The Apostles Heal Many

¹² The apostles performed many signs and wonders^(A) among the people. And all the believers used to meet together^(B) in Solomon’s Colonnade.^{(C) 13} No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people.^{(D) 14} Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.^{(E) 15} As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.^{(F) 16} Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.^(G)

The Apostles Persecuted

¹⁷ Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party^(H) of the Sadducees,^(I) were filled with jealousy. ¹⁸ They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.^{(J) 19} But during the night an angel^(K) of the Lord opened the doors of the jail^(L) and brought them out.^{(M) 20} “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.”^(N)

²¹ At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people.

When the high priest and his associates^(A) arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin^(B)—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles. ²² But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there.^(C) So they went back and reported, ²³ “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” ²⁴ On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests^(D) were at a loss, wondering what this might lead to.

²⁵ Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.” ²⁶ At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people^(E) would stone them.

²⁷ The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin^(F) to be questioned by the high priest. ²⁸ “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,”^(G) he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”^(H)

²⁹ Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!^{(I) 30} The God of our ancestors^(J) raised Jesus from the dead^(K)—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross.^{(L) 31} God exalted him to his own right hand^(M) as Prince and Savior^(N) that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins.^{(O) 32} We are witnesses of these things,^(P) and so is the Holy Spirit,^(Q) whom God has given to those who obey him.”

Psalm 148

Greetings and Doxology

⁴ John,

To the seven churches^(A) in the province of Asia:

Grace and peace to you^(B) from him who is, and who was, and who is to come,^(C) and from the seven spirits^[a](D) before his throne, ⁵ and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness,^(E) the firstborn from the dead,^(F) and the ruler of the kings of the earth.^(G)

To him who loves us^(H) and has freed us from our sins by his blood,^{(I) 6} and has made us to be a kingdom and priests^(J) to serve his God and Father^(K)—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.^(L)

⁸ “I am the Alpha and the Omega,”^(P) says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come,^(Q) the Almighty.”^(R)

John’s Vision of Christ

⁹ I, John,^(S) your brother and companion in the suffering^(T) and kingdom^(U) and patient endurance^(V) that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God^(W) and the testimony of Jesus.^{(X) 10} On the Lord’s Day^(Y) I was in the Spirit,^(Z) and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,^{(AA) 11} which said: “Write on a scroll what you see^(AB) and send it to the seven churches:^(AC) to Ephesus,^(AD) Smyrna,^(AE) Pergamum,^(AF) Thyatira,^(AG) Sardis,^(AH) Philadelphia^(AI) and Laodicea.”^(AJ)

¹² I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands,^{(AK) 13} and among the lampstands^(AL) was someone like a son of man,^[d](AM) dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet^(AN) and with a golden sash around his chest.^{(AO) 14} The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire.^{(AP) 15} His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace,^(AQ) and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.^{(AR) 16} In his right hand he held seven stars,^(AS) and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword.^(AT) His face was like the sun^(AU) shining in all its brilliance.

¹⁷ When I saw him, I fell at his feet^(AV) as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me^(AW) and said: “Do not be afraid.^(AX) I am the First and the Last.^{(AY) 18} I am the Living One; I was dead,^(AZ) and now look, I am alive for ever and ever!^(BA) And I hold the keys of death and Hades.^(BB)

Jesus Appears to His Disciples

¹⁹ On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders,^(A) Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace^(B) be with you!”^{(C) 20} After he said this, he showed them his hands and side.^(D) The disciples were overjoyed^(E) when they saw the Lord.

²¹ Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you!^(F) As the Father has sent me,^(G) I am sending you.”^{(H) 22} And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.^{(I) 23} If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”^(J)

Jesus Appears to Thomas

²⁴ Now Thomas^(K) (also known as Didymus^[a]), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. ²⁵ So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side,^(L) I will not believe.”^(M)

²⁶ A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace^(N) be with you!”^{(O) 27} Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”^(P)

²⁸ Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

²⁹ Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed;^(Q) blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”^(R)

The Purpose of John’s Gospel

³⁰ Jesus performed many other signs^(S) in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.^{(T) 31} But these are written that you may believe^[b](U) that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God,^(V) and that by believing you may have life in his name.^(W)