And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.

If that person refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church, and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a gentile and a tax collector.

And great fear seized the whole church and all who heard of these things.

And Saul approved of their killing him.

Saul Persecutes the Church

That day a severe persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria.

But Saul was ravaging the church by entering house after house; dragging off both men and women, he committed them to prison.

Meanwhile the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was built up. Living in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.

Peter’s Report to the Church at Jerusalem

Now the apostles and the brothers and sisters who were in Judea heard that the gentiles had also accepted the word of God.

The Church in Antioch

Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, and they spoke the word to no one except Jews.

News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.

and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for an entire year they met with the church and taught a great many people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called “Christians.”

James Killed and Peter Imprisoned

About that time King Herod laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church.

While Peter was kept in prison, the church prayed fervently to God for him.

Barnabas and Saul Commissioned

Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a childhood friend of Herod the ruler, and Saul.

And after they had appointed elders for them in each church, with prayer and fasting they entrusted them to the Lord in whom they had come to believe.

When they arrived, they called the church together and related all that God had done with them and how he had opened a door of faith for the gentiles.

So they were sent on their way by the church, and as they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, they reported the conversion of the gentiles and brought great joy to all the brothers and sisters.

When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them.

The Council’s Letter to Gentile Believers

Then the apostles and the elders, with the consent of the whole church, decided to choose men from among them and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leaders among the brothers,

He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

So the churches were strengthened in the faith and increased in numbers daily.

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

Paul Speaks to the Ephesian Elders

From Miletus he sent a message to Ephesus, asking the elders of the church to meet him.

Keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock, of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God that he obtained with the blood of his own Son.

Personal Greetings

I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church at Cenchreae,

who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but also all the churches of the gentiles.