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)

⁸ Paul entered the synagogue^(A) and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God.^{(B) 9} But some of them^(C) became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way.^(D) So Paul left them. He took the disciples^(E) with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. ¹⁰ This went on for two years,^(F) so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia^(G) heard the word of the Lord.^(H)

¹¹ God did extraordinary miracles^(I) through Paul, ¹² so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured^(J) and the evil spirits left them.

²² Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.^(A)

²³ After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him,^{(B) 24} but Saul learned of their plan.^(C) Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. ²⁵ But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.^(D)

²⁶ When he came to Jerusalem,^(E) he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. ²⁷ But Barnabas^(F) took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him,^(G) and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.^{(H) 28} So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. ²⁹ He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews,^[a](I) but they tried to kill him.^{(J) 30} When the believers^(K) learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea^(L) and sent him off to Tarsus.^(M)

³¹ Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria^(N) enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.^(O)