2 [18:12]Then the guard and the chiliarch and the officers of the Jews apprehended Jesus, and bound him, [18:13]and led him away to Annas first; for he was father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was chief priest that year; [18:14]and Caiaphas was the one who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should be destroyed for the people.

3 [18:15]But Simon Peter followed Jesus, and the other disciple; and that disciple was known to the chief priest, and went in with Jesus to the chief priest's court; [18:16]but Peter stood at the door without. Then the other disciple who was known to the chief priest went out and spoke to the door-keeper, and brought in Peter. [18:17]Then the female servant, the door-keeper, said to Peter, Are you also one of the disciples of this man? He said, I am not. [18:18]And the servants and officers having made a fire because it was cold, stood and warmed themselves. And Peter stood with them and warmed himself.

4 [18:19]Then the chief priest asked Jesus of his disciples, and his teaching. [18:20]Jesus answered him, I have spoken openly to the world; I always taught in a synagogue, and in the temple, where the Jews always assemble, and in secret I have said nothing. [18:21]Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me, what I said to them; behold, they know what I said. [18:22]He having said these things, one of the officers who stood by gave Jesus a blow, saying, Do you answer the chief priest thus? [18:23]Jesus answered him, If I spoke wrong, testify of the wrong; but if well, why do you beat me? [18:24]Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the chief priest.

5 [18:25]And Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. Then they said to him, Are you also one of his disciples? He denied, and said, I am not. [18:26] One of the servants of the chief priest, being a relation of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, Did I not see you in the garden with him? [18:27]Then Peter denied again; and immediately a cock crew.



CHAPTER XX.

CHRIST'S TRIAL AND CONDEMNATION BEFORE PILATE.

1 [18:28]THEN they led him from Caiaphas to the Praetorium. And it was morning; and they entered not into the Praetorium, that they might not be defiled, but might eat the passover. [18:29]Then Pilate went out to them and said, What accusation do you bring against this man? [18:30]They answered and said to him, If he was not a criminal we should not have delivered him up to you. [18:31] Then Pilate said to them, Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law. The Jews said to him, It is not lawful for us to put any one to death; [18:32]that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spoke, signifying by what death he was about to die.

2 [18:33]Then Pilate went into the Praetorium and called Jesus, and said to him, Are you the king of the Jews? [18:34]Jesus answered, Do you say this of yourself, or did others tell you of me? [18:35]Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Your nation and the chief priests have delivered you to me; what have you done? [18:36]Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom had been of this world my officers would have fought for me, that I should not be given up to the Jews; but now my kingdom is not here. [18:37]Then Pilate said to him, Are you a king then? Jesus answered, As you say, I am a king. For this was I born, and for this I came into the world, that I should testify to the truth; every one who is of the truth hears my voice. [18:38]Pilate said to him, What is truth? And having said this he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, I find no fault in him. [18:39]But you have a custom that I should release one to you at the passover; are you willing, therefore, that I should release to you the king of the Jews? [18:40]Then all cried again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. But Barabbas was a robber.

3 [19:1]Then Pilate took and scourged Jesus. [19:2]And the soldiers having plaited a crown of thorns put it on his head; and they put a purple garment about him, [19:3]and came to him and said, Hail, king of the Jews! And they struck him with the open hand. [19:4]Then Pilate came out again and said to them, Behold, I bring him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in him. [19:5]Then Jesus came out, wearing the thorny crown and the purple garment. And he said to them, Behold the man! [19:6]When therefore the chief priests and officers saw him, they cried, saying, Crucify him! crucify him! Pilate said to them, Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no fault in him. [19:7]The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die because he made himself the Son of God.

4 [19:8]When therefore Pilate heard this charge he was more afraid, [19:9]and entered into the Praetorium again, and said to Jesus, Whence are you? But Jesus gave him no answer. [19:10]Pilate said to him, Do you not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and I have power to crucify you? [19:11]Jesus answered, You would have had no power against me if it had not been given you from above; therefore he that delivered me to you has a greater sin.

5 [19:12]From that time Pilate sought to release him; but the Jews cried, saying, If you release this man you are not a friend of Caesar; every one who makes himself a king speaks against Caesar. [19:13]Then Pilate hearing these words led Jesus out, and sat on the tribunal, in a place called the Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. [19:14]And it was the preparation of the passover, it was about the sixth hour [noon]; and he said to the Jews, Behold your king! [19:15]Then they cried out, 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. [19:16]Then therefore he delivered him to them to be crucified.



CHAPTER XXI.

CHRIST'S CRUCIFIXION, DEATH, AND BURIAL.

1 [19:17]THEN they took Jesus, and putting the cross on him he went out to what is called the place of a cranium, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha, [19:18] where they crucified him, and two others with him, one on one side and the other on the other, and Jesus between. [19:19]And Pilate wrote an inscription and put on the cross. And it was written, JESUS THE NAZORAEAN, THE KING OF THE JEWS. [19:20]Many of the Jews therefore read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. [19:21]Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews, but that he said, I am King of the Jews. [19:22]Pilate answered, what I have written I have written.

2 [19:23]Then the soldiers, when they crucified Jesus, took his clothes and made four parts, a part to each soldier, and his coat. But his coat was without seam, woven from the top through the whole. [19:24]They said, therefore, one to another, Let us not divide this, but cast lots for it whose it shall be; that the Scripture might be fulfilled, which says, They parted my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots. The soldiers therefore did indeed these things.

3 [19:25]And there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother, and the sister of his mother, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary the Magdalene. [19:26]Then Jesus seeing his mother, and the disciple standing by whom he loved, said to his mother, Woman, behold your son. [19:27]Then he said to the disciple, Behold your mother. And from that hour the disciple took her to his own [house].

4 [19:28]After this, Jesus knowing that all things were already finished, that the Scripture might be fully accomplished, said, I thirst. [19:29]Then a vessel was set full of vinegar; and filling a sponge with vinegar, and putting it on a hyssop stalk, they presented it to his mouth. [19:30]When therefore Jesus took the vinegar, he said, It is finished; and inclining his head gave up the spirit.

5 [19:31]Then the Jews, that the bodies might not continue on the cross on the sabbath, for it was the preparation, for that was a great sabbath, asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and they be taken down. [19:32]Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other crucified with him, [19:33]and coming to Jesus, when they saw him already dead, they broke not his legs; [19:34]but one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and immediately there came out blood and water. [19:35]He who saw has testified, and his testimony is true, for he knows that he says what is true, that you also may believe. [19:36]For these things were done that the Scripture might be fulfilled, Not a bone of him shall be broken; [19:37]and again another Scripture says, They shall look on him whom they have pierced.

6 [19:38]After these things Joseph from Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take down the body of Jesus; and Pilate permitted him. Then he came and took his body. [19:39]And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. [19:40]Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it with bandages, with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to prepare for burial. [19:41]And there was in the place where he was crucified a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one was yet laid. [19:42]In that therefore they laid Jesus, on account of the preparation of the Jews, because the tomb was near.



CHAPTER XXII.

CHRIST AFTER THE RESURRECTION.

1 [20:1]AND on the first day of the week, Mary the Magdalene came in the morning, while it was yet dark, to the tomb and saw the stone taken away from the tomb. [20:2]Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, They have taken away the Lord from the tomb, and we know not where they have laid him. [20:3]Then went Peter and the other disciple, and came to the tomb. [20:4]And the two ran together; and the other disciple outran Peter and came first to the tomb, [20:5]and stooping down saw the bandages lying, but he went not in. [20:6]Then Simon Peter came following him, and went into the tomb, and beheld the bandages lying, [20:7]and the napkin which was on his head not lying with the bandages but folded up in a place by itself. [20:8]Then the other disciple who came first to the tomb also entered in, and saw and believed; [20:9]for they did not yet know the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. [20:10]Then the disciples went away by themselves.

2 [20:11]But Mary stood at the tomb outside, weeping. Then as she wept she stooped down to the tomb, [20:12]and saw two angels in white sitting one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. [20:13]And they said to her, Woman, why do you weep? She said to them, Because they have taken my Lord and I know not where they have laid him. [20:14]Having said these words she turned around and beheld Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. [20:15]Jesus said to her, Woman, why do you weep? whom do you seek? She, supposing that he was the gardener, said to him, Sir, if you have borne him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him. [20:16]Jesus said to her, Mary. She, turning around, said to him in Hebrew, Rabboni, which is interpreted, Teacher. [20:17]Jesus said to her, Do not touch me; for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and tell them, I ascend to my Father and your Father, and my God and your God. [20:18]Mary the Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he said these things to her.

3 [20:19]Then when it was evening, on that first day of the week, and the doors were shut where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, Peace be to you. [20:20]And having said this he showed them both his hands and his side; then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. [20:21]Then he said to them again, Peace be to you; as the Father has sent me, I also send you. [20:22]And having said this he breathed on them, and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. [20:23]Those whose sins you forgive, are forgiven; and whose you retain, are retained.

4 [20:24]But Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. [20:25]Then the other disciples said to him, We have seen the Lord; but he said to them, Unless I see in his hands the impression of the nails, and put my finger in the impression of the nails, and put my hand in his side, I will not believe. [20:26]And after eight days his disciples were again within, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be to you. [20:27]Then he said to Thomas, Reach here your finger and behold my hands, and reach your hand and put it in my side, and be not faithless but believing. [20:28]Thomas answered and said to him, My Lord and my God. [20:29]Jesus said to him, Because you have seen me you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and believed.

5 [20:30]Jesus performed also many other miracles in the presence of his disciples which are not recorded in this book; [20:31]but these are recorded that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.

6 [21:1]After these things he showed himself again to the disciples at the lake of Tiberias; and he showed himself thus. [21:2]Simon Peter, and Thomas called the Twin, and Nathaniel who was from Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. [21:3]Simon Peter said to them, I am going a fishing. They said to him, We will also go with you. They went out and entered into the ship; and on that night caught nothing, [21:4]but when it was now morning Jesus stood on the shore; but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. [21:5]Then Jesus said to them, Children, have you any thing to eat? They answered him, No. [21:6]And he said to them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship and you shall find. Then they cast it, and they were not able to draw it from the number of fishes. [21:7]Then that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, It is the Lord. Then Simon Peter, hearing that it was the Lord, girded on his coat, for he was naked, and cast himself into the lake. [21:8]But the other disciples came with the boat, drawing the net of fishes, for they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits distant. [21:9]Then when they came to land they saw coals placed, and a fish laid upon [them], and bread. [21:10] Jesus said to them, Bring of the fish that you have now caught. [21:11]Simon Peter went and drew the net to the land, full of great fishes a hundred and fifty-three; and though there were so many the net was not broken. [21:12]Jesus said to them, Come and breakfast. No one of the disciples dared to ask him, Who are you? for they knew that he was the Lord. [21:13]Jesus came and took the bread and gave them, and the fish likewise. [21:14]This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to his disciples after he had arisen from the dead.

7 [21:15]When therefore they had breakfasted, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these? He said to him, Yes, Lord, you know that I am a friend to you. He said to him, Feed my lambs. [21:16]Again 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 am a friend to you. He said to him, Feed my sheep. [21:17] He said to him a third time; Simon, son of John, are you a friend to me? Peter was grieved that he said to him the third time, Are you a friend to me? and he said to him, Lord you know all things; you know that I am a friend to you. Jesus said to him, Feed my sheep. [21:18]I tell you most truly, that when you were young you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you become old, you shall stretch out your hands and another shall bind you and carry you where you would not; [21:19]but he said this signifying by what death he should glorify God; and having said this, he said to him, Follow me.

8 [21:20]And Peter turning around saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also reclined at the supper on his breast and said, Lord, who is it that is to betray you? [21:21]Peter seeing him said to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man [do]? [21:22]Jesus said to him, If I wish him to continue till I come, what is that to you? follow me. [21:23]The report then went out among the brothers that this disciple would not die; but Jesus said not to him, He shall not die; but, If I wish him to continue till I come, what is that to you?

9 [21:24]This is the disciple who testifies of these things and has written them; and we know that his testimony is true. [21:25]And there are many other things which Jesus did, which, if they should be written particularly, I do not suppose the world itself could contain the books written.



ACTS OF THE APOSTLES.

CHAPTER I.

CHRIST'S ASCENSION, AND THE ELECTION OF AN APOSTLE IN THE PLACE OF JUDAS.

1 [1:1]I WROTE my first account, O Theophilus, of all things which Jesus did and taught, [1:2]till the day that having given charge to the apostles whom he chose by the Holy Spirit he was taken up; [1:3]to whom also he presented himself living after his suffering, by many proofs, being seen by them during forty days, and speaking things relating to the kingdom of God. [1:4]And assembling them, he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which [says he] you have heard from me; [1:5]that John baptized indeed with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit after a few days.

2 [1:6]They therefore having come together asked him, saying, Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom of Israel? [1:7]And he said to them, It is not your [province] to know the times or seasons which the Father has appointed by his own authority; [1:8]but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and all Judea, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. [1:9]And having said these words, as they were looking on he was taken up, and a cloud received him from their sight. [1:10]And as they looked steadily to heaven while he went, behold, two men stood by them in white clothing; [1:11]and they said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking at heaven? This Jesus taken up from you to heaven shall so come in the manner in which you have seen him go to heaven.

3 [1:12]Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called [the Mount] of Olives, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day's journey [distant]. [1:13]And when they came, they went up into the upper room where staid Peter and John, and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alpheus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the [brother] of James. [1:14]All these continued with one accord in prayer, with the women, and with Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

4 [1:15]And in those days Peter standing up in the midst of the brothers, said—the multitude together was about a hundred and twenty— [1:16]Men and brothers, it was necessary that the Scripture should be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David, concerning Judas who became a guide to them that apprehended Jesus; [1:17]For he was numbered with us, and obtained the inheritance of this service. [1:18]This man therefore purchased a field with the price of the wickedness, and falling headlong burst in the middle and all his bowels were poured out; [1:19]and this became known to all who lived at Jerusalem, so that that field was called in their language Aceldamach, which is Field of blood. [1:20]For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his dwelling be desolate and let no one dwell in it, and his superintendency let another take. [1:21]It is necessary therefore that one of the men who have gone with us all the time in which the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, [1:22]beginning from the baptism of John till the day on which he was taken up from us, should be made with us a witness of his resurrection.

5 [1:23]And they proposed two; Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. [1:24]And praying, they said, Do thou, Lord, the searcher of all hearts, show which of these two thou hast chosen [1:25]to take the place of this service and apostleship from which Judas fell by transgression to go to his place. [1:26]And they cast their lots, and the lot fell to Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.



CHAPTER II.

THE DAY OF PENTECOST AND ITS BLESSINGS.

1 [2:1]AND when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one mind together. [2:2]And suddenly there came from heaven a sound as of a violent wind borne along, and it filled all the house where they were sitting; [2:3]and there appeared to them divided tongues as of fire, and [one] sat on each one of them; [2:4]and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

2 [2:5]And there were Jews living at Jerusalem, pious men, of every nation under heaven; [2:6]and when this sound was [heard], the multitude came together and were astonished, for they each one heard them speaking in his own language. [2:7]And they were astonished and wondered, saying, Are not all these that speak Galileans? [2:8]And how do we hear each one in our own language in which we were born, [2:9]Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and those who live in Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, [2:10]Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Lybia about Cyrene, and the Roman strangers, both Jews and proselytes, [2:11]Cretes and Arabs, do we hear them speak in our tongues of the great works of God. [2:12]And they were all astonished and perplexed, saying one to another, What does this mean? [2:13]But others mocking said, They are full of sweet wine.

3 [2:14]But Peter standing up with the eleven lifted up his voice and said to them, Men of Judea, and all who live at Jerusalem, be this known to you, and attend to my words. [2:15]For these are not drunk as you suppose, for it is the third hour of the day [9 A.M.], [2:16]but this is what was said by the prophet; [2:17]In the last days, says God, I will pour out of my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; [2:18]and upon my male servants and upon my female servants in those days will I pour out of my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. [2:19]And I will show prodigies in heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and a cloud of smoke. [2:20]The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the great and illustrious day of the Lord comes. [2:21]And whoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

4 [2:22]Men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus the Nazoraean, a man approved by God to you by mighty works and prodigies and miracles, which God performed by him in the midst of you, as you yourselves know, [2:23]this man, delivered up by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have affixed to the cross, and killed by the hand of the wicked, [2:24]him has God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, as it was not possible that he should be held by it. [2:25]For David says of him, I saw the Lord always before me, he is on my right hand that I should not be moved; [2:26]therefore my heart rejoiced and my tongue was glad, and my flesh, moreover, shall also live in hope; [2:27]for thou wilt not leave my soul in hades, nor suffer thy Holy One to see destruction. [2:28]Thou hast made me know the ways of life, thou wilt fill me with joy with thy presence.

5 [2:29]Men and brothers, let me speak to you freely of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. [2:30] Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God swore with an oath to him to set a descendant of his on his throne, [2:31]foreseeing he spoke of the resurrection of Christ, that he was not left in hades neither did his flesh see destruction. [2:32]This Jesus has God raised up, whose witnesses we all are. [2:33]Being therefore exalted on the right hand of God, and receiving the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, he has poured this out which you both see and hear. [2:34]For David ascended not to heaven, but he says, The Lord said to my lord, Sit on my right hand [2:35]till I make your enemies your footstool. [2:36]Let all the house of Israel therefore know certainly, that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ.

6 [2:37]And hearing [this] they were distressed in mind, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, Men and brothers, what shall we do? [2:38]And Peter said to them, Change your minds, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. [2:39]For the promise is to you and your children, and to all that are afar off, as many as the Lord our God shall call. [2:40]And with many other words he testified and exhorted, saying, Save yourselves from this perverse generation.

7 [2:41]Then those that received his word were baptized, and there were added on that day about three thousand souls; [2:42]and they attended constantly to the teaching and companionship of the apostles, the breaking of bread and the prayers. [2:43]And fear was on every soul, and many prodigies and miracles were performed by the apostles. [2:44]And all who believed were together and had all things common; [2:45]and they sold their possessions and estates, and distributed them to all as any one had need; [2:46]and continuing day by day with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they partook of food with gladness and simplicity of mind, [2:47]praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added the saved, day by day, to the assembly [church].



CHAPTER III.

THE IMPRISONMENT OF PETER AND JOHN.

1 [3:1]AND Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, which is the ninth hour. [3:2]And a certain man lame from his birth was carried and placed daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask charity of those going into the temple; [3:3]who seeing Peter and John about to enter into the temple, asked to receive a charity. [3:4]But Peter looking steadily at him with John, said, Look on us. [3:5]And he gave his attention to them, expecting to receive something from them. [3:6]But Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but what I have, this I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazoraean, walk. [3:7]And taking him by the right hand he raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were strengthened, [3:8]and leaping up he stood and walked and entered with them into the temple, walking and leaping, praising God. [3:9]And all the people saw him walking and praising God; [3:10] and they knew him, that he was the one who sat for charity at the beautiful gate of the temple, and they were filled with wonder and astonishment at what had happened to him.

2 [3:11]And as he held Peter and John, all the people ran to them in the porch which is called Solomon's, greatly wondering. [3:12]And Peter seeing it answered the people, Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this? or why do you look intently at us as if by our power or piety we had made him walk? [3:13]The God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied before Pilate when he decided to release him; [3:14]but you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked a murderer to be given you, [3:15]but killed the Prince of life, whom God has raised from the dead, whose witnesses we are. [3:16]And by the faith of his name, his name has made strong this man whom you behold and know, and the faith which is by him has given him this entire soundness before you all. [3:17]And now, brothers, I know that you did it without knowledge, as did also your rulers; [3:18]but what God had before declared by the mouth of all the prophets that his Anointed should suffer, he has so accomplished. [3:19]Change your minds, therefore, and turn yourselves, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, [3:20]and he send to you Jesus Christ before appointed, [3:21]whom heaven must receive till the times of the restoration of all things of which God has spoken by the mouth of his holy prophets since the world began. [3:22]Moses indeed said, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up to you, of your brothers, like me; him shall you hear in all things which he shall speak to you; [3:23]and every soul which will not hear that prophet shall be destroyed from the people. [3:24]And all the prophets, from Samuel and those following him in order, who have spoken, have also announced these days. [3:25]You are the children of the prophets, and of the promise which God promised to our fathers, saying to Abraham, And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed. [3:26]God having raised up his servant has sent him to you first, to bless you by turning each [one of you] from your evil ways.

3 [4:1]And while they were speaking to the people, the priests, and the commander of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, [4:2]being displeased because they taught the people and declared by Jesus the resurrection of the dead; [4:3]and they laid hands on them and put them in prison till the next day; for it was now evening. [4:4]But many of those that heard the word believed, and the number of the men became about five thousand.

4 [4:5]And on the next day the rulers, and elders, and scribes [4:6]assembled at Jerusalem, and Annas the chief priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and all that were of the family of the chief priesthood, [4:7]and placing them in the midst, asked, By what power, or by what name, have you done this? [4:8] Then Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, said to them, Rulers of the people and elders of Israel, [4:9]if we are to-day examined concerning the good work done to the sick man, by what means he has been cured, [4:10]be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazoraean, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by him has this man stood before you sound. [4:11]This is the stone rejected by you builders, which has become the head of a corner. [4:12]And there is salvation in no other; for there is no other name given under heaven among men, by which we can be saved.

5 [4:13]And seeing the boldness of Peter and John, and supposing that they were illiterate and common men, they wondered, and perceived that they had been with Jesus; [4:14]and seeing the man standing with them cured, they could not dispute it. [4:15]And commanding them to withdraw from the Sanhedrim, they conferred one with another, [4:16]saying, What shall we do to these men? for that a notable miracle has been performed by them is manifest to all that live at Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it; [4:17]but that it spread no further among the people, let us threaten them severely, [and charge them] to speak no more to any man in this name. [4:18]And calling them, they charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. [4:19]But Peter and John answered and said to them, Whether it is right in the sight of God to obey you rather than God, judge; [4:20]for we cannot but tell what we have seen and heard. [4:21]And threatening them still further, they dismissed them, not being able to punish them, on account of the people, because all glorified God for what was done; [4:22]for the man was more than forty years old on whom this miracle of the cure was performed.

6 [4:23]And being dismissed they came to their friends, and related to them what the chief priests and elders said to them. [4:24]And when they heard it they lifted up their voice with one consent to God, and said, Master, thou who hast made heaven, and the earth, the sea, and all things in them, [4:25]who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the nations rage and the peoples devise vain things? [4:26]the kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were assembled together against the Lord, and against his anointed. [4:27]For of a truth, in this city, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the gentiles and people of Israel, were assembled together against thy holy servant Jesus whom thou hast anointed, [4:28]to do what thy hand and counsel before appointed to be done. [4:29]And now, Lord, look down upon their threatenings, and grant to thy servants with all boldness to speak thy word, [4:30]by stretching out thy hand, that cures and miracles and prodigies may be performed by the name of thy holy servant Jesus. [4:31]And when they had prayed the place was shaken in which they were assembled, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and spoke the word of God with boldness.



CHAPTER IV.

THE LIBERALITY OF THE FIRST CHRISTIANS, ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA, FURTHER PERSECUTION.

1 [4:32]AND the multitude that believed had one heart and one soul, and none said that anything of his possessions was his; but they had all things common. [4:33]And the apostles delivered the testimony of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus with great power, and great favor was towards them all. [4:34]For no one among them was needy; for those who possessed lands or houses sold and brought the prices of the things sold, [4:35]and laid them at the apostles' feet; and distribution was made to each as any one had need. [4:36]And Joseph, called Barnabas by the apostles, which is interpreted, A son of consolation, a Levite, a Cyprian by birth, [4:37]having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the feet of the apostles.

2 [5:1]And one Ananias by name, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, [5:2]and he kept back a part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and bringing a certain part laid it at the apostles' feet. [5:3]But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart that you should lie to the Holy Spirit, and that you should keep back a part of the price of the land? [5:4]Continuing unsold was it not yours, and when it was sold was it not at your disposal? Why did you propose this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God. [5:5]And Ananias hearing these words fell down and expired; and great fear was upon all who heard. [5:6]And the young men arose and laid him out, and having carried him out buried him.

3 [5:7]And after an interval of about three hours, his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in. [5:8]And Peter answered her, Tell me whether you sold the field for so much? And she said, Yes; for so much. [5:9]And Peter said to her, Why have you agreed together to try the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those that buried your husband are at the door, and they shall carry you out. [5:10]And she fell down immediately at his feet, and expired; and the young men coming in found her dead, and carried her out, and buried her by her husband. [5:11]And great fear was on all the assembly [church], and on all that heard of these things.

4 [5:12]And many miracles and prodigies were performed among the people by the hands of the apostles; and they were all of one accord in Solomon's porch; [5:13]and no one of the rest dared to join them, but the people magnified them; [5:14]and believers were added the more to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women; [5:15]so that they brought the sick into the streets and placed them on little beds and couches, that as Peter passed along even his shadow might overshadow some of them. [5:16]And the multitude came together from the cities about Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those troubled by impure spirits, all of whom were cured.

5 [5:17]And the chief priest arose, and all those with him, being the sect of the Sadducees, and were filled with wrath, [5:18]and laid hands on the apostles, and put them in the public prison. [5:19]But an angel of the Lord opening the prison doors by night led them out and said, [5:20]Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. [5:21]And hearing this they entered into the temple early in the morning and taught. And the chief priest coming, and those with him, called the Sanhedrim together, and all the eldership of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.

6 [5:22]But the officers going did not find them in the prison; and returning they reported, [5:23]saying, The prison found we shut with all safety, and the guards standing before the doors, but opening we found no one within. [5:24]And when they heard these words, both the priest and the commander of the temple and the chief priests doubted concerning them, what this could mean. [5:25]But some one came and told them, Behold, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.

7 [5:26]Then the commander going away with the officers brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned; [5:27]and having brought them they placed them before the Sanhedrim. And the chief priest asked them, [5:28]saying, We charged you strictly not to teach in this name, and behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and wish to bring this man's blood on us. [5:29]And Peter answering, and the apostles, said, It is necessary to obey God rather than man. [5:30]The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you took and hung on a cross; [5:31]him has God exalted, a Prince and Saviour at his right hand, to give a change of mind to Israel and the forgiveness of sins. [5:32]And we are his witnesses of these things, and also the Holy Spirit which God has given to those that obey him.

8 [5:33]And when they heard this they were highly offended, and took counsel to kill them. [5:34]But a certain Pharisee in the Sanhedrim, by the name of Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, in honor with all the people, standing up requested them to put the men out a little while; [5:35]and he said to them, Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you are about to do to these men. [5:36]For before these days Theudas arose, saying that he was somebody, to whom a number of men, about four hundred, adhered, who was destroyed, and all who obeyed him passed away and came to nothing.

9 [5:37]After him arose Judas the Galilean, in the days of the census, and drew away people after him; and he was destroyed, and all who obeyed him were dispersed. [5:38]And now I tell you, abstain from these men, and let them alone; because if this design, or this work, is from men, it will be destroyed; [5:39]but if it is from God, you cannot destroy them; lest you be found at some time to be fighting against God. [5:40]And they were persuaded by him, and calling the apostles and scourging them, they charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and dismissed them. [5:41]They went therefore from the presence of the Sanhedrim, rejoicing that they were accounted worthy to suffer shame for the name of [Christ]; [5:42]and every day in the temple, and from house to house, they ceased not teaching and preaching the good news of Christ Jesus.



CHAPTER V.

THE APPOINTMENT OF SEVEN DEACONS, THE SERMON AND MARTYRDOM OF STEPHEN, AND A GENERAL PERSECUTION.

1 [6:1]AND in those days the disciples being multiplied, there was a complaint of the Hellenists against the Hebrews, that their widows were neglected in the daily service. [6:2]And the twelve calling the multitude of the disciples, said, It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God to serve tables. [6:3]Look out therefore, brothers, from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Holy Spirit, and of wisdom, whom we may set over this business; [6:4]but we will attend continually to prayer, and the ministry of the word.

2 [6:5]And the proposition pleased all the multitude, and they elected Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip and Prochorus, and Nicanor and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus a proselyte of Antioch, [6:6]and set them before the Apostles; and they having prayed imposed hands on them. [6:7]And the word of God increased, and the number of the disciples was greatly multiplied at Jerusalem, and a great multitude of the priests obeyed the faith.

3 [6:8]And Stephen, full of grace and power, performed prodigies and great miracles among the people. [6:9]But some members of the synagogue called that of the Libertines and Cyrenians and Alexandrians and of those from Cilicia and Asia, arose and disputed with Stephen, [6:10]and were not able to resist the wisdom and spirit with which he spoke. [6:11]Then they bribed men who said, We heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God. [6:12]And they stirred up both the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and coming suddenly they seized him and led him to the Sanhedrim, [6:13]and brought forward false witnesses who said, This man speaks incessantly against this holy place, and the law; [6:14]for we have heard him say, that Jesus this Nazoraean will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses gave us. [6:15]And all who sat in the Sanhedrin looking steadily at him saw his face like the face of an angel.

4 [7:1]And the chief priest said, Are these things then so? [7:2]And he said, Men, brothers, and fathers, hear. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, [7:3]and said to him, Go out from your country and your kindred, and come to a land which I will show you. [7:4]Then going out from the land of the Chaldeans, he lived in Haran. And thence, after the death of his father, he removed into this land in which you now live. [7:5]And [God] gave him no inheritance in it, not the breadth of a foot, and promised to give it to him for a possession, and to his posterity after him, when as yet he had no son. [7:6]And God said thus; that his posterity should be a stranger in a foreign land, and they shall enslave it and treat it injuriously four hundred years; [7:7]and the nation which they shall serve will I judge, said God, and after that they shall come forth and serve me in this place.

5 [7:8]And he gave him the ordinance of circumcision; and so he begat Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day, and Isaac, Jacob, and Jacob the twelve patriarchs. [7:9]And the patriarchs envying Joseph sold him into Egypt; and God was with him [7:10]and delivered him from all his afflictions, and gave him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and [he] made him governor over Egypt and all his house.

6 [7:11]And there came a famine on all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction, and our fathers found no provisions. [7:12]But Jacob hearing that there was grain in Egypt, sent our fathers the first time; [7:13]and the second time Joseph was made known to his brothers, and Joseph's family was made known to Pharaoh. [7:14]And Joseph sent and called for his father Jacob, and all the family of seventy-five souls. [7:15]And Jacob went down to Egypt, and died, he and our fathers; [7:16]and they carried him back to Shechem and buried him in the tomb which Abraham bought for money of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem.

7 [7:17]But when the time of the promise which God made with an oath to Abraham was at hand, the people increased and became numerous in Egypt, [7:18]till another king arose who knew not Joseph. [7:19]This [king] dealt deceitfully with our race, and treated injuriously our fathers, causing their infants to be exposed that they might not be preserved alive.

8 [7:20]At that time Moses was born, and was beautiful in the sight of God, and was nourished three months in his father's house; [7:21]but being exposed, the daughter of Pharaoh took him up and nourished him as her own son. [7:22]And Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in his words and works. [7:23]And when he was forty years old, it came into his mind to visit his brothers, the children of Israel. [7:24]And seeing one injured he defended him, and executed judgment for the oppressed, smiting the Egyptian. [7:25]And he thought his brothers would understand that God would give them salvation by his hand; but they understood not.

9 [7:26]On the following day also he showed himself to them as they contended, and urged them to peace, saying, Men, you are brothers; why do you injure one another? [7:27]But he that injured his neighbor repelled him, saying, Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? [7:28]Will you kill me as you did the Egyptian, yesterday? [7:29]And Moses fled at that saying, and lived a stranger in the land of Midian, where he begat two sons.

10 [7:30]And forty years being completed there appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, an angel in a flame of fire, in a bush. [7:31]And Moses seeing it, wondered at the sight; and coming near to look at it, there was a voice of the Lord, [7:32]I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob. And Moses being afraid dared not look at it. [7:33]And the Lord said to him, Put off your shoes from your feet; for the place on which you stand is holy ground. [7:34]I have seen the affliction of my people in Egypt, and have heard their groaning, and have come down to deliver them; and now come, I will send you to Egypt.

11 [7:35]This is the Moses whom they denied, saying, Who made you a ruler and a judge? Him did God send to be a ruler and a redeemer by the hand of the angel that appeared to him in the bush. [7:36]This man brought them out, having performed prodigies and miracles in Egypt, and at the Red Sea, and in the wilderness forty years. [7:37]This is the Moses who said to the children of Israel, A prophet shall God raise up for you, of your brothers, like me. [7:38] This is he that was with the assembly in the wilderness, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, who received the living oracles to give us, [7:39]whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him away and turned back in their hearts to Egypt, [7:40]saying to Aaron, Make us gods to go before us; for this Moses who led us up out of Egypt, we know not what has happened to him.

12 [7:41]And they made a calf in those days, and offered a sacrifice to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their hands. [7:42]And God turned and gave them up to serve the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets; Did you offer victims and sacrifices to me forty years in the wilderness, house of Israel, [7:43]and take up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of the god Rephan, figures which you made to worship? I will even remove you beyond Babylon.

13 [7:44]Our fathers in the wilderness received the tabernacle of the testimony, as he that spoke to Moses charged him to make it according to the pattern which he had seen; [7:45]which also our fathers receiving it in succession brought with Joshua into the possession of the nations, whom God expelled before the face of our fathers till the days of David; [7:46]who found favor with God and desired to find a dwelling for the God of Jacob. [7:47]And Solomon built him a house. [7:48]But the Most High dwells not in [temples] made with hands, as the prophet says; [7:49]Heaven is my throne, and the earth my footstool; what house will you build me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest? [7:50]has not my hand made all these things? [7:51]Stiff necked, and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always fight against the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, you also do. [7:52]Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, of whom you now have become betrayers and murderers, [7:53]who have received the law by orders of angels and have not kept it.

14 [7:54]And when they heard these things they were enraged in their minds and gnashed their teeth upon him. [7:55]But he being full of the Holy Spirit, looking steadily to heaven saw the glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, [7:56]and said, Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. [7:57]And crying with a loud voice they stopped their ears and rushed upon him with one accord, [7:58]and casting him out of the city, stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man called Saul, [7:59]and they stoned Stephen, calling and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. [7:60]And kneeling down he cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And having said this he fell asleep. [8:1]And Saul consented to his death.

15 And at that time there was a great persecution of the church at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad through the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. [8:2]And pious men buried Stephen and made a great lamentation for him. [8:3]But Saul persecuted the church, and going from house to house, seizing men and women, committed them to prison.



CHAPTER VI.

THE EARLY MINISTRY OF PHILIP THE DEACON, THE CONVERSION OF THE SAMARITANS, THE ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH.

1 [8:4]Being scattered abroad, therefore, they went everywhere preaching the good news of the word; [8:5]and Philip going down to a city of Samaria preached Christ to them. [8:6]And the multitudes attended with one accord to the things said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the miracles which he performed. [8:7]For impure spirits came out of many who had them, crying with a loud voice; and many paralytics and lame persons were cured; [8:8]and there was great joy in that city.

2 [8:9]And there was a man by the name of Simon who formerly practised magic in that city, and astonished the nation of Samaria, saying that he was some great person, [8:10]to whom all from the least to the greatest attended, saying, This is the power of God which is called great. [8:11]And they attended to him because for a long time he had astonished them with his magic arts. [8:12]But because they believed Philip preaching the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized both men and women. [8:13]And Simon also himself believed, and being baptized attended constantly on Philip; and beholding the mighty works and miracles that were performed, he was astonished.

3 [8:14]And the apostles at Jerusalem hearing that Samaria had received the word of God, sent to them Peter and John, [8:15]who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit; [8:16]for it had not yet fallen on any of them, only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. [8:17] Then they laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. [8:18]And Simon seeing that the Holy Spirit was given by the imposition of the hands of the apostles, offered them money, [8:19]saying, Give me this power, that on whomsoever I lay my hand he may receive the Holy Spirit. [8:20]But Peter said to him, Your money go to perdition with you; because you have thought to purchase the gift of God with money. [8:21]You have no part nor inheritance in this work; for your heart is not right before God. [8:22]Turn your mind therefore from this your wickedness, and pray the Lord if perhaps the thought of your mind may be forgiven you; [8:23]for I see you are in the gall of bitterness and bond of wickedness. [8:24]And Simon answered and said, Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have said may come upon me.

4 [8:25]They then having fully testified and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the good news to many villages of the Samaritans. [8:26]And an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, Arise and go to the south, by the way that leads from Jerusalem to Gaza; this is a wilderness. [8:27]And he arose and went. And behold a man, an Ethiopian eunuch, an officer of Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasures, who had come to Jerusalem to worship, [8:28]and he was returning and sitting in his chariot reading the prophet Isaiah.

5 [8:29]And the Spirit said to Philip, Go forward and join yourself to his chariot. [8:30]And Philip running forward heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and he said, Do you really understand what you read? [8:31]And he said [No]; for how can I unless some one teaches me? And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. [8:32]And the passage of Scripture which he was reading, was this; As a sheep is led to slaughter, and as a lamb before one that shears him is dumb, so he opened not his mouth. [8:33]In his humiliation his judgment was taken away; and who will tell of his generation? for his life was taken from the earth.

6 [8:34]And the eunuch answered and said to Philip, Of whom I pray you does the prophet say this? of himself or of some other one? [8:35]And Philip opening his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached to him the good news of Jesus. [8:36]And as they went on the way they came to a certain water, and the eunuch said, Behold water; what hinders me from being baptized? [8:38]And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down to the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. [8:39]And when they went up from the water the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, and the eunuch saw him no more; for he went his way rejoicing. [8:40]But Philip was found at Azotus, and passing through he preached the good news to all the cities till he came to Caesarea.



CHAPTER VII.

THE CONVERSION OF SAUL, PETER CURING AENEAS, AND RAISING DORCAS FROM THE DEAD.

1 [9:1]BUT Saul, yet breathing out threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the chief priest [9:2]and asked of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of that way, he might bring them bound, men and women, to Jerusalem. [9:3]And he was going and had come nigh to Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven, [9:4]and falling on the earth he heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, Why do you persecute me? [9:5]And he said, Who are you, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom you persecute. [9:6]But arise and enter into the city, and it shall be told you what you must do. [9:7]And the men travelling with him stood amazed, hearing indeed the voice, but beholding no one. [9:8]And Saul arose from the earth, and his eyes being opened he saw nothing; and leading him by the hand they conducted him to Damascus. [9:9]And he was three days without sight, and neither eat nor drank.

2 [9:10]And there was a certain disciple at Damascus by the name of Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. [9:11]And the Lord said to him, Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for [a man] by the name of Saul of Tarsus; for behold, he prays, [9:12]and has seen a man by the name of Ananias coming and putting a hand on him, that he might receive his sight. [9:13]And Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem; [9:14]and here he has power from the chief priests to bind all that call on your name. [9:15]But the Lord said to him, Go, for he is a chosen vessel to me, to bear my name both before nations and kings, and the children of Israel; [9:16]for I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name.

3 [9:17]And Ananias went and entered into the house, and laying hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord has sent me, Jesus who appeared to you on the way which you came, that you may receive sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. [9:18]And immediately there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he received his sight, and rising up was baptized, [9:19]and having received food was strengthened.

4 And he was with the disciples at Damascus some days; [9:20]and immediately in the synagogues he preached Jesus, that this is the Son of God. [9:21]And all that heard him were astonished and said, Is not this he that destroyed those who called on this name at Jerusalem, and has come here for this purpose, that he might lead them bound to the chief priests? [9:22]But Saul increased in power and confounded the Jews living at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.

5 [9:23]And when some days had passed, the Jews took counsel to kill him; [9:24]and their design was made known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him; [9:25]but the disciples took him by night and sent him away by the wall, letting him down in a store-basket.

6 [9:26]And going to Jerusalem he endeavored to join the disciples; and they all feared him, not believing that he was a disciple. [9:27]But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and related to them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had spoken boldly in Damascus in the name of Jesus. [9:28]And he was with them, entering in and going out at Jerusalem, [9:29]and speaking boldly in the name of the Lord; and he spoke and disputed with the Hellenists; and they undertook to kill him; [9:30]but the brothers knowing it led him away to Caesarea and sent him to Tarsus.

7 [9:31]Then had the church peace in all Judea and Galilee and Samaria, and being built up, and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied. [9:32]And Peter passing through all places, went down also to the saints living at Lydda. [9:33]And he found there a certain man by the name of AEneas, who had lain on a bed for eight years, and was a paralytic. [9:34]And Peter said to him, AEneas, Jesus Christ cures you; arise and make your bed for yourself. And he immediately arose; [9:35]and all those who lived at Lydda and Sharon saw him, and turned to the Lord.

8 [9:36]And there was at Joppa a certain female disciple called Tabitha, which being interpreted is called, Dorcas; she was full of good works and charities which she bestowed. [9:37]And in those days she was sick and died; and having washed they put her in an upper room. [9:38]But Lydda being nigh to Joppa, the disciples hearing that Peter was there sent two men to him requesting, Do not delay to come to us. [9:39]And Peter arose and came with them; and when he had come they led him into the upper room, and all the widows stood by weeping and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made while she was with them. [9:40] And Peter putting them all out knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body he said, Tabitha, arise! And she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter sat up. [9:41] And giving her his hand he raised her up, and calling the saints and widows presented her living. [9:42]And this was known in all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord. [9:43]And Peter continued many days at Joppa with one Simon a tanner.



CHAPTER VIII.

THE CONVERSION OF CORNELIUS, AND OTHER GENTILES.

1 [10:1]AND a certain man at Caesarea, named Cornelius, a centurion of the cohort which was called the Italian, [10:2]a pious man, and one fearing God with all his house, and bestowing many charities on the people, and praying to God always, [10:3]saw clearly in a vision, about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming to him, and saying to him, Cornelius. [10:4]And looking steadily at him and being afraid, he said, What is wanted, Lord? And he said to him, Your prayers and charities have come up as a memorial before God. [10:5] And now send men to Joppa and call for a certain Simon who is called Peter; [10:6]he lodges with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea. [10:7]And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of the house servants, and a pious soldier of those that attended constantly on him, [10:8] and having related all things to them sent them to Joppa.

2 [10:9]And on the next day, as they were pursuing their journey and had come nigh to the city, Peter went upon the house to pray, about the sixth hour. [10:10]And he was hungry and wished to eat; and while they were preparing a trance came upon him, [10:11]and he beheld heaven opened, and a certain vessel like a great sheet descending, let down by four corners to the earth, [10:12]in which were all the quadrupeds and reptiles of the earth, and birds of heaven. [10:13]And a voice came to him, Arise, Peter, kill and eat. [10:14]But Peter said, By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten any thing common and impure. [10:15]And a voice came to him again, a second time, What God has purified, regard not common. [10:16]And this was done thrice, and immediately the vessel was taken up to heaven.

3 [10:17]And while Peter doubted with himself what the vision which he had seen meant, behold, even [then] the men sent by Cornelius, having inquired for the house of Simon, stood at the gate, [10:18]and calling aloud asked if Simon who was called Peter lodged there. [10:19]And while Peter was considering of the vision, the Spirit said to him, Behold, men seek you; [10:20]arise and go down and go with them without hesitation, for I have sent them. [10:21]And Peter went down to the men and said, Behold, I am the man whom you seek; what is the cause for which you have come? [10:22]And they said, Cornelius a centurion, a righteous man, and one that fears God, and esteemed by all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to send for you to his house and hear words from you. [10:23]Then he called them in and entertained them.

4 And the next day he arose and went with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went with him. [10:24]And on the day following they came to Caesarea; and Cornelius was expecting them, and had called together his relations and particular friends. [10:25]And when Peter came in Cornelius met him, and falling down at his feet worshipped him. [10:26]But Peter raised him up saying, Arise, I also am a man. [10:27]And conversing with him he went in, and found many come together; [10:28]and he said to them, You know that it is not lawful for a Jew to associate with a man of another nation, or come into his house; and God has taught me not to call any man common or impure; [10:29]wherefore, being sent for I also came without objecting. I ask therefore for what reason you have sent for me? [10:30]And Cornelius said, From the fourth hour of the day I fasted till this hour, and at the ninth hour I was praying in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in splendid clothing, [10:31]and said, Cornelius, your prayer is heard and your charities are remembered before God. [10:32]Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon who is called Peter; he lodges at the house of Simon a tanner, by the sea, who when he has come will speak to you. [10:33] Immediately therefore I sent to you, and you have done well to come. Now therefore we are all present before God to hear all things which God has commanded you.

5 [10:34]And Peter opening his mouth said, Of a truth I perceive that God is not a respecter of persons, [10:35]but in every nation he that fears him and does righteousness is acceptable to him. [10:36]The word which he sent to the children of Israel, preaching the good news of peace by Jesus Christ,—he is Lord of all,— [10:37]you know; the word which was [preached] through all Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism which John preached, [10:38]Jesus from Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and power, who went about doing good and curing all that were subjugated by the devil, for God was with him; [10:39]and we are witnesses of all things which he did, both in the land of Judea, and at Jerusalem, whom also they killed, hanging him on a cross. [10:40]This [man] did God raise up on the third day, and permitted him to be made manifest, [10:41]not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, to us, who eat and drank with him after he rose from the dead; [10:42]and he commanded us to preach to the people and testify fully that he is appointed by God the judge of living and dead. [10:43]To him all the prophets bear witness, that every one who believes in him has forgiveness of sins through his name.

6 [10:44]While Peter was yet speaking these words the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. [10:45]And those of the circumcision who came with Peter were astonished, that on the gentiles also the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out; [10:46]for they heard them speaking with tongues and magnifying God. Then Peter answered, [10:47]Can any forbid water that these should be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit as we also have? [10:48]And he commanded that they should be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they desired him to remain some days.



CHAPTER IX.

PETER CALLED TO ACCOUNT FOR ASSOCIATING WITH GENTILES, AND JUSTIFIED; PREACHING TO THE GENTILES CONTINUED.

1 [11:1]AND the apostles and brothers who were in Judea heard that the gentiles received the word of God. [11:2]And when Peter went up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision contended with him, [11:3]saying, You went in to men that were uncircumcised, and eat with them. [11:4]And Peter began and related to them in order, saying, [11:5]I was in the city of Joppa praying, and I saw a vision in a trance, a vessel like a great sheet descending, let down by the four corners from heaven, and it came to me; [11:6]and looking into it attentively I perceived and saw the quadrupeds of the earth and wild beasts and reptiles and birds of heaven. [11:7]And I heard a voice saying to me, Arise, Peter, kill and eat. [11:8]And I said, By no means, Lord, for nothing common or impure has ever entered into my mouth. [11:9]And a voice answered from heaven a second time, What God has purified do not you regard common. [11:10]And this was done thrice, and again all were taken up to heaven.

2 [11:11]And behold, immediately three men came to the house in which I was, being sent for me from Caesarea. [11:12]And the Spirit told me to go with them. And these six brothers also went with me, and we entered into the house of the man. [11:13]And he told us how he had seen the angel in his house standing and saying to him, Send to Joppa and call Simon who is called Peter, [11:14]who will speak words to you by which you shall be saved and all your house. [11:15] And when I began to speak the Holy Spirit fell on them as also on us in the beginning. [11:16]And I remembered the word of the Lord how he said, John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit. [11:17]If therefore God gave the gift equally to them and to us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I should be able to forbid God? [11:18] And hearing these things they were silent, and glorified God, saying, Then to the gentiles also has God indeed given the change of mind to life.

3 [11:19]And those scattered abroad by the affliction which commenced with Stephen, went even to Phenicia, and Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one but Jews only. [11:20]But some of them, Cyprians and Cyrenians, who came to Antioch, spoke to the Greeks preaching the good news of the Lord Jesus. [11:21] And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. [11:22]And a report concerning them was brought to the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to go as far as Antioch; [11:23]who having come and seen the grace of God rejoiced, and exhorted all to adhere to the Lord with the purpose of the heart; [11:24]for he was a good man and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great multitude were added to the Lord.

4 [11:25]And he went to Tarsus to seek for Saul, [11:26]and found and brought him to Antioch. And he was with them, and they met a whole year with the church and taught a great multitude; and the disciples first took the name of Christians at Antioch.

5 [11:27]And in those days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch; [11:28]and one of them, by the name of Agabus, standing up signified by the spirit that a great famine was about to come on all the world; which also came under Claudius Caesar. [11:29]And each of the disciples, according to his ability, determined to send help to the brethren living in Judea; [11:30]which they also did, sending to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.



CHAPTER X.

PERSECUTION BY HEROD AGRIPPA, HIS DEATH.—A.D. 44.

1 [12:1]AND at that time Herod the king put forth his hands to injure some of the church. [12:2]And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. [12:3]And seeing that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to apprehend Peter also,—and it was during the days of unleavened bread,— [12:4]and having seized he put him in prison, committing him to four companies of four soldiers each to guard him, wishing after the passover to bring him before the people. [12:5]Peter therefore was kept by the guard; but prayer was made incessantly by the church to God for him. [12:6]And when Herod was about to bring him forward, on that night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards kept watch before the door. [12:7]And behold, an angel of the Lord came, and a light shone in the building; and striking Peter on the side he awoke him saying, Arise quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. [12:8]And the angel said to him, Gird yourself, and tie on your sandals. And he did so. And he said to him, Put your cloak about you, and follow me. [12:9]And going out he followed him, and knew not that it was real which was done by the angel, but thought he saw a vision. [12:10]And passing through the first guard, and the second, they came to the iron gate leading into the city, which opened to them of itself, and going out they went forward one street, and immediately the angel left him. [12:11]And Peter coming to himself said, Now I know that the Lord has really sent his angel and delivered me from the hand of Herod and all the expectation of the Jews.

2 [12:12]And considering within himself he came to the house of Mary the mother of John called Mark, where a great number were assembled together and praying. [12:13]And knocking at the door of the gate, a female servant, called Rhoda, came to listen, [12:14]and knowing the voice of Peter she did not open the gate from joy, but ran in and told that Peter stood before the gate. [12:15]But they said to her, You are mad. But she asserted strongly that it was so. And they said, It is his angel. [12:16]But Peter continued knocking; and having opened they saw him, and were astonished. [12:17]And making signs to them with his hand to be silent, he related how the Lord had conducted him out of the prison, and said, Tell these things to James and the brothers. And going out he departed to another place.

3 [12:18]And when it was day there was no small stir among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. [12:19]And Herod seeking and not finding him, examined the guards, and commanded them to be put to death, and going down from Judea to Caesarea remained [there].

4 [12:20]And he was displeased with the Tyrians and Sidonians; but they came with one accord to him, and having persuaded Blastus who was over the king's bedchamber, desired peace, because their country was nourished by the king's. [12:21]And on an appointed day Herod having put on his royal apparel, and sitting on the tribunal, made a speech to them; [12:22]and the people shouted, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. [12:23]And an angel of the Lord instantly smote him because he gave not glory to God, and being eaten with worms he expired. [12:24]And the word of God grew and was increased.



CHAPTER XI.

THE FIRST MISSION OF PAUL AND BARNABAS TO CYPRUS AND ASIA MINOR.—A.D. 46-49.

1 [12:25]AND Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, having performed the service, taking with them also John who was called Mark. [13:1]And there were prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch; Barnabas and Simeon called Niger [the black], and Lucius the Cyrenian, and Manaen the foster brother of Herod the Tetrarch, and Saul. [13:2]And while they served the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. [13:3]Then having fasted and prayed and imposed hands on them, they sent them forth. [13:4]They, therefore, being sent forth by the Holy Spirit went down to Seleucia, and thence sailed to Cyprus; [13:5]and coming to Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews; and they also had John for a servant.

2 [13:6]And having gone through the whole island to Paphos, they found a certain magian, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus, [13:7]who was with the proconsul Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man having called for Barnabas and Saul desired to hear the word of God; [13:8]but Elymas the magian, for so his name is interpreted, opposed them, seeking to turn away the proconsul from the faith. [13:9]But Saul, [called] also Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looking steadily at him [13:10]said, O full of all deceit and all craft, son of a devil, enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? [13:11]And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell upon him a mist and darkness, and going about he sought guides. [13:12]Then the proconsul seeing what was done believed, and was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

3 [13:13]And those with Paul, sailing from Paphos, went to Perga in Pamphylia; but John left them and returned to Jerusalem. [13:14]And passing on from Perga, they went to Antioch in Pisidia, and going into the synagogue on the Sabbath they sat down. [13:15]And after the reading of the law and the prophets, the synagogue rulers sent to them, saying, Men and brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, speak.

4 [13:16]And Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand, said, Men of Israel, and you that fear God, hear. [13:17]The God of this people chose our fathers, and raised up the people in the exile in the land of Egypt, and brought them out of it with a high arm. [13:18]And when he had borne with their conduct forty years in the wilderness, [13:19]and had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he distributed their land to them by lot. [13:20]And after this he gave judges four hundred and fifty years till Samuel the prophet. [13:21]And then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, forty years; [13:22]and removing him, he raised up for them David for a king, of whom also he said and testified, I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after my heart, who will do all my will.

5 [13:23]Of the posterity of this man, according to his promise, has God raised up to Israel a Saviour, Jesus; [13:24]John having preached before his coming the baptism of a change of mind to all the people of Israel. [13:25]And when John completed his course, he said, Who do you suppose I am? I am not [the Christ]; but behold, there comes after me one the sandal of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.

6 [13:26]Men and brothers, children of the race of Abraham, and you that fear God, the word of this salvation is sent to you. [13:27]For those living at Jerusalem, and their rulers, not knowing him and the words of the prophets which are read every sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning [him]; [13:28]and [although] they found no cause of death [in him], they requested of Pilate that he might be destroyed; [13:29]and when they had performed all things written of him, they took him down from the cross and placed him in a tomb. [13:30]But God raised him from the dead, [13:31]and he appeared many days to those who went up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people. [13:32]And we declare to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers, [13:33]that God has fulfilled this to us their children in raising up Jesus, as it is written also in the first psalm, You are my son, to-day have I begotten you. [13:34]And that he raised him from the dead never more to return to destruction, he said thus; I will give you the sure promises of David. [13:35] Wherefore also in another place he says, Thou wilt not suffer thy holy one to see destruction. [13:36]For David, having in his generation served the will of God, fell asleep, and was gathered to his fathers and saw destruction; [13:37] but he whom God raised up saw not destruction. [13:38]Be it known to you therefore, men and brothers, that through this man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins, [13:39]and every one who believes is justified by him from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. [13:40] See then that what is said by the prophets does not come upon you; [13:41] Behold, despisers, and wonder and perish, for I perform a work in your days, a work which you shall by no means believe even if one declares it to you.

7 [13:42]And when they had gone out, [the people] requested that these words might be spoken to them on the next sabbath. [13:43]And the congregation being dismissed, many of the Jews and pious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who gave them additional instructions, and persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. [13:44]And on the following sabbath almost all the city came together to hear the word of the Lord. [13:45]And the Jews seeing the multitudes were filled with envy, and contradicted the things said by Paul, disputing and blaspheming. [13:46]And both Paul and Barnabas speaking boldly said, It was necessary that the word of God should first be spoken to you; but since you cast it away, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the gentiles. [13:47]For thus has the Lord commanded us; I have set you for a light of nations, that you should be a salvation even to the end of the earth. [13:48] And the gentiles hearing this rejoiced and glorified the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed; [13:49]and the word of the Lord was spread through all the country. [13:50]But the Jews excited the pious and honorable women, and the first men of the city, and raised a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and cast them out from their limits. [13:51]And shaking off the dust of their feet against them, they went to Iconium; [13:52] and the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.

8 [14:1]And at Iconium they went together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude of the Jews and Greeks believed. [14:2]But the unbelieving Jews excited the minds of the gentiles against the brothers, and made them ill-disposed. [14:3]Then they spent a long time in speaking boldly for the Lord, who testified to the word of his grace by granting miracles and prodigies to be performed by their hands. [14:4]And the multitude of the city were divided; some were with the Jews, and some with the apostles. [14:5]And when a design was formed by the gentiles and Jews with their rulers to treat them injuriously, and stone them, [14:6]knowing it, they fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe, and the surrounding country, [14:7]and preached the good news there.

9 [14:8]And there sat a certain man at Lystra, infirm in his feet, lame from his birth, who had never walked. [14:9]This man heard Paul speaking, who, looking steadily at him and seeing that he had faith to be cured, [14:10]said with a loud voice, Stand up erect on your feet. And he leaped, and walked. [14:11]And the multitude seeing what Paul did, lifted up their voice in the language of Lycaonia, saying, The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men; [14:12]and they called Barnabas, Jupiter, and Paul, Mercury, because he was a master of eloquence. [14:13]And the priest of the Jupiter which was before the city brought bulls and garlands to the gates, and wished to offer sacrifices with the multitudes. [14:14]But the apostles Barnabas and Paul hearing of it, rending their clothes ran among the multitude, crying [14:15]and saying, Men, why do you do these things? We are also men subject to like sufferings with you, preaching that you should turn from these vain [services] to the living God, who made heaven and earth, and the sea, and all things in them, [14:16]who in past generations permitted all nations to walk in their own ways; [14:17]although indeed he left not himself without a witness, doing good, giving rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. [14:18]And saying these things they with difficulty restrained the multitudes from sacrificing to them.

10 [14:19]But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the multitudes, and having stoned Paul, they dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. [14:20]But while the disciples stood around him, he arose and entered into the city. And on the next day he went away with Barnabas to Derbe. [14:21]And having preached the good news to that city, and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, and Iconium, and Antioch, [14:22]confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that through many afflictions we must enter into the kingdom of God. [14:23]And having appointed them elders in every church, and having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

11 [14:24]And passing through Pisidia they came to Pamphylia, [14:25]and having spoken the word in Perga they went down to Attalia, [14:26]and thence sailed to Antioch, whence they had been commended to the favor of God for the work which they performed. [14:27]And having arrived, and assembled the church, they reported what God had done with them, and that he had opened the door of faith to the gentiles. [14:28]And they remained there not a little time with the disciples.



CHAPTER XII.

THE COUNCIL AT JERUSALEM ON CIRCUMCISION.—A.D. 50.

1 [15:1]AND certain persons having come down from Judea taught the brothers, If you are not circumcised according to the custom of Moses you cannot be saved. [15:2]There being therefore no little dissension and disputation of Paul and Barnabas with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to the apostles and elders at Jerusalem, concerning this question. [15:3]They, therefore, being sent forward by the church, went to Phenicia and Samaria, relating the conversion of the gentiles, and caused great joy to all the brothers. [15:4]And when they came to Jerusalem they were received by the church, and the apostles, and the elders, and related what things God had done with them. [15:5]But some of those of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed, rose and said, that it is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

2 [15:6]And the apostles and elders were assembled together to see about this matter. [15:7]And after there had been much debate, Peter rose and said to them, Men and brothers, you know that in former days God chose among you that the gentiles should hear by my mouth the word of the gospel and believe. [15:8] And the heart-searching God testified to them, giving to them the Holy Spirit even as to us, [15:9]and made no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by the faith. [15:10]Now, therefore, why do you try God, to put on the necks of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we could bear? [15:11]But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same manner as they.

3 [15:12]And all the multitude was silent, and heard Barnabas and Paul relate what miracles and prodigies God performed among the gentiles through them. [15:13]And after they were silent, James answered, saying, Men and brothers, hear me. [15:14]Simeon has related how God first visited the gentiles to take a people for his name. [15:15]And with this agree the words of the prophets, as it is written, [15:16]After this will I return and build up the tabernacle of David which had fallen down, and rebuild its ruins, and set it up, [15:17]that the rest of men may seek the Lord, even all the nations on whom my name has been called, says the Lord who does these things, [15:18]known from eternity. [15:19]Wherefore I judge that we ought not to trouble those who turned to God from the gentiles, [15:20]but to send to them to abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and fornication, and things strangled, and blood. [15:21]For Moses from ancient times has those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every sabbath.

4 [15:22]Then it seemed good to the apostles and elders, with all the assembly [the church], to send delegates from themselves to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers, [15:23]writing by their hand, The apostles and elders and brothers, to the brothers in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, who are of the gentiles, greeting. [15:24]Since we heard that some going out from us have troubled you with words subverting your souls, to whom we gave no charge, [15:25]it seemed good to us, being of one opinion, to send delegates to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, [15:26]men who have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. [15:27]We have sent, therefore, Judas and Silas, and they will tell you the same things by word. [15:28]For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to put no greater burden upon you except these necessary things; [15:29] that you should abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and blood, and things strangled, and fornication, from which if you keep yourselves you will do well. Farewell.

5 [15:30]They, therefore, being dismissed went to Antioch, and assembling the multitude delivered the epistle. [15:31]And reading it they rejoiced at the exhortation. [15:32]And Judas and Silas being themselves also prophets, exhorted the brothers with much argument, and confirmed them. [15:33]And having staid [some] time, they were dismissed in peace by the brothers to those that sent them. [15:35]But Paul and Barnabas remained at Antioch, teaching and preaching with many others the word of the Lord.



CHAPTER XIII.

PAUL'S SECOND MISSION TO ASIA MINOR.—A.D. 51-52.

1 [15:36]AND after some days Paul said to Barnabas, Let us return and visit the brothers in every city in which we preached the word of the Lord, [and see] how they do. [15:37]And Barnabas wished to take with them John called Mark; [15:38] but Paul thought not best to take with them one who deserted them at Pamphylia and did not go with them to the work. [15:39]And there was a sharp contention, so that they separated from each other; and Barnabas taking Mark sailed to Cyprus.

2 [15:40]But Paul choosing Silas went out, commended to the favor of the Lord by the brothers. [15:41]And he passed through Syria and Cilicia confirming the churches. [16:1]And he went to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, there was a certain disciple there by the name of Timothy, a son of a Jewish woman, a believer, but of a Greek father, [16:2]who was commended by the brothers in Lystra and Iconium. [16:3]Him Paul wished to have go with him; and he took and circumcised him on account of the Jews who were in those places; for all knew that his father was a Greek.

3 [16:4]And when he went through the cities he gave them the ordinances to observe which had been determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem.

4 [16:5]Then the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily. [16:6]And passing through Phrygia and the country of Galatia, being forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia, [16:7]coming by Mysia they endeavored to go into Bithynia; and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them; [16:8]and passing by Mysia they went down to Troas. [16:9]And a vision appeared by night to Paul; a certain man of Macedonia standing, asking him, and saying, Come over into Macedonia and help us. [16:10]And when he saw the vision we immediately sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the good news to them.



CHAPTER XIV.

PAUL AND HIS COMPANY AT PHILIPPI ON THEIR FIRST MISSION TO EUROPE.—A.D. 52-53.

1 [16:11]AND sailing from Troas we came in a direct course to Samothracia, and on the next day to Neapolis, [16:12]and thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, [and] a colony. And we spent some days in that city. [16:13]And on the sabbath we went out of the gate, by the river, where the proseuche [place of prayer] usually was, and sitting down we spoke to the women who came together. [16:14]And a certain woman by the name of Lydia, a dealer in purple, of the city of Thyatira, who worshipped God, heard, whose heart the Lord opened to attend to the [words] spoken by Paul.

2 [16:15]And when she was baptized, and her house, she requested saying, If you have judged me faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay; and she constrained us.

3 [16:16]And when we went to the proseuche, a certain female servant having a spirit, a diviner, met us, who brought her masters much gain by divining. [16:17]She following Paul and us, cried, saying, These men are servants of the Most High God, who declare to us the way of salvation; [16:18]and this she did for many days. And Paul being grieved turned around and said to the spirit, I command you, in the name of Jesus Christ, to come out of her. And it came out of her in that hour. [16:19]And her masters seeing that the hope of their gain was gone, seizing Paul and Silas dragged them to the market, to the rulers, [16:20] and bringing them before the prefects said, These men, being Jews, greatly trouble the city, [16:21]and preach customs which it is not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe. [16:22]And the multitude came together against them, and the prefects tearing off their clothes gave orders to beat them with rods, [16:23]and having inflicted many blows on them cast them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely; [16:24]who, having received such a charge, cast them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.