John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”

But others in the crowd ridiculed them, saying, “They’re just drunk, that’s all!”

But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him.

But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip.

But he was a prophet, and he knew God had promised with an oath that one of David’s own descendants would sit on his throne.

But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!”

You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. And we are witnesses of this fact!

But God was fulfilling what all the prophets had foretold about the Messiah—that he must suffer these things.

But many of the people who heard their message believed it, so the number of men who believed now totaled about 5,000.

Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead.

But since they could see the man who had been healed standing right there among them, there was nothing the council could say.

But to keep them from spreading their propaganda any further, we must warn them not to speak to anyone in Jesus’ name again.”

But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him?

The council then threatened them further, but they finally let them go because they didn’t know how to punish them without starting a riot. For everyone was praising God

But everything they did was determined beforehand according to your will.

Ananias and Sapphira

But there was a certain man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property.

The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was also yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us but to God!”

But no one else dared to join them, even though all the people had high regard for them.

But an angel of the Lord came at night, opened the gates of the jail, and brought them out. Then he told them,

But when the Temple guards went to the jail, the men were gone. So they returned to the council and reported,

“The jail was securely locked, with the guards standing outside, but when we opened the gates, no one was there!”

The captain went with his Temple guards and arrested the apostles, but without violence, for they were afraid the people would stone them.

But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.

But one member, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, who was an expert in religious law and respected by all the people, stood up and ordered that the men be sent outside the council chamber for a while.

Some time ago there was that fellow Theudas, who pretended to be someone great. About 400 others joined him, but he was killed, and all his followers went their various ways. The whole movement came to nothing.

After him, at the time of the census, there was Judas of Galilee. He got people to follow him, but he was killed, too, and all his followers were scattered.

But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God!”

Seven Men Chosen to Serve

But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food.

But one day some men from the Synagogue of Freed Slaves, as it was called, started to debate with him. They were Jews from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and the province of Asia.

“But God gave him no inheritance here, not even one square foot of land. God did promise, however, that eventually the whole land would belong to Abraham and his descendants—even though he had no children yet.

‘But I will punish the nation that enslaves them,’ God said, ‘and in the end they will come out and worship me here in this place.’

“These patriarchs were jealous of their brother Joseph, and they sold him to be a slave in Egypt. But God was with him

“But a famine came upon Egypt and Canaan. There was great misery, and our ancestors ran out of food.

But then a new king came to the throne of Egypt who knew nothing about Joseph.

Moses assumed his fellow Israelites would realize that God had sent him to rescue them, but they didn’t.

“But the man in the wrong pushed Moses aside. ‘Who made you a ruler and judge over us?’ he asked.

“But our ancestors refused to listen to Moses. They rejected him and wanted to return to Egypt.

But it was Solomon who actually built it.

But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand.

But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison.

Philip Preaches in Samaria

But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went.

But now the people believed Philip’s message of Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. As a result, many men and women were baptized.

But Peter replied, “May your money be destroyed with you for thinking God’s gift can be bought!

When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away. The eunuch never saw him again but went on his way rejoicing.

The men with Saul stood speechless, for they heard the sound of someone’s voice but saw no one!

Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus.

“But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem!

But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel.

They were watching for him day and night at the city gate so they could murder him, but Saul was told about their plot.

When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to meet with the believers, but they were all afraid of him. They did not believe he had truly become a believer!

He debated with some Greek-speaking Jews, but they tried to murder him.

But the believers had heard that Peter was nearby at Lydda, so they sent two men to beg him, “Please come as soon as possible!”

But Peter asked them all to leave the room; then he knelt and prayed. Turning to the body he said, “Get up, Tabitha.” And she opened her eyes! When she saw Peter, she sat up!

and he was hungry. But while a meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.

But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.”

But Peter pulled him up and said, “Stand up! I’m a human being just like you!”

Peter told them, “You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean.

but God raised him to life on the third day. Then God allowed him to appear,

not to the general public, but to us whom God had chosen in advance to be his witnesses. We were those who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.

But when Peter arrived back in Jerusalem, the Jewish believers criticized him.

“But the voice from heaven spoke again: ‘Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.’

Then I thought of the Lord’s words when he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’

The Church in Antioch of Syria

Meanwhile, the believers who had been scattered during the persecution after Stephen’s death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch of Syria. They preached the word of God, but only to Jews.

But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.

So Peter left the cell, following the angel. But all the time he thought it was a vision. He didn’t realize it was actually happening.

But Elymas, the sorcerer (as his name means in Greek), interfered and urged the governor to pay no attention to what Barnabas and Saul said. He was trying to keep the governor from believing.

But Paul and Barnabas traveled inland to Antioch of Pisidia. On the Sabbath they went to the synagogue for the services.

But God removed Saul and replaced him with David, a man about whom God said, ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do.’

As John was finishing his ministry he asked, ‘Do you think I am the Messiah? No, I am not! But he is coming soon—and I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the sandals on his feet.’

They found no legal reason to execute him, but they asked Pilate to have him killed anyway.

But God raised him from the dead!

But when some of the Jews saw the crowds, they were jealous; so they slandered Paul and argued against whatever he said.

Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and declared, “It was necessary that we first preach the word of God to you Jews. But since you have rejected it and judged yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we will offer it to the Gentiles.

But the apostles stayed there a long time, preaching boldly about the grace of the Lord. And the Lord proved their message was true by giving them power to do miraculous signs and wonders.

But the people of the town were divided in their opinion about them. Some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles.

But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard what was happening, they tore their clothing in dismay and ran out among the people, shouting,

but he never left them without evidence of himself and his goodness. For instance, he sends you rain and good crops and gives you food and joyful hearts.”

But even with these words, Paul and Barnabas could scarcely restrain the people from sacrificing to them.

But as the believers gathered around him, he got up and went back into the town. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.

But then some of the believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and insisted, “The Gentile converts must be circumcised and required to follow the law of Moses.”

“We understand that some men from here have troubled you and upset you with their teaching, but we did not send them!

But Paul disagreed strongly, since John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in their work.

Paul’s Second Missionary Journey

Paul went first to Derbe and then to Lystra, where there was a young disciple named Timothy. His mother was a Jewish believer, but his father was a Greek.

Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there.

But Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!”

But Paul replied, “They have publicly beaten us without a trial and put us in prison—and we are Roman citizens. So now they want us to leave secretly? Certainly not! Let them come themselves to release us!”

But some of the Jews were jealous, so they gathered some troublemakers from the marketplace to form a mob and start a riot. They attacked the home of Jason, searching for Paul and Silas so they could drag them out to the crowd.

But when some Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God in Berea, they went there and stirred up trouble.

“God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him.

When they heard Paul speak about the resurrection of the dead, some laughed in contempt, but others said, “We want to hear more about this later.”

but some joined him and became believers. Among them were Dionysius, a member of the council, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

But when they opposed and insulted him, Paul shook the dust from his clothes and said, “Your blood is upon your own heads—I am innocent. From now on I will go preach to the Gentiles.”

But when Gallio became governor of Achaia, some Jews rose up together against Paul and brought him before the governor for judgment.

But just as Paul started to make his defense, Gallio turned to Paul’s accusers and said, “Listen, you Jews, if this were a case involving some wrongdoing or a serious crime, I would have a reason to accept your case.

But since it is merely a question of words and names and your Jewish law, take care of it yourselves. I refuse to judge such matters.”

The crowd then grabbed Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue, and beat him right there in the courtroom. But Gallio paid no attention.

They asked him to stay longer, but he declined.

Paul said, “John’s baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus.”

But some became stubborn, rejecting his message and publicly speaking against the Way. So Paul left the synagogue and took the believers with him. Then he held daily discussions at the lecture hall of Tyrannus.

But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?”

But as you have seen and heard, this man Paul has persuaded many people that handmade gods aren’t really gods at all. And he’s done this not only here in Ephesus but throughout the entire province!

Paul wanted to go in, too, but the believers wouldn’t let him.

But when the crowd realized he was a Jew, they started shouting again and kept it up for about two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians! Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

You have brought these men here, but they have stolen nothing from the temple and have not spoken against our goddess.

But when we landed at Miletus, he sent a message to the elders of the church at Ephesus, asking them to come and meet him.

But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.

But he said, “Why all this weeping? You are breaking my heart! I am ready not only to be jailed at Jerusalem but even to die for the sake of the Lord Jesus.”

But the Jewish believers here in Jerusalem have been told that you are teaching all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn their backs on the laws of Moses. They’ve heard that you teach them not to circumcise their children or follow other Jewish customs.

The people with me saw the light but didn’t understand the voice speaking to me.

“‘But Lord,’ I argued, ‘they certainly know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you.

“But the Lord said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles!’ ”

“I am, too,” the commander muttered, “and it cost me plenty!” Paul answered, “But I am a citizen by birth!”

But Paul said to him, “God will slap you, you corrupt hypocrite! What kind of judge are you to break the law yourself by ordering me struck like that?”

for the Sadducees say there is no resurrection or angels or spirits, but the Pharisees believe in all of these.

But Paul’s nephew—his sister’s son—heard of their plan and went to the fortress and told Paul.

But don’t do it! There are more than forty men hiding along the way ready to ambush him. They have vowed not to eat or drink anything until they have killed him. They are ready now, just waiting for your consent.”

But when I was informed of a plot to kill him, I immediately sent him on to you. I have told his accusers to bring their charges before you.”

But I don’t want to bore you, so please give me your attention for only a moment.

“But I admit that I follow the Way, which they call a cult. I worship the God of our ancestors, and I firmly believe the Jewish law and everything written in the prophets.

But some Jews from the province of Asia were there—and they ought to be here to bring charges if they have anything against me!

He ordered an officer to keep Paul in custody but to give him some freedom and allow his friends to visit him and take care of his needs.

But Festus replied that Paul was at Caesarea and he himself would be returning there soon.

But Paul replied, “No! This is the official Roman court, so I ought to be tried right here. You know very well I am not guilty of harming the Jews.

If I have done something worthy of death, I don’t refuse to die. But if I am innocent, no one has a right to turn me over to these men to kill me. I appeal to Caesar!”

But the accusations made against him weren’t any of the crimes I expected.

But Paul appealed to have his case decided by the emperor. So I ordered that he be held in custody until I could arrange to send him to Caesar.”

But in my opinion he has done nothing deserving death. However, since he appealed his case to the emperor, I have decided to send him to Rome.

“But what shall I write the emperor? For there is no clear charge against him. So I have brought him before all of you, and especially you, King Agrippa, so that after we examine him, I might have something to write.

But God has protected me right up to this present time so I can testify to everyone, from the least to the greatest. I teach nothing except what the prophets and Moses said would happen—

But Paul replied, “I am not insane, Most Excellent Festus. What I am saying is the sober truth.

We had several days of slow sailing, and after great difficulty we finally neared Cnidus. But the wind was against us, so we sailed across to Crete and along the sheltered coast of the island, past the cape of Salmone.

But the officer in charge of the prisoners listened more to the ship’s captain and the owner than to Paul.

But the weather changed abruptly, and a wind of typhoon strength (called a “northeaster”) burst across the island and blew us out to sea.

But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down.

But we will be shipwrecked on an island.”

They dropped a weighted line and found that the water was 120 feet deep. But a little later they measured again and found it was only 90 feet deep.

But Paul said to the commanding officer and the soldiers, “You will all die unless the sailors stay aboard.”

When morning dawned, they didn’t recognize the coastline, but they saw a bay with a beach and wondered if they could get to shore by running the ship aground.

But they hit a shoal and ran the ship aground too soon. The bow of the ship stuck fast, while the stern was repeatedly smashed by the force of the waves and began to break apart.

But the commanding officer wanted to spare Paul, so he didn’t let them carry out their plan. Then he ordered all who could swim to jump overboard first and make for land.

But Paul shook off the snake into the fire and was unharmed.

The people waited for him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw that he wasn’t harmed, they changed their minds and decided he was a god.

But when the Jewish leaders protested the decision, I felt it necessary to appeal to Caesar, even though I had no desire to press charges against my own people.

But we want to hear what you believe, for the only thing we know about this movement is that it is denounced everywhere.”

Some were persuaded by the things he said, but others did not believe.