He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.

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

For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.”

(Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out.

“For it is written in the Book of Psalms, “‘May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it’; and “‘Let another take his office.’

beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.”

to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.”

And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.

And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?

Peter's Sermon at Pentecost

But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.

“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.

Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne,

he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.

So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.”

And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them.

And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.

The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him.

And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.

But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled.

whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.

God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”

The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’—

They Had Everything in Common

Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.

Ananias and Sapphira

But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property,

and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet.

When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it.

After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.

Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them.

God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.

but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice,

And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Then he went out from the land of the Chaldeans and lived in Haran. And after his father died, God removed him from there into this land in which you are now living.

Yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot's length, but promised to give it to him as a possession and to his offspring after him, though he had no child.

And God spoke to this effect—that his offspring would be sojourners in a land belonging to others, who would enslave them and afflict them four hundred years.

and rescued him out of all his afflictions and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him ruler over Egypt and over all his household.

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

And Joseph sent and summoned Jacob his father and all his kindred, seventy-five persons in all.

At this time Moses was born; and he was beautiful in God's sight. And he was brought up for three months in his father's house,

And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds.

“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.

But the man who was wronging his neighbor thrust him aside, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us?

And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

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.

And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic.

and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah.

Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this: “Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth.

In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.”

Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.

And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.

Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him.

Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.

and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.”

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 immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized;

but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.

And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.

a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God.

When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him,

And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.”

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.

And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.

When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him.

Gentiles Hear the Good News

So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality,

To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter;

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

And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands.

When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”

They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!”

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.

On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them.

Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.

But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.

Paul and Barnabas at Antioch in Pisidia

Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem,

So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said: “Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen.

Before his coming, John had proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

And as John was finishing his course, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but behold, after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’

and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people.

For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption,

So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

Paul and Barnabas at Lystra

Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked.

Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name.

Timothy Joins Paul and Silas

Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek.

Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.

And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.

And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family.

Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.

And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,

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

Paul in Athens

Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols.

for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “‘For we are indeed his offspring.’

And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them,

And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”

And he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. His house was next door to the synagogue.

Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized.

But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, I would have reason to accept your complaint.

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 Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.

so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them.

And having sent into Macedonia two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.

And even some of the Asiarchs, who were friends of his, sent to him and were urging him not to venture into the theater.

Some of the crowd prompted Alexander, whom the Jews had put forward. And Alexander, motioning with his hand, wanted to make a defense to the crowd.

Eutychus Raised from the Dead

On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight.

But Paul went down and bent over him, and taking him in his arms, said, “Do not be alarmed, for his life is in 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.

And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.

And coming to us, he took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’”

After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.

And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying:

And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth;

And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’

Now therefore you, along with the council, give notice to the tribune to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case more exactly. And we are ready to kill him before he comes near.”

“Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency the governor Felix, greetings.

And when it was disclosed to me that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, ordering his accusers also to state before you what they have against him.”

Then he gave orders to the centurion that he should be kept in custody but have some liberty, and that none of his friends should be prevented from attending to his needs.

After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.

After he stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought.

Paul argued in his defense, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I committed any offense.”

Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, “To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go.”

I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up anyone before the accused met the accusers face to face and had opportunity to make his defense concerning the charge laid against him.

When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge in his case of such evils as I supposed.

Paul's Defense Before Agrippa

So Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense:

Paul Tells of His Conversion

“In this connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests.

And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.”

For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner.

The next day we put in at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him leave to go to his friends and be cared for.

When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand.

When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.”

It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. And Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him, healed him.

When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.

He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him,