,weymouth ,new ,testament in ,modern ,speech1 ,acts ,third ,edition #aiac ,r4 ,f4 ,weymouth ,book #dd ,acts #jja3jja ,my former narrative1 ,theophilus1 dealt with all that ,jesus did and taught as a beginning1 down to the day on which1 #jja3jjb after giving instruction through the ,holy ,spirit to the ,apostles whom ,he had chosen1 ,he was taken up to ,heaven4 #jja3jjc ,he had also1 after ,he suffered1 shown ,himself alive to them with many sure proofs1 appearing to them at intervals during forty days1 and speaking of the ,kingdom of ,god4 #jja3jjd ,and while in their company ,he charged them not to leave ,jerusalem1 but to wait for the ,father's promised gift4 ,this you have heard of1 ,he said1 from me4 #jja3jje ,for ,john indeed baptized with water1 but before many days have passed you shall be baptized with the ,holy ,spirit4 #jja3jjf ,once when they were with ,him1 they asked ,him1 ,master1 is this the time at which you are about to restore the kingdom of ,israel8 #jja3jjg ,it is not for you1 ,he replied1 to know times or epochs which the ,father has reserved within ,his own authority2 #jja3jjh and yet you will receive power when the ,holy ,spirit has come upon you1 and you will be my witnesses in ,jerusalem and in all ,judaea and ,samaria and to the remotest parts of the earth4 #jja3jji ,when ,he had said this1 and while they were looking at ,him1 ,he was carried up1 and a cloud closing beneath ,him hid ,him from their sight4 #jja3jaj ,but1 while they stood intently gazing into the sky as ,he went1 suddenly there were two men in white garments standing by them1 #jja3jaa who said1 ,galilaeans1 why stand looking into the sky8 ,this same ,jesus who has been taken up from you into ,heaven will come in just the same way as you have seen ,him going into ,heaven4 #jja3jab ,then they returned to ,jerusalem from the mountain called the ,oliveyard1 which is near ,jerusalem1 about a mile off4 #jja3jac ,they entered the city1 and they went up to the upper room which was now their fixed place for meeting4 ,their names were ,peter and ,john1 ,james and ,andrew1 ,philip and ,thomas1 ,bartholomew and ,matthew1 ,james the son of ,alphaeus1 ,simon the ,zealot1 and ,judas the brother of ,james4 #jja3jad ,all of these with one mind continued earnest in prayer1 together with some women1 and ,mary the mother of ,jesus1 and ,his brothers4 #jja3jae ,it was on one of these days that ,peter stood up in the midst of the brethren--the entire number of persons present being about #abj--;and said1 #jja3jaf ,brethren1 it was necessary that the ,scripture should be fulfilled-- the prediction1 ,i mean1 which the ,holy ,spirit uttered by the lips of ,david1 about ,judas1 who acted as guide to those who arrested ,jesus4 #jja3jag ,for ,judas was reckoned as one of our number1 and a share in this ministry was allotted to him4 #jja3jah 7,now having bought a piece of ground with the money paid for his wickedness he fell there with his face downwards1 and1 his body bursting open1 he became disembowelled4 #jja3jai ,this fact became widely known to the people of ,jerusalem1 so that the place received the name1 in their language1 of ,achel-damach1 which means ,the ,field of ,blood4'7 #jja3jbj ,for it is written in the ,book of ,psalms1 ,let his encampment be desolate3 let there be no one to dwell there'2 and ,his work let another take up4' #jja3jba ,it is necessary1 therefore1 that of the men who have been with us all the time that the ,lord ,jesus went in and out among us-- #jja3jbb beginning from ,his baptism by ,john down to the day on which ,he was taken up again from us into ,heaven--one should be appointed to become a witness with us as to ,his resurrection4 #jja3jbc ,so two names were proposed1 ,joseph called ,bar-sabbas-- and surnamed ,justus--and ,matthias4 #jja3jbd ,and the brethren prayed1 saying1 ,thou1 ,lord1 who knowest the hearts of all1 show clearly which of these two ,thou hast chosen #jja3jbe to occupy the place in this ministry and ,apostleship from which ,judas through transgression fell1 in order to go to his own place4 #jja3jbf ,then they drew lots between them4 ,the lot fell on ,matthias1 and a place among the eleven ,apostles was voted to him4 #jjb3jja ,at length1 on the day of the ,harvest ,festival1 they had all met in one place2 #jjb3jjb when suddenly there came from the sky a sound as of a strong rushing blast of wind4 ,this filled the whole house where they were sitting2 #jjb3jjc and they saw tongues of what looked like fire distributing themselves over the assembly1 and on the head of each person a tongue alighted4 #jjb3jjd ,they were all filled with the ,holy ,spirit1 and began to speak in foreign languages according as the ,spirit gave them words to utter4 #jjb3jje ,now there were ,jews residing in ,jerusalem1 devout men from every part of the world4 #jjb3jjf ,so when this noise was heard1 they came crowding together1 and were amazed because everyone heard his own language spoken4 #jjb3jjg ,they were beside themselves with wonder1 and exclaimed1 ,are not all these speakers ,galilaeans8 #jjb3jjh ,how then does each of us hear his own native language spoken by them8 #jjb3jji ,some of us are ,parthians1 ,medes1 ,elamites4 ,some are inhabitants of ,mesopotamia1 of ,judaea or ,cappadocia1 of ,pontus or the ,asian ,province1 of ,phrygia or ,pamphylia1 #jjb3jaj of ,egypt or of the parts of ,africa towards ,cyrene4 ,others are visitors from ,rome--being either ,jews or converts from heathenism--and others are ,cretans or ,arabians4 #jjb3jaa ,yet we all alike hear these ,galilaeans speaking in our own language about the wonderful things which ,god has done4 #jjb3jab ,they were all astounded and bewildered1 and asked one another1 ,what can this mean8 #jjb3jac ,but others1 scornfully jeering1 said1 ,they are brim-full of sweet wine4 #jjb3jad ,peter however1 together with the ,eleven1 stood up and addressed them in a loud voice4 ,men of ,judaea1 and all you inhabitants of ,jerusalem1 he said1 be in no uncertainty about this matter but pay attention to what ,i say4 #jjb3jae ,for this is not intoxication1 as you suppose1 it being only the third hour of the day4 #jjb3jaf ,but that which was predicted through the ,prophet ,joel has happened3 #jjb3jag ,and it shall come to pass in the last days1 ,god says1 that ,i will pour out ,my ,spirit upon all mankind2 and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy1 and your young men shall see visions1 and your old men shall have dreams2 #jjb3jah and even upon ,my bondservants1 both men and women1 at that time1 ,i will pour out ,my ,spirit1 and they shall prophesy4 #jjb3jai ,i will display marvels in the sky above1 and signs on the earth below1 blood and fire1 and pillars of smoke4 #jjb3jbj ,the sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood1 to usher in the day of the ,lord--that great and illustrious day2 #jjb3jba and every one who calls on the name of the ,lord shall be saved4' #jjb3jbb ,listen1 ,israelites1 to what ,i say4 ,jesus1 the ,nazarene1 a man accredited to you from ,god by miracles and marvels and signs which ,god did among you through ,him1 as you yourselves know1 ,him-- #jjb3jbc delivered up through ,god's settled purpose and foreknowledge-- you by the hands of ,gentiles have nailed to a cross and have put to death4 #jjb3jbd ,but ,god has raised ,him to life1 having terminated the throes of death1 for in fact it was not possible for ,him to be held fast by death4 #jjb3jbe ,for ,david says in reference to ,him1 ,i constantly fixed my eyes upon the ,lord1 because ,he is at my right hand in order that ,i may continue unshaken4 #jjb3jbf ,for this reason my heart is glad and my tongue exults4 ,my body also shall rest in hope4 #jjb3jbg ,for ,thou wilt not leave me in the ,unseen ,world forsaken1 nor give up ,thy holy ,one to undergo decay4 #jjb3jbh ,thou hast made known to me the ways of ,life3 ,thou wilt fill me with gladness in ,thy presence4' #jjb3jbi ,as to the patriarch ,david1 ,i need hardly remind you1 brethren1 that he died and was buried1 and that we still have his tomb among us4 #jjb3jcj ,being a ,prophet1 however1 and knowing that ,god had solemnly sworn to him to seat a descendant of his upon his throne1 #jjb3jca with prophetic foresight he spoke of the resurrection of the ,christ1 to the effect that ,he was not left forsaken in the ,unseen ,world1 nor did ,his body undergo decay4 #jjb3jcb ,this ,jesus1 ,god has raised to life--a fact to which all of us testify4 #jjb3jcc ,being therefore lifted high by the mighty hand of ,god1 ,he has received from the ,father the promised ,holy ,spirit and has poured out this which you see and hear4 #jjb3jcd ,for ,david did not ascend into ,heaven1 but he says himself1 ,the ,lord said to my ,lord1 ,sit at ,my right hand #jjb3jce until ,i make thy foes a footstool under thy feet4' #jjb3jcf ,therefore let the whole ,house of ,israel know beyond all doubt that ,god has made ,him both ,,lord and ,,christ-- this ,jesus whom you crucified4 #jjb3jcg ,stung to the heart by these words1 they said to ,peter and the rest of the ,apostles1 ,brethren1 what are we to do8 #jjb3jch ,repent1 replied ,peter1 and be baptized1 every one of you1 in the name of ,jesus ,christ1 with a view to the remission of your sins1 and you shall receive the gift of the ,holy ,spirit4 #jjb3jci ,for to you belongs the promise1 and to your children1 and to all who are far off1 whoever the ,lord our ,god may call4 #jjb3jdj ,and with many more appeals he solemnly warned and entreated them1 saying1 ,escape from this crooked generation4 #jjb3jda ,those1 therefore1 who joyfully welcomed his ,message were baptized2 and on that one day about three thousand persons were added to them2 #jjb3jdb and they were constant in listening to the teaching of the ,apostles and in their attendance at the ,communion1 that is1 the ,breaking of the ,bread1 and at prayer4 #jjb3jdc ,fear came upon every one1 and many marvels and signs were done by the ,apostles4 #jjb3jdd ,and all the believers kept together1 and had everything in common4 #jjb3jde ,they sold their lands and other property1 and distributed the proceeds among all1 according to every one's necessities4 #jjb3jdf ,and1 day by day1 attending constantly in the ,temple with one accord1 and breaking bread in private houses1 they took their meals with great happiness and single-heartedness1 #jjb3jdg praising ,god and being regarded with favour by all the people4 ,also1 day by day1 the ,lord added to their number those whom ,he was saving4 #jjc3jja ,one day ,peter and ,john were going up to the ,temple for the hour of prayer--the ninth hour--and1 just then1 #jjc3jjb some men were carrying there one who had been lame from birth1 whom they were wont to place every day close to the ,beautiful ,gate 7as it was called7 of the ,temple1 for him to beg from the people as they went in4 #jjc3jjc ,seeing ,peter and ,john about to go into the ,temple1 he asked them for alms4 #jjc3jjd ,peter fixing his eyes on him1 as ,john did also1 said1 ,look at us4 #jjc3jje ,so he looked and waited1 expecting to receive something from them4 #jjc3jjf ,i have no silver or gold1 ,peter said1 but what ,i have1 ,i give you4 ,in the name of ,jesus ,christ1 the ,nazarene--walk6 #jjc3jjg ,then taking his hand ,peter lifted him up1 and immediately his feet and ankles were strengthened4 #jjc3jjh ,leaping up1 he stood upright and began to walk1 and went into the ,temple with them1 walking1 leaping1 and praising ,god4 #jjc3jji ,all the people saw him walking and praising ,god2 #jjc3jaj and recognizing him as the man who used to sit at the ,beautiful ,gate of the ,temple asking for alms1 they were filled with awe and amazement at what had happened to him4 #jjc3jaa ,while he still clung to ,peter and ,john1 the people1 awe-struck1 ran up crowding round them in what was known as ,solomon's ,portico4 #jjc3jab ,peter1 seeing this1 spoke to the people4 ,israelites1 he said1 why do you wonder at this man8 ,or why gaze at us1 as though by any power or piety of our own we had enabled him to walk8 #jjc3jac ,the ,god of ,abraham1 ,isaac1 and ,jacob1 the ,god of our forefathers1 has conferred this honour on ,his ,servant ,jesus1 whom you delivered up and disowned in the presence of ,pilate1 when he had decided to let ,him go4 #jjc3jad ,yes1 you disowned the holy and righteous ,one1 and asked as a favour the release of a murderer4 #jjc3jae ,the ,prince of ,life you put to death2 but ,god has raised ,him from the dead1 and we are witnesses as to that4 #jjc3jaf ,it is ,his name--faith in that name being the condition-- which has strengthened this man whom you behold and know2 and the faith which ,he has given has made this man sound and strong again1 as you can all see4 #jjc3jag ,and now1 brethren1 ,i know that it was in ignorance that you did it1 as was the case with your rulers also4 #jjc3jah ,but in this way ,god has fulfilled the declarations ,he made through all the ,prophets1 that ,his ,christ would suffer4 #jjc3jai ,repent1 therefore1 and reform your lives1 so that the record of your sins may be cancelled1 and that there may come seasons of revival from the ,lord1 #jjc3jbj and that ,he may send the ,christ appointed beforehand for you--even ,jesus4 #jjc3jba ,heaven must receive ,him until those times of which ,god has spoken from the earliest ages through the lips of ,his holy ,prophets-- the times of the reconstitution of all things4 #jjc3jbb ,moses declared1 ,the ,lord your ,god will raise up a ,prophet for you from among your brethren as ,he has raised me4 ,in all that ,he says to you1 you must listen to ,him4 #jjc3jbc ,and every one1 without exception1 who refuses to listen to that ,prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the ,people4' #jjc3jbd ,yes1 and all the ,prophets1 from ,samuel onwards--all who have spoken-- have also announced the coming of this present time4 #jjc3jbe ,you are the heirs of the ,prophets1 and of the ,covenant which ,god made with your forefathers when ,he said to ,abraham1 ,and through your posterity all the families of the world shall be blessed4' #jjc3jbf ,it is to you first that ,god1 after raising ,his ,servant from the grave1 has sent ,him to bless you1 by causing every one of you to turn from your wickedness4 #jjd3jja ,while they were saying this to the people1 the ,priests1 the ,commander of the ,temple ,guard1 and the ,sadducees came upon them1 #jjd3jjb highly incensed at their teaching the people and proclaiming in the case of ,jesus the ,resurrection from among the dead4 #jjd3jjc ,they arrested the two ,apostles and lodged them in custody till the next day2 for it was already evening4 #jjd3jjd ,but many of those who had listened to their preaching believed2 and the number of the adult men had now grown to be about #e1jjj4 #jjd3jje ,the next day a meeting was held in ,jerusalem of their ,rulers1 ,elders1 and ,scribes1 #jjd3jjf with ,annas the ,high ,priest1 ,caiaphas1 ,john1 ,alexander1 and the other members of the high-priestly family4 #jjd3jjg ,so they made the ,apostles stand in the centre1 and demanded of them1 ,by what power or in what name have you done this8 #jjd3jjh ,then ,peter was filled with the ,holy ,spirit1 and he replied1 ,rulers and ,elders of the people1 #jjd3jji if we to-day are under examination concerning the benefit conferred on a man helplessly lame1 as to how this man has been cured2 #jjd3jaj be it known to you all1 and to all the people of ,israel1 that through the name of ,jesus the ,anointed1 the ,nazarene1 whom 99you99 crucified1 but whom 99,god99 has raised from among the dead--through that name this man stands here before you in perfect health4 #jjd3jaa ,this ,jesus is the ,stone treated with contempt by you the builders1 but it has been made the ,cornerstone4 #jjd3jab ,and in no other is the great salvation to be found2 for1 in fact1 there is no second name under ,heaven that has been given among men through which we are to be saved4 #jjd3jac ,as they looked on ,peter and ,john so fearlessly outspoken-- and also discovered that they were illiterate persons1 untrained in the schools--they were surprised2 and now they recognized them as having been with ,jesus4 #jjd3jad ,and seeing the man standing with them--the man who had been cured-- they had no reply to make4 #jjd3jae ,so they ordered them to withdraw from the ,sanhedrin while they conferred among themselves4 #jjd3jaf ,what are we to do with these men8 they asked one another2 for the fact that a remarkable miracle has been performed by them is well known to every one in ,jerusalem1 and we cannot deny it4 #jjd3jag ,but to prevent the matter spreading any further among the people1 let us stop them by threats from speaking in the future in this name to any one whatever4 #jjd3jah ,so they recalled the ,apostles1 and ordered them altogether to give up speaking or teaching in the name of ,jesus4 #jjd3jai ,but ,peter and ,john replied1 ,judge whether it is right in ,god's sight to listen to you instead of listening to ,god4 #jjd3jbj ,as for us1 what we have seen and heard we cannot help speaking about4 #jjd3jba ,the ,court added further threats and then let them go1 being quite unable to find any way of punishing them on account of the people1 because all gave ,god the glory for the thing that had happened4 #jjd3jbb ,for the man was over forty years of age on whom this miracle of restoration to health had been performed4 #jjd3jbc ,after their release the two ,apostles went to their friends1 and told them all that the ,high ,priests and ,elders had said4 #jjd3jbd ,and they1 upon hearing the story1 all lifted up their voices to ,god and said1 ,o ,sovereign ,lord1 it is ,thou who didst make ,heaven and earth and sea1 and all that is in them1 #jjd3jbe and didst say through the ,holy ,spirit by the lips of our forefather ,david ,thy servant1 ,why have the nations stamped and raged1 and the peoples formed futile plans8 #jjd3jbf ,the kings of the earth came near1 and the rulers assembled together against the ,lord and against ,his ,anointed4' #jjd3jbg ,they did indeed assemble in this city in hostility to ,thy holy ,servant ,jesus whom ,thou hadst anointed--,herod and ,pontius ,pilate with the ,gentiles and also the tribes of ,israel-- #jjd3jbh to do all that ,thy power and ,thy will had predetermined should be done4 #jjd3jbi ,and now1 ,lord1 listen to their threats1 and enable ,thy servants to proclaim ,thy ,message with fearless courage1 #jjd3jcj whilst ,thou stretchest out ,thine arm to cure men1 and to give signs and marvels through the name of ,thy holy ,servant ,jesus4 #jjd3jca ,when they had prayed1 the place in which they were assembled shook1 and they were1 one and all1 filled with the ,holy ,spirit1 and proceeded to tell ,god's ,message with boldness4 #jjd3jcb ,among all those who had embraced the faith there was but one heart and soul1 so that none of them claimed any of his possessions as his own1 but everything they had was common property2 #jjd3jcc while the ,apostles with great force of conviction delivered their testimony as to the resurrection of the ,lord ,jesus2 and great grace was upon them all4 #jjd3jcd ,and1 in fact1 there was not a needy man among them1 for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them1 and brought the money which they realised1 #jjd3jce and gave it to the ,apostles1 and distribution was made to every one according to his wants4 #jjd3jcf ,in this way ,joseph1 whom the ,apostles gave the name of ,bar-nabas-- signifying ,son of ,encouragement'--a ,levite1 a native of ,cyprus1 #jjd3jcg sold a farm which he had1 and brought the money and gave it to the ,apostles4 #jje3jja ,there was a man of the name of ,ananias who1 with his wife ,sapphira1 sold some property but1 #jje3jjb with her full knowledge and consent1 dishonestly kept back part of the price which he received for it1 though he brought the rest and gave it to the ,apostles4 #jje3jjc ,ananias1 said ,peter1 why has ,satan taken possession of your heart1 that you should try to deceive the ,holy ,spirit and dishonestly keep back part of the price paid you for this land8 #jje3jjd ,while it remained unsold1 was not the land your own8 ,and when sold1 was it not at your own disposal8 ,how is it that you have cherished this design in your heart8 ,it is not to men you have told this lie1 but to ,god4 #jje3jje ,upon hearing these words ,ananias fell down dead1 and all who heard the words were awe-struck4 #jje3jjf ,the younger men1 however1 rose1 and wrapping the body up1 carried it out and buried it4 #jje3jjg ,about three hours had passed1 when his wife came in1 knowing nothing of what had happened4 #jje3jjh ,peter at once questioned her4 ,tell me1 he said1 whether you sold the land for so much4 ,yes1 she replied1 for so much4 #jje3jji ,how was it1 replied ,peter1 that you two agreed to try an experiment upon the ,spirit of the ,lord8 ,the men who have buried your husband are already at the door1 and they will carry you out4 #jje3jaj ,instantly she fell down dead at his feet1 and the young men came in and found her dead4 ,so they carried her out and buried her by her husband's side4 #jje3jaa ,this incident struck terror into the whole ,church1 and into the hearts of all who heard of it4 #jje3jab ,many signs and marvels continued to be done among the people by the ,apostles2 and by common consent they all met in ,solomon's ,portico4 #jje3jac ,but none of the others dared to attach themselves to them4 ,yet the people held them in high honour-- #jje3jad and more and more believers in the ,lord joined them1 including great numbers both of men and women-- #jje3jae so that they would even bring out their sick friends into the streets and lay them on light couches or mats1 in order that when ,peter came by1 at least his shadow might fall on one or other of them4 #jje3jaf ,the inhabitants1 too1 of the towns in the neighbourhood of ,jerusalem came in crowds1 bringing sick persons and some who were harassed by foul spirits1 and they were cured1 one and all4 #jje3jag ,this roused the ,high ,priest4 ,he and all his party--the sect of the ,sadducees--were filled with angry jealousy #jje3jah and laid hands upon the ,apostles1 and put them into the public jail4 #jje3jai ,but during the night an angel of the ,lord opened the prison doors and brought them out1 and said1 #jje3jbj ,go and stand in the ,temple1 and go on proclaiming to the people all this ,message of ,life4 #jje3jba ,having received that command they went into the ,temple1 just before daybreak1 and began to teach3 ,so when the ,high ,priest and his party came1 and had called together the ,sanhedrin as well as all the ,elders of the descendants of ,israel1 they sent to the jail to fetch the ,apostles4 #jje3jbb ,but the officers went and could not find them in the prison4 ,so they came back and brought word1 #jje3jbc saying1 ,the jail we found quite safely locked1 and the warders were on guard at the doors1 but upon going in we found no one there4 #jje3jbd ,when the ,commander of the ,temple ,guards and the ,high ,priests heard this statement1 they were utterly at a loss with regard to it1 wondering what would happen next4 #jje3jbe ,and some one came and brought them word1 saying1 ,the men you put in prison are actually in the ,temple1 standing there1 teaching the people4 #jje3jbf ,upon this the ,commander went with the officers1 and brought the ,apostles2 but without using violence2 for they were afraid of being stoned by the people4 #jje3jbg ,so they brought them and made them stand in front of the ,sanhedrin4 ,and then the ,high ,priest questioned them4 #jje3jbh ,we strictly forbad you to teach in that name--did we not8 he said4 ,and see1 you have filled ,jerusalem with your teaching1 and are trying to make us responsible for that man's death6 #jje3jbi ,peter and the other ,apostles replied1 ,we must obey ,god rather than man4 #jje3jcj ,the ,god of our forefathers has raised ,jesus to life1 whom you crucified and put to death4 #jje3jca ,god has exalted ,him to ,his right hand as ,chief ,leader and as ,saviour1 to give ,israel repentance and forgiveness of sins4 #jje3jcb ,and we--and the ,holy ,spirit whom ,god has given to those who obey ,him-- are witnesses as to these things4 #jje3jcc ,infuriated at getting this answer1 they were disposed to kill the ,apostles4 #jje3jcd ,but a ,pharisee of the name of ,gamaliel1 a teacher of the ,law1 held in honour by all the people1 rose from his seat and requested that they should be sent outside the court for a few minutes4 #jje3jce ,israelites1 he said1 be careful what you are about to do in dealing with these men4 #jje3jcf ,years ago ,theudas appeared1 professing to be a person of importance1 and a body of men1 some four hundred in number1 joined him4 ,he was killed1 and all his followers were dispersed and annihilated4 #jje3jcg ,after him1 at the time of the ,census1 came ,judas1 the ,galilaean1 and was the leader in a revolt4 ,he too perished1 and all his followers were scattered4 #jje3jch ,and now ,i tell you to hold aloof from these men and leave them alone--for if this scheme or work is of human origin1 it will come to nothing4 #jje3jci ,but if it is really from ,god1 you will be powerless to put them down--lest perhaps you find yourselves to be actually fighting against ,god4 #jje3jdj ,his advice carried conviction4 ,so they called the ,apostles in1 and-- after flogging them--ordered them not to speak in the name of ,jesus1 and then let them go4 #jje3jda ,they1 therefore1 left the ,sanhedrin and went their way1 rejoicing that they had been deemed worthy to suffer disgrace on behalf of the ,,name4 #jje3jdb ,but they did not desist from teaching every day1 in the ,temple or in private houses1 and telling the ,good ,news about ,jesus1 the ,christ4 #jjf3jja ,about this time1 as the number of disciples was increasing1 complaints were made by the ,greek-speaking ,jews against the ,hebrews because their widows were habitually overlooked in the daily ministration4 #jjf3jjb ,so the ,twelve called together the general body of the disciples and said1 ,it does not seem fitting that we ,apostles should neglect the delivery of ,god's ,message and minister at tables4 #jjf3jjc ,therefore1 brethren1 pick out from among yourselves seven men of good repute1 full of the ,spirit and of wisdom1 and we will appoint them to undertake this duty4 #jjf3jjd ,but1 as for us1 we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the delivery of the ,message4 #jjf3jje ,the suggestion met with general approval1 and they selected ,stephen1 a man full of faith and of the ,holy ,spirit1 ,philip1 ,prochorus1 ,nicanor1 ,timon1 ,parmenas1 and ,nicolas1 a proselyte of ,antioch4 #jjf3jjf ,these men they brought to the ,apostles1 and1 after prayer1 they laid their hands upon them4 #jjf3jjg ,meanwhile ,god's ,message continued to spread1 and the number of the disciples in ,jerusalem very greatly increased1 and very many priests obeyed the faith4 #jjf3jjh ,and ,stephen1 full of grace and power1 performed great marvels and signs among the people4 #jjf3jji ,but some members of the so-called ,synagogue of the ,freed-men1' together with some ,cyrenaeans1 ,alexandrians1 ,cilicians and men from ,roman ,asia1 were roused to encounter ,stephen in debate4 #jjf3jaj ,they were quite unable1 however1 to resist the wisdom and the ,spirit with which he spoke4 #jjf3jaa ,then they privately put forward men who declared1 ,we have heard him speak blasphemous things against ,moses and against ,god4 #jjf3jab ,in this way they excited the people1 the ,elders1 and the ,scribes4 ,at length they came upon him1 seized him with violence1 and took him before the ,sanhedrin4 #jjf3jac ,here they brought forward false witnesses who declared1 ,this fellow is incessantly speaking against the ,holy ,place and the ,law4 #jjf3jad ,for we have heard him say that ,jesus1 the ,nazarene1 will pull this place down to the ground and will change the customs which ,moses handed down to us4 #jjf3jae ,at once the eyes of all who were sitting in the ,sanhedrin were fastened on him1 and they saw his face looking just like the face of an angel4 #jjg3jja ,then the ,high ,priest asked him1 ,are these statements true8 #jjg3jjb ,the reply of ,stephen was1 ,sirs--brethren and fathers--listen to me4 ,god ,most ,glorious appeared to our forefather ,abraham when he was living in ,mesopotamia1 before he settled in ,haran1 #jjg3jjc and said to him1 ,leave your country and your relatives1 and go into whatever land ,i point out to you4' #jjg3jjd ,thereupon he left ,chaldaea and settled in ,haran till after the death of his father1 when ,god caused him to remove into this country where you now live4 #jjg3jje ,but he gave him no inheritance in it1 no1 not a single square yard of ground4 ,and yet ,he promised to bestow the land as a permanent possession on him and his posterity after him-- and promised this at a time when ,abraham was childless4 #jjg3jjf ,and ,god declared that ,abraham's posterity should for four hundred years make their home in a country not their own1 and be reduced to slavery and be oppressed4 #jjg3jjg ,and the nation1 whichever it is1 that enslaves them1 ,i will judge1' said ,god2 and afterwards they shall come out1 and they shall worship ,me in this place4' #jjg3jjh ,then ,he gave him the ,covenant of circumcision1 and under this ,covenant he became the father of ,isaac--whom he circumcised on the eighth day4 ,isaac became the father of ,jacob1 and ,jacob became the father of the twelve ,patriarchs4 #jjg3jji ,the ,patriarchs were jealous of ,joseph and sold him into slavery in ,egypt4 ,but ,god was with him #jjg3jaj and delivered him from all his afflictions1 and gave him favour and wisdom when he stood before ,pharaoh1 king of ,egypt1 who appointed him governor over ,egypt and all the royal household4 #jjg3jaa ,but there came a famine throughout the whole of ,egypt and ,canaan-- and great distress--so that our forefathers could find no food4 #jjg3jab ,when1 however1 ,jacob heard that there was wheat to be had1 he sent our forefathers into ,egypt2 that was the first time4 #jjg3jac ,on their second visit ,joseph made himself known to his brothers1 and ,pharaoh was informed of ,joseph's parentage4 #jjg3jad ,then ,joseph sent and invited his father ,jacob and all his family1 numbering seventy-five persons1 to come to him1 #jjg3jae and ,jacob went down into ,egypt4 ,there he died1 and so did our forefathers1 #jjg3jaf and they were taken to ,shechem and were laid in the tomb which ,abraham had bought from the sons of ,hamor at ,shechem for a sum of money paid in silver4 #jjg3jag ,but as the time drew near for the fulfilment of the promise which ,god had made to ,abraham1 the people became many times more numerous in ,egypt1 #jjg3jah until there arose a foreign king over ,egypt who knew nothing of ,joseph4 #jjg3jai ,he adopted a crafty policy towards our race1 and oppressed our forefathers1 making them cast out their infants so that they might not be permitted to live4 #jjg3jbj ,at this time ,moses was born--a wonderfully beautiful child2 and for three months he was cared for in his father's house4 #jjg3jba ,at length he was cast out1 but ,pharaoh's daughter adopted him1 and brought him up as her own son4 #jjg3jbb ,so ,moses was educated in all the learning of the ,egyptians1 and possessed great influence through his eloquence and his achievements4 #jjg3jbc ,and when he was just forty years old1 it occurred to him to visit his brethren the descendants of ,israel4 #jjg3jbd ,seeing one of them wrongfully treated he took his part1 and secured justice for the ill-treated man by striking down the ,egyptian4 #jjg3jbe ,he supposed his brethren to be aware that by him ,god was sending them deliverance2 this1 however1 they did not understand4 #jjg3jbf ,the next day1 also1 he came and found two of them fighting1 and he endeavoured to make peace between them4 ,sirs1' he said1 you are brothers4 ,why are you wronging one another8' #jjg3jbg ,but the man who was doing the wrong resented his interference1 and asked1 ,who appointed you magistrate and judge over us8 #jjg3jbh ,do you mean to kill me as you killed the ,egyptian yesterday8' #jjg3jbi ,alarmed at this question1 ,moses fled from the country and went to live in the land of ,midian4 ,there he became the father of two sons4 #jjg3jcj ,but at the end of forty years there appeared to him in the ,desert of ,mount ,sinai an angel in the middle of a flame of fire in a bush4 #jjg3jca ,when ,moses saw this he wondered at the sight2 but on his going up to look further1 the voice of the ,lord was heard1 saying1 #jjg3jcb ,i am the ,god of your forefathers1 the ,god of ,abraham1 of ,isaac1 and of ,jacob4' ,quaking with fear ,moses did not dare gaze4 #jjg3jcc ,take off your shoes1' said the ,lord1 for the spot on which you are standing is holy ground4 #jjg3jcd ,i have seen1 yes1 ,i have seen the oppression of ,my people who are in ,egypt and have heard their groans1 and ,i have come down to deliver them4 ,and now ,i will send you to ,egypt4' #jjg3jce ,the ,moses whom they rejected1 asking him1 ,who appointed you magistrate and judge8'--that same ,moses we find ,god sending as a magistrate and a deliverer by the help of the angel who appeared to him in the bush4 #jjg3jcf ,this was he who brought them out1 after performing marvels and signs in ,egypt and at the ,red ,sea1 and in the ,desert for forty years4 #jjg3jcg ,this is the ,moses who said to the descendants of ,israel1 ,god will raise up a ,prophet for you1 from among your brethren1 just as ,he raised me up4' #jjg3jch ,this is he who was among the ,congregation in the ,desert1 together with the angel who spoke to him on ,mount ,sinai and with our forefathers1 who received ever-living utterances to hand on to us4 #jjg3jci ,our forefathers1 however1 would not submit to him1 but spurned his authority and in their hearts turned back to ,egypt4 #jjg3jdj ,they said to ,aaron1 ,make gods for us1 to march in front of us2 for as for this ,moses who brought us out of the land of ,egypt1 we do not know what has become of him4' #jjg3jda ,moreover they made a calf at that time1 and offered a sacrifice to the idol and kept rejoicing in the gods which their own hands had made4 #jjg3jdb ,so ,god turned from them and gave them up to the worship of the ,host of ,heaven1 as it is written in the ,book of the ,prophets1 ',were they victims and sacrifices which you offered ,me1 forty years in the ,desert1 ,o ,house of ,israel8 #jjg3jdc ,yes1 you lifted up ,moloch's tent and the ,star of the ,god ,rephan-- the images which you made in order to worship them2 and ,i will remove you beyond ,babylon4' #jjg3jdd ,our forefathers had the ,tent of the ,testimony in the ,desert1 built as ,he who spoke to ,moses had instructed him to make it in imitation of the model which he had seen4 #jjg3jde ,that ,tent was bequeathed to the next generation of our forefathers4 ,under ,joshua they brought it with them when they were taking possession of the land of the ,gentile nations1 whom ,god drove out before them4 ,so it continued till ,david's time4 #jjg3jdf ,david obtained favour with ,god1 and asked leave to provide a dwelling-place for the ,god of ,jacob4 #jjg3jdg ,but it was ,solomon who built a house for ,him4 #jjg3jdh ,yet the ,most ,high does not dwell in buildings erected by men's hands4 ,but1 as the ,prophet declares1 #jjg3jdi ,the sky is ,my throne1 and earth is the footstool for ,my feet4 ,what kind of house will you build for ,me1 says the ,lord1 or what resting place shall ,i have8 #jjg3jej ,did not ,my hand form this universe4' #jjg3jea ,o stiff-necked men1 uncircumcised in heart and ears1 you also are continually at strife with the ,holy ,spirit-- just as your forefathers were4 #jjg3jeb ,which of the ,prophets did not your forefathers persecute8 ,yes1 they killed those who announced beforehand the advent of the righteous ,one1 whose betrayers and murderers you have now become-- #jjg3jec you who received the ,law given through angels1 and yet have not obeyed it4 #jjg3jed ,as they listened to these words1 they became infuriated and gnashed their teeth at him4 #jjg3jee ,but1 full of the ,holy ,spirit and looking up to ,heaven1 ,stephen saw the glory of ,god1 and ,jesus standing at ,god's right hand4 #jjg3jef ,i can see ,heaven wide open1 he said1 and the ,son of ,man standing at ,god's right hand4 #jjg3jeg ,upon this1 with a loud outcry they stopped their ears1 rushed upon ,stephen in a body1 #jjg3jeh dragged him out of the city1 and stoned him1 the witnesses throwing off their outer garments and giving them into the care of a young man called ,saul4 #jjg3jei ,so they stoned ,stephen1 while he prayed1 ,lord ,jesus1 receive my spirit4 #jjg3jfj ,then1 rising on his knees1 he cried aloud1 ,lord1 do not reckon this sin against them4 ,and with these words he fell asleep4 #jjh3jja ,and ,saul fully approved of his murder4 ,at this time a great persecution broke out against the ,church in ,jerusalem1 and all except the ,apostles were scattered throughout ,judaea and ,samaria4 #jjh3jjb ,a party of devout men1 however1 buried ,stephen1 and made loud lamentation over him4 #jjh3jjc ,but ,saul cruelly harassed the ,church4 ,he went into house after house1 and1 dragging off both men and women1 threw them into prison4 #jjh3jjd ,those1 however1 who were scattered abroad went from place to place spreading the ,good ,news of ,god's ,message2 #jjh3jje while ,philip went down to the city of ,samaria and proclaimed ,christ there4 #jjh3jjf ,crowds of people1 with one accord1 gave attention to what they heard from him1 listening1 and witnessing the signs which he did4 #jjh3jjg ,for1 with a loud cry1 foul spirits came out of many possessed by them1 and many paralytics and lame persons were restored to health4 #jjh3jjh ,and there was great joy in that city4 #jjh3jji ,now for some time past there had been a man named ,simon living there1 who had been practising magic and astonishing the ,samaritans1 pretending that he was more than human4 #jjh3jaj ,to him people of all classes paid attention1 declaring1 ,this man is the ,power of ,god1 known as the great ,power4 #jjh3jaa ,his influence over them arose from their having been1 for a long time1 bewildered by his sorceries4 #jjh3jab ,but when ,philip began to tell the ,good ,news about the ,kingdom of ,god and about the ,name of ,jesus ,christ1 and they embraced the faith1 they were baptized1 men and women alike4 #jjh3jac ,simon himself also believed1 and after being baptized remained in close attendance on ,philip1 and was full of amazement at seeing such signs and such great miracles performed4 #jjh3jad ,when the ,apostles in ,jerusalem heard that the ,samaritans had accepted ,god's ,message1 they sent ,peter and ,john to visit them4 #jjh3jae ,they1 when they came down1 prayed for them that they might receive the ,holy ,spirit3 #jjh3jaf for ,he had not as yet fallen upon any of them4 ,they had only been baptized into the name of the ,lord ,jesus4 #jjh3jag ,then the ,apostles placed their hands upon them1 and they received the ,holy ,spirit4 #jjh3jah ,when1 however1 ,simon saw that it was through the laying on of the ,apostles' hands that the ,spirit was bestowed1 he offered them money4 #jjh3jai ,give me too1 he said1 that power1 so that every one on whom ,i place my hands will receive the ,holy ,spirit4 #jjh3jbj ,perish your money and yourself1 replied ,peter1 because you have imagined that you can obtain ,god's free gift with money6 #jjh3jba ,no part or lot have you in this matter1 for your heart is not right in ,god's sight4 #jjh3jbb ,repent1 therefore1 of this wickedness of yours1 and pray to the ,lord1 in the hope that the purpose which is in your heart may perhaps be forgiven you4 #jjh3jbc ,for ,i perceive that you have fallen into the bitterest bondage of unrighteousness4 #jjh3jbd ,pray1 both of you1 to the ,lord for me1 answered ,simon1 that nothing of what you have said may come upon me4 #jjh3jbe ,so the ,apostles1 after giving a solemn charge and delivering the ,lord's ,message1 travelled back to ,jerusalem1 making known the ,good ,news also in many of the ,samaritan villages4 #jjh3jbf ,and an angel of the ,lord said to ,philip1 ,rise and proceed south to the road that runs down from ,jerusalem to ,gaza1 crossing the ,desert4 #jjh3jbg ,upon this he rose and went4 ,now1 as it happened1 an ,ethiopian eunuch who was in a position of high authority with ,candace1 queen of the ,ethiopians1 as her treasurer1 had visited ,jerusalem to worship there1 #jjh3jbh and was now on his way home2 and as he sat in his chariot he was reading the ,prophet ,isaiah4 #jjh3jbi ,then the ,spirit said to ,philip1 ,go and enter that chariot4 #jjh3jcj ,so ,philip ran up and heard the eunuch reading the ,prophet ,isaiah4 ,do you understand what you are reading8 he asked4 #jjh3jca ,why1 how can ,i1 replied the eunuch1 unless some one explains it to me8 ,and he earnestly invited ,philip to come up and sit with him4 #jjh3jcb ,the passage of ,scripture which he was reading was this3 ,like a sheep ,he was led to slaughter1 and just as a lamb before its shearer is dumb so ,he opened not ,his mouth4 #jjh3jcc ,in ,his humiliation justice was denied ,him4 ,who will make known ,his posterity8 ,for ,he is destroyed from among men4 #jjh3jcd ,pray1 of whom is the ,prophet speaking8 inquired the eunuch2 of himself or of some one else8 #jjh3jce ,then ,philip began to speak1 and1 commencing with that same portion of ,scripture1 told him the ,good ,news about ,jesus4 #jjh3jcf ,so they proceeded on their way till they came to some water2 and the eunuch exclaimed1 ,see1 here is water2 what is there to prevent my being baptized8 #jjh3jcg #jjh3jch ,so he stopped the chariot2 and both of them--,philip and the eunuch-- went down into the water1 and ,philip baptized him4 #jjh3jci ,but no sooner had they come up out of the water than the ,spirit of the ,lord caught ,philip away1 and the eunuch did not see him again4 ,with a glad heart he resumed his journey2 #jjh3jdj but ,philip found himself at ,ashdod4 ,then visiting town after town he everywhere made known the ,good ,news until he reached ,caesarea4 #jji3jja ,now ,saul1 whose every breath was a threat of destruction for the disciples of the ,lord1 #jji3jjb went to the ,high ,priest and begged from him letters addressed to the synagogues in ,damascus1 in order that if he found any believers there1 either men or women1 he might bring them in chains to ,jerusalem4 #jji3jjc ,but on the journey1 as he was getting near ,damascus1 suddenly there flashed round him a light from ,heaven2 #jji3jjd and falling to the ground he heard a voice which said to him1 ,saul1 ,saul1 why are you persecuting ,me8 #jji3jje ,who art thou1 ,lord8 he asked4 ,i am ,jesus1 whom you are persecuting1 was the reply4 #jji3jjf ,but rise and go to the city1 and you will be told what you are to do4 #jji3jjg ,meanwhile the men who travelled with ,saul were standing dumb with amazement1 hearing a sound1 but seeing no one4 #jji3jjh ,then he rose from the ground1 but when he had opened his eyes1 he could not see1 and they led him by the arm and brought him to ,damascus4 #jji3jji ,and for two days he remained without sight1 and did not eat or drink anything4 #jji3jaj ,now in ,damascus there was a disciple of the name of ,ananias4 ,the ,lord spoke to him in a vision1 saying1 ,ananias6 ,i am here1 ,lord1 he answered4 #jji3jaa ,rise1 said the ,lord1 and go to ,straight ,street1 and inquire at the house of ,judas for a man called ,saul1 from ,tarsus1 for he is actually praying4 #jji3jab ,he has seen a man called ,ananias come and lay his hands upon him so that he may recover his sight4 #jji3jac ,lord1 answered ,ananias1 ,i have heard about that man from many1 and ,i have heard of the great mischief he has done to ,thy people in ,jerusalem2 #jji3jad and here he is authorized by the ,high ,priests to arrest all who call upon ,thy name4 #jji3jae ,go1 replied the ,lord2 he is a chosen instrument of ,mine to carry ,my name to the ,gentiles and to kings and to the descendants of ,israel4 #jji3jaf ,for ,i will let him know the great sufferings which he must pass through for ,my sake4 #jji3jag ,so ,ananias went and entered the house2 and1 laying his two hands upon ,saul1 said1 ,saul1 brother1 the ,lord--even ,jesus who appeared to you on your journey--has sent me1 that you may recover your sight and be filled with the ,holy ,spirit4 #jji3jah ,instantly there dropped from his eyes what seemed to be scales1 and he could see once more4 ,upon this he rose and received baptism2 #jji3jai after which he took food and regained his strength4 ,then he remained some little time with the disciples in ,damascus4 #jji3jbj ,and in the synagogues he began at once to proclaim ,jesus as the ,son of ,god2 #jji3jba and his hearers were all amazed1 and began to ask one another1 ,is not this the man who in ,jerusalem tried to exterminate those who called upon that ,name1 and came here on purpose to carry them off in chains to the ,high ,priests8 #jji3jbb ,saul1 however1 gained more and more influence1 and as for the ,jews living in ,damascus1 he bewildered them with his proofs that ,jesus is the ,christ4 #jji3jbc ,at length the ,jews plotted to kill ,saul2 #jji3jbd but information of their intention was given to him4 ,they even watched the gates1 day and night1 in order to murder him2 #jji3jbe but his disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall1 lowering him in a hamper4 #jji3jbf ,so he came to ,jerusalem and made several attempts to associate with the disciples1 but they were all afraid of him1 being in doubt as to whether he himself was a disciple4 #jji3jbg ,barnabas1 however1 came to his assistance4 ,he brought ,saul to the ,apostles1 and related to them how1 on his journey1 he had seen the ,lord1 and that the ,lord had spoken to him1 and how in ,damascus he had fearlessly taught in the name of ,jesus4 #jji3jbh ,henceforth ,saul was one of them1 going in and out of the city1 #jji3jbi and speaking fearlessly in the name of the ,lord4 ,and he often talked with the ,hellenists and had discussions with them4 #jji3jcj ,but they kept trying to take his life4 ,on learning this1 the brethren brought him down to ,caesarea1 and then sent him by sea to ,tarsus4 #jji3jca ,the ,church1 however1 throughout the whole of ,judaea1 ,galilee and ,samaria1 had peace and was spiritually built up2 and grew in numbers1 living in the fear of the ,lord and receiving encouragement from the ,holy ,spirit4 #jji3jcb ,now ,peter1 as he went to town after town1 came down also to ,god's people at ,lud4 #jji3jcc ,there he found a man of the name of ,aeneas1 who for eight years had kept his bed1 through being paralysed4 #jji3jcd ,peter said to him1 ,aeneas1 ,jesus ,christ cures you4 ,rise and make your own bed4 ,he at once rose to his feet4 #jji3jce ,and all the people of ,lud and ,sharon saw him2 and they turned to the ,lord4 #jji3jcf ,among the disciples at ,jaffa was a woman called ,tabitha1 or1 as the name may be translated1 ,dorcas4' ,her life was wholly devoted to the good and charitable actions which she was constantly doing4 #jji3jcg ,but1 as it happened1 just at that time she was taken ill and died4 ,after washing her body they laid it out in a room upstairs4 #jji3jch ,lud1 however1 being near ,jaffa1 the disciples1 who had heard that ,peter was at ,lud1 sent two men to him with an urgent request that he would come across to them without delay4 #jji3jci ,so ,peter rose and went with them4 ,on his arrival they took him upstairs1 and the widow women all came and stood by his side1 weeping and showing him the underclothing and cloaks and garments of all kinds which ,dorcas used to make while she was still with them4 #jji3jdj ,peter1 however1 putting every one out of the room1 knelt down and prayed1 and then turning to the body1 he said1 ,tabitha1 rise4 ,dorcas at once opened her eyes1 and seeing ,peter1 sat up4 #jji3jda ,then1 giving her his hand1 he raised her to her feet and1 calling to him ,god's people and the widows1 he _/ #g gave her back to them alive4 #jji3jdb ,this incident became known throughout ,jaffa1 and many believed in the ,lord2 #jji3jdc and ,peter remained for a considerable time at ,jaffa1 staying at the house of a man called ,simon1 a tanner4 #jaj3jja ,now a ,captain of the ,italian ,regiment1 named ,cornelius1 was quartered at ,caesarea4 #jaj3jjb ,he was religious and ,god-fearing--and so was every member of his household4 ,he was also liberal in his charities to the people1 and continually offered prayer to ,god4 #jaj3jjc ,about three o'clock one afternoon he had a vision1 and distinctly saw an angel of ,god enter his house1 who called him by name1 saying1 ,cornelius6 #jaj3jjd ,looking steadily at him1 and being much alarmed1 he said1 ,what do you want1 ,sir8 ,your prayers and charities1 he replied1 have gone up and have been recorded before ,god4 #jaj3jje ,and now send to ,jaffa and fetch ,simon1 surnamed ,peter4 #jaj3jjf ,he is staying as a guest with ,simon1 a tanner1 who has a house close to the sea4 #jaj3jjg ,so when the angel who had been speaking to him was gone1 ,cornelius called two of his servants and a ,god-fearing soldier who was in constant attendance on him1 #jaj3jjh and1 after telling them everything1 he sent them to ,jaffa4 #jaj3jji ,the next day1 while they were still on their journey and were getting near the town1 about noon ,peter went up on the house-top to pray4 #jaj3jaj ,he had become unusually hungry and wished for food2 but1 while they were preparing it1 he fell into a trance4 #jaj3jaa ,the sky had opened to his view1 and what seemed to be an enormous sail was descending1 being let down to the earth by ropes at the four corners4 #jaj3jab ,in it were all kinds of quadrupeds1 reptiles and birds1 #jaj3jac and a voice came to him which said1 ,rise1 ,peter1 kill and eat4 #jaj3jad ,on no account1 ,lord1 he replied2 for ,i have never yet eaten anything unholy and impure4 #jaj3jae ,again a second time a voice was heard which said1 ,what ,god has purified1 you must not regard as unholy4 #jaj3jaf ,this was said three times1 and immediately the sail was drawn up out of sight4 #jaj3jag ,while ,peter was greatly perplexed as to the meaning of the vision which he had seen1 just then the men sent by ,cornelius1 having by inquiry found out ,simon's house1 #jaj3jah had come to the door and had called the servant1 and were asking1 ,is ,simon1 surnamed ,peter1 staying here8 #jaj3jai ,and ,peter was still earnestly thinking over the vision1 when the ,spirit said to him1 ,three men are now inquiring for you4 #jaj3jbj ,rise1 go down1 and go with them without any misgivings2 for it is ,i who have sent them to you4 #jaj3jba ,so ,peter went down and said to the men1 ,i am the ,simon you are inquiring for4 ,what is the reason of your coming8 #jaj3jbb ,their reply was1 ,cornelius1 a ,captain1 an upright and ,god-fearing man1 of whom the whole ,jewish nation speaks well1 has been divinely instructed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and listen to what you have to say4 #jaj3jbc ,upon hearing this1 ,peter invited them in1 and gave them a lodging4 ,the next day he set out with them1 some of the brethren from ,jaffa going with him1 #jaj3jbd and the day after that they reached ,caesarea4 ,there ,cornelius was awaiting their arrival1 and had invited all his relatives and intimate friends to be present4 #jaj3jbe ,when ,peter entered the house1 ,cornelius met him1 and threw himself at his feet to do him homage4 #jaj3jbf ,but ,peter lifted him up4 ,stand up1 he said2 ,i myself also am but a man4 #jaj3jbg ,so ,peter went in and conversed with him1 and found a large company assembled4 #jaj3jbh ,he said to them1 ,you know better than most that a ,jew is strictly forbidden to associate with a ,gentile or visit him2 but ,god has taught me to call no one unholy or unclean4 #jaj3jbi ,so for this reason1 when sent for1 ,i came without raising any objection4 ,i therefore ask why you sent for me4 #jaj3jcj ,just at this hour1 three days ago1 replied ,cornelius1 ,i was offering afternoon prayer in my house1 when suddenly a man in shining raiment stood in front of me1 #jaj3jca who said1 ,cornelius1 your prayer has been heard1 and your charities have been put on record before ,god4 #jaj3jcb ,send therefore to ,jaffa1 and invite ,simon1 surnamed ,peter1 to come here4 ,he is staying as a guest in the house of ,simon1 a tanner1 close to the sea4' #jaj3jcc ,immediately1 therefore1 ,i sent to you1 and ,i thank you heartily for having come4 ,that is why all of us are now assembled here in ,god's presence1 to listen to what the ,lord has commanded you to say4 #jaj3jcd ,then ,peter began to speak4 ,i clearly see1 he said1 that ,god makes no distinctions between one man and another2 #jaj3jce but that in every nation those who fear ,him and live good lives are acceptable to ,him4 #jaj3jcf ,the ,message which ,he sent to the descendants of ,israel1 when ,he announced the ,good ,news of peace through ,jesus ,christ--,he is ,lord of all--that ,message you cannot but know2 #jaj3jcg the story1 ,i mean1 which has spread through the length and breadth of ,judaea1 beginning in ,galilee after the baptism which ,john proclaimed4 #jaj3jch ,it tells how ,god anointed ,jesus of ,nazareth with the ,holy ,spirit and with power1 so that ,he went about everywhere doing acts of kindness1 and curing all who were being continually oppressed by the ,devil--for ,god was with ,jesus4 #jaj3jci ,and we are witnesses as to all that ,he did both in the country of the ,jews and in ,jerusalem4 ,but they even put ,him to death1 by crucifixion4 #jaj3jdj ,that same ,jesus ,god raised to life on the third day1 and permitted ,him to appear unmistakably1 #jaj3jda not to all the people1 but to witnesses--men previously chosen by ,god--namely1 to us1 who ate and drank with ,him after ,he rose from the dead4 #jaj3jdb ,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 dead4 #jaj3jdc ,to ,him all the ,prophets bear witness1 and testify that through ,his name all who believe in ,him receive the forgiveness of their sins4 #jaj3jdd ,while ,peter was speaking these words1 the ,holy ,spirit fell on all who were listening to the ,message4 #jaj3jde ,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 out4 #jaj3jdf ,for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling the majesty of ,god4 ,then ,peter said1 #jaj3jdg ,can any one forbid the use of water1 and object to these persons being baptized--men who have received the ,holy ,spirit just as we did8 #jaj3jdh ,and he directed that they should be baptized in the name of ,jesus ,christ4 ,then they begged him to remain with them for a time4 #jaa3jja ,now the ,apostles1 and the brethren in various parts of ,judaea1 heard that the ,gentiles also had received ,god's ,message2 #jaa3jjb and1 when ,peter returned to ,jerusalem1 the champions of circumcision found fault with him4 #jaa3jjc ,you went into the houses of men who are not ,jews1 they said1 and you ate with them4 #jaa3jjd ,peter1 however1 explained the whole matter to them from the beginning4 #jaa3jje ,while ,i was in the town of ,jaffa1 offering prayer1 he said1 in a trance ,i saw a vision4 ,there descended what seemed to be an enormous sail1 being let down from the sky by ropes at the four corners1 and it came close to me4 #jaa3jjf ,fixing my eyes on it1 ,i examined it closely1 and saw various kinds of quadrupeds1 wild beasts1 reptiles and birds4 #jaa3jjg ,i also heard a voice saying to me1 ,rise1 ,peter1 kill and eat4' #jaa3jjh ,on no account1 ,lord1' ,i replied1 for nothing unholy or impure has ever gone into my mouth4' #jaa3jji ,but a voice answered1 speaking a second time from the sky1 ,what ,god has purified1 you must not regard as unholy4' #jaa3jaj ,this was said three times1 and then everything was drawn up again out of sight4 #jaa3jaa ,now at that very moment three men came to the house where we were1 having been sent from ,caesarea to find me4 #jaa3jab ,and the ,spirit told me to accompany them without any misgivings4 ,there also went with me these six brethren who are now present1 and we reached the ,centurion's house4 #jaa3jac ,then he described to us how he had seen the angel come and enter his house and say1 ,send to ,jaffa and fetch ,simon1 surnamed ,peter4 #jaa3jad ,he will teach you truths by which you and all your family will be saved4' #jaa3jae ,and1 said ,peter1 no sooner had ,i begun to speak than the ,holy ,spirit fell upon them1 just as ,he fell upon us at the first4 #jaa3jaf ,then ,i remembered the ,lord's words1 how ,he used to say1 ,john baptized with water1 but you shall be baptized in the ,holy ,spirit4' #jaa3jag ,if therefore ,god gave them the same gift as ,he gave us when we first believed on the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 why1 who was ,i to be able to thwart ,god8 #jaa3jah ,this statement of ,peter's silenced his opponents4 ,they extolled the goodness of ,god1 and said1 ,so1 then1 to the ,gentiles also ,god has given the repentance which leads to ,life4 #jaa3jai ,those1 however1 who had been driven in various directions by the persecution which broke out on account of ,stephen made their way to ,phoenicia1 ,cyprus and ,antioch1 delivering the ,message to none but ,jews4 #jaa3jbj ,but some of them were ,cyprians and ,cyrenaeans1 who1 on coming to ,antioch1 spoke to the ,greeks also and told them the ,good ,news concerning the ,lord ,jesus4 #jaa3jba ,the power of the ,lord was with them1 and there were a vast number who believed and turned to the ,lord4 #jaa3jbb ,when tidings of this reached the ears of the ,church in ,jerusalem1 they sent ,barnabas as far as ,antioch4 #jaa3jbc ,on getting there he was delighted to see the grace which ,god had bestowed2 and he encouraged them all to remain1 with fixed resolve1 faithful to the ,lord4 #jaa3jbd ,for he was a good man1 and was full of the ,holy ,spirit and of faith2 and the number of believers in the ,lord greatly increased4 #jaa3jbe ,then ,barnabas paid a visit to ,tarsus to try to find ,saul4 #jaa3jbf ,he succeeded1 and brought him to ,antioch2 and for a whole year they attended the meetings of the ,church1 and taught a large number of people4 ,and it was in ,antioch that the disciples first received the name of ,christians4' #jaa3jbg ,at that time certain ,prophets came down from ,jerusalem to ,antioch1 #jaa3jbh one of whom1 named ,agabus1 being instructed by the ,spirit1 publicly predicted the speedy coming of a great famine throughout the world4 7,it came in the reign of ,claudius47 #jaa3jbi ,so the disciples decided to send relief1 every one in proportion to his means1 to the brethren living in ,judaea4 #jaa3jcj ,this they did1 forwarding their contributions to the ,elders by ,barnabas and ,saul4 #jab3jja ,now1 about that time1 ,king ,herod arrested certain members of the ,church1 in order to ill-treat them2 #jab3jjb and ,james1 ,john's brother1 he beheaded4 #jab3jjc ,finding that this gratified the ,jews1 he proceeded to seize ,peter also2 these being the days of ,unleavened ,bread4 #jab3jjd ,he had him arrested and lodged in jail1 handing him over to the care of sixteen soldiers2 and intended after the ,passover to bring him out again to the people4 #jab3jje ,so ,peter was kept in prison2 but long and fervent prayer was offered to ,god by the ,church on his behalf4 #jab3jjf ,now when ,herod was on the point of taking him out of prison1 that very night ,peter was asleep between two soldiers1 bound with two chains1 and guards were on duty outside the door4 #jab3jjg ,suddenly an angel of the ,lord stood by him1 and a light shone in the cell2 and1 striking ,peter on the side1 he woke him and said1 ,rise quickly4 ,instantly the chains dropped off his wrists4 #jab3jjh ,fasten your girdle1 said the angel1 and tie on your sandals4 ,he did so4 ,then the angel said1 ,throw your cloak round you1 and follow me4 #jab3jji ,so ,peter went out1 following him1 yet could not believe that what the angel was doing was real1 but supposed that he saw a vision4 #jab3jaj ,and passing through the first ward and the second1 they came to the iron gate leading into the city4 ,this opened to them of itself2 and1 going out1 they passed on through one of the streets1 and then suddenly the angel left him4 #jab3jaa ,peter coming to himself said1 ,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 anticipating4 #jab3jab ,so1 after thinking things over1 he went to the house of ,mary1 the mother of ,john surnamed ,mark1 where a large number of people were assembled1 praying4 #jab3jac ,when he knocked at the wicket in the door1 a maidservant named ,rhoda came to answer the knock2 #jab3jad and recognizing ,peter's voice1 for very joy she did not open the door1 but ran in and told them that ,peter was standing there4 #jab3jae ,you are mad1 they said4 ,but she strenuously maintained that it was true4 ,it is his guardian angel1 they said4 #jab3jaf ,meanwhile ,peter went on knocking1 until at last they opened the door and saw that it was really he1 and were filled with amazement4 #jab3jag ,but he motioned with his hand for silence1 and then described to them how the ,lord had brought him out of the prison4 ,tell all this to ,james and the brethren1 he added4 ,then he left them1 and went to another place4 #jab3jah ,when morning came1 there was no little commotion among the soldiers1 as to what could possibly have become of ,peter4 #jab3jai ,and when ,herod had had him searched for and could not find him1 after sharply questioning the guards he ordered them away to execution4 ,he then went down from ,judaea to ,caesarea and remained there4 #jab3jbj ,now the people of ,tyre and ,sidon had incurred ,herod's violent displeasure4 ,so they sent a large deputation to wait on him2 and having secured the good will of ,blastus1 his treasurer1 they begged the king to be friendly with them again1 because their country was dependent on his for its food supply4 #jab3jba ,so1 on an appointed day1 ,herod1 having arrayed himself in royal robes1 took his seat on the tribunal1 and was haranguing them2 #jab3jbb and the assembled people kept shouting1 ,it is the voice of a god1 and not of a man6 #jab3jbc ,instantly an angel of the ,lord struck him1 because he had not given the glory to ,god1 and being eaten up by worms1 he died4 #jab3jbd ,but ,god's ,message prospered1 and converts were multiplied4 #jab3jbe ,and ,barnabas and ,saul returned from ,jerusalem1 having discharged their mission1 and they brought with them ,john1 surnamed ,mark4 #jac3jja ,now there were in ,antioch1 in the ,church there--as ,prophets and teachers--barnabas1 ,symeon surnamed the black1' ,lucius the ,cyrenaean1 ,manaen 7who was ,herod the ,tetrarch's foster-brother71 and ,saul4 #jac3jjb ,while they were worshipping the ,lord and fasting1 the ,holy ,spirit said1 ,set apart for ,me1 now at once1 ,barnabas and ,saul1 for the work to which ,i have called them4 #jac3jjc ,so1 after fasting and prayer and the laying on of hands1 they let them go4 #jac3jjd ,they therefore1 being thus sent out by the ,holy ,spirit1 went down to ,seleuceia1 and from there sailed to ,cyprus4 #jac3jje ,having reached ,salamis1 they began to announce ,god's ,message in the synagogues of the ,jews4 ,and they had ,john as their assistant4 #jac3jjf ,when they had gone through the whole length of the island as far as ,paphos1 they there met with a ,jewish magician and false prophet1 ,bar-,jesus by name1 #jac3jjg who was a friend of the ,proconsul ,sergius ,paulus4 ,the ,proconsul was a man of keen intelligence4 ,he sent for ,barnabas and ,saul1 and asked to be told ,god's ,message4 #jac3jjh ,but ,elymas 7or the ,magician1' for such is the meaning of the name7 opposed them1 and tried to prevent the ,proconsul from accepting the faith4 #jac3jji ,then ,saul1 who is also called ,paul1 was filled with the ,holy ,spirit1 and1 fixing his eyes on ,elymas1 #jac3jaj said1 ,you who are full of every kind of craftiness and unscrupulous cunning--you son of the ,devil and foe to all that is right--will you never cease to misrepresent the straight paths of the ,lord8 #jac3jaa ,the ,lord's hand is now upon you1 and you will be blind for a time and unable to see the light of day4 ,instantly there fell upon him a mist and a darkness1 and1 as he walked about1 he begged people to lead him by the hand4 #jac3jab ,then the ,proconsul1 seeing what had happened1 believed1 being struck with amazement at the teaching of the ,lord4 #jac3jac ,from ,paphos1 ,paul and his party put out to sea and sailed to ,perga in ,pamphylia4 ,john1 however1 left them and returned to ,jerusalem4 #jac3jad ,but they themselves1 passing through from ,perga1 came to ,antioch in ,pisidia4 ,here1 on the ,sabbath day1 they went into the synagogue and sat down4 #jac3jae ,after the reading of the ,law and the ,prophets1 the ,wardens of the synagogue sent word to them4 ,brethren1 they said1 if you have anything encouraging to say to the people1 speak4 #jac3jaf ,so ,paul rose1 and motioning with his hand for silence1 said1 ,israelites1 and you others who fear ,god1 pay attention to me4 #jac3jag ,the ,god of this people of ,israel chose our forefathers1 and made the people great during their stay in ,egypt1 until with wondrous power ,he brought them out from that land4 #jac3jah ,for a period of about forty years1 ,he fed them1 like a nurse1 in the ,desert4 #jac3jai ,then1 after overthrowing seven nations in the land of ,canaan1 ,he divided that country among them as their inheritance for about four hundred and fifty years2 #jac3jbj and afterwards ,he gave them judges down to the time of the ,prophet ,samuel4 #jac3jba ,next they asked for a king1 and ,god gave them ,saul the son of ,kish1 a ,benjamite1 who reigned forty years4 #jac3jbb ,after removing him1 ,he raised up ,david to be their king1 to whom ,he also bore witness when ,he said1 ,i have found ,david the son of ,jesse1 a man ,i love1 who will obey all ,my commands4' #jac3jbc ,it is from among ,david's descendants that ,god1 in fulfilment of ,his promise1 has raised up a ,saviour for ,israel1 even ,jesus4 #jac3jbd ,before the coming of ,jesus1 ,john had proclaimed to all the people of ,israel a baptism of repentance4 #jac3jbe ,but ,john1 towards the end of his career1 repeatedly asked the people1 ,what do you suppose me to be8 ,i am not the ,christ4 ,but there is ,one coming after me whose sandal ,i am not worthy to unfasten4' #jac3jbf ,brethren1 descendants of the family of ,abraham1 and all among you who fear ,god1 to us has this ,message of salvation been sent4 #jac3jbg ,for the people of ,jerusalem and their rulers1 by the judgement they pronounced on ,jesus1 have actually fulfilled the predictions of the ,prophets which are read ,sabbath after ,sabbath1 through ignorance of those predictions and of ,him4 #jac3jbh ,without having found ,him guilty of any capital offence they urged ,pilate to have ,him put to death2 #jac3jbi and when they had carried out everything which had been written about ,him1 they took ,him down from the cross and laid ,him in a tomb4 #jac3jcj ,but ,god raised ,him from the dead4 #jac3jca ,and1 after a few days1 ,he appeared to the people who had gone up with ,him from ,galilee to ,jerusalem and are now witnesses concerning ,him to the ,jews4 #jac3jcb ,and we bring you the ,good ,news about the promise made to our forefathers1 #jac3jcc that ,god has amply fulfilled it to our children in raising up ,jesus2 as it is also written in the second ,psalm1 ,thou art ,my ,son3 to-day ,i have become ,thy ,father4' #jac3jcd ,and as to ,his having raised ,him from among the dead1 never again to be in the position of one soon to return to decay1 ,he speaks thus3 ,i will give you the holy and trustworthy promises made to ,david4' #jac3jce ,because in another ,psalm also ,he says1 ,thou wilt not give up ,thy ,holy ,one to undergo decay4' #jac3jcf ,for ,david1 after having been useful to his own generation in accordance with ,god's purpose1 did fall asleep1 was gathered to his forefathers1 and did undergo decay4 #jac3jcg ,but ,he whom ,god raised to life underwent no decay4 #jac3jch ,understand therefore1 brethren1 that through this ,jesus forgiveness of sins is announced to you2 #jac3jci and in ,him every believer is absolved from all offences1 from which you could not be absolved under the ,law of ,moses4 #jac3jdj ,beware1 then1 lest what is spoken in the ,prophets should come true of you3 #jac3jda ,behold1 you despisers1 be astonished and perish1 because ,i am carrying on a work in your time--a work which you will utterly refuse to believe1 though it be fully declared to you4' #jac3jdb ,as ,paul and ,barnabas were leaving the synagogue1 the people earnestly begged to have all this repeated to them on the following ,sabbath4 #jac3jdc ,and1 when the congregation had broken up1 many of the ,jews and of the devout converts from heathenism continued with ,paul and ,barnabas1 who talked to them and urged them to hold fast to the grace of ,god4 #jac3jdd ,on the next ,sabbath almost the whole population of the city came together to hear the ,lord's ,message4 #jac3jde ,seeing the crowds1 the ,jews1 filled with angry jealousy1 opposed ,paul's statements and abused him4 #jac3jdf ,then1 throwing off all reserve1 ,paul and ,barnabas said1 ,we were bound to proclaim ,god's ,message to you first4 ,but since you spurn it and judge yourselves to be unworthy of the ,life of the ,ages--well1 we turn to the ,gentiles4 #jac3jdg ,for such is the ,lord's command to us4 ,i have placed ,thee1' ,he says of ,christ1 as a light to the ,gentiles1 in order that ,thou mayest be a ,saviour as far as the remotest parts of the earth4' #jac3jdh ,the ,gentiles listened with delight and extolled the ,lord's ,message2 and all who were pre-destined to the ,life of the ,ages believed4 #jac3jdi ,so the ,lord's ,message spread through the whole district4 #jac3jej ,but the ,jews influenced the gentlewomen of rank who worshipped with them1 and also the leading men in the city1 and stirred up persecution against ,paul and ,barnabas and drove them out of the district4 #jac3jea ,but they shook off the dust from their feet as a protest against them and came to ,iconium2 #jac3jeb and as for the disciples1 they were more and more filled with joy and with the ,holy ,spirit4 #jad3jja ,at ,iconium the ,apostles went together to the ,jewish synagogue and preached1 with the result that a great number both of ,jews and ,greeks believed4 #jad3jjb ,but the ,jews who had refused obedience stirred up the ,gentiles and embittered their minds against the brethren4 #jad3jjc ,yet ,paul and ,barnabas remained there for a considerable time1 speaking freely and relying on the ,lord1 while ,he bore witness to the ,message of ,his grace by permitting signs and marvels to be done by them4 #jad3jjd ,at length the people of the city split into parties1 some siding with the ,jews and some with the ,apostles4 #jad3jje ,and when a hostile movement was made by both ,gentiles and ,jews1 with the sanction of their magistrates1 to maltreat and stone them1 #jad3jjf the ,apostles1 having become aware of it1 made their escape into the ,lycaonian towns of ,lystra and ,derbe1 and the neighbouring country4 #jad3jjg ,and there they continued to tell the ,good ,news4 #jad3jjh ,now a man who had no power in his feet used to sit in the streets of ,lystra4 ,he had been lame from his birth and had never walked4 #jad3jji ,after this man had listened to one of ,paul's sermons1 the ,apostle1 looking steadily at him and perceiving that he had faith to be cured1 #jad3jaj said in a loud voice1 ,stand upright upon your feet6 #jad3jaa ,so he sprang up and began to walk about4 ,then the crowds1 seeing what ,paul had done1 rent the air with their shouts in the ,lycaonian language1 saying1 ,the gods have assumed human form and have come down to us4 #jad3jab ,they called ,barnabas ,zeus1' and ,paul1 as being the principal speaker1 ,hermes4' #jad3jac ,and the priest of ,zeus--the temple of ,zeus being at the entrance to the city--brought bullocks and garlands to the gates1 and in company with the crowd was intending to offer sacrifices to them4 #jad3jad ,but the ,apostles1 ,barnabas and ,paul1 heard of it2 and tearing their clothes they rushed out into the middle of the crowd1 exclaiming1 ,sirs1 why are you doing all this8 #jad3jae ,we also are but men1 with natures kindred to your own2 and we bring you the ,good ,news that you are to turn from these unreal things1 to worship the ever-living ,god1 the ,creator of earth and sky and sea and of everything that is in them4 #jad3jaf ,in times gone by ,he allowed all the nations to go their own ways2 #jad3jag and yet by ,his beneficence ,he has not left ,his existence unattested-- ,his beneficence1 ,i mean1 in sending you rain from ,heaven and fruitful seasons1 satisfying your hearts with food and joyfulness4 #jad3jah ,even with words like these they had difficulty in preventing the thronging crowd from offering sacrifices to them4 #jad3jai ,but now a party of ,jews came from ,antioch and ,iconium1 and1 having won over the crowd1 they stoned ,paul and dragged him out of the town1 believing him to be dead4 #jad3jbj ,when1 however1 the disciples had collected round him1 he rose and went back into the town4 ,the next day he went with ,barnabas to ,derbe2 #jad3jba and1 after proclaiming the ,good ,news to the people there and gaining a large number of converts1 they retraced their steps to ,lystra1 ,iconium1 and ,antioch4 #jad3jbb ,everywhere they strengthened the disciples by encouraging them to hold fast to the faith1 and warned them saying1 ,it is through many afflictions that we must make our way into the ,kingdom of ,god4 #jad3jbc ,and in every ,church1 after prayer and fasting1 they selected ,elders by show of hands1 and commended them to the ,lord on whom their faith rested4 #jad3jbd ,then passing through ,pisidia they came into ,pamphylia2 #jad3jbe and after telling the ,message at ,perga they came down to ,attaleia4 #jad3jbf ,thence they sailed to ,antioch1 where they had previously been commended to the grace of ,god in connexion with the work which they had now completed4 #jad3jbg ,upon their arrival they called the ,church together and proceeded to report in detail all that ,god1 working with them1 had done1 and how ,he had opened for the ,gentiles the door of faith4 #jad3jbh ,and they remained a considerable time in ,antioch with the disciples4 #jae3jja ,but certain persons who had come down from ,judaea tried to convince the brethren1 saying1 ,unless you are circumcised in accordance with the ,mosaic custom1 you cannot be saved4 #jae3jjb ,between these new comers and ,paul and ,barnabas there was no little disagreement and controversy1 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 matter4 #jae3jjc ,so they set out1 being accompanied for a short distance by some other members of the ,church2 and as they passed through ,phoenicia and ,samaria1 they told the whole story of the conversion of the ,gentiles and inspired all the brethren with great joy4 #jae3jjd ,upon their arrival in ,jerusalem they were cordially received by the ,church1 the ,apostles1 and the ,elders2 and they reported in detail all that ,god1 working with them1 had done4 #jae3jje ,but certain men who had belonged to the sect of the ,pharisees but were now believers1 stood up in the assembly1 and said1 ,yes1 ,gentile believers ought to be circumcised and be ordered to keep the ,law of ,moses4 #jae3jjf ,then the ,apostles and ,elders met to consider the matter2 #jae3jjg and after there had been a long discussion ,peter rose to his feet4 ,it is within your own knowledge1 he said1 that ,god originally made choice among you that from my lips the ,gentiles were to hear the ,message of the ,good ,news1 and believe4 #jae3jjh ,and ,god1 who knows all hearts1 gave ,his testimony in their favour by bestowing the ,holy ,spirit on them just as ,he did on us2 #jae3jji and ,he made no difference between us and them1 in that ,he cleansed their hearts by their faith4 #jae3jaj ,now1 therefore1 why try an experiment upon ,god1 by laying on the necks of these disciples a yoke which neither our forefathers nor we have been able to bear8 #jae3jaa ,on the contrary1 we believe that it is by the grace of the ,lord ,jesus that we1 as well as they1 shall be saved4 #jae3jab ,then the whole assembly remained silent while they listened to the statement made by ,paul and ,barnabas as to all the signs and marvels that ,god had done among the ,gentiles through their instrumentality4 #jae3jac ,when they had finished speaking1 ,james said1 ,brethren1 listen to me4 #jae3jad ,symeon has related how ,god first looked graciously on the ,gentiles to take from among them a ,people to be called by ,his name4 #jae3jae ,and this is in harmony with the language of the ,prophets1 which says3 #jae3jaf ,afterwards ,i will return1 and will rebuild ,david's fallen tent4 ,its ruins ,i will rebuild1 and ,i will set it up again2 #jae3jag ,in order that the rest of mankind may earnestly seek the ,lord-- even all the nations which are called by ,my name1 #jae3jah ,says the ,lord1 who has been making these things known from ages long past4' #jae3jai ,my judgement1 therefore1 is against inflicting unexpected annoyance on those of the ,gentiles who are turning to ,god4 #jae3jbj ,yet let us send them written instructions to abstain from things polluted by connexion with idolatry1 from fornication1 from meat killed by strangling1 and from blood4 #jae3jba ,for ,moses from the earliest times has had his preachers in every town1 being read1 as he is1 ,sabbath after ,sabbath1 in the various synagogues4 #jae3jbb ,thereupon it was decided by the ,apostles and ,elders1 with the approval of the whole ,church1 to choose suitable persons from among themselves and send them to ,antioch1 with ,paul and ,barnabas4 ,judas1 called ,bar-sabbas1 and ,silas1 leading men among the brethren1 were selected1 #jae3jbc and they took with them the following letter3 ,the ,apostles and the elder brethren send greeting to the ,gentile brethren throughout ,antioch1 ,syria and ,cilicia4 #jae3jbd ,as we have been informed that certain persons who have gone out from among us have disturbed you by their teaching and have unsettled your minds1 without having received any such instructions from us2 #jae3jbe we have unanimously decided to select certain men and send them to you in company with our dear friends ,barnabas and ,paul1 #jae3jbf who have endangered their very lives for the sake of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 #jae3jbg ,we have therefore sent ,judas and ,silas1 who are themselves bringing you the same message by word of mouth4 #jae3jbh ,for it has seemed good to the ,holy ,spirit and to us to lay upon you no burden heavier than these necessary requirements-- #jae3jbi ,you must abstain from things sacrificed to idols1 from blood1 from things strangled1 and from fornication4 ,keep yourselves clear of these things1 and it will be well with you4 ,farewell4 #jae3jcj ,they1 therefore1 having been solemnly sent1 came down to ,antioch1 where they called together the whole assembly and delivered the letter4 #jae3jca ,the people read it1 and were delighted with the comfort it brought them4 #jae3jcb ,and ,judas and ,silas1 being themselves also ,prophets1 gave them a long and encouraging talk1 and strengthened them in the faith4 #jae3jcc ,after spending some time there they received an affectionate farewell from the brethren to return to those who had sent them4 #jae3jcd #jae3jce ,but ,paul and ,barnabas remained in ,antioch1 teaching and1 in company with many others1 telling the ,good ,news of the ,lord's ,message4 #jae3jcf ,after a while ,paul said to ,barnabas1 ,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 prospering6 #jae3jcg ,barnabas1 however1 was bent on taking with them ,john1 whose other name was ,mark1 #jae3jch 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 work4 #jae3jci ,so there arose a serious disagreement between them1 which resulted in their parting from one another1 ,barnabas taking ,mark and setting sail for ,cyprus4 #jae3jdj ,but ,paul chose ,silas as his travelling companion2 and set out1 after being commended by the brethren to the grace of the ,lord2 #jae3jda and he passed through ,syria and ,cilicia1 strengthening the ,churches4 #jaf3jja ,he also came to ,derbe and to ,lystra4 ,at ,lystra he found a disciple1 ,timothy by name--the son of a ,christian ,jewess1 though he had a ,greek father4 #jaf3jjb ,timothy was well spoken of by the brethren at ,lystra and ,iconium1 #jaf3jjc and ,paul desiring that he should accompany him on his journey1 took him and circumcised him on account of the ,jews in those parts1 for they all knew that his father was a ,greek4 #jaf3jjd ,as they journeyed on from town to town1 they handed to the brethren for their observance the decisions which had been arrived at by the ,apostles and ,elders in ,jerusalem4 #jaf3jje ,so the ,churches went on gaining a stronger faith and growing in numbers from day to day4 #jaf3jjf ,then ,paul and his companions passed through ,phrygia and ,galatia1 having been forbidden by the ,holy ,spirit to proclaim the ,message in the province of ,asia4 #jaf3jjg ,when they reached the frontier of ,mysia1 they were about to enter ,bithynia1 but the ,spirit of ,jesus would not permit this4 #jaf3jjh ,so1 passing along ,mysia1 they came to ,troas4 #jaf3jji ,here1 one night1 ,paul saw a vision4 ,there was a ,macedonian who was standing1 entreating him and saying1 ,come over into ,macedonia and help us4 #jaf3jaj ,so when he had seen the vision1 we immediately looked out for an opportunity of passing on into ,macedonia1 confidently inferring that ,god had called us to proclaim the ,good ,news to the people there4 #jaf3jaa ,accordingly we put out to sea from ,troas1 and ran a straight course to ,samothrace4 ,the next day we came to ,neapolis1 #jaf3jab and thence to ,philippi1 which is a city in ,macedonia1 the first in its district1 a ,roman colony4 ,and there we stayed some little time4 #jaf3jac ,on the ,sabbath we went beyond the city gate to the riverside1 where we had reason to believe that there was a place for prayer2 and sitting down we talked with the women who had come together4 #jaf3jad ,among our hearers was one named ,lydia1 a dealer in purple goods4 ,she belonged to the city of ,thyateira1 and was a worshipper of the true ,god4 ,the ,lord opened her heart1 so that she gave attention to what ,paul was saying4 #jaf3jae ,when she and her household had been baptized1 she urged us1 saying1 ,if in your judgement ,i am a believer in the ,lord1 come and stay at my house4 ,and she made us go there4 #jaf3jaf ,one day1 as we were on our way to the place of prayer1 a slave girl met us who claimed to be inspired and was accustomed to bring her owners large profits by telling fortunes4 #jaf3jag ,she kept following close behind ,paul and the rest of us1 crying aloud1 ,these men are the bondservants of the ,most ,high ,god1 and are proclaiming to you the way of salvation4 #jaf3jah ,this she persisted in for a considerable time1 until ,paul1 wearied out1 turned round and said to the spirit1 ,i command you in the name of ,jesus ,christ to come out of her4 ,and it came out immediately4 #jaf3jai ,but when her owners saw that their hopes of gain were gone1 they seized ,paul and ,silas and dragged them off to the magistrates in the public square4 #jaf3jbj ,then they brought them before the praetors4 ,these men1 they said1 are creating a great disturbance in our city4 #jaf3jba ,they are ,jews1 and are teaching customs which we1 as ,romans1 are not permitted to adopt or practise4 #jaf3jbb ,the crowd1 too1 joined in the outcry against them1 till at length the praetors ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods2 #jaf3jbc and1 after severely flogging them1 they threw them into jail and bade the jailer keep them safely4 #jaf3jbd ,he1 having received an order like that1 lodged them in the inner prison1 and secured their feet in the stocks4 #jaf3jbe ,about midnight ,paul and ,silas were praying and singing hymns to ,god1 and the prisoners were listening to them1 #jaf3jbf when suddenly there was such a violent shock of earthquake that the prison shook to its foundations4 ,instantly the doors all flew open1 and the chains fell off from every prisoner4 #jaf3jbg ,starting up from sleep and seeing the doors of the jail wide open1 the jailer drew his sword and was on the point of killing himself1 supposing that the prisoners had escaped4 #jaf3jbh ,but ,paul shouted loudly to him1 saying1 ,do yourself no injury3 we are all here4 #jaf3jbi ,then1 calling for lights1 he sprang in and fell trembling at the feet of ,paul and ,silas2 #jaf3jcj and1 bringing them out of the prison1 he exclaimed1 ,o sirs1 what must ,i do to be saved8 #jaf3jca ,believe on the ,lord ,jesus1 they replied1 and both you and your household will be saved4 #jaf3jcb ,and they told the ,lord's ,message to him as well as to all who were in his house4 #jaf3jcc ,then he took them1 even at that time of night1 washed their wounds1 and he and all his household were immediately baptized2 #jaf3jcd and bringing the ,apostles up into his house1 he spread a meal for them1 and was filled with gladness1 with his whole household1 his faith resting on ,god4 #jaf3jce ,in the morning the praetors sent their lictors with the order1 ,release those men4 #jaf3jcf ,so the jailer brought ,paul word1 saying1 ,the praetors have sent orders for you to be released4 ,now therefore you can go1 and proceed on your way in peace4 #jaf3jcg ,but ,paul said to them1 ,after cruelly beating us in public1 without trial1 ,roman citizens though we are1 they have thrown us into prison1 and are they now going to send us away privately8 ,no1 indeed6 ,let them come in person and fetch us out4 #jaf3jch ,this answer the lictors took back to the praetors1 who were alarmed when they were told that ,paul and ,silas were ,roman citizens4 #jaf3jci ,accordingly they came and apologized to them2 and1 bringing them out1 asked them to leave the city4 #jaf3jdj ,then ,paul and ,silas1 having come out of the prison1 went to ,lydia's house2 and1 after seeing the brethren and encouraging them1 they left ,philippi4 #jag3jja ,then1 passing through ,amphipolis and ,apollonia1 they went to ,thessalonica4 ,here there was a synagogue of the ,jews4 #jag3jjb ,paul--following his usual custom--betook himself to it1 and for three successive ,sabbaths reasoned with them from the ,scriptures1 #jag3jjc which he clearly explained1 pointing out that it had been necessary for the ,christ to suffer and rise again from the dead1 and insisting1 ,the ,jesus whom ,i am announcing to you is the ,christ4 #jag3jjd ,some of the people were won over1 and attached themselves to ,paul and ,silas1 including many ,god-fearing ,greeks and not a few gentlewomen of high rank4 #jag3jje ,but the jealousy of the ,jews was aroused1 and1 calling to their aid some ill-conditioned and idle fellows1 they got together a riotous mob and filled the city with uproar4 ,they then attacked the house of ,jason and searched for ,paul and ,silas1 to bring them out before the assembly of people4 #jag3jjf ,but1 failing to find them1 they dragged ,jason and some of the other brethren before the magistrates of the city1 loudly accusing them4 ,these men1 they said1 who have raised a tumult throughout the ,empire1 have come here also4 #jag3jjg ,jason has received them into his house2 and they all set ,caesar's authority at defiance1 declaring that there is another ,emperor-- one called ,jesus4 #jag3jjh ,great was the excitement among the crowd1 and among the magistrates of the city1 when they heard these charges4 #jag3jji ,they required ,jason and the rest to find substantial bail1 and after that they let them go4 #jag3jaj ,the brethren at once sent ,paul and ,silas away by night to ,beroea1 and they1 on their arrival1 went to the synagogue of the ,jews4 #jag3jaa ,the ,jews at ,beroea were of a nobler disposition than those in ,thessalonica1 for they very readily received the ,message1 and day after day searched the ,scriptures to see whether it was as ,paul stated4 #jag3jab ,as the result many of them became believers1 and so did not a few of the ,greeks--gentlewomen of good position1 and men4 #jag3jac ,as soon1 however1 as the ,jews of ,thessalonica learnt that ,god's ,message had been proclaimed by ,paul at ,beroea1 they came there also1 and incited the mob to a riot4 #jag3jad ,then the brethren promptly sent ,paul down to the sea-coast1 but ,silas and ,timothy remained behind4 #jag3jae ,those who were caring for ,paul's safety went with him as far as ,athens1 and then left him1 taking a message from him to ,silas and ,timothy1 asking them to join him as speedily as possible4 #jag3jaf ,while ,paul was waiting for them in ,athens1 his spirit was stirred within him when he noticed that the city was full of idols4 #jag3jag ,so he had discussions in the synagogue with the ,jews and the other worshippers1 and in the market place1 day after day1 with those whom he happened to meet4 #jag3jah ,a few of the ,epicurean and ,stoic philosophers also encountered him4 ,some of them asked1 ,what has this beggarly babbler to say8 ,his business1 said others1 seems to be to cry up some foreign gods4 ,this was because he had been telling the ,good ,news of ,jesus and the ,resurrection4 #jag3jai ,then they took him and brought him up to the ,areopagus1 asking him1 ,may we be told what this new teaching of yours is8 #jag3jbj ,for the things you are saying sound strange to us4 ,we should therefore like to be told exactly what they mean4 #jag3jba 7,for all the ,athenians and their foreign visitors used to devote their whole leisure to telling or hearing about something new47 #jag3jbb ,so ,paul1 taking his stand in the centre of the ,areopagus1 spoke as follows3 ,men of ,athens1 ,i perceive that you are in every respect remarkably religious4 #jag3jbc ,for as ,i passed along and observed the things you worship1 ,i found also an altar bearing the inscription1 ,,to ,,an ,,unknown ,,god4' ,the ,being1 therefore1 whom you1 without knowing ,him1 revere1 ,him ,i now proclaim to you4 #jag3jbd ,,god who made the universe and everything in it--,he1 being ,lord of ,heaven and earth1 does not dwell in sanctuaries built by men4 #jag3jbe ,nor is ,he ministered to by human hands1 as though ,he needed anything-- but ,he ,himself gives to all men life and breath and all things4 #jag3jbf ,he caused to spring from one forefather people of every race1 for them to live on the whole surface of the earth1 and marked out for them an appointed span of life and the boundaries of their homes2 #jag3jbg that they might seek ,god1 if perhaps they could grope for ,him and find ,him4 ,yes1 though ,he is not far from any one of us4 #jag3jbh ,for it is in closest union with ,him that we live and move and have our being2 as in fact some of the poets in repute among yourselves have said1 ,for we are also ,his offspring4' #jag3jbi ,since then we are ,god's offspring1 we ought not to imagine that ,his nature resembles gold or silver or marble1 or anything sculptured by the art and inventive faculty of man4 #jag3jcj ,those times of ignorance ,god viewed with indulgence4 ,but now ,he commands all men everywhere to repent1 #jag3jca seeing that ,he has appointed a day on which1 before long1 ,he will judge the world in righteousness1 through the instrumentality of a man whom ,he has pre-destined to this work1 and has made the fact certain to every one by raising ,him from the dead4 #jag3jcb ,when they heard ,paul speak of a resurrection of dead men1 some began to scoff4 ,but others said1 ,we will hear you again on that subject4 #jag3jcc ,so ,paul went away from them4 #jag3jcd ,a few1 however1 attached themselves to him and believed1 among them being ,dionysius a member of the ,council1 a gentlewoman named ,damaris1 and some others4 #jah3jja ,after this he left ,athens and came to ,corinth4 #jah3jjb ,here he found a ,jew1 a native of ,pontus1 of the name of ,aquila4 ,he and his wife ,priscilla had recently come from ,italy because of ,claudius's edict expelling all the ,jews from ,rome4 ,so ,paul paid them a visit2 #jah3jjc and because he was of the same trade--that of tent-maker-- he lodged with them and worked with them4 #jah3jjd ,but1 ,sabbath after ,sabbath1 he preached in the synagogue and tried to win over both ,jews and ,greeks4 #jah3jje ,now at the time when ,silas and ,timothy came down from ,macedonia1 ,paul was preaching fervently and was solemnly telling the ,jews that ,jesus is the ,christ4 #jah3jjf ,but upon their opposing him with abusive language1 he shook his clothes by way of protest1 and said to them1 ,your ruin will be upon your own heads4 ,i am not responsible3 in future ,i will go among the ,gentiles4 #jah3jjg ,so he left the place and went to the house of a person called ,titius ,justus1 a worshipper of the true ,god4 ,his house was next door to the synagogue4 #jah3jjh ,and ,crispus1 the ,warden of the synagogue1 believed in the ,lord1 and so did all his household2 and from time to time many of the ,corinthians who heard ,paul believed and received baptism4 #jah3jji ,and1 in a vision by night1 the ,lord said to ,paul1 ,dismiss your fears3 go on speaking1 and do not give up4 #jah3jaj ,i am with you1 and no one shall attack you to injure you2 for ,i have very many people in this city4 #jah3jaa ,so ,paul remained in ,corinth for a year and six months1 teaching among them the ,message of ,god4 #jah3jab ,but when ,gallio became ,proconsul of ,greece1 the ,jews with one accord made a dead set at ,paul1 and brought him before the court4 #jah3jac ,this man1 they said1 is inducing people to offer unlawful worship to ,god4 #jah3jad ,but1 when ,paul was about to begin his defence1 ,gallio said to the ,jews1 ,if it had been some wrongful act or piece of cunning knavery ,i might reasonably have listened to you ,jews4 #jah3jae ,but since these are questions about words and names and your ,law1 you yourselves must see to them4 ,i refuse to be a judge in such matters4 #jah3jaf ,so he ordered them out of court4 #jah3jag ,then the people all set upon ,sosthenes1 the ,warden of the synagogue1 and beat him severely in front of the court4 ,gallio did not concern himself in the least about this4 #jah3jah ,after remaining a considerable time longer in ,corinth1 ,paul took leave of the brethren and set sail for ,syria2 and ,priscilla and ,aquila were with him4 ,he had shaved his head at ,cenchreae1 because he was bound by a vow4 #jah3jai ,they put in at ,ephesus1 and there ,paul left his companions behind4 ,as for himself1 he went to the synagogue and had a discussion with the ,jews4 #jah3jbj ,when they asked him to remain longer he did not consent1 #jah3jba but took leave of them with the promise1 ,i will return to you1 ,god willing4 ,so he set sail from ,ephesus4 #jah3jbb ,landing at ,caesarea1 he went up to ,jerusalem and inquired after the welfare of the ,church1 and then went down to ,antioch4 #jah3jbc ,after spending some time in ,antioch1 ,paul set out on a tour1 visiting the whole of ,galatia and ,phrygia in order1 and strengthening all the disciples4 #jah3jbd ,meanwhile a ,jew named ,apollos came to ,ephesus4 ,he was a native of ,alexandria1 a man of great learning and well versed in the ,scriptures4 #jah3jbe ,he had been instructed by word of mouth in the way of the ,lord1 and1 being full of burning zeal1 he used to speak and teach accurately the facts about ,jesus1 though he knew of no baptism but ,john's4 #jah3jbf ,he began to speak boldly in the synagogue1 and ,priscilla and ,aquila1 after hearing him1 took him home and explained ,god's way to him more accurately4 #jah3jbg ,then1 as he had made up his mind to cross over into ,greece1 the brethren wrote to the disciples in ,corinth begging them to give him a kindly welcome4 ,upon his arrival he rendered valuable help to those who through grace had believed2 #jah3jbh for he powerfully and in public overcame the ,jews in argument1 proving to them from the ,scriptures that ,jesus is the ,christ4 #jai3jja ,during the stay of ,apollos in ,corinth1 ,paul1 after passing through the inland districts1 came to ,ephesus1 where he found a few disciples4 #jai3jjb ,did you receive the ,holy ,spirit when you first believed8 he asked them4 ,no1 they replied1 we did not even hear that there is a ,holy ,spirit4 #jai3jjc ,into what then were you baptized8 he asked4 ,into ,john's baptism1 they replied4 #jai3jjd ,john1 he said1 administered a baptism of repentance1 bidding the people believe on ,one who was to come after him2 namely1 on ,jesus4 #jai3jje ,on hearing this1 they were baptized into the name of the ,lord ,jesus2 #jai3jjf and when ,paul laid his hands upon them1 the ,holy ,spirit came on them1 and they began to speak in tongues and to prophesy4 #jai3jjg ,they numbered in all about twelve men4 #jai3jjh ,afterwards he went into the synagogue4 ,there for three months he continued to preach fearlessly1 explaining in words which carried conviction the truths which concern the ,kingdom of ,god4 #jai3jji ,but some grew obstinate in unbelief and spoke evil of the new faith before all the congregation4 ,so ,paul left them1 and1 taking with him those who were disciples1 held discussions daily in ,tyrannus's lecture-hall4 #jai3jaj ,this went on for two years1 so that all the inhabitants of the province of ,asia1 ,jews as well as ,greeks1 heard the ,lord's ,message4 #jai3jaa ,god also brought about extraordinary miracles through ,paul's instrumentality4 #jai3jab ,towels or aprons1 for instance1 which ,paul had handled used to be carried to the sick1 and they recovered from their ailments1 or the evil spirits left them4 #jai3jac ,but there were also some wandering ,jewish exorcists who undertook to invoke the name of ,jesus over those who had the evil spirits1 saying1 ,i command you by that ,jesus whom ,paul preaches4 #jai3jad ,there were seven sons of one ,sceva1 a ,jew of high-priestly family1 who were doing this4 #jai3jae ,jesus ,i know1 the evil spirit answered1 and ,paul ,i have heard of1 but who are you8 #jai3jaf ,and the man in whom the evil spirit was sprang on two of them1 over-mastered them both1 and treated them with such violence1 that they fled from the house stripped of their clothes and wounded4 #jai3jag ,all the people of ,ephesus1 ,jews as well as ,greeks1 came to know of this4 ,there was widespread terror1 and they began to hold the name of the ,lord ,jesus in high honour4 #jai3jah ,many also of those who believed came confessing without reserve what their conduct had been1 #jai3jai and not a few of those who had practised magical arts brought their books together and burnt them in the presence of all4 ,the total value was reckoned and found to be #ej1jjj silver coins4 #jai3jbj ,thus mightily did the ,lord's ,message spread and triumph6 #jai3jba ,when matters had reached this point1 ,paul decided in his own mind to travel through ,macedonia and ,greece1 and go to ,jerusalem4 ,after that1 he said1 ,i must also see ,rome4 #jai3jbb ,but he sent two of his assistants1 ,timothy and ,erastus1 to ,macedonia1 while he himself remained for a while in ,roman ,asia4 #jai3jbc ,now just at that time there arose no small commotion about the new faith4 #jai3jbd ,there was a certain ,demetrius1 a silversmith1 who made miniature silver sanctuaries of ,diana1 a business which brought great gain to the mechanics in his employ4 #jai3jbe ,he called his workmen together1 and others who were engaged in similar trades1 and said to them1 ,you men well know that our prosperity depends on this business of ours2 #jai3jbf and you see and hear that1 not in ,ephesus only but throughout almost the whole province of ,asia1 this fellow ,paul has led away a vast number of people by inducing them to believe that they are not gods at all that are made by men's hands4 #jai3jbg ,there is danger1 therefore1 not only that this our trade will become of no account1 but also that the temple of the great goddess ,diana will fall into utter disrepute1 and that before long she will be actually deposed from her majestic rank-- she who is now worshipped by the whole province of ,asia2 nay1 by the whole world4 #jai3jbh ,after listening to this harangue1 they became furiously angry and kept calling out1 ,great is the ,ephesian ,diana6 #jai3jbi ,the riot and uproar spread through the whole city1 till at last with one accord they rushed into the ,theatre1 dragging with them ,gaius and ,aristarchus1 two ,macedonians who were fellow travellers with ,paul4 #jai3jcj ,then ,paul would have liked to go in and address the people1 but the disciples would not let him do so4 #jai3jca ,a few of the public officials1 too1 who were friendly to him1 sent repeated messages entreating him not to venture into the ,theatre4 #jai3jcb ,the people1 meanwhile1 kept shouting1 some one thing and some another2 for the assembly was all uproar and confusion1 and the greater part had no idea why they had come together4 #jai3jcc ,then some of the people crowded round ,alexander1 whom the ,jews had pushed forward2 and ,alexander1 motioning with his hand to get silence1 was prepared to make a defence to the people4 #jai3jcd ,no sooner1 however1 did they see that he was a ,jew1 than there arose from them all one roar of shouting1 lasting about two hours4 ,great is the ,ephesian ,diana1 they said4 #jai3jce ,at length the ,recorder quieted them down4 ,men of ,ephesus1 he said1 who is there of all mankind that needs to be told that the city of ,ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great ,diana and of the image which fell down from ,zeus8 #jai3jcf ,these facts1 then1 being unquestioned1 it becomes you to maintain your self-control and not act recklessly4 #jai3jcg ,for you have brought these men here1 who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess4 #jai3jch ,if1 however1 ,demetrius and the mechanics who support his contention have a grievance against any one1 there are ,assize-days and there are ,proconsuls3 let the persons interested accuse one another4 #jai3jci ,but if you desire anything further1 it will have to be settled in the regular assembly4 #jai3jdj ,for in connexion with to-day's proceedings there is danger of our being charged with attempted insurrection1 there having been no real reason for this riot2 nor shall we be able to justify the behaviour of this disorderly mob4 #jai3jda ,with these words he dismissed the assembly4 #jbj3jja ,when the uproar had ceased1 ,paul sent for the disciples2 and1 after speaking words of encouragement to them1 he took his leave1 and started for ,macedonia4 #jbj3jjb ,passing through those districts he encouraged the disciples in frequent addresses1 and then came into ,greece1 and spent three months there4 #jbj3jjc ,the ,jews having planned to waylay him whenever he might be on the point of taking ship for ,syria1 he decided to travel back by way of ,macedonia4 #jbj3jjd ,he was accompanied as far as the province of ,asia by ,sopater the ,beroean1 the son of ,pyrrhus2 by the ,thessalonians1 ,aristarchus and ,secundus2 by ,gaius of ,derbe1 and ,timothy2 and by the ,asians1 ,tychicus and ,trophimus4 #jbj3jje ,these brethren had gone on and were waiting for us in the ,troad4 #jbj3jjf ,but we ourselves sailed from ,philippi after the days of ,unleavened ,bread1 and five days later joined them in the ,troad1 where we remained for a week4 #jbj3jjg ,on the first day of the week1 when we had met to break bread1 ,paul1 who was going away the next morning1 was preaching to them1 and prolonged his discourse till midnight4 #jbj3jjh ,now there were a good many lamps in the room upstairs where we all were1 #jbj3jji and a youth of the name of ,eutychus was sitting at the window4 ,this lad1 gradually sinking into deep sleep while ,paul preached at unusual length1 overcome at last by sleep1 fell from the second floor and was taken up dead4 #jbj3jaj ,paul1 however1 went down1 threw himself upon him1 and folding him in his arms said1 ,do not be alarmed2 his life is still in him4 #jbj3jaa ,then he went upstairs again1 broke bread1 and took some food2 and after a long conversation which was continued till daybreak1 at last he parted from them4 #jbj3jab ,they had taken the lad home alive1 and were greatly comforted4 #jbj3jac ,the rest of us had already gone on board a ship1 and now we set sail for ,assos1 intending to take ,paul on board there2 for so he had arranged1 he himself intending to go by land4 #jbj3jad ,accordingly1 when he met us at ,assos1 we took him on board and came to ,mitylene4 #jbj3jae ,sailing from there1 we arrived the next day off ,chios4 ,on the next we touched at ,samos2 and on the day following reached ,miletus4 #jbj3jaf ,for ,paul's plan was to sail past ,ephesus1 so as not to spend much time in the province of ,asia2 since he was very desirous of being in ,jerusalem1 if possible1 on the day of the ,harvest ,festival4 #jbj3jag ,from ,miletus he sent to ,ephesus for the ,elders of the ,church to come to him4 #jbj3jah ,upon their arrival he said to them1 ,you ,elders well know1 from the first day of my setting foot in the province of ,asia1 the kind of life ,i lived among you the whole time1 #jbj3jai serving the ,lord in all humility1 and with tears1 and amid trials which came upon me through the plotting of the ,jews-- #jbj3jbj and that ,i never shrank from declaring to you anything that was profitable1 or from teaching you in public and in your homes1 #jbj3jba and urging upon both ,jews and ,greeks the necessity of turning to ,god and of believing in ,jesus our ,lord4 #jbj3jbb ,and now1 impelled by a sense of duty1 ,i am on my way to ,jerusalem1 not knowing what will happen to me there1 #jbj3jbc except that the ,holy ,spirit1 at town after town1 testifies to me that imprisonment and suffering are awaiting me4 #jbj3jbd ,but even the sacrifice of my life ,i count as nothing1 if only ,i may perfect my earthly course1 and be faithful to the duty which the ,lord ,jesus has entrusted to me of proclaiming1 as of supreme importance1 the ,good ,news of ,god's grace4 #jbj3jbe ,and now1 ,i know that none of you among whom ,i have gone in and out proclaiming the coming of the ,kingdom will any longer see my face4 #jbj3jbf ,therefore ,i protest to you to-day that ,i am not responsible for the ruin of any one of you4 #jbj3jbg ,for ,i have not shrunk from declaring to you ,god's whole truth4 #jbj3jbh ,take heed to yourselves and to all the flock among which the ,holy ,spirit has placed you to take the oversight for ,him and act as shepherds to the ,church of ,god1 which ,he has bought with ,his own blood4 #jbj3jbi ,i know that1 when ,i am gone1 cruel wolves will come among you and will not spare the flock2 #jbj3jcj and that from among your own selves men will rise up who will seek with their perverse talk to draw away the disciples after them4 #jbj3jca ,therefore be on the alert2 and remember that1 night and day1 for three years1 ,i never ceased admonishing every one1 even with tears4 #jbj3jcb ,and now ,i commend you to ,god and to the word of ,his grace4 ,he is able to build you up and to give you your inheritance among ,his people4 #jbj3jcc ,no one's silver or gold or clothing have ,i coveted4 #jbj3jcd ,you yourselves know that these hands of mine have provided for my own necessities and for the people with me4 #jbj3jce ,in all things ,i have set you an example1 showing you that1 by working as ,i do1 you ought to help the weak1 and to bear in mind the words of the ,lord ,jesus1 how ,he ,himself said1 ,it is more blessed to give than to receive4' #jbj3jcf ,having spoken thus1 ,paul knelt down and prayed with them all2 #jbj3jcg and with loud lamentation they all threw their arms round his neck1 and kissed him lovingly1 #jbj3jch grieved above all things at his having told them that after that day they were no longer to see his face4 ,and they went with him to the ship4 #jba3jja ,when1 at last1 we had torn ourselves away and had set sail1 we ran in a straight course to ,cos2 the next day to ,rhodes1 and from there to ,patara4 #jba3jjb ,finding a ship bound for ,phoenicia1 we went on board and put to sea4 #jba3jjc ,after sighting ,cyprus and leaving that island on our left1 we continued our voyage to ,syria and put in at ,tyre2 for there the ship was to unload her cargo4 #jba3jjd ,having searched for the disciples and found them1 we stayed at ,tyre for seven days2 and1 taught by the ,spirit1 they repeatedly urged ,paul not to proceed to ,jerusalem4 #jba3jje ,when1 however1 our time was up1 we left and went on our way1 all the disciples and their wives and children coming to see us off4 ,then1 after kneeling down on the beach and praying1 #jba3jjf we took leave of one another2 and we went on board1 while they returned home4 #jba3jjg ,as for us1 our voyage was over when having sailed from ,tyre we reached ,ptolemais4 here we inquired after the welfare of the brethren1 and remained a day with them4 #jba3jjh ,on the morrow we left ,ptolemais and went on to ,caesarea1 where we came to the house of ,philip the ,evangelist1 who was one of the seven1 and stayed with him4 #jba3jji ,now ,philip had four unmarried daughters who were prophetesses2 #jba3jaj and during our somewhat lengthy stay a ,prophet of the name of ,agabus came down from ,judaea4 #jba3jaa ,when he arrived he took ,paul's loincloth1 and bound his own feet and arms with it1 and said1 ,thus says the ,holy ,spirit1 ,so will the ,jews in ,jerusalem bind the owner of this loincloth1 and will hand him over to the ,gentiles4' #jba3jab ,as soon as we heard these words1 both we and the brethren at ,caesarea entreated ,paul not to go up to ,jerusalem4 #jba3jac ,his reply was1 ,what can you mean by thus breaking my heart with your grief8 ,why1 as for me1 ,i am ready not only to go to ,jerusalem and be put in chains1 but even to die there for the sake of the ,lord ,jesus4 #jba3jad ,so when he was not to be dissuaded1 we ceased remonstrating with him and said1 ,the ,lord's will be done6 #jba3jae ,a few days afterwards we loaded our baggage-cattle and continued our journey to ,jerusalem4 #jba3jaf ,some of the disciples from ,caesarea also joined our party1 and brought with them ,mnason1 a ,cyprian1 one of the early disciples1 at whose house we were to lodge4 #jba3jag ,at length we reached ,jerusalem1 and there the brethren gave us a hearty welcome4 #jba3jah ,on the following day we went with ,paul to call on ,james1 and all the ,elders of the ,church came also4 #jba3jai ,after exchanging friendly greetings1 ,paul told in detail all that ,god had done among the ,gentiles through his instrumentality4 #jba3jbj ,and they1 when they had heard his statement1 gave the glory to ,god4 ,then they said1 ,you see1 brother1 how many tens of thousands of ,jews there are among those who have accepted the faith1 and they are all zealous upholders of the ,law4 #jba3jba ,now what they have been repeatedly told about you is that you teach all the ,jews among the ,gentiles to abandon ,moses1 and that you forbid them to circumcise their children or observe old-established customs4 #jba3jbb ,what then ought you to do8 ,they are sure to hear that you have come to ,jerusalem2 #jba3jbc so do this which we now tell you4 ,we have four men here who have a vow resting on them4 #jba3jbd ,associate with these men and purify yourself with them1 and pay their expenses so that they can shave their heads4 ,then everybody will know that there is no truth in these stories about you1 but that in your own actions you yourself scrupulously obey the ,law4 #jba3jbe ,but as for the ,gentiles who have accepted the faith1 we have communicated to them our decision that they are carefully to abstain from anything sacrificed to an idol1 from blood1 from what is strangled1 and from fornication4 #jba3jbf ,so ,paul associated with the men2 and the next day1 having purified himself with them1 he went into the ,temple1 giving every one to understand that the days of their purification were finished1 and there he remained until the sacrifice for each of them was offered4 #jba3jbg ,but1 when the seven days were nearly over1 the ,jews from the province of ,asia1 having seen ,paul in the ,temple1 set about rousing the fury of all the people against him4 #jba3jbh ,they laid hands on him1 crying out1 ,men of ,israel1 help6 help6 ,this is the man who goes everywhere preaching to everybody against the ,jewish people and the ,law and this place4 ,and besides1 he has even brought ,gentiles into the ,temple and has desecrated this holy place4 #jba3jbi 7,for they had previously seen ,trophimus the ,ephesian with him in the city1 and imagined that ,paul had brought him into the ,temple47 #jba3jcj ,the excitement spread through the whole city1 and the people rushed in crowds to the ,temple1 and there laid hold of ,paul and began to drag him out2 and the ,temple gates were immediately closed4 #jba3jca ,but while they were trying to kill ,paul1 word was taken up to the ,tribune in command of the battalion1 that all ,jerusalem was in a ferment4 #jba3jcb ,he instantly sent for a few soldiers and their officers1 and came down among the people with all speed4 ,at the sight of the ,tribune and the troops they ceased beating ,paul4 #jba3jcc ,then the ,tribune1 making his way to him1 arrested him1 and1 having ordered him to be secured with two chains1 proceeded to ask who he was and what he had been doing4 #jba3jcd ,some of the crowd shouted one accusation against ,paul and some another1 until1 as the uproar made it impossible for the truth to be ascertained with certainty1 the ,tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks4 #jba3jce ,when ,paul was going up the steps1 he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob2 #jba3jcf for the whole mass of the people pressed on in the rear1 shouting1 ,away with him6 #jba3jcg ,when he was about to be taken into the barracks1 ,paul said to the ,tribune1 ,may ,i speak to you8 ,do you know ,greek8 the ,tribune asked4 #jba3jch ,are you not the ,egyptian who some years ago excited the riot of the #d1jjj cut-throats1 and led them out into the ,desert8 #jba3jci ,i am a ,jew1 replied ,paul1 belonging to ,tarsus in ,cilicia1 and am a citizen of no unimportant city4 ,give me leave1 ,i pray you1 to speak to the people4 #jba3jdj ,so with his permission ,paul stood on the steps and motioned with his hand to the people to be quiet2 and when there was perfect silence he addressed them in ,hebrew4 #jbb3jja ,brethren and fathers1 he said1 listen to my defence which ,i now make before you4 #jbb3jjb ,and on hearing him address them in ,hebrew1 they kept all the more quiet2 and he said1 #jbb3jjc ,i am a ,jew1 born at ,tarsus in ,cilicia1 but brought up in this city4 ,i was carefully trained at the feet of ,gamaliel in the ,law of our forefathers1 and1 like all of you to-day1 was zealous for ,god4 #jbb3jjd ,i persecuted to death this new faith1 continually binding both men and women and throwing them into prison2 #jbb3jje as the ,high ,priest also and all the ,elders can bear me witness4 ,it was1 too1 from them that ,i received letters to the brethren in ,damascus1 and ,i was already on my way to ,damascus1 intending to bring those also who had fled there1 in chains to ,jerusalem1 to be punished4 #jbb3jjf ,but on my way1 when ,i was now not far from ,damascus1 about noon a sudden blaze of light from ,heaven shone round me4 #jbb3jjg ,i fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me1 ,saul1 ,saul1 why are you persecuting ,me8' #jbb3jjh ,who art thou1 ,lord8' ,i asked4 ,i am ,jesus1 the ,nazarene1' ,he replied1 whom you are persecuting4' #jbb3jji ,now the men who were with me1 though they saw the light1 did not hear the words of ,him who spoke to me4 #jbb3jaj ,and ,i asked1 ,what am ,i to do1 ,lord8' ,and the ,lord said to me1 ,rise1 and go into ,damascus4 ,there you shall be told of all that has been appointed for you to do4' #jbb3jaa ,and as ,i could not see because the light had been so dazzling1 those who were with me had to lead me by the arm1 and so ,i came to ,damascus4 #jbb3jab ,and a certain ,ananias1 a pious man who obeyed the ,law and bore a good character with all the ,jews of the city1 #jbb3jac came to me and standing at my side said1 ,brother ,saul1 recover your sight4' ,i instantly regained my sight and looked up at him4 #jbb3jad ,then he said1 ,the ,god of our forefathers has appointed you to know ,his will1 and to see the righteous ,one and hear ,him speak4 #jbb3jae ,for you shall be a witness for ,him1 to all men1 of what you have seen and heard4 #jbb3jaf ,and now why delay8 ,rise1 get yourself baptized1 and wash off your sins1 calling upon ,his name4' #jbb3jag ,after my return to ,jerusalem1 and while praying in the ,temple1 ,i fell into a trance4 #jbb3jah ,i saw ,jesus1 and ,he said to me1 ,make haste and leave ,jerusalem quickly1 because they will not accept your testimony about ,me4' #jbb3jai ,lord1' ,i replied1 they themselves well know how active ,i was in imprisoning1 and in flogging in synagogue after synagogue those who believe in ,thee2 #jbb3jbj and when they were shedding the blood of ,stephen1 ,thy witness1 ,i was standing by1 fully approving of it1 and ,i held the clothes of those who were killing him4' #jbb3jba ,go1' ,he replied2 ,i will send you as an ,apostle to nations far away4' #jbb3jbb ,until they heard this last statement the people listened to ,paul1 but now with a roar of disapproval they cried out1 ,away with such a fellow from the earth6 ,he ought not to be allowed to live4 #jbb3jbc ,and when they continued their furious shouts1 throwing their clothes into the air and flinging dust about1 #jbb3jbd the ,tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks1 and be examined by flogging1 in order to ascertain the reason why they thus cried out against him4 #jbb3jbe ,but1 when they had tied him up with the straps1 ,paul said to the ,captain who stood by1 ,does the ,law permit you to flog a ,roman citizen--and one too who is uncondemned8 #jbb3jbf ,on hearing this question1 the ,captain went to report the matter to the ,tribune4 ,what are you intending to do8 he said4 ,this man is a ,roman citizen4 #jbb3jbg ,so the ,tribune came to ,paul and asked him1 ,tell me1 are you a ,roman citizen8 ,yes1 he said4 #jbb3jbh ,i paid a large sum for my citizenship1 said the ,tribune4 ,but ,i was born free1 said ,paul4 #jbb3jbi ,so the men who had been on the point of putting him under torture immediately left him4 ,and the ,tribune1 too1 was frightened when he learnt that ,paul was a ,roman citizen1 for he had had him bound4 #jbb3jcj ,the next day1 wishing to know exactly what charge was being brought against him by the ,jews1 the ,tribune ordered his chains to be removed2 and1 having sent word to the ,high ,priests and all the ,sanhedrin to assemble1 he brought ,paul down and made him stand before them4 #jbc3jja ,then ,paul1 fixing a steady gaze on the ,sanhedrin1 said1 ,brethren1 it is with a perfectly clear conscience that ,i have discharged my duties before ,god up to this day4 #jbc3jjb ,on hearing this the ,high ,priest ,ananias ordered those who were standing near ,paul to strike him on the mouth4 #jbc3jjc ,before long1 exclaimed ,paul1 ,god will strike you1 you white-washed wall6 ,are you sitting there to judge me in accordance with the ,law1 and do you yourself actually break the ,law by ordering me to be struck8 #jbc3jjd ,do you rail at ,god's ,high ,priest8 cried the men who stood by him4 #jbc3jje ,i did not know1 brethren1 replied ,paul1 that he was the ,high ,priest2 for it is written1 ,thou shalt not speak evil of a ruler of ,thy people4' #jbc3jjf ,noticing1 however1 that the ,sanhedrin consisted partly of ,sadducees and partly of ,pharisees1 he called out loudly among them1 ,brethren1 ,i am a ,pharisee1 the son of ,pharisees4 ,it is because of my hope of a resurrection of the dead that ,i am on my trial4 #jbc3jjg ,these words of his caused an angry dispute between the ,pharisees and the ,sadducees1 and the assembly took different sides4 #jbc3jjh ,for the ,sadducees maintain that there is no resurrection1 and neither angel nor spirit2 but the ,pharisees acknowledge the existence of both4 #jbc3jji ,so there arose a great uproar2 and some of the ,scribes belonging to the sect of the ,pharisees sprang to their feet and fiercely contended1 saying1 ,we find no harm in the man4 ,what if a spirit has spoken to him1 or an angel----6 #jbc3jaj ,but when the struggle was becoming violent1 the ,tribune1 fearing that ,paul would be torn to pieces by the people1 ordered the troops to go down and take him from among them by force and bring him into the barracks4 #jbc3jaa ,the following night the ,lord came and stood at ,paul's side1 and said1 ,be of good courage1 for as you have borne faithful witness about me in ,jerusalem1 so you must also bear witness in ,rome4 #jbc3jab ,now1 when daylight came1 the ,jews formed a conspiracy and solemnly swore not to eat or drink till they had killed ,paul4 #jbc3jac ,there were more than forty of them who bound themselves by this oath4 #jbc3jad ,they went to the ,high ,priests and ,elders and said to them1 ,we have bound ourselves under a heavy curse to take no food till we have killed ,paul4 #jbc3jae ,now therefore you and the ,sanhedrin should make representations to the ,tribune for him to bring him down to you1 under the impression that you intend to inquire more minutely about him2 and we are prepared to assassinate him before he comes near the place4 #jbc3jaf ,but ,paul's sister's son heard of the intended attack upon him4 ,so he came and went into the barracks and told ,paul about it2 #jbc3jag and ,paul called one of the ,captains and said1 ,take this young man to the ,tribune1 for he has information to give him4 #jbc3jah ,so he took him and brought him to the ,tribune1 and said1 ,paul1 the prisoner1 called me to him and begged me to bring this youth to you1 because he has something to say to you4 #jbc3jai ,then the ,tribune1 taking him by the arm1 withdrew out of the hearing of others and asked him1 ,what have you to tell me8 #jbc3jbj ,the ,jews1 he replied1 have agreed to request you to bring ,paul down to the ,sanhedrin to-morrow for the purpose of making yourself more accurately acquainted with the case4 #jbc3jba ,i beg you not to comply2 for more than forty men among them are lying in wait for him1 who have solemnly vowed that they will neither eat nor drink till they have assassinated him2 and even now they are ready1 in anticipation of receiving that promise of you4 #jbc3jbb ,so the ,tribune sent the youth home1 cautioning him4 ,do not let any one know that you have given me this information1 he said4 #jbc3jbc ,then1 calling to him two of the ,captains1 he gave his orders4 ,get ready two hundred men1 he said1 to march to ,caesarea1 with seventy cavalry and two hundred light infantry1 starting at nine o'clock to-night4 #jbc3jbd ,he further told them to provide horses to mount ,paul on1 so as to bring him safely to ,felix the ,governor4 #jbc3jbe ,he also wrote a letter of which these were the contents3 #jbc3jbf ,claudius ,lysias to his ,excellency1 ,felix the ,governor3 all good wishes4 #jbc3jbg ,this man ,paul had been seized by the ,jews1 and they were on the point of killing him1 when ,i came upon them with the troops and rescued him1 for ,i had been informed that he was a ,roman citizen4 #jbc3jbh ,and1 wishing to know with certainty the offense of which they were accusing him1 ,i brought him down into their ,sanhedrin1 #jbc3jbi and ,i discovered that the charge had to do with questions of their ,law1 but that he was accused of nothing for which he deserves death or imprisonment4 #jbc3jcj ,but now that ,i have received information of an intended attack upon him1 ,i immediately send him to you1 directing his accusers also to state before you the case they have against him4 #jbc3jca ,so1 in obedience to their orders1 the soldiers took ,paul and brought him by night as far as ,antipatris4 #jbc3jcb ,the next day the infantry returned to the barracks1 leaving the cavalry to proceed with him2 #jbc3jcc and1 the cavalry having reached ,caesarea and delivered the letter to the ,governor1 they brought ,paul also to him4 #jbc3jcd ,felix1 after reading the letter1 inquired from what province he was2 and being told from ,cilicia1 #jbc3jce he said1 ,i will hear all you have to say1 when your accusers also have come4 ,and he ordered him to be detained in custody in ,herod's ,palace4 #jbd3jja ,five days after this1 ,ananias the ,high ,priest came down to ,caesarea with a number of ,elders and a pleader called ,tertullus4 ,they stated to the ,governor the case against ,paul4 #jbd3jjb ,so ,paul was sent for1 and ,tertullus began to impeach him as follows3 ,indebted as we are1 he said1 to you1 most noble ,felix1 for the perfect peace which we enjoy1 and for reforms which your wisdom has introduced to this nation1 #jbd3jjc in every instance and in every place we accept them with profound gratitude4 #jbd3jjd ,but--not to detain you too long--,i beg you in your forbearance to listen to a brief statement from us4 #jbd3jje ,for we have found this man ,paul a source of mischief and a disturber of the peace among all the ,jews throughout the ,empire1 and a ringleader in the heresy of the ,nazarenes4 #jbd3jjf ,he even attempted to profane the ,temple1 but we arrested him4 #jbd3jjg #jbd3jjh ,you1 however1 by examining him1 will yourself be able to learn the truth as to all this which we allege against him4 #jbd3jji ,the ,jews also joined in the charge1 maintaining that these were facts4 #jbd3jaj ,then1 at a sign from the ,governor1 ,paul answered1 ,knowing1 ,sir1 that for many years you have administered justice to this nation1 ,i cheerfully make my defence4 #jbd3jaa ,for you have it in your power to ascertain that it is not more than twelve days ago that ,i went up to worship in ,jerusalem2 #jbd3jab and that neither in the ,temple nor in the synagogues1 nor anywhere in the city1 did they find me disputing with any opponent or collecting a crowd about me4 #jbd3jac ,nor can they prove the charges which they are now bringing against me4 #jbd3jad ,but this ,i confess to you--that in the way which they style a heresy1 ,i worship the ,god of our forefathers1 believing everything that is taught in the ,law or is written in the ,prophets1 #jbd3jae and having a hope directed towards ,god1 which my accusers themselves also entertain1 that before long there will be a resurrection both of the righteous and the unrighteous4 #jbd3jaf ,this too is my own earnest endeavour--always to have a clear conscience in relation to ,god and man4 #jbd3jag ,now after an interval of several years ,i came to bring alms to my nation1 and to offer sacrifices4 #jbd3jah ,while ,i was busy about these1 they found me in the ,temple purified1 with no crowd around me and no uproar2 but there were certain ,jews from the province of ,asia4 #jbd3jai ,they ought to have been here before you1 and to have been my prosecutors1 if they have any charge to bring against me4 #jbd3jbj ,or let these men themselves say what misdemeanour they found me guilty of when ,i stood before the ,sanhedrin1 #jbd3jba unless it was in that one expression which ,i made use of when ,i shouted out as ,i stood among them1 ,the resurrection of the dead is the thing about which ,i am on my trial before you to-day4' #jbd3jbb ,at this point ,felix1 who was fairly well informed about the new faith1 adjourned the trial1 saying to the ,jews1 ,when the ,tribune ,lysias comes down1 ,i will enter carefully into the matter4 #jbd3jbc ,and he gave orders to the ,captain that ,paul was to be kept in custody1 but be treated with indulgence1 and that his personal friends were not to be prevented from showing him kindness4 #jbd3jbd ,not long after this1 ,felix came with ,drusilla his wife1 a ,jewess1 and sending for ,paul1 listened to him as he spoke about faith in ,christ ,jesus4 #jbd3jbe ,but when he dealt with the subjects of justice1 self-control1 and the judgement which was soon to come1 ,felix became alarmed and said1 ,for the present leave me1 and when ,i can find a convenient opportunity ,i will send for you4 #jbd3jbf ,at the same time he hoped that ,paul would give him money2 and for this reason he sent for him the oftener to converse with him4 #jbd3jbg ,but after the lapse of fully two years ,felix was succeeded by ,porcius ,festus2 and being desirous of gratifying the ,jews1 ,felix left ,paul still in prison4 #jbe3jja ,festus1 having entered on his duties as governor of the province1 two days later went up from ,caesarea to ,jerusalem4 #jbe3jjb ,the ,high ,priests and the leading men among the ,jews immediately made representations to him against ,paul1 and begged him-- #jbe3jjc asking it as a favour1 to ,paul's prejudice--to have him brought to ,jerusalem4 ,they were planning an ambush to kill him on the way4 #jbe3jjd ,festus1 however1 replied that ,paul was in custody in ,caesarea1 and that he was himself going there very soon4 #jbe3jje ,therefore let those of you1 he said1 who can come1 go down with me1 and impeach the man1 if there is anything amiss in him4 #jbe3jjf ,after a stay of eight or ten days in ,jerusalem--not more-- he went down to ,caesarea2 and the next day1 taking his seat on the tribunal1 he ordered ,paul to be brought in4 #jbe3jjg ,upon ,paul's arrival1 the ,jews who had come down from ,jerusalem stood round him1 and brought many grave charges against him which they were unable to substantiate4 #jbe3jjh ,but1 in reply1 ,paul said1 ,neither against the ,jewish ,law1 nor against the ,temple1 nor against ,caesar1 have ,i committed any offence whatever4 #jbe3jji ,then ,festus1 being anxious to gratify the ,jews1 asked ,paul1 ,are you willing to go up to ,jerusalem1 and there stand your trial before me on these charges8 #jbe3jaj ,i am standing before ,caesar's tribunal1 replied ,paul1 where alone ,i ought to be tried4 ,the ,jews have no real ground of complaint against me1 as in fact you yourself are beginning to see more clearly4 #jbe3jaa ,if1 however1 ,i have done wrong and have committed any offence for which ,i deserve to die1 ,i do not ask to be excused that penalty4 ,but if there is no truth in what these men allege against me1 no one has the right to give me up to them as a favour4 ,i appeal to ,caesar4 #jbe3jab ,then1 after conferring with the ,council1 ,festus replied1 ,to ,caesar you have appealed3 to ,caesar you shall go4 #jbe3jac ,a short time after this1 ,agrippa the king and ,bernice came to ,caesarea to pay a complimentary visit to ,festus2 #jbe3jad and1 during their rather long stay1 ,festus laid ,paul's case before the king4 ,there is a man here1 he said1 whom ,felix left a prisoner1 #jbe3jae about whom1 when ,i went to ,jerusalem1 the ,high ,priests and the ,elders of the ,jews made representations to me1 begging that sentence might be pronounced against him4 #jbe3jaf ,my reply was that it is not the custom among the ,romans to give up any one for punishment before the accused has had his accusers face to face1 and has had an opportunity of defending himself against the charge which has been brought against him4 #jbe3jag ,when1 therefore1 a number of them came here1 the next day ,i took my seat on the tribunal1 without any loss of time1 and ordered the man to be brought in4 #jbe3jah ,but1 when his accusers stood up1 they did not charge him with the misdemeanours of which ,i had been suspecting him4 #jbe3jai ,but they quarrelled with him about certain matters connected with their own religion1 and about one ,jesus who had died1 but-- so ,paul persistently maintained--is now alive4 #jbe3jbj ,i was at a loss how to investigate such questions1 and asked ,paul whether he would care to go to ,jerusalem and there stand his trial on these matters4 #jbe3jba ,but when ,paul appealed to have his case kept for the ,emperor's decision1 ,i ordered him to be kept in prison until ,i could send him up to ,caesar4 #jbe3jbb ,i should like to hear the man myself1 said ,agrippa4 to-morrow1 replied ,festus1 you shall4 ,accordingly1 the next day1 ,agrippa and ,bernice came in state #jbe3jbc and took their seats in the ,judgement ,hall1 attended by the ,tribunes and the men of high rank in the city2 and1 at the command of ,festus1 ,paul was brought in4 #jbe3jbd ,then ,festus said1 ,king ,agrippa and all who are present with us1 you see here the man about whom the whole nation of the ,jews made suit to me1 both in ,jerusalem and here1 crying out that he ought not to live any longer4 #jbe3jbe ,i could not discover that he had done anything for which he deserved to die2 but as he has himself appealed to the ,emperor1 ,i have decided to send him to ,rome4 #jbe3jbf ,i have nothing very definite1 however1 to tell our ,sovereign about him4 ,so ,i have brought the man before you all-- and especially before you1 ,king ,agrippa--that after he has been examined ,i may find something which ,i can put into writing4 #jbe3jbg ,for1 when sending a prisoner to ,rome1 it seems to me to be absurd not to state the charges against him4 #jbf3jja ,then ,agrippa said to ,paul1 ,you have permission to speak about yourself4 ,so ,paul1 with outstretched arm1 proceeded to make his defence4 #jbf3jjb ,as regards all the accusations brought against me by the ,jews1 he said1 ,i think myself fortunate1 ,king ,agrippa1 in being about to defend myself to-day before you1 #jbf3jjc who are so familiar with all the customs and speculations that prevail among the ,jews2 and for this reason1 ,i pray you1 give me a patient hearing4 #jbf3jjd ,the kind of life ,i have lived from my youth upwards1 as exemplified in my early days among my nation and in ,jerusalem1 is known to all the ,jews4 #jbf3jje ,for they all know me of old--if they would but testify to the fact-- how1 being an adherent of the strictest sect of our religion1 my life was that of a ,pharisee4 #jbf3jjf ,and now ,i stand here impeached because of my hope in the fulfilment of the promise made by ,god to our forefathers-- #jbf3jjg the promise which our twelve tribes1 worshipping day and night with intense devotedness1 hope to have made good to them4 ,it is on the subject of this hope1 ,sir1 that ,i am accused by the ,jews4 #jbf3jjh ,why is it deemed with all of you a thing past belief if ,god raises the dead to life8 #jbf3jji ,i myself1 however1 thought it a duty to do many things in hostility to the name of ,jesus1 the ,nazarene4 #jbf3jaj ,and that was how ,i acted in ,jerusalem4 ,armed with authority received from the ,high ,priests ,i shut up many of ,god's people in various prisons1 and when they were about to be put to death ,i gave my vote against them4 #jbf3jaa ,in all the synagogues also ,i punished them many a time1 and tried to make them blaspheme2 and in my wild fury ,i chased them even to foreign towns4 #jbf3jab ,while thus engaged1 ,i was travelling one day to ,damascus armed with authority and a commission from the ,high ,priests1 #jbf3jac and on the journey1 at noon1 ,sir1 ,i saw a light from ,heaven-- brighter than the brightness of the sun--shining around me and around those who were travelling with me4 #jbf3jad ,we all fell to the ground2 and ,i heard a voice which said to me in ,hebrew1 ,saul1 ,saul1 why are you persecuting ,me8 ,you are finding it painful to kick against the ox-goad4' #jbf3jae ,who art ,thou1 ,lord8' ,i asked4 ,i am ,jesus whom you are persecuting1' the ,lord replied4 #jbf3jaf ,but rise1 and stand on your feet2 for ,i have appeared to you for the very purpose of appointing you ,my servant and ,my witness both as to the things you have already seen and as to those in which ,i will appear to you4 #jbf3jag ,i will save you from the ,jewish people and from the ,gentiles1 to whom ,i send you to open their eyes1 #jbf3jah that they may turn from darkness to light and from the obedience to ,satan to ,god1 in order to receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified through faith in ,me4' #jbf3jai ,therefore1 ,king ,agrippa1 ,i was not disobedient to the heavenly vision2 #jbf3jbj but ,i proceeded to preach first to the people in ,damascus1 and then to those in ,jerusalem and in all ,judaea1 and to the ,gentiles1 that they must repent and turn to ,god1 and live lives consistent with such repentance4 #jbf3jba ,it was on this account that the ,jews seized me in the ,temple and tried to kill me4 #jbf3jbb ,having1 however1 obtained the help which is from ,god1 ,i have stood firm until now1 and have solemnly exhorted rich and poor alike1 saying nothing except what the ,prophets and ,moses predicted as soon to happen1 #jbf3jbc since the ,christ was to be a suffering ,christ1 and by coming back from the dead was then to be the first to proclaim a message of light both to the ,jewish people and to the ,gentiles4 #jbf3jbd ,as ,paul thus made his defence1 ,festus exclaimed in a loud voice1 ,you are raving mad1 ,paul2 and great learning is driving you mad4 #jbf3jbe ,i am not mad1 most noble ,festus1 replied ,paul2 ,i am speaking words of sober truth4 #jbf3jbf ,for the ,king1 to whom ,i speak freely1 knows about these matters4 ,i am not to be persuaded that any detail of them has escaped his notice2 for these things have not been done in a corner4 #jbf3jbg ,king ,agrippa1 do you believe the ,prophets8 ,i know that you believe them4 #jbf3jbh ,agrippa answered1 ,in brief1 you are doing your best to persuade me to become a ,christian4 #jbf3jbi ,my prayer to ,god1 whether briefly or at length1 replied ,paul1 would be that not only you but all who are my hearers to-day1 might become such as ,i am--except these chains4 #jbf3jcj ,so the ,king rose1 and the ,governor1 and ,bernice1 and those who were sitting with them2 #jbf3jca and1 having withdrawn1 they talked to one another and said1 ,this man is doing nothing for which he deserves death or imprisonment4 #jbf3jcb ,and ,agrippa said to ,festus1 ,he might have been set at liberty1 if he had not appealed to ,caesar4 #jbg3jja ,now when it was decided that we should sail for ,italy1 they handed over ,paul and a few other prisoners into the custody of ,julius1 a ,captain of the ,augustan battalion2 #jbg3jjb and going on board a ship of ,adramyttium which was about to sail to the ports of the province of ,asia1 we put to sea2 ,aristarchus1 the ,macedonian1 from ,thessalonica1 forming one of our party4 #jbg3jjc ,the next day we put in at ,sidon4 ,there ,julius treated ,paul with thoughtful kindness and allowed him to visit his friends and profit by their generous care4 #jbg3jjd ,putting to sea again1 we sailed under the lee of ,cyprus1 because the winds were against us2 #jbg3jje and1 sailing the whole length of the sea that lies off ,cilicia and ,pamphylia1 we reached ,myra in ,lycia4 #jbg3jjf ,there ,julius found an ,alexandrian ship bound for ,italy1 and put us on board of her4 #jbg3jjg ,it took several days of slow sailing for us to come with difficulty off ,cnidus2 from which point1 as the wind did not allow us to get on in the direct course1 we ran under the lee of ,crete by ,salmone4 #jbg3jjh ,then1 coasting along with difficulty1 we reached a place called ,fair ,havens1' near the town of ,lasea4 #jbg3jji ,our voyage thus far had occupied a considerable time1 and the navigation being now unsafe and the ,fast also already over1 ,paul warned them4 #jbg3jaj ,sirs1 he said1 ,i perceive that before long the voyage will be attended with danger and heavy loss1 not only to the cargo and the ship but to our own lives also4 #jbg3jaa ,but ,julius let himself be persuaded by the pilot and by the owner rather than by ,paul's arguments2 #jbg3jab and as the harbour was inconvenient for wintering in1 the majority were in favour of putting out to sea1 to try whether they could get to ,phoenix--a harbour on the coast of ,crete facing north-east and south-east--to winter there4 #jbg3jac ,and a light breeze from the south sprang up1 so that they supposed they were now sure of their purpose4 ,so weighing anchor they ran along the coast of ,crete1 hugging the shore4 #jbg3jad ,but it was not long before a furious north-east wind1 coming down from the mountains1 burst upon us and carried the ship out of her course4 #jbg3jae ,she was unable to make headway against the gale2 so we gave up and let her drive4 #jbg3jaf ,then we ran under the lee of a little island called ,cauda1 where we managed with great difficulty to secure the boat2 #jbg3jag and1 after hoisting it on board1 they used frapping-cables to undergird the ship1 and1 as they were afraid of being driven on the ,syrtis quicksands1 they lowered the gear and lay to4 #jbg3jah ,but1 as the storm was still violent1 the next day they began to lighten the ship2 #jbg3jai and1 on the third day1 with their own hands they threw the ship's spare gear overboard4 #jbg3jbj ,then1 when for several days neither sun nor stars were seen and the terrific gale still harassed us1 the last ray of hope was now vanishing4 #jbg3jba ,when for a long time they had taken but little food1 ,paul1 standing up among them1 said1 ,sirs1 you ought to have listened to me and not have sailed from ,crete4 ,you would then have escaped this suffering and loss4 #jbg3jbb ,but now take courage1 for there will be no destruction of life among you1 but of the ship only4 #jbg3jbc ,for there stood by my side1 last night1 an angel of the ,god to whom ,i belong1 and whom also ,i worship1 #jbg3jbd and he said1 ,dismiss all fear1 ,paul1 for you must stand before ,caesar2 and ,god has granted you the lives of all who are sailing with you4' #jbg3jbe ,therefore1 ,sirs1 take courage2 for ,i believe ,god1 and am convinced that things will happen exactly as ,i have been told4 #jbg3jbf ,but we are to be stranded on a certain island4 #jbg3jbg ,it was now the fourteenth night1 and we were drifting through the ,sea of ,adria1 when1 about midnight1 the sailors suspected that land was close at hand4 #jbg3jbh ,so they hove the lead and found twenty fathoms of water2 and after a short time they hove again and found fifteen fathoms4 #jbg3jbi ,then for fear of possibly running on rocks1 they threw out four anchors from the stern and waited impatiently for daylight4 #jbg3jcj ,the sailors1 however1 wanted to make their escape from the ship1 and had lowered the boat into the sea1 pretending that they were going to lay out anchors from the bow4 #jbg3jca ,but ,paul1 addressing ,julius and the soldiers1 said1 ,your lives will be sacrificed1 unless these men remain on board4 #jbg3jcb ,then the soldiers cut the ropes of the ship's boat and let her fall off4 #jbg3jcc ,and continually1 up till daybreak1 ,paul kept urging all on board to take some food4 ,this is the fourteenth day1 he said1 that you have been anxiously waiting for the storm to cease1 and have fasted1 eating little or nothing4 #jbg3jcd ,i therefore strongly advise you to take some food4 ,this is essential for your safety4 ,for not a hair will perish from the head of any one of you4 #jbg3jce ,having said this he took some bread1 and1 after giving thanks to ,god for it before them all1 he broke it in pieces and began to eat it4 #jbg3jcf ,this raised the spirits of all1 and they too took food4 #jbg3jcg ,there were #bgf of us1 crew and passengers1 all told4 #jbg3jch ,after eating a hearty meal they lightened the ship by throwing the wheat overboard4 #jbg3jci ,when daylight came1 they tried in vain to recognise the coast4 ,but an inlet with a sandy beach attracted their attention1 and now their object was1 if possible1 to run the ship aground in this inlet4 #jbg3jdj ,so they cut away the anchors and left them in the sea1 unloosing at the same time the bands which secured the paddle-rudders4 ,then1 hoisting the foresail to the wind1 they made for the beach4 #jbg3jda ,but coming to a place where two seas met1 they stranded the ship1 and her bow sticking fast remained immovable1 while the stern began to go to pieces under the heavy hammering of the sea4 #jbg3jdb ,now the soldiers recommended that the prisoners should be killed1 for fear some one of them might swim ashore and effect his escape4 #jbg3jdc ,but their ,captain1 bent on securing ,paul's safety1 kept them from their purpose and gave orders that those who could swim should first jump overboard and get to land2 #jbg3jdd and that the rest should follow1 some on planks1 and others on various things from the ship4 ,in this way they all got safely to land4 #jbh3jja ,our lives having been thus preserved1 we discovered that the island was called ,malta4 #jbh3jjb ,the strange-speaking natives showed us remarkable kindness1 for they lighted a fire and made us all welcome because of the pelting rain and the cold4 #jbh3jjc ,now1 when ,paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and had thrown them on the fire1 a viper1 driven by the heat1 came out and fastened itself on his hand4 #jbh3jjd ,when the natives saw the creature hanging to his hand1 they said to one another1 ,beyond doubt this man is a murderer1 for1 though saved from the sea1 unerring ,justice does not permit him to live4 #jbh3jje ,he1 however1 shook the reptile off into the fire and was unhurt4 #jbh3jjf ,they expected him soon to swell with inflammation or suddenly fall down dead2 but1 after waiting a long time and seeing no harm come to him1 they changed their minds and said that he was a god4 #jbh3jjg ,now in the same part of the island there were estates belonging to the ,governor1 whose name was ,publius4 ,he welcomed us to his house1 and for three days generously made us his guests4 #jbh3jjh ,it happened1 however1 that his father was lying ill of dysentery aggravated by attacks of fever2 so ,paul went to see him1 and1 after praying1 laid his hands on him and cured him4 #jbh3jji ,after this1 all the other sick people in the island came and were cured4 #jbh3jaj ,they also loaded us with honours1 and when at last we sailed they put supplies on board for us4 #jbh3jaa ,three months passed before we set sail in an ,alexandrian vessel1 called the ,twin ,brothers1' which had wintered at the island4 #jbh3jab ,at ,syracuse we put in and stayed for two days4 #jbh3jac ,from there we came round and reached ,rhegium2 and a day later1 a south wind sprang up which brought us by the evening of the next day to ,puteoli4 #jbh3jad ,here we found brethren1 who invited us to remain with them for a week2 and so we reached ,rome4 #jbh3jae ,meanwhile the brethren there1 hearing of our movements1 came as far as the ,market of ,appius and the ,three ,huts to meet us2 and when ,paul saw them he thanked ,god and felt encouraged4 #jbh3jaf ,upon our arrival in ,rome1 ,paul received permission to live by himself1 guarded by a soldier4 #jbh3jag ,after one complete day he invited the leading men among the ,jews to meet him2 and1 when they were come together1 he said to them1 ,as for me1 brethren1 although ,i had done nothing prejudicial to our people or contrary to the customs of our forefathers1 ,i was handed over as a prisoner from ,jerusalem into the power of the ,romans4 #jbh3jah ,they1 after they had sharply questioned me1 were willing to set me at liberty1 because they found no offence in me for which ,i deserve to die4 #jbh3jai ,but1 at last1 the opposition of the ,jews compelled me to appeal to ,caesar2 not however that ,i had any charge to bring against my nation4 #jbh3jbj ,for these reasons1 then1 ,i have invited you here1 that ,i might see you and speak to you2 for it is for the sake of ,him who is the hope of ,israel that this chain hangs upon me4 #jbh3jba ,for our part1 they replied1 we have not received any letters from ,judaea about you1 nor have any of our countrymen come here and reported or stated anything to your disadvantage4 #jbh3jbb ,but we should be glad to hear from you what it is that you believe2 for as for this sect all we know is that it is everywhere spoken against4 #jbh3jbc ,so they arranged a day with him and came to him in considerable numbers at the house of the friends who were entertaining him4 ,and then1 with solemn earnestness1 he explained to them the subject of the ,kingdom of ,god1 endeavouring from morning till evening to convince them about ,jesus1 both from the ,law of ,moses and from the ,prophets4 #jbh3jbd ,some were convinced2 others refused to believe4 #jbh3jbe ,unable to agree among themselves1 they at last left him1 but not before ,paul had spoken a parting word to them1 saying1 ,right well did the ,holy ,spirit say to your forefathers through the ,prophet ,isaiah3 #jbh3jbf ,go to this people and tell them1 you will hear and hear1 and by no means understand2 and will look and look1 and by no means see4 #jbh3jbg ,for this people's mind has grown callous1 their hearing has become dull1 and their eyes they have closed2 to prevent their ever seeing with their eyes1 or hearing with their ears1 or understanding with their minds1 and turning back1 so that ,i might cure them4' #jbh3jbh ,be fully assured1 therefore1 that this salvation--,god's salvation-- has now been sent to the ,gentiles1 and that they1 at any rate1 will give heed4 #jbh3jbi #jbh3jcj ,after this ,paul lived for fully two years in a hired house of his own1 receiving all who came to see him4 #jbh3jca ,he announced the coming of the ,kingdom of ,god1 and taught concerning the ,lord ,jesus ,christ without let or hindrance4