The Acts of the Apostles

1

In the first volume, Theophilus, I wrote the word of all that Jesus began to do and teach to them, 2 until the day when he was taken up, afterward through the holy spirit he commanded the apostles whom he had chosen, 3 having also shown himself to them alive after having suffered, by many proofs, being seen together with them for forty days, he spoke to them of the kingdom of God.

4 And as they were gathered together in that place, he ordered them not to go back down to Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the father, “of which”, he said, “you heard from my mouth; 5 for John indeed baptized in water, and you will be baptized in the holy spirit not many days from now.”

6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked him, saying, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

7 And he said to them, “It is not yours to know the time and matters which the Father has placed in his own power; 8 but you will receive power, when the holy spirit will come down upon you, and you will be my witnesses, not only in Jerusalem, but also in all of Judaea and Samaria, and to the very ends of the earth.”

9 And when he had said these things, they saw him being carried away from them, and clouds led him away from their eyes. 10 And they were gazing into heaven as he went from them. And behold, two men stood beside them, in white clothes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing into heaven? This Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven shall come thus, just as you have seen him go into heaven.”

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem, to the mountain which was called Olivet, which was a sabbath’s walk away from Jerusalem. 13 And when they arrived, they went up into a dining hall where also remained Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, and Philip, and Thomas, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. 14 All of them persevered as one mind in prayer and deprecation with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

15 On that day, Peter, rising up in the midst of the disciples, said (since there was a crowd of men there at the same time, about a hundred twenty), 16 “Men, brothers, these scriptures must be fulfilled which the holy spirit spoke before by the mouth of David about Judas, who was the leader of those who had seized Jesus, 17 having been numbered together with us, and having chanced upon the lot of his ministry. 18 Now he had bought a certain field with the wages of iniquity, and as he hung there, he fell down in the middle of it, and his guts were all scattered throughout. 19 And it was known by all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that they called that field in their own language, Hakel Demah (that is, the field of blood). 20 For it is written in the book of the Psalms,

May his abode be a desert,
and may there be no one who dwells therein;
and may another take his supervisory.

21 “For it must be that of these men who have come together with us, all the time that the Lord Jesus came and went with us, 22 beginning with the baptism of John, until the day when he was taken from us, that one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection.”

23 And they stood up two of them: Joseph, who was called Bar-Sabbas, who was surnamed Justus; and Matthias. 24 And they prayed, saying, “Lord, you who know all hearts: show us which of these two you choose 25 to take the lot of his ministry and apostleship, from which Judas transgressed, that he may go forth in his place.”

26 And they cast their lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; and he was reckoned with the number of the twelve apostles.

2

And when the day of Pentecost had fully come, all were of one mind in the same place, 2 and suddenly there came from heaven a sound as the blast of a mighty wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared to them like split tongues, as if of fire, seated upon each of them; 4 and all were filled with the holy spirit, and began to speak in languages other than their own, as the spirit gave them speech.

5 And in Jerusalem there were inhabitants, Jews, religious men from every nation under heaven. 6 And as this was voiced, the crowd gathered and was confounded, for each one there heard them speak in their own language. 7 And all of them were dumbfounded, and marveled, saying among themselves, “Behold, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how are we able to hear them each in our own birth tongues? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, Mesopotamians, Jews, Cappadocians, Pontians, Asians, 10 Phrygians, Pamphylians, Egyptians, and people from parts of Libya, which is beyond Cyrene; and coming from Rome, 11 Jews and converts, Cretians and Arabs; we hear them speaking in our own languages the greatnesses of God.” 12 And all of them were dumbfounded, and marveled among themselves, saying, “What can this be?”

13 But others, jeering, said, “They are full of cheap wine.”

14 And Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and spoke to them: “Men of Judaea, and all of you who live in Jerusalem, may this be known to you, and listen to my words. 15 For these people are not, as you suppose, drunk, for it is but midmorning; 16 but it is this that was spoken by the prophet Joel:

17 And it will be in the last days—says God—
I will pour some of my spirit upon all flesh;
then shall your sons and your daughters prophesy,
your young will see sights
and your old will dream dreams.

18 And surely upon my servants and upon my maids,
in those days I will pour out my spirit,
and they will prophesy;

19 and I will give them wonders in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below;
blood, fire, and clouds of smoke;

20 the sun will be turned to darkness,
and the moon to blood,
before that great and visible day of the Lord shall come.

21 And it shall be,
that all who shall call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.

22 “Men, Israelites, hear these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man revealed from God to you, powers and wonders and signs that were done by him in your midst, even as you know; 23 this one, handed over to the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, by the hands of the wicked, you hanged and murdered; 24 whom God raised up, unbinding the pain of death, for it was not able to hold him. 25 For of him David spoke,

I foresaw the Lord before me always;
for he is at my right hand,
I cannot be moved.

26 Therefore my heart was made glad,
and my tongue rejoiced;
furthermore my flesh shall rest in hope;

27 for you will not leave my soul to rot in hell,
nor will you hand over your holy one to see corruption.

28 You make me to know the ways of life;
you fill me with gladness by your face.

29 Men, brothers, let me speak to you freely of the patriarch David, who is also dead and buried; and his tomb is with us to this very day. 30 Therefore being a prophet, and having known that God swore an oath to him, that one of the fruit of his loins would sit upon his throne; 31 having foreknown, he spoke of the resurrection of Christ, whose soul was not left to rot in hell, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus, God raised, of which we all are witnesses. 33 So he is exalted on the right-hand side of God, and we have received the promise of the holy spirit from the father; this he has poured out, which now you see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend into heaven, but said of him,

The Lord said to my lord,
Sit on my right

35 until I place your enemies
as a stool for your feet.
36 So may all the house of Israel know truly that also God has made this Jesus you have crucified both Lord and Christ.”

37 And having heard this, their hearts were pierced, and they said to Peter and the remaining apostles, “Men, brothers, what shall we do?”

38 And Peter said to them, “Be repentant, and be baptized each and every one of you into the name of Jesus Christ, into the remission of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the holy spirit. 39 For a promise is made for you, and your sons, and all who are afar off, whoever the Lord our God will call forth.” 40 Also in many other words he witnessed and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this depraved generation.” 41 Then those who freely accepted his word were baptized; and that day were added about three thousand souls.

42 And they continued in the doctrine of the apostles, and communication, and the breaking of bread, and prayer. 43 And a fear fell over all the souls; for many signs and wonders were worked by the apostles.

44 And all who believed were joined together, and had all things in common. 45 And all their possessions and substance they sold, and divided the earnings among all of them, as any had need. 46 And every day they continued as one mind in the temple, and breaking bread in each one’s houses, taking meals together, with rejoicing and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added each day to the community to those who would be saved.

3

And at that time, Peter and John went up into the temple at the hour of the mid-afternoon prayer. 2 And they brought in a certain man who was lame from his mother’s womb, who every day was laid at the gate of the temple which was called Beautiful, to beg for charity of those entering the temple. 3 He, seeing Peter and John going into the temple, asked them for a gift.

4 And Peter, with John, fixing his eyes on him, said, “Look at us.”

5 And he gazed at them, hoping to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “Silver and gold is not in my possession, but what I have, this I will give you. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk.” 7 And he took his right hand and stood him up. And at once his feet and ankles were made firm. 8 And jumping up, he stood and walked; and he went into the temple with them, walking and jumping up and down and praising God.

9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 and they recognized him, that it was he who was sitting and begging at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. And they were filled with awe and amazement at what had happened to him.

11 And as the lame man who had been healed held onto Peter and John, all the people ran to them in the portico which was called Solomon’s, dumbfounded. 12 When Peter saw, he responded to the people: “Men, Israelites, why are you standing here slackjawed, or why are you staring at us, as if by our own power or authority we have made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his son Jesus, whom indeed you betrayed and denied in the sight of Pilate when he swore he would release him. 14 But you have denied the holy and righteous one, and demanded that a man, a murderer be given to you, 15 and slaughtered the author of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. 16 And by faith in his name, he who you see and know, has confirmed his name; and faith, which is through him, has given him this complete wholeness in the sight of all of you.

17 “And now, brothers, I know that you did this out of ignorance, just as your princes did. 18 And God has thus fulfilled what he has proclaimed by the mouth of all his prophets, the suffering of Christ. 19 Therefore be repentant and turn back, so that your sins may be erased, 20 so that when the time of refreshing shall come from the face of the Lord, he will also send the one who was preached to you, Jesus Christ, 21 who heaven must indeed receive, until the time of the restitution of all things which God spoke of by the mouth of his holy prophets throughout the age.

22 “Indeed Moses said, The Lord your God shall raise up to you a prophet from your brothers like myself; listen to him, according to all the things which have been ever spoken to you. 23 And it shall be, that every soul who does not hear that prophet will be exterminated from the people. 24 Furthermore, all the prophets from Samuel until now, as many as have spoken, also foretold these days. 25 You are the sons of the prophets, and of the testament which God made to our fathers, saying to Abraham, And in your seed will all the families of the earth be blessed. 26 To you first God, when he raised up his son Jesus, sent him to bless you; to turn each of you from your evil deeds.”

4

And as they spoke to the people, the priests and magistrates of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 bothered that they were teaching the people, and announcing in the name of Jesus a resurrection from the dead, 3 and they laid their hands on them, and placed them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 For many of those who heard their words believed, and the number of the men alone was made about five thousand.

5 And it so happened the next day that their princes and old people and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, 6 and Annas the chief priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the priests.

7 And when they stood them in the midst, they would question them, “By what authority or in what name do you people do this?”

8 Then Peter, filled with the holy spirit, said to them, “Princes of the people and ancients of Israel, listen: 9 if we today are being judged upon the good deed which we have done to this infirm man, in that he is made whole, 10 may it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, in him this man stands before you whole. 11 He is the stone that you, the builders, rejected, which has been made the head stone in the corner; 12 and there is no salvation in anyone else. For there is not another name under heaven given to people in which we must be made whole.”

13 And seeing the boldness of Peter and John, and noticing that the men were ordinary and illiterate men, they marveled, and recognized that they had been with Jesus; 14 and seeing the man standing with them who had been healed, no one could say anything against them. 15 But commanding them to depart from the Sanhedrin, they conferred among themselves, 16 saying, “What are we going to do with these people? For indeed it is known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem that these signs are done by them; and it is plainly apparent, and we cannot deny it. 17 But that it be divulged no further among the people, we ought to threaten them to speak no further in this name to anyone.” 18 And calling them, they commanded them to not speak nor teach anything in the name of Jesus.

19 But Peter and John, answering, said to them, “Judge for yourselves, whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God. 20 For we cannot speak, except of what we have seen and heard.” 21 And they threatened them again and sent them away, finding no means to punish them because of the people, for they were all glorifying God for what had happened. 22 For the man was more than forty years old, in whom this sign of healing was done.

23 And being let go, they went to their own people, and announced to them so much as the chief priests and older people had said to them. 24 And hearing them, as one mind they raised their voices to God, and said, “Lord, you are God who made the heaven and earth, the sea and all things that are in it; 25 who in the holy spirit by the mouth of our father David your servant said,

Why do the nations rage,
the people muse empty thoughts?
26 The kings of the earth stand up,
the princes have come together as one
against the Lord
and against his Christ.
27 For indeed they have come together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed to be Christ; likewise Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the nations and the people of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your counsel first determined to do. 29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats, and give your servants to speak your word in all boldness, 30 stretching out your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of your holy son Jesus.”

31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered shook; and all were filled with the holy spirit, and they would speak the word of God boldly.

32 And the many believers were of one heart and one mind; nor did any of them say that anything he may have owned was his own; but all their things were common. 33 And in great power the apostles would give testimony of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus; and great grace was upon them all. 34 For neither was there any among them who lacked. For as many as owned fields or houses, they sold them, and brought the value of what they had sold, 35 and set it down before the feet of the apostles, and they would distribute it to each as they had need. 36 And Joses, who was surnamed Barnabas by the apostles, that is to say, the son of consolation, a Levite and a Cyprian by race, 37 sold a piece of land that he had, and took its value and placed it before the feet of the apostles.

5

And a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold something 2 and deceptively kept part of the value for themselves, his wife also being aware of it; and they took some of it and put it at the feet of the apostles.

3 And Peter said to Ananias, “Ananias, why has Satan tempted your heart so that you would lie to the holy spirit and be cheaters with the value of your field? 4 While it was still yours, and you were going to sell it, was it not in your power? Why have you taken it in your heart to do this thing? You have not lied to men, but to God.”

5 And hearing these words, Ananias crumpled to the ground dead. And a great fear came over all who heard these things. 6 And some young men got up and carried him out and buried him.

7 And it so happened about three hours afterward that his wife, not knowing what had happened, entered. 8 And Peter replied to her, “Tell me, woman, did you not sell this field for such and such amount of money?” And she said, “Yes, for such and such.”

9 And Peter said to her, “Why have you conspired among yourselves to tempt the spirit of the Lord? Look: the feet of those who buried your husband are at the door and will take you away as well.” 10 And at once she dropped dead at his feet. And the young men came in to find her dead; and they took and buried her next to her husband. 11 And a great fear came over the whole community and upon all who heard these things.

12 And by the hands of the apostles were done many signs and wonders among the people. And everyone was of one mind in the portico of Solomon. 13 And of the rest no one dared to join them, but the people glorified them. 14 However, the multitude of men and women believing in the Lord grew in number greatly, 15 so that they would bring out their sick into the streets, and place them on cots and stretchers so that Peter’s shadow would pass over some of them. 16 And crowds gathered together from the cities round about Jerusalem, bringing those who were ill and vexed by unclean spirits; who healed them all.

17 And the chief priest and all who were with him, who are the sect of the Sadducees, rose up, filled with jealousy, 18 and laid hands on the apostles and put them in the public custody. 19 And an angel of the Lord by night appeared at the gates of the prison and led them out, saying, 20 “Go, and standing in the temple, speak the words of this life to all the people.” 21 When they heard, they entered the temple early in the morning and began to teach. And the chief priest and those who were with him came and called a council and all the ancients of the sons of Israel and sent them to the prison to bring them in. 22 And when the deputies came, and failed to find them there, they turned back and proclaimed 23 saying, “Indeed we found the jail locked up with all diligence and the guards standing outside before the gates; but when we had opened up, we found no one inside.”

24 And the priests and magistrates of the temple and the chief priests, hearing these words, doubted as to them, how far this would proceed.

25 And certain, coming, announced to them, “Behold, the men whom you placed in jail are standing in the temple and teaching the people.”

26 Then the officer came down with his deputies, and led them without force: for they feared the people, lest they be stoned. 27 And when they had led them in, they stood them in the council; and the chief priest questioned them, 28 saying, “Did we not order you with an order not to teach in this name? And behold, Jerusalem is filled with your doctrine; and you would bring the blood of this man upon us.”

29 And answering, Peter and the other apostles said, “We must the more obey God than people. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered, hanging him on a tree. 31 This prince and savior, God lifted up to his right hand to give repentance to Israel and remission to sinners; 32 and we are witnesses to these words; as is the holy spirit, which God gave to those who obey him.”

33 And hearing these things, they were cut to the heart, and consulted as to how to kill them all.

34 And rising, a certain man in the council of the Pharisees, Gamaliel by name, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, ordered them to give the apostles some space, 35 and said to them, “Men, Israelites, be mindful to yourselves about what you intend to do with these men. 36 For before these days arose Theudas, claiming he was somebody, to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves; he was killed, and all who believed him were scattered and brought to nothing. 37 After that rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the census, and led the people astray after him; and he perished, and all who joined up with him were scattered. 38 And now I say to you, abstain from these men, and let them be; for if this counsel or this work is from the people, it will be fall apart on its own; 39 but if it is from God you cannot tear it apart, lest sometime also you should be found to be fighting against God.” And they agreed. 40 And having called the apostles, they flayed them and ordered them not to speak to anyone in the name of Jesus, and dismissed them.

41 And they went rejoicing from the face of the council, for they had been deemed worthy to be put to shame for his name. 42 And every day in the temple and around the houses they did not cease to teach and proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ.

6

In those days, the number of the disciples growing, there arose a murmur of the Greeks against the Hebrews, that their widows were being neglected in the daily ministry. 2 And the twelve having called to them the multitude of disciples said, “It is not a good thing that abandoning the word of God we should serve to tables. 3 Therefore consider, brothers, men from among you with good witness from the seven, full of the holy spirit and wisdom, which we may appoint to this purpose. 4 But as for us, we shall continue in prayers and the ministry of the words.” 5 And this word was pleasing in the sight of all the multitude.

And they selected Stephen, a man full of faith and holy spirit, and Philip, and Prochor, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicholas, a convert from the Antiochans. 6 They stood in the sight of the apostles; and when they had prayed they placed their hands on them. 7 And the word of the Lord grew, and the number of the disciples was greatly multiplied in Jerusalem. Even many of the priests were obedient to the faith.

8 And Stephen, full of grace and strength, performed great signs and wonders among the people. 9 And some of the synagogue which was called Of the Libertines, and Of the Cyrenese, and Of the Alexandrians, and of those who were from Cilicia and Asia, rose up disputing with Stephen, 10 and they could not resist the wisdom and the spirit which was speaking. 11 Then they convinced men who said, “We have heard him speaking words of blasphemy against Moses and God.” 12 And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, seizing him, and leading him into the council, 13 and standing up false witnesses, who said, “This man does not cease to speak words against this holy place and law; 14 for we have heard him saying that this Jesus the Nazarene will destroy this place and change the traditions which Moses handed down to us.” 15 And all who sat on the council gazed at him, seeing his face like the face of an angel.

7

Then the chief priest said, “Are these things so?”

2 And he said: “Men, brothers, and fathers, listen. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, 3 and said to him: Depart from your land, and from your relatives, and come into the land which I shall show you. 4 Then he departed from the land of the Chaldaeans, and lived in Haran. And from there, after his father died, he brought him into this land, in which you now live. 5 And he did not give him an inheritance in it, not one foot of space; but he promised to give it to him as a possession, and to his seed after him, not having a son.

6 “And God spoke to him that his seed will be a dweller in a foreign land, and that they would subject them to servitude, and treat them evilly for four hundred years; 7 And the nation to whom they serve, I will judge, says the Lord; and after these things, they will depart, and serve me in this place. 8 And he gave him the covenant of circumcision; and thus he fathered Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day, and Isaac Jacob, and Jacob the twelve patriarchs.

9 “And the patriarchs, being jealous, sold Joseph into Egypt, but God was with him, 10 and saved him from all his afflictions, and gave him grace and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and he set him as governor over Egypt, and over all his house. 11 And there came a famine in all of Egypt and Canaan, and a great tribulation; and our fathers found no food. 12 But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our fathers first; 13 and the second time, Joseph was recognized by his brothers, and his race was revealed to Pharaoh. 14 And Joseph sent and called to him Jacob his father and all his relatives, in all seventy-five souls. 15 And Jacob went down into Egypt, and died there, as did our fathers. 16 And he was brought to Shechem, and placed in the tomb which Abraham bought for a price of silver from the children of Hamor the son of Shechem.

17 “And when the time of the promise approached, which God swore to Abraham, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt, 18 until another king rose up in Egypt who did not know Joseph. 19 He was sneaky with our race, and treated our fathers evilly so that they threw away their children, lest they live. 20 At that time Moses was born, and he was pleasing to God; he was nursed for three months in the house of his father. 21 And when he was found out, the daughter of Pharaoh took him in, and nursed him as her own son. 22 And Moses was taught in all the knowledge of the Egyptians, and was mighty in word and deed. 23 And when he had completed forty years, it arose in his heart to visit his brothers the sons of Israel. 24 And when he had seen one of them suffer injury, he defended him, and avenging the one who suffered the injury, he slapped the Egyptian. 25 And he figured that his brothers would understand that God was giving them salvation by his hand; but they did not. 26 But the next day, as they fought with each other, he appeared to them, and was going to reconcile them in peace, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers; why do you harm each other?’ 27 But the one who had wronged his neighbor shoved him aside, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler or a judge over us? 28 Do you intend to kill me as you did that Egyptian yesterday?’ 29 And at that word, Moses escaped, and he became an alien in the land of Midian, where he fathered two sons. 30 And when forty more years had passed, there appeared to him in the desert of Mount Sinai an angel in a briar, in a flame of fire. 31 And Moses, seeing, marveled at the vision. And drawing closer to investigate it, the voice of the Lord came to him, saying, 32 I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. And Moses trembled, and did not dare to look further. 33 Then the Lord said to him, Unfasten the shoes on your feet, for the place on which you stand is holy land. 34 By seeing I have seen the suffering in Egypt of my people, and their cries of pain, and I have come down to free them. And now come, and I will send you to Egypt. 35 This Moses, whom they denied, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler or a judge?’, this very one, God sent as a ruler and redeemer, with the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the briar. 36 He led them out, doing signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, and in the Red Sea, and in the desert for forty years.

37 “This is the very Moses who said to the sons of Israel, God will raise you up a prophet from your brothers like me; listen to him. 38 He it is who was in the community in the wilderness, with the angel who spoke to him upon Mount Sinai, and with our fathers; who received the words of life to give to us, 39 but whom our fathers would not obey, but tossed him aside, and turned in their hearts back to Egypt, 40 saying to Aaron, Make us gods who will go before us. For as for this Moses person who led us from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him. 41 And they made a calf in those days, and brought sacrifices to an idol, and rejoiced over the works of their hands. 42 And God turned, and handed them over to serve the heavenly army, as it is written in the book of the prophets:

Did you bring me sacrifices
and slaughtered animals
those forty years in the desert,
house of Israel?

43 But you took up the tent of Molech,
and the star of your god Remphan,
figures which you made to worship them.
And I shall carry you away past Babylon.

44 “The tent of witness was with our fathers in the desert, as God intended for them, speaking to Moses, that he should make it according to the blueprint which he saw; 45 which our fathers, receiving, brought with Joshua into the possession of the nations which God pushed out from the face of our fathers until the days of David, 46 who found grace before God, and desired to find a home for the God of Jacob. 47 And Solomon built him a house. 48 But the Most High does not abide in that which is built by hands, as the prophet said,

49 The heaven is my throne,
and the earth a stool for my feet.
What house will you build me?—says the Lord.
Or what is the place of my rest?

50 Have not my own hands made all these things?

51 “Hard of neck, and uncircumcised of heart and ear, you always resist the holy spirit; just as your fathers do, you also do. 52 What prophet has there been that your fathers have not harassed? And they have killed those who foretold of the coming of the righteous one, of whom you now have become betrayers and murderers, 53 you who have received the law from from the angels themselves and do not keep it!”

54 And hearing these things, they were cut to the heart, and they ground their teeth at him. 55 But being full of the holy spirit, he, looking up to heaven, saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing to the right of God. 56 And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the son of man standing to the right of God.” 57 And screaming at the top of their voices, they covered their ears, and as one they charged at him, and tossing him outside the city, they threw rocks at him; 58 and the witnesses set down their clothes at the feet of a young man who was called Saul. 59 And they continued to throw rocks at Stephen, as he cried out, and said, “Lord Jesus, take my spirit!” 60 And dropping to his knees, he cried out at the top of his voice, saying, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And having said this, he slept in the Lord. Now this Saul was assenting to his death.

8

And in those days there was a great persecution in the community which was at Jerusalem, and apart from the apostles, they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria. 2 And devout men saw to Stephen’s burial, and made great mourning over him. 3 But Saul laid the community waste by entry into houses, and handing over men and women, had them put in prison.

4 Therefore those who were scattered went around proclaiming the word of God. 5 And Philip went down into the city of Samaria, preaching Christ to them. 6 And the crowds listened to the things which Philip would speak, hearing with one mind, and seeing the signs which he did. 7 For from many who had unclean spirits, the spirits departed, screaming at the top of their voices. And many paralytics and people who could not work were cured. 8 And there was a great joy in that city. 9 But a certain man, named Simon, who had before been a sorcerer in that city, deceiving the people of Samaria, calling himself someone great, 10 to whom they all turned the ear, from least to greatest, saying “This is the power of God, which is called great.” 11 And they would listen to him, because for a long time he had brainwashed them with his sorcery.

12 But when they had believed Philip proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom of God, men and women alike would be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. 13 Then even Simon himself believed; and when he had been baptized, he clung to Philip. And seeing him doing very great signs and miracles, he would gawk, dumbfounded.

14 Now when the apostles who were in Jerusalem saw that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, coming, prayed over them that they might receive the holy spirit; 16 for it had not at all come upon any of them, but some had been baptized in the name of Jesus. 17 Then they placed their hands upon them, and they received the holy spirit.

18 And seeing that they were being given the holy spirit by the placing-on of hands, Simon offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power, that upon whomever I shall place my hands, they will receive the holy spirit.”

20 But Peter said to him, “May your money go to hell with you, for thinking that the gift of God could be bought with money. 21 You have no part or lot in this word, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. 22 Therefore, make repentance from this wickedness of yours, and ask God if he might perhaps forgive you this thought of your heart. 23 For I see you to be in the poison of bitterness, and obligation to iniquity.”

24 And Simon, answering, said, “Pray to the Lord on my behalf, that nothing may come upon me which you have said.”

25 And they, when they had given witness and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and would continue to proclaim the gospel throughout the many regions of the Samaritans. 26 But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Get up, and go southward to the road which goes from Jerusalem to Gaza; this is a desert.” And getting up, he departed.

27 And behold, an Ethiopian man, powerful under Candace queen of Ethiopia, who was in charge of all her wealth, came to worship in Jerusalem, 28 and was on his way home, and sitting in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 And the spirit said to him, “Draw closer, and join yourself to this chariot.”

30 And Philip, drawing closer, heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you think you understand what you are reading?”

31 And he said, “But how can I, if no one shows me?”

And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 And the place in the text where he was reading was this:

Like a sheep to slaughter he was led,
and like a lamb before the face of the shearer,
without a voice,
thus he did not open his mouth.
33 In the humility of his judgment
he was taken away.
And who shall tell of his generation?
For his life is borne away from the earth.

34 And answering the eunuch, Philip said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet speak this? Of himself, or of someone else?” 35 And opening his mouth, and starting from that text, Philip proclaimed the gospel of Jesus.

36 And as they went along the way, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look, water; what prevents me from being baptized?”

37 And Philip said, “If you believe from your whole heart, it is permitted.”

And answering, he said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God.”

38 And he commanded the chariot to remain where it was; and Philip and the eunuch went down together into the water, and he baptized him. 39 But when they had come up from the water, the spirit of the Lord seized Philip away, and the eunuch no now saw him, but he went on his way rejoicing.

40 And Philip was found in Azotus, and went around evangelizing all of the cities, until he came to Caesarea.

9

And Saul, still breathing threats and slaughter upon the followers of the Lord, went to the chief priest, 2 and asked of him letters to the synagogues in Damascus, that if any followers of the way be found, man or woman, they be brought to Jerusalem bound.

3 And as he continued his travel, he started to come close to Damascus. And suddenly a light from heaven shone all around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you harass me?”

5 And he said, “Who are you, sir?”

And he replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are harassing.”

6 And trembling and dumbfounded, he said, “Lord, what do you want me to do?”

And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go into the city; and there it will be told you what you must do.”

7 And the men who traveled with him stood there dumbfounded, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 And Saul picked himself off the ground, and opening his eyes he saw nothing. And they took him by the hand, and led him into Damascus. 9 And he was there for three days sightless, and neither ate nor drank.

10 Now there was a certain disciple in Damascus, named Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.”

And he said, “Behold me, Lord.”

11 And the Lord said to him, “Get up, and go into the street which is called Right; and seek in the house of Judas one named Saul of Tarsus; for behold, he is praying, 12 and he saw a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands upon him that he might receive sight.”

13 But Ananias replied, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your holy ones in Jerusalem, 14 and here he has authority from the chief priest to bind all who call upon your name.”

15 And the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is the container of my choice to carry my name in the sight of the nations, and kings, and the sons of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

17 And Ananias left, and entered the house, and placing his hands on him, he said, “Saul, brother, the Lord Jesus sent me, who appeared to you along the road as you were coming, so that you may see, and be filled with the holy spirit.” 18 And at once there fell from his eyes something like a covering of scales, and he received sight. And rising, he was baptized. And having received food, he was strengthened.

19 And he was with the disciples who were at Damascus for some days. 20 And immediately in the synagogues he proclaimed that Jesus was the son of God. 21 And all who heard were dumbfounded, and said, “Is this not the one who warred against those in Jerusalem who called upon this name, and came here for this purpose, to lead them bound to the chief priest?” 22 But Saul returned to health stronger than ever, and left the Jews who lived in Damascus confused, proving that this is Christ himself.

23 And after several days had passed the Jews took council as one to kill him. 24 But Saul was notified of their scheming, and they kept watch also over the doors day and night to kill him. 25 And the disciples took him in the night, and brought him over the wall in a basket.

26 And when he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join up with the disciples, and everyone was afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought hip to the apostles; and he told them how along the road he saw the Lord, and that he spoke to him, and how in Damascus he was bold about the name of Jesus. 28 And he was with them coming and going in Jerusalem, and being confident in the name of the Lord.

29 And he spoke and disputed with the Greek-speaking Jews; but they sought to murder him. 30 And when the brothers knew of this, they brought him to Caesarea, and sent him away to Tarsus.

31 And the community had peace throughout all of Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and they were built up, walking in fear of the Lord, and they were filled with the consolation of the holy spirit.

32 And it so happened, that as Peter was traveling everywhere, he came down to the holy people who lived in Lydda. 33 And he found there a certain man named Aeneas, who for eight years was bedridden, for he was paralyzed. 34 And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, the Lord Jesus Christ heals you; rise up and make your bed.” And at once he stood up, 35 and all who lived in Lydda and Sarona saw him, and were turned to the Lord.

36 And in Joppa there was a certain woman disciple, named Tabitha, which is to say, Gazelle. And she was full of good deeds and the works of charity which she did. 37 And it so happened in those days, that she became ill, and died. And having washed her, they placed her in a dining room. 38 And as Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, asking, “Do not delay to come to us.” 39 And Peter, rising up, came to them.

And when he had arrived, they brought him to the dining room; and all the widows stood around, weeping, and showing him the cloaks and other clothing which Tabitha had made for them. 40 And sending them all outside, Peter knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” And she opened her eyes; and seeing Peter, she sat up. 41 And giving her his hand, he stood her on her feet; and calling the holy men and the widows, he presented her quite alive. 42 And it was made known throughout all of Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.

43 And it so happened that he stayed in Joppa for many days with a certain tanner named Simon.

10

Now there was a certain man in Caesarea, named Cornelius, centurion of the cohort which is called Italic; 2 religious and fearing God with all his house, doing charity work for many people, and praying to God all the time. 3 He saw in a vision, openly, about mid-afternoon, an angel of God coming in to him and saying to him, “Cornelius.”

4 And looking at him, he was seized with fear, and said, “What is it, Lord?”

And he said to him, “Your prayers and your works of charity have risen to memory in the sight of God. 5 And now, send men to Joppa, and fetch a certain Simon, who is also called Peter; 6 he is lodging with a certain tanner named Simon, whose house is beside the sea. He will tell you what you must do.”

7 And when the angel who had spoken to him departed, he called two of his household servants, and a soldier who feared the Lord, from those who were under his command; 8 whom, when he had told them everything, he sent to Joppa.

9 And the next day, as they were traveling, and approaching the city, Peter went upstairs at about noon. 10 And as he was hungry, he wanted to eat; but as they were getting ready, he fell into a trance, 11 and saw the heaven opened, and a sort of container descending, like a large sheet, brought down by its four corners to the earth, 12 upon which were every four-legged animal, and serpents of the earth, and birds of the sky. 13 And a voice came to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat.”

14 But Peter said, “Never, Lord; for I have never eaten anything unclean or improper.”

15 And the voice came to him again, “What God has purified, do not venture to call improper.” 16 And this happened three times, and at once the container was received into heaven.

17 And as Peter had his doubts as to what this sight that he saw might mean, behold, the men which Cornelius had sent stood at the gate, looking for the house of Simon. 18 And when they had called, they asked if Simon, also known as Peter, was staying there. 19 And as Peter was thinking about the vision, the spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you, 20 so get up and go down, and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.” 21 And Peter, going down to the men, said, “Behold, it is me whom you seek; what is the reason that you have come?”

22 And they said, “Cornelius the centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man, and one having witness from the whole nation of the Jews, received an answer from a holy messenger to send for you to his own house, and to hear words from you.” 23 Taking them in therefore, he gave them a place for the night.

And the next day, rising up he left with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him.

24 The day after, they entered Caesarea, and Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his close friends and family. 25 And it so happened, as Peter went in, Cornelius came to meet him, and falling down at his feet, worshiped him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I myself am only a man.”

27 And as they spoke, they went in, and he found many who had come together, 28 and said to them, “You know how abominable it is for a Jewish man to join himself or come to one of a foreign nation, but God has shown me not to call any person unclean or improper. 29 For this reason I have come without doubts when sent for. Therefore I ask you, for what cause have you sent for me?”

30 And Cornelius said, “From four days ago until now, I was praying in the mid-afternoon in my house, 31and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothes, and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer is heard, and your works of charity are commemorated in the sight of God. 32 Therefore send to Joppa, and send for Simon who is also called Peter; he is staying at the house of Simon the tanner by the sea.’ 33 And at once I sent to you; and you have done well in coming. Therefore now we are all present in your sight to hear all things which have been commanded to you by the Lord.”

34 And opening his mouth, Peter said, “In truth I have learned that God is impartial toward persons; 35 but in every nation, the one who fears him, and works righteousness, is received by him. 36 God sent the word to the sons of Israel, proclaiming peace through Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all people— 37 and you know that the word has gone through all of Judaea, starting at Galilee after the baptism which John proclaimed, 38 Jesus, from Nazareth; how God anointed him with the holy spirit and power, who traveled around doing good deeds, and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses to all these things which were done in the territory of the Jews, and Jerusalem; who they murdered, hanging him upon a tree. 40 God raised him up on the third day, and gave to him to be revealed openly, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses preordained by God—we, who had eaten and drunk with him after he rose again from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach to the people, and to bear witness, that he is the one whom God has set in place as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets bore witness of him, that all who believe in him shall receive remission of sins through his name.”

44 As Peter was speaking these words, the holy spirit fell upon all who heard the word. 45 And the faithful who were of the circumcision who had come with Peter were dumbfounded that the grace of the holy spirit was even poured out upon the nations. 46 For they heard them speaking in other languages, and glorifying God.

47 Then Peter replied, “Can anyone forbid water, so that these who have received the holy spirit just as we have, should not be baptized?” 48 And he ordered that they be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Then they begged him to stay with them for several days.

11

Now the apostles, and the brothers who were in Judaea, heard how the nations were receiving the word of God. 2 And when Peter went up to Jerusalem, those who were of the circumcision disputed with him, 3 saying, “Why did you go in to men having uncircumcision, and eat with them?”

4 And Peter began to explain to them in order, saying, 5 “I was praying in the city of Joppa, and in a state of trance I saw a vision, a sort of container coming down like a large sheet lowered from heaven by its four corners, and it came to me. 6 Looking upon it, I considered it, and saw four-footed creatures of the earth, and beasts, and reptiles, and birds of the sky. 7 And I heard also a voice saying to me, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat.’

8 “But I said, ‘In no way, Lord; for the improper or unclean has never entered my mouth.’

9 “And the voice replied again from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, do not deign to call improper.’

10 “And this happened three times, and everything was taken back up into heaven. 11 And behold, at once three men were standing outside the house where I was, sent to me from Caesarea. 12 And the spirit said to me that I should go with them, hesitating at nothing. And these six brothers came with me, and we all entered the man’s house. 13 And he told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house, saying, ‘Send to Joppa and fetch Simon who is also called Peter, 14 who will speak to you words in which you and your whole house will be saved.” 15 And as I started to speak, the holy spirit fell upon them, as it had upon us in the beginning. 16 And I remembered the words of the Lord, as he said, ‘Indeed John baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the holy spirit.’ 17 If then God gave them this same grace as us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who am I, that I could forbid God?”

18 Having heard these things, they kept their words to themselves, but glorified God, saying, “Therefore God has given even the nations repentance to life.”

19 And those who had been scattered by the tribulation which was done due to Stephen began to travel to Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch; but they spoke not a word, except to the Jews alone. 20 But some men of them were from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they entered Antioch, did speak to Greeks as well, proclaiming the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them; and a great number of them, believing, turned to the Lord. 22 And the word regarding these things came to the ears of the community which was at Jerusalem; and they sent Barnabas to Antioch, 23 who, when he arrived and saw the grace of God, rejoiced; and he exhorted all of them to remain in the purpose of heart in the Lord. 24 For he was a good man, and full of the holy spirit and faith. And a great crowd was added to the Lord.

25 And Barnabas departed to Tarsus to look for Saul, who, when he had found him, he led forth to Antioch. 26 And in a year they all conversed in the community, and they would teach a great crowd, such that in Antioch first the disciples were nicknamed “Christians.”

27 Now in those days, there came from Jerusalem prophets to Antioch; 28 and rising up, one of them, named Agabus, signified by the spirit that a great famine was to come over all the land, which happened under Claudius. 29 And the disciples, each as he was able, determined together to send relief to the brothers who lived in Judaea, 30 which they did, sending it to the ancients by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

12

Now at that time Herod put out his hand to afflict some in the community. 2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3 And seeing that it pleased the Jews he proceeded to seize Peter also. Now these were the days of flat bread.

4 And having seized him, he threw him in jail, handing him over to four quaternions of soldiers to watch over him, intending to bring him forth to the people after the passover had ended. And Peter remained in jail. 5 But prayer to God was made for him without a pause by the community.

6 But when Herod was about to bring him forth, that night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound twice over in chains; and guards stood watch in front of the door of the jail. 7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood beside him, and a light shone throughout the cell. And slapping Peter on the side, he awoke him, saying, “Get up, quick!” And the chains fell from his hands. 8 And the angel said, “Get dressed, and put on your shoes.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Put on your coat and follow me.” 9 And leaving, he followed him, and did not know that it was real, what was done by the angel, for he believed himself to be seeing things. 10 And passing by the first guard and the second, they came to the iron gate that led to the city, which opened on its own. And leaving, they crossed one street, and at once the angel departed from him.

11 And Peter, having come to his senses, said, “Now I know for a fact that the Lord sent his angel, and delivered me from the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.” 12 And having thought the situation over, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose nickname was Mark, where there were many gathered there and praying. 13 And as he knocked on the door of the gate, a young girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14 And recognizing the voice of Peter, for joy she did not open the gate, but ran inside and announced that Peter was standing before the gate. 15 But they said to her, “You have lost your mind.” And she insisted that it was as she said. But they said, “It is his angel.” 16 But Peter continued to knock. And when they finally opened up, they saw him, and stood there dumbfounded. 17 And he, signaling them to remain quiet, told them how the Lord had led him out of the jail, and said, “Tell these things to James and the brothers.” And he left, and went elsewhere.

18 And when day had come, there was no small disturbance among the soldiers as to what had happened to Peter. 19 And Herod, searching for him and not finding them, interrogated the guards and commanded they be executed. And going down from Judaea into Caesarea, he remained there. 20 Now he was angry with Tyre and Sidon. And they with one mind came to him, and having won over Blastus, who was over the chamber of the kings, besought peace, because their parts of the country were fed by him. 21 And on a set day, Herod in his royal attire sat on the throne and spoke to them. 22 And the people shouted as one, “It is the voice of God, and not a person.” 23 And at once an angel of the Lord struck him down, for he had not given glory to God; and being devoured by worms, he gave up the spirit. 24 And the word of the Lord grew and multiplied.

25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, having fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John who was nicknamed Mark.

13

And there were prophets and teachers in the community which was at Antioch, among whom were Barnabas, and Simon who was called The Black, and Lucius the Cyrenese, and Manahen, who was the milk-brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 And as they were ministering to the Lord, and fasting, the holy spirit said to them, “Separate to me Saul and Barnabas in the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then fasting and praying, they placed hands on them, and sent them forth.

4 And they, being sent by the holy spirit, went forth into Seleucia, and there, they sailed to Cyprus. 5 And when they came to Salamina, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John as a minister. 6 And as they traveled across the island to Paphos, they found there a man, a sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, 7 who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a wise man. He, sending for Barnabas and Saul, desired to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) resisted them, seeking to turn the proconsul from the faith.

9 But Saul, who had taken up the name of Paul, filled with the holy spirit, set eyes on him and said, 10 “You son of the devil, full of deceit and all villainy, enemy of all righteousness! Will you never cease to subvert the right ways of the Lord? 11 And now behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind, not seeing the sun for a while.” And at once a mist and a darkness befell him, and he groped around, seeking someone to take him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul, seeing this deed, believed, astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

13 And as Paul and those who were with him set sail from Paphos, they came to Perge of Pamphylia. And John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem. 14 But they, crossing through Perge, came to Antioch of Pisidia; and entering the synagogue on the day of the sabbath, they sat down. 15 And after the reading of the law and prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Men, brothers, if there is in you any word of exhortation to the people, say it.”

16 And Paul, rising, and signing with his hand for silence, said, “Men, Israelites, and you who fear God, listen. 17 The God of the people Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they were strangers in the land of Egypt, and with arm raised he led them from there, 18 and for a time of forty years he put up with their manners in the desert. 19 And destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, by lot he divided the land to them, after almost four hundred and fifty years; 20 and after these things he gave judges, until Samuel the prophet. 21 And after that they demanded a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. 22 And having removed him, he raised them up David the king, of whom bearing witness he said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man according to my heart, who will do all my wills.’

23 “From his seed God, according to his promise, brought Israel a savior, Jesus, 24 as John first preached before his coming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25 And when John had finished his course, he said, ‘The one you believe me to be is not me; but behold, there comes one after me, whose shoelace I am not worthy to untie.’

26 “Men, brothers, sons of the race of Abraham, and those who among you fear God, this word of salvation is sent to you. 27 For those who lived in Jerusalem, and their rulers, not knowing him nor the voices of the prophets they read every sabbath, fulfilled them in judging him. 28 But finding no case of death in him, they begged Pilate to let them kill him. 29 And when all things which were written were finished, they took him down from the tree and placed him in a tomb. 30 But God raised him from the death on the third day, 31 and he was seen for many days by those who went up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who until now are his witnesses to the people. 32 And we proclaim to you that the promise which was made to our fathers, 33 this same God fulfilled to our children by reviving Jesus, as it is written in the second psalm, My son you are, today I have fathered you. 34 And so as not to return the one he raised from the dead into corruption, he also says, “I will give you the holy and faithful things of David.” 35 And therefore he says elsewhere, “You will not give your holy one to see corruption.” 36 For David, having served in his own generation, slept according to the will of God, and was laid with his fathers, and saw corruption. 37 But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see corruption. 38 May it therefore be made known to you, men and brothers, that by him the remission of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and from all things which you could not gain righteousness through the law of Moses, in him all who believe gain righteousness. 40 Therefore see that there not come upon you that which is said in the prophets:

41 Behold, despisers, and marvel, and be perished!
For I myself shall work a work in your days,
a work which you would not believe
even if you were told.”

42 And as they left, they asked them to speak to them again these words the next sabbath. 43 And when the synagogue was dismissed, many Jews and devoted converts followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to remain in the grace of God.

44 And the next sabbath just about the whole city came to hear the word of God. 45 And the Jews, seeing the crowds and filled with jealousy, spoke against those things which were spoken by Paul, blaspheming. 46 Then boldly Paul and Barnabas said, “It was necessary to speak the word of God first to you; but as you rejected it, and have judged yourself unworthy of eternal life, behold, we have turned to the nation. 47 For thus the Lord commanded us: ‘I have placed you as a light to the nations, that you may be for salvation until the ends of the earth.’”

48 And the nations, hearing, rejoiced, and glorified the word of the Lord; as many as were foreordained to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was disseminated through every region. 50 But the Jews stirred up religious and honorable woman, and the chief men of the city, and stirred up harassment against Paul Barnabas, and ejected them from their borders. 51 But they, kicking the dust off their feet at then, came to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and the holy spirit.

14

And in Iconium it so happened, as they entered the synagogue of the Jews together and spoke, that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed. 2 But the Jews who did not believe rose up, and turned the minds of the non-Jews against their brothers in anger. 3 Therefore for a long time they remained there, being bold in the Lord, bearing witness to the word of his grace, and giving signs and wonders by their hand.

4 And the population of the city was divided, with some siding with the Jews, and some siding with the apostles. 5 And when there was a push by Jews and gentiles alike, with their rulers, to treat them ill, and stone them, 6 understanding it, they got together and escaped to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe, and to that general area, and proclaimed the gospel there. 7 And a certain man, Lystris, weak in his feet, and unable to walk from his mother’s womb, sat there. 8 And he heard Paul speaking, who looked at him, and seeing that he had the faith to be healed, 9 said loudly, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he jumped up and started to walk. 10 And the crowds who saw what Paul did raised their voice, saying in Lycaonian, “The gods have come down to us like men.” 11 And they called Barnabas Zeus; and Paul Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 12 And the priest of Zeus, who was before the city, brought bulls and crowns before the gates, and wanted to offer them as a sacrifice with the people.

13 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard, they tore their shirts and lept out into the crowd, 14 crying out and saying, “Men, why are you doing this? We too are mortal just as you people are, proclaiming to you to be turned from these vanities to the living God, who made heaven and earth, and the sea and all things that are in it; 15 who in former generations permitted all the nations to walk in their own ways. 16 But indeed he did not leave his good deeds from heaven without a witness to himself, giving rain and the time of bearing fruit, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” 17 And having said these things, only with difficulty they held the crowds back lest they sacrifice to them.

18 Then some Jews came up from Antioch and Iconia, and convinced the crowds to throw rocks at Paul, and they dragged him out of the city, thinking him to be dead. 19 But the disciples encircled him, and he stood up, went back into the city, and the next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.

20 And when they were done proclaiming the gospel to the city, and had taught many, they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, 21 strengthening the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to remain in faith; and that through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God. 22 And when they had set up elders in each of the communities, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they believed.

23 And crossing through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia, 24 and speaking the word of God in Perge, they went down to Attalia; 25 and from there they sailed to Antioch, from where they had been handed over to the grace of God into the work which they completed. 26 And having come and gathered the community together, they retold so much as God had done with them, and that the door of faith had opened to the nations. 27 And they stayed there for not a little time with the disciples.

15

And some who came down from Judaea taught the brothers, “If you are not circumcised according to the manner of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 Therefore there was a not small dispute of Paul and Barnabas against them; and they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain others should go up to Jerusalem to ask the apostles and the ancients about this question. 3 They therefore, brought on their way by the community, passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the nations; and they made great rejoicing among all the brothers. 4 And when they came to Jerusalem, they were taken in by the community, and by the apostles and ancients, proclaiming how much God had done with them. 5 But there rose up some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying that they must be circumcised, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. 6 And the apostles and the ancients came together to see about this word.

7 And when there had been a great dispute, Peter rose and said to them, “Men, brothers, you know how from days of old God chose among us, that by my mouth the nations would hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 And God, who knows hearts, bore witness, giving them the holy spirit just as he did us; 9 and distinguished nothing between us and them, purifying their hearts in faith. 10 Therefore now why do you tempt God, to place a yoke upon the necks of the disciples, that neither our fathers nor we could bear? 11 But by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we believe ourselves saved just like them.” 12 And all the crowd remained silent, and heard Barnabas and Paul tell how many signs and wonders God did in the nations through them.

13 And when they had stopped speaking, James answered and said, “Men, brothers, listen to me. 14 Simon has told how God first visited the nations to take of them a people to his names. 15 And to this the words of the prophets agree, as it is written:

16 After these things, I shall return,
and I shall rebuild the tabernacle of David which has fallen;
and its ruins I will rebuild,
and erect it,

17 that the rest of humanity may seek the Lord,
and all nations upon whom my name is called
—says the Lord who does these things.

18 (To God are all these works of his known from the age.)

19 “Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those of the nations who have turned to God, 20 but write to them that they should abstain themselves from the defilements of idols, and fornications, and things strangled, and blood. 21 For Moses has from ancient times in every city those who preach him in the synagogues, where he is read every sabbath.”

22 Then it pleased the apostles and the ancients with all the community to select men from them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas, who was nicknamed Bar-Sabas, and Silas, men foremost among the brothers, 23 writing by their hands, “The apostles and ancient brothers, to the brothers of the nations who are in Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia, greetings. 24 As we have heard that some of us are going forth and stirring up words among you, turning your souls away, to whom we gave no commandment, 25 it has pleased us, being gathered together as one, to select men, and to send them to you with our most beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have put their souls on the line for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 Therefore we send Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things in their own words. 28 For the holy spirit saw fit, as we also did, to impose no further burden on you than these necessary things: 29 that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and blood, and things strangled, and fornication; from which if you keep yourselves, you shall do well. Farewell.”

30 So they, being dismissed, went down to Antioch, and gathered the crowd, and handed over the letter, 31 and when they had read it, they rejoiced for the consolation. 32 And Judas and Silas, being themselves prophets, comforted and strengthened the brothers with many words. 33 And having stayed there for some time, they were sent away with peace from the brothers to those who had sent them. 34 But Silas saw fit to remain; and Judas departed to Jerusalem alone. 35 And Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and evangelizing the word of the Lord with many others.

36 But after some days, Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city in which we have proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” 37 And Barnabas wanted to take with him John, whose nickname was Mark. 38 But Paul asked him not to do so, since he had split up with them at Pamphylia, and not gone with them in their work. 39 And there was such a division that they had a falling-out from each other. And Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed to Cyprus, 40 but Paul, having chosen Silas, left, delivered with the grace of God by the brothers. 41 And they traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the communities, commanding them to keep the commandments of the apostles and the ancients.

16

And he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, there was a certain disciple there named Timothy, the son of a faithful Jewish woman and a Greek father. 2 The brothers who were in Lystra and Iconium gave good witness of him. 3 And Paul wanted to bring him along; and he took and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that place. For they all knew that his father was Greek.

4 Now as they traveled from city to city, they delivered them the decrees to keep which were decreed by the apostles and the ancients who were at Jerusalem. 5 And indeed the communities were strengthened in faith, and abounded in number daily.

6 And passing through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the holy spirit to speak the word of God in Asia; 7 and when they came to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8 And passing through Mysia, they went down to Troas, 9 and a vision was shown by night to Paul: a man, a certain Macedon, was standing and praying him, and said, “Come over to Macedonia; help us.”

10 And seeing this vision, we at once sought to go into Macedonia, being certain that God had called us to evangelize them. 11 And sailing to Troas, we came on a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day Neapolis; 12 and then to Philippi, a colony which is the first part of the city of Macedonia. And we were in that city for several days abiding there.

13 And on the day of the sabbath we went outside the gate by the river, where we supposed there to be prayer; and many women who had come together were sitting there and talking. 14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple die from the city of the Thyatirenes, who worshiped God, heart, whose heart the Lord had opened to listen to the things which Paul would speak. 15 And being baptized, along with her house, she prayed us, saying, “If you judge me to be faithful in the Lord, come into my house and stay.” And she constrained us.

16 And it so happened as we were leaving for prayer, a certain young girl who had an evil oracular spirit stood in our way, who had brought her masters a great profit through her divination. 17 And she chased Paul and us down, yelling aloud, saying, “These men are servants of God the most high, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” And she would do this for many days. 18 And Paul was grieved, and turning to her, said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to leave her.” And at that hour it left her.

19 And her masters, seeing that the hope of their profit had left, seized Paul and Silas, hauling them out into the forum to the rulers, 20 and presenting them to the magistrates, said, “These men stir up our city, being Jews; 21 and proclaim manners which are not lawful for us to take up nor do, being Romans.”

22 And the people rose up against them; and the magistrates, tearing up their clothes, judged that they be beaten with rods. 23 And having placed many stripes upon them, they threw them into jail, commanding the warden to watch them closely, 24 who, receiving such a commandment, placed them in the innermost part of the jail, and fastened their feet in wooden stocks.

25 And in the middle of the night, Paul and Silas were praying and praising God; and the other prisoners heard them. 26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, such that the foundations of the jail were dislocated. And at once all the doors opened, and the restraints of everyone were unfastened.

27 And the jailor, being roused from sleep and seeing the gates of the jail opened, wanted to unsheath his sword to kill them, thinking the inmates had fled. 28 But at the top of his voice Paul shouted, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.”

29 And asking for a light, he went in; and shaking with fear, he fell down at the feet of Paul and Silas. 30 And bringing them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, and your house.” 32 And they spoke to him the word of the Lord with all who were in his house.

33 And taking them in at that hour of the night, he washed their wounds; and he was baptized, and all his house, immediately. 34 And having led them into his house, he placed a meal before them, and rejoiced, believing in God, with all his house.

35 And when it had become day, the magistrates sent the lictors, saying, “Let those men go.”

36 And the jailor announced these words to Paul, “The magistrates have sent us to let you go; therefore leave now and go in peace.”

37 But Paul said to them, “Having beaten us in the open, Romans that we are, and thrown us uncondemned into jail, they now wish to cast us out secretly? No; have them come and cast us out themselves.”

38 And the lictors spoke these words to the magistrates. And they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans; 39 and coming, they begged them, and bringing them out, asked them to leave the city. 40 And having left the jail, they came to Lydia; and having seen the brothers, they were comforted, and went on their way.

17

And having passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 And as he would do, Paul, went in to them; and for three sabbaths he reasoned with them from the scriptures, 3 opening and insinuating that Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead; “and this” (he said) “is Jesus Christ, whom I proclaim to you.”

4 And some of them believed and joined themselves to Paul and Silas; and a great crowd of religious Greeks and not a few noble women. 5 And the disbelieving Jews being jealous, they took a few evil men from the mob, and made a commotion, putting the city into an uproar; and pressing upon the house of Jason, sought to bring them out to the people. 6 And when they did not find them, they hauled Jason and some of the brothers to the rulers of the city, crying out, “Those who have turned the world upside-down have also come here, 7 whom Jason has received; and they all do against the decree of Caesar, saying there is another king, one Jesus.” 8 And the people and the rulers of the city, hearing these things, were in an uproar. 9 And having taken satisfaction from Jason and the others, they sent them away.

10 But at once the brothers sent Paul and Silas by cover of night to Beroea; who, having arrived, entered into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 And they were more noble than those who were of Thessalonica, who received the word with all eagerness, deeply examining the scriptures daily, if these things were so within them. 12 And many of them believed, both of honorable Greek women, and of not a few men.

13 But when the Jews in Thessalonica knew that Paul had proclaimed the word of God at Beroea as well, they came, disturbing and stirring up the crowds. 14 And at once the brothers sent away Paul to go to the sea; but Silas and Timothy remained there. 15 And those who led Paul away, led him as far as Athens, and took commandment from him to Silas and Timothy, that they should come quickly to him; and they left.

16 And as Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred up in him, seeing the city given to idolatry. 17 So he debated in the synagogue with the Jews and the devotees, and in the forum, every day to those who met him. 18 And some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him, and some said, “What is this sower of words trying to say?” And others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of new demons”, for he would proclaim to them Jesus and the resurrection.

19 And they seized him and led him to the Areopagus, saying, “Can we know what is this new teaching of which you speak? 20 For you bring some new things to our ears; therefore we wish to know what these things mean.” 21 (Now all the Athenians, and those who sojourned there, spent all their time on nothing but saying or hearing some new thing.)

22 And Paul, standing in the middle of the Areopagus, said: “Men, Athenians, in all things I perceive you to be most superstitious. 23 For as I passed through, and saw your idols, I found also an altar on which it was written, ‘To the Unknown God’. Therefore who you worship unknowingly, I proclaim to you. 24 God, who made the world and all things which are in it, being as he is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made by hands, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as if he needed anything, being that he gave life, and inspiration, and all things, to all people; 26 and from one he has made every race of mankind to live upon the whole face of the earth, defining the statutes of times, and the ends of their dwelling, 27 to seek God, if by chance they might feel after him, or find him, though he is not far from any one of us. 28 For in him we live and move and are; as also some of your own poets said, ‘For we are also his race.’ 29 For being his race, we should not deem the divine to be like gold, or silver, or stone, the sculptures of art and the thoughts of men. 30 And indeed, God has overlooked this time of unknowledge, but now proclaims to mankind that all everywhere should do repentance, 31 in that he has set up a day in which the world is to be judged in equity, by the one whom he has established, giving faith to all, by raising him from the dead.”

32 And hearing of the resurrection of the dead, some indeed jeered, but others said, “We will hear you of this matter again.” 33 Thus Paul departed from the midst of them. 34 But some, clinging to him, believed; among whom were Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

18

After these things, he left Athens and came to Corinth. 2 And finding there a certain Jew names Aquila, of the Pontic race, who had recently come from Italy, and Priscilla his wife (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome), he came to them, 3 and as he worked in the same trade as them—they were tentmakers by trade—he stayed with them and worked. 4 And every sabbath he would dispute in the synagogues; and he persuaded Jews and Greeks alike. 5 And when Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul remained steadfast in word, bearing witness to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. 6 But as they backtalked and cursed him, he shook out his clothes, and said to them, “Your blood is on your own heads, but I am clean; from now on I am going to the nations.”

7 And departing from there, he entered into the house of a certain Titus Justus, a worshiper of God, whose house was attached to the synagogue. 8 And Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his house; and many of Corinth, hearing, believed and were baptized.

9 And that night the Lord said to Paul in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not refrain from speaking, 10 because I am with you, and no one shall lay hands on you to harm you; for I have many people in this city.”

11 And he stayed there for a year and six months, teaching them the word of God. 12 But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews rose up with one mind against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat, 13 saying, “This one persuades people to worship God in a way which is against the law.”

14 And as Paul began to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were some injustice or villainy, Jewish men, I would bear with you rightly; 15 but if they are questions of word, and names, and your law, see to your own selves; I do not wish to be a judge of these things.” 16 And he drove them away from the judgment seat. 17 And all of them seized Sosthenes, the chief of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat; and Gallio had no care for anything.

18 Now when Paul had remained for many days with the brothers, said farewell to them and sailed to Syria with Priscilla and Aquila, having shaved his head in Cenchrea (for he had had a vow). 19 And coming to Ephesus, he left them there. But he went into the synagogue, and disputed with the Jews. 20 And when they asked him to stay there longer, he would not agree, 21 but bid them farewell, saying, “I will return to you, God willing”, and left for Ephesus. 22 And going down to Caesarea, he went up, and greeted the community, and went down to Antioch.

23 And having spent some time there, he left, traveling in order through the region of Galatia, and through Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples. 24 And a certain Jew, Apollo by name, of the race of Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25 He was taught the way of the Lord; and fervent in spirit he would speak, and he diligently taught those the things of Jesus, knowing only the baptism of John. 26 He therefore began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard, they took him, and explained more accurately the way of the Lord to him. 27 And when he wished to go to Achaia, the brothers, exhorting him, wrote to the disciples to take him in. When he came, he greatly helped those who believed. 28 For he had mightily convinced the Jews in public, showing through the scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.

19

And it so happened, while Apollo was at Corinth, that as Paul had passed through the upper regions he came to Ephesus and there found some disciples. 2 And he asked them if they had received the holy spirit as believers.

And they said to him, “No, but we have not even heard if there is such a thing as a holy spirit.”

3 And he said, “Then in what were you baptized?”

And they said, “In the baptism of John.”

4 And Paul said, “John baptized the people with a baptism of repentance, telling them to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is to say, in Jesus.” 5 Hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had placed his hands on them, the holy spirit came over them, and they began to speak other languages and prophesy. 7 Now there were about twelve men in all.

8 And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, disputing and persuading them of the kingdom of God. 9 But when some were hardened of heart and would not believe, cursing the way of the Lord before the crowd, he departed from them, and kept the disciples separate, debating daily in the school of one Tyrannus. 10 And this happened for two years, such that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, Jew and Greek alike. 11 And God did uncommon miracles by the hand of Paul, 12 such that they brought away handkerchiefs and aprons from his body even upon the ill, and their illnesses drew away from them, and the evil spirits departed.

13 And some wandering Jewish exorcists tried to call the name of the Lord Jesus upon those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” 14 And there was a certain Jew, Sceva, a chief priest with seven sons, who did this. 15 But the wicked spirit, answering, said to him, “I know Jesus, and am aware of Paul. But who are you?” 16 And the man, in whom the evil demon was, jumped on them, and having dominated both of them, he prevailed against them, such that they escaped from that house naked and wounded. 17 And this was made known to all the Jews and Greeks who lived in Ephesus; and there fell a fear upon all of them, and they would glorify the name of the Lord Jesus. 18 And many believers came, confessing and declaring their deeds. 19 But many of them, who exercised curious arts, gathered up their books, and burned them up before all; and calculating their value, they found it to be fifty thousand denarii. 20 Thus mightily grew the word of God, and it grew stronger.

21 And these things being finished, Paul determined in the spirit, having passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” 22 And sending two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, into Macedonia, he stayed in Asia for a time.

23 And at that time there arose a not small disturbance regarding the way of the Lord. 24 For a certain silversmith named Demetrius who, making silver shrines to Artemis, brought no small sum of profit to the craftsman, 25 whom he called together, and workers of similar craft; and he said, “Men, you know that our wealth is in this trade, 26 and you see and heard that not only in Ephesus, but almost all of Asia, this Paul person has persuasively turned away many crowds, saying that they are not gods who are made with hands. 27 And not only will our craft come into disrepute, but also the temple of the great Artemis will be thought of as nothing, and they will begin to even destroy her majesty, whom all of Asia and the world worship.”

28 Hearing this, they became enraged and shouted, saying, “Great is Artemis of Ephesus!” 29 And the city was filled with confusion; and as one soul they charged into the theater, and seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul’s traveling companions.

30 And Paul, desiring to enter among the people, was forbidden by the disciples. 31 And some of the rulers of Asia, who were friends of his, sent to him, begging him not to set foot in the theater. 32 And some were shouting one thing, and some another, and the whole community was thrown in confusion; and most of them had no idea why they were gathered. 33 And the Jews pushing him forward, they pulled Alexander from the crowd. And Alexander signaled with his hand for silence, wishing to reason with the people. 34 When they knew he was a Jew, they all started shouting with one voice for almost two hours, “Great is Artemis of Ephesus!”

35 And when the scribe had calmed the crowds, he said, “Men of Ephesus, what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is a worshiper of the great Artemis, the offspring of Zeus? 36 Therefore, as these things cannot be spoken against, you should remain calm, and do nothing rash. 37 For you have brought these men here who are neither desecrators of temples, nor blasphemers of your goddess. 38 So if Demetrius and the craftsman with him have any case against him, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls; they can accuse each other there. 39 But if you ask of any other matter, it can be decided in a legitimate assembly. 40 For of the sedition of today also we risk accusation, no one being guilty of whom we may give an account regarding this encounter.”

41 And having said these things, he dismissed the assembly.

20

And after the rioting stopped, Paul called the disciples, and exhorting them, said farewell and departed to go into Macedonia. 2 And when he had walked through those regions and exhorted them with many words, he came to Greece, 3 where, when he had been there for three months, there was a plot by the Jews as he was about to sail to Syria. So he decided to return through Macedonia. 4 And there accompanied him Sopater a Beroean, Aristarchus and Secundus of Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Tychicus and Trophimus from Asia, and Timothy. 5 They, having gone ahead, waited for us in Troas.

6 But we sailed from Philippi after the days of flat bread, and joined up with them in five days, where we remained for seven days. 7 And one sabbath, when we had come together to break bread, Paul debated them, intending to leave in the morning, and continued his words into the middle of the night. 8 And there were many lamps in the dining hall where we were gathered. 9 And a certain boy named Eutychus sitting on the window, who had fallen into deep sleep, as Paul was speaking for a long time. And heavy with sleep, he fell down from the third floor, and was picked up dead. 10 And Paul went down to him and laid upon him; and embracing him, he said, “Do not be troubled; for his soul is in him.” 11 And going up, and breaking bread, and tasting it, he continued to speak until dawn, and thus he departed. 12 And they brought the child alive, and were comforted not a little.

13 Now we boarded a ship and sailed to Assos, where we were to pick up Paul; for thus he had purposed to travel by foot. 14 And when he joined us in Assos, we took him along and came to Mitylene. 15 And setting sail from there, the next day we came to Chius, and the next day we landed at Samus, and the day after we came to Miletus. 16 And Paul intended to sail across to Ephesus, lest he remain at all in Asia. For he was in a hurry to be, if possible, in Jerusalem for Pentecost.

17 And sending from Miletus to Ephesus, he called the leaders of the community, 18 to whom, having come to him, and being together, he said, “You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, how I have been with you all the time 19 serving the Lord, with all humility and tears, and the temptations which befell me from the scheming of the Jews; 20 how I have kept back nothing of use, but have proclaimed to you, and taught you, publicly and in your houses, 21 bearing witness to Jew and Greek alike of the repentance in God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

22 “And now behold, bound in spirit I go to Jerusalem, not knowing what will befall me there, 23 but that the holy spirit protests to me in every city, saying that chains and trouble await me in Jerusalem. 24 But I fear none of it; nor do I make my life more precious than my own self, so that I may complete my race, and the ministry of the word which I have received from the Lord Jesus, to bear witness to the gospel of the grace of God. 25 And now behold, I know that you all will never see my face again, among whom I have gone proclaiming the kingdom of God. 26 Therefore I testify to you this very day, that I am clean of the blood of all. 27 For I have not held back from announcing to you all the counsel of God.

28 “Now take care of yourselves, and of all the flock, in which the holy spirit has placed you as supervisors to govern the community of God, which he has bought with his own blood. 29 I know that after I depart, there will enter hungry wolves among you, not sparing the flock. 30 And from your own selves will rise men who speak perversions, to steal disciples for themselves. 31 Therefore keep watch, keeping in memory that for three years, night and day, I have not ceased to warn every one of you with tears.

32 “And now I commend you to God, and the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all who have been made holy. 33 Gold and silver and clothing I have desired of no one, as you yourselves know, 34 that these hands have served me all my needs, and those of the people with me. 35 I have shown you all things, how so laboring it is needful to hold up the weak, and keep in memory the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, ‘It is far more blessed to give than to receive.’”

36 And having said these things, he knelt down and prayed with all of them. 37 And there was great weeping among all of them; and they fell upon the neck of Paul, and kissed him, 38 sorrowed the most by the words which he spoke, how they would never see him again. And they led him to the ship.

21

Now when it so happened that we, having parted from them, would have set sail, we went straight to Cous, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. 2 And when we found a ship headed to Phoenicia, we boarded it and set sail. 3 And when Cyprus was in sight, we left it from the left, sailing into Syria, and came to Tyre, for it was where the ship was to unload its cargo. 4 And finding some disciples, we remained there for seven days. And through the spirit, they told Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.

5 And the days being completed, we left and went on our way, and they led us with their wives and children to the city limits; and we knelt down by the shore and prayed. 6 And having bid each other farewell, we boarded the ship, and they returned home. 7 And having finished our voyage at Tyre, we disembarked at Ptolemais; and we greeted the brothers, and spent one day with them. 8 And having departed the next day, we came to Caesarea. And entering into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we remained with him. 9 And he had four virgin daughters, who prophesied.

10 Now having stayed there for some days, a certain prophet from Judaea came upon us, Agabus by name. 11 Having come to us, he took Paul’s girdle, and binding himself with it hand and foot, he said, “These things speaks the holy spirit: The man to whom this girdle belongs will be likewise bound in Jerusalem by the Jews, and turned over to the hand of the nations.”

12 Having heard this, we asked, both we and those who came from his place, not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered and said, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For not only am I ready to be bound, but to die, in Jerusalem because of the name of the Lord Jesus.”

14 And since we could not convince him, we backed down, saying, “May the will of the Lord be done.”

15 After those days we got ready to go up to Jerusalem. 16 And there also came with us some of the disciples from Caesarea, bringing with them a certain old disciple from Cyprus named Mnason whom we were to stay with. 17 And when we came to Jerusalem, the brothers gladly received us.

18 The next day, Paul went in with us to James, and all the ancients had gathered. 19 Having greeted them, he told them one by one what God had done in the nations through his ministry.

20 And they, hearing, glorified God, and said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are who believe, and all are zealous of the law. 21 And they have heard of you, how you teach the Jews who are among the nations to depart from Moses, saying that they need not circumcise their suns, nor walk according to custom. 22 So what now? The crowd must come together, for they will hear that you have come. 23 So take our advice. There four of our men who have a vow upon themselves. 24 Take these and sanctify yourself with them, and place on them that they may shave their heads; and all will know that all those things which they have heard about you are lies, but that you yourself also walk in and keep the law. 25 And of those who believed of the nations, we have written, judging that they keep themselves from that which has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from that which has been strangled, and from fornication.”

26 Then Paul took the men, and being purified with them the next day, entered the temple, proclaiming the completion of the days of purification, until the offering was offered for each of them. 27 And after seven days had passed, the Jews who were from Asia, having seen him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him, shouting, 28 “Men, Israelites, help us; this is the man who against the people, and the law, and this place, teaches everyone everywhere, and furthermore has even brought foreigners into the temple, and violated this holy place.” 29 For they had seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, whom they figured Paul had brought into the temple.

30 And all the city was in a commotion, and there was mobbing among the people. And they seized Paul and dragged him outside the temple, and at once closed the gates on him. 31 And as they sought to kill him on the spot, news came to the tribune of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. 32 And at once, they took soldiers and centurions, and ran down to them. Seeing the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33 Then the tribune came up to him and grabbed him, and ordered that he be chained twice over, and interrogated as to who he was and what he had done. 34 And among the crowd, some shouted one thing, and some another, and since he could not determine for a certainty because of the mob, he ordered him to be brought to the fort. 35 And when he had come to the steps, it happened that the soldiers were carrying him because of the violence of the people. 36 For the crowd of people had followed him, shouting, “Take him away!”

37 And when Paul was about to be brought into the fort, he asked the tribune, “May I have a word with you?”

38 And the tribune said, “You speak Greek? Are you not that Egyptian who started a riot some days ago and led four thousand of the Sicarii into the desert?”

39 And Paul said to him, “I am in fact a Jewish man from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of a city not unknown. And I ask you to let me speak to the people.”

40 And when he allowed him, Paul stood on the steps and signaled with his hand to the people. And there was a great silence.

22

And speaking in the language of the Hebrews, he said, “Men, brothers and fathers, listen to the reasoning which I now give to you.”

2 Now when they heard that he was speaking to them in the Hebrew language, a great silence fell over them.

3 And he continued: “I am a Jewish man, born in Tarsus of Cilicia but raised in this city, taught at the feet of Gamaliel according to the truth of the law of the fathers, and I was zealous for the law, as you all are today. 4 And I harassed this ‘way’ to the death, binding men and women and having them thrown in jail, 5 as the chief priest will bear witness of me, and all the ancients, from whom also receiving letters, I journeyed to the brothers in Damascus, to bring them shackled to Jerusalem to be punished.

6 “And it so happened, as I was going, and was getting close to Damascus about midday, there fell from heaven a great light which shone all around me; 7 and falling to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you harass me?’

8 “And I replied, ‘Who are you, sir?’ “And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, the one you are harassing.’ 9 Now those who were with me did see the light, but they did not hear the voice of the one who was speaking to me.

10 “And I said, ‘What should I do, Lord?’ “And the Lord said to me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which you must do.’

11 “And as I could not see because the light was so bright, my companions took me by the hand and I came into Damascus. 12 And a certain man named Ananias, devout according to the law, having a witness from all the Jews who lived there, came to me, 13 and stood beside me, saying to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive sight.’ And that moment I looked at him. 14 And he said, ‘The God of our fathers has foreordained you, that you may know his will, and see the righteous one, and hear the voice from his mouth; 15 for you will be his witness to all people of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now why do you remain still? Get up, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling upon his name.’

17 “And it so happened, as I had come back to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance, 18 and saw him, saying to me, ‘Hurry and leave Jerusalem quickly; for they do not receive your witness of me.’

19 “And I said, ‘Lord, they are well aware that I had imprisoned and beaten in the synagogues those who believed in you; 20 and when the blood of your witness Stephen was poured out, I stood beside, and assented, and watched the clothes of his killers.’

21 “And he said to me, ‘Go; for I am sending you to distant countries.’”

22 And they heard him to this word, and raised their voices, saying, “Take such a one away from the earth; for it is not right of him to live.” 23 And as they raised their voices, and threw off their clothes, throwing dust into the air, 24 the tribune ordered him to be brought into the fort, and beaten with whips, and tortured, so as to know for what cause they thus were screaming at him.

25 And when he had been strapped down, Paul said to the centurion standing beside him, “Can you lawfully whip a person who is a Roman and uncondemned?”

26 Hearing this, the centurion came to the tribune, and told him, saying, “What are you about to do? For this person is a Roman citizen.”

27 And the tribune, coming to him, said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman?” And he said, “Indeed.”

28 And the tribune replied, “It cost me a lot of money to obtain this citizenship.” And Paul said, “But I had mine from birth.”

29 So that moment those who were to torture him backed down, and the tribune, now knowing he was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him, was afraid. 30 But the next day, wanting to well know why he was accused by the Jews, he unbound him, and commanded the priests to come together, and all the council. And producing Paul, he stood him between them.

31 And Paul, looking upon the council, said: “Men, brothers, I have held myself in all good conscience before God to this very day.”

23

And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. 2 Then Paul said to him, “May God strike you, you whitewashed wall. 3 Do even you, being seated, judge me according to the law, while you order me against the law to be struck?”

4 And those who stood beside said, “You deign to curse the chief priest of God?”

5 And Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest. For it is written, Do not curse the leader of your people.

6 And Paul, knowing that one part was of the Sadducees and the other of the Pharisees, shouted in the council, “Men, brothers, I am a Pharisee and a son of the Pharisees; I am judged regarding the hope and the resurrection of the dead.” 7 And as he said these things, there was a dissension among the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the crowd was divided. 8 (For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees believe in all of these things.) 9 And there arose a great clamor. And some of the Pharisees, rising up, disputed, saying, “We find no evil in this man; what if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” 10 And when there had been a great dissension, the tribune, fearing lest they rend Paul limb from limb, ordered the soldiers to go down and seize him from their midst, and bring him to the fort.

11 And the next night, the Lord, standing by him, said, “Be constant; as you have born witness of me in Jerusalem, so must you also bear witness in Rome.”

12 The next day, some of the Jews joined together, and vowed to neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. 13 And there were more than forty men who had made this oath together; 14 they came to the chief priest and the ancients, and said, “We have vowed a vow to taste not a morsel, until we have killed Paul. 15 Now therefore notify the tribune with the council, that he should bring him to you, as if you would have him clarify something for you; but we, before he should ever come near, are ready to slaughter him.”

16 Hearing of this plot, the son of Paul’s sister came, and entered the fort, and announced it to Paul. 17 And Paul, calling to himself one of the centurions, said, “Bring this young man to the tribune; for he has something to tell you.”

18 And he took him and brought him to the tribune, and said, “The prisoner Paul asked me to bring you this young man; he has something to speak to you of.”

19 And the tribune, taking him by the hand, took him aside and asked him, “What is it that you have to tell me?”

20 And he said, “The Jews have come together to ask you to bring Paul to the council tomorrow morning, as if to ask him to clarify something; 21 but do not believe them, for at least forty men of them have plotted, and vowed to neither eat nor drink until they have murdered him; and now they are ready, awaiting your promise.”

22 So the tribune sent the young man away, ordering him not to speak of those things which he had made known to him. 23 And having called two of the centurions, he said to them, “Prepare two hundred soldiers to depart into Caesarea, and seventy horsemen, and two hundred lancers, between dusk and midnight, 24 and provide beasts on which to place Paul, and bring him safely to Felix the governor.”

25 And he wrote a letter, which read as follows: 26 “Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix: greetings. 27 This man was taken from the Jews, and they intended to murder him. I rescued him, coming upon them with an army, aware that he is a Roman. 28 And wishing to know the case for which he was accused, I brought him to their council. 29 I found him to be accused of questions of their law, but in no crime worthy of death or imprisonment. 30 And when it was shown to me that they intended to ambush him, I sent him to you, and his accusers to speak with you. Farewell.”

31 So the soldiers, as commanded, took Paul along, and brought him by cover of night to Antipatris. 32 And the next day, they sent the horsemen forth to go with him, and returned to the fort. 33 And coming to Caesarea, and handing the letter over to the governor, they stood before him and Paul. 34 And having read the letter, he also asked from what province he was; and knowing that he was from Cilicia, 35 he said, “I will hear you when your accusers have come.” And he commanded him to be kept in the praetorium of Herod.

24

And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some of the ancients, and an orator named Tertullus, and they informed the governor against Paul. 2 And being called for, Tertullus began to accuse Paul, saying, “While through you we have remained in much peace, and through your providence many things are corrected, 3 always and everywhere we accept it, most excellent Felix, with all gratitude. 4 But lest I bore you further, I pray you that you may hear us briefly for your clemency. 5 We have found this pestiferous man, an inciter of seditions among all the Jews throughout the world, and a leader of the cult of the Nazarenes, 6 who has even tried to violate the temple. And having seized him, we wished to judge him according to our own law, 7 but the tribune Lysias came upon us, and quite violently snatched him from our hands, demanding his accusers to come to you, 8 of which you will be able to determine, from knowing all these things of which we accuse him.” 9 And the Jews also joined in, saying that these things were as he said.

10 And when the governor had signaled for him to speak, Paul replied, “Knowing that you have been a judge of the nation for many years, I will defend myself with good spirit. 11 For you can know that it has been less than twelve days that I have gone up to worship in Jerusalem; 12 and neither in the temple, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city, was I found disputing with anyone, or rallying the crowds. 13 Nor can they prove any of the things of which they now accuse me. 14 But I confess this to you, that according to the way, which they have called a cult, thus I worship my God, the God of my fathers, believing in all things which are written in the Law and Prophets, 15 having hope in God, which these also await, the coming resurrection of the righteous and the unrighteous. 16 In this also I myself am studious to have a conscience without stumbling block always, toward God and toward people.

17 “After several years I have come to bring charity, offerings, and vows among my nation, 18 in which they found me purified in the temple; neither with a crowd, nor with a mob. 19 But there were some Jews from Asia, who should have been here before your face to give accusation, if they had anything against me; 20 or otherwise, these people themselves could tell you if they have found any wickedness in me, being as they are right here in the council, 21 apart from the one thing I shouted out among them, 'I am judged today by you regarding the resurrection of the dead.'”

22 Then Felix held them off, being more knowledgeable of this Way, saying, “When the tribune Lysias shall come down, I will hear you.” 23 And he ordered a centurion to guard him, and give him a degree of freedom, not forbidding any of his acquaintance to visit him.

24 But some days later, Felix came with his Jewish wife Drusilla, and called Paul, and heard from him the faith which is in Christ Jesus. 25 And as Paul argued of righteousness, chastity and the judgment to come, Felix, shaking with fear, replied, “For the time being, go; but at a more opportune time, I will have you brought back to me.” 26 And he was hoping for a bribe from Paul, for which reason he called him often and spoke with him. 27 But when two years had passed, Portius Festus took his place; and Felix, wishing to ingratiate himself with the Jews, left Paul bound.

25

So when Festus came into the province, after three days he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. 2 And the chief priests and leaders of the Jews went to him against Paul; and they asked him, 3 desiring favor against him, that he would send him to be brought to Jerusalem, scheming to kill him along the way.

4 But Festus answered that Paul was to be kept in Caesarea, and that he himself would be going there shortly. 5 And he said, “So whoever among you has power, come down with me, and if there is a crime in this man, they may accuse him to his face.” 6 And having stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. The next day he sat at the judgment seat, and ordered Paul to be brought forth. 7 And when he had been brought, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, accusing him of many and serious things that were unprovable.

8 Paul defended himself, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I sinned.”

9 And Festus, willing to ingratiate himself to the Jews, replied and said to Paul, “Do you want to go up to Jerusalem, then, and be judged there of these things before me?”

10 But Paul said, “At the judgment seat of Caesar I stand; there must I be judged. I have not harmed the Jews, as you well know. 11 For if I had done so, or done anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die; but if there is nothing to their accusations, none may give me to them. I am appealing to Caesar.”

12 Then Festus, having spoken with the council, replied, “Appealed to Caesar, have you? To Caesar you go.”

13 And after some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice went down to Caesarea to greet Festus. 14 And when they had stayed there for a few days more, Festus told the king about Paul, saying, “A certain man was left bound by Felix, 15 of whom, when I was at Jerusalem, there came to me chief priests and ancients of the Jews, requesting condemnation against him, 16 to whom I said that it is not Roman custom to condemn any person before the accusers are present before the one they would accuse, and has space to defend himself against the crime which he is accused of.

17 “Therefore, when they had come together, without any delay, the next day as I sat on the judgment seat, I ordered the man brought to me, 18 of whom, when his accusers stood before us, they brought no case, of which I suspected evil. 19 But they had some questions of their superstition against him, and of a certain deceased Jesus whom Paul affirmed to be living. 20 And I, hesitating about this manner of question, asked if he wanted to go to Jerusalem and be judged by them there. 21 But Paul appealed to be kept for the decision of Augustus, so I commanded him kept here until I could send him to Caesar.”

22 And Agrippa said to Festus, “I would also like to hear this man.” “Tomorrow,” he said, “you will hear him.”

23 And the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come, with great pomp, and entered the auditorium with the tribunes and the foremost men of the city, as Festus commanded, Paul was brought forth.

24 And Festus said, “King Agrippa, and all you men who are here with us, you see this man of whom all the multitude of the Jews has begged of me at Jerusalem, asking me and screaming at me that he must not live any longer. 25 But I found nothing that he has done worthy of death. And as this man has made appeal to Augustus, I have decided to send him, 26 of whom I have nothing certain to write to my lord; for which reason I have brought him to you, and most of all to you specifically, King Agrippa, that there being an interrogation I might have something to write. 27 For it seems unreasonable to me for someone to be imprisoned, and his case not signified.”

26

Then Paul, holding out his hand, began his reasoning: 2 “Regarding all that I am accused of by the Jews, King Agrippa, I deem myself blessed that I am to defend myself today before you, 3 as you are full well knowing of all things, both customs and questions, which are among the Jews; for which cause I beseech you to listen with patience to me, 4 and my life, indeed, from childhood, which was from the beginning among my own people in Jerusalem, as all the Jews know, 5 foreknowing me from the beginning (if they wish to testify) that I lived as a Pharisee, according to the truest sect of our religion.

6 “And now, I stand here subject to judgment, in the hope which was promised to our fathers by God, 7 in which our twelve tribes, well serving night and day, hoped to become; of which hope, O king, I am accused by the Jews. 8 Why should it be seen among you such an unbelievable thing, if God were to raise the dead? 9 But I had deemed my own self against the name of Jesus the Nazarene, that I ought to have done many contrary things, 10 which I also did in Jerusalem, and shut away many holy people in prisons, receiving the authority to do so from the chief priests; and when they were to be killed, I brought my voice against them. 11 And by all synagogues punishing them, I compelled them to blaspheme; and becoming ever more unhealthy with anger against them, I harassed them to outer cities.

12 “It is this that I was doing when, with the authority and permission of the chief priest, I went to Damascus, 13 and saw along the road at midday, O king, a light from heaven more dazzling than the sun surrounding me and those who were with me then.

14 “And as we all fell to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me in the language of the Hebrews: ‘Saul, Saul, why do you harass me? It is hard for you to kick back against a prod.’

15 “And I said, ‘Who are you, sir?’

“And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus, the one you are harassing. 16 But get up, and stand on your feet; for this is why I have appeared to you, to set you up in my service, and as a witness to those things which you have seen, and of those things in which I will appear to you, 17 saving you from the people and the nations into which I now send you, 18 to open their eyes, that they may turn aside from the dark toward the light, and from the authority of Satan to God, that they may receive remission of their sins, and a lot among the holy people, through the faith which is in me.’

19 “Whence, King Agrippa, I was not disbelieving of the heavenly vision; 20 but to those who were first in Damascus, then in Jerusalem, then in the rest of the region of Judaea, and to the nations, I have proclaimed, that they should do repentance, and be turned to God, doing works worthy of repentance. 21 For this cause, the Jews, while I was in the temple, tried to grab and kill me, 22 but being helped by the aid of God until this very day, I stand tall, bearing witness to large and small, saying nothing more than those things which were spoken to be yet to occur by the prophets, and by Moses, 23 that Christ was to suffer; that he, the first of the resurrection of the dead, was to proclaim light to the people and the nations.”

24 And so he spoke these things and made his defense. But Festus said loudly, “You are crazy, Paul; your much learning has put you out of your wits.”

25 “I am not out of my wits, most excellent Festus,” said Paul; “but I speak truth and sobriety. 26 For the king knows of these things, to whom I also freely speak; for I am convinced that none of these things are hidden from him. For neither was any of this done in a corner. 27 Do you believe, King Agrippa, in the prophets? I know you do.”

28 And Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost manage to make a Christian out of me.”

29 And Paul said, “I wish before God, both in small things and great, that not only you, but also all who hear me today, were as I am in every way, apart from these chains.”

30 And the king, and the governor, and Bernice, and those who sat with them, stood up. 31 And when they had moved aside, they spoke to each other, saying that he had done nothing to deserve death or imprisonment. 32 And Agrippa said to Felix, “We could have set this man free, had he not appealed to Caesar.”

27

And afterward it was determined that we would sail to Italy, and they handed Paul and some of the other prisoners to a centurion named Julius, of the cohort of Augustus. 2 And boarding an Adramyttine ship, we were to sail near the coast of Asia; and we set off, with Aristarchus, a Macedon from Thessalonica, continuing with us. 3 And the next day we arrived at Sidon. And Julius, being kind to Paul, allowed him to go to his friends, and take care of himself.

4 Then when we lifted anchor again, we sailed down to Cyprus, because the wind was against us. 5 And sailing through the sea which is against Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came by Myra, which is of Lycia, 6 where the centurion, finding a ship from Alexandria sailing to Italy, transferred us to it.

7 And as we were sailing several days later, and wanted to come down against Gnidus, the wind prevented us, so we sailed to Crete by Salmone, 8 and barely sailing beside it, we came to a place which was called Fairport, which was near the city of Lasaea. 9 And much time being spent, and it was now dangerous sailing since the fast had passed already, 10 Paul comforted them, saying, “Men, I see that the sailing is beginning to be with injury and great damage, not only to the cargo and the ship, but also our own souls.” 11 But the centurion believed the pilot and the owner of the ship more credence than those things which were spoken by Paul.

12 And as it was not a suitable port to winter in, the greater part advised to sail to where, if possible, they could arrive at Phoenix to winter, it being a port of Crete facing southwest and northwest. 13 And the soft wind blowing lightly, supposing they had obtained their purpose, when they weighed anchor from Asson, they sailed along the shore near Crete.

14 But not long after, a typhoon wind called Euroaquilo came down against it, 15 and the ship, being caught up in it, unable to hold up against the wind, we let the ship into the wind, and let it be carried away. 16 And being dragged by a certain island called Clauda, we were barely able to obtain a mooring; 17 and being hoisted up, they used helpers to wrap the ship; and being afraid, lest they fall into quicksand, lowered the sail and so continued to sail. 18 And as we were thrown about this way and that with the storm, the next day they began to jettison the cargo, 19 and on the third day, they threw out the arms of the ship with their own hands. 20 And with neither the sun nor the stars appearing for many days, and no end in sight for the storm, we had just about given up any hope of our survival.

21 And having been without food for a long time, then Paul stood in their midst and said, “Men, you should have listened to me, and not set forth from Crete, and gained yourself this injury and loss. 22 And now I exhort you to be of good spirit; for there will be no loss of life to you, only to the ship. 23 For an angel of God, whose I am and whom I serve, stood by me tonight, 24 saying, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand before Caesar, but behold, God will give you all who are sailing with you.’ 25 Therefore be of good spirit, men; for I believe God, that it will so be, as it was told to me. 26 But for now, we must come to a certain island.”

27 But after fourteen nights had passed, and we were sailing around Adria in the middle of the night, the sailors suspected that some country had appeared to them. 28 And they sounded, and found twenty fathoms; and moving a little further, they found fifteen fathoms. 29 And fearing less they run aground upon rocks, they cast four anchors off the stern, and longed for the day to come. 30 But as the sailors sought to escape the ship, having lowered the boat into the sea, as if they would start to cast forth anchors from the front part, 31 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.” 32 Then the soldiers cut the ropes from the boat, and allowed it to fall away.

33 And when it began to be light, Paul asked everyone to have something to eat, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that we have been waiting and remaining without food, taking nothing. 34 Therefore I ask you to take food for your own head, for not a hair of your head will be lost.” 35 And having said these things, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in the sight of all; and having broken it, he began to eat. 36 And they were all cheered up somewhat; and they themselves took food. 37 Now there were two hundred seventy-six of our souls aboard the ship.

38 And being filled with food, they lightened the ship further, throwing the wheat into the sea.

39 And when it was day, they did not know the land, but they saw a certain bay with a shore, in which they figured they might be able to steer the ship. 40 And when they had weighed anchor, they threw them all into the sea, unfastening the connections of the rudder; and hoisting the main sail into the wind, they headed toward the shore. 41 But when we had come across the place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and while the front was stuck and would not move, the stern broke apart with the force of the sea.

42 And the soldiers determined together to kill the prisoners, lest any swim out and escape. 43 But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, forbade them, and commanded that those who could swim first throw themselves overboard, and escape, and get to land; 44 and the others they brought, some on boards, and others on pieces of the ship. And so it happened that all souls made it safely to land.

28

And having escaped, we knew that we were on the island called Melita. 2 And the barbarians showed us no common kindness. For they lit a fire, and received us all, because of the falling rain, and because of the cold.

3 But when Paul had gathered together a bunch of sticks, and placed them in the fire, a viper came out of the heat and clamped itself on his hand. 4 And when the barbarians saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said among themselves, “Clearly this man is a murderer whom, though having escaped from the sea, justice has not permitted to live.” 5 But he shook the viper off into the fire, and suffered no harm. 6 But they supposed that he would eventually swell up or fall dead. But waiting a long time, and finding nothing evil to happen to him, they changed their minds, and declared him to be a god.

7 Now in that place there were possessions of the chief of the island, named Publius, who took us in and gave us hospice for three days. 8 And it happened that the father of Publius was ill with a fever and dysentery; and Paul went in to him, and having prayed, placed his hands on him, and he was healed.

9 So this having been done, others who had diseases on the island came to him, and were cured; 10 and they honored us with many honors. And when we were about to set sail, they provided us with such things as were necessary.

11 And three months later, we set sail in a ship of Alexandria that was wintering on the isle, whose banner was Castor and Pollux. 12 And coming to Syracuse, we remained there for three days. 13 From there we circled around to Rhegium; and one day later, a southerly wind arose, and the next day we arrived at Puteoli, 14 where we found brothers, who asked us to stay with them for seven days.

15 And so we came to Rome. And there, when the brothers had heard of us, they came running as far as the marketplace of Appii and the Three Taverns to meet us, and seeing Paul, gave thanks to God, and took courage.

16 And when we came to Rome, the centurion handed over the prisoners to the chief of the troops; but Paul was allowed to remain by himself with a soldier who guarded him.

17 And after the third day Paul called together the chief Jews, and when they had come together, he said, “Men, brothers, though I have done nothing against the people, or the customs of our fathers, I have been handed over in chains from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans, 18 who, examining me, wanted to set me free, finding no capital crime in me. 19 But the Jews having spoken against it, I was constrained to appeal to Caesar, not that I had anything of which to accuse my own nation. 20 Therefore, for this reason, I have called for you, to see you, and to speak with you. For because of the hope of Israel I have been placed in these chains.”

21 And they said to him, “We have neither received letters regarding you from Judaea, nor have any of our brothers come to proclaim or speak any evil of you. 22 But we ask of you to hear what you think; for regarding this cult it is known to us that they are spoken against everywhere.”

23 And when they had set a day for him, many came to him, to whom he explained and witnessed the kingdom of God, persuading them of Jesus, from the law of Moses and the prophets, from dawn until dusk. 24 And some believed in the things which he said; but some did not believe.

25 And when they did not agree among each other, they left, Paul speaking one last word to them: “Well has the holy spirit spoken to our fathers by Isaiah, 26 saying, Go to this people, and say to them,

Hearing, you shall hear, and not understand;
seeing, you shall see, and not perceive.

27 For the heart of this people has grown fat,
and its ears barely hear,
and its eyes are blocked,
lest sometime they should see with their eyes,
and hear with their ears,
and understand with their heart,
and be turned,
and I shall heal them.
28 Now may it be known to you, that this salvation of God is sent to the nations, and they will hear and listen.”

29 And when he had said these things, the Jews departed from him, having many questions among themselves. 30 But for two years he remained in his rented home, and he took in all who came in to him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God, and teaching the things which are regarding the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence and without restraint.