And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.

Saul Ravages the Church

And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.

Peter Reports to the Church

Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.

The Church in Antioch

Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews.

The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.

and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.

James Killed and Peter Imprisoned

About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church.

So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.

Barnabas and Saul Sent Off

Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.

So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers.

When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them.

The Council's Letter to Gentile Believers

Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers,

And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.

When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church, and then went down to Antioch.

Paul Speaks to the Ephesian Elders

Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him.

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

Personal Greetings

I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae,

who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well.