Acts 11 Cross References - WNT

¹ Now the Apostles, and the brethren in various parts of Judaea, heard that the Gentiles also had received God's Message; ² and, when Peter returned to Jerusalem, the champions of circumcision found fault with him. ³ "You went into the houses of men who are not Jews," they said, "and you ate with them." ⁴ Peter, however, explained the whole matter to them from the beginning. ⁵ "While I was in the town of Jaffa, offering prayer," he said, "in a trance I saw a vision. There descended what seemed to be an enormous sail, being let down from the sky by ropes at the four corners, and it came close to me. ⁶ Fixing my eyes on it, I examined it closely, and saw various kinds of quadrupeds, wild beasts, reptiles and birds. ⁷ I also heard a voice saying to me, "'Rise, Peter, kill and eat.' ⁸ "'On no account, Lord,' I replied, 'for nothing unholy or impure has ever gone into my mouth.' ⁹ "But a voice answered, speaking a second time from the sky, "'What God has purified, you must not regard as unholy.' ¹⁰ "This was said three times, and then everything was drawn up again out of sight. ¹¹ "Now at that very moment three men came to the house where we were, having been sent from Caesarea to find me. ¹² And the Spirit told me to accompany them without any misgivings. There also went with me these six brethren who are now present, and we reached the Centurion's house. ¹³ Then he described to us how he had seen the angel come and enter his house and say, "'Send to Jaffa and fetch Simon, surnamed Peter. ¹⁴ He will teach you truths by which you and all your family will be saved.'" ¹⁵ "And," said Peter, "no sooner had I begun to speak than the Holy Spirit fell upon them, just as He fell upon us at the first. ¹⁶ Then I remembered the Lord's words, how He used to say, "'John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit.' ¹⁷ "If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we first believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, why, who was I to be able to thwart God?" ¹⁸ This statement of Peter's silenced his opponents. They extolled the goodness of God, and said, "So, then, to the Gentiles also God has given the repentance which leads to Life." ¹⁹ Those, however, who had been driven in various directions by the persecution which broke out on account of Stephen made their way to Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, delivering the Message to none but Jews. ²⁰ But some of them were Cyprians and Cyrenaeans, who, on coming to Antioch, spoke to the Greeks also and told them the Good News concerning the Lord Jesus. ²¹ The power of the Lord was with them, and there were a vast number who believed and turned to the Lord. ²² When tidings of this reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem, they sent Barnabas as far as Antioch. ²³ On getting there he was delighted to see the grace which God had bestowed; and he encouraged them all to remain, with fixed resolve, faithful to the Lord. ²⁴ For he was a good man, and was full of the Holy Spirit and of faith; and the number of believers in the Lord greatly increased. ²⁵ Then Barnabas paid a visit to Tarsus to try to find Saul. ²⁶ He succeeded, and brought him to Antioch; and for a whole year they attended the meetings of the Church, and taught a large number of people. And it was in Antioch that the disciples first received the name of 'Christians.' ²⁷ At that time certain Prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch, ²⁸ one of whom, named Agabus, being instructed by the Spirit, publicly predicted the speedy coming of a great famine throughout the world. (It came in the reign of Claudius.) ²⁹ So the disciples decided to send relief, every one in proportion to his means, to the brethren living in Judaea. ³⁰ This they did, forwarding their contributions to the Elders by Barnabas and Saul.

¹¹ And I tell you that many will come from the east and from the west and will recline at table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of the Heavens,

⁵ Upon entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at their right hand, clothed in a long white robe. They were astonished and terrified.

³² A light to shine upon the Gentiles, And the glory of Thy people Israel."

¹⁴ When the Apostles in Jerusalem heard that the Samaritans had accepted God's Message, they sent Peter and John to visit them. ¹⁵ They, when they came down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit:

³⁴ Then Peter began to speak. "I clearly see," he said, "that God makes no distinctions between one man and another; ³⁵ but that in every nation those who fear Him and live good lives are acceptable to Him. ³⁶ The Message which He sent to the descendants of Israel, when He announced the Good News of peace through Jesus Christ--He is Lord of all--that Message you cannot but know; ³⁷ the story, I mean, which has spread through the length and breadth of Judaea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism which John proclaimed. ³⁸ It tells how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, so that He went about everywhere doing acts of kindness, and curing all who were being continually oppressed by the Devil--for God was with Jesus.

²⁷ Upon their arrival they called the Church together and proceeded to report in detail all that God, working with them, had done, and how He had opened for the Gentiles the door of faith.

³ So they set out, being accompanied for a short distance by some other members of the Church; and as they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told the whole story of the conversion of the Gentiles and inspired all the brethren with great joy.

⁷ Habitually therefore give one another a friendly reception, just as Christ also has received you, and thus promote the glory of God. ⁸ My meaning is that Christ has become a servant to the people of Israel in vindication of God's truthfulness-- in showing how sure are the promises made to our forefathers-- ⁹ and that the Gentiles also have glorified God in acknowledgment of His mercy. So it is written, "FOR THIS REASON I WILL PRAISE THEE AMONG THE GENTILES, AND SING PSALMS IN HONOUR OF THY NAME." ¹⁰ And again the Psalmist says, "BE GLAD, YE GENTILES, IN COMPANY WITH HIS PEOPLE." ¹¹ And again, "PRAISE THE LORD, ALL YE GENTILES, AND LET ALL THE PEOPLE EXTOL HIM." ¹² And again Isaiah says, "THERE SHALL BE THE ROOT OF JESSE AND ONE WHO RISES UP TO RULE THE GENTILES. ON HIM SHALL THE GENTILES BUILD THEIR HOPES."

¹⁷ nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were my seniors in the Apostleship, but I went away into Arabia, and afterwards came back to Damascus. ¹⁸ Then, three years later, I went up to Jerusalem to inquire for Peter, and I spent a fortnight with him. ¹⁹ I saw none of the other Apostles, except James, the Lord's brother. ²⁰ In making these assertions I am speaking the truth, as in the sight of God. ²¹ Afterwards I visited Syria and Cilicia. ²² But to the Christian Churches in Judaea I was personally unknown.

⁹ The next day, while they were still on their journey and were getting near the town, about noon Peter went up on the house-top to pray.

⁴⁵ And all the Jewish believers who had come with Peter were astonished that on the Gentiles also the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out.

¹ But certain persons who had come down from Judaea tried to convince the brethren, saying, "Unless you are circumcised in accordance with the Mosaic custom, you cannot be saved."

⁵ But certain men who had belonged to the sect of the Pharisees but were now believers, stood up in the assembly, and said, "Yes, Gentile believers ought to be circumcised and be ordered to keep the Law of Moses."

²⁰ And they, when they had heard his statement, gave the glory to God. Then they said, "You see, brother, how many tens of thousands of Jews there are among those who have accepted the faith, and they are all zealous upholders of the Law. ²¹ Now what they have been repeatedly told about you is that you teach all the Jews among the Gentiles to abandon Moses, and that you forbid them to circumcise their children or observe old-established customs. ²² What then ought you to do? They are sure to hear that you have come to Jerusalem; ²³ so do this which we now tell you. We have four men here who have a vow resting on them.

¹² For until certain persons came from James he had been accustomed to eat with Gentiles; but as soon as these persons came, he withdrew and separated himself for fear of the Circumcision party. ¹³ And along with him the other Jews also concealed their real opinions, so that even Barnabas was carried away by their lack of straightforwardness. ¹⁴ As soon as I saw that they were not walking uprightly in the spirit of the Good News, I said to Peter, before them all, "If you, though you are a Jew, live as a Gentile does, and not as a Jew, how can you make the Gentiles follow Jewish customs?

² and this led the Pharisees and the Scribes indignantly to complain, saying, "He gives a welcome to notorious sinners, and joins them at their meals!"

²³ Upon hearing this, Peter invited them in, and gave them a lodging. The next day he set out with them, some of the brethren from Jaffa going with him,

²⁸ He said to them, "You know better than most that a Jew is strictly forbidden to associate with a Gentile or visit him; but God has taught me to call no one unholy or unclean.

⁴⁸ And he directed that they should be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they begged him to remain with them for a time.

¹¹ But what I meant was that you were not to associate with any one bearing the name of "brother," if he was addicted to fornication or avarice or idol-worship or abusive language or hard-drinking or greed of gain. With such a man you ought not even to eat.

¹² For until certain persons came from James he had been accustomed to eat with Gentiles; but as soon as these persons came, he withdrew and separated himself for fear of the Circumcision party.

¹⁰ If any one who comes to you does not bring this teaching, do not receive him under your roof nor bid him Farewell.

³ it has seemed right to me also, after careful investigation of the facts from their commencement, to write for you, most noble Theophilus, a connected account,

¹⁰ Now in Damascus there was a disciple of the name of Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, saying, "Ananias!" "I am here, Lord," he answered.

⁹ The next day, while they were still on their journey and were getting near the town, about noon Peter went up on the house-top to pray. ¹⁰ He had become unusually hungry and wished for food; but, while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance. ¹¹ The sky had opened to his view, and what seemed to be an enormous sail was descending, being let down to the earth by ropes at the four corners. ¹² In it were all kinds of quadrupeds, reptiles and birds, ¹³ and a voice came to him which said, "Rise, Peter, kill and eat." ¹⁴ "On no account, Lord," he replied; "for I have never yet eaten anything unholy and impure." ¹⁵ Again a second time a voice was heard which said, "What God has purified, you must not regard as unholy." ¹⁶ This was said three times, and immediately the sail was drawn up out of sight. ¹⁷ While Peter was greatly perplexed as to the meaning of the vision which he had seen, just then the men sent by Cornelius, having by inquiry found out Simon's house, ¹⁸ had come to the door and had called the servant, and were asking, "Is Simon, surnamed Peter, staying here?" ¹⁹ And Peter was still earnestly thinking over the vision, when the Spirit said to him, "Three men are now inquiring for you. ²⁰ Rise, go down, and go with them without any misgivings; for it is I who have sent them to you." ²¹ So Peter went down and said to the men, "I am the Simon you are inquiring for. What is the reason of your coming?" ²² Their reply was, "Cornelius, a Captain, an upright and God-fearing man, of whom the whole Jewish nation speaks well, has been divinely instructed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and listen to what you have to say." ²³ Upon hearing this, Peter invited them in, and gave them a lodging. The next day he set out with them, some of the brethren from Jaffa going with him, ²⁴ and the day after that they reached Caesarea. There Cornelius was awaiting their arrival, and had invited all his relatives and intimate friends to be present. ²⁵ When Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him, and threw himself at his feet to do him homage. ²⁶ But Peter lifted him up. "Stand up," he said; "I myself also am but a man." ²⁷ So Peter went in and conversed with him, and found a large company assembled. ²⁸ He said to them, "You know better than most that a Jew is strictly forbidden to associate with a Gentile or visit him; but God has taught me to call no one unholy or unclean. ²⁹ So for this reason, when sent for, I came without raising any objection. I therefore ask why you sent for me." ³⁰ "Just at this hour, three days ago," replied Cornelius, "I was offering afternoon prayer in my house, when suddenly a man in shining raiment stood in front of me, ³¹ who said, "'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your charities have been put on record before God. ³² Send therefore to Jaffa, and invite Simon, surnamed Peter, to come here. He is staying as a guest in the house of Simon, a tanner, close to the sea.'

⁵ "While I was in the town of Jaffa, offering prayer," he said, "in a trance I saw a vision. There descended what seemed to be an enormous sail, being let down from the sky by ropes at the four corners, and it came close to me. ⁶ Fixing my eyes on it, I examined it closely, and saw various kinds of quadrupeds, wild beasts, reptiles and birds. ⁷ I also heard a voice saying to me, "'Rise, Peter, kill and eat.' ⁸ "'On no account, Lord,' I replied, 'for nothing unholy or impure has ever gone into my mouth.' ⁹ "But a voice answered, speaking a second time from the sky, "'What God has purified, you must not regard as unholy.' ¹⁰ "This was said three times, and then everything was drawn up again out of sight. ¹¹ "Now at that very moment three men came to the house where we were, having been sent from Caesarea to find me. ¹² And the Spirit told me to accompany them without any misgivings. There also went with me these six brethren who are now present, and we reached the Centurion's house. ¹³ Then he described to us how he had seen the angel come and enter his house and say, "'Send to Jaffa and fetch Simon, surnamed Peter. ¹⁴ He will teach you truths by which you and all your family will be saved.'"

¹⁷ "After my return to Jerusalem, and while praying in the Temple, I fell into a trance.

¹ I am compelled to boast. It is not a profitable employment, but I will proceed to visions and revelations granted me by the Lord. ² I know a Christian man who fourteen years ago-- whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know; God knows--was caught up (this man of whom I am speaking) even to the highest Heaven. ³ And I know that this man-- whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know;

²⁰ And rolling up the book, He returned it to the attendant, and sat down--to speak. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him.

⁴ Peter fixing his eyes on him, as John did also, said, "Look at us."

² They had noticed that some of His disciples were eating their food with 'unclean' (that is to say, unwashed) hands.

¹⁴ As one who lives in union with the Lord Jesus, I know and am certain that in its own nature no food is 'impure'; but if people regard any food as impure, to them it is.

¹⁴ For, in such cases, the unbelieving husband has become--and is--holy through union with a Christian woman, and the unbelieving wife is holy through union with a Christian brother. Otherwise your children would be unholy, but in reality they have a place among God's people.

¹⁵ Again a second time a voice was heard which said, "What God has purified, you must not regard as unholy."

³⁴ Then Peter began to speak. "I clearly see," he said, "that God makes no distinctions between one man and another; ³⁵ but that in every nation those who fear Him and live good lives are acceptable to Him.

⁹ and He made no difference between us and them, in that He cleansed their hearts by their faith.

⁵ For it is made holy by the word of God and by prayer.

¹³ For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have contracted defilement make them holy so as to bring about ceremonial purity, ¹⁴ how much more certainly shall the blood of Christ, who strengthened by the eternal Spirit offered Himself to God, free from blemish, purify your consciences from lifeless works for you to serve the ever-living God?

³⁸ "You say you will lay down your life on my behalf!" said Jesus; "in most solemn truth I tell you that the cock will not crow before you have three times disowned me."

¹⁷ A third time Jesus put the question: "Simon, son of John, am I dear to you?" It grieved Peter that Jesus asked him the third time, "Am I dear to you?" "Master," he replied, "you know everything, you can see that you are dear to me." "Then feed my much-loved sheep," said Jesus.

⁸ As for this, three times have I besought the Lord to rid me of him;

¹⁰ Now in Damascus there was a disciple of the name of Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, saying, "Ananias!" "I am here, Lord," he answered. ¹¹ "Rise," said the Lord, "and go to Straight Street, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man called Saul, from Tarsus, for he is actually praying. ¹² He has seen a man called Ananias come and lay his hands upon him so that he may recover his sight."

¹⁷ While Peter was greatly perplexed as to the meaning of the vision which he had seen, just then the men sent by Cornelius, having by inquiry found out Simon's house, ¹⁸ had come to the door and had called the servant, and were asking, "Is Simon, surnamed Peter, staying here?"

²⁰ But while he was contemplating this step, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to bring home your wife Mary, for she is with child through the Holy Spirit.

¹³ But when He has come--the Spirit of Truth--He will guide you into all the truth. For He will not speak as Himself originating what He says, but all that He hears He will speak, and He will make known the future to you.

²⁹ Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go and enter that chariot."

¹⁹ And Peter was still earnestly thinking over the vision, when the Spirit said to him, "Three men are now inquiring for you. ²⁰ Rise, go down, and go with them without any misgivings; for it is I who have sent them to you."

² While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for Me, now at once, Barnabas and Saul, for the work to which I have called them."

⁴ They therefore, being thus sent out by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleuceia, and from there sailed to Cyprus.

⁷ and after there had been a long discussion Peter rose to his feet. "It is within your own knowledge," he said, "that God originally made choice among you that from my lips the Gentiles were to hear the Message of the Good News, and believe.

⁶ Then Paul and his companions passed through Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the Message in the province of Asia. ⁷ When they reached the frontier of Mysia, they were about to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not permit this.

²² a righteousness coming from God, which depends on faith in Jesus Christ and extends to all who believe. No distinction is made;

² not readily to become unsettled in mind or troubled--either by any pretended spiritual revelation or by any message or letter claiming to have been sent by us--through fancying that the day of the Lord is now here.

¹⁷ The Spirit and the Bride say, 'Come;' and whoever hears, let him say, 'Come;' and let those who are thirsty come. Whoever will, let him take the Water of Life, without payment.

⁴³ and Peter remained for a considerable time at Jaffa, staying at the house of a man called Simon, a tanner.

³ About three o'clock one afternoon he had a vision, and distinctly saw an angel of God enter his house, who called him by name, saying, "Cornelius!" ⁴ Looking steadily at him, and being much alarmed, he said, "What do you want, Sir?" "Your prayers and charities," he replied, "have gone up and have been recorded before God. ⁵ And now send to Jaffa and fetch Simon, surnamed Peter. ⁶ He is staying as a guest with Simon, a tanner, who has a house close to the sea."

²² Their reply was, "Cornelius, a Captain, an upright and God-fearing man, of whom the whole Jewish nation speaks well, has been divinely instructed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and listen to what you have to say."

¹¹ Peter coming to himself said, "Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel and has rescued me from the power of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were anticipating."

¹⁴ Are not all angels spirits that serve Him--whom He sends out to render service for the benefit of those who, before long, will inherit salvation?

¹⁶ He who believes and is baptized shall be saved, but he who disbelieves will be condemned.

¹⁰ For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."

⁵³ Then the father recollected that that was the time at which Jesus had said to him, "Your son has recovered," and he and his whole household became believers.

⁶³ It is the spirit which gives Life. The flesh confers no benefit whatever. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and are Life.

⁶⁸ "Master," replied Simon Peter, "to whom shall we go? Your teachings tell us of the Life of the Ages.

⁵⁰ And I know that His command is the Life of the Ages. What therefore I speak, I speak just as the Father has bidden me."

³¹ But these have been recorded in order that you may believe that He is the Christ, the Son of God, and that, through believing, you may have Life through His name.

³⁹ For to you belongs the promise, and to your children, and to all who are far off, whoever the Lord our God may call."

² He was religious and God-fearing--and so was every member of his household. He was also liberal in his charities to the people, and continually offered prayer to God.

⁶ He is staying as a guest with Simon, a tanner, who has a house close to the sea."

³² Send therefore to Jaffa, and invite Simon, surnamed Peter, to come here. He is staying as a guest in the house of Simon, a tanner, close to the sea.' ³³ "Immediately, therefore, I sent to you, and I thank you heartily for having come. That is why all of us are now assembled here in God's presence, to listen to what the Lord has commanded you to say."

⁴³ To Him all the Prophets bear witness, and testify that through His name all who believe in Him receive the forgiveness of their sins."

¹⁵ When she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, "If in your judgement I am a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house." And she made us go there.

³¹ "Believe on the Lord Jesus," they replied, "and both you and your household will be saved." ³² And they told the Lord's Message to him as well as to all who were in his house. ³³ Then he took them, even at that time of night, washed their wounds, and he and all his household were immediately baptized; ³⁴ and bringing the Apostles up into his house, he spread a meal for them, and was filled with gladness, with his whole household, his faith resting on God.

⁸ And Crispus, the Warden of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, and so did all his household; and from time to time many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and received baptism.

¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the Good News. It is God's power which is at work for the salvation of every one who believes--the Jew first, and then the Gentile. ¹⁷ For in the Good News a righteousness which comes from God is being revealed, depending on faith and tending to produce faith; as the Scripture has it, "THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."

⁹ that if with your mouth you confess Jesus as Lord and in your heart believe that God brought Him back to life, you shall be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart men believe and obtain righteousness, and with the mouth they make confession and obtain salvation.

¹⁶ I did, however, baptize Stephanas' household also: but I do not think that I baptized any one else.

⁹ If we accept the testimony of men, God's testimony is greater: for God's testimony consists of the things which He has testified about His Son. ¹⁰ He who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in his own heart: he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, in that he has refused to accept the testimony which God has given about His Son. ¹¹ And that testimony is to the effect that God has given us the Life of the Ages, and that this Life is in His Son. ¹² He who has the Son has the Life: he who has not the Son of God has not the Life. ¹³ I write all this to you in order that you who believe in the Son of God may know for certain that you already have the Life of the Ages.

² when suddenly there came from the sky a sound as of a strong rushing blast of wind. This filled the whole house where they were sitting; ³ and they saw tongues of what looked like fire distributing themselves over the assembly, and on the head of each person a tongue alighted. ⁴ They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in foreign languages according as the Spirit gave them words to utter. ⁵ Now there were Jews residing in Jerusalem, devout men from every part of the world. ⁶ So when this noise was heard, they came crowding together, and were amazed because everyone heard his own language spoken. ⁷ They were beside themselves with wonder, and exclaimed, "Are not all these speakers Galilaeans? ⁸ How then does each of us hear his own native language spoken by them? ⁹ Some of us are Parthians, Medes, Elamites. Some are inhabitants of Mesopotamia, of Judaea or Cappadocia, of Pontus or the Asian Province, of Phrygia or Pamphylia, ¹⁰ of Egypt or of the parts of Africa towards Cyrene. Others are visitors from Rome--being either Jews or converts from heathenism--and others are Cretans or Arabians. ¹¹ Yet we all alike hear these Galilaeans speaking in our own language about the wonderful things which God has done." ¹² They were all astounded and bewildered, and asked one another, "What can this mean?"

³¹ When they had prayed, the place in which they were assembled shook, and they were, one and all, filled with the Holy Spirit, and proceeded to tell God's Message with boldness.

³⁴ Then Peter began to speak. "I clearly see," he said, "that God makes no distinctions between one man and another; ³⁵ but that in every nation those who fear Him and live good lives are acceptable to Him. ³⁶ The Message which He sent to the descendants of Israel, when He announced the Good News of peace through Jesus Christ--He is Lord of all--that Message you cannot but know; ³⁷ the story, I mean, which has spread through the length and breadth of Judaea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism which John proclaimed. ³⁸ It tells how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, so that He went about everywhere doing acts of kindness, and curing all who were being continually oppressed by the Devil--for God was with Jesus. ³⁹ "And we are witnesses as to all that He did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. But they even put Him to death, by crucifixion. ⁴⁰ That same Jesus God raised to life on the third day, and permitted Him to appear unmistakably, ⁴¹ not to all the people, but to witnesses--men previously chosen by God--namely, to us, who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead. ⁴² And He has commanded us to preach to the people and solemnly declare that this is He who has been appointed by God to be the Judge of the living and the dead. ⁴³ To Him all the Prophets bear witness, and testify that through His name all who believe in Him receive the forgiveness of their sins." ⁴⁴ While Peter was speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all who were listening to the Message. ⁴⁵ And all the Jewish believers who had come with Peter were astonished that on the Gentiles also the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out. ⁴⁶ For they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling the majesty of God. Then Peter said,

⁶ and when Paul laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began to speak in tongues and to prophesy.

¹¹ I indeed am baptizing you in water on a profession of repentance; but He who is coming after me is mightier than I: His sandals I am not worthy to carry for a moment; He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire.

⁸ I have baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

¹⁶ he answered the question by saying to them all, "As for me, I am baptizing you with water, but One mightier than I is coming, whose very sandal-strap I am not worthy to unfasten: He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and with fire.

⁸ Then they remembered His words,

²⁶ "I baptize in water only," John answered, "but in your midst stands One whom you do not know--

³³ I did not yet know Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, "'The One on whom you see the Spirit coming down, and remaining, He it is who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.'

²⁶ But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will teach you everything, and will bring to your memories all that I have said to you.

⁴ But I have spoken these things to you in order that when the time for their accomplishment comes you may remember them, and may recollect that I told you. I did not, however, tell you all this at first, because I was still with you.

⁵ For John indeed baptized with water, but before many days have passed you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

² "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you first believed?" he asked them. "No," they replied, "we did not even hear that there is a Holy Spirit." ³ "Into what then were you baptized?" he asked. "Into John's baptism," they replied. ⁴ "John," he said, "administered a baptism of repentance, bidding the people believe on One who was to come after him; namely, on Jesus."

³⁵ In all things I have set you an example, showing you that, by working as I do, you ought to help the weak, and to bear in mind the words of the Lord Jesus, how He Himself said, "'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

¹³ For, in fact, in one Spirit all of us--whether we are Jews or Gentiles, slaves or free men--were baptized to form but one body; and we were all nourished by that one Spirit.

⁵ as righteous men, had done, but as the result of His own mercy He saved us by means of the bath of regeneration and the renewal of our natures by the Holy Spirit, ⁶ which He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

¹ This letter which I am now writing to you, dear friends, is my second letter. In both my letters I seek to revive in your honest minds the memory of certain things,

¹⁴ Take your money and go. I choose to give this last comer just as much as I give you. ¹⁵ Have I not a right to do what I choose with my own property? Or are you envious because I am generous?'

³⁹ But if it is really from God, you will be powerless to put them down--lest perhaps you find yourselves to be actually fighting against God."

⁴⁷ "Can any one forbid the use of water, and object to these persons being baptized--men who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?"

¹⁵ "And," said Peter, "no sooner had I begun to speak than the Holy Spirit fell upon them, just as He fell upon us at the first.

⁸ And God, who knows all hearts, gave His testimony in their favour by bestowing the Holy Spirit on them just as He did on us; ⁹ and He made no difference between us and them, in that He cleansed their hearts by their faith.

¹⁵ No, indeed; the solution is found in His words to Moses, "WHEREVER I SHOW MERCY IT SHALL BE NOTHING BUT MERCY, AND WHEREVER I SHOW COMPASSION IT SHALL BE SIMPLY COMPASSION." ¹⁶ And from this we learn that everything is dependent not on man's will or endeavour, but upon God who has mercy. For the Scripture said to Pharaoh,

²⁰ Nay, but who are you, a mere man, that you should cavil against GOD? SHALL THE THING MOULDED SAY TO HIM WHO MOULDED IT, "WHY HAVE YOU MADE ME THUS?" ²¹ Or has not the potter rightful power over the clay to make out of the same lump one vessel for more honourable and another for less honourable uses? ²² And what if God, while choosing to make manifest the terrors of His anger and to show what is possible with Him, has yet borne with long-forbearing patience with the subjects of His anger who stand ready for destruction, ²³ in order to make known His infinite goodness towards the subjects of His mercy whom He has prepared beforehand for glory, ²⁴ even towards us whom He has called not only from among the Jews but also from among the Gentiles? ²⁵ So also in Hosea He says, "I WILL CALL THAT NATION MY PEOPLE WHICH WAS NOT MY PEOPLE, AND I WILL CALL HER BELOVED WHO WAS NOT BELOVED. ²⁶ AND IN THE PLACE WHERE IT WAS SAID TO THEM, 'NO PEOPLE OF MINE ARE YOU,' THERE SHALL THEY BE CALLED SONS OF THE EVERLIVING GOD."

³⁴ "WHO HAS EVER KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR SHARED HIS COUNSELS?" ³⁵ "WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN GOD ANYTHING, SO AS TO RECEIVE PAYMENT IN RETURN?" ³⁶ For the universe owes its origin to Him, was created by Him, and has its aim and purpose in Him. To Him be the glory throughout the Ages! Amen.

¹⁹ Repent, therefore, and reform your lives, so that the record of your sins may be cancelled, and that there may come seasons of revival from the Lord,

²⁶ It is to you first that God, after raising His Servant from the grave, has sent Him to bless you, by causing every one of you to turn from your wickedness."

³¹ God has exalted Him to His right hand as Chief Leader and as Saviour, to give Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins.

¹ Now the Apostles, and the brethren in various parts of Judaea, heard that the Gentiles also had received God's Message;

⁴⁷ For such is the Lord's command to us. "'I HAVE PLACED THEE,' He says of Christ, 'AS A LIGHT TO THE GENTILES, IN ORDER THAT THOU MAYEST BE A SAVIOUR AS FAR AS THE REMOTEST PARTS OF THE EARTH.'" ⁴⁸ The Gentiles listened with delight and extolled the Lord's Message; and all who were pre-destined to the Life of the Ages believed.

²¹ and urging upon both Jews and Greeks the necessity of turning to God and of believing in Jesus our Lord.

²⁰ And they, when they had heard his statement, gave the glory to God. Then they said, "You see, brother, how many tens of thousands of Jews there are among those who have accepted the faith, and they are all zealous upholders of the Law.

²¹ "'Go,' He replied; 'I will send you as an Apostle to nations far away.'" ²² Until they heard this last statement the people listened to Paul, but now with a roar of disapproval they cried out, "Away with such a fellow from the earth! He ought not to be allowed to live."

¹⁷ I will save you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I send you to open their eyes, ¹⁸ that they may turn from darkness to light and from the obedience to Satan to God, in order to receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified through faith in Me.' ¹⁹ "Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision; ²⁰ but I proceeded to preach first to the people in Damascus, and then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judaea, and to the Gentiles, that they must repent and turn to God, and live lives consistent with such repentance.

²⁹ Is God simply the God of the Jews, and not of the Gentiles also? He is certainly the God of the Gentiles also, ³⁰ unless you can deny that it is one and the same God who will pronounce the circumcised to be acquitted on the ground of faith, and the uncircumcised to be acquitted through the same faith.

³⁰ To what conclusion does this bring us? Why, that the Gentiles, who were not in pursuit of righteousness, have overtaken it--a righteousness, however, which arises from faith;

¹² Jew and Gentile are on precisely the same footing; for the same Lord is Lord over all, and is infinitely kind to all who call upon Him for deliverance. ¹³ For "EVERY ONE, WITHOUT EXCEPTION, WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED."

⁹ and that the Gentiles also have glorified God in acknowledgment of His mercy. So it is written, "FOR THIS REASON I WILL PRAISE THEE AMONG THE GENTILES, AND SING PSALMS IN HONOUR OF THY NAME." ¹⁰ And again the Psalmist says, "BE GLAD, YE GENTILES, IN COMPANY WITH HIS PEOPLE." ¹¹ And again, "PRAISE THE LORD, ALL YE GENTILES, AND LET ALL THE PEOPLE EXTOL HIM." ¹² And again Isaiah says, "THERE SHALL BE THE ROOT OF JESSE AND ONE WHO RISES UP TO RULE THE GENTILES. ON HIM SHALL THE GENTILES BUILD THEIR HOPES." ¹³ May God, the giver of hope, fill you with continual joy and peace because you trust in Him--so that you may have abundant hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. ¹⁴ But as to you, brethren, I am convinced-- yes, I Paul am convinced--that, even apart from my teaching, you are already full of goodness of heart, and enriched with complete Christian knowledge, and are also competent to instruct one another. ¹⁵ But I write to you the more boldly--partly as reminding you of what you already know--because of the authority graciously entrusted to me by God, ¹⁶ that I should be a minister of Christ Jesus among the Gentiles, doing priestly duties in connexion with God's Good News so that the sacrifice--namely the Gentiles--may be acceptable to Him, being (as it is) an offering which the Holy Spirit has made holy.

¹⁸ And all of us, with unveiled faces, reflecting like bright mirrors the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same likeness, from one degree of radiant holiness to another, even as derived from the Lord the Spirit.

¹⁰ For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, a repentance not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world finally produces death.

²⁴ And they gave glory to God on my account.

²⁶ You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus; ²⁷ for all of you who have been baptized into Christ, have clothed yourselves with Christ.

¹¹ Therefore, do not forget that formerly you were Gentiles as to your bodily condition. You were called the Uncircumcision by those who style themselves the Circumcised--their circumcision being one which the knife has effected. ¹² At that time you were living apart from Christ, estranged from the Commonwealth of Israel, with no share by birth in the Covenants which are based on the Promises, and you had no hope and no God, in all the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were so far away have been brought near through the death of Christ. ¹⁴ For He is our peace--He who has made Jews and Gentiles one, and in His own human nature has broken down the hostile dividing wall, ¹⁵ by setting aside the Law with its commandments, expressed, as they were, in definite decrees. His design was to unite the two sections of humanity in Himself so as to form one new man, ¹⁶ thus effecting peace, and to reconcile Jews and Gentiles in one body to God, by means of His cross--slaying by it their mutual enmity. ¹⁷ So He came and proclaimed good news of peace to you who were so far away, and peace to those who were near; ¹⁸ because it is through Him that Jews and Gentiles alike have access through one Spirit to the Father.

⁵ which in earlier ages was not made known to the human race, as it has now been revealed to His holy Apostles and Prophets through the Spirit-- ⁶ I mean the truth that the Gentiles are joint heirs with us Jews, and that they form one body with us, and have the same interest as we have in the promise which has been made good in Christ Jesus through the Good News, ⁷ in which I have been appointed to serve, in virtue of the work which God, in the exercise of His power within me, has graciously entrusted to me. ⁸ To me who am less than the least of all God's people has this work been graciously entrusted--to proclaim to the Gentiles the Good News of the exhaustless wealth of Christ,

²⁵ He must speak in a gentle tone when correcting the errors of opponents, in the hope that God will at last give them repentance, for them to come to a full knowledge of the truth ²⁶ and recover sober-mindedness and freedom from the Devil's snare, though they are now entrapped by him to do his will.

¹⁶ Do not be deceived, my dearly-loved brethren. ¹⁷ Every gift which is good, and every perfect boon, is from above, and comes down from the Father, who is the source of all Light. In Him there is no variation nor the slightest suggestion of change.

⁶ but, instead of that, go to the lost sheep of Israel's race.

³⁵ The Jews therefore said to one another, "Where is he about to betake himself, so that we shall not find him? Will he betake himself to the Dispersion among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles?

³⁶ In this way Joseph, whom the Apostles gave the name of Bar-nabas--signifying 'Son of Encouragement' --a Levite, a native of Cyprus,

¹ And Saul fully approved of his murder. At this time a great persecution broke out against the Church in Jerusalem, and all except the Apostles were scattered throughout Judaea and Samaria. ² A party of devout men, however, buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him. ³ But Saul cruelly harassed the Church. He went into house after house, and, dragging off both men and women, threw them into prison. ⁴ Those, however, who were scattered abroad went from place to place spreading the Good News of God's Message;

²⁶ He succeeded, and brought him to Antioch; and for a whole year they attended the meetings of the Church, and taught a large number of people. And it was in Antioch that the disciples first received the name of 'Christians.' ²⁷ At that time certain Prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch,

¹ Now there were in Antioch, in the Church there--as Prophets and teachers--barnabas, Symeon surnamed 'the black,' Lucius the Cyrenaean, Manaen (who was Herod the Tetrarch's foster-brother), and Saul.

⁴⁶ Then, throwing off all reserve, Paul and Barnabas said, "We were bound to proclaim God's Message to you first. But since you spurn it and judge yourselves to be unworthy of the Life of the Ages--well, we turn to the Gentiles.

²² Thereupon it was decided by the Apostles and Elders, with the approval of the whole Church, to choose suitable persons from among themselves and send them to Antioch, with Paul and Barnabas. Judas, called Bar-sabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren, were selected,

³⁵ But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and, in company with many others, telling the Good News of the Lord's Message.

³⁹ So there arose a serious disagreement between them, which resulted in their parting from one another, Barnabas taking Mark and setting sail for Cyprus.

²² Landing at Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem and inquired after the welfare of the Church, and then went down to Antioch.

² Finding a ship bound for Phoenicia, we went on board and put to sea.

¹⁶ Some of the disciples from Caesarea also joined our party, and brought with them Mnason, a Cyprian, one of the early disciples, at whose house we were to lodge.

¹¹ Now when Peter visited Antioch, I remonstrated with him to his face, because he had incurred just censure.

³² Going out they met a Cyrenaean named Simon; whom they compelled to carry His cross,

¹⁰ of Egypt or of the parts of Africa towards Cyrene. Others are visitors from Rome--being either Jews or converts from heathenism--and others are Cretans or Arabians.

⁴² But they did not desist from teaching every day, in the Temple or in private houses, and telling the Good News about Jesus, the Christ.

⁹ But some members of the so-called 'Synagogue of the Freed-men,' together with some Cyrenaeans, Alexandrians, Cilicians and men from Roman Asia, were roused to encounter Stephen in debate.

⁵ while Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed Christ there.

³⁵ Then Philip began to speak, and, commencing with that same portion of Scripture, told him the Good News about Jesus.

²⁰ And in the synagogues he began at once to proclaim Jesus as the Son of God;

²⁹ and speaking fearlessly in the name of the Lord. And he often talked with the Hellenists and had discussions with them.

¹⁸ A few of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also encountered him. Some of them asked, "What has this beggarly babbler to say?" "His business," said others, "seems to be to cry up some foreign gods." This was because he had been telling the Good News of Jesus and the Resurrection.

²³ while we proclaim a Christ who has been crucified--to the Jews a stumbling-block, to Gentiles foolishness, ²⁴ but to those who have received the Call, whether Jews or Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

² For I determined to be utterly ignorant, when among you, of everything except of Jesus Christ, and of Him as having been crucified.

⁸ To me who am less than the least of all God's people has this work been graciously entrusted--to proclaim to the Gentiles the Good News of the exhaustless wealth of Christ,

⁶⁶ All who heard the story treasured it in their memories. "What then will this child be?" they said. For the Lord's hand was indeed with him.

⁴⁷ praising God and being regarded with favour by all the people. Also, day by day, the Lord added to their number those whom He was saving.

⁴ But many of those who had listened to their preaching believed; and the number of the adult men had now grown to be about 5,000.

¹⁴ and more and more believers in the Lord joined them, including great numbers both of men and women--

⁷ Meanwhile God's Message continued to spread, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem very greatly increased, and very many priests obeyed the faith.

³⁵ And all the people of Lud and Sharon saw him; and they turned to the Lord.

²⁴ For he was a good man, and was full of the Holy Spirit and of faith; and the number of believers in the Lord greatly increased.

¹⁹ "My judgement, therefore, is against inflicting unexpected annoyance on those of the Gentiles who are turning to God.

⁶ I planted and Apollos watered; but it was God who was, all the time, giving the increase. ⁷ So that neither the planter nor the waterer is of any importance. God who gives the increase is all in all.

⁵ The Good News that we brought you did not come to you in words only, but also with power and with the Holy Spirit and with much certainty, for you know the sort of men we became among you, as examples for your sakes.

⁹ For when others speak of us they report the reception we had from you, and how you turned from your idols to God, to be bondservants of the true and ever-living God, ¹⁰ and to await the return from Heaven of His Son, whom He raised from among the dead--even Jesus, our Deliverer from God's coming anger.

³⁶ In this way Joseph, whom the Apostles gave the name of Bar-nabas--signifying 'Son of Encouragement' --a Levite, a native of Cyprus, ³⁷ sold a farm which he had, and brought the money and gave it to the Apostles.

¹⁴ When the Apostles in Jerusalem heard that the Samaritans had accepted God's Message, they sent Peter and John to visit them.

²⁷ Barnabas, however, came to his assistance. He brought Saul to the Apostles, and related to them how, on his journey, he had seen the Lord, and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had fearlessly taught in the name of Jesus.

¹ Now there were in Antioch, in the Church there--as Prophets and teachers--barnabas, Symeon surnamed 'the black,' Lucius the Cyrenaean, Manaen (who was Herod the Tetrarch's foster-brother), and Saul. ² While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for Me, now at once, Barnabas and Saul, for the work to which I have called them." ³ So, after fasting and prayer and the laying on of hands, they let them go.

² Between these new comers and Paul and Barnabas there was no little disagreement and controversy, until at last it was decided that Paul and Barnabas and some other brethren should go up to consult the Apostles and Elders in Jerusalem on this matter.

³⁵ But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and, in company with many others, telling the Good News of the Lord's Message. ³⁶ After a while Paul said to Barnabas, "Suppose we now revisit the brethren in the various towns in which we have made known the Lord's Message--to see whether they are prospering!" ³⁷ Barnabas, however, was bent on taking with them John, whose other name was Mark, ³⁸ while Paul deemed it undesirable to have as their companion one who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them to the work. ³⁹ So there arose a serious disagreement between them, which resulted in their parting from one another, Barnabas taking Mark and setting sail for Cyprus.

⁶ But now that Timothy has recently come back to us from you, and has brought us the happy tidings of your faith and love, and has told us how you still cherish a constant and affectionate recollection of us, and are longing to see us as we also long to see you--

²⁴ Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If any one desires to follow me, let him renounce self and take up his cross, and so be my follower.

⁵ Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, "My son, your sins are pardoned."

³¹ Jesus therefore said to those of the Jews who had now believed in Him, "As for you, if you hold fast to my teaching, then you are truly my disciples; ³² and you shall know the Truth, and the Truth will make you free."

⁴ Continue in me, and let me continue in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself--that is, if it does not continue in the vine--so neither can you if you do not continue in me.

⁴³ And, when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and of the devout converts from heathenism continued with Paul and Barnabas, who talked to them and urged them to hold fast to the grace of God.

²² Everywhere they strengthened the disciples by encouraging them to hold fast to the faith, and warned them saying, "It is through many afflictions that we must make our way into the Kingdom of God."

²⁶ Thence they sailed to Antioch, where they had previously been commended to the grace of God in connexion with the work which they had now completed.

⁴⁰ But Paul chose Silas as his travelling companion; and set out, after being commended by the brethren to the grace of the Lord;

²⁴ But even the sacrifice of my life I count as nothing, if only I may perfect my earthly course, and be faithful to the duty which the Lord Jesus has entrusted to me of proclaiming, as of supreme importance, the Good News of God's grace.

³² "And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace. He is able to build you up and to give you your inheritance among His people.

⁵⁸ Therefore, my dear brethren, be firm, unmovable, busily occupied at all times in the Lord's work, knowing that your toil is not fruitless in the Lord.

¹⁷ Did I display any vacillation or caprice in this? Or the purposes which I form--do I form them on worldly principles, now crying "Yes, yes," and now "No, no"?

⁶ For it has reached you, and remains with you, just as it has also spread through the whole world, yielding fruit there and increasing, as it has done among you from the day when first you heard it and came really to know the grace of God,

³ For we never fail to remember your works of faith and labours of love and your persistent and unwavering hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father; ⁴ knowing as we do, brethren, that you are beloved by God and that He has chosen you.

² and sent Timothy our brother and God's minister in the service of Christ's Good News, that he might help you spiritually and encourage you in your faith; ³ that none of you might be unnerved by your present trials: for you yourselves know that they are our appointed lot. ⁴ For even when we were with you, we forewarned you, saying, "We are soon to suffer affliction;" and this actually happened, as you well know. ⁵ For this reason I also, when I could no longer endure the uncertainty, sent to know the condition of your faith, lest perchance the Tempter might have tempted you and our labour have been lost.

⁴ being always mindful of your tears, and longing to see you that I may be filled with joy. ⁵ For I recall the sincere faith which is in your heart--a faith which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and then in your mother Eunice, and, I am fully convinced, now dwells in you also.

¹⁰ But you have intimately known my teaching, life, aims, faith, patience, love, resignation,

¹⁹ Since then, brethren, we have free access to the Holy place through the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by the new and ever-living way which He opened up for us through the rending of the veil--that is to say, of His earthly nature-- ²¹ and since we have a great Priest who has authority over the house of God, ²² let us draw near with sincerity and unfaltering faith, having had our hearts sprinkled, once for all, from consciences oppressed with sin, and our bodies bathed in pure water. ²³ Let us hold firmly to an unflinching avowal of our hope, for He is faithful who gave us the promises. ²⁴ And let us bestow thought on one another with a view to arousing one another to brotherly love and right conduct; ²⁵ not neglecting--as some habitually do--to meet together, but encouraging one another, and doing this all the more since you can see the day of Christ approaching. ²⁶ For if we wilfully persist in sin after having received the full knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains in reserve any other sacrifice for sins.

³² But continually recall to mind the days now past, when on being first enlightened you went through a great conflict and many sufferings. ³³ This was partly through allowing yourselves to be made a public spectacle amid reproaches and persecutions, and partly through coming forward to share the sufferings of those who were thus treated. ³⁴ For you not only showed sympathy with those who were imprisoned, but you even submitted with joy when your property was taken from you, being well aware that you have in your own selves a more valuable possession and one which will remain. ³⁵ Therefore do not cast from you your confident hope, for it will receive a vast reward. ³⁶ For you stand in need of patient endurance, so that, as the result of having done the will of God, you may receive the promised blessing. ³⁷ For there is still but a short time and then "THE COMING ONE WILL COME AND WILL NOT DELAY. ³⁸ BUT IT IS BY FAITH THAT MY RIGHTEOUS SERVANT SHALL LIVE; AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL TAKES NO PLEASURE IN HIM." ³⁹ But we are not people who shrink back and perish, but are among those who believe and gain possession of their souls.

⁴ It is by means of these that He has granted us His precious and wondrous promises, in order that through them you may, one and all, become sharers in the very nature of God, having completely escaped the corruption which exists in the world through earthly cravings. ⁵ But for this very reason--adding, on your part, all earnestness-- along with your faith, manifest also a noble character: along with a noble character, knowledge; ⁶ along with knowledge, self-control; along with self-control, power of endurance; ⁷ along with power of endurance, godliness; along with godliness, brotherly affection; and along with brotherly affection, love. ⁸ If these things exist in you, and continually increase, they prevent your being either idle or unfruitful in advancing towards a full knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ For the man in whom they are lacking is blind and cannot see distant objects, in that he has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his old sins.

¹⁷ You, therefore, dear friends, having been warned beforehand, must continually be on your guard so as not to be led astray by the false teaching of immoral men nor fall from your own stedfastness. ¹⁸ But be always growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be all glory, both now and to the day of Eternity!

²⁸ And now, dear children, continue in union with Him; so that, if He re-appears, we may have perfect confidence, and may not shrink away in shame from His presence at His Coming.

⁴ I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are living in obedience to the truth.

³⁵ A good man from his good store produces good things, and a bad man from his bad store produces bad things.

¹⁷ "Why do you ask me," He replied, "about what is good? There is only One who is truly good. But if you desire to enter into Life, keep the Commandments."

⁵⁰ There was a member of the Council of the name of Joseph, a kind-hearted and upright man,

¹² Among the mass of the people there was much muttered debate about Him. Some said, "He is a good man." Others said, "Not so: he is imposing on the people."

³ Therefore, brethren, pick out from among yourselves seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, and we will appoint them to undertake this duty.

⁵ The suggestion met with general approval, and they selected Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte of Antioch.

⁸ And Stephen, full of grace and power, performed great marvels and signs among the people.

³¹ The Church, however, throughout the whole of Judaea, Galilee and Samaria, had peace and was spiritually built up; and grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord and receiving encouragement from the Holy Spirit.

²¹ The power of the Lord was with them, and there were a vast number who believed and turned to the Lord.

¹⁶ This too is my own earnest endeavour--always to have a clear conscience in relation to God and man.

⁷ Why, it is scarcely conceivable that any one would die for a simply just man, although for a good and lovable man perhaps some one, here and there, will have the courage even to lay down his life.

¹⁵ But I write to you the more boldly--partly as reminding you of what you already know--because of the authority graciously entrusted to me by God,

¹¹ "Rise," said the Lord, "and go to Straight Street, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man called Saul, from Tarsus, for he is actually praying.

³⁰ But they kept trying to take his life. On learning this, the brethren brought him down to Caesarea, and then sent him by sea to Tarsus.

³⁹ "I am a Jew," replied Paul, "belonging to Tarsus in Cilicia, and am a citizen of no unimportant city. Give me leave, I pray you, to speak to the people."

¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations; baptize them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit;

²⁰ But some of them were Cyprians and Cyrenaeans, who, on coming to Antioch, spoke to the Greeks also and told them the Good News concerning the Lord Jesus.

²² When tidings of this reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem, they sent Barnabas as far as Antioch.

²⁷ At that time certain Prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch,

¹ Now there were in Antioch, in the Church there--as Prophets and teachers--barnabas, Symeon surnamed 'the black,' Lucius the Cyrenaean, Manaen (who was Herod the Tetrarch's foster-brother), and Saul. ² While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for Me, now at once, Barnabas and Saul, for the work to which I have called them."

²³ And in every Church, after prayer and fasting, they selected Elders by show of hands, and commended them to the Lord on whom their faith rested.

²⁸ Agrippa answered, "In brief, you are doing your best to persuade me to become a Christian."

¹⁷ For this reason I have sent Timothy to you. Spiritually he is my dearly-loved and faithful child. He will remind you of my habits as a Christian teacher--the manner in which I teach everywhere in every Church.

¹⁸ for, in the first place, when you meet as a Church, there are divisions among you. This is what I am told, and I believe that there is some truth in it.

¹² For just as the human body is one and yet has many parts, and all its parts, many as they are, constitute but one body, so it is with the Church of Christ.

²³ Accordingly if the whole Church has assembled and all are speaking in 'tongues,' and there come in ungifted men, or unbelievers, will they not say that you are all mad?

¹⁵ from whom the whole family in Heaven and on earth derives its name,

¹⁴ You are to be envied, if you are being reproached for bearing the name of Christ; for in that case the Spirit of glory-- even the Spirit of God--is resting upon you.

¹⁶ If, however, any one suffers because he is a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God for being permitted to bear that name.

²⁷ And as for you, the anointing which you received from Him remains within you, and there is no need for any one to teach you. But since His anointing gives you instruction in all things--and is true and is no falsehood--you are continuing in union with Him even as it has taught you to do.

¹⁸ Therefore I counsel you to buy of Me gold refined in the fire that you may become rich, and white robes to put on, so as to hide your shameful nakedness, and eye-salve to anoint your eyes with, so that you may be able to see.

³⁴ "For this reason I am sending to you Prophets and wise men and Scribes. Some of them you will put to death--nay, crucify; some of them you will flog in your synagogues and chase from town to town;

¹⁷ "AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THE LAST DAYS, GOD SAYS, THAT I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT UPON ALL MANKIND; AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS, AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL HAVE DREAMS;

³² And Judas and Silas, being themselves also Prophets, gave them a long and encouraging talk, and strengthened them in the faith.

⁴ Having searched for the disciples and found them, we stayed at Tyre for seven days; and, taught by the Spirit, they repeatedly urged Paul not to proceed to Jerusalem.

⁹ Now Philip had four unmarried daughters who were prophetesses;

²⁸ And by God's appointment there are in the Church--first Apostles, secondly Prophets, thirdly teachers. Then come miraculous powers, and then ability to cure diseases or render loving service, or powers of organization, or varieties of the gift of 'tongues.'

³² and the spirits of Prophets yield submission to Prophets.

¹¹ And He Himself appointed some to be Apostles, some to be Prophets, some to be evangelists, some to be pastors and teachers,

¹⁴ And this Good News of the Kingdom shall be proclaimed throughout the whole world to set the evidence before all the Gentiles; and then the End will come.

¹ Just at this time an edict was issued by Caesar Augustus for the registration of the whole Empire.

¹ Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being Governor of Judaea, Herod Tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip Tetrarch of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias Tetrarch of Abilene,

² Here he found a Jew, a native of Pontus, of the name of Aquila. He and his wife Priscilla had recently come from Italy because of Claudius's edict expelling all the Jews from Rome. So Paul paid them a visit;

¹⁰ and during our somewhat lengthy stay a Prophet of the name of Agabus came down from Judaea.

²⁹ "Therefore, do not be asking what you are to eat nor what you are to drink; and do not waver between hope and fear. ³⁰ For though the nations of the world pursue these things, as for you, your Father knows that you need them. ³¹ But make His Kingdom the object of your pursuit, and these things shall be given you in addition. ³² "Dismiss your fears, little flock: your Father finds a pleasure in giving you the Kingdom. ³³ Sell your possessions and give alms. Provide yourselves with purses that will never wear out, a treasure inexhaustible in Heaven, where no thief can come nor moth consume.

⁴⁴ And all the believers kept together, and had everything in common. ⁴⁵ They sold their lands and other property, and distributed the proceeds among all, according to every one's necessities.

³⁴ And, in fact, there was not a needy man among them, for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the money which they realised,

²⁶ He succeeded, and brought him to Antioch; and for a whole year they attended the meetings of the Church, and taught a large number of people. And it was in Antioch that the disciples first received the name of 'Christians.'

²⁵ But at present I am going to Jerusalem to serve God's people, ²⁶ for Macedonia and Greece have kindly contributed a certain sum in relief of the poor among God's people, in Jerusalem. ²⁷ Yes, they have kindly done this, and, in fact, it was a debt they owed them. For seeing that the Gentiles have been admitted in to partnership with the Jews in their spiritual blessings, they in turn are under an obligation to render sacred service to the Jews in temporal things.

⁵ She does not behave unbecomingly, nor seek to aggrandize herself, nor blaze out in passionate anger, nor brood over wrongs.

¹ As to the collection for God's people, what I have directed the Churches of Galatia to do, you must do also. ² On the first day of every week let each of you put on one side and store up at his home whatever gain has been granted to him; so that whenever I come, there may then be no collections going on.

² how, while passing through great trouble, their boundless joy even amid their deep poverty has overflowed to increase their generous liberality. ³ For I can testify that to the utmost of their power, and even beyond their power, they have of their own free will given help. ⁴ With earnest entreaty they begged from us the favour of being allowed to share in the service now being rendered to God's people.

¹² For, assuming the earnest willingness, the gift is acceptable according to whatever a man has, and not according to what he has not. ¹³ I do not urge you to give in order that others may have relief while you are unduly pressed, ¹⁴ but that, by equalization of burdens, your superfluity having in the present emergency supplied their deficiency, their superfluity may in turn be a supply for your deficiency later on, so that there may be equalization of burdens.

¹ As to the services which are being rendered to God's people, it is really unnecessary for me to write to you. ² For I know your earnest willingness, on account of which I habitually boast of you to the Macedonians, pointing out to them that for a whole year you in Greece have been ready; and the greater number of them have been spurred on by your ardour.

¹⁰ Only they urged that we should remember their poor--a thing which was uppermost in my own mind.

⁵ Your lives should be untainted by love for money. Be content with what you have; for God Himself has said, "I WILL NEVER, NEVER LET GO YOUR HAND: I WILL NEVER NEVER FORSAKE YOU." ⁶ So that we fearlessly say, "THE LORD IS MY HELPER; I WILL NOT BE AFRAID: WHAT CAN MAN DO TO ME?"

⁹ Extend ungrudging hospitality towards one another. ¹⁰ Whatever be the gifts which each has received, you must use them for one another's benefit, as good stewards of God's many-sided kindness. ¹¹ If any one preaches, let it be as uttering God's truth; if any one renders a service to others, let it be in the strength which God supplies; so that in everything glory may be given to God in the name of Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the might to the Ages of the Ages. Amen.

²⁵ And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, having discharged their mission, and they brought with them John, surnamed Mark.

⁴ Upon their arrival in Jerusalem they were cordially received by the Church, the Apostles, and the Elders; and they reported in detail all that God, working with them, had done.

⁶ Then the Apostles and Elders met to consider the matter;

²³ and they took with them the following letter: "The Apostles and the elder brethren send greeting to the Gentile brethren throughout Antioch, Syria and Cilicia.

⁴ As they journeyed on from town to town, they handed to the brethren for their observance the decisions which had been arrived at by the Apostles and Elders in Jerusalem.

¹⁷ From Miletus he sent to Ephesus for the Elders of the Church to come to him.

¹⁸ On the following day we went with Paul to call on James, and all the Elders of the Church came also.

³ And when I am with you, whatever brethren you accredit by letter I will send to carry your kind gift to Jerusalem. ⁴ And if it is worth while for me also to make the journey, they shall go as my companions.

¹⁷ for Titus welcomed our request, and, being thoroughly in earnest, comes to you of his own free will. ¹⁸ And we send with him the brother whose praises for his earnestness in proclaiming the Good News are heard throughout all the Churches. ¹⁹ And more than that, he is the one who was chosen by the vote of the Churches to travel with us, sharing our commission in the administration of this generous gift to promote the Lord's glory and gratify our own strong desire. ²⁰ For against one thing we are on our guard--I mean against blame being thrown upon us in respect to these large and liberal contributions which are under our charge. ²¹ For we seek not only God's approval of our integrity, but man's also.

¹⁷ Let the Elders who perform their duties wisely and well be held worthy of double honour, especially those who labour in preaching and teaching.

¹⁹ Never entertain an accusation against an Elder except on the evidence of two of three witnesses.

⁵ I have left you behind in Crete in order that you may set right the things which still require attention, and appoint Elders in every town, as I directed you to do;

¹⁴ Is any one ill? Let him send for the Elders of the Church, and let them pray over him, after anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.

¹ So I exhort the Elders among you--I who am their fellow Elder and have been an eye-witness of the sufferings of the Christ, and am also a sharer in the glory which is soon to be revealed.

¹ The Elder to the elect lady and her children. Truly I love you all, and not I alone, but also all who know the truth, ² for the sake of the truth which is continually in our hearts and will be with us for ever. ³ Grace, mercy and peace will be with us from God the Father, and from Jesus Christ the Son of the Father, in truth and love. ⁴ It is an intense joy to me to have found some of your children living true Christian lives, in obedience to the command which we have received from the Father. ⁵ And now, dear lady, I pray you--writing to you, as I do, not a new command, but the one which we have had from the very beginning--let us love one another. ⁶ The love of which I am speaking consists in our living in obedience to God's commands. God's command is that you should live in obedience to what you all heard from the very beginning. ⁷ For many deceivers have gone out into the world--men who do not acknowledge Jesus as Christ who has come in human nature. Such a one is 'the deceiver' and 'the anti-Christ.' ⁸ Keep guard over yourselves, so that you may not lose the results of your good deeds, but may receive back a full reward. ⁹ No one has God, who instead of remaining true to the teaching of Christ, presses on in advance: but he who remains true to that teaching has both the Father and the Son. ¹⁰ If any one who comes to you does not bring this teaching, do not receive him under your roof nor bid him Farewell. ¹¹ He who bids him Farewell is a sharer in his evil deeds. ¹² I have a great deal to say to you all, but will not write it with paper and ink. Yet I hope to come to see you and speak face to face, so that your happiness may be complete. ¹³ The children of your elect sister send greetings to you.

¹ The Elder to his dear friend Gaius. Truly I love you. ² My dear friend, I pray that you may in all respects prosper and enjoy good health, just as your soul already prospers. ³ For it is an intense joy to me when brethren come and bear witness to your fidelity to the truth--that you live in obedience to the truth. ⁴ I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are living in obedience to the truth. ⁵ My dear friend, you are acting faithfully in all your behaviour towards the brethren, even when they are strangers to you. ⁶ They have testified, in the presence of the Church, to your love; and you will do well to help them on their journey in a manner worthy of your fellowship with God. ⁷ For it is for Christ that they have gone forth, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. ⁸ It is therefore our duty to show hospitality to such men, so that we may be fellow workers in promoting the truth. ⁹ I wrote to the Church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the first place among them, refuses to listen to us. ¹⁰ For this reason, if I come, I shall not forget his conduct, nor his idle and mischievous talk against us. And he does not stop there: he not only will not receive the brethren, but those who desire to do this he hinders, and excludes them from the Church. ¹¹ My dear friend, do not follow wrong examples, but right ones. He who habitually does what is right is a child of God: he who habitually does what is wrong has not seen God. ¹² The character of Demetrius has the approval of all men, and of the truth itself. We also express our approval of it, and you know that we only give our approval to that which is true. ¹³ I have a great deal to say to you, but I do not wish to go on writing it with ink and pen. ¹⁴ But I hope to see you very soon, and then we will speak face to face. Peace be with you. Our friends send greetings to you. Greet our friends individually.