Rahab Shelters Spies

2 Then Joshua the son of Nun sent two men as spies secretly from ^(A)Shittim, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of ^(B)a prostitute whose name was Rahab, and rested there. ² But it was told to the king of Jericho, saying, “Behold, men from the sons of Israel have come here tonight to spy out the land.” ³ And the king of Jericho sent word to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to spy out all the land.” ⁴ But the ^(C)woman had taken the two men and hidden them, and she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. ⁵ It came about, when it was time to shut the gate at dark, that the men went out; I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them.” ⁶ But ^(D)she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them in the stalks of flax which she had laid in order on the roof. ⁷ So the men pursued them on the road to the Jordan, to the crossing places; and as soon as those who were pursuing them had gone out, they shut the gate.

⁸ Now before ^[a]the spies lay down, she came up to them on the roof, ⁹ and said to the men, “^(E)I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the ^(F)terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land have despaired because of you. ^10 (G)For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the ^[b]Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and ^(H)what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you ^[c]utterly destroyed. ¹¹ When we heard these reports, ^(I)our hearts melted and no ^[d]courage remained in anyone any longer because of you; for the ^(J)Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth below. ¹² Now then, please swear to me by the Lord, since I have dealt kindly with you, that you also will deal kindly with my father’s household, and give me a ^(K)pledge of ^[e]truth, ¹³ and ^[f]spare my father and my mother, and my brothers and my sisters, and all who belong to them, and save our ^[g]lives from death.” ¹⁴ So the men said to her, “Our ^[h]life ^[i]for yours if you do not tell this business of ours; and it shall come about when the Lord gives us the land that we will ^(L)deal kindly and ^[j]faithfully with you.”

The Promise to Rahab

¹⁵ Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall, so that she was living on the wall. ¹⁶ And she said to them, “^(M)Go to the hill country, so that the pursuers will not encounter you, and hide yourselves there for three days until the pursuers return. Then afterward you may go on your way.” ¹⁷ And the men said to her, “^(N)We shall be exempt from this oath ^[k]to you which you have made us swear, ^18 [l]unless, when we come into the land, you tie this cord of scarlet thread in the window through which you let us down, and ^(O)gather into your house your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household. ¹⁹ And it shall come about that anyone who goes out of the doors of your house outside will have ^[m]his blood on his own head, and we will be innocent; but anyone who is with you in the house, ^(P)his blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on him. ²⁰ But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be exempt from the oath which you have made us swear.” ²¹ She then said, “According to your words, so be it.” So she sent them away, and they departed; and she tied the scarlet cord in the window.

²² So they departed and came to the hill country, and remained there for three days, until the pursuers returned. Now the pursuers had searched for them ^[n]all along the road, but had not found them. ²³ Then the two men returned and came down from the hill country, and they crossed over and came to Joshua the son of Nun. Then they reported to him all that had happened to them. ²⁴ And they said to Joshua, “The Lord has indeed handed over to us all the land; furthermore, ^(Q)all the inhabitants of the land have despaired because of us.”

The Prayer of Dedication

²² Then ^(A)Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and he ^(B)spread out his hands toward heaven. ²³ And he said, “Lord, God of Israel, ^(C)there is no God like You in heaven above or on earth beneath, ^(D)keeping the covenant and showing faithfulness to Your servants who walk before You with all their heart, ²⁴ You who have kept with Your servant, my father David, that which You ^[a]promised him; You have spoken with Your mouth and have fulfilled it with Your hand, as it is this day. ²⁵ Now then, Lord, God of Israel, keep with Your servant David my father that which You have ^[b]promised him, saying, ‘^[c](E)You shall not be deprived of a man to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your sons are careful about their way, to walk before Me as you have walked.’ ²⁶ Now then, God of Israel, let Your words, please, be confirmed, ^(F)which You have spoken to Your servant, my father David.

²⁷ “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, ^(G)heaven and the ^[d]highest heaven cannot contain You, how much less this house which I have built! ²⁸ Nevertheless, turn Your attention to the ^(H)prayer of Your servant and to his plea, Lord, my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which Your servant prays before You today, ^29 (I)so that Your eyes may be open toward this house night and day, toward ^(J)the place of which You have said, ‘My name shall be there,’ to listen to the prayer which Your servant will pray toward this place. ³⁰ And ^(K)listen to the plea of Your servant and of Your people Israel, ^(L)when they pray toward this place; hear in heaven Your dwelling place; hear and ^(M)forgive!

³¹ “^(N)If a person sins against his neighbor and is compelled to take an oath of innocence, and he comes and takes an oath before Your altar in this house, ³² then hear in heaven and act and judge Your servants, ^(O)condemning the wicked by ^[e]bringing his way on his own head, and acquitting the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness.

³³ “^(P)When Your people Israel are ^[f]defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, ^(Q)if they turn to You again and confess Your name and pray and implore Your ^[g]favor in this house, ³⁴ then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them back to the land which You gave their fathers.

³⁵ “^(R)When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against You, and they pray toward this place and praise Your name, and turn from their sin when You afflict them, ³⁶ then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of Your servants and Your people Israel; ^(S)indeed, teach them the good way in which they are to walk. And ^(T)provide rain on Your land, which You have given to Your people as an inheritance.

³⁷ “^(U)If there is a famine in the land, if there is a plague, if there is ^[h]blight or mildew, locust or grasshopper, if their enemy harasses them in the land of their ^[i]cities, whatever plague, whatever sickness there is, ³⁸ whatever prayer or plea ^[j]is offered by any person or by all Your people Israel, ^[k]each knowing the affliction of his own heart, and spreading his ^[l]hands toward this house; ³⁹ then hear in heaven, Your dwelling place, and forgive and act, and give to each in accordance with all his ways, ^(V)whose heart You know—for ^(W)You alone know the hearts of all ^[m]mankind— ⁴⁰ so that they will ^[n]fear You all the days that they live on the ^[o]land which You have given to our fathers.

⁴¹ “Also regarding the foreigner who is not of Your people Israel, when he comes from a far country on account of Your name ⁴² (for they will hear of Your great name ^(X)and Your mighty hand, and of Your outstretched arm); when he comes and prays toward this house, ⁴³ hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and act in accordance with all for which the foreigner calls to You, in order ^(Y)that all the peoples of the earth may know Your name, to ^[p]fear You, as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that ^[q]this house which I have built is called by Your name.

⁴⁴ “When Your people go out to battle against ^[r]their enemy, by whatever way You send them, and ^(Z)they pray to the Lord ^[s]toward the city which You have chosen and the house which I have built for Your name, ⁴⁵ then hear in heaven their prayer and their pleading, and maintain their cause.

⁴⁶ “When they sin against You (for ^(AA)there is no person who does not sin) and You are angry with them and turn them over to an enemy, so that ^[t]they take them away captive ^(AB)to the land of the enemy, distant or near; ^47 (AC)if they ^[u]take it to heart in the land where they have been taken captive, and repent and implore Your ^[v]favor in the land of those who have taken them captive, saying, ‘^(AD)We have sinned and done wrong, we have acted wickedly’; ^48 (AE)if they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies who have taken them captive, and ^(AF)pray to You toward their land which You have given to their fathers, the city which You have chosen, and the house which I have built for Your name; ⁴⁹ then hear their prayer and their pleading in heaven, Your dwelling place, and maintain their cause, ⁵⁰ and forgive Your people who have sinned against You and all their wrongdoings which they have committed against You, and ^(AG)make them objects of compassion before those who have taken them captive, so that they will have compassion on them ⁵¹ (^(AH)for they are Your people and Your inheritance which You have brought out of Egypt, ^(AI)from the midst of the iron furnace), ^52 (AJ)so that Your eyes may be open to the pleading of Your servant and to the pleading of Your people Israel, to listen to them whenever they call to You. ⁵³ For You have singled them out from all the peoples of the earth as Your inheritance, ^(AK)just as You spoke through Moses Your servant, when You brought our fathers out of Egypt, Lord ^[w]God.”

Solomon’s Benediction

^54 (AL)When Solomon had finished praying this entire prayer and plea to the Lord, ^(AM)he stood up from the altar of the Lord, from kneeling on his knees with his ^[x]hands spread toward heaven. ⁵⁵ And he stood and ^(AN)blessed all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice, saying:

⁵⁶ “Blessed be the Lord, who has given rest to His people Israel ^(AO)in accordance with everything that He ^[y]promised; ^(AP)not one word has ^[z]failed of all His good ^[aa]promise, which He ^[ab]promised through Moses His servant. ⁵⁷ May the Lord our God be with us, as He was with our fathers; ^(AQ)may He not leave us nor forsake us, ⁵⁸ so that ^(AR)He may guide our hearts toward Himself, to walk in all His ways and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His ordinances, which He commanded our fathers. ⁵⁹ And may these words of mine, with which I have implored the ^[ac]favor of the Lord, be near to the Lord our God day and night, so that He will maintain the cause of His servant and the cause of His people Israel, ^[ad]as each day requires, ⁶⁰ so ^(AS)that all the peoples of the earth may know that ^(AT)the Lord is God; there is no one else. ^61 (AU)Your hearts therefore shall be ^[ae]wholly devoted to the Lord our God, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments, as at this day.”

Dedicatory Sacrifices

^62 (AV)Then the king and all Israel with him ^(AW)offered sacrifice before the Lord. ⁶³ And Solomon offered for the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered to the Lord, twenty-two thousand oxen and 120,000 sheep. ^(AX)So the king and all the sons of Israel dedicated the house of the Lord. ⁶⁴ On the same day the king consecrated the middle of the courtyard that was in front of the house of the Lord, because there he ^[af]offered the burnt offering, the grain offering, and the fat of the peace offerings; for ^(AY)the bronze altar that was before the Lord was too small to hold the burnt offering, the grain offering, and the fat of the peace offerings.

⁶⁵ So ^(AZ)Solomon held the ^[ag]feast at that time, and all Israel with him, a great assembly ^(BA)from the entrance of Hamath ^(BB)to the brook of Egypt, before the Lord our God, for seven days and seven more days, that is, fourteen days. ⁶⁶ On the eighth day he dismissed the people, and they blessed the king. Then they went to their tents joyful and with happy hearts for all the goodness that the Lord had ^[ah]shown to David His servant, and to Israel His people.

God’s Promise and Warning

9 ^(BC)Now it came about when Solomon had finished building the house of the Lord and ^(BD)the king’s house, and ^(BE)all ^[ai]that Solomon desired to do, ² that ^(BF)the Lord appeared to Solomon a second time, as He had appeared to him at Gibeon. ³ And the Lord said to him, “^(BG)I have heard your prayer and your plea which you have offered before Me; I have consecrated this house which you have built, ^(BH)by putting My name there forever, and ^(BI)My eyes and My heart will be there ^[aj]always.

Question of the Sabbath

^23 (A)And it happened that He was passing through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples began to make their way along while ^(B)picking the heads of grain. ²⁴ The Pharisees were saying to Him, “Look, ^(C)why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” ²⁵ And He *said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions became hungry; ²⁶ how he entered the house of God in the ^[a]time of ^(D)Abiathar the high priest, and ate the ^[b]consecrated bread, which ^(E)is not lawful for anyone to eat except the priests, and he also gave it to those who were with him?” ²⁷ Jesus said to them, “^(F)The Sabbath ^[c]was made ^[d]for man, and ^(G)not man ^[e]for the Sabbath. ²⁸ So the Son of Man is Lord, even of the Sabbath.”

Jesus Heals on the Sabbath

3 ^(H)He ^(I)entered a synagogue again; and a man was there whose hand was withered. ² And ^(J)they were watching Him ^[f]closely to see if He would heal him on the Sabbath, ^(K)so that they might accuse Him. ³ He *said to the man with the withered hand, “^[g]Get up and come forward!” ⁴ And He *said to them, “Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath or to do harm, to save a life or to kill?” But they kept silent. ⁵ After ^(L)looking around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, He *said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored. ⁶ The Pharisees went out and immediately began ^[h]conspiring with the ^(M)Herodians against Him, as to how they might put Him to death.

^7 (N)Jesus withdrew to the sea with His disciples; and ^(O)a large multitude from Galilee followed, and also from Judea, ⁸ and from Jerusalem, and from ^(P)Idumea, and beyond the Jordan, and the vicinity of ^(Q)Tyre and Sidon, a great number of people heard about everything that He was doing and came to Him. ^9 (R)And He told His disciples to see that a boat would be ready for Him because of the ^[i]masses, so that they would not crowd Him; ¹⁰ for He had ^(S)healed many, with the result that all those who had ^(T)diseases pushed in around Him in order to ^(U)touch Him. ¹¹ And whenever the unclean spirits saw Him, they would fall down before Him and shout, “You are ^(V)the Son of God!” ¹² And He ^(W)strongly warned them not to ^[j]reveal who He was.

The Twelve Are Chosen

¹³ And He *went up on ^(X)the mountain and *^(Y)summoned those whom He Himself wanted, and they came to Him. ¹⁴ And He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach, ¹⁵ and to have authority to cast out the demons. ¹⁶ And He appointed the twelve: ^(Z)Simon (to whom He gave the name Peter), ^17 [k]James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of ^[l]James (to them He gave the name Boanerges, which means, “Sons of Thunder”); ¹⁸ and Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, ^[m]James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, and Simon the ^[n]Zealot; ¹⁹ and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.

First Missionary Journey

13 Now there were ^(A)prophets and ^(B)teachers at ^(C)Antioch, in the ^(D)church that was there: ^(E)Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of ^(F)Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with ^(G)Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. ² While they were ^[a]serving the Lord and fasting, ^(H)the Holy Spirit said, “Set ^(I)Barnabas and Saul apart for Me for ^(J)the work to which I have called them.” ³ Then, when they had fasted, ^(K)prayed, and ^(L)laid their hands on them, ^(M)they sent them away.

⁴ So, being ^(N)sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there they sailed to ^(O)Cyprus. ⁵ When they reached Salamis, they began to proclaim the word of God in ^(P)the synagogues of the Jews; and they also had ^(Q)John as their helper. ⁶ When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a ^(R)magician, a Jewish ^(S)false prophet whose name was Bar-Jesus, ⁷ who was with the ^(T)proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. ⁸ But Elymas the ^(U)magician (for so his name is translated) was opposing them, seeking to turn the ^(V)proconsul away from ^(W)the faith. ⁹ But Saul, who was also known as Paul, ^[b](X)filled with the Holy Spirit, stared at him, ¹⁰ and said, “^[c]You who are full of all deceit and fraud, you ^(Y)son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not stop making crooked ^(Z)the straight ways of the Lord? ¹¹ Now, behold, ^(AA)the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and not see the sun for a time.” And immediately a mist and a darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking those who would lead him by the hand. ¹² Then the ^(AB)proconsul believed when he saw what had happened, being amazed at ^(AC)the teaching of the Lord.

¹³ Now Paul and his companions put out to sea from ^(AD)Paphos and came to ^(AE)Perga in ^(AF)Pamphylia; but ^(AG)John left them and returned to Jerusalem. ¹⁴ But going on from Perga, they arrived at ^(AH)Pisidian ^(AI)Antioch, and on ^(AJ)the Sabbath day they went into ^(AK)the synagogue and sat down. ¹⁵ After ^(AL)the reading of the Law and ^(AM)the Prophets, ^(AN)the synagogue officials sent word to them, saying, “^[d]Brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say it.” ¹⁶ Paul stood up, and ^(AO)motioning with his hand said,

“Men of Israel, and ^(AP)you who fear God, listen: ¹⁷ The God of this people Israel ^(AQ)chose our fathers and ^[e](AR)made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm ^(AS)He led them out from it. ¹⁸ For ^(AT)a period of about forty years ^(AU)He put up with them in the wilderness. ^19 (AV)When He had destroyed ^(AW)seven nations in the land of Canaan, He ^(AX)distributed their land as an inheritance—all of which took ^(AY)about 450 years. ²⁰ After these things He ^(AZ)gave them judges until ^(BA)Samuel the prophet. ²¹ Then they ^(BB)asked for a king, and God gave them ^(BC)Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. ²² After He had ^(BD)removed him, He raised up David to be their king, concerning whom He also testified and said, ‘^(BE)I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who will do all My ^[f]will.’ ^23 (BF)From the descendants of this man, ^(BG)according to promise, God has brought to Israel ^(BH)a Savior, Jesus, ²⁴ after ^(BI)John had proclaimed, before ^[g]His coming, a ^(BJ)baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. ²⁵ And while John ^(BK)was completing his course, ^(BL)he kept saying, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not He. But behold, one is coming after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’

²⁶ “^[h]Brothers, sons of Abraham’s family, and those among you who fear God, to us the message of ^(BM)this salvation has been sent. ²⁷ For those who live in Jerusalem, and their ^(BN)rulers, ^(BO)recognizing neither Him nor the ^[i]declarations of ^(BP)the prophets which are ^(BQ)read every Sabbath, fulfilled these by condemning Him. ²⁸ And though they found no grounds for putting Him to death, they ^(BR)asked Pilate that He be executed. ²⁹ When they had ^(BS)carried out everything that was written concerning Him, ^(BT)they took Him down from the ^[j](BU)cross and ^(BV)laid Him in a tomb. ³⁰ But God ^(BW)raised Him from the dead; ³¹ and for many days ^(BX)He appeared to those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, the very ones who are now ^(BY)His witnesses to the people. ³² And we ^(BZ)preach to you the good news of ^(CA)the promise made to the fathers, ³³ that God has fulfilled this promise to those of us who are the descendants by ^(CB)raising Jesus, as it is also written in the second Psalm: ‘^(CC)You are My Son; today I have fathered You.’ ³⁴ As for the fact that He ^(CD)raised Him from the dead, never again to return to decay, He has spoken in this way: ‘^(CE)I will give you the holy and faithful mercies of David.’ ³⁵ Therefore, He also says in another Psalm: ‘^(CF)You will not ^[k]allow Your ^[l]Holy One to ^[m]undergo decay.’ ³⁶ For ^(CG)David, after he had ^[n]served God’s ^(CH)purpose in his own generation, ^(CI)fell asleep, and was ^[o]buried among his fathers and ^[p]underwent decay; ³⁷ but He whom God ^(CJ)raised did not ^[q]undergo decay. ³⁸ Therefore let it be known to you, ^[r]brothers, that ^(CK)through ^[s]Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, ³⁹ and ^[t]through Him ^(CL)everyone who believes is ^[u]freed ^[v]from all things, from which you could not be ^[w]freed ^[x]through the Law of Moses. ⁴⁰ Therefore, see that the thing spoken of ^(CM)in the Prophets does not come upon you:

⁴² As ^[z]Paul and Barnabas were going out, the people repeatedly begged to have these ^[aa]things spoken to them the next ^(CO)Sabbath. ⁴³ Now when the meeting of the synagogue had broken up, many of the Jews and the ^(CP)God-fearing ^[ab](CQ)proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who were speaking to them and urging them to continue in ^(CR)the grace of God.

Paul Turns to the Gentiles

⁴⁴ The next ^(CS)Sabbath nearly all the city assembled to hear the word of ^[ac]the Lord. ⁴⁵ But when ^(CT)the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began contradicting the things spoken by Paul, and were ^[ad]blaspheming. ⁴⁶ Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you ^(CU)first. Since you repudiate it and consider yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, ^(CV)we are turning to the Gentiles. ⁴⁷ For so the Lord has commanded us,

⁴⁸ When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying ^(CY)the word of ^[ag]the Lord; and all who ^(CZ)had been appointed to eternal life believed. ⁴⁹ And ^(DA)the word of the Lord was being spread through the whole region. ⁵⁰ But ^(DB)the Jews incited the ^[ah](DC)devout women ^(DD)of prominence and the leading men of the city, and instigated a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their ^[ai]region. ⁵¹ But ^(DE)they shook off the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to ^(DF)Iconium. ⁵² And the disciples were continually ^(DG)filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

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:

and,

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:

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,

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:

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,

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:

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:

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.

The Conversion of Saul

9 ^(QS)Now ^[ho]Saul, still ^(QT)breathing ^[hp]threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, ² and asked for ^(QU)letters from him to ^(QV)the synagogues in ^(QW)Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to ^[hq](QX)the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them in shackles to Jerusalem. ³ Now as he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and ^(QY)suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; ⁴ and ^(QZ)he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” ⁵ And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, ⁶ but get up and enter the city, and ^(RA)it will be told to you what you must do.” ⁷ The men who traveled with him ^(RB)stood speechless, ^(RC)hearing the ^[hr]voice but seeing no one. ⁸ Saul got up from the ground, and ^(RD)though his eyes were open, he ^[hs]could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into ^(RE)Damascus. ⁹ And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

¹⁰ Now there was a disciple in ^(RF)Damascus named ^(RG)Ananias; and the Lord said to him in ^(RH)a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” ¹¹ And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from ^(RI)Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying, ¹² and he has seen ^[ht]in a vision a man named Ananias come in and ^(RJ)lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight.” ¹³ But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many people about this man, ^(RK)how much harm he did to ^(RL)Your ^[hu]saints in Jerusalem; ¹⁴ and here he ^(RM)has authority from the chief priests to ^[hv]arrest all who ^(RN)call on Your name.” ¹⁵ But the Lord said to him, “Go, for ^(RO)he is a chosen ^[hw]instrument of Mine, to bear My name before ^(RP)the Gentiles and ^(RQ)kings and the sons of Israel; ¹⁶ for ^(RR)I will show him how much he must suffer in behalf of My name.” ¹⁷ So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after ^(RS)laying his hands on him said, “^(RT)Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be ^(RU)filled with the Holy Spirit.” ¹⁸ And immediately something like fish scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized; ¹⁹ and he took food and was strengthened.

Saul Begins to Preach Christ

Now ^(RV)for several days he was with ^(RW)the disciples who were in Damascus, ²⁰ and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus ^(RX)in the synagogues, ^[hx]saying, “He is ^(RY)the Son of God.” ²¹ All those hearing him continued to be amazed, and were saying, “Is this not the one who in Jerusalem ^(RZ)destroyed those who ^(SA)called on this name, and had come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?” ²² But Saul kept increasing in strength and confounding Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that this Jesus is the ^[hy]Christ.

²³ When ^(SB)many days had elapsed, ^(SC)the Jews plotted together to do away with him, ²⁴ but ^(SD)their plot became known to Saul. ^(SE)They were also closely watching the gates day and night so that they might put him to death; ²⁵ but his disciples took him at night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a large basket.

^26 (SF)When he came to Jerusalem, he tried repeatedly to associate with the disciples; and yet they were all afraid of him, as they did not believe that he was a disciple. ²⁷ But ^(SG)Barnabas took hold of him and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had ^(SH)seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how ^(SI)he had ^(SJ)spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus at Damascus. ²⁸ And he was with them, ^[hz]moving about freely in Jerusalem, ^(SK)speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord. ²⁹ And he was talking and arguing with the ^[ia](SL)Hellenistic Jews; but they were attempting to put him to death. ³⁰ Now when ^(SM)the ^[ib]brothers learned of it, they brought him down to ^(SN)Caesarea and ^(SO)sent him away to ^(SP)Tarsus.

³¹ So ^(SQ)the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria ^[ic]enjoyed peace, as it was being built up; and as it ^[id]continued in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it kept increasing.

Peter’s Ministry

³² Now as Peter was traveling through all those regions, he also came down to ^(SR)the ^[ie]saints who lived at ^[if](SS)Lydda. ³³ There he found a man named Aeneas who had been bedridden for eight years, ^[ig]because he was paralyzed. ³⁴ Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your own bed.” Immediately he got up. ³⁵ And all who lived at ^[ih](ST)Lydda and ^(SU)Sharon saw him, and they ^(SV)turned to the Lord.

³⁶ Now in ^(SW)Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which when translated means ^[ii]Dorcas); this woman was ^[ij]excelling in acts of kindness and charity which she did habitually. ³⁷ But it happened ^[ik]at that time that she became sick and died; and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an ^(SX)upstairs room. ³⁸ Since Lydda was near ^(SY)Joppa, ^(SZ)the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Do not delay in coming to us.” ³⁹ So Peter got ready and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him into the ^(TA)room upstairs; and all the ^(TB)widows stood beside him, weeping and showing all the ^[il]tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them. ⁴⁰ But Peter ^(TC)sent them all out and ^(TD)knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body, he said, “^(TE)Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. ⁴¹ And he gave her his hand and raised her up; and calling ^(TF)the ^[im]saints and ^(TG)widows, he presented her alive. ⁴² It became known all over ^(TH)Joppa, and ^(TI)many believed in the Lord. ⁴³ And Peter stayed in ^(TJ)Joppa many days with ^(TK)a tanner named Simon.

Cornelius’ Vision

10 Now there was a man in ^(TL)Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was ^(TM)called the Italian ^[in]cohort, ² a devout man and ^(TN)one who feared God with all his household, and ^(TO)made many charitable contributions to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually. ³ About ^(TP)the ^[io]ninth hour of the day he clearly saw ^(TQ)in a vision ^(TR)an angel of God who had just come in and said to him, “Cornelius!” ⁴ And he ^(TS)looked at him intently and became terrified, and said, “What is it, lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and charitable gifts ^(TT)have ascended ^(TU)as a memorial offering before God. ⁵ Now dispatch some men to ^(TV)Joppa and send for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter; ⁶ he is staying with a tanner named ^(TW)Simon, whose house is by the sea.” ⁷ When the angel who *spoke to him left, he summoned two of his ^[ip]servants and a devout soldier from his personal attendants, ⁸ and after he had explained everything to them, he sent them to ^(TX)Joppa.

⁹ On the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, ^(TY)Peter went up on ^(TZ)the ^[iq]housetop about ^[ir](UA)the sixth hour to pray. ¹⁰ But he became hungry and wanted to eat; but while they were making preparations, he ^(UB)fell into a trance; ¹¹ and he *saw ^(UC)the sky opened up, and an ^[is]object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground, ¹² and on it were all kinds of four-footed animals and ^[it]crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the sky. ¹³ A voice came to him, “Get up, Peter, ^[iu]kill and eat!” ¹⁴ But Peter said, “By no means, ^(UD)Lord, for ^(UE)I have never eaten anything ^[iv]unholy and unclean.” ¹⁵ Again a voice came to him a second time, “^(UF)What God has cleansed, no longer ^[iw]consider unholy.” ¹⁶ This happened three times, and immediately the ^[ix]object was taken up into the sky.