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So Saul stayed with them, moving about freely in Jerusalem and speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.

Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced a time of peace. It grew in strength and numbers, living in the fear of the Lord and the encouragement of the Holy Spirit.

Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced a time of peace. It grew in strength and numbers, living in the fear of the Lord and the encouragement of the Holy Spirit.

As Peter traveled throughout the area, he went to visit the saints in Lydda.

…and all who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.

In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which is translated as Dorcas), who was always occupied with works of kindness and charity.

At that time, however, she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upper room.

This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.

And Peter stayed for several days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon.

At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was called the Italian Regiment.

Cornelius stared at him in fear and asked, “What is it, Lord?” The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have ascended as a memorial offering before God.

“Cornelius the centurion has sent us,” they said. “He is a righteous and God-fearing man with a good reputation among the whole Jewish nation. A holy angel instructed him to request your presence in his home so he could hear a message from you.”

So Peter invited them in as his guests. And the next day he got ready and went with them, accompanied by some of the brothers from Joppa.

The following day he arrived in Caesarea, where Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.

Cornelius answered: “Four days ago I was in my house praying at this, the ninth hour. Suddenly a man in radiant clothing stood before me

Cornelius answered: “Four days ago I was in my house praying at this, the ninth hour. Suddenly a man in radiant clothing stood before me

Therefore send to Joppa for Simon, who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, by the sea.’

So I sent for you immediately, and you were kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has instructed you to tell us.”

You yourselves know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee with the baptism that John proclaimed:

We are witnesses of all that He did, both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. And although they put Him to death by hanging Him on a tree,

We are witnesses of all that He did, both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. And although they put Him to death by hanging Him on a tree,

All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.”

For they heard them speaking in tongues and exalting God. Then Peter said,

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

“I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision of something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came right down to me.

“I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision of something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came right down to me.

He told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter.

So if God gave them the same gift He gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to hinder the work of God?”

When news of this reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem, they sent Barnabas to Antioch.

When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to abide in the Lord with all their hearts.

In those days some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.

So the disciples, each according to his ability, decided to send relief to the brothers living in Judea.

He arrested him and put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out to the people after the Passover.

So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was fervently praying to God for him.

Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his wrists.

Now Herod was in a furious dispute with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they convened before him. Having secured the support of Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their region depended on the king’s country for food.

Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch), and Saul.

When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. And John was with them as their helper.

After setting sail from Paphos, Paul and his companions came to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem.

The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers. He made them into a great people during their stay in Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He led them out of that land.

He endured their conduct for about forty years in the wilderness.

And having vanquished seven nations in Canaan, He gave their land to His people as an inheritance.

After removing Saul, He raised up David as their king and testified about him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after My own heart; he will carry out My will in its entirety.’

The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning Him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath.

When they had carried out all that was written about Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb.

He has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: ‘You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.’

In fact, God raised Him from the dead, never to see decay. As He has said: ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.’

So also, He says in another Psalm: ‘You will not let Your Holy One see decay.’

For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep. His body was buried with his fathers and saw decay.

‘Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish! For I am doing a work in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.’”

After the synagogue was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.

So they shook the dust off their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium.

In Lystra there sat a man crippled in his feet, who was lame from birth and had never walked.

In Lystra there sat a man crippled in his feet, who was lame from birth and had never walked.

In a loud voice Paul called out, “Stand up on your feet!” And the man jumped up and began to walk.

When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices in the Lycaonian language: “The gods have come down to us in human form!”

When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices in the Lycaonian language: “The gods have come down to us in human form!”

“Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them.

In past generations, He let all nations go their own way.

…strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. “We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.

Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church, praying and fasting as they entrusted them to the Lord, in whom they had believed.

Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church, praying and fasting as they entrusted them to the Lord, in whom they had believed.

And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.

And after engaging these men in sharp debate, Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.

On their arrival in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and apostles and elders, to whom they reported all that God had done through them.

After much discussion, Peter got up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you that the Gentiles would hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe.

For Moses has been proclaimed in every city from ancient times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”

For Moses has been proclaimed in every city from ancient times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”

…and sent them with this letter: The apostles and the elders, your brothers, To the brothers among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.

Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to tell you in person the same things we are writing.

After spending some time there, they were sent off by the brothers in peace to return to those who had sent them.

Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the brothers in every town where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.”

But Paul thought it best not to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work.

But Paul thought it best not to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work.

The brothers in Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him.

Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, so he took him and circumcised him on account of the Jews in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

As they went from town to town, they delivered the decisions handed down by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey.

So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.

So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.

After the Holy Spirit had prevented them from speaking the word in the province of Asia, they traveled through the region of Phrygia and Galatia.

Among those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.

And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.

She continued this for many days. Eventually Paul grew so aggravated that he turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” And the spirit left her at that very moment.

When the girl’s owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities in the marketplace.

The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered that they be stripped and beaten with rods.

On receiving this order, he placed them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

On receiving this order, he placed them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

But Paul called out in a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself! We are all here!”

Calling for lights, the jailer rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.

They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Then Paul and Silas spoke the word of the Lord to him and to everyone in his house.

Then he brought them into his home and set a meal before them. So he and all his household rejoiced that they had come to believe in God.

The jailer informed Paul: “The magistrates have sent orders to release you. Now you may go on your way in peace.”

The Jews, however, became jealous. So they brought in some troublemakers from the marketplace, formed a mob, and sent the city into an uproar. They raided Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas, hoping to bring them out to the people.

The Jews, however, became jealous. So they brought in some troublemakers from the marketplace, formed a mob, and sent the city into an uproar. They raided Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas, hoping to bring them out to the people.

But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that Paul was also proclaiming the word of God in Berea, they went there themselves to incite and agitate the crowds.

The brothers immediately sent Paul to the coast, but Silas and Timothy remained in Berea.

While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply disturbed in his spirit to see that the city was full of idols.

While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply disturbed in his spirit to see that the city was full of idols.

So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and God-fearing Gentiles, and in the marketplace with those he met each day.