Bible in 90 Days
The World’s Hatred
18 “If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you.(A) 19 If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. Because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘Slaves are not greater than their master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also.(B) 21 But they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.(C) 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.(D) 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also.(E) 24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not have sin. But now they have seen and hated both me and my Father.(F) 25 It was to fulfill the word that is written in their law, ‘They hated me without a cause.’(G)
26 “When the Advocate[a] comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf.(H) 27 You also are to testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.(I)
16 “I have said these things to you to keep you from falling away.[b](J) 2 They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, an hour is coming when those who kill you will think that by doing so they are offering worship to God.(K) 3 And they will do this because they have not known the Father or me.(L) 4 But I have said these things to you so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you about them.
The Work of the Spirit
“I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. 5 But now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’(M) 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. 7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate[c] will not come to you, but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about[d] sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.(N)
12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.(O) 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.(P) 14 He will glorify me because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.(Q)
Sorrow Will Turn into Joy
16 “A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me.”(R) 17 Then some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying to us, ‘A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me,’ and ‘because I am going to the Father’?” 18 They said, “What does he mean by this ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.” 19 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Are you discussing among yourselves what I meant when I said, ‘A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’? 20 Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy. 21 When a woman is in labor, she has pain because her hour has come. But when her child is born, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy of having brought a human being into the world.(S) 22 So you have pain now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.(T) 23 On that day you will ask nothing of me.[e] Very truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.[f] 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.(U)
Peace for the Disciples
25 “I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures but will tell you plainly of the Father. 26 On that day you will ask in my name. I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf, 27 for the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.[g](V) 28 I came from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and am going to the Father.”(W)
29 His disciples said, “Yes, now you are speaking plainly, not in any figure of speech! 30 Now we know that you know all things and do not need to have anyone question you; by this we believe that you came from God.”(X) 31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each one to his home, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me.(Y) 33 I have said this to you so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution, but take courage: I have conquered the world!”(Z)
Jesus Prays for His Disciples
17 After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you,(AA) 2 since you have given him authority over all people,[h] to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.(AB) 3 And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.(AC) 4 I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do.(AD) 5 So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.(AE)
6 “I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.(AF) 7 Now they know that everything you have given me is from you, 8 for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me.(AG) 9 I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours.(AH) 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I have been glorified in them.(AI) 11 And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.(AJ) 12 While I was with them, I protected them in your name that[i] you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost,[j] so that the scripture might be fulfilled.(AK) 13 But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves.[k] 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.(AL) 15 I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one.[l](AM) 16 They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.(AN) 19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.
20 “I ask not only on behalf of these but also on behalf of those who believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us,[m] so that the world may believe that you have sent me.(AO) 22 The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one,(AP) 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24 Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.(AQ)
25 “Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you, and these know that you have sent me.(AR) 26 I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them and I in them.”(AS)
The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
18 After Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the Kidron Valley to a place where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. 2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place because Jesus often met there with his disciples.(AT) 3 So Judas brought a detachment of soldiers together with police from the chief priests and the Pharisees, and they came there with lanterns and torches and weapons.(AU) 4 Then Jesus, knowing all that was to happen to him, came forward and asked them, “Whom are you looking for?”(AV) 5 They answered, “Jesus of Nazareth.”[n] Jesus replied, “I am he.”[o] Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. 6 When Jesus[p] said to them, “I am he,”[q] they stepped back and fell to the ground. 7 Again he asked them, “Whom are you looking for?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”[r](AW) 8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he.[s] So if you are looking for me, let these people go.” 9 This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken, “I did not lose a single one of those whom you gave me.”(AX) 10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus. 11 Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath. Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?”(AY)
Jesus before the High Priest
12 So the soldiers, their officer, and the Jewish police arrested Jesus and bound him. 13 First they took him to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year.(AZ) 14 Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was better to have one person die for the people.(BA)
Peter Denies Jesus
15 Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest,(BB) 16 but Peter was standing outside at the gate. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out, spoke to the woman who guarded the gate, and brought Peter in. 17 The woman said to Peter, “You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.”(BC) 18 Now the slaves and the police had made a charcoal fire because it was cold, and they were standing around it and warming themselves. Peter also was standing with them and warming himself.(BD)
The High Priest Questions Jesus
19 Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching.(BE) 20 Jesus answered, “I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. 21 Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard what I said to them; they know what I said.” 22 When he had said this, one of the police standing nearby struck Jesus on the face, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?”(BF) 23 Jesus answered, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong. But if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?”(BG) 24 Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.(BH)
Peter Denies Jesus Again
25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They asked him, “You are not also one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.”(BI) 26 One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?”(BJ) 27 Again Peter denied it, and at that moment the cock crowed.(BK)
Jesus before Pilate
28 Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to Pilate’s headquarters. It was early in the morning. They themselves did not enter the headquarters, so as to avoid ritual defilement and to be able to eat the Passover.(BL) 29 So Pilate went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” 30 They answered, “If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.” 31 Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law.” The Jews replied, “We are not permitted to put anyone to death.” 32 (This was to fulfill what Jesus had said when he indicated the kind of death he was to die.)(BM)
33 Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”(BN) 34 Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” 35 Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom belonged to this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.”(BO) 37 Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”(BP) 38 Pilate asked him, “What is truth?”
Jesus Sentenced to Death
After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I find no case against him.(BQ) 39 But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover. Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?”(BR) 40 They shouted in reply, “Not this man but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a rebel.(BS)
19 Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged.(BT) 2 And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they dressed him in a purple robe.(BU) 3 They kept coming up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and striking him on the face.(BV) 4 Pilate went out again and said to them, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no case against him.”(BW) 5 So Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate[t] said to them, “Behold the man!”(BX) 6 When the chief priests and the police saw him, they shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him; I find no case against him.”(BY) 7 The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has claimed to be the Son of God.”(BZ)
8 Now when Pilate heard this, he was more afraid than ever. 9 He entered his headquarters again and asked Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer.(CA) 10 Pilate therefore said to him, “Do you refuse to speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you and power to crucify you?” 11 Jesus answered him, “You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”(CB) 12 From then on Pilate tried to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar. Everyone who claims to be a king sets himself against Caesar.”(CC)
13 When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside and sat[u] on the judge’s bench at a place called The Stone Pavement, or in Hebrew[v] Gabbatha.(CD) 14 Now it was the day of Preparation for the Passover, and it was about noon. He said to the Jews, “Here is your King!”(CE) 15 They cried out, “Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!” Pilate asked them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” 16 Then he handed him over to them to be crucified.
The Crucifixion of Jesus
So they took Jesus,(CF) 17 and carrying the cross by himself he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew[w] is called Golgotha.(CG) 18 There they crucified him and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them. 19 Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth,[x] the King of the Jews.” 20 Many of the Jews read this inscription because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Hebrew,[y] in Latin, and in Greek. 21 Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’ ”(CH) 22 Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.” 23 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. 24 So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it but cast lots for it to see who will get it.” This was to fulfill what the scripture says,
“They divided my clothes among themselves,
and for my clothing they cast lots.”(CI)
25 And that is what the soldiers did.
Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.(CJ) 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.”(CK) 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.
28 After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), “I am thirsty.”(CL) 29 A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.(CM)
Jesus’s Side Is Pierced
31 Since it was the day of Preparation, the Jews did not want the bodies left on the cross during the Sabbath, especially because that Sabbath was a day of great solemnity. So they asked Pilate to have the legs of the crucified men broken and the bodies removed.(CN) 32 Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who had been crucified with him.(CO) 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out.(CP) 35 (He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows[z] that he tells the truth, so that you also may continue[aa] to believe.)(CQ) 36 These things occurred so that the scripture might be fulfilled, “None of his bones shall be broken.”(CR) 37 And again another passage of scripture says, “They will look on the one whom they have pierced.”(CS)
The Burial of Jesus
38 After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission, so he came and removed his body. 39 Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds.(CT) 40 They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews.(CU) 41 Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. 42 And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
The Resurrection of Jesus
20 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb.(CV) 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.”(CW) 3 Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb.(CX) 4 The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in.(CY) 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, 7 and the cloth that had been on Jesus’s head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed,(CZ) 9 for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead.(DA) 10 Then the disciples returned to their homes.
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look[ab] into the tomb,(DB) 12 and she saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet.(DC) 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.”(DD) 14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir,[ac] if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”(DE) 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew,[ad] “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not touch me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ”(DF) 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and she told them that he had said these things to her.(DG)
Jesus Appears to the Disciples
19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors were locked where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”(DH) 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.(DI) 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”(DJ) 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”(DK)
Jesus and Thomas
24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin[ae]), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.(DL) 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”(DM)
26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”(DN) 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.”(DO) 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”(DP)
The Purpose of This Book
30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may continue[af] to believe that Jesus is the Messiah,[ag] the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.(DQ)
Jesus Appears to Seven Disciples
21 After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he showed himself in this way.(DR) 2 Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin,[ah] Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples.(DS) 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.(DT)
4 Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach, but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.(DU) 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.”(DV) 6 He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish.(DW) 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he had taken it off, and jumped into the sea.(DX) 8 But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.
9 When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread.(DY) 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them, and though there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them and did the same with the fish.(DZ) 14 This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.(EA)
Jesus and Peter
15 When they had finished breakfast, 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 love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.”(EB) 16 A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.”(EC) 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.(ED) 18 Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” 19 (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow me.”(EE)
Jesus and the Beloved Disciple
20 Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; he was the one who had reclined next to Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?”(EF) 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!”(EG) 23 So the rumor spread among the brothers and sisters that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”[ai](EH)
24 This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true.(EI) 25 But there are also many other things that Jesus did; if every one of them were written down, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.(EJ)
The Promise of the Holy Spirit
1 In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and teach(EK) 2 until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.(EL) 3 After his suffering[aj] he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.(EM) 4 While staying[ak] with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait there for the promise of the Father. “This,” he said, “is what you have heard from me;(EN) 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with[al] the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”(EO)
The Ascension of Jesus
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?”(EP) 7 He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.(EQ) 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”(ER) 9 When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.(ES) 10 While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them.(ET) 11 They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”(EU)
Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying: Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of[am] James.(EV) 14 All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.(EW)
15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers and sisters (together the crowd numbered about one hundred twenty persons) and said, 16 “Brothers and sisters,[an] the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit through David foretold concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus,(EX) 17 for he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.”(EY) 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle, and all his bowels gushed out.(EZ) 19 This became known to all the residents of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their language Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For it is written in the book of Psalms,
‘Let his house become desolate,
and let there be no one to live in it’;
and
‘Let another take his position of overseer.’(FA)
21 “So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection.”(FB) 23 So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed and said, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen(FC) 25 to take the place[ao] in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was added to the eleven apostles.
The Coming of the Holy Spirit
2 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.(FD) 2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.(FE) 3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.(FF)
5 Now there were devout Jews from every people under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6 And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7 Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” 12 All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”
Peter Addresses the Crowd
14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Fellow Jews[ap] and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. 15 Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning.(FG) 16 No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
17 ‘In the last days it will be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.(FH)
18 Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
in those days I will pour out my Spirit,
and they shall prophesy.(FI)
19 And I will show portents in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and smoky mist.
20 The sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.(FJ)
21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’(FK)
22 “Fellow Israelites,[aq] listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth,[ar] a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know(FL)— 23 this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law.(FM) 24 But God raised him up, having released him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power.(FN) 25 For David says concerning him,
‘I saw the Lord always before me,
for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken;(FO)
26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
moreover, my flesh will live in hope.
27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades
or let your Holy One experience corruption.(FP)
28 You have made known to me the ways of life;
you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’
29 “Fellow Israelites,[as] I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.(FQ) 30 Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne.(FR) 31 Foreseeing this, David[at] spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah,[au] saying,
‘He was not abandoned to Hades,
nor did his flesh experience corruption.’(FS)
32 “This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses.(FT) 33 Being therefore exalted at[av] the right hand of God and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you see and hear.(FU) 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,(FV)
35 until I make your enemies your footstool.” ’
36 “Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah,[aw] this Jesus whom you crucified.”
The First Converts
37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers,[ax] what should we do?”(FW) 38 Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.(FX) 39 For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.”(FY) 40 And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added. 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
Life among the Believers
43 Awe came upon everyone because many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.(FZ) 44 All who believed were together and had all things in common;(GA) 45 they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds[ay] to all, as any had need. 46 Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home[az] and ate their food with glad and generous[ba] hearts,(GB) 47 praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.(GC)
Peter Heals a Crippled Beggar
3 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, at three o’clock in the afternoon.(GD) 2 And a man lame from birth was being carried in. People would lay him daily at the gate of the temple called the Beautiful Gate so that he could ask for alms from those entering the temple.(GE) 3 When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked them for alms. 4 Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 Peter said, “I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,[bb] stand up and walk.”(GF) 7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. 8 Jumping up, he stood and began to walk, and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9 All the people saw him walking and praising God,(GG) 10 and they recognized him as the one who used to sit and ask for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with wonder and astonishment at what had happened to him.
Peter Speaks in Solomon’s Portico
11 While he clung to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s Portico, utterly astonished.(GH) 12 When Peter saw it, he addressed the people, “Fellow Israelites,[bc] why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? 13 The God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob,[bd] the God of our ancestors, has glorified his servant[be] Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate, though he had decided to release him.(GI) 14 But you rejected the holy and righteous[bf] one and asked to have a murderer given to you,(GJ) 15 and you killed the author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.(GK) 16 And by faith in his name, his name itself has made this man strong, whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus[bg] has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you.
17 “And now, brothers and sisters, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers.(GL) 18 In this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah[bh] would suffer.(GM) 19 Repent, therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, 20 so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord and that he may send the Messiah[bi] appointed for you, that is, Jesus, 21 who must remain in heaven until the time of universal restoration that God announced long ago through his holy prophets.(GN) 22 Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you from your own people a prophet like me. You must listen to whatever he tells you.(GO) 23 And it will be that everyone who does not listen to that prophet will be utterly rooted out of the people.’ 24 And all the prophets, as many as have spoken, from Samuel and those after him, also predicted these days. 25 You are the descendants of the prophets and of the covenant that God gave to your ancestors, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your descendants all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’(GP) 26 When God raised up his servant,[bj] he sent him first to you, to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”(GQ)
Peter and John before the Council
4 While Peter and John[bk] were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came to them,(GR) 2 much annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming that in Jesus there is the resurrection of the dead.(GS) 3 So they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.(GT) 4 But many of those who heard the word believed, and they numbered about five thousand.(GU)
5 The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem,(GV) 6 with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John,[bl] and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family.(GW) 7 When they had made the prisoners[bm] stand in their midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders,(GX) 9 if we are being questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are being asked how this man has been healed,[bn] 10 let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,[bo] whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead.(GY) 11 This Jesus[bp] is
12 “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.”(HA)
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized them as companions of Jesus.(HB) 14 When they saw the man who had been cured standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. 15 So they ordered them to leave the council while they discussed the matter with one another.(HC) 16 They said, “What will we do with them? For it is obvious to all who live in Jerusalem that a notable sign has been done through them; we cannot deny it.(HD) 17 But to keep it from spreading further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” 18 So they called them and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.(HE) 19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge;(HF) 20 for we cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard.”(HG) 21 After threatening them again, they let them go, finding no way to punish them because of the people, for all of them praised God for what had happened.(HH) 22 For the man on whom this sign of healing had been performed was more than forty years old.
The Believers Pray for Boldness
23 After they were released, they went to their own people and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard it, they raised their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth, the sea, and everything in them,(HI) 25 it is you who said by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant:[br]
‘Why did the gentiles rage
and the peoples imagine vain things?(HJ)
26 The kings of the earth took their stand,
and the rulers have gathered together
against the Lord and against his Messiah.’[bs](HK)
27 “For in this city, in fact, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the gentiles and the peoples of Israel, gathered together against your holy servant[bt] Jesus, whom you anointed,(HL) 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness,(HM) 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant[bu] Jesus.”(HN) 31 When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness.(HO)
The Believers Share Their Possessions
32 Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common.(HP) 33 With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.(HQ) 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold.(HR) 35 They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.(HS) 36 There was a Levite from Cyprus, Joseph, to whom the apostles gave the name Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”). 37 He sold a field that belonged to him, then brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.(HT)
Ananias and Sapphira
5 But a man named Ananias, with the consent of his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property; 2 with his wife’s knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles’ feet.(HU) 3 “Ananias,” Peter asked, “why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land?(HV) 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, were not the proceeds at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You did not lie to us[bv] but to God!” 5 Now when Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard of it. 6 The young men came and wrapped up his body, then carried him out and buried him.(HW)
7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you and your husband sold the land for such and such a price.” And she said, “Yes, that was the price.” 9 Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”(HX) 10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came in they found her dead, so they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear seized the whole church and all who heard of these things.(HY)
The Apostles Heal Many
12 Now many signs and wonders were done among the people through the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico.(HZ) 13 None of the rest dared to join them, but the people held them in high esteem.(IA) 14 Yet more than ever believers were added to the Lord, great numbers of both men and women, 15 so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, in order that Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he came by.(IB) 16 A great number of people would also gather from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all cured.
The Apostles Are Persecuted
17 Then the high priest took action; he and all who were with him (that is, the sect of the Sadducees), being filled with jealousy, 18 arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison.(IC) 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors, brought them out, and said,(ID) 20 “Go, stand in the temple and tell the people the whole message about this life.”(IE) 21 When they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and went on with their teaching.
When the high priest and those with him arrived, they called together the council and the whole body of the elders of Israel and sent to the prison to have them brought.(IF) 22 But when the temple police went there, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, 23 “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.” 24 Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were perplexed about them, wondering what might be going on.(IG) 25 Then someone arrived and announced, “Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!” 26 Then the captain went with the temple police and brought them, but without violence, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.(IH)
27 When they had brought them, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,[bw] yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you are determined to bring this man’s blood on us.”(II) 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.[bx](IJ) 30 The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree.(IK) 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.(IL) 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”(IM)
33 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them.(IN) 34 But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, respected by all the people, stood up and ordered the men to be put outside for a short time. 35 Then he said to them, “Fellow Israelites,[by] consider carefully what you propose to do to these men. 36 For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him, but he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and disappeared. 37 After him Judas the Galilean rose up at the time of the census and got people to follow him; he also perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 38 So in the present case, I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, because if this plan or this undertaking is of human origin, it will fail;(IO) 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them—in that case you may even be found fighting against God!”
They were convinced by him,(IP) 40 and when they had called in the apostles, they had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus and let them go.(IQ) 41 As they left the council, they rejoiced that they were considered worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.(IR) 42 And every day in the temple and at home[bz] they did not cease to teach and proclaim Jesus as the Messiah.[ca](IS)
Seven Chosen to Serve
6 Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food.(IT) 2 And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables.[cb] 3 Therefore, brothers and sisters, select from among yourselves seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task,(IU) 4 while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer and to serving the word.” 5 What they said pleased the whole community, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch.(IV) 6 They had these men stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.(IW)
7 The word of God continued to spread; the number of the disciples increased greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.(IX)
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.