Modern Literal Version
[Acts 1]
{Events from 30 - 63 AD are recorded including all the examples of Christian conversions. Tiberius Caesar, Emperor, 14-37 AD. Pontius Pilate, governor of Judea. Herod Antipas, governor of Galilee.}
1:1 O Theophilus, I made* the first account concerning all that Jesus began both to do and to teach, 1:2 until the day in which he was received up, when he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.
{Lk 24:44-49 & Acts 1:3-8 & 1Cor: 15:7 Jerusalem}
1:3 The apostles to whom, he also presented himself as living with many definite-proofs after he had suffered on the cross, being seen by them throughout forty days and speaking the things concerning the kingdom of God. 1:4 And, {F} being assembled together with them, he commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to remain until the promise of the Father, which he said and you* have heard from me, 1:5 Because John indeed immersed* in water; but you* will be immersed* in the Holy Spirit after not many days.
{May 18, 30AD Mount of Olives}
1:6 Therefore when they had come together, they asked him, saying, Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?
1:7 And he said to them, It is not yours* to know times or seasons, which the Father has placed in his own authority. 1:8 But you* will receive power, when the Holy Spirit comes upon you* and you* will be witnesses to me, both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the outermost parts of the earth.
{Mk 16:19-20 & Lk 24:50-53 & Acts 1:9-12 Olivet, between Jerusalem and Bethany}
1:9 And when he had said these things, while they were looking, he was lifted up, and a cloud received him out of their staring eyes. 1:10 And while they were staring as he went into heaven, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 1:11 who also said, Men, Galileans! Why do you* stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was received up from you* into heaven will come back thus in the manner you* saw him going into heaven.
1:12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called Olives, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey off. 1:13 And when they had entered, they went up into the upstairs room, where they were abiding; both Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the {F} son of James. 1:14 All these men with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus and with his brethren persevered united in prayer and supplication.
1:15 And Peter stood up in these days in the midst of the disciples (and a crowd of {F} people were gathered together, about a hundred and twenty) and said, 1:16 Brethren, it was essential that this Scripture might be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit said beforehand through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who took Jesus, 1:17 because he was numbered together with us and was allotted his portion in this service.
{Mt 27:3-10 & Acts 1:18-19}
1:18 (Now this man procured a parcel of ground with the reward of his unrighteousness, and he happened to fall-flat and ruptured in the middle and all his bowels were poured out. 1:19 And it became known to all the dwellers in Jerusalem; so-that in their own language that place was called Akeldama, that is, The Place of Blood.) 1:20 For* it has been written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his habitation become desolate and do not let there be one dwelling in it’ {Ps. 69:25} and, ‘Let another take his overseership.’ {Ps. 109:8} 1:21 Therefore of those men who have accompanied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and went out among us, 1:22 beginning from the immersion* of John, to the day that he was received up from us, of these one must become a witness with us of his resurrection. 1:23 And they stood up two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justus and Matthias. 1:24 And after praying, they said, You Lord, knower of the hearts of all, show which one out of these two you have chosen 1:25 to receive the portion of this service and apostleship from which Judas transgressed, so as to travel to his own place. 1:26 And they gave them their lots and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was enumerated with the eleven apostles.
{* is our universal footnoting for words contained in the Appendix. These words are NOT the same Greek word as the non-asterisk form; i.e. *for is different from for* is different from for. Acts 1:4- Or: eating with them. Acts 1:13- Or: brother. SEE Jude. Acts 1:1:15- GREEK: names. SEE Rev. 3:4.}
[Acts 2]
{Sunday May 28, 30AD Jerusalem}
2:1 {F} And while the day of Pentecost was being fulfilled, they were united in the same place. 2:2 And suddenly there came a noise from heaven like the bringing of a violent wind and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 2:3 And there appeared to them, divided tongues, like fire, and it sat upon each one of them. 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave to them to speak out. 2:5 Now Jews were dwelling in Jerusalem, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 2:6 And when this {F} voice was heard, the crowd came together and was confused, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 2:7 And they were astonished and marveled, saying to one another, Behold, are these not all Galileans who are speaking? 2:8 And how are we hearing everyone in our own language in which we were born? 2:9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, in Judea and Cappadocia, in Pontus and Asia, 2:10 in Phrygia and Pamphylia, in Egypt and the parts of Libya toward Cyrene and the inhabiting Romans, both Jews and Jewish-converts, 2:11 Cretans and Arabs, we hear them speaking in our languages the magnificent things of God. 2:12 And all were astonished and were perplexed, saying to one another, What might this be? God’s will? 2:13 But others sneering, said, They are full of new-wine.
{Acts 2:14-42; 8:5-13; 8:30-39; 9:17-18, 22:6-14, 26:12-18; 10:34-38; 16:25-34; 16:13; 18:8-9; 19:1-7. Examples of those who were saved in the New Testament.}
2:14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice and spoke out to them, saying, Men, Jews and all you* who are dwelling in Jerusalem, let this be known to you* and notice my words. 2:15 For* these men are not drunken, as you* take it to be; for* it is only the third hour of the day. 2:16 But this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel, 2:17 God says, ‘And it will be in the last days, I will pour out from My Spirit upon all flesh and your* sons and your* daughters will prophesy and your* young-men will see visions and your* elderly-men will dream dreams. 2:18 For-sure, upon my male bondservants and upon my female bondservants in those days I will pour out of my Spirit, and they will prophesy. 2:19 And I will give you* wonders in the heaven above and signs upon the earth below; blood and fire and vapor of smoke. 2:20 The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the great and illustrious day of the Lord comes. 2:21 And it will be, that everyone, whoever calls upon the name of the Lord, will be saved.’ {Joel 2:28-32}
2:22 Men, Israelites! Hear these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man from God shown to you* by miracles and wonders and signs which God did through him in the your* midst, just-as you* yourselves also know; 2:23 being given up by what has been determined by the counsel and foreknowledge of God, you* assassinated him, having taken him and fastened him to a cross through lawless hands; 2:24 whom God raised* up, having loosed the travail of death, insomuch as it was not possible for him to be held-fast by it. 2:25 For* David says in regard to him, ‘I see the Lord always before my face, because he is at my right hand, that* I might not be shaken. 2:26 Therefore my heart was joyous and my tongue was glad. Now my flesh will also reside in hope; 2:27 because you will not forsake my soul to Hades, neither will you give your Holy One to see decay. 2:28 You made known to me the ways of life. You will fill me with joy with your countenance.’ {Ps. 16:8-11} 2:29 Brethren, it is legal for me to speak publicly to you* concerning the patriarch David, that he is both dead* and was buried and his tomb is with us to this day. 2:30 Therefore being* a prophet and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that from the fruit of his loins, to raise* up the Christ according to the flesh to sit upon his throne. {Ps. 89:3-4, 132:11} 2:31 Foreseeing this, he spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was his soul left to Hades, nor did his flesh see decay. {Ps. 16:10} 2:32 This Jesus, God raised* up, of whom we are all witnesses. 2:33 Therefore being exalted by the right hand of God and having received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, he has poured out this, which you* are seeing and hearing now. 2:34 For* David did not ascend into the heavens; but he himself says, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, 2:35 until I should place your enemies under the footstool of your feet.’ {Ps. 110:1} 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty, that God has made* him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you* crucified.
2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced in their heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, Brethren, what shall we do?
2:38 And Peter said to them, Repent and be immersed* everyone of you* in the name of Jesus Christ into the forgiveness of your* sins, and you* will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 2:39 For* to you* is the promise and to your* children and to all who are from afar, as many as the Lord our God may call to him. 2:40 And he testified and encouraged them with many other words, saying, Save yourselves from this crooked generation. 2:41 Then* they, who gladly accepted his word, were immersed*. And about three thousand souls was added to them in that day. 2:42 And they persevered in the apostles' teaching and fellowship and in the breaking of the bread and prayers.
2:43 And fear came upon every soul and many wonders and signs were happening through the apostles. 2:44 And all who believed were together and had all things common. 2:45 They sold their properties and possessions and divided them to all, insomuch as anyone had need. 2:46 And persevering, united in the temple and breaking bread in their houses daily, they took their nourishment with gladness and simplicity of heart, 2:47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the congregation those who were saved day by day.
{Footnotes: Acts 2:1- This is Sunday. Acts 1:26-2:1- Chapter and verse divisions were added by man. In the original Acts 1:26 & Acts 2:1 are the same sentence. The ‘they’ has been disputed by many. Read both Acts 1:26 and Acts 2:1 together without punctuation and decide for yourself. See also Acts 1:5, 2:6. Acts 2:6 This was a miraculous happening, the crowd heard all this like a single voice from afar or figuratively like “noisy or sounds.”}
[Acts 3]
{June 30, 30AD Temple at Jerusalem}
3:1 Now Peter and John went up at the same time into the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 3:2 And a certain man, being* lame from his mother's womb, was bore there, whom they laid daily at the door of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask charity of those who went into the temple. 3:3 Seeing that Peter and John were about to go into the temple, he asked them for charity. 3:4 And Peter, with John staring toward him, said, Look toward us. 3:5 And he took-heed of them, expecting to receive something from them. 3:6 But Peter said, I do not possess silver and gold; but what I have, that I am giving to you. By the name of Jesus Christ from Nazareth, arise and walk. 3:7 And he clutched him by the right hand and lifted him up and instantly his feet and his ankles were strengthened. 3:8 And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and he entered with them into the temple, walking and leaping and praising God. 3:9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God. 3:10 And they recognized him, that it was he who sat for charity at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with amazement and astonishment at what had befallen him.
3:11 And as the lame man who had been healed was holding-fast to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch that is called Solomon's, and were utterly amazed. 3:12 And when Peter saw it, he answered to the people, Men, Israelites! Why are you* marveling at this man? Or why are you* staring at us, as though by our own power or godliness* we had made* him able to walk? 3:13 The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his young-servant Jesus; whom you* indeed gave up and denied him before the face of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. 3:14 But you* denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you*, 3:15 and killed the Author of life; whom God lifts up from the dead; of whom we are witnesses. 3:16 And upon the faith in his name, this man whom you* are viewing and know, his name has strengthened him. And the faith which is through him has given him this wholeness of body before you* all. 3:17 And I know now brethren that you* did it in ignorance, as also did your* rulers. 3:18 But what God proclaimed beforehand through the mouth of all the prophets, that the Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. 3:19 Therefore, you* repent and turn again, *that* your* sins may be wiped-away, that seasons of relaxation may come from the presence of the Lord; 3:20 and he may send Christ Jesus who was assigned to you*; 3:21 whom the heaven must accept until the times of restoration of all things, of which God spoke through the mouth of all his holy prophets that have been from of old. 3:22 Moses indeed said to the fathers, The Lord our God will rise* up for you* a prophet from among your* brethren, like me. You* will listen to him in all things, as many things as he may speak to you*. 3:23 And it will be, that every soul if it does not listen to that prophet, will be utterly destroyed from among the people. 3:24 But even all the prophets from Samuel and those who followed afterwards, as many as have spoken, also spoke of these days. 3:25 You* are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant* which God covenanted with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed, all the families of the earth will be blessed.’ {Gen. 22:18, 26:4, 28:14} 3:26 God, having raised* up his young-servant Jesus, sent him to you* first, blessing you*, in turning each one of you* away from your* wickednessess.
[Acts 4]
4:1 And as they spoke to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees stood by them, 4:2 being pained, because they taught the people and proclaimed the resurrection of the dead in Jesus. 4:3 And they put hands on them and placed them in jail *for the next-day; for* it was already dusk. 4:4 But many of those who heard the word believed, and the number of the men happened to be about five thousand.
4:5 And it happened upon the next-day, that their rulers and the elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; 4:6 and Annas the high-priest was there and Caiaphas and John and Alexander and as many as were from the high-priestly race. 4:7 And when they had stood them in the middle, they inquired, By what power or in what name, have you* done this?
4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, You* rulers of the people and elders of Israel, 4:9 if we are examined today on account of a good* work done to a sick man and by what means this man is cured. 4:10 Let it be known to you*, to all here and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ from Nazareth, whom you* crucified, whom God lifts up from the dead; in him, this one who stands before you* is healthy. 4:11 He is, ‘The stone scorned by you*, the builders, which has become the head of the corner.’{Ps. 118:22} 4:12 And there is salvation in none other; for* neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, in which we must be saved.
4:13 Now viewing the boldness of Peter and John, they marveled, having seen that they were illiterate and unskilled men, and they recognized them, that they had been with Jesus. 4:14 But seeing the man who was healed standing with them, they had nothing to speak against it. 4:15 But when they had commanded them to go aside, outside the council, they pondered these things with one another, 4:16 saying, What shall we do to these men? For* that indeed a known sign has happened through them and apparent to all who are dwelling in Jerusalem, and we are not able to deny it. 4:17 But in order that it may not circulate on more-than this into the people, we will threaten them with bigger threats to no longer speak to anyone in this name. 4:18 And they called them back and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
4:19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, If it is right in the sight of God to listen to you* rather than to God, you* judge. 4:20 For* we are not able to speak but the things which we saw and heard. 4:21 And when they had further threatened them, they released them, finding nothing as to how they might punish them, because of the people, because all glorified God for what had happened. 4:22 For* the man was more-than forty years old, on whom this sign of healing has happened.
4:23 And being released, they came to their own brethren and reported how-much the high-priests and the elders had said to them. 4:24 And when they heard it, they lifted up their voice to God united and said, O Lord, you are the God who made* the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them; 4:25 who through the mouth of our father David your young-servant, said, ‘Why do the Gentiles rage and the peoples meditate on empty things? 4:26 The kings of the earth stood up and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Christ.’ {Ps. 2:1-2} 4:27 For* against truth, against your holy young-servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, were gathered together 4:28 to do as many things as your hand and your council predetermined to happen. 4:29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and give to your bondservants to speak your word with all boldness, 4:30 by you stretching out your hand *for healing, and signs and wonders to happen through the name of your holy young-servant Jesus. 4:31 And when they had beseeched the Lord, the place was shaken in which they were gathered together, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
4:32 And the crowd of those who believed were of one heart and soul and not one of them said that anything of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. 4:33 And the apostles gave their testimony of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus with great power and great grace was upon them all. 4:34 For* neither anyone among them was needy. For* as many as were* owners of parcels of ground or houses, were selling them and brought the prices of the things that were sold, 4:35 and laid them by the apostles' feet and distributed to each, insomuch as anyone had need.
4:36 And Joses, who was surnamed from the apostles, Barnabas (which is, being translated, Son of Encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 4:37 sold a field, possessed by him, and brought the monies and laid it by the apostles' feet.
[Acts 5]
{Late 30 AD - 36 AD Temple at Jerusalem.}
5:1 But a certain man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a property, 5:2 and pilfered part of the price, his wife also being conscious of it and brought a certain part, laid it by the apostles' feet. 5:3 But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to pilfer part of the price of the parcel of ground? 5:4 While it was remaining unsold, did it not remain yours? And after it was sold, was* it not still in your authority? How is it that you have put this matter in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God. 5:5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down and expired and great fear came upon all those who heard these things. 5:6 And when the young-men had stood up, they enshrouded him and carried him out and buried him.
5:7 And it happened after an interval of about three hours, his wife also came in, not knowing what had happened. 5:8 And Peter answered her, Tell me if you* were given so-much for the parcel of ground?
And she said, Yes, for so much.
5:9 But Peter said to her, How is it that you* have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door and they will carry you out. 5:10 And she fell down instantly by his feet and expired and the young-men came in and found her dead and they carried her out and buried her by her husband. 5:11 And great fear came upon the whole congregation and upon all who heard these things.
5:12 And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders happened among the people, and they were all united in Solomon's porch. 5:13 But no one of the rest dared to join himself to them; but the people elevated them; 5:14 and more believers were added to the Lord, crowds of both men and women; 5:15 so-that they even carried out the sick in the streets and laid them upon cots and pallets, that*, when Peter came by, if-only his shadow might overshadow some of them. 5:16 And the crowds also came together from the cities in and around to Jerusalem, bringing sick ones and those who were troubled by unclean spirits and who were all healed.
5:17 But the high-priest stood up and all those who were with him (which is a sect of the Sadducees) and they were filled with jealousy, 5:18 and they put their hands upon the apostles and placed them in the public jail. 5:19 But a messenger of the Lord through the night, opened the prison doors and led them out and said, 5:20 You* go and stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. 5:21 And when they heard this, they entered into the temple under the early-morning light and taught. But the high-priest came and those who were with him and called the council together and the Sanhedrin of the sons of Israel and sent to the prison to have them led out. 5:22 But the attendants who came, did not find them in the prison. And having turned back, they reported, 5:23 saying, We found the prison locked with all the security intact and the guards standing outside before the doors; but when we had opened it, we found no one inside. 5:24 And as both the captain of the temple and the priest heard these words and with the high-priests, they were perplexed concerning them and whatever had happened.
5:25 But a certain one having come, reported to them, Behold, the men whom you* placed in the prison are in the temple standing and teaching the people. 5:26 Then the captain went with the attendants and led them, but without violence; for* they feared the people (that* they might not be stoned). 5:27 And when they had led them, they stood them before the council. And the high-priest asked them, 5:28 saying, Did we command you* with a strict command to not teach in this name? And behold, you* have filled Jerusalem with your* teaching and are intending to bring this man's blood upon us.
5:29 But answering, Peter and the apostles said, We must obey God rather than men. 5:30 The God of our fathers lifted up Jesus, whom you* slew, hanging him upon a tree. 5:31 Jesus is the Author and Savior who God exalted to his right hand, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 5:32 And we are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.
5:33 But having heard this, they were infuriated and counseled to assassinate them. 5:34 But one in the council stood up there, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, honored by all the people and he commanded them to make* the apostles wait outside for a little bit. 5:35 And he said to them, Men, Israelites! Take-heed to yourselves in regard to these men and what you* are about to do. 5:36 For* before these days rose* up Theudas, giving himself out to be someone, who was assassinated; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves; and all, as many as obeyed him were disbanded and came to nothing. 5:37 After this man rose* up Judas, a Galilean, in the days of the census and a considerable number of people withdrew after him. He also perished, and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered. 5:38 And now I say to you*, Withdraw from these men and permit them to continue because if this counsel or this work is from men, it will be torn-down; 5:39 but if it is from God, you* will not be able to tear it down; lest you* might be found even to be quarreling against God.
5:40 And they agreed with him and when they had called the apostles to them, they whipped them and commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them. 5:41 Therefore they went away from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were deemed worthy to be dishonored on behalf of the Name of Jesus. 5:42 And they did not cease to teach and to proclaim Jesus as the Christ every day in the temple and in their house.
[Acts 6]
{Autumn 36 AD. Temple at Jerusalem. Pontius Pilate deposed.}
6:1 Now in these days while the disciples were multiplying, there was a murmuring from the Grecian Jews aimed toward the Hebrews, because their widows had been left unattended in the daily service. 6:2 And the twelve called the crowd of the disciples to them and said, It is not pleasing to God for us to be leaving the word of God, to serve tables. 6:3 Therefore brethren you* select out of you*, seven men well testified of, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may designate over this need. 6:4 But we will persevere in prayer and in the service of the word. 6:5 And the saying pleased the whole crowd and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit and Philip and Prochorus and Nicanor and Timon and Parmenas and Nicolaus a Jewish-convert from Antioch; 6:6 whom they stood before the apostles and when they had prayed, they laid their hands upon them.
6:7 And the word of God grew, and the number of the disciples were extremely multiplied in Jerusalem, and a great crowd of the priests were obedient* to the faith.
6:8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. 6:9 But there stood up some of those who were of the synagogue called the Synagogue of the Freedmen both those from Cyrene and from Alexandria, and those from Cilicia and Asia, debating with Stephen. 6:10 And they were not strong-enough to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. 6:11 Then they instigated men, who said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words at Moses and God. 6:12 And they agitated the people and the elders and the scribes and standing against him, seized him and led him into the council.
6:13 And false witnesses stood up, who said, This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law; 6:14 for* we have heard him say, that this Jesus the Nazarene will tear-down this place and will change the customs which Moses gave to us. 6:15 And all who sat in the council, staring toward him, saw his face was like the face of a messenger.
[Acts 7]
7:1 And the high-priest said, Are these things so?
7:2 And he said, Brethren and fathers, listen: the God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, 7:3 and said to him, Come out of your land and from your relatives and come-here into the land which I will show you. 7:4 Then he came out of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Haran and when his father was dead, God exiled him from there, into this land, in which you* are now dwelling. 7:5 And he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a step of his foot and he promised to give it to him and to his seed after him *for his territory, when as of yet he had no child. 7:6 And God spoke thus: That his seed will be a foreigner in an alien land and they will enslave them and mistreat them for four hundred years. 7:7 And God said, I will judge the nation to which they may be enslaved and they will come forth and give-divine service to me in this place after these things. 7:8 And he gave him the covenant* of circumcision and so to Abraham was born Isaac and he circumcised him on the eighth day, and to Isaac was born Jacob and to Jacob the twelve patriarchs. 7:9 And the patriarchs, being jealous of Joseph, gave him into Egypt. And God was with him, 7:10 and liberated him from all his afflictions and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh king of Egypt, who designated him leader over Egypt and all his house. 7:11 Now there came a famine and great affliction upon all of Egypt and Canaan and our fathers found no sustenance. 7:12 But when Jacob heard of grain being in Egypt, he sent forth our fathers the first time. 7:13 And by the second time, Joseph was recognized by his brethren, and Joseph's race became apparent to the Pharaoh. 7:14 And Joseph sent them and called to him Jacob, his father, and all the relatives, seventy five souls. 7:15 And Jacob went down into Egypt and is dead*, he himself and our fathers; 7:16 and were transferred to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham purchased for a price in silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem. 7:17 But as the time of the promise drew near, which God swore to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, 7:18 until there rose* up a different king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. 7:19 This one dealt craftily with our race and mistreated our fathers, making* them place their babies outside in the elements, *that* they might not live. 7:20 In which season, Moses was born and was handsome to God, and he was nourished three months in his father's house. 7:21 And when he was placed outside in the elements, Pharaoh's daughter took him for herself and reared him *for her own son.
7:22 And Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in his words and works. 7:23 But when the time of forty years was fulfilled with him, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the sons of Israel. 7:24 And seeing one of them being hurt, he retaliated and avenged him who was subjugated, striking the Egyptian; 7:25 and he supposed that his brethren understood that God is giving them salvation through his hand. But they did not understand. 7:26 And he appeared the next day to those who were quarreling and drove them to make peace, saying, Men, you* are brethren! Why are you* wronging one another? 7:27 But he who hurt his neighbor thrust him away, saying, Who designated you a ruler and a justice over us? 7:28 You do not wish to assassinate me, in the manner you assassinated the Egyptian yesterday, do you?
7:29 And at this saying, Moses fled and became a foreigner in the land of Midian, where two sons were born to him. 7:30 And when forty years were fulfilled, a messenger of the Lord appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush. 7:31 And when Moses saw it, he marveled at the vision of it and as he came near to consider what it was, a voice of the Lord came to him, 7:32 I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. And Moses was trembling, and did not dare to consider what it was. 7:33 And the Lord said to him, Loose the shoes from your feet; for* the place in which you stand is holy land. 7:34 In seeing, I have seen the mistreatment of my people that is in Egypt and have heard their groaning and I have come down to liberate them. And now come-here, I will send you into Egypt. 7:35 This Moses whom they deny, saying, Who designated you a ruler and the Justice? God sent him to be both a ruler and a redeemer by the hand of the messenger that appeared to him in the bush. 7:36 This man led them forth, having done wonders and signs in land of Egypt and in the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years. 7:37 This is that Moses, who said to the sons of Israel, The Lord our God will raise* up to you* a prophet out of your* brethren, like me. 7:38 This is he who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the messenger who spoke to him on Mount Sinai and with our fathers. This is he who accepted the living word to give to us; 7:39 to whom our fathers willed not to become obedient*, but thrust him from themselves and turned back to Egypt in their hearts, 7:40 saying to Aaron, Make* us gods that will travel before us. For* this Moses, who led us forth out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him. 7:41 And they made* a calf in those days and brought a sacrifice to the idol and were joyous in the works of their hands. 7:42 But God turned and gave them up to give-divine service to the host of heaven; as it has been written in the book of the prophets, ‘You* did not offer slaughtered beasts and sacrifices to me for forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel, did you*? 7:43 And you* took up the tabernacle of Moloch and the star of the god Remphan, the patterns which you* made* to worship and I will exile you* past Babylon.’ {Amos 5:25-27} 7:44 The tabernacle of the testimony was with our fathers in the wilderness, as he, who spoke to Moses, commanded him to make* it according to the pattern which he had seen. 7:45 Which also our fathers accepted in succession, brought in with Joshua when they entered in the territory of the nations, that God thrust out before the face of our fathers, to the days of David. 7:46 David, who found favor in the sight of God, asked to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. 7:47 But Solomon built him a house. 7:48 But the Highest is not dwelling in temples made* with hands; as says the prophet, 7:49 ‘The heaven is my throne and the earth the footstool of my feet. What sort of house will you* build me? says the Lord. Or what is the place of my rest? 7:50 Did not my hand make* all these things?’ {Is. 66:2}
7:51 You* are stiff-necked and non-circumcised in heart and ears. You* are habitually defying the Holy Spirit just like your* fathers did, so do you*! 7:52 Which of the prophets did your* fathers not persecute? And they killed those who proclaimed beforehand God’s message concerning the coming of the Righteous One; of whom you* have now become betrayers and murderers. 7:53 You* who received the law by commandment from God’s messengers and did not keep it.
7:54 Now hearing these things, they were infuriated in their hearts and they were gnashing their teeth at him. 7:55 But possessing the fullness of the Holy Spirit, he stared into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 7:56 and said, Behold, I am viewing the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. 7:57 But they cried out with a loud voice and held their ears together and united, rushed upon him; 7:58 and they cast him outside the city and stoned him. And the witnesses placed their garments by the feet of a young-man named Saul. 7:59 And they stoned Stephen, who was calling upon the Lord, saying, Lord Jesus, accept my spirit. 7:60 And placing his knees down, he cried with a loud voice, Lord, do not weigh this, the sin, to them. And when he had said this, he fell-asleep. [Acts 8] 8:1 And Saul was consenting to the assassination of him.
Now there became a great persecution in that day upon the congregation which was in Jerusalem, and they were all dispersed throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except* the apostles. 8:2 And devout men entombed Stephen and made* great a lamentation over him. 8:3 But Saul was devastating the congregation, going into every house and dragging men and women away, he gave them up to prison.
{37 AD. Samaria. Tiberius Caesar dies March 16. Caligula attempts to put is statue in the Temple. Examples of those who were saved in the New Testament.: Acts 2:14-42; 8:5-13; 8:30-39; 9:17-18, 22:6-14, 26:12-18; 10:34-38; 16:25-34; 16:13; 18:8-9; 19:1-7.}
8:4 Therefore those who were dispersed, went throughout the land proclaiming the word. 8:5 And Philip went down to a city of Samaria and preached to them the Christ. 8:6 And the crowds united and took-heed to the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard and saw the signs which he did. 8:7 For* many of those who had unclean spirits, the spirits came out crying with a loud voice. And many who were paralyzed and who were lame, were healed. 8:8 And much joy was in that city.
8:9 But there was a certain man, Simon by name, who was formerly in the city practicing-magic and astonishing the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was someone great. 8:10 To whom they were taking-heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the power of God, the Great. 8:11 And they took-heed to him, because for a considerable time he had astonished them with his magic. 8:12 But when they believed Philip proclaiming the good-news concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were immersed*, both men and women. 8:13 And Simon himself also believed and being immersed*, persevering with Philip and viewing signs and great miracles that was happening, he was astonished.
8:14 Now when the apostles who were in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them; 8:15 who, when they had come down, prayed concerning them, so *that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 8:16 For* he had not yet fallen upon any of them, but they were* only immersed* into the name of Jesus Christ. 8:17 Then they laid their hands upon them and they received the Holy Spirit.
8:18 But when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them monies, 8:19 saying, Also give me this authority, in order that I may lay my hands on whomever and, he may receive the Holy Spirit.
8:20 But Peter said to him, May your silver together with you, be sent into destruction! Because you have thought to procure the gift of God with monies. 8:21 You have neither part nor portion in this word, for* your heart is not straight before God. 8:22 Therefore you* repent from this, your malice, and beseech God; if, consequently, the deliberation of your heart will be forgiven you. 8:23 For* I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of unrighteousness.
8:24 And answering, Simon said, You* beseech on my behalf to the Lord, *that none of the things which you* have spoken may come upon me.
8:25 Therefore when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem and proclaimed the good-news to many villages of the Samaritans.
{Summer 37 AD. Road from Jerusalem to Gaza.}
8:26 But a messenger of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, Stand up and go toward the midday sun to the road that is going down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is a wilderness road. 8:27 And he stood up and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch, (a sovereign under Candace, the queen of Ethiopia, who was in charge over all her treasure), who had come to Jerusalem to worship, 8:28 who was returning and sitting in his chariot and was reading the prophet Isaiah. 8:29 And the Spirit said to Philip, Go near and join yourself to this chariot.
{Acts 2:14-42; 8:5-13; 8:30-39; 9:17-18, 22:6-14, 26:12-18; 10:34-38; 16:25-34; 16:13; 18:8-9; 19:1-7. Examples of those who were saved in the New Testament.}
8:30 And Philip running up to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and said, Do you know what you are reading?
8:31 And he said, For* how can I, if someone does not guide me? And he pleaded with Philip to come up and sit with him. 8:32 Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this, ‘He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and like a lamb before his shearer is voiceless, thus he does not open his mouth. 8:33 His judgment was taken away in his humbleness. But who will describe his generation? Because his life is taken from the earth.’ {Is. 53:7, 8} 8:34 And answering Philip, the eunuch said, I am beseeching you, concerning whom is the prophet speaking about in this? Is he speaking concerning himself or concerning some other person?
8:35 And Philip opened his mouth and beginning from this Scripture, proclaimed to him Jesus. 8:36 And as they went on the road, they came to a certain water, and the eunuch says, Behold, here is water; what is preventing me from being immersed*? {F} 8:37 And Philip said, If you believe with all your heart, it is permitted.
And he answered and said I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God?
8:38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch and he immersed* him. 8:39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord seized Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, for* he went on his way rejoicing.
8:40 But Philip was found in Azotus and going through, he proclaimed the good-news to all the cities, until he came to Caesarea.
{Footnotes: Acts 8:37- is not in the Majority of Greek texts. The last section “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” was quoted in the late 2nd Century by Irenaeus. More on the web site.}
[Acts 9]
{Summer AD 37. Damascus. Saul is about 35 years old. Herod Antipas deposed. Herod Agrippa 1st king, 5th ruler of Galilee & Perea.}
9:1 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder toward the disciples of the Lord, having come to the high-priest, 9:2 asked of him letters *for Damascus to the synagogues, *that if he found anyone, who were of the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
9:3 But it happened as he went on, when he drew near to Damascus; suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him, 9:4 and he fell upon the earth and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?
9:5 And he said, Who are you, Lord?
And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. {F} It is hard for you to kick the cattle-prods.
And I said, Who are you, Lord?
And the Lord said, 9:6 Stand up and enter into the city and it will be told to you what you must do.
9:7 And the men traveling together with him stood speechless, hearing the voice, but viewing no one. 9:8 And Saul arose from the earth, and when his eyes were opened, he saw nothing, and leading him by the hand and they brought him into Damascus. 9:9 And he was there three days not seeing and did neither eat nor drink.
9:10 Now there was a certain disciple in Damascus, named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias.
And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.
9:11 And the Lord said to him, Stand up and go to the lane which is called Straight and seek the one named Saul, a man from Tarsus, in the house of Judas; for* behold, he is praying; 9:12 and he has seen in a vision, a man named Ananias coming in and laying his hand on him, *that he might recover his sight.
9:13 But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many about this man and how-much evil he did to your holy-ones in Jerusalem, 9:14 and he has authority from the high-priests here to bind all who are calling upon your name.
9:15 But the Lord said to him, Go your way, because this man is a chosen vessel for me, to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; 9:16 for* I will show him how-much he must suffer on behalf of my name.
{Acts 2:14-42; 8:5-13; 8:30-39; 9:17-18, 22:6-14, 26:12-18; 10:34-38; 16:25-34; 16:13; 18:8-9; 19:1-7. Examples of those who were saved in the New Testament.}
9:17 And Ananias went away and entered into the house, and laying his hands upon him said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road in which you came, has sent me, *that you may recover your sight and may be filled with the Holy Spirit. 9:18 And immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he recovered his sight, and he stood up and was immersed*; 9:19 and he took nourishment and was strengthened.
And Saul was with the disciples who were in Damascus for some days. 9:20 And immediately in the synagogues he preached the Christ, that he is the Son of God. 9:21 And all who heard him were astonished and said, Is this not the one who in Jerusalem made havoc of those who are calling upon this name? And he has come here *for this purpose, that* he might bring them bound before the high-priests. 9:22 But Saul was empowered more and was confusing the Jews who are dwelling in Damascus, lecturing that this Jesus is the Christ.
9:23 And when a considerable number of days were fulfilled, the Jews counseled together to assassinate him; 9:24 but their pact became known to Saul. And they were guarding the gates both day and night *that they might assassinate him. 9:25 But the disciples took him by night and dropped him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket.
{37-39 AD. Arabia. Saul’s retirement. Gal. 1:17-18. AD dates vary due to many not putting this in the chronology.}
{Sept. 39 AD. Jerusalem. Paul’s first visit there.}
9:26 And when he had come into Jerusalem, he attempted to join himself to the disciples and they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. 9:27 But Barnabas took him and led him to the apostles and described to them how he had seen the Lord on the road and that he had spoken to him and how in Damascus he had spoke boldly in the name of Lord Jesus. 9:28 And he was with them at Jerusalem, traveling into it, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 9:29 And he both spoke and debated with the Grecian Jews; but they were undertaking the task to assassinate him.
{40-43 AD Paul in Tarsus & Cilicia.}
9:30 And when the brethren fully knew it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him forth to Tarsus.
9:31 Therefore all the congregations, indeed throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace. They were multiplied, having been built up and having conducted-themselves in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
{40 AD. Lydda & Joppa. Herod Antipas banished.}
9:32 And it happened, as Peter went through all the regions, he also came down to the holy-ones those dwelling at Lydda. 9:33 And he found a certain man named Aeneas there, who was paralyzed and had been lying in his pallet for eight years. 9:34 And Peter said to him, Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Stand up and spread your bed for yourself. And immediately he stood up. 9:35 And all who dwelt at Lydda and in Sharon saw him and they turned to the Lord.
9:36 And there was a certain disciple in Joppa named Tabitha, which is called by translation Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and of charity, which she did always. 9:37 And it happened in those days, that being sick, she died and when they had bathed her, they laid her in an upstairs room. 9:38 And Lydda was near to Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was in it, sent for him, encouraging him not to hesitate to come to them. 9:39 And Peter stood up and went with them. And when he had come, they brought him into the upstairs room. And all the widows stood by him weeping and showing the tunics and garments; how-much Dorcas had made*, while she was with them. 9:40 But Peter put them all outside and placed his knees on the floor and prayed, and turning to the body, he said, Tabitha, rise* up. And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 9:41 And he gave her his hand and stood her up, and summoning the holy-ones and widows, he presented her as living. 9:42 And it became known throughout all Joppa and many believed on the Lord. 9:43 And it happened, that he remained a considerable number of days in Joppa with a certain Simon, a tanner.
{Footnote: 9:5b-6- This section of wording is not found in the majority of manuscripts. It is an early attempt to harmonize the accounts of Saul’s salvation. See 26:14-15.}
[Acts 10]
{40 AD. Caesarea.}
10:1 Now there was a certain man in Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of the cohort called the Italian cohort, 10:2 a devout man, who feared God with all his house and doing much charity for the people and always besought of God. 10:3 He saw openly in a vision, as it was about the ninth hour of the day, a messenger of God coming in to him and saying to him, Cornelius. 10:4 And having stared at him and becoming fearful, he said, What is it, Lord?
And he said to him, Your prayers and your charity have gone up *for a memorial before God. 10:5 And now send men to Joppa and send for Simon, who is surnamed Peter. 10:6 He is lodging with a certain Simon, a tanner, whose house is beside the sea. 10:7 And when the messenger who spoke to Cornelius had went away, he summoned two of his domestic servants and a devout soldier of those persevering with him; 10:8 and having described all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa.
{40 AD. Joppa.}
10:9 Now on the next-day, as they were traveling and drew near to the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray, at about the sixth hour. 10:10 And he became very hungry and wished to eat; but as they were preparing the food, a trance fell upon him. 10:11 And he views the heaven opened and a certain vessel coming down, like a great sheet bound and dropping down by four edges upon the earth; 10:12 in which were* all kinds of four footed mammals and beasts and reptiles of the earth and birds of the heaven. 10:13 And there came a voice to him, Stand up Peter; sacrifice and eat.
10:14 But Peter said, Not-so, Lord, because I have never* eaten anything that is common and unclean.
10:15 And a voice came to him again the second time, What God has cleansed, you do not make common. 10:16 And this happened three times and again the vessel was received up into heaven.
10:17 Now as Peter was perplexed in himself what the vision which he had seen might be. And behold, the men who were sent from Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon's house, stood by the gate, 10:18 and summoning, they inquired if Simon, who was surnamed Peter, was lodging here. 10:19 And as Peter was contemplating about the vision, the Spirit said to him, Behold, men are seeking you. 10:20 But now, stand up and go down and go with them, making no distinction, because I have sent them.
10:21 And Peter went down to the men and said, Behold, I am he whom you* are seeking. What is the cause through which you* are here?
10:22 And they said, Cornelius a centurion, a righteous man and one who fears God and is well testified of by all the nation of the Jews, was divinely-warned by a holy messenger to send for you to come to his house and to hear words from you. 10:23 So he invited them in and lodged them.
{40 AD. Caesarea.}
And on the next-day Peter came out and went together with them and some of the brethren from Joppa accompanied him. 10:24 And on the next-day they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius was expecting them, having called together his relatives and his intimate friends. 10:25 And when it happened that Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down upon his feet and worshiped him. 10:26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, Stand up; I myself am also a man. 10:27 And while conversing with him, he went in and finds many gathered together. 10:28 And he said to them, You* yourselves know how it is an illegal thing for a man who is a Jew to join himself or to come to a heathen, and yet God showed to me that I should not call any man common or unclean. 10:29 Hence also, undeniably I came when I was sent for. Therefore I am inquiring, for what reason did you* send for me?
10:30 And Cornelius said, Four days till this hour, I was fasting and praying in the ninth hour in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright apparel, 10:31 and says, Cornelius, your prayer is heard and your charity is remembered in the sight of God. 10:32 Therefore send to Joppa and call to you Simon, who is surnamed Peter; he is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. When he comes; he will speak to you. 10:33 Therefore promptly I sent for you, and having come, you did well. Therefore now we are all here in the sight of God, to hear all things which have been commanded to you by God.
{Acts 2:14-42; 8:5-13; 8:30-39; 9:17-18, 22:6-14, 26:12-18; 10:34-38; 16:25-34; 16:13; 18:8-9; 19:1-7. Examples of those who were saved in the New Testament.}
10:34 And Peter opened his mouth and said, In truth, I feel that God is not one who shows-partiality 10:35 but in every nation he who fears him and is working righteousness, is acceptable to him. 10:36 The word which he sent to the sons of Israel, proclaiming the good-news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all). 10:37 You* know, the word about Jesus which came throughout all of Judea, beginning from Galilee, after the immersion* that John preached. 10:38 Jesus who was from Nazareth; how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power; who went throughout the land working good* and healing all who were oppressed by the Slanderer, because God was with him. 10:39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem– whom they assassinated, hanging him upon a tree. 10:40 God lifted him up on the third day and gave him to become manifest, 10:41 not to all the people, but to witnesses that were assigned before by God, even to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose* up from the dead. 10:42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that this is he who has been determined by God, Judge of the living and the dead. 10:43 To him all the prophets are testifying, that through his name everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins.
10:44 While Peter still spoke these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 10:45 And the believing ones out of the circumcision, were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had also been poured out upon the Gentiles. 10:46 For* they heard them speak in foreign languages and elevating God.
Then Peter answered, 10:47 Is anyone able to forbid the water, that these people should not be immersed*, who have received the Holy Spirit as well as we? 10:48 And he commanded them to be immersed* in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they requested him to remain a few days.
[Acts 11]
11:1 Now the apostles and the brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also accepted the word of God. 11:2 And when Peter had come up to Jerusalem, those who were of the circumcision argued with him, 11:3 saying, You went to men uncircumcised and ate with them.
11:4 But Peter began and expounded the matter to them afterwards, saying, 11:5 I was in the city of Joppa praying and I saw a vision while in a trance, a certain vessel coming down, like a great sheet dropping down from heaven by four edges, and it came to me. 11:6 I considered it, having stared into it and I saw the four footed mammals of the earth and other beasts and reptiles and birds of the heaven.
11:7 And I heard a voice saying to me, Stand up Peter; sacrifice and eat.
11:8 But I said, Not-so, Lord, because anything common or unclean has never* entered into my mouth.
11:9 But a voice answered me the second time from heaven, What God has cleansed, you do not make common. 11:10 And this happened three times and all were pulled up again into heaven. 11:11 And behold, promptly three men stood by the house in which we were, having been sent from Caesarea to me. 11:12 And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. And these six brethren also came with me, and we entered into the man's house. 11:13 And he reported to us how he had seen the messenger standing in his house and saying to him, Send men to Joppa and send for Simon, whose surname is Peter; 11:14 who will speak to you words, in which you will be saved, you and all your house. 11:15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, just-like upon us in the beginning. 11:16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, John indeed immersed* in water; but you* will be immersed* in the Holy Spirit. 11:17 Therefore if God gave to them the equal gift like he also did to us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, now who was I, that I could forbid God? 11:18 But having heard these things, they were quiet and glorified God, saying, Consequently, God has also given repentance toward life to the Gentiles.
{40-41 AD. Antioch, Phoenicia, Cyprus, etc. The Good-news extended to all the Gentiles. Jan., 41 AD Claudius becomes Emperor.}
11:19 Therefore they who were dispersed from the affliction which happened upon Stephen went to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except only to the Jews. 11:20 But there were some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come into Antioch, also spoke to the Grecian Jews, proclaiming the Lord Jesus. 11:21 And the hand of the Lord was with them and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.
{42 AD. Jerusalem to Antioch. Herod Agrippa receives kingdom of Judea & Samaria.}
11:22 And the account concerning them was heard in the ears of the congregation that was in Jerusalem. And they sent forth Barnabas to Antioch; 11:23 who, having come and having seen the grace of God, rejoiced and encouraged all with purpose of heart to remain with the Lord, 11:24 because he was a good man and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith and a considerable crowd was added to the Lord.
{43-44 AD. Claudius goes to Britain.}
11:25 And Barnabas went forth to Tarsus to seek Saul; 11:26 and having found him, he brought him to Antioch. And it happened, they were gathered together with the congregation a whole year and taught a considerable crowd and the disciples were first divinely-named– Christians, in Antioch.
11:27 Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 11:28 And there stood up one of them named Agabus and he signified through the Spirit that a great famine is about to be upon all the world*; which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar. 11:29 And the disciples, according to what was their prosperity, determined to send a service of relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea; 11:30 which they also did, sending it to the elders through the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
[Acts 12]
{March 44 AD. Jerusalem.}
12:1 Now throughout that time, Herod the king put forth his hands to mistreat some from the congregation. 12:2 And he assassinated James the brother of John with the sword. {April 44 AD.} 12:3 And having seen that it was pleasing to the Jews, he also proceeded to take Peter. (And these were the days of unleavened bread.) 12:4 And when he had arrested him, he placed him in prison and gave him to four companies of four soldiers to guard him; intending to bring him up to the people after the Passover. 12:5 Therefore Peter was kept in the prison; but intense prayer was done by the congregation to God on behalf of him. 12:6 And when Herod was about to bring him out, in that same night Peter had fallen-asleep between two soldiers, bound with two chains and guards before the door guarded the prison. 12:7 And behold, a messenger of the Lord stood by him and a light shined in the cell and he struck Peter on the ribs and aroused him, saying, Stand up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. 12:8 And the messenger said to him, Gird yourself and tie on your sandals. And he did so. And he says to him, Put your garment around you and follow me. 12:9 And he went out and followed him and he did not know that this was true which was happening through the messenger, but thought he was seeing a vision. 12:10 And when they had gone by the first and second prison, they came to the iron gate that brings them into the city; which opened by itself for them and they went out and went forward one lane, and immediately the messenger withdrew from him.
12:11 And when Peter had come to himself, he said, Now I truly know, that the Lord has sent forth his messenger and liberated me out of the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews. 12:12 And being conscious of it, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where a considerable number were accumulated together and were praying. 12:13 And when he knocked at the door of the gate, a maidservant named Rhoda came to listen to who was there. 12:14 And when she recognized Peter's voice, she did not open the gate from joy, but ran in and reported that Peter stood before the gate.
12:15 And they said to her, You are mad. But she stoutly affirmed that it was so.
And they said, It is his messenger.
12:16 But Peter remained and kept knocking. And when they had opened the door, they saw him and were astonished. 12:17 But he, beckoning to them with the hand to be silent, described to them how the Lord had led him out of the prison. And he said, Report these things to James and to the brethren. And he came out and went to another place. 12:18 When it became day, there was not just a little disturbance among the soldiers, as to what had become of Peter. 12:19 And when Herod had sought for him and did not find him, he examined the guards and commanded them to be led away for execution. And he went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there.
{About May 44 AD. Caesarea. Herod Agrippa dies. Palestine reunited to Rome.}
12:20 Now Herod was quarreling with those from Tyre and Sidon. But they came here to him united and sought peace and they persuaded Blastus who was over the king's bedroom. This was done because their country is nourished from the king's country. 12:21 And upon an appointed day Herod dressed himself in royal apparel and sat upon the judgment-seat and publicly addressed them. 12:22 And the public shouted out, saying, This is the voice of a god and not of a man! 12:23 And instantly a messenger of the Lord struck him, because he did not give God the glory and he expired, having been eaten by maggots.
12:24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.
{Spring 44 AD. Antioch to Jerusalem back to Antioch (Acts 11:30), sending relief.}
12:25 And Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their service, taking with them John whose surname was Mark.
[Acts 13]
{45-48 AD. Asia Minor. Paul’s first missionary journey from Antioch to Perga, Cyprus, Antioch in Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe and back to Antioch in Syria.}
13:1 Now there were some prophets and teachers in the congregation that was in Antioch: both Barnabas and Symeon who was called Niger and Lucius from Cyrene and Manaen, a foster-brother of Herod the Tetrarch and Saul. 13:2 Now while they were ministering* to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, Separate* Barnabas and Saul for me *for the work to which I have called them. 13:3 Then when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they dismissed them.
13:4 So being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and sailed to Cyprus from there. 13:5 And when they were in Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews and they also had John, an attendant. 13:6 And when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain magician, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Son of Joshua; 13:7 who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of understanding. This one sought to hear the word of God having called to him Barnabas and Saul. 13:8 But Elymas the magician (for* so is his name by translation) withstood them, seeking to pervert the proconsul away from the faith. 13:9 But Saul, who is also called Paul, being filled with the Holy Spirit, having stared toward him, 13:10 said, O full of all treachery and all villainy, you son of the Slanderer, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? 13:11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you and you will be blind and will not see the sun until next season. And instantly dimness and darkness fell upon him, and going around, he sought someone to lead him by the hand. 13:12 Then when he saw what had happen, the proconsul believed, being astounded by the teaching of the Lord.
13:13 Now Paul with those around him, having set-sail from Paphos, came to Perga in Pamphylia, and John having departed from them, returned to Jerusalem.
13:14 But they, going through from Perga, came to Antioch of Pisidia, and they went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down. 13:15 And after the public-reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent for them, saying, Brethren, if there is a word of encouragement to the people in you*, speak it.
13:16 And Paul stood up and beckoning with the hand, said,
Men, Israelites, and you* who fear God, listen: 13:17 The God of this people chose our fathers and exalted the people in their foreign residency, in the land of Egypt and with a high arm he led them forth out of it. 13:18 And he put up with their mannerisms in the wilderness for about the time of forty years. 13:19 And when he had demolished seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave to them their land for an inheritance, for about four hundred and fifty years. 13:20 And he gave them judges after these things until Samuel the prophet. 13:21 And from thereon they asked for a king. And God gave to them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. 13:22 And when he had removed him, he lifted up David to be their king; to whom he also testified and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after my heart, who will do all my will.
13:23 God brought a Savior from the seed of this man David, according to a promise to Israel, 13:24 when John preached beforehand the immersion* of repentance to Israel, before his face and before his entrance. 13:25 And as John was fulfilling his course, he said, Who do you* perceive that I am? I am not he. But behold, there is one coming after me the shoes of whose feet I am not worthy to loosen. 13:26 Brethren, sons from the race of Abraham and those among you* who fear God, to us is sent forth the word of this salvation. 13:27 For* those dwelling in Jerusalem and their rulers, being ignorant of him and the voices of the prophets who are read on every Sabbath, they fulfilled them by judging him to death. 13:28 And though no one found a crime worthy of death in him, they still asked Pilate to assassinate him. 13:29 And when they had finished all things that were written concerning him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. 13:30 But God lifted him up from the dead; 13:31 and he was seen for many days by those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses to the people. 13:32 And we proclaim to you* the good-news of the promise which came to the fathers, that God has fulfilled this for us, their children, in that he raised up Jesus; 13:33 as it has also been written in the second Psalm, ‘You are my Son; I have fathered you today.’ {Ps. 2:7} 13:34 And that he raised* him up from the dead, no longer to return to decay, he has spoken thus, I will give you* the faithful and holy things of David. 13:35 Hence he also says in another psalm, ‘You will not give your Holy One to see decay.’ {Ps. 16:10} 13:36 For* indeed David, having attended to the counsel of God in his own generation, fell-asleep and was added to his fathers and saw decay; 13:37 but he whom God lifted up saw no decay. 13:38 Therefore brethren, it is known to you* that forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you* through this man; 13:39 and by him everyone who believes is justified from all things, from which you* could not be justified by the Law of Moses. 13:40 Therefore beware, that what has been spoken in the prophets might not come upon you*: 13:41 ‘Behold, you* despisers and marvel and disappear, because I am working a work in your* days, a work which you* may never* believe, even if someone describes it to you*.’ {Hab. 1:5}
13:42 But as the Jews were going out of the synagogue, the Gentiles pleaded with him that these words might be spoken to them at the ensuing Sabbath. 13:43 And when the synagogue dissolved, many of the Jews and the pious Jewish-converts followed Paul and Barnabas; who speaking to them, persuaded them to remain in the grace of God.
{Asia Minor.}
13:44 And the next Sabbath almost the whole city was gathered together to hear the word of God. 13:45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and contradicted the things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming him.
13:46 But Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first be spoken to you*. But since you* thrust it from you* and are judging yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. 13:47 For* so the Lord has commanded us, saying, ‘I have placed you to be a light of the Gentiles, that you should be *for salvation to the outermost parts of the earth.’ {Is. 42:6}
13:48 And as the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and glorified the word of the Lord and as many as believed were appointed toward eternal life. 13:49 And the word of the Lord was carried through all the country.
13:50 But the Jews spurred on the pious and prominent women and the foremost ones of the city and aroused a persecution against Paul and Barnabas and cast them out of their borders. 13:51 But they shook-off the dirt of their feet against them and came to Iconium. 13:52 And the disciples were filled with joy with the Holy Spirit.
[Acts 14]
14:1 Now it happened in Iconium that they entered together into the synagogue of the Jews and spoke so-that a great crowd believed, both from the Jews and Greeks. 14:2 But the disobeying Jews aroused and embittered the souls of the Gentiles against the brethren. 14:3 Therefore they stayed a considerable time there speaking boldly in the Lord, (him testifying to the word of his grace), giving signs and wonders to happen through their hands. 14:4 But the crowd of the city was split-apart, and some were with the Jews and some with the apostles. 14:5 And when it became an impulse of both of the Gentiles and of the Jews with their rulers, to abuse them and to stone them, 14:6 they fled for refuge, being conscious of it, to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe and the region around them. 14:7 And they were proclaiming the good-news there.
14:8 And a certain man, who sat in Lystra, being* powerless in his feet, being lame from his mother's womb, who had never* walked. 14:9 This man heard Paul speaking, who, having stared at him and seeing that he had faith to be cured, 14:10 said with a loud voice, Stand uprightly upon your feet. And he leaped up and walked.
14:11 Now when the crowd saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voice, saying in Lycaonian, The gods have come down to us who are similar to men. 14:12 And they called Barnabas, Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, since he was leading the speech. 14:13 Now the priest of Zeus whose temple was before their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wished to sacrifice them with the crowds.
14:14 But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of it, they ripped their garments and dashed into the crowd, crying out 14:15 and saying, Men! Why are you* doing these things? We are also human, of like-feelings with you* and are proclaiming to you* good-news to turn you away from these futile things to the living God, who made* the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them; 14:16 who permitted all the nations to conduct-themselves, in the generations gone-by, in their own ways. 14:17 Although he did not leave himself unwitnessed, by doing good, giving rains and fruitful seasons to us from heaven, filling the hearts for you* with nourishment and joy. 14:18 And saying these things, with difficulty they made the crowds cease from sacrificing to us.
14:19 But Jews came upon us there from Antioch and Iconium and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, supposing him to have died. 14:20 But the disciples surrounded him and he rose* up and entered into the city and he went forth on the next-day with Barnabas to Derbe. 14:21 And when they had proclaimed the good-news to that city and had made considerable number of disciples, they returned to Lystra and Iconium and Antioch, 14:22 further strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to remain in the faith and that through many afflictions we must enter into the kingdom of God. 14:23 And when they had assigned elders to them in every congregation and had prayed with fasting, they intrusted them to the Lord, in whom they had believed.
14:24 And they went through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. 14:25 And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia; 14:26 and they sailed from there to Antioch, from where they had been given to the grace of God *for the work which they had fulfilled.
{48-50 AD. Antioch. April 5, 49 AD Roman troops & Jews collide at the Passover.}
14:27 And when they had come and had gathered the congregation together, they reported how-much God had done with them and that he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. 14:28 And they stayed there with the disciples for not just a little time.
[Acts 15]
{50 AD. Jerusalem. Caractacus of Britain conquered and sent to Rome.}
15:1 And some, having came down from Judea, were teaching the brethren, saying, If you* are not circumcised after the custom of Moses, you* are not able to be saved. 15:2 Therefore when there was not just a little dissension and debate by Paul and Barnabas with them, the brethren appointed Paul and Barnabas and some others of them, to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this debate.
15:3 Therefore being sent onward by the congregation, they went through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles and they produced great joy in all the brethren. 15:4 And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were accepted by the congregation and the apostles and the elders and they reported how-much God had done with them. 15:5 But there rose up some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying, It is essential to circumcise them and to command them to keep the Law of Moses.
15:6 And the apostles and the elders were gathered together to see about this {F} matter. 15:7 And after much debate had happened, Peter standing up, said to them, Brethren, you* know that from the good days of old, God was choosing among us, that through my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the good-news and believe. 15:8 And God, the knower of hearts, testifies of them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just-as he also did to us; 15:9 and he made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts in the faith. 15:10 Therefore now why are you* testing God, that you* should place a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were strong-enough to bear? 15:11 But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and they also according to the same manner.
15:12 And all the crowd was silent, and they heard Barnabas and Paul describing how-much God did, in signs and wonders, among the Gentiles through them.
15:13 And after they were silent, James answered, saying, Brethren, hear me. 15:14 Symeon has described just-as beforehand, how God visited the nations first, to take out of them a people for his name. 15:15 And the words of the prophets agree in this; as it has been written, 15:16 ‘I will turn back after these things and I will build the tabernacle of David again, which has fallen. And I will build its ruins again. And I will straighten it, 15:17 *that the rest of men may seek out the Lord and all the nations, upon whom my name is called, says the Lord who is doing all these things,’ {Amos 9:11, 12} 15:18 (this was known from the beginning of the world with God seen in all of his works.)
15:19 Hence I judge not to trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles; 15:20 but that we inform them by letter, that they abstain from the pollutions of idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood. 15:21 For* Moses has those who preach him in every city, from ancient generations, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.
15:22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole congregation, to send chosen men from themselves: Judas called Barsabbas and Silas; leading men among the brethren, to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas.
15:23 And they wrote through their hand thus:
The apostles and the elders and brethren to the brethren who are from the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia. Hail to you!
15:24 Since we have heard that some who went out from us have disturbed you* with words, upsetting your* souls; saying you* must be circumcised and to keep the law, to whom we ordered no such thing; 15:25 it seemed good to us, having become united, to choose out men and send them to you* with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 15:26 men who have given up their lives on behalf of the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15:27 Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will also report to you* the same things through their speech. 15:28 For* it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us, to place no more burden upon you* except* these necessary things: 15:29 that you* abstain from idol-sacrifices and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication. Keeping yourselves from these, you* will be practicing, well.
Good-bye.
{James’ Letter}
15:30 So when they were dismissed, they came down to Antioch, and having gathered the crowd together, they gave them the letter. 15:31 And when they had read it, they rejoiced for the encouragement. 15:32 And Judas and Silas, also being themselves prophets, encouraged the brethren with many words and further strengthened them. 15:33 And after they had spent some time there, they were dismissed in peace from the brethren to those who had sent them forth. 15:34 {F} But it seemed good to Silas to remain there. 15:35 But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming the word of the Lord, with many others also.
{Early 51-53 AD. Antioch into Asia Minor & Europe. Paul’s second missionary journey. Felix make governor of Judea. Famine at Rome. Jews expelled from Rome.}
15:36 And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, We should return now and visit the brethren in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord and see how they are holding up. 15:37 And Barnabas also intended to take with them John, who was called Mark. 15:38 But Paul did not deem it worthy to take with them him who withdrew from them from Pamphylia and did not go with them to the work. 15:39 Then* there was a sharp-disagreement, so-that they departed from one another and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus; 15:40 but Paul went forth, having chosen Silas, being given to the grace of the Lord by the brethren. 15:41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, further strengthening the congregations.
{Footnotes: Acts 15:6- Greek: word. Acts 15:34- This verse is missing from the majority of texts.}
[Acts 16]
{52 AD. Paul going toward Europe.}
16:1 And he arrived in Derbe and Lystra and behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewess who believed; but his father was a Greek. 16:2 He was well testified of by the brethren in Lystra and Iconium. 16:3 This one, Paul wished to go forth with him, and he took Timothy and circumcised him because of the Jews who were* in those places; for* they all knew that his father was Greek. 16:4 And as they traveled through the cities, they gave them the decrees to keep what had been decided by the apostles and the elders who were in Jerusalem. 16:5 So, the congregations were strengthened in the faith and abounded in number daily.
16:6 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; 16:7 and when they had come toward Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithyna, and the Spirit did not permit them; 16:8 and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. 16:9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. There was a certain man, a Macedonian, standing, pleading with him and saying, Cross over into Macedonia and help us. 16:10 And when he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go forth into Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to proclaim the good-news to them.
16:11 Therefore setting-sail from Troas, we made a straight route to Samothrace and the next day to Neapolis; 16:12 and from there to Philippi, which is the first city of that part of Macedonia, a Roman colony. And we were in this city staying for some days. 16:13 And on the Sabbath day we went forth outside the city by a river side, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. 16:14 And a certain woman named Lydia heard us, a seller of purple of the city of Thyatira, one who worshiped God, whose heart the Lord opened to take-heed to the things which were spoken by Paul. 16:15 And when she and her household was immersed*, she pleaded with us, saying, If you* have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and abide there. And she constrained us.
{52 AD. Philippi.}
16:16 And it happened, as we were going to the place of prayer, that a certain maidservant having a spirit of divination met us, who provided her lords great business by fortune-telling. 16:17 This maidservant cried out following after Paul and us, saying, These men are bondservants of the Highest God, who are proclaiming to us the way of salvation. 16:18 And she did this for many days. But Paul, being pained, turned and said to the spirit, I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And it came out that same hour.
16:19 But when her lords saw that the hope of their business was gone, they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. 16:20 When they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, These men, being* Jews, are disturbing our city, 16:21 and are proclaiming customs which it is not legal for us to accept or to do being Romans. 16:22 And the crowd stood up together against them and the magistrates ripped their garments off of them and commanded the sergeants to lash them with rods. 16:23 And when they had laid many lashes upon them, they cast them into prison, commanding the jailor to securely guard them. 16:24 Having received such a command, he cast them into the inner prison and secured their feet in the wood stocks.
{Acts 2:14-42; 8:5-13; 8:30-39; 9:17-18, 22:6-14, 26:12-18; 10:34-38; 16:25-34; 16:13; 18:8-9; 19:1-7. Examples of those who were saved in the New Testament.}
16:25 But toward midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God and the prisoners were the audience for them; 16:26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so-that the foundations of the prison were shaken and instantly all the doors were opened and everyone's bonds were lax. 16:27 And the jailor, being aroused out of sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword and was about to assassinate himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 16:28 But Paul shouted with a loud voice, saying, Do nothing evil to yourself; for* we are all here.
16:29 And he asked for lights and dashed in and trembling, fell down before Paul and Silas, 16:30 and brought them out and said, Lords, what must I do in order that I might be saved?
16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved, you and your house. 16:32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him, with all who were in his house. 16:33 And having taken them in that same hour of the night, he bathed their lashes, and was instantly immersed*, he and all his household. 16:34 And he brought them up into his house and laid a table for them and was glad, with his household, having believed in God.
16:35 But when it became day, the magistrates sent the sergeants, saying, Release those men.
16:36 And the jailor reported these words to Paul, saying, The magistrates have sent me that* you* should be released. Therefore come forth now and go in peace.
16:37 But Paul said to them, They have whipped us in public, uncondemned men who are* Romans and have cast us into prison, and are they now casting us out secretly? No; but let them come themselves and let them lead us out.
16:38 And the sergeants reported these words to the magistrates and they feared when they heard that they were Romans; 16:39 and they came and pleaded with them, and when they had led them out, they asked them to go away from the city.
16:40 And they came out of the prison and entered into the house of Lydia and when they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them and went out.
[Acts 17]
{52 AD. Thessalonica, Berea. Preaching in Macedonia.}
17:1 Now when they had traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was the synagogue of the Jews. 17:2 And Paul, according to his custom, went in to them and upon three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 17:3 opening and placing before them that it was essential for the Christ to have suffered and to have risen* up from the dead, and that this Jesus, whom I am proclaiming to you*, is the Christ. 17:4 And some of them obeyed and adhered to Paul and Silas and a great crowd of the pious Greeks, and not just a few of the foremost women. 17:5 But the disobeying Jews, took to them some evil men from among the market-loafers and amassing a crowd, the city was in an uproar, and standing against the house of Jason, they sought to bring them to the public. 17:6 And when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren before the city rulers, crying, These men who have unsettled the world* are also here; 17:7 whom Jason has accepted and all these practice things which are adverse to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus. 17:8 And they disturbed the crowd and city rulers, when they heard these things, 17:9 and when they had taken sufficient money from Jason and the rest, they released them.
17:10 And the brethren immediately sent out Paul and Silas through the night to Berea; who, when they had come there, went into the synagogue of the Jews. 17:11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they accepted the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see if these things were so. 17:12 Therefore many of them believed; also of the prominent Greek women and of the men, not just a few. 17:13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was also proclaimed by Paul in Berea, they also came there, stirring up the crowds. 17:14 And then the brethren immediately sent forth Paul to go as far as to the sea; but both Silas and Timothy remained back there.
{52-53 AD. Paul at Athens, Greece.}
17:15 But those standing over Paul lead him to Athens and receiving a commandment to Silas and Timothy that* they might come to him as quickly as possible. They went out there.
17:16 Now while Paul waited for them in Athens, his spirit was irritated with himself, viewing the idol ridden city. 17:17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the pious ones and in the marketplace every day with those who chance upon him. 17:18 And also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, What does this babbler wish to say?
Others said, He seems to be a proclaimer of strange {F} gods, because he preached Jesus and the resurrection.
17:19 Now they grabbed him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, Are we able to know what this new teaching is which is spoken by you? 17:20 For* you are bringing some surprising things to our ears. Therefore we intend to know what these things might {F} mean. 17:21 (Now all from Athens and the inhabiting strangers had leisure time *for nothing other than to tell and to hear something new.)
17:22 And Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus and said, Men of Athens, in all things, I view that you* are religious. 17:23 For* as I went through the city and reviewing your* objects of worship, I also found an altar in which had been written, TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore I am proclaiming to you*, who are ignorant, this one to whom you* are devout. 17:24 The God that made* the world and all things in it, being* Lord of heaven and earth, he is not dwelling in temples made* with hands; 17:25 nor is he assisted by men's hands, as if needy for anything, he himself giving to all, life and breath and all things. 17:26 And he made* of one blood every nation of men to dwell upon all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed seasons and the borders of their residence; 17:27 that they are to seek the Lord, if, consequently, they might grope after him and might find him, for-sure, he is* not far from each one of us. 17:28 For* we live and move and have our being in him; as even some of your* own poets have said; for* we are also his offspring. 17:29 Therefore <F> being the offspring of God, we ought not to suppose that the Divine* is similar to gold or silver or stone, or carvings done by the craft and the contemplation of man. 17:30 Therefore God overlooked the times of ignorance. Now, he is commanding all men everywhere to repent; 17:31 because he has established a future day in which to judge the world* in righteousness by the man whom he has determined beforehand; providing the faith to all, by having raised* him from the dead.
17:32 Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some sneered; but others said, We will hear you concerning this yet again. 17:33 Thus Paul went out from the midst of them. 17:34 But some men, joining themselves to him, believed; among whom was also Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.
{Footnotes: Acts 17:18- Greek: demons. Acts 17:20- Greek: wish to be. Acts 17:29- Possible reference to a Stoic poet, Aratus of Soli in Cilicia.}
[Acts 18]
{52-53 AD. Paul at Corinth in Greece.}
18:1 After these things Paul departed from Athens and came to Corinth. 18:2 And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, a man of Pontus by race, who recently had come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart out of Rome. And he came to them; 18:3 and because he was of the same craft, he remained and worked with them, for* they were tent makers by trade. 18:4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and persuaded Jews and Greeks.
18:5 But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was troubled in spirit, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. 18:6 Now when they themselves did resist us and were blaspheming God, he shook-off his garment and said to them, Your* blood be upon your* own heads. I am clean. From hereafter I will go to the Gentiles. 18:7 And he proceeded from there and went into the house of a certain man named Justus, one who worshiped God, whose house was adjoining to the synagogue.
{Acts 2:14-42; 8:5-13; 8:30-39; 9:17-18, 22:6-14, 26:12-18; 10:34-38; 16:25-34; 16:13; 18:8-9; 19:1-7. Examples of those who were saved in the New Testament.}
18:8 And Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his house, and many of the Corinthians hearing, believed and were immersed*.
18:9 And the Lord said to Paul through a vision in the night, Do not be afraid, but speak out and do not be silent, 18:10 because I am with you and no one will lay a hand on you to mistreat you, because I have many people in this city. 18:11 And he stuck-around there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
{Paul’s First & Second Letter to the Thessalonians}
18:12 But Gallio being proconsul of Achaia, the Jews stood up united against Paul and brought him before the judgment-seat, 18:13 saying, This man is persuading men to worship God contrary to the law. 18:14 But as Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, Therefore if indeed, it was some wrongdoing or evil villainy, O you* Jews, I might tolerate you* according to reason. 18:15 But if there are debates concerning words and names and your* own law, look to it yourselves; for* I am not willing to be a judge of these things. 18:16 And he drove them away from the judgment-seat. 18:17 And all the Greeks grabbed Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue and beat him in front of the judgment-seat. And Gallio was not about to judge anything. 18:18 And Paul, having remained after this still a considerable number of days, bid farewell to the brethren.
{September, 54 AD. Paul leaves Europe toward Antioch. Claudius dies; Nero becomes Emperor at Rome in Oct.}
And he sailed away to Syria and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having sheared his head in Cenchreae; for* he had a vow. 18:19 And they arrived in Ephesus and he left them there; but he himself entered into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 18:20 And they were requesting him to remain on for more time, he did not signal-agreement; 18:21 but bidding farewell to them and saying, It is certainly essential for me to make* the coming feast in Jerusalem but I will revisit you* again, God willing. He set-sail from Ephesus.
18:22 And when he had come down into Caesarea, he went up and greeted the congregation and went down into Antioch.
{Late 54 AD. Paul’s Third Missionary Journey. Josephus, age 16, starts his literary career.}
18:23 And having spent some time there, he came out and went through the region of Galatia and afterwards Phrygia, further strengthening all the disciples.
18:24 Now a certain Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, a cultured man, arrived in Ephesus, and he was mighty in the Scriptures. 18:25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and being zealous in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning the Lord, but only knowing the immersion* of John. 18:26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. But when Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him over to them and expounded to him the way of God more accurately. 18:27 And when he intended to go into Achaia, the brethren exhorted him and wrote to the disciples to accept him and when he came, he supported those much who had believed through the grace; 18:28 for* he intensely and thoroughly refuted the Jews in public, showing through the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.
[Acts 19]
{May, 55 - May 58 AD. Ephesus. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians}
{Acts 2:14-42; 8:5-13; 8:30-39; 9:17-18, 22:6-14, 26:12-18; 10:34-38; 16:25-34; 16:13; 18:8-9; 19:1-7. Examples of those who were saved in the New Testament.}
19:1 And it happened, that while Apollos was in Corinth, Paul having gone through the upper parts of the country came to Ephesus and found some disciples. 19:2 He said to them, Did you* receive the Holy Spirit when you* believed?
And they said to him, But if there is a Holy Spirit, we did not hear of such.
19:3 And he said to them, Then* into what were you* immersed*?
And they said, Into the immersion* of John.
19:4 And Paul said, John indeed immersed* in the immersion* of repentance, saying to the people that* they should believe in him who is coming after him, that is, in the Christ Jesus. 19:5 And when they heard this, they were immersed* into the name of the Lord Jesus. 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in foreign languages and prophesied. 19:7 And they were in all about twelve men.
19:8 And he entered into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading as to the things concerning the kingdom of God. 19:9 But when some were hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the crowd, he withdrew from them and separated* the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of a certain one named Tyrannus. 19:10 And this happened for two years; so-that all those dwelling in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. 19:11 And God did exceptional miracles through the hands of Paul; 19:12 so-that even handkerchiefs or aprons from the touch of his skin were carried away to those who were sick and the diseases were set-free from them and the evil spirits went out from them.
19:13 But also, some from the strolling Jews, exorcists, undertook the task to name the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had the evil spirits, saying, I implore you* by Jesus whom Paul is preaching. 19:14 And there were some (seven sons of Sceva) and a Jew, a high-priest, who were doing this.
19:15 And the evil spirit answered and said to them, Jesus I know and Paul I know, but who are you*? 19:16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was, leaped upon them and mastered them and prevailed against them, so-that they escaped out of that house, naked and traumatized.
19:17 And this became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, dwelling in Ephesus, and fear fell upon them all and the name of the Lord Jesus was elevated. 19:18 Many of those who had also believed came, confessing and proclaiming their practices. 19:19 And a considerable number of those who practiced magical arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all, and they calculated the price of them and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver. 19:20 So the word of the Lord grew and prevailed with dominion.
19:21 Now when these things were fulfilled, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had gone through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome. 19:22 And having sent Timothy and Erastus, two of those serving him, into Macedonia, he himself held back in Asia for a short time.
{56-58 AD. Ephesus. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians.}
19:23 And it happened throughout that time there was not just a little disturbance concerning the Way. 19:24 For* a certain man, named Demetrius, (a silversmith making* silver shrines of Artemis), provided not just a little business to the craftsmen; 19:25 whom he accumulated together with the other workers of such things and said, Men, you* know that we have our prosperity from this business . 19:26 And you* view and hear, that not only from Ephesus, but almost all of Asia, this Paul has persuaded and seduced a considerable number of people, saying that they are not gods, which are born through man’s hands. 19:27 And not only is there peril in that this career of ours may come into disrepute; but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis is to be counted *for nothing and her majesty is also about to be demolished, whom all Asia and the world* is worshiping.
19:28 And when they heard this they became full of wrath and cried out, saying, Great is Artemis of Ephesus. 19:29 And all the city was filled with confusion and they rushed united into the theater, having seized Paul's traveling-associates, Gaius and Aristarchus, who were Macedonians. 19:30 And when Paul intended to enter into the public area, the disciples did not permit him. 19:31 And also, some of those from Asia, being his friends, sent for him and pleaded with him not to give himself to the theater crowd. 19:32 Therefore some cried one thing and some another; for* the assembly was confused, and most did not know why they had come together. 19:33 And they pushed Alexander forward out of the crowd with the Jews, casting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand and wished to make a defense to the public. 19:34 But when they fully knew that he was a Jew, one voice came out of all, for about two hours, crying, Great is Artemis of the Ephesians. 19:35 And having the composure of the crowd, the town scribe says, Men of Ephesus, for* what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple-keeper of the great goddess Artemis and of the image which fell from Zeus? 19:36 Therefore these things being undeniable, it is essential for you* to possess composure and to do nothing that is rash. 19:37 For* you* have brought here these men, who are neither temple looters nor blasphemers of your goddess. 19:38 Therefore if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him, have an account toward anyone, the lower-courts have been brought here and there are proconsuls here. Let them accuse one another. 19:39 But if you* seek anything concerning other things, it will be interpreted in the lawful assembly. 19:40 For* indeed we are in peril to be accused concerning today's riot, no cause exists for it and concerning it, we will not be able to give account of this conspiracy. 19:41 And when he had spoken these things, he dismissed the assembly.
[Acts 20]
{May 58 to March 59 AD. Games in honor of Diana at Ephesus. 10 months in Europe (Macedonia & Greece). Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians.}
20:1 And after the uproar ceased, having called the disciples, Paul hugged them. Then he went away from them, ready to go into Macedonia.
20:2 And when he had gone through those parts and had encouraged them with many words, he came into Greece. 20:3 And he made* his stay there three months. {Paul’s Letter to the Romans; AD 58}
Being a pact against him by the Jews as he was about to set-sail *for Syria, it became his intention to return through Macedonia. 20:4 And Sopater from Berea and the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus and Gaius, from Derbe and Timothy and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia, accompanied him to Asia. 20:5 But these having gone before, were remaining in Troas for us. 20:6 And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread and came to them in Troas in five days, where we stayed seven days.
20:7 And on the first day of the week, when the disciples were gathered together to break bread, Paul reasoned many things with them, being about to go away on the next-day, and prolonged {F} his speech till midnight. 20:8 And there were a considerable number of torches in the upstairs room where we were gathered together. 20:9 And a certain young-man named Eutychus was sitting in the window, being carried away by deep sleep, and as Paul reasoning yet longer, being carried away by his sleep, he fell downward from the third story and was lifted up being dead. 20:10 And Paul went down and fell upon him and having embraced him, said, Do not be in an uproar, for* his life is in him. 20:11 And when he had gone up and had broken the bread and had eaten and had conversed with them for a considerable time, even until dawn, so he went away. 20:12 And they brought the living child Eutychus upstairs and they were immeasurably comforted.
20:13 But having gone to the ship, we set-sail to Assos, being about to take in Paul from there; for* so he had commanded, he himself being about to go on foot. 20:14 And when he encountered us in Assos, we took him in and came to Mitylene. 20:15 And sailing from there, we arrived the next day opposite Chios, and the next-day we put the ship in at Samos, and having remained in Trogyllium, the day after we came to Miletus. 20:16 For* Paul had decided to sail by Ephesus; for* he was hurrying, *that it might not happen to him to loiter any in Asia; if it was possible for him to be in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.
{Early 59 AD. Miletus.}
20:17 And from Miletus, he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the congregation. 20:18 And when they came to him, he said to them, You* yourselves know, from the first day on which I stepped into Asia, how I was with you* all the time, 20:19 serving* the Lord with all humility and with many tears and with tests which befall me by the pacts of the Jews; 20:20 how I did not shrink-back from anything that is advantageous to you*, proclaiming and teaching you* in public and from house to house, 20:21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. 20:22 And now, behold, I travel bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will meet with me there, 20:23 except* that the Holy Spirit is testifying to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions are remaining for me. 20:24 But I make* account of nothing, nor am I holding my life as precious to myself, as I desire to finish my course with joy and the service which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify the good-news of the grace of God. 20:25 And now, behold, I know that you* all, among whom I went around preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. 20:26 Hence I testify to you* today, that I am clean from the blood of all men. 20:27 For* I did not shrink-back from proclaiming to you* the whole counsel of God. 20:28 Therefore take-heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you* overseers, to shepherd the congregation of the Lord and God, which the Lord acquired through his own blood. 20:29 I know that after my goodbye cruel wolves will enter into you*, not sparing the flock; 20:30 and from among yourselves men will stand up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 20:31 Hence you* watch, remembering for three years I ceased not from admonishing everyone night and day with tears. 20:32 And now I intrust you* brethren to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you* up and to give you* the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 20:33 I coveted no one's silver or gold or garment. 20:34 You* yourselves know that these hands attended to my needs and to those who were with me. 20:35 I showed you* an example in all things, that so laboring you* ought to help the weak and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, It is more fortunate to give than to receive.
20:36 And when he had spoken these things, he placed his knees on the land and prayed with them all. 20:37 And there was considerable weeping of all and having fallen upon Paul's neck, they kissed him, 20:38 sorrowing especially upon the word which he had spoken, because they are about to view his face no more. And they sent him onward to the ship.
{Footnotes: Acts 20:7- Or: his sermon.}
[Acts 21]
{Early 59 AD. Journey to Jerusalem.}
21:1 And when it happened that they drew away from them and had set-sail, we made a straight route to Cos and the following-day to Rhodes and from there to Patara. 21:2 And having found a ship, ferrying people over into Phoenicia, we stepped on and set-sail. 21:3 And when Cyprus appeared, leaving it on the left, we sailed to Syria and brought the ship into Tyre; for* the ship was to unload her cargo there. 21:4 And having found disciples, we remained there seven days and these disciples said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem. 21:5 And when it happened that we had completed the days there, we came out and traveled on, and they all, with their wives and children, sent us onward until we were outside the city and having placed our knees down upon the beach, we prayed, 21:6 and having hugged one another, we stepped onto the ship, but they returned to their own.
21:7 And when we had terminated the voyage from Tyre, we arrived in Ptolemais, and we greeted the brethren and remained with them for one day. 21:8 And on the next-day Paul and those around him having went out, came to Caesarea and entering into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we remained with him. 21:9 Now this man had four prophesying virgin daughters. 21:10 And while we were remaining there even more days, a certain prophet from Judea named Agabus came down. 21:11 And coming to us and taking Paul's belt, and having bound his own feet and hands, said, The Holy Spirit says this, The Jews in Jerusalem will bind thus the man whose belt this is and will give him into the hands of the Gentiles. 21:12 And when we heard these things, both we and those locally pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem.
21:13 And Paul answered, What are you* doing, weeping and crushing my heart? For* I am not only ready to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem on behalf of the name of the Lord Jesus.
21:14 And when he was not persuaded, we were quiet, saying, The will of the Lord be done.
{End of Paul’s Third Missionary Journey.}
21:15 And after these days we packed up our baggage and went up to Jerusalem. 21:16 And there also went with us some of the disciples from Caesarea, leading us to one named Mnason from Cyprus, an old disciple in the faith, with whom they said we should lodge.
21:17 And when we had come to Jerusalem, the brethren gladly accepted us.
{May 23, 59 AD. Jerusalem.}
21:18 And the next day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders came along. 21:19 And when he had greeted them, he described one by one the things which God had done among the Gentiles through his service. 21:20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, saying to him, You are now viewing brother, how many tens of thousands there are of the Jews who have believed, and they being* all zealous ones of the law; 21:21 and they have been instructed concerning you, that you are teaching all the Jews who are among the Gentiles apostasy from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children nor to walk after the customs. 21:22 Then* what is it? The crowd must certainly come together; for* they will hear that you have come. 21:23 Therefore you do this thing, what we say to you. We have four men who have a vow upon themselves. 21:24 Paul, take these and purify yourself with them and be spent for them, that* they may shave their heads and all may know that there is no truth in the things of which they have been instructed concerning you; but you yourself also march accordingly, observing the law. 21:25 But concerning the Gentiles who have believed, we have informed them by letter, after deciding, to observe no such thing, except to keep themselves from idol-sacrifices and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication. 21:26 Then Paul took the men and the next-day went into the temple purifying himself with them, thus thoroughly proclaiming the fulfillment of the days of purification, until the offering was offered on behalf of everyone of them.
21:27 And when the seven days were about to be accomplished, the Jews from Asia, when they saw him in the temple, incited all the crowd and put hands upon him, 21:28 crying out, Men, Israelites, help! This is the man who is teaching against the people, all men everywhere, and against the law and this place, and still he also brought Greeks into the temple and has desecrated this holy place. 21:29 For* they had seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him before in the city, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple. 21:30 And all the city was moved and there was a running of the people together, and they grabbed Paul and dragged him outside the temple and immediately the doors were locked. 21:31 But as they were seeking to kill him, information came up to the commander of the cohort, that all Jerusalem had incited to riot. 21:32 And promptly having taken soldiers and centurions, he ran down upon them. And when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they ceased beating Paul. 21:33 Now the commander drew near and grabbed him and commanded him to be bound with two chains, and inquired who he might be and what he had been doing. 21:34 And some in the crowd cried one thing, some another, and when he was not able to know the certainty of what happened because of the uproar, he commanded him to be brought into the encampment. 21:35 And when he came upon the steps, it befell him to be bore by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd; 21:36 for* the crowd of the people followed after, crying out, Take him away.
21:37 But when Paul was about to be brought into the encampment, he says to the commander, Is it legal for me to speak to you?
And he said, Do you know Greek? 21:38 Are you not then the Egyptian, who before these days unsettled the city and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?
21:39 But Paul said, I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no insignificant city and I beseech of you, permit me to speak to the people. 21:40 And when he had permitted him, Paul, standing upon the steps, beckoned with the hand to the people, and when there became a great silence, he shouted to them in the Hebrew language, saying,
[Acts 22] 22:1 Brethren and fathers! You* hear the defense which I now make to you*. 22:2 And when they heard that he shouted to them in the Hebrew language, this provided even more quietness and he says, 22:3 Indeed, I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but reared in this city, at the feet of Gamaliel, having been educated according to the exactness of the law of our forefathers, being* a zealous one of God, just-as you* all are today; 22:4 and I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and giving into prisons both men and women. 22:5 As also the high-priest and all the eldership can testify of me; from whom I also accepted letters to the brethren and I went to Damascus to bring those who were also there to Jerusalem in bonds that* they might be punished.
{Acts 2:14-42; 8:5-13; 8:30-39; 9:17-18, 22:6-14, 26:12-18; 10:34-38; 16:25-34; 16:13; 18:8-9; 19:1-7. Examples of those who were saved in the New Testament.}
22:6 And it happened, that, as I traveled and drawing near to Damascus, about midday, suddenly there flashed around me a considerable light from heaven. 22:7 And I fell to the solid-ground and heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?
22:8 And I answered, Who are you, Lord?
And he said to me, I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.
22:9 And those who were with me indeed saw the light and became fearful, but they did not hear with understanding the voice of him who spoke to me. 22:10 And I said, What should I do, Lord?
And the Lord said to me, Stand up and go into Damascus, and it will be told to you there about all things which are appointed for you to do.
22:11 And I did not see from the glory of that light, being led by the hand by those who were with me, I came into Damascus. 22:12 And a certain man named Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well testified of by all the Jews dwelling there, 22:13 came to me and standing by me said to me, Brother Saul, recover your sight. And I looked up at him in the same hour. 22:14 And he said, The God of our fathers has assigned you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth. 22:15 Because you will be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and heard. 22:16 And now why are you hesitating? Stand up and be immersed* and bathe away your sins, calling upon the name of the Lord.
22:17 And it happened, that, when I had returned to Jerusalem and while I prayed in the temple, I had been in a trance, 22:18 and saw him saying to me, Hurry and go away quickly out of Jerusalem, because they will not accept the testimony from you concerning me.
22:19 And I said, Lord, they themselves know those who believed on you that I was imprisoning and whipping them in every synagogue; 22:20 and when the blood of Stephen your witness was shed, I had also been standing by and was consenting to the assassination of him, keeping the garments of those assassinating him.
22:21 And he said to me, Go, because I will send you forth to the Gentiles far from here.
22:22 And they heard him until this word and they lifted up their voice and said, Take such a one away from the earth; for* it is not proper that he should live.
22:23 Now at their crying out and tossing off their garments and casting dust into the air, 22:24 the commander commanded him to be brought into the encampment, saying, He is to be interrogated by scourges, that* we might fully know because of what crime they shouted out against him so.
22:25 And when they had stretched him out with the straps, Paul said to the centurion that stood by, Is it legal for you* to scourge a man who is a Roman and uncondemned?
22:26 And when the centurion heard it, he went to the commander and reported to him, saying, See, what are you about to do? For* this man is a Roman.
22:27 And the commander came and said to him, Tell me, if you are a Roman.
And he said, Yes.
22:28 And the commander answered, I procured this citizenship with a great sum.
And Paul said, But I am Roman born.
22:29 Then* they who were about to interrogate him, immediately withdrew from him and the commander was also afraid when he recognized that he was a Roman and because he had bound him.
22:30 But on the next-day, intending to know the certainty of why he was accused by the Jews, he loosed him from his bonds and commanded the high-priests and all the council to come together and brought Paul down and stood him among them.
[Acts 23]
{May 25, 59 AD. Paul sent to the political capital at Caesarea.}
23:1 And Paul, staring at the council, said, Brethren, I have behaved-like a Jewish citizen before God in all good conscience until this day.
23:2 And the high-priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to beat him on the mouth.
23:3 Then Paul said to him, God is about to beat you, you whitewashed wall. And you sit judging me according to the law and yet violating the law, you are commanding me to be beaten.
23:4 And those who stood by said, Are you reviling God's high-priest?
23:5 And Paul said, Brethren, I did not know that he was the high-priest; for* it has been written, ‘You will not speak evilly of a ruler of your people.’ {Ex. 22:28} 23:6 But when Paul knew that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of a Pharisee. I am being judged concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead. 23:7 And when he said this, there was a dissension from the Pharisees and the assembly was split-apart. 23:8 (The Sadducees indeed say that there is no resurrection, neither messenger nor spirit; but the Pharisees are confessing both.)
23:9 And there was a great outcry and part of the scribes of the Pharisees stood up and were quarreling, saying, We are finding no evil in this man and what if a spirit has spoken to him or a messenger? We should not quarrel against God. 23:10 And when there was a great dissension happening, the commander, being scared, lest Paul might be torn to shreds by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and seize him from the midst of them and bring him into the encampment.
23:11 And the Lord stood by him the next night and said, Paul, have courage; for* as you have testified concerning me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.
23:12 And when it became day, some of the Jews made* a conspiracy and vowed, saying they are neither to eat nor to drink until they should have killed Paul. 23:13 And they were more-than forty that had made* this gang. 23:14 And they came to the high-priests and the elders and said, We have vowed, being accursed, to taste nothing until we should have killed Paul. 23:15 Therefore now, you* indicate to the commander with the council, *that tomorrow he may bring him down to you*, as if you* are about to investigate more accurately the things concerning him. And we are ready to kill him before he draws near.
23:16 But Paul's sister's son heard of their murderous plot and he came and entered into the encampment and reported to Paul. 23:17 And Paul called to him one of the centurions and said, Lead this young-man away to the commander; for* he has something to report to him.
23:18 So he took him and brought him to the commander and says, Paul the prisoner called me to him and asked me to bring this young-man to you, who has something to say to you.
23:19 And the commander grabbed him by the hand and departed privately and inquired, What is it that you have to report to me?
23:20 And he said, The Jews have covenanted together to ask you *that tomorrow you might bring Paul down to the Jewish council, (as if you are about to inquire more accurately something concerning him). 23:21 Therefore do not be persuaded by them; for* more-than forty out of them are plotting against him, who have vowed neither to eat nor to drink until they should have assassinated him and they are ready now, waiting for the promise from you.
23:22 So the commander released the young-man, commanding him, Tell no one that you have indicated these things to me. 23:23 And he called to him a certain two of the centurions and said, Prepare for the third hour of the night two hundred soldiers and seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen, *that they should go to Caesarea, 23:24 and animals to be present, that* having mounted Paul upon one of them, they might save him for Felix the governor. 23:25 And he wrote a letter containing in this pattern:
23:26 Claudius Lysias to the most-excellent governor Felix. Hail to you. 23:27 This man was taken by the Jews and was about to be assassinated by them, when I stood against them with the soldiers and liberated him, having learned that he was a Roman. 23:28 And intending to know the accusation (because of which they accused him), I brought him down to their council; 23:29 whom I found to be accused concerning debates of their law, but having nothing in way of an accusation worthy of death or of bonds. 23:30 And when it was disclosed to me that there was a murderous pact about to be carried out by the Jews *for the man, I promptly sent him to you, also commanding his accusers to speak the things toward him before you. Good-bye.
23:31 Therefore the soldiers, according to the commands given to them, took Paul and brought him through the night to Antipatris. 23:32 But on the next-day they permitted the horsemen to go with him and returned to the encampment. 23:33 And having came to Caesarea and having given over the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul before him. 23:34 And the governor having read it and having asked what province he was from, and after inquiring, found he was from Cilicia. 23:35 He said, I will hear you fully, whenever your accusers have also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's palace.
[Acts 24]
{May 30, 59 AD. Paul before Felix, a prisoner two years at Caesarea. In 59 AD Festus becomes governor of Judea.}
24:1 And after five days the high-priest Ananias came down with the elders and an orator, Tertullus, and they indicated to the governor the charges against Paul. 24:2 And having been called, Tertullus began to accuse Paul, saying, We are obtaining much peace through you and public-reforms are happening to this nation through your forethought. 24:3 We accept it both in all things and everywhere, with all thanksgiving, most-excellent Felix. 24:4 But in order that I may not hinder you more, I plead with you by your gentleness to hear us briefly. 24:5 For* we have found this man a pestilence and he is moving this dissension to all the Jews throughout the world*. And he is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes; 24:6 who also attempted to profane the temple; whom we also took-hold of. {F} And was willing to be judged according to our law. 24:7 And Lysias the commander having come near, with much violence, did take away Paul out of our hands, 24:8 having commanded his accusers to come to you. From whom you will be able, by examining him yourself, to fully know concerning all these things of which we are accusing him. 24:9 And the Jews banded together in the attack, claiming these things to be so.
24:10 And when the governor had signaled to him to speak, Paul answered, I know you have been a judge to this nation out of many years experience, I cheerfully am making my defense about the things concerning myself. 24:11 You surely are able to know that it is not more-than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem; 24:12 and they did not find me reasoning angrily with anyone or making* of a hostile crowd in the temple, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city, 24:13 nor are they able to present to you the things concerning me of which they now are accusing me. 24:14 But I confess this to you, that after The Way which they call a sect, so I give-divine service to the God of our forefathers, believing all things which are according to the law and which are written in the prophets. 24:15 I have hope toward God, which these themselves also wait for, that there is about to be a resurrection of the dead, both of the righteous and unrighteous. 24:16 And I apply myself in this, having a guilt-free conscience always toward God and men. 24:17 Now after many years I came bringing charity and offerings to my nation; 24:18 in which, they found me purified in the temple, not with a crowd, nor with an uproar. But it was some Jews from Asia, 24:19 who ought to be here and to accuse me before you, if they had anything to accuse me. 24:20 Or let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found in me when I stood before the council, 24:21 or concerning this one voice, that I cried out standing among them. I am being judged by you* today about the resurrection of the dead.
24:22 But Felix, having heard these things and knowing more accurately concerning The Way, postponed judging them, saying, Whenever Lysias the commander comes down, I will investigate the things against you*. 24:23 And he commanded the centurion to guard Paul and to let him have relief from bonds, and not to forbid any of his friends to attend or to come to him.
24:24 And after some days, Felix came with Drusilla, his wife, who was a Jewess and sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 24:25 And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the future judgment, Felix becoming fearful, answered, Go your way now, and when I take an opportunity, I will call you to me. 24:26 (He was hoping in the same time that monies will be given to him by Paul, *that he might loose him.) Hence he sent for him frequently and conversed with him. 24:27 But when two years were fulfilled, Felix received a successor, Porcius Festus, and wishing to lay up favors for himself with the Jews, Felix left Paul bound.
{Acts 24:6b,7,8a are missing from the majority of Greek texts.}
[Acts 25]
{July, 61 AD. Paul’s appear to Caesar.}
25:1 Therefore after three days, having stepped into the province, Festus went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. 25:2 And the high-priest and the foremost ones of the Jews indicated to him things against Paul, and they pleaded with him, 25:3 asking a favor against him, that he might send for him to come to Jerusalem; making* a plot to assassinate him on the road.
25:4 Therefore Festus answered, that Paul was to be kept in Caesarea and that he himself was about to go out there shortly. 25:5 Therefore he says, let those who are of power among you* go down with me and if there is anything in this man, let them accuse him.
25:6 And when he had stayed with them more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And on the next-day he sat upon the judgment-seat and commanded Paul to be brought before him. 25:7 And when he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and cruel accusations against Paul, which they were not strong-enough to show.
25:8 Then Paul said in his defense, I have not sinned any against either the law of the Jews nor the temple nor Caesar.
25:9 But Festus, wishing to lay up a favor for himself with the Jews, answering Paul, said, Are you willing to go to Jerusalem and to be judged there concerning these things before me?
25:10 But Paul said, I am standing before Caesar's judgment-seat, where I ought to be judged. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you also fully well know. 25:11 For* if indeed I do wrong and have practiced anything worthy of death, I do not renounce to die; but if none of those things is true of which they are accusing me, no one is able to grant me to them. I appeal to Caesar. 25:12 Then Festus, when he had spoken with the council, answered, You have appealed to Caesar, then to Caesar you will go.
25:13 Now when some days had elapsed, Agrippa the King and Bernice arrived in Caesarea and greeted Festus. 25:14 And as they stayed there many days, Festus submitted to the King, the things according to Paul’s case, saying, There is a certain man, a prisoner, left by Felix; 25:15 concerning whom, when I was in Jerusalem, the high-priests and the elders of the Jews indicated things to me, asking for a sentence against him. 25:16 To whom I answered, It is not a custom of the Romans to grant any man to destruction, before he who is accused might have the accusers face to face and might receive a chance for defense concerning the accusation. 25:17 Therefore when they had come together here, I did not postpone their meeting, but on the following-day sat upon the judgment-seat and commanded the man to be brought. 25:18 Concerning whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no accusation of things as I perceived; 25:19 but had some debates with him concerning their own religion and concerning a certain Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul claimed to be alive. 25:20 But I, being perplexed about the debate concerning this, asked if he was willing to go to Jerusalem and to be judged there concerning these things. 25:21 But when Paul had appealed to be kept *for the decision of {F} the Emperor, I commanded him to be kept until I might send him to Caesar. 25:22 And Agrippa said to Festus, I was also wishing to hear the man myself.
And he says, Tomorrow you will hear him.
25:23 Then* on the next-day with great pomp, Agrippa and Bernice came and entered into the auditorium with both the commanders and men of prominence, who are from the city and Festus having commanded, Paul was brought before him. 25:24 And Festus says, King Agrippa and all who are here with us, you* view this man, concerning whom all the crowd of the Jews petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, crying that he ought not to live any longer. 25:25 But I felt that he had practiced nothing worthy of death and I decided to send him since he himself also appealed to {F} the Emperor; 25:26 concerning whom I do not have any certainty as what to write to my lord. Hence I have brought him before you* and especially before you, King Agrippa, that, after his examination happens, I may have something to write. 25:27 For* it seems unreasonable to me to be sending a prisoner and not to signify the accusations against him.
{Footnotes: Acts 25:2, 5; 27:1- This is the Greek word ‘sebastos’, Latin is Augustus. See footnote on Luke 2:1. This could be translated as Reverend, His Majesty, all meaning the Emperor.}
[Acts 26]
{August, AD 61. Paul before Agrippa.}
26:1 And Agrippa said to Paul, It is permitted for you to speak on behalf of yourself. Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense. 26:2 Concerning all of which I am accused by the Jews, King Agrippa, I deem myself fortunate today, being about to make my defense before you; 26:3 especially because you are an expert of all customs and debates which are among the Jews. Hence I beseech of you to hear me patiently. 26:4 Then* my lifestyle indeed which was from my youth up, from the beginning in my own nation and in Jerusalem, all the Jews know this. 26:5 If they are willing to testify, (knowing me beforehand, from the start), that I lived as a Pharisee after the strictest sect of our religion. 26:6 And now I stand here to be judged for the hope of the promise that came by God to our fathers; 26:7 to which our twelve tribes, intensely giving-divine service to God night and day, are hoping to achieve the promise. And I am accused by the Jews concerning this hope, O king! 26:8 Why is it judged as unbelievable with you*, if God is awakening the dead? 26:9 I indeed thought with myself that I ought to do many things adverse to the name of Jesus the Nazarene. 26:10 I also did this in Jerusalem and I locked up many of the holy-ones in prisons, having received authority from the high-priests and when they were assassinated I voted against them. 26:11 And punishing them often in all the synagogues, I urged them to blaspheme, and being mad even-more with them, I persecuted them insofar as possible even to the cities outside our nation.
{Acts 2:14-42; 8:5-13; 8:30-39; 9:17-18, 22:6-14, 26:12-18; 10:34-38; 16:25-34; 16:13; 18:8-9; 19:1-7. Examples of those who were saved in the New Testament.}
26:12 In which I also went to Damascus with the authority and commission from the high-priests. 26:13 In the middle of the day, O king, on the road, I saw a light from heaven beyond the brilliance of the sun shining around me and those who went with me. 26:14 And when we had all fallen down to the earth, I heard a voice and saying to me in the Hebrew language, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the cattle-prods.
26:15 And I said, Who are you, Lord?
And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 26:16 But rise* up and stand upon your feet; for* to this end I have appeared to you, to assign you to be an attendant and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will make appear to you. 26:17 I am liberating you from the people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, 26:18 to open their eyes, that they may return from darkness to light and from the authority of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a portion among those who are sanctified in faith, that is in me.
26:19 Hence, O King Agrippa, I did not become disobedient to the heavenly vision. 26:20 But I was proclaiming first to them in Damascus and in Jerusalem and then to all the country of Judea and to the Gentiles, to repent and to turn to God, practicing works worthy of repentance. 26:21 Because of these things, the Jews took me in the temple and attempted to slay me. 26:22 Therefore having obtained the assistance that is from God, I stand to this day testifying both to the little and to the great, saying nothing outside of what the prophets and Moses said was about to happen. 26:23 If the Christ is to suffer, if he is first from the resurrection of the dead, then he is about to proclaim light to the people and to the Gentiles.
26:24 And he made his defense with these things.
Festus says with a loud voice, Paul, you are mad; your great scholarship is turning you mad.
26:25 But Paul says, I am not mad, most-excellent Festus; but I speak out the words of truth and self-discipline. 26:26 For* the king knows about these things, to whom I also speak boldly; for* I have confidence that not any of these things is eluding him; for* this has not been done in a corner. 26:27 King Agrippa, Do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.
26:28 And Agrippa said to Paul, Are you persuading me to become a Christian in a little while?
26:29 And Paul said, I pray to God, that both in a little while or in much time, not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become such; the sort of person I am, except-for these bonds.
26:30 And after Paul spoke these things, the king stood up and the governor and Bernice and those who sat with them; 26:31 and when they had departed, they spoke to one another, saying, This man is practicing nothing worthy of death or bonds.
26:32 And Agrippa said to Festus, This man might have been released, if he had not appealed to Caesar.
[Acts 27]
{Aug. 21 - Nov. 1, 61 AD. Mediterranean Sea. The voyage to Rome.}
27:1 And when it was decided that we should sail toward Italy, they gave Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion named Julius, of the Emperor’s cohort. 27:2 And having stepped on board, in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to the places along the coast of Asia, we set-sail, also being with us was Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica. 27:3 And the next-day we brought the ship into Sidon and Julius treated Paul humanely and permitted him to go to his friends and be cared for. 27:4 And setting-sail to sea from there, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were adverse. 27:5 And when we had sailed through the sea which is along Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia. 27:6 And the centurion found a ship from Alexandria there sailing to Italy, and he has us step onto it. 27:7 And voyaging slowly for a considerable number of days and we had come over against Cnidus with difficulty, the wind not permitting us to land. We sailed under the lee of Crete, over against Salmone; 27:8 and coasting along it with difficulty, we came to a certain place called Good Harbors; which was near the city of Lasea.
27:9 And when a considerable amount of time had elapsed and the voyage was already dangerous, because the Fast had already passed, Paul advised them, 27:10 and said to them, Men, I view that the voyage is about to be with disaster and great damage, not only of the load and the ship, but also of our lives. 27:11 But the centurion was persuaded by the helmsman and by the ship-owner, rather than by the things spoken by Paul. 27:12 But the harbor being* unfit to winter in, most counseled to set-sail to sea from there, if somehow they might arrive and winter near Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, looking northwest and southwest. 27:13 And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had taken-hold of their purpose, they lifted the anchor up and coasted along, closer to Crete. 27:14 But not long after, a typhoon wind, called Euroclydon, was cast against it; 27:15 and when the ship was seized and it could not face the wind, we gave way to it, and were carried along by the wind. 27:16 And running under the lee of an isle called Clauda, with difficulty, we were strong-enough to become skippers of the boat; 27:17 and when they had lifted it up, they used cables, undergirding the ship, and, fearing lest they might fall upon the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the tackling and so we were carried along. 27:18 But being extremely storm-tossed, the following-day they made* a jettison of the cargo; 27:19 and the third day they tossed out the tackling of the ship with their own hands. 27:20 And neither sun nor stars appearing upon us for many days and not just a little storm lay upon us, all hope that we might be saved was furthermore taken away. 27:21 And when they had been* long without food, then Paul stood forth in the midst of them and said, O men, you* ought to have been obedient to me and not have set-sail from Crete and then to have gained this disaster and damage. 27:22 And now, I am advising you* to be cheerful; for* there will be no termination of life from among you*, however of the ship, yes. 27:23 For* there stood by me this night a messenger of the God, whose I am, whom I also am giving-divine service to, 27:24 saying, Do not fear, Paul; you must stand before Caesar and behold, God has granted to you all those who are sailing with you. 27:25 Hence, lords, be cheerful; for* I believe God, that it will be so according to the manner it has been spoken to me. 27:26 But we must be fall into a certain island.
27:27 But when it became the fourteenth night, as we were carried to and fro in the Adriatic Sea, in the middle of the night the sailors perceived some country was approaching them. 27:28 And having sounded, they found twenty fathoms, and after a little bit of an interval of time, having sounded again, they found fifteen fathoms. 27:29 And fearing lest we might fall into rough places, they tossed the four anchors from the stern and began praying for it to become day. 27:30 But the sailors seeking to escape out of the ship and having lowered the boat into the sea in pretext, as though they were about to heave out anchors from the prow, 27:31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, If these sailors do not remain in the ship, you* are not able to be saved. 27:32 Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat and let her fall off. 27:33 And until it was about to become day, Paul encouraged them all to take some nourishment, saying, Today is the fourteenth day that you* were expecting to arrive and that you* are continuing without food, having taken nothing to eat. 27:34 Hence I am encouraging you* to take some nourishment; for* this is* for your* salvation; for* not a hair will fall from head of one of you. 27:35 And when he had said these things and had taken bread, he gave-thanks to God before all, and he broke it and began to eat. 27:36 When all became cheerful, they themselves also took nourishment. 27:37 And we were in the ship, all two hundred and seventy six souls. 27:38 And being satisfied with nourishment, they lightened the ship, casting the grain out into the sea.
{Nov. 1, 61 AD. Shipwreck on Malta.}
27:39 And when it became day, they did not recognize the land; but they perceived a certain bay with a beach and they counseled if they could drive the ship upon it. 27:40 And taking off the couplings to the anchors, they permitted them to fall in the sea, at the same time laxing the rudders’ couplings, and lifting up the foresail to the blowing wind, they headed toward the beach. 27:41 But falling into a place at the intersection of two seas, they beached the cargo-ship, and the prow stuck and remained unshakable, but the stern began to be dissolved by the violence of the waves. 27:42 And the soldiers' counsel was that* they should kill the prisoners, (anyone of them might swim away and escape). 27:43 But the centurion, intending to save Paul, did forbid them from their will, and commanded those who were able to swim to toss themselves over first and go out to land; 27:44 and the rest, some upon planks and some upon other things from the ship. And so it happened, all were saved upon the land.
[Acts 28]
{Nov. - Feb. 62 AD. Malta.}
28:1 And having been saved, then we recognized that the island was called Malta. 28:2 And the barbarians provided us exceptional kindliness; for* they lit a fire and received us all, because of the standing rain and because of the cold. 28:3 But when Paul twisted together a bunch of brush and having laid it upon the fire, a viper came out of the warmth and attached to his hand. 28:4 And when the barbarians saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to one another, This man is certainly a murderer, whom, being saved out of the sea, justice did not permit him to live. 28:5 Therefore he shook-off the snake into the fire and suffered no evil. 28:6 But they were expecting that he was about to swell up or to suddenly fall down dead. But expecting it for a long time and viewing nothing improper happening to him, having a turnabout, they said that he was a god.
28:7 Now in the regions around that place, were* farms possessed by the foremost one of the island, named Publius, who accepted us and lodged us courteously three days. 28:8 And it happened, that the father of Publius lay sick, held by fevers and dysentery; to whom Paul having entered and prayed and laid his hands on him, healed him. 28:9 Therefore when this happened, the rest who had sicknesses in the island also came and were healed, 28:10 who also honored us with many honors, and when we sailed, they placed on the ship the things *for our need.
28:11 And after three months, we were led to a ship from Alexandria with a insignia of The Twin Brothers which had wintered in the island.
{March, 62 - March 64. Rome.}
28:12 And bringing the ship into Syracuse, we remained there three days. 28:13 From where we went around and arrived at Rhegium and after one day a south wind came upon us and on the second day we came to Puteoli; 28:14 where we found brethren and were encouraged to remain with them seven days and so we came to Rome. 28:15 And the brethren from there, when they heard about us, came to meet us up to the Market of Appius and the Three Taverns; whom when Paul saw, he thanked God and took courage.
28:16 And when we came to Rome, the centurion gave the prisoners to the camp-commander, but Paul was permitted to abide by himself with the soldier guarding him.
28:17 And it happened, that after three days Paul called together those who were the foremost of the Jews and when they came together, he said to them, Brethren, I have done nothing adverse to the people or the customs of our forefathers. I, a prisoner from Jerusalem, was given up into the hands of the Romans. 28:18 The Romans, who, when they had examined me, wished to release me, because no crime exists worthy of death in me. 28:19 But when the Jews spoke against it, I was urged to appeal to Caesar; not that I had anything of which to accuse my nation. 28:20 Then*, because of this cause, I pleaded with you* to see and to speak with me; for* I am encompassed with this chain because of the hope of Israel.
28:21 And they said to him, We neither accepted writings from Judea concerning you, nor did any of the brethren come here and report or speak any evil concerning you. 28:22 But we deem it worthy to hear from you what things you are mindful of; for* concerning this sect, it is known to us that it is spoken against everywhere.
28:23 And when they had appointed him a day, they came to him, into his lodging in great number; to whom he expounded the matter, testifying the kingdom of God and persuading them the things concerning Jesus, both from the Law of Moses and from the prophets, from morning until dusk. 28:24 And some believed and some disbelieved the things which were spoken. 28:25 And when they disagreed among themselves, they dismissed themselves after Paul had spoken just one word, The Holy Spirit spoke well through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, 28:26 saying, ‘You go to this people and say, By hearing you* will hear and yet may never* understand, and seeing you* will see and yet may never* see; 28:27 for* this people's heart has become-callous and they have selectively heard with their ears and they have closed their eyes. Lest, they should see with their eyes and should hear with their ears and should understand with their heart and should return and I will heal them.’ {Is. 6:9f}
28:28 Therefore let it be known to you*, that this salvation from God is sent to the Gentiles and they will hear. 28:29 And when he had said these words, the Jews went away, having much debate among themselves.
28:30 And Paul remained two whole years in his own rented-house and accepted all who traveled to him, 28:31 preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, unforbidden by any.
{Actually writing of Acts AD 63.}
{Note: the actual writing of Mark, Matthew & Luke. 60-67 AD.}
{Paul’s Letters to the Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians AD 62-64 AD}
{Peter’s First & Second Letter, AD 60-64?}
{64 AD. Paul’s release from prison and visitation to various congregations.}
{July, 64 AD. The Great Fire at Rome, Christians accused of setting it.}
{Jude’s Letter; AD 60-70? AD}
{Paul’s Letter to Philemon, Timothy, Titus,}
{AD 65? Letter to the Hebrews. For sure sometime before the destruction of Jerusalem. A final attempt for salvation to the Jews.}
{Autumn 65 AD. Rome. Paul’s second imprisonment. Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy.}
{66 AD. Paul’s martyrdom at Rome.}
{Revelation about 67-70 AD or unlikely after the other letters of John}
{AD 70. Destruction of Jerusalem by Titus.}
{John’s Gospel could have been 67-90 AD. For sure as a supplement after the other three Gospels.} {Letters of John AD 67-90}
{End of the Harmony of the New Covenant.}
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Modern Literal Version Preface & Appendix , copyright 1999, 2014 by G. Allen Walker for the MLV New Testament Committee.
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