However, so this does not spread any further among the people, let’s threaten them against speaking to anyone in this name again.”

So they called for them and ordered them not to preach or teach at all in the name of Jesus.

For there was not a needy person among them, because all those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the proceeds of the things that were sold,

and laid them at the apostles’ feet. This was then distributed for each person’s basic needs.

Wasn’t it yours while you possessed it? And after it was sold, wasn’t it at your disposal? Why is it that you planned this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God!”

There was an interval of about three hours; then his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.

But an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail during the night, brought them out, and said,

But when the temple police got there, they did not find them in the jail, so they returned and reported,

“Didn’t we strictly order you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to bring this man’s blood on us!”

Not long ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about 400 men rallied to him. He was killed, and all his partisans were dispersed and came to nothing.

but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even be found fighting against God.” So they were persuaded by him.

After they called in the apostles and had them flogged, they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them.

Then the Twelve summoned the whole company of the disciples and said, “It would not be right for us to give up preaching about God to handle financial matters.

They also presented false witnesses who said, “This man does not stop speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the law.

He didn’t give him an inheritance in it, not even a foot of ground, but He promised to give it to him as a possession, and to his descendants after him, even though he was childless.

until a different king who did not know Joseph ruled over Egypt.

He assumed his brothers would understand that God would give them deliverance through him, but they did not understand.

I am the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob. So Moses began to tremble and did not dare to look.

However, the Most High does not dwell in sanctuaries made with hands, as the prophet says:

Did not My hand make all these things?

Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They even killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become.

You received the law under the direction of angels and yet have not kept it.”

Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin!” And saying this, he fell asleep.

For He had not yet come down on any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

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

Now the Scripture passage he was reading was this:

He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
and as a lamb is silent before its shearer,
so He does not open His mouth.

When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him any longer. But he went on his way rejoicing.

He was unable to see for three days and did not eat or drink.

but their plot became known to Saul. So they were watching the gates day and night intending to kill him,

but his disciples took him by night and lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the wall.

When he arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to associate with the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, since they did not believe he was a disciple.

Again, a second time, a voice said to him, “What God has made clean, you must not call common.”

Peter said to them, “You know it’s forbidden for a Jewish man to associate with or visit a foreigner. But God has shown me that I must not call any person common or unclean.

not by all the people, but by us, witnesses appointed beforehand by God, who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead.

But a voice answered from heaven a second time, ‘What God has made clean, you must not call common.’

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.

So he went out and followed, and he did not know that what took place through the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.

She recognized Peter’s voice, and because of her joy, she did not open the gate but ran in and announced that Peter was standing at the gateway.

After Herod had searched and did not find him, he interrogated the guards and ordered their execution. Then Herod went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there.

The assembled people began to shout, “It’s the voice of a god and not of a man!”

At once an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give the glory to God, and he became infected with worms and died.

Now, look! The Lord’s hand is against you. You are going to be blind, and will not see the sun for a time.” Suddenly a mist and darkness fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand.

Then as John was completing his life’s work, he said, ‘Who do you think I am? I am not the One. But look! Someone is coming after me, and I am not worthy to untie the sandals on His feet.’

For the residents of Jerusalem and their rulers, since they did not recognize Him or the voices of the prophets that are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled their words by condemning Him.

Therefore He also says in another passage, You will not allow Your Holy One to see decay.

But the One God raised up did not decay.

and everyone who believes in Him is justified from everything that you could not be justified from through the law of Moses.

So beware that what is said in the prophets does not happen to you:

although He did not leave Himself without a witness, since He did what is good by giving you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons and satisfying your hearts with food and happiness.”

Therefore, in my judgment, we should not cause difficulties for those among the Gentiles who turn to God,

But Paul did not think it appropriate to take along this man who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them to the work.

When they came to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.

During the night a vision appeared to Paul: A Macedonian man was standing and pleading with him, “Cross over to Macedonia and help us!”

and are promoting customs that are not legal for us as Romans to adopt or practice.”

He took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds. Right away he and all his family were baptized.

But Paul said to them, “They beat us in public without a trial, although we are Roman citizens, and threw us in jail. And now are they going to smuggle us out secretly? Certainly not! On the contrary, let them come themselves and escort us out!”

When they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city officials, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here too,

As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas off to Berea. On arrival, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.

The God who made the world and everything in it—He is Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in shrines made by hands.

He did this so they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.

Then the Lord said to Paul in a night vision, “Don’t be afraid, but keep on speaking and don’t be silent.

But when some became hardened and would not believe, slandering the Way in front of the crowd, he withdrew from them and met separately with the disciples, conducting discussions every day in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.

You both see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this man Paul has persuaded and misled a considerable number of people by saying that gods made by hand are not gods!

So not only do we run a risk that our business may be discredited, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be despised and her magnificence come to the verge of ruin—the very one all of Asia and the world adore.”

Though Paul wanted to go in before the people, the disciples did not let him.

Even some of the provincial officials of Asia, who were his friends, sent word to him, pleading with him not to take a chance by going into the amphitheater.

Meanwhile, some were shouting one thing and some another, because the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together.

Therefore, since these things are undeniable, you must keep calm and not do anything rash.

For you have brought these men here who are not temple robbers or blasphemers of our goddess.

For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus so he would not have to spend time in Asia, because he was hurrying to be in Jerusalem, if possible, for the day of Pentecost.

and that I did not shrink back from proclaiming to you anything that was profitable or from teaching it to you in public and from house to house.

“And now I am on my way to Jerusalem, bound in my spirit, not knowing what I will encounter there,

for I did not shrink back from declaring to you the whole plan of God.

I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.

Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for three years I did not stop warning each one of you with tears.

I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.

So we found some disciples and stayed there seven days. Through the Spirit they told Paul not to go to Jerusalem.

When we heard this, both we and the local people begged him not to go up to Jerusalem.

Then Paul replied, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

Since he would not be persuaded, we stopped talking and simply said, “The Lord’s will be done!”

But they have been told about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to abandon Moses, by telling them not to circumcise their children or to walk in our customs.

Some in the mob were shouting one thing and some another. Since he was not able to get reliable information because of the uproar, he ordered him to be taken into the barracks.

Now those who were with me saw the light, but they did not hear the voice of the One who was speaking to me.

and saw Him telling me, ‘Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about Me!’

“I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest,” replied Paul. “For it is written, You must not speak evil of a ruler of your people.”

The following night, the Lord stood by him and said, “Have courage! For as you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”

Don’t let them persuade you, because there are more than 40 of them arranging to ambush him, men who have bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they kill him. Now they are ready, waiting for a commitment from you.”

Therefore, the soldiers took Paul during the night and brought him to Antipatris as they were ordered.

However, so that I will not burden you any further, I beg you in your graciousness to give us a brief hearing.

He ordered that the centurion keep Paul under guard, though he could have some freedom, and that he should not prevent any of his friends from serving him.

When he had spent not more than eight or 10 days among them, he went down to Caesarea. The next day, seated at the judge’s bench, he commanded Paul to be brought in.

When he arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him and brought many serious charges that they were not able to prove,

If then I am doing wrong, or have done anything deserving of death, I do not refuse to die, but if there is nothing to what these men accuse me of, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar!”

I answered them that it’s not the Romans’ custom to give any man up before the accused confronts the accusers face to face and has an opportunity to give a defense concerning the charges.

Therefore, when they had assembled here, I did not delay. The next day I sat at the judge’s bench and ordered the man to be brought in.

Then Festus said: “King Agrippa and all men present with us, you see this man about whom the whole Jewish community has appealed to me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he should not live any longer.

Now I realized that he had not done anything deserving of death, but when he himself appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.

For it seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner and not to indicate the charges against him.”

the promise our 12 tribes hope to attain as they earnestly serve Him night and day. King Agrippa, I am being accused by the Jews because of this hope.

“Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.