Bible in 90 Days

Disciples’ Relation to the World

¹⁸ “^(A)If the world hates you, ^[a]you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. ¹⁹ If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but ^(B)I chose you out of the world, ^(C)because of this the world hates you. ²⁰ Remember the word that I said to you, ‘^(D)A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, ^(E)they will also persecute you; if they ^(F)kept My word, they will keep yours also. ²¹ But all these things they will do to you ^(G)for My name’s sake, ^(H)because they do not know the One who sent Me. ^22 (I)If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have ^[b]sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. ²³ He who hates Me hates My Father also. ^24 (J)If I had not done among them ^(K)the works which no one else did, they would not have ^[c]sin; but now they have both seen and hated Me and My Father as well. ²⁵ But they have done this to fulfill the word that is written in their ^(L)Law, ‘^(M)They hated Me without a cause.’

²⁶ “When the ^[d](N)Helper comes, ^(O)whom I will send to you from the Father, that is ^(P)the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, ^(Q)He will testify about Me, ^27 [e]and ^(R)you will testify also, because you have been with Me ^(S)from the beginning.

Jesus’ Warning

16 “^(T)These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from ^(U)stumbling. ^2 [f]They will ^(V)make you outcasts from the synagogue, but ^(W)an hour is coming for everyone ^(X)who kills you to think that he is offering service to God. ³ These things they will do ^(Y)because they have not known the Father or Me. ⁴ But these things I have spoken to you, ^(Z)so that when their hour comes, you ^[g]may remember that I told you of them. These things I did not say to you ^(AA)at the beginning, because I was with you.

The Holy Spirit Promised

⁵ “But now ^(AB)I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, ‘^(AC)Where are You going?’ ⁶ But because I have said these things to you, ^(AD)sorrow has filled your heart. ⁷ But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the ^[h](AE)Helper will not come to you; but if I go, ^(AF)I will send Him to you. ⁸ And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; ⁹ concerning sin, ^(AG)because they do not believe in Me; ¹⁰ and concerning ^(AH)righteousness, because ^(AI)I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; ^11 (AJ)and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.

¹² “I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. ¹³ But when He, ^(AK)the Spirit of truth, comes, He will ^(AL)guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. ¹⁴ He will ^(AM)glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. ^15 (AN)All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.

Jesus’ Death and Resurrection Foretold

¹⁶ “^(AO)A little while, and ^(AP)you will no longer see Me; and again a little while, and ^(AQ)you will see Me.” ¹⁷ Some of His disciples then said to one another, “What is this thing He is telling us, ‘^(AR)A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’; and, ‘because ^(AS)I go to the Father’?” ¹⁸ So they were saying, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is talking about.” ^19 (AT)Jesus knew that they wished to question Him, and He said to them, “Are you deliberating together about this, that I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me, and again a little while, and you will see Me’? ²⁰ Truly, truly, I say to you, that ^(AU)you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will grieve, but ^(AV)your grief will be turned into joy. ^21 (AW)Whenever a woman is in labor she has ^[i]pain, because her hour has come; but when she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a ^[j]child has been born into the world. ²² Therefore ^(AX)you too have grief now; but ^(AY)I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.

Prayer Promises

^23 (AZ)In that day ^(BA)you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, ^(BB)if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you. ^24 (BC)Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your ^(BD)joy may be made full.

²⁵ “These things I have spoken to you in ^[k](BE)figurative language; ^(BF)an hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in ^[l]figurative language, but will tell you plainly of the Father. ^26 (BG)In that day ^(BH)you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I will request of the Father on your behalf; ²⁷ for ^(BI)the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and ^(BJ)have believed that ^(BK)I came forth from the Father. ^28 (BL)I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; I am leaving the world again and ^(BM)going to the Father.”

²⁹ His disciples *said, “Lo, now You are speaking plainly and are not ^[m]using ^(BN)a figure of speech. ³⁰ Now we know that You know all things, and have no need for anyone to question You; by this we ^(BO)believe that You ^(BP)came from God.” ³¹ Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? ³² Behold, ^(BQ)an hour is coming, and has already come, for ^(BR)you to be scattered, each to ^(BS)his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet ^(BT)I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. ³³ These things I have spoken to you, so that ^(BU)in Me you may have peace. ^(BV)In the world you have tribulation, but ^(BW)take courage; ^(BX)I have overcome the world.”

The High Priestly Prayer

17 Jesus spoke these things; and ^(BY)lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come; ^(BZ)glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, ² even as ^(CA)You gave Him authority over all flesh, that ^(CB)to ^[n]all whom You have given Him, ^(CC)He may give eternal life. ³ This is eternal life, that they may know You, ^(CD)the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom ^(CE)You have sent. ^4 (CF)I glorified You on the earth, ^[o](CG)having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do. ⁵ Now, Father, ^(CH)glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had ^(CI)with You before the world was.

⁶ “^(CJ)I have manifested Your name to the men whom ^(CK)You gave Me out of the world; they were ^(CL)Yours and You gave them to Me, and they have ^(CM)kept Your word. ⁷ Now they have come to know that everything You have given Me is from You; ⁸ for ^(CN)the words which You gave Me ^(CO)I have given to them; and they received them and truly understood that ^(CP)I came forth from You, and they believed that ^(CQ)You sent Me. ^9 (CR)I ask on their behalf; ^(CS)I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom ^(CT)You have given Me; for ^(CU)they are Yours; ¹⁰ and ^(CV)all things that are Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine; and I have been glorified in them. ¹¹ I am no longer in the world; and yet ^(CW)they themselves are in the world, and ^(CX)I come to You. ^(CY)Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name ^(CZ)which You have given Me, that ^(DA)they may be one even as We are. ¹² While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name ^(DB)which You have given Me; and I guarded them and ^(DC)not one of them perished but ^(DD)the ^[p]son of perdition, so that the ^(DE)Scripture would be fulfilled.

The Disciples in the World

¹³ But now ^(DF)I come to You; and ^(DG)these things I speak in the world so that they may have My ^(DH)joy made full in themselves. ¹⁴ I have given them Your word; and ^(DI)the world has hated them, because ^(DJ)they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. ¹⁵ I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them ^[q]from ^[r](DK)the evil one. ^16 (DL)They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. ^17 (DM)Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. ¹⁸ As ^(DN)You sent Me into the world, ^(DO)I also have sent them into the world. ¹⁹ For their sakes I ^(DP)sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be ^(DQ)sanctified ^(DR)in truth.

²⁰ “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; ²¹ that they may all be one; ^(DS)even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, ^(DT)so that the world may ^[s]believe that ^(DU)You sent Me.

Their Future Glory

²² The ^(DV)glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; ^23 (DW)I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected ^[t]in unity, so that the world may ^[u]know that ^(DX)You sent Me, and ^(DY)loved them, even as You have loved Me. ²⁴ Father, I desire that ^(DZ)they also, whom You have given Me, ^(EA)be with Me where I am, so that they may see My ^(EB)glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before ^(EC)the foundation of the world.

²⁵ “O ^(ED)righteous Father, ^[v]although ^(EE)the world has not known You, yet I have known You; and these have known that ^(EF)You sent Me; ²⁶ and ^(EG)I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that ^(EH)the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

Judas Betrays Jesus

18 When Jesus had spoken these words, ^(EI)He went forth with His disciples over ^(EJ)the ^[w]ravine of the Kidron, where there was ^(EK)a garden, in which He entered ^[x]with His disciples. ² Now Judas also, who was ^[y]betraying Him, knew the place, for Jesus had ^(EL)often met there with His disciples. ^3 (EM)Judas then, having received ^(EN)the Roman ^[z]cohort and ^(EO)officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, *came there with lanterns and ^(EP)torches and weapons. ⁴ So Jesus, ^(EQ)knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth and *said to them, “^(ER)Whom do you seek?” ⁵ They answered Him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He *said to them, “I am He.” And Judas also, who was betraying Him, was standing with them. ⁶ So when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground. ⁷ Therefore He again asked them, “^(ES)Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus the Nazarene.” ⁸ Jesus answered, “I told you that I am He; so if you seek Me, let these go their way,” ⁹ to fulfill the word which He spoke, “^(ET)Of those whom You have given Me I lost not one.” ¹⁰ Simon Peter then, ^(EU)having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear; and the slave’s name was Malchus. ¹¹ So Jesus said to Peter, “Put the sword into the sheath; ^(EV)the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?”

Jesus before the Priests

^12 (EW)So ^(EX)the Roman ^[aa]cohort and the ^[ab]commander and the ^(EY)officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him, ¹³ and led Him to ^(EZ)Annas first; for he was father-in-law of ^(FA)Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. ¹⁴ Now Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that ^(FB)it was expedient for one man to die on behalf of the people.

^15 (FC)Simon Peter was following Jesus, and so was another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and entered with Jesus into ^(FD)the court of the high priest, ^16 (FE)but Peter was standing at the door outside. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the doorkeeper, and brought Peter in. ^17 (FF)Then the slave-girl who kept the door *said to Peter, “^(FG)You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He *said, “I am not.” ¹⁸ Now the slaves and the ^(FH)officers were standing there, having made ^(FI)a charcoal fire, for it was cold and they were ^(FJ)warming themselves; and Peter was also with them, standing and warming himself.

^19 (FK)The high priest then questioned Jesus about His disciples, and about His teaching. ²⁰ Jesus answered him, “I ^(FL)have spoken openly to the world; I always ^(FM)taught in ^[ac]synagogues and ^(FN)in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and I spoke nothing in secret. ²¹ Why do you question Me? Question those who have heard what I spoke to them; they know what I said.” ²² When He had said this, one of the ^(FO)officers standing nearby ^(FP)struck Jesus, saying, “Is that the way You answer the high priest?” ^23 (FQ)Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?” ^24 (FR)So Annas sent Him bound to ^(FS)Caiaphas the high priest.

Peter’s Denial of Jesus

^25 (FT)Now ^(FU)Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “^(FV)You are not also one of His disciples, are you?” He denied it, and said, “I am not.” ²⁶ One of the slaves of the high priest, being a relative of the one ^(FW)whose ear Peter cut off, *said, “Did I not see you in ^(FX)the garden with Him?” ²⁷ Peter then denied it again, and immediately ^(FY)a rooster crowed.

Jesus before Pilate

^28 (FZ)Then they *led Jesus from ^(GA)Caiaphas into ^(GB)the ^[ad]Praetorium, and it was early; and they themselves did not enter into ^(GC)the ^[ae]Praetorium so that ^(GD)they would not be defiled, but might eat the Passover. ^29 (GE)Therefore Pilate went out to them and *said, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?” ³⁰ They answered and said to him, “If this Man were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him to you.” ³¹ So Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves, and judge Him according to your law.” The Jews said to him, “We are not permitted to put anyone to death,” ³² to fulfill ^(GF)the word of Jesus which He spoke, signifying by what kind of death He was about to die.

³³ Therefore Pilate ^(GG)entered again into the Praetorium, and summoned Jesus and said to Him, “^(GH)Are You the King of the Jews?” ³⁴ Jesus answered, “Are you saying this ^[af]on your own initiative, or did others tell you about Me?” ³⁵ Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered You to me; what have You done?” ³⁶ Jesus answered, “^(GI)My kingdom ^[ag]is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not ^[ah]of this realm.” ³⁷ Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “^(GJ)You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, ^(GK)to testify to the truth. ^(GL)Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” ³⁸ Pilate *said to Him, “What is truth?”

And when he had said this, he ^(GM)went out again to the Jews and *said to them, “^(GN)I find no guilt in Him. ^39 (GO)But you have a custom that I release someone ^[ai]for you at the Passover; do you wish then that I release ^[aj]for you the King of the Jews?” ⁴⁰ So they cried out again, saying, “^(GP)Not this Man, but Barabbas.” Now Barabbas was a robber.

The Crown of Thorns

19 Pilate then took Jesus and ^[ak](GQ)scourged Him. ^2 (GR)And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and put a purple robe on Him; ³ and they began to come up to Him and say, “^(GS)Hail, King of the Jews!” and to ^(GT)give Him slaps in the face. ⁴ Pilate ^(GU)came out again and *said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you so that you may know that ^(GV)I find no guilt in Him.” ⁵ Jesus then came out, ^(GW)wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate *said to them, “Behold, the Man!” ⁶ So when the chief priests and the ^(GX)officers saw Him, they cried out saying, “Crucify, crucify!” Pilate *said to them, “Take Him yourselves and crucify Him, for ^(GY)I find no guilt in Him.” ⁷ The Jews answered him, “^(GZ)We have a law, and by that law He ought to die because He ^(HA)made Himself out to be the Son of God.”

⁸ Therefore when Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid; ⁹ and he ^(HB)entered into the ^[al]Praetorium again and *said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But ^(HC)Jesus gave him no answer. ¹⁰ So Pilate *said to Him, “You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?” ¹¹ Jesus answered, “^(HD)You would have no authority ^[am]over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason ^(HE)he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.” ¹² As a result of this Pilate ^[an]made efforts to release Him, but the Jews cried out saying, “^(HF)If you release this Man, you are no friend of Caesar; everyone who makes himself out to be a king ^[ao]opposes Caesar.”

¹³ Therefore when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out, and ^(HG)sat down on the judgment seat at a place called ^[ap]The Pavement, but ^(HH)in ^[aq]Hebrew, Gabbatha. ¹⁴ Now it was ^(HI)the day of preparation for the Passover; it was about the ^[ar](HJ)sixth hour. And he *said to the Jews, “Behold, ^(HK)your King!” ¹⁵ So they cried out, “^(HL)Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!” Pilate *said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.”

The Crucifixion

¹⁶ So he then ^(HM)handed Him over to them to be crucified.

^17 (HN)They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, ^[as](HO)bearing His own cross, to the place called ^(HP)the Place of a Skull, which is called ^(HQ)in ^[at]Hebrew, Golgotha. ¹⁸ There they crucified Him, and with Him ^(HR)two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between. ¹⁹ Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It was written, “^(HS)JESUS THE NAZARENE, ^(HT)THE KING OF THE JEWS.” ²⁰ Therefore many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written ^(HU)in ^[au]Hebrew, Latin and in Greek. ²¹ So the chief priests of the Jews were saying to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘^(HV)The King of the Jews’; but that He said, ‘I am ^(HW)King of the Jews.’” ²² Pilate answered, “^(HX)What I have written I have written.”

²³ Then ^(HY)the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His outer garments and made ^(HZ)four parts, a part to every soldier and also the ^[av]tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven ^[aw]in one piece. ²⁴ So they said to one another, “^(IA)Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to decide whose it shall be”; ^(IB)this was to fulfill the Scripture: “They ^(IC)divided My outer garments among them, and for My clothing they cast ^[ax]lots.” ²⁵ Therefore the soldiers did these things.

^(ID)But standing by the cross of Jesus were ^(IE)His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and ^(IF)Mary Magdalene. ²⁶ When Jesus then saw His mother, and ^(IG)the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He *said to His mother, “^(IH)Woman, behold, your son!” ²⁷ Then He *said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” From that hour the disciple took her into ^(II)his own household.

²⁸ After this, Jesus, ^(IJ)knowing that all things had already been accomplished, ^(IK)to fulfill the Scripture, *said, “^(IL)I am thirsty.” ²⁹ A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so ^(IM)they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth. ³⁰ Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “^(IN)It is finished!” And He bowed His head and ^(IO)gave up His spirit.

Care of the Body of Jesus

³¹ Then the Jews, because it was ^(IP)the day of preparation, so that ^(IQ)the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (^[ay]for that Sabbath was a ^(IR)high day), asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. ³² So the soldiers came, and broke the legs of the first man and of the other who was ^(IS)crucified with Him; ³³ but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. ³⁴ But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately ^(IT)blood and water came out. ³⁵ And he who has seen has ^(IU)testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe. ³⁶ For these things came to pass ^(IV)to fulfill the Scripture, “^(IW)Not a bone of Him shall be ^[az]broken.” ³⁷ And again another Scripture says, “^(IX)They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”

^38 (IY)After these things Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but a ^(IZ)secret one for ^(JA)fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. So he came and took away His body. ^39 (JB)Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, ^(JC)bringing a ^[ba]mixture of ^(JD)myrrh and aloes, about a ^(JE)hundred ^[bb]pounds weight. ⁴⁰ So they took the body of Jesus and ^(JF)bound it in ^(JG)linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. ⁴¹ Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a ^(JH)new tomb ^(JI)in which no one had yet been laid. ⁴² Therefore because of the Jewish day of ^(JJ)preparation, since the tomb was ^(JK)nearby, they laid Jesus there.

The Empty Tomb

20 ^(JL)Now on the first day of the week ^(JM)Mary Magdalene *came early to the tomb, while it *was still dark, and *saw ^(JN)the stone already taken away from the tomb. ² So she *ran and *came to Simon Peter and to the other ^(JO)disciple whom Jesus loved, and *said to them, “^(JP)They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” ^3 (JQ)So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb. ⁴ The two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first; ⁵ and ^(JR)stooping and looking in, he *saw the ^(JS)linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in. ⁶ And so Simon Peter also *came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he *saw the linen wrappings lying there, ⁷ and ^(JT)the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the ^(JU)linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself. ⁸ So the other disciple who ^(JV)had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and believed. ⁹ For as yet ^(JW)they did not understand the Scripture, ^(JX)that He must rise again from the dead. ¹⁰ So the disciples went away again ^(JY)to their own homes.

^11 (JZ)But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she ^(KA)stooped and looked into the tomb; ¹² and she *saw ^(KB)two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. ¹³ And they *said to her, “^(KC)Woman, why are you weeping?” She *said to them, “Because ^(KD)they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” ¹⁴ When she had said this, she turned around and *^(KE)saw Jesus standing there, and ^(KF)did not know that it was Jesus. ¹⁵ Jesus *said to her, “^(KG)Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing Him to be the gardener, she *said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” ¹⁶ Jesus *said to her, “Mary!” She turned and *said to Him ^(KH)in ^[bc]Hebrew, “^(KI)Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher). ¹⁷ Jesus *said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to ^(KJ)My brethren and say to them, ‘I ^(KK)ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’” ^18 (KL)Mary Magdalene *came, ^(KM)announcing to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and that He had said these things to her.

Jesus among His Disciples

¹⁹ So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for ^(KN)fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and *said to them, “^[bd](KO)Peace be with you.” ²⁰ And when He had said this, ^(KP)He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples then ^(KQ)rejoiced when they saw the Lord. ²¹ So Jesus said to them again, “^(KR)Peace be with you; ^(KS)as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” ²² And when He had said this, He breathed on them and *said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ^23 (KT)If you forgive the sins of any, their sins ^[be]have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.”

²⁴ But ^(KU)Thomas, one of ^(KV)the twelve, called ^[bf](KW)Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. ²⁵ So the other disciples were saying to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in ^(KX)His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, ^(KY)I will not believe.”

^26 [bg]After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus *came, the doors having been ^[bh]shut, and stood in their midst and said, “^(KZ)Peace be with you.” ²⁷ Then He *said to Thomas, “^(LA)Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.” ²⁸ Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” ²⁹ Jesus *said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? ^(LB)Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”

Why This Gospel Was Written

^30 (LC)Therefore many other ^[bi](LD)signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; ³¹ but these have been written ^(LE)so that you may believe that Jesus is ^[bj]the Christ, ^(LF)the Son of God; and that ^(LG)believing you may have life in His name.

Jesus Appears at the Sea of Galilee

21 After these things Jesus ^[bk](LH)manifested Himself ^(LI)again to the disciples at the ^(LJ)Sea of Tiberias, and He manifested Himself in this way. ² Simon Peter, and ^(LK)Thomas called ^[bl]Didymus, and ^(LL)Nathanael of ^(LM)Cana in Galilee, and ^(LN)the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. ³ Simon Peter *said to them, “I am going fishing.” They *said to him, “We will also come with you.” They went out and got into the boat; and ^(LO)that night they caught nothing.

⁴ But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not ^(LP)know that it was Jesus. ⁵ So Jesus *said to them, “Children, ^(LQ)you do not have ^[bm]any fish, do you?” They answered Him, “No.” ⁶ And He said to them, “^(LR)Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch.” So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish. ^7 (LS)Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved *said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea. ⁸ But the other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not far from the land, but about ^[bn]one hundred yards away, dragging the net full of fish.

⁹ So when they got out on the land, they *saw a charcoal ^(LT)fire already laid and ^(LU)fish placed on it, and bread. ¹⁰ Jesus *said to them, “Bring some of the ^(LV)fish which you have now caught.” ¹¹ Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not torn.

Jesus Provides

¹² Jesus *said to them, “Come and have ^(LW)breakfast.” None of the disciples ventured to question Him, “Who are You?” knowing that it was the Lord. ¹³ Jesus *came and *took ^(LX)the bread and *gave it to them, and the ^(LY)fish likewise. ¹⁴ This is now the ^(LZ)third time that Jesus ^[bo]was manifested to the disciples, after He was raised from the dead.

The Love Motivation

¹⁵ So when they had ^(MA)finished breakfast, Jesus *said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you ^[bp](MB)love Me more than these?” He *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I ^[bq]love You.” He *said to him, “Tend ^(MC)My lambs.” ¹⁶ He *said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you ^[br]love Me?” He *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I ^[bs]love You.” He *said to him, “^(MD)Shepherd My sheep.” ¹⁷ He *said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you ^[bt]love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him ^(ME)the third time, “Do you ^[bu]love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, ^(MF)You know all things; You know that I ^[bv]love You.” Jesus *said to him, “^(MG)Tend My sheep.

Our Times Are in His Hand

¹⁸ Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.” ¹⁹ Now this He said, ^(MH)signifying by ^(MI)what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He *said to him, “^(MJ)Follow Me!”

²⁰ Peter, turning around, *saw the ^(MK)disciple whom Jesus loved following them; the one who also had ^(ML)leaned back on His bosom at the supper and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” ²¹ So Peter seeing him *said to Jesus, “Lord, and what about this man?” ²² Jesus *said to him, “If I want him to remain ^(MM)until I come, what is that to you? You ^(MN)follow Me!” ²³ Therefore this saying went out among ^(MO)the brethren that that disciple would not die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but only, “If I want him to remain ^(MP)until I come, what is that to you?”

²⁴ This is the disciple who ^(MQ)is testifying to these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true.

²⁵ And there are also ^(MR)many other things which Jesus did, which if they *were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself *would not contain the books that *would be written.

Introduction

1 The first account I ^[bw]composed, ^(MS)Theophilus, about all that Jesus ^(MT)began to do and teach, ² until the day when He ^(MU)was taken up to heaven, after He ^(MV)had ^[bx]by the Holy Spirit given orders to ^(MW)the apostles whom He had ^(MX)chosen. ³ To ^[by]these ^(MY)He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of ^(MZ)the things concerning the kingdom of God. ^4 [bz]Gathering them together, He commanded them ^(NA)not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for ^[ca](NB)what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; ⁵ for ^(NC)John baptized with water, but you will be baptized ^[cb]with the Holy Spirit ^[cc](ND)not many days from now.”

⁶ So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, ^(NE)is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” ⁷ He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which ^(NF)the Father has fixed by His own authority; ⁸ but you will receive power ^(NG)when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be ^(NH)My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and ^(NI)Samaria, and even to ^(NJ)the remotest part of the earth.”

The Ascension

⁹ And after He had said these things, ^(NK)He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. ¹⁰ And as they were gazing intently into ^[cd]the sky while He was going, behold, ^(NL)two men in white clothing stood beside them. ¹¹ They also said, “^(NM)Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into ^[ce]the sky? This Jesus, who ^(NN)has been taken up from you into heaven, will ^(NO)come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”

The Upper Room

¹² Then they ^(NP)returned to Jerusalem from the ^[cf](NQ)mount called ^[cg]Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a ^[ch]Sabbath day’s journey away. ¹³ When they had entered the city, they went up to ^(NR)the upper room where they were staying; ^(NS)that is, Peter and John and ^[ci]James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, ^[cj]James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and ^(NT)Judas the ^[ck]son of ^[cl]James. ¹⁴ These all with one mind ^(NU)were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with ^(NV)the women, and Mary the ^(NW)mother of Jesus, and with His ^(NX)brothers.

^15 [cm]At this time Peter stood up in the midst of ^(NY)the brethren (a gathering of about one hundred and twenty ^[cn]persons was there together), and said, ¹⁶ “Brethren, ^(NZ)the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, ^(OA)who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. ¹⁷ For he was ^(OB)counted among us and received his share in ^(OC)this ministry.” ¹⁸ (Now this man ^(OD)acquired a field with ^(OE)the price of his wickedness, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his intestines gushed out. ¹⁹ And it became known to all who were living in Jerusalem; so that in ^(OF)their own language that field was called Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) ²⁰ “For it is written in the book of Psalms,

and,

²¹ Therefore it is necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that ^(OI)the Lord Jesus went in and out ^[cp]among us— ^22 (OJ)beginning ^[cq]with the baptism of John until the day that He ^(OK)was taken up from us—one of these must become a ^(OL)witness with us of His resurrection.” ²³ So they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus), and ^(OM)Matthias. ²⁴ And they ^(ON)prayed and said, “You, Lord, ^(OO)who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two You have chosen ²⁵ to ^[cr]occupy ^(OP)this ministry and ^(OQ)apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” ²⁶ And they ^[cs](OR)drew lots for them, and the lot fell ^[ct]to ^(OS)Matthias; and he was ^[cu]added to ^(OT)the eleven apostles.

The Day of Pentecost

2 When ^(OU)the day of Pentecost ^[cv]had come, they were all together in one place. ² And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled ^(OV)the whole house where they were sitting. ³ And there appeared to them tongues as of fire ^[cw]distributing themselves, and ^[cx]they ^[cy]rested on each one of them. ⁴ And they were all ^(OW)filled with the Holy Spirit and began to ^(OX)speak with other ^[cz]tongues, as the Spirit was giving them ^[da]utterance.

⁵ Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, ^(OY)devout men from every nation under heaven. ⁶ And when ^(OZ)this sound occurred, the crowd came together, and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own ^[db]language. ^7 (PA)They were amazed and astonished, saying, “^[dc]Why, are not all these who are speaking ^(PB)Galileans? ⁸ And how is it that we each hear them in our own ^[dd]language ^[de]to which we were born? ⁹ Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and ^(PC)Cappadocia, ^(PD)Pontus and ^[df](PE)Asia, ^10 (PF)Phrygia and ^(PG)Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around ^(PH)Cyrene, and ^[dg](PI)visitors from Rome, both Jews and ^[dh](PJ)proselytes, ¹¹ Cretans and Arabs—we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God.” ¹² And ^(PK)they all continued in amazement and great perplexity, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” ¹³ But others were mocking and saying, “^(PL)They are full of ^[di]sweet wine.”

Peter’s Sermon

¹⁴ But Peter, ^[dj]taking his stand with ^(PM)the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words. ¹⁵ For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, ^(PN)for it is only the ^[dk]third hour of the day; ¹⁶ but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel:

²² “Men of Israel, listen to these words: ^(PQ)Jesus the Nazarene, ^(PR)a man ^[dm]attested to you by God with ^[dn]miracles and ^(PS)wonders and ^[do]signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know— ²³ this Man, delivered over by the ^(PT)predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, ^(PU)you nailed to a cross by the hands of ^[dp]godless men and put Him to death. ^24 [dq]But ^(PV)God raised Him up again, putting an end to the ^[dr]agony of death, since it ^(PW)was impossible for Him to be held ^[ds]in its power. ²⁵ For David says of Him,

²⁹ “^[dw]Brethren, I may confidently say to you regarding the ^(QA)patriarch David that he both ^(QB)died and ^(QC)was buried, and ^(QD)his tomb is ^[dx]with us to this day. ³⁰ And so, because he was ^(QE)a prophet and knew that ^(QF)God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one ^[dy]of his descendants on his throne, ³¹ he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of ^[dz]the Christ, that ^(QG)He was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh ^[ea]suffer decay. ³² This Jesus ^(QH)God raised up again, to which we are all ^(QI)witnesses. ³³ Therefore having been exalted ^[eb](QJ)to the right hand of God, and ^(QK)having received from the Father ^(QL)the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has ^(QM)poured forth this which you both see and hear. ³⁴ For it was not David who ascended into ^[ec]heaven, but he himself says:

³⁶ Therefore let all the ^(QO)house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both ^(QP)Lord and ^[ed]Christ—this Jesus ^(QQ)whom you crucified.”

The Ingathering

³⁷ Now when they heard this, they were ^[ee]pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “^[ef]Brethren, ^[eg](QR)what shall we do?” ³⁸ Peter said to them, “^(QS)Repent, and each of you be ^(QT)baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ For ^(QU)the promise is for you and your children and for all who are ^(QV)far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” ⁴⁰ And with many other words he solemnly ^(QW)testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “^[eh]Be saved from this ^(QX)perverse generation!” ⁴¹ So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand ^[ei](QY)souls. ⁴² They were ^(QZ)continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to ^(RA)the breaking of bread and ^[ej](RB)to prayer.

^43 [ek]Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many ^(RC)wonders and ^[el]signs were taking place through the apostles. ⁴⁴ And all those who had believed ^[em]were together and ^(RD)had all things in common; ⁴⁵ and they ^(RE)began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. ^46 (RF)Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and ^(RG)breaking bread ^[en]from house to house, they were taking their ^[eo]meals together with gladness and ^[ep]sincerity of heart, ⁴⁷ praising God and ^(RH)having favor with all the people. And the Lord ^(RI)was adding ^[eq]to their number day by day ^(RJ)those who were being saved.

Healing the Lame Beggar

3 Now ^(RK)Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ^[er]ninth hour, ^(RL)the hour of prayer. ² And ^(RM)a man who had been lame from his mother’s womb was being carried along, whom they ^(RN)used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, ^(RO)in order to beg ^[es]alms of those who were entering the temple. ³ When he saw ^(RP)Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms. ⁴ But Peter, along with John, ^(RQ)fixed his gaze on him and said, “Look at us!” ⁵ And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. ⁶ But Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: ^(RR)In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!” ⁷ And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. ^8 [et](RS)With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. ⁹ And ^(RT)all the people saw him walking and praising God; ¹⁰ and they were taking note of him as being the one who used to ^(RU)sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Peter’s Second Sermon

¹¹ While he was clinging to ^(RV)Peter and John, all the people ran together to them at the so-called ^[eu](RW)portico of Solomon, full of amazement. ¹² But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk? ^13 (RX)The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, ^(RY)the God of our fathers, has glorified His ^[ev](RZ)servant Jesus, the one whom ^(SA)you delivered and disowned in the presence of ^(SB)Pilate, when he had ^(SC)decided to release Him. ¹⁴ But you disowned ^(SD)the Holy and Righteous One and ^(SE)asked for a murderer to be granted to you, ¹⁵ but put to death the ^[ew](SF)Prince of life, the one whom ^(SG)God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are ^(SH)witnesses. ¹⁶ And on the basis of faith ^(SI)in His name, it is ^[ex]the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.

¹⁷ “And now, brethren, I know that you acted ^(SJ)in ignorance, just as your ^(SK)rulers did also. ¹⁸ But the things which ^(SL)God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, ^(SM)that His ^[ey]Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. ¹⁹ Therefore ^(SN)repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that ^(SO)times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; ²⁰ and that He may send Jesus, the ^[ez]Christ appointed for you, ^21 (SP)whom heaven must receive until the ^[fa]period of ^(SQ)restoration of all things about which ^(SR)God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time. ²² Moses said, ‘^(SS)The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet ^[fb]like me from your brethren; to Him you shall give heed to everything He says to you. ^23 (ST)And it will be that every ^(SU)soul that does not heed that prophet ^(SV)shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ ²⁴ And likewise, ^(SW)all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and his successors onward, also announced these days. ²⁵ It is you who are ^(SX)the sons of the prophets and of the ^(SY)covenant which God ^[fc]made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘^(SZ)And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ ²⁶ For you ^(TA)first, God ^(TB)raised up His ^[fd]Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.”

Peter and John Arrested

4 As they were speaking to the people, the priests and ^(TC)the captain of the temple guard and ^(TD)the Sadducees ^(TE)came up to them, ² being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming ^[fe](TF)in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. ³ And they laid hands on them and ^(TG)put them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening. ⁴ But many of those who had heard the ^[ff]message believed; and ^(TH)the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

⁵ On the next day, their ^(TI)rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; ⁶ and ^(TJ)Annas the high priest was there, and ^(TK)Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent. ⁷ When they had placed them in the center, they began to inquire, “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?” ⁸ Then Peter, ^[fg](TL)filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “^[fh](TM)Rulers and elders of the people, ⁹ if we are ^[fi]on trial today for ^(TN)a benefit done to a sick man, ^[fj]as to how this man has been made well, ¹⁰ let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that ^[fk](TO)by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom ^(TP)God raised from the dead—^[fl]by ^[fm]this name this man stands here before you in good health. ^11 [fn](TQ)He is the ^(TR)stone which was ^(TS)rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone. ¹² And there is salvation in ^(TT)no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”

Threat and Release

¹³ Now as they observed the ^(TU)confidence of ^(TV)Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and ^(TW)began to recognize them ^[fo]as having been with Jesus. ¹⁴ And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply. ¹⁵ But when they had ordered them to leave the ^[fp](TX)Council, they began to confer with one another, ¹⁶ saying, “^(TY)What shall we do with these men? For the fact that a ^(TZ)noteworthy ^[fq]miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. ¹⁷ But so that it will not spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer to any man ^(UA)in this name.” ¹⁸ And when they had summoned them, they ^(UB)commanded them not to speak or teach at all ^[fr]in the name of Jesus. ¹⁹ But ^(UC)Peter and John answered and said to them, “^(UD)Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; ²⁰ for ^(UE)we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” ²¹ When they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) ^(UF)on account of the people, because they were all ^(UG)glorifying God for what had happened; ²² for the man was more than forty years old on whom this ^[fs]miracle of healing had been performed.

²³ When they had been released, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. ²⁴ And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, “O ^[ft]Lord, it is You who ^(UH)made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them, ²⁵ who ^(UI)by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said,

²⁷ For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy ^[fx](UM)servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both ^(UN)Herod and ^(UO)Pontius Pilate, along with ^(UP)the ^[fy]Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, ²⁸ to do whatever Your hand and ^(UQ)Your purpose predestined to occur. ²⁹ And ^[fz]now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may ^(UR)speak Your word with all ^(US)confidence, ³⁰ while You extend Your hand to heal, and ^[ga](UT)signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy ^[gb](UU)servant Jesus.” ³¹ And when they had prayed, the ^(UV)place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all ^(UW)filled with the Holy Spirit and began to ^(UX)speak the word of God with ^(UY)boldness.

Sharing among Believers

³² And the ^[gc]congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them ^[gd]claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but ^(UZ)all things were common property to them. ³³ And ^(VA)with great power the apostles were giving ^(VB)testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. ³⁴ For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses ^(VC)would sell them and bring the ^[ge]proceeds of the sales ³⁵ and ^(VD)lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be ^(VE)distributed to each as any had need.

³⁶ Now Joseph, a Levite of ^(VF)Cyprian birth, who was also called ^(VG)Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of ^[gf](VH)Encouragement), ³⁷ and who owned a tract of land, sold it and brought the money and ^(VI)laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Fate of Ananias and Sapphira

5 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, ² and ^(VJ)kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife’s ^[gg]full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he ^(VK)laid it at the apostles’ feet. ³ But Peter said, “Ananias, why has ^(VL)Satan filled your heart to lie ^(VM)to the Holy Spirit and to ^(VN)keep back some of the price of the land? ⁴ While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not ^[gh]under your control? Why is it that you have ^[gi]conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but ^(VO)to God.” ⁵ And as he heard these words, Ananias ^(VP)fell down and breathed his last; and ^(VQ)great fear came over all who heard of it. ⁶ The young men got up and ^(VR)covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him.

⁷ Now there elapsed an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. ⁸ And Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land ^[gj](VS)for such and such a price?” And she said, “Yes, ^[gk]that was the price.” ⁹ Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to ^(VT)put ^(VU)the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well.” ¹⁰ And immediately she ^(VV)fell at his feet and breathed her last, and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. ¹¹ And ^(VW)great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things.

^12 [gl]At the hands of the apostles many ^(VX)signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in ^(VY)Solomon’s portico. ¹³ But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, ^(VZ)the people held them in high esteem. ¹⁴ And all the more ^(WA)believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly ^(WB)added to their number, ¹⁵ to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by ^(WC)at least his shadow might fall on any one of them. ¹⁶ Also the ^[gm]people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing people who were sick ^[gn]or afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed.

Imprisonment and Release

¹⁷ But the high priest rose up, along with all his associates (that is ^(WD)the sect of ^(WE)the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy. ¹⁸ They laid hands on the apostles and ^(WF)put them in a public jail. ¹⁹ But during the night ^(WG)an angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison, and taking them out he said, ²⁰ “Go, stand and ^[go]speak to the people in the temple ^[gp](WH)the whole message of this Life.” ²¹ Upon hearing this, they entered into the temple ^(WI)about daybreak and began to teach.

Now when ^(WJ)the high priest and his associates came, they called ^(WK)the ^[gq]Council together, even all the Senate of the sons of Israel, and sent orders to the prison house for them to be brought. ²² But ^(WL)the officers who came did not find them in the prison; and they returned and reported back, ²³ saying, “We found the prison house locked quite securely and the guards standing at the doors; but when we had opened up, we found no one inside.” ²⁴ Now when ^(WM)the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them as to what ^[gr]would come of this. ²⁵ But someone came and reported to them, “The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!” ²⁶ Then ^(WN)the captain went along with ^(WO)the officers and proceeded to bring them back without violence (for ^(WP)they were afraid of the people, that they might be stoned).

²⁷ When they had brought them, they stood them ^[gs]before ^(WQ)the Council. The high priest questioned them, ²⁸ saying, “We gave you ^(WR)strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and ^[gt]yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and ^(WS)intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” ²⁹ But Peter and the apostles answered, “^(WT)We must obey God rather than men. ^30 (WU)The God of our fathers ^(WV)raised up Jesus, ^[gu]whom you had ^(WW)put to death by hanging Him on a ^[gv]cross. ^31 (WX)He is the one whom God exalted ^[gw]to His right hand as a ^[gx](WY)Prince and a ^(WZ)Savior, to grant ^(XA)repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. ³² And we are ^(XB)witnesses ^[gy]of these things; and ^(XC)so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

Gamaliel’s Counsel

³³ But when they heard this, they were ^(XD)cut ^[gz]to the quick and intended to kill them. ³⁴ But a Pharisee named ^(XE)Gamaliel, a ^(XF)teacher of the Law, respected by all the people, stood up in ^(XG)the Council and gave orders to put the men outside for a short time. ³⁵ And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you propose to do with these men. ³⁶ For some time ago Theudas rose up, ^(XH)claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men joined up with him. ^[ha]But he was killed, and all who ^[hb]followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. ³⁷ After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of ^(XI)the census and drew away some people after him; he too perished, and all those who ^[hc]followed him were scattered. ³⁸ So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or ^[hd]action ^(XJ)is of men, it will be overthrown; ³⁹ but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found ^(XK)fighting against God.”

⁴⁰ They ^[he]took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they ^(XL)flogged them and ordered them not to ^[hf]speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. ⁴¹ So they went on their way from the presence of the ^[hg](XM)Council, ^(XN)rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame ^(XO)for His name. ^42 (XP)And every day, in the temple and ^[hh]from house to house, they ^[hi]kept right on teaching and ^[hj](XQ)preaching Jesus as the ^[hk]Christ.

Choosing of the Seven

6 Now ^[hl]at this time while the ^(XR)disciples were ^(XS)increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the ^[hm](XT)Hellenistic Jews against the native ^(XU)Hebrews, because their ^(XV)widows were being overlooked in ^(XW)the daily serving of food. ² So the twelve summoned the ^[hn]congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. ³ Therefore, ^(XX)brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, ^(XY)full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. ⁴ But we will ^(XZ)devote ourselves to prayer and to the ^[ho]ministry of the word.” ⁵ The statement found approval with the whole ^[hp]congregation; and they chose ^(YA)Stephen, a man ^(YB)full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and ^(YC)Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and ^[hq]Nicolas, a ^[hr](YD)proselyte from ^(YE)Antioch. ⁶ And these they brought before the apostles; and after ^(YF)praying, they ^(YG)laid their hands on them.

^7 (YH)The word of God kept on spreading; and ^(YI)the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to ^(YJ)the faith.