Acts 2-10

Worldwide English (New Testament)

2 On the day of Pentecost these people were all in one place.

² Then, suddenly, a sound came from heaven. It was like a very strong wind blowing. It went all through the house where they were sitting.

³ And then they saw tongues like fire. These were divided and came on each one of the people there.

⁴ All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit. They began to speak the words of God in other languages as the Spirit spoke through them.

⁵ Crowds of Jews were staying in Jerusalem. They had come from every country in the world. They were good men who believed in God.

⁶ Many people came together when they heard the apostles speaking. They did not know what to think. Everyone heard someone speaking in his own language.

⁷ They were all very much surprised and said to each other, `These men who are speaking, are they not all from Galilee?

⁸ How is it then that each one of us hears the language of our own country?

^9-11 We people from the countries of Parthia and Media and Elam all hear the wonderful things God has done. So also do the people who live in the countries of Mesopotamia, and in Judea in Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, in Phrygia, and Pamphylia, and in Egypt, and in some parts of Lybia around Cyrene, people from the city of Rome who are now living in Jerusalem, both Jews and those who joined themselves to the Jews, the people from Crete and Arabia. These men from Galilee are speaking in our own languages.'

¹² They were all very much surprised and could hardly believe it. `What does this mean?' they asked each other.

¹³ Other people laughed about it and said, `These men have been drinking too much new wine.'

¹⁴ Peter stood up with the eleven apostles. He shouted, `You men of Judea and all who stay in Jerusalem, listen to me! I will tell you the truth.

¹⁵ You think that these men are drunk. That is not so. It is only nine o'clock in the morning.

¹⁶ The thing that has happened is what the prophet Joel told about.

¹⁷ He said, "God says, `In the last days I will send my Spirit on all people. I will speak through your sons and daughters. Your young men will see visions and your old men will have dreams.

¹⁸ In those days I will send my Spirit on the men and women who serve me and I will speak through them.

¹⁹ In the sky above and on the earth below I will show wonderful signs with blood and fire and clouds of smoke.

²⁰ The sun will be dark and the moon will be like blood. These things will happen before the day of the Lord comes. It will be a great day that will be remembered always.

²¹ And anyone who calls out to the Lord will be saved.' "

²² `You men of Israel, listen to this. God showed you that he was pleased with this man, Jesus of Nazareth. He proved it by the big works and the wonderful signs which he did by Jesus right here among you people. And you yourselves know it.

^23-24 This same Jesus was given up. You let bad men take him. You let them nail him to a cross and kill him. This is just the way God had planned it. He knew how it would happen. But God raised him back to life. He set him free from the pain of death. Death could not hold him.

²⁵ `King David spoke about Jesus long ago. He said, "I saw the Lord before me always. He is at my right hand so that I may not be shaken.

^26-27 That made my heart very happy. It made my tongue sing for joy. And even my body also will rest in peace because you will not leave my body in the grave. You will not let your Holy One die and be spoiled.

²⁸ You have shown me the ways of life. You will make me very happy when I am with you."

²⁹ `My brothers, I can talk very plainly to you about your father, David. He died and was buried. His grave is still here today.

³⁰ He was a prophet. He knew that God had promised him that someone born of his family would sit on his chair to rule. That one was Christ.

³¹ David knew what would happen. So he said that Christ would be raised from death. Christ was not left in the grave. His body was not spoiled. David said all this before it ever happened.

³² And now we all saw it. We are telling people that God raised this Jesus back to life.

³³ `God made him great by making him sit at his right side. God gave him the Holy Spirit as he had promised. So he sent this which you now see and hear.

^34-35 avid himself has not gone up into the heavens. What he said was, "The Lord God said to my Lord, `Sit at my right hand till I bring your enemies down and put your feet on them.' "

³⁶ `So let all the people of Israel know this: God has made Jesus to be Lord and Christ. This is the same Jesus whom you nailed to the cross.'

³⁷ What Peter said cut the people's hearts when they heard it. They knew they had done wrong. They said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, `Brothers, what shall we do?'

³⁸ `Stop your wrong ways and turn back to God,' answered Peter. `And then everyone of you can be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ. Your wrong ways will be forgiven you, and you will receive the Holy Spirit.

³⁹ This promise is for you and your children and for all those whom the Lord our God calls, even though they are far away.'

⁴⁰ Peter went on talking and teaching the people. `Do not follow the wrong ways of people today,' he begged.

⁴¹ Then those who gladly received his words and believed were baptised. That same day about three thousand new believers joined them.

⁴² They kept on being taught by the apostles. And they kept on being with them. They ate bread together and talked with God.

⁴³ All the people were very much surprised. Many wonderful things and signs were done by the apostles.

⁴⁴ All the believers were together; and everything they had was for the use of all.

⁴⁵ They sold their things and divided the money among the believers. They gave each person what he needed. 46,

^46-47 nd every day the believers kept on gathering in the temple. They ate bread in each other's homes. They ate their food gladly and with open hearts. They praised God. All the people respected them. Day by day, the Lord added to the church those who were saved.

3 One day at three o'clock, Peter and John went to the temple to talk with God.

² There was a man who had been born lame. He was carried and was laid at the gate of the temple every day. The gate was called Beautiful. He was brought there to beg. He asked for money from the people who went into the temple.

³ This man saw Peter and John ready to go into the temple. He begged them to give him something.

⁴ Peter and John looked at him. Peter said, `Look at us.'

⁵ The man looked at them. He thought they would give him something.

⁶ Then Peter said, `I have no money. But I will give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!'

⁷ He took the man's right hand and raised him up. Right away his feet and ankles became strong.

⁸ He jumped to his feet and walked into the temple with them. He was so happy he jumped around and praised God.

⁹ All the people saw him walking and praising God.

¹⁰ And they knew that this was the man who sat begging at the temple gate which was called Beautiful. They were very much surprised at what had happened to him. They could hardly believe it.

¹¹ While the man still held on to Peter and John, all the people came running to them. It was in the part of the temple which is called Solomon's porch. They were still very excited.

¹² When Peter saw this, he talked to the people. He said, `Men of Israel, why are you so surprised at this? Do you think that we have power or are good enough to make this man walk? Why do you look at us that way?

¹³ The God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and of our fathers, has made his Son Jesus great. You gave him up to Pilate. You did not want to believe who he was. You did not want him back when Pilate agreed to let him go free.

¹⁴ You would not receive the one who was holy and good. You asked for a bad man, who killed people, to be given to you.

¹⁵ You killed the one who gives life, the one whom God brought back from death. We saw it and are telling people about it.

¹⁶ This man whom you see and know, believed in the name of Jesus Christ. This man's faith in that name has healed him. Yes, believing in Jesus Christ has made him well here in front of you all.

¹⁷ `My brothers, I know that you and your rulers killed Jesus because you did not understand what you were doing.

¹⁸ But in this way God did what he had told us would happen. Through all the prophets he had told us that Christ would suffer.

¹⁹ `Stop doing wrong things. Turn to God again. Then the wrong things you have done will be wiped away altogether. The Lord will give you a new start and make you very glad.

²⁰ He will send you Jesus. He was the one God chose to be the Christ.

²¹ But he must wait in heaven until the time when all things will be made new again as they were at first. By his holy prophets God spoke of all this from the beginning.

²² Moses himself said, "The Lord God will raise up for you a Prophet like me. He will be one of your brothers. You must listen to everything that the Prophet says to you.

²³ And everyone who does not obey that Prophet will be cut off from his people altogether."

²⁴ `Prophets spoke at the time of Samuel, and prophets spoke after that time. They all have told about these days also.

²⁵ You are the people who have received what the prophets promised. And you have received the agreement which God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, "Through your children all the nations of the earth will receive blessing."

²⁶ God raised up and sent his Son to you first to bless you. He blesses you when each one of you stops doing wrong things.'

4 Peter and John were talking to the people. The priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came to them.

² They were angry at Peter and John because they taught the people. They were angry because they told them that Jesus was brought back from death.

³ They caught them and put them in prison until the next day, because it was already evening.

⁴ But many of the people who heard them speak the word of God, believed what they said. The number of men who believed was about five thousand.

⁵ The next day their rulers, leaders, and scribes met in Jerusalem.

⁶ Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all of the high priest's family were there also.

⁷ Peter and John were brought before them. They asked the apostles, `By what power or in what name have you done this?'

^8-9 hen Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, `Rulers of the people and leaders of Israel, have you brought us to court today because of the good thing that was done to the lame man? Do you want to find out how he was healed?

¹⁰ Well, let it be known by all the people of Israel. This man standing before you is healed by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. He has done this. You nailed him to a cross, but God raised him from death.

¹¹ Jesus Christ is the stone which you, the builders, would not use. But he is now the chief corner stone.

¹² No one else can save us. Of all the people in the world, God chose him to save us. It is by him we must be saved.'

¹³ They saw that Peter and John were not afraid to speak out. They knew that they were like any other men. They did not have much training. So the people were very much surprised. They knew that Peter and John had been with Jesus.

¹⁴ They saw the man who had been healed standing beside them. So they could say nothing against them.

¹⁵ They told Peter and John to leave the court. Then they talked the matter over among themselves.

¹⁶ They said, `What shall we do to these men? All the people who live in Jerusalem know about this big work they have done. And we cannot say they did not do it.

¹⁷ But we do not want any more people to hear about it. So let us say to these men, "Take care! Never speak to anyone in this name again." '

¹⁸ They called them in and said, `Never speak or teach in this name again.'

¹⁹ But Peter and John answered them, `How does God look at it? Is it right for us to obey you or to obey him? You judge that for yourselves.

²⁰ As for us, we must tell the things we have seen and heard.'

²¹ So the high priest and those with him told them again. Then they let them go. They could not punish them because of the people. They all praised God for what had been done.

²² The man who had been healed was more than forty years old.

²³ When they were free, Peter and John went back to their own friends. They told them all that the chief priests and leaders had said to them.

²⁴ When they heard it, they talked to God together. They said, `Lord, you are God. You made the sky, and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them.

²⁵ Our father David was your servant. Through him you said by the Holy Spirit, "Why are the people who are not Jews so angry? And why do the people plan things for nothing?

²⁶ The kings of the earth joined their forces. And the rulers met together against the Lord and his Christ."

²⁷ `It is true that Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with Jews and those who were not Jews here in this city. They met to make secret plans against your holy Son Jesus, whom you made Christ.

²⁸ But they only did what you had already planned should be done.

^29-30 ord, hear their words. Listen to the wrong things they say against us. We are your servants. Help us to speak your word without fear. And heal the sick by your own power. Let signs and wonderful things be done in the name of your holy Son Jesus.'

³¹ When they had talked to God, the room they were in shook. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit. And they spoke the word of God without fear.

³² All the believers were one in heart and mind. Not one of them said, `This is mine.' But everything they had was for the use of all.

³³ With much power the apostles told how the Lord Jesus was raised from death. And God blessed them all very much.

^34-35 one of them was in need of anything. Those who owned fields and houses sold them. They brought the money to the apostles. Then the apostles gave each one what he needed.

³⁶ There was a man named Joseph, a Levite. He was born in the country of Cyprus. The apostles called him Barnabas. That means "one who helps."

³⁷ He had a field and sold it. He brought the money to the apostles and gave it to them.

^1-2 man named Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, sold a field. He brought some of the money to the apostles. But he kept the rest of it. His wife knew what he had done.

³ Peter said, `Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart? Why do you lie to the Holy Spirit? You have kept some of the money which you got for the field.

⁴ As long as you had the field, it belonged to you. When you had the money, you could do what you wanted to do with it. Why then did you plan to do a thing like this? You have not lied to men, but to God.'

⁵ As Ananias heard Peter's words, he fell down and died. All who heard these things were very much afraid.

⁶ The young men came and wrapped him up. They carried him out and buried him.

⁷ About three hours later, his wife came in. She did not know what had happened.

⁸ Peter asked her, `Tell me, did you sell the field for so much money?' and she answered, `Yes, that is how much it was.'

⁹ Then Peter said to her, `Why did you two agree together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen, I hear the footsteps of the men who buried your husband. They are at the door. They will carry you out too.'

¹⁰ And she fell down at Peter's feet and died. The young men came in and saw that she was dead. They carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

¹¹ Then all the church people, and all the people who heard about this were very much afraid.

¹² The apostles did many signs and wonderful things for the people who met together in the place called Solomon's porch.

¹³ Other people feared to join them, but they spoke well of them.

¹⁴ Many more men and women believed and came to the Lord.

¹⁵ They brought sick people out into the streets and laid them on beds and mats. They hoped that at least Peter's shadow would touch them as he passed by.

¹⁶ Many people also came from the cities around Jerusalem. They brought others who were sick and those who were controlled by bad spirits. Every one of them was healed.

¹⁷ Some Sadducees were with the high priest. They all became very jealous.

¹⁸ They caught the apostles and put them in prison.

¹⁹ But that night the angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out.

²⁰ `Go,' said the angel. `Stand in the temple and tell the people all about this new life.'

²¹ When the apostles heard that, they went into the temple early in the morning and taught the people there. The high priest and his men came. They called a meeting of the court and all the leaders of the Jews. Then they sent men to the prison to bring the apostles out.

²² When the men came to the prison, they did not find the apostles there. Then they went back and told the high priest and those with him.

²³ They said, `The prison was locked very well. And the police were guarding the doors. But when we opened the doors, no one was inside.'

²⁴ When the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard this, they did not know what to think. `We wonder what will come from all this,' they thought.

²⁵ Just then someone came and told them, `The men you put in prison are standing in the temple teaching the people.'

²⁶ Then the captain went with the men and brought the apostles quietly. They did not bring them by force because they were afraid the people would kill them with stones.

^27-28 o they brought them in and put them before the court. The high priest asked them, `Did we not tell you that you must never teach again in this name? But here you are, teaching people all over Jerusalem in this name. You are trying to put on us the blame for this man's death.'

²⁹ Then Peter and the other apostles answered them, `We must obey God rather than men.

³⁰ The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, the one you killed by hanging on a dead tree.

³¹ God has made him great at his right side. He has made him leader and Saviour. He has done this so that the people of Israel may stop doing wrong things and be forgiven.

³² We know these things are true. So does the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.'

³³ When the judges heard this, they were very, very angry and wanted to kill them.

³⁴ Then a lawyer named Gamaliel stood up in the court. He was a Pharisee and all the people respected him. He asked that the apostles be taken out for a while.

³⁵ Then he said, `Men of Israel, you had better take care what you plan to do to these men.

³⁶ Before this time, there was a man named Theudas. He tried to make people believe that he was a great man. He had about four hundred followers. He was killed, and all of his followers were scattered, and the whole thing ended.

³⁷ Then after that, at tax time, another man named Judas from Galilee made trouble. Many people followed him. He also was killed and all of his followers were scattered. 38,

^38-39 o now, I say, do nothing to these men. Leave them alone. If this is the teaching or work of men, it will come to an end. But if it is of God, you cannot stop these men. You might even be fighting against God!'

⁴⁰ They agreed to do what he said. They called in the apostles and had them beaten. They told them not to speak in the name of Jesus. Then they let them go.

⁴¹ The apostles left the court. They were very glad to think that God let them be punished for the name of Jesus.

⁴² Every day, in the temple and in homes, they kept on teaching and talking about Jesus Christ.

6 At that time more and more people joined the disciples. Then there was trouble about a certain matter. The Jews who spoke the Greek language complained against the other Jews. They said that each day when the food was being divided, their women whose husbands were dead did not get their part.

² Then the twelve apostles called all of the disciples together. They said, `It is not right for us to stop preaching God's word to divide the food.

³ So then, brothers, you choose seven men who you know are good men. Choose men who are full of the Holy Spirit and are wise. We will give them the work to divide the food.

⁴ But we ourselves will keep on talking with God and telling his word.'

⁵ This pleased all the people. The men they chose were Stephen, a man who believed God and was full of the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus from Antioch who had joined the Jews.

⁶ These men were brought before the apostles. When the apostles had talked with God, they put their hands on their heads [to bless them].

⁷ The word of God spread further and further, and many people in Jerusalem believed. Many of the priests also believed.

⁸ Stephen received much blessing and power from God. He did many wonderful things and signs among the people.

⁹ But some of the Jews argued with Stephen, and said he was wrong. (They belonged to the meeting place of the Free Men. They were Jews who came from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia and Asia Minor.) They did not agree with Stephen.

¹⁰ But they could not say anything against his wise words and the Spirit by whom he spoke.

¹¹ So they paid some people to say, `We have heard him say wrong things about Moses and God.'

¹² They talked to the people, the leaders, and the scribes, and made them angry. They went quickly and caught Stephen and took him into the court.

¹³ They brought in the men who told lies about him. They said, `This man is always saying wrong things about this holy place and the laws.

¹⁴ We have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will break down this place and that he will change the law which Moses gave us.'

¹⁵ Then all the judges who sat in the court looked at him and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

7 Then the high priest asked, `Is this true?'

² Stephen replied, `Men, brothers and fathers, listen to me. When our father Abraham was in the country of Mesopotamia, before he lived in the country of Haran, the God who is great and wonderful came to him.

³ God said, "Leave your country and your family and come to the country that I will show you."

⁴ Then Abraham came out of the country of the Chaldeans and lived for a while in the country of Haran. After his father died, God led him from there to this country where you are living now.

⁵ But God did not give any of the land to Abraham, not even a small part. But he promised that the land would belong to him. After him it would belong to his children, even though he did not have a child then.

⁶ This is what God told Abraham. He told him that his children would travel and live in another land. They would be slaves to the people there. They would have a hard time for four hundred years.

⁷ And God said, "I will judge the people who make them slaves. After that, they will come out of that land and serve me here."

⁸ God made the agreement of circumcision with Abraham. Abraham had a son Isaac. He made the mark of circumcision on the child's body and circumcised him on the eighth day. Isaac had a son Jacob, and Jacob had twelve sons who were our fathers.

⁹ `Because they were jealous, they sold Joseph to be a slave in the country of Egypt. But God was with Joseph.

¹⁰ He took him out of all his troubles. He blessed him and made him wise in the eyes of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. Pharaoh made him president in Egypt and a ruler over all the people of his house.

¹¹ For a long, long time there was no rain in Egypt and Canaan. And so there was very little food. This caused much trouble. Our fathers had nothing to eat.

¹² Then Jacob heard that there was food in Egypt. He sent his sons on their first trip to buy some. They were our fathers of long ago.

¹³ The second time they went, Joseph told his brothers who he was. And Pharaoh found out who Joseph's family was.

¹⁴ Then Joseph sent for Jacob his father and all the family to come. There were seventy-five people.

¹⁵ So Jacob went to Egypt. There he and our fathers died.

¹⁶ They were taken back to the place called Shechem and buried. Abraham had bought a grave from the family of Hamor in Shechem. He had paid money for it.

¹⁷ `Then it was almost time for God to do what he had promised to Abraham. The family of Jacob had become very large in Egypt.

¹⁸ Then a new king who did not know Joseph ruled over Egypt.

¹⁹ This king was not kind to our fathers but he gave them a hard time. They had to put their babies outside to die.

²⁰ `Moses was born during that time. He was a very fine baby. For three months he was raised in his own father's home.

²¹ When he was put outside to die, Pharaoh's daughter took him. She raised him as her own son.

²² Moses was taught all the things the Egyptians knew. He knew how to talk and could do great things.

²³ `When he was forty years old he decided to visit his own family, the people of Israel.

²⁴ There he saw one of them being hurt by an Egyptian. So he helped him. He fought for him and knocked down the Egyptian.

²⁵ He thought his people would know that God wanted him to make them free. But they did not understand.

²⁶ The next day he saw two of his own people fighting and he wanted to make peace. "You are brothers," he said. "Why are you fighting?"

²⁷ But the one who was fighting his neighbour pushed Moses away. He said, "Who made you our ruler and our judge?

²⁸ Do you want to kill me as you did the Egyptian yesterday?"

²⁹ When Moses heard these words, he left Egypt at once. He lived as a stranger in the country of Midian. While he was there, two sons were born to him.

³⁰ `When forty years had passed, he was in the wilderness near the hill called Sinai. There he saw fire in a small tree. An angel of the Lord was in the fire.

³¹ Moses looked at it. He was very much surprised. He came closer to look at it better. Then he heard the Lord speak to him.

³² The Lord said, "I am the God of your fathers. I am the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob." Moses began to shake. He was afraid to look.

³³ Then the Lord said, "Take off your shoes. You are standing on holy ground.

³⁴ I have looked and seen the trouble my people have in Egypt. I have heard them crying and I have come to make them free. Now come, I will send you to Egypt."

³⁵ `This is the same Moses the people would not accept when they said, "Who made you our ruler and our judge?" This is the one God sent to be their ruler and to make them free when he spoke through the angel in the small tree.

³⁶ It was Moses who led the people out of Egypt. He had done wonderful things and signs there, and in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness, for forty years.

³⁷ `This is the same Moses who said, "God will raise up one of your brothers to be a prophet, as he did me. Listen to him."

³⁸ This is the same Moses who was with God's people in the wilderness at the hill called Mount Sinai. He was with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers of long ago . It was he who received the words of life to give to us.

³⁹ `Our fathers would not obey Moses. They did not want him to lead them. They wished they were back in Egypt.

⁴⁰ They said to Aaron, "Make gods to lead us. We do not know what has happened to this Moses who brought us out of Egypt."

⁴¹ They made a young cow at that time and gave sacrifices to this god which was not the true God. They were very happy. What they had made pleased them.

⁴² `Then God turned away from them. He let them worship the sun, moon, and the many stars in the sky. The prophets of God wrote about it long ago. They said, "You people of Israel, did you sacrifice animals to me forty years in the wilderness?

⁴³ You carried the house of the god called Moloch and the star of the god called Rephan. You made gods of them to worship. I will carry you away to the other side of Babylon."

⁴⁴ `Our fathers had the tent for the laws of God in the wilderness. It was built the way God showed Moses to make it.

⁴⁵ Our fathers brought that tent with them when they came to this country. Joshua was their leader. God put aside the people who lived here first. Our fathers kept that tent with them until the time of David.

⁴⁶ God blessed David who asked God to let him make a better house for Jacob's God.

⁴⁷ But it was Solomon who built a house for him.

⁴⁸ But even so, God is above all. He does not live in houses that people make with their hands. The prophet says,

⁴⁹ "The Lord said, `The sky is the big chair from which I rule. I put my feet on the earth. So then, what kind of house will you build for me? Or where will I rest myself?

⁵⁰ I have made all these things myself.''

⁵¹ `You hard-hearted people! You have hearts and ears like the people who are not Jews. You always fight against the Holy Spirit just as your fathers did long ago.

⁵² What did your fathers do to the prophets of God? They made a lot of trouble for every one of them. They killed the ones who told that the Right and True One would come. He is the One you gave up to be killed. You are the killers.

⁵³ You received the law given by angels, but you have not kept it.'

⁵⁴ When the men heard what Stephen said, they were very angry. They made noises with their teeth to show they hated him.

⁵⁵ But Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit. He looked at the sky and saw the greatness of God. He saw Jesus standing at God's right side.

⁵⁶ `Look,' he said, `I see the sky open. I see the Son of man standing at God's right hand side.'

⁵⁷ Then the men shouted. They put their fingers in their ears. All together they ran at Stephen.

⁵⁸ They put him out of the city and threw stones at him. (Those who had talked against him laid their clothes down by the feet of a young man named Saul.)

⁵⁹ They kept on throwing stones at Stephen. He spoke to God and said, `Oh, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.'

⁶⁰ Then he kneeled down and said in a loud voice, `Lord, do not punish them for this wrong thing they are doing,' After he said this, he died.

8 Saul agreed to Stephen being killed. At that time the church people at Jerusalem had much trouble. The church people all went into Judea and Samaria. Only the apostles stayed on at Jerusalem.

² Good men buried Stephen. They were very sad because he died.

³ Saul made much trouble for the church people. He went into every house, pulled out men and women, and put them into prison.

⁴ The people who left Jerusalem went all around telling the good news about Jesus.

⁵ Then Philip went to the city of Samaria and told people about Christ.

⁶ And all the people together listened to what Philip said because they heard and saw the big works which he did.

⁷ Many people who were held by bad spirits were made free from them. The spirits came out of them crying loudly. Many other sick people were healed too. People who could not stand, and others who were lame, were healed.

⁸ The people all over the city were very glad.

⁹ But there was one man named Simon, a witch-doctor, who fooled the people of Samaria. He tried to make people believe that he could do big things.

¹⁰ And all the people, young and old, listened to him. They said, `This man is a big power of God.'

¹¹ He had fooled them for a long time with his work as a witch. That is why they listened to him.

¹² But Philip came and told them about God's kingdom and the name of Jesus Christ. The people believed him. Then both men and women were baptised.

¹³ Simon believed also. When he was baptised, he went with Philip. He was very much surprised when he saw the signs and the big works which were done.

¹⁴ Then the apostles at Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria believed God's word. So they sent Peter and John to them.

¹⁵ When they came to them, they prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit.

¹⁶ Until that time, none of the people there had received the Holy Spirit. They had only been baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus.

¹⁷ Then the apostles put their hands on the people and they received the Holy Spirit.

¹⁸ Simon saw that the people received the Holy Spirit when the apostles put their hands on them. Then he brought money to the apostles.

¹⁹ He said, `Give me this power, too, so that anyone on whom I put my hands will receive the Holy Spirit.'

²⁰ Peter said, `May you and your money be destroyed! You thought that you could buy the gift of God with money.

²¹ You have no part in this matter. You cannot have any of this because God sees that your heart is not right.

²² Stop your wrong ways. Ask the Lord. Perhaps God will forgive you for the wrong things you wanted to do.

²³ I see that you are very bitter. Your wrong ways control you all together.'

²⁴ Simon said, `Ask the Lord for me, so that none of the things you have talked about will happen to me.'

²⁵ The apostles told the people the word of the Lord. Then they went back to Jerusalem. On the way they told the good news in many villages in Samaria.

²⁶ The angel of the Lord spoke to Philip. `Get up,' said the angel. `Go south to the road that goes from Jerusalem to Gaza. It is desert there.'

²⁷ So Philip went. He saw a man from the country of Ethiopia. This man was a servant of Candace, the queen of the Ethiopian people. She gave this servant much power. He took care of her money. He had gone to Jerusalem to worship.

²⁸ Now he was on his way back. He sat in his carriage reading from the book which was written long ago by Isaiah, the prophet of God.

²⁹ The Spirit of the Lord said to Stephen, `Go over to that man in the carriage.'

³⁰ So Philip went running to him. He heard him reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah. `Do you understand what you are reading?' Philip asked.

³¹ `How can I? I have no man to teach me,' he answered. He asked Philip to get into the carriage and ride with him.

³² This is what he was reading: `He was led as a sheep to be killed. A lamb says nothing while its wool is being cut, so he also says nothing.

³³ He was put down very low. He was not allowed to have a proper trial. He had no children to follow after him. For his life is taken from the earth.'

³⁴ Then the man from Ethiopia asked Philip, `Please tell me, who is the prophet talking about, himself or some other man?'

³⁵ Then Philip told him about Jesus. He began with what the man read in the book.

³⁶ While they were going along, they came to some water by the road. The man said, `See, here is water. What is there to stop me from being baptised?'

³⁷ Philip answered, `If you believe with all your heart, you may be baptised.' The man said, `I do believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.'

³⁸ The man told the driver to stop. Then both he and Philip went down into the water, and Philip baptised him.

³⁹ When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord took Philip away. The man did not see him again, but he went on his way and was very happy.

⁴⁰ Next, Philip came to the town of Azotus. He told the good news in all the cities through which he passed. Then he came to Caesarea.

9 Saul was still very angry with the Lord's disciples. He said he would kill them. He went to the high priest.

² He asked him for letters to take to the meeting places at Damascus. In this way he was given the power to catch any men or women disciples. He could tie them and bring them back to Jerusalem.

³ He went on his way. All at once, near the city of Damascus, a light from the sky shone around him.

⁴ He fell to the ground and heard someone say, `Saul, Saul, why are you troubling me?'

⁵ Saul said, `Who are you, Lord?' The Lord said, `I am Jesus. You are troubling me.

⁶ But get up and go to the city. There you will be told what you must do.'

⁷ The men who had come with Saul stood there. They did not say a word. They heard a voice but did not see anyone.

⁸ Saul got up off the ground. When he opened his eyes, he was blind. They took his hand and led him to Damascus.

⁹ For three days he could not see, and he did not eat or drink.

¹⁰ A disciple named Ananias lived in Damascus. The Lord came to him in a vision and said. `Ananias.' He replied, `Here I am, Lord.'

¹¹ The Lord said, `Go into the street which is called Straight. At the house of Judas, ask for a man named Saul, from the city of Tarsus. He is there, talking with God.

¹² In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming to him. He has seen him put his hands on him so that he may see again.'

¹³ Then Ananias replied, `Lord, often I have heard of this man. He has brought much trouble to your people at Jerusalem.

¹⁴ The chief priests have given him power in this city to put into prison all those who call on your name.'

¹⁵ The Lord said, `Go, I have chosen him to take my name to the people who are not Jews, to kings, and to the people of Israel also.

¹⁶ I will show him how much he must suffer for my name's sake.'

¹⁷ Then Ananias went. He went into the house and put his hands on Saul. He said, `Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus came to you on the road while you were coming here. He has sent me to you so that you may see again, and that you may be filled with the Holy Spirit.'

¹⁸ At once some kind of skin which had covered Saul's eyes came off. He was able to see again from then on. He got up and was baptised.

¹⁹ And when he had eaten food, he was strong again. Saul stayed for some days with the disciples at Damascus.

²⁰ Right away he went to the Jewish meeting places and told the people that Jesus is the Son of God.

²¹ All the people who heard him were surprised. They said, `This man killed the people who called on Jesus' name in Jerusalem. He came here to catch them and tie them and take them to the chief priests!'

²² But Saul became stronger and stronger. He proved that Jesus is the Christ and made it so plain that the Jews at Damascus did not know what to say.

²³ Then some time after that, the leaders of the Jews planned to kill Saul.

²⁴ But he found out that they were waiting for him. The Jewish leaders watched the gates of the city night and day. They were waiting for a chance to kill him.

²⁵ Then one night the disciples put him in a basket and let him down outside the city wall.

²⁶ When Saul came to Jerusalem, he wanted to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him. They did not believe that he was a disciple.

²⁷ But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them, `Saul has seen the Lord on the road. The Lord has talked to him. After that he told God's word in the name of Jesus, without fear at Damascus.'

²⁸ So Saul stayed with the apostles and went around in Jerusalem. He told God's word in the name of the Lord Jesus without fear.

²⁹ He talked to the Jews who spoke the Greek language. But they did not agree with Saul, and so they made plans to kill him.

³⁰ When the Christian brothers knew that, they took him to Caesarea. Then they sent him to Tarsus [the city where he was born].

³¹ After that, the churches in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria were not troubled any more and they believed more strongly. The people obeyed the Lord, and the Holy Spirit helped them to believe. And many more people joined them.

³² While Peter was travelling through all the towns, he came to visit God's people who lived in the city of Lydda.

³³ There he saw a man named Aeneas who was sick. He could not stand up. He had been on his bed for eight years.

³⁴ Peter said to him, `Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed!' The man got up at once.

³⁵ All the people who lived at Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

³⁶ In the city of Joppa there was a disciple. Her name was Tabitha. That means Dorcas or Gazelle. She did much good work and she gave many things to the poor people.

³⁷ She became sick and died. They bathed her body and put her in a room upstairs.

³⁸ Lydda was near Joppa. When the disciples heard that Peter was at Lydda, they sent two men and asked for him to come quickly.

³⁹ Peter got up and went with them. When he got there, they took him to the room upstairs. Women whose husbands were dead stood there crying. They showed Peter the clothes and coats that Dorcas had made for them while she was with them.

⁴⁰ Peter put them all out. He kneeled down and talked to God. He turned to the body and said, `Tabitha, get up.' She opened her eyes. When she saw Peter, she sat up.

⁴¹ He took her hand and helped her get up. Then he called in God's people and the women, and he gave her back to them alive.

⁴² All over Joppa people heard about this. Many people believed on the Lord.

⁴³ Peter stayed in Joppa for many days. He was with a man named Simon, who made skins into leather.

10 In Caesarea lived a man named Cornelius. He was a big captain in the army. His soldiers were called the Italian Group.

² He was a good man. He and all the people of his house obeyed God. He gave many gifts to the poor. He always talked with God.

³ About three o'clock one afternoon, he clearly saw an angel from God coming to him in a vision. `Cornelius,' said the angel.

⁴ Cornelius looked at him. He was afraid and asked, `What is it, Sir?' The angel answered him, `God has heard what you said to him. He has remembered your gifts to the poor.

⁵ Send men to Joppa to call Simon, whose other name is Peter.

⁶ He is staying with Simon, the man who makes skins into leather. His house is by the sea. Peter will tell you what you should do.'

⁷ When the angel which spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his house servants. He also called one of the soldiers who believed in God and who always helped him.

⁸ He told them carefully all about his vision. Then he sent them to Joppa.

⁹ They went the next day. They were coming near to the city. About midday, Peter went up on the flat roof of the house to talk with God.

¹⁰ He became very hungry and wanted to eat. While food was being made ready, something like a dream came over him.

¹¹ He saw the sky open. A bundle like a big blanket was tied by the corners. It was let down to earth.

¹² In the bundle were all kinds of animals and snakes and birds.

¹³ Then Peter heard a voice saying to him, `Get up, Peter. Kill some and eat.'

¹⁴ But Peter said, `No, Lord, for I have never eaten anything that is not holy or not clean.'

¹⁵ Then the voice spoke to him again, saying, `What God has made clean you must not call unholy.'

¹⁶ This happened three times. Then the thing was taken up right away into the sky.

¹⁷ `I have seen a strange thing,' Peter said to himself. `I wonder what it all means.' He was thinking about all this. And the men whom Cornelius sent had asked the way to Simon's house. Now they stood at the gate.

¹⁸ `Is this where Simon Peter is staying?' they called.

¹⁹ Peter was still thinking about what he had seen. Then the Spirit of God said to him, `Three men are looking for you.

²⁰ Get up. Go down and go with them. Do not fear to go, because I have sent them.'

²¹ Then Peter went down to the men whom Cornelius had sent to him. He said, `Here I am. You are looking for me. Why have you come?'

²² They answered, `God sent a holy angel to Cornelius. He told him to call you to his house and hear what you have to say. Cornelius is a captain in the army. He is a good man. He does what is right and obeys God. All the Jews speak well of him.'

²³ Peter said, `Come in.' He had them stay as his guests. The next day he and some of the Christian brothers from Joppa went with the men.

²⁴ The day after that, they reached Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them. He had called his family and close friends together.

²⁵ Peter was about to enter the house. Cornelius met him. He kneeled down at his feet and worshipped him.

²⁶ But Peter raised him up and said, `Please stand up. I too am only a man.

²⁷ Peter talked to him and went in with him. He saw many people who had come together.

²⁸ He began to talk with them. He said, `You yourselves know it is against our law for a Jew to visit and be friends with someone who is not a Jew. But God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean.

²⁹ So when you sent for me, I did not say "No". Now I ask, why did you send for me?'

³⁰ Cornelius answered, `Four days ago, it was just at this time, three o'clock. I was in my house talking with God. I had not eaten any food. A man stood in front of me wearing shining clothes.

³¹ He said to me, "Cornelius, God has heard what you said to him. He has remembered your gifts to the poor.

³² Send men to Joppa to call for Simon Peter. He is staying with Simon, the man who makes skins into leather. His house is by the sea."

³³ So I sent for you right away. You have done well to come. Now we are all here before God to hear all that the Lord has told you to tell me.'

³⁴ Then Peter began to speak, `I really understand now. God does not love some people more than others.

³⁵ But he takes anyone who obeys him. He takes anyone who does what is right. It does not matter to what nation they belong.

³⁶ To the people of Israel God has sent the good news. He gives peace through Jesus Christ. He is Lord of all!

³⁷ You yourselves know the story of what happened all through Judea. It started in Galilee after the baptism which John talked about.

³⁸ God gave Jesus of Nazareth the Holy Spirit and power. Jesus went about doing good deeds. He healed all those who were held by the devil. God was with him.

³⁹ We saw all the things which he did in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. And they hung him on a piece of wood and killed him.

⁴⁰ On the third day, God raised him up to let people see him.

⁴¹ Not all the people saw him. But God had chosen us to see and to talk about him. We saw him. We ate and drank with him after he rose from death.

⁴² He told us to tell the people that God chose him to judge both the living people and the dead people.

⁴³ All the prophets tell about him. They say, "Everyone who believes in him will have his wrong ways forgiven through his name." '

⁴⁴ While Peter was saying this, the Holy Spirit came on all those who heard the message.

⁴⁵ The believers who came with Peter were Jews. They were very much surprised that the Holy Spirit was also sent to those who were not Jews. 46,

^46-47 hey heard them speak in tongues of other languages and praise God. Then Peter said, `These people have received the Holy Spirit just as we have. Can anyone say they may not be baptised in water?'

⁴⁸ So he said they were to be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ. They begged him to stay with them for a while.