Bible in 90 Days

The Hatred of the World

^18 (A)“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. ^19 (B)If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because ^(C)you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. ²⁰ Remember the word that I said to you: ^(D)‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, ^(E)they will also persecute you. ^(F)If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. ²¹ But ^(G)all these things they will do to you ^(H)on account of my name, ^(I)because they do not know him who sent me. ²² If I had not come and spoken to them, ^(J)they would not have been guilty of sin,^[a] but now they have no excuse for their sin. ^23 (K)Whoever hates me hates my Father also. ^24 (L)If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, ^(M)they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have ^(N)seen and hated both me and my Father. ²⁵ But ^(O)the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ^(P)‘They hated me without a cause.’

²⁶ “But ^(Q)when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, ^(R)he will bear witness about me. ²⁷ And ^(S)you also will bear witness, ^(T)because you have been with me ^(U)from the beginning.

16 “I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. ^2 (V)They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, ^(W)the hour is coming when ^(X)whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. ³ And they will do these things ^(Y)because they have not known the Father, nor me. ⁴ But ^(Z)I have said these things to you, that when ^(AA)their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.

The Work of the Holy Spirit

“I did not say these things to you from the beginning, ^(AB)because I was with you. ⁵ But now ^(AC)I am going to him who sent me, and ^(AD)none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ ⁶ But because I have said these things to you, ^(AE)sorrow has filled your heart. ⁷ Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for ^(AF)if I do not go away, ^(AG)the Helper will not come to you. But ^(AH)if ^(AI)I go, ^(AJ)I will send him to you. ^8 (AK)And when he comes, he will ^(AL)convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: ⁹ concerning sin, ^(AM)because they do not believe in me; ^10 (AN)concerning righteousness, ^(AO)because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; ^11 (AP)concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world ^(AQ)is judged.

¹² “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. ¹³ When ^(AR)the Spirit of truth comes, ^(AS)he will ^(AT)guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but ^(AU)whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. ¹⁴ He will ^(AV)glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. ^15 (AW)All that the Father has is mine; ^(AX)therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

Your Sorrow Will Turn into Joy

^16 (AY)“A little while, and you will see me no longer; and ^(AZ)again a little while, and you will see me.” ¹⁷ So ^(BA)some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ^(BB)‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, ^(BC)‘because I am going to the Father’?” ¹⁸ So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? ^(BD)We do not know what he is talking about.” ^19 (BE)Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘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, ^(BF)you will weep and lament, but ^(BG)the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but ^(BH)your sorrow will turn into joy. ^21 (BI)When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. ^22 (BJ)So also you have sorrow now, but ^(BK)I will see you again, and ^(BL)your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. ^23 (BM)In that day you will ^(BN)ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, ^(BO)whatever you ask of the Father in my name, ^(BP)he will give it to you. ²⁴ Until now you have asked nothing in my name. ^(BQ)Ask, and you will receive, ^(BR)that your joy may be full.

I Have Overcome the World

²⁵ “I have said these things to you in figures of speech. ^(BS)The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. ²⁶ In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; ^27 (BT)for the Father himself loves you, because ^(BU)you have loved me and ^(BV)have believed that I came from God.^{[b] 28 (BW)}I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now ^(BX)I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”

²⁹ His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not ^(BY)using figurative speech! ³⁰ Now we know that ^(BZ)you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that ^(CA)you came from God.” ³¹ Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? ³² Behold, ^(CB)the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when ^(CC)you will be scattered, each to his own home, and ^(CD)will leave me alone. ^(CE)Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. ³³ I have said these things to you, that ^(CF)in me you may have peace. ^(CG)In the world you will have ^(CH)tribulation. But ^(CI)take heart; ^(CJ)I have overcome the world.”

The High Priestly Prayer

17 When Jesus had spoken these words, ^(CK)he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, ^(CL)the hour has come; ^(CM)glorify your Son that the Son may ^(CN)glorify you, ² since ^(CO)you have given him authority over all flesh, ^(CP)to give eternal life to all ^(CQ)whom you have given him. ^3 (CR)And this is eternal life, ^(CS)that they know you, ^(CT)the only ^(CU)true God, and ^(CV)Jesus Christ whom you have sent. ⁴ I ^(CW)glorified you on earth, ^(CX)having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. ⁵ And now, Father, ^(CY)glorify me in your own presence with the glory ^(CZ)that I had with you ^(DA)before the world existed.

^6 (DB)“I have manifested your name to the people ^(DC)whom you gave me out of the world. ^(DD)Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. ⁷ Now they know that everything ^(DE)that you have given me is from you. ⁸ For I have given them ^(DF)the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that ^(DG)I came from you; and ^(DH)they have believed that you sent me. ⁹ I am praying for them. ^(DI)I am not praying for the world but for those ^(DJ)whom you have given me, for ^(DK)they are yours. ^10 (DL)All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and ^(DM)I am glorified in them. ¹¹ And I am no longer in the world, but ^(DN)they are in the world, and ^(DO)I am coming to you. ^(DP)Holy Father, ^(DQ)keep them in your name, ^(DR)which you have given me, ^(DS)that they may be one, ^(DT)even as we are one. ^12 (DU)While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have ^(DV)guarded them, and ^(DW)not one of them has been lost except ^(DX)the son of destruction, ^(DY)that the Scripture might be fulfilled. ¹³ But now ^(DZ)I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have ^(EA)my joy fulfilled in themselves. ^14 (EB)I have given them your word, and ^(EC)the world has hated them ^(ED)because they are not of the world, ^(EE)just as I am not of the world. ¹⁵ I ^(EF)do not ask that you ^(EG)take them out of the world, but that you ^(EH)keep them from ^(EI)the evil one.^{[c] 16 (EJ)}They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ^17 (EK)Sanctify them^[d] in the truth; ^(EL)your word is truth. ^18 (EM)As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. ¹⁹ And ^(EN)for their sake ^(EO)I consecrate myself,^[e] that they also ^(EP)may be sanctified^[f] in truth.

²⁰ “I do not ^(EQ)ask for these only, but also for those ^(ER)who will believe in me through their word, ^21 (ES)that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that ^(ET)they also may be in ^(EU)us, so that the world ^(EV)may believe that you have sent me. ^22 (EW)The glory that you have given me ^(EX)I have given to them, ^(EY)that they may be one even as we are one, ^23 (EZ)I in them and you in me, ^(FA)that they may become perfectly one, ^(FB)so that the world may know that you sent me and ^(FC)loved them even as ^(FD)you loved me. ²⁴ Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be ^(FE)with me ^(FF)where I am, ^(FG)to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me ^(FH)before the foundation of the world. ^25 (FI)O righteous Father, even though ^(FJ)the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. ^26 (FK)I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love ^(FL)with which you have loved me may be in them, and ^(FM)I in them.”

Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

18 When Jesus had spoken these words, ^(FN)he went out with his disciples across ^(FO)the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. ² Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew ^(FP)the place, for ^(FQ)Jesus often met there with his disciples. ^3 (FR)So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. ⁴ Then Jesus, ^(FS)knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, ^(FT)“Whom do you seek?” ⁵ They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.”^[g] Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. ^6 (FU)When Jesus^[h] said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. ⁷ So he asked them again, ^(FV)“Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” ⁸ Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” ^9 (FW)This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.” ¹⁰ Then Simon Peter, ^(FX)having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant^[i] and cut off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) ¹¹ So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; ^(FY)shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

Jesus Faces Annas and Caiaphas

¹² So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews^[j] arrested Jesus and bound him. ¹³ First they ^(FZ)led him to ^(GA)Annas, for he was the father-in-law of ^(GB)Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. ¹⁴ It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews ^(GC)that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.

Peter Denies Jesus

^15 (GD)Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, ^16 (GE)but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. ^17 (GF)The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man's disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” ¹⁸ Now the servants^[k] and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. ^(GG)Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.

The High Priest Questions Jesus

^19 (GH)The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. ²⁰ Jesus answered him, “I have spoken ^(GI)openly ^(GJ)to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. ^(GK)I have said nothing in secret. ²¹ Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.” ²² When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, ^(GL)“Is that how you answer the high priest?” ²³ Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?” ^24 (GM)Annas then sent him bound to ^(GN)Caiaphas the high priest.

Peter Denies Jesus Again

^25 (GO)Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” ²⁶ One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of ^(GP)the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you ^(GQ)in the garden with him?” ²⁷ Peter again denied it, and ^(GR)at once a rooster crowed.

Jesus Before Pilate

^28 (GS)Then they led Jesus ^(GT)from the house of Caiaphas to ^(GU)the governor's headquarters.^[l] It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor's headquarters, ^(GV)so that they would not be defiled, ^(GW)but could eat the Passover. ^29 (GX)So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” ³⁰ They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.” ³¹ Pilate said to them, ^(GY)“Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” ^32 (GZ)This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken ^(HA)to show by what kind of death he was going to die.

My Kingdom Is Not of This World

^33 (HB)So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, ^(HC)“Are you the King of the Jews?” ³⁴ Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” ³⁵ Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” ³⁶ Jesus answered, ^(HD)“My kingdom ^(HE)is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, ^(HF)my servants would have been fighting, that ^(HG)I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” ³⁷ Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, ^(HH)“You say that I am a king. ^(HI)For this purpose I was born and for this purpose ^(HJ)I have come into the world—^(HK)to bear witness to the truth. ^(HL)Everyone who is ^(HM)of the truth ^(HN)listens to my voice.” ³⁸ Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”

After he had said this, ^(HO)he went back outside to the Jews and told them, ^(HP)“I find no guilt in him. ^39 (HQ)But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” ⁴⁰ They cried out again, ^(HR)“Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.^[m]

Jesus Delivered to Be Crucified

19 Then Pilate took Jesus and ^(HS)flogged him. ^2 (HT)And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. ³ They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. ⁴ Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that ^(HU)I find no guilt in him.” ⁵ So Jesus came out, wearing ^(HV)the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, ^(HW)“Behold the man!” ⁶ When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, ^(HX)“Take him yourselves and crucify him, for ^(HY)I find no guilt in him.” ⁷ The Jews^[n] answered him, “We have a law, and ^(HZ)according to that law he ought to die because ^(IA)he has made himself the Son of God.” ⁸ When Pilate heard this statement, ^(IB)he was even more afraid. ^9 (IC)He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, ^(ID)“Where are you from?” But ^(IE)Jesus gave him no answer. ¹⁰ So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” ¹¹ Jesus answered him, ^(IF)“You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore ^(IG)he who delivered me over to you ^(IH)has the greater sin.”

¹² From then on ^(II)Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. ^(IJ)Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” ¹³ So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on ^(IK)the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic^[o] Gabbatha. ¹⁴ Now it was ^(IL)the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour.^[p] He said to the Jews, ^(IM)“Behold your King!” ¹⁵ They cried out, ^(IN)“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.” ^16 (IO)So he ^(IP)delivered him over to them to be crucified.

The Crucifixion

So they took Jesus, ¹⁷ and ^(IQ)he went out, ^(IR)bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. ^18 (IS)There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. ¹⁹ Pilate ^(IT)also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” ²⁰ Many of the Jews read this inscription, for ^(IU)the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. ²¹ So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” ²² Pilate answered, ^(IV)“What I have written I have written.”

^23 (IW)When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic.^[q] But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, ²⁴ so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” ^(IX)This was to fulfill the Scripture which says,

So the soldiers did these things, ^25 (IZ)but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. ²⁶ When Jesus saw his mother and ^(JA)the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, ^(JB)“Woman, behold, your son!” ²⁷ Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to ^(JC)his own home.

The Death of Jesus

²⁸ After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now ^(JD)finished, said (^(JE)to fulfill the Scripture), ^(JF)“I thirst.” ²⁹ A jar full of sour wine stood there, ^(JG)so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. ³⁰ When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, ^(JH)“It is finished,” and he bowed his head and ^(JI)gave up his spirit.

Jesus' Side Is Pierced

³¹ Since it was ^(JJ)the day of Preparation, and ^(JK)so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was ^(JL)a high day), the Jews 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, and of the other ^(JM)who had been crucified with him. ³³ But when they came to Jesus and 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 at once there came out ^(JN)blood and water. ^35 (JO)He who saw it has borne witness—^(JP)his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—^(JQ)that you also may believe. ^36 (JR)For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: ^(JS)“Not one of his bones ^(JT)will be broken.” ³⁷ And again another Scripture says, ^(JU)“They will look on him whom they have pierced.”

Jesus Is Buried

^38 (JV)After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly ^(JW)for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. ^39 (JX)Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus^[r] by night, came ^(JY)bringing a mixture of ^(JZ)myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds^[s] in weight. ⁴⁰ So they took the body of Jesus and ^(KA)bound it in ^(KB)linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. ⁴¹ Now in the place where he was crucified there was a ^(KC)garden, and ^(KD)in the garden a new tomb ^(KE)in which no one had yet been laid. ⁴² So because of the Jewish ^(KF)day of Preparation, ^(KG)since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.

The Resurrection

20 ^(KH)Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that ^(KI)the stone had been taken away from the tomb. ² So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, ^(KJ)the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and ^(KK)we do not know where they have laid him.” ^3 (KL)So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. ⁴ Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. ⁵ And stooping to look in, he saw ^(KM)the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. ⁶ Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, ⁷ and ^(KN)the face cloth, which had been on Jesus'^[t] head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. ⁸ Then the other disciple, ^(KO)who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; ⁹ for as yet ^(KP)they did not understand the Scripture, ^(KQ)that he must rise from the dead. ¹⁰ Then the disciples went back to their homes.

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

¹¹ But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. ¹² And ^(KR)she saw ^(KS)two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. ¹³ They said to her, ^(KT)“Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, ^(KU)“They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” ¹⁴ Having said this, she turned around and ^(KV)saw Jesus standing, ^(KW)but she did not know that it was Jesus. ¹⁵ Jesus said to her, ^(KX)“Woman, why are you weeping? ^(KY)Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be ^(KZ)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 in Aramaic,^{[u] (LA)}“Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). ¹⁷ Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to ^(LB)my brothers and say to them, ^(LC)‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to ^(LD)my God and your God.’” ¹⁸ Mary Magdalene ^(LE)went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

^19 (LF)On the evening ^(LG)of that day, the first day of the week, ^(LH)the doors being locked where the disciples were ^(LI)for fear of the Jews,^[v] Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ^(LJ)“Peace be with you.” ²⁰ When he had said this, ^(LK)he showed them his hands and his side. Then ^(LL)the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. ²¹ Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As ^(LM)the Father has sent me, ^(LN)even so I am sending you.” ²² And when he had said this, he ^(LO)breathed on them and said to them, ^(LP)“Receive the Holy Spirit. ^23 (LQ)If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

Jesus and Thomas

²⁴ Now ^(LR)Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin,^[w] was not with them when Jesus came. ²⁵ So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, ^(LS)“Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

²⁶ Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. ^(LT)Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ^(LU)“Peace be with you.” ²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, ^(LV)“Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” ²⁸ Thomas answered him, ^(LW)“My Lord and my God!” ²⁹ Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? ^(LX)Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

The Purpose of This Book

^30 (LY)Now Jesus did many other signs ^(LZ)in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; ^31 (MA)but these are written so that you may ^(MB)believe that Jesus is the Christ, ^(MC)the Son of God, and that by believing ^(MD)you may have life ^(ME)in his name.

Jesus Appears to Seven Disciples

21 After this Jesus ^(MF)revealed himself ^(MG)again to the disciples by ^(MH)the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. ² Simon Peter, ^(MI)Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of ^(MJ)Cana in Galilee, ^(MK)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 go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but ^(ML)that night they caught nothing.

⁴ Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples ^(MM)did not know that it was Jesus. ^5 (MN)Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” ^6 (MO)He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. ⁷ That disciple ^(MP)whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, ^(MQ)he put on his outer garment, for he was ^(MR)stripped for work, and ^(MS)threw himself into the sea. ⁸ The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards^[x] off.

⁹ When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. ¹⁰ Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” ¹¹ So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. ¹² Jesus said to them, ^(MT)“Come and ^(MU)have breakfast.” Now ^(MV)none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. ¹³ Jesus came and ^(MW)took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. ^14 (MX)This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Jesus and Peter

¹⁵ When they had ^(MY)finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ^(MZ)“Simon, ^(NA)son of John, ^(NB)do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed ^(NC)my lambs.” ¹⁶ He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, ^(ND)“Tend ^(NE)my sheep.” ¹⁷ He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him ^(NF)the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, ^(NG)you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed ^(NH)my sheep. ^18 (NI)Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, ^(NJ)you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” ¹⁹ (This he said to show ^(NK)by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, ^(NL)“Follow me.”

Jesus and the Beloved Apostle

²⁰ Peter turned and saw ^(NM)the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, ^(NN)the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” ²¹ When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” ²² Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain ^(NO)until ^(NP)I come, what is that to you? ^(NQ)You follow me!” ²³ So the saying spread abroad among ^(NR)the brothers^[y] that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”

²⁴ This is the disciple ^(NS)who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and ^(NT)we know ^(NU)that his testimony is true.

²⁵ Now ^(NV)there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that ^(NW)the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

The Promise of the Holy Spirit

1 In the first book, O ^(NX)Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began ^(NY)to do and teach, ² until the day when ^(NZ)he was taken up, after he ^(OA)had given commands ^(OB)through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. ^3 (OC)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.

⁴ And while staying^[z] with them ^(OD)he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; ⁵ for ^(OE)John baptized with water, ^(OF)but you will be baptized ^(OG)with^[aa] the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

The Ascension

⁶ So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, ^(OH)will you at this time ^(OI)restore the kingdom to Israel?” ⁷ He said to them, ^(OJ)“It is not for you to know ^(OK)times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. ⁸ But you will receive ^(OL)power ^(OM)when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and ^(ON)you will be ^(OO)my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and ^(OP)Samaria, and ^(OQ)to the end of the earth.” ⁹ And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, ^(OR)he was lifted up, and ^(OS)a cloud took him out of their sight. ¹⁰ And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, ^(OT)two ^(OU)men stood by them in ^(OV)white robes, ¹¹ and said, ^(OW)“Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, ^(OX)will ^(OY)come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas

¹² Then ^(OZ)they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away. ¹³ And when they had entered, they went up to ^(PA)the upper room, where they were staying, ^(PB)Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon ^(PC)the Zealot and Judas the son of James. ¹⁴ All these ^(PD)with one accord ^(PE)were devoting themselves to prayer, together with ^(PF)the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and ^(PG)his brothers.^[ab]

¹⁵ In those days Peter stood up among ^(PH)the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, ¹⁶ “Brothers, ^(PI)the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, ^(PJ)who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. ¹⁷ For ^(PK)he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in ^(PL)this ministry.” ¹⁸ (Now this man ^(PM)acquired a field with ^(PN)the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong^[ac] he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. ¹⁹ And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called ^(PO)in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) ²⁰ “For it is written in the Book of Psalms,

and

²¹ So one of the men who have accompanied us during ^(PR)all the time that the Lord Jesus ^(PS)went in and out among us, ^22 (PT)beginning from the baptism of John until the day when ^(PU)he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us ^(PV)a witness to his resurrection.” ²³ And they put forward two, Joseph called ^(PW)Barsabbas, who was also called ^(PX)Justus, and ^(PY)Matthias. ²⁴ And ^(PZ)they prayed and said, “You, Lord, ^(QA)who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen ²⁵ to take the place in ^(QB)this ministry and ^(QC)apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” ²⁶ And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

The Coming of the Holy Spirit

2 When ^(QD)the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. ² And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like ^(QE)a mighty rushing wind, and ^(QF)it filled the entire house where they were sitting. ³ And divided tongues ^(QG)as of fire appeared to them and rested^[ad] on each one of them. ⁴ And they were all ^(QH)filled with the Holy Spirit and began ^(QI)to speak in other tongues ^(QJ)as the Spirit gave them utterance.

⁵ Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. ⁶ And ^(QK)at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. ⁷ And ^(QL)they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking ^(QM)Galileans? ⁸ And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? ⁹ Parthians and ^(QN)Medes and ^(QO)Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰ Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, ¹¹ both Jews and ^(QP)proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” ¹² And ^(QQ)all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” ¹³ But others ^(QR)mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”

Peter's Sermon at Pentecost

¹⁴ 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. ¹⁵ For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, ^(QS)since it is only the third hour of the day.^{[ae] 16} But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

²² “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, ^(RB)a man attested to you by God ^(RC)with ^(RD)mighty works and wonders and signs that ^(RE)God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— ²³ this Jesus,^{[af] (RF)}delivered up according to ^(RG)the definite plan and ^(RH)foreknowledge of God, ^(RI)you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. ^24 (RJ)God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because ^(RK)it was not possible for him to be held by it. ²⁵ For David says concerning him,

²⁹ “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about ^(RR)the patriarch David ^(RS)that he both died and ^(RT)was buried, and ^(RU)his tomb is with us to this day. ^30 (RV)Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that ^(RW)God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, ³¹ he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that ^(RX)he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. ³² This Jesus ^(RY)God raised up, ^(RZ)and of that we all are witnesses. ^33 (SA)Being therefore ^(SB)exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from ^(SC)the Father ^(SD)the promise of the Holy Spirit, ^(SE)he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. ³⁴ For ^(SF)David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,

³⁶ Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that ^(SH)God has made him ^(SI)both Lord and Christ, this Jesus ^(SJ)whom you crucified.”

³⁷ Now when ^(SK)they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, ^(SL)what shall we do?” ³⁸ And Peter said to them, ^(SM)“Repent and ^(SN)be baptized every one of you ^(SO)in the name of Jesus Christ ^(SP)for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive ^(SQ)the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ For ^(SR)the promise is for you and ^(SS)for your children and for all ^(ST)who are far off, everyone ^(SU)whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” ⁴⁰ And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, ^(SV)“Save yourselves from this ^(SW)crooked generation.” ⁴¹ So those who received his word were baptized, and ^(SX)there were added that day about three thousand souls.

The Fellowship of the Believers

⁴² And ^(SY)they devoted themselves to the apostles' ^(SZ)teaching and the ^(TA)fellowship, to ^(TB)the breaking of bread and the prayers. ⁴³ And awe^[ag] came upon every soul, and ^(TC)many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. ⁴⁴ And all who believed were together and ^(TD)had all things in common. ⁴⁵ And ^(TE)they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. ⁴⁶ And day by day, ^(TF)attending the temple ^(TG)together and ^(TH)breaking bread in their homes, they received their food ^(TI)with glad and generous hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and ^(TJ)having favor with all the people. And the Lord ^(TK)added to their number ^(TL)day by day those who ^(TM)were being saved.

The Lame Beggar Healed

3 Now Peter and John were ^(TN)going up to the temple at ^(TO)the hour of prayer, ^(TP)the ninth hour.^{[ah] 2} And a man ^(TQ)lame from birth was being carried, ^(TR)whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate ^(TS)to ask alms of those entering the temple. ³ Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. ⁴ And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” ⁵ And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. ⁶ But Peter said, ^(TT)“I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. ^(TU)In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” ⁷ And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. ⁸ And ^(TV)leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. ⁹ And ^(TW)all the people saw him walking and praising God, ¹⁰ and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Peter Speaks in Solomon's Portico

^11 (TX)While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in ^(TY)the portico called Solomon's. ¹² And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? ^13 (TZ)The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, ^(UA)the God of our fathers, ^(UB)glorified his servant^[ai] Jesus, whom ^(UC)you delivered over and ^(UD)denied in the presence of Pilate, ^(UE)when he had decided to release him. ¹⁴ But you denied ^(UF)the Holy and ^(UG)Righteous One, and ^(UH)asked for a murderer to be granted to you, ¹⁵ and you killed ^(UI)the Author of life, ^(UJ)whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. ¹⁶ And ^(UK)his name—by ^(UL)faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is ^(UM)through Jesus^[aj] has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.

¹⁷ “And now, brothers, I know that ^(UN)you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. ¹⁸ But what God ^(UO)foretold ^(UP)by the mouth of all the prophets, that ^(UQ)his Christ would ^(UR)suffer, he thus fulfilled. ^19 (US)Repent therefore, and ^(UT)turn back, that ^(UU)your sins may be blotted out, ²⁰ that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ ^(UV)appointed for you, Jesus, ^21 (UW)whom heaven must receive until the time for ^(UX)restoring all the things about which ^(UY)God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. ²² Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you ^(UZ)a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen ^(VA)to him in whatever he tells you. ²³ And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet ^(VB)shall be destroyed from the people.’ ²⁴ And ^(VC)all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. ^25 (VD)You are the sons of the prophets and of ^(VE)the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ^(VF)‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ ^26 (VG)God, ^(VH)having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, ^(VI)to bless you ^(VJ)by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”

Peter and John Before the Council

4 And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and ^(VK)the captain of the temple and ^(VL)the Sadducees came upon them, ² greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming ^(VM)in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. ³ And they arrested them and ^(VN)put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. ⁴ But many of those who had heard the word believed, and ^(VO)the number of the men came to about five thousand.

⁵ On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, ⁶ with ^(VP)Annas the high priest and ^(VQ)Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. ⁷ And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, ^(VR)“By what power or ^(VS)by what name did you do this?” ⁸ Then Peter, ^(VT)filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, ⁹ if we are being examined today ^(VU)concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, ¹⁰ let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that ^(VV)by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, ^(VW)whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. ^11 (VX)This Jesus^[ak] is the stone that was ^(VY)rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.^{[al] 12} And there is ^(VZ)salvation ^(WA)in no one else, for ^(WB)there is no other ^(WC)name under heaven given among men^[am] by which we must be saved.”

^13 (WD)Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. ¹⁴ But seeing the man who was healed ^(WE)standing beside them, ^(WF)they had nothing to say in opposition. ¹⁵ But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, ¹⁶ saying, ^(WG)“What shall we do with these men? For that ^(WH)a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. ¹⁷ But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them ^(WI)to speak no more to anyone in this name.” ¹⁸ So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. ¹⁹ But Peter and John answered them, ^(WJ)“Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, ²⁰ for ^(WK)we cannot but speak of what ^(WL)we have seen and heard.” ²¹ And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, ^(WM)because of the people, for all were praising God ^(WN)for what had happened. ²² For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.

The Believers Pray for Boldness

²³ When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. ²⁴ And when they heard it, they lifted their voices ^(WO)together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, ^(WP)who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, ²⁵ who through the mouth of our father David, your servant,^[an] said by the Holy Spirit,

²⁷ for truly in this city there were gathered together against your ^(WT)holy servant Jesus, ^(WU)whom you anointed, both ^(WV)Herod and ^(WW)Pontius Pilate, along ^(WX)with the Gentiles and ^(WY)the peoples of Israel, ^28 (WZ)to do whatever your hand and ^(XA)your plan had predestined to take place. ²⁹ And now, Lord, ^(XB)look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all ^(XC)boldness, ³⁰ while ^(XD)you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed ^(XE)through the name of your ^(XF)holy servant Jesus.” ³¹ And when they had prayed, ^(XG)the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and ^(XH)they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and ^(XI)continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

They Had Everything in Common

³² Now the full number of those who believed were of ^(XJ)one heart and ^(XK)soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but ^(XL)they had everything in common. ³³ And with great ^(XM)power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and ^(XN)great grace was upon them all. ^34 (XO)There was not a needy person among them, for ^(XP)as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold ³⁵ and ^(XQ)laid it at the apostles' feet, and ^(XR)it was distributed to each as any had need. ³⁶ Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means ^(XS)son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, ³⁷ sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and ^(XT)laid it at the apostles' feet.

Ananias and Sapphira

5 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, ² and with his wife's knowledge ^(XU)he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and ^(XV)laid it at the apostles' feet. ³ But Peter said, “Ananias, why has ^(XW)Satan filled your heart to lie ^(XX)to the Holy Spirit and ^(XY)to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? ⁴ While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but ^(XZ)to God.” ⁵ When Ananias heard these words, he ^(YA)fell down and breathed his last. And ^(YB)great fear came upon all who heard of it. ⁶ The young men rose and ^(YC)wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.

⁷ After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. ⁸ And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you^[ap] sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” ⁹ But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together ^(YD)to test ^(YE)the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” ¹⁰ 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. ¹¹ And ^(YF)great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.

Many Signs and Wonders Done

¹² Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people ^(YG)by the hands of the apostles. And they were all ^(YH)together in ^(YI)Solomon's Portico. ¹³ None of the rest dared join them, but ^(YJ)the people held them in high esteem. ¹⁴ And ^(YK)more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, ^15 (YL)so that they even ^(YM)carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by ^(YN)at least his shadow might fall on some of them. ¹⁶ The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, ^(YO)bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

The Apostles Arrested and Freed

¹⁷ But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of ^(YP)the Sadducees), and filled with ^(YQ)jealousy ¹⁸ they arrested the apostles and ^(YR)put them in the public prison. ¹⁹ But during the night ^(YS)an angel of the Lord ^(YT)opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, ²⁰ “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all ^(YU)the words of ^(YV)this ^(YW)Life.” ²¹ And when they heard this, ^(YX)they entered the temple ^(YY)at daybreak and began to teach.

Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. ²² But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, ²³ “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.” ²⁴ Now when ^(YZ)the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. ²⁵ And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison ^(ZA)are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” ²⁶ Then ^(ZB)the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for ^(ZC)they were afraid of being stoned by the people.

²⁷ And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, ²⁸ saying, ^(ZD)“We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you ^(ZE)intend to bring this man's blood upon us.” ²⁹ But Peter and the apostles answered, ^(ZF)“We must obey God rather than men. ^30 (ZG)The God of our fathers ^(ZH)raised Jesus, ^(ZI)whom you killed by hanging him on ^(ZJ)a tree. ³¹ God exalted ^(ZK)him at his right hand as ^(ZL)Leader and ^(ZM)Savior, ^(ZN)to give ^(ZO)repentance to Israel and ^(ZP)forgiveness of sins. ³² And ^(ZQ)we are witnesses to these things, and ^(ZR)so is the Holy Spirit, ^(ZS)whom God has given to those who obey him.”

³³ When they heard this, they ^(ZT)were enraged and wanted to kill them. ³⁴ But a Pharisee in the council named ^(ZU)Gamaliel, ^(ZV)a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. ³⁵ And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. ³⁶ For ^(ZW)before these days Theudas rose up, ^(ZX)claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. ³⁷ After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of ^(ZY)the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. ³⁸ So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for ^(ZZ)if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; ³⁹ but ^(AAA)if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You ^(AAB)might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice, ⁴⁰ and ^(AAC)when they had called in the apostles, ^(AAD)they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. ⁴¹ Then they left the presence of the council, ^(AAE)rejoicing that they were counted worthy ^(AAF)to suffer dishonor for ^(AAG)the name. ⁴² And every day, ^(AAH)in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and ^(AAI)preaching ^(AAJ)that the Christ is Jesus.

Seven Chosen to Serve

6 Now in these days ^(AAK)when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists^[aq] arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in ^(AAL)the daily distribution. ² And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. ^3 (AAM)Therefore, brothers,^[ar] pick out from among you seven men ^(AAN)of good repute, ^(AAO)full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. ⁴ But ^(AAP)we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” ⁵ And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, ^(AAQ)a man full of faith and ^(AAR)of the Holy Spirit, and ^(AAS)Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, ^(AAT)a proselyte of Antioch. ⁶ These they set before the apostles, and ^(AAU)they prayed and ^(AAV)laid their hands on them.

⁷ And ^(AAW)the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests ^(AAX)became obedient to ^(AAY)the faith.