A New Translation of Luke’s
Acts of the Apostles
Based on the Westcott and Hort Text of 1881 with references to the Papyrus fragments of the Chester Beatty collections, c. 3rd Century A.D. and the Sinaitic Manuscript of the 4th Century.
Some notes on this translation:
Gentiles vs. nations: Many translations have translated the Greek root ethn- as Gentiles. We have translated it as nations. The reason for the discrepancy is this: The Hebrew word goyim technically means nations, but as used by the Jews for millennia, the word implies non-Jewish nations, hence, Gentiles. In writing the New Testament, the Greek equivalent of goyim was used, but since the writing was done primarily by Jews, they tended to use the word to mean non-Jewish nations. In reading this translation, readers should keep that in mind, realizing that when Paul said “nations,” he meant “non-Jewish nations.”
Thou vs. YOU: Many people today have a hard time understanding the Elizabethan usage of thou, thee, thy, etc. For this reason, we have chosen to avoid this archaic language. At the same time, we need to be able to fulfill the purpose of those words, which was to distinguish between a singular you and a plural YOU. Following the example of other translations, we have used all capital letters to indicate plural (more than one person addressed), and small letters to indicate singular (one person addressed).
Words in italics: Following the example of other translations, we have used italics for words that are not in the original text, but which are essential to the sense of the original when translated into English. Unlike other translations, however, we have NOT added words which alter the meaning of the original.
Words in (parentheses): These are not part of the biblical text, but are notes of explanation from the translator.
Man and Woman vs. Husband and Wife: Greek has no specific words for husband or wife, but uses the words man and woman, as do many other languages. We have translated the words man and woman as such, but in proper context, the readers should understand them to mean husband and wife.
Perfect vs. Complete: Many English versions use the word “perfect” both as a verb and as an adjective, to translate a particular Greek root. We have also used it occasionally, but it should be understood as perfect in the sense of “complete” and not in the sense of “without flaw.”
Jacob vs. James: The King James translators changed Jacob to James to flatter the King of England. No one in the Bible was named James. To change the name now would only result in confusion, so we have left the name as James, with Jacob in parentheses.
Acts 1
1 I made the first account, O Theophilus, about all that Jesus started doing and also teaching,
2 having given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen, until the day in which he was received up,
3 To whom he also presented himself alive after his suffering by many proofs, being seen by them throughout forty days, and saying the things about the kingdom of God:
4 and, being met together, he commanded them ‘not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which YOU heard from me:
5 Because John indeed baptized with water; but YOU will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’
6 Therefore, having come together, they were asking him, saying, ‘Lord, is it at this time that you restore the kingdom to Israel?’
7 He said to them, ‘It is not for YOU to know times or seasons, which the Father has set by His own authority.
8 But YOU will receive power, when the Holy Spirit has come upon you: and YOU will be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’
9 And having said these things, as they were looking, he was lifted up; and a cloud took him out of their sight.
10 And as they were staring into heaven at his departure, and see, two men stood by them in white clothing;
11 who also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was received up from YOU into heaven will come in the same way as YOU watched him going into heaven.’
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called the Mount of Olives, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey.
13 And when they came in, they went up into the upper room, where they were staying; Peter and John and James (Jacob) and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James (Jacob) son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James (Jacob).
14 These all continued with one accord in prayer, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. (“one accord” the Greek word means “same fierceness.”)
15 And in these days, Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren, --and there was a crowd of people together, about a hundred and twenty-- and said,
16 ‘Men, Brethren, it was necessary for the Scripture to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David about Judas, who became a guide for those who seized Jesus,
17 because he was numbered among us, and received a portion in this ministry.
18 Now indeed this man therefore obtained a field with the salary of his unrighteousness; and falling forward, he split open in the middle, and all his intestines were poured out.
19 And it became known to all those living in Jerusalem; so that in their language that field was called Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.
20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his dwelling become desolate, And let no one live in it;’ and, ‘Let another take his office of bishop.’
21 Therefore of the men who have associated with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and went out among us,
22 beginning from the baptism of John, until the day when he was received up from us, one of these must become a witness of his resurrection with us.
23 And they made two stand up, Joseph, called Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
24 And having prayed, they said, ‘You, Lord, who knows the hearts of all, indicate whom you chose, from these two, the one
25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas fell away, to go to his own place.’
26 And they cast lots over them; and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was counted with the eleven apostles.
Acts 2
1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all together for the same purpose.
2 And suddenly there was a loud noise from heaven like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared to them tongues as if of fire being distributed; and it sat upon each one of them.
4 And they all became filled with the Holy Spirit, and they started speaking other tongues, just as the Spirit was giving them utterance.
5 Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven.
6 But when this sound happened, the multitude came together, and were confused (or “were thrown into an uproar”), because each one heard them speaking in his own language.
7 And they were all astonished and were wondering, saying, ‘Look, aren’t all these speaking Galileans?
8 So how are we hearing each in our own language in which we were born?
9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and those living in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
10 Phrygia and also Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya beyond Cyrene, and foreigners from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,
11 Cretans and Arabians, we hear them speaking the magnificent things of God in our tongues.
12 And they were all astonished, and were completely baffled, saying one to another, ‘What does this mean?’
13 But others, mocking, said, ‘They are filled with new wine.’
14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke to them, Men of Judea, and all those dwelling in Jerusalem, let this be known to YOU, and give ear to my words.
15 For these are not drunk, as YOU suppose; for it is the third hour of the day (9:00 in the morning).
16 but this is what was said through the prophet Joel:
17 ‘And it will be in the last days, says God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: And your sons and your daughters will prophesy, and your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams:
18 And even on my male slaves and on my female slaves in those days I will pour out of my Spirit, and they will prophesy.
19 And I will give wonders in the heaven above, and signs on the earth below: Blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord comes.
21 And it will be, that everyone who will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.
22 Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man shown to YOU by God by powers and wonders and signs which God did by him in YOUR midst, as YOU YOURSELVES know;
23 this one, being handed over by the decreed will and foreknowledge of God, YOU have crucified and killed by the hand of the lawless:
24 whom God resurrected, having loosened the pains of death: because it was not possible for him to be held by it.
25 For David says about him, ‘I always saw the Lord before my eyes; for he is on my right hand, so that I should not be shaken:
26 Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; and furthermore my flesh will also encamp in hope:
27 Because you will not leave my soul in Hades, neither will you allow your Holy One to see decay.
28 You have made the ways of life known to me; you will fill me with gladness with your presence.’
29 Men and brethren, it is safe to say frankly to YOU about the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.
30 Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God swore an oath to him, that he would seat one from the fruit of his loins on his throne;
31 having foreseen this, he spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was he left to Hades, nor did his flesh see decay.
32 This Jesus God resurrected, of which we are all witnesses.
33 Therefore, being exalted by the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured this out, which YOU are both seeing and hearing.
34 For David did not ascend into the heavens: but he himself says, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit on my right hand,
35 until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet.’
36 Therefore, let all the house of Israel know for sure, that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom YOU crucified.
37 Now having heard this, they were pierced in the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and Brethren, what should we do?’
38 And Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let each of YOU be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ into the forgiveness of YOUR sins; and YOU will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39 For the promise is to YOU, and to YOUR children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God might call to himself.’
40 And with many other words he testified, and invited them, saying, ‘Be saved from this crooked generation.’
41 Therefore, they who indeed received his word were baptized: and about three thousand souls were added on that day.
42 And they continued earnestly in the apostles' doctrine and in fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers.
43 But fear came to every soul: and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
44 And all who believed were together, and had all things common;
45 and they sold their possessions and goods, and distributed the proceeds to all, according as anyone had need.
46 And day by day, continuing earnestly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they partook of food with gladness and sincerity of heart,
47 praising God, and having favor with all the people. And at the same time, the Lord was adding day by day those being saved.
Acts 3
1 Now Peter and John were going up into the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. (3:00 pm)
2 And some man, being lame from his mother's womb, was being carried, whom they daily put at the door of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask charity from those entering into the temple;
3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked to receive charity.
4 But Peter, looking intently at him, with John, said, ‘Look at us.’
5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them.
6 But Peter said, ‘I don’t have silver and gold, but what I do have, that I am giving to you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!’
7 And taking him by the right hand, he raised him up. And instantly his feet and his ankle-bones were made firm.
8 And jumping up, he stood and walked; and he entered with them into the temple, walking, and jumping, and praising God.
9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God:
10 and they recognized him, that this was the one who sat for charity at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with astonishment and bewilderment at what had happened to him.
11 But as he held tightly to Peter and John, all the people ran together toward them in the porch that is called Solomon's, utterly astonished.
12 But when Peter saw it, he answered the people, ‘Men of Israel, why are YOU wondering about this? Or why are YOU staring at us, as though by our own power or godliness we made him walk?
13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his Son Jesus; whom YOU indeed handed over, and denied before the face of Pilate, when he had decided to release him.
14 But YOU denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a man who is a murderer to be given to YOU,
15 and killed the Author of life; whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.
16 And by faith in his name, his name has made this man, whom YOU see and know, firm, and the faith which is through him has given him this wholeness in the presence of all of YOU.
17 And now, brethren, I know that YOU acted in ignorance, as did YOUR rulers also.
18 But the things which God declared before by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled.
19 Repent therefore, and turn around, so YOUR sins may be blotted out, so that seasons of refreshing should come from the presence of the Lord;
20 and that he should send forth Christ Jesus who has been appointed beforehand for YOU,
21 whom the heaven must indeed receive until the times of restoration of all things, of which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old.
22 Moses indeed said, ‘The Lord God will raise up a prophet like me for YOU from among YOUR brethren. YOU will hear him in all things, whatever he might say to YOU.
23 But it will be, that every soul that will not hear that prophet, will be utterly destroyed from among the people.’
24 And now all the prophets from Samuel and those after, as many as have spoken, also told of these days.
25 YOU are the sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God covenanted with YOUR fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And all the families of the earth will be blessed in your seed.’
26 God, having raised up his Son, sent him to YOU first to bless YOU, by turning each one away from YOUR iniquities.
Acts 4
1 But as they were speaking to the people, the chief priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees stood over them,
2 being very upset because they were teaching the people and proclaiming the resurrection from the dead in Jesus.
3 And they thrust hands on them, and put them under observation until the next day, for it was already evening.
4 But many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.
5 But it happened on the next day, that their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem;
6 and Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest.
7 And when they had stood them in the midst, they inquired, ‘By what power, or in what name, did YOU do this?’
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers of the people, and elders,
9 if we are being examined today concerning a good deed for a sick man, by whom this man is healed;
10 let it be known to YOU all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom YOU crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by him this man stands here in YOUR sight healthy.
11 This is the stone which was despised by YOU, the builders, which became the head of the corner.
12 And in no other is there salvation: for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, by which we must be saved.
13 Now seeing the boldness of Peter and John, and having perceived that they were illiterate and ignorant men, they wondered; and they recognized them, that they had been with Jesus.
14 And seeing the man that was healed standing with them, they had nothing to say against it.
15 But having commanded them to go out of the Sanhedrin hall, they conferred among themselves,
16 saying, ‘What should we do to these men? For it is evident to all dwelling in Jerusalem that a notable sign has indeed happened through them, and we cannot deny it.
17 But so that it should not be spread further among the people, let us threaten them not to speak anymore about this name to any man at all.’
18 And having called them, they charged them not to speak at all nor teach about the name of Jesus.
19 But Peter and John answering, said to them, ‘YOU decide whether it is right in the sight of God to hear YOU rather than God;
20 for we can’t stop speaking the things which we saw and heard.’
21 And they, having further threatened, released them, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people; because they were all glorifying God for what had happened,
22 for the man to whom this sign of healing had happened was more than forty years old.
23 And having been released, they came to their own people, and reported what the chief priests and the elders said to them.
24 And they, having heard it, lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, ‘Master, you who has made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all things in them,
25 who by the Holy Spirit, from the mouth of our father David your son, has said, Why did the nations rage, and the peoples imagine empty things?
26 The kings of the earth set themselves in array, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord, and against his Christ;
27 for truly both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the nations and the peoples of Israel, were gathered together, in this city against your holy Son Jesus, whom you anointed,
28 to do whatever your hand and council foreordained to happen.
29 And now, Lord, look at their threats: and grant to your slaves to speak your word with all boldness,
30 while you are stretching out your hand for healing and signs and wonders to take place through the name of your holy Son Jesus.’
31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
32 And the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and soul: and no one said that any of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
33 And the apostles gave their testimony of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus with great power: and great grace was upon them all.
34 For neither was anyone among them needy: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
35 and laid them at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made to each, according as any one had need.
36 And Joseph, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas --which is, being interpreted, Son of Comfort--, a Levite, a Cypriot by race,
37 having a field, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.
Acts 5
1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his woman, sold a possession,
2 and put aside part of the price for himself, the woman also being aware of it, and having brought a certain part, he laid it at the apostles' feet.
3 But Peter said, ‘Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to put aside part of the price of the land for yourself?
4 While it remained, didn’t it remain yours? And having been sold, wasn’t it by your authority? Why is it that you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God.’
5 And Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and expired: and great fear came upon all those who heard it.
6 And the younger people stood up, wrapped him up, and having carried him out, buried him.
7 But after about the space of three hours, it happened that his woman, not knowing what had taken place, came in.
8 And Peter answered to her, ‘Tell me if YOU sold the land for this much.’ And she said, ‘Yes, for that much.’
9 But Peter said to her, ‘Why is it that YOU have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your man are at the door, and they will carry you out.’
10 And she fell down immediately at his feet, and expired: and the young men, coming in, found her dead, and having carried her out, buried her by her man.
11 And great fear came upon the whole church, and upon all hearing these things.
12 But many signs and wonders were taking place among the people by the hands of the apostles; and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.
13 But of the rest, no one dared to join them; nevertheless, the people were extolling them.
14 But more believers were being added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and of women;
15 insomuch that they even carried the sick out into the plazas, and laid them on couches and mattresses, so that, as Peter came by, at least his shadow might overshadow some one of them.
16 But also the multitude from the cities around Jerusalem were coming together, bringing the sick, and those troubled by unclean spirits: who were all being cured.
17 But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him, being the sect of the Sadducees, and they were filled with jealousy,
18 and thrust hands on the apostles, and put them in a public observation cell.
19 But an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors during the night, brought them out, and said,
20 ‘Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this Life.’
21 And having heard, they entered into the temple about daybreak, and were teaching. But the high priest came along, and those with him, and called the Sanhedrin together, and all the elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the lockup to have them brought.
22 But the subordinates that came did not find them in the prison; and they returned, and reported,
23 saying, ‘We found the lockup securely locked, and the guards standing at the doors: but having opened it, we found no one inside.’
24 Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were completely baffled about them as to what this would become.
25 But someone came and told them, ‘Look, the men whom YOU put in the prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.’
26 Then the captain with the officers went out, and brought them, not with violence, for they feared the people, lest they might be stoned.
27 But when they had brought them, they set them before the Sanhedrin. And the high priest questioned them,
28 saying, ‘We strictly charged YOU not to teach about this name, and look, YOU have filled Jerusalem with YOUR teaching, and are determined to bring this man's blood upon us.’
29 But Peter and the apostles answered and said, ‘We must obey God rather than men.
30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom YOU seized violently, hanging him on a tree.
31 God exalted him, Chief Leader and Savior, to his right hand, to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
32 And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, which God has given to those who obey him.’
33 But having heard this, they were exasperated, and wanted to take them.
34 But someone in the Sanhedrin, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, honorable to all the people, stood up and commanded to put the men outside for a little while.
35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel, watch YOURSELVES concerning these men, what YOU are about to do.
36 For before these days Theudas rose up, saying he himself was somebody, to whom a number of men, about four hundred, adhered; who was taken; and all, as many as obeyed him, were dispersed, and came to nothing.
37 After this, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the tax enrollment, and drew away people after him: he also perished; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered abroad.
38 And now I am saying to YOU, Stand away from these men, and leave them alone: because if this advice or this work is from men, it will fall apart:
39 but if it is from God, YOU will not be able to destroy them; lest perhaps YOU also might be found to be fighting against God.’
40 And they were convinced by him: and having called the apostles to them and beaten them, they charged them not to speak about the name of Jesus, and released them.
41 They therefore departed from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they were counted worthy to be dishonored for the Name.
42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching the good news about Jesus the Christ.
Acts 6
1 But in these days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, a murmuring of the Hellenists (Greek-speaking Jews) against the Hebrews (Aramaic or Hebrew speaking Jews) took place, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily administration.
2 And the twelve, having called the multitude of the disciples to them, said, ‘It is not acceptable for us to leave behind the word of God, and serve tables.
3 So YOU, brethren, look out for seven men of good report from among you, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint over this need.
4 But we will continue earnestly in prayer, and in the ministry of the word.’
5 And the reasoning pleased the whole multitude: and they selected Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus a proselyte of Antioch;
6 whom they stood before the apostles: and having prayed, they laid their hands upon them.
7 And the word of God was growing; and the number of the disciples was greatly multiplying in Jerusalem; and a great number of the priests were obedient to the faith.
8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.
9 But some of those from the synagogue called the synagogue of the Libertines (Libertines were “freedmen,” i.e., former slaves), and of the Cyrenes, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, arose, jointly investigating Stephen.
10 And they were not strong enough to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he was speaking.
11 Then they secretly brought in men who said, ‘We have heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God.’
12 And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and coming up to him, they seized him, and led him into the Sanhedrin,
13 and they brought in false witnesses, who said, ‘This man doesn’t stop speaking words against this holy place and the law:
14 for we have heard him saying, that this Jesus of Nazareth will tear this place down, and will change the customs which Moses handed down to us.’
15 And having looked intently at him, all those sitting in the Sanhedrin saw his face as if it were the face of an angel.
Acts 7
1 But the high priest said, ‘Are these things so?’
2 But Stephen said, ‘Men, brothers and fathers, hear me: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran,
3 and said to him, Go out from your land, and from your relatives, and come here to the land which I will show you.
4 Then, having gone out of the land of the Chaldeans, he lived in Haran: and from there, after his father died, God moved him into this land, in which YOU are now living:
5 and gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot step: and he promised to give it to him as a possession, and to his seed after him, when he had no child.
6 But God spoke this, that his seed would be an alien resident in a foreign land, and they would enslave them, and treat them badly, four hundred years.
7 And I will judge the nation to which they will be slaves, God said: and after these things, they will come out, and they will serve me in this place.
8 And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so he begot Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob, the twelve patriarchs.
9 And the patriarchs, having become jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt: and God was with him,
10 and delivered him out of all his tribulations, and gave him grace and wisdom before Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and his whole house.
11 But there came a famine over all Egypt and Canaan, and great tribulation: and our fathers were not finding food.
12 But Jacob, having heard that there was grain in Egypt, sent out our fathers the first time.
13 And in the second time, Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph's race became evident to Pharaoh.
14 But Joseph sent out, and called his father Jacob and all his relatives from there, seventy-five souls.
15 And Jacob went down into Egypt; and he died, himself and our fathers;
16 and they were transported to Shechem, and were placed in the tomb that Abraham bought for a price in silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.
17 But as the time of the promise which God professed to Abraham was nearing, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt,
18 until another king arose over Egypt, who had not known Joseph.
19 This king, having dealt deviously with our race, treated our fathers badly, making them put out their infants so they would not live.
20 At which time Moses was born, and was exceedingly handsome; and he was nourished three months in his father's house.
21 but when he was put out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and raised him for her own son.
22 And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians; but he was powerful in his words and works.
23 But when he was almost forty years old, it came into his heart to go see his brethren the children of Israel.
24 And having seen someone being treated unjustly, he defended him, and avenged the one being abused, striking the Egyptian:
25 and he thought that his brethren understood that God was giving them salvation by his hand; but they did not understand.
26 And the following day he appeared to them as they were fighting, and was reconciling them to peace, saying, Men, YOU are brothers; why are YOU treating one another unjustly?
27 But the one treating his neighbor unjustly pushed him away, saying, Who appointed you ruler and judge over us?
28 Do you want to take me, like you took the Egyptian yesterday?
29 But Moses fled at this word, and became a foreign resident in the land of Midian, where he begot two sons.
30 And when forty years were fulfilled, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush.
31 But when Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: but as he came over to observe, there came a voice of the Lord,
32 I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob. But Moses, trembling, did not dare to look closer.
33 And the Lord said to him, Loosen the shoes from your feet: for the place on which you stand is holy ground.
34 I have surely seen the bad treatment of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to deliver them: and now come, I will send you into Egypt.
35 This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made you ruler and judge? God has sent him as both a ruler and a deliverer with the hand of the angel that appeared to him in the bush.
36 This one led them out, having done wonders and signs in Egypt, and in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness forty years.
37 This is the Moses who said to the children of Israel, God will raise up a prophet like me for YOU from among YOUR brethren.
38 This is the one who was in the church in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him in Mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received living utterances to give to YOU (some say “to us.”),
39 to whom our fathers were not willing to be obedient, but pushed away, and in their hearts, turned back to Egypt,
40 saying to Aaron, Make us gods who will go before us: for this Moses, who led us out of the land of Egypt, we don’t know what happened to him.
41 And they made a calf in those days, and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and they were pleased with the works of their hands.
42 But God turned, and handed them over to serve the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, Did YOU offer slain animals and sacrifices to me forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?
43 And YOU took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of the god Remphan, the figures which YOU made, to worship them: And I will exile YOU beyond Babylon.
44 Our fathers had the tabernacle of the testimony in the wilderness, just as the one speaking to Moses appointed, to make it according to the model that he had seen.
45 Which our fathers, in their turn, also brought in with Joshua when they entered in the possession of the nations which God pushed out before the face of our fathers, until the days of David;
46 who found favor in the sight of God, and asked to find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.
47 But Solomon built him a house.
48 But the Most High does not live in houses made with hands; as the prophet says,
49 Heaven is my throne, and earth is the footstool of my feet: What kind of house will YOU build Me? says the Lord: Or what is the place of my rest?
50 Didn’t my hand make all these?
51 Obstinate and uncircumcised in heart and ears! YOU are always opposing the Holy Spirit: as your fathers, so also YOU.
52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One; of whom YOU have now become betrayers and murderers;
53 YOU who received the law as appointed by angels, and did not keep it.’
54 But when they heard these things, they were exasperated, and they were gnashing their teeth at him.
55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked intently into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
56 and said, ‘Look! I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God.’
57 But they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears, and rushed upon him with one accord;
58 and having thrown him outside the city, they threw stones at him: and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man called Saul.
59 And they stoned Stephen, who was calling on the Lord, and saying, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’
60 And having fallen to his knees, he cried with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not let this sin stand against them!’ And having said this, he fell asleep.
Acts 8
1 And Saul was approving of his murder. But on that day a great persecution took place against the church which was in Jerusalem; and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria.
2 And godly men carried Stephen, and made great lamentation over him.
3 But Saul was wreaking havoc in the church, entering into house after house, dragging both men and women, he was turning them over to prison.
4 Therefore, those who were scattered went through the land preaching the good news of the word.
5 But Philip having gone down to the city of Samaria, was preaching Christ to them.
6 And the crowds were with one accord attentive to the things being said by Philip, as they were hearing and seeing the signs he was doing.
7 For from many of those having unclean spirits, they were coming out, crying aloud with a great voice: and many who were paralyzed, were lame, were healed.
8 And there was much joy in that city.
9 But a certain man, Simon by name, who had previously been in the city practicing sorcery and astonishing the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great,
10 to whom they all were attentive, from the least to the greatest, saying, ‘This is the power of God which is called Great.’
11 But they were attentive to him, because for a long time he had amazed them with his sorceries.
12 But when they believed Philip preaching good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
13 But Simon himself also believed: and having been baptized, adhered closely to Philip; and seeing signs and great miraculous powers taking place, he was astonished.
14 Now when the apostles who were in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them:
15 who, having gone down, prayed for them, so that they might receive the Holy Spirit:
16 for as yet it had not fallen upon any of them: but they had only been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
17 Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18 But Simon having seen that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,
19 saying, ‘Give me this authority, too, so that on whomever I lay my hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit.’
20 But Peter said to him, ‘Let your silver perish with you, because you thought to get the gift of God with money.
21 You have neither part nor portion in this matter: for your heart is not right before God.
22 So repent of this wickedness of yours, and beseech the Lord, if perhaps the thought of your heart will be forgiven you.
23 For I see you being a poisonous bile and a ligament of iniquity.’
24 And Simon answered and said, ‘YOU beseech the Lord for me, so that none of the things which YOU have said should come upon me.’
25 They therefore, when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.
26 But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, ‘Stand up, and go down south on the road that goes down from Jerusalem into Gaza.’ --This is a desert.--
27 And he stood up and went: and look, an Ethiopian man, a eunuch of power under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship;
28 and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.
29 And the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go over, and join yourself to this chariot.’
30 And Philip, having run over, heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, ‘Do you actually know what you are reading?’
31 But he said, ‘How could I, unless someone should guide me?’ And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him.
32 Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this, ‘He was led as a sheep to slaughter; and as a lamb before his shearer is silent, so he does not open his mouth:
33 In humiliation his judgment was taken away: who will tell his generation? For his life is taken from the earth.’
34 And the eunuch answering Philip, said, ‘I beg you, about whom is the prophet saying this? About himself, or about some other?’
35 And Philip having opened his mouth, and starting from this Scripture, preached to him the good news of Jesus.
36 But as they were going down the road, they came upon some water; and the eunuch says, ‘Look, water! What is preventing me from being baptized?’
37And Philip said, ‘If you believe with all your heart, you may.’ And he answered and said, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’ (This verse is absent from some manuscripts.)
38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.
39 But when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, and the eunuch didn’t see him anymore, for he was going on his way rejoicing.
40 But Philip was found in Azotus (i.e., Ashdod): and passing through, he preached the gospel to all the cities, until he came into Caesarea.
Acts 9
1 But Saul, still breathing threatening and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,
2 and asked from him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, so that if he might find any who were of the Way, men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
3 But as he was going, it happened as he was nearing Damascus, that suddenly a light out of heaven flashed around him:
4 and having fallen on the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’
5 And he said, ‘Who are you, Lord? And he said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting:
6 but stand up, and enter into the city, and it will be told to you what you must do.’
7 But the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, indeed hearing the voice, but seeing no one.
8 And Saul got up from the ground; and when his eyes were opened, he was seeing nothing; but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
9 And he was three days not seeing, and neither ate nor drank.
10 Now there was a certain disciple in Damascus, Ananias by name; and the Lord said to him in a vision, ‘Ananias.’ And he said, ‘Look, I am here, Lord.’
11 And the Lord said to him, ‘Stand up, and go on the street which is called Straight, and look for a Tarsian named Saul in the house of Judas, for see, he is praying;
12 and he has seen a man named Ananias in a vision, coming in, and laying his hands on him, so that he might see again.’
13 But Ananias answered, ‘Lord, I have heard about this man from many, how much evil he did to your saints in Jerusalem:
14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call upon your name.’
15 But the Lord said unto him, ‘Go ahead, because he is a chosen vessel to me, to carry my name in the sight of the nations and kings and the children of Israel:
16 for I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name.’
17 And Ananias went off, and entered into the house; and having laid hands on him, said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord has sent me: Jesus, who appeared to you on the road on which you coming, so that you might see again, and might be filled with the Holy Spirit.’
18 And immediately there fell from his eyes what seemed like scales, and he saw again; and having stood up, he was baptized;
19 and having taken food, he was strengthened. And he was with the disciples in Damascus a number of days.
20 And immediately he was preaching Jesus in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
21 And all who heard him were astonished, and said, ‘Isn’t this the one who wreaked havoc on those calling on this name in Jerusalem, and who had come here for this purpose, so that he might bring them bound before the chief priests?
22 But Saul was being more empowered, and was confounding the Jews who lived in Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.
23 But when many days were fulfilled, the Jews consulted together to take him:
24 but their plot became known to Saul. And they were also watching the gates day and night so that they might take him:
25 but his disciples took him at night, and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket.
26 But when he came to Jerusalem, he was trying to join himself to the disciples: and they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.
27 But Barnabas, taking hold of him, brought him to the apostles, and told them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that he spoke to him, and how he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus in Damascus.
28 And he was with them going in and going out at Jerusalem,
29 preaching boldly in the name of the Lord: and he spoke and disputed against the Grecian Jews; but they were planning to take him.
30 But when the brethren knew about it, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him off to Tarsus.
31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace, being built up; and, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, was being multiplied.
32 And it happened, as Peter went throughout all parts, he also came down to the saints who lived in Lydda.
33 And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been lying on a mattress for eight years; for he was paralyzed.
34 And Peter said to him, ‘Aeneas, Jesus Christ is healing you: Stand up and make your bed.’ And immediately he stood up.
35 And all who lived in Lydda and in Sharon saw him, and turned to the Lord.
36 Now there was in Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which being translated is Dorcas (gazelle): this woman was full of good works and charity which she did.
37 But it happened in those days, that having fallen sick, she died: and when they had washed her, they put her in an upper room.
38 And Lydda being near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, begging him, ‘Do not delay to come over to us.’
39 And Peter stood up and went with them. And when he was come, they brought him into the upper room: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the many shirts and robes which Dorcas made, while she was with them.
40 But Peter put all of them out, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body, he said, ‘Tabitha, stand up.’ And she opened her eyes; and seeing Peter, she sat up.
41 And he gave her his hand, and stood her up; and calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.
42 And it became known throughout all Joppa: and many believed on the Lord.
43 And it happened that he remained many days in Joppa with a certain Simon, a tanner.
Acts 10
11 Now there was a certain man in Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of the band called Italian,
2 devout and God-fearing with all his household, giving much charity to the people, and praying to God all the time.
3 He plainly saw in a vision, about the ninth hour of the day (around 3 pm), an angel of God coming in toward him, and saying to him, ‘Cornelius.’
4 And he, looked at him intently, and being afraid, said, ‘What is it, Lord?’ And he said to him, ‘Your prayers and your charity have gone up for a remembrance before God.
5 And now send men to Joppa, and invite a certain Simon, who is surnamed Peter:
6 he is staying with a certain Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.’
7 And when the angel who spoke to him left, he called for two of his house servants, and a devout soldier of those who attended him continually;
8 and having explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
9 Now on the next day, as they were on their journey, and nearing the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray, about the sixth hour (noon):
10 and he became very hungry, and wanted to eat: but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance;
11 and he saw the heaven opened, and a certain vessel coming down, like a great linen sheet, let down by four corners onto the earth:
12 in which were all the four-footed animals and creeping things of the earth and birds of the heaven.
13 And a voice came to him, ‘Stand up, Peter; kill and eat.’
14 But Peter said, ‘No way, Lord; because I never ate anything common and unclean.’ (Although “No way” seems a bit slangy, it is a close translation of what Peter actually said.”)
15 And a voice came to him again a second time, ‘What God has cleansed, don’t you call common!’
16 And this happened three times: and immediately the vessel was taken up into heaven.
17 Now while Peter was completely baffled in himself about what the vision which he saw might mean, look, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon's house, stood at the gate,
18 and called and asked if Simon, who was surnamed Peter, were staying there.
19 But while Peter was going over the vision in his mind, the Spirit said, ‘Look, three men are looking for you. (Some manuscripts say “two men.”)
20 But stand up, go downstairs, and go with them, doubting nothing: because I have sent them.’
21 And Peter went down to the men, and said, ‘Look, I am the one YOU are looking for: What is the reason YOU are here?’
22 And they said, ‘Centurion Cornelius, a righteous and God-fearing man, and well reported of by all the nation of the Jews, was divinely told by a holy angel to invite you to his house, and to hear words from you.’
23 So he called them in and lodged them. And on the next day he stood up and went out with them, and some of the brethren from Joppa went with him.
24 And on the next day he entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius was expecting them, having called together his relatives and his closest friends.
25 And it happened that as Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
26 But Peter raised him up, saying, ‘Stand up; I am also a man myself.’
27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many come together:
28 and he said to them, ‘YOU know well how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to join himself to or approach to one of another race; but God showed me that I should not call any man common or unclean:
29 and therefore I came without objection, when I was invited. So I am asking for what reason YOU invited me.’
30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago, from this hour, I was praying at the ninth hour in my house; and look, a man stood in my sight in bright clothing,
31 and says, ‘Cornelius, your prayer was heard, and your gifts of charity were remembered in the sight of God.
32 Send therefore to Joppa, and invite Simon, who is surnamed Peter; he is staying in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.
33 At once, therefore, I sent to you; and you have done well having come here. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God, to hear all the things that have been commanded to you by the Lord.
34 And Peter opened his mouth and said, ‘Truly I am understanding that God is no respecter of persons:
35 but in every nation the one fearing him, and working righteousness, is acceptable to him.
36 The word he sent out to the children of Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ --He is Lord of all.--
37 YOU know the topic which was talked about throughout all Judea, having started from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
38 Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power: who went around doing good, and healing all who were oppressed of the devil; because God was with him.
39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom also they took, hanging him on a tree.
40 God raised him up on the third day, and granted him to be made manifest,
41 not to all the people, but to witnesses that were previously appointed by God, to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
42 And he charged us to preach to the people, and to testify that this is he the one who is ordained of God to be the Judge of the living and the dead.
43 All the prophets bear witness to him, that through his name every one who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins.’
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those hearing the word.
45 And those believers from the circumcision who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was also poured out on the nations.
46 For they heard them speaking in tongues, and magnifying God. Then answered Peter,
47 ‘Can anyone forbid the water, so that these should not be baptized, who received the Holy Spirit as we also did?’
48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain a number of days.
Acts 11
1 But the apostles and the brethren that were in Judea heard that the nations had also received the word of God.
2 And when Peter went up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision were contending with him,
3 saying that he went to uncircumcised men, and ate with them.
4 But then Peter began explaining to them, saying,
5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, a certain vessel coming down, like a great linen sheet let down from heaven by four corners; and it came right up to me:
6 in which, when I looked, I observed, and saw the four-footed animals of the earth and wild animals and the creeping things and the birds of the heaven.
7 But I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Stand up, Peter; kill and eat.’
8 But I said, ‘No way, Lord: because a common or unclean thing has never entered into my mouth.’
9 But a voice answered a second time out of heaven, ‘What God cleansed, don’t you call common!’
10 And this happened three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven.
11 And see, at that moment three men stood at the house in which we were, having been sent to me from Caesarea.
12 And the Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing. And these six brethren also accompanied me; and we entered into the man's house:
13 and he told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and saying, ‘Send to Joppa, and invite Simon, whose surname is Peter;
14 who will speak words to you, by which you and all your household will be saved.’
15 But as I started speaking, the Holy Spirit fell on them, just as on us also in the beginning.
16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John indeed baptized with water; but YOU will be baptized in the Holy Spirit.’
17 So if God gave them the same gift as he also gave to us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I was powerful enough to hinder God?”
18 And when they heard these things, they kept still, and glorified God, saying, ‘Then God has also granted repentance into life to the nations!’
19 Now those who were scattered as a result of the tribulation that took place because of Stephen went as far as Phoenicia, and Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews only.
20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, having come to Antioch, were speaking to the Hellenists (Greek-speaking Jews) also, preaching the good news of the Lord Jesus.
21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.
22 And the account of them reached the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent Barnabas out as far as Antioch:
23 who, when he arrived, and had seen the grace of God, rejoiced; and he encouraged them all, that they would remain in the Lord with purpose of heart:
24 because he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith: and a large crowd was added to the Lord.
25 And he went out to Tarsus to look for Saul;
26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. And it happened that they were gathered together with the church for a whole year, and taught quite a crowd, and that the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
27 Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.
28 And one of them named Agabus stood up, and indicated through the Spirit that there was about to be a great famine over the whole world: which happened in the days of Claudius.
29 And the disciples, everyone according to ability, determined to send aid to the brethren living in Judea:
30 which they also did, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
Acts 12
1 But about that time, Herod the king put out his hands to mistreat some of the people from the church.
2 And he took James (Jacob) the brother of John with the sword.
3 And when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he went on to arrest Peter also. But those were the days of unleavened bread,
4 so when he had taken him, he put him in prison, and handed him over to four sets of four soldiers to guard him; intending to bring him to the people after the Passover.
5 So therefore, Peter was kept in the prison: but prayer to God was taking place intensely by the church for him.
6 And when Herod was about to bring him out, the same night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and guards in front of the door were watching the prison.
7 And look, an angel of the Lord stood there, and a light shined in the room: and having hit Peter on the side, woke him, saying, ‘Stand up quickly.’ And his chains fell off of his hands.
8 And the angel said to him, ‘Put on your belt, and tie your sandals.’ And he did so. And he says to him, ‘Throw your robe around you, and follow me.’
9 And going out, he followed; and did not know that what was taking place through the angel was true, but thought he was seeing a vision.
10 And having gone past the first guard, and the second, they came to the iron gate leading into the city; which opened for them by itself: and having gone out, they went out one street; and immediately the angel departed from him.
11 And Peter, having come to himself, said, ‘Now I truly know that the Lord has sent out his angel and took me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.’
12 And having become aware, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John who was surnamed Mark; where many were gathered together and were praying.
13 But when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl came to answer, named Rhoda.
14 And having recognized Peter's voice, she didn’t open the gate because of her joy, but ran in, and reported that Peter stood at the gate.
15 And they said to her, ‘You’re insane.’ But she was strongly asserting that it was so. But they said, ‘It is his angel.’
16 But Peter continued knocking: and having opened up, they saw him, and were astonished.
17 But motioning to them with his hand to quiet down, he told them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, ‘Tell these things to James (Jacob), and to the brethren.’ And going out, he went to another place.
18 But when it became day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, over just what had become of Peter.
19 And Herod, having looked for him, and not having found him, he examined the guards, and commanded that they should be taken away. And he went down from Judea to Caesarea, and remained there.
20 Now he was furious with the people of Tyre and Sidon: but they came to him with one accord, and, having persuaded Blastus, the one in charge of the king's bedroom, they asked for peace, because their country was fed from the king's country.
21 But on a set day, Herod dressed himself in royal apparel, and sat on the throne, and was addressing them.
22 And the people were shouting, ‘The voice of a god, and not of a man!’
23 And instantly an angel of the Lord struck him, because he didn’t give the glory to God: and having become eaten up by worms (or possibly maggots), he expired.
24 But the word of God was growing and being multiplied.
25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, having fulfilled their aid administration, taking with them John who was surnamed Mark.
Acts 13
1 Now in Antioch, in the church, there were prophets and teachers, Barnabas, and Symeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, who was raised with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
2 But as they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart Barnabas and Saul for me now for the work to which I have called them.’
3 Then, having fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they let them go.
4 So they, having been sent out by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia; and from there they sailed to Cyprus.
5 And having come to Salamis, they were preaching the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they also had John as their assistant.
6 And having gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a certain man, a wise man (i.e., a magus), a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-Jesus;
7 who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This one called Barnabas and Saul to him, and desired to hear the word of God.
8 But Elymas the wise man --for so his name is translated—was opposing them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.
9 But Saul, who is also Paul (that is, his family name was also Paulus, like the proconsul’s), filled with the Holy Spirit, looked at him intently,
10 and said, ‘O full of all tricks and every reckless act, son of the devil, enemy of all righteousness, will you not stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?
11 And now, look, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind, not seeing the sun for a period of time’. And instantly a mist and a darkness fell on him; and he went around seeking some to lead him by the hand.
12 Then the proconsul, seeing what happened, believed, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
13 But Paul’s company sailed from Paphos, and came to Perga in Pamphylia: but John, having left them, returned to Jerusalem.
14 But they, passing through from Perga, came to Antioch of Pisidia; and they went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.
15 And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, ‘Brothers, if YOU have any word of encouragement for the people, say it.’
16 And Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand, said, “Men of Israel, and those who fear God, hear me:
17 The God of this people Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they were resident aliens in the land of Egypt, and with a high arm he led them out of it.
18 And for about the time of forty years he endured their manners in the wilderness.
19 And having thrown down seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave their land as an inheritance, for about four hundred and fifty years:
20 and after these things he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet.
21 And from there they asked for 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 up David for them as king; to whom he also bore witness and said, ‘I found David the son of Jesse, a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’
23 Of this one's seed, according to promise, God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus;
24 John had earlier preached, before his coming, the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
25 But as John was fulfilling his course, he said, ‘What do YOU suppose I am? I am not him. But look, one is coming after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’
26 Brothers, sons of the race of Abraham, and those among YOU fearing God, the word of this salvation was sent out to us.
27 For those living in Jerusalem, and their rulers, not knowing him or the voices of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him.
28 And though having found no cause for death, they still asked Pilate that he be taken.
29 And when they had accomplished all the things that were written about him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a tomb.
30 But God raised him from the dead:
31 and he was seen for many days by those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people.
32 And we are telling you good news of the promise made to the fathers,
33 that God has fulfilled it to our children, having raised up Jesus; as it is also written in the second psalm, ‘You are my Son; today I have begotten you.’
34 But that he raised him up from the dead, never to return to decay, he has said this, ‘I will give YOU the trustworthy mercies of David.’
35 So he says also in another psalm, ‘You will not allow your Holy One to see decay.’
36 For David, having indeed served the will of God for his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid beside his fathers, and saw decay:
37 but he whom God raised up did not see decay.
38 Therefore, brothers, let it be known to YOU that through this man forgiveness of sins is announced to YOU:
39 and everyone who believes is justified by him from all things, from which YOU couldn’t be justified by the law of Moses.
40 So watch out, lest what was spoken by the prophets come upon YOU:
41 ‘See, despisers, and wonder, and vanish: Because I am performing a work in YOUR days, a work which YOU would never believe, if anyone told you.’”
42 But as they went out, they asked that these words be spoken to them the next Sabbath.
43 Now when the synagogue meeting was dissolved, many of the Jews and of the devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas; who, speaking to them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.
44 And the next Sabbath, almost the whole city was gathered together to hear the word of God.
45 But the Jews, having seen the crowds, were filled with jealousy, and contradicted the things which were spoken by Paul, blaspheming.
46 And Paul and Barnabas, speaking boldly, said, “It was necessary for the word of God to be spoken first to YOU. Since YOU push it away, and judge YOURSELVES unworthy of eternal life, look, we are turning to the nations.
47 For so has the Lord commanded us: ‘I have set you for a light of the nations, that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
48 And the nations, hearing, were rejoicing, and glorified the word of God: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
49 And the word of the Lord was being carried throughout the whole region.
50 But the Jews urged on the devout noble women, and the foremost men of the city, and raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and threw them outside their borders.
51 But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came into Iconium.
52 And the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.
Acts 14
1 Now in Iconium, it happened the same, that they entered into the synagogue of the Jews, and spoke in such a way that a great multitude both of Jews and of Greeks believed.
2 But the Jews that were not persuaded stirred up the souls of the nations, and made them ill-disposed toward the brethren.
3 Therefore, they spent considerable time speaking boldly about the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, allowing signs and wonders to take place through their hands.
4 But the multitude of the city was divided; and some were with the Jews, and some with the apostles.
5 But when an assault of both the nations and the Jews with their rulers, to be violent and to stone them,
6 they, being informed of it, fled into the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe, and the region around them:
7 and there they preached the gospel.
8 And in Lystra, a certain man was sitting, weak in his feet, crippled from his mother's womb, who had never walked.
9 This one heard Paul speaking, who, looking intently at him, and seeing that he had faith to be healed,
10 said with a loud voice, ‘Stand upright on your feet!’ And he jumped up and walked around.
11 And when the crowds saw what Paul did, they lifted up their voice, saying in Lycaonian, ‘The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!’
12 And they called Barnabas, Zeus (Jupiter); and Paul, Hermes (Mercury, messenger of the gods), because he was the leading speaker.
13 And the priest of the temple of Zeus which was in front of the city, brought bulls and garlands to the gates, and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds.
14 But the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, hearing, tore their robes, and jumped into the crowd, crying out
15 and saying, ‘Men, why are YOU doing these things? We are also men with the same sufferings as YOU, bringing YOU good news, that YOU should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all the things in them:
16 who, in the past generations permitted all the nations to walk in their own ways.
17 Although he did not leave himself without a witness, in that he did good, giving YOU rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling YOUR hearts with food and gladness.’
18 And saying these things, they barely restrained the crowds from sacrificing to them.
19 But Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there: and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul, and dragged him out of the city, thinking he was dead.
20 But as the disciples surrounded him, he stood up, and entered into the city. And on the next day he went out to Derbe with Barnabas.
21 And having preached the gospel to that city, and having made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, and to Iconium, and to Antioch,
22 re-establishing the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to remain in the faith, and that we must enter into the kingdom of God through many tribulations.
23 And having appointed elders for them in every church, and having prayed with fastings, they entrusted them to the Lord, in whom they had believed.
24 And going through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.
25 And having spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia;
26 and from there they sailed to Antioch, from where they had been entrusted to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.
27 And when they had arrived, and had gathered the church together, they recounted all that God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith to the nations.
28 And they spent a lot of time with the disciples. (literally, “not a little time”)
Acts 15
1 And some, coming down from Judea, were teaching the brothers that, ‘Unless YOU get circumcised according to the custom of Moses, YOU cannot be saved.’
2 And Paul and Barnabas having had no small controversy and disputing with them, they arranged for Paul and Barnabas, and some others of them, to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question.
3 So therefore, having been sent by the church, they went through both Phoenicia and Samaria, telling in detail the conversion of the nations: and they caused great joy to all the brethren.
4 And when they arrived in Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they recounted all that God had done with them.
5 But some from the sect of the Pharisees who believed stood up, saying, ‘It is necessary to circumcise them, and to charge them to keep the law of Moses.’
6 And the apostles and the elders were gathered together to see about this matter.
7 But when there had been much disputing, Peter stood up, and said to them, ‘Brothers, YOU know well that from the original days God chose among you that by my mouth the nations would hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
8 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he also did to us;
9 and he made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.
10 Now therefore why are YOU tempting God, putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were strong enough to carry?
11 But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they.’
12 And all the multitude became silent; and they heard Barnabas and Paul recounting what signs and wonders God had did through them among the nations.
13 And after they had become silent, James (Jacob) answered, saying, “Brothers, hear me:
14 Simeon (a variant of Simon, i.e., Simon Peter) has related how God first looked at the nations, to take out of them a people for his name.
15 And the words of the prophets agree to this; as it is written,
16 ‘After these things I will return, and I will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen; and I will rebuild the its ruins, and I will set it up again:
17 so that the remnant of men should look for the Lord, and all the nations, upon whom my name has been called,
18 says the Lord, who makes these things known from of old.’
19 So my decision is not to trouble those from the nations who turn to God;
20 but that we write to them to abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood.
21 For Moses, from the original generations, has those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
22 Then it pleased the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas who is called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren:
23 and wrote by their hand, ‘The apostles and the elders, brethren, to the brethren who are of the nations in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: Greetings!
24 Since we heard that some from among us, to whom we gave no instructions, have disturbed YOU with words, destabilizing YOUR souls,
25 it seemed right to us, having become of one accord, to choose men and send them to YOU with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 Therefore, we have sent Judas and Silas, and they will tell YOU the same things by word also.
28 For it seemed right to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to put no more burden on YOU than these necessary things:
29 to abstain from food offered to idols, and from blood, and from eating strangled animals, and from fornication; from which if YOU keep YOURSELVES, YOU will do well. Be in good health!’
30 So when they were let go, they went down to Antioch; and having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.
31 And when they had read it, they rejoiced for the encouragement.
32 And Judas and Silas, being themselves also prophets, encouraged the brethren with many words, and re-established them.
33 And having spent some time, they were let go in peace from the brethren to those who had sent them out.
34 But it seemed right to Silas to remain there. (Some manuscripts don’t have this verse.)
35 But Paul and Barnabas spent time in Antioch, teaching and preaching the good news of the word of the Lord, with many others also.
36 But after some days, Paul said to Barnabas, ‘Now let’s go back and look in on the brethren in every city where we preached the word of the Lord, how they’re doing.’
37 And Barnabas wanted to take John, who was called Mark, with them, too.
38 But Paul didn’t think it was appropriate to take with them the one who left them from Pamphylia, and didn’t go with them to the work.
39 And such a sharp dispute took place, that they separated one another, and Barnabas took Mark and sailed away to Cyprus;
40 but Paul chose Silas, and went out, being entrusted to the grace of the Lord by the brethren.
41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, re-establishing the churches.
Acts 16
1 And he also reached Derbe and Lystra: and look, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish woman, but of a Greek father,
2 who was well reported of by the brethren that were in Lystra and Iconium.
3 Paul wanted this man to go with him; and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places: for they all knew that his father was Greek.
4 And as they were going through the cities, they were delivering to them the decrees to keep, which had been decided by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem.
5 So the churches were indeed established in the faith, and were increasing in number from day to day.
6 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia;
7 but when they had come down to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia; and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them;
8 and having passed by Mysia, they came down to Troas.
9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: There was a certain man of Macedonia standing, begging him, and saying, ‘Cross over into Macedonia, and help us.’
10 And when he saw the vision, immediately we sought to go out into Macedonia, inferring that God has called us to preach the gospel to them.
11 Therefore, having sailed from Troas, we set a straight course to Samothrace, and the day following to Neapolis;
12 and from there to Philippi, which is first city of the district of Macedonia, a Roman veterans’ colony: and we were in this city, spending a number of days.
13 And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate beside a river, where we thought there would be prayer; and having seated ourselves, we were speaking to the women who had come together.
14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshipped God, was hearing: whose heart the Lord opened wide to pay attention to the things being spoken by Paul.
15 And when she was baptized, and her household, she asked us, saying, ‘If YOU have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and stay.’ And she compelled us.
16 But it happened, as we were going to the place of prayer, that a certain servant girl, having a spirit of fortune-telling, met us, who brought her masters much gain by fortune-telling.
17 This girl, following after Paul and us, was crying out, saying, ‘These men are slaves of the Most High God, who are announcing the way of salvation to YOU.’
18 And she was doing this for many days. But Paul, being annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, ‘I am telling you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.’ And it came out that very hour.
19 But her masters, having seen that their hope of gain had come out, they took hold of Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers,
20 and having brought them to the governors, they said, ‘These men, being Jews, are completely upsetting our city,
21 and announce customs which it is not lawful for us to receive, or to do, being Romans.’
22 And the crowd stood up together against them: and the governors tore their garments off them, and commanded to beat them with rods.
23 And when they had imposed many wounds upon them, they threw them into prison, telling the jailor to keep them securely:
24 who, having received such a charge, threw them into the inner prison, and made their feet secure in the stocks.
25 But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were hearing them;
26 but suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison-house were shaken: and instantly all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were loosened.
27 And the jailor, being awakened out of sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, thinking that the prisoners had escaped.
28 But Paul called out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Don’t do anything bad to yourself: for we are all in here!’
29 And he asked for lights and jumped in, and, having started trembling, he fell down before Paul and Silas,
30 and having led them outside, he said, ‘Sirs, what must I be doing so that I should be saved?’
31 And they said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.’
32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him, with all those in his house.
33 And he took them in that hour of the night, and washed their wounds; and he was baptized, he and all his, immediately.
34 And having led them up into the house, he set a table before them, and he jumped for joy, with all his house, having believed in God.
35 But when it was day, the governors sent the police, saying, ‘Release those men.’
36 And the jailor reported the words to Paul: ‘The governors have sent word to release YOU: now therefore come out, and go in peace.’
37 But Paul said to them, ‘They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, being men who are Romans, threw us into prison; and now are they throwing us out secretly? No indeed; but let them come and lead us out!’
38 And the police reported these words to the governors: and having heard that they were Romans, they grew fearful;
39 and they came and begged them; and having brought them out, they asked them to go away from the city.
40 But coming out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s: and having seen the brethren, they encouraged them, and left.
Acts 17
1 Now having gone through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews:
2 and Paul, as he was accustomed, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
3 expounding and presenting that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead; and that this is the Christ: Jesus, whom, I announce to YOU.
4 And some of them were persuaded, and associated with Paul and Silas, and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and not a few of the foremost women.
5 But the Jews, having become jealous, and having taken to themselves some wicked men from those loitering in the marketplace, and having formed a crowd, they threw the city into an uproar; and storming the house of Jason, they sought to bring them out to the public.
6 But when they didn’t find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brethren before the city council, crying out, ‘These who have turned the world upside down are here also;
7 whom Jason has taken in: and these all are acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.’
8 And they agitated the crowd and the city council, hearing these things.
9 And having taken security (i.e. bail) from Jason and the rest, they released them.
10 But the brethren immediately sent out Paul and Silas into Berea by night: who, having arrived, went into the synagogue of the Jews.
11 Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, having received the word with all readiness of the mind, examining the Scriptures day by day, as to whether these things were so.
12 Indeed, many of them therefore believed, of the noble Greek women, and of men also, not a few.
13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica knew that the word of God was preached by Paul in Berea also, they came there too, inciting and agitating the crowds.
14 So then the brethren immediately sent Paul out to go as far as the sea: and Silas and Timothy stayed behind there.
15 But those conducting Paul brought him as far as Athens: and having received a commandment for Silas and Timothy, that they should come to him as quickly as possible, they left.
16 But while Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was provoked within him, seeing the city being full of idols.
17 So therefore he was reasoning in the synagogue with Jews and the devout, and in the marketplace every day with those happened to be there.
18 And some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were also conversing with him. And some would say, ‘What would this babbler want to be saying?’ but others, ‘He seems to be a preacher of foreign demons,’ because he preached the good news of Jesus and the resurrection.
19 But having taken hold of him, they brought him to the Areopagus (Mars’ Hill), saying, ‘Can we know what this new teaching is, being spoken by you?
20 For you are bringing some strange things to our ears: so we would like to know what these things mean.’
21 Now all the Athenians and the foreigners living there spent their leisure time in nothing else, but to be saying or hearing something new.
22 And Paul stood in the midle of the Areopagus, and said, “Men of Athens, I see that in all things YOU are very supersititious (or “afraid of demons”).
23 For going along, and seeing YOUR objects of worship, I also found an altar on which it had been written, TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. What therefore YOU worship in ignorance, this I am preaching to YOU.
24 The God who made the world and all things in it, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made with hands;
25 neither is he served by men's hands, as though he needed anything, since he gives life, and breath, and all things to all people;
26 and he made every nation of men from one man, to dwell on all the face of the earth, having specified their appointed times, and the limits of their dwelling place;
27 that they should seek God, if in fact they might really search for him and find him, and in fact, he is not far from each one of us:
28 for by him, we are living, and moving, and we exist; as some of the poets among YOU have also said, ‘For we are also his offspring.’
29 So being the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like gold, or silver, or stone, sculpted by art and thought of man.
30 Therefore God indeed overlooked the times of ignorance, but now he is telling all men everywhere to repent:
31 because as he has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he has ordained; having presented assurance to all, having raised him from the dead.’
32 But when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some were mocking; but others said, ‘We will hear from you about this yet again.’
33 So Paul went out from their midst.
34 But some men, having joined to him, believed: among whom also was Dionysius the Areopagite (member of the Mars’ Hill court), and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
Acts 18
1 After these things he departed from Athens, and came to Corinth.
2 And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, a Pontian by race, recently having come from Italy, with his woman Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome: and he (Paul) came to them;
3 and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them, and they worked, for they were tentmakers by trade.
4 But he preached in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded Jews and Greeks.
5 But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was fully occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.
6 But when they set themselves in opposition and blasphemed, he shook out his garments and said to them, ‘YOUR blood is on YOUR own heads; I am clean: from now on I will go to the nations.’
7 And he left there, and went into the house of someone named Titus Justus, who worshipped God, whose house adjoined the synagogue.
8 And Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.
9 And the Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, ‘Don’t be afraid, but speak and don’t be silent:
10 because I am with you, and no one will set upon you to harm you: because I have many people in this city.’
11 And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
12 But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord stood against Paul and brought him before the judgment-seat,
13 saying, ‘This man is persuading men to worship God contrary to the law.’
14 But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, ‘If indeed it were some evil-doing or wicked crime, O Jews, it would be reasonable that I put up with YOU:
15 but if it is debates about a word and names and your own law, YOU see to it YOURSELVES; I do not wish to be a judge of these things.’
16 And he drove them from the judgment-seat.
17 But they all took hold of Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment-seat. And none of these things concerned Gallio.
18 But Paul, having remained many more days, said goodbye to the brethren, and sailed out to Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila. Paul had shaved his head in Cenchreae; for he had a vow.
19 And they arrived in Ephesus, and he left them there: but he, having entered into the synagogue, reasoned with the Jews.
20 But when they asked him to remain a longer time, he did not consent;
21 but said goodbye, and saying, ‘I will come back to YOU again if God is willing,’ he set sail from Ephesus.
22 And having landed in Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church, and went down to Antioch.
23 And having spent some time, he left, and went through the region of Galatia, and Phrygia, in order, establishing all the disciples.
24 Now a certain Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by race, an eloquent man, arrived in Ephesus; and he was powerful in the scriptures.
25 This man had been indoctrinated in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things about Jesus, knowing only the baptism of John.
26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him to themselves, and expounded the way of God to him more accurately.
27 And when he was wanting to go over into Achaia, the brethren encouraged him, and wrote to the disciples to receive him: and when he arrived, he greatly helped those who believed through grace;
28 for he intensely and thoroughly proved to the Jews, publicly demonstrating by the scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.
Acts 19
1 But it happened, while Apollos was in Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper parts, came to Ephesus, and found some disciples:
2 and he said to them, ‘Did YOU receive the Holy Spirit when YOU believed?’ But they said to him, ‘No, we have not heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.’
3 And he said, ‘Into what then were YOU baptized?’ And they said, ‘Into John's baptism.’
4 And Paul said, ‘John baptized a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.’
5 And when they heard this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spoke in tongues, and prophesied.
7 And they were in all about twelve men.
8 And having entered into the synagogue, he was speaking boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading about the kingdom of God.
9 But when some hardened themselves and disbelieved, speaking evil of the Way in the sight of the multitude, he left them, and separated the disciples from them, preaching daily in the school of Tyrannus.
10 And this went on for two years; so that all those living in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.
11 And God was doing unprecedented powers by the hands of Paul:
12 so that sweat-cloths (small towels used to wipe perspiration from the face) or aprons were carried away from his skin to the sick, the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits came out.
13 But some of the wandering Jews, exorcists, also undertook to name the name of the Lord Jesus over those having the evil spirits, saying, ‘I adjure (or possibly “bind”) YOU by Jesus whom Paul preaches.’
14 And there were seven sons of a certain Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did this.
15 But the evil spirit answered and said to them, ‘I do know Jesus, and I am acquainted with Paul, but who are YOU?’
16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and both overcame and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
17 And this became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, living in Ephesus; and fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was being magnified.
18 And many of those who believed were coming, confessing, and announcing their deeds.
19 And many of those who had practiced the supernatural brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all; and they calculated the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.
20 So mightily the word of the Lord grew and prevailed.
21 But when these things were completed, Paul purposed in the spirit, having passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, ‘After I get there, I must also see Rome.’
22 And having sent two of those ministering to him, Timothy and Erastus, into Macedonia, he stayed in Asia for a time.
23 And about that time there arose no small disturbance about the Way.
24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana, brought no little profit to the craftsmen;
25 whom he gathered together, with the workmen of like occupation, and said, ‘Men, YOU know well that from this business we have wealth.
26 And YOU see and hear, that not alone in Ephesus, but throughout nearly all of Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods, that are made with hands:
27 and not only is there danger that this business of ours will come into disrepute; but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis (Diana) would be counted as nothing, and that possibly even Her Majesty, whom all Asia and the world worships, would be destroyed.’
28 And when they heard this they were filled with anger, and cried out, saying, ‘Great is Artemis of the Ephesus.’
29 And the city was filled with the confusion: and they rushed with one accord into the theater, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul's travel companions.
30 And when Paul was wanting to go inside to the people, the disciples would not allow him.
31 And some of the Asiarchs (those in charge of public festivals in Asia), being his friends, also sent to him, begging him not to bring himself into the theatre.
32 Some therefore cried out one thing, and some another: for the assembly was in confusion; and the most didn’t know why they had gathered.
33 So together they brought Alexander out of the crowd, the Jews pushing him forward. And Alexander motioned with the hand, and was willing to defend himself to the people.
34 But recognizing that he was a Jew, one sound arose from all for about two hours, crying out, ‘Great is Artemis of the Ephesians.’
35 And when the city scribe had quieted the crowd, he said, ‘Men of Ephesus, who is there among men who doesn’t know that the city of the Ephesians is temple-keeper of the great Artemis, and of the image which fell from Zeus?
36 Therefore, since these things are irrefutable, YOU ought to be quiet, and not do anything rash.
37 For YOU have brought these men, who are neither temple robbers nor blasphemers of our goddess.
38 Therefore, if Demetrius, and the craftsmen with him, have a matter against anyone, courts are in session, and there are proconsuls: let them bring charges against one another.
39 But if YOU are seeking anything beyond that, it will be decided by the legal assembly.
40 For indeed we are in danger of being charged with insurrection concerning today's riot, there being no cause for it: and about which we will not be able to give a reason for this unruly gathering.’
41 And having said these things, he dismissed the assembly.
Acts 20
1 And after the uproar ceased, Paul having sent for the disciples and encouraged them, said goodbye, and left to go into Macedonia.
2 And having gone through those parts, and having encouraged them with many words, he came into Greece.
3 And when he had spent three months there, a plot was generated against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria; he resolved to return through Macedonia.
4 And accompanying him were Sopater son of Pyrrhus, a Berean; and Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia.
5 But these had gone ahead, and were waiting for us in Troas.
6 And we sailed out from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came to them in Troas in five days, where we spent seven days.
7 But on the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul was preaching to them, since he was to depart the next day; and continued his talk until midnight.
8 And there were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered together.
9 But sitting in the window was a certain young man named Eutychus, who fell into a deep sleep as Paul preached even longer, and having been overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story, and was taken up dead.
10 But Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him, said, ‘Don’t be upset; for his life is in him.’
11 And having gone back up, and broken the bread, and eaten for a long while, and talked with them till daybreak, so he departed.
12 And they brought the boy alive, and they were immeasurably comforted.
13 But we, having gone ahead to the ship, set sail for Assos, from there intending to pick up Paul: for so had he instructed, intending himself to go on foot.
14 And when he met us in Assos, we took him aboard, and came to Mitylene.
15 And sailing from there, we arrived the following day opposite Chios; and after another day, we reached Samos; and the next day we came to Miletus.
16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he wouldn’t have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be in Jerusalem the day of Pentecost, if it were possible for him.
17 But from Miletus, he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church to him.
18 And when they reached him, he said to them, “YOU know well, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with YOU all the time,
19 slaving for the Lord with all lowliness of mind, and with tears, and with trials which happened to me by the plots of the Jews;
20 how I didn’t hold back from telling YOU anything that was profitable, and teaching YOU publicly, and from house to house,
21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus. (Some versions add “Christ.”)
22 And now, look, having been bound b