The Acts of the Apostles
Bible, King James Version (KJV)
Acts
Acts.1
[
1] The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all
that Jesus began both to do and teach,
[
2] Until the day in which he
was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto
the apostles whom he had chosen:
[
3] To whom also he shewed himself
alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty
days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
[
4]
And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not
depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he,
ye have heard of me.
[
5] For John truly baptized with water; but ye
shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
[
6] When
they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at
this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
[
7] And he said unto
them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath
put in his own power.
[
8] But ye shall receive power, after that the
Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in
Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the
earth.
[
9] And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he
was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
[
10] And
while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood
by them in white apparel;
[
11] Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why
stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into
heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into
heaven.
[
12] Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called
Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.
[
13] And when
they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and
James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James
the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of
James.
[
14] These all continued with one accord in prayer and
supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his
brethren.
[
15] And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the
disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and
twenty,)
[
16] Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been
fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning
Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.
[
17] For he was
numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.
[
18] Now
this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he
burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.
[
19] And it
was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called
in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of
blood.
[
20] For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his
habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let
another take.
[
21] Wherefore of these men which have companied with us
all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
[
22]
Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from
us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his
resurrection.
[
23] And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who
was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
[
24] And they prayed, and said,
Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou
hast chosen,
[
25] That he may take part of this ministry and
apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own
place.
[
26] And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon
Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
Acts.2
[
1] And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they
were all with one accord in one place.
[
2] And suddenly there came a
sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where
they were sitting.
[
3] And there appeared unto them cloven tongues
like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
[
4] And they were all
filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit
gave them utterance.
[
5] And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews,
devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
[
6] Now when this was
noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that
every man heard them speak in his own language.
[
7] And they were all
amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which
speak Galilaeans?
[
8] And how hear we every man in our own tongue,
wherein we were born?
[
9] Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the
dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and
Asia,
[
10] Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya
about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
[
11] Cretes
and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of
God.
[
12] And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to
another, What meaneth this?
[
13] Others mocking said, These men are
full of new wine.
[
14] But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted
up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at
Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
[
15] For
these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the
day.
[
16] But this is that which was spoken by the prophet
Joel;
[
17] And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith 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 on my servants and on my handmaidens I will
pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
[
19] And
I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and
fire, and vapour of smoke:
[
20] The sun shall be turned into darkness,
and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord
come:
[
21] And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the
name of the Lord shall be saved.
[
22] Ye men of Israel, hear these
words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and
wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves
also know:
[
23] Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and
foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and
slain:
[
24] Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death:
because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
[
25] For
David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, 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 hell, neither wilt
thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
[
28] Thou hast made
known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy
countenance.
[
29] Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of
the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with
us unto this day.
[
30] Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God
had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the
flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
[
31] He seeing
this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in
hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
[
32] This Jesus hath God
raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
[
33] Therefore being by the
right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the
Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
[
34]
For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said
unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
[
35] Until I make thy foes
thy footstool.
[
36] Therefore let all the house of Israel know
assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord
and Christ.
[
37] Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their
heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren,
what shall we do?
[
38] Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be
baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins,
and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
[
39] For the promise
is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as
the Lord our God shall call.
[
40] And with many other words did he
testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward
generation.
[
41] Then they that gladly received his word were
baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand
souls.
[
42] And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine
and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
[
43] And
fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the
apostles.
[
44] And all that believed were together, and had all things
common;
[
45] And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to
all men, as every man had need.
[
46] And they, continuing daily with
one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their
meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
[
47] Praising God, and
having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such
as should be saved.
Acts.3
[
1] Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at
the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
[
2] And a certain man lame
from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the
temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the
temple;
[
3] Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple
asked an alms.
[
4] And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John,
said, Look on us.
[
5] And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive
something of them.
[
6] Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none;
but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up
and walk.
[
7] And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up:
and immediately his feet and ancle bones received strength.
[
8] And he
leaping up 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 knew that it was he which sat for alms
at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and
amazement at that which had happened unto him.
[
11] And as the lame
man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them
in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.
[
12] And
when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye
at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or
holiness we had made this man to walk?
[
13] The God of Abraham, and of
Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom
ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was
determined to let him go.
[
14] But ye denied the Holy One and the
Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
[
15] And killed
the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are
witnesses.
[
16] And his name through faith in his name hath made this
man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him
this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
[
17] And now,
brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your
rulers.
[
18] But those things, which God before had shewed by the
mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so
fulfilled.
[
19] Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins
may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of
the Lord;
[
20] And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was
preached unto you:
[
21] Whom the heaven must receive until the times
of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy
prophets since the world began.
[
22] For Moses truly said unto the
fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren,
like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto
you.
[
23] And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not
hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.
[
24] Yea,
and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have
spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.
[
25] Ye are the children
of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying
unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be
blessed.
[
26] Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent
him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
Acts.4
[
1] And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and
the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,
[
2]
Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the
resurrection from the dead.
[
3] And they laid hands on them, and put
them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.
[
4] Howbeit
many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about
five thousand.
[
5] And it came to pass on the morrow, that their
rulers, and elders, and scribes,
[
6] And Annas the high priest, and
Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the
high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.
[
7] And when they
had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye
done this?
[
8] Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them,
Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
[
9] If we this day be
examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made
whole;
[
10] Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel,
that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised
from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you
whole.
[
11] This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders,
which is become the head of the corner.
[
12] Neither is there
salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among
men, whereby we must be saved.
[
13] Now when they saw the boldness of
Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they
marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with
Jesus.
[
14] And beholding the man which was healed standing with them,
they could say nothing against it.
[
15] But when they had commanded
them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among
themselves,
[
16] Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that
indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that
dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.
[
17] But that it spread no
further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak
henceforth to no man in this name.
[
18] And they called them, and
commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of
Jesus.
[
19] But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it
be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge
ye.
[
20] For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and
heard.
[
21] So when they had further threatened them, they let them
go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all
men glorified God for that which was done.
[
22] For the man was above
forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.
[
23] And
being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief
priests and elders had said unto them.
[
24] And when they heard that,
they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God,
which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them
is:
[
25] Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the
heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?
[
26] The kings of
the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and
against his Christ.
[
27] For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus,
whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and
the people of Israel, were gathered together,
[
28] For to do
whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
[
29]
And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with
all boldness they may speak thy word,
[
30] By stretching forth thine
hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy
child Jesus.
[
31] And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where
they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and
they spake the word of God with boldness.
[
32] And the multitude of
them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them
that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things
common.
[
33] And with great power gave the apostles witness of the
resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them
all.
[
34] Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as
were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the
things that were sold,
[
35] And laid them down at the apostles' feet:
and distribution was made unto every man according as he had
need.
[
36] And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas,
(which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the
country of Cyprus,
[
37] Having land, sold it, and brought the money,
and laid it at the apostles' feet.
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 being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles'
feet.
[
3] But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart
to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the
land?
[
4] Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was
sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine
heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
[
5] And Ananias
hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all
them that heard these things.
[
6] And the young men arose, wound him
up, and carried him out, and buried him.
[
7] And it was about the
space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came
in.
[
8] And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land
for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
[
9] Then Peter said unto
her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord?
behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and
shall carry thee out.
[
10] Then fell she down straightway at his feet,
and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and,
carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
[
11] And great fear
came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
[
12]
And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the
people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.
[
13]
And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified
them.
[
14] And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes
both of men and women.)
[
15] Insomuch that they brought forth the sick
into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the
shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.
[
16] There
came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing
sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed
every one.
[
17] Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were
with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with
indignation,
[
18] And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them
in the common prison.
[
19] But the angel of the Lord by night opened
the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,
[
20] Go, stand and
speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
[
21] And
when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and
taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the
council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel and sent to the
prison to have them brought.
[
22] But when the officers came, and
found them not in the prison, they returned, and told,
[
23] Saying,
The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without
before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.
[
24]
Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests
heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would
grow.
[
25] Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom
ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the
people.
[
26] Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them
without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been
stoned.
[
27] And when they had brought them, they set them before the
council: and the high priest asked them,
[
28] Saying, Did not we
straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have
filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon
us.
[
29] Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought
to obey God rather than men.
[
30] The God of our fathers raised up
Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
[
31] Him hath God exalted
with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to
Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
[
32] And we are his witnesses of
these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that
obey him.
[
33] When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and
took counsel to slay them.
[
34] Then stood there up one in the
council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation
among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little
space;
[
35] And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to
yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.
[
36] For before
these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of
men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as
obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.
[
37] After this man
rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people
after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were
dispersed.
[
38] And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and
let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to
nought:
[
39] But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply
ye be found even to fight against God.
[
40] And to him they agreed:
and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they
should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
[
41] And they
departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted
worthy to suffer shame for his name.
[
42] And daily in the temple, and
in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
Acts.6
[
1] And in those days, when the number of the disciples
was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews,
because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
[
2]
Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is
not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
[
3]
Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of
the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
[
4]
But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the
word.
[
5] And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose
Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus,
and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of
Antioch:
[
6] Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had
prayed, they laid their hands on them.
[
7] And the word of God
increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and
a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
[
8] And
Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the
people.
[
9] Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called
the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of
Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
[
10] And they were not
able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
[
11] Then
they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against
Moses, and against God.
[
12] And they stirred up the people, and the
elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to
the council,
[
13] And set up false witnesses, which said, This man
ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the
law:
[
14] For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall
destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered
us.
[
15] And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him,
saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.
Acts.7
[
1] Then said the high priest, Are these things
so?
[
2] And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of
glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he
dwelt in Charran,
[
3] And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country,
and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew
thee.
[
4] Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in
Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this
land, wherein ye now dwell.
[
5] And he gave him none inheritance in
it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it
to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no
child.
[
6] And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in
a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them
evil four hundred years.
[
7] And the nation to whom they shall be in
bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve
me in this place.
[
8] And he gave him the covenant of circumcision:
and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat
Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.
[
9] And the patriarchs,
moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,
[
10]
And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in
the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all
his house.
[
11] Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and
Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no
sustenance.
[
12] But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he
sent out our fathers first.
[
13] And at the second time Joseph was
made known to his brethren; and Joseph's kindred was made known unto
Pharaoh.
[
14] Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him,
and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls.
[
15] So Jacob went
down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers,
[
16] And were carried
over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of
money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem.
[
17] But when the
time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew
and multiplied in Egypt,
[
18] Till another king arose, which knew not
Joseph.
[
19] The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and evil
entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end
they might not live.
[
20] In which time Moses was born, and was
exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father's house three
months:
[
21] And when he was cast out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up,
and nourished him for her own son.
[
22] And Moses was learned in all
the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in
deeds.
[
23] And when he was full forty years old, it came into his
heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.
[
24] And seeing
one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed,
and smote the Egyptian:
[
25] For he supposed his brethren would have
understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood
not.
[
26] And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove,
and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye
wrong one to another?
[
27] But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust
him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?
[
28] Wilt
thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday?
[
29] Then fled
Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat
two sons.
[
30] And when forty years were expired, there appeared to
him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a
bush.
[
31] When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew
near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him,
[
32] Saying, I
am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abrham, and the God of Isaac, and the God
of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold.
[
33] Then said
the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou
standest is holy ground.
[
34] I have seen, I have seen the affliction
of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come
down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt.
[
35]
This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the
same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which
appeared to him in the bush.
[
36] He brought them out, after that he
had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in
the wilderness forty years.
[
37] This is that Moses, which said unto
the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of
your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.
[
38] This is he, that
was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the
mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto
us:
[
39] To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them,
and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,
[
40] Saying unto
Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for as for this Moses, which brought us out
of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.
[
41] And they
made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in
the works of their own hands.
[
42] Then God turned, and gave them up
to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O
ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the
space of forty years in the wilderness?
[
43] Yea, ye took up the
tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to
worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.
[
44] Our
fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed,
speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had
seen.
[
45] Which also our fathers that came after brought in with
Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of
our fathers, unto the days of David;
[
46] Who found favour before God,
and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.
[
47] But
Solomon built him an house.
[
48] Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in
temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,
[
49] Heaven is my
throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord:
or what is the place of my rest?
[
50] Hath not my hand made all these
things?
[
51] Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do
always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
[
52]
Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them
which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the
betrayers and murderers:
[
53] Who have received the law by the
disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
[
54] When they heard
these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their
teeth.
[
55] But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly
into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of
God,
[
56] And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of
man standing on the right hand of God.
[
57] Then they cried out with a
loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one
accord,
[
58] And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the
witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was
Saul.
[
59] And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord
Jesus, receive my spirit.
[
60] And he kneeled down, and cried with a
loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this,
he fell asleep.
Acts.8
[
1] And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that
time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem;
and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria,
except the apostles.
[
2] And devout men carried Stephen to his burial,
and made great lamentation over him.
[
3] As for Saul, he made havock
of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed
them to prison.
[
4] Therefore they that were scattered abroad went
every where preaching the word.
[
5] Then Philip went down to the city
of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
[
6] And the people with one
accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the
miracles which he did.
[
7] For unclean spirits, crying with loud
voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with
palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
[
8] And there was great joy
in that city.
[
9] But there was a certain man, called Simon, which
beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria,
giving out that himself was some great one:
[
10] To whom they all gave
heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of
God.
[
11] And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had
bewitched them with sorceries.
[
12] But when they believed Philip
preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus
Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
[
13] Then Simon
himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and
wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
[
14] Now
when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the
word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
[
15] Who, when they
were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy
Ghost:
[
16] (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they
were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
[
17] Then laid they
their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
[
18] And when
Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was
given, he offered them money,
[
19] Saying, Give me also this power,
that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
[
20]
But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought
that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
[
21] Thou hast
neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of
God.
[
22] Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if
perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
[
23] For I
perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of
iniquity.
[
24] Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for
me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
[
25]
And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to
Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the
Samaritans.
[
26] And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying,
Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto
Gaza, which is desert.
[
27] And he arose and went: and, behold, a man
of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians,
who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to
worship,
[
28] Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias
the prophet.
[
29] Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join
thyself to this chariot.
[
30] And Philip ran thither to him, and heard
him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou
readest?
[
31] And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me?
And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
[
32] The
place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the
slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his
mouth:
[
33] In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who
shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the
earth.
[
34] And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of
whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
[
35]
Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto
him Jesus.
[
36] And as they went on their way, they came unto a
certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to
be baptized?
[
37] And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine
heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the
Son of God.
[
38] And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they
went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized
him.
[
39] And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of
the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his
way rejoicing.
[
40] But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing
through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.
Acts.9
[
1] And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter
against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
[
2] And
desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of
this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto
Jerusalem.
[
3] And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and
suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
[
4] And he
fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why
persecutest thou me?
[
5] And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord
said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the
pricks.
[
6] And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou
have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it
shall be told thee what thou must do.
[
7] And the men which journeyed
with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
[
8] And
Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but
they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
[
9] And he
was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
[
10] And
there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the
Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.
[
11]
And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called
Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for,
behold, he prayeth,
[
12] And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias
coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his
sight.
[
13] Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this
man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
[
14] And
here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy
name.
[
15] But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen
vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children
of Israel:
[
16] For I will shew him how great things he must suffer
for my name's sake.
[
17] And Ananias went his way, and entered into
the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even
Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that
thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy
Ghost.
[
18] And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been
scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was
baptized.
[
19] And when he had received meat, he was strengthened.
Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at
Damascus.
[
20] And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues,
that he is the Son of God.
[
21] But all that heard him were amazed,
and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in
Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto
the chief priests?
[
22] But Saul increased the more in strength, and
confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very
Christ.
[
23] And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took
counsel to kill him:
[
24] But their laying await was known of Saul.
And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.
[
25] Then the
disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a
basket.
[
26] And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join
himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that
he was a disciple.
[
27] But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the
apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that
he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of
Jesus.
[
28] And he was with them coming in and going out at
Jerusalem.
[
29] And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and
disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.
[
30]
Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him
forth to Tarsus.
[
31] Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea
and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord,
and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.
[
32] And it
came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the
saints which dwelt at Lydda.
[
33] And there he found a certain man
named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the
palsy.
[
34] And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee
whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.
[
35] And all
that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.
[
36]
Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation
is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she
did.
[
37] And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and
died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper
chamber.
[
38] And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the
disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring
him that he would not delay to come to them.
[
39] Then Peter arose and
went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and
all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which
Dorcas made, while she was with them.
[
40] But Peter put them all
forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha,
arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat
up.
[
41] And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had
called the saints and widows, presented her alive.
[
42] And it was
known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.
[
43] And it
came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.
Acts.10
[
1] There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius,
a centurion of the band called the Italian band,
[
2] A devout man, and
one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and
prayed to God alway.
[
3] He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth
hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him,
Cornelius.
[
4] And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said,
What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up
for a memorial before God.
[
5] And now send men to Joppa, and call for
one Simon, whose surname is Peter:
[
6] He lodgeth with one Simon a
tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to
do.
[
7] And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he
called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited
on him continually;
[
8] And when he had declared all these things unto
them, he sent them to Joppa.
[
9] On the morrow, as they went on their
journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray
about the sixth hour:
[
10] And he became very hungry, and would have
eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,
[
11] And saw
heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great
sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:
[
12]
Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and
creeping things, and fowls of the air.
[
13] And there came a voice to
him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
[
14] But Peter said, Not so, Lord;
for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.
[
15] And
the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that
call not thou common.
[
16] This was done thrice: and the vessel was
received up again into heaven.
[
17] Now while Peter doubted in himself
what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent
from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the
gate,
[
18] And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed
Peter, were lodged there.
[
19] While Peter thought on the vision, the
Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.
[
20] Arise
therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have
sent them.
[
21] Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto
him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause
wherefore ye are come?
[
22] And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a
just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of
the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house,
and to hear words of thee.
[
23] Then called he them in, and lodged
them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from
Joppa accompanied him.
[
24] And the morrow after they entered into
Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and
near friends.
[
25] And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and
fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
[
26] But Peter took him up,
saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.
[
27] And as he talked with
him, he went in, and found many that were come together.
[
28] And he
said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew
to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that
I should not call any man common or unclean.
[
29] Therefore came I
unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what
intent ye have sent for me?
[
30] And Cornelius said, Four days ago I
was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and,
behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
[
31] And said,
Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the
sight of God.
[
32] Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon,
whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the
sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.
[
33] Immediately
therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now
therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are
commanded thee of God.
[
34] Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of
a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
[
35] But in
every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with
him.
[
36] The word which God sent unto the children of Israel,
preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
[
37] That word,
I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from
Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
[
38] How God anointed
Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good,
and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with
him.
[
39] And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the
land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a
tree:
[
40] Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him
openly;
[
41] Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before
of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the
dead.
[
42] And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to
testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and
dead.
[
43] To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name
whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
[
44] While
Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the
word.
[
45] And they of the circumcision which believed were
astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was
poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
[
46] For they heard them speak
with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
[
47] Can any man
forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy
Ghost as well as we?
[
48] And he commanded them to be baptized in the
name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
Acts.11
[
1] And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea
heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.
[
2] And
when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision
contended with him,
[
3] Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised,
and didst eat with them.
[
4] But Peter rehearsed the matter from the
beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying,
[
5] I was in
the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel
descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and
it came even to me:
[
6] Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes,
I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and
creeping things, and fowls of the air.
[
7] And I heard a voice saying
unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat.
[
8] But I said, Not so, Lord: for
nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth.
[
9]
But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call
not thou common.
[
10] And this was done three times: and all were
drawn up again into heaven.
[
11] And, behold, immediately there were
three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto
me.
[
12] And the spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting.
Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's
house:
[
13] And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house,
which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose
surname is Peter;
[
14] Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all
thy house shall be saved.
[
15] And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost
fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
[
16] Then remembered I the
word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye
shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
[
17] Forasmuch then as God gave
them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ;
what was I, that I could withstand God?
[
18] When they heard these
things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to
the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
[
19] Now they which were
scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far
as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the
Jews only.
[
20] And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which,
when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord
Jesus.
[
21] And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number
believed, and turned unto the Lord.
[
22] Then tidings of these things
came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth
Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.
[
23] Who, when he came,
and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with
purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.
[
24] For he was a
good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added
unto the Lord.
[
25] Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek
Saul:
[
26] And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And
it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church,
and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in
Antioch.
[
27] And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto
Antioch.
[
28] And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and
signified by the spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the
world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.
[
29] Then
the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief
unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:
[
30] Which also they did, and
sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
Acts.12
[
1] Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth
his hands to vex certain of the church.
[
2] And he killed James the
brother of John with the sword.
[
3] And because he saw it pleased the
Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened
bread.)
[
4] And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and
delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after
Easter to bring him forth to the people.
[
5] Peter therefore was kept
in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for
him.
[
6] And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night
Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers
before the door kept the prison.
[
7] And, behold, the angel of the
Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the
side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from
his hands.
[
8] And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on
thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee,
and follow me.
[
9] And he went out, and followed him; and wist not
that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a
vision.
[
10] When they were past the first and the second ward, they
came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his
own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith
the angel departed from him.
[
11] And when Peter was come to himself,
he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath
delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the
people of the Jews.
[
12] And when he had considered the thing, he came
to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were
gathered together praying.
[
13] And as Peter knocked at the door of
the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.
[
14] And when she
knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told
how Peter stood before the gate.
[
15] And they said unto her, Thou art
mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his
angel.
[
16] But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the
door, and saw him, they were astonished.
[
17] But he, beckoning unto
them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had
brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and
to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.
[
18]
Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was
become of Peter.
[
19] And when Herod had sought for him, and found him
not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death.
And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode.
[
20] And
Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one
accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend,
desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king's
country.
[
21] And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat
upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.
[
22] And the people
gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.
[
23]
And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the
glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
[
24] But the
word of God grew and multiplied.
[
25] And Barnabas and Saul returned
from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John,
whose surname was Mark.
Acts.13
[
1] Now there were in the church that was at Antioch
certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger,
and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the
tetrarch, and Saul.
[
2] As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted,
the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have
called them.
[
3] And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their
hands on them, they sent them away.
[
4] So they, being sent forth by
the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to
Cyprus.
[
5] And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of
God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their
minister.
[
6] And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos,
they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was
Bar-jesus:
[
7] Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius
Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the
word of God.
[
8] But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by
interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the
faith.
[
9] Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy
Ghost, set his eyes on him,
[
10] And said, O full of all subtilty and
all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt
thou not cease to pervert the right 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 on him a mist and a darkness;
and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.
[
12] Then the
deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of
the Lord.
[
13] Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they
came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to
Jerusalem.
[
14] But when they departed from Perga, they came to
Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat
down.
[
15] And after the reading of the law and the prophets the
rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have
any word of exhortation for the people, say on.
[
16] Then Paul stood
up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give
audience.
[
17] The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and
exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with
an high arm brought he them out of it.
[
18] And about the time of
forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness.
[
19] And when
he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to
them by lot.
[
20] And after that he gave unto them judges about the
space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.
[
21]
And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a
man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years.
[
22] And
when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom
also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man
after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.
[
23] Of this
man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour,
Jesus:
[
24] When John had first preached before his coming the baptism
of repentance to all the people of Israel.
[
25] And as John fulfilled
his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there
cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to
loose.
[
26] Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and
whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation
sent.
[
27] For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because
they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every
sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.
[
28] And
though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he
should be slain.
[
29] And when they had fulfilled all that was written
of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a
sepulchre.
[
30] But God raised him from the dead:
[
31] And
he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem,
who are his witnesses unto the people.
[
32] And we declare unto you
glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the
fathers,
[
33] God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in
that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm,
Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.
[
34] And as concerning
that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he
said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.
[
35]
Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One
to see corruption.
[
36] For David, after he had served his own
generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and
saw corruption:
[
37] But he, whom God raised again, saw no
corruption.
[
38] Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren,
that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of
sins:
[
39] And by him all that believe are justified from all things,
from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
[
40] Beware
therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the
prophets;
[
41] Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I
work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man
declare it unto you.
[
42] And when the Jews were gone out of the
synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the
next sabbath.
[
43] Now when the congregation was broken up, many of
the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to
them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
[
44] And the
next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of
God.
[
45] But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with
envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting
and blaspheming.
[
46] Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It
was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but
seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life,
lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
[
47] For so hath the Lord commanded us,
saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be
for salvation unto the ends of the earth.
[
48] And when the Gentiles
heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as
were ordained to eternal life believed.
[
49] And the word of the Lord
was published throughout all the region.
[
50] But the Jews stirred up
the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised
persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their
coasts.
[
51] But they shook off the dust of their feet against them,
and came unto Iconium.
[
52] And the disciples were filled with joy,
and with the Holy Ghost.
Acts.14
[
1] And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both
together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude
both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.
[
2] But the
unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected
against the brethren.
[
3] Long time therefore abode they speaking
boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted
signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
[
4] But the multitude of
the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the
apostles.
[
5] And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles,
and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone
them,
[
6] They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities
of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:
[
7] And there
they preached the gospel.
[
8] And there sat a certain man at Lystra,
impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had
walked:
[
9] The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him,
and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,
[
10] Said with a loud
voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.
[
11] And
when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in
the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of
men.
[
12] And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius,
because he was the chief speaker.
[
13] Then the priest of Jupiter,
which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would
have done sacrifice with the people.
[
14] Which when the apostles,
Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the
people, crying out,
[
15] And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We
also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn
from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the
sea, and all things that are therein:
[
16] Who in times past suffered
all nations to walk in their own ways.
[
17] Nevertheless he left not
himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and
fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.
[
18] And
with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done
sacrifice unto them.
[
19] And there came thither certain Jews from
Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him
out of the city, supposing he had been dead.
[
20] Howbeit, as the
disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the
next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.
[
21] And when they had
preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to
Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,
[
22] Confirming the souls of the
disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through
much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
[
23] And when they had
ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they
commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.
[
24] And after they
had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.
[
25] And when
they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia:
[
26]
And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace
of God for the work which they fulfilled.
[
27] And when they were
come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done
with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the
Gentiles.
[
28] And there they abode long time with the disciples.
Acts.15
[
1] And certain men which came down from Judaea taught
the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye
cannot be saved.
[
2] When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small
dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas,
and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and
elders about this question.
[
3] And being brought on their way by the
church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the
Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.
[
4] And
when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the
apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with
them.
[
5] But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which
believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to
keep the law of Moses.
[
6] And the apostles and elders came together
for to consider of this matter.
[
7] And when there had been much
disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that
a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should
hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
[
8] And God, which knoweth
the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto
us;
[
9] And put no difference between us and them, purifying their
hearts by faith.
[
10] Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke
upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to
bear?
[
11] But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus
Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
[
12] Then all the multitude
kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles
and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.
[
13] And after
they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken
unto me:
[
14] Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the
Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
[
15] And to this
agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
[
16] After this I
will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down;
and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
[
17]
That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon
whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these
things.
[
18] Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of
the world.
[
19] Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them,
which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
[
20] But that we
write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from
fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
[
21] For Moses
of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the
synagogues every sabbath day.
[
22] Then pleased it the apostles and
elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to
Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas,
chief men among the brethren:
[
23] And they wrote letters by them
after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the
brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and
Cilicia:
[
24] Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out
from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be
circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such
commandment:
[
25] It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one
accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and
Paul,
[
26] Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ.
[
27] We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall
also tell you the same things by mouth.
[
28] For it seemed good to the
Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary
things;
[
29] That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from
blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep
yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
[
30] So when they were
dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude
together, they delivered the epistle:
[
31] Which when they had read,
they rejoiced for the consolation.
[
32] And Judas and Silas, being
prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed
them.
[
33] And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go
in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.
[
34] Notwithstanding it
pleased Silas to abide there still.
[
35] Paul also and Barnabas
continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many
others also.
[
36] And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us
go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of
the Lord, and see how they do.
[
37] And Barnabas determined to take
with them John, whose surname was Mark.
[
38] But Paul thought not good
to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with
them to the work.
[
39] And the contention was so sharp between them,
that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and
sailed unto Cyprus;
[
40] And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being
recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.
[
41] And he went
through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.
Acts.16
[
1] Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a
certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which
was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:
[
2] Which was
well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.
[
3]
Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because
of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was
a Greek.
[
4] And as they went through the cities, they delivered them
the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which
were at Jerusalem.
[
5] And so were the churches established in the
faith, and increased in number daily.
[
6] Now when they had gone
throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy
Ghost to preach the word in Asia,
[
7] After they were come to Mysia,
they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them
not.
[
8] And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.
[
9]
And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and
prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.
[
10] And
after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavored to go into Macedonia,
assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto
them.
[
11] Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight
course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis;
[
12] And from
thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a
colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days.
[
13] And on the
sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be
made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted
thither.
[
14] And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of
the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord
opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of
Paul.
[
15] And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought
us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house,
and abide there. And she constrained us.
[
16] And it came to pass, as
we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met
us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:
[
17] The same
followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most
high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.
[
18] And this did
she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command
thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same
hour.
[
19] And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was
gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the
rulers,
[
20] And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men,
being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
[
21] And teach customs,
which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being
Romans.
[
22] And the multitude rose up together against them: and the
magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
[
23]
And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison,
charging the jailor to keep them safely:
[
24] Who, having received
such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in
the stocks.
[
25] And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang
praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
[
26] And suddenly
there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken:
and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were
loosed.
[
27] And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep,
and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed
himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
[
28] But Paul
cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all
here.
[
29] Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came
trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
[
30] And brought them
out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
[
31] And they said,
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy
house.
[
32] And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all
that were in his house.
[
33] And he took them the same hour of the
night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his,
straightway.
[
34] And when he had brought them into his house, he set
meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his
house.
[
35] And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants,
saying, Let those men go.
[
36] And the keeper of the prison told this
saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart,
and go in peace.
[
37] But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us
openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they
thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us
out.
[
38] And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and
they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.
[
39] And they came
and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the
city.
[
40] And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house
of Lydia and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and
departed.
Acts.17
[
1] Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and
Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the
Jews:
[
2] And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three
sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
[
3] Opening and
alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead;
and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.
[
4] And some
of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a
great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.
[
5] But the Jews
which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the
baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and
assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the
people.
[
6] And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain
brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world
upside down are come hither also;
[
7] Whom Jason hath received: and
these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another
king, one Jesus.
[
8] And they troubled the people and the rulers of
the city, when they heard these things.
[
9] And when they had taken
security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.
[
10] And the
brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming
thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
[
11] These were more
noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all
readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were
so.
[
12] Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women
which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.
[
13] But when the Jews of
Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea,
they came thither also, and stirred up the people.
[
14] And then
immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas
and Timotheus abode there still.
[
15] And they that conducted Paul
brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus
for to come to him with all speed, they departed.
[
16] Now while Paul
waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city
wholly given to idolatry.
[
17] Therefore disputed he in the synagogue
with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them
that met with him.
[
18] Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans,
and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say?
other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached
unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.
[
19] And they took him, and
brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof
thou speakest, is?
[
20] For thou bringest certain strange things to
our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.
[
21] (For
all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing
else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)
[
22] Then Paul
stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in
all things ye are too superstitious.
[
23] For as I passed by, and
beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN
GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto
you.
[
24] God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that
he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with
hands;
[
25] Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he
needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all
things;
[
26] And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to
dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before
appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
[
27] That they should
seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be
not far from every one of us:
[
28] For in him we live, and move, and
have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his
offspring.
[
29] Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we
ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone,
graven by art and man's device.
[
30] And the times of this ignorance
God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
[
31]
Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in
righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance
unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
[
32] And when
they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We
will hear thee again of this matter.
[
33] So Paul departed from among
them.
[
34] Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the
which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with
them.
Acts.18
[
1] After these things Paul departed from Athens, and
came to Corinth;
[
2] And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in
Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius
had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.
[
3]
And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by
their occupation they were tentmakers.
[
4] And he reasoned in the
synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
[
5]
And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the
spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.
[
6] And when
they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto
them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go
unto the Gentiles.
[
7] And he departed thence, and entered into a
certain man's house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined
hard to the synagogue.
[
8] And Crispus, the chief ruler of the
synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians
hearing believed, and were baptized.
[
9] Then spake the Lord to Paul
in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy
peace:
[
10] For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt
thee: for I have much people in this city.
[
11] And he continued there
a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
[
12] And
when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord
against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat,
[
13] Saying, This
fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.
[
14] And
when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were
a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear
with you:
[
15] But if it be a question of words and names, and of your
law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters.
[
16] And
he drave them from the judgment seat.
[
17] Then all the Greeks took
Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment
seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things.
[
18] And Paul after
this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren,
and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn
his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.
[
19] And he came to Ephesus,
and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned
with the Jews.
[
20] When they desired him to tarry longer time with
them, he consented not;
[
21] But bade them farewell, saying, I must by
all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto
you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.
[
22] And when he had
landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to
Antioch.
[
23] And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and
went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the
disciples.
[
24] And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria,
an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.
[
25]
This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit,
he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism
of John.
[
26] And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when
Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him
the way of God more perfectly.
[
27] And when he was disposed to pass
into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who,
when he was come, helped them much which had believed through
grace:
[
28] For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly,
shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.
Acts.19
[
1] And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at
Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and
finding certain disciples,
[
2] He said unto them, Have ye received the
Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as
heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
[
3] And he said unto them, Unto
what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
[
4]
Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto
the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that
is, on Christ Jesus.
[
5] When they heard this, they were baptized in
the name of the Lord Jesus.
[
6] And when Paul had laid his hands upon
them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and
prophesied.
[
7] And all the men were about twelve.
[
8] And
he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months,
disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.
[
9]
But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way
before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples,
disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.
[
10] And this continued
by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word
of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
[
11] And God wrought special
miracles by the hands of Paul:
[
12] So that from his body were brought
unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and
the evil spirits went out of them.
[
13] Then certain of the vagabond
Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the
name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul
preacheth.
[
14] And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and
chief of the priests, which did so.
[
15] And the evil spirit answered
and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?
[
16] And the
man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed
against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and
wounded.
[
17] And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also
dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus
was magnified.
[
18] And many that believed came, and confessed, and
shewed their deeds.
[
19] Many of them also which used curious arts
brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted
the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.
[
20]
So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
[
21] After these
things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through
Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I
must also see Rome.
[
22] So he sent into Macedonia two of them that
ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a
season.
[
23] And the same time there arose no small stir about that
way.
[
24] For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made
silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the
craftsmen;
[
25] Whom he called together with the workmen of like
occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our
wealth.
[
26] Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but
almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much
people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:
[
27]
So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that
the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence
should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.
[
28] And
when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying,
Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
[
29] And the whole city was filled
with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia,
Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the
theatre.
[
30] And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the
disciples suffered him not.
[
31] And certain of the chief of Asia,
which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure
himself into the theatre.
[
32] Some therefore cried one thing, and
some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not
wherefore they were come together.
[
33] And they drew Alexander out of
the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the
hand, and would have made his defence unto the people.
[
34] But when
they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours
cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
[
35] And when the
townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there
that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great
goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?
[
36]
Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet,
and to do nothing rashly.
[
37] For ye have brought hither these men,
which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your
goddess.
[
38] Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with
him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let
them implead one another.
[
39] But if ye inquire any thing concerning
other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.
[
40] For
we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no
cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse.
[
41] And when
he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.
Acts.20
[
1] And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him
the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into
Macedonia.
[
2] And when he had gone over those parts, and had given
them much exhortation, he came into Greece,
[
3] And there abode three
months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria,
he purposed to return through Macedonia.
[
4] And there accompanied him
into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus;
and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and
Trophimus.
[
5] These going before tarried for us at
Troas.
[
6] And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of
unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven
days.
[
7] And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came
together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow;
and continued his speech until midnight.
[
8] And there were many
lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.
[
9]
And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into
a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell
down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.
[
10] And Paul went
down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his
life is in him.
[
11] When he therefore was come up again, and had
broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he
departed.
[
12] And they brought the young man alive, and were not a
little comforted.
[
13] And we went before to ship, and sailed unto
Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, minding himself
to go afoot.
[
14] And when he met with us at Assos, we took him in,
and came to Mitylene.
[
15] And we sailed thence, and came the next day
over against Chios; and the next day we arrived at Samos, and tarried at
Trogyllium; and the next day we came to Miletus.
[
16] For Paul had
determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for
he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of
Pentecost.
[
17] And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the
elders of the church.
[
18] And when they were come to him, he said
unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner
I have been with you at all seasons,
[
19] Serving the Lord with all
humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the
lying in wait of the Jews:
[
20] And how I kept back nothing that was
profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and
from house to house,
[
21] Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the
Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus
Christ.
[
22] And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem,
not knowing the things that shall befall me there:
[
23] Save that the
Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide
me.
[
24] But none of these things move me, neither count I my life
dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry,
which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of
God.
[
25] And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone
preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.
[
26]
Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all
men.
[
27] For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel
of God.
[
28] Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the
flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church
of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
[
29] For I know
this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not
sparing the flock.
[
30] Also of your own selves shall men arise,
speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
[
31]
Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to
warn every one night and day with tears.
[
32] And now, brethren, I
commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up,
and to give you an inheritance among all them which are
sanctified.
[
33] I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or
apparel.
[
34] Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have
ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.
[
35] I
have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak,
and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to
give than to receive.
[
36] And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled
down, and prayed with them all.
[
37] And they all wept sore, and fell
on Paul's neck, and kissed him,
[
38] Sorrowing most of all for the
words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they
accompanied him unto the ship.
Acts.21
[
1] And it came to pass, that after we were gotten from
them, and had launched, we came with a straight course unto Coos, and the day
following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara:
[
2] And finding a
ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth.
[
3]
Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into
Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her
burden.
[
4] And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who
said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to
Jerusalem.
[
5] And when we had accomplished those days, we departed
and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children,
till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and
prayed.
[
6] And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took
ship; and they returned home again.
[
7] And when we had finished our
course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with
them one day.
[
8] And the next day we that were of Paul's company
departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the
evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.
[
9] And
the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.
[
10] And
as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet,
named Agabus.
[
11] And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's
girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost,
So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall
deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.
[
12] And when we heard
these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to
Jerusalem.
[
13] Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break
mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem
for the name of the Lord Jesus.
[
14] And when he would not be
persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.
[
15] And
after those days we took up our carriages, and went up to
Jerusalem.
[
16] There went with us also certain of the disciples of
Caesarea, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom
we should lodge.
[
17] And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren
received us gladly.
[
18] And the day following Paul went in with us
unto James; and all the elders were present.
[
19] And when he had
saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the
Gentiles by his ministry.
[
20] And when they heard it, they glorified
the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews
there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:
[
21] And
they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the
Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their
children, neither to walk after the customs.
[
22] What is it
therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou
art come.
[
23] Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men
which have a vow on them;
[
24] Them take, and purify thyself with
them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may
know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing;
but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law.
[
25]
As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they
observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered
to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from
fornication.
[
26] Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying
himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the
days of purifcation, until that an offering should be offered for every one of
them.
[
27] And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which
were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and
laid hands on him,
[
28] Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the
man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this
place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this
holy place.
[
29] (For they had seen before with him in the city
Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the
temple.)
[
30] And all the city was moved, and the people ran together:
and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were
shut.
[
31] And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the
chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.
[
32]
Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them: and when
they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating of
Paul.
[
33] Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and
commanded him to be bound with two chains; and demanded who he was, and what he
had done.
[
34] And some cried one thing, some another, among the
multitude: and when he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he commanded
him to be carried into the castle.
[
35] And when he came upon the
stairs, so it was, that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the
people.
[
36] For the multitude of the people followed after, crying,
Away with him.
[
37] And as Paul was to be led into the castle, he said
unto the chief captain, May I speak unto thee? Who said, Canst thou speak
Greek?
[
38] Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest
an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men that were
murderers?
[
39] But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a
city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to
speak unto the people.
[
40] And when he had given him licence, Paul
stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when there
was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying,
Acts.22
[
1] Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which
I make now unto you.
[
2] (And when they heard that he spake in the
Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,)
[
3]
I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought
up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect
manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this
day.
[
4] And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and
delivering into prisons both men and women.
[
5] As also the high
priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I
received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which
were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.
[
6] And it came
to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon,
suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.
[
7] And
I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why
persecutest thou me?
[
8] And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he
said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.
[
9] And
they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not
the voice of him that spake to me.
[
10] And I said, What shall I do,
Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall
be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.
[
11]
And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of
them that were with me, I came into Damascus.
[
12] And one Ananias, a
devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which
dwelt there,
[
13] Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother
Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him.
[
14]
And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know
his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his
mouth.
[
15] For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou
hast seen and heard.
[
16] And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be
baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the
Lord.
[
17] And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to
Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance;
[
18]
And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem:
for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.
[
19] And I
said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that
believed on thee:
[
20] And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was
shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the
raiment of them that slew him.
[
21] And he said unto me, Depart: for I
will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.
[
22] And they gave him
audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with
such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should
live.
[
23] And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and
threw dust into the air,
[
24] The chief captain commanded him to be
brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that
he might know wherefore they cried so against him.
[
25] And as they
bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful
for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?
[
26] When
the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed
what thou doest: for this man is a Roman.
[
27] Then the chief captain
came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea.
[
28]
And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And
Paul said, But I was free born.
[
29] Then straightway they departed
from him which should have examined him: and the chief captain also was afraid,
after he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.
[
30]
On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty wherefore he was
accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and commanded the chief
priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and set him
before them.
Acts.23
[
1] And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men
and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this
day.
[
2] And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him
to smite him on the mouth.
[
3] Then said Paul unto him, God shall
smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and
commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?
[
4] And they that
stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest?
[
5] Then said Paul, I
wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt
not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.
[
6] But when Paul perceived
that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the
council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope
and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
[
7] And when he
had so said, there arose a dissension between 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 the scribes that were of
the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but
if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against
God.
[
10] And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain,
fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the
soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him
into the castle.
[
11] And the night following the Lord stood by him,
and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem,
so must thou bear witness also at Rome.
[
12] And when it was day,
certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying
that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.
[
13]
And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.
[
14] And
they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves
under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain
Paul.
[
15] Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief
captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would inquire
something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready
to kill him.
[
16] And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in
wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.
[
17] Then
Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said, Bring this young man unto
the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him.
[
18] So he
took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner
called me unto him, and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath
something to say unto thee.
[
19] Then the chief captain took him by
the hand, and went with him aside privately, and asked him, What is that thou
hast to tell me?
[
20] And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee
that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as though they
would inquire somewhat of him more perfectly.
[
21] But do not thou
yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men,
which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink
till they have killed him: and now are they ready, looking for a promise from
thee.
[
22] So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and
charged him, See thou tell no man that thou hast shewed these things to
me.
[
23] And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two
hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and
spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night;
[
24] And provide
them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the
governor.
[
25] And he wrote a letter after this manner:
[
26]
Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth
greeting.
[
27] This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been
killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood
that he was a Roman.
[
28] And when I would have known the cause
wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their
council:
[
29] Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their
law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of
bonds.
[
30] And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for
the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also
to say before thee what they had against him. Farewell.
[
31] Then the
soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to
Antipatris.
[
32] On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him,
and returned to the castle:
[
33] Who, when they came to Caesarea, and
delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before
him.
[
34] And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what
province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia;
[
35] I
will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him
to be kept in Herod's judgment hall.
Acts.24
[
1] And after five days Ananias the high priest descended
with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the
governor against Paul.
[
2] And when he was called forth, Tertullus
began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and
that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy
providence,
[
3] We accept it always, and in all places, most noble
Felix, with all thankfulness.
[
4] Notwithstanding, that I be not
further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy
clemency a few words.
[
5] For we have found this man a pestilent
fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a
ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:
[
6] Who also hath gone about
to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our
law.
[
7] But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great
violence took him away out of our hands,
[
8] Commanding his accusers
to come unto thee: by examining of whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all
these things, whereof we accuse him.
[
9] And the Jews also assented,
saying that these things were so.
[
10] Then Paul, after that the
governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou
hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully
answer for myself:
[
11] Because that thou mayest understand, that
there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to
worship.
[
12] And they neither found me in the temple disputing with
any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the
city:
[
13] Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse
me.
[
14] But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they
call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are
written in the law and in the prophets:
[
15] And have hope toward God,
which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the
dead, both of the just and unjust.
[
16] And herein do I exercise
myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward
men.
[
17] Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and
offerings.
[
18] Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in
the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult.
[
19] Who ought to
have been here before thee, and object, if they had ought against
me.
[
20] Or else let these same here say, if they have found any evil
doing in me, while I stood before the council,
[
21] Except it be for
this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of
the dead I am called in question by you this day.
[
22] And when Felix
heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them,
and said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the
uttermost of your matter.
[
23] And he commanded a centurion to keep
Paul, and to let him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his
acquaintance to minister or come unto him.
[
24] And after certain
days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for
Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.
[
25] And as he
reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come Felix trembled, and
answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call
for thee.
[
26] He hoped also that money should have been given him of
Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and
communed with him.
[
27] But after two years Porcius Festus came into
Felix' room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul
bound.
Acts.25
[
1] Now when Festus was come into the province, after
three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem.
[
2] Then the high
priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought
him,
[
3] And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to
Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.
[
4] But Festus
answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself would depart
shortly thither.
[
5] Let them therefore, said he, which among you are
able, go down with me, and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in
him.
[
6] And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he
went down unto Caesarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded
Paul to be brought.
[
7] And when he was come, the Jews which came down
from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against
Paul, which they could not prove.
[
8] While he answered for himself,
Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against
Caesar, have I offended any thing at all.
[
9] But Festus, willing to
do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem,
and there be judged of these things before me?
[
10] Then said Paul, I
stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I
done no wrong, as thou very well knowest.
[
11] For if I be an
offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but
if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me
unto them. I appeal unto Caesar.
[
12] Then Festus, when he had
conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto
Caesar shalt thou go.
[
13] And after certain days king Agrippa and
Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus.
[
14] And when they had
been there many days, Festus declared Paul's cause unto the king, saying, There
is a certain man left in bonds by Felix:
[
15] About whom, when I was
at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring
to have judgment against him.
[
16] To whom I answered, It is not the
manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused
have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself
concerning the crime laid against him.
[
17] Therefore, when they were
come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and
commanded the man to be brought forth.
[
18] Against whom when the
accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I
supposed:
[
19] But had certain questions against him of their own
superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be
alive.
[
20] And because I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked
him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these
matters.
[
21] But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the
hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to
Caesar.
[
22] Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man
myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.
[
23] And on the
morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and was entered
into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the
city, at Festus' commandment Paul was brought forth.
[
24] And Festus
said, King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us, ye see this man,
about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem,
and also here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.
[
25] But
when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself
hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.
[
26] Of whom
I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him
forth before you, and specially before thee, O king Agrippa, that, after
examination had, I might have somewhat to write.
[
27] For it seemeth
to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid
against him.
Acts.26
[
1] Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to
speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for
himself:
[
2] I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall
answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am
accused of the Jews:
[
3] Especially because I know thee to be expert
in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee
to hear me patiently.
[
4] My manner of life from my youth, which was
at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the
Jews;
[
5] Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify,
that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a
Pharisee.
[
6] And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the
promise made of God unto our fathers:
[
7] Unto which promise our
twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which
hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.
[
8] Why should it
be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the
dead?
[
9] I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things
contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
[
10] Which thing I also did
in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received
authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my
voice against them.
[
11] And I punished them oft in every synagogue,
and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I
persecuted them even unto strange cities.
[
12] Whereupon as I went to
Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
[
13] At
midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of
the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.
[
14]
And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and
saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for
thee to kick against the pricks.
[
15] And I said, Who art thou, Lord?
And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
[
16] But rise, and
stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make
thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of
those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
[
17] Delivering
thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send
thee,
[
18] To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to
light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness
of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in
me.
[
19] Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the
heavenly vision:
[
20] But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at
Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles,
that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for
repentance.
[
21] For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple,
and went about to kill me.
[
22] Having therefore obtained help of God,
I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other
things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should
come:
[
23] That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first
that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to
the Gentiles.
[
24] And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with
a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee
mad.
[
25] But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak
forth the words of truth and soberness.
[
26] For the king knoweth of
these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of
these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a
corner.
[
27] King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that
thou believest.
[
28] Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou
persuadest me to be a Christian.
[
29] And Paul said, I would to God,
that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and
altogether such as I am, except these bonds.
[
30] And when he had thus
spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with
them:
[
31] And when they were gone aside, they talked between
themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of
bonds.
[
32] Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been
set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.
Acts.27
[
1] And when it was determined that we should sail into
Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a
centurion of Augustus' band.
[
2] And entering into a ship of
Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; one
Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.
[
3] And the
next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave
him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself.
[
4] And when we
had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were
contrary.
[
5] And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and
Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.
[
6] And there the
centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy; and he put us
therein.
[
7] And when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce were
come over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over
against Salmone;
[
8] And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which
is called The fair havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.
[
9]
Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the
fast was now already past, Paul admonished them,
[
10] And said unto
them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not
only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives.
[
11] Nevertheless
the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those
things which were spoken by Paul.
[
12] And because the haven was not
commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any
means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of
Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west.
[
13] And when
the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose,
loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.
[
14] But not long after
there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.
[
15] And
when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her
drive.
[
16] And running under a certain island which is called Clauda,
we had much work to come by the boat:
[
17] Which when they had taken
up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall
into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven.
[
18] And we
being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the
ship;
[
19] And the third day we cast out with our own hands the
tackling of the ship.
[
20] And when neither sun nor stars in many days
appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was
then taken away.
[
21] But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in
the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not
have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.
[
22]
And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any
man's life among you, but of the ship.
[
23] For there stood by me this
night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,
[
24] Saying,
Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee
all them that sail with thee.
[
25] Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer:
for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.
[
26]
Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.
[
27] But when the
fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about
midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country;
[
28]
And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little
further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms.
[
29] Then
fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the
stern, and wished for the day.
[
30] And as the shipmen were about to
flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour
as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship,
[
31] Paul
said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye
cannot be saved.
[
32] Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat,
and let her fall off.
[
33] And while the day was coming on, Paul
besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye
have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing.
[
34]
Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there
shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you.
[
35] And when he
had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all:
and when he had broken it, he began to eat.
[
36] Then were they all of
good cheer, and they also took some meat.
[
37] And we were in all in
the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.
[
38] And when they
had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the
sea.
[
39] And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they
discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it
were possible, to thrust in the ship.
[
40] And when they had taken up
the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder
bands, and hoised up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward
shore.
[
41] And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the
ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the
hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves.
[
42] And the
soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out,
and escape.
[
43] But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them
from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast
themselves first into the sea, and get to land:
[
44] And the rest,
some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass,
that they escaped all safe to land.
Acts.28
[
1] And when they were escaped, then they knew that the
island was called Melita.
[
2] And the barbarous people shewed us no
little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of
the present rain, and because of the cold.
[
3] And when Paul had
gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out
of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
[
4] And when the barbarians saw
the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this
man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth
not to live.
[
5] And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no
harm.
[
6] Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen
down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm
come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.
[
7]
In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name
was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days
courteously.
[
8] And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay
sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and
laid his hands on him, and healed him.
[
9] So when this was done,
others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were
healed:
[
10] Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we
departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary.
[
11] And
after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in
the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux.
[
12] And landing at
Syracuse, we tarried there three days.
[
13] And from thence we fetched
a compass, and came to Rhegium: and after one day the south wind blew, and we
came the next day to Puteoli:
[
14] Where we found brethren, and were
desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward
Rome.
[
15] And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came
to meet us as far as Appiiforum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he
thanked God, and took courage.
[
16] And when we came to Rome, the
centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was
suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.
[
17] And it
came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together:
and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I
have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I
delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.
[
18]
Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause
of death in me.
[
19] But when the Jews spake against it, I was
constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation
of.
[
20] For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you,
and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this
chain.
[
21] And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of
Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake
any harm of thee.
[
22] But we desire to hear of thee what thou
thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken
against.
[
23] And when they had appointed him a day, there came many
to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God,
persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the
prophets, from morning till evening.
[
24] And some believed the things
which were spoken, and some believed not.
[
25] And when they agreed
not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well
spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,
[
26]
Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not
understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:
[
27] For the
heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and
their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with
their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I
should heal them.
[
28] Be it known therefore unto you, that the
salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear
it.
[
29] And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had
great reasoning among themselves.
[
30] And Paul dwelt two whole years
in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,
[
31]
Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord
Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.