
JESUS TAKEN UP TO 
HEAVEN{/}

{1}1{/}

{I}1_{/}In the first part 
of my work, Theophilus, I 
wrote of all that Jesus 
did and taught from the 
beginning {I}2_{/}until 
the day when he ascended 
to heaven.
But first he had 
instructed through the 
Holy Spirit the apostles 
he had chosen. 
{I}3_{/}After his 
passion, he presented 
himself to them, giving 
many signs that he was 
alive; over a period of 
forty days he appeared to 
them and taught them 
concerning the Kingdom of 
God. {I}4_{/}Once when he 
had been eating with 
them, he told them, "Do 
not leave Jerusalem but 
wait for the fulfillment 
of the Father's promise 
about which I have spoken 
to you: {I}5_{/}John 
baptized with water, but 
you will be baptized with 
the Holy Spirit within a 
few days."
{I}6_{/}When they had 
come together, they asked 
him, "Is it now that you 
will restore the Kingdom 
of Israel?" {I}7_{/}And 
he answered, "It is not 
for you to know the time 
and the steps which the 
Father has fixed by his 
own authority. 
{I}8_{/}But you will 
receive power when the 
Holy Spirit comes upon 
you; and you will be my 
witnesses in Jerusalem, 
throughout Judea and 
Samaria, even to the ends 
of the earth."
{I}9_{/}After Jesus said 
this, he was taken up 
before their eyes and a 
cloud hid him from their 
sight. {I}10_{/}While 
they were still looking 
up to heaven where he 
went, suddenly, two men 
dressed in white stood 
beside them {I}11_{/}and 
said, "Men of Galilee, 
why do you stand here 
looking up at the sky? 
This Jesus who has been 
taken from you into 
heaven, will return in 
the same way as you have 
seen him go there."
THE DISCIPLES AWAIT THE 
HOLY SPIRIT{/}

{I}12_{/}Then they 
returned to Jerusalem 
from the Mount called 
Olives, which is a 
fifteen-minute walk away. 
{I}13_{/}On entering the 
city they went to the 
room upstairs where they 
were staying. Present 
there were Peter, John, 
James and Andrew; Philip 
and Thomas, Bartholomew 
and Matthew, James, son 
of Alpheus; Simon the 
Zealot and Judas son of 
James. {I}14_{/}All of 
these together gave 
themselves to constant 
prayer. With them were 
some women and also Mary, 
the mother of Jesus, and 
his brothers.
MATTHIAS ELECTED{/}

{I}15_{/}It was during 
this time that Peter 
stood up in the midst of 
the community - about one 
hundred and twenty in all 
- {I}16_{/}and he said,
"Brothers, it was 
necessary that the 
Scriptures referring to 
Judas be fulfilled. The 
Holy Spirit had spoken 
through David about the 
one who would lead the 
crowd coming to arrest 
Jesus. {I}17_{/}He was 
one of our number and had 
been called to share our 
common ministry.
{I}18_{/}(We know that he 
bought a field with the 
reward of his sin; yet he 
threw himself headlong to 
his death, his body burst 
open and all his bowels 
spilled out. 
{I}19_{/}This event 
became known to all the 
people living in 
Jerusalem and they named 
that field Akeldama in 
their own language, which 
means Field of Blood).
{I}20_{/}In the book of 
Psalms it is written: Let 
his house become deserted 
and may no one live in 
it. But it is also 
written: May another take 
his office. 
{I}21_{/}Therefore we 
must choose someone from 
among those who were with 
us during all the time 
that the Lord Jesus moved 
about with us, 
{I}22_{/}beginning with 
John's baptism until the 
day when Jesus was taken 
away from us. One of 
these has to become, with 
us, a witness to his 
resurrection."
{I}23_{/}Then they 
proposed two: Joseph, 
called Barsabbas, also 
known as Justus, and 
Matthias. {I}24_{/}They 
prayed: "You know, Lord, 
what is in the hearts of 
all. Show us, therefore, 
which of the two you have 
chosen {I}25_{/}to 
replace Judas in this 
apostolic ministry which 
he deserted to go to the 
place he deserved."
{I}26_{/}Then they drew 
lots between the two and 
the choice fell on 
Matthias who was added to 
the eleven apostles.
THE COMING OF THE HOLY 
SPIRIT{/}

{1}2{/}

{I}1_{/}When the day of 
Pentecost came, they were 
all together in one 
place. {I}2_{/}And 
suddenly out of the sky 
came a sound like a 
strong rushing wind and 
it filled the whole house 
where they were sitting. 
There appeared 
{I}3_{/}tongues as if of 
fire which parted and 
came to rest upon each 
one of them. {I}4_{/}All 
were filled with Holy 
Spirit and began to speak 
other languages, as the 
Spirit enabled them to 
speak.
{I}5_{/}Staying in 
Jerusalem were religious 
Jews from every nation 
under heaven. 
{I}6_{/}When they heard 
this sound, a crowd 
gathered, all excited 
because each heard them 
speaking in his own 
language. {I}7_{/}Beside 
themselves with amazement 
and wonder, they said, 
"Are not all these who 
are speaking Galileans? 
{I}8_{/}How is it that we 
hear them in our own 
native language? 
{I}9_{/}Here are 
Parthians, Medes and 
Elamites and residents of 
Mesopotamia, Judea and 
Cappadocia, Pontus and 
Asia, {I}10_{/}Phrygia, 
Pamphylia, Egypt and the 
parts of Libya belonging 
to Cyrene, and visitors 
from Rome, {I}11_{/}both 
Jews and foreigners who 
accept Jewish beliefs, 
Cretians and Arabians; 
and all of us hear them 
proclaiming in our own 
language what God, the 
Savior, does.
{I}12_{/}They were amazed 
and greatly confused, and 
they kept asking one 
another, "What does this 
mean?" {I}13_{/}But 
others laughed and said, 
"These people are drunk."
PETER ADDRESSES THE 
CROWD{/}

{I}14_{/}Then Peter stood 
up with the Eleven and, 
with a loud voice, 
addressed them, "Fellow 
Jews and all foreigners 
now staying in Jerusalem, 
listen to what I have to 
say. {I}15_{/}These 
people are not drunk as 
you suppose, for it is 
only nine o'clock in the 
morning. {I}16_{/}Indeed 
what the prophet Joel 
spoke about has happened:
{I}17_{/}In the last 
days, God says, I will 
pour out my Spirit on 
every mortal. Your sons 
and daughters will speak 
through the Holy Spirit; 
your young men will see 
visions and your old men 
will have dreams.
{I}18_{/}In those days I 
will pour out my Spirit 
even on my servants, both 
men and women, and they 
will be prophets.
{I}19_{/}I will perform 
miracles in the sky above 
and wonders on the earth 
below. {I}20_{/}The sun 
will be darkened and the 
moon will turn red as 
blood, before the great 
and glorious Day of the 
Lord comes.
{I}21_{/}And then, 
whoever calls upon the 
Name of the Lord will be 
saved.
{I}22_{/}Fellow 
Israelites, listen to 
what I am going to tell 
you about Jesus of 
Nazareth. God accredited 
him and through him did 
powerful deeds and 
wonders and signs in your 
midst, as you well know. 
{I}23_{/}You delivered 
him to sinners to be 
crucified and killed, and 
in this way the purpose 
of God from all times was 
fulfilled. {I}24_{/}But 
God raised him to life 
and released him from the 
pain of death, because it 
was impossible for him to 
be held in the power of 
death. {I}25_{/}David 
spoke of him when he 
said: I saw the Lord 
before me at all times; 
he is by my side, that I 
may not be shaken. 
{I}26_{/}Therefore my 
heart was glad and my 
tongue rejoiced; my body 
too will live in hope. 
{I}27_{/}Because you will 
not forsake me in the 
abode of the dead, nor 
allow your Holy One to 
experience corruption. 
{I}28_{/}You have made 
known to me the paths of 
life, and your presence 
will fill me with joy.
{I}29_{/}Friends, I don't 
need to prove that the 
patriarch David died and 
was buried; his tomb is 
with us to this day. 
{I}30_{/}But he knew that 
God had sworn to him that 
one of his descendants 
would sit upon his throne 
and, {I}31_{/}as he was a 
prophet, he foresaw and 
spoke of the resurrection 
of the Messiah. So he 
said that he would not be 
left in the region of the 
dead, nor would his body 
experience corruption.
{I}32_{/}This Messiah is 
Jesus and we are all 
witnesses that God raised 
him to life. {I}33_{/}He 
has been exalted at God's 
right side and the Father 
has entrusted the Holy 
Spirit to him; this 
Spirit he has just poured 
upon us as you now see 
and hear.
{I}34_{/}And look: David 
did not ascend into 
heaven, but he himself 
said: The Lord said to my 
Lord: sit at my right 
side {I}35_{/}until I 
make your enemies a stool 
for your feet. 
{I}36_{/}Let Israel then 
know for sure that God 
has made Lord and Christ 
this Jesus whom you 
crucified."
{I}37_{/}When they heard 
this, they were deeply 
troubled. And they asked 
Peter and the other 
apostles, "What shall we 
do, brothers?"
{I}38_{/}Peter answered: 
"Each of you must repent 
and be baptized in the 
name of Jesus Christ, so 
that your sins may be 
forgiven. Then you will 
receive the gift of the 
Holy Spirit. {I}39_{/}For 
the promise of God was 
made to you and your 
children, and to all 
those from afar whom our 
God may call."
{I}40_{/}With many other 
words Peter gave the 
message and appealed to 
them saying, "Save 
yourselves from this 
crooked generation." 
{I}41_{/}So those who 
accepted his word were 
baptized; some three 
thousand persons were 
added to their number 
that day.
THE FIRST COMMUNITY{/}

{I}42_{/}They were 
faithful to the teaching 
of the apostles, the 
common life of sharing, 
the breaking of bread and 
the prayers.
{I}43_{/}A holy fear came 
upon all the people, for 
many wonders and 
miraculous signs were 
done by the apostles. 
{I}44_{/}Now all the 
believers lived together 
and shared all their 
belongings. {I}45_{/}They 
would sell their property 
and all they had and 
distribute the proceeds 
to others according to 
their need. {I}46_{/}Each 
day they met together in 
the Temple area; they 
broke bread in their 
homes; they shared their 
food with great joy and 
simplicity of heart; 
{I}47_{/}they praised God 
and won the people's 
favor. And every day the 
Lord added to their 
number those who were 
being saved.
PETER AND JOHN CURE A 
LAME MAN{/}

{1}3{/}

{I}1_{/}Once when Peter 
and John were going up to 
the Temple at three in 
the afternoon, the hour 
for prayer, {I}2_{/}a man 
crippled from birth was 
being carried in. Every 
day they would bring him 
and put him at the temple 
gate called "Beautiful"; 
there he begged from 
those who entered the 
Temple.
{I}3_{/}When he saw Peter 
and John on their way 
into the Temple, he asked 
for alms. {I}4_{/}Then 
Peter with John at his 
side looked straight at 
him and said, "Look at 
us." {I}5_{/}So he looked 
at them, expecting to 
receive something from 
them. {I}6_{/}But Peter 
said, "I have neither 
silver nor gold, but what 
I have I give you: In the 
name of Jesus of 
Nazareth, the Messiah, 
walk!"
{I}7_{/}Then he took the 
beggar by his right hand 
and helped him up. At 
once his feet and ankles 
became firm, {I}8_{/}and 
jumping up he stood on 
his feet and began to 
walk. And he went with 
them into the Temple 
walking and leaping and 
praising God.
{I}9_{/}All the people 
saw him walking and 
praising God; 
{I}10_{/}they recognized 
him as the one who used 
to sit begging at the 
Beautiful Gate of the 
Temple, and they were all 
astonished and amazed at 
what had happened to him.
{I}11_{/}While he clung 
to Peter and John, all 
the people, struck with 
astonishment, came 
running to them in 
Solomon's Porch, as it 
was called. {I}12_{/}When 
Peter saw the people, he 
said to them,
"Fellow Israelites, why 
are you amazed at this? 
Why do you stare at us as 
if it was by some power 
or holiness of our own 
that we made this man 
walk? {I}13_{/}The God of 
Abraham, of Isaac and of 
Jacob, the God of our 
ancestors has glorified 
his servant Jesus whom 
you handed over to death 
and denied before Pilate, 
when even Pilate had 
decided to release him. 
{I}14_{/}You rejected the 
Holy and Just One, and 
you insisted that a 
murderer be released to 
you. {I}15_{/}You killed 
the Master of life, but 
God raised him from the 
dead and we are witnesses 
to this. {I}16_{/}It is 
his Name, and faith in 
his Name, that has healed 
this man whom you see and 
recognize. The faith 
which comes through Jesus 
has given him wholeness 
in the presence of all of 
you.
{I}17_{/}Yet I know that 
you acted out of 
ignorance, as did your 
leaders. {I}18_{/}God has 
fulfilled in this way 
what he had foretold 
through all the prophets, 
that his Messiah would 
suffer.
{I}19_{/}Repent, then, 
and turn to God so that 
your sins may be wiped 
out {I}20_{/}and the time 
of refreshment may come 
by the mercy of God, when 
he sends the Messiah 
appointed for you, Jesus. 
{I}21_{/}For he must 
remain in heaven until 
the time of the universal 
restoration which God 
spoke of long ago through 
his holy prophets.
{I}22_{/}Moses foretold 
this when he said: The 
Lord God will raise up 
for you a prophet like me 
from among your own 
people; you shall listen 
to him in all that he 
says to you. 
{I}23_{/}Whoever does not 
listen to that prophet is 
to be cut off from among 
his people.
{I}24_{/}In fact, all the 
prophets who have spoken, 
from Samuel onward, have 
announced the events of 
these days. {I}25_{/}You 
are the children of the 
prophets and heirs of the 
covenant which God gave 
to your ancestors when he 
said to Abraham: All the 
families of the earth 
will be blessed through 
your descendant. 
{I}26_{/}It is to you 
first that God sends his 
Servant; he raised him to 
life to bless you by 
turning each of you from 
your wicked ways."
PETER AND JOHN ARE 
ARRESTED{/}

{1}4{/}

{I}1_{/}While Peter and 
John were still speaking 
to the people, the 
priests, the captain of 
the temple guard and the 
Sadducees came up to 
them. {I}2_{/}They were 
greatly disturbed because 
the apostles were 
teaching the people and 
proclaiming that 
resurrection from the 
dead had been proved in 
the case of Jesus. 
{I}3_{/}Since it was 
already evening, they 
arrested them and put 
them in custody until the 
following day. 
{I}4_{/}But despite this, 
many of those who heard 
the Message believed and 
their number increased to 
about five thousand.
{I}5_{/}The next day, the 
Jewish leaders, elders 
and teachers of the Law 
assembled in Jerusalem. 
{I}6_{/}Annas, the High 
Priest, Caiaphas, John, 
Alexander, and all who 
were of the high priestly 
class were there. 
{I}7_{/}They brought 
Peter and John before 
them and began to 
question them, "How did 
you do this? Whose name 
did you use?"
{I}8_{/}Then Peter, 
filled with the Holy 
Spirit, spoke up, 
"Leaders of the people! 
Elders! {I}9_{/}It is a 
fact that we are being 
examined today for a good 
deed done to a cripple. 
How was he healed? 
{I}10_{/}You and all the 
people of Israel must 
know that this man stands 
before you cured through 
the Name of Jesus Christ 
the Nazarean. You had him 
crucified, but God raised 
him from the dead. 
{I}11_{/}Jesus is the 
stone rejected by you the 
builders which has become 
the cornerstone. 
{I}12_{/}There is no 
salvation in anyone else, 
for there is no other 
Name given to humankind 
all over the world by 
which we may be saved."
{I}13_{/}They were 
astonished at the 
boldness of Peter and 
John, considering that 
they were uneducated and 
untrained men. They 
recognized, also, that 
they had been with Jesus, 
{I}14_{/}but, as the man 
who had been cured stood 
beside them, they could 
make no reply.
{I}15_{/}So they ordered 
them to leave the council 
room while they consulted 
with one another. 
{I}16_{/}They asked, 
"What shall we do with 
these men? Everyone who 
lives in Jerusalem knows 
that a remarkable sign 
has been given through 
them, and we cannot deny 
it. {I}17_{/}But to stop 
this from spreading any 
further among the people, 
let us warn them never 
again to speak to anyone 
in the name of Jesus." 
{I}18_{/}So they called 
them back and charged 
them not to speak or 
teach at all in the name 
of Jesus.
{I}19_{/}But Peter and 
John answered them, 
"Judge for yourselves 
whether it is right in 
God's eyes for us to obey 
you rather than God. 
{I}20_{/}We cannot stop 
speaking about what we 
have seen and heard." 
{I}21_{/}Then the council 
threatened them once more 
and let them go. They 
could find no way of 
punishing them because of 
the people who glorified 
God for what had 
happened, {I}22_{/}for 
the man who had been 
miraculously healed was 
over forty years old.
THE PRAYER OF THE 
COMMUNITY{/}

{I}23_{/}As soon as Peter 
and John were set free, 
they went to their 
friends and reported what 
the chief priests and 
elders had said to them.
{I}24_{/}When they heard 
it, they raised their 
voices as one and called 
upon God, "Sovereign 
Lord, maker of heaven and 
earth, of the sea and 
everything in them, 
{I}25_{/}you have put 
these words in the mouth 
of David, our father and 
your servant, through the 
Holy Spirit: Why did the 
pagan nations rage and 
the people conspire in 
folly? {I}26_{/}The kings 
of the earth were aligned 
and the princes gathered 
together against the Lord 
and against his Messiah. 
{I}27_{/}For indeed in 
this very city Herod with 
Pontius Pilate, and the 
pagans together with the 
people of Israel 
conspired against your 
holy servant Jesus, whom 
you anointed. 
{I}28_{/}Thus, indeed, 
they brought about 
whatever your powerful 
will had decided from all 
time would happen. 
{I}29_{/}But now, Lord, 
see their threats against 
us and enable your 
servants to speak your 
word with all boldness. 
{I}30_{/}Stretch out your 
hand to heal and to work 
signs and wonders through 
the Name of Jesus your 
holy servant."
{I}31_{/}When they had 
prayed, the place where 
they were gathered 
together shook, and they 
were all filled with Holy 
Spirit and began to speak 
the word of God boldly.
AN ATTEMPT TO SHARE 
EVERYTHING{/}

{I}32_{/}The whole 
community of believers 
were one in heart and 
mind. No one claimed 
private ownership of any 
possessions, but rather 
they shared all things in 
common. {I}33_{/}With 
great power the apostles 
bore witness to the 
resurrection of the Lord 
Jesus, for all of them 
were living in an 
exceptional time of 
grace.
{I}34_{/}There was no 
needy person among them, 
for those who owned land 
or houses, sold them and 
brought the proceeds of 
the sale. {I}35_{/}And 
they laid it at the feet 
of the apostles who 
distributed it according 
to each one's need. 
{I}36_{/}This is what a 
certain Joseph did. He 
was a Levite from Cyprus, 
whom the apostles called 
Barnabas, meaning: "The 
encouraging one." 
{I}37_{/}He sold a field 
which he owned and handed 
the money to the 
apostles.
THE FRAUD OF ANANIAS AND 
SAPPHIRA{/}

{1}5{/}

{I}1_{/}Another man named 
Ananias, in agreement 
with his wife Sapphira, 
likewise sold a piece of 
land; {I}2_{/}with his 
wife's knowledge he put 
aside some of the 
proceeds, and the rest he 
turned over to the 
apostles.
{I}3_{/}Then Peter said 
to him, "Ananias, how is 
it that you let Satan 
fill your heart and why 
do you intend to deceive 
the Holy Spirit by 
keeping some of the 
proceeds of your land for 
yourself? {I}4_{/}Who 
obliged you to sell it? 
And after it was sold, 
could you not have kept 
all the money? How could 
you think of such a 
thing? You have not 
deceived us but God." 
{I}5_{/}Upon hearing 
these words, Ananias fell 
down and died. Great fear 
came upon all who heard 
of it; {I}6_{/}the young 
men stood up, wrapped his 
body and carried it out 
for burial.
{I}7_{/}About three hours 
later Ananias's wife came 
but she was not aware of 
what had happened. 
{I}8_{/}Peter challenged 
her, "Tell me whether you 
sold that piece of land 
for this price?" She 
said, "Yes, that was the 
price." {I}9_{/}Peter 
replied, "How could you 
two agree to put the Holy 
Spirit to the test? Those 
who buried your husband 
are at the door and they 
will carry you out as 
well."
{I}10_{/}With that, she 
fell dead at his feet. 
The young men came in, 
found her dead and 
carried her out for 
burial beside her 
husband. {I}11_{/}And 
great fear came upon the 
whole church and upon all 
who heard of it.
{I}12_{/}Many miraculous 
signs and wonders were 
done among the people 
through the hands of the 
apostles. The believers, 
of one accord, used to 
meet in Solomon's Porch. 
{I}13_{/}None of the 
others dared to join 
them, but the people held 
them in high esteem. 
{I}14_{/}So an ever 
increasing number of men 
and women, believed in 
the Lord. {I}15_{/}The 
people carried the sick 
into the streets and laid 
them on cots and on mats, 
so that when Peter passed 
by, at least his shadow 
might fall on some of 
them. {I}16_{/}The people 
gathered from the towns 
around Jerusalem, 
bringing their sick and 
those who were troubled 
by unclean spirits, and 
all of them were healed.
THE APOSTLES ARRESTED 
AGAIN{/}

{I}17_{/}The High Priest 
and all his supporters, 
that is the party of the 
Sadducees, became very 
jealous of the apostles; 
{I}18_{/}so they arrested 
them and had them thrown 
into the public jail. 
{I}19_{/}But an angel of 
the Lord opened the door 
of the prison during the 
night, brought them out, 
and said to them, 
{I}20_{/}"Go and stand in 
the Temple court and tell 
the people the whole of 
this living message." 
{I}21_{/}Accordingly they 
entered the Temple at 
dawn and resumed their 
teaching.
When the High Priest and 
his supporters arrived, 
they called together the 
Sanhedrin, that is the 
full Council of the 
elders of Israel. They 
sent word to the jail to 
have the prisoners 
brought in. {I}22_{/}But 
when the Temple guards 
arrived at the jail, they 
did not find them inside, 
so they returned with the 
news, {I}23_{/}"We found 
the prison securely 
locked and the prison 
guards at their post 
outside the gate, but 
when we opened the gate, 
we found no one inside."
{I}24_{/}Upon hearing 
these words, the captain 
of the Temple guard and 
the high priests were 
baffled, wondering where 
all of this would end. 
{I}25_{/}Just then 
someone arrived with the 
report, "Look, those men 
whom you put in prison 
are standing in the 
Temple, teaching the 
people." {I}26_{/}Then 
the captain went off with 
the guards and brought 
them back, but without 
any show of force, for 
fear of being stoned by 
the people.
{I}27_{/}So they brought 
them in and made them 
stand before the Council 
and the High Priest 
questioned them, 
{I}28_{/}"We gave you 
strict orders not to 
preach such a Savior; but 
you have filled Jerusalem 
with your teaching and 
you intend charging us 
with the killing of this 
man." {I}29_{/}To this 
Peter and the apostles 
replied, "Better for us 
to obey God rather than 
any human authority!
{I}30_{/}The God of our 
ancestors raised Jesus 
whom you killed by 
hanging him on a wooden 
post. {I}31_{/}God set 
him at his right hand as 
Leader and Savior, to 
grant repentance and 
forgiveness of sins to 
Israel. {I}32_{/}We are 
witnesses to all these 
things, as well as the 
Holy Spirit whom God has 
given to those who obey 
him."
{I}33_{/}When the Council 
heard this, they became 
very angry and wanted to 
kill them. {I}34_{/}But 
one of them, a Pharisee 
named Gamaliel, a teacher 
of the Law highly 
respected by the people, 
stood up in the 
Sanhedrin. He ordered the 
men to be taken outside 
for a few minutes 
{I}35_{/}and then he 
spoke to the assembly.
"Fellow Israelites, 
consider well what you 
intend to do to these 
men. {I}36_{/}For some 
time ago Theudas came 
forward, claiming to be 
somebody, and about four 
hundred men joined him. 
But he was killed and all 
his followers were 
dispersed or disappeared. 
{I}37_{/}After him, Judas 
the Galilean appeared at 
the time of the census 
and persuaded many people 
to follow him. But he too 
perished and his whole 
following was scattered. 
{I}38_{/}So, in this 
present case, I advise 
you to have nothing to do 
with these men. Leave 
them alone. If their 
project or activity is of 
human origin, it will 
destroy itself. 
{I}39_{/}If, on the other 
hand, it is from God, you 
will not be able to 
destroy it and you may 
indeed find yourselves 
fighting against God."
The Council let 
themselves be persuaded. 
{I}40_{/}They called in 
the apostles and had them 
whipped, and ordered them 
not to speak again of 
Jesus Savior. Then they 
set them free.
{I}41_{/}The apostles 
went out from the Council 
rejoicing that they were 
considered worthy to 
suffer disgrace for the 
sake of the Name. 
{I}42_{/}Day after day, 
both in the Temple and in 
people's homes, they 
continued to teach and to 
proclaim that Jesus was 
the Messiah.
THE CHOOSING OF THE 
SEVEN{/}

{1}6{/}

{I}1_{/}In those days, as 
the number of disciples 
grew, the so-called 
Hellenists complained 
against the so-called 
Hebrews, because their 
widows were being 
neglected in the daily 
distribution. {I}2_{/}So 
the Twelve summoned the 
whole body of disciples 
together and said, "It is 
not right that we should 
neglect the word of God 
to serve at tables. 
{I}3_{/}So, friends, 
choose from among 
yourselves seven 
respected men full of 
Spirit and wisdom, that 
we may appoint them to 
this task. {I}4_{/}As for 
us, we shall give 
ourselves to prayer and 
to the ministry of the 
Word."
{I}5_{/}The whole 
community agreed and they 
chose Stephen, a man full 
of faith and Holy Spirit; 
Philip, Prochorus, 
Nicanor, Timon, Parmenus 
and Nicolaus of Antioch 
who was a proselyte. 
{I}6_{/}They presented 
these men to the apostles 
who first prayed over 
them and then laid hands 
upon them.
{I}7_{/}The Word of God 
continued to spread, and 
the number of the 
disciples in Jerusalem 
increased greatly and 
even many priests 
accepted the faith.
THE STORY OF STEPHEN{/}

{I}8_{/}Stephen, full of 
grace and power, did 
great wonders and 
miraculous signs among 
the people. {I}9_{/}Some 
persons then came 
forward, who belonged to 
the so-called Synagogue 
of Freedmen from Cyrene, 
Alexandria, Cilicia and 
Asia. {I}10_{/}They 
argued with Stephen but 
they could not match the 
wisdom and the spirit 
with which he spoke. 
{I}11_{/}As they were 
unable to face the truth, 
they bribed some men to 
say, "We heard him speak 
against Moses and against 
God."
{I}12_{/}So they stirred 
up the people, the elders 
and the teachers of the 
Law; they took him by 
surprise, seized him and 
brought him before the 
Council. {I}13_{/}Then 
they produced false 
witnesses who said, "This 
man never stops speaking 
against our Holy Place 
and the Law. {I}14_{/}We 
even heard him say that 
Jesus the Nazarean will 
destroy our Holy Place 
and change the customs 
which Moses handed down 
to us." {I}15_{/}And all 
who sat in the Council 
fixed their eyes on him, 
and his face appeared to 
them like the face of an 
angel.
{1}7{/}

{I}1_{/}So the High 
Priest asked him: "Is it 
true?" He answered, 
"Brothers and fathers, 
listen to me.
{I}2_{/}The God of glory 
appeared to our father 
Abraham when he was in 
Mesopotamia, before he 
went to live in Haran. 
And he said to him: 
{I}3_{/}'Leave your land 
and your relatives and go 
to the land which I will 
show you.' {I}4_{/}So he 
left the land of the 
Chaldeans and settled in 
Haran. After the death of 
his father, God made him 
move to this land in 
which you now dwell. 
{I}5_{/}And there he did 
not give him anything 
that was his own, not 
even the smallest portion 
of land to put his foot 
on, but promised to give 
it to him in possession 
and to his descendants, 
though he had no child. 
{I}6_{/}So God spoke: 
'Your descendants shall 
live in a strange land, 
they shall be enslaved 
and maltreated for four 
hundred years. {I}7_{/}So 
I shall call the nation 
which they serve as 
slaves to render an 
account for it. They will 
come out and worship me 
in this place.'
{I}8_{/}He made with him 
the covenant of 
circumcision. And so, at 
the birth of his son 
Isaac, Abraham 
circumcised him on the 
eighth day. Isaac did the 
same to Jacob, and Jacob 
to the twelve patriarchs.
{I}9_{/}The patriarchs 
envied Joseph so they 
sold him into Egypt. But 
God was with him. 
{I}10_{/}He rescued him 
from all his afflictions, 
granted him wisdom and 
made him please Pharaoh 
king of Egypt, who 
appointed him governor of 
Egypt and of the whole of 
his household. 
{I}11_{/}Then there was 
famine in all the land of 
Egypt and Canaan; it was 
a great misery and our 
ancestors did not have 
anything to eat. 
{I}12_{/}Upon learning 
that there was wheat in 
Egypt, Jacob sent our 
ancestors there on their 
first visit. {I}13_{/}On 
the second visit, Joseph 
made himself known to his 
brothers, and Pharaoh 
came to know the family 
of Joseph. 
{I}14_{/}Joseph commanded 
that his father Jacob be 
brought to him with the 
whole of his family of 
seventy-five persons. 
{I}15_{/}Jacob then went 
down to Egypt where he 
and our ancestors died. 
{I}16_{/}They were 
transferred to Shechem 
and laid in the tomb that 
Abraham had bought for a 
sum of silver from the 
sons of Hamor at Shechem.
{I}17_{/}As the time of 
promise drew near, which 
God had made to Abraham, 
the people increased and 
multiplied in Egypt 
{I}18_{/}until came 
another king who did not 
know Joseph. 
{I}19_{/}Dealing 
cunningly with our race, 
he forced our ancestors 
to abandon their newborn 
infants and let them die. 
{I}20_{/}At that time 
Moses was born, and God 
looked kindly on him. For 
three months he was 
nursed in the home of his 
father; {I}21_{/}and when 
they abandoned him, 
Pharaoh's daughter took 
him and raised him as her 
own son. {I}22_{/}So 
Moses was educated in all 
the wisdom of the 
Egyptians. He was mighty 
in word and deed. 
{I}23_{/}And when he was 
forty years old, he 
wanted to visit his own 
people, the Israelites. 
{I}24_{/}When he saw one 
of them being wronged, he 
defended the oppressed 
man and killed the 
Egyptian. {I}25_{/}He 
thought his kinsfolk 
would understand that God 
was sending him to them 
as a liberator, but they 
did not understand. 
{I}26_{/}On the following 
day, he came to them as 
they were fighting and 
tried to reconcile them, 
saying: 'You are 
brothers, why do you hurt 
each other?' {I}27_{/}At 
that moment, the one who 
was injuring his 
companion rebuffed him 
saying: 'Who appointed 
you as our leader and 
judge? {I}28_{/}Do you 
want to kill me as you 
killed the Egyptian 
yesterday?' {I}29_{/}When 
Moses heard this, he fled 
and went to live as a 
stranger in the land of 
Midian where he had two 
sons.
{I}30_{/}After forty 
years an angel appeared 
to him in the desert of 
Mount Sinai in the flame 
of a burning bush. 
{I}31_{/}Moses was 
astonished at the vision. 
And as he approached to 
look at it, he heard the 
voice of the Lord: 
{I}32_{/}'I am the God of 
your fathers, the God of 
Abraham, Isaac and 
Jacob.' Moses was filled 
with fear and did not 
dare look at it. 
{I}33_{/}But the Lord 
said to him: 'Take off 
your sandals for the 
place where you stand is 
holy ground. {I}34_{/}I 
have seen the affliction 
of my people in Egypt and 
heard them weeping, and I 
have come down to free 
them. And now, get up! I 
am sending you to Egypt.'
{I}35_{/}This Moses whom 
they rejected saying: 
'Who appointed you leader 
and judge?' God sent as 
leader and liberator with 
the assistance of the 
angel who appeared to him 
in the bush. {I}36_{/}He 
led them out, performing 
signs and wonders in 
Egypt, at the Red Sea and 
in the desert for forty 
years. {I}37_{/}This 
Moses is the one who said 
to the Israelites: 'God 
will give you a prophet 
like me from among your 
own people.' 
{I}38_{/}This is the one 
who in the Assembly in 
the desert became the 
mediator between the 
angel who spoke to him on 
Mount Sinai and our 
ancestors; and he 
received the words of 
life that he might 
communicate them to us.
{I}39_{/}But him our 
ancestors refused to 
obey, they rejected him 
and turned their hearts 
to Egypt, saying to 
Aaron: {I}40_{/}'Give us 
gods to lead us since we 
do not know what has 
happened to that Moses 
who brought us out of 
Egypt.' {I}41_{/}So in 
those days, they 
fashioned a calf, offered 
sacrifices to their idol 
and rejoiced in the work 
of their hands. 
{I}42_{/}So God departed 
from them and let them 
worship the stars of 
heaven, as it is written 
in the Book of the 
Prophets: 'People of 
Israel, did you offer me 
burnt offerings and 
sacrifices for forty 
years in the desert? 
{I}43_{/}No, you carried 
instead the tent of 
Moloch and the star of 
the god Rehan, images you 
made to worship, for this 
I will banish you farther 
than Babylon.'
{I}44_{/}Our ancestors 
had the Tent of Meeting 
in the desert, for God 
had directed Moses to 
build it according to the 
pattern he had seen. 
{I}45_{/}Our ancestors 
received it and brought 
it under the command of 
Joshua into the lands of 
the pagans that they 
conquered and whom God 
expelled before them. 
They kept it until the 
days of David 
{I}46_{/}who found favor 
with God and asked him to 
let him build a house for 
the God of Jacob. 
{I}47_{/}However, it was 
Solomon who built that 
temple.
{I}48_{/}In reality, the 
Most High does not dwell 
in houses made by human 
hands as the Prophet 
says: {I}49_{/}'Heaven is 
my throne and earth is my 
footstool. What house 
will you build for me, 
says the Lord, how could 
you give me a dwelling 
place? {I}50_{/}Was it 
not I who made all these 
things?'
{I}51_{/}But you are a 
stubborn people, you 
hardened your hearts and 
closed your ears. You 
have always resisted the 
Holy Spirit just as your 
fathers did. {I}52_{/}Was 
there a prophet whom your 
ancestors did not 
persecute? They killed 
those who announced the 
coming of the Just One 
whom you have now 
betrayed and murdered, 
{I}53_{/}you who received 
the Law through the 
angels but did not 
fulfill it."
{I}54_{/}When they heard 
this reproach, they were 
enraged and they gnashed 
their teeth against 
Stephen. {I}55_{/}But he, 
full of the Holy Spirit, 
fixed his eyes on heaven 
and saw the glory of God 
and Jesus at God's right 
hand, {I}56_{/}so he 
declared: "I see the 
heavens open and the Son 
of Man at the right hand 
of God."
{I}57_{/}But they shouted 
and covered their ears 
with their hands and 
rushed together upon him. 
{I}58_{/}They brought him 
out of the city and 
stoned him, and the 
witnesses laid down their 
cloaks at the feet of a 
young man named Saul. 
{I}59_{/}As they were 
stoning him, Stephen 
prayed saying: "Lord 
Jesus, receive my 
spirit." {I}60_{/}Then he 
knelt down and said in a 
loud voice: "Lord, do not 
hold this sin against 
them." And when he had 
said this, he died.
{1}8{/}

{I}1_{/}Saul was there, 
approving his murder. 
This was the beginning of 
a great persecution 
against the Church in 
Jerusalem. All, except 
the apostles, were 
scattered throughout the 
region of Judea and 
Samaria. {I}2_{/}Devout 
men buried Stephen and 
mourned deeply for him. 
{I}3_{/}Saul meanwhile 
was trying to destroy the 
Church; he entered house 
after house and dragged 
off men and women and had 
them put in jail.
PHILIP PROCLAIMS THE WORD 
IN SAMARIA{/}

{I}4_{/}At the same time 
those who were scattered 
went about preaching the 
word. {I}5_{/}Philip went 
down to a town of Samaria 
and proclaimed the Christ 
there. {I}6_{/}All the 
people paid close 
attention to what Philip 
said as they listened to 
him and saw the 
miraculous signs which he 
did. {I}7_{/}For in cases 
of possession, the 
unclean spirits came out 
shrieking loudly. Many 
people who were paralyzed 
or crippled were healed. 
{I}8_{/}So there was 
great joy in that town.
SIMON THE MAGICIAN{/}

{I}9_{/}A certain man 
named Simon had come to 
this town, practicing 
magic. He held the 
Samaritans spellbound and 
passed himself off as a 
very important person. 
{I}10_{/}All the people, 
from the last to the 
greatest, put their trust 
in him, saying, "This is 
the Power of God, the 
Great One." {I}11_{/}And 
they followed him because 
he had held them under 
the spell of his magic 
for a long time. 
{I}12_{/}But when they 
came to believe Philip 
who announced to them the 
Kingdom of God and Jesus 
Christ as Savior, both 
men and women were 
baptized.
{I}13_{/}Simon himself 
believed and was 
baptized, and would not 
depart from Philip. He 
was astonished when he 
saw the miraculous signs 
and wonders that 
happened.
{I}14_{/}Now, when the 
apostles in Jerusalem 
heard that the Samaritans 
had accepted the word of 
God, they sent Peter and 
John to them. 
{I}15_{/}They went down 
and prayed for them that 
they might receive the 
Holy Spirit, {I}16_{/}for 
he had not as yet come 
down upon any of them 
since they had only been 
baptized in the name of 
the Lord Jesus. 
{I}17_{/}So Peter and 
John laid their hands on 
them and they received 
the Holy Spirit.
{I}18_{/}When Simon saw 
that the Spirit was given 
through the laying on of 
the apostles' hands, he 
offered them money 
{I}19_{/}saying, "Give me 
also this power, so that 
anyone upon whom I lay my 
hands may receive the 
Holy Spirit."
{I}20_{/}Peter replied, 
"May you and your money 
perish for thinking that 
the Gift of God could be 
bought with money! 
{I}21_{/}You cannot share 
in this since you do not 
understand the things of 
God. {I}22_{/}Repent, 
therefore, of this 
wickedness of yours and 
pray to the Lord that you 
may be forgiven such a 
wrong way of thinking; 
{I}23_{/}I see you are 
poisoned with bitterness 
and in the grip of sin." 
{I}24_{/}Simon answered, 
"Pray to the Lord for me 
yourselves, so that none 
of these things you spoke 
of will happen to me."
{I}25_{/}Peter and John 
gave their testimony and 
spoke the word of the 
Lord. And they went back 
to Jerusalem, bringing 
the Good News to many 
Samaritan villages along 
the way.
PHILIP BAPTIZES THE 
ETHIOPIAN{/}

{I}26_{/}An angel of the 
Lord said to Philip, "Go 
south towards the road 
that goes down from 
Jerusalem to Gaza, the 
desert road." {I}27_{/}So 
he set out and it 
happened that an 
Ethiopian was passing 
along that way. He was an 
official in charge of the 
treasury of the queen of 
the Ethiopians; he had 
come on pilgrimage to 
Jerusalem {I}28_{/}and 
was on his way home. He 
was sitting in his 
carriage and reading the 
prophet Isaiah.
{I}29_{/}The Spirit said 
to Philip, "Go and catch 
up with that carriage." 
{I}30_{/}So Philip ran up 
and heard the man reading 
the prophet Isaiah; and 
he asked, "Do you really 
understand what you are 
reading?" The Ethiopian 
replied, {I}31_{/}"How 
can I, unless someone 
explains it to me?" He 
then invited Philip to 
get in and sit beside 
him. {I}32_{/}This was 
the passage of Scripture 
he was reading:
He was led like a sheep 
to be slaughtered; like a 
lamb that is dumb before 
the shearer, he did not 
open his mouth. 
{I}33_{/}He was humbled 
and deprived of his 
rights. Who can speak of 
his descendants? For he 
was uprooted from the 
earth.
{I}34_{/}The official 
asked Philip, "Tell me, 
please, does the prophet 
speak of himself or of 
someone else?"
{I}35_{/}Then Philip 
began to tell him the 
Good News of Jesus, using 
this text of Scripture as 
his starting point. 
{I}36_{/}As they traveled 
down the road they came 
to a place where there 
was some water. Then the 
Ethiopian official said, 
"Look, here is water; 
what is to keep me from 
being baptized?" 
({I}37{/})
{I}38_{/}Then he ordered 
the carriage to stop; 
both Philip and the 
Ethiopian went down into 
the water and Philip 
baptized him. 
{I}39_{/}When they came 
out of the water, the 
Spirit of the Lord took 
Philip away. The 
Ethiopian saw him no 
more, but he continued on 
his way full of joy. 
{I}40_{/}Philip found 
himself at Azotus, and he 
went about announcing the 
Good News in all the 
towns until he reached 
Caesarea.
SAUL MEETS JESUS{/}

{1}9{/}

{I}1_{/}Meanwhile Saul 
considered nothing but 
violence and death for 
the disciples of the 
Lord. {I}2_{/}He went to 
the High Priest and asked 
him for letters to the 
synagogues of Damascus 
that would authorize him 
to arrest and bring to 
Jerusalem anyone he might 
find, man or woman, 
belonging to the Way.
{I}3_{/}As he traveled 
along and was approaching 
Damascus, a light from 
the sky suddenly flashed 
around him. {I}4_{/}He 
fell to the ground and 
heard a voice saying to 
him, "Saul, Saul! Why do 
you persecute me?" 
{I}5_{/}And he asked, 
"Who are you, Lord?" The 
voice replied, "I am 
Jesus whom you persecute. 
{I}6_{/}Now get up and go 
into the city; there you 
will be told what you are 
to do."
{I}7_{/}The men who were 
traveling with him stood 
there speechless: they 
had heard the sound, but 
could see no one. 
{I}8_{/}Saul got up from 
the ground and, opening 
his eyes, he could not 
see. They took him by the 
hand and brought him to 
Damascus. {I}9_{/}He was 
blind and he did not eat 
or drink for three days.
{I}10_{/}There was a 
disciple in Damascus 
named Ananias, to whom 
the Lord called in a 
vision, "Ananias!" He 
answered, "Here I am, 
Lord!" {I}11_{/}Then the 
Lord said to him, "Go at 
once to Straight Street 
and ask, at the house of 
Judas, for a man of 
Tarsus named Saul. You 
will find him praying, 
{I}12_{/}for he has just 
seen in a vision that a 
man named Ananias has 
come in and placed his 
hands upon him, to 
restore his sight."
{I}13_{/}Ananias 
answered, "Lord, I have 
heard from many sources 
about this man and all 
the harm he has done to 
your saints in Jerusalem, 
{I}14_{/}and now he is 
here with authority from 
the High Priest to arrest 
all who call upon your 
name." {I}15_{/}But the 
Lord said to him, "Go! 
This man is my chosen 
instrument to bring my 
name to the pagan nations 
and their kings, and the 
people of Israel as well. 
{I}16_{/}I myself will 
show him how much he will 
have to suffer for my 
name."
{I}17_{/}So Ananias left 
and went to the house. He 
laid his hands upon Saul 
and said, "Saul, my 
brother, the Lord Jesus, 
who appeared to you on 
your way here, has sent 
me to you so that you may 
receive your sight and be 
filled with Holy Spirit." 
{I}18_{/}Immediately 
something like scales 
fell from his eyes and he 
could see; he got up and 
was baptized. 
{I}19_{/}Then he took 
food and was 
strengthened.
For several days Saul 
stayed with the disciples 
at Damascus, {I}20_{/}and 
he soon began to proclaim 
in the synagogues that 
Jesus was the Son of God. 
{I}21_{/}All who heard 
were astonished and said, 
"Is this not the one who 
cast out in Jerusalem all 
those calling upon this 
Name? Did he not come 
here to bring them bound 
before the chief 
priests?"
{I}22_{/}But Saul grew 
more and more powerful, 
and he confounded the 
Jews living in Damascus 
when he proved that Jesus 
was the Messiah.
{I}23_{/}After a fairly 
long time, the Jews 
conspired together to 
kill him. {I}24_{/}But 
Saul became aware of 
their plan: Day and night 
they kept watch at the 
city gate in order to 
kill him. {I}25_{/}So his 
disciples took him one 
night and let him down 
from the top of the wall, 
lowering him in a basket.
{I}26_{/}When Saul came 
to Jerusalem, he tried to 
join the disciples there, 
but they were afraid of 
him because they could 
not believe that he was a 
disciple. {I}27_{/}But 
Barnabas took him and 
brought him to the 
apostles. He recounted to 
them how Saul had seen 
the Lord on his way and 
the words the Lord had 
spoken to him. He told 
them also how Saul had 
preached boldly in the 
name of Jesus.
{I}28_{/}Then Saul began 
to live with them. He 
moved about freely in 
Jerusalem and preached 
openly in the name of the 
Lord. {I}29_{/}He also 
spoke to the Hellenists 
and argued with them, but 
they wanted to kill him. 
{I}30_{/}When the 
believers learned of 
this, they took him down 
to Caesarea and sent him 
off to Tarsus.
{I}31_{/}Meanwhile, the 
Church had peace. It was 
building up throughout 
all Judea and Galilee and 
Samaria with eyes turned 
to the Lord and filled 
with comfort from the 
Holy Spirit.
PETER VISITS THE 
CHURCHES{/}

{I}32_{/}As Peter 
traveled around, he went 
to visit the saints who 
lived in Lydda. 
{I}33_{/}There he found a 
man named Aeneas who was 
paralyzed, and had been 
bedridden for eight 
years. {I}34_{/}Peter 
said to him, "Aeneas, 
Jesus Christ heals you; 
get up and make your 
bed!" And the man got up 
at once. {I}35_{/}All the 
people living in Lydda 
and Sharon saw him and 
turned to the Lord.
{I}36_{/}There was a 
disciple in Joppa named 
Tabitha, which means 
Dorcas or Gazelle. She 
was always doing good 
works and helping the 
poor. {I}37_{/}At that 
time she fell sick and 
died. After having washed 
her body, they laid her 
in the upstairs room.
{I}38_{/}As Lydda is near 
Joppa, the disciples, on 
hearing that Peter was 
there, sent two men to 
him with the request, 
"Please come to us 
without delay."
{I}39_{/}So Peter went 
with them. On his arrival 
they took him upstairs to 
the room. All the widows 
crowded around him in 
tears, showing him the 
clothes which Dorcas had 
made while she was with 
them. {I}40_{/}Peter made 
them all leave the room 
and then he knelt down 
and prayed. Turning to 
the dead body he said, 
"Tabitha, stand up." She 
opened her eyes, looked 
at Peter and sat up. 
{I}41_{/}Peter gave her 
his hand and helped her 
up. Then he called in the 
saints and widows and 
presented her to them 
alive. {I}42_{/}This 
became known throughout 
all of Joppa and many 
people believed in the 
Lord because of it. 
{I}43_{/}As for Peter, he 
remained for some time in 
Joppa at the house of 
Simon, a tanner of 
leather.
THE BAPTISM OF 
CORNELIUS{/}

{1}10{/}

{I}1_{/}There was in 
Caesarea a man named 
Cornelius, captain of 
what was called the 
Italian Battalion. 
{I}2_{/}He was a 
religious and God-fearing 
man together with his 
whole household. He gave 
generously to the people 
and constantly prayed to 
God.
{I}3_{/}One afternoon at 
about three he had a 
vision in which he 
clearly saw an angel of 
God coming towards him 
and calling him, 
"Cornelius!" {I}4_{/}He 
stared at the vision with 
awe and said, "What is 
it, sir?" And the angel 
answered, "Your prayers 
and your alms have just 
been recalled before God. 
{I}5_{/}Now send some men 
to Joppa and summon a 
certain Simon also known 
as Peter; {I}6_{/}he is 
the guest of Simon, a 
tanner, who lives beside 
the sea."
{I}7_{/}As soon as the 
angel who spoke to him 
departed, Cornelius 
called two of his 
servants and a devout 
soldier from among those 
attached to his service, 
{I}8_{/}and after having 
explained everything to 
them, he sent them to 
Joppa.
{I}9_{/}The next day, 
while they were on their 
journey and approaching 
the city, Peter went up 
to the roof at about noon 
to pray. {I}10_{/}He 
became hungry and wished 
to eat, but while they 
were preparing food, he 
fell into a trance. 
{I}11_{/}The heavens were 
opened to him and he saw 
an object that looked 
like a large sheet coming 
down, until it rested on 
the ground by its four 
corners. {I}12_{/}In it 
were all kinds of four-
legged animals of the 
earth, reptiles and 
birds.
{I}13_{/}Then a voice 
said to him, "Get up, 
Peter, kill and eat!" 
{I}14_{/}But Peter 
replied, "Certainly not, 
Lord! I have never eaten 
any defiled or unclean 
creature." {I}15_{/}And 
again a second time the 
voice spoke, "What God 
has made clean, you must 
not call unclean." 
{I}16_{/}This happened 
three times and then the 
sheet was taken up again 
into the sky.
{I}17_{/}While Peter was 
still puzzling over the 
meaning of the vision he 
had seen, the messengers 
of Cornelius arrived at 
the gate asking for the 
house of Simon. 
{I}18_{/}They called out 
to inquire whether Simon, 
also known as Peter, was 
staying there. 
{I}19_{/}At that moment, 
as Peter continued 
pondering on the vision, 
the Spirit spoke to him, 
"There are men looking 
for you; {I}20_{/}get up 
and go downstairs and 
follow them without 
hesitation, for I have 
sent them." 
{I}21_{/}So Peter went 
and said to the men, "I 
am the one you are 
looking for. What brings 
you here?" They answered, 
{I}22_{/}"He who sent us 
is Captain Cornelius. He 
is an upright and God-
fearing man, well 
respected by all the 
Jewish people. He has 
been instructed by a holy 
angel to summon you to 
his house, so that he may 
listen to what you have 
to say." {I}23_{/}So 
Peter invited them in and 
put them up for the 
night.
The next day he went off 
with them and some of the 
believers from Joppa 
accompanied him. 
{I}24_{/}The following 
day, he arrived in 
Caesarea where Cornelius 
was expecting them; he 
had called together his 
relatives and close 
friends. {I}25_{/}As 
Peter was about to enter, 
Cornelius went to him, 
fell on his knees and 
bowed low. {I}26_{/}But 
Peter lifted him up 
saying, "Stand up, for I 
too am a human being."
{I}27_{/}After talking 
with him, Peter entered 
and found many people 
assembled there. 
{I}28_{/}Then he said to 
them, "You know that it 
is forbidden for Jews to 
associate with anyone of 
another nation or to 
enter their houses. But 
God has made it clear to 
me that no one should 
call any person common or 
unclean; {I}29_{/}because 
of this I came at once 
when I was sent for. Now 
I should like to know why 
you sent for me."
{I}30_{/}Cornelius then 
answered, "Just three 
days ago at this time, 
about three in the 
afternoon, I was praying 
in my house when a man in 
shining clothes stood 
before me {I}31_{/}and 
said to me: 'Cornelius, 
God has heard your 
prayer, and your alms 
have been remembered 
before him. {I}32_{/}Send 
someone, therefore, to 
Joppa and ask for Simon, 
also known as Peter, who 
is guest at the house of 
Simon the tanner by the 
sea.' {I}33_{/}So I sent 
for you at once and you 
have been kind enough to 
come. Now we are all here 
in God's presence, 
waiting to hear all that 
the Lord has commanded 
you to say."
{I}34_{/}Peter then spoke 
to them, "Truly, I 
realize that God does not 
show partiality, 
{I}35_{/}but in all 
nations he listens to 
everyone who fears God 
and does good. 
{I}36_{/}And this is the 
message he has sent to 
the children of Israel, 
the good news of peace he 
has proclaimed through 
Jesus Christ, who is the 
Lord of all. {I}37_{/}No 
doubt you have heard of 
the event that occurred 
throughout the whole 
country of the Jews, 
beginning from Galilee, 
after the baptism John 
preached. {I}38_{/}You 
know how God anointed 
Jesus the Nazarean with 
Holy Spirit and power. He 
went about doing good and 
healing all who were 
under the devil's power, 
because God was with him; 
{I}39_{/}we are witnesses 
of all that he did 
throughout the country of 
the Jews and in Jerusalem 
itself. Yet they put him 
to death by hanging him 
on a wooden cross.
{I}40_{/}But God raised 
him to life on the third 
day and let him manifest 
himself, {I}41_{/}not to 
all the people, but to 
the witnesses that were 
chosen beforehand by God 
- to us who ate and drank 
with him after his 
resurrection from death. 
{I}42_{/}And he commanded 
us to preach to the 
people and to bear 
witness that he is the 
one appointed by God to 
judge the living and the 
dead. {I}43_{/}All the 
prophets say of him, that 
everyone who believes in 
him has forgiveness of 
sins through his Name."
{I}44_{/}Peter was still 
speaking when the Holy 
Spirit came upon all who 
listened to the Word. 
{I}45_{/}And the 
believers of Jewish 
origin who had come with 
Peter were amazed, "Why! 
God gives and pours the 
Holy Spirit on foreigners 
also!" {I}46_{/}For 
indeed this happened: 
they heard them speaking 
in tongues and praising 
God.
{I}47_{/}Then Peter 
declared, "Can we refuse 
to baptize with water 
these people who have 
received the Holy Spirit, 
just as we have?" 
{I}48_{/}So he had them 
baptized in the name of 
Jesus Christ. After that 
they asked him to remain 
with them for some days.
PETER JUSTIFIES HIS 
CONDUCT{/}

{1}11{/}

{I}1_{/}News came to the 
apostles and the brothers 
and sisters in Judea that 
even foreigners had 
received the Word of God. 
{I}2_{/}So, when Peter 
went up to Jerusalem, 
these Jewish believers 
began to argue with him, 
{I}3_{/}"You went to the 
home of uncircumcised 
people and ate with 
them!"
{I}4_{/}So Peter began to 
give them the facts as 
they had happened, 
{I}5_{/}"I was at prayer 
in the city of Joppa 
when, in a trance, I saw 
a vision. Something like 
a large sheet came down 
from the sky and drew 
near to me, landing on 
the ground by its four 
corners. {I}6_{/}As I 
stared at it, I saw four-
legged creatures of the 
earth, wild beasts and 
reptiles, and birds of 
the sky. {I}7_{/}Then I 
heard a voice saying to 
me: 'Get up, Peter, kill 
and eat!' {I}8_{/}I 
replied, 'Certainly not, 
Lord! No common or 
unclean creature has ever 
entered my mouth.' 
{I}9_{/}A second time the 
voice from the heavens 
spoke, "What God has made 
clean, you must not call 
unclean." {I}10_{/}This 
happened three times, and 
then it was all drawn up 
into the sky. {I}11_{/}At 
that moment three men, 
who had been sent to me 
from Caesarea, arrived at 
the house where we were 
staying. {I}12_{/}The 
Spirit instructed me to 
go with them without 
hesitation; so these six 
brothers came along with 
me and we entered into 
the man's house. 
{I}13_{/}He told us how 
he had seen an angel 
standing in his house and 
telling him: Send someone 
to Joppa and fetch Simon, 
also known as Peter. 
{I}14_{/}He will bring 
you a message by which 
you and all your 
household will be saved."
{I}15_{/}I had begun to 
address them when 
suddenly the Holy Spirit 
came upon them, just as 
it had come upon us at 
the beginning. 
{I}16_{/}Then I 
remembered what the Lord 
had said: 'John baptized 
with water, but you shall 
be baptized with the Holy 
Spirit.' {I}17_{/}If, 
then, God had given them 
the same gift that he had 
given us when we believed 
in the Lord Jesus Christ, 
who was I to resist God?"
{I}18_{/}When they heard 
this they set their minds 
at rest and praised God 
saying, "Then God has 
granted life-giving 
repentance to the pagan 
nations as well."
THE FOUNDATION OF THE 
CHURCH AT ANTIOCH{/}

{I}19_{/}Those who had 
been scattered because of 
the persecution over 
Stephen traveled as far 
as Phoenicia, Cyprus and 
Antioch, telling the 
message, but only to the 
Jews. {I}20_{/}But there 
were some natives of 
Cyprus and Cyrene among 
them who, on coming into 
Antioch, spoke also to 
the Greeks, giving them 
the good news of the Lord 
Jesus. {I}21_{/}The hand 
of the Lord was with them 
so that a great number 
believed and turned to 
the Lord.
{I}22_{/}News of this 
reached the ears of the 
Church in Jerusalem, so 
they sent Barnabas to 
Antioch. {I}23_{/}When he 
arrived and saw the 
manifest signs of God's 
favor, he rejoiced and 
urged them all to remain 
firmly faithful to the 
Lord; {I}24_{/}for he 
himself was a good man 
filled with Holy Spirit 
and faith. Thus large 
crowds came to know the 
Lord.
{I}25_{/}Then Barnabas 
went off to Tarsus to 
look for Saul 
{I}26_{/}and when he 
found him, he brought him 
to Antioch. For a whole 
year they had meetings 
with the Church and 
instructed many people. 
It was in Antioch that 
the disciples were first 
called Christians.
{I}27_{/}At that time 
some prophets went down 
from Jerusalem to Antioch 
{I}28_{/}and one of them, 
named Agabus, inspired by 
the Holy Spirit, foretold 
that a great famine would 
spread over the whole 
world. This actually 
happened in the days of 
the Emperor Claudius. 
{I}29_{/}So the disciples 
decided, within their 
means, to set something 
aside and to send relief 
to the brothers and 
sisters who were living 
in Judea. {I}30_{/}They 
did this and sent their 
donations to the elders 
by Barnabas and Saul.
JAMES IS PUT TO DEATH; 
PETER'S MIRACULOUS 
ESCAPE{/}

{1}12{/}

{I}1_{/}About that time 
King Herod decided to 
persecute some members of 
the Church. {I}2_{/}He 
had James, the brother of 
John, killed with the 
sword, {I}3_{/}and when 
he saw how it pleased the 
Jews, he proceeded to 
arrest Peter also.
This happened during the 
festival of the 
Unleavened Bread. 
{I}4_{/}Herod had him 
seized and thrown into 
prison with four squads, 
each of four soldiers, to 
guard him. He wanted to 
bring him to trial before 
the people after the 
Passover feast, 
{I}5_{/}but while Peter 
was kept in prison, the 
whole Church prayed 
earnestly for him.
{I}6_{/}On the very night 
before Herod was to bring 
him to trial, Peter was 
sleeping between two 
soldiers, bound by a 
double chain, while 
guards kept watch at the 
gate of the prison.
{I}7_{/}Suddenly an angel 
of the Lord stood there 
and a light shone in the 
prison cell. The angel 
tapped Peter on the side 
and woke him saying, "Get 
up quickly!" At once the 
chains fell from Peter's 
wrists. The angel said, 
"Put on your belt and 
your sandals." Peter did 
so, {I}8_{/}and the angel 
added, "Now, put on your 
cloak and follow me."
{I}9_{/}Peter followed 
him out; yet he did not 
realize that what was 
happening with the angel 
was real; he thought he 
was seeing a vision. 
{I}10_{/}They passed the 
first guard and then the 
second and they came to 
the iron door leading out 
to the city, which opened 
of itself for them. They 
went out and made their 
way down a narrow alley, 
when suddenly the angel 
left him.
{I}11_{/}Then Peter 
recovered his senses and 
said, "Now I know that 
the Lord has sent his 
angel and has rescued me 
from Herod's clutches and 
from all that the Jews 
had in store for me."
{I}12_{/}Peter then found 
his bearings and came to 
the house of Mary, the 
mother of John also known 
as Mark, where many were 
gathered together and 
were praying. 
{I}13_{/}When he knocked 
at the outside door, a 
maid named Rhoda came to 
answer it. {I}14_{/}On 
recognizing the voice of 
Peter she was so overcome 
with joy that, instead of 
opening the door, she ran 
in to announce that Peter 
was at the door. 
{I}15_{/}They said to 
her, "You are crazy!" And 
as she insisted, they 
said, "It must be his 
angel."
{I}16_{/}Meanwhile, Peter 
continued knocking and, 
when they finally opened 
the door, they were 
amazed to see him. 
{I}17_{/}He motioned to 
them with his hand to be 
quiet and told them how 
the Lord had brought him 
out of prison. And he 
said to them, "Report 
this to James and to the 
brothers." Then he left 
and went to another 
place.
{I}18_{/}At daybreak 
there was a great 
commotion among the 
soldiers over what had 
become of Peter. 
{I}19_{/}Herod began a 
search for him and, not 
finding him, had the 
guards questioned and 
executed. After that, he 
came down from Judea to 
Caesarea and stayed 
there.
HEROD'S DEATH{/}

{I}20_{/}At that time 
Herod was angry with the 
people of Tyre and Sidon. 
By general agreement they 
appeared before him and, 
after having won over 
Blastus, the king's 
treasurer, they asked for 
peace, for their country 
was supplied with food 
from the territory of 
Herod. {I}21_{/}On the 
appointed day Herod, 
clothed in royal robes, 
sat on his throne and 
addressed them. 
{I}22_{/}So the assembled 
crowd shouted back, "A 
god is speaking, not a 
man!"
{I}23_{/}The angel of the 
Lord immediately struck 
Herod for he did not 
return the honor to God, 
and he died eaten by 
worms.
{I}24_{/}Meanwhile the 
word of God was 
increasing and spreading. 
{I}25_{/}Barnabas and 
Saul carried out their 
mission and then came 
back from Jerusalem, 
taking with them John 
also called Mark.
PAUL SENT BY THE 
CHURCH{/}

{1}13{/}

{I}1_{/}There were at 
Antioch - in the Church 
which was there - 
prophets and teachers: 
Barnabas, Symeon known as 
Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, 
Manaen who had been 
brought up with Herod, 
and Saul. {I}2_{/}On one 
occasion while they were 
celebrating the Lord and 
fasting, the Holy Spirit 
said to them, "Set apart 
for me Barnabas and Saul 
and send them to do the 
work for which I have 
called them." {I}3_{/}So, 
after fasting and 
praying, they laid their 
hands on them and sent 
them off.
PAUL'S FIRST MISSION{/}

{I}4_{/}These then, sent 
by the Holy Spirit, went 
down to the port of 
Seleucia and from there 
sailed to Cyprus. 
{I}5_{/}Upon their 
arrival in Salamis they 
proclaimed the word of 
God in the Jewish 
synagogue; John was with 
them as an assistant.
{I}6_{/}They traveled 
over the whole island as 
far as Paphos where they 
met a certain magician 
named Bar-Jesus, a Jewish 
false prophet {I}7_{/}who 
lived with the governor 
Sergius Paulus, an 
intelligent man. He had 
summoned Barnabas and 
Saul and wanted to hear 
the word of God. 
{I}8_{/}But they were 
opposed by the Elymas 
(that is, the magician) 
who tried to turn the 
governor from the faith.
{I}9_{/}Then Saul, also 
known as Paul, full of 
Holy Spirit, looked 
intently at him 
{I}10_{/}and said, "You 
son of the devil, full of 
all kinds of deceit and 
enemy of all that is 
right! Will you never 
stop perverting the 
straight paths of the 
Lord? {I}11_{/}Now the 
Lord's hand is upon you; 
you will become blind and 
for a time you will not 
see the light of day." At 
once a misty darkness 
came upon him, and he 
groped about for someone 
to lead him by the hand.
{I}12_{/}The governor saw 
what had happened; he 
believed, and was deeply 
impressed by the teaching 
about the Lord.
PAUL IN THE CAPITAL OF 
PISIDIA {/}

{I}13_{/}From Paphos, 
Paul and his companions 
set sail and came to 
Perga in Pamphylia. There 
John left them and 
returned to Jerusalem 
{I}14_{/}while they went 
on from Perga and came to 
Antioch in Pisidia. On 
the sabbath day they 
entered the synagogue and 
sat down. {I}15_{/}After 
the reading of the Law 
and the Prophets, the 
officials of the 
synagogue sent this 
message to them, 
"Brothers, if you have 
any word of encouragement 
for the assembly, please 
speak up." 
{I}16_{/}So Paul arose, 
motioned to them for 
silence and began, 
"Fellow Israelites and 
also all you who fear 
God, listen. {I}17_{/}The 
God of our people Israel 
chose our ancestors, and 
after he had made them 
increase during their 
stay in Egypt, he led 
them out by powerful 
deeds. {I}18_{/}For forty 
years he fed them in the 
desert, {I}19_{/}and 
after he had destroyed 
seven nations in the land 
of Canaan, he gave them 
their land as an 
inheritance. {I}20_{/}All 
this took four hundred 
and fifty years. 
{I}21_{/}After that, he 
gave them Judges until 
Samuel the prophet. Then 
they asked for a king and 
God gave them Saul, son 
of Kish, of the tribe of 
Benjamin, and he was king 
for forty years. 
{I}22_{/}After that time, 
God removed him and 
raised up David as king, 
to whom he bore witness 
saying: I have found 
David, the son of Jesse, 
a man after my own heart, 
who will do all I want 
him to do.
{I}23_{/}It is from the 
descendants of David that 
God has now raised up the 
promised savior of 
Israel, Jesus. 
{I}24_{/}Before he 
appeared, John proclaimed 
a baptism of repentance 
for all the people of 
Israel. {I}25_{/}As John 
was ending his life's 
work, he said: 'I am not 
what you think I am, for 
after me another one is 
coming whose sandal I am 
not worthy to untie.'
{I}26_{/}Brothers, 
children and descendants 
of Abraham, and you also 
who fear God, it is to 
you that this message of 
salvation has been sent. 
{I}27_{/}It is a fact 
that the inhabitants of 
Jerusalem and their 
leaders did not recognize 
Jesus. Yet in condemning 
him, they fulfilled the 
words of the prophets 
that are read every 
sabbath but not 
understood. {I}28_{/}Even 
though they found no 
charge against him that 
deserved death, they 
asked Pilate to have him 
executed. {I}29_{/}And 
after they had carried 
out all that had been 
written concerning him, 
they took him down from 
the cross and laid him in 
a tomb.
{I}30_{/}But God raised 
him from the dead, 
{I}31_{/}and for many 
days thereafter he showed 
himself to those who had 
come up with him from 
Galilee to Jerusalem. 
They have now become his 
witnesses before the 
people. {I}32_{/}We 
ourselves announce to you 
this Good News: All that 
God promised our 
ancestors, {I}33_{/}he 
has fulfilled for us, 
their descendants, by 
raising Jesus, according 
to what is written in the 
second psalm: You are my 
Son, today I have 
begotten you. {I}34_{/}On 
raising him from the dead 
so that he would never 
know the decay of death, 
God fulfilled his 
promise: I will give you 
the holy blessings, the 
sure ones, that I kept 
for David.
{I}35_{/}Moreover, in 
another place it is said: 
You will not allow your 
holy one to suffer 
corruption. {I}36_{/}Now 
David was subjected to 
corruption, for he died 
and was laid beside his 
ancestors after having 
served God's purpose in 
his own time. 
{I}37_{/}But the one God 
raised up - Jesus - did 
not know corruption. 
{I}38{/}-
{/}{I}39_{/}Through him, 
fellow Israelites, you 
have forgiveness of sins, 
and this is our good 
news. Whoever believes in 
him is freed of 
everything from which you 
could not be freed by the 
law of Moses.
{I}40_{/}Now watch out 
lest what was said by the 
prophet happen to you: 
{I}41_{/}Take care, you 
cynics; be amazed and 
disappear! For I am about 
to do something in your 
days which you would 
never believe even if you 
had been told."
{I}42_{/}As Paul and 
Barnabas withdrew, they 
were invited to speak 
again on the same subject 
the following sabbath. 
{I}43_{/}After that, when 
the assembly broke up, 
many Jews and devout God-
fearing people followed 
them and to these they 
spoke, urging them to 
hold fast to the grace of 
God.
{I}44_{/}The following 
sabbath almost the entire 
city gathered to listen 
to Paul, who spoke a 
fairly long time about 
the Lord. {I}45_{/}But 
the presence of such a 
crowd made the Jews 
jealous. So they began to 
oppose with insults 
whatever Paul said.
{I}46_{/}Then Paul and 
Barnabas spoke out 
firmly, saying, "It was 
necessary that God's word 
be first proclaimed to 
you, but since you now 
reject it and judge 
yourselves to be unworthy 
of eternal life, we turn 
to non-Jewish people. 
{I}47_{/}For thus we were 
commanded by the Lord: I 
have set you as a light 
to the pagan nations, so 
that you may bring my 
salvation to the ends of 
the earth."
{I}48_{/}Those who were 
not Jews rejoiced when 
they heard this and 
praised the message of 
the Lord, and all those 
destined for everlasting 
life believed in it. 
{I}49_{/}Thus the Word 
spread throughout the 
whole region.
{I}50_{/}Some of the 
Jews, however, incited 
God-fearing women of the 
upper class and the 
leading men of the city, 
as well, and stirred up 
an intense persecution 
against Paul and 
Barnabas. Finally they 
had them expelled from 
their region. 
{I}51_{/}The apostles 
shook the dust from their 
feet in protest against 
this people and went to 
Iconium, {I}52_{/}leaving 
the disciples filled with 
joy and Holy Spirit.
ICONIUM IS EVANGELIZED{/}

{1}14{/}

{I}1_{/}In Iconium Paul 
and Barnabas likewise 
went into the Jewish 
synagogue and preached in 
such a manner that a 
great number of Jews and 
Greeks believed. 
{I}2_{/}But the Jews who 
would not believe stirred 
up the pagan people and 
poisoned their minds 
against the brothers. 
{I}3_{/}In spite of this 
Paul and Barnabas spent a 
considerable time there. 
They spoke fearlessly of 
the Lord, who confirmed 
the message of his grace 
with the miraculous signs 
and wonders he gave them 
power to do.
{I}4_{/}There, too, all 
the town was stirred by 
the Teaching. They were 
divided, some siding with 
the Jews and some with 
the apostles. {I}5_{/}A 
move was made by pagans 
and Jews, together with 
their leaders, to harm 
the apostles and to stone 
them. {I}6_{/}But Paul 
and Barnabas learned of 
this and fled to the 
Lycaonian towns of Lystra 
and Derbe and to the 
surrounding countryside, 
{I}7_{/}where they 
continued preaching the 
Good News.
LYSTRA AND DERBE{/}

Paul and Barnabas spent a 
fairly long time at 
Lystra. {I}8_{/}There was 
a crippled man in Lystra 
who had never been able 
to stand or walk. 
{I}9_{/}One day, as he 
was listening to the 
preaching, Paul looked 
intently at him and saw 
that he had the faith to 
be saved. {I}10_{/}So he 
spoke to him in a loud 
voice, "In the Name of 
the Lord Jesus Christ, I 
command you to stand up 
on your feet!" And the 
man stood up and began to 
walk around.
{I}11_{/}When the people 
saw what Paul had done, 
they cried out in the 
language of Lycaonia, 
"The gods have come to us 
in human likeness!" 
{I}12_{/}They named 
Barnabas Zeus, and Paul 
they called Hermes, since 
he was the chief speaker. 
{I}13_{/}Even the priest 
of the Temple of Zeus, 
which stood outside the 
town, brought oxen and 
garlands to the gate; 
together with the people, 
he wanted to offer 
sacrifice to them.
{I}14_{/}When Barnabas 
and Paul heard this, they 
tore their garments to 
show their indignation 
and rushed into the 
crowd, shouting, 
{I}15_{/}"Friends, why 
are you doing this? We 
are human beings with the 
same weakness you have 
and we are now telling 
you to turn away from 
these useless things to 
the living God who made 
the heavens, the earth, 
the sea and all that is 
in them. {I}16_{/}In past 
generations he allowed 
each nation to go its own 
way, {I}17_{/}though he 
never stopped making 
himself known; for he is 
continually doing good, 
giving you rain from 
heaven and fruitful 
seasons, providing you 
with food and filling 
your hearts with 
gladness." 
{I}18_{/}Even these words 
could hardly keep the 
crowd from offering 
sacrifice to them.
{I}19_{/}They were there 
teaching some time. But 
some Jews arrived from 
Antioch and Iconium to 
argue with Paul and 
Barnabas. They persuaded 
the people to reject 
them, saying that all 
this was untrue. Finally 
they stoned Paul and 
dragged him out of the 
town, leaving him for 
dead. {I}20_{/}But when 
his disciples gathered 
around him, he stood up 
and returned to the town. 
And the next day he left 
for Derbe with Barnabas.
RETURN TO ANTIOCH{/}

{I}21_{/}After 
proclaiming the gospel in 
that town and making many 
disciples, they returned 
to Lystra and Iconium and 
on to Antioch. 
{I}22_{/}They were 
strengthening the 
disciples and encouraging 
them to remain firm in 
the faith, for they said, 
"We must go through many 
trials to enter the 
Kingdom of God." 
{I}23_{/}In each church 
they appointed elders 
and, after praying and 
fasting, they commended 
them to the Lord in whom 
they had placed their 
faith.
{I}24_{/}Then they 
traveled through Pisidia, 
and came to Pamphylia. 
{I}25_{/}They preached 
the Word in Perga and 
went down to Attalia. 
{I}26_{/}From there they 
sailed back to Antioch, 
where they had first been 
commended to God's grace 
for the task they had now 
completed.
{I}27_{/}On their arrival 
they gathered the Church 
together and told them 
all that God had done 
through them and how he 
had opened the door of 
faith to the non-Jews. 
{I}28_{/}They spent a 
fairly long time there 
with the disciples.
THE COUNCIL AT 
JERUSALEM{/}

{1}15{/}

{I}1_{/}Some persons who 
had come from Judea to 
Antioch were teaching the 
brothers in this way, 
"Unless you are 
circumcised according to 
the law of Moses, you 
cannot be saved."
{I}2_{/}Because of this 
there was trouble, and 
Paul and Barnabas had 
fierce arguments with 
them. For Paul told the 
people to remain as they 
were when they became 
believers. Finally those 
who had come from 
Jerusalem suggested that 
Paul and Barnabas and 
some others go up to 
Jerusalem to discuss the 
matter with the apostles 
and elders.
{I}3_{/}They were sent on 
their way by the Church. 
As they passed through 
Phoenicia and Samaria 
they reported how the 
non-Jews had turned to 
God, and there was great 
joy among all the 
brothers and sisters.
{I}4_{/}On their arrival 
in Jerusalem, they were 
welcomed by the Church, 
the apostles and the 
elders, to whom they told 
all that God had done 
through them. 
{I}5_{/}Some believers, 
however, who belonged to 
the party of the 
Pharisees, stood up and 
said that non-Jewish men 
must be circumcised and 
instructed to keep the 
law of Moses. {I}6_{/}So 
the apostles and elders 
met together to consider 
this matter.
{I}7_{/}As the 
discussions became 
heated, Peter stood up 
and said to them, 
"Brothers, you know what 
God did among us in the 
early days, so that non-
Jews could hear the Good 
News from me and believe. 
{I}8_{/}God, who can read 
hearts, put himself on 
their side by giving the 
Holy Spirit to them just 
as he did to us. 
{I}9_{/}He made no 
distinction between us 
and them and cleansed 
their hearts through 
faith. {I}10_{/}So why do 
you want to put God to 
the test? Why do you lay 
on the disciples a burden 
that neither our 
ancestors nor we 
ourselves were able to 
carry? {I}11_{/}We 
believe, indeed, that we 
are saved through the 
grace of the Lord Jesus, 
just as they are."
{I}12_{/}The whole 
assembly kept silent as 
they listened to Paul and 
Barnabas tell of all the 
miraculous signs and 
wonders that God had done 
through them among the 
non-Jews.
{I}13{/}After they had 
finished, James spoke up, 
"Listen to me, brothers. 
{I}14_{/}Symeon has just 
explained how God first 
showed his care by taking 
a people for himself from 
non-Jewish nations. 
{I}15_{/}And the words of 
the prophets agree with 
this, for Scripture says,
{I}16_{/}After this I 
will return and rebuild 
the booth of David which 
has fallen; I will 
rebuild its ruins and set 
it up again. 
{I}17_{/}Then the rest of 
humanity will look for 
the Lord, and all the 
nations will be 
consecrated to my Name. 
So says the Lord, who 
does today {I}18_{/}what 
he decided from the 
beginning.
{I}19_{/}Because of this, 
I think that we should 
not make difficulties for 
those non-Jews who are 
turning to God. 
{I}20_{/}Let us just tell 
them not to eat food that 
is unclean from having 
been offered to idols; to 
keep themselves from 
prohibited marriages; and 
not to eat the flesh of 
animals that have been 
strangled, or any blood. 
{I}21_{/}For from the 
earliest times Moses has 
been taught in every 
place, and every sabbath 
his laws are recalled."
THE COUNCIL'S LETTERS{/}

{I}22_{/}Then the 
apostles and elders 
together with the whole 
Church decided to choose 
representatives from 
among them to send to 
Antioch with Paul and 
Barnabas. These were 
Judas, known as 
Barsabbas, and Silas, 
both leading men among 
the brothers. 
{I}23_{/}They took with 
them the following 
letter:
Greetings from the 
apostles and elders, your 
brothers, to the 
believers of non-Jewish 
birth in Antioch, Syria 
and Cilicia. {I}24_{/}We 
have heard that some 
persons from among us 
have worried you with 
their discussions and 
troubled your peace of 
mind. They were not 
appointed by us. 
{I}25_{/}But now, it has 
seemed right to us in an 
assembly, to choose 
representatives and to 
send them to you, along 
with our beloved Barnabas 
and Paul, {I}26_{/}who 
have dedicated their 
lives to the service of 
our Lord Jesus Christ. 
{I}27_{/}We send you then 
Judas and Silas who 
themselves will give you 
these instructions by 
word of mouth.
{I}28_{/}We, with the 
Holy Spirit, have decided 
not to put any other 
burden on you except what 
is necessary: 
{I}29_{/}You are to 
abstain from blood from 
the meat of strangled 
animals and from 
prohibited marriages. If 
you keep yourselves from 
these, you will do well. 
Farewell."
{I}30_{/}After saying 
good-bye, the messengers 
went to Antioch, where 
they assembled the 
community and handed them 
the letter. {I}31_{/}When 
they read the news, all 
were delighted with the 
encouragement it gave 
them. {I}32_{/}Judas and 
Silas, who were 
themselves prophets, 
spoke at length to 
encourage and strengthen 
them. {I}33_{/}After they 
had spent some time 
there, the messengers 
were sent off in peace by 
the believers; 
{I}34_{/}Silas, however, 
preferred to stay with 
them and only Judas went 
off. {I}35_{/}So Paul and 
Barnabas continued in 
Antioch, teaching and 
preaching with many 
others the word of God.
PAUL'S SECOND MISSION{/}

{I}36_{/}After some days 
Paul said to Barnabas, 
"Let us return and visit 
the believers in every 
town where we proclaimed 
the word of the Lord, to 
see how they are getting 
on." {I}37_{/}Barnabas 
wanted to take with them 
John also called Mark, 
{I}38_{/}but Paul did not 
think it right to take 
him since he had not 
stayed with them to the 
end of their mission, but 
had turned back and left 
them in Pamphylia. 
{I}39_{/}Such a sharp 
disagreement resulted 
that the two finally 
separated. Barnabas took 
Mark along with him and 
sailed for Cyprus. 
{I}40_{/}Paul, for his 
part, chose Silas and 
left, commended by the 
brothers and sisters to 
the grace of the Lord.
{I}41_{/}He traveled 
throughout Syria and 
Cilicia, strengthening 
the churches there.
PAUL RECRUITS TIMOTHY{/}

{1}16{/}

{I}1_{/}Paul traveled on 
to Derbe and then to 
Lystra. A disciple named 
Timothy lived there, 
whose mother was a 
believer of Jewish origin 
but whose father was a 
Greek. {I}2_{/}As the 
believers at Lystra and 
Iconium spoke well of 
him, Paul wanted Timothy 
to accompany him. 
{I}3_{/}So he took him 
and, because of the Jews 
of that place who all 
knew that his father was 
a Greek, he circumcised 
him.
{I}4_{/}As they traveled 
from town to town, they 
delivered the decisions 
of the apostles and 
elders in Jerusalem, for 
the people to obey. 
{I}5_{/}Meanwhile, the 
churches grew stronger in 
faith and increased in 
number every day.
{I}6_{/}They traveled 
through Phrygia and 
Galatia, because they had 
been prevented by the 
Holy Spirit from 
preaching the message in 
the province of Asia. 
{I}7_{/}When they came to 
Mysia, they tried to go 
on to Bithynia, but the 
Spirit of Jesus did not 
allow them to do this. 
{I}8_{/}So, passing by 
Mysia, they went down to 
Troas.
PAUL GOES TO MACEDONIA{/}

{I}9_{/}There one night 
Paul had a vision. A 
Macedonian stood before 
him and begged him, "Come 
over to Macedonia and 
help us!" {I}10_{/}When 
he awoke, he told us of 
this vision and we 
understood that the Lord 
was calling us to give 
the Good News to the 
Macedonian people.
{I}11_{/}So we put out to 
sea from Troas and sailed 
straight across to 
Samothrace Island, and 
the next day to Neapolis. 
{I}12_{/}From there we 
went inland to Philippi, 
the leading city of the 
district of Macedonia, 
and a Roman colony. We 
spent some days in that 
city.
{I}13_{/}On the sabbath 
we went outside the city 
gate to the bank of the 
river where we thought 
the Jews would gather to 
pray. We sat down and 
began speaking to the 
women who were gathering 
there. {I}14_{/}One of 
them was a God-fearing 
woman named Lydia from 
Thyatira City, a dealer 
in purple cloth.
As she listened, the Lord 
opened her heart to 
respond to what Paul was 
saying. {I}15_{/}After 
she had been baptized 
together with her 
household, she invited us 
to her house, "If you 
think I am faithful to 
the Lord, come and stay 
at my house." And she 
persuaded us to accept 
her invitation.
PAUL AND SILAS IN 
PRISON{/}

{I}16_{/}One day, as we 
were on our way to the 
place of prayer, we were 
met by a slave girl who 
had a divining spirit and 
gained much profit for 
her owners by her 
fortune-telling.
{I}17_{/}She followed 
Paul and the rest of us 
shouting, "These people 
are servants of the Most 
High God. They will make 
known to you a way of 
salvation." {I}18_{/}The 
girl did this for several 
days until Paul was 
annoyed. Then he turned 
around and said to the 
spirit, "In the name of 
Jesus Christ, I command 
you, come out of her!" 
The spirit went out of 
her that very moment.
{I}19_{/}When her owners 
realized that all the 
profits they expected had 
gone, they seized Paul 
and Silas and dragged 
them into the marketplace 
before the local 
authorities. {I}20_{/}And 
when they had turned them 
over to the officials, 
they said, 
{I}21_{/}"These people 
are Jews and they are 
disturbing our city. They 
have come here to 
introduce customs which 
are not lawful for us 
Romans to adopt or 
practice."
{I}22_{/}So they set the 
crowd against them and 
the officials tore the 
clothes off Paul and 
Silas and ordered them to 
be flogged. {I}23_{/}And 
after inflicting many 
blows on them, they threw 
them into prison, 
charging the jailer to 
guard them safely. 
{I}24_{/}Upon receiving 
these instructions, he 
threw them into the inner 
cell and fastened their 
feet between heavy blocks 
of wood.
A MIRACULOUS 
DELIVERANCE{/}

{I}25_{/}About midnight, 
Paul and Silas were 
praying and singing hymns 
to God, and the other 
prisoners were listening. 
{I}26_{/}Suddenly a 
severe earthquake shook 
the place, rocking the 
prison to its 
foundations. Immediately 
all the doors flew open 
and the chains of all the 
prisoners fell off. 
{I}27_{/}The jailer woke 
up to see the prison 
gates wide open. Thinking 
that the prisoners had 
escaped, he drew his 
sword to kill himself, 
{I}28_{/}but Paul shouted 
to him, "Do not harm 
yourself! We are all 
still here."
{I}29_{/}The jailer asked 
for a light, then rushed 
in, and fell at the feet 
of Paul and Silas. 
{I}30_{/}After he had 
secured the other 
prisoners, he led them 
out and asked, "Sirs, 
what must I do to be 
saved?" {I}31_{/}They 
answered, "Believe in the 
Lord Jesus Christ and you 
and your household will 
be saved." {I}32_{/}Then 
they spoke the word of 
God to him and to all his 
household.
{I}33_{/}Even at that 
hour of the night, the 
jailer took care of them 
and washed their wounds; 
and he and his whole 
household were baptized 
at once. {I}34_{/}He led 
them to his house, spread 
a meal before them and 
joyfully celebrated with 
his whole household his 
newfound faith in God.
{I}35_{/}The next morning 
the officials sent police 
officers with the order, 
"Let those men go." 
{I}36_{/}So the jailer 
said to Paul and Silas, 
"The officials have sent 
an order for you and 
Silas to be released. You 
may leave and go in 
peace."
{I}37_{/}But Paul said to 
him, "They flogged us 
publicly, and jailed us 
without trial, men who 
are Roman citizens; and 
now they want to smuggle 
us out secretly? Oh no! 
Let them come themselves 
and lead us out."
{I}38_{/}The police 
officers reported this to 
the officials, who were 
afraid when they heard 
that Paul and Silas were 
Roman citizens. 
{I}39_{/}So they went to 
the prison with many of 
their friends and invited 
them to leave, "We did 
not know that you were 
upright men." And when 
Paul and Silas were 
leaving, they added, 
"When you are out, please 
do not bring trouble on 
us for having spoken 
sharply to you."
{I}40_{/}Once outside the 
prison, Paul and Silas 
went to Lydia's house 
where they met and 
encouraged the brothers 
and sisters, and then 
departed.
DIFFICULTIES IN 
THESSALONICA{/}

{1}17{/}

{I}1_{/}Paul and Silas 
took the road through 
Amphipolis and Apollonia 
and came to Thessalonica, 
where there was a Jewish 
synagogue. {I}2_{/}As 
Paul used to do, he went 
to the synagogue and on 
three sabbaths he held 
discussions with them 
about the Scriptures. 
{I}3_{/}He explained and 
proved to them that the 
Messiah had to suffer and 
rise from the dead, and 
he said, "Such a Messiah 
is this Jesus whom I am 
proclaiming to you."
{I}4_{/}Some of them were 
convinced and joined Paul 
and Silas. So too did a 
great number of Greeks 
sympathetic to Judaism 
and many prominent women.
{I}5_{/}This only made 
the Jews jealous, so they 
gathered some of the 
good-for-nothing street 
loafers and formed a mob 
to start a riot in the 
town. They came to the 
house of Jason, in an 
attempt to bring Paul and 
Silas before the people's 
assembly. {I}6_{/}Not 
finding them there, they 
dragged off Jason and 
some believers to the 
city authorities 
shouting, "These people 
who have turned the world 
upside down have come 
here also, {I}7_{/}and 
Jason has given them 
hospitality. They all 
disregard the decrees of 
the Emperor and claim 
that there is another 
king, Jesus."
{I}8_{/}In this way they 
upset the crowd and the 
city officials who heard 
them. {I}9_{/}The 
officials released Jason 
and the others on bail.
{I}10_{/}As soon as night 
fell, the believers sent 
Paul and Silas off to 
Beroea. On their arrival 
they went to the Jewish 
synagogue. {I}11_{/}Its 
members were more open-
minded than those in 
Thessalonica and welcomed 
the message with great 
enthusiasm. Each day they 
examined the Scriptures 
to see if these things 
were so. {I}12_{/}Many of 
them came to believe, as 
did numerous influential 
Greek women, and many men 
as well.
{I}13_{/}But when the 
Jews of Thessalonica came 
to know that the word of 
God had been proclaimed 
by Paul in Beroea also, 
they hurried there to 
cause a commotion and 
stir up the crowds. 
{I}14_{/}At once, the 
believers sent Paul away 
to the coast; but both 
Silas and Timothy stayed 
in Beroea. {I}15_{/}Paul 
was taken as far as 
Athens by his escort, who 
then returned to Beroea 
with instructions for 
Silas and Timothy to come 
to him as soon as 
possible.
PAUL IN ATHENS{/}

{I}16_{/}While Paul was 
waiting for them in 
Athens, he felt very 
uneasy at the sight of a 
city full of idols. 
{I}17_{/}He held 
discussions in the 
synagogue with the Jews 
and the God-fearing 
people, as well as daily 
debates in the public 
square with ordinary 
passersby.
{I}18_{/}Epicureans and 
Stoic philosophers 
debated with him, some of 
them asking, "What is 
this babbler trying to 
say?" Others commented, 
"He sounds like a 
promoter of foreign 
gods," because he was 
heard to speak of Jesus 
and 'the Resurrection.' 
{I}19_{/}So they took 
Paul and led him off to 
the Areopagus hall, and 
said, "We would like to 
know what this new 
teaching is that you are 
talking about. 
{I}20_{/}Some of the 
things we hear you say 
sound strange to us, and 
we would like to know 
what they mean."
{I}21_{/}Indeed, all 
Athenian citizens, as 
well as the foreigners 
who live there, have as 
their favorite occupation 
talking about or 
listening to the latest 
news.
{I}22_{/}Then Paul stood 
up in the Areopagus hall 
and said, "Athenian 
citizens, I note that in 
every way you are very 
religious. {I}23_{/}As I 
walked around looking at 
your shrines, I even 
discovered an altar with 
this inscription: To an 
unknown God. Now, what 
you worship as unknown, I 
intend to make known to 
you.
{I}24_{/}God, who made 
the world and all that is 
in it, does not dwell in 
sanctuaries made by human 
hands, being as he is 
Lord of heaven and earth. 
{I}25_{/}Nor does his 
worship depend on 
anything made by human 
hands, as if he were in 
need. Rather it is he who 
gives life and breath and 
everything else to 
everyone. {I}26_{/}From 
one stock he created the 
whole human race to live 
throughout all the earth, 
and he fixed the time and 
the boundaries of each 
nation. {I}27_{/}He 
wanted them to seek him 
by themselves, even if it 
were only by groping for 
him, and eventually to 
find him.
Yet he is not far from 
any one of us. 
{I}28_{/}For in him we 
live and move and have 
our being, as some of 
your poets have said: for 
we too are his offspring. 
{I}29_{/}If we are indeed 
God's offspring, we ought 
not to think of divinity 
as something like a 
statue of gold or silver 
or stone, a product of 
human art and 
imagination.
{I}30_{/}But now God 
prefers to overlook this 
time of ignorance and he 
calls on all people to 
change their ways. 
{I}31_{/}He has already 
set a day on which he 
will judge the world with 
justice through a man he 
has appointed. And, so 
that all may believe it, 
he has just given a sign 
by raising this man from 
the dead."
{I}32_{/}When they heard 
Paul speak of a 
resurrection from death, 
some made fun of him, 
while others said, "We 
must hear you on this 
topic some other time." 
{I}33_{/}At that point 
Paul left. {I}34_{/}But a 
few did join him, and 
believed. Among them were 
Dionysius, a member of 
the Areopagus court, a 
woman named Damaris, and 
some others.
PAUL IN CORINTH{/}

{1}18{/}

{I}1_{/}After this, Paul 
left Athens and went to 
Corinth. {I}2_{/}There he 
found a Jew named Aquila, 
a native of Pontus, who 
had recently come from 
Italy with his wife 
Priscilla, following a 
decree of the Emperor 
Claudius which ordered 
all Jews to leave Rome. 
{I}3_{/}Paul went to 
visit them and then 
stayed and worked with 
them because they shared 
the same trade of 
tentmaking. {I}4_{/}Every 
sabbath he held 
discussions in the 
synagogue, trying to 
convince both Jews and 
Greeks.
{I}5_{/}When Silas and 
Timothy came down from 
Macedonia, Paul was able 
to give himself wholly to 
preaching and proving to 
the Jews that Jesus was 
the Messiah. {I}6_{/}One 
day when they opposed him 
and insulted him, he 
shook the dust from his 
clothes in protest, 
saying, "You yourselves 
will account for your 
deeds! I am not to blame 
if from now on I go to 
the non-Jews."
{I}7_{/}So Paul left 
there and went to the 
house of a God-fearing 
man named Titus Justus 
who lived next door to 
the synagogue. {I}8_{/}A 
leading man of the 
synagogue, Crispus, along 
with his whole household, 
believed in the Lord. On 
hearing Paul, many more 
Corinthians believed and 
were baptized.
{I}9_{/}One night, in a 
vision, the Lord said to 
Paul, "Do not be afraid, 
but continue speaking and 
do not be silent, 
{I}10_{/}for many people 
in this city are mine. I 
am with you, so no one 
will harm you." 
{I}11_{/}So Paul stayed a 
year and a half in that 
place, teaching the word 
of God among them.
{I}12_{/}When Gallio was 
governor of Achaia, the 
Jews made a united attack 
on Paul and brought him 
before the court. And 
they accused him, 
{I}13_{/}"This man tries 
to persuade us to worship 
God in ways that are 
against the Law."
{I}14_{/}Paul was about 
to speak in his own 
defense when Gallio said 
to the Jews, "If it were 
a matter of a misdeed or 
vicious crime, I would 
have to consider your 
complaint. {I}15_{/}But 
since this is a quarrel 
about teachings and 
divine names that are 
proper to your own law, 
see to it yourselves: I 
refuse to judge such 
matters." {I}16_{/}And he 
sent them out of the 
court.
{I}17_{/}Then the people 
seized Sosthenes, a 
leading man of the 
synagogue, and beat him 
in front of the tribunal; 
but Gallio paid no 
attention to it.
{I}18_{/}Paul stayed on 
with the disciples in 
Corinth for many days; he 
then left them and sailed 
off with Priscilla and 
Aquila for Syria. And as 
he was no longer under a 
vow he had taken, he 
shaved his head before 
sailing from Cenchreae.
{I}19_{/}When they 
reached Ephesus, he left 
Priscilla and Aquila 
behind and entered the 
synagogue to hold 
discussions with the 
Jews. {I}20_{/}But 
although they asked him 
to stay longer, he 
declined. {I}21_{/}And he 
took leave of them 
saying, "God willing, I 
will come back to you 
again." Then he set sail 
from Ephesus. {I}22_{/}On 
landing at Caesarea, he 
went up to greet the 
Church, and then went 
down to Antioch.
{I}23_{/}After spending 
some time there, he left 
and traveled from place 
to place through Galatia 
and Phrygia, 
strengthening the 
disciples.
{I}24_{/}A certain Jew 
named Apollos, a native 
of Alexandria, arrived at 
Ephesus. He was an 
eloquent speaker and an 
authority on the 
Scriptures, {I}25_{/}and 
he had some knowledge of 
the way of the Lord. With 
great enthusiasm he 
preached and taught 
correctly about Jesus, 
although he knew only of 
John's baptism. 
{I}26_{/}As he began to 
speak boldly in the 
synagogue, Priscilla and 
Aquila heard him; so they 
took him home with them 
and explained to him the 
way more accurately. 
{I}27_{/}As Apollos 
wished to go to Achaia, 
the believers encouraged 
him and wrote to the 
disciples there to 
welcome him. When he 
arrived, he greatly 
strengthened those who, 
by God's grace, had 
become believers, 
{I}28_{/}for he 
vigorously refuted the 
Jews, proving from the 
Scriptures that Jesus is 
the Messiah.
PAUL IN EPHESUS{/}

{1}19{/}

{I}1_{/}While Apollos was 
in Corinth, Paul traveled 
through the interior of 
the country and came to 
Ephesus. There he found 
some disciples 
{I}2_{/}whom he asked, 
"Did you receive the Holy 
Spirit when you became 
believers?" They 
answered, "We have not 
even heard that anyone 
may receive the Holy 
Spirit." {I}3_{/}Paul 
then asked, "What kind of 
baptism have you 
received?" And they 
answered, "The baptism of 
John."
{I}4_{/}Paul then 
explained, "John's 
baptism was for 
conversion, but he 
himself said they should 
believe in the one who 
was to come, and that one 
is Jesus." {I}5_{/}Upon 
hearing this, they were 
baptized in the name of 
the Lord Jesus. 
{I}6_{/}Then Paul laid 
his hands on them and the 
Holy Spirit came down 
upon them; and they began 
to speak in tongues and 
to prophesy. 
{I}7_{/}There were about 
twelve of them in all.
{I}8_{/}Paul went into 
the synagogue and for 
three months he preached 
and discussed there 
boldly, trying to 
convince them about the 
Kingdom of God. 
{I}9_{/}Some of them, 
instead of believing, 
grew obstinate and 
criticized the way 
publicly. So Paul 
departed from them and 
took the disciples with 
him. He taught daily in 
the lecture hall of a 
certain Tyrannus, from 
eleven to four in the 
afternoon. {I}10_{/}He 
did this for two years, 
so that all those who 
lived in the province of 
Asia, both Jews and non-
Jews, heard the word of 
the Lord.
{I}11_{/}God did 
extraordinary deeds of 
power through the hands 
of Paul. {I}12_{/}Even 
handkerchiefs or cloths 
that had touched his skin 
were laid upon the sick 
and their illnesses were 
cured, and evil spirits 
also departed from them.
{I}13_{/}Some Jews who 
traveled around driving 
out evil spirits, also 
tried to use the name of 
the Lord Jesus over those 
possessed by evil 
spirits, saying, "I 
command you by this Jesus 
whom Paul preaches." 
{I}14_{/}Among them were 
the sons of a Jewish 
priest named Sceva. 
{I}15_{/}But one day, 
when they entered a house 
and dared to do this, the 
evil spirit said to them, 
"Jesus I recognize and 
Paul I know; but who are 
you?" {I}16_{/}Then the 
man with the evil spirit 
sprang at them and 
overpowered first one and 
then another. And he 
handled them so violently 
that they fled from that 
house naked and mauled. 
{I}17_{/}This became 
known to all the Jews and 
Greeks living in Ephesus; 
all of them were very 
impressed and the name of 
the Lord Jesus came to be 
held in great honor.
{I}18_{/}Many of those 
who had become believers 
came forward and openly 
acknowledged their former 
practices. {I}19_{/}Many 
who had practiced magic 
arts collected their 
books and burned them in 
front of everyone. When 
the value of these was 
assessed, it came to 
fifty thousand silver 
coins.
{I}20_{/}In this way, the 
word of the Lord spread 
widely and with power.
THE SILVERSMITHS' RIOT{/}

{I}21_{/}When all these 
events were completed 
Paul, led by the Holy 
Spirit, decided to travel 
through Macedonia and 
Achaia again and then go 
on to Jerusalem. And he 
said, "After I have been 
there, I must visit Rome 
also." {I}22__{/}So he 
sent two of his 
assistants, Timothy and 
Erastus, to Macedonia 
ahead of him, while he 
himself stayed on for a 
time in Asia.
{I}23_{/}About that time 
the city was deeply 
troubled because of the 
way. {I}24_{/}It all 
began because of a 
certain silversmith named 
Demetrius, who made 
silver models of the 
temple of the goddess 
Artemis and whose 
business brought a great 
deal of profit to the 
workers. {I}25_{/}He 
called them, together 
with others who did 
similar work, and said, 
"Friends, you know that 
our prosperity depends on 
this work. {I}26_{/}But, 
as you can see and hear 
for yourselves, this Paul 
has led astray a great 
number of people, not 
only here in Ephesus, but 
also throughout most of 
the province of Asia. And 
he has convinced them 
that gods made by human 
hands are no gods at all. 
{I}27_{/}The danger grows 
that not only our trade 
will be discredited, but 
even that the temple of 
the great goddess Artemis 
will count for nothing. 
She whom Asia and all the 
world worships may soon 
be stripped of her 
renown."
{I}28_{/}On hearing this 
they became enraged and 
began shouting, "Great is 
Artemis of the 
Ephesians!" {I}29_{/}The 
uproar spread throughout 
the whole city. The mob 
rushed to the theater, 
dragging with them Gaius 
and Aristarchus, two 
Macedonians who were 
Paul's traveling 
companions. {I}30_{/}Paul 
wished to face this 
crowd, but the disciples 
would not let him. 
{I}31_{/}Some of the 
counselors of the Asian 
province also, who were 
friends of Paul, sent him 
a message begging him not 
to show himself in the 
theater.
{I}32_{/}Meanwhile the 
whole assembly was in an 
uproar. Some shouted one 
thing, and some shouted 
another and most of them 
did not know why they 
were there. {I}33_{/}Some 
of the crowd wanted a 
certain Alexander to 
speak, whom the Jews put 
forward. Alexander 
intended to make a speech 
of defense before the 
crowd, {I}34_{/}but when 
they recognized that he 
was a Jew, they chanted 
all together for about 
two hours, "Great is 
Artemis of the 
Ephesians!"
{I}35_{/}Finally the town 
clerk was able to calm 
the mob. He said, 
"Citizens of Ephesus, who 
does not know that 
Ephesus is keeper of the 
temple of the great 
Artemis, and of her image 
which fell from the sky? 
{I}36_{/}Since these 
things are undeniable, 
you must calm yourselves 
and do nothing rash. 
{I}37_{/}These men whom 
you brought here are not 
temple-robbers nor have 
they spoken ill of our 
goddess. {I}38_{/}If 
Demetrius and his fellow 
craftsmen want to bring 
charges against anyone, 
the courts are open and 
there are officials. Let 
them bring charges 
against each other. 
{I}39_{/}If there is 
anything further that 
needs to be investigated, 
let it be done in the 
lawful assembly. 
{I}40_{/}For as it is 
today, we are in danger 
of being charged with 
rioting, since there is 
no valid excuse we can 
give for this wild 
demonstration." 
{I}41_{/}And the town 
clerk dismissed the 
assembly.
PAUL RETURNS TO 
MACEDONIA{/}

{1}20{/}

{I}1_{/}After the uproar 
died down, Paul called 
his disciples together to 
encourage them. Then he 
said goodbye and set out 
on his journey to 
Macedonia. {I}2{/}He 
traveled throughout those 
regions and spent himself 
in speaking and 
encouraging them. He 
finally arrived in 
Greece.
{I}3_{/}When he had been 
there for three months, 
he wanted to set sail for 
Syria, but as the Jews 
were plotting against 
him, he decided to return 
by way of Macedonia. 
{I}4_{/}When he was about 
to leave for the Asian 
province, some companions 
went with him, Sopater, 
son of Pyrrhus, from 
Berea, Aristarchus and 
Secundus from 
Thessalonica, Gaius from 
Derbe, Timothy, Tychicus 
and Trophimus from Asia. 
{I}5_{/}So they went 
ahead and waited for us 
in Troas, {I}6_{/}while 
we set sail from Philippi 
as soon as the festival 
of Unleavened Bread was 
over. Five days later we 
joined them in Troas 
where we spent a week.
THE EUCHARIST AT TROAS{/}

{I}7_{/}On the first day 
of the week we were 
together for the breaking 
of the bread, and Paul, 
who intended to leave the 
following day, spoke at 
length. The discourse 
went on until midnight, 
{I}8_{/}with many lamps 
burning in the upstairs 
room where we were 
gathered. A young man 
named Eutychius was 
sitting on the window 
ledge, {I}9_{/}and as 
Paul kept on talking, 
Eutychius grew more and 
more sleepy, until he 
finally went sound asleep 
and fell from the third 
floor to the ground. 
There they found him 
dead.
{I}10_{/}Paul went down, 
bent over him and took 
him in his arms. "Do not 
be alarmed," he said, 
"there is life in him." 
{I}11_{/}Then he went 
back upstairs, broke the 
bread and ate. After that 
he kept on talking with 
them for a long time 
until daybreak and then 
he left. {I}12_{/}As for 
the young man, they 
lifted him up alive and 
were greatly comforted.
{I}13_{/}We went on ahead 
to the ship and sailed 
for Assos, where we were 
to pick up Paul. This was 
the arrangement since 
Paul intended to travel 
by foot. {I}14_{/}In 
fact, we met him at Assos 
and taking him aboard, we 
went on to Mitylene. 
{I}15_{/}We sailed from 
there and arrived off 
Chios the next day. A day 
later we came to Samos 
and the following day we 
reached Miletus.
{I}16_{/}Paul had decided 
to sail past Ephesus, so 
as not to lose time in 
Asia, for he was eager to 
reach Jerusalem by the 
day of Pentecost, if at 
all possible.
PAUL'S FAREWELL TO THE 
EPHESIAN ELDERS{/}

{I}17_{/}From Miletus 
Paul sent word to 
Ephesus, summoning the 
elders of the Church. 
[=]{I}18_{/}When they 
came to him, he addressed 
them, "You know how I 
lived among you from the 
first day I set foot in 
the province of Asia, 
{I}19_{/}how I served the 
Lord in humility through 
the sorrows and trials 
that the Jews caused me. 
{I}20_{/}You know that I 
never held back from 
doing anything that could 
be useful for you; I 
spoke publicly and in 
your homes {I}21{/}and I 
urged Jews and non-Jews 
alike to turn to God and 
believe in our Lord 
Jesus.
{I}22_{/}But now I am 
going to Jerusalem, 
chained by the Spirit, 
without knowing what will 
happen to me there. 
{I}23_{/}Yet in every 
city the Holy Spirit 
warns me that 
imprisonment and troubles 
await me. {I}24_{/}Indeed 
I put no value on my 
life, if only I can 
finish my race and 
complete the service to 
which I have been 
assigned by the Lord 
Jesus, to announce the 
good news of God's grace.
{I}25_{/}I now feel sure 
that none of you among 
whom I have gone about 
proclaiming the Kingdom 
of God will ever see me 
again. {I}26_{/}Therefore 
I declare to you this day 
that my conscience is 
clear with regard to all 
of you. {I}27_{/}For I 
have spared no effort in 
fully declaring to you 
God's will.
{I}28_{/}Keep watch over 
yourselves and over the 
whole flock the Holy 
Spirit has placed into 
your care. Shepherd the 
Church of the Lord which 
he has won at the price 
of his own blood. 
{I}29_{/}I know that 
after I leave, ruthless 
wolves will come among 
you and not spare the 
flock. {I}30_{/}And from 
among yourselves, some 
will arise corrupting the 
truth and inducing the 
disciples to follow them.
{I}31_{/}Be on the watch, 
therefore, remembering 
that for three years, 
night and day, I did not 
cease to warn everyone 
even with tears. 
{I}32_{/}Now I commend 
you to God and to his 
grace-filled word, which 
is able to make you grow 
and gain the inheritance 
that you shall share with 
all the saints.
{I}33_{/}I have not 
looked for anyone's 
silver, gold or clothing. 
{I}34_{/}You yourselves 
know that these hands of 
mine have provided for 
both my needs and the 
needs of those who were 
with me. {I}35_{/}In 
every way I have shown 
you that by so working 
hard one must help the 
weak, remembering the 
words that the Lord Jesus 
himself said, 'Happiness 
lies more in giving than 
in receiving.'"
{I}36_{/}After this 
discourse, Paul knelt 
down with them and 
prayed. {I}37_{/}Then 
they all began to weep 
and threw their arms 
around him and kissed 
him. {I}38_{/}They were 
deeply distressed because 
he had said that they 
would never see him 
again. And they went with 
him even to the ship.
ON TO JERUSALEM{/}

{1}21{/}

{I}1_{/}When we had 
finally taken leave of 
them, we put out to sea 
and sailed straight to 
Cos, and the next day to 
Rhodes, and from there to 
Patara. {I}2_{/}There we 
found a ship that made 
for Phoenicia; we went 
aboard and set sail. 
{I}3_{/}We caught sight 
of Cyprus but passed it 
by on our left, as we 
continued on towards 
Syria. We landed at Tyre, 
where the ship had to 
unload cargo. 
{I}4_{/}There we found 
the disciples and stayed 
a week. Warned by the 
Spirit, they told Paul 
not to go to Jerusalem.
{I}5_{/}But when it was 
time, we departed and 
continued on our journey. 
All of them, wives and 
children included, came 
out of the city with us, 
and on the beach we knelt 
down and prayed. 
{I}6_{/}After that we 
said good-bye to one 
another; we boarded the 
ship and they returned 
home.
{I}7_{/}We continued our 
journey, sailing from 
Tyre to Ptolemais, where 
we greeted the brothers 
and sisters and spent a 
day with them. {I}8_{/}On 
the following day we left 
and came to Caesarea. 
There we entered the 
house of Philip the 
evangelist and we stayed 
with him. He was one of 
the Seven {I}9_{/}and had 
four unmarried daughters 
who were gifted with 
prophecy.
{I}10_{/}We were there 
some days when a prophet 
named Agabus came down 
from Judea. Coming to us, 
he took Paul's belt and 
bound his own feet and 
hands with it, saying, 
{I}11_{/}"Thus speaks the 
Holy Spirit: This is how 
the Jews in Jerusalem 
will bind the owner of 
this belt and hand him 
over to the foreign 
power."
{I}12_{/}When we heard 
this, we, together with 
these people of Caesarea, 
begged Paul not to go up 
to Jerusalem. 
{I}13_{/}Then he 
answered, "Why are you 
weeping and breaking my 
heart? For I am ready not 
only to be imprisoned but 
also to die in Jerusalem 
for the name of the Lord 
Jesus." {I}14_{/}When he 
would not be persuaded, 
we gave up and said, "The 
Lord's will be done."
{I}15_{/}After this we 
got ready and went up to 
Jerusalem. {I}16_{/}With 
us were some of the 
disciples of Caesarea who 
brought us to the house 
of a Cypriot where we 
were to stay. He was 
called Mnason and was one 
of the early disciples.
PAUL IS RECEIVED BY THE 
CHURCH OF JERUSALEM{/}

{I}17_{/}When we arrived 
in Jerusalem the brothers 
welcomed us warmly. 
{I}18_{/}The next day 
Paul went with us to 
James' house where all 
the elders had gathered. 
{I}19_{/}After greeting 
them, Paul began telling 
them in detail everything 
God had done among the 
non-Jews through his 
ministry.
{I}20_{/}After hearing 
this, they all praised 
God, but they said, "You 
see, brother, how many 
thousands of Jews of 
Judea have come to 
believe, and all of them 
are zealous for the Law. 
{I}21_{/}Yet they have 
heard that you teach the 
Jews who live in pagan 
nations to depart from 
Moses, telling them not 
to have their sons 
circumcised and to 
renounce Jewish customs. 
{I}22_{/}We shall gather 
the assembly for, in any 
case, they will hear that 
you have arrived. 
{I}23_{/}Then do as we 
tell you.
There are four men among 
us who have made a vow. 
{I}24_{/}Take them and 
purify yourself along 
with them and pay the 
sacrifice for them to 
shave their heads. In 
that way everyone will 
know that there is 
nothing true in what they 
have been told about you, 
but that you go on 
keeping the Law.
{I}25_{/}As for the non-
Jews who have become 
believers, we sent them a 
letter to tell them that 
they are only obliged not 
to eat meat offered to 
idols, or blood, or flesh 
of strangled animals; and 
also to avoid prohibited 
sexual union."
{I}26_{/}So the next day 
Paul took the men; he 
purified himself with 
them and entered the 
Temple to give notice of 
what day the sacrifice 
would be offered for each 
of them to end his time 
of purification.
PAUL IS ARRESTED IN THE 
TEMPLE{/}

{I}27_{/}When the seven 
days were almost over, 
some Jews from Asia, who 
saw Paul in the Temple, 
began to stir up the 
whole crowd. They seized 
him {I}28_{/}shouting, 
"Fellow Israelites, help! 
This is the man who is 
spreading his teaching 
everywhere against our 
people, our law and this 
Sanctuary. And now he has 
even brought non-Jews 
into the Temple area, 
defiling this Holy 
Place." {I}29_{/}They 
said this because earlier 
they had seen Trophimus, 
an Ephesian, with Paul in 
the city and they thought 
that Paul had taken him 
into the Temple.
{I}30_{/}Then turmoil 
spread through the whole 
city. People came running 
from all sides. They 
seized Paul and dragged 
him outside the Temple. 
At once the gates were 
shut.
{I}31_{/}They would have 
killed him, had not a 
report reached the 
commander of the Roman 
troops that all of 
Jerusalem was rioting. 
{I}32_{/}At once the 
commander took some 
officers and soldiers and 
rushed down to the crowd.
On seeing him with the 
soldiers, the crowd 
stopped beating Paul. 
{I}33_{/}The commander 
went over to Paul, 
arrested him and ordered 
him to be bound with two 
chains; then he inquired 
who he was and what he 
had done. {I}34_{/}But 
some in the crowd shouted 
one thing and others 
another. As the commander 
was unable to find out 
the facts because of the 
uproar, he ordered Paul 
to be brought to the 
fortress. {I}35_{/}When 
Paul reached the steps, 
he actually had to be 
carried up by the 
soldiers because of the 
violence of the mob, 
{I}36_{/}for a multitude 
of people followed 
shouting, "Kill him!"
{I}37_{/}Just as he was 
about to be taken inside, 
Paul said to the 
commander, "May I say 
something to you?" He 
replied, "So you speak 
Greek! {I}38_{/}Are you 
not the Egyptian, then, 
who caused a riot some 
time ago and let a band 
of four thousand 
terrorists out into the 
desert?" Paul answered, 
{I}39_{/}"I am a Jew, a 
citizen of Tarsus, a 
well-known city in 
Cilicia. I beg you, let 
me address these people."
The commander agreed. 
{I}40_{/}So Paul standing 
on the steps, motioned to 
the people with his hand 
and, when they were 
silent, he began to speak 
to them in Hebrew.
PAUL ADDRESSES THE 
JEWS{/}

{1}22{/}

{I}1_{/}"Brothers and 
fathers, listen to what I 
have to say to you in my 
defense." {I}2_{/}When 
they heard him speaking 
to them in Hebrew, they 
became more quiet. So he 
went on.
{I}3_{/}"I am a Jew, born 
in Tarsus in Cilicia, but 
brought up here in this 
city where I was educated 
in the school of 
Gamaliel, according to 
the strict observance of 
our Law. And I was 
dedicated to God's 
service as are all of you 
today. {I}4_{/}As for 
this way, I persecuted it 
to the point of death and 
arrested its followers, 
both men and women, 
throwing them into 
prison.
{I}5_{/}The High Priest 
and the whole Council of 
elders can bear witness 
to this. From them I 
received letters for the 
Jewish brothers in 
Damascus and I set out to 
arrest the Christians I 
would find there and 
bring them back to 
Jerusalem for punishment. 
{I}6_{/}But as I was 
traveling along, nearing 
Damascus, at about noon a 
great light from the sky 
suddenly flashed about 
me. {I}7_{/}I fell to the 
ground and heard a voice 
saying to me: 'Saul, 
Saul, why do you 
persecute me?' {I}8_{/}I 
answered: 'Who are you, 
Lord?' And he said to me: 
'I am Jesus the Nazarean 
whom you persecute.' 
{I}9_{/}The men who were 
with me saw the light and 
were afraid, but they did 
not understand the voice 
of the one who was 
speaking to me. 
{I}10_{/}I asked: 'What 
shall I do, Lord?' And 
the Lord replied: 'Get up 
and go to Damascus; there 
you will be told all that 
you are destined to do.' 
{I}11_{/}Yet the 
brightness of that light 
had blinded me and so I 
was led by the hand into 
Damascus by my 
companions.
{I}12_{/}There a certain 
Ananias came to me. He 
was a devout observer of 
the Law and well spoken 
of by all the Jews who 
were living there. 
{I}13_{/}As he stood by 
me, he said: 'Brother 
Saul, recover your 
sight.' At that moment I 
could see and I looked at 
him. {I}14_{/}He then 
said, 'The God of our 
ancestors has chosen you 
to know his will, to see 
the Just One and to hear 
the words from his mouth. 
{I}15_{/}From now on you 
shall be his witness 
before all the pagan 
peoples and tell them all 
that you have seen and 
heard. {I}16_{/}And now, 
why delay? Get up and be 
baptized and have your 
sins washed away by 
calling upon his Name.'
{I}17_{/}On my return to 
Jerusalem I was praying 
in the Temple, when I 
fell into a trance 
{I}18_{/}and saw him. He 
spoke to me: 'Get ready 
to leave Jerusalem 
without delay, because 
they will not accept your 
testimony about me.' 
{I}19_{/}I answered: 
'Lord, they know well 
that I imprisoned those 
who believed in you and 
had them beaten in every 
synagogue, {I}20_{/}and 
while the blood of your 
witness Stephen was being 
poured out, I stood by 
and approved it and even 
guarded the cloaks of his 
murderers.' {I}21_{/}Then 
he said to me: 'Go, for I 
am sending you far away 
to the pagan nations.'"
{I}22_{/}Up to this point 
the crowd listened to 
Paul, but on hearing the 
last words, they began to 
shout, "Kill him! He does 
not deserve to live!" 
{I}23_{/}They were 
screaming and waving 
their cloaks and throwing 
dust into the air. 
{I}24_{/}So the commander 
ordered Paul to be 
brought inside the 
fortress and questioned 
after flogging, to find 
out why they made such an 
outcry against him.
{I}25_{/}But when the 
soldiers had strapped him 
down, Paul said to the 
officer standing there, 
"Is it legal to flog a 
Roman citizen without a 
trial?"
{I}26_{/}On hearing this 
the officer went to the 
commander and said, "What 
are you doing? That man 
is a Roman citizen." 
{I}27_{/}So the commander 
came and asked him, "Tell 
me, are you a Roman 
citizen?" "Yes," answered 
Paul. {I}28_{/}The 
commander then said, "It 
cost me a large sum of 
money to become a Roman 
citizen." Paul answered, 
"I am one by birth."
{I}29_{/}Then those who 
were about to question 
him backed away, and the 
commander himself was 
alarmed when he realized 
that he had put a Roman 
citizen in chains.
PAUL APPEARS BEFORE THE 
SANHEDRIN{/}

{I}30_{/}The next day the 
commander wanted to know 
for certain the charges 
the Jews were making 
against Paul. So he 
released him from prison 
and called together the 
High Priest and the whole 
Council; and they brought 
Paul down and made him 
stand before them.
{1}23{/}

{I}1_{/}Paul looked 
directly at the Council 
and said, "Brothers, to 
this day I have lived my 
life with a clear 
conscience before God." 
{I}2_{/}At that the High 
Priest Ananias ordered 
his attendants to strike 
him on the mouth. 
{I}3_{/}Then Paul said, 
"God is about to strike 
you, you whitewashed 
wall! You sit there to 
judge me according to the 
Law, and you break the 
Law by ordering me to be 
struck!" {I}4_{/}At this 
the attendants protested, 
"How dare you insult 
God's High Priest?" 
{I}5_{/}Paul answered, 
"Brothers, I did not know 
that he was the High 
Priest. For Scripture 
says: You shall not curse 
the ruler of your 
people.''
{I}6_{/}Paul knew that 
part of the Council were 
Sadducees and others 
Pharisees; so he spoke 
out in the Council, 
"Brothers, I am a 
Pharisee, son of a 
Pharisee. It is for the 
hope in the resurrection 
of the dead that I am on 
trial here."
{I}7_{/}At these words, 
an argument broke out 
between the Pharisees and 
the Sadducees and the 
whole assembly was 
divided. {I}8_{/}For the 
Sadducees claim that 
there is neither 
resurrection, nor angels 
nor spirits, while the 
Pharisees acknowledge all 
these things.
{I}9_{/}Then the shouting 
grew louder, and some 
teachers of the Law of 
the Pharisee party 
protested, "We find 
nothing wrong with this 
man. Maybe a spirit or an 
angel has spoken to him."
{I}10_{/}With this the 
argument became so 
violent that the 
commander feared that 
Paul would be torn to 
pieces by them. He 
therefore ordered the 
soldiers to go down and 
rescue him from their 
midst and take him back 
to the fortress.
{I}11_{/}That night the 
Lord stood by Paul and 
said, "Courage! As you 
have borne witness to me 
here in Jerusalem, so 
must you do in Rome."
THE PLOT TO KILL PAUL{/}

{I}12_{/}When it was day, 
certain Jews formed a 
conspiracy: they bound 
themselves by an oath not 
to eat or drink until 
they had killed Paul. 
{I}13_{/}There were more 
than forty of them who 
joined in this 
conspiracy.
{I}14_{/}They went to the 
high priests and the 
elders and said, "We have 
bound ourselves by oath 
not to taste food until 
we have killed Paul. 
{I}15_{/}Now then, it is 
up to you and the Council 
together to convince the 
Roman commander to bring 
him down to you on the 
pretext that you want to 
investigate his case more 
thoroughly. We, for our 
part, are prepared to 
kill him before he gets 
there."
{I}16_{/}But the son of 
Paul's sister heard about 
the planned ambush, so he 
went to the headquarters 
and informed Paul. 
{I}17_{/}Paul sent for 
one of the officers and 
said, "Take this young 
man to the commander for 
he has something to 
report to him." 
{I}18_{/}So the officer 
took him and brought him 
to the commander, saying, 
"The prisoner Paul called 
me and asked me to bring 
this boy to you because 
he has something to tell 
you."
{I}19_{/}The commander 
took him by the hand and 
drawing him aside asked 
him privately, "What is 
it that you have to 
report to me?" 
{I}20{/}The boy replied, 
"The Jews have agreed 
among themselves to ask 
you tomorrow to have Paul 
brought down to the 
Council as if to inquire 
more thoroughly about 
him. {I}21_{/}But do not 
be persuaded by them, for 
there are more than forty 
of them ready to ambush 
him, having bound 
themselves by an oath not 
to eat or drink until 
they have killed him. 
They are now ready to do 
it and are awaiting your 
decision." {I}22_{/}The 
commander let the boy go 
with this advice, "Do not 
tell anyone that you gave 
me this information."
PAUL IS TRANSFERRED TO 
CAESAREA{/}

{I}23_{/}Then the 
commander summoned two of 
his officers and said to 
them, "Get ready to leave 
for Caesarea by nine 
o'clock tonight, with two 
hundred infantrymen, 
seventy horsemen and two 
hundred spearmen. 
{I}24_{/}Provide horses 
also for Paul to ride, so 
that he may be brought 
safely to Felix the 
governor."
{I}25_{/}He then wrote 
the governor a letter to 
this effect:
{I}26_{/}"Claudius Lysias 
greets the Most Excellent 
Governor Felix and 
communicates to him the 
following: {I}27_{/}The 
Jews had arrested this 
man and were about to 
kill him when I 
intervened with my troops 
and took him out of their 
hands, since I knew he 
was a Roman citizen. 
{I}28_{/}As I wanted to 
know what charge they had 
against him, I presented 
him before the Sanhedrin 
{I}29_{/}and I discovered 
that the accusation 
related to matters of 
their Law, but there was 
nothing which deserved 
death or imprisonment. 
{I}30_{/}When I was 
informed that the Jews 
had prepared a plot 
against this man, I 
decided to send him to 
you and told his accusers 
to present their 
complaints before you. 
Farewell."
{I}31_{/}The soldiers 
acted in accordance with 
these instructions. They 
took Paul and brought him 
to Antipatris by night. 
{I}32_{/}On the following 
day, they returned to the 
fortress but the horsemen 
continued journeying with 
him. {I}33_{/}Upon 
entering Caesarea they 
handed the letter to the 
governor and presented 
Paul to him. 
{I}34_{/}When Felix had 
read the letter, he asked 
Paul from which province 
he was, and when he 
learned that Paul was 
from Cilicia, {I}35_{/}he 
said to him: "I shall 
hear your accusers when 
they come." And he 
ordered that he be kept 
in custody in the palace 
of Herod.
THE CASE BEFORE FELIX {/}

{1}24{/}

{I}1_{/}After five days 
Ananias the High Priest 
came down to Caesarea 
with some of the elders 
and a lawyer named 
Tertullus. And they 
presented their case 
against Paul before the 
governor. {I}2_{/}Paul 
was called in and 
Tertullus accused him in 
this way:
{I}3_{/}"Most Excellent 
Felix, thanks to you - 
your labors and your wise 
reforms - our people now 
enjoy great peace. We 
accept all this in every 
way and in every place, 
and we are totally 
grateful to you. 
{I}4_{/}So as not to take 
more of your time, I beg 
you to listen briefly to 
us with your usual 
kindness. {I}5_{/}We have 
found that this man is a 
pest, he creates division 
among the Jews throughout 
the world and is a leader 
of the Nazarene sect. 
{I}6_{/}He even tried to 
profane the Temple, so we 
seized him. We would have 
judged him according to 
our law, {I}7_{/}but 
Lysias the commandant 
intervened in a very 
violent way and took him 
from us. {I}8_{/}Then he 
declared that his 
accusers must present 
themselves before you. By 
examining him yourself, 
you will learn from him 
about all that we accuse 
him of."
{I}9_{/}The Jews 
confirmed this, firmly 
maintaining that all this 
was so.
{I}10_{/}Then the 
governor motioned to Paul 
who said:
"As I know that you have 
administered this nation 
for many years, I make my 
defense with much 
confidence. {I}11_{/}You 
yourself can ascertain 
that not more than twelve 
days ago I went up to 
Jerusalem to worship, 
{I}12_{/}and that they 
did not find me disputing 
with anyone or inciting 
the people, either in the 
Temple or in the 
synagogues or in the 
city. {I}13_{/}So they 
cannot prove the things 
of which they now accuse 
me.
{I}14_{/}But this I admit 
before you, that I serve 
the God of our ancestors 
according to the Way 
which they call a sect. I 
believe everything 
written in the Law and in 
the Prophets, 
{I}15_{/}and I have the 
same hope in God that 
they have, that there 
will be a resurrection of 
the dead, both the good 
and the sinners. 
{I}16_{/}So I strive 
always to have a clear 
conscience before God and 
before people.
{I}17_{/}After many 
years, I came to bring 
help to those of my 
nation and to offer 
sacrifices. {I}18_{/}On 
that occasion, they found 
me in the Temple; I had 
been purified according 
to the Law and there was 
no crowd or commotion. 
Yet all began with some 
Jews from Asia 
{I}19_{/}who ought to be 
here before you to accuse 
me, if they have anything 
against me. {I}20_{/}Let 
these men say what crime 
they found in me when I 
stood before the 
Sanhedrin, 
{I}21_{/}unless it was 
for having declared in a 
loud voice when I was 
before them: 'Today I am 
being judged on account 
of the resurrection of 
the dead.'"
{I}22_{/}Felix who was 
well-informed about the 
Way, postponed the case 
and said to them, "When 
the commandant, Lysias, 
comes down, I will 
examine the case 
thoroughly." {I}23_{/}So 
he ordered the captain to 
keep Paul under guard, 
giving him certain 
liberty and without 
preventing his friends 
from attending to him.
{I}24_{/}After some days, 
Felix came with his wife 
Drusilla who was a Jew. 
He sent for Paul and let 
him speak about faith in 
Christ. {I}25_{/}But when 
Paul spoke about justice, 
self-control and the 
future judgment, Felix 
was frightened and he 
said to him: "You may 
leave now; I shall send 
for you some other time." 
{I}26_{/}Felix was hoping 
that Paul would give him 
money, so he sent for him 
often and conversed with 
him.
{I}27_{/}Two years 
passed, and Felix was 
succeeded by Porcius 
Festus; and as Felix 
wanted to remain on good 
terms with the Jews, he 
left Paul in prison.
THE TRIAL BEFORE 
FESTUS{/}

{1}25{/}

{I}1_{/}Three days after 
Festus arrived in the 
province, he went up from 
Caesarea to Jerusalem. 
{I}2_{/}There the chief 
priests and the elders 
accused Paul again. 
{I}3_{/}In a very 
hypocritical way, they 
asked as a favor from 
Festus that Paul be 
brought to Jerusalem; but 
they were planning to 
kill him on the way. 
{I}4_{/}Festus answered 
that Paul was under 
custody in Caesarea and, 
as he himself had to go 
there shortly, he added, 
{I}5_{/}"Let those of you 
who have the authority go 
down with me to Caesarea, 
and if this man has done 
anything wrong, let them 
accuse him."
{I}6_{/}Festus did not 
stay in Jerusalem for 
more than eight or ten 
days, and then he went to 
Caesarea. The next day, 
he took his seat on the 
tribunal and sent for 
Paul. {I}7_{/}When Paul 
arrived, the Jews who 
came from Jerusalem stood 
around him and presented 
many serious charges 
which they could not 
prove. {I}8_{/}Paul 
defended himself from all 
these saying, "I have not 
committed any offense 
against the Law of the 
Jews, or against the 
Temple or against 
Caesar."
{I}9_{/}Then Festus, who 
wanted to please the 
Jews, asked Paul: "Do you 
wish to go up to 
Jerusalem to be tried 
before me?" {I}10_{/}Paul 
answered, "I am on trial 
before Caesar's tribunal; 
here I have to be tried. 
I have done no wrong to 
the Jews: you yourself 
know this very well. 
{I}11_{/}If I have 
committed any crime which 
deserves death, I accept 
death. But if I have not 
done anything of which 
they accuse me, no one 
can give me up to them. I 
appeal to Caesar."
{I}12_{/}So Festus, after 
conferring with his 
council, answered, "You 
have appealed to Caesar. 
To Caesar you shall go."
{I}13_{/}Some days later 
King Agrippa and his 
sister Bernice arrived in 
Caesarea to greet Festus. 
As they were to stay 
there several days, 
Festus told the king 
about Paul's case and 
said to him,
{I}14_{/}"We have here a 
man whom Felix left as a 
prisoner. {I}15{/}When I 
was in Jerusalem, the 
chief priests and the 
elders of the Jews 
accused him and asked me 
to sentence him. 
{I}16_{/}I told them that 
it is not the custom of 
the Romans to hand over a 
man without giving him an 
opportunity to defend 
himself in front of his 
accusers. {I}17_{/}So 
they came and I took my 
seat without delay on the 
tribunal and sent for the 
man.
{I}18_{/}When the 
accusers had the floor, 
they did not accuse him 
of any of the crimes that 
I was led to think he had 
committed; 
{I}19_{/}instead they 
quarreled with him about 
religion and about a 
certain Jesus who has 
died but whom Paul 
asserted to be alive. 
{I}20_{/}I did not know 
what to do about this 
case, so I asked Paul if 
he wanted to go to 
Jerusalem to be tried 
there. {I}21_{/}But Paul 
appealed to be judged by 
the emperor. So I ordered 
that he be kept in 
custody until I send him 
to Caesar." 
{I}22_{/}Agrippa said to 
Festus: "I would like to 
hear that man." Festus 
answered him: "Tomorrow 
you shall."
{I}23_{/}On the following 
day, Agrippa and Bernice 
arrived with great 
ceremony and entered the 
audience hall with the 
commanders and the elders 
of the city. Festus 
ordered that Paul be 
brought in and said:
{I}24_{/}"King Agrippa 
and all here present, 
here you see this man 
about whom the whole 
community of the Jews 
came to see me, in 
Jerusalem as well as 
here, protesting loudly 
that he must not live. 
{I}25_{/}I, for my part, 
am convinced that he has 
not done anything that 
deserves death. But after 
he appealed to be judged 
by the emperor, I decided 
to send him on. 
{I}26_{/}Well, if I have 
no definite information, 
what can I write to 
Caesar about him? 
Therefore I present him 
before all of you, and 
especially before you, 
King Agrippa, that you 
may examine him and that 
I may know what to write. 
{I}27_{/}For it seems 
absurd to me to send a 
prisoner without 
indicating the charges 
against him."
PAUL'S SPEECH BEFORE KING 
AGRIPPA{/}

{1}26{/}

{I}1_{/}Agrippa said to 
Paul: "You may speak in 
your own defense." So 
Paul stretched out his 
hand and began in this 
way:
{I}2_{/}"King Agrippa, 
you have just heard about 
the accusations of the 
Jews. I consider myself 
fortunate in having the 
opportunity to defend 
myself against all this 
before you today, 
{I}3_{/}for you are an 
expert in the customs of 
the Jews and their 
disputes. Therefore I beg 
you to listen to me 
patiently.
{I}4_{/}All the Jews know 
how I have lived from my 
youth, how I have lived 
among my own people and 
in Jerusalem. 
{I}5_{/}They have always 
known me and they can 
tell you, if they wish, 
that I have lived as a 
Pharisee in the most 
rigorous sect of our 
religion. {I}6_{/}If I am 
now tried here, it is 
because of the hope I 
have in the promise made 
by God to our ancestors. 
{I}7_{/}The hope of 
attaining this promise is 
behind the fervent 
worship which our twelve 
tribes render to God 
night and day. Yet now, O 
king, the Jews accuse me 
for this hope! 
{I}8_{/}But why refuse to 
believe that God raises 
the dead?
{I}9_{/}I myself in the 
beginning thought that I 
had to use all possible 
means to counteract the 
Name of Jesus of 
Nazareth. {I}10_{/}This I 
did in Jerusalem and, 
with the authorization of 
the chief priests, I put 
in prison many who 
believed; and I cast my 
vote when they were 
condemned to death.
{I}11_{/}I went round the 
synagogues and multiplied 
punishments against them 
to force them to renounce 
their faith; such was my 
rage against them that I 
pursued them even to 
foreign cities.
{I}12_{/}With this 
purpose in mind I went to 
Damascus with full 
authority and 
commissioned by the chief 
priests. {I}13_{/}On the 
way, O King, at midday I 
saw a light from heaven, 
more brilliant than the 
sun, that dazzled me and 
those who accompanied me. 
{I}14_{/}We all fell to 
the ground and I heard a 
voice saying to me in 
Hebrew: 'Saul, Saul, why 
do you persecute me? In 
vain do you kick against 
the goad.'
{I}15_{/}I answered: 'Who 
are you, Lord?' And the 
Lord said: 'I am Jesus 
whom you persecute. 
{I}16_{/}Get up now and 
stand on your feet. I 
have revealed myself to 
you to make you servant 
and witness to what I 
have just shown you and 
to what I will show you 
later on. {I}17_{/}I will 
rescue you from all evil 
that may come from your 
own people or from the 
pagans to whom I am 
sending you. {I}18_{/}For 
you shall open their eyes 
that they may turn from 
darkness to light, and 
from the power of Satan 
to God; and, through 
faith in me, may obtain 
forgiveness of their sins 
and a place among those 
who are sanctified.'
{I}19_{/}Since that time, 
King Agrippa, I did not 
stray from this heavenly 
vision; {I}20_{/}on the 
contrary,I began 
preaching first to those 
in Damascus, then to 
those in Jerusalem and 
throughout Judea, and 
then to the pagan 
nations, that they should 
repent and turn to God, 
showing the fruits of 
true conversion. 
{I}21_{/}I was carrying 
out this mission when the 
Jews arrested me in the 
Temple and tried to kill 
me. But with the help of 
God, I still stand here 
today to give my 
testimony both to the 
great and the small.
{I}22_{/}I do not teach 
anything other than what 
Moses and the Prophets 
announced beforehand: 
{I}23_{/}the Messiah had 
to die, and after being 
the first to be raised 
from the dead, he would 
proclaim the light to his 
people as well as to all 
nations."
{I}24_{/}As Paul came to 
this point of his 
defense, Festus said in a 
loud voice: "Paul, you 
are mad; your great 
learning has deranged 
your mind!" {I}25_{/}But 
Paul answered: "I am not 
mad, Most Excellent 
Festus, but everything I 
have said is reliable and 
true. {I}26_{/}The king 
is acquainted with all 
these things, so to him I 
speak with such 
confidence. I am 
convinced that he knows 
everything about this 
case, for these things 
did not happen in a dark 
corner. {I}27_{/}King 
Agrippa, do you believe 
the Prophets? I know that 
you do."
{I}28_{/}Agrippa said to 
him: "You almost believe 
that you have already 
made me a Christian!" 
{I}29_{/}Paul answered 
him: "Whether little or 
more, I would that not 
only you but all who hear 
me this day may come to 
be as I am - except for 
these chains."
{I}30_{/}Then the king 
rose and, with him, the 
governor, Bernice and all 
the attendants. 
{I}31_{/}When they went 
out they talked among 
themselves and said: 
"This man has done 
nothing to deserve death 
or imprisonment." 
{I}32_{/}And Agrippa said 
to Festus: "Had he not 
appealed to Caesar, he 
could have been set 
free."
DEPARTURE FOR ROME{/}

{1}27{/}

{I}1_{/}When it was 
decided that we should 
sail for Italy, they 
handed over Paul and the 
other prisoners into the 
care of an officer of the 
Augustan battalion, named 
Julius. {I}2_{/}We 
boarded a ship of 
Adramyttium bound for the 
Asian coasts, and we left 
accompanied by 
Aristarchus, a Macedonian 
from the city of 
Thessalonica. {I}3_{/}We 
arrived at Sidon on the 
next day. Julius was very 
kind to Paul, letting him 
visit his friends and be 
cared for by them. 
{I}4_{/}From there, we 
sailed along the 
sheltered coast of 
Cyprus, because the winds 
were against us. 
{I}5_{/}We sailed across 
the seas off Cilicia and 
Pamphylia and arrived at 
Myra in Lycia. 
{I}6_{/}There the captain 
found a ship from 
Alexandria sailing for 
Italy and made us board 
it.
{I}7_{/}We sailed slowly 
for several days, and 
arrived with great 
difficulty at Cnidus. As 
the wind did not allow us 
to enter that port, we 
sailed for the shelter of 
Crete with the Cape of 
Salmone within sight. 
{I}8_{/}We turned with 
difficulty and arrived at 
a place called Good 
Ports, near the city of 
Lasea.
{I}9_{/}Time passed and 
the crossing began to be 
dangerous: we had already 
celebrated the feast of 
the Fast. {I}10_{/}Then 
Paul said to them: 
"Friends, I believe that 
it would not be very wise 
to proceed with our 
crossing for we could 
lose not only the cargo 
and the ship but also our 
lives." {I}11_{/}But the 
Roman officer relied more 
on the ship's captain and 
the owner of the ship 
than on the words of 
Paul. {I}12_{/}And as the 
port was not suitable for 
wintering, the majority 
agreed to set out from 
there in the hope of 
reaching the harbor of 
Crete called Phoenix, 
overlooking Africa and 
Choros, where they could 
spend the winter.
STORM AND SHIPWRECK{/}

{I}13_{/}Then the south 
wind began to blow and 
they thought that they 
had gained their purpose; 
they weighed anchor and 
sailed along the island 
of Crete. {I}14_{/}But a 
little later, a strong 
wind called "the 
northeaster" swept down 
on them, from across the 
island. {I}15_{/}The ship 
was dragged along and 
could not face the wind, 
so that we remained 
adrift.
{I}16_{/}As we were 
crossing under the lee of 
the small island of 
Cauda, we managed - but 
with effort - to secure 
the lifeboat. 
{I}17_{/}After lifting it 
aboard, they used cables 
to undergird the hull, 
and since we feared 
running aground on the 
sands of Syrtis, they 
lowered the sea anchor. 
So we continued to be 
dragged along.
{I}18_{/}The storm lashed 
at us so strongly that on 
the next day they began 
throwing the cargo 
overboard. {I}19_{/}On 
the third day the sailors 
with their own hands 
threw out the ship's 
gear. {I}20_{/}For 
several days neither the 
sun nor the stars could 
be seen, and the tempest 
had not subsided: we lost 
all hope of saving 
ourselves.
{I}21_{/}As we had not 
eaten for days, Paul 
stood up among them and 
said: "Friends, if you 
had followed my advice 
when I told you not to 
set sail from Crete, we 
would not be in such 
danger now, and we could 
have avoided this loss. 
{I}22_{/}But now I invite 
you to regain courage for 
no one among you shall 
die; only the ship shall 
be destroyed. 
{I}23_{/}Last night there 
appeared to me an angel 
of my God to whom I 
serve, {I}24_{/}and he 
said to me: 'Paul, do not 
be afraid, you must 
present yourself before 
Caesar's tribunal, and 
God has guaranteed you 
the life of all those who 
sail with you.'
{I}25_{/}Have courage, 
therefore, my friends, 
for I trust in God that 
it will be just as he 
told me. {I}26_{/}But we 
have to run aground on 
some island."
{I}27_{/}Near midnight on 
the fourteenth night, as 
we were drifting in the 
Adriatic Sea, the sailors 
suspected that land was 
near. {I}28_{/}They 
measured the depth of the 
water and it was thirty-
seven meters. After a 
while, they measured it 
again and it was twenty-
seven meters. 
{I}29_{/}They feared that 
we might hit some rocks, 
so they cast out four 
anchors from the stern 
and waited anxiously for 
morning. {I}30_{/}Then 
the sailors tried to 
escape from the ship 
under the pretext of 
extending the cables of 
the anchors from the bow, 
so they lowered the 
lifeboat into the sea. 
{I}31_{/}But Paul said to 
the captain and to the 
soldiers: "If they leave 
the ship, you can-not be 
saved. {I}32_{/}So the 
soldiers cut the mooring 
cables of the boat and 
let it fall.
{I}33_{/}As they waited 
for dawn, Paul urged 
everyone: "For fourteen 
days we have not eaten 
anything because of 
anxious waiting. 
{I}34_{/}I ask you to eat 
now if you want to live; 
be sure that not even a 
hair of your head will be 
lost." {I}35_{/}Having 
said this, he took bread, 
gave thanks to God in 
everybody's presence, 
broke it and began to 
eat. {I}36_{/}All were 
encouraged and they too 
ate. {I}37_{/}They were 
two hundred and seventy-
six persons in all. 
{I}38_{/}When they had 
eaten enough, they threw 
the wheat into the sea to 
lighten the boat.
{I}39_{/}When morning 
came, they did not 
recognize the land but 
noticed a bay with a 
beach, so they decided to 
run the ship aground, if 
possible. {I}40_{/}They 
cast off the anchors and 
left them in the sea; at 
the same time, they 
loosened the ropes of the 
rudders, hoisted the 
foresail to the wind and 
headed for the beach. 
{I}41_{/}But they struck 
a sandbank and the ship 
ran aground. The bow 
stuck and was immovable, 
while the stern was 
broken up by the violent 
waves.
{I}42_{/}The soldiers 
then planned to kill the 
prisoners for fear that 
some of them might escape 
by swimming. {I}43_{/}But 
the captain, who wished 
to save Paul, did not 
allow them to do this. He 
ordered those who knew 
how to swim, to be the 
first to jump into the 
water and head for the 
shore, {I}44_{/}and the 
rest to hold on to planks 
or pieces of the ship. So 
all of us reached land 
safe and sound.
ON MALTA{/}

{1}28{/}

{I}1_{/}After being 
saved, we learned that 
the island was called 
Malta. {I}2_{/}The 
natives were very 
cordial. They lit a big 
bonfire and took good 
care of us all, since it 
was raining and cold.
{I}3_{/}Paul gathered a 
bundle of dried twigs and 
as he threw them into the 
fire, a viper suddenly 
came out because of the 
heat and entwined itself 
around his hand. 
{I}4_{/}When the natives 
saw the viper hanging 
from his hand, they said 
to one another: "Surely 
this man is a murderer: 
he has barely escaped 
from the raging sea, yet 
divine justice will not 
allow him to live." 
{I}5_{/}But Paul shook 
off the viper into the 
fire and did not suffer 
any harm. They waited to 
see him swell and die; 
{I}6_{/}but after 
observing him for a while 
they saw that nothing 
happened to him, so they 
changed their minds and 
began to say that he was 
a god. 
{I}7_{/}Near this place 
was an estate owned by 
the head of the island, 
named Publius. For three 
days this man welcomed us 
hospitably. {I}8_{/}It so 
happened that his father 
was in bed with fever and 
dysentery. Paul went to 
see him; he prayed and 
laid his hands on him and 
healed him. 
{I}9_{/}Because of this, 
the rest of the sick 
people on the island came 
to see him and were 
cured. {I}10_{/}So they 
showered us with 
kindness, and on our 
departure they provided 
us with everything we 
needed.
FROM MALTA TO ROME{/}

{I}11_{/}After three 
months, we boarded a ship 
which had spent the 
winter at the island. It 
belonged to an 
Alexandrian company and 
carried the figurehead of 
Castor and Pollux as 
insignia. {I}12_{/}We 
sailed for Syracuse, 
staying there for three 
days {I}13_{/}and, after 
circling the coast, we 
arrived at Rhegium. On 
the following day, a 
south wind began to blow, 
and at the end of two 
days we arrived at 
Puteoli, {I}14_{/}where 
we found some of our 
brothers who invited us 
to stay with them for a 
week. And that was how we 
came to Rome.
{I}15_{/}There the 
brothers and sisters had 
been informed of our 
arrival and came out to 
meet us as far as the 
Appian Forum and the 
Three Taverns. When Paul 
saw them, he gave thanks 
to God and took courage. 
{I}16_{/}Upon our arrival 
in Rome, the captain 
turned the prisoners over 
to the military governor 
but permitted Paul to 
lodge in a private house 
with the soldier who 
guarded him.
PAUL MEETS THE JEWS IN 
ROME{/}

{I}17_{/}After three 
days, Paul called 
together the leaders of 
the Jews. When they had 
gathered, he said to 
them: "Brothers, though I 
have not done anything 
against our people or 
against the traditions of 
our fathers, I was 
arrested in Jerusalem and 
handed over to the 
Romans. {I}18_{/}They 
examined me and wanted to 
set me free, for they saw 
nothing in my case that 
deserved death. 
{I}19_{/}But the Jews 
objected, so I was forced 
to appeal to Caesar 
without the least 
intention of bringing any 
case against my own 
people. 
{I}20_{/}Therefore, I 
have asked to see you and 
speak with you, since it 
is because of the hope of 
Israel that I bear these 
chains."
{I}21_{/}They answered: 
"We have not received any 
letter about you from 
Judea, and none of the 
brothers who have come 
from there have brought 
any message or said 
anything against you. 
{I}22_{/}But we wish to 
hear from you what you 
think, although we know 
already that everywhere 
people speak against this 
sect that you belong to."
{I}23_{/}They set a day 
for him and came in great 
numbers to his lodging. 
So Paul explained 
everything he wanted to 
tell them regarding the 
Kingdom of God and tried 
to convince them 
concerning Jesus, taking 
the Law of Moses and the 
Prophets as his starting 
point. This continued 
from morning till night. 
{I}24_{/}Some were 
convinced by his words, 
others were not. 
{I}25_{/}Finally the Jews 
left, still arguing 
strongly among 
themselves; and Paul sent 
them away with this 
statement:"What the Holy 
Spirit said has come 
true, when he spoke to 
your ancestors through 
the prophet Isaiah:
{I}26_{/}Go to this 
people and say to them: 
However much you hear, 
you will not understand; 
you will see and see 
again but not perceive.
{I}27_{/}The heart of 
this people has grown 
hard; they have covered 
their ears and closed 
their eyes, lest they 
should see with their 
eyes and hear with their 
ears, lest their spirit 
understand, and I should 
heal them.
{I}28_{/}Let it be known 
to you, then, that this 
salvation of God has been 
sent to the pagans: they 
will listen."
{I}30_{/}Paul stayed for 
two whole years in a 
house he himself rented, 
where he received without 
any hindrance all those 
who came to see him. 
{I}31_{/}He proclaimed 
the Kingdom of God and 
taught the truth about 
Jesus Christ, the Lord, 
quite openly and without 
any hindrance. 

