Acts 1-12

New Catholic Bible

At Jerusalem^[a]

From Jesus to the Community of the Lord^[b]

Chapter 1

Prologue.^{[c] 1} In my previous book, Theophilus,^[d] I wrote of everything that Jesus did and taught from the beginning ² until the day he was taken up, after first giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.

The Promise of the Spirit.^{[e] 3} After his passion Jesus had presented himself alive to them by many proofs. He appeared to them during forty days and spoke to them about the kingdom of God. ⁴ When they were gathered together, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, saying, “Wait there for the promise of the Father about which you have heard me speak. ⁵ For John baptized with water, but within a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

⁶ As they were all gathered together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you are going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” ⁷ He replied, “It is not for you to know the dates or the times that the Father has designated by his own authority. ⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and then you will be my witnesses not only in Jerusalem, but throughout Judea and Samaria, and indeed to the farthest ends of the earth.”

The Ascension of Jesus.^{[f] 9} After he said this, he was lifted up as they looked on, and a cloud took him from their sight. ¹⁰ While he was departing as they gazed upward toward the sky, suddenly two men dressed in white robes stood beside them, ¹¹ and they said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking up into the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will come back in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.”

¹² The First Community Waiting for the Spirit. Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, no farther distant than a Sabbath day’s journey.^{[g] 13} When they arrived, they went to the upper room where they were staying: Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. ¹⁴ All of these were constantly engaged in prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.^[h]

¹⁵ The Choice of Judas’s Successor.^[i] In those days, Peter stood up before the assembled brothers, numbering about one hundred and twenty, and said, ¹⁶ “Brethren, the Scripture had to be fulfilled that the Holy Spirit revealed through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. ¹⁷ He was one of our number and was granted a share in this ministry.

¹⁸ “With the money from his traitorous act, this man purchased a plot of land upon which he fell headlong, and he burst open, all of his entrails pouring out. ¹⁹ The news about this became known to all the people living in Jerusalem, so that in their own language that plot of land was called ‘Hakeldama,’ which means ‘Field of Blood.’^{[j] 20} For it is written in the Book of Psalms,

And again,

²¹ “Therefore, it is necessary to choose one of the men who have accompanied us during the entire time that the Lord Jesus lived with us, ²² beginning from his baptism by John until the day when he was taken up from us. For he must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”

²³ And so they nominated two candidates: Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. ²⁴ Then they prayed, saying, “Lord, you know the hearts of everyone. Show us which one of these two you have chosen ²⁵ to take the place in this apostolic ministry that Judas abandoned to go to his own place.” ²⁶ Then they cast lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias, who was then added to the eleven apostles.

Pentecost^[k]

Chapter 2

Descent of the Spirit and Birth of the Church.^{[l] 1} When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all assembled together in one place. ² Suddenly, there came from heaven a sound similar to that of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were sitting. ³ Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which separated and came to rest on each one of them. ⁴ All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages,^[m] as the Spirit enabled them to do so.

⁵ Now staying in Jerusalem there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven. ⁶ At this sound, a large crowd of them gathered, and they were bewildered because each one heard them speaking in his own language.

⁷ They were astounded and asked in amazement, “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? ⁸ How is it then that each of us hears them in his own native language? ⁹ Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰ Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,^{[n] 11} Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own languages about the mighty deeds of God.”

¹² They were all astounded and perplexed, and they said to one another, “What does all this mean?” ¹³ However, others said mockingly, “They are filled with new wine.”

¹⁴ Peter Preaches in the Name of the Twelve.^[o] Then Peter stood up with the Eleven and proclaimed to them in a loud voice, “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen carefully to my words. ¹⁵ These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It is only nine o’clock in the morning.^{[p] 16} Rather, this is what was revealed through the prophet Joel:

²² “Men of Israel, hear these words. Jesus of Nazareth was a man commended to you by God by means of miracles and portents and signs that God worked through him, as you yourselves know. ²³ By the set plan and foreknowledge of God, he was handed over into the hands of lawless men. Crucifying him, you killed him. ²⁴ However, God raised him up, releasing him from the pangs of death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power. ²⁵ For David says of him:

²⁹ “Brethren, I can say to you boldly that our ancestor David both died and was buried, and his tomb is in our midst to this very day. ³⁰ But since he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn an oath to him that one of his descendants would sit on his throne, ³¹ he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, saying that he was not abandoned to the netherworld and that his flesh did not suffer corruption.

³² “God raised this Jesus to life. Of that we are all witnesses. ³³ Exalted at God’s right hand, he received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. ³⁴ For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,

³⁶ “Therefore, let the whole house of Israel know with complete certitude that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ.”

³⁷ When they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “What are we to do, brethren?” ³⁸ Peter answered, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ For the promise that was made is for you, for your children, and for all those who are far away, for all those whom the Lord our God will call.”

⁴⁰ Life of the First Community—I.^[q] He offered further testimony with many other arguments as he exhorted them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” ⁴¹ Those who accepted his message were baptized, and on that day about three thousand people were added to their number. ⁴² They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayers.

⁴³ A sense of awe was felt by all for many wonders and signs were performed by the apostles. ⁴⁴ All the believers were together and owned everything in common. ⁴⁵ They would sell their property and possessions and distribute the proceeds to all according to what each one needed. ⁴⁶ Every day, united in spirit, they would assemble together in the temple. They would break bread in their homes and share their food with joyful and generous hearts ⁴⁷ as they praised God, and they were regarded with favor by all the people. And day by day the Lord added to those who were being saved.

First Encounter with the Authorities in Israel

Chapter 3

In the Name of Jesus Christ, Walk!^{[r] 1} One day, Peter and John were on their way to the temple for the hour of prayer at three o’clock in the afternoon.^{[s] 2} A man who had been crippled from his birth was carried there every day and laid at the gate of the temple called the Beautiful Gate^[t] so that he could beg for alms from those who entered the temple.

³ When this man saw Peter and John about to enter into the temple, he asked them for alms. ⁴ Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said to him, “Look at us!” ⁵ He looked at them attentively, expecting to receive something from them. ⁶ But Peter said, “I have neither silver nor gold, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk.”

⁷ Then Peter grasped him by the right hand and helped him to get up. Immediately, his feet and ankles were strengthened. ⁸ He jumped up, stood straight, and began to walk, and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. ⁹ When all the people there saw him walking and praising God, ¹⁰ they recognized him as the man who used to sit and beg for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

¹¹ Peter Speaks to the People.^[u] While he continued to cling to Peter and John, all the people came running in amazement toward them in Solomon’s Portico, as it is called. ¹² When Peter saw the people assembling, he addressed them:

“Men of Israel, why are you so surprised at this? Why do you stare at us, as though we had enabled this man to walk by our own power or holiness? ¹³ The God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has glorified his servant^[v] Jesus whom you handed over and disowned in the presence of Pilate after he had decided to release him. ¹⁴ You rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. ¹⁵ The author of life^[w] you put to death, but God raised him from the dead. Of this we are witnesses.

¹⁶ “By faith in his name, this man whom you see here and who is known to you has been made strong. Faith in him has made him completely well in the presence of all of you.

¹⁷ “Now I am aware, brethren, that you acted out of ignorance as did your rulers. ¹⁸ God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the Prophets, revealing that his Christ would suffer. ¹⁹ Repent, therefore, and be converted so that your sins may be wiped away, ²⁰ that a time of refreshment may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, that is, Jesus. ²¹ He must remain in heaven until the time comes for the universal restoration announced by God in ages past through his holy Prophets. ²² For Moses said,

²⁴ “Furthermore, all the Prophets who have spoken, from Samuel onward, predicted these days.

²⁵ “You are the heirs of the Prophets and of the covenant that God made with your ancestors when he told Abraham, ‘And in your descendants all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ ²⁶ When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you, to bless you by turning each one of you from your wicked ways.”

Chapter 4

First Phase of the Trial: A Warning.^{[x] 1} While they were still speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple guard,^[y] and the Sadducees came over to them, ² greatly annoyed that they were teaching and proclaiming to the people the resurrection of the dead through Jesus. ³ Therefore, they arrested them and placed them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. ⁴ However, many of those who had listened to their message became believers, their total approaching five thousand.

⁵ On the next day, their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, ⁶ with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John,^[z] Alexander, and all who belonged to the high priestly family. ⁷ They then brought the apostles before them and asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?”

⁸ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, ⁹ if you are interrogating us today in regard to a good deed done to someone who was crippled and how he was healed, ¹⁰ let it be known to you and to all the people of Israel that it was in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth whom you crucified, and whom God raised from the dead, that this man standing before you was cured. ¹¹ This is

¹² There is no salvation in anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to men by which we can be saved.”

¹³ They were amazed to see the fearlessness shown by Peter and John and to discover that they were uneducated ordinary men. They recognized them as companions of Jesus, ¹⁴ but, when they saw the man who had been cured standing beside them, they could not say anything in reply. ¹⁵ They ordered them to stand outside while the Sanhedrin discussed the matter.

¹⁶ Then they said, “What are we going to do with these men? Everyone living in Jerusalem is aware that a notable sign has been worked through them, and we clearly cannot deny it. ¹⁷ But to stop the news from spreading any further among the people, let us issue them a warning never again to speak to anyone in his name.”

¹⁸ Therefore, they summoned them back and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. ¹⁹ However, Peter and John answered them, “You be the judges about whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God. ²⁰ We cannot possibly refrain from speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

²¹ After threatening them once again, they released them, for they could find no way to punish them inasmuch as the people were praising God for what had happened. ²² For the man who had been miraculously healed was over forty years old.

²³ The Community’s Prayer for the Apostles.^[aa] As soon as they were released, they went back^[ab] to the community and reported everything that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. ²⁴ When they heard it, they raised their voices to God with one accord and said, “Lord, maker of heaven and earth and the sea and of everything that is in them, ²⁵ you said by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of our ancestor David, your servant,

²⁷ “Indeed, in this very city both Herod and Pontius Pilate along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel plotted against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, ²⁸ to do whatever your hand and your decree had predestined to take place. ²⁹ And now, O Lord, be aware of their threats, and grant that your servants may proclaim your word with all boldness, ³⁰ as you stretch out your hand to heal and as signs and wonders are accomplished through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

³¹ When they had finished their prayer, the place where they were gathered together shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and proclaimed the word of God fearlessly.

³² Life of the First Community—II.^[ac] The entire community of believers was united in heart and soul. No one claimed any of his possessions as his own, for everything was held in common. ³³ With great power, the apostles bore witness to the resurrection^[ad] of the Lord Jesus, and they were all greatly respected. ³⁴ There was never anyone among them in need, because those who were the owners of lands or houses would sell them, bring the proceeds of the sale, ³⁵ and lay them at the feet of the apostles, to be distributed to any who were in need.

³⁶ Barnabas.^[ae] One such instance involved Joseph, a Levite and a native of Cyprus, to whom the apostles gave the name Barnabas, meaning “son of encouragement.” ³⁷ He sold a field that belonged to him and then brought the money to the apostles and laid it at their feet.

Chapter 5

The Fraud of Ananias and Sapphira.^{[af] 1} There was a man named Ananias who with his wife Sapphira sold a piece of property. ² With the approval of his wife, he held back some of the proceeds, and he brought the remainder to the apostles and laid it at their feet.

³ Then Peter asked, “Ananias, why has Satan so gained control of your heart that you lied to the Holy Spirit and retained part of the sale price of the land? ⁴ While it remained unsold, did it not belong to you? And after it was sold, were not the proceeds yours? What caused you to contrive this scheme? You have lied not to men but to God.”

⁵ When Ananias heard these words, he collapsed and died, and a great sense of fear seized all who heard about it. ⁶ The young men came forward and wrapped up his body. Then they carried him out and buried him.

⁷ After about three hours, his wife came in, unaware of what had happened. ⁸ Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for this much.” She replied, “Yes, that was the price.” ⁹ Then Peter asked her, “Why did the two of you agree to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Listen! The footsteps of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will also carry you out.”

¹⁰ Instantly, she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came in, they found her dead. And so they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. ¹¹ And a great sense of fear seized the whole Church^[ag] and all those who heard of this.

¹² Life of the First Community—III.^[ah] Many signs and wonders were done among the people by the hands of the apostles. They all used to assemble in Solomon’s Portico. ¹³ No one else dared to join them, but the people esteemed them highly. ¹⁴ More believers, men and women, were constantly being added to their ranks. ¹⁵ People brought those who were sick into the streets and placed them on cots and mats so that when Peter passed by, his shadow might fall on some of them. ¹⁶ A large number of people also came from the neighboring towns around Jerusalem, bringing with them the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and all of them were cured.

¹⁷ Conclusion of the Trial.^[ai] Then the high priest and his colleagues from the party of the Sadducees rose up, filled with jealousy, ¹⁸ and they arrested the apostles and placed them in the public jail. ¹⁹ But during the night the angel of the Lord opened the prison doors, led them out, and said, ²⁰ “Go, stand in the temple, and tell the people everything about this new life.” ²¹ Accordingly, they entered the temple at daybreak and taught the people.

When the high priest and his colleagues arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin, the full assembly of the elders of Israel, and sent to the jail to have them brought in. ²² But when the temple police went to the prison, they did not find them there. So they returned and announced, ²³ “We found the jail securely locked and the guards stationed outside the doors, but when we opened the doors we found no one inside.”

²⁴ Now when the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this report, they were at a loss to understand what this would come to. ²⁵ Then someone arrived to report, “The men whom you imprisoned are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” ²⁶ The captain thereupon went with the temple officers and brought them in, although without force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.

²⁷ When they had brought them in, they had them stand before the Sanhedrin. The high priest questioned them, saying, ²⁸ “Did we not give you strict orders not to teach in this name? Yet, despite that, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you appear determined to hold us responsible for that man’s death.”

²⁹ Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men. ³⁰ The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus after you had put him to death by hanging him on a tree. ³¹ God exalted him at his right hand as leader and Savior so that he might grant repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. ³² And we are witnesses to these things, as is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”

³³ When they heard this, they became enraged, and they wanted to put them to death. ³⁴ However, one member of the Sanhedrin, a Pharisee named Gamaliel who was a teacher of the law and respected by all the people, stood up and ordered that the apostles be sent outside for a little while.

³⁵ Then he addressed them, “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. ³⁶ Some time ago Theudas^[aj] appeared. He claimed to be someone important, and about four hundred men decided to follow him. He was killed, and all of his followers disbanded, and everything came to naught. ³⁷ After him, Judas the Galilean rose up at the time of the census. He also convinced people to follow him, but he too was killed and his followers were dispersed.

³⁸ “Therefore, I advise you to keep away from these men and let them go. If this movement is human in origin, it will fail. ³⁹ If, however, it comes from God, you will never be able to overcome them, but may find yourselves fighting against God.”

His words persuaded them. ⁴⁰ After they summoned the apostles once again, they had them scourged. Then, ordering them not to speak in the name of Jesus, they released them. ⁴¹ They left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer humiliation for the sake of the name.^{[ak] 42} And every day, both in the temple and at home, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming Jesus as the Christ.

Jerusalem, First Center of Diffusion^[al]

Chapter 6

Institution of the Seven Deacons.^{[am] 1} In those days, as the number of disciples grew, the Hellenists made a complaint against the Hebrews,^[an] asserting that their own widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. ² And so the Twelve called together the entire community of disciples and said, “It is not right for us to neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. ³ Therefore, brethren, we direct you to select from among you seven^[ao] men of good reputation, men filled with the Spirit and with wisdom, to whom we may assign this task. ⁴ We will then be able to devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

⁵ The entire community found this proposal to be acceptable, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch who was a convert to Judaism. ⁶ They then presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid hands on them.^[ap]

⁷ The word of God continued to spread ever more widely. The number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

Accusation against Stephen.^{[aq] 8} Stephen, a man filled with grace and power, began to work great wonders and signs among the people. ⁹ Then certain members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen, people from Cyrene and Alexandria, as well as others from Cilicia and Asia, came forward to debate with Stephen. ¹⁰ However, they were unable to refute him because of his wisdom and the Spirit who inspired his speech.

¹¹ So they bribed some men to say, “We heard this Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” ¹² After this, stirring up the people as well as the elders and the scribes, they seized Stephen, placed him under arrest, and brought him before the Sanhedrin.

¹³ Then they called forward false witnesses who claimed, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and the Law. ¹⁴ For we have heard him assert that Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the traditions that Moses handed down to us.” ¹⁵ All those who sat in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and his face appeared like the face of an angel.

Chapter 7

Stephen’s Discourse. ¹ Then the high priest asked him, “Are these things true?” ² He replied, “Brethren and fathers, listen to me. The God of glory appeared to our ancestor Abraham while he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, ³ and said to him, ‘Leave your country and your relatives and go to the land that I will show you.’

⁴ “Therefore, he departed from the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. And after his father died, God led him to the land where you now dwell. ⁵ He did not give him any of this land as a heritage, not even as little as a foot, but he promised to give it to him as his possession, and to his descendants after him, even though he was childless.

⁶ “This is what God said: ‘His descendants will reside in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years. ⁷ But I will bring judgment on the nation that enslaved them,’ God said, ‘and after that they will come out and worship me in this place.’ ⁸ Then he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so, when he became the father of Isaac, he circumcised him on the eighth day, as Isaac did for Jacob, and Jacob did for the twelve patriarchs.

⁹ “The patriarchs were jealous of Joseph and they sold him into Egypt, but God was with him ¹⁰ and rescued him from all his afflictions. He gave Joseph wisdom and the favor of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, who appointed him governor of Egypt and his entire household.

¹¹ “Then a severe famine struck all of Egypt and Canaan, causing severe affliction, and our ancestors could find no food. ¹² However, when Jacob learned that there was grain available in Egypt, he sent our ancestors there on their first visit. ¹³ During their second visit, Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and his ancestry became known to Pharaoh. ¹⁴ Then Joseph sent for his father Jacob and his entire family, seventy-five people in all.

¹⁵ “Jacob migrated to Egypt, and after he and our ancestors had died there, ¹⁶ they were brought back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had purchased from the sons of Hamor at Shechem for a sum of money.

¹⁷ “When the time of the promise that God had pledged to Abraham drew near, our people in Egypt had greatly increased in number. ¹⁸ Then a new king came to power who had never heard of Joseph. ¹⁹ He dealt treacherously with our people and forced our ancestors to abandon their infants so that they could not survive.

²⁰ “It was at this time that Moses was born, who was pleasing to God. For three months he was nursed in his father’s house, ²¹ but after he had been abandoned, the daughter of Pharaoh adopted him and brought him up as her own son. ²² Moses was trained in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was powerful both in word and in deed.

²³ “When he was forty years old, he decided to visit his fellow countrymen, the children of Israel. ²⁴ When he saw one of them being maltreated, he went to his aid and avenged the victim by slaying the Egyptian. ²⁵ He thought that his brethren would realize that God was offering them deliverance through him, but they did not understand.

²⁶ “The next day, he came upon two of them fighting, and he tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brethren! Why are you trying to hurt one another?’ ²⁷ But the man who had wronged his neighbor pushed him aside, saying, ‘Who appointed you to be our ruler and judge? ²⁸ Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’ ²⁹ Moses fled when he heard this, and he dwelt as an alien in Midian and became the father of two sons.

³⁰ “After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the desert near Mount Sinai in the flame of a burning bush. ³¹ When Moses saw it, he was amazed, and as he approached to examine it, the voice of the Lord said to him, ³² ‘I am the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’

“Moses was terrified and did not dare to look. ³³ Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground. ³⁴ I have seen the oppression of my people in Egypt and have heard their sighs, and I have come down to rescue them. Now come! I will send you to Egypt.’

³⁵ “This Moses whom they rejected by saying ‘Who appointed you to be our ruler and judge?’ God now sent forth as both ruler and liberator through the angel who appeared to him in the bush. ³⁶ It was he who led them out, performing wonders and signs in Egypt, at the Red Sea, and for forty years in the desert. ³⁷ It was this Moses who said to the children of Israel, ‘God will raise up for you, from your own people, a prophet like me.’ ³⁸ It was he who was in the assembly in the desert with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai and with our ancestors, and who received words of life to hand on to us.

³⁹ “This is the man whom our ancestors refused to obey. Instead they thrust him aside, and in their hearts they turned back to Egypt, ⁴⁰ saying to Aaron, ‘Make gods for us who will lead us on the way. As for this Moses, who led us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him.’

⁴¹ “It was then that they made a calf, offered a sacrifice to the idol, and rejoiced over the work of their hands. ⁴² So God turned away from them and gave them up to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the Prophets:

⁴⁴ “While they were in the desert, our ancestors had the Tent of Testimony, as God commanded when he directed Moses to make it according to the pattern he had been shown. ⁴⁵ Our ancestors with Joshua brought it with them when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before our ancestors. It remained there until the time of David, ⁴⁶ who found favor with God and desired to provide a dwelling for the God of Jacob.

⁴⁷ “However, it was Solomon who built a house for him. ⁴⁸ Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made with human hands. As the prophet says,

⁵¹ “You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are always resisting the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do. ⁵² Was there ever a prophet whom your fathers did not persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, and now you have become his betrayers and murderers. ⁵³ You received the Law through God’s angels, and yet you have not observed it.”

⁵⁴ Stephen’s Martyrdom. When they heard this, they became enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. ⁵⁵ But Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at God’s right hand. ⁵⁶ “Look!” he cried. “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

⁵⁷ On hearing these words, they covered their ears, cried out loudly, and rushed en masse against him. ⁵⁸ Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. The witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.^[ar]

⁵⁹ While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed aloud, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” ⁶⁰ Then he knelt down and cried out in a clear voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And with these words he fell asleep.

Chapter 8

The Church Becomes Open to the Gentiles.^{[as] 1} Saul approved of his death. That day marked the beginning of a severe persecution of the Church in Jerusalem, and everyone except the apostles scattered to the country districts of Judea and Samaria. ² Stephen was buried by devout men who made loud lamentations over him. ³ Saul, meanwhile, began to inflict great harm on the Church. He entered house after house, dragging off men and women and sending them to prison. ⁴ Now those who had been scattered went from place to place proclaiming the word.

The Mission in Judea and Samaria

Springtime in Samaria.^{[at] 5} Philip went down to a city in Samaria and began proclaiming the Christ to them. ⁶ The crowds welcomed the message proclaimed by Philip because they had heard and seen the signs he was doing. ⁷ For unclean spirits emerged with loud shrieks from many people who were possessed, and many others who were paralyzed or crippled were cured. ⁸ Thus, there was great joy in that city.

The Encounter with Magic.^{[au] 9} A man named Simon had been in that city for some time practicing magic and had astounded the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great. ¹⁰ All of them, from the least to the greatest, believed in him, declaring, “This man is the power of God that is called ‘The Great One.’ ”^{[av] 11} And they listened to him because for a long time they had been captivated by his magic.

¹² However, when the people came to believe Philip as he preached about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. ¹³ Even Simon himself became a believer. After his baptism, he was constantly in Philip’s company, and he was astonished when he saw the great signs and mighty deeds that were taking place.

¹⁴ The Holy Spirit. When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. ¹⁵ When they arrived there, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, ¹⁶ for as yet he had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ¹⁷ Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

¹⁸ Condemnation of Simony. When Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed by the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, ¹⁹ saying, “Give me this power too so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” ²⁰ But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought that you could obtain God’s gift with money. ²¹ You have no part or share in this, for your heart is not upright in the eyes of God. ²² Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours and beg the Lord that if possible you may be forgiven for devising your evil scheme. ²³ I see that you are engulfed in the gall of bitterness and the chains of wickedness.”

²⁴ Simon said in reply, “Pray for me to the Lord that nothing of what you have spoken about may befall me.” ²⁵ Then, after giving their testimony and proclaiming the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the good news to many Samaritan villages.

²⁶ Baptism of a High Official.^[aw] Then the angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and head south along the road that leads from Jerusalem down to Gaza, the desert road.” ²⁷ Therefore, he got up and set out.

Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch,^[ax] an official at the court of the Candace, that is, the queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship ²⁸ and was now returning home. As he sat in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah.

²⁹ Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join that chariot.” ³⁰ When Philip ran up, he heard him reading from the prophet Isaiah, and he asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” ³¹ He replied, “How can I, unless I have someone to instruct me?” Then he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him.

³² This was the Scripture passage he had been reading:

³⁴ Then the eunuch said to Philip, “Please tell me, about whom is the prophet speaking—about himself or someone else?” ³⁵ And so Philip, starting with this text of Scripture, proceeded to explain to him the good news of Jesus.

³⁶ As they were traveling along the road, they came to some water. The eunuch said, “Look, here is some water. What is to prevent me from being baptized?” [ ³⁷ And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” The eunuch said in reply, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”]^{[ay] 38} Then he ordered the chariot to stop, and Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water, and he baptized him.

³⁹ When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but he went on his way rejoicing. ⁴⁰ Philip, however, appeared in Azotus^[az] and continued his journey, proclaiming the good news in every town until he reached Caesarea.

Chapter 9

Conversion of Saul on the Road to Damascus.^{[ba] 1} Now, Saul,^[bb] still breathing threats and violence against the Lord’s disciples, went to the high priest ² and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus,^[bc] authorizing him to arrest any men or women there who were followers of the Way and bring them back to Jerusalem.

³ While he was drawing near Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from the sky flashed around him. ⁴ He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” ⁵ He asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. ⁶ Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you have to do.”

⁷ The men who were traveling with him stood there speechless, for they had heard the voice but had seen no one. ⁸ Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was unable to see. Therefore, they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. ⁹ For three days, he was without sight and neither ate nor drank.

¹⁰ Saul’s Baptism. There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. In a vision, the Lord said to him, “Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.” ¹¹ The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the Street called Straight,^[bd] to the house of Judas, and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying, ¹² and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he may regain his sight.”

¹³ Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many people about this man and how much harm he has done to your saints^[be] in Jerusalem. ¹⁴ Now he has come here with authority from the chief priests to imprison all who invoke your name.”

¹⁵ However, the Lord said to him, “Go, for this is the man I have chosen as a vessel to bring my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. ¹⁶ I myself will show him how much he will have to suffer for the sake of my name.”

¹⁷ And so Ananias went forth and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on your way has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”^{[bf] 18} Immediately, something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. He got up and was baptized; ¹⁹ then, after taking some food, he regained his strength.

Saul Preaches in Damascus. For several days, Saul stayed with the disciples in Damascus, ²⁰ and he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. ²¹ All those who heard him were astounded, and they said, “Is not this the man who in Jerusalem was persecuting those who invoked this name? And did he not come here for the specific purpose of arresting them so that they might be taken to the chief priests?” ²² But Saul’s strength continued to increase, and he confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by showing that Jesus is indeed the Christ.

²³ After some time had passed, the Jews devised a plan to kill him, ²⁴ but their plot became known to Saul. They were keeping watch on the city gates day and night so that they might kill him, ²⁵ but his disciples took him one night and let him down in a basket over the wall.

²⁶ Saul in Jerusalem and Tarsus. When he arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him because they did not believe that he had become a disciple. ²⁷ However, Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He related to them how on his journey Saul had seen the Lord who had spoken to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.

²⁸ Saul then moved about with them in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. ²⁹ He also engaged in debate with the Hellenists^[bg] but they began planning to kill him. ³⁰ When the brethren learned of this, they brought him to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.^[bh]

³¹ Period of Peace for the Church.^[bi]Meanwhile, the Church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria enjoyed peace, building up strength and living in the fear of the Lord. Encouraged by the Holy Spirit,^[bj] the Church grew in numbers.

³² Peter Heals Aeneas at Lydda. As Peter traveled throughout the region, he went down to visit the saints living in Lydda.^{[bk] 33} While there, he found a man named Aeneas who had been bedridden for eight years, for he was paralyzed. ³⁴ Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed.” He immediately stood up. ³⁵ All the inhabitants of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

³⁶ Peter Restores Tabitha to Life. In Joppa, there was a disciple named Tabitha, or Dorcas in Greek, whose life was devoted to performing good works and giving to those in need. ³⁷ In those days, she became ill and died. After they had washed her body, they laid her out in an upper room.^{[bl] 38} Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, on hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, “Please come to us without delay.”

³⁹ Peter immediately set out with them, and when he arrived, they escorted him to the upper room. All the widows stood around him, weeping and showing him the tunics and other clothes that Dorcas had made while she was with them.

⁴⁰ Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed. Then he turned to the body and said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up. ⁴¹ He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then he called the saints and the widows, and he showed her to them alive. ⁴² It came to be known throughout Joppa, causing many to come to believe in the Lord. ⁴³ Peter stayed on for many days in Joppa at the house of a tanner^[bm] named Simon.

Baptism of the Centurion Cornelius

Chapter 10

The Vision of Cornelius.^{[bn] 1} In Caesarea, there was a man named Cornelius who was a centurion of the so-called Italian cohort.^{[bo] 2} He was a devout and God-fearing man, as were all the members of his household. He gave alms generously to the people and prayed constantly to God.

³ One afternoon about three o’clock,^[bp] he had a vision in which he clearly saw an angel of God approaching him and calling to him, “Cornelius!” ⁴ He stared at him in terror and asked, “What is it, Lord?”

The angel said, “Your prayers and acts of charity have ascended as a memorial offering before God. ⁵ Now send some men to Joppa and summon a man named Simon, who is also called Peter. ⁶ He is lodging with another Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” ⁷ When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he summoned two of his servants and a devout soldier on his staff. ⁸ He told them all that had happened and sent them to Joppa.

The Vision of Peter.^{[bq] 9} About noon^[br] the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. ¹⁰ He became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while it was being prepared, he fell into a trance. ¹¹ He then saw heaven opened and something that looked like a large sheet descending, being lowered to the ground by its four corners. ¹² In it were all kinds of four-footed animals as well as reptiles and birds of the air.

¹³ A voice then said to him, “Get up, Peter! Kill and eat!” ¹⁴ But Peter said, “Certainly not, Lord. For I have never eaten anything profane or unclean.” ¹⁵ The voice spoke again to him, for a second time, “What God has made clean, you must not call profane.” ¹⁶ This happened three times, and then immediately the object was taken up into heaven again.

¹⁷ While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision he had seen, suddenly the men who were sent by Cornelius appeared. They had asked for directions to Simon’s house, and now they were standing at the entrance ¹⁸ and inquiring whether Simon known as Peter was lodging there.

¹⁹ As Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Some men have come to see you. ²⁰ Hurry down and go with them without any hesitation, for I have sent them.”

²¹ Then Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason you have come?” ²² They replied, “A centurion named Cornelius, who is greatly respected by the entire Jewish nation as an upright and Godfearing man, was directed by a holy angel to summon you to his house and to hear what you have to say.” ²³ So he invited them in and gave them lodging.

The next day, he set out with them, accompanied by some of the brethren from Joppa. ²⁴ On the following day, they reached Caesarea. Cornelius had been expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. ²⁵ When Peter arrived, Cornelius came out to meet him and, falling at his feet, did him reverence. ²⁶ But Peter helped him up, saying, “Stand up. I am only a man myself.”

²⁷ While they conversed together, they went inside where a large crowd had gathered. ²⁸ Peter said to them, “You are well aware that Jews are forbidden to associate with or visit a Gentile. However, God has shown me that I should not call anyone profane or unclean. ²⁹ That is why I came without offering any objection when I was summoned. I would like to know exactly why you sent for me.”

³⁰ Cornelius replied, “Four days ago, at this very hour, three o’clock in the afternoon,^[bs] I was in my house praying when suddenly I saw a man in shining robes standing before me. ³¹ He said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your almsgiving has not been forgotten by God. ³² Therefore, send to Joppa and ask for Simon, who is also called Peter. He is lodging at the house of Simon the tanner, by the sea.’ ³³ And so I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. Now all of us have assembled here in the presence of God to listen to everything that the Lord has commanded you to say.”

³⁴ Peter’s Speech. Then Peter addressed them: “I now understand how true it is that God has no favorites, ³⁵ but that in every nation all those who fear God and do what is right are acceptable to him. ³⁶ He sent his word to the children of Israel and proclaimed the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is the Lord of all.

³⁷ “You are well aware of what was proclaimed all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism of John, ³⁸ how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went around doing good and healing all those who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

³⁹ “We are witnesses to everything he did in the Jewish countryside and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, ⁴⁰ but God raised him to life on the third day and allowed him to be seen ⁴¹ not by all the people but by witnesses who were chosen by God in advance—by us who ate and drank with him^[bt] after he rose from the dead. ⁴² He commanded us to preach to the people and to bear witness that he is the one designated by God as Judge of the living and the dead. ⁴³ To him all the Prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name.”

⁴⁴ The Baptism of Cornelius. While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit descended upon all who were listening to his message. ⁴⁵ The circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit should have been poured out on the Gentiles also. ⁴⁶ For they heard them speaking in tongues and proclaiming the greatness of God.

Peter said further, ⁴⁷ “Can anyone withhold the water of baptism from these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” ⁴⁸ Then he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. ⁴⁹ Afterward, they asked him to stay with them for a few days.

Chapter 11

Peter’s Explanation of Cornelius’ Baptism. ¹ The apostles and the brethren in Judea heard that the Gentiles too had accepted the word of God. ² Therefore, when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers protested to him, ³ saying, “Why did you enter the house of uncircumcised men and eat with them?”

⁴ Peter replied by explaining the facts to them step by step, saying, ⁵ “While I was praying one day in the city of Joppa, I fell into a trance and had a vision. I saw something like a large sheet lowered down from heaven by its four corners, and it landed close to me.

⁶ “I looked into it carefully and observed four-footed animals, wild beasts, reptiles, and birds. ⁷ I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Get up, Peter! Kill and eat!’ ⁸ But I said, ‘Certainly not, Lord. For nothing profane or unclean has ever been in my mouth.’ ⁹ But the voice spoke to me from heaven for a second time, ‘What God has made clean, you must not call profane.’ ¹⁰ This happened three times, and then everything was taken up into heaven again.

¹¹ “At that very moment, three men arrived at the house where we were staying. They had been sent to me from Caesarea. ¹² The Spirit instructed me to go with them without any hesitation. These six brethren also went with me, and we entered the man’s house. ¹³ He told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house who said, ‘Send to Joppa and ask for Simon who is also called Peter. ¹⁴ He will give you a message that will grant salvation to you and your entire household.’

¹⁵ “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit descended upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning, ¹⁶ and I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ ¹⁷ If then God gave them the same gift that he gave to us when we came to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to oppose God?”

¹⁸ When they heard this, they held their peace, and they praised God, saying, “God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life.”

¹⁹ A Church at Antioch.^[bu] Meanwhile, those who had scattered after the persecution that arose because of Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia,^[bv] Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word only to Jews. ²⁰ However, among them there were some natives of Cyprus and Cyrene who went to Antioch where they started preaching also to the Greeks, proclaiming to them the good news of the Lord Jesus. ²¹ The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number of them became believers and turned to the Lord.

²² News of this reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. ²³ When he arrived and perceived the grace of God, he rejoiced, and he encouraged them all to remain faithful to the Lord with resolute devotion, ²⁴ for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and with faith. And a large number of people were added to the Lord.

²⁵ Barnabas then went to Tarsus^[bw] to look for Saul, ²⁶ and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a large number of people. It was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.

Threats against the Church^[bx]

²⁷ A Famine in the World.^[by] During these days, some prophets^[bz] came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. ²⁸ One of them, named Agabus, stood up and predicted through the Spirit that a severe famine would afflict the entire world. This in fact occurred during the reign of Claudius. ²⁹ The disciples decided to send relief to the brethren living in Judea, each according to his means. ³⁰ This they did, delivering it to the elders^[ca] through Barnabas and Saul.

Chapter 12

Persecution, Death, and Imprisonment.^{[cb] 1} It was about this period of time that King Herod^[cc] persecuted certain members of the Church. ² He had James, the brother of John, killed with the sword, ³ and when he noted that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter as well. Since this happened during the feast of Unleavened Bread, ⁴ he imprisoned him and assigned four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to subject him to a public trial after Passover. ⁵ While Peter was thus imprisoned, the Church prayed fervently to God for him.

⁶ On the night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter, secured by two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while guards outside the door were keeping watch over the prison. ⁷ Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light flooded the building. He tapped Peter on the side and awakened him, saying, “Get up quickly!” And the chains fell away from his wrists. ⁸ Next, the angel said to him, “Fasten your belt and put on your sandals.” After he did so, the angel instructed him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.”

⁹ Accordingly, Peter followed him out. He did not realize that the intervention of the angel was real, thinking that he was seeing a vision. ¹⁰ After passing through the first guard post and then the second, they reached the iron gate that led out to the city. This opened for them of its own accord. They went outside and had walked the length of one street when suddenly the angel left him.

¹¹ Then Peter came to his senses and said, “Now I am positive that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.” ¹² As soon as he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John, also called Mark,^[cd] where many had assembled and were at prayer.

¹³ When he knocked at the outer door, a maid named Rhoda came to answer it. ¹⁴ Recognizing Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the door, she ran in with the news that Peter was standing outside. ¹⁵ They said to her, “You are out of your mind,” but she insisted that it was true. Then they said, “It must be his angel.”

¹⁶ Meanwhile, Peter continued to knock, and when they opened the door they saw him and were astounded. ¹⁷ He motioned to them with his hand to be silent. After he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison, he said, “Report this to James^[ce] and the brethren.” Then he left and went to another place.

¹⁸ At daybreak, there was a great deal of commotion among the soldiers about what had become of Peter. ¹⁹ After instituting a search for him and being unable to find him, Herod interrogated the guards and ordered their execution. Then he left Judea to reside for a while in Caesarea.

²⁰ Death of Herod Agrippa I.^[cf] For a long time, Herod had been very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, who now came to him in a body. After gaining the support of Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for peace because their country depended on the king’s territory for their food supplies.

²¹ On the designated day, Herod donned his royal robes and, seated on a throne, delivered a public address to them. ²² They began to acclaim him, shouting, “This is the voice of a god, not a man!” ²³ Immediately, the angel of the Lord struck him down because he had not attributed the honor to God. He was eaten away by worms and died.

²⁴ Return of Barnabas and Saul to Jerusalem.^[cg] Meanwhile, the word of God continued to spread and gain more followers. ²⁵ Then, after Barnabas and Saul had completed their mission, they returned to Jerusalem, bringing with them John, also called Mark.^[ch]