But when they believed Philip [as he] was proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were being baptized.

Then even Simon himself believed. And after he was baptized, he went around constantly with Philip and was astounded as he observed the signs and great miracles that were being performed.

who when they were come down prayed for them that they might receive the holy Spirit: (for He was not yet fallen upon any of them,

(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

When Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money,

So he got up and went. There was an Ethiopian man, a eunuch and high official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to worship in Jerusalem

and was sitting in his chariot on his way home, reading the prophet Isaiah aloud.

And Philip, running up to him, saw that he was reading Isaiah the prophet, and said to him, Is the sense of what you are reading clear to you?

The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:

In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare 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 when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, and the eunuch saw him no more, for he was going on his way rejoicing;

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

Now Saul, as he was still breathing threats of murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest

to ask for letters [authorizing him to go] to Damascus and to enter [Jewish] synagogues looking for people of "the Way" [Note: This was a designation for Christians at that time]. And if he found any, whether men or women, he would tie them up and take them to Jerusalem.

As he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him.

"Who art thou, Lord?" he asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," was the reply.

And Saul got up from the earth, and when his eyes were open, he saw nothing; and he was guided by the hand into Damascus.

And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.

And Ananias went away, and did enter into the house, and having put upon him his hands, said, 'Saul, brother, the Lord hath sent me -- Jesus who did appear to thee in the way in which thou wast coming -- that thou mayest see again, and mayest be filled with the Holy Spirit.'

And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.

and immediately in the synagogues he was preaching the Christ, that he is the Son of God.

But all who heard him were astounded and said, “Isn’t this the man who, in Jerusalem, was destroying those who called on this name and then came here for the purpose of taking them as prisoners to the chief priests?”

And Saul was still more strengthened, and he was confounding the Jews dwelling in Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.

But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.

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.

and Barnabas having taken him, brought him unto the apostles, and did declare to them how in the way he saw the Lord, and that he spake to him, and how in Damascus he was speaking boldly in the name of Jesus.

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

and speaking boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, he was both speaking and disputing with the Hellenists, and they were taking in hand to kill him,

So the church throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria had peace, being edified; and, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, was multiplied.

As Peter was traveling from place to place, he also came down to the saints who lived in Lydda.

And there he found a certain man named AEneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.

When everyone who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him [i.e., that the man was healed], they turned [their lives over] to the Lord.

Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.

And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.

And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.

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.

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

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

There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,

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 when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;

AM], while he was wide awake, he had a vision in which an angel of God came to him [and spoke his name] "Cornelius."

And he was in need of food: but while they were getting it ready, a deep sleep came on him;

and saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel come down unto him, as it had been a great sheet, knit at the four corners, and was let down to the earth,

And there was a voice to him, Rise, Peter, slay and eat.

And Peter said, By no means, Lord, because I never was in the habit of eating anything unconsecrated and unclean.

And there was a voice again the second time to him, What God has cleansed, do not thou make common.

This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

While Peter was deeply perplexed about what the vision he had seen might mean, the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions to Simon’s house, stood at the gate.

And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.

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

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 invited them in and entertained them. Next day he was up and off with them, accompanied by some of the brothers from Joppa;

The following day he entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.

And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.

And as he was conversing with him, he went in, and found many assembled together.

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?

And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,

and he said, Cornelius, thy prayer was heard, and thy kind acts were remembered before God;

Therefore I sent to you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God to hear all things that have been commanded you by the Lord."

this was what he communicated to the children of Israel, proclaiming salvation by Jesus Christ, who is the Lord of all mankind.

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.

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.

And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.

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

And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,

Then Peter beginning, laid all things before them in order, saying, I was praying in the city of Joppa,

I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me:

at which having looked stedfastly, I was considering, and I saw the four-footed beasts of the earth, and the wild beasts, and the creeping things, and the fowls of heaven;

But I said, 'Never, sir! For nothing that was not ceremonially cleansed has ever passed my lips.'

And a voice a second time was heard from heaven, Whatsoever things God has cleansed, consider thou not unconsecrated.

And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven.

And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me.

and while I was speaking to them, the holy spirit descended upon them, as it did on us, at the beginning.

And the words of the Lord came into my mind, how he said, The baptism of John was with water, but you will have baptism with the Holy Spirit.

Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?

And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.

Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.

Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.

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

Then he went on to Tarsus to look for Saul [Note: Tarsus was the home town of Saul, who was later called Paul],

And having found him, he brought him to Antioch. And so it was with them that for a whole year they were gathered together in the assembly and taught a large crowd: and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine throughout the Roman world. This took place during the time of Claudius.

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

So, they sent [what was donated] to the elders [of the Judean churches] by Barnabas and Saul.

Now about that time King Herod began a persecution of certain people in the [Jerusalem] church. [Note: This man was the grandson of Herod the Great. See Matt. 2:1].

And [when he] saw that it was pleasing to the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. ({Now this was during the feast} of Unleavened Bread.)

So, Peter was arrested and put in jail with four groups of four soldiers each guarding him. Herod planned to have him brought before the people after the Passover Festival was over.

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

And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.

And behold, the angel of the Lord was there present, and a light shined in the lodge. And he smote Peter on the side, and stirred him up, saying, "Arise up quickly." And his chains fell off from his hands.

And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.

And, passing through the first ward and the second, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth into the city, the which, of its own accord, opened unto them; and, coming out, they went on through one street, and, straightway, the messenger was parted from him.

And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.