Judging Others^(A)

7 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.^{(B) 2} For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.^(C)

³ “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ⁴ How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? ⁵ You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

⁶ “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

Ask, Seek, Knock^(D)

⁷ “Ask and it will be given to you;^(E) seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds;^(F) and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

⁹ “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰ Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? ¹¹ If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts^(G) to those who ask him! ¹² So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you,^(H) for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.^(I)

The Narrow and Wide Gates

¹³ “Enter through the narrow gate.^(J) For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. ¹⁴ But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

True and False Prophets

¹⁵ “Watch out for false prophets.^(K) They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.^{(L) 16} By their fruit you will recognize them.^(M) Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?^{(N) 17} Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.^{(O) 19} Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.^{(P) 20} Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

True and False Disciples

²¹ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’^(Q) will enter the kingdom of heaven,^(R) but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.^{(S) 22} Many will say to me on that day,^(T) ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’^{(U) 23} Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’^(V)

The Wise and Foolish Builders^(W)

²⁴ “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice^(X) is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. ²⁶ But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ²⁷ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

²⁸ When Jesus had finished saying these things,^(Y) the crowds were amazed at his teaching,^{(Z) 29} because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy^(AA)

8 When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. ² A man with leprosy^[a](AB) came and knelt before him^(AC) and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

³ Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. ⁴ Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone.^(AD) But go, show yourself to the priest^(AE) and offer the gift Moses commanded,^(AF) as a testimony to them.”

The Faith of the Centurion^(AG)

⁵ When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. ⁶ “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed,^(AH) suffering terribly.”

⁷ Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?”

⁸ The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.^{(AI) 9} For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

¹⁰ When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.^{(AJ) 11} I say to you that many will come from the east and the west,^(AK) and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.^{(AL) 12} But the subjects of the kingdom^(AM) will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”^(AN)

¹³ Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.”^(AO) And his servant was healed at that moment.

Jesus Heals Many^(AP)

¹⁴ When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. ¹⁵ He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him.

¹⁶ When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.^{(AQ) 17} This was to fulfill^(AR) what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

The Cost of Following Jesus^(AT)

¹⁸ When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake.^{(AU) 19} Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”

²⁰ Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man^(AV) has no place to lay his head.”

²¹ Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

²² But Jesus told him, “Follow me,^(AW) and let the dead bury their own dead.”

Jesus Calms the Storm^(AX)(AY)

²³ Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. ²⁴ Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. ²⁵ The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

²⁶ He replied, “You of little faith,^(AZ) why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.^(BA)

²⁷ The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

Jesus Restores Two Demon-Possessed Men^(BB)

²⁸ When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes,^[c] two demon-possessed^(BC) men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. ²⁹ “What do you want with us,^(BD) Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?”^(BE)

³⁰ Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. ³¹ The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.”

³² He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. ³³ Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. ³⁴ Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.^(BF)

Cornelius Calls for Peter

10 At Caesarea^(A) there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. ² He and all his family were devout and God-fearing;^(B) he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. ³ One day at about three in the afternoon^(C) he had a vision.^(D) He distinctly saw an angel^(E) of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”

⁴ Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked.

The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering^(F) before God.^{(G) 5} Now send men to Joppa^(H) to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. ⁶ He is staying with Simon the tanner,^(I) whose house is by the sea.”

⁷ When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. ⁸ He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.^(J)

Peter’s Vision^(K)

⁹ About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof^(L) to pray. ¹⁰ He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.^{(M) 11} He saw heaven opened^(N) and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. ¹² It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. ¹³ Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”

¹⁴ “Surely not, Lord!”^(O) Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”^(P)

¹⁵ The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”^(Q)

¹⁶ This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.

¹⁷ While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision,^(R) the men sent by Cornelius^(S) found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. ¹⁸ They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.

¹⁹ While Peter was still thinking about the vision,^(T) the Spirit said^(U) to him, “Simon, three^[a] men are looking for you. ²⁰ So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”^(V)

²¹ Peter went down and said to the men, “I’m the one you’re looking for. Why have you come?”

²² The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man,^(W) who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.”^{(X) 23} Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.

Peter at Cornelius’s House

The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believers^(Y) from Joppa went along.^{(Z) 24} The following day he arrived in Caesarea.^(AA) Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. ²⁵ As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. ²⁶ But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”^(AB)

²⁷ While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people.^{(AC) 28} He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile.^(AD) But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean.^{(AE) 29} So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”

³⁰ Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes^(AF) stood before me ³¹ and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. ³² Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ ³³ So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”

³⁴ Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism^{(AG) 35} but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.^{(AH) 36} You know the message^(AI) God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news^(AJ) of peace^(AK) through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.^{(AL) 37} You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— ³⁸ how God anointed^(AM) Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing^(AN) all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.^(AO)

³⁹ “We are witnesses^(AP) of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross,^{(AQ) 40} but God raised him from the dead^(AR) on the third day and caused him to be seen. ⁴¹ He was not seen by all the people,^(AS) but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate^(AT) and drank with him after he rose from the dead. ⁴² He commanded us to preach to the people^(AU) and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.^{(AV) 43} All the prophets testify about him^(AW) that everyone^(AX) who believes^(AY) in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”^(AZ)

⁴⁴ While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on^(BA) all who heard the message. ⁴⁵ The circumcised believers who had come with Peter^(BB) were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out^(BC) even on Gentiles.^{(BD) 46} For they heard them speaking in tongues^[b](BE) and praising God.

Then Peter said, ⁴⁷ “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water.^(BF) They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.”^{(BG) 48} So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.^(BH) Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

Peter Explains His Actions

11 The apostles and the believers^(BI) throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.^{(BJ) 2} So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers^(BK) criticized him ³ and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.”^(BL)

⁴ Starting from the beginning, Peter told them the whole story: ⁵ “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision.^(BM) I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. ⁶ I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles and birds. ⁷ Then I heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’

⁸ “I replied, ‘Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’

⁹ “The voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’^{(BN) 10} This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again.

¹¹ “Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea^(BO) stopped at the house where I was staying. ¹² The Spirit told^(BP) me to have no hesitation about going with them.^(BQ) These six brothers^(BR) also went with me, and we entered the man’s house. ¹³ He told us how he had seen an angel^(BS) appear in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. ¹⁴ He will bring you a message^(BT) through which you and all your household^(BU) will be saved.’

¹⁵ “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on^(BV) them as he had come on us at the beginning.^{(BW) 16} Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with^[c] water,^(BX) but you will be baptized with^[d] the Holy Spirit.’^{(BY) 17} So if God gave them the same gift^(BZ) he gave us^(CA) who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?”

¹⁸ When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.”^(CB)

The Church in Antioch

¹⁹ Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed^(CC) traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch,^(CD) spreading the word only among Jews. ²⁰ Some of them, however, men from Cyprus^(CE) and Cyrene,^(CF) went to Antioch^(CG) and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news^(CH) about the Lord Jesus. ²¹ The Lord’s hand was with them,^(CI) and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.^(CJ)

²² News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas^(CK) to Antioch. ²³ When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done,^(CL) he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.^{(CM) 24} He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit^(CN) and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.^(CO)

²⁵ Then Barnabas went to Tarsus^(CP) to look for Saul, ²⁶ and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples^(CQ) were called Christians first^(CR) at Antioch.

²⁷ During this time some prophets^(CS) came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. ²⁸ One of them, named Agabus,^(CT) stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world.^(CU) (This happened during the reign of Claudius.)^{(CV) 29} The disciples,^(CW) as each one was able, decided to provide help^(CX) for the brothers and sisters^(CY) living in Judea. ³⁰ This they did, sending their gift to the elders^(CZ) by Barnabas^(DA) and Saul.^(DB)

Peter’s Miraculous Escape From Prison

12 It was about this time that King Herod^(DC) arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. ² He had James, the brother of John,^(DD) put to death with the sword.^{(DE) 3} When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews,^(DF) he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread.^{(DG) 4} After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.^(DH)

⁵ So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.^(DI)

⁶ The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains,^(DJ) and sentries stood guard at the entrance. ⁷ Suddenly an angel^(DK) of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.^(DL)

⁸ Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. ⁹ Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision.^{(DM) 10} They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself,^(DN) and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.

¹¹ Then Peter came to himself^(DO) and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me^(DP) from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”

¹² When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark,^(DQ) where many people had gathered and were praying.^{(DR) 13} Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door.^{(DS) 14} When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed^(DT) she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!”

¹⁵ “You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.”^(DU)

¹⁶ But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. ¹⁷ Peter motioned with his hand^(DV) for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell James^(DW) and the other brothers and sisters^(DX) about this,” he said, and then he left for another place.

¹⁸ In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. ¹⁹ After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed.^(DY)

Herod’s Death

Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea^(DZ) and stayed there. ²⁰ He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon;^(EA) they now joined together and sought an audience with him. After securing the support of Blastus, a trusted personal servant of the king, they asked for peace, because they depended on the king’s country for their food supply.^(EB)

²¹ On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. ²² They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” ²³ Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel^(EC) of the Lord struck him down,^(ED) and he was eaten by worms and died.

²⁴ But the word of God^(EE) continued to spread and flourish.^(EF)

Barnabas and Saul Sent Off

²⁵ When Barnabas^(EG) and Saul had finished their mission,^(EH) they returned from^[e] Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark.^(EI)