Category: Acts

Introduction

1 The firstaccount I made, Theophilus, was [a continuous report] about all the things that Jesus began to do and toteach

2 until the day when He ascendedto heaven,after He had by the Holy Spirit given instruction to the apostles (special messengers) whom He had chosen.

3 To these [men] He also showed Himself alive after His suffering [in Gethsemane and on the cross], by [a series of] many infallible proofsandunquestionable demonstrations, appearing to them overa period offorty days and talking to them about the things concerning the kingdom of God.

4 While being togetherandeating with them, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised,“Of which,”He said,“you have heard Me speak.

5 For John baptized with water, but you will be baptizedandempoweredandunited with the Holy Spirit, not long from now.”

6 So when they had come together, they asked Himrepeatedly,“Lord, are You at this time reestablishing the kingdomandrestoring it to Israel?”

7 He said to them,“It is not for you to know the times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority.

8 But you will receive powerandability when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be My witnesses[to tell people about Me]both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.”

The Ascension

9 And after He said these things, He was caught up as they looked on, and a cloud took Him up out of their sight.

10 While they were looking intently into the sky as He was going, two men in white clothing suddenly stood beside them,

11 who said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This [same] Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will return in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”

The Upper Room

12 Then the disciples returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet (Olive Grove), which is near Jerusalem, [only] a Sabbath day’s journey (less than one mile) away.

13 When they had enteredthe city,they went upstairs to the upper room where they were staying [indefinitely]; that is, Peter, and John and [his brother] James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew (Nathanael) and Matthew,Jamesthe sonof Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas (Thaddaeus) the son of James.

14 All these with one mindandone purpose were continually devoting themselves to prayer, [waiting together] along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

15 Now on one of these days Peter stood up among the brothers and sisters (a gathering of about a hundred and twenty believers was there) and he said,

16 “Brothers and sisters, it was necessary that the Scripture be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the lips of David [king of Israel] about Judas [Iscariot], who acted as guide to those who arrested Jesus.

17 For he (Judas) was counted among us and received his share [by divine allotment] in this ministry.”

18 (Now Judas Iscariotacquired a piece of land [indirectly] with the [money paid him as a] reward for his treachery, and falling headlong, his body burst open in the middle and all his intestines poured out.

19 All the people in Jerusalem learned about this, so in their own dialect—Aramaic—they called the piece of land Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)

20 “For in the book of Psalms it is written,

‘Let his place of residence become desolate,

And let there be no one to live in it’;

and [again],

‘Let another take his position as overseer.’

21 So of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus spent with us,

22 beginning with the baptism by John [at the outset of Jesus’ ministry] until the day when He was taken up from us—one of these menmustbecome a witness with us [to testify] of His resurrection.”

23 And they put forward two men, Joseph, the one called Barsabbas (who was surnamed Justus), and Matthias.

24 They prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know all hearts [their thoughts, motives, desires], show us which one of these two You have chosen

25 to occupy this ministry and apostleship which Judas left to go to his own place [of evil].”

26 And theycast lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.

The Day of Pentecost

1 When the day ofPentecost had come, they were all together in one place,

2 and suddenly a sound came from heaven like a rushing violent wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.

3 There appeared to them tongues resembling fire, which were being distributed [among them], and they rested on each one of them [as each person received the Holy Spirit].

4 And they were all filled [that is, diffused throughout their being] with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in othertongues (different languages), as the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak out [clearly and appropriately].

5 Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devoutandGod-fearing men from every nation under heaven.

6 And when this sound was heard, a crowd gathered, and they were bewildered because each one was hearing those in the upper room speaking in his own languageordialect.

7 They were completely astonished, saying, “Look! Are not all of these who are speaking Galileans?

8 Then how is it that each of us hears in our own languageornative dialect?

9 [Among us there are] Parthians, Medes and Elamites, and people of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus andAsia [Minor],

10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and the visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes (Gentile converts to Judaism),

11 Cretans and Arabs—we all hear them speaking in our [native] tongues about the mighty works of God!”

12 And they were beside themselves with amazement and were greatly perplexed, saying one to another, “What could this mean?”

13 But others were laughingandjokingandridiculing them, saying, “They are full of sweet wineandare drunk!”

Peter’s Sermon

14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be explained to you; listen closelyandpay attention to what I have to say.

15 These people are not drunk, as you assume, since it is [only] the third hour of the day (9:00 a.m.);

16 but this is [the beginning of] what was spoken of through the prophet Joel:

17 ‘And it shall be in the last days,’ says God,

‘ThatIwill pour outMySpirit upon all mankind;

And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

And your young men shall see[divinely prompted]visions,

And your old men shall dream[divinely prompted]dreams;

18 Even onMy bond-servants,both men and women,

Iwill in those days pour outMySpirit

And they shall prophesy.

19 AndIwill bring about wonders in the sky above

And signs(attesting miracles)on the earth below,

Blood and fire and smoking vapor.

20 The sun shall be turned into darkness

And the moon into blood,

Before the great and glorious day of theLord comes.

21 And it shall be that everyone who calls upon the name of theLord[invoking, adoring, and worshiping the Lord Jesus]shall be saved(rescued spiritually).’

22 “Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man accreditedandpointed outandattested to you by God with [the power to perform] miracles and wonders and signs which God worked through Him in your [very] midst, just as you yourselves know—

23 thisMan,when handed over [to the Roman authorities] according to the predetermined decision and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross and put to death by the hands of lawlessandgodless men.

24 But God raised Him up, releasing Himandbringing an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in death’s power.

25 For David says of Him,

‘Isaw theLord constantly before me;

ForHe is at my right hand,so thatIwill not be shaken[from my state of security].

26 Therefore my heart rejoiced and my tongue exulted exceedingly;

Moreover my flesh also will live in hope[that is, will encamp in anticipation of the resurrection];

27 ForYou will not forsake meandabandon my soul toHades(the realm of the dead),

Nor letYourHolyOne undergo decay[after death].

28 You have made known to me the ways of life;

You will fill me[infusing my soul]with joy withYour presence.’

29 “Brothers, I may confidentlyandfreely say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.

30 And so, being a prophet and knowing fully that God had sworn to him with an oath thatHe would seatoneof his descendants on his throne,

31 he foresaw and spoke [prophetically] of the resurrection of the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), that He was not abandoned[in death]toHades(the realm of the dead),nor didHis bodyundergo decay.

32 God raised this Jesus [bodily from the dead], and of that [fact] we are all witnesses.

33 Therefore having been exaltedto the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured out this [blessing] which you both see and hear.

34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, yet he himself says,

‘TheLord[the Father]said to myLord[the Son],

“Sit atMy right hand,

35 UntilImakeYour enemies afootstool forYour feet.” ’

36 Therefore let all the house of Israel recognize beyond all doubt that God has made Him both Lord and Christ (Messiah, Anointed)—this Jesus whom you crucified.”

The Ingathering

37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart [with remorse and anxiety], and they said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what are we to do?”

38 And Peter said to them, “Repent [change your old way of thinking, turn from your sinful ways, accept and follow Jesus as the Messiah] and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ because of the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

39 For the promise [of the Holy Spirit] is for you and your children and for all who are far away [including the Gentiles], as many as the Lord our God calls to Himself.”

40 And Peter solemnly testified and continued to admonishandurge them with many more words, saying, “Be saved from this crookedandunjust generation!”

41 So then, those who accepted his message were baptized; and on that day about3,000 souls were added [to the body of believers].

42 They were continuallyandfaithfully devoting themselves to the instruction of the apostles, and to fellowship, toeating meals together and to prayers.

43 A sense of awe was felt byeveryone, and many wonders and signs (attesting miracles) were taking place through the apostles.

44 And all those who had believed [in Jesus as Savior]were together and had all things in common [considering their possessions to belong to the group as a whole].

45 And theybeganselling their property and possessions and were sharing the proceeds with all [the other believers], as anyone had need.

46 Day after day they met in the temple [area] continuing with one mind, and breaking bread in various private homes. They were eating their meals together with joy and generous hearts,

47 praising Godcontinually,and having favor with all the people. And the Lord kept adding to their number daily those who were being saved.

Healing the Lame Beggar

1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour (3:00 p.m.),

2 and a man who had been unable to walk from birth was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at that gate of the temple which is calledBeautiful, so that he could beg alms from those entering the temple.

3 So when he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, hebeganasking [them] for coins.

4 But Peter, along with John, stared at him intently and said, “Look at us!”

5 And the manbeganto pay attention to them, eagerly expecting to receive something from them.

6 But Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have; but what I do have I give to you: In the name (authority, power) of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—[begin now to] walkandgo on walking!”

7 Then he seized the man’s right hand with a firm grip and raised him up. And at once his feet and ankles became strongandsteady,

8 and with a leap he stood up andbeganto walk; and he went into the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.

9 All the people saw him walking and praising God;

10 and they recognized him as the very man who usually satbeggingfor coins at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with wonder and amazementandwere mystified at what had happened to him.

Peter’s Second Sermon

11 Now while he was still holding on to Peter and John, all the people, utterly amazed, ran togetherandcrowded around them at the covered porch called Solomon’s portico.

12 And Peter, seeing this, said to the people, “You men of Israel, why are you amazed at this? Why are you staring at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?

13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His ServantandSon Jesus [doing Him this honor],the Onewhom you handed over and disownedandrejected before Pilate, when he had decided to release Him.

14 But you disownedanddenied the Holy and Righteous One and asked for [the pardon of] a murderer to be granted to you.

15 But you killed the Prince (Author, Originator, Source) of life, whom God raised [bodily] from the dead. To this [fact] we are witnesses [for we have seen the risen Christ].

16 And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith whichcomesthrough Him has given him this perfect healthandcomplete wholeness in your presence.

17 “Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance [not fully aware of what you were doing], just as your rulers did also.

18 And so God has fulfilled what He foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ (Messiah, Anointed) would suffer.

19 So repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins] and return [to God—seek His purpose for your life], so that your sins may be wiped away [blotted out, completely erased], so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord [restoring you like a cool wind on a hot day];

20 and that He may send [to you] Jesus, the Christ, who has been appointed for you,

21 whom heaven must keep until the time for the [complete] restoration of all things about which God promised through the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.

22 Moses said, ‘TheLordGod will raise up for you aProphetlike me from your countrymen;you shall listen toHimandobeyeverything He tells you.

23 And it will be that every person that does not listen toandheed that Prophet will be utterly destroyed from among the people.’

24 Indeed, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also announced these days.

25 You are the sons (descendants) of the prophets and [heirs] of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed(descendant)all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’

26 It wasfor you firstof all thatGod raised up His ServantandSon [Jesus], and sent Him to bless you by turning every oneof youfrom your wicked ways.”

Peter and John Arrested

1 And while Peter and John were talking to the people, the priests and the captain [who was in charge of the temple area and] of the templeguardand the Sadducees came up to them,

2 being extremely disturbedandthoroughly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in [the case of] Jesus the resurrection of the dead.

3 So they arrested them and put them in jail until the next day, because it was evening.

4 But many of those who heard the message [of salvation] believed [in Jesus and accepted Him as the Christ]. And the number of the men came to be about 5,000.

5 On the next day, their magistrates and elders and scribes (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) were gathered together in Jerusalem;

6 andAnnas the high priestwas there,andCaiaphas andJohn and Alexander, and all others who were of high-priestly descent.

7 When they had put the men infront of them, they repeatedly asked, “By what sort of power, or in what name [that is, by what kind of authority], did you do this [healing]?”

8 Then Peter, filled with [the power of] the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people [members of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish High Court],

9 if we are being put on trial today [to interrogate us] for a good deed done to [benefit] a disabled man, as to how this man has been restored to health,

10 let it be knownandclearly understood by all of you, and by all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you [demanded be] crucified [by the Romans and], whom God raised from the dead—in this name [that is, by the authority and power of Jesus] this man stands here before you in good health.

11 This Jesus is thestone which was despisedandrejectedby you,the builders,butwhich became thechiefCornerstone.

12 And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among people by which we must be saved [for God has provided the world no alternative for salvation].”

Threat and Release

13 Now when the men of the Sanhedrin (Jewish High Court) saw the confidenceandboldness of Peter and John, and grasped the fact that they wereuneducated and untrained [ordinary] men, they were astounded, andbeganto recognize that they had been with Jesus.

14 And seeing the man who had been healed standingtherewith them, they had nothing to say in reply.

15 But after ordering them to step out of the Council [chamber], theybeganto confer among themselves,

16 saying, “What are we to do with these men? For the fact that an extraordinary miracle has taken place through them is public knowledgeandclearly evident to all the residents of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.

17 But to keep it from spreading further among the peopleandthe nation, let us [sternly] warn them not to speak again to anyone in this name.”

18 So they sent for them, and commanded them not to speak [as His representatives] or teach at all in the name of Jesus [using Him as their authority].

19 But Peter and John replied to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to youandobey you rather than God, you must judge [for yourselves];

20 for we, on our part, cannot stop telling [people] about what we have seen and heard.”

21 When the rulers and Council members had threatened them further, they let them go, finding no way to punish them because [of their fear] of the people, for they were all praisingandglorifyingandhonoring God for what had happened;

22 for the man to whom this sign (attesting miracle) of healing had happened was more than forty years old.

23 After Peter and John were released, they returned to their own [people] and reported everything that the chief priests and elders had said to them.

24 And when they heard it, they raised their voices together to God and said, “O Sovereign Lord [having complete power and authority], it is You whomade the heaven and the earth and the sea,and everything that is in them,

25 who by the Holy Spirit,throughthe mouth of our father David, Your servant, said,

‘Why did the nations(Gentiles)become arrogantandrage,

And the peoples devise futile things[against the Lord]?

26 The kings of the earth took their stand[to attack],

And the rulers were assembled together

Against theLord and againstHisAnointed(the Christ, the Messiah).’

27 For in this city there were gathered together against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,

28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined [before the creation of the world] to occur [and so without knowing it, they served Your own purpose].

29 And now, Lord, observe their threats [take them into account] and grant that Your bond-servants may declare Your message [of salvation] with great confidence,

30 while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders (attesting miracles) take place through the name [and the authority and power] of Your holy ServantandSon Jesus.”

31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were meeting together was shaken [a sign of God’s presence]; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit andbeganto speak the word of God with boldnessandcourage.

Sharing among Believers

32 Now the company of believers was of one heart and soul, and not one [of them] claimed that anything belonging to him was [exclusively] his own, but everything was common propertyandfor the use of all.

33 And with great abilityandpower the apostles werecontinuouslytestifying to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace [God’s remarkable lovingkindness and favor and goodwill] rested richly upon them all.

34 There was not a needy person among them, because those who were owners of land or houses were selling them, and bringing the proceeds of the sales

35 and placingthe moneydown at the apostles’ feet. Then it was distributed to each as anyone had need.

36 Now Joseph, a Levite and native of Cyprus, who was surnamedBarnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of Encouragement),

37 sold a field belonging to him and brought the money and set it at the apostles’ feet.

Fate of Ananias and Sapphira

1 Now a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property,

2 and with his wife’s full knowledge [and complicity] he kept back some of the proceeds, bringing only aportion of it, and set it at the apostles’ feet.

3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and [secretly] keep back for yourself some of the proceeds [from the sale] of the land?

4 As long as it remained [unsold], did it not remain your own [to do with as you pleased]? And after it was sold, was the money not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this act [of hypocrisy and deceit] in your heart? You have not [simply] lied to people, but to God.”

5 And hearing these words, Ananias fell down suddenly and died; and great fearandawe gripped those who heard of it.

6 And the young men [in the congregation] got up and wrapped up the body, and carried it out and buried it.

7 Now after an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.

8 Peter asked her, “Tell me whether you sold your land for so much?” And she said, “Yes, for so much.”

9 Then Peter said to her, “How could you two 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 also.”

10 And at once she fell down at his feet and died; and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

11 And great fearandawe gripped the whole church, and all who heard about these things.

12 At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders (attesting miracles) werecontinuallytaking place among the people. And by common consent they all met together [at the temple] in [the covered porch called] Solomon’s portico.

13 But none of the rest [of the people, the non-believers] dared to associate with them; however, the people were holding them in high esteemandwere speaking highly of them.

14 Moreandmore believers in the Lord, crowds of men and women, were constantly being added totheir number,

15 to such an extent that they even carried their sick out into the streets and put them on cots and sleeping pads, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on one of them [with healing power].

16 And the people from the towns in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing the sick and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all being healed.

Imprisonment and Release

17 But thehigh priest stood up, along with all his associates (that is, the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousyandresentment.

18 They arrested the apostles and put them in a public jail.

19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors, and leading them out, he said,

20 “Go, stand andcontinueto tell the people in the temple [courtyards] the whole message of this Life [the eternal life revealed by Christ and found through faith in Him].”

21 When they heard this, they went into the temple [courtyards] about daybreak andbeganteaching.

Now when the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court), even all the council of elders of the sons of Israel, and sent word to the prison for the apostles to be brought [before them].

22 But when the officers arrived, they did not find them in the prison; and they came back and reported,

23 “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened [the doors], we found no one inside.”

24 Now when the captain of the templeguardand the chief priests heard these things, they were greatly perplexed, wondering what would come of this.

25 But someone came and told them, “The men whom you put in prison are standing [right here] in the temple [area], teaching the people!”

26 Then the captain went with the officers and brought them back, without hurting them (because they were afraid of the people, worried that they might be stoned).

27 So they brought them and presented them before the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court). The high priest questioned them,

28 saying, “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you intend to bring thisMan’s blood on us [by accusing us as His murderers].”

29 Then Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men [we have no other choice].

30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on across [and you are responsible].

31 God exalted Him to His right hand as Prince and SaviorandDeliverer, in order to grant repentance to Israel, and [to grant] forgiveness of sins.

32 And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has bestowed on those who obey Him.”

Gamaliel’s Counsel

33 Now when they heard this, they were infuriated and they intended to kill the apostles.

34 But a Pharisee namedGamaliel, a teacher of the Law [of Moses], highly esteemed by all the people, stood up in the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) and ordered that the men be taken outside for a little while.

35 Then he said to the Council, “Men of Israel, be careful in regard to what you propose to do to these men.

36 For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody [of importance], and a group of about four hundred men allied themselves with him. But he was killed, and all who followed him were scattered and came to nothing.

37 After this man, Judas the Galilean rose up, [and led an uprising] during the time of the census, and drew people after him; he was also killed, and all his followers were scattered.

38 So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men [merely human in origin], it will failandbe destroyed;

39 but if it is of God [and it appears that it is], you will not be able to stop them; or else you may even be found fighting against God!”

40 The Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) took his advice; and after summoning the apostles, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them.

41 So they left the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy [dignified by indignity] to suffer shame for [the sake of] His name.

42 And every single day, in the temple [area] and in homes, they did not stop teaching and telling the good news of Jesus as the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed).

Choosing of the Seven

1 Now about this time, when the number of disciples was increasing, a complaint was made by theHellenists (Greek-speaking Jews) against the [native] Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily servingof food.

2 So theTwelve called the disciples together and said, “It is not appropriate for us to neglect [teaching] the word of God in order to serve tablesandmanage the distribution of food.

3 Therefore, brothers, choose from among you seven men with good reputations [men of godly character and moral integrity], full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task.

4 But we will [continue to] devote ourselves [steadfastly] to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

5 The suggestion pleased the whole congregation; and they selectedStephen, a man full of faith [in Christ Jesus], and [filled with and led by] the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas (Nikolaos), a proselyte (Gentile convert) from Antioch.

6 They brought these men before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them [to dedicate and commission them for this service].

7 And the message of God kept on growingandspreading, and the number of disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem; and a large number of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith [accepting Jesus as Messiah and acknowledging Him as the Source of eternal salvation].

8 Now Stephen, full of grace (divine blessing, favor) and power, was doing great wonders and signs (attesting miracles) among the people.

9 However, some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (freed Jewish slaves), both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and [the province of] Asia, rose up and questionedandargued with Stephen.

10 But they were not able to successfully withstandandcope with the wisdomandthe intelligence [and the power and inspiration] of the Spirit by whom he was speaking.

11 Then [to attack him another way] they secretly instructed men to say, “We have heard this man [Stephen] speak blasphemous (slanderous, sacrilegious, abusive) words against Moses andagainstGod.”

12 And they provokedandincited the people, as well as the elders and the scribes, and they came up to Stephen and seized him and brought him before the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court).

13 They presented false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and the Law [of Moses];

14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus the Nazarene will tear down this place and will change the traditionsandcustoms which Moses handed down to us.”

15 Then all those who were sitting in the Council, stared [intently] at him, and they saw that Stephen’s face was like the face of an angel.

Stephen’s Defense

1 Now thehigh priest asked [Stephen], “Are these charges true?”

2 And he answered, “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory [the Shekinah, the radiance of God] appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran,

3 and He said to him, ‘Leave your country and your relatives,and come to the land thatIwill show you.’

4 Then he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. And from there, after his father died,Godsent him to this country in which you now live.

5 But He did not give him inheritable property, not even enough ground to take a step on, yet He promised that He would give it toHim as a possession,and to his descendants after him.

6 And this is, in effect, what God spoke [to him]: That hisdescendants would be aliens(strangers)in a foreign land,and that they would be enslaved and mistreated for four hundred years.

7 ‘AndIwill judge any nation to whom they will be in bondage,’ said God, ‘and after that they will come out and serveMe[in worship]in this place.’

8 And God gave Abraham a covenant [a formal agreement to be strictly observed] of [which] circumcision [was the sign]; and so [under these circumstances] Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac [became the father] ofJacob, and Jacob [became the father] of thetwelve patriarchs.

9 “The [ten elder] patriarchs,overwhelmedwith jealousy, sold [their younger brother] Joseph into [slavery in] Egypt; but God was with him,

10 and He rescued him from all his suffering, and gave him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he made Joseph governor over Egypt and over his entire household.

11 “Now a famine came over all Egypt and Canaan, bringing great distress and our fathers could not find food [for their households and livestock].

12 But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our fatherstherethe first time.

13 And on the secondvisitJoseph identified himself to his brothers, and Joseph’s familyandbackground were revealed to Pharaoh.

14 Then Joseph sent and invited Jacob his father and all his relatives to come to him, seventy-five persons in all.

15 And Jacob (Israel) went down into Egypt, andthere he died, as did our fathers;

16 and [from Egypt]their bodies were taken back to Shechem and placed in the tomb which Abraham had purchased for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.

17 “But as the time [for the fulfillment] of the promise which God had made to Abraham was approaching, the [Hebrew] people increased and multiplied in Egypt,

18 until [the time when]there arose another king over egypt who did not know joseph[nor his history and the merit of his service to Egypt].

19 He shrewdly exploited our race and mistreated our fathers, forcing them to expose their [male] babies so that they would die.

20 It was at this [critical] time that Moses was born; and he was lovely in the sight of God, and for three months he was nourished in his father’s house.

21 Then when he was set outside [to die], Pharaoh’s daughter rescued himandclaimed him for herself, and cared for him as her own son.

22 So Moses was educated in all the wisdomandculture of the Egyptians, and he was a man of power in words and deeds.

23 But when he reached the age of forty, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the sons of Israel.

24 And when he saw one [of them] being treated unfairly, he defended the oppressed man and avenged him by strikingandkilling the Egyptian.

25 He expected his countrymen to understand that God was granting them freedom through him [assuming that they would accept him], but they did not understand.

26 Then on the next day he suddenly appeared to two of them as they were fighting, and he tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers; why do you wrong one another?’

27 But the man who was injuring his neighbor pushed Moses away, saying, ‘Who appointed you ruler and judge over us?

28 Do you intend to kill me as you killed theEgyptian yesterday?’

29 At this remark Moses fled and became an exile in the land ofMidian, where he fathered two sons.

30 “After forty years had passed,an angel appeared to him in the wilderness ofMountSinai,in the flame of a burning thorn bush.

31 When Moses saw it, he was astonished at the sight; but as he went near to look more closely, the voice of the Lord came [to him, saying]:

32 ‘Iam theGod of your fathers,theGod ofAbraham and ofIsaac and ofJacob.’ Moses trembled with fear and did not dare to look.

33 Then theLord said to him, ‘Remove the sandals from your feet,for the place where you are standing is holy ground[worthy of reverence and respect].

34 Ihave most certainly seen the oppression ofMy people inEgypt and have heard their groaning,andIhave come down to rescue them. Now come,andIwill send you toEgypt[as My messenger].’

35 “This Moses whom they rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’ is the very one whom God sent to be both a ruler and a deliverer, with the [protecting and helping] hand of the Angel who appeared to him in the thorn bush.

36 This man led them out [of Egypt] after performing wonders and signs in the land of Egypt and at the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years.

37 This is the Moses who said to the children of Israel, ‘God will raise up for you aProphetlike me from your countrymen.’

38 This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness together with the Angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, andwho waswith our fathers; and he received living oracles [divine words that still live] to be handed down to you.

39 Our fathers were unwilling to be subject to him [and refused to listen to him]. They rejected him, and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.

40 They said toAaron, ‘Make for us gods who will go before us;for thisMoses who led us out of the land ofEgypt,we do not know what has happened to him.’

41 In those days they made a calf and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and rejoicedandcelebrated over the works of their hands.

42 But God turned away [from them] and handed them over to serve thehost of heaven. As it is writtenandforever remains written in the book of the prophets, ‘It was not[really]toMe that you offered victims and sacrifices for forty years in the wilderness,was it, Ohouse ofIsrael?

43 You also took along the tabernacle(portable temple)ofMoloch and the star of the godRompha,the images which you made to worship;andIwill remove you beyondBabylon[carrying you away into exile].’

44 “Our fathers had the tabernacle of testimony in the wilderness, just as God directed Moses to make it according to the pattern which he had seen.

45 Our fathers also brought it in [with them into the land] with Joshua when they dispossessed thenations whom God drove out before our fathers, [and so it remained here] until the time of David,

46 who found favor (grace, spiritual blessing) in the sight of God and asked that he might [be allowed to] find a dwelling place for theGod of Jacob.

47 But it was Solomon who built a house for Him.

48 However, the Most High [the One infinitely exalted above humanity] does not dwell inhousesmade by human hands; as the prophet [Isaiah] says,

49 ‘Heaven isMy throne,

And the earth is the footstool forMy feet;

What kind of house will you build forMe?’ says the Lord,

‘Or what place is there forMy rest?

50 Was it notMy hand that made all these things?’

51 “You stiff-neckedandstubborn people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are always actively resisting the Holy Spirit. You are doing just as your fathers did.

52 Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who proclaimed beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become;

53 you who received the law as ordainedanddelivered to you by angels, and yet you did not obey it!”

Stephen Put to Death

54 Now whenthey heard this [accusation and understood its implication], they were cut to the heart, and theybegangrinding their teeth [in rage] at him.

55 But he, being full of the Holy Spiritandled by Him, gazed into heaven and saw the glory [the great splendor and majesty] of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God;

56 and he said, “Look! I see the heavens opened up [in welcome] andthe Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”

57 But they shouted with loud voices, and covered their ears and together rushed at him [considering him guilty of blasphemy].

58 Then they drove him out of the city andbeganstoning him; and the witnesses placed their outer robes at the feet of a young man namedSaul.

59 They continued stoning Stephen as he called onthe Lordand said, “Lord Jesus, receiveandacceptandwelcome my spirit!”

60 Then falling on his knees [in worship], he cried out loudly, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them [do not charge them]!” When he had said this, he fell asleep [in death].

Saul Persecutes the Church

1 Saul wholeheartedly approved of Stephen’s death.

And on that day a greatandrelentless persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem; and the believers were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles.

2 Some devout men buried Stephen, andmourned greatly over him [expressing a personal sense of loss].

3 But Saulbeganravaging the church [and assaulting believers]; entering house after house and dragging off men and women, putting them in prison.

Philip in Samaria

4 Now those [believers] who had been scattered went from place to place preaching the word [the good news of salvation through Christ].

5 Philip [the evangelist] went down to the city of Samaria andbeganproclaiming Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed) to them.

6 The crowds gathered and were paying close attention to everything Philip said, as they heard [the message] and saw the [miraculous] signs which he was doing [validating his message].

7 For unclean spirits (demons), shouting loudly, were coming out of many who were possessed; and many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed.

8 So there was great rejoicing in that city.

9 Now there was a man named Simon, who previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great.

10 They all paid [a great deal of] attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is what is called the Great Power of God!”

11 They were paying attention to him because for a long time he had mystifiedanddazzled them with his magic.

12 But when they believed Philip as he preached thegood news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, both men and women.

13 Even Simon believed [Philip’s message of salvation]; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he watched theattestingsigns and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed.

14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that [the people of] Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.

15 They came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit;

16 for He had not yet fallen on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus [as His possession].

17 Then Peter and John laid their hands on them [one by one], and they received the Holy Spirit.

18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money,

19 saying, “Give me this authorityandpower too, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

20 But Peter said to him, “May your money be destroyed along with you, because you thought you could buy the [free] gift of God with money!

21 You have no part or share in this matter, because your heart (motive, purpose) is not right before God.

22 So repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, this thought of your heart may be forgiven you.

23 For I see that you areprovoked by bitterness and bound by sin.”

24 But Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me both of you, so that nothing of what you have said will come upon me.”

An Ethiopian Receives Christ

25 So, when Peter and John had given their testimony and preached the word of the Lord, they started back to Jerusalem, preaching the good news [about salvation] in many Samaritan villages [along the way].

26 But an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go south to the road that runs from Jerusalem down to Gaza.” (This is a desert road).

27 So he got up and went; and there was an Ethiopian eunuch [a man of great authority], a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship,

28 and he was returning, and sitting in his chariot he was reading [the scroll of] the prophet Isaiah.

29 Then the [Holy] Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.”

30 Philip ran up and heard the man reading the prophet Isaiah, and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

31 And he said, “Well, how could I [understand] unless someone guides me [correctly]?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

32 Now this was the passage of Scripture which he was reading:

“Like a sheepHe was led to the slaughter;

And as a lamb before its shearer is silent,

SoHe does not openHis mouth.

33 In humiliationHis judgment was taken away[justice was denied Him].

Who will describeHis generation?

ForHis life is taken from the earth.”

34 The eunuch replied to Philip, “Pleasetell me,about whom does the prophet say this? About himself or about someone else?”

35 Then Philip spoke and beginning with this Scripture he preached Jesus to him [explaining that He is the promised Messiah and the source of salvation].

36 As they continued along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch exclaimed, “Look! Water! What forbids me from being baptized?”

37 [Philip said to him, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he replied, “I do believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”]

38 And he ordered that the chariot be stopped; and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.

39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord [suddenly] took Philip [and carried him] away [to a different place]; and the eunuch no longer saw him, but he went on his way rejoicing.

40 But Philip found himself atAzotus, and as he passed through he preached the good news [of salvation] to all the cities, until he came toCaesarea [Maritima].

The Conversion of Saul

1 NowSaul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord [and relentless in his search for believers], went to thehigh priest,

2 and he asked for letters [of authority] from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any men or women there belonging tothe Way [believers, followers of Jesus the Messiah], men and women alike, he could arrest themandbring them bound [with chains] to Jerusalem.

3 As he traveled he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him [displaying the glory and majesty of Christ];

4 and he fell to the ground and heard a voice [from heaven] saying to him,“Saul, Saul, why are you persecutingandoppressing Me?”

5 And Saul said, “Who are You, Lord?” And Heanswered,“I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,

6 now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

7 The men who were traveling with him [were terrified and] stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.

8 Saul got up from the ground, but though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.

9 And he was unable to see for three days, and he neither ate nor drank.

10 Now in Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision,“Ananias.”And he answered, “Here I am, Lord.”

11 And the Lord said to him,“Get up and go to the street calledStraight, and ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul; for he is praying[there],

12 and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come in and place his hands on him, so that he may regain his sight.”

13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many people about this man, especially how much sufferingandevil he has brought on Your saints (God’s people) at Jerusalem;

14 and here [in Damascus] he has authority from the high priests to put in chains all who call on Your name [confessing You as Savior].”

15 But the Lord said to him,“Go, for this man is a[deliberately]chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;

16 for I will make clear to him how much he must sufferandendure for My name’s sake.”

17 So Ananias left and entered the house, and he laid his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came [to Damascus], has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit [in order to proclaim Christ to both Jews and Gentiles].”

18 Immediately something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized;

19 and he took some food and was strengthened.

Saul Begins to Preach Christ

For several days [afterward] Saul remained with the disciples who were at Damascus.

20 And immediately hebeganproclaiming Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “This Man is the Son of God [the promised Messiah]!”

21 All those who heard him continued to be amazed and said, “Is this not the man who in Jerusalem attacked those who called on this name [of Jesus], and had come here [to Damascus] for the express purpose of bringing them bound [with chains] before the chief priests?”

22 But Saul increased in strength more and more, and continued to perplex the Jews who lived in Damascus by examining [theological evidence]andproving [with Scripture] that thisJesusis the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed).

23 After considerable time had passed [about three years or so], the Jews plotted together to kill him,

24 but their plot became known to Saul. They were also watching the city’s gates day and night so they could kill him;

25 but his disciples took him at night and let him down throughan opening inthe wall, lowering him in a large basket.

26 When he arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple.

27 However,Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and described to them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road [to Damascus], and how He had spoken to him, and how at Damascus Saul had preached openlyandspoken confidently in the name of Jesus.

28 So he was with them, moving around freely [as one among them] in Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord.

29 He was talking and arguing with theHellenists (Greek-speaking Jews); but they were attempting to kill him.

30 When the brothers found out [about the plot], they brought him down toCaesarea [Maritima] and sent him off to Tarsus [his home town].

31 So the church throughout Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace [without persecution], being built up [in wisdom, virtue, and faith]; and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfortandencouragement of the Holy Spirit, it continued to grow [in numbers].

Peter’s Ministry

32 Now as Peter was traveling throughoutthe land,he went down to [visit] thesaints (God’s people) who lived at Lydda.

33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years and was paralyzed.

34 Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed.” Immediately Aeneas got up.

35 Then all who lived at Lydda andthe plain ofSharon saw [what had happened to] him, and they turned to the Lord.

36 Now inJoppa there was a disciple named Tabitha, (which translatedinto Greekmeans Dorcas). She was rich in acts of kindness and charity which she continually did.

37 During that time it happened that she became sick and died; and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an upstairs room.

38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Come to us without delay.”

39 So Peter got up [at once] and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him into the upstairs room; and all the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing [him] all thetunics and robes that Dorcas used to make while she was with them.

40 But Peter sent them all out [of the room] and knelt down and prayed; then turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise!” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

41 And he gave her his hand and helped her up; and then he called in thesaints (God’s people) and the widows, and he presented her [to them] alive.

42 This became known all over Joppa, and many came to believe in the Lord [that is, to adhere to and trust in and rely on Jesus as Christ and Savior].

43 And so it was that Peter stayed in Joppa for many days with Simon,a tanner.

Cornelius’ Vision

1 Now atCaesarea [Maritima]there wasa man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as theItalian Regiment,

2 a devout man and one who, along with all his household, feared God. He made many charitable donations to theJewishpeople, and prayed to God always.

3 About the ninth hour (3:00 p.m.) of the day he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who had come to him and said, “Cornelius!”

4 Cornelius was frightened and stared intently at him and said, “What is it, lord (sir)?” And the angel said to him, “Your prayers and gifts of charity have ascended as a memorial offering before God [an offering made in remembrance of His past blessings].

5 Now send men toJoppa and have them call for a mannamedSimon, who is also called Peter [and invite him here];

6 he is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”

7 When the angel who was speaking to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among his own personal attendants;

8 and after explaining everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

9 The next day, as they were on their way and were approaching the city, Peter went up onthe roof of the house about the sixth hour (noon) to pray,

10 but he became hungry and wanted something to eat. Whilethe meal was being prepared he fell into a trance;

11 and he saw the sky opened up, and anobject like a great sheet descending, lowered by its four corners to the earth,

12 and it contained allkinds offour-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air.

13 A voice came to him, “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!”

14 But Peter said, “Not at all, Lord, for I have never eaten anything that is common (unholy) and [ceremonially] unclean.”

15 And the voice came to him a second time, “What God has cleansedandpronounced clean, no longer consider common (unholy).”

16 This happened three times, and then immediately the object was taken up into heaven.

17 Now Peter was still perplexedandcompletely at a loss as to what his vision could mean when the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions to Simon’s house, arrived at the gate.

18 And they called out to ask whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was staying there.

19 While Peter was thoughtfully considering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Now listen, three men are looking for you.

20 Get up, go downstairs and go with them without hesitatingordoubting, because I have sent them Myself.”

21 Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. For what reason have you come?”

22 They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man well spoken of by all the Jewish people, wasdivinelyinstructed by a holy angel to send for youto cometo his house and hear what you have to say.”

23 So Peterinvited them in and gave them lodging [for the night].

Peter at Caesarea

The next day Peter got up and left with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went with him.

24 On the following day he [and the others] entered Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends.

25 When Peter arrived, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet andworshipedhim.

26 But Peter raised him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am only a man.”

27 As Peter talked with him, he entered [the house] and found a large group of people assembled.

28 He said to them, “You know that it is unlawful for a Jewish man to associate withorbefriend a Gentile, or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I am not to call anyone common or [ceremonially] unclean.

29 Therefore when I was sent for, I came without raising an objection. So I ask for what reason have you sent for me?”

30 Cornelius said, “Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during the ninth hour (3:00-4:00 p.m.); and a man [dressed] in bright, dazzling clothing suddenly stood before me,

31 and he said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your acts of charity have been remembered before God [so that He is about to help you].

32 Therefore sendwordto Joppa and invite Simon, who is also called Peter, to come to you. He is staying at the house of Simon the tanner by the sea.’

33 So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to listen to everything that you have been instructed by the Lord [to say].”

Gentiles Hear Good News

34 Opening his mouth, Peter said:

“Most certainly I understand now that God is not one to show partiality [to people as though Gentiles were excluded from God’s blessing],

35 but in every nation the person who fears God and does what is right [by seeking Him] is acceptableandwelcomed by Him.

36 You know the message which He sent to the sons of Israel, announcingthe good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all—

37 you know the things that have taken place throughout Judea, starting in Galilee after the baptism preached by John—

38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with great power; and He went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him.

39 We are [personally] eyewitnesses of everything that He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem [in particular]. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross;

40 God raised Him [to life] on the third day and caused Him to be plainly seen,

41 not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosenanddesignated beforehand by God,that is,to us who ate and drank together with Him after He rose from the dead.

42 He commanded us to preach to the people [both Jew and Gentile], and to solemnly testify that He is the One who has been appointedandordained by God as Judge of the living and the dead.

43 All the prophets testify about Him, that through His name everyone who believes in Him [whoever trusts in and relies on Him, accepting Him as Savior and Messiah] receives forgiveness of sins.”

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who were listening to the message [confirming God’s acceptance of Gentiles].

45 All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.

46 For they heard them talking in [unknown] tongues (languages) and exaltingandmagnifyingandpraising God. Then Peter said,

47 “Can anyone refuse water for these people to be baptized, since they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?”

48 And he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay there for a few days.