Bible in 90 Days

The Arrest of Stephen

⁸ Now Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. ⁹ Then some men rose up from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and of Asia), disputing with Stephen. ¹⁰ But they were not able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.

¹¹ Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.”

¹² So they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and came upon him and seized him and led him to the Sanhedrin, ¹³ and set up false witnesses who said, “This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law. ¹⁴ For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place, and will change the customs which Moses handed down to us.”

¹⁵ All who sat in the Sanhedrin, gazing at him, saw his face as the face of an angel.

Stephen’s Speech

7 Then the high priest said, “Are these things so?”

² He said, “Brothers and fathers, listen! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Harran, ³ and said to him, ‘Leave your country and your relatives, and come to the land which I will show you.’^[a]

⁴ “Then he departed from the land of the Chaldeans and lived in Harran. When his father died, He removed him from there to this land in which you now live. ⁵ He gave him no inheritance in it, nor a foothold, and promised to give it to him as a possession and to his descendants after him while he had no child. ⁶ God spoke in this way, ‘Your descendants shall be sojourners in a land belonging to others, who will enslave them and mistreat them four hundred years.^{[b] 7} And I will judge the nation to whom they will be enslaved,’^[c] said God. ‘After that they shall come out and worship Me in this place.’^{[d] 8} Then He gave him the covenant of circumcision. And Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day. And Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.

⁹ “The patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him, ¹⁰ and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who appointed him governor over Egypt and all his house.

¹¹ “Then a famine came over all Egypt and Canaan with great affliction, and our fathers found no sustenance. ¹² But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers the first time. ¹³ During the second time Joseph was made known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family became known to Pharaoh. ¹⁴ Then Joseph sent and called for his father Jacob and all his kindred, seventy-five souls. ¹⁵ Then Jacob went down into Egypt. And he and our fathers died, ¹⁶ and were carried to Shechem and put in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a price of silver from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem.

¹⁷ “When the time of the promise drew near, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt ¹⁸ until another king rose up who did not know Joseph.^{[e] 19} He dealt deceitfully with our people and mistreated our fathers, forcing them to put out their young children, that they might not live.

²⁰ “At that time Moses was born, and was fair in the sight of God. And he was reared for three months in his father’s house. ²¹ When he was put out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up and reared him as her own son. ²² Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in words and in deeds.

²³ “When he was forty years old, it came to his heart to visit his brothers, the sons of Israel. ²⁴ But seeing one being wronged, he defended him, and avenged him who was oppressed, and struck the Egyptian. ²⁵ He supposed that his brothers would understand that God would deliver them by his hand, but they did not understand. ²⁶ On the next day he appeared to them as they fought and tried to reconcile them in peace, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers. Why do you wrong each other?’^[f]

²⁷ “But the one wronging his neighbor pushed him away, saying, ‘Who appointed you a ruler and a judge over us? ²⁸ Will you kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’^{[g] 29} Moses fled at this word and became a sojourner in the land of Midian,^[h] where he became the father of two sons.

³⁰ “When forty years had passed, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush.^{[i] 31} When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight. As he drew near to look at it, the voice of the Lord came to him, saying, ³² ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.’^[j] Moses trembled and dared not look.

³³ “Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off the shoes from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.^{[k] 34} I have indeed seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt. I have heard their groaning, and I have come down to deliver them. Now come, I will send you to Egypt.’^[l]

³⁵ “This Moses, whom they rejected, saying, ‘Who appointed you a ruler and a judge?’^[m] God sent as both ruler and redeemer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. ³⁶ He led them out after he had shown wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and at the Red Sea, and for forty years in the wilderness.

³⁷ “This is the Moses who said to the sons of Israel, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. Him you shall hear.’^{[n] 38} This is he who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, who received living oracles to give to us, ³⁹ whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust away. And in their hearts they turned back to Egypt, ⁴⁰ saying to Aaron, ‘Make for us gods to go before us. For we do not know what has become of this Moses, who led us out of the land of Egypt.’^{[o] 41} So they made a calf in those days, and offered a sacrifice to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their hands. ⁴² But God turned and gave them up to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the Prophets:

⁴⁴ “Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, telling Moses to make it as He had commanded, according to the pattern that he had seen, ⁴⁵ which our fathers, having received it, brought with Joshua into the land possessed by the Gentiles, whom God drove out in front of our fathers until the days of David, ⁴⁶ who found favor in the presence of God and asked to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. ⁴⁷ But Solomon built Him a house.

⁴⁸ “However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made with hands. As the prophet says:

⁵¹ “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. ⁵² Which of the prophets have your fathers not persecuted? They have even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, of whom you have now become the betrayers and murderers, ⁵³ who have received the law by the disposition of angels, but have not kept it.”

The Stoning of Stephen

⁵⁴ When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed their teeth at him. ⁵⁵ But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, ⁵⁶ and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

⁵⁷ Then they cried out with a loud voice, closed their ears, and rushed at him in unison. ⁵⁸ And they threw him out of the city and stoned him. The witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.

⁵⁹ They stoned Stephen as he was calling on God, praying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” ⁶⁰ Then he knelt down and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” Having said this, he fell asleep.

8 And Saul was consenting to his death.

Saul Persecutes the Church

On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem. And they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. ² Devout men carried Stephen to his burial and made great lamentation over him. ³ But Saul ravaged the church, entering house by house and dragging out both men and women and committing them to prison.

The Gospel Preached in Samaria

⁴ Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. ⁵ Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. ⁶ When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miracles which he did, they listened in unity to what he said. ⁷ For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed. And many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. ⁸ So there was much joy in that city.

Simon the Sorcerer Believes

⁹ Now a man named Simon was previously in the city practicing sorcery and astonishing the nation of Samaria, saying he was someone great, ¹⁰ to whom they all listened, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God.” ¹¹ They listened to him, because for a long time he had astonished them by his sorceries. ¹² But when they believed Philip preaching about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. ¹³ Even Simon himself believed. And when he was baptized, he continued with Philip and was amazed as he watched the miracles and signs which were done.

Samaritans Receive the Holy Spirit

¹⁴ Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. ¹⁵ When they came down, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, ¹⁶ for still He had come on none of them. They were only baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ¹⁷ Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

¹⁸ When Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, ¹⁹ saying, “Give me also this power, that whomever I lay hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.”

²⁰ Peter said to him, “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could purchase the gift of God with money! ²¹ You have neither part nor share in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. ²² Therefore repent of your wickedness, and ask God if perhaps the intention of your heart may be forgiven you. ²³ For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.”

²⁴ Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me that nothing you have spoken may come upon me.”

²⁵ When they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch

²⁶ Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise up and go toward the south on the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert. ²⁷ So he rose up and went. And there was a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in command of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship. ²⁸ He was returning, sitting in his chariot and reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. ²⁹ The Spirit said to Philip, “Go to this chariot and stay with it.”

³⁰ Then Philip ran to him, and heard him read the book of Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

³¹ He said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

³² The passage of Scripture which he was reading was this:

³⁴ The eunuch said to Philip, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet speak, of himself or of someone else?” ³⁵ Then Philip spoke, beginning with the same Scripture, and preached Jesus to him.

³⁶ As they went on their way, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” ³⁷ Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” He answered, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” ³⁸ And he commanded the chariot to halt. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. ³⁹ When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord took Philip away. And the eunuch saw him no more, and he went his way rejoicing. ⁴⁰ But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached the gospel in all the cities until he came to Caesarea.

The Conversion of Saul^(A)

9 Saul, still breathing out threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, ² and requested letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any there of the Way, either men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. ³ As he went he drew near Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. ⁴ He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?”

⁵ He said, “Who are You, Lord?”

The Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” ⁶ Trembling and astonished, he said, “Lord, what will You have me do?” The Lord said to him, “Rise up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

⁷ The men traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice, but seeing no one. ⁸ Saul rose up from the ground. And when his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. ⁹ For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

¹⁰ A disciple named Ananias was in Damascus. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.”

He said, “Here I am, Lord.”

¹¹ The Lord said to him, “Rise and go to Straight Street, and inquire at Judas’ house for someone named Saul of Tarsus, for he is praying, ¹² and has seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he may see again.”

¹³ Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how many evil things he has done to Your saints at Jerusalem. ¹⁴ And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”

¹⁵ But the Lord said to him, “Go your way. For this man is a chosen vessel of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and their kings, and before the sons of Israel. ¹⁶ For I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

¹⁷ Then Ananias went his way and entered the house. Putting his hands on him, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the way as you came, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” ¹⁸ Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he could see again. And he rose up and was baptized. ¹⁹ When he had eaten, he was strengthened.

Saul Preaches in Damascus

For several days Saul was with the disciples in Damascus. ²⁰ Immediately he preached in the synagogues that the Christ is the Son of God. ²¹ All who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this he who killed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and came here with that intent, to bring them bound to the chief priests?” ²² Yet Saul increased all the more with power and confounded the Jews living in Damascus, proving that this One is the Christ.

Saul Escapes from the Jews

²³ After many days had passed, the Jews arranged to kill him. ²⁴ But their scheme was known by Saul. They watched the gates day and night to kill him. ²⁵ But the disciples took him by night, and lowered him in a basket through the wall.

Saul in Jerusalem

²⁶ When Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples. But they all feared him, not believing he was a disciple. ²⁷ But Barnabas took him, and led him to the apostles, and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had boldly preached in Damascus in the name of Jesus. ²⁸ So he stayed with them while coming in and going out of Jerusalem. ²⁹ And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists. But they tried to kill him. ³⁰ When the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him off to Tarsus.

³¹ Then the churches throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and were built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.

The Healing of Aeneas

³² As Peter passed through every region, he came down also to the saints who lived in Lydda. ³³ There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years and was paralyzed. ³⁴ Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Rise up and make your bed.” And immediately he rose up. ³⁵ All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.

Dorcas Restored to Life

³⁶ In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and almsgiving. ³⁷ In those days she became ill and died. And when they had washed her, they placed her in an upper room. ³⁸ Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, pleading, “Do not delay to come to us.”

³⁹ Peter rose up and went with them. When he arrived, they led him into the upper room. All the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them.

⁴⁰ Peter put them all outside and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. ⁴¹ He gave her his hand and lifted her up. And when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive. ⁴² It became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. ⁴³ He remained in Joppa for many days with Simon, a tanner.

Peter and Cornelius

10 In Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, the centurion^[s] of a band of soldiers called the Italian Detachment, ² a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave many alms to the people and continually prayed to God. ³ About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius.”

⁴ When he looked at him he was afraid, and said, “What is it, Lord?”

He said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up as a memorial before God. ⁵ Now send men to Joppa, and bring back Simon whose surname is Peter. ⁶ He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do.”

⁷ When the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who continually waited on him. ⁸ When he had explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

⁹ The next day as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray about the sixth hour. ¹⁰ He became very hungry and desired to eat. But while they prepared a meal, he fell into a trance ¹¹ and saw heaven opened, and a vessel like a great sheet, tied at the four corners, descending to him, and let down to the earth. ¹² In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth and wild beasts and reptiles and birds of the air. ¹³ Then a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”

¹⁴ Peter said, “Not at all, Lord. For I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.”

¹⁵ The voice spoke to him a second time: “What God has cleansed, do not call common.”

¹⁶ This happened three times. And again the vessel was taken up into heaven.

¹⁷ Now while Peter wondered what this vision which he had seen might mean, the men who were sent by Cornelius had inquired for Simon’s house and stood at the gate, ¹⁸ and called and asked whether Simon, who was surnamed Peter, was lodging there.

¹⁹ While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Three men are looking for you. ²⁰ So rise and go down, and go with them, doubting nothing. For I have sent them.”

²¹ Then Peter went down to the men who were sent to him by Cornelius and said, “Here I am, the one you are seeking. Why have you come?”

²² They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a man who is righteous and fears God and is of good report throughout the nation of the Jews, was directed by a holy angel to summon you to his house to hear your words.” ²³ Then he invited them in and gave them lodging.

The next day Peter went with them, and some brothers from Joppa accompanied him. ²⁴ And the next day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends. ²⁵ As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshipped him. ²⁶ But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up. I myself am a man.”

²⁷ As he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. ²⁸ He said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jew to visit or approach a foreigner. But God has shown me not to call any man common or unclean. ²⁹ So when I was sent for, I came without question. Therefore I ask why you have sent for me.”

³⁰ Cornelius said, “Four days ago I was fasting until this hour. At the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and suddenly a man stood before me in bright clothing, ³¹ and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered before God. ³² Therefore send to Joppa for Simon, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. When he comes, he will speak to you.’ ³³ So immediately I sent for you, and you have done well to come. Now therefore we are all here, present before God, to hear everything the Lord has commanded you.”

Peter Speaks in Cornelius’ House

³⁴ Then Peter began to speak, saying, “Truthfully, I perceive that God is no respecter of persons. ³⁵ But in every nation he who fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. ³⁶ The word which He sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all, ³⁷ the word, which you know, that was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: ³⁸ how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

³⁹ “We are witnesses of all that He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. ⁴⁰ But God raised Him on the third day and presented Him publicly, ⁴¹ not to all the people, but to witnesses previously chosen by God, to us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead. ⁴² He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be the Judge of the living and the dead. ⁴³ To Him all the prophets bear witness that whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins through His name.”

Gentiles Receive the Holy Spirit

⁴⁴ While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the word. ⁴⁵ All the believers of the circumcision who had come with Peter were astonished, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. ⁴⁶ For they heard them speaking in other tongues and magnifying God.

Then Peter continued, ⁴⁷ “Can anyone forbid water for baptizing these, who have received the Holy Spirit as we have?” ⁴⁸ So he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.

Peter’s Report to the Church in Jerusalem

11 The apostles and the brothers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. ² So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, those who were circumcised disputed with him, ³ saying, “You went in and ate with uncircumcised men!”

⁴ Peter began explaining it to them in order, saying, ⁵ “I was in the city of Joppa praying. And in a trance I saw a vision: A vessel like a great sheet was descending, let down from heaven by four corners, and it came to me. ⁶ I considered what I had observed and saw four-footed creatures and wild beasts and reptiles and birds of the air. ⁷ Then I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’

⁸ “I said, ‘Not at all, Lord. For nothing common or unclean has at any time entered my mouth.’

⁹ “The voice answered from heaven a second time, ‘What God has cleansed, do not call common.’ ¹⁰ This happened three times. And again everything was taken up into heaven.

¹¹ “And immediately three men sent from Caesarea to me came to the house where I was. ¹² The Spirit told me to go with them without hesitation. Moreover these six brothers came with me, and we entered the man’s house. ¹³ He told us how he had seen an angel in his house, who stood and said to him, ‘Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon whose surname is Peter. ¹⁴ He will speak words to you by which you and all your household will be saved.’

¹⁵ “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, as He fell on us at the beginning. ¹⁶ Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’^{[t] 17} If then God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to be able to hinder God?”

¹⁸ When they heard these things, they were silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then God has granted to the Gentiles also repentance unto life.”

The Church in Antioch

¹⁹ Now those who were scattered by the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, preaching the word to no one except Jews. ²⁰ Some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. ²¹ The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.

²² News of these things came to the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. ²³ When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and exhorted them all to remain with the Lord with a loyal heart. ²⁴ For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And many people were added to the Lord.

²⁵ Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul. ²⁶ When he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a considerable crowd. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

²⁷ In these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. ²⁸ One of them, named Agabus, stood up and prophesied by the Spirit that there would be a great famine throughout all the world, which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. ²⁹ Then every disciple, according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brothers who lived in Judea. ³⁰ Indeed they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

James Killed and Peter Imprisoned

12 About that time King Herod extended his hands to harm certain ones from the church. ² He killed James the brother of John with the sword. ³ Seeing that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to arrest Peter also. This happened during the Days of Unleavened Bread. ⁴ When he had seized him, he put him in prison and handed him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him before the people after the Passover.

⁵ So Peter was kept in prison. But the church prayed to God without ceasing for him.

Peter Delivered From Prison

⁶ The very night when Herod would have brought him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. And the guards before the door were securing the prison. ⁷ And suddenly an angel of the Lord approached him, and a light shone in the prison. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Rise up, quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands.

⁸ Then the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put your sandals on.” And he did so. Then he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” ⁹ He went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. ¹⁰ When they had passed the first and the second guards, they came to the iron gate leading to the city, which opened to them by itself. And they went out and went forward one street. And immediately the angel left him.

¹¹ When Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I certainly know that the Lord has sent His angel and delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”

¹² Realizing this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John, whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together praying. ¹³ As Peter knocked at the door of the porch, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. ¹⁴ When she recognized Peter’s voice, from joy she did not open the door, but ran in and announced that Peter was standing at the door.

¹⁵ They said to her, “You are insane.” But she insisted that it was really so. So they said, “It is his angel.”

¹⁶ But Peter continued knocking. And when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. ¹⁷ Motioning to them with his hand to be quiet, he described to them how the Lord had led him out of the prison. And he said, “Go, tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place.

¹⁸ Now when day came, there was a great disturbance among the soldiers about what had become of Peter. ¹⁹ When Herod had searched for him and did not find him, he examined the guards and commanded that they should be put to death.

Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.

The Death of Herod

²⁰ Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. But they came to him in unity, and having made Blastus, the king’s personal servant, their friend, they asked for peace, because their country was fed by the king’s country.

²¹ On an appointed day, Herod, dressed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave a public speech to them. ²² The mob shouted, “It is the voice of a god, and not of a man!” ²³ Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give God the glory. And he was eaten by worms and died.

²⁴ But the word of God spread and increased.

²⁵ When Barnabas and Saul had fulfilled their ministry, they returned from Jerusalem and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.

Barnabas and Saul Commissioned

13 In the church that was in Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. ² As they worshipped the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” ³ Then after fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

The Apostles Preach in Cyprus

⁴ So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. ⁵ When they arrived at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John as an assistant.

⁶ When they had gone through the whole island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a Jewish false prophet, whose name was Bar-Jesus, ⁷ who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. ⁸ But Elymas the sorcerer (which is his name by interpretation) opposed them, trying to divert the proconsul from the faith. ⁹ Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, stared at him and said, ¹⁰ “You son of the devil, enemy of all righteousness, full of deceit and of all fraud, will you not cease perverting the right ways of the Lord? ¹¹ Now, look! The hand of the Lord is against you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.”

Immediately mist and darkness fell on him, and he went about seeking someone to lead him by the hand. ¹² When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed and was astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

Paul and Barnabas in Antioch of Pisidia

¹³ Now when Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John departed from them and returned to Jerusalem. ¹⁴ But they departed from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. And they went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down. ¹⁵ After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say it.”

¹⁶ Then Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said: “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen. ¹⁷ The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they lived as foreigners in the land of Egypt, and with great power He led them out of it. ¹⁸ For about forty years He endured their conduct in the desert. ¹⁹ When He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He gave them their land as an inheritance by lot.

²⁰ “After about four hundred and fifty years, God gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. ²¹ Then they requested a king. And God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. ²² When He had removed him, He raised up David to be their king, of whom He testified, saying, ‘I have found David^[u] the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will fulfill My entire will.’^[v]

²³ “From this man’s descendants God has raised a Savior for Israel, Jesus, according to His promise. ²⁴ Before His coming John had preached a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. ²⁵ As John was fulfilling his course, he said, ‘Who do you think I am? I am not He. But look! He is coming after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’^[w]

²⁶ “Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those of you who fear God, the word of this salvation has been sent to us. ²⁷ Because those who live in Jerusalem, and their rulers, did not know Him, in condemning Him they have fulfilled the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath. ²⁸ Though they found in Him no cause worthy of death, yet they asked Pilate to have Him killed. ²⁹ When they had fulfilled all that was written of Him, they took Him down from the tree and placed Him in a tomb. ³⁰ But God raised Him from the dead, ³¹ and for many days He appeared to those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now His witnesses to the people.

³² “We preach to you good news: The promise which was made to the fathers, ³³ God has fulfilled to us, their children, raising Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm:

³⁴ That He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken in this way:

³⁵ So He says in another Psalm:

³⁶ “For after David had served by the counsel of God in his own generation, he fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw decay. ³⁷ But He whom God raised up saw no decay.

³⁸ “Therefore, brothers, let it be known to you that through this Man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, ³⁹ and by Him everyone who believes is justified from everything from which you could not be justified by the Law of Moses. ⁴⁰ Therefore beware, lest what is spoken of in the prophets come upon you:

⁴² When Paul and Barnabas went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles asked that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. ⁴³ When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.

⁴⁴ On the next Sabbath almost the whole city assembled to hear the word of God. ⁴⁵ But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, blaspheming and contradicting what Paul was saying.

⁴⁶ Then Paul and Barnabas boldly said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first. But seeing you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we are turning to the Gentiles. ⁴⁷ For thus has the Lord commanded us:

⁴⁸ When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And all who were ordained to eternal life believed.

⁴⁹ The word of the Lord was spread throughout the entire region. ⁵⁰ But the Jews stirred up the devout and honorable women and the chief men of the city, and raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them from their region. ⁵¹ So they shook off the dust of their feet against them and went to Iconium. ⁵² And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Paul and Barnabas in Iconium

14 At Iconium they entered the synagogue of the Jews together and so spoke that a great crowd of both Jews and Greeks believed. ² But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and embittered their minds against the brothers. ³ So they continued there a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to His gracious word, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. ⁴ But the people of the city were divided. Some sided with the Jews, and others with the apostles. ⁵ When an assault was planned by both Gentiles and Jews, with their leaders, to attack them and to stone them, ⁶ they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region. ⁷ And there they preached the gospel.

Paul and Barnabas in Lystra

⁸ In Lystra there sat a man, crippled in his feet, who had never walked and was lame from birth. ⁹ He heard Paul speaking, who looked intently at him and perceived that he had faith to be healed ¹⁰ and said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he jumped up and walked.

¹¹ When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” ¹² Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, because he was the main speaker. ¹³ The priest of Zeus, who was in front of the city, brought bulls and garlands to the gates to offer sacrifices with the crowds.

¹⁴ But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, ¹⁵ “Men, why are you doing this? We also are men, of like nature with you, preaching to you to turn from these vain things to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything that is in them, ¹⁶ who in times past allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. ¹⁷ Yet He did not leave Himself without witness, for He did good and gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying our hearts with food and gladness.” ¹⁸ With these words they scarcely restrained the crowds from sacrificing to them.

¹⁹ Then some Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there and persuaded the crowds. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing he was dead. ²⁰ But as the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. The next day he departed with Barnabas for Derbe.

The Return to Antioch in Syria

²¹ When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, ²² strengthening the minds of the disciples and exhorting them to continue in the faith, to go through many afflictions and thus enter the kingdom of God. ²³ When they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they believed. ²⁴ Then they passed throughout Pisidia and came to Pamphylia, ²⁵ and when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia.

²⁶ From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed. ²⁷ When they arrived and had assembled the church, they reported what God had done through them and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. ²⁸ And there they stayed a long time with the disciples.

The Council in Jerusalem

15 Some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised in the tradition of Moses, you cannot be saved.” ² Therefore when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain others among them, should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question. ³ So being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles, and they brought great joy to all the brothers. ⁴ When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared what God had done through them.

⁵ Then some believers of the sect of the Pharisees rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the Law of Moses.”

⁶ The apostles and elders assembled to consider this matter. ⁷ After much disputing, Peter rose up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that some time ago God decided among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. ⁸ God, who knows the heart, approved of them, giving them the Holy Spirit just as He did to us, ⁹ and made no distinction between them and us, and purified their hearts by faith. ¹⁰ Now then, why test God by putting a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? ¹¹ But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.”

¹² The entire assembly remained silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. ¹³ After they had become silent, James answered, “Brothers, listen to me. ¹⁴ Simon has declared how God first visited the Gentiles to take from among them a people for His name. ¹⁵ With this the words of the prophets agree. As it is written:

¹⁹ “Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who are turning to God, ²⁰ but that we write to them to abstain from food offered to idols, from sexual immorality, from strangled animals, and from blood. ²¹ For Moses has had in every city since early generations those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

The Reply of the Council

²² Then it pleased the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men from among them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas called Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers. ²³ They wrote this letter by their hand:

The apostles and the elders and the brothers,

To the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:

Greetings.

²⁴ Since we have heard that some of us, whom we did not commission, have gone out and have troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law,” ²⁵ it seemed good to us, being assembled in unity, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, ²⁶ men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁷ Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who will also speak to you, saying the same things. ²⁸ For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to put on you no greater burden than these necessary things: ²⁹ Abstain from food offered to idols, from sexual immorality, from strangled animals, and from blood. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.

Farewell.

³⁰ So when they were dismissed, they went down to Antioch. And when they had assembled the congregation, they delivered the letter. ³¹ When they had read it, they rejoiced over the exhortation. ³² Judas and Silas, being prophets themselves, exhorted the brothers with many words and strengthened them. ³³ After they had remained there for a time, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to the apostles. ³⁴ But it seemed good to Silas to remain there. ³⁵ And Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

Paul and Barnabas Separate

³⁶ After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit our brothers in every city where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” ³⁷ Barnabas determined to take with them John, who was called Mark. ³⁸ But Paul thought it was not good to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. ³⁹ Then there arose a sharp contention, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus, ⁴⁰ but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brothers to the grace of God. ⁴¹ And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Timothy Accompanies Paul and Silas

16 Then he came to Derbe and then to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewess who believed, but his father was a Greek. ² He was well spoken of by the brothers who were at Lystra and Iconium. ³ Paul wanted him to travel with him. So he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. ⁴ As they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to observe, that were set forth by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem. ⁵ So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.

Paul’s Vision of the Macedonian

⁶ They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia and were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. ⁷ When they came near Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not allow them. ⁸ So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. ⁹ During the night a vision appeared to Paul: A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” ¹⁰ After he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.

The Conversion of Lydia

¹¹ From Troas we set sail on a straight course to Samothrace and the next day to Neapolis, ¹² and from there to Philippi, which is the main city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony. We stayed in this city several days.

¹³ On the Sabbath we went out of the city to a riverside, where prayer was customarily offered. And we sat down and spoke to the women who had assembled. ¹⁴ A woman named Lydia, a seller of purple fabric of the city of Thyatira, who worshipped God, heard us. The Lord opened her heart to acknowledge what Paul said. ¹⁵ When she and her household were baptized, she entreated us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and remain there.” And she persuaded us.

The Imprisonment in Philippi

¹⁶ On one occasion, as we went to the place of prayer, a servant girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. ¹⁷ She followed Paul and us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” ¹⁸ She did this for many days. But becoming greatly troubled, Paul turned to the spirit and said, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out at that moment.

¹⁹ When her masters saw that the hope of their profits was gone, they seized Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the marketplace to the rulers. ²⁰ And they brought them to the magistrates, saying, “These men, being Jews, greatly trouble our city ²¹ and teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.”

²² The crowd rose up together against them. And the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them. ²³ After they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely. ²⁴ Having received such an order, he threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

²⁵ At midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. ²⁶ Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s shackles were loosened. ²⁷ When the jailer awoke and saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. ²⁸ But Paul shouted, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.”

²⁹ He called for lights and rushed in, trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas. ³⁰ He then led them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

³¹ They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you and your household will be saved.” ³² And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his household. ³³ In that hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds. And immediately he and his entire household were baptized. ³⁴ Then he brought them up to his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced with his entire household believing in God.

³⁵ When it was day, the magistrates sent the sergeants, saying, “Release those men.” ³⁶ The prison guard reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to release you. Now therefore depart, and go in peace.”

³⁷ But Paul said to them, “They have publicly beaten us, who are uncondemned Romans, and have thrown us into prison. And now do they secretly throw us out? Certainly not! Let them come themselves and bring us out.”