All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said,

“Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.

“Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.

Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

“And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers.

Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you.

Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty.

And Stephen said: “Brothers and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran,

And on the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph's family became known to Pharaoh.

“When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel.

He supposed that his brothers would understand that God was giving them salvation by his hand, but they did not understand.

And on the following day he appeared to them as they were quarreling and tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers. Why do you wrong each other?’

This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers.’

So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

So he invited them in to be his guests. The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him.

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.

And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house.

So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea.

He killed James the brother of John with the sword,

But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place.

After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it.”

“Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation.

Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you,

But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.

The Jerusalem Council

But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

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.

And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.

After they finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me.

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,

with the following letter: “The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings.

And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words.

And after they had spent some time, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them.

Paul and Barnabas Separate

And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.”

but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.

He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium.

So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.

And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also,

Paul and Silas in Berea

The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue.

Then the brothers immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there.

Paul Returns to Antioch

After this, Paul stayed many days longer and then took leave of the brothers and set sail for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he had cut his hair, for he was under a vow.

And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed,

When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for one day.

Paul Visits James

When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly.

And when they heard it, they glorified God. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed. They are all zealous for the law,

“Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.”

as the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished.

came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that very hour I received my sight and saw him.

And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.”

And Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”

Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.”

There we found brothers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome.

And the brothers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage.

Paul in Rome

After three days he called together the local leaders of the Jews, and when they had gathered, he said to them, “Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.

And they said to him, “We have received no letters from Judea about you, and none of the brothers coming here has reported or spoken any evil about you.