Bible in 90 Days
Stephen Accused of Blasphemy
8 Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Then some from what is called the Freedmen’s Synagogue, composed of both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, came forward and disputed with Stephen. 10 But they were unable to stand up against his wisdom and the Spirit by whom he was speaking.
11 Then they persuaded some men to say, “We heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God!”(A) 12 They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; so they came, dragged him off, and took him to the Sanhedrin. 13 They also presented false witnesses who said, “This man does not stop speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the law.(B) 14 For we heard him say that Jesus, this Nazarene, will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.”(C) 15 And all who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
Stephen’s Sermon
7 “Is this true?”[a] the high priest asked.
2 “Brothers and fathers,” he said, “listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he settled in Haran,(D) 3 and said to him:
4 “Then he came out of the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. From there, after his father died, God had him move to this land you now live in.(F) 5 He didn’t give him an inheritance in it, not even a foot of ground, but He promised to give it to him as a possession, and to his descendants after him,(G) even though he was childless. 6 God spoke in this way:
His descendants would be strangers
in a foreign country,
and they would enslave
and oppress them 400 years.
7 I will judge the nation
that they will serve as slaves, God said.
After this, they will come out
and worship Me in this place.(H)[c]
8 Then He gave him the covenant of circumcision. After this, he fathered Isaac and circumcised(I) him on the eighth day; Isaac did the same with Jacob, and Jacob with the 12 patriarchs.(J)
The Patriarchs in Egypt
9 “The patriarchs became jealous of Joseph and sold him into Egypt, but God was with him(K) 10 and rescued him out of all his troubles. He gave him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and over his whole household.(L) 11 Then a famine and great suffering came over all of Egypt and Canaan,(M) and our ancestors could find no food. 12 When Jacob heard there was grain in Egypt, he sent our ancestors the first time. 13 The second time, Joseph was revealed to his brothers, and Joseph’s family became known to Pharaoh. 14 Joseph then invited his father Jacob and all his relatives, 75 people in all,(N) 15 and Jacob went down to Egypt. He and our ancestors died there,(O) 16 were carried back to Shechem, and were placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.(P)
Moses, a Rejected Savior
17 “As the time was drawing near to fulfill the promise that God had made to Abraham, the people flourished and multiplied in Egypt(Q) 18 until a different king who did not know Joseph ruled over Egypt.[d] 19 He dealt deceitfully with our race and oppressed our ancestors by making them leave their infants outside, so they wouldn’t survive.[e](R) 20 At this time Moses was born, and he was beautiful in God’s sight. He was cared for in his father’s home three months, 21 and when he was left outside, Pharaoh’s daughter adopted and raised him as her own son.(S) 22 So Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in his speech and actions.(T)
23 “As he was approaching the age of 40, he decided[f] to visit his brothers, the Israelites. 24 When he saw one of them being mistreated, he came to his rescue and avenged the oppressed man by striking down the Egyptian. 25 He assumed his brothers would understand that God would give them deliverance through him, but they did not understand. 26 The next day he showed up while they were fighting and tried to reconcile them peacefully, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers. Why are you mistreating each other?’(U)
27 “But the one who was mistreating his neighbor pushed him[g] away, saying:
Who appointed you a ruler and a judge over us? 28 Do you want to kill me, the same way you killed the Egyptian yesterday?(V)[h]
29 “At this disclosure, Moses fled and became an exile in the land of Midian, where he fathered two sons.(W) 30 After 40 years had passed, an angel[i] appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in the flame of a burning bush. 31 When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight. As he was approaching to look at it, the voice of the Lord came: 32 I am the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob.(X)[j] So Moses began to tremble and did not dare to look.
33 “Then the Lord said to him:
Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. 34 I have observed the oppression of My people in Egypt; I have heard their groaning and have come down to rescue them. And now, come, I will send you to Egypt.(Y)[k]
35 “This Moses, whom they rejected when they said, Who appointed you a ruler and a judge?[l]—this one God sent as a ruler and a redeemer by means of the angel who appeared to him in the bush.(Z) 36 This man led them out and performed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt,(AA) at the Red Sea, and in the wilderness 40 years.(AB)
Israel’s Rebellion against God
37 “This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, God[m] will raise up for you a Prophet like me from among your brothers.(AC)[n] 38 He is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness together with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors.(AD) He received living oracles to give to us.(AE) 39 Our ancestors were unwilling to obey him, but pushed him away, and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.(AF) 40 They told Aaron:
Make us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we don’t know what’s happened to him.(AG)[o]
41 They even made a calf in those days, offered sacrifice to the idol, and were celebrating what their hands had made.(AH) 42 Then God turned away(AI) and gave them up to worship(AJ) the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets:
House of Israel, did you bring Me offerings and sacrifices
40 years in the wilderness?
43 No, you took up the tent of Moloch[p]
and the star of your god Rephan,[q]
the images that you made to worship.
So I will deport you beyond Babylon!(AK)[r]
God’s Real Tabernacle
44 “Our ancestors had the tabernacle of the testimony in the wilderness, just as He who spoke to Moses commanded him to make it according to the pattern he had seen.(AL) 45 Our ancestors in turn received it and with Joshua brought it in when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before our fathers,(AM) until the days of David. 46 He found favor in God’s sight and asked that he might provide a dwelling place for the God[s] of Jacob.(AN) 47 But it was Solomon who built Him a house.(AO) 48 However, the Most High does not dwell in sanctuaries made with hands, as the prophet says:(AP)
49 Heaven is My throne,
and earth My footstool.
What sort of house will you build for Me?
says the Lord,
or what is My resting place?
50 Did not My hand make all these things?(AQ)[t]
Resisting the Holy Spirit
51 “You stiff-necked(AR) people with uncircumcised hearts and ears!(AS) You are always resisting the Holy Spirit; as your ancestors did, so do you. 52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute?(AT) They even killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers(AU) you have now become. 53 You received the law under the direction of angels(AV) and yet have not kept it.”
The First Christian Martyr
54 When they heard these things, they were enraged in their hearts[u] and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, filled by the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven. He saw God’s glory, with[v] Jesus standing at the right hand of God,(AW) and he said, 56 “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”(AX)
57 Then they screamed at the top of their voices, covered their ears, and together rushed against him. 58 They threw him out of the city and began to stone(AY) him. And the witnesses laid their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul.(AZ) 59 They were stoning Stephen as he called out: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!”(BA) 60 Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice,(BB) “Lord, do not charge them with this sin!” And saying this, he fell asleep.(BC)
Saul the Persecutor
8 Saul agreed with putting him to death.
On that day a severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the land of Judea and Samaria.(BD) 2 Devout men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him. 3 Saul,(BE) however, was ravaging the church. He would enter house after house, drag off men and women, and put them in prison.(BF)
Philip in Samaria
4 So those who were scattered went on their way preaching the message of good news. 5 Philip went down to a[w] city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them.(BG) 6 The crowds paid attention with one mind to what Philip said, as they heard and saw the signs he was performing. 7 For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed, and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed.(BH) 8 So there was great joy in that city.
The Response of Simon
9 A man named Simon had previously practiced sorcery in that city and astounded the Samaritan people, while claiming to be somebody great.(BI) 10 They all paid attention to him, from the least of them to the greatest, and they said, “This man is called the Great Power of God!”[x](BJ) 11 They were attentive to him because he had astounded them with his sorceries for a long time. 12 But when they believed Philip, as he preached the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.(BK) 13 Then even Simon himself believed. And after he was baptized, he went around constantly with[y] Philip and was astounded as he observed the signs and great miracles(BL) that were being performed.
Simon’s Sin
14 When the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had welcomed God’s message, they sent Peter and John to them.(BM) 15 After they went down there, they prayed for them, so the Samaritans might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For He had not yet come down on[z] any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.(BN) 17 Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18 When Simon saw that the Holy[aa] Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power too, so that anyone I lay hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20 But Peter told him, “May your silver be destroyed with you, because you thought the gift of God could be obtained with money!(BO) 21 You have no part or share in this matter, because your heart is not right before God.(BP) 22 Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.”(BQ)
24 “Please pray[ab] to the Lord for me,” Simon replied, “so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”(BR)
25 Then, after they had testified and spoken the message of the Lord, they traveled back to Jerusalem, evangelizing many villages of the Samaritans.
The Conversion of the Ethiopian Official
26 An angel of the Lord spoke to Philip: “Get up and go south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is the desert road.)[ac](BS) 27 So he got up and went. There was an Ethiopian man, a eunuch(BT) and high official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians,[ad] who was in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to worship in Jerusalem(BU) 28 and was sitting in his chariot on his way home, reading the prophet Isaiah aloud.
29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go and join that chariot.”(BV)
30 When Philip ran up to it, he heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you’re reading?”
31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone guides me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the Scripture passage he was reading was this:
He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
and as a lamb is silent before its shearer,
so He does not open His mouth.
33 In His humiliation justice was denied Him.
Who will describe His generation?
For His life is taken from the earth.(BW)[ae]
34 The eunuch replied to Philip, “I ask you, who is the prophet saying this about—himself or another person?” 35 So Philip proceeded[af] to tell him the good news about Jesus, beginning from that Scripture.(BX)
36 As they were traveling down the road, they came to some water. The eunuch said, “Look, there’s water! What would keep me from being baptized?” [37 And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart you may.” And he replied, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”][ag] 38 Then he ordered the chariot to stop, and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord(BY) carried Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him any longer. But he went on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip appeared in[ah] Azotus,[ai] and he was traveling and evangelizing all the towns until he came to Caesarea.(BZ)
The Damascus Road
9 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples(CA) of the Lord. He went to the high priest(CB) 2 and requested letters(CC) from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women who belonged to the Way,(CD) he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As(CE) he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. 4 Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
5 “Who are You, Lord?” he said.
“I am Jesus, the One you are persecuting,” He replied. 6 “But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the sound but seeing no one.(CF) 8 Then Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing. So they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. 9 He was unable to see for three days and did not eat or drink.
Saul’s Baptism
10 There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
“Here I am, Lord!” he said.(CG)
11 “Get up and go to the street called Straight,” the Lord said to him, “to the house of Judas, and ask for a man from Tarsus(CH) named Saul, since he is praying there. 12 In a vision[aj] he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him so he can regain his sight.”(CI)
13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.(CJ) 14 And he has authority here from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name.”(CK)
15 But the Lord said to him, “Go! For this man is My chosen instrument(CL) to take My name to Gentiles,(CM) kings, and the Israelites.(CN) 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for My name!”(CO)
17 So Ananias left and entered the house. Then he placed his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road you were traveling, has sent me so that you can regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”(CP)
18 At once something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. 19 And after taking some food, he regained his strength.(CQ)
Saul Proclaiming the Messiah
Saul was with the disciples in Damascus for some days. 20 Immediately he began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues: “He is the Son of God.”(CR)
21 But all who heard him were astounded and said, “Isn’t this the man who, in Jerusalem, was destroying those who called on this name and then came here for the purpose of taking them as prisoners to the chief priests?”(CS)
22 But Saul grew more capable and kept confounding the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that this One is the Messiah.
23 After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. So they were watching the gates day and night intending to kill him,(CT) 25 but his disciples took him by night and lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the wall.(CU)
Saul in Jerusalem
26 When he arrived in Jerusalem,(CV) he tried to associate with the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, since they did not believe he was a disciple. 27 Barnabas, however, took him and brought him to the apostles and explained to them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road and that He had talked to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly(CW) in the name of Jesus.(CX) 28 Saul was coming and going with them in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He conversed and debated with the Hellenistic Jews,[ak] but they attempted to kill him.(CY) 30 When the brothers found out, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.(CZ)
31 So the church(DA) throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace, being built up and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, and it increased in numbers.
The Healing of Aeneas
32 As Peter was traveling from place to place,[al] he also came down to the saints(DB) who lived in Lydda.(DC) 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. 34 Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed,”[am] and immediately he got up.(DD) 35 So all who lived in Lydda and Sharon(DE) saw him and turned to the Lord.
Dorcas Restored to Life
36 In Joppa(DF) there was a disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas.[an] She was always doing good works(DG) and acts of charity. 37 In those days she became sick and died. After washing her, they placed her in a room upstairs. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples heard that Peter was there and sent two men to him who begged him, “Don’t delay in coming with us.” 39 So Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they led him to the room upstairs. And all the widows approached him, weeping and showing him the robes and clothes that Dorcas had made while she was with them. 40 Then Peter sent them all out of the room. He knelt down, prayed, and turning toward the body said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up.(DH) 41 He gave her his hand and helped her stand up. Then he called the saints and widows and presented her alive. 42 This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 And Peter stayed on many days in Joppa with Simon,(DI) a leather tanner.[ao]
Cornelius’s Vision
10 There was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment.(DJ) 2 He was a devout man and feared God along with his whole household. He did many charitable deeds for the Jewish people and always prayed to God.(DK) 3 About three in the afternoon[ap] he distinctly saw in a vision an angel of God who came in and said to him, “Cornelius!”(DL)
4 Looking intently at him, he became afraid and said, “What is it, lord?”
The angel told him, “Your prayers and your acts of charity have come up as a memorial offering before God.(DM) 5 Now send men to Joppa and call for Simon, who is also named Peter. 6 He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.”(DN)
7 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, he called two of his household slaves and a devout soldier, who was one of those who attended him. 8 After explaining everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
Peter’s Vision
9 The(DO) next day, as they were traveling and nearing the city, Peter went up to pray on the housetop(DP) about noon.[aq] 10 Then he became hungry and wanted to eat, but while they were preparing something, he went into a visionary state. 11 He saw heaven opened(DQ) and an object that resembled a large sheet coming down, being lowered by its four corners to the earth. 12 In it were all the four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth, and the birds of the sky. 13 Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat!”
14 “No, Lord!” Peter said. “For I have never eaten anything common[ar] and ritually unclean!”(DR)
15 Again, a second time, a voice said to him, “What God has made clean, you must not call common.”(DS) 16 This happened three times, and then the object was taken up into heaven.
Peter Visits Cornelius
17 While Peter was deeply perplexed about what the vision he had seen might mean, the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions to Simon’s house, stood at the gate. 18 They called out, asking if Simon, who was also named Peter, was lodging there.
19 While Peter was thinking about the vision, the Spirit told him, “Three men are here looking for you.(DT) 20 Get up, go downstairs, and accompany them with no doubts at all, because I have sent them.”(DU)
21 Then Peter went down to the men and said, “Here I am, the one you’re looking for. What is the reason you’re here?”
22 They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who has a good reputation with the whole Jewish nation, was divinely directed by a holy angel to call you to his house and to hear a message from you.”(DV) 23 Peter then invited them in and gave them lodging.
The next day he got up and set out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went with him.(DW) 24 The following day he entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell at his feet, and worshiped him.
26 But Peter helped him up and said, “Stand up! I myself am also a man.”(DX) 27 While talking with him, he went on in and found that many had come together there. 28 Peter said to them, “You know it’s forbidden for a Jewish man to associate with or visit a foreigner.(DY) But God has shown me that I must not call any person common or unclean.(DZ) 29 That’s why I came without any objection when I was sent for. So I ask: Why did you send for me?”
30 Cornelius replied, “Four days ago at this hour, at three in the afternoon,[as] I was[at] praying in my house. Just then a man in a dazzling robe stood before me(EA) 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your acts of charity have been remembered in God’s sight. 32 Therefore send someone to Joppa and invite Simon here, who is also named Peter. He is lodging in Simon the tanner’s house by the sea.’[au] 33 Therefore I immediately sent for you, and you did the right thing in coming. So we are all present before God, to hear everything you have been commanded by the Lord.”
Good News for Gentiles
34 Then Peter began to speak: “Now I really understand that God doesn’t show favoritism,(EB) 35 but in every nation the person who fears Him and does righteousness is acceptable to Him. 36 He sent the message to the Israelites, proclaiming the good news of peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all.(EC) 37 You know the events[av] that took place throughout Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John preached: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were under the tyranny of the Devil, because God was with Him.(ED) 39 We ourselves are witnesses of everything He did in both the Judean country and in Jerusalem, yet they killed Him by hanging Him on a tree.(EE) 40 God raised up this man on the third day and permitted Him to be seen, 41 not by all the people, but by us, witnesses appointed beforehand by God, who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead.(EF) 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to solemnly testify that He is the One appointed by God to be the Judge of the living and the dead.(EG) 43 All the prophets testify(EH) about Him that through His name(EI) everyone who believes in Him will receive forgiveness of sins.”(EJ)
Gentile Conversion and Baptism
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came down(EK) on all those who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers[aw] who had come with Peter were astounded because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.(EL) 46 For they heard them speaking in other languages and declaring the greatness of[ax] God.
Then Peter responded, 47 “Can anyone withhold water and prevent these people from being baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”(EM) 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.(EN) Then they asked him to stay for a few days.
Gentile Salvation Defended
11 The apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles had welcomed God’s message also. 2 When Peter went up to Jerusalem, those who stressed circumcision[ay] argued with him,(EO) 3 saying, “You visited uncircumcised men and ate with them!”(EP)
4 Peter began to explain to them in an orderly sequence, saying: 5 “I(EQ) was in the town of Joppa praying, and I saw, in a visionary state, an object that resembled a large sheet coming down, being lowered by its four corners from heaven, and it came to me. 6 When I looked closely and considered it, I saw the four-footed animals of the earth, the wild beasts, the reptiles, and the birds of the sky. 7 Then I also heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat!’
8 “‘No, Lord!’ I said. ‘For nothing common or ritually unclean has ever entered my mouth!’ 9 But a voice answered from heaven a second time, ‘What God has made clean, you must not call common.’
10 “Now this happened three times, and then everything was drawn up again into heaven. 11 At that very moment, three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea arrived at the house where we were. 12 Then the Spirit told me to accompany them with no doubts at all. These six brothers accompanied me, and we went into the man’s house.(ER) 13 He reported to us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send[az] to Joppa, and call for Simon, who is also named Peter. 14 He will speak a message[ba] to you that you and all your household(ES) will be saved by.’
15 “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came down on them, just as on us at the beginning.(ET) 16 Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’(EU) 17 Therefore, if God gave them the same gift that He also gave to us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, how could I possibly hinder God?”(EV)
18 When they heard this they became silent. Then they glorified God, saying, “So God has granted repentance resulting in life[bb] even to the Gentiles!”(EW)
The Church in Antioch
19 Those who had been scattered as a result of the persecution that started because of Stephen made their way as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch,(EX) speaking the message to no one except Jews. 20 But there were some of them, Cypriot and Cyrenian men, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Hellenists,[bc][bd] proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus.(EY) 21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.(EZ) 22 Then the report about them was heard by the church that was at Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to travel[be] as far as Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged all of them to remain true to the Lord with a firm resolve of the heart,(FA) 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit(FB) and of faith. And large numbers of people were added(FC) to the Lord. 25 Then he[bf] went to Tarsus to search for Saul, 26 and when he found him he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught large numbers. The disciples(FD) were first called Christians at Antioch.(FE)
Famine Relief
27 In those days some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.(FF) 28 Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine throughout the Roman world.[bg] This took place during the time of Claudius.[bh](FG) 29 So each of the disciples, according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brothers who lived in Judea.(FH) 30 They did this, sending it to the elders(FI) by means of Barnabas and Saul.
James Martyred and Peter Jailed
12 About that time King Herod cruelly attacked some who belonged to the church, 2 and he killed James,(FJ) John’s brother, with the sword. 3 When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter too, during the days of Unleavened Bread.(FK) 4 After the arrest, he put him in prison and assigned four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover. 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but prayer was being made earnestly to God for him by the church.
Peter Rescued
6 On the night before Herod was to bring him out for execution, Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while the sentries in front of the door guarded the prison. 7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord(FL) appeared, and a light shone in the cell. Striking Peter on the side, he woke him up and said, “Quick, get up!” Then the chains fell off his wrists.(FM) 8 “Get dressed,” the angel told him, “and put on your sandals.” And he did so. “Wrap your cloak around you,” he told him, “and follow me.” 9 So he went out and followed, and he did not know that what took place through the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.(FN) 10 After they passed the first and second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them by itself. They went outside and passed one street, and immediately the angel left him.(FO)
11 Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel and rescued me from Herod’s grasp and from all that the Jewish people expected.”(FP) 12 When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark,[bi](FQ) where many had assembled and were praying. 13 He knocked at the door in the gateway, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer. 14 She recognized Peter’s voice, and because of her joy, she did not open the gate but ran in and announced that Peter was standing at the gateway.
15 “You’re crazy!” they told her. But she kept insisting that it was true. Then they said, “It’s his angel!”(FR) 16 Peter, however, kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astounded.
17 Motioning to them with his hand(FS) to be silent, he explained to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. “Report these things to James[bj](FT) and the brothers,” he said. Then he departed and went to a different place.
18 At daylight, there was a great commotion[bk] among the soldiers as to what could have become of Peter. 19 After Herod had searched and did not find him, he interrogated the guards and ordered their execution. Then Herod went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there.(FU)
Herod’s Death
20 He had been very angry with the Tyrians and Sidonians.[bl] Together they presented themselves before him. They won over Blastus, who was in charge of the king’s bedroom, and through him they asked for peace, because their country was supplied with food from the king’s country.(FV) 21 So on an appointed day, dressed in royal robes and seated on the throne, Herod delivered a public address to them. 22 The assembled people began to shout, “It’s the voice of a god and not of a man!” 23 At once an angel of the Lord(FW) struck him because he did not give the glory to God, and he became infected with worms and died.(FX) 24 Then God’s message flourished and multiplied.(FY) 25 After they had completed their relief mission, Barnabas and Saul returned to[bm] Jerusalem, taking along John who is called Mark.(FZ)
Preparing for the Mission Field
13 In the church that was at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen, a close friend of Herod the tetrarch,(GA) and Saul.
2 As they were ministering to[bn] the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work I have called them to.”(GB) 3 Then after they had fasted, prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them off.(GC)
The Mission to Cyprus
4 Being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they came down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 Arriving in Salamis, they proclaimed God’s message in the Jewish synagogues. They also had John as their assistant.(GD) 6 When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came across a sorcerer, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus.(GE) 7 He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and desired to hear God’s message.(GF) 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (this is the meaning of his name) opposed(GG) them and tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith.(GH)
9 Then Saul—also called Paul—filled with the Holy Spirit, stared straight at the sorcerer 10 and said, “You son of the Devil,(GI) full of all deceit and all fraud, enemy of all righteousness! Won’t you ever stop perverting the straight paths(GJ) of the Lord? 11 Now, look! The Lord’s hand is against you.(GK) You are going to be blind, and will not see the sun for a time.” Suddenly a mist and darkness fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand.
12 Then the proconsul, seeing what happened, believed and was astonished at the teaching about the Lord.(GL)
Paul’s Sermon in Antioch of Pisidia
13 Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. John, however, left them and went back to Jerusalem.(GM) 14 They continued their journey from Perga and reached Antioch in Pisidia. On the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down.(GN) 15 After the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any message of encouragement for the people, you can speak.”(GO)
16 Then Paul stood up and motioned with his hand and said: “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen!(GP) 17 The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors, exalted the people during their stay in the land of Egypt, and led them out of it with a mighty[bo] arm.(GQ) 18 And for about 40 years He put up with them[bp] in the wilderness;(GR) 19 then after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan,(GS) He gave their land to them as an inheritance. 20 This all took about 450 years. After this, He gave them judges until Samuel the prophet.(GT) 21 Then they asked for a king, so God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for 40 years.(GU) 22 After removing him,(GV) He raised up David as their king and testified about him: ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man loyal to Me,(GW)[bq] who will carry out all My will.’
23 “From this man’s descendants, according to the promise, God brought the Savior, Jesus,[br] to Israel.(GX) 24 Before He came to public attention,[bs] John had previously proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.(GY) 25 Then as John was completing his life’s work, he said, ‘Who do you think I am? I am not the One. But look! Someone is coming after me, and I am not worthy to untie the sandals on His feet.’(GZ)
26 “Brothers, sons of Abraham’s race, and those among you who fear God, the message of this salvation has been sent to us.(HA) 27 For the residents of Jerusalem and their rulers, since they did not recognize Him or the voices of the prophets that are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled their words[bt] by condemning Him.(HB) 28 Though they found no grounds for the death penalty, they asked Pilate to have Him killed.(HC) 29 When they had fulfilled all that had been written about Him, they took Him down from the tree and put Him in a tomb.(HD) 30 But God raised Him from the dead,(HE) 31 and He appeared for many days to those who came with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now His witnesses to the people.(HF) 32 And we ourselves proclaim to you the good news of the promise that was made to our ancestors.(HG) 33 God has fulfilled this for us, their children, by raising up Jesus, as it is written in the second Psalm:
34 Since He raised Him from the dead, never to return to decay, He has spoken in this way, I will grant you the faithful covenant blessings[bw] made to David.(HI)[bx] 35 Therefore He also says in another passage, You will not allow Your Holy One to see decay.(HJ)[by] 36 For David, after serving his own generation in God’s plan, fell asleep,(HK) was buried with his fathers, and decayed.(HL) 37 But the One God raised up did not decay. 38 Therefore, let it be known to you, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is being proclaimed to you,(HM) 39 and everyone who believes in Him is justified from everything that you could not be justified from through the law of Moses.(HN) 40 So beware that what is said in the prophets does not happen to you:
41 Look, you scoffers,
marvel and vanish away,
because I am doing a work in your days,
a work that you will never believe,
even if someone were to explain it to you.”(HO)[bz]
Paul and Barnabas in Antioch
42 As they[ca] were leaving, the people[cb] begged that these matters be presented to them the following Sabbath. 43 After the synagogue had been dismissed, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who were speaking with them and persuading them to continue in the grace of God.(HP)
44 The following Sabbath almost the whole town assembled to hear the message of the Lord.[cc] 45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to oppose what Paul was saying by insulting him.(HQ)
46 Then Paul and Barnabas boldly said: “It was necessary that God’s message be spoken to you first. But since you reject it and consider yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles!(HR) 47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us:
48 When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and glorified the message of the Lord, and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed. 49 So the message of the Lord spread through the whole region. 50 But the Jews incited the prominent women, who worshiped God, and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and expelled them from their district.(HT) 51 But they shook the dust off their feet(HU) against them(HV) and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.(HW)
Growth and Persecution in Iconium
14 The same thing happened in Iconium; they entered the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed.(HX) 2 But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up and poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against the brothers.(HY) 3 So they stayed there for some time and spoke boldly in reliance on the Lord, who testified to the message of His grace by granting that signs and wonders be performed through them.(HZ) 4 But the people of the city were divided, some siding with the Jews and some with the apostles.(IA) 5 When an attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to assault and stone them, 6 they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian towns called Lystra and Derbe, and to the surrounding countryside.(IB) 7 And there they kept evangelizing.(IC)
Mistaken for Gods in Lystra
8 In Lystra a man without strength in his feet, lame from birth,[cf] and who had never walked, sat 9 and heard Paul speaking. After observing him closely and seeing that he had faith to be healed, 10 Paul said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet!” And he jumped up and started to walk around.(ID)
11 When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in the form of men!”(IE) 12 And they started to call Barnabas, Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the main speaker. 13 Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the town, brought oxen and garlands to the gates. He, with the crowds, intended to offer sacrifice.
14 The apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their robes when they heard this and rushed into the crowd, shouting:(IF) 15 “Men! Why are you doing these things? We are men also, with the same nature as you, and we are proclaiming good news to you, that you should turn from these worthless things(IG) to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them.(IH)[cg] 16 In past generations He allowed all the nations(II) to go their own way, 17 although He did not leave Himself without a witness,(IJ) since He did what is good by giving you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons(IK) and satisfying your[ch] hearts with food and happiness.” 18 Even though they said these things, they barely stopped the crowds from sacrificing to them.
19 Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and when they had won over the crowds and stoned Paul, they dragged him out of the city, thinking he was dead.(IL) 20 After the disciples surrounded him, he got up and went into the town. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.(IM)
Church Planting
21 After they had evangelized that town and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, to Iconium, and to Antioch,(IN) 22 strengthening the[ci] disciples by encouraging them to continue in the faith(IO) and by telling them, “It is necessary to pass through many troubles(IP) on our way into the kingdom of God.”
23 When they had appointed elders(IQ) in every church and prayed with fasting, they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed. 24 Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. 25 After they spoke the message in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26 From there they sailed back to Antioch where they had been entrusted to the grace of God for the work they had now completed.(IR) 27 After they arrived and gathered the church together, they reported everything God had done with them(IS) and that He had opened the door(IT) of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they spent a considerable time[cj] with the disciples.
Dispute in Antioch
15 Some men(IU) came down from Judea and began to teach the brothers: “Unless you are circumcised(IV) according to the custom prescribed by Moses,(IW) you cannot be saved!” 2 But after Paul and Barnabas had engaged them in serious argument and debate, the church arranged for Paul and Barnabas and some others of them to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem concerning this controversy.(IX) 3 When they had been sent on their way by the church,(IY) they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, explaining in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and they created great joy among all the brothers.
4 When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, the apostles, and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them.(IZ) 5 But some of the believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the law of Moses!”
The Jerusalem Council
6 Then the apostles and the elders assembled to consider this matter. 7 After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them: “Brothers, you are aware that in the early days God made a choice among you,[ck] that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the gospel message and believe. 8 And God, who knows the heart, testified to them by giving[cl] the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us.(JA) 9 He made no distinction between us and them,(JB) cleansing their hearts by faith.(JC) 10 Now then, why are you testing God by putting a yoke on the disciples’ necks(JD) that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? 11 On the contrary, we believe we are saved through the grace(JE) of the Lord Jesus in the same way they are.”
12 Then the whole assembly fell silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul describing all the signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.(JF) 13 After they stopped speaking, James responded: “Brothers, listen to me! 14 Simeon[cm] has reported how God first intervened to take from the Gentiles a people for His name.(JG) 15 And the words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written:
16 After these things I will return
and rebuild David’s fallen tent.
I will rebuild its ruins
and set it up again,
17 so the rest of humanity
may seek the Lord—
even all the Gentiles
who are called by My name,
declares the Lord who does these things,
18 known from long ago.[cn](JH)[co]
19 Therefore, in my judgment, we should not cause difficulties for those among the Gentiles who turn to God, 20 but instead we should write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality,(JI) from eating anything that has been strangled, and from blood. 21 For since ancient times, Moses has had those who proclaim him in every city, and every Sabbath day he is read aloud in the synagogues.”(JJ)
The Letter to the Gentile Believers
22 Then the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, decided to select men who were among them and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas, called Barsabbas, and Silas,(JK) both leading men among the brothers. 23 They wrote this letter to be delivered by them:[cp]
From the apostles and the elders, your brothers,
To the brothers among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:(JL)
Greetings.
24 Because we have heard that some without our authorization went out from us(JM) and troubled you with their words and unsettled your hearts,[cq](JN) 25 we have unanimously(JO) decided to select men and send them to you along with our dearly loved Barnabas and Paul, 26 who have risked their lives(JP) for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who will personally report the same things by word of mouth.[cr] 28 For it was the Holy Spirit’s decision—and ours—to put no greater burden on you than these necessary things:(JQ) 29 that you abstain from food offered to idols, from blood, from eating anything that has been strangled, and from sexual immorality.(JR) You will do well if you keep yourselves from these things.
Farewell.
The Outcome of the Jerusalem Letter
30 Then, being sent off, they went down to Antioch, and after gathering the assembly, they delivered the letter. 31 When they read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. 32 Both Judas and Silas, who were also prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers and strengthened them with a long message.(JS) 33 After spending some time there, they were sent back in peace(JT) by the brothers to those who had sent them.[cs][ct] 35 But Paul and Barnabas, along with many others, remained in Antioch teaching and proclaiming the message of the Lord.(JU)
Paul and Barnabas Part Company
36 After some time had passed, Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit the brothers in every town(JV) where we have preached the message of the Lord and see how they’re doing.” 37 Barnabas wanted to take along John Mark.[cu] 38 But Paul did not think it appropriate to take along this man who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them to the work. 39 There was such a sharp disagreement that they parted company, and Barnabas took Mark(JW) with him and sailed off to Cyprus. 40 Then Paul chose Silas and departed, after being commended to the grace of the Lord by the brothers.(JX) 41 He traveled through Syria(JY) and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
Paul Selects Timothy
16 Then he went on to Derbe and Lystra, where there was a disciple named Timothy,(JZ) the son of a believing Jewish woman,(KA) but his father was a Greek. 2 The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke highly of him.(KB) 3 Paul wanted Timothy[cv] to go with him, so he took him and circumcised(KC) him because of the Jews who were in those places, since they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they traveled through the towns, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem for them to observe.(KD) 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith and increased in number daily.(KE)
Evangelization of Europe
6 They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia and were prevented by the Holy Spirit from speaking the message in Asia.(KF) 7 When they came to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus(KG) did not allow them. 8 So, bypassing Mysia, they came down to Troas.(KH) 9 During the night a vision appeared to Paul: A Macedonian man was standing and pleading with him, “Cross over to Macedonia and help us!”(KI) 10 After(KJ) he had seen the vision, we[cw] immediately made efforts to set out for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to evangelize them.
Lydia’s Conversion
11 Then, setting sail from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, the next day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi,(KK) a Roman colony, which is a leading city of that district of Macedonia. We stayed in that city for a number of days. 13 On the Sabbath day we went outside the city gate by the river, where we thought there was a place of prayer. We sat down and spoke to the women gathered there. 14 A woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God, was listening. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was spoken by Paul.(KL) 15 After she and her household were baptized, she urged us, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house.”(KM) And she persuaded us.
Paul and Silas in Prison
16 Once, as we were on our way to prayer, a slave girl met us who had a spirit of prediction.[cx](KN) She made a large profit for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 As she followed Paul and us she cried out, “These men, who are proclaiming to you[cy] the way of salvation, are the slaves of the Most High God.” 18 And she did this for many days.
But Paul was greatly aggravated and turning to the spirit, said, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out right away.[cz](KO)
19 When her owners saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas(KP) and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities. 20 Bringing them before the chief magistrates, they said, “These men are seriously disturbing our city. They are Jews 21 and are promoting customs that are not legal for us as Romans to adopt or practice.”(KQ)
22 Then the mob joined in the attack against them, and the chief magistrates stripped off their clothes and ordered them to be beaten with rods.(KR) 23 After they had inflicted many blows on them, they threw them in jail, ordering the jailer to keep them securely guarded. 24 Receiving such an order, he put them into the inner prison and secured their feet in the stocks.(KS)
A Midnight Deliverance
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains came loose.(KT) 27 When the jailer woke up and saw the doors of the prison open, he drew his sword and was going to kill himself, since he thought the prisoners had escaped.
28 But Paul called out in a loud voice, “Don’t harm yourself, because all of us are here!”
29 Then the jailer called for lights, rushed in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he escorted them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”(KU)
31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”(KV) 32 Then they spoke the message of the Lord to him along with everyone in his house. 33 He took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds. Right away he and all his family were baptized. 34 He brought them into his house, set a meal before them, and rejoiced because he had believed God with his entire household.(KW)
An Official Apology
35 When daylight came, the chief magistrates sent the police to say, “Release those men!”
36 The jailer reported these words to Paul: “The magistrates have sent orders for you to be released. So come out now and go in peace.”(KX)
37 But Paul said to them, “They beat us in public without a trial, although we are Roman citizens, and threw us in jail. And now are they going to smuggle us out secretly? Certainly not! On the contrary, let them come themselves and escort us out!”(KY)
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