¹⁸ And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church,^(A) and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.

¹⁷ If he doesn’t pay attention to them, tell the church.^[a](A) If he doesn’t pay attention even to the church, let him be like a Gentile and a tax collector to you.^(B)

⁴¹ So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand people were added to them.

A Generous and Growing Church

⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching,^(A) to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.^(B)

⁴³ Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles.^{(C) 44} Now all the believers were together and held all things in common.^{(D) 45} They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need. ⁴⁶ Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts,^{(E) 47} praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Every day the Lord added to their number^[a] those who were being saved.^(F)

The Church’s Growth

³¹ So the church^(A) throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.

²² News about them reached^[a] the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to travel^[b] as far as Antioch.

⁵ So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was praying fervently to God for him.

²³ When they had appointed elders^(A) for them in every church and prayed with fasting, they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

The Letter to the Gentile Believers

²² Then the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, decided to select men who were among them and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas, called Barsabbas, and Silas,^(A) both leading men among the brothers.

²⁸ Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock^(A) of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers,^(B) to shepherd the church of God,^[a] which he purchased with his own blood.^(C)