul, and although they kept watch day and night on the gates, in order to make away with him,

So he came to Jerusalem, and attempted to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, because they did not believe that he was a disciple.

Henceforth Saul was one of them, going in and out of the city, and speaking fearlessly in the Name of the Lord.

Now throughout the whole of Judea, Galilee, and Samaria the Church continued to enjoy peace and to be spiritually built up. It was increasing in members also, as it kept walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.

Now Peter, as he was going from town to town, came down also to the saints who lived in Lydda.

Among the disciples at Joppa was a woman named Tabitha??hich may be translated Dorcas or "Gazelle"?? woman whose life was full of good works and almsgiving, which she was doing continually.

She, as it happened, was taken ill just at that time, and died. After washing her body, they laid it in an upper room.

And as Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, when they heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the entreaty, "Delay not to come to us."

So Peter arose and went with them. On his arrival they took him up-stairs, and all the widows stood near him, weeping, and showing him the cloaks and garments which Dorcas used to make, while she was still with them.

Now there was at Caesarea a man named Cornelius, a captain in the Italian regiment.

He was a devout man and God-fearing, and so were all his household. He gave many alms to the people, and constantly prayed to God.

And after the angel who was speaking to him was gone, he called two of his household servants and a devout soldier who was in constant attendance upon him,

This happened three times; and immediately the sail was drawn up into the sky.

Now while Peter was greatly perplexed to know what the vision which he had been sent by Cornelius, and had made inquiries for the house of Simon, stood at the gate,

and called and asked whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there.

So the Spirit said to Peter, who was still pondering over the vision.

"Cornelius," they answered, "a captain, a devout man, and God-fearing, of whom the whole, Jewish nation speaks well, was instructed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house, and to listen to your message."

and the day after that they reached Caesarea. There Cornelius was waiting for them, and had brought together all his relatives and intimate friends.

Cornelius answered. "Three days ago, at this very hour, I was praying in my house at three o'clock in the afternoon, when suddenly a man in a shining robe stood by me,

"how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how he went about everywhere doing good, and curing all who were oppressed by the devil; for God was with him.

"when he charged us to preach to the people, and to testify that this was he whom God ordained to be the judge of the living and of the dead.

While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell on all who were listening to the message.

And all the Jewish believers who had accompanied Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the Gentiles also.

"I was in the city of Joppa, praying, and while in a trance I saw a vision; a certain vessel descending, what seemed to be an enormous sail let down to me,

"This was said three times, and then everything was drawn up again into the sky.

"And lo! at that very moment, three men who had been sent for me from Caesarea stood before the house in which I was.

"So if God gave them the same gift as he gave to us, when we first believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?"

The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.

When he arrived, and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he encouraged them all to remain faithful to the Lord, with full purpose of heart;

for he was a good man, and full of faith and the Holy Spirit. And a great multitude was added to the Lord.

and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch, where for a whole year they were guests of the church, and taught many people. And it was in Antioch that the disciples first received the name of "Christians."

One of them, who was Agabus, rose up, and being instructed by the Spirit, predicted that a great famine was about to come upon the whole inhabited earth. (It came in the reign of Claudius.)

And when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. (This was during the days of unleavened bread.)

So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer to God was made by the church for him.

Now when Herod was about to bring him forth, on that very night, while Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison,

So Peter went out, following him, but did not realize that what the angel was doing was real, but supposed that he was seeing a vision.

And when she recognized Peter's voice, for very joy she did not open the door, but ran in and told them that Peter was standing in front of the gate.

"You are mad," they said. But she confidently insisted that it was so. "It is his angel," they said.

Meanwhile Peter continued to knock, until at last they opened the door, and were amazed to see that it was really he.

When morning came there was no small stir among the soldiers as to what could possibly have become of Peter.

Now Herod was violently displeased with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they came to him, with one accord, and after conciliating Blastus, the royal chamberlain, they begged for peace because their country depended upon the king's country for its food supply.

Then the proconsul, seeing what had happened, believed. He was astounded at the teaching of the Lord.

"And John, when he was finishing his race, repeatedly asked the people. "'Who do you suppose that I am? I am not He. But behold there comes One after me, whose sandal I am not worthy to unfasten.'

"For many days he was seen by those that came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, and are now his witnesses to the people.

"For David, after he had served his own generation according to the will of God, fell on sleep, and was gathered to his forefathers, and did see corruption;

On the next Sabbath almost the entire city was gathered together to know the word of God.

So Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly. "It was necessary," they said, "first to proclaim the word of God to you. But since you push it away from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

But the mass of the city's people was divided; part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.

He was listening while Paul was preaching, and Paul, looking intently at him, and perceiving that he had faith to be made whole,

And they began to call Barnabas "Zeus," and Paul, since he was the principal speaker, "Hermes";

and the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and along with the crowds was about to offer sacrifices.

Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John, who was called Mark.

And he came also to Derbe and Lystra, where there was a certain disciple named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewess, and of a Greek father.

He was well spoken of by the brothers in Lystra and Iconiun.

Now Paul, wishing that this man should accompany him on his journey, took him and circumcised him because of the local Jews, who all knew that his father was a Greek.

On the Sabbath Day we went outside the city gate, to a riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and talked to the women who had gathered there.

Among them was a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, who belonged to the town of Thyatira. She, since she was a worshiper of God, listened to us, and the Lord opened her heart to attend to what Paul said.

When she was baptized, and her household, she urged us, saying, "If in your judgment I am a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house." And she compelled us to come.

suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the very foundations of the prison-house were shaken; and instantly all the doors were opened, and every one's chains fell off.