Acts 9:36-16:18

New International Version

³⁶ In Joppa^(A) there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good^(B) and helping the poor. ³⁷ About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room.^{(C) 38} Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples^(D) heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!”

³⁹ Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows^(E) stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.

⁴⁰ Peter sent them all out of the room;^(F) then he got down on his knees^(G) and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.”^(H) She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. ⁴¹ He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. ⁴² This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.^{(I) 43} Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.^(J)

Cornelius Calls for Peter

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

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

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

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

Peter’s Vision^(U)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Peter at Cornelius’s House

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Peter Explains His Actions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Church in Antioch

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

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

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

²⁷ During this time some prophets^(DC) came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. ²⁸ One of them, named Agabus,^(DD) stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world.^(DE) (This happened during the reign of Claudius.)^{(DF) 29} The disciples,^(DG) as each one was able, decided to provide help^(DH) for the brothers and sisters^(DI) living in Judea. ³⁰ This they did, sending their gift to the elders^(DJ) by Barnabas^(DK) and Saul.^(DL)

Peter’s Miraculous Escape From Prison

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Herod’s Death

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

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

²⁴ But the word of God^(EO) continued to spread and flourish.^(EP)

Barnabas and Saul Sent Off

²⁵ When Barnabas^(EQ) and Saul had finished their mission,^(ER) they returned from^[e] Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark.^(ES) 13 ¹ Now in the church at Antioch^(ET) there were prophets^(EU) and teachers:^(EV) Barnabas,^(EW) Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene,^(EX) Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod^(EY) the tetrarch) and Saul. ² While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said,^(EZ) “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work^(FA) to which I have called them.”^{(FB) 3} So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them^(FC) and sent them off.^(FD)

On Cyprus

⁴ The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit,^(FE) went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.^{(FF) 5} When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God^(FG) in the Jewish synagogues.^(FH) John^(FI) was with them as their helper.

⁶ They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer^(FJ) and false prophet^(FK) named Bar-Jesus, ⁷ who was an attendant of the proconsul,^(FL) Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. ⁸ But Elymas the sorcerer^(FM) (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul^(FN) from the faith.^{(FO) 9} Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit,^(FP) looked straight at Elymas and said, ¹⁰ “You are a child of the devil^(FQ) and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?^{(FR) 11} Now the hand of the Lord is against you.^(FS) You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun.”^(FT)

Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. ¹² When the proconsul^(FU) saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.

In Pisidian Antioch

¹³ From Paphos,^(FV) Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia,^(FW) where John^(FX) left them to return to Jerusalem. ¹⁴ From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch.^(FY) On the Sabbath^(FZ) they entered the synagogue^(GA) and sat down. ¹⁵ After the reading from the Law^(GB) and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have a word of exhortation for the people, please speak.”

¹⁶ Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand^(GC) and said: “Fellow Israelites and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me! ¹⁷ The God of the people of Israel chose our ancestors; he made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt; with mighty power he led them out of that country;^{(GD) 18} for about forty years he endured their conduct^[f](GE) in the wilderness;^{(GF) 19} and he overthrew seven nations in Canaan,^(GG) giving their land to his people^(GH) as their inheritance.^{(GI) 20} All this took about 450 years.

“After this, God gave them judges^(GJ) until the time of Samuel the prophet.^{(GK) 21} Then the people asked for a king,^(GL) and he gave them Saul^(GM) son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin,^(GN) who ruled forty years. ²² After removing Saul,^(GO) he made David their king.^(GP) God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart;^(GQ) he will do everything I want him to do.’^(GR)

²³ “From this man’s descendants^(GS) God has brought to Israel the Savior^(GT) Jesus,^(GU) as he promised.^{(GV) 24} Before the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel.^{(GW) 25} As John was completing his work,^(GX) he said: ‘Who do you suppose I am? I am not the one you are looking for.^(GY) But there is one coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’^(GZ)

²⁶ “Fellow children of Abraham^(HA) and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation^(HB) has been sent. ²⁷ The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus,^(HC) yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets^(HD) that are read every Sabbath. ²⁸ Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed.^{(HE) 29} When they had carried out all that was written about him,^(HF) they took him down from the cross^(HG) and laid him in a tomb.^{(HH) 30} But God raised him from the dead,^{(HI) 31} and for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem.^(HJ) They are now his witnesses^(HK) to our people.

³² “We tell you the good news:^(HL) What God promised our ancestors^{(HM) 33} he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus.^(HN) As it is written in the second Psalm:

³⁴ God raised him from the dead so that he will never be subject to decay. As God has said,

³⁵ So it is also stated elsewhere:

³⁶ “Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep;^(HR) he was buried with his ancestors^(HS) and his body decayed. ³⁷ But the one whom God raised from the dead^(HT) did not see decay.

³⁸ “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.^{(HU) 39} Through him everyone who believes^(HV) is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.^{(HW) 40} Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you:

⁴² As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue,^(HY) the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath. ⁴³ When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.^(HZ)

⁴⁴ On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. ⁴⁵ When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy. They began to contradict what Paul was saying^(IA) and heaped abuse^(IB) on him.

⁴⁶ Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first.^(IC) Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.^{(ID) 47} For this is what the Lord has commanded us:

⁴⁸ When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord;^(IG) and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.

⁴⁹ The word of the Lord^(IH) spread through the whole region. ⁵⁰ But the Jewish leaders incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region.^{(II) 51} So they shook the dust off their feet^(IJ) as a warning to them and went to Iconium.^{(IK) 52} And the disciples^(IL) were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.^(IM)

In Iconium

14 At Iconium^(IN) Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue.^(IO) There they spoke so effectively that a great number^(IP) of Jews and Greeks believed. ² But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the other Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.^{(IQ) 3} So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly^(IR) for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders.^{(IS) 4} The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles.^{(IT) 5} There was a plot afoot among both Gentiles and Jews,^(IU) together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them.^{(IV) 6} But they found out about it and fled^(IW) to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country, ⁷ where they continued to preach^(IX) the gospel.^(IY)

In Lystra and Derbe

⁸ In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way from birth^(IZ) and had never walked. ⁹ He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed^{(JA) 10} and called out, “Stand up on your feet!”^(JB) At that, the man jumped up and began to walk.^(JC)

¹¹ When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!”^{(JD) 12} Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker.^{(JE) 13} The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them.

¹⁴ But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes^(JF) and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: ¹⁵ “Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human,^(JG) like you. We are bringing you good news,^(JH) telling you to turn from these worthless things^(JI) to the living God,^(JJ) who made the heavens and the earth^(JK) and the sea and everything in them.^{(JL) 16} In the past, he let^(JM) all nations go their own way.^{(JN) 17} Yet he has not left himself without testimony:^(JO) He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons;^(JP) he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”^{(JQ) 18} Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them.

¹⁹ Then some Jews^(JR) came from Antioch and Iconium^(JS) and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul^(JT) and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. ²⁰ But after the disciples^(JU) had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.

The Return to Antioch in Syria

²¹ They preached the gospel^(JV) in that city and won a large number^(JW) of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium^(JX) and Antioch, ²² strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith.^(JY) “We must go through many hardships^(JZ) to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. ²³ Paul and Barnabas appointed elders^[n](KA) for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting,^(KB) committed them to the Lord,^(KC) in whom they had put their trust. ²⁴ After going through Pisidia, they came into Pamphylia,^{(KD) 25} and when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.

²⁶ From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch,^(KE) where they had been committed to the grace of God^(KF) for the work they had now completed.^{(KG) 27} On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them^(KH) and how he had opened a door^(KI) of faith to the Gentiles. ²⁸ And they stayed there a long time with the disciples.^(KJ)

The Council at Jerusalem

15 Certain people^(KK) came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers:^(KL) “Unless you are circumcised,^(KM) according to the custom taught by Moses,^(KN) you cannot be saved.” ² This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem^(KO) to see the apostles and elders^(KP) about this question. ³ The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia^(KQ) and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted.^(KR) This news made all the believers very glad. ⁴ When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.^(KS)

⁵ Then some of the believers who belonged to the party^(KT) of the Pharisees^(KU) stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.”^(KV)

⁶ The apostles and elders met to consider this question. ⁷ After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe.^{(KW) 8} God, who knows the heart,^(KX) showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them,^(KY) just as he did to us. ⁹ He did not discriminate between us and them,^(KZ) for he purified their hearts by faith.^{(LA) 10} Now then, why do you try to test God^(LB) by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke^(LC) that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? ¹¹ No! We believe it is through the grace^(LD) of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

¹² The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders^(LE) God had done among the Gentiles through them.^{(LF) 13} When they finished, James^(LG) spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me. ¹⁴ Simon^[o] has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles.^{(LH) 15} The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:

¹⁹ “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. ²⁰ Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols,^(LK) from sexual immorality,^(LL) from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.^{(LM) 21} For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”^(LN)

The Council’s Letter to Gentile Believers

²² Then the apostles and elders,^(LO) with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch^(LP) with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas,^(LQ) men who were leaders among the believers. ²³ With them they sent the following letter:

³⁰ So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter. ³¹ The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message. ³² Judas and Silas,^(MA) who themselves were prophets,^(MB) said much to encourage and strengthen the believers. ³³ After spending some time there, they were sent off by the believers with the blessing of peace^(MC) to return to those who had sent them. ^{[34] [r] 35} But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached^(MD) the word of the Lord.^(ME)

Disagreement Between Paul and Barnabas

³⁶ Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns^(MF) where we preached the word of the Lord^(MG) and see how they are doing.” ³⁷ Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark,^(MH) with them, ³⁸ but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them^(MI) in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. ³⁹ They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, ⁴⁰ but Paul chose Silas^(MJ) and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord.^{(MK) 41} He went through Syria^(ML) and Cilicia,^(MM) strengthening the churches.^(MN)

Timothy Joins Paul and Silas

16 Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra,^(MO) where a disciple named Timothy^(MP) lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer^(MQ) but whose father was a Greek. ² The believers^(MR) at Lystra and Iconium^(MS) spoke well of him. ³ Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.^{(MT) 4} As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders^(MU) in Jerusalem^(MV) for the people to obey.^{(MW) 5} So the churches were strengthened^(MX) in the faith and grew daily in numbers.^(MY)

Paul’s Vision of the Man of Macedonia

⁶ Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia^(MZ) and Galatia,^(NA) having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.^{(NB) 7} When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus^(NC) would not allow them to. ⁸ So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.^{(ND) 9} During the night Paul had a vision^(NE) of a man of Macedonia^(NF) standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” ¹⁰ After Paul had seen the vision, we^(NG) got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel^(NH) to them.

Lydia’s Conversion in Philippi

¹¹ From Troas^(NI) we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day we went on to Neapolis. ¹² From there we traveled to Philippi,^(NJ) a Roman colony and the leading city of that district^[s] of Macedonia.^(NK) And we stayed there several days.

¹³ On the Sabbath^(NL) we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. ¹⁴ One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira^(NM) named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart^(NN) to respond to Paul’s message. ¹⁵ When she and the members of her household^(NO) were baptized,^(NP) she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.

Paul and Silas in Prison

¹⁶ Once when we were going to the place of prayer,^(NQ) we were met by a female slave who had a spirit^(NR) by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. ¹⁷ She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God,^(NS) who are telling you the way to be saved.” ¹⁸ She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.^(NT)