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Acts 1-8
New American Standard Bible

Introduction

1 The first account I [a]composed, (A)Theophilus, about all that Jesus (B)began to do and teach, 2 until the day when He (C)was taken up to heaven, after He (D)had given orders [b]by the Holy Spirit to (E)the apostles whom He had (F)chosen. 3 To [c]these (G)He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of (H)things regarding the kingdom of God. 4 [d]Gathering them together, He commanded them (I)not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for [e](J)what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; 5 for (K)John baptized [f]with water, but you will be baptized [g]with the Holy Spirit [h](L)not many days from now.”

6 So, when they had come together, they began asking Him, saying, “Lord, (M)is it at this time that You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” 7 But He said to them, “It is not for you to know periods of time or appointed times which (N)the Father has set by His own authority; 8 but you will receive power (O)when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be (P)My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and (Q)Samaria, and as far as (R)the remotest part of the earth.”

The Ascension

9 And after He had said these things, (S)He was lifted up while they were watching, and a cloud took Him up, out of their sight. 10 And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, then behold, (T)two men in white clothing stood beside them, 11 and they said, “(U)Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who (V)has been taken up from you into heaven, will (W)come in the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”

The Upper Room

12 Then they (X)returned to Jerusalem from the [i](Y)mountain called [j]Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a [k]Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 When they had entered the city, they went up to (Z)the upstairs room where they were staying, that is, (AA)Peter, John, [l]James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, [m]James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and (AB)Judas the [n]son of [o]James. 14 All these (AC)were continually devoting themselves with one [p]mind to prayer, along with (AD)the women, and Mary the (AE)mother of Jesus, and with His (AF)brothers.

15 [q]At this time Peter stood up among (AG)the brothers and sisters (a group of about 120 [r]people was there together), and said, 16 “[s]Brothers, (AH)the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, (AI)who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he was (AJ)counted among us and received his share in (AK)this ministry.” 18 (Now this man (AL)acquired a field with (AM)the price of his wickedness, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his intestines gushed out. 19 And it became known to all the residents of Jerusalem; as a result that field was called Hakeldama in (AN)their own language, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For it is written in the book of Psalms:

‘(AO)May his residence be made desolate,
And may there be none living in it’;

and,

‘(AP)May another take his [t]office.’

21 Therefore it is necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that (AQ)the Lord Jesus went in and out [u]among us— 22 (AR)beginning [v]with the baptism of John until the day that He (AS)was taken up from us—one of these must become a (AT)witness with us of His resurrection.” 23 So they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus), and (AU)Matthias. 24 And they (AV)prayed and said, “You, Lord, who (AW)know the hearts of all people, show which one of these two You have chosen 25 to [w]occupy (AX)this ministry and (AY)apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they [x](AZ)drew lots for them, and the lot fell [y]to (BA)Matthias; and he was added to (BB)the eleven apostles.

The Day of Pentecost

2 When (BC)the day of Pentecost [z]had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly a noise like a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled (BD)the whole house where they were sitting. 3 And tongues that looked like fire appeared to them, [aa]distributing themselves, and a tongue [ab]rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all (BE)filled with the Holy Spirit and began to (BF)speak with different [ac]tongues, as the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak out.

5 Now there were Jews residing in Jerusalem, (BG)devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And when (BH)this sound occurred, the crowd came together and they were bewildered, because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own [ad]language. 7 (BI)They were amazed and astonished, saying, “[ae]Why, are not all these who are speaking (BJ)Galileans? 8 And how is it that we each hear them in our own [af]language [ag]to which we were born? 9 Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, and (BK)Cappadocia, (BL)Pontus and [ah](BM)Asia, 10 (BN)Phrygia and (BO)Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya around (BP)Cyrene, and [ai](BQ)visitors from Rome, both Jews and [aj](BR)proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own [ak]tongues of the mighty deeds of God.” 12 And (BS)they all continued in amazement and great perplexity, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others were jeering and saying, “(BT)They are full of [al]sweet wine!”

Peter’s Sermon

14 But Peter, taking his stand with (BU)the other eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, [am]know this, and pay attention to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you assume, (BV)since it is only the [an]third hour of the day; 16 but this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel:

17 ‘(BW)And it shall be in the last days,’ God says,
‘That I will pour out My Spirit on all [ao]mankind;
And your sons and your daughters will prophesy,
And your young men will see visions,
And your old men will [ap]have dreams;
18 And even on My male and female [aq]servants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days,
And they will prophesy.
19 And I will [ar]display wonders in the sky above
And signs on the earth below,
Blood, fire, and [as]vapor of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned into darkness
And the moon into blood,
Before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
21 And it shall be that (BX)everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

22 “Men of Israel, listen to these words: (BY)Jesus the Nazarene, (BZ)a Man [at]attested to you by God with [au]miracles and (CA)wonders and [av]signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know— 23 this Man, delivered over by the (CB)predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, (CC)you nailed to a cross by the hands of [aw]godless men and put Him to death. 24 [ax]But (CD)God raised Him from the dead, putting an end to the [ay]agony of death, since it (CE)was impossible for Him to be held [az]in its power. 25 For David says of Him,

‘(CF)I saw the Lord continually before me,
Because He is at my right hand, so that I will not be shaken.
26 Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue was overjoyed;
Moreover my flesh also will live in hope;
27 For You will not abandon my soul to (CG)Hades,
(CH)Nor will You [ba]allow Your [bb]Holy One to [bc]undergo decay.
28 You have made known to me the ways of life;
You will make me full of gladness with Your presence.’

29 “[bd]Brothers, I may confidently say to you regarding the (CI)patriarch David that he both (CJ)died and (CK)was buried, and (CL)his tomb is [be]with us to this day. 30 So because he was (CM)a prophet and knew that (CN)God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one [bf]of his descendants on his throne, 31 he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the [bg]Christ, that (CO)He was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh [bh]suffer decay. 32 It is this Jesus whom (CP)God raised up, [bi]a fact to which we are all (CQ)witnesses. 33 Therefore, [bj]since He has been exalted [bk](CR)at the right hand of God, and (CS)has received (CT)the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, He has (CU)poured out this which you both see and hear. 34 For it was not David who ascended into [bl]heaven, but he himself says:

‘(CV)The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
35 Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”’

36 Therefore let all the (CW)house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both (CX)Lord and [bm]Christ—this Jesus (CY)whom you crucified.”

37 Now when they heard this, they were [bn]pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “[bo]Brothers, (CZ)what are we to do?” 38 Peter said to them, “(DA)Repent, and each of you be (DB)baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For (DC)the promise is for you and your children and for all who are (DD)far away, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” 40 And with many other words he solemnly (DE)testified and kept on urging them, saying, “[bp]Be saved from this (DF)perverse generation!” 41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand [bq](DG)souls. 42 They were (DH)continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to (DI)the breaking of bread and (DJ)to [br]prayer.

43 [bs]Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many (DK)wonders and [bt]signs were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all the believers [bu]were together and (DL)had all things in common; 45 and they (DM)would sell their property and possessions and share them with all, to the extent that anyone had need. 46 (DN)Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and (DO)breaking bread [bv]from house to house, they were taking their [bw]meals together with gladness and [bx]sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and (DP)having favor with all the people. And the Lord (DQ)was adding to [by]their number day by day (DR)those who were being saved.

Healing the Beggar Who Was Unable to Walk

3 Now (DS)Peter and John were going up to the temple at the [bz]ninth hour, (DT)the hour of prayer. 2 And (DU)a man who had been unable to walk from [ca]birth was being carried, whom they (DV)used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, (DW)in order for him to beg for charitable gifts from those entering the temple grounds. 3 When he saw (DX)Peter and John about to go into the temple grounds, he began asking to receive a charitable gift. 4 But Peter, along with John, (DY)looked at him intently and said, “Look at us!” 5 And he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I do not have silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: (DZ)In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, walk!” 7 And grasping him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. 8 And (EA)leaping up, he stood and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9 And (EB)all the people saw him walking and praising God; 10 and they recognized him as being the very one who used to (EC)sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg for charitable gifts, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Peter’s Second Sermon

11 While he was clinging to (ED)Peter and John, all the people ran together to them at the [cb](EE)portico named Solomon’s, completely astonished. 12 But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why are you staring at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made him walk? 13 (EF)The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, (EG)the God of our fathers, has glorified His [cc](EH)servant Jesus, the one whom (EI)you handed over and disowned in the presence of (EJ)Pilate, when he had (EK)decided to release Him. 14 But you disowned (EL)the Holy and Righteous One, and (EM)asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 but put to death the [cd](EN)Prince of life, whom (EO)God raised from the dead, [ce]a fact to which we are (EP)witnesses. 16 And on the basis of faith (EQ)in His name, it is [cf]the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.

17 “And now, brothers, I know that you acted (ER)in ignorance, just as your (ES)rulers also did. 18 But the things which (ET)God previously announced by the mouths of all the prophets, (EU)that His [cg]Christ would suffer, He has fulfilled in this way. 19 Therefore (EV)repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that (EW)times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; 20 and that He may send Jesus, the [ch]Christ appointed for you, 21 (EX)whom heaven must receive until the [ci]period of (EY)restoration of all things, about which (EZ)God spoke by the mouths of His holy prophets from ancient times. 22 Moses said, ‘(FA)The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your countrymen; to Him you shall listen regarding everything He says to you. 23 (FB)And it shall be that every (FC)soul that does not listen to that prophet (FD)shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ 24 And likewise, (FE)all the prophets who have spoken from Samuel and his successors onward, have also announced these days. 25 It is you who are (FF)the sons of the prophets and of the (FG)covenant which God ordained with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘(FH)And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ 26 God (FI)raised up His [cj]Servant for you (FJ)first, and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.”

Peter and John Arrested

4 As they were speaking to the people, the priests and (FK)the captain of the temple guard and (FL)the Sadducees (FM)came up to them, 2 being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming [ck](FN)in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they laid hands on them and (FO)put them in prison until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who had heard the [cl]message believed; and (FP)the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

5 On the next day, their (FQ)rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; 6 and (FR)Annas the high priest was there, and (FS)Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent. 7 When they had placed them in the center, they began to inquire, “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?” 8 Then Peter, [cm](FT)filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “[cn](FU)Rulers and elders of the people, 9 if we are [co]on trial today for (FV)a benefit done to a sick man, as to [cp]how this man has been made well, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that [cq](FW)by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom (FX)God raised from the dead—[cr]by [cs]this name this man stands here before you in good health. 11 [ct](FY)He is the (FZ)stone which was (GA)rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in (GB)no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved.”

Threat and Release

13 Now as they observed the (GC)confidence of (GD)Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and (GE)began to recognize them [cu]as having been with Jesus. 14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply. 15 But when they had ordered them to leave the [cv](GF)Council, they began to confer with one another, 16 saying, “(GG)What are we to do with these men? For the fact that a (GH)noteworthy [cw]miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But so that it will not spread any further among the people, let’s warn them not to speak any longer to any person (GI)in this name.” 18 And when they had summoned them, they (GJ)commanded them not to speak or teach at all [cx]in the name of Jesus. 19 But (GK)Peter and John answered and said to them, “(GL)Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, make your own judgment; 20 for (GM)we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 21 When they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) (GN)on account of the people, because they were all (GO)glorifying God for what had happened; 22 for the man on whom this [cy]miracle of healing had been performed was more than forty years old.

23 When they had been released, they went to their own companions and reported everything that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard this, they raised their voices to God with one mind and said, “[cz]Lord, it is You who (GP)made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything that is in them, 25 who (GQ)by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said,

‘(GR)Why were the [da]nations insolent,
And the peoples plotting in vain?
26 (GS)The kings of the earth [db]took their stand,
And the rulers were gathered together
Against the Lord and against His [dc](GT)Christ.’

27 For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy [dd](GU)servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both (GV)Herod and (GW)Pontius Pilate, along with (GX)the [de]Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever Your hand and (GY)purpose predestined to occur. 29 And [df]now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant it to Your bond-servants to (GZ)speak Your word with all (HA)confidence, 30 while You extend Your hand to heal, and [dg](HB)signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy [dh](HC)servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the (HD)place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all (HE)filled with the Holy Spirit and began to (HF)speak the word of God with (HG)boldness.

Sharing among Believers

32 And the [di]congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them [dj]claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but (HH)all things were common property to them. 33 And (HI)with great power the apostles were giving (HJ)testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. 34 For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses (HK)would sell them and bring the [dk]proceeds of the sales 35 and (HL)lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be (HM)distributed to each to the extent that any had need.

36 Now Joseph, a Levite of (HN)Cyprian birth, who was also called (HO)Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of [dl](HP)Encouragement), 37 [dm]owned a tract of land. So he sold it, and brought the money and (HQ)laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Fate of Ananias and Sapphira

5 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and (HR)kept back some of the [dn]proceeds for himself, with his wife’s [do]full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he (HS)laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has (HT)Satan filled your heart to lie (HU)to the Holy Spirit and to (HV)keep back some of the [dp]proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not [dq]under your control? Why is it that you have [dr]conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but (HW)to God.” 5 And as he heard these words, Ananias (HX)collapsed and [ds]died; and (HY)great fear came over all who heard about it. 6 The young men got up and (HZ)covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him.

7 Now an interval of about three hours elapsed, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land (IA)for [dt]this price?” And she said, “Yes, for [du]that price.” 9 Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to (IB)put (IC)the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well.” 10 And immediately she (ID)collapsed at his feet and [dv]died; and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And (IE)great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard about these things.

12 [dw]At the hands of the apostles many [dx](IF)signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all [dy]together in (IG)Solomon’s [dz]portico. 13 But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, (IH)the people held them in high esteem. 14 And increasingly (II)believers in the Lord, large numbers of men and women, were being (IJ)added to their number, 15 to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by (IK)at least his shadow might fall on any of them. 16 The [ea]people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together as well, bringing people who were sick [eb]or tormented with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed.

Imprisonment and Release

17 But the high priest stood up, along with all his associates (that is (IL)the sect of (IM)the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy. 18 They laid hands on the apostles and (IN)put them in a public prison. 19 But during the night (IO)an angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison, and leading them out, he said, 20 “Go, stand and [ec]speak to the people in the temple area [ed](IP)the whole message of this Life.” 21 Upon hearing this, they entered into the temple area (IQ)about daybreak and began to teach.

Now when (IR)the high priest and his associates came, they called (IS)the [ee]Council together, that is, all the Senate of the sons of Israel, and sent orders to the prison for them to be brought. 22 But (IT)the officers who came did not find them in the prison; and they returned and reported, 23 saying, “We found the prison locked quite securely and the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” 24 Now when (IU)the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them as to what [ef]would come of this. 25 But someone came and reported to them, “The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple area and teaching the people!” 26 Then (IV)the captain went along with (IW)the officers and proceeded to bring them back without violence (for (IX)they were afraid of the people, that they might be stoned).

27 When they had brought them, they had them stand [eg]before (IY)the Council. The high priest interrogated them, 28 saying, “We gave you (IZ)strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and [eh]yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and (JA)intend to bring this Man’s blood upon us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “(JB)We must obey God rather than men. 30 (JC)The God of our fathers (JD)raised up Jesus, whom you (JE)put to death by hanging Him on [ei](JF)a cross. 31 (JG)He is the one whom God exalted [ej]to His right hand as a [ek](JH)Prince and a (JI)Savior, to grant (JJ)repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are (JK)witnesses [el]of these things; and (JL)so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

Gamaliel’s Counsel

33 But when they heard this, they became (JM)infuriated and nearly decided to execute them. 34 But a Pharisee named (JN)Gamaliel, a (JO)teacher of the Law, respected by all the people, stood up in (JP)the Council and gave orders to put the men outside for a short time. 35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel, be careful as to what you are about to do with these men. 36 For, some time ago Theudas appeared, (JQ)claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men joined him. [em]But he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After this man, Judas of Galilee appeared in the days of (JR)the census and drew away some people after him; he also perished, and all those who followed him were scattered. 38 And so in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and leave them alone, for if the source of this plan or [en]movement (JS)is men, it will be overthrown; 39 but if the source is God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found (JT)fighting against God.”

40 They followed his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they (JU)flogged them and ordered them not to [eo]speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. 41 So they went on their way from the presence of the [ep](JV)Council, (JW)rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame (JX)for His name. 42 (JY)And every day, in the temple and [eq]from house to house, they did not stop teaching and (JZ)preaching the good news of Jesus as the [er]Christ.

Choosing of the Seven

6 Now [es]at this time, as the (KA)disciples were (KB)increasing in number, a complaint developed on the part of the [et](KC)Hellenistic Jews against the native (KD)Hebrews, because their (KE)widows were being overlooked in (KF)the daily serving of food. 2 So the twelve summoned the [eu]congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. 3 Instead, (KG)brothers and sisters, select from among you seven men of good reputation, (KH)full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. 4 But we will (KI)devote ourselves to prayer and to the [ev]ministry of the word.” 5 The [ew]announcement found approval with the whole [ex]congregation; and they chose (KJ)Stephen, a man (KK)full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and (KL)Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and [ey]Nicolas, a [ez](KM)proselyte from (KN)Antioch. 6 And they brought these men before the apostles; and after (KO)praying, they (KP)laid their hands on them.

7 (KQ)The word of God kept spreading; and (KR)the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to (KS)the faith.

8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great (KT)wonders and [fa]signs among the people. 9 But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both (KU)Cyrenians and (KV)Alexandrians, and some from (KW)Cilicia and [fb](KX)Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen. 10 But they were unable to [fc]cope with his wisdom and the Spirit by whom he was speaking. 11 Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, and they (KY)came up to him and dragged him away, and brought him [fd]before (KZ)the [fe]Council. 13 They put forward (LA)false witnesses who said, “This man does not stop [ff]speaking against this (LB)holy place and the Law; 14 for we have heard him say that (LC)this Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and change (LD)the customs which Moses handed down to us.” 15 And all who were sitting in the [fg](LE)Council stared at him, and they saw his face, which was like the face of an angel.

Stephen’s Defense

7 Now the high priest said, “Are these things so?”

2 And [fh]Stephen said, “Listen to me, (LF)[fi]brothers and fathers! (LG)The God of glory (LH)appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in [fj]Haran, 3 and He said to him, ‘(LI)Go from your country and your relatives, and come to the land which I will show you.’ 4 (LJ)Then he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in [fk]Haran. And (LK)from there, after his father died, God had him move to this country in which you are now living. 5 But He gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot of ground, and yet, (LL)He promised that He would give it to him as a possession, and to his descendants after him, even though he had no child. 6 But (LM)God spoke to this effect, that his descendants would be strangers in a land that was not theirs, and [fl]they would enslave and mistreat them for four hundred years. 7 ‘And whatever nation to which they are enslaved I Myself will judge,’ said God, ‘and (LN)after that they will come out and [fm]serve Me in this place.’ 8 And He (LO)gave him [fn]the covenant of circumcision; and so (LP)Abraham fathered Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day; and (LQ)Isaac fathered Jacob, and (LR)Jacob, the twelve (LS)patriarchs.

9 “The patriarchs (LT)became jealous of Joseph and sold him into Egypt. Yet God was with him, 10 and rescued him from all his afflictions, and (LU)granted him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he made him governor over Egypt and his entire household.

11 “Now (LV)a famine came over all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction with it, and our fathers [fo]could find no food. 12 But (LW)when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our fathers there the first time. 13 And on the second visit, (LX)Joseph [fp]made himself known to his brothers, and (LY)Joseph’s family was revealed to Pharaoh. 14 Then (LZ)Joseph sent word and invited his father Jacob and all his relatives to come to him, (MA)seventy-five [fq](MB)people in all. 15 And (MC)Jacob went down to Egypt, and he and our fathers died there. 16 And they were brought back from there to [fr](MD)Shechem and laid in the tomb which Abraham had purchased for a sum of money from the sons of [fs]Hamor in [ft]Shechem.

17 “But as the (ME)time of the promise which God had assured to Abraham was approaching, (MF)the people increased and multiplied in Egypt, 18 until (MG)another king arose over Egypt who did not know Joseph. 19 It was he who (MH)shrewdly took advantage of our nation and mistreated our fathers in order that they would (MI)abandon their infants in the Nile, so that they would not survive. 20 At this time (MJ)Moses was born; and he was beautiful to God. He was nurtured for three months in his father’s home. 21 And after he had been put outside, (MK)Pharaoh’s daughter [fu]took him away and nurtured him as her own son. 22 Moses was educated in all (ML)the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was proficient in [fv]speaking and action. 23 But when he was approaching the age of forty, (MM)it entered his [fw]mind to visit his countrymen, the sons of Israel. 24 And when he saw one of them being treated unjustly, he defended and took vengeance for the oppressed man by fatally striking the Egyptian. 25 And he thought that his brothers understood that God was granting them [fx]deliverance [fy]through him; but they did not understand. 26 (MN)And on the following day he appeared to them as they were fighting each other, and he tried to reconcile them to peace, by saying, ‘Men, you are brothers, why are you injuring each other?’ 27 But the one who was injuring his neighbor pushed him away, saying, ‘(MO)Who made you a ruler and judge over us? 28 (MP)You do not intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday, do you?’ 29 At this remark, (MQ)Moses fled and became a stranger in the land of [fz]Midian, where he (MR)fathered two sons.

30 “After forty years had passed, (MS)an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in the flame of a burning thorn bush. 31 When Moses saw it, he was astonished at the sight; and as he approached to look more closely, the voice of the Lord came: 32 ‘(MT)I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob.’ Moses shook with fear and did not dare to look closely. 33 (MU)But the Lord said to him, ‘[ga](MV)Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground. 34 (MW)I have certainly seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to rescue them; and (MX)now come, I will send you to Egypt.’

35 “This Moses whom they (MY)disowned, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’ is the one whom God [gb]sent to be both a ruler and a deliverer with the [gc]help of the angel who appeared to him in the thorn bush. 36 (MZ)This man led them out, performing (NA)wonders and [gd]signs in the land of Egypt and in the Red Sea, and in the (NB)wilderness for forty years. 37 This is the Moses who said to the sons of Israel, ‘(NC)God will raise up for you a prophet [ge]like me from your countrymen.’ 38 This is the one who was in (ND)the [gf]assembly in the wilderness together with (NE)the angel who spoke to him at length on Mount Sinai, and who was with our fathers; and he received (NF)living (NG)words to pass on to you. 39 Our fathers were unwilling to be obedient to him; on the contrary they (NH)rejected him and turned back to Egypt in their hearts, 40 (NI)saying to Aaron, ‘Make us [gg]a god who will go before us; for this Moses who led us out of the land of Egypt—we do not know what happened to him.’ 41 [gh]At that time (NJ)they made a [gi]calf and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and were rejoicing in (NK)the works of their hands. 42 But God (NL)turned away and gave them over to [gj]serve the heavenly [gk]lights; as it is written in the book of the prophets: ‘(NM)You did not offer Me victims and sacrifices (NN)for forty years in the wilderness, did you, house of Israel? 43 (NO)You also took along the tabernacle of Moloch and the star of your god [gl]Rompha, the images which you made to worship. I also will deport you beyond Babylon.’

44 “Our fathers had (NP)the tabernacle of testimony in the wilderness, just as He who spoke to Moses directed him to make it (NQ)according to the pattern which he had seen. 45 Our fathers in turn received it, and they also (NR)brought it in with Joshua upon dispossessing the [gm]nations that God drove out from our fathers, until the time of David. 46 [gn](NS)David found favor in God’s sight, and (NT)asked that he might [go]find a dwelling place for the [gp]house of Jacob. 47 But it was (NU)Solomon who built a house for Him. 48 However, (NV)the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands; as the prophet says:

49 ‘(NW)Heaven is My throne,
And the earth is the footstool of My feet;
What kind of house will you build for Me?’ says the Lord,
‘Or what place is there for My rest?
50 (NX)Was it not My hand that made all these things?’

51 “You men who are (NY)stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did. 52 (NZ)Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of (OA)the Righteous One, and (OB)you have now become betrayers and murderers of Him; 53 you who received the Law as (OC)ordained by angels, and yet did not keep it.”

Stephen Put to Death

54 Now when they heard this, they were (OD)infuriated, and they began gnashing their teeth at him. 55 But he, being (OE)full of the Holy Spirit, (OF)looked intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing (OG)at the right hand of God; 56 and he said, “Behold, I see the (OH)heavens opened and (OI)the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 But they shouted with loud voices, and covered their ears and rushed at him with one [gq]mind. 58 When they had (OJ)driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and (OK)the witnesses (OL)laid aside their cloaks at the feet of (OM)a young man named Saul. 59 They went on stoning Stephen as he (ON)called on the Lord and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” 60 Then he (OO)fell on his knees and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, (OP)do not hold this sin against them!” Having said this, he [gr](OQ)fell asleep.

Saul Persecutes the Church

8 (OR)Now Saul approved of putting [gs]Stephen to death.

And on that day a great persecution [gt]began against (OS)the church in Jerusalem, and they were all (OT)scattered throughout the regions of Judea and (OU)Samaria, except for the apostles. 2 Some devout men buried Stephen, and mourned loudly for him. 3 But (OV)Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house; and he would (OW)drag away men and women and put them in prison.

Philip in Samaria

4 Therefore, those (OX)who had been scattered went through places [gu](OY)preaching the word. 5 (OZ)Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming the [gv]Christ to them. 6 The crowds were paying attention with one mind to what was being said by Philip, as they heard and saw the [gw]signs which he was performing. 7 For in the case of many who had (PA)unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been (PB)paralyzed or limped on crutches were healed. 8 So there was (PC)much rejoicing in that city.

9 Now a man named Simon had previously been practicing (PD)magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, (PE)claiming to be someone great; 10 and all the people, from small to great, were paying attention to him, saying, “(PF)This man is the Power of God that is called Great.” 11 And they were paying attention to him because for a long time he had astounded them with his (PG)magic arts. 12 But when they believed Philip (PH)as he was preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were being (PI)baptized. 13 Now even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed (PJ)signs and (PK)great miracles taking place, he was repeatedly amazed.

14 Now when (PL)the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them (PM)Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed for them (PN)that they would receive the Holy Spirit. 16 (For He had (PO)not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been (PP)baptized [gx]in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17 Then they (PQ)began laying their hands on them, and they were (PR)receiving the Holy Spirit. 18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could (PS)acquire the gift of God with money! 21 You have (PT)no part or share in this [gy]matter, for your heart is not (PU)right before God. 22 Therefore, repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, (PV)if possible, the intention of your heart will be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are [gz]in the gall of bitterness and in (PW)the [ha]bondage of unrighteousness.” 24 But Simon answered and said, “(PX)Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”

An Ethiopian Receives Christ

25 So, when they had solemnly (PY)testified and spoken (PZ)the word of the Lord, they started back to Jerusalem, and were (QA)preaching the gospel to many villages of the (QB)Samaritans.

26 But (QC)an angel of the Lord spoke to (QD)Philip, saying, “Get ready and go [hb]south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to (QE)Gaza.” ([hc]This is a desert road.) 27 So he got ready and went; and [hd](QF)there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of [he]Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he (QG)had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and he was returning and sitting in his [hf]chariot, and was reading Isaiah the prophet. 29 Then (QH)the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this [hg]chariot.” 30 Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this:

“(QI)He was led like a sheep to slaughter;
And like a lamb that is silent before its shearer,
So He does not open His mouth.
33 (QJ)In humiliation His justice was taken away;
Who will [hh]describe His [hi]generation?
For His life is taken away from the earth.”

34 The eunuch answered Philip and said, “Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself, or of someone else?” 35 Then Philip (QK)opened his mouth, and (QL)beginning from this Scripture he (QM)preached Jesus to him. 36 As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch *said, “Look! Water! (QN)What prevents me from being baptized?”[hj] 38 And he ordered that the [hk]chariot stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, (QO)the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, [hl]but went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip [hm]found himself at [hn](QP)Azotus, and as he passed through he (QQ)kept preaching the gospel to all the cities, until he came to (QR)Caesarea.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 1:1 Lit made
  2. Acts 1:2 Or through
  3. Acts 1:3 Lit whom
  4. Acts 1:4 Or eating with; or lodging with
  5. Acts 1:4 Lit the promise of the Father
  6. Acts 1:5 Or in
  7. Acts 1:5 Or in
  8. Acts 1:5 Lit not long after these many days
  9. Acts 1:12 Or hill
  10. Acts 1:12 Or Olive Grove
  11. Acts 1:12 2,000 cubits, or about 0.6 miles or 1 km
  12. Acts 1:13 Or Jacob
  13. Acts 1:13 Or Jacob
  14. Acts 1:13 Or brother
  15. Acts 1:13 Or Jacob
  16. Acts 1:14 Or purpose
  17. Acts 1:15 Lit In these days
  18. Acts 1:15 Lit names
  19. Acts 1:16 Lit Men, brothers
  20. Acts 1:20 Lit position of oversight
  21. Acts 1:21 Lit to us
  22. Acts 1:22 Lit from
  23. Acts 1:25 Lit take the place of
  24. Acts 1:26 Lit gave
  25. Acts 1:26 Or upon
  26. Acts 2:1 Lit was being fulfilled
  27. Acts 2:3 Or being distributed, and
  28. Acts 2:3 Or sat
  29. Acts 2:4 Or languages
  30. Acts 2:6 Or dialect
  31. Acts 2:7 Lit Behold
  32. Acts 2:8 Or dialect
  33. Acts 2:8 Lit in
  34. Acts 2:9 I.e., west coast province of Asia Minor
  35. Acts 2:10 Lit the sojourning Romans
  36. Acts 2:10 I.e., Gentile converts to Judaism
  37. Acts 2:11 Or languages
  38. Acts 2:13 I.e., new wine
  39. Acts 2:14 Lit let this be known to you
  40. Acts 2:15 I.e., 9 a.m.
  41. Acts 2:17 Lit flesh
  42. Acts 2:17 Lit dream with dreams
  43. Acts 2:18 Or slaves
  44. Acts 2:19 Lit give
  45. Acts 2:19 I.e., like a volcanic eruption
  46. Acts 2:22 Or exhibited; or accredited
  47. Acts 2:22 Or works of power
  48. Acts 2:22 I.e., confirming miracles
  49. Acts 2:23 Lit men without the Law; i.e., pagan
  50. Acts 2:24 Lit Whom God raised up
  51. Acts 2:24 Lit birth pains
  52. Acts 2:24 Lit by it
  53. Acts 2:27 Lit give
  54. Acts 2:27 Or Devout; or Pious
  55. Acts 2:27 Lit see corruption
  56. Acts 2:29 Lit Men, brothers
  57. Acts 2:29 Lit among
  58. Acts 2:30 Lit of the fruit of his loins
  59. Acts 2:31 I.e., Messiah
  60. Acts 2:31 Lit see corruption
  61. Acts 2:32 Or of whom we
  62. Acts 2:33 Or having been...having received
  63. Acts 2:33 Or by
  64. Acts 2:34 Lit the heavens
  65. Acts 2:36 I.e., Messiah
  66. Acts 2:37 Or wounded in conscience
  67. Acts 2:37 Lit Men, brothers
  68. Acts 2:40 Or Escape
  69. Acts 2:41 I.e., persons
  70. Acts 2:42 Lit the prayers
  71. Acts 2:43 Lit fear was occurring to every soul
  72. Acts 2:43 I.e., confirming miracles
  73. Acts 2:44 One early ms does not contain were and and
  74. Acts 2:46 Or in the various private homes
  75. Acts 2:46 Lit food
  76. Acts 2:46 Or simplicity
  77. Acts 2:47 Lit the same
  78. Acts 3:1 I.e., 3 p.m.
  79. Acts 3:2 Lit his mother’s womb
  80. Acts 3:11 Or colonnade
  81. Acts 3:13 Or Son
  82. Acts 3:15 Or Originator
  83. Acts 3:15 Or of whom we
  84. Acts 3:16 Lit His name
  85. Acts 3:18 I.e., Messiah
  86. Acts 3:20 I.e., Messiah
  87. Acts 3:21 Lit periods, times
  88. Acts 3:26 Or Son
  89. Acts 4:2 Or in the case of
  90. Acts 4:4 Lit word
  91. Acts 4:8 Or having just been filled
  92. Acts 4:8 Lit Rulers of the people and elders
  93. Acts 4:9 Lit answering
  94. Acts 4:9 Or by what; or by whom
  95. Acts 4:10 Or in
  96. Acts 4:10 Or in
  97. Acts 4:10 Or Him
  98. Acts 4:11 Lit This One
  99. Acts 4:13 Lit that they had been
  100. Acts 4:15 Or Sanhedrin
  101. Acts 4:16 Or sign
  102. Acts 4:18 Or on the basis of
  103. Acts 4:22 Or sign
  104. Acts 4:24 Or Master
  105. Acts 4:25 Or Gentiles
  106. Acts 4:26 Or approached
  107. Acts 4:26 I.e., Messiah
  108. Acts 4:27 Or Son
  109. Acts 4:27 Or nations
  110. Acts 4:29 Or as for the present situation
  111. Acts 4:30 I.e., confirming miracles
  112. Acts 4:30 Or Son
  113. Acts 4:32 Or community; lit multitude
  114. Acts 4:32 Lit was saying
  115. Acts 4:34 Lit the prices of the things being sold
  116. Acts 4:36 Or Exhortation; or Consolation
  117. Acts 4:37 Lit a tract...belonging to him, he sold...
  118. Acts 5:2 Lit price
  119. Acts 5:2 Or collusion
  120. Acts 5:3 Lit price
  121. Acts 5:4 Or in your authority
  122. Acts 5:4 Lit placed
  123. Acts 5:5 Lit expired
  124. Acts 5:8 Lit so much
  125. Acts 5:8 Lit so much
  126. Acts 5:10 Lit expired
  127. Acts 5:12 Lit Through
  128. Acts 5:12 I.e., confirming miracles
  129. Acts 5:12 Or of one mind
  130. Acts 5:12 Or colonnade
  131. Acts 5:16 Lit multitude
  132. Acts 5:16 Lit and
  133. Acts 5:20 Or continue to speak
  134. Acts 5:20 Lit all the words
  135. Acts 5:21 Or Sanhedrin
  136. Acts 5:24 Lit this would become
  137. Acts 5:27 Lit among
  138. Acts 5:28 Lit behold
  139. Acts 5:30 Lit wood; see Deut 21:23
  140. Acts 5:31 Or by
  141. Acts 5:31 Or Leader
  142. Acts 5:32 One early ms adds in Him
  143. Acts 5:36 Lit Who was killed
  144. Acts 5:38 Lit work
  145. Acts 5:40 Lit be speaking
  146. Acts 5:41 Or Sanhedrin
  147. Acts 5:42 Or in the various private homes
  148. Acts 5:42 I.e., Messiah
  149. Acts 6:1 Lit in these days
  150. Acts 6:1 Jews who adopted the Gr language and much of Gr culture through acculturation
  151. Acts 6:2 Lit multitude
  152. Acts 6:4 Or service
  153. Acts 6:5 Lit word
  154. Acts 6:5 Lit multitude
  155. Acts 6:5 Gr Nikolaos
  156. Acts 6:5 I.e., a Gentile convert to Judaism
  157. Acts 6:8 I.e., confirming miracles
  158. Acts 6:9 I.e., west coast province of Asia Minor
  159. Acts 6:10 Lit oppose
  160. Acts 6:12 Lit into
  161. Acts 6:12 Or Sanhedrin
  162. Acts 6:13 Lit speaking words
  163. Acts 6:15 Or Sanhedrin
  164. Acts 7:2 Lit he
  165. Acts 7:2 Lit men, brothers
  166. Acts 7:2 Gr Charran
  167. Acts 7:4 Gr Charran
  168. Acts 7:6 I.e., the people of the land (Egypt)
  169. Acts 7:7 Or worship
  170. Acts 7:8 Or a
  171. Acts 7:11 Lit were not finding
  172. Acts 7:13 Or was made known
  173. Acts 7:14 Lit souls
  174. Acts 7:16 Gr Sychem
  175. Acts 7:16 Gr Emmor
  176. Acts 7:16 Gr Sychem
  177. Acts 7:21 Or adopted him
  178. Acts 7:22 Lit his words and actions
  179. Acts 7:23 Lit heart
  180. Acts 7:25 Or salvation
  181. Acts 7:25 Lit through his hand
  182. Acts 7:29 Gr Madiam
  183. Acts 7:33 Lit Untie the sandal of your
  184. Acts 7:35 Lit has sent
  185. Acts 7:35 Lit hand
  186. Acts 7:36 I.e., confirming miracles
  187. Acts 7:37 Or as He raised up me
  188. Acts 7:38 Gr ekklesia
  189. Acts 7:40 Lit gods, plural, but prob. refers to a singular deity
  190. Acts 7:41 Lit in those days
  191. Acts 7:41 Or young bull
  192. Acts 7:42 Or worship
  193. Acts 7:42 Lit host
  194. Acts 7:43 Other mss spell it: Romphan, Rempham, Raiphan; or Rephan
  195. Acts 7:45 Or Gentiles
  196. Acts 7:46 Lit He who
  197. Acts 7:46 I.e., build the temple
  198. Acts 7:46 I.e., the people of Israel
  199. Acts 7:57 Or purpose
  200. Acts 7:60 I.e., died
  201. Acts 8:1 Lit him
  202. Acts 8:1 Lit occurred
  203. Acts 8:4 Or bringing the good news of
  204. Acts 8:5 I.e., Messiah
  205. Acts 8:6 I.e., confirming miracles
  206. Acts 8:16 Lit into
  207. Acts 8:21 Or teaching; lit word
  208. Acts 8:23 Or doomed to the
  209. Acts 8:23 Lit bond
  210. Acts 8:26 Or at about noon to
  211. Acts 8:26 Or This city is deserted
  212. Acts 8:27 Lit behold, an Ethiopian
  213. Acts 8:27 Possibly an Ethiopian title: the Candace
  214. Acts 8:28 Or carriage
  215. Acts 8:29 Or carriage
  216. Acts 8:33 Or relate
  217. Acts 8:33 Or family history
  218. Acts 8:36 Late mss add as v 37: And 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.”
  219. Acts 8:38 Or carriage
  220. Acts 8:39 Lit for he was going
  221. Acts 8:40 Or was found
  222. Acts 8:40 OT: Ashdod
Listen to Acts 1-8
Close NKJV

Acts 1-8
New King James Version

Prologue

1 The former account I made, O (A)Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 (B)until the day in which [a]He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit (C)had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, 3 (D)to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many [b]infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

The Holy Spirit Promised

4 (E)And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have (F)heard from Me; 5 (G)for John truly baptized with water, (H)but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 And He said to them, (I)“It is not for you to (J)know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 (K)But you shall receive power (L)when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and (M)you shall be [c]witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and (N)Samaria, and to the (O)end of the earth.”

Jesus Ascends to Heaven(P)

9 (Q)Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, (R)He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them (S)in white apparel, 11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, (T)will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

The Upper Room Prayer Meeting

12 (U)Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey. 13 And when they had entered, they went up (V)into the upper room where they were staying: (W)Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and (X)Simon the Zealot; and (Y)Judas the son of James. 14 (Z)These all continued with one [d]accord in prayer [e]and supplication, with (AA)the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with (AB)His brothers.

Matthias Chosen(AC)

15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the [f]disciples (altogether the number (AD)of names was about a hundred and twenty), and said, 16 “Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, (AE)which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, (AF)who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus; 17 for (AG)he was numbered with us and obtained a part in (AH)this ministry.”

18 (AI)(Now this man purchased a field with (AJ)the [g]wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his [h]entrails gushed out. 19 And it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem; so that field is called in their own language, Akel Dama, that is, Field of Blood.)

20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms:

(AK)‘Let his dwelling place be [i]desolate,
And let no one live in it’;

and,

(AL)‘Let another take his [j]office.’

21 “Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John to that day when (AM)He was taken up from us, one of these must (AN)become a witness with us of His resurrection.”

23 And they proposed two: Joseph called (AO)Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, O Lord, (AP)who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen 25 (AQ)to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.” 26 And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Coming of the Holy Spirit

2 When (AR)the Day of Pentecost had fully come, (AS)they were all [k]with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and (AT)it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them [l]divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And (AU)they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began (AV)to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The Crowd’s Response

5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, (AW)devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the (AX)multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak (AY)Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each in our own [m]language in which we were born? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and (AZ)Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and [n]Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” 12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?”

13 Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.”

Peter’s Sermon(BA)

14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. 15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, (BB)since it is only [o]the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

17 ‘And(BC) it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,
(BD)That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and (BE)your daughters shall prophesy,
Your young men shall see visions,
Your old men shall dream dreams.
18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days;
(BF)And they shall prophesy.
19 (BG)I will show wonders in heaven above
And signs in the earth beneath:
Blood and fire and vapor of smoke.
20 (BH)The sun shall be turned into darkness,
And the moon into blood,
Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.
21 And it shall come to pass
That (BI)whoever calls on the name of the Lord
Shall be saved.’

22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you (BJ)by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know— 23 Him, (BK)being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, (BL)you [p]have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; 24 (BM)whom God raised up, having [q]loosed the [r]pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. 25 For David says concerning Him:

(BN)‘I foresaw the Lord always before my face,
For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken.
26 Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad;
Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope.
27 For You will not leave my soul in Hades,
Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see (BO)corruption.
28 You have made known to me the ways of life;
You will make me full of joy in Your presence.’

29 “Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you (BP)of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Therefore, being a prophet, (BQ)and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, [s]according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, 31 he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, (BR)that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. 32 (BS)This Jesus God has raised up, (BT)of which we are all witnesses. 33 Therefore (BU)being exalted [t]to (BV)the right hand of God, and (BW)having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He (BX)poured out this which you now see and hear.

34 “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself:

(BY)‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
35 Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’

36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

37 Now when they heard this, (BZ)they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

38 Then Peter said to them, (CA)“Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the [u]remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and (CB)to your children, and (CC)to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

A Vital Church Grows

40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this [v]perverse generation.” 41 Then those who [w]gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 (CD)And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ [x]doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and (CE)many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and (CF)had all things in common, 45 and [y]sold their possessions and goods, and (CG)divided[z] them among all, as anyone had need.

46 (CH)So continuing daily with one accord (CI)in the temple, and (CJ)breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And (CK)the Lord added [aa]to the church daily those who were being saved.

A Lame Man Healed

3 Now Peter and John went up together (CL)to the temple at the hour of prayer, (CM)the ninth hour. 2 And (CN)a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, (CO)to [ab]ask alms from those who entered the temple; 3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. 4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” 5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: (CP)In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” 7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 So he, (CQ)leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 (CR)And all the people saw him walking and praising God. 10 Then they knew that it was he who (CS)sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Preaching in Solomon’s Portico

11 Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch (CT)which is called Solomon’s, greatly amazed. 12 So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 (CU)The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, (CV)glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you (CW)delivered up and (CX)denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. 14 But you denied (CY)the Holy One (CZ)and the Just, and (DA)asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and killed the [ac]Prince of life, (DB)whom God raised from the dead, (DC)of which we are witnesses. 16 (DD)And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

17 “Yet now, brethren, I know that (DE)you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But (DF)those things which God foretold (DG)by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. 19 (DH)Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 20 and that He may send [ad]Jesus Christ, who was [ae]preached to you before, 21 (DI)whom heaven must receive until the times of (DJ)restoration of all things, (DK)which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since [af]the world began. 22 For Moses truly said to the fathers, (DL)‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. 23 And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ 24 Yes, and (DM)all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also [ag]foretold these days. 25 (DN)You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, (DO)‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ 26 To you (DP)first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, (DQ)in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.”

Peter and John Arrested

4 Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the (DR)Sadducees came upon them, 2 being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

Addressing the Sanhedrin

5 And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, 6 as well as (DS)Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, (DT)“By what power or by what name have you done this?”

8 (DU)Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: 9 If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, 10 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, (DV)that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, (DW)whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 11 This is the (DX)‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ 12 (DY)Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

The Name of Jesus Forbidden

13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, (DZ)and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. 14 And seeing the man who had been healed (EA)standing with them, they could say nothing against it. 15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, 16 saying, (EB)“What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a [ah]notable miracle has been done through them is (EC)evident[ai] to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.”

18 (ED)So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, (EE)“Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. 20 (EF)For we cannot but speak the things which (EG)we have seen and heard.” 21 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, (EH)because of the people, since they all (EI)glorified God for (EJ)what had been done. 22 For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.

Prayer for Boldness(EK)

23 And being let go, (EL)they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24 So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, (EM)You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25 who [aj]by the mouth of Your servant David have said:

(EN)‘Why did the nations rage,
And the people plot vain things?
26 The kings of the earth took their stand,
And the rulers were gathered together
Against the Lord and against His Christ.’

27 “For (EO)truly against (EP)Your holy Servant Jesus, (EQ)whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 28 (ER)to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. 29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants (ES)that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, (ET)and that signs and wonders may be done (EU)through the name of (EV)Your holy Servant Jesus.”

31 And when they had prayed, (EW)the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, (EX)and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

Sharing in All Things

32 Now the multitude of those who believed (EY)were of one heart and one soul; (EZ)neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. 33 And with (FA)great power the apostles gave (FB)witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And (FC)great grace was upon them all. 34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; (FD)for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, 35 (FE)and laid them at the apostles’ feet; (FF)and they distributed to each as anyone had need.

36 And [ak]Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of [al]Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, 37 (FG)having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Lying to the Holy Spirit

5 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. 2 And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 (FH)But Peter said, “Ananias, why has (FI)Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? 4 While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”

5 Then Ananias, hearing these words, (FJ)fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. 6 And the young men arose and (FK)wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him.

7 Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?”

She said, “Yes, for so much.”

9 Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together (FL)to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 (FM)Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. 11 (FN)So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.

Continuing Power in the Church

12 And (FO)through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. (FP)And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. 13 Yet (FQ)none of the rest dared join them, (FR)but the people esteemed them highly. 14 And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, (FS)that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. 16 Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing (FT)sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

Imprisoned Apostles Freed

17 (FU)Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with [am]indignation, 18 (FV)and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. 19 But at night (FW)an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 “Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people (FX)all the words of this life.”

21 And when they heard that, they entered the temple early in the morning and taught. (FY)But the high priest and those with him came and called the [an]council together, with all the [ao]elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.

Apostles on Trial Again

22 But when the officers came and did not find them in the prison, they returned and reported, 23 saying, “Indeed we found the prison shut securely, and the guards standing [ap]outside before the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside!” 24 Now when [aq]the high priest, (FZ)the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these things, they wondered what the outcome would be. 25 So one came and told them, [ar]saying, “Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!”

26 Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, (GA)for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. 27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, 28 saying, (GB)“Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, (GC)and intend to bring this Man’s (GD)blood on us!”

29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: (GE)“We ought to obey God rather than men. 30 (GF)The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by (GG)hanging on a tree. 31 (GH)Him God has exalted to His right hand to be (GI)Prince and (GJ)Savior, (GK)to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And (GL)we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit (GM)whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

Gamaliel’s Advice

33 When they heard this, they were (GN)furious[as] and plotted to kill them. 34 Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named (GO)Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while. 35 And he said to them: “Men of Israel, [at]take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men. 36 For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, [au]joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing. 37 After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed. 38 And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; 39 (GP)but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found (GQ)to fight against God.”

40 And they agreed with him, and when they had (GR)called for the apostles (GS)and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 So they departed from the presence of the council, (GT)rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for [av]His name. 42 And daily (GU)in the temple, and in every house, (GV)they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

Seven Chosen to Serve

6 Now in those days, (GW)when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the (GX)Hellenists,[aw] because their widows were neglected (GY)in the daily distribution. 2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, (GZ)“It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. 3 Therefore, brethren, (HA)seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this (HB)business; 4 but we (HC)will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, (HD)a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and (HE)Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and (HF)Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, 6 whom they set before the apostles; and (HG)when they had prayed, (HH)they laid hands on them.

7 Then (HI)the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many (HJ)of the priests were obedient to the faith.

Stephen Accused of Blasphemy

8 And Stephen, full of [ax]faith and power, did great (HK)wonders and signs among the people. 9 Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen. 10 And (HL)they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. 11 (HM)Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; and they came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council. 13 They also set up false witnesses who said, “This man does not cease to speak [ay]blasphemous words against this holy place and the law; 14 (HN)for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered to us.” 15 And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel.

Stephen’s Address: The Call of Abraham

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

2 And he said, (HO)“Brethren and fathers, listen: The (HP)God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in (HQ)Haran, 3 and said to him, (HR)‘Get out of your country and from your relatives, and come to a land that I will show you.’ 4 Then (HS)he came out of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Haran. And from there, when his father was (HT)dead, He moved him to this land in which you now dwell. 5 And God gave him no inheritance in it, not even enough to set his foot on. But even when Abraham had no child, (HU)He promised to give it to him for a possession, and to his descendants after him. 6 But God spoke in this way: (HV)that his descendants would dwell in a foreign land, and that they would bring them into (HW)bondage and oppress them four hundred years. 7 (HX)‘And the nation to whom they will be in bondage I will (HY)judge,’ said God, (HZ)‘and after that they shall come out and serve Me in this place.’ 8 (IA)Then He gave him the covenant of circumcision; (IB)and so Abraham begot Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day; (IC)and Isaac begot Jacob, and (ID)Jacob begot the twelve patriarchs.

The Patriarchs in Egypt

9 (IE)“And the patriarchs, becoming envious, (IF)sold Joseph into Egypt. (IG)But God was with him 10 and delivered him out of all his troubles, (IH)and gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. 11 (II)Now a famine and great [az]trouble came over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and our fathers found no sustenance. 12 (IJ)But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first. 13 And the (IK)second time Joseph was made known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family became known to the Pharaoh. 14 (IL)Then Joseph sent and called his father Jacob and (IM)all his relatives to him, [ba]seventy-five people. 15 (IN)So Jacob went down to Egypt; (IO)and he died, he and our fathers. 16 And (IP)they were carried back to Shechem and laid in (IQ)the tomb that Abraham bought for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem.

God Delivers Israel by Moses

17 “But when (IR)the time of the promise drew near which God had sworn to Abraham, (IS)the people grew and multiplied in Egypt 18 till another king (IT)arose who did not know Joseph. 19 This man dealt treacherously with our people, and oppressed our forefathers, (IU)making them expose their babies, so that they might not live. 20 (IV)At this time Moses was born, and (IW)was well pleasing to God; and he was brought up in his father’s house for three months. 21 But (IX)when he was set out, (IY)Pharaoh’s daughter took him away and brought him up as her own son. 22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was (IZ)mighty in words and deeds.

23 (JA)“Now when he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel. 24 And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended and avenged him who was oppressed, and struck down the Egyptian. 25 For he supposed that his brethren would have understood that God would deliver them by his hand, but they did not understand. 26 And the next day he appeared to two of them as they were fighting, and tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brethren; why do you wrong one another?’ 27 But he who did his neighbor wrong pushed him away, saying, (JB)‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? 28 Do you want to kill me as you did the Egyptian yesterday?’ 29 (JC)Then, at this saying, Moses fled and became a dweller in the land of Midian, where he (JD)had two sons.

30 (JE)“And when forty years had passed, an Angel [bb]of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire in a bush, in the wilderness of Mount Sinai. 31 When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight; and as he drew near to observe, the voice of the Lord came to him, 32 saying, (JF)‘I am the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ And Moses trembled and dared not look. 33 (JG)‘Then the Lord said to him, “Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground. 34 I have surely (JH)seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt; I have heard their groaning and have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will (JI)send you to Egypt.” ’

35 “This Moses whom they rejected, saying, (JJ)‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’ is the one God sent to be a ruler and a deliverer (JK)by the hand of the Angel who appeared to him in the bush. 36 (JL)He brought them out, after he had (JM)shown wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, (JN)and in the Red Sea, (JO)and in the wilderness forty years.

Israel Rebels Against God

37 “This is that Moses who said to the children of Israel, (JP)‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. (JQ)Him[bc] you shall hear.’

38 (JR)“This is he who was in the [bd]congregation in the wilderness with (JS)the Angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, (JT)the one who received the living (JU)oracles[be] to give to us, 39 whom our fathers (JV)would not obey, but rejected. And in their hearts they turned back to Egypt, 40 (JW)saying to Aaron, ‘Make us gods to go before us; as for this Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ 41 (JX)And they made a calf in those days, offered sacrifices to the idol, and (JY)rejoiced in the works of their own hands. 42 Then (JZ)God turned and gave them up to worship (KA)the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the Prophets:

(KB)‘Did you offer Me slaughtered animals and sacrifices during forty years in the wilderness,
O house of Israel?
43 You also took up the tabernacle of Moloch,
And the star of your god Remphan,
Images which you made to worship;
And (KC)I will carry you away beyond Babylon.’

God’s True Tabernacle

44 “Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as He appointed, instructing Moses (KD)to make it according to the pattern that he had seen, 45 (KE)which our fathers, having received it in turn, also brought with Joshua into the land possessed by the Gentiles, (KF)whom God drove out before the face of our fathers until the (KG)days of David, 46 (KH)who found favor before God and (KI)asked to find a dwelling for the God of Jacob. 47 (KJ)But Solomon built Him a house.

48 “However, (KK)the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says:

49 ‘Heaven(KL) is My throne,
And earth is My footstool.
What house will you build for Me? says the Lord,
Or what is the place of My rest?
50 Has My hand not (KM)made all these things?’

Israel Resists the Holy Spirit

51 “You (KN)stiff-necked[bf] and (KO)uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. 52 (KP)Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of (KQ)the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, 53 (KR)who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.”

Stephen the Martyr

54 (KS)When they heard these things they were [bg]cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. 55 But he, (KT)being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the (KU)glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 56 and said, “Look! (KV)I see the heavens opened and the (KW)Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”

57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; 58 and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And (KX)the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, (KY)receive my spirit.” 60 Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, (KZ)“Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Saul Persecutes the Church

8 Now Saul was consenting to his death.

At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and (LA)they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and (LB)made great lamentation over him.

3 As for Saul, (LC)he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.

Christ Is Preached in Samaria

4 Therefore (LD)those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. 5 Then (LE)Philip went down to [bh]the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. 6 And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7 For (LF)unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. 8 And there was great joy in that city.

The Sorcerer’s Profession of Faith

9 But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously (LG)practiced [bi]sorcery in the city and (LH)astonished the [bj]people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, 10 to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God.” 11 And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his [bk]sorceries for a long time. 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things (LI)concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. 13 Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done.

The Sorcerer’s Sin

14 Now when the (LJ)apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them (LK)that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For (LL)as yet He had fallen upon none of them. (LM)They had only been baptized in (LN)the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then (LO)they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

20 But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because (LP)you thought that (LQ)the gift of God could be purchased with money! 21 You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your (LR)heart is not right in the sight of God. 22 Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God (LS)if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are (LT)poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.”

24 Then Simon answered and said, (LU)“Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.”

25 So when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

Christ Is Preached to an Ethiopian(LV)

26 Now an angel of the Lord spoke to (LW)Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is [bl]desert. 27 So he arose and went. And behold, (LX)a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and (LY)had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28 was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.”

30 So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 The place in the Scripture which he read was this:

(LZ)“He was led as a sheep to the slaughter;
And as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
(MA)So He opened not His mouth.
33 In His humiliation His (MB)justice was taken away,
And who will declare His generation?
For His life is (MC)taken from the earth.”

34 So the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, (MD)and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. 36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. (ME)What hinders me from being baptized?”

37 [bm]Then Philip said, (MF)“If you believe with all your heart, you may.”

And he answered and said, (MG)“I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. 39 Now when they came up out of the water, (MH)the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip was found at [bn]Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to (MI)Caesarea.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 1:2 He ascended into heaven.
  2. Acts 1:3 unmistakable
  3. Acts 1:8 NU My witnesses
  4. Acts 1:14 purpose or mind
  5. Acts 1:14 NU omits and supplication
  6. Acts 1:15 NU brethren
  7. Acts 1:18 reward of unrighteousness
  8. Acts 1:18 intestines
  9. Acts 1:20 deserted
  10. Acts 1:20 Gr. episkopen, position of overseer
  11. Acts 2:1 NU together
  12. Acts 2:3 Or tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each
  13. Acts 2:8 dialect
  14. Acts 2:11 Arabians
  15. Acts 2:15 9 a.m.
  16. Acts 2:23 NU omits have taken
  17. Acts 2:24 destroyed or abolished
  18. Acts 2:24 Lit. birth pangs
  19. Acts 2:30 NU He would seat one on his throne,
  20. Acts 2:33 Possibly by
  21. Acts 2:38 forgiveness
  22. Acts 2:40 crooked
  23. Acts 2:41 NU omits gladly
  24. Acts 2:42 teaching
  25. Acts 2:45 would sell
  26. Acts 2:45 distributed
  27. Acts 2:47 NU omits to the church
  28. Acts 3:2 Beg
  29. Acts 3:15 Or Originator
  30. Acts 3:20 NU, M Christ Jesus
  31. Acts 3:20 NU, M ordained for you before
  32. Acts 3:21 Or time
  33. Acts 3:24 NU, M proclaimed
  34. Acts 4:16 remarkable sign
  35. Acts 4:16 well known
  36. Acts 4:25 NU through the Holy Spirit, by the mouth of our father, Your servant David,
  37. Acts 4:36 NU Joseph
  38. Acts 4:36 Or Consolation
  39. Acts 5:17 jealousy
  40. Acts 5:21 Sanhedrin
  41. Acts 5:21 council of elders or senate
  42. Acts 5:23 NU, M omit outside
  43. Acts 5:24 NU omits the high priest
  44. Acts 5:25 NU, M omit saying
  45. Acts 5:33 cut to the quick
  46. Acts 5:35 be careful
  47. Acts 5:36 followed
  48. Acts 5:41 NU the name; M the name of Jesus
  49. Acts 6:1 Greek-speaking Jews
  50. Acts 6:8 NU grace
  51. Acts 6:13 NU omits blasphemous
  52. Acts 7:11 affliction
  53. Acts 7:14 Or seventy, Ex. 1:5
  54. Acts 7:30 NU omits of the Lord
  55. Acts 7:37 NU, M omit Him you shall hear
  56. Acts 7:38 Gr. ekklesia, assembly or church
  57. Acts 7:38 sayings
  58. Acts 7:51 stubborn
  59. Acts 7:54 furious
  60. Acts 8:5 Or a
  61. Acts 8:9 magic
  62. Acts 8:9 Or nation
  63. Acts 8:11 magic arts
  64. Acts 8:26 Or a deserted place
  65. Acts 8:37 NU, M omit v. 37. It is found in Western texts, including the Latin tradition.
  66. Acts 8:40 Same as Heb. Ashdod
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