The Acts of the Apostles 

Acts 1

1 The former discourse I made, O Theophilus, concerning all things that Jesus began both to do and to teach,

2 till the day in which he was taken up, after he had, through the Holy Spirit, given commandments to the apostles whom he had chosen:

3 to whom he also showed himself alive, after he had suffered, by many infallible proofs, appearing to them for forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

4 And being assembled together with them he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to await the promise of the Father, which, said he, you heard from me:

5 for John indeed baptized in water, but you shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days hence.

6 They that had come together therefore asked him, saying: Lord, dost thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? He said to them: It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has appointed by his own authority;

8 but you shall receive power, after the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be my witnesses, both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

9 And when he had said these things, as they beheld, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight.

10 And while they were looking steadfastly toward heaven as he departed, behold, two men stood by them in white garments,

11 who also said: Men of Galilee, why stand looking towards heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you saw him go into heaven.

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day‘s journey.

13 And when they had come in, they went up into an upper room where they were abiding, both Peter and John, and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the brother of James.

14 These all continued with one accord in prayer, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

15 And in these days Peter rose up in the midst of the brethren and said (and there was a multitude of names together, about a hundred and twenty):

16 Men, brethren, it was needful that the Scripture should be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke before through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became leader to those that took Jesus;

17 for he was numbered among us, and had obtained the part of this ministry.

18 This man therefore purchased a field with the reward of iniquity, and, having fallen headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out:

19 which also became known to all that dwell in Jerusalem, so that that field is called in their own language, Akeldama, that is, a field of blood.

20 For it is written in the book of Psalms: Let his habitation become deserted, and let no one dwell in it, and: His overseer‘s office let another take.

21 Therefore of these men who have accompanied us all the time, during which the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,

22 beginning from the baptism of John, till the day in which he was taken up from us, must one become a witness with us of his resurrection.

23 And they appointed two, Joseph, who is called Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.

24 And praying, they said: Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all, make known which one of these two thou hast chosen,

25 that he may take the place of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas turned away to go to his own place.

26 And they gave lots for them; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. 

Acts 2

1 And when the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all together at the same time.

2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound as of a rushing, violent blast, and filled the whole house where they were sitting;

3 and there appeared to them tongues like fire distributing themselves, and it sat on each one of them;

4 and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven;

6 but when this sound had come, the multitude came together and were perplexed, because they heard them speaking, each one in his own language.

7 And they were all astonished, and wondered, saying: Behold, are not all these that speak Galileans?

8 And how hear we, each one in our own language in which we were born,

9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and we that dwell in Mesopotamia, Judea also and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,

10 Phrygia also and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and Roman residents, both Jews and proselytes,

11 Cretes and Arabians, how hear we them speaking in our own tongues, the mighty works of God?

12 And they were all astonished and in doubt, saying one to another: What can this be?

13 But others, mocking, said: They are full of sweet wine.

14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice and said to them: Men of Judea, and all you that dwell in Jerusalem, be this known to you, and hearken to my words.

15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is the third hour of the day;

16 but this is that which was spoken through the prophet Joel:

17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, I will pour out of 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;

18 and indeed on my servants and on my handmaids will I pour out in those days of my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.

19 And I will show wonders in heaven above and signs In the earth beneath, blood and fire and vapor of smoke.

20 The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the great day of the Lord shall come.

21 And it shall come to pass that whoever shall have called on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

22 Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man eminently distinguished among you on the part of God by mighty deeds and wonders and signs, which God did through him in the midst of you, as yourselves know,

23 him delivered up by the fixed counsel and foreknowledge of God, you, through the hands of lawless men, did crucify and slay:

24 whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, inasmuch as it was not possible that he should be held in subjection by it.

25 For David says in reference to him: I foresaw the Lord always in my presence, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved.

26 Therefore did my heart rejoice and my tongue was glad: moreover, also, my flesh shall rest in hope,

27 because thou wilt not leave my soul in hades, neither wilt thou suffer thy Holy One to see corruption.

28 Thou didst make known to me the ways of life, thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.

29 Men, brethren, I may freely say to you of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his sepulcher is among us till this day.

30 Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set of the fruit of his loins upon his throne;

31 foreseeing, he spoke of the resurrection of Christ, that neither was he left in hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.

32 This Jesus has God raised up, of whom we all are witnesses.

33 Therefore, having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this which you both see and hear.

34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but himself says: The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my right hand,

35 till I make thy enemies thy footstool.

36 Therefore, let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this same Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ.

37 And hearing it they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles: Men, brethren, what must we do?

38 And Peter said to them: Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for remission of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

39 For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are afar off, as many as the Lord our God shall have called.

40 And with many other words did he testify, and exhort them, saying: Save yourselves from this perverse generation.

41 They therefore gladly received his word and were baptized, and were added on that day, about three thousand souls.

42 And they continued steadfastly in the teaching of the apostles and the fellowship, the breaking of the bread and the prayers.

43 And fear came on every soul; and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles in Jerusalem; and great fear was upon all.

44 And all that believed were together, and had all things in common;

45 and sold their possessions and goods, and distributed them to all as any one had need;

46 and continuing daily with one accord in the temple, breaking bread also from house to house, they partook of food in gladness and singleness of heart,

47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord daily added together the saved.  

Acts 3

1 But Peter and John were going up into the temple, at the hour of prayer, which is the ninth.

2 And a man, lame from his mother‘s womb, was borne along; whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called Beautiful, to ask charity from them that went into the temple:

3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked to receive charity.

4 But Peter, looking intently upon him with John, said: Look on us.

5 And he gave heed to them, expecting to receive something from them.

6 But Peter said: Silver and gold have I not; but what I have, this I give thee: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, walk.

7 And, taking him by the right hand, he raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles became strong;

8 and leaping up, he stood and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking and leaping and praising God.

9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God;

10 and they recognized him, that it was he that sat for charity at the Beautiful gate of the temple; and they were filled with amazement and astonishment at that which had happened to him.

11 But while he was holding Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch called Solomon‘s, greatly amazed.

12 And seeing it, Peter answered to the people: Men of Israel, why wonder at this man, or on us why earnestly look as if by our own power of godliness we had made him to walk;

13 The God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered up, and denied in the presence of Pilate, though he had determined to release him;

14 the holy and just one you however denied, and demanded that a murderer should be given to you;

15 but the author of life you slew, whom God raised from the dead, of whom we are witnesses.

16 And his name, by faith in his name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know: even the faith that is through him has given him this entire soundness in the presence of you all.

17 And now, brethren, I know that through ignorance you did it, as did also your rulers:

18 but the things that God foretold through the mouth of all the prophets, that his Anointed should suffer, he has thus fulfilled.

19 Repent therefore and turn, that your sins may be blotted out that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,

20 and he may send him that was destined for you, Christ Jesus,

21 whom heaven must receive, till the times of the restoration of all things that God has spoken through the mouth of his holy prophets of ancient times.

22 Moses indeed said: A prophet shall the Lord our God raise up for you from among your brethren, like me: him shall you hear in all things whatever he shall say to you.

23 And it shall come to pass that every soul that will not hear that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.

24 And all the prophets also, from Samuel and those after, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days.

25 You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God covenanted with our fathers, saying to Abraham: And in thy offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

26 To you first, God having raised up his Servant, sent him to bless you, in turning every one away from your iniquities. 

Acts 4

1 But as they were speaking to the people, there came upon them the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees,

2 being vexed because they taught the people, and announced in Jesus the resurrection from the dead;

3 and they laid their hands on them, and put them in prison till the morrow; for it was already evening.

4 But many of them that heard the word believed, and the number of the men amounted to five thousand.

5 And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers and the elders and scribes, came together in Jerusalem,

6 Annas also the chief priest, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the chief priest;

7 and, placing them in the midst, they inquired: In what power or in what name did you this?

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: Rulers of the people and elders,

9 if we are this day examined with respect to the good deed done to the infirm man, by what means he has been saved,

10 be it known to you all and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, in him does this man stand before you in health.

11 This is the stone that was set at naught by you builders, which has become the head of the corner.

12 And salvation is in none other; neither indeed is there another name under heaven, given among men, by which we must be saved.

13 And seeing the boldness of Peter and of John, and perceiving that they were men without learning, and plain, they were astonished; they also recognized them that they had been with Jesus;

14 and seeing the man that had been cured standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply.

15 But having commanded them to go out of the Sanhedrim, they conferred one with another,

16 saying: What must we do to these men? For indeed that a wellknown sign has been done by them is manifest to all that dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it;

17 but that it may spread no further among the people, let us severely threaten them that they speak no more in this name to any one of men.

18 And having called them, they commanded them to speak not at all, neither to teach in the name of Jesus.

19 But Peter and John, answering, said to them: Whether it is right in the sight of God to hear you rather than God, judge you;

20 for we can but speak the things that we have seen and heard.

21 And having further threatened them, they let them go, not finding how they might punish them, because of the people; for all glorified God on account of what had been done;

22 for the man on whom this sign of healing had been done was more than forty years old.

23 But having been let go, they came to their own, and told all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.

24 And having heard, they, with one accord, lifted up a voice to God and said: Lord, thou that madest the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all things that in them are.

25 that through the Holy Spirit by the mouth of our father David thy servant didst say: Why did Gentiles rage and peoples desire vain things?

26 The kings of the land stood up, and the rulers were collected together against the Lord and against his Anointed.

27 For in truth there were collected in this city against thy holy Servant Jesus, whom thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with Gentiles and peoples of Israel,

28 to do all that thy hand and thy counsel before determined to be done.

29 And now. Lord, look upon their threatenings, and give to thy servants to speak thy word with all boldness,

30 in stretching forth thy hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of thy holy Servant Jesus.

31 And after they had prayed, the place where they were collected together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and spoke the word of God with boldness.

32 And the heart and the soul of the multitude of believers were one; and not even one said that any of the things he had was his own; but they had all things in common.

33 And with great power did the apostles give testimony of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.

34 For neither was there any needy person among them; for as many as were possessors of lands or of houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things sold,

35 and laid them at the feet of the apostles; and distribution was made to each as any one had need.

36 But Joseph, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, which is, when translated, Son of consolation, a Levite, by birth a Cyprian,

37 having a field, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the feet of the apostles. 

Acts 5

1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,

2 and kept back part of the price, his wife also having knowledge of it, and having brought a certain part, laid it at the feet of the apostles.

3 But Peter said: Ananias, why has Satan filled thy heart, that thou shouldst attempt to deceive the Holy Spirit, and that thou shouldst keep back part of the price of the field?

4 While it remained, did it not remain thine, and when sold, was it not in thy own right? Why is it that thou didst conceive this thing in thy heart? Thou hast not lied to men, but to God.

5 And Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and expired; and great fear came on all that heard.

6 But the younger men, having risen, wound him up, and, having carried him out, buried him.

7 But there was an interval of about three hours, and his wife, not knowing what had been done, came in.

8 And Peter answered to her: Tell me, did you sell the field for so much? And she said: Yes, for so much.

9 And Peter said to her: Why is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of them that have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.

10 And she fell down immediately at his feet and expired. And the young men coming in found her dead, and having carried her out buried her by her husband.

11 And great fear came upon the whole church, and upon all that heard these things.

12 And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people: and they were all with one accord in Solomon‘s porch;

13 but of the rest, no one ventured to join himself to them, but the people magnified them;

14 and believers in the Lord were the more added, multitudes of both men and women:

15 so that they brought out the sick even into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that even the shadow of Peter as he came might overshadow some one of them.

16 And there came together also the multitude of the cities round about Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those oppressed by unclean spirits, all of whom were cured.

17 But the chief priest arose and all those with him, which is the sect of the Sadducees, and were filled with zeal,

18 and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the public prison.

19 But an angel of the Lord during the night opened the doors of the prison and brought them out and said:

20 Go, and stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

21 And hearing, they entered about daybreak into the temple and taught. And the chief priest came and those with him, and called together the Sanhedrim and all the eldership of the sons of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.

22 But the attendants came and found them not in the prison; and, having returned, reported,

23 saying: The prison we found closed in all safety, and the guards standing before the doors, but on opening we found no one within.

24 And when both the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were in doubt concerning them, what this might be.

25 And some one came and told them: Behold, the men whom you put in the prison are in the temple, standing and teaching the people.

26 Then went the captain with the attendants and brought them, not with violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned.

27 And they brought them and made them stand in the Sanhedrim. And the chief priest asked them,

28 saying: We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, and behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you wish to bring upon us the blood of this man.

29 But answering, Peter and the apostles said: We must obey God rather than men.

30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you slew by hanging on a tree:

31 him has God exalted to his right hand as a prince and savior, to give repentance to Israel and remission of sins.

32 And we are witnesses of these things, and the Holy Spirit, whom he has given to those that obey him.

33 And hearing, they were cut to the heart, and counseled to kill them.

34 but there arose a certain one in the Sanhedrim, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, honored by all the people, and commanded to put the men out a little while;

35 and said to them: Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves with respect to these men, what you are about to do.

36 For before these days arose Theudas, saying that himself was somebody, to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain, and all as many as were persuaded by him were scattered and came to naught.

37 After this man arose Judas the Galilean, in the days of the enrollment, and drew off people after him; and he was destroyed, and all as many as were persuaded by him were dispersed.

38 And now, I say to you, stand off from these men and let them alone; for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to naught;

39 but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow them, lest perhaps you also be found fighting against God.

40 And they were persuaded by him; and having called the apostles in, and beaten them, they charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

41 They then went from the presence of the Sanhedrim rejoicing, because they were thought worthy to be dishonored for the name.

42 Also every day in the temple and from house to house, they ceased not to teach and preach Christ Jesus. 

Acts 6

1 And in these days, as the disciples were increasing in number, there arose a murmuring of the Hellenists against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

2 But the twelve, calling to them the multitude of the disciples, said: It is not pleasing to us that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.

3 But look out, brethren, from among you seven men of good report, full of spirit and wisdom, whom we will appoint over this business;

4 and we will attend continually to prayer and the ministry of the word.

5 And the saying was pleasing in the sight of all the multitude; and they chose out Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicholas a proselyte of Antioch,

6 whom they placed before the apostles; and they prayed and laid their hands on them.

7 And the word of God increased, and the number of the disciples was enlarged in Jerusalem greatly, and a great number of the priests became obedient to the faith.

8 But Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.

9 And there arose some of those that were of the synagogue called the synagogue of the Freedmen, and of the Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen,

10 and were not able to withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke.

11 Then they suborned men to say: We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God;

12 and they excited the people and the elders and the scribes; and, coming upon him, they seized him, and led him to the Sanhedrim;

13 and set up false witnesses who said: This man ceases not to speak words against the holy place and the law;

14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus the Nazarene shall destroy this place, and change the customs that Moses delivered to us.

15 And all that sat in the Sanhedrim, looking earnestly on him, saw his face as the face of an angel. 

Acts 7

1 And the chief priest said: Are these things so?

2 And he said: Men, brethren and fathers, hear. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran,

3 and said to him: Come out from thy land and from thy kindred, and come into the land that I will show thee.

4 Then he came out of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Haran. And thence after his father had died he removed him into this land, in which you now dwell;

5 and he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot-breadth, though he had promised to give it to him for a possession, and to his posterity after him, while he had no child.

6 But God spoke thus, that his posterity should sojourn in a strange land, and they would bring them into bondage, and afflict them four hundred years;

7 and the nation to which they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God, and after that ‗they shall come forth and serve me in this place.‘

8 And he gave him the covenant of circumcision; and so he begot Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob the twelve patriarchs.

9 And the patriarchs envied Joseph and sold him into Egypt; yet God was with him,

10 and delivered him from all his afflictions, and gave him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and he made him ruler over Egypt and over all his house.

11 But there came a famine over the whole of Egypt and of Canaan, and great affliction, and our fathers found no sustenance.

12 And Jacob, hearing that there was grain in Egypt, sent forth our fathers the first time.

13 And the second time, Joseph was made known to his brothers, and the race of Joseph became known to Pharaoh.

14 And Joseph sent and called to him his father Jacob, and all his kindred, seventy-five souls.

15 And Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, himself and our fathers,

16 and were carried over to Sychem and laid in the sepulcher which Abraham bought for its value in silver, from the sons of Hamor, the father of Sychem.

17 But as the time of the promise which God had made to Abraham drew near, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt,

18 till there arose another king, who knew not Joseph.

19 This man dealt insidiously with our race, and afflicted our fathers, so that they exposed their infants, that they might not live.

20 At which time Moses was born, and he was beautiful before God. And he was nursed three months in his father‘s house;

21 but when he was exposed, the daughter of Pharaoh took him up and nursed him as a son for herself.

22 And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians; and he was mighty in his words and deeds.

23 But when the time of forty years was completed for him, it came into his heart to look after his brethren, the sons of Israel.

24 And, seeing one unjustly treated, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed by smiting the Egyptian.

25 And he thought that his brethren would understand that God, through his hand, was giving salvation to them; but they understood not.

26 And on the following day he showed himself to them as they fought, and urged them to peace, saying: Men, you are brethren: why treat one another unjustly?

27 But he that treated his neighbor unjustly thrust him away, saying: Who appointed thee ruler and judge over us?

28 Wilt thou kill me as thou didst kill the Egyptian yesterday?

29 And at that saying Moses fled and became a sojourner in the land of Midian, where he begot two sons.

30 And when forty years were completed, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sinai an angel in flaming fire of a bush.

31 And Moses, seeing, wondered at the sight; but as he drew near to behold it, there came the voice of the Lord:

32 I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob. And Moses trembled and ventured not to behold.

33 And the Lord said to him: Loose the sandal of thy feet; for the place on which thou standest is holy ground.

34 I have surely seen the affliction of my people that are in Egypt, and their groaning have I heard, and I have come down to deliver them; and now come, I will send thee into Egypt.

35 This Moses, whom they denied, saying: Who appointed thee ruler and judge? this man God sent both as ruler and deliverer, with the hand of the angel that appeared to him in the bush.

36 This man led them out after having performed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.

37 This is the Moses who said to the sons of Israel: A prophet shall God raise up for you from among your brethren, like me.

38 This is he that was in the assembly in the wilderness, with the angel that spoke to him in the mount Sinai, and with our fathers; who received the living oracles to give to us,

39 to whom our fathers would not become obedient, but thrust him away and turned in their heart to Egypt,

40 saying to Aaron: Make us gods that shall go before us; for this Moses, who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we know not what has become of him.

41 And they made a calf in those days and offered sacrifice to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their hands.

42 But God turned and delivered them up to serve the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: Victims and sacrifices did you offer to me forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel,

43 and did you take up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of the god Remphan, the images that you made to worship? and I will remove you beyond Babylon.

44 Our fathers in the wilderness had the tabernacle of testimony, as he had appointed who spoke to Moses that he should make it according to the pattern which he had seen;

45 which also our fathers received and brought in with Joshua, when they took possession of the nations, whom God thrust out from the face of our fathers till the days of David:

46 who found favor in the sight of God, and asked that he might find a dwelling for the house of Jacob.

47 But Solomon built him a house.

48 However, the Most High dwells not in places made with hands, as says the prophet:

49 Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: what kind of a house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what the place of my rest?

50 Did not my hand make all these things?

51 Stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit, as your fathers, also you.

52 Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? and they killed those who foretold concerning the coming of the Just One, of whom you have now become the betrayers and murderers:

53 who received the law as the arrangements of angels, and have not kept it.

54 And hearing these things, they were cut to their hearts, and gnashed upon him with their teeth.

55 But being full of the Holy Spirit, he looked up into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God;

56 and he said: Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God.

57 And having cried with a loud voice, they stopped their ears and rushed with one accord upon him,

58 and having cast him out of the city, they stoned him. And the witnesses laid off their clothes at the feet of a young man called Saul;

59 and they stoned Stephen, calling on the Lord and saying: Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

60 And he kneeled down and cried with a loud voice: Lord, let not this sin stand against them. And having said this, he fell asleep. And Saul was consenting to his death. 

Acts 8

1 And there arose at that day a great persecution against the church that was in Jerusalem: they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

2 But godly men helped to bury Stephen, and made great lamentation over him.

3 But Saul made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and, dragging men and women, he committed them to prison.

4 They therefore that had been scattered went everywhere, preaching the word;

5 but Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.

6 And the multitudes with one accord gave heed to the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard and saw the signs that he did.

7 For there were many of those that had unclean spirits; these, crying with a loud voice, came out of them; and many paralytics and lame persons were cured;

8 and there arose great joy in that city.

9 But a certain man named Simon before this used magic in the city, and astonished the nation of Samaria, saying that himself was some great one;

10 to whom they gave heed, from small to great, saying: This man is the power of God, which is called great.

11 And they gave heed to him because he had for a long time astonished them with his magic arts.

12 But when they believed Philip, preaching concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

13 And Simon himself also believed, and having been baptized, he continued with Philip, and seeing the mighty deeds and signs that were done, he was astonished.

14 But the apostles that were in Jerusalem, hearing that Samaria had received the word of God, sent to them Peter and John,

15 who went down and prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit.

16 For he had not yet fallen on any one of them, but they had only been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.

17 Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

18 But Simon, seeing that through the laying on of the apostles‘ hands the Spirit was given, offered them money,

19 saying: Give me also this authority, that on whomever I shall have laid hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit.

20 But Peter said to him: Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought to purchase for thyself with money the gift of God.

21 Thou hast no part, neither lot, in this matter; for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray the Lord if perhaps the thought of thy heart may be forgiven thee;

23 for I perceive that thou art bitter gall and a bundle of unrighteousness.

24 But Simon answered and said: Pray you to the Lord for me, that none of the things that you have spoken may come upon me.

25 They therefore having testified and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem: they also preached the gospel in many cities of the Samaritans.

26 But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying: Arise, and go toward the south, to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza: this is desert.

27 And he arose and went; and behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch, a high officer of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship,

28 was also returning, and, sitting in his chariot, was reading the prophet Isaiah.

29 And the Spirit said to Philip: Go forward and join thyself to this chariot.

30 And running forward, Philip heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said: Understandest thou, then, what thou readest?

31 But he said: How should I unless some one guide me? And he requested Philip to come up and sit with him.

32 And the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this: As a sheep for slaughter was he led; and as a lamb before his shearer is dumb, so opens he not his mouth.

33 In his humiliation his judgment* was taken away: his generation who shall describe? for his life is taken from the earth. * The justice due him.

34 And the eunuch answered and said to Philip: I pray thee, of whom speaks the prophet this? Of himself or of some other man?

35 But Philip opened his mouth and began at the same Scripture, and preached to him Jesus.

36 And as they went along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch says: Behold, water: what hinders me from being baptized?

37 [no verse]

38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.

39 But when they had come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, for he went on his way rejoicing.

40 But Philip was found it Azotus; and passing through he preached the gospel in all the cities till he came to Caesarea. 

Acts 9

1 But Saul, yet breathing threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the chief priest

2 and asked of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that, if he should find any of the way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

3 But as he was going, it came to pass that he drew near to Damascus, and suddenly there flashed around him a light from heaven;

4 and having fallen to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him: Saul, Saul,why persecutest thou me?

5 And he said: Who art thou, Lord? And he said: I am Jesus whom thou persecuteth!

6 But rise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

7 But the men that journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing indeed the voice, but seeing no one.

8 And Saul arose from the ground; but when his eyes were opened, he saw nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus.

9 And he was three days without sight, and he ate not, neither did he drink.

10 But there was in Damascus a disciple named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision: Ananias. And he said: Behold me, Lord.

11 And the Lord said to him: Arise, and go into the street that is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judah for one named Saul, of Tarsus; for behold, he prays,

12 and has seen a man named Ananias coming in and laying his hand on him, that he may receive sight.

13 But Ananias answered: Lord, I have heard from many of this man, what evils he has done to thy saints in Jerusalem;

14 and how he has authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

15 But the Lord said to him: Go; for a chosen vessel is this man to me, to bear my name before Gentiles and kings also, and the sons of Israel;

16 for I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name.

17 And Ananias went, and entered into the house, and having laid his hands on him, said: Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to thee on the way by which thou earnest, has sent me, that thou mayest receive sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.

18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as if scales; and he received sight, and arose and was baptized;

19 and having taken food, he was strengthened. And he was with the disciples in Damascus some days;

20 and immediately in the synagogues he preached Jesus, that this is the Son of God.

21 But all that heard were astonished, and said: Is not this he that destroyed in Jerusalem those that call on this name, and has he not come hither for this purpose, that he might lead them bound to the chief priests?

22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews that dwelt in Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.

23 But when many days were fulfilled, the Jews counselled together to kill him;

24 but their plot was made known to Saul. And they also watched the gates day and night, that they might kill him;

25 and his disciples took him. and by night let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket.

26 And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join himself to the disciples; and they all feared him, not believing that he was a disciple.

27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and told them how on the way he had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus.

28 And he was with them going in and out in Jerusalem; speaking boldly in the name of the Lord,

29 he spoke to, and also disputed with, the Hellenists; but they undertook to kill him.

30 And the brethren, knowing it, brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.

31 Then indeed the church throughout the whole of Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace, being edified and walking in the fear of the Lord; and through the aid of the Holy Spirit was multiplied.

32 But it came to pass that Peter, passing through all places, came down also to the saints that dwell in Lydda.

33 And he found there a man named Aeneas, that had lain on a bed for eight years, who was a paralytic.

34 And Peter said to him: Aeneas, Jesus Christ restores thee to health: arise, and make thy bed for thyself. And he immediately arose;

35 and all that dwelt in Lydda and Saron saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

36 And there was in Joppa a female disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, is called Dorcas; she was full of good works and charities that she did.

37 But it came to pass in those days that, having been taken sick, she died; and they washed her and laid her in an upper room.

38 And as Lydda was near to Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, beseeching: Delay not to come to us,

39 And Peter arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him into the upper room; and all the widows stood by him weeping and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made while she was with them.

40 But having put them all out, Peter kneeled down and prayed; and turning to the body, he said: Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes, and, seeing Peter, she sat up.

41 But giving her a hand, he raised her up; and having called the saints and widows, he presented her alive.

42 And it became known throughout the whole of Joppa, and many believed on the Lord.

43 And it came to pass that he remained many days in Joppa with one Simon, a tanner. 

Acts 10

1 But a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of the band called Italian,

2 devout and fearing God with all his house who gave many charities to the people and prayed to God always,

3 saw in a vision, evidently about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming in to him and saying to him: Cornelius.

4 But looking earnestly on him and becoming afraid, he said: What is it, Lord? And he said to him: Thy prayers and thy charities have come up for a memorial before God.

5 And now, send men to Joppa and call for one Simon, who is surnamed Peter:

6 he lodges with one Simon, a tanner, who has a house by the sea.

7 And when the angel that spoke to him had gone away, he called two of the household servants, and a devout soldier of those that waited on him,

8 and having made known all things to them, he sent them to Joppa.

9 But on the morrow, as they went on their way and drew near to the city. Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour.

10 And he became very hungry and desired to eat. But while they made ready, he fell into a trance,

11 and saw heaven opened, and some vessel, like a great sheet, descending, let down by the four corners upon the earth:

12 in which were all manner of fourfooted beasts, and creeping things of the earth, and birds of the heaven.

13 And there came a voice to him: Rise, Peter, kill and eat.

14 But Peter said: By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything common and unclean.

15 And a voice came again a second time to him: The things that God has cleansed call thou not common.

16 And this was done three times, and immediately the vessel was taken up into heaven.

17 But while Peter was doubting in himself, what the vision that he had seen might be, behold, the men that had been sent by Cornelius, having inquired for the house of Simon, stood at the gate,

18 and, calling, asked if Simon who is surnamed Peter lodged there.

19 But while Peter carefully considered about the vision, the Spirit said to him: Behold, men seek thee;

20 but arise and go down, and go with them, doubting nothing, for I have sent them.

21 And Peter went down to the men and said: Behold, I am he whom you seek: what is the cause for which you are present?

22 And they said: Cornelius, a centurion, a man just and fearing God, well reported of also by all the nation of the Jews, was warned by a holy angel to send for thee to his house, and to hear words from thee.

23 Having called them in therefore, he lodged them. But on the morrow he arose and went forth with them; and some of the brethren that were of Joppa accompanied him.

24 And on the next day he entered into Caesarea; and Cornelius was looking for him, having called together his relatives and near friends.

25 But as Peter went in, Cornelius met him, fell at his feet and worshipped.

26 But Peter raised him up, saying: Stand up: I myself also am a man.

27 And conversing with him, he went in, and found many that had come together,

28 and said to them: You know that it is not lawful for a man a Jew to join himself to or go in to one of another race; yet God has showed me that I must call no man common or unclean:

29 wherefore, having been sent for, I came also without objecting. I ask therefore, for what purpose have you sent for me?

30 And Cornelius said: Four days ago up to this hour, was I at the ninth praying in my house; and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,

31 and said: Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thy charities are remembered before God.

32 Send therefore to Joppa, and call for Simon, who is surnamed Peter; he lodges in the house of Simon a tanner, by the sea.

33 Immediately therefore I sent to thee, and thou hast done well in coming. Now therefore we all are present before God, to hear all things that have been commanded thee by the Lord.

34 And Peter opened his mouth and said: In truth, I comprehend that God is not a respecter of persons,

35 but in every nation he that fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him,

36 the word that he sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ: he is Lord of all.

37 You know the word that was published throughout the whole of Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism which John preached,

38 JESUS OF NAZARETH, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and power, who went about doing good and giving health to all that were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him;

39 and we are witnesses of all things that he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem: whom they slew by hanging upon a tree.

40 This man God raised on the third day and made him manifest,

41 not to all the people, but to witnesses that were before appointed by God, to us who

34 ate and drank with him after he had risen from the dead;

42 and he charged us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is he that has been appointed by God as judge of living and dead.

43 To him give all the prophets witness that, through his name, every one that believes on him shall receive remission of sins.

44 While Peter was yet speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all that heard the word.

45 And the believers of the circumcision, as many as came with Peter, were astonished, because on the Gentile; also the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out;

46 for they heard them speaking with tongues and magnifying God. Then Peter answered:

47 Can any one forbid water, that those should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit even as we?

48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they besought him to remain some days, 

Acts 11

1. but the apostles and the brethren that were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.

2 And when Peter went up to Jerusalem, they of the circumcision contended with him,

3 saying: Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.

4 And Peter began and laid the matter before them in order, saying:

5 I was in a city, Joppa, praying, and I saw in a trance a vision, some vessel, like a great sheet, descending, let down from heaven by four corners, and it came even to me.

6 Into which having looked attentively, I observed and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and birds of the heavens.

7 And I heard also a voice saying to me: Rise, Peter, kill and eat.

8 But I said: By no means, Lord, for a common or unclean thing has never entered my mouth.

9 But a voice answered a second time from heaven: The things that God has cleansed, call thou not common.

10 And this was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven.

11 And behold, immediately three men, sent from Caesarea to me, stood at the house in which I was.

12 And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. And these six brethren also went with me, and we entered the man‘s house.

13 And he told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying: Send to Joppa and call for Simon, who is surnamed Peter,

14 who shall speak words to thee, by which thou shalt be saved, and all thy house.

15 But when I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them as on us also in the beginning.

16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said: John indeed baptized in water, but you shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit.

17 If then God gave to them the like gift as to us also, when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?

18 And when they heard these things they were silent, and glorified God, saying: Then has God given to the Gentiles also repentance to life.

19 They therefore that were scattered abroad because of the affliction that arose against Stephen, travelled as far as Phenice and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one but Jews only.

20 But some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and spoke to the Greeks also, preaching the gospel of the Lord Jesus.

21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great multitude that believed turned to the Lord.

22 And the report concerning them came to the ears of the church that was in Jerusalem; and they sent forth Barnabas as far as Antioch:

23 who, having come and seen the grace of God, rejoiced, and exhorted all that with determination of the heart they should adhere to the Lord;

24 for he was a man good and full of the Holy Spirit and faith. And a great multitude was added to the Lord.

25 But he went out to Tarsus to seek for Saul; and he found and brought him to Antioch.

26 And it happened to them that they met together in the church for a whole year and taught a great multitude; also, that the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

27 But in those days there came down prophets from Jerusalem to Antioch;

28 and one of them, named Agabus, rose up, and signified through the Spirit that there was about to be a great famine over the whole habitable land: which came to pass in the days of Claudius.

29 And as any one of the disciples was prosperous, they determined each one of them to send to the relief of the brethren that dwelt in Judea:

30 which they also did, sending to the elders through the hand of Barnabas and Saul. 

Acts 12

1 But at that time Herod the king laid hands on some of those who were of the church, to afflict them,

2 And he slew James the brother of John with the sword.

3 And, seeing that it was pleasing to the Jews, he apprehended Peter also (but these were the days of unleavened bread);

4 whom having seized he put in prison, delivering him to four tetrads of soldiers to guard him, intending after passover to bring him out to the people.

5 Peter was, indeed, therefore, kept in prison; but earnest prayer was made to God by the church for him.

6 But when Herod was about to bring him forth, on that night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: guards also before the door watched the prison.

7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by, and light shone in the house; and striking Peter on the side, he raised him up, saying: Rise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.

8 The angel also said to him: Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And he did so. And he said to him: Throw thy mantle about thee and follow me.

9 And going out he followed, and knew not that what had been done by the angel was true, but thought that he saw a vision.

10 But after passing through the first and second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and having gone out they went along one street; and immediately the angel departed from him.

11 And Peter, having come to himself, said: Now I know in truth that the Lord has sent his angel, and delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.

12 And being aware of this, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, who is surnamed Mark, where many were assembled and praying.

13 But when he knocked at the door of the entrance there came a maidservant named Rhoda to listen;

14 and recognizing Peter‘s voice, she opened not the entrance for joy, but running in, told that Peter stood before the entrance.

15 But they said to her: Thou art mad. She however, strongly affirmed that it was so. But they said: It is his angel.

16 Peter, however, continued knocking; and, having opened, they saw him and were astonished.

17 But beckoning to them with his hand that they should be silent, he told how the Lord had brought him out of the prison: he said also: Tell these things to James and the brethren. And he went out and departed to another place.

18 But when it was day there was no little consternation among the soldiers, what had become of Peter.

19 But Herod, having sought for him, and not finding him, examined the guards and commanded them to be put to death; and having gone down from Judea to Caesarea, he continued there.

20 And he was of hostile mind toward the Tyrians and Sidonians; but they came to him with one consent, and having gained the good will of Blastus, who had charge of the king‘s bedchamber, they sought for peace, because their country was sustained by that of the king.

21 And on an appointed day, Herod, having clothed himself in royal apparel, seated himself on the tribunal and made an oration to them.

22 And the people shouted: The voice of God, and not of a man,

23 But an angel of the Lord immediately smote him, because he gave not the glory to God; and, having been eaten by worms, he expired.

24 And the word of God increased and multiplied.

25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, after having fulfilled the ministry, taking with them also John who was surnamed Mark. 

Acts 13

1 And there were in the church that was in Antioch prophets and teachers, both Barnabas and Simon who is called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen also, the foster brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

2 And as they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said: Set apart to me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.

3 Then, having fasted and prayed and laid hands on them, they sent them away.

4 They therefore having been sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia, and thence they sailed to Cyprus;

5 and being in Salamis they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews; and they had also John as attendant.

6 But having passed through the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a man, a magician, a Jewish false prophet, whose name was BarJesus,

7 who was with the proconsul Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul, and requested to hear the word of God.

8 But Elymas the magician, for so is his name translated, withstood them, seeking to turn away the proconsul from the faith.

9 But Saul, who is also Paul, being filled with the Holy Spirit, looked earnestly upon him

10 and said: O full of all deceit and all mischief, son of the devil, enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the straight ways of the Lord?

11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell upon him a mist and darkness, and going about, he sought persons to lead him by the hand.

12 Then the proconsul, seeing what had been done, believed, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

13 And Paul and his companions, having loosed from Paphos, came to Perga of Pamphylia; but John departing from them, returned to Jerusalem.

14 But they continued their journey from Perga and came to Antioch of Pisidia; and having entered the synagogue on the sabbath day, they sat down.

15 And after the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them saying: Men, brethren, if there is in you any word of exhortation for the people, speak.

16 And Paul arose, and, beckoning with Ills hand, said: Men of Israel and you that fear God, hear.

17 The God of this people Israel chose our fathers, and the people he exalted during the sojourn in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm brought he them out of it;

18 and for a time of about forty years he nourished them in the wilderness;

19 and after he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he divided to them their land for an inheritance,

20 for about four hundred and fifty years. And after this he gave judges till Samuel the prophet,

21 And after that they asked for a king; and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, forty years;

22 and he removed him and raised up for them David as a king; to whom he also gave testimony: I have found David the son of Jesse, a man according to my heart, who shall do all my will.

23 From this man‘s posterity, God, according to promise, has brought to Israel a Saviour, Jesus,

24 John having preached, before his entrance, the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

25 But as John was fulfilling his course, he said: Who do you suppose that I am? I am not he: but behold, there comes after me one, the sandal of whose feet I am not worthy to loose.

26 Men, brethren, sons of the race of Abraham, and those among you that fear God, to us is the word of this salvation sent.

27 For they that dwell in Jerusalem and their rulers, being ignorant of this one, and of the voices of the prophets that are read every sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning him;

28 and though they found no cause of death, they asked of Pilate that he might be put to death.

29 And when they had fulfilled all things that are written concerning him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a sepulcher.

30 But God raised him from the dead;

31 and he appeared for many days to those that went up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem: who now are his witnesses to the people.

32 And we announce to you glad tidings of the promise made to the fathers, that God has fulfilled this to our children by raising up Jesus,

33 as it is also written in the second Psalm: Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.

34 But that he raised him from the dead no more to return to corruption, he has thus spoken: I will give you the faithful, holy things of David.

35 Wherefore he says also in another Psalm: Thou wilt not suffer thy Holy One to see corruption.

36 For David indeed, having served his own generation by the counsel of God, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption;

37 but he whom God raised up saw no corruption.

38 Be it known to you, therefore, men, brethren, that through this man is preached to you remission of sins:

39 in this one, every one that believes is justified from all things, from which you could not be justified in the law of Moses.

40 Take heed, therefore, lest there come upon you that which is said in the prophets:

41 Behold, you despisers, and wonder, and perish, for I work a work in your days, a work which you would not believe, though any one plainly declare it to you.

42 But when they had gone out they besought that these words might be spoken to them on the next sabbath.

43 And when the synagogue was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

44 And on the next sabbath almost all the city came together to hear the word of the Lord.

45 But the Jews. seeing the multitudes, were filled with envy, and spoke against the things spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.

46 And Paul and Barnabas, speaking boldly, said: To you was it needful that the word of God should first be spoken; but since you thrust it from you and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.

47 For so has the Lord commanded us: I have set thee as a light for the Gentiles, that thou shouldst be for salvation to the end of the earth.

48 And hearing it, the Gentiles rejoiced, and glorified the word of the Lord, and as many as had been ordered for eternal life believed;

49 and the word of the Lord was carried throughout the whole country.

50 But the Jews excited the devout women that were honorable, and the chief men of the city, and raised a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out from their borders.

51 But having shaken off the dust from their feet against them, they came to Iconium;

52 and the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit. 

Acts 14

1 And it came to pass in Iconium that they went together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude of Jews and also of Greeks believed.

2 But the Jews that believed not excited and imbittered the souls of the Gentiles against the brethren.

3 A long time therefore spent they speaking, boldly in the Lord, who gave testimony to the word of his grace by giving signs and wonders to be done through their hands.

4 But the multitude of the city was divided, and some were with the Jews and some with the apostles.

5 But when there was a violent intent of the Gentiles and also of the Jews with their rulers, to outrage and to stone them,

6 being aware of it, they fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe, and the neighboring regions;

7 and there they preached the gospel.

8 And a man in Lystra, without strength in his feet, sat, lame from his mother‘s womb: who had never walked.

9 This man heard Paul speak, who, looking earnestly on him, and seeing that he had faith to be saved,

10 said with a loud voice: Stand erect on thy feet. And he leaped up and walked.

11 And the multitudes, seeing what Paul had done, lifted up their voice, saying in the Lycaonian language: The gods in the likeness of men have come down to us;

12 and they called Barnabas, Zeus; and Paul, Hermes; because he was the chief speaker.

13 And the priest of Zeus, who was before the city, having brought bulls and garlands to the gates, intended to offer sacrifice with the multitudes.

14 But the apostles Barnabas and Paul, hearing of it, rent their garments and ran forth among the multitude, crying out

15 and saying: Men, why do these things? We also of like passions with yourselves are men, preaching the gospel that you turn from these vanities to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all things that are in them;

16 who, in the past generations, permitted all the nations to walk in their own ways:

17 though, indeed, he left himself not without testimony in doing good, giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.

18 And saying these things, they scarcely restrained the multitudes from offering sacrifice to them.

19 But there came thither from Antioch and Iconium Jews; and having persuaded the multitudes and stoned Paul, they dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.

20 However, as the disciples stood about him, he rose up and came into the city. And on the next day he went forth with Barnabas to Derbe.

21 Having preached the gospel to that city also, and having made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch,

22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to abide in the faith, and saying that through many afflictions we must enter into the kingdom of God.

23 But having ordained elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they commended them to the Lord on whom they had believed.

24 And after passing through Pisidia they came to Pamphylia;

25 and having spoken the word in Perga, they came down to Attalia;

26 and thence sailed to Antioch, whence they had been delivered to the grace of God for the work which they had accomplished.

27 But after they had arrived and brought the church together, they related what things God had done with them, and that he had opened to the Gentiles the door of faith.

28 And they spent not a little time with the disciples. 

Acts 15

1 And some went down from Judea and taught the brethren that unless you shall have been circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.

2 But after Paul and Barnabas had had no little dissension and discussion with them, they arranged that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to the apostles and elders at Jerusalem concerning this question.

3 They therefore, having been conducted on their journey by the church, passed through Phenice and Samaria, relating the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren.

4 But when they had arrived at Jerusalem they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders: they also announced what things God had done with them.

5 And there arose some of the sect of the Pharisees, who had believed, saying that it was necessary to circumcise them: also, to command that they keep the law;

6 And the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter.

7 But after there had been much discussion, Peter arose and said to them: Men, brethren, you know that at the first days God made choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.

8 And God, who knows the heart, bore them testimony by giving them the Holy Spirit even as to us,

9 and made no distinction between us and them, having purified their hearts by faith.

10 Now, therefore, why tempt God by putting a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

11 But, through the grace of the Lord Jesus, we believe that we shall be saved in the same manner as they.

12 And the whole multitude kept silence and heard Barnabas and Paul relate what signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.

13 But after they were silent, James answered, saying: Men, brethren, hear me.

14 Simeon has related how God at the first looked down to take from the Gentiles a people for his name.

15 And with this agree the words of the prophets, as it is written:

16 After this I will return and build again the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down, and its ruins I will build again, and I will set it up,

17 that the men that are left over may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles on whom my name has been called,

18 says the Lord who does these things known from eternity.

19 Wherefore I judge that we trouble not them that from among the Gentiles are turning to God,

20 but that we write to them to abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from lewdness, and from what is strangled, and from blood.

21 For Moses has, from ancient generations, in every city, them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders with the whole church, to choose men from among themselves and send them to Antioch, with Paul and Barnabas; Judas who is called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren,

23 having written by their hand: The apostles and the elder brethren, to the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, wish health.

24 Since we have heard that some have gone out from among ns and troubled you with words, subverting your souls, to whom we gave no commandment;

25 it seemed good to us, having been of one mind, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul;

26 who are men that have delivered up their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

27 We have sent, therefore, Judas and Silas, who will tell the same things by word.

28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and us, to lay on you no greater burden than these necessary things,

29 that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and blood, and things strangled, and lewdness; from which if you keep yourselves you will do well. Farewell.

30 They therefore having been dismissed came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together they delivered the letter.

31 And having read it, the; rejoiced at the consolation.

32 Judas also and Silas, who were prophets themselves, with much discourse exhorted the brethren, and strengthened them;

33 but having remained for a time, they were dismissed with peace from the brethren to those that had sent them.

34 [no verse]

35 But Paul and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching, with many others also, the word of the Lord.

36 And after some days Paul said to Barnabas: Let us return now and look after the brethren in every city in which we preached the word of the Lord how they do.

37 And Barnabas wished to take with them John who is called Mark;

38 but Paul thought it right not to take with them this one, who had turned away from them from Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work.

39 And there arose a sharp contention, so that they separated one from the other; and Barnabas took with him Mark and sailed to Cyprus.

40 But Paul chose Silas and went forth, after having been delivered to the grace of God by the brethren;

41 and he passed through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. 

Acts 16

1 And he came down to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a disciple was there named Timothy, son of a believing Jewess, but of a Grecian father:

2 who was well reported of by the brethren in Lystra and Iconium.

3 Paul desired that this man should go forth with him; and he took him and circumcised him, on account of the Jews that were in those places; for all knew his father that he was a Greek.

4 And as they journeyed through the cities they delivered to them, for their observance, the decrees that had been made by the apostles and elders that were in Jerusalem.

5 The churches therefore were strengthened in faith and increased in number daily.

6 But they passed through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, being forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia;

7 but having come towards Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia; and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them;

8 and having passed by Mysia they came down to Troas.

9 And a vision appeared to Paul by night; a man of Macedonia stood beseeching him and saying: Come over into Macedonia and help us.

10 And when he had seen the vision we immediately sought to go forth into Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us thither to preach the gospel to them.

11 But sailing from Troas, we came by a straight course to Samothrace, and on the next clay to Neapolis,

12 and thence to Philippi, which is the first city of the region of Macedonia, a colony. And we were in that city abiding some days.

13 And on the sabbath day we went forth out of the gate by the river, where we supposed there was a house of prayer; and sitting down, we spoke to the women that had come together.

14 And a woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, who worshipped God, heard; whose heart the Lord opened to attend to the things spoken by Paul.

15 But when she was baptized, and her house, she besought, saying: If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and abide; and she constrained us.

16 But it came to pass as we went to the house of prayer that a maidservant, possessed of a soothsaying spirit, met us: who brought her owners much gain by soothsaying.

17 She, following Paul and us, cried out, saying: These men are servants of God Most High, who announce to us the way of salvation.

18 And this she did for many days. But Paul was grieved, and, turning, said to the spirit: I charge thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her; and it came out the same hour.

19 But her owners, seeing that the hope of their gain had gone, seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market before the rulers;

20 and bringing; them to the commanders, said: These men do greatly disturb our city, being Jews,

21 and announce customs which it is not allowed us to receive nor do, being Romans.

22 And the multitude rose up together against them; and the commanders, having torn off their garments, gave orders to beat them with rods;

23 and having laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the keeper of the prison to guard them securely:

24 who, as he had received such charge, cast them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

25 But about midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sung a hymn to God; and the prisoners listened to them.

26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: immediately, also, were all the doors opened, and the bonds of all were loosed.

27 But the keeper of the prison, having been roused from sleep, and seeing the doors of the prison open, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had fled.

28 But Paul called with a loud voice, saying: Do thyself no harm; for we are all here.

29 And having called for a light, he sprang in, and trembling, fell before Paul and Silas.

30 and, bringing them out, said: Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

31 And they said: Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved and thy house.

32 And they spoke to him the word of the Lord, with all that were in his house.

33 And he took them at that hour of the night and washed the blood from their stripes, and was baptized, himself and all his, straightway:

34 and having brought them into the house, he set a table before them, and rejoiced with all his house in having believed in God.

35 But when it was day, the commanders sent the lectors*, saying: Release those men. * lictors or rod-bearers

36 And the keeper of the prison told these words to Paul: The commanders have sent that you shall be released: now, therefore, come out and go in peace.

37 But Paul said to them: Having beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men that are Romans, they cast us into prison; and now do they put us out secretly? Not so: but let them come and bring us out themselves.

38 And the lictors told these words to the commanders; and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans;

39 and they came and entreated them, and leading them out, asked them to depart from the city.

40 But after going out from the prison they went to Lydia, and when they had seen the brethren they exhorted them and went forth. 

Acts 17

1 But having passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews.

2 And, according to his custom, Paul went in to them, and for three sabbath days he discoursed to them from the Scriptures;

3 opening and laying before them that the Christ must needs have suffered, and risen from the dead; and that this is Christ Jesus whom I preach to you.

4 And some of them were convinced and were allotted to Paul and Silas, of the devout Greeks also a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.

5 But the Jews, filled with envy, and taking with them some evil men that were about the markets, and collecting a mob, excited a tumult in the city, and coming upon the house of Jason, sought to bring them before the people;

6 but not finding them, they dragged Jason and some brethren before the rulers of the city, crying out: These that have thrown the world into confusion have come hither also;

7 whom Jason has received; and these all act in opposition to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.

8 And they disquieted the multitude and the rulers of the city when they heard these things;

9 and having taken security of Jason and the rest, they dismissed them.

10 But the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night to Beroea: who, on coming thither, went into the synagogue of the Jews.

11 These were more nobleminded than those in Thessalonica; and they received the word with all readiness, searching the Scriptures day by day, whether these things were so.

12 Many of them therefore believed, also of honorable Grecian women, and of men not a few.

13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica knew that the word of God was preached by Paul in Beroea, they came thither, exciting and disturbing the multitudes.

14 But immediately then the brethren sent away Paul to go as far as to the sea; and Silas and Timothy remained there.

15 But they that conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens; and having received commandment for Silas and Timothy, that they should come to him as soon as possible, they departed.

16 But while Paul waited for them in Athens, his spirit was stirred within him when he saw the city full of idols.

17 He therefore reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews, and the devout persons, and in the market every day with those that happened to meet him.

18 But some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers disputed with him, and some said: What can this babbler wish to say? Others said:  He seems to be a proclaimer of strange demons; because he preached Jesus and the resurrection.

19 And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying: Can we know what new teaching this is that is spoken by thee?

20 for thou bringest some strange things to our ears: we desire, therefore, to know what these things may be.

21 Now, all the Athenians and resident strangers have leisure for nothing else than to tell or hear something new.

22 But Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: Men of Athens, I look upon you as, in all respects, more religious than others.

23 For in passing through, and observing the objects of your worship. I found also an altar on which had been inscribed: To AN UNKNOWN GOD. What, therefore, you ignorantly worship, this I announce to you.

24 God, who made the world and all things that are in it, he being Lord of heaven and earth, dwells not in temples made with hands,

25 nor is he served by human hands as if he needed anything, since he gives to all life and breath and all things;

26 he also made of one every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, having fixed the times before appointed, and the limits of their habitations,

27 to seek God, if perhaps they would feel and find him not far from each one of us.

28 For in him we live and move and are, as also some of your own poets have said: For we also his offspring are.

29 Therefore, being the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the godhood is like gold, or silver, or stone, the sculptured work of art and of a man‘s device.

30 The times, therefore, of ignorance God having overlooked, now announces to all men everywhere that they repent,

31 inasmuch as he has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness in a man whom he has ordained, giving faith to all by having raised him from the dead.

32 But hearing of a resurrection of the dead, some mocked; others said: We will hear thee even again concerning this matter.

33 Thus Paul went out from the midst of them:

34 some men, however, having attached themselves to him, believed: among whom was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them. 

Acts 18

1 After this he departed from Athens and came to Corinth.

2 And finding a Jew named Aquilla, born in Pontus, having lately come from Italy, and Priscilla his wife, because Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome, he went to them;

3 and because he was of the same trade he abode with them, and worked; for by trade they were tentmakers.

4 But he discoursed in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded Jews and Greeks.

5 But when Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was wholly engaged in the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus.

6 But as they set themselves in opposition and blasphemed, he shook his clothing and said to them: Your blood be upon your head: clean I will henceforth go to the Gentiles.

7 And departing thence, he came into the house of one named Titus Justus, who worshipped God, whose house joined the synagogue.

8 But Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.

9 But the Lord spoke through a vision in the night to Paul: Fear not, but speak and be not silent,

10 because I am with thee, and , no one shall make an assault upon thee to maltreat thee, for I have much people in this city.

11 And he continued a year and six months, teaching among them the word of God.

12 But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews, with one consent, rose up against Paul, and brought him to the tribunal,

13 saying: This person induces men to worship God contrary to the law.

14 But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews: If, indeed, there were any wrong or wicked mischief, O Jews, I would with reason bear with you;

15 but if there are questions about a word, and names, and your law, see to it yourselves: I will not be a judge of these things.

16 And he drove them from the tribunal.

17 But all took Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the tribunal; and none of these things were a care to Gallio.

18 But Paul, after remaining yet many days, took leave of the brethren and sailed to Syria; and with him Priscilla and Aquila, having shorn his head in Cenchrea, for he had a vow.

19 And they arrived at Ephesus; and he left them there, but went himself into the synagogue and discoursed to the Jews.

20 And though they requested him to remain a longer time, he did not consent;

21 but taking leave and saying: I will return to you again, if God will, he sailed from Ephesus;

22 and arriving at Caesarea, he went up and saluted the church, and went down to Antioch;

23 and having spent some time he went forth, passing in order through the country of Galatia, and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.

24 But a Jew named Apollos, born in Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus.

25 He was instructed in the way of the Lord, and, being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, knowing only the baptism of John:

26 he also began to speak boldly in the synagogue. But after hearing him, Priscilla and Aquila took him, and explained to him more correctly the way of God.

27 And as he wished to go over to Achaia, the brethren encouraged him, and wrote to the disciples to receive him cordially. Who, on coming, gave much strength to the believers through his grace;

28 for he with power utterly confuted the Jews publicly, showing through the Scriptures that the Christ is Jesus. 

Acts 19

1 But it came to pass while Apollos was in Corinth that Paul, having passed through the upper districts, came to Ephesus and found some disciples:

2 he also said to them: Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? And they said to him: No: but we did not even hear whether there is a Holy Spirit.

3 And he said: Into what, then, were you baptized? And they replied: Into John‘s baptism.

4 And Paul said: John baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him that was coming after him, that is, on Jesus.

5 And when they had heard, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus;

6 and when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.

7 And all the men were about twelve.

8 But he entered the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, discoursing, and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.

9 But when some were hardened and believed not, and spoke evil of the way before the multitude, he withdrew from them and separated the disciples, discoursing daily in the school of Tyrannus.

10 And this continued for two years, so that all that dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

11 Mighty deeds, also, that were unusual did God through the hands of Paul;

12 so that even to the sick there were carried from his body handkerchiefs or aprons, and diseases departed from them: the evil spirits also went out.

13 But some also of the wandering Jewish exorcists undertook to name over those that had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying: I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.

14 And there were some, seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did this.

15 But the evil spirit, answering, said to them: Jesus I acknowledge and Paul I know; but who are you?

16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped upon them, gained the mastery over them both, and prevailed against them, so that they fled from that house naked and wounded.

17 And this became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, that dwelt in Ephesus, and fear fell upon them all; and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified:

18 many also of those that had believed came confessing and declaring their deeds.

19 And many of them that practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the presence of all; and they computed the value of them, and found it fifty thousands of silver.

20 So mightily the word of the Lord grew and prevailed.

21 But when these things had been accomplished. Paul purposed in spirit, after having passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying: After I have been there I must also see Rome.

22 And having sent into Macedonia two of them that waited on him, Timothy and Erastus, he remained for a time in Asia.

23 But there arose at that time no small commotion about the way.

24 For one, Demetrius by name, a silversmith, by making silver shrines of Diana, brought no little gain to the artists:

25 whom he called together with those that worked in such things, and said: Men, you know that from this trade arises our wealth;

26 and you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and drawn off a great multitude, saying that they are not gods that are made with hands.

27 And not only is this trade of ours in danger of coming into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana will be counted as nothing; and she also, whom all Asia and the world worships, will be deposed from her majesty.

28 But having heard and having become filled with wrath, they cried out, saying: Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

29 And the city was filled with confusion; and they rushed with one accord into the theater, after seizing Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul‘s fellow-travellers.

30 But when Paul wished to go in to the people, the disciples did not permit him;

31 and some of the rulers of Asia also, being friendly to him, sent to him and besought him not to trust himself in the theater.

32 Some therefore cried out one thing and some another; for the assembly was confused, and the greater part knew not for what cause they had come together.

33 But out of the crowd they brought forward Alexander, the Jews putting him forward; and Alexander, waving his hand, intended to make a defense to the people.

34 But, perceiving that he was a Jew, all with one voice cried out for about two hours: Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

35 But the town-clerk, having quieted the multitude, said: Men of Ephesus, what man is there, then, that does not know that the city of the Ephesians is the templekeeper of the great Diana, and of the image that fell down from Jupiter?

36 Therefore, as these things cannot be contradicted, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rashly.

37 For you have brought these men who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of your goddess.

38 If, then, Demetrius and the artists with him have a matter against any one, court-days are kept, and there are proconsuls; let them bring charges one against the other.

39 But if you seek for anything further, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.

40 For we are in danger of having charges laid against us concerning this day‘s tumult, there being no cause in relation to which we shall be able to give an account of this concourse.

41 And when he had said this, he dismissed the assembly. 

Acts 20

1 But after the tumult had ceased, Paul having sent for the disciples and exhorted them, took leave, and departed to go into Macedonia.

2 And having passed through those regions and exhorted them with much speech, he came into Greece;

3 and after remaining three months, a plot having been laid for him by the Jews as he was about to sail to Syria, he resolved to return through Macedonia.

4 But there followed him, Sopater the son of Pyrrhus, a Beroean; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and of the Asiatics, Tychicus and Trophimus: and

5 these went before and waited for us in Troas;

6 but we sailed after the days of unleavened bread from Philippi, and came to them at Troas in five days, where we spent seven days.

7 But on the first of the week, when we came together to break bread, Paul discoursed to them, about to depart on the morrow, and continued his speech till midnight.

8 And there were many lamps in the upper room where we had come together.

9 And a young man, named Eutychus, who sat in the window, being oppressed with deep sleep, as Paul discoursed for a longer time, was borne down by sleep, and fell down from the third story, and was taken up dead.

10 But Paul went down and fell upon him and embracing him said: Be not troubled; for his life is in him.

11 And he went up and broke bread and ate; and having talked a long time till break of day, he thus departed.

12 And they brought the young man alive, and were comforted not a little.

13 But we went in advance to the ship, and sailed to Assos, thence intending to take Paul in; for so had he arranged, intending himself to go on foot.

14 But when he met us at Assos, we took him in and came to Mitylene;

15 and sailing thence, on the following day we came opposite Chios; and on the next day we arrived at Samos; and we came on the following day to Miletus.

16 For Paul had determined to sail past Ephesus, that he might not spend time in Asia; for he hastened, if it was possible for him, to be in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.

17 But from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church.

18 And when they had come to him, he said to them: You know, from the first day on which I came into Asia. how I was with you the whole time,

19 serving the Lord with all lowliness of mind, and with tears, and trials that befell me by the plots of the Jews:

20 how I shunned to declare to you nothing that is profitable, and taught you publicly and from house to house,

21 testifying to Jews and also to Greeks repentance toward God, and faith that is toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

22 And now behold, bound in spirit I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will come upon me there,

23 except that the Holy Spirit in every city testifies to me, saying that bonds and afflictions await me.

24 But I esteem of no value the life dear to myself, so that I finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, fully to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

25 And now behold, I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom, will see my face no more.

26 Wherefore I solemnly affirm to you this day that I am clean from the blood of all;

27 for I shunned not to declare to you all the counsel of God.

28 Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit made you overseers, that you act as shepherds to the church of the Lord, which he purchased with his own blood.

29 For I know that there shall come in among you, after my departure, grievous wolves, not sparing the flock;

30 and from among yourselves there shall arise men speaking perverse things to draw off the disciples after them.

31 Therefore, watch, remembering that night and day for three years I ceased not with tears to warn each one.

32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, who is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all the sanctified.

33 I coveted no man‘s silver or gold or raiment:

34 yourselves know that to my own wants, and to those that were with me, these hands did minister.

35 In all things I showed you, that thus laboring you ought to sustain the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, for he said: It is more blessed to give than to receive

36 And having said these things he kneeled down and prayed with them all.

37 And all wept much; and falling on Paul‘s neck they kissed him,

38 sorrowing most of all for the word that he had spoken that they should see his face no more. And they conducted him to the ship. 

Acts 21

1 But when it came to a pass that we had set sail after having departed from them, running by a straight course we came to Cos, and on the next day to Rhodes, and thence to Patara.

2 And finding a ship that was passing over to Phoenicia, we embarked and set sail.

3 but having come in view of Cyprus, and leaving it to the left, we sailed to Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to put off the lading.

4 But finding the disciples, we remained there seven days; and these said to Paul through the Spirit that he should not go to Jerusalem.

5 But when it came to pass that we had completed the days, we went out and departed, all conducting us with wives and children, till we were out of the city; and having knelt on the shore and prayed,

6 we finished taking leave one of the other, and went on board the ship, but they returned home.

7 But we, having finished the voyage from Tyre, came to Ptolemais, and having saluted the brethren remained with them one day.

8 But on the morrow we departed and came to Caesarea, and entering the house of Philip the evangelist, who was of the seven, we abode with him.

9 This man had four virgin daughters that prophesied.

10 But as we remained more days, there came down from Judea a prophet, named Agabus.

11 And coming to us, and taking Paul‘s girdle, he bound his own feet and hands, and said: These things says the Holy Spirit: The man to whom this girdle belongs shall the Jews in Jerusalem thus bind, and deliver into the hands of the Gentiles.

12 But when we heard these things, both we and they of that place besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.

13 And Paul answered and said: What do you effect by weeping and breaking my heart? for I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.

14 And as he was not persuaded, we were silent, saying: The will of the Lord be done.

15 But after these days we prepared for the journey, and went up to Jerusalem;

16 and some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us, bringing Mnason, a Cyprian, an old disciple, with whom we should lodge.

17 And when we came to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.

18 But on the following day Paul went in with us to James; and all the elders were present.

19 And having saluted them, he related one by one each of the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.

20 And when they had heard, they glorified God, and said to him: Thou seest, brother, how many myriads of believers there are; and all are zealots for the law;

21 and they have learned concerning thee that thou teachest apostasy from Moses to all the Jews that are among the Gentiles, telling them  not to circumcise their children, nor to walk according to the customs.

22 What is it then? a multitude must by all means come together; for they will hear that thou hast come.

23 Do thou this that we tell thee: We have four men who have a vow upon them;

24 take them with thee and purify thyself with them, and pay expenses for them that they may shave their heads; and all will know that there is nothing of the things that they have learned concerning thee; but that thou thyself also walkest, keeping the law.

25 But with regard to the Gentiles that have believed, we have written, after deciding that they keep themselves from what is sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and what is strangled, and from lewdness.

26 Then Paul, taking the men, on the following day purified himself with them, and entered into the temple, announcing that he would keep the full number of the days of purification, till an offering should be made for each one of them.

27 But when the seven days were about to be completed, the Jews from Asia, having seen him in the temple, threw all the multitude into confusion and laid hands on him,

28 crying out: Men of Israel, help; this is the man that teaches all everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place; and further, he has brought Greeks also into the temple, and has defiled this holy place.

29 For they had previously seen in the city with him Trophimus the Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.

30 And the whole city was moved, and there was a concourse of the people; and seizing Paul, they dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the doors were closed.

31 And while they were seeking to kill him, report was brought to the officer of the band that the whole of Jerusalem was in confusion;

32 and he immediately took with him soldiers and centurions and ran down to them; but when they saw the officer and the soldiers, they ceased to beat Paul.

33 Then the officer came near and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains, and inquired who he was and what he had done.

34 But some cried one thing and some another in the multitude; and as he was not able to ascertain the certainty on account of the tumult, he commanded him to be brought into the fortress.

35 But when he was on the steps, it happened that he was borne by the soldiers on account of the violence of the multitude;

36 for the multitude of the people followed, crying out: Away with him.

37 And as he was about to be brought into the fortress. Paul said to the officer: May I speak to thee? He replied: Hast thou a knowledge of Greek?

38 Art thou then not the Egyptian, that before these days made insurrection and led out into the wilderness the four thousand men of the assassins?

39 But Paul said: I am indeed a Jewish man, a Tarsean, a citizen of no unknown city of Cilicia; and I beseech thee, permit me to speak to the people.

40 And when he had given permission, Paul, standing upon the steps, waved his hand to the people; and as there was much silence, he addressed them in the Hebrew tongue, saying: 

Acts 22

1 Men, brethren and fathers, hear my present defense to you.

2 And when they heard that he addressed them in the Hebrew tongue, they the more kept silence. And he said:

3 I am a Jewish man, having been born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel, according to the exactness of the paternal law; being a zealot for God, as all of you are this day,

4 I persecuted this way even to death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.

5 as the chief priest, also, will testify for me, and all the presbytery; from whom also having received letters to the brethren. I was journeying to Damascus, to bring those that were there also bound to Jerusalem, that they might be punished.

6 But it came to pass as I was journeying and drawing near to Damascus about midday, suddenly there flashed around me a great light from heaven,

7 and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

8 But I answered: Who art thou, Lord? And he said to me: I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom thou persecutest.

9 And those that were with me saw indeed the light, but understood not the voice of him that spoke to me.

10 But I said: What shall I do. Lord? And the Lord said to me; Arise, and go into Damascus, and there it shall be told thee of all things which it has been appointed thee to do.

11 But when I did not see on account of the glory of that light, being led by the hand by those that were with me, I came into Damascus.

12 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well reported of by all the Jews that dwelt there,

13 came to me and stood, by and said to me: Brother Saul, receive sight. And in the same hour I looked upon him.

14 And he said: The God of our fathers has chosen thee to know his will and to see the Just One, and to hear a voice from his mouth,

15 because thou shalt be for him a witness to all men of what thou hast seen and heard.

16 And now why delayest thou? Arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins, calling on his name.

17 But it came to pass after I had returned to Jerusalem, and while I was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance;

18 and saw him saying to me: Hasten and go quickly out of Jerusalem, for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.

19 And I said: Lord, they know that I imprisoned and scourged throughout the synagogues those that believed on thee;

20 and when the blood of Stephen thy witness was shed, I also stood by and approved, and kept the garments of those that killed him.

21 And he said to me: Go, for I will send thee far off to the Gentiles.

22 And they heard him to this word, and lifted up their voice, saying: Away with such a man from the earth; for it is not fit that he should live.

23 And as they were crying out, and throwing off their garments, and casting dust into the air,

24 the officer commanded him to be led into the fortress, giving orders that he should be examined with scourging, that he might know for what cause they cried so against him.

25 But as they stretched him forward for the scourge, Paul said to the centurion that stood by: Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?

26 And the centurion, hearing it, came and reported to the officer, saying: What art thou about to do? for this man is a Roman.

27 But the officer came and said to him: Tell me, art thou a Roman? And he said: Yes.

28 The officer answered: I purchased this citizenship at a great price. But Paul said: I, however, was born so.

29 Therefore they that were about to examine him immediately departed from him; and the officer also was afraid, having learned that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.

30 But on the morrow, wishing to know the certainty of that of which he was accused by the Jews, he loosed him and commanded the chief priests and all the Sanhedrim to assemble, and brought Paul down and placed him among them. 

Acts 23

1 But Paul, looking earnestly on the Sanhedrim, said: Men, brethren, with all good conscience have I lived to God till this day.

2 And the chief priest Ananias commanded those that stood by him to smite him or the mouth.

3 Then Paul said to him: God will smite thee, whited wall; and sittest thou to judge me: according to the law, and in violation of law commandest thou me; to be smitten?

4 But those that stood by said: Revilest thou God‘s chief priest?

5 And Paul replied: I knew not, brethren, that he was chief priest; for it is written: Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.

6 But Paul, knowing that the one part belonged to the Sadducees and the other to the Pharisees, cried out in the Sanhedrim: Men, brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees: concerning the hope and the resurrection of the dead am I judged.

7 And when he had said this, there arose a dissension of the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the multitude was divided.

8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess both.

9 And there arose a great cry; and some of the scribes of the part of the Pharisees arose and contended, saying: We find no fault in this man; but what if a spirit has spoken to him, or an angel?

10 But as there arose much dissension, the officer, fearing lest Paul might be torn in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from the midst of them and lead him into the fortress

11 But on the following night the Lord stood by him and said: Take courage: for as thou hast testified concerning me in Jerusalem, so must thou testify also in Rome.

12 But when it was day, the Jews collected together and bound themselves by a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul,

13 And there were more than forty that made this conspiracy;

14 these came to the chief priests and the elders and said: We have bound ourselves by a great curse that we will taste nothing till we have killed Paul.

15 Now therefore do you with the Sanhedrim make known to the officer that he may bring him down to you, as if you would inquire more particularly into his case; but we are ready to kill him before he shall have come near.

16 But the son of Paul‘s sister, having heard of the plot, came and entered the fortress and told Paul.

17 And Paul called to him one of the centurions and said: Conduct this young man to the officer, for he has something to tell him.

18 He then took him and brought him to the officer and said: The prisoner Paul called me to him and requested me to conduct this young man to thee, as he has something to tell thee.

19 And the officer took him by the hand and withdrew to a private place, and inquired: What is it that thou hast to tell me?

20 And he said: The Jews have agreed to request thee that thou wouldst, on the morrow, bring Paul down into the Sanhedrim, as if thou wouldst inquire somewhat more particularly concerning him.

21 Thou therefore be not persuaded by them; for there lie in wait for him more than forty men of them, who have bound themselves by a curse neither to eat nor to drink till they shall have killed him; and now they are ready, awaiting the promise from thee.

22 Then the officer dismissed the young man, saying: I charge thee to tell no one that thou hast made these, things known to me,

23 And calling some two of the centurions to him, he said: Make ready two hundred soldiers that they may go to Caesarea, and seventy horsemen, and two hundred light-armed men, at the third hour of the night:

24 also, that they should provide beasts, that they might set Paul on them and carry him in safety to Felix the governor;

25 And he wrote a letter containing this form:

26 Claudius Lysias to the most noble Felix wishes health.

27 This man, taken by the Jews and about to be killed by them, I came with soldiers and rescued, having learned that he was a Roman;

28 wishing also to know the cause on account of which they accused him, I brought him down into their Sanhedrim:

29 I found him accused concerning questions of their law, but having nothing charged against him worthy of death or of bonds.

30 But as I was informed that a plot was about to be laid by them for the man, I sent him to thee, charging his accusers also to lay their charges before thee.

31 The soldiers therefore, as it had been appointed them, took Paul and brought him during the night to Antipatris;

32 but on the morrow, leaving the horsemen to go with him, they returned to the fortress.

33 These, after entering Caesarea and delivering the letter to the governor, presented Paul also before him.

34 But having read it, and inquired of what province he was, and having learned that he was from Cilicia, he said: I will hear thee when thy accusers also have come; and he commanded him to be kept in Herod‘s palace. 

Acts 24

1 But after five days, the chief priest Ananias came down with some elders and an orator, Tertullus; and these informed the governor against Paul.

2 And when he had been called Tertullus began to accuse him saying:

3 Since through thee we enjoy much peace, and worthy deeds have been done for this nation by thy foresight, we accept it always and everywhere, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness

4 But that I may not detain thee longer, I beseech thee to hear us in thy clemency for a short time.

5 For we have found this man a pest and a mover of sedition among all the Jews that are throughout the world, a ringleader also of the sect of the Nazarenes;

6 who also at tempted to defile the temple: him we also seized,

7 [no verse]

8 from whom thou thyself canst by examination learn concerning all things of which we accuse him.

9 And the Jews also joined in, saying that these things were so.

10 And Paul answered, after the governor had nodded to him to speak: Knowing that thou hast for many years been a judge over this nation, I do readily make a defense for myself.

11 as thou canst know that there are not more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship.

12 And neither in the temple did they find me disputing with any one, or making a tumult of the people, nor in the synagogues nor through the city:

13 nor are they able to prove the things of which they now accuse me.

14 But I confess this to thee that, according to the way which they call sect, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things that are written throughout the law, and those in the prophets,

15 having hope toward God, which they also accept, that there shall be a resurrection of both just and unjust.

16 And on this account do I exercise myself to have always a conscience void of offense toward God and man.

17 But after many years I had come to bring charities to my nation, and offerings;

18 while engaged in these things they found me purified in the temple, not with multitude, neither with tumult; but there are some Jews from Asia

19 who ought to be present before thee, and bring accusation, if they have anything against me.

20 Or let these very men say what they found as wrong, while I stood before the Sanhedrim,

21 except in this one word that I uttered while standing among them: Concerning the resurrection of the dead am I judged by you this day.

22 But Felix, as he had a more accurate knowledge concerning the way, put them off, saying: When Lysias the officer has come, I will thoroughly know your matters;

23 and he commanded the centurion to keep him, and let him have liberty, and to forbid no one of his friends to minister to him.

24 But after some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ Jesus.

25 But as he reasoned of righteousness and temperance and the judgment that is to come, Felix became alarmed and answered: Depart for the present: but I will take a convenient time and call for thee,

26 hoping also at the same time that money would be given him by Paul: wherefore he called for him more frequently and conversed with him.

27 But when two years had been completed, Felix received Porcius Festus as a successor: wishing also to confer a favor on the Jews, Felix left Paul bound. 

Acts 25

1 Festus therefore, having come into the province, after three days went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem;

2 and the chief priests and the first men of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him,

3 asking a favor against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying a plot to kill him on the way.

4 Festus therefore answered that Paul was under guard in Caesarea, and that he himself would soon go forth.

5 Therefore, said he, let those amongst you that have power go down, and, if there is any wrong in this man, accuse him.

6 But after spending among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea: on the morrow, having sat on the tribunal, he commanded Paul to be brought.

7 But when he had come, the Jews that had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and heavy accusations, which they were not able to prove;

8 Paul answering in defense: Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I sinned in any way.

9 But Festus, willing to confer favor on the Jews, answered and said to Paul: Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged before me concerning these things

10 But Paul said: Before the tribunal of Caesar am I standing where I ought to be judged. Jews have I wronged in nothing, as thou very well knowest.

11 If, then, I am a doer of wrong, and have committed any act worthy of death, I refuse not to die; but if there is nothing of the things of which these accuse me, no one can deliver me as a favor to them. To Caesar I appeal.

12 Then Festus, having conferred with the council, answered: To Caesar thou hast appealed, to Caesar thou shalt go.

13 But when some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice came down to Caesarea to salute Festus.

14 And as they were spending more days there, Festus laid Paul‘s case before the king, saying: There is a man left in bonds by Felix,

15 concerning whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, asking for judgment against him:

16 to whom I answered that it is not the custom of the Romans to deliver any man up as a favor, before the accused has had the accusers face to face, and has taken an opportunity for defense concerning the charge.

17 When, therefore, they had come hither together, making no delay, I, on the next day, sat upon the tribunal and commanded the man to be brought;

18 against whom his accusers, when they stood up, brought no evil accusation in regard to such things as I supposed,

19 but had some questions against him concerning their own religion, and concerning a Jesus that had died, who, Paul affirmed, was alive.

20 But being in doubt with regard to the inquiry concerning these things, I asked if he would go to Jerusalem and there be judged concerning these.

21 And as Paul appealed to be kept for the examination of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I could send him to Caesar.

22 And Agrippa said to Festus: I also could wish to hear the man myself. Tomorrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.

23 On the morrow, therefore, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with great pomp, and had entered the audience-chamber with the officers and the chief men of the city, and when Festus had commanded, Paul was brought.

24 And Festus said: King Agrippa, and all men that are present with us, ye see this man concerning whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both in Jerusalem and here, crying out that he ought to live no longer.

25 But I perceived that he had done nothing worthy of death, and as this man himself has appealed to Augustus I determined to send him.

26 Concerning whom I have nothing certain to write to my Lord; wherefore I have brought him before you and especially before thee,  King Agrippa, that after the examination has been held, I may have what shall write;

27 for it seems to me unreasonable in sending a prisoner not also to make known the charge against him. 

Acts 26

1 But Agrippa said to Paul: Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth his hand and made his defense.

2 I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall make a defense this day before thee, concerning all things of which I am accused by the Jews;

3 especially as thou art acquainted with all the customs and questions that are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.

4 My manner of life, then, from youth, which at the first was among my own nation and in Jerusalem, know all the Jews,

5 who know me from the beginning, if they would testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

6 And now I stand judged for the hope of the promise made by God to the fathers,

7 to which hope our twelve tribes, persistently serving night and day, hope to come; concerning which hope, O king, I am accused by the Jews.

8 Why is it judged incredible among you that God raises the dead?

9 I then thought with myself that I ought to do many things in opposition to the name of Jesus the Nazarene;

10 which I also did in Jerusalem, and many also of the saints did I shut up in prisons, having received the authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death I readily gave my vote;

11 and punishing them often throughout all the synagogues, I compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.

12 While engaged in these things, and going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests,

13 at midday, while on the road, I saw, O king, a light from heaven above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and those that journeyed with me;

14 and when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew tongue: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the goads.

15 But I said: Who art thou, Lord? and the Lord said: I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest,

16 But rise and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared to thee for this purpose, to appoint thee a minister and a witness of the things that thou hast seen, and of those in which I will appear to thee,

17 delivering thee from the people and from the Gentiles, to whom now I send thee,

18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the authority of Satan to God, that they may receive remission of sins, and inheritance among the sanctified by faith that is in me.

19 Wherefore, king Agrippa, I became not disobedient to the heavenly vision;

20 but, to those in Damascus first, and also to those in Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judea, and to the Gentiles, I announced that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance.

21 Because of these things, the Jews, having seized me while I was in the temple, attempted to kill me.

22 Having therefore obtained help that is from God, up to this day have I stood testifying to both small and great, saying nothing else than the things that the prophets and Moses did say should take place,

23 that Christ should suffer, that he first by a resurrection from the dead should show light both to the people and the Gentiles.

24 But as he spoke these things in his defense, Festus, with a loud voice, said: Paul, thou art mad: much learning leads thee to madness.

25 But Paul said: I am not mad, most noble Festus, but I utter words of truth and soberness.

26 For the king, before whom I also boldly speak, knows concerning these things; for I am persuaded that none of these things have escaped his notice; for this was not done in a corner.

27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.

28 But Agrippa said to Paul: With little labor thou persuadest me so as to make me a Christian.

29 And Paul said: I could pray to God that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, would, both with little and with much labor, become such as I am, except these bonds.

30 And the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and those that sat with them;

31 and having withdrawn, they conversed one with another, saying: This man does nothing worthy of death or of bonds.

32 And Agrippa said to Festus: This man could have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed to Caesar.  

Acts 27

1 But when it had been determined that we should sail to Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion named Julius, of the Augustan band.

2 And embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, that would sail to the places in Asia, we set sail, Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us;

3 and on the following day we landed at Sidon, and Julius treated Paul humanely and permitted him to go to the friends and receive attention.

4 And thence, having launched, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were adverse;

5 and having sailed through the sea that is opposite to Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra of Lycia.

6 And there, the centurion, finding a ship of Alexandria sailing to Italy, put us into it.

7 But, sailing slowly for many days, and having with difficulty come opposite Knidus, the wind not permitting us to go further, we sailed under Crete, opposite Salmone;

8 and sailing along by it with difficulty we came to a place called Fair Havens, near which was a city, Lasea.

9 But as much time had been spent, and as sailing was now unsafe because the fast was already past, Paul admonished,

10 saying to them: Men, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and of the ship, but also of our lives.

11 But the centurion had more confidence in the pilot and the owner of the ship than in the things spoken by Paul.

12 And the harbor being not well situated to winter in, the greater number resolved to set sail thence, if by any means they should be able to reach Phoenix and winter there, a harbor of Crete, looking to the southwest and northwest.

13 But as the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had gained their purpose, they loosed and sailed along near to Crete.

14 But not long after, a tempestuous wind called Euraquilon struck against it;

15 and the ship having been caught, and not being able to bear up against the wind, we gave it up and were driven.

16 And running under an island called Clauda, we were scarcely able to become masters of the boat;

17 having taken it up, they used aids, undergirding the ship; and fearing lest they should fall into the Syrtis, they lowered the tackling, and so were driven.

18 But as we were greatly tossed by the tempest, on the following day they threw out the cargo,

19 and on the third day with their own hands they threw out the furniture of the ship;

20 but neither sun nor stars appearing for many days, and no small tempest lying upon us, all hope of our being saved was finally taken away.

21 And after there had been much abstinence from food, then Paul stood in the midst of them and said: It behooved you, O men, having been persuaded by me, not to have sailed from Crete and to have avoided this injury and loss.

22 Yet, now I exhort you to be cheerful; for there shall be no loss of life among you, but of the ship.

23 For there stood by me this night an angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,

24 saying: Fear not, Paul; thou must stand before Caesar; and behold. God has given thee all that sail with thee.

25 Wherefore be cheerful, O men; for I believe God, that it will be so as it has been told me.

26 But we must be cast upon some island.

27 But when the fourteenth night had come, as we were driven up and down in the Adriatic sea, about midnight the sailors supposed that some land was drawing near to them.

28 And having sounded, they found twenty fathoms; but having gone a little further and sounded again, they found fifteen fathoms;

29 and fearing lest we should fall among rocks, they threw four anchors from the stern and wished that day would come.

30 But as the sailors were seeking to flee from the ship, and were letting down the boat into the sea, under the pretence that they would let go anchors from the prow,

31 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers: Unless these remain in the ship, you cannot be saved.

32 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat and let it fall off.

33 But till day should come, Paul exhorted all to partake of food, saying: This day is the fourteenth day since you have waited and continued fasting, having taken nothing.

34 Wherefore I exhort you to partake of food; for this is for your safety; for from the head of no one of you shall a hair perish.

35 And having said these things and taken bread, he gave thanks to God in the presence of all and after breaking, he began to eat

36 And they all became cheerful am took food.

37 But we that were in the ship were in all two hundred and seventysix souls.

38 And having been satisfied with food, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.

39 But when day had come, they knew not the land but they perceived an inlet that had a beach, into which they determined if possible, to thrust the ship.

40 And cutting away the anchors they let them fall into the sea at the same time loosing the fastenings of the rudders, and, hoisting the front sail to the wind, they held the ship firm to the beach.

41 But falling into a place where two seas met they ran the ship aground; and the prow, having stuck fast, remained immovable, but the stern was broken by the violence.

42 And the advice of the soldiers was that they should kill the prisoners, lest some should swim out and escape;

43 but the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose, and commanded those that could swim to throw themselves off first, and go to land,

44 and the rest, some on planks, and some on pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass that all got safe to land. 

Acts 28

1 And when we were safe, then we learned that the island was called Melita.

2 And the barbarians showed us unusual kindness; for, having kindled a fire, they received all of us on account of the rain that had come upon us, and on account of the cold.

3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid it on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand.

4 And when the barbarians saw the beast hanging from his hand, they said one to another: Surely this man is a murderer, whom, though saved from the sea, justice does not permit to live.

5 He then shook the beast off into the fire, and suffered no evil;

6 and they were expecting that he would become inflamed or suddenly fall down dead. But after looking for a long time and seeing no harm come to him, they changed their mind and said that he was a god.

7 But in the neighborhood of that place were the estates of the first man of the island, named Publius, who received us and for three days entertained us courteously.

8 And it happened that the father of Publius lay sick of fever and dysentery, to whom Paul went in; and having prayed and laid his hands on him, he restored him to health.

9 But when this had been done, the rest also in the island that had diseases came and were cured;

10 who in also honored us with many honors; and when we put to sea, supplied us with what was needed.

11 But after three months we put to sea in a ship of Alexandria that had wintered in the island, that had the sign of the Dioscuri.

12 And having landed at Syracuse, we remained three days:

13 whence, coasting about, we came to Rhegium. And after one day, the south wind having risen, we came on the second day to Puteoli,

14 where we found brethren, and were entreated to remain with them seven days and so we came to Rome.

15 And thence the brethren, hearing of our affairs, came to meet us as far as Appii Forum and The Three Taverns: whom when Paul saw he thanked God and tool courage.

16 But when we had come to Rome, Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with the soldier that guarded him.

17 And it came to pass after three days that he called together those that were first among the Jews; and when they had come together, he said to them: Men, brethren, though I had done nothing against the people, or the customs of the fathers, I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans;

18 who, having examined me, were willing to release me, because there was no cause of death in me;

19 but as the Jews spoke against it, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar: not that I have anything to accuse my nation of.

20 I have then called you for this reason, that I may see you and speak to you; for on account of the hope of Israel am I bound with this chain.

21 And they said to him; We have neither received letters from Judea concerning thee, nor has any one of the brethren come and reported or spoken any evil concerning thee.

22 But we think worthy to hear from thee what thou thinkest; for concerning this sect we know that it is everywhere spoken against.

23 And having appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging; to whom, with full testimony, he set forth the kingdom of God, persuading them also concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses and the prophets, from morning till evening.

24 And some believed the things spoken, and some believed not;

25 but not being agreed among themselves, they departed, after Paul had spoken one word: Well did the Holy Spirit speak through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers,

26 saying: Go to this people and say: By hearing you shall hear and shall not understand, and seeing you shall see and shall not perceive;

27 for the heart of this people has become fat, and with their ears they hear heavily, and their eyes they have closed: lest perhaps they  should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn and I should restore them to health.

28 Be it known to you, therefore, that to the Gentiles has this salvation of God been sent; and they will hear.

30 And he dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all that came to him,

31 preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus with all boldness, without hindrance. 

Acts 29

1 And Paul, full of the blessings of Christ, and abounding in the spirit, departed out of Rome, determining to go into Spain, for he had a long time proposed to journey thitherward, and was minded also to go from thence to Britain.

2 For he had heard in Phoenicia that certain of the children of Israel, about the time of the Assyrian captivity, had escaped by sea to ‗the Isles afar off‘ as spoken by the Prophet, and called by the Romans Britain.

3 And the Lord commanded the gospel to be preached far hence to the Gentiles, and to the lost sheep of the House of Israel.

4 And no man hindered Paul: for he testified boldly of Jesus before the tribunes and among the people; and he took with him certain of the brethren which abode with him at Rome, and they took shipping at Ostrium and having the winds fair, were brought safely into a haven of Spain.

5 And much people were gathered together from the towns and villages, and the hill country; for they had heard of the conversion of the Apostles, and the many miracles which he had wrought.

6 And Paul preached mightily in Spain, and great multitudes believed and were converted, for they perceived he was an apostle sent from God.

7 And they departed out of Spain, and Paul and his company finding a ship in Armorica sailing unto Britain, they were therein, and passing along the South Coast, they reached a port called Raphinus.

8 Now when it was voiced abroad that the Apostle had landed on their coast, great multitudes of the inhabitants met him, and they treated Paul courteously and he entered in at the east gate of their city, and lodged in the house of an Hebrew and one of his own nation.

9 And on the morrow he came and stood upon Mount Lud and the people thronged at the gate, and assembled in the Broadway, and he preached Christ unto them, and they believed the Word and testimony of Jesus.

10 And at even the Holy Ghost fell upon Paul, and he prophesied, saying, Behold, in the last days the God of Peace shall dwell in the cities, and the inhabitants thereof shall be numbered: and in the seventh numbering of the people, their eyes shall be opened, and the glory of their inheritance shine forth before them. The nations shall come up to worship on the mount that testifieth of the patience and long suffering of a servant of the Lord.

11 And in the latter-days new tidings of the gospel shall issue forth out of Jerusalem, and the hearts of the people shall rejoice, and behold, fountains shall be opened, and there shall be no more plague.

12 In those days there shall be wars and rumours of war; and a King shall rise up, and his sword, shall be for the healing of the nations, and His peacemaking shall abide, and the glory of His Kingdom a wonder among princes.

13 And it came to pass that certain of the Druids came unto Paul privately, and showed by their rites and ceremonies that they were descended from the Judahites which escaped from bondage in the land of Egypt, and the Apostle believed these things, and he gave them the kiss of peace.

14 And Paul abode in his lodgings three months confirming in the faith and preaching Christ continually.

15 And after these things, Paul and his brethren departed from Raphinius and sailed unto Atium in Gaul.

16 And Paul preached in the Roman garrison and among the people, exhorting all men to repent and confess their sins.

17 And there came to him certain of the Belgae to enquire of him of the new doctrine, and of the man Jesus; and Paul opened his heart unto them and told them all things that had befallen him, howbeit that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; and they departed pondering among themselves the things which they had heard.

18 And after much preaching and toil, Paul and his fellow labourers passed into Helvetia, and came to Mount Pontius Pilate, where he who condemned the Lord Jesus dashed himself down headlong, and so miserably perished.

19 And immediately a torrent gushed out of the mountain and washed his body, broken in pieces, into a lake.

20 And Paul stretched forth his hands upon the water, and prayed unto the Lord saying, O Lord God, give a sign unto all nations that here Pontius Pilate which condemned thine only-begotten Son, plunged down headlong into the pit.

21 And while Paul was yet speaking, behold, there came a great earthquake, and the face of the waters was changed, and the form of the lake like unto the Son of Man hanging in an agony upon the Cross.

22 And a voice came out of Heaven saying, Even Pilate hath escaped the wrath to come for he washed his hands before the multitude at the blood shedding of the Lord Jesus.

23 When, therefore, Paul and those that were with him saw the earthquake, and heard the voice of the angel, they glorified God, and were mightily strengthened in the spirit.

24 And they journeyed and came to Mount Julius where stood two pillars, one on the right hand and one on the left hand, erected by Caesar Augustus.

25 And Paul, filled with the Holy Ghost, stood up between the two pillars, saying, Men and brethren these stones which ye see this day shall testify of my journey hence; and verily I say, they shall remain until the outpouring of the spirit upon all nations, neither shall the way be hindered throughout all generations.

26 And they went forth and came unto Illtricum, intending to go by Macedonia into Asia, and grace was found in all the churches, and they prospered and had peace. Amen