I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower 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 over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things.

Saul Persecutes the Church

Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death. And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.

So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.

The Church at Antioch

So then those who were scattered because of the persecution that occurred in connection with Stephen made their way to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews alone.

The news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch.

and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

Peter’s Arrest and Deliverance

Now about that time Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church in order to mistreat them.

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

First Missionary Journey

Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers: Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

When they had arrived and gathered the church together, they began to report all things that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.

Therefore, being sent on their way by the church, they were passing through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and were bringing great joy to all the brethren.

When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them.

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

And he was traveling through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

So the churches were being strengthened in the faith, and were increasing in number daily.

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

Farewell to Ephesus

From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church.

Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

Greetings and Love Expressed

I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea;

who for my life risked their own necks, to whom not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles;

also greet the church that is in their house. Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the first convert to Christ from Asia.