Acts

Introduction

The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Yĕshūa̒ began to do and teach, ^1:2until the day when he was taken up, after he had by the Holy Spĭrit given orders to the emissaries whom he had chosen.

³To these he also presented himself alive, after his suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days, and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of the Almĭghty.

⁴And gathering them together, he commanded them not to leave Yerūshalayim, but to wait for what the Făther had promised, which, he said, “you heard of from me, ⁵because Yōḥanan immersed with water, but you will be immersed with the Holy Spĭrit not many days from now.”

⁶And so when they had come together, they were asking him, saying, “A’dōnai̱, is it at this time you are restoring the kingdom to Yisra’ēl?” ⁷He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Făther has fixed by his own authority, ⁸but you will receive power when the Holy Spĭrit has come upon you. And you will be my witnesses both in Yerūshalayim, and in all Yehūdah and Shōmrōn, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

Yĕshūa̒ Returns To Heaven

⁹And after he had said these things, he was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received him out of their sight. ¹⁰And as they were gazing intently into the sky while he was departing, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. ¹¹And they also said, “Men of Gali̱l, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Yĕshūa̒, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched him go into heaven.”

The 120

¹²Then they returned to Yerūshalayim from the mount called Olives, which is near Yerūshalayim, a Shabbat day’s journey away. ¹³And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, that is, Peter and Yōḥanan and Ya‘aqōv̱ and Andrew, Philip and Tōma’, Bar-Talmai̱ and Mattai̱, Ya‘aqōv̱ the son of Ḥalphai̱, and Shim‘ōn the Zealot, and Yehūdah the son of Ya‘aqōv̱. ¹⁴These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Miryam the mother of Yĕshūa̒, and with his brothers.

¹⁵And at this time Peter stood up in the midst of the brothers (a gathering of about one hundred and twenty persons was there together), and said, ¹⁶“Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spĭrit foretold by the mouth of Daυi̱d concerning Yehūdah, who became a guide to those who arrested Yĕshūa̒, ¹⁷because he was counted among us, and received his portion in this ministry.”

¹⁸(Now this man acquired a field with the price of his wickedness, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. ¹⁹And it became known to all who were living in Yerūshalayim, so that in their own language that field was called Ḥaqal Dema’, that is, Field of Blood.)

²⁰“For it is written in the scroll of Psalms, ‘Let his homestead be made desolate, and let no man dwell in it’, and, ‘His office let another man take.’ ²¹It is therefore necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that A’dŏnai̱ Yĕshūa̒ went in and out among us—²²beginning with the immersion of Yōḥanan, until the day that he was taken up from us—one of these should become a witness with us of His resurrection.”

²³And they put forward two men, Yōsēf called Bar-Shabba’ (who was also called Eustace), and Matti̱yah. ²⁴And they prayed, and said, “You, Yăhwēh, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two you have chosen ²⁵to occupy this ministry and emissaryship from which Yehūdah turned aside to go to his own place.” ²⁶And they drew lots for them, and the lot fell to Matti̱yah, and he was numbered with the eleven emissaries.

The 50Th Day, the Feast of Shavuot

And when the fiftieth day had come, they were all together in one place. ^2:2And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent, rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. ⁴And they were all filled with the Holy Spĭrit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spĭrit was giving them utterance.

⁵Now there were Yehūdi̱m dwelling in Yerūshalayim, devout men, from every nation under heaven. ⁶And when this sound occurred, the crowds came together, and were bewildered, because they were each one hearing them speak in his own language. ⁷And they were amazed and marveled, saying, “Why, are not all these who are speaking men of Gali̱l? ⁸And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born?:”

⁹“Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Yehūdah and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Yehūdi̱m and proselytes, ¹¹Cretans and Arabs! We hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of the Almĭghty.” ¹²And they all continued in amazement and great perplexity, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” ¹³But others were mocking and saying, “They are full of sweet wine.”

Peter Proclaims The Good News

¹⁴But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them, “Men of Yehūdah, and all you who live in Yerūshalayim, let this be known to you, and give heed to my words, ¹⁵because these men are not drunk, as you suppose, because it is only the third hour of the day, ¹⁶but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Yō’ēl:”

¹⁷“And it will be in the latter days says the Almĭghty, ‘That I will pour forth of my Spĭrit upon all mankind. And your sons and your daughters will prophesy, and your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. ¹⁸Even upon my servants, both men and women, I will in those days pour forth of my Spĭrit. They will prophesy. ¹⁹And I will put wonders in the heaven above, and signs on the earth beneath, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke. ²⁰The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and glorious day of Yăhwēh will come. ²¹And it will be, that everyone who calls on the name of Yăhwēh will be saved.’”

²²“Men of Yisra’ēl, listen to these words. Yĕshūa̒ HaNatsri̱, a man attested to you by the Almĭghty with miracles and wonders and signs which the Almĭghty performed through him in your midst, just as you yourselves know, ²³this Man, delivered up by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of the Almĭghty, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put him to death.”

²⁴“And the Almĭghty raised him up again, releasing the labor pains of death, since it was impossible for him to be held in its power. ²⁵Because Daυi̱d says of him, ‘I was always beholding Yăhwēh next to me, because he is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken. ²⁶Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue rejoiced. Moreover my flesh also will abide in hope, ²⁷because you will not abandon my soul to the grave, nor allow your Holy One to undergo decay. ²⁸You have made known to me the ways of life. You will make me full of gladness with your presence.’”

²⁹“Brothers, I can confidently say to you regarding the patriarch Daυi̱d that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. ³⁰And so, because he was a prophet, and knew that the Almĭghty had sworn to him with an oath to seat one from the fruit of his loin upon his throne, ³¹he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Mĕssiah, that he was neither abandoned to the grave, nor did his flesh suffer decay. ³²This Yĕshūa̒, the Almĭghty raised up again, to which we are all witnesses.”

³³“Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of the Almĭghty, and having received from the Făther the promise of the Holy Spĭrit, he has poured forth this which you both see and hear, ³⁴because it was not Daυi̱d who ascended into heaven, but he himself says, ‘Yăhwēh said to my A’dŏnai̱, “Stay on as my right hand while I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’ ³⁶Therefore let all the house of Yisra’ēl know for certain that the Almĭghty designates him both A’dŏnai̱ and Mĕssiah—this Yĕshūa̒ whom you crucified.”

Three Thousand Commit To Mĕssiah

³⁷Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the emissaries, “Brothers, what shall we do?” ³⁸And Peter said to them, “Repent, and let each of you be washed in the name of Yĕshūa̒ the Mĕssiah for the release of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spĭrit, ³⁹because the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far off, as many as Yăhwēh our Almĭghty will call to himself.”

⁴⁰And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Save yourselves from this perverse generation!”

⁴¹So then, those who had received his word were immersed, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

⁴²And they were continually devoting themselves to the emissaries’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³And fear came on every soul, and many wonders and signs were taking place through the emissaries. ⁴⁴And all those affirming faithfulness were together, and had all things in common. ⁴⁵And they were selling their property and possessions, and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. ⁴⁶And day by day continuing with one mind in the Temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, ⁴⁷praising the Almĭghty, and having favor with all the people. And Yăhwēh was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Healing the Lame Beggar

Now Peter and Yōḥanan were going up to the Temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer. ^3:2And a certain man who was lame from his mother’s womb was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the Temple which is called Beautiful, in order to beg alms of those who were entering the Temple.

³And when he saw Peter and Yōḥanan about to go into the Temple, he was asking to receive alms. ⁴And Peter, along with Yōḥanan, fixed his gaze upon him and said, “Look at us!” ⁵And he was giving them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. ⁶But Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you, “In the name of Yĕshūa̒ the Mĕssiah Ha-Natsri̱, walk!” ⁷And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up. And immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened.

⁸And with a leap, he stood upright and was walking! And he entered the Temple with them, walking and leaping and praising the Almĭghty. ⁹And all the people saw him walking and praising the Almĭghty, ¹⁰and they were taking note of him as being the one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple to beg alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Peter’s Second Message

¹¹And while he was clinging to Peter and Yōḥanan, all the people ran together to them at the place called the portico of Shelōmōh, full of amazement.

¹²But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, “Men of Yisra’ēl, why do you marvel at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk? ¹³The Almĭghty of A’v̱raham, Yitsḥaq, and Ya‘aqōv̱, the Almĭghty of our fathers, has glorified his servant Yĕshūa̒, the one whom you delivered up, and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. ¹⁴But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, ¹⁵but put to death the Prince of life, the one whom the Almĭghty raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses. ¹⁶And on the basis of the reliability of His name, this one whom you see and know — His name has made him strong, and the faithfulness which is through Him, has given him this wholeness before all of you.”

¹⁷“And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers did also. ¹⁸But the things which the Almĭghty announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Mĕssiah should suffer, he has thus fulfilled.”

¹⁹“Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of Yăhwēh, ²⁰and that he may send Yĕshūa̒, the Mĕssiah appointed for you, ²¹whom heaven must receive until the time of the restoration of all things, about which the Almĭghty has spoken by the mouth of his holy prophets since time immemorial. ²²Mōshēh said, ‘Yăhwēh your Almĭghty will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. To him you will give heed in everything he says to you. ²³And it will be that every soul that does not heed that prophet will be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ ²⁴And likewise, all the prophets who have spoken, since Shemū’ēl and his successors, also announced these days.”

²⁵“It is you who are the sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which the Almĭghty made with your fathers, saying to A’v̱raham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth will be blessed.’ ²⁶For you firstly, the Almĭghty raised up his Servant, and sent him, blessing you by turning each one from your wicked ways.”

Peter and Yōḥanan Arrested

And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the Temple guard, and the Tsaddūqi̱m, came upon them, ^4:2being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming by Yĕshūa̒ the resurrection from the dead. ³And they laid hands on them, and put them in prison until the next day, because it was already evening. ⁴But many of those who had heard the message affirmed faithfulness. And the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

⁵And it came about on the next day, that their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Yerūshalayim; ⁶and Ḥanan the high priest was there, and Qai̱yafa’ and Yōḥanan and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent. ⁷And when they had placed them in the center, they were inquiring, “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?”

⁸Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spĭrit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people, ⁹if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a crippled man, as to how this man has been made well, ¹⁰let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Yisra’ēl, that by the name of Yĕshūa̒ the Mĕssiah Ha-Natsri̱, whom you crucified, whom the Almĭghty raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good health.”

¹¹“He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the very corner stone. ¹²And there is salvation in no one else, because there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved.”

A Public Order Not To Proclaim Mĕssiah

¹³Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and Yōḥanan, and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they had been amazed, and they recognized them as having been with Yĕshūa̒. ¹⁴And seeing the man who was healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply. ¹⁵But when they had ordered them to go aside out of the Council, they were conferring with one another, ¹⁶saying, “What shall we do with these men? Because the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Yerūshalayim, and we cannot deny it. ¹⁷But in order that it may not spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to any man in this name.”

¹⁸And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Yĕshūa̒. ¹⁹But Peter and Yōḥanan answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of the Almĭghty to give heed to you rather than to the Almĭghty, you be the judge, ²⁰because we cannot stop speaking what we have seen and heard.”

²¹And when they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which they might punish them) on account of the people, because they were all glorifying the Almĭghty for what had happened, ²²because the man was more than forty years old on whom this miracle of healing was performed.

²³And when they were released, they went to their own companions, and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. ²⁴And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to the Almĭghty with one accord and said, “Yahweh, it is you who did make the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them, ²⁵who by the Holy Spĭrit, through the mouth of our father Daυi̱d your servant, did say, ‘Why do the nations rage, and the masses devise futile things? ²⁶The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers were gathered together against Yăhwēh, and against his Mĕssiah.’ ²⁷For truly in this city there were gathered together against your Holy Servant Yĕshūa̒, whom you did anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the nations and the peoples of Yisra’ēl, ²⁸to do whatever your hand and your purpose marked out beforehand to occur.” ²⁹“And now, Yăhwēh, take note of their threats, and grant that your servants may speak your word with all confidence, ³⁰while you extend your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of your Holy Servant Yĕshūa̒.”

³¹And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spĭrit, and were speaking the word of the Almĭghty with boldness.

Sharing Among The Faithful

³²And the congregation of those who affirmed faithfulness were of one heart and soul, and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them. ³³And with great power the emissaries were giving witness to the resurrection of A’dŏnai̱ Yĕshūa̒, and abundant loving-kindness was upon them all. ³⁴For there was not a needy person among them, because all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales, ³⁵and lay them at the emissaries’ feet. And they would be distributed to each, as any had need. ³⁶And Yōsēf, a Lēυi̱ of Cyprian birth, who was also called Bar-Nabba’ by the emissaries, (which translated means, “son of encouragement”), ³⁷and who owned a tract of land, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the emissaries’ feet.

Ḥananyah And Shappi̱rah Lie To The Almighty

But a certain man named Ḥananyah, with his wife Shappi̱rah, sold a piece of property, ^5:2and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife’s full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the emissaries’ feet. ³But Peter said, “Ḥananyah, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spĭrit, and to keep back some of the price of the land? ⁴While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to the Almĭghty.”

⁵And as he heard these words, Ḥananyah fell down and breathed his last, and great fear came upon all who heard of it. ⁶And the young men arose and covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him.

⁷Now there elapsed an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. ⁸And Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price?” And she said, “Yes, that was the price.” ⁹Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spĭrit of Yăhwēh to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well.” ¹⁰And she fell immediately at his feet, and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. ¹¹And great fear came upon the whole assembly, and upon all who heard of these things.

¹²And at the hands of the emissaries many signs and wonders were taking place among the people, and they were all with one accord in Shelōmōh’s portico. ¹³But none of the rest dared to associate with them. However, the people held them in high esteem. ¹⁴And all the more were being added, affirming faithfulness to Yăhwēh, crowds of men and women, were constantly added to their number, ¹⁵to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets, and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on any one of them. ¹⁶And also the people from the cities in the vicinity of Yerūshalayim were coming together, bringing people who were sick or afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed.

Obeying The Almĭghty Rather Than Men

¹⁷But the high priest rose up, along with all his associates, (that is the sect of the Tsaddūqi̱m), and they were filled with jealousy. ¹⁸And they laid hands on the emissaries, and put them in a public prison.

¹⁹But a messenger from Yăhwēh during the night opened the gates of the prison, and taking them out he said, ²⁰“Go your way, stand and speak to the people in the Temple the whole message of this Life.” ²¹And upon hearing this, they entered into the Temple about daybreak, and were teaching.

^21bNow when the high priest and his associates had come, they called the Council together, even all the Senate of the sons of Yisra’ēl, and sent orders to the prison house for them to be brought. ²²But the officers who came did not find them in the prison. And they returned, and reported back, ²³saying, “We found the prison house locked quite securely and the guards standing at the doors, but when we had opened up, we found no one inside.” ²⁴Now when the captain of the Temple guard and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them as to what would come of this.

²⁵But someone came and reported to them, “Behold, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the Temple and teaching the people!” ²⁶Then the captain went along with the officers and proceeded to bring them back without violence (because they were afraid of the people, lest they should be stoned). ²⁷And when they had brought them, they stood them before the Council. And the high priest questioned them, ²⁸saying, “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and behold, you have filled Yerūshalayim with your teaching, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.”

²⁹But Peter and the emissaries answered and said, “We must obey the Almĭghty rather than men. ³⁰The Almĭghty of our fathers raised up Yĕshūa̒, whom you had put to death by crucifying him on a cross. ³¹He is the one whom the Almĭghty exalted to his right hand as Prince and a Savior, to give opportunity for repentance to Yisra’ēl, and forgiveness of sins. ³²And we are witnesses of these things. And so is the Holy Spĭrit, whom the Almĭghty has given to those who obey him.”

Gamli̱’ēl’s Advice

³³But when they heard this, they were enraged and were intending to slay them. ³⁴But a certain Perūshi̱ named Gamli̱’ēl, a teacher of the Law, respected by all the people, stood up in the Council and gave orders to put the men outside for a short time. ³⁵And he said to them, “Men of Yisra’ēl, take care what you propose to do with these men. ³⁶For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men joined up with him. And he was slain. And all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. ³⁷After this man, Yehūdah of Gali̱l rose up in the days of the census, and drew away some people after him. He too perished, and all those who followed him were scattered. ³⁸And so in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, because if this plan or action should be of men, it will be overthrown, ³⁹but if it is of the Almĭghty, you will not be able to overthrow them, or else you may even be found fighting against the Almĭghty.”

⁴⁰And they took his advice. And after calling the emissaries in, they flogged them and ordered them to speak no more in the name of Yĕshūa̒, and then released them. ⁴¹So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they were considered worthy to suffer shame for his name. ⁴²And every day, in the Temple, and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and proclaiming Yĕshūa̒ as the Mĕssiah.

Choosing the Seven

Now at this time while the disciples were increasing, a complaint arose on the part of the Greek speaking Yehūdi̱m against the Hebrew speaking Yehūdi̱m, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving. ^6:2And the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of the Almĭghty in order to serve tables. ³But select from among you, brothers, seven men of good reputation, full of the Spĭrit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. ⁴But we will devote ourselves to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.”

⁵And the statement found approval with the whole congregation. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faithfulness and of the Holy Spĭrit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch. ⁶And these they brought before the emissaries, and after praying, they laid their hands on them.

⁷And the word of the Almĭghty kept on spreading, and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Yerūshalayim, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

⁸And Stephen, full of loving-kindness and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. ⁹But some men from what was called the Congregation of the Freedmen, including both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. ¹⁰And yet they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spĭrit with which he was speaking.

¹¹Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Mōshēh and the Almĭghty.” ¹²And they stirred up the people, the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and dragged him away, and brought him before the Council. ¹³And they put forward false witnesses who said, “This man incessantly speaks against this holy place, and the Law, ¹⁴because we have heard him say that this Natsri̱, Yĕshūa̒, will destroy this place and alter the customs which Mōshēh handed down to us.”

¹⁵And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an messenger.

Stephen’s Defense

And the high priest said, “Are these things so?”

^7:2And he said, “Hear me, brothers and fathers! The Almĭghty of glory appeared to our father A’v̱raham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Ḥaran, ³and said to him, ‘Depart from your country and your relatives, and come into the land that I will show you.’ ⁴Then he departed from the land of the Kasdi̱m, and settled in Ḥaran. And from there, after his father died, the Almĭghty removed him into this country in which you are now living. ⁵And he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot of ground. And yet, even when he had no child, he promised that he would give it to him as a possession, and to his offspring after him. ⁶But the Almĭghty spoke to this effect, that his offspring would be aliens in a foreign land, (and that they would be enslaved and mistreated) for four hundred years. ⁷‘And whatever nation to which they will be in bondage I Myself will judge,’ said the Almĭghty, ‘and after that they will come out and serve me in this place.’ ⁸And he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so A’v̱raham became the father of Yitsḥaq, (and circumcised him on the eighth day), and Yitsḥaq of Ya‘aqōv̱, and Ya‘aqōv̱ of the twelve patriarchs.”

⁹“And the patriarchs became jealous of Yōsēf and sold him into Egypt. And yet the Almĭghty was with him, ¹⁰and rescued him from all his afflictions, and granted him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. And he made him governor over Egypt and all his household. ¹¹Now a famine came over all Egypt and Kena‘an, and great affliction, and our fathers could find no food. ¹²But when Ya‘aqōv̱ heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our fathers there the first time. ¹³And on the second visit Yōsēf made himself known to his brothers, and Yōsēf’s family was disclosed to Pharaoh. ¹⁴And Yōsēf sent word and invited Ya‘aqōv̱ his father and all his relatives to come to him, seventy-five persons in all. ¹⁵And Ya‘aqōv̱ went down to Egypt and there passed away, he and our fathers. ¹⁶And from there they were removed to Sheḳem, and laid in the tomb which A’v̱raham had purchased for a sum of money from the sons of Ḥamōr in Sheḳem.”

¹⁷“But as the time of the promise was approaching, which the Almĭghty had assured to A’v̱raham, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt, ¹⁸until there arose another king over Egypt who knew nothing about Yōsēf. ¹⁹It was he who took shrewd advantage of our family clan, and mistreated our fathers so that they would expose their infants and they would not survive.”

²⁰“And it was at this time that Mōshēh was born, and he was lovely in the sight of the Almĭghty, and he was nurtured three months in his father’s home. ²¹And after he was exposed, Pharaoh’s daughter took him away, and nurtured him as her own son. ²²And Mōshēh was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians, and he was a man of power in words and deeds.”

²³“But when he fulfilled the age of forty, it entered his mind to visit his brothers, the sons of Yisra’ēl. ²⁴And when he saw one being treated unjustly, he defended him and took vengeance for the oppressed person by striking down the Egyptian. ²⁵And he supposed that his brothers understood that the Almĭghty was granting them deliverance through him, but they did not understand. ²⁶And on the following day he appeared to them as they were fighting together, and he tried to reconcile them in peace, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers, why do you injure one another?’ ²⁷But the one who was injuring his neighbor pushed him away, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and judge over us? ²⁸‘You do not mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday, do you?’ ²⁹And at this remark Mōshēh fled, and became an alien in the land of Midyan, where he became the father of two sons.”

³⁰“And after forty years had passed, the Mĕssenger appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Si̱nai̱, in the flame of a burning thorn bush. ³¹And when Mōshēh saw it, he was marveling at the sight, and as he approached to look more closely, there came the voice of Yăhwēh, ³²‘I am the Almĭghty of your fathers, the Almĭghty of A’v̱raham and Yitsḥaq and Ya‘aqōv̱.’ And Mōshēh shook with fear and would not venture to look. ³³But Yăhwēh said to him, ‘Take off the sandals from your feet, because the place on which you are standing is holy ground. ³⁴I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt, and have heard their groans, and I have come down to deliver them. Come now, and I will send you to Egypt.’”

³⁵“This Mōshēh whom they disowned, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’, is the one whom the Almĭghty sent to be both a ruler and a deliverer with the help of the Mĕssenger who appeared to him in the thorn bush. ³⁶This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in the land of Egypt and in the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years. ³⁷This is the Mōshēh who said to the sons of Yisra’ēl, ‘The Almĭghty will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers.’ ³⁸This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness together with the Mĕssenger who was speaking to him on Mount Si̱nai̱, and who was with our fathers, and he received living oracles to pass on to you.”

³⁹“And our fathers were unwilling to be obedient to him, but repudiated him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt, ⁴⁰saying to A’harōn, ‘Make for us gods who will go before us, because this Mōshēh who led us out of the land of Egypt—we do not know what happened to him.’ ⁴¹And at that time they made a calf and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and were rejoicing in the works of their hands. ⁴²But the Almĭghty turned away and delivered them up to serve the host of heaven, as it is written in the scroll of the prophets, ‘It was not to me that you offered victims and sacrifices forty years in the wilderness, was it, house of Yisra’ēl? ⁴³You also took along the tabernacle of Moloch and the star of the god Rompha, the images which you made to worship them. I also will remove you beyond Babylon.’”

⁴⁴“Our fathers had the tabernacle of testimony in the wilderness, just as he who spoke to Mōshēh directed him to make it according to the pattern which he had seen. ⁴⁵And having received it in their turn, our fathers brought it in with Yehōshū‘a upon dispossessing the nations whom the Almĭghty drove out before our fathers, until the time of Daυi̱d.”

⁴⁶“And Daυi̱d found favor in the Almighty’s sight, and asked that he might find a dwelling place for the Almĭghty of Ya‘aqōv̱. ⁴⁷But it was Shelōmōh who built a house for him. ⁴⁸However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands, just as the prophet says, ⁴⁹‘Heaven is my throne, and earth is the footstool of my feet. What kind of house will you build for me?’ says Yahweh. ‘Or what place is there for my repose? ⁵⁰Was it not my hand which made all these things?’”

⁵¹“You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spĭrit. You are doing just as your fathers did. ⁵²Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become, ⁵³you who received the Law attended by ranks of messengers, and yet did not keep it!”

Stephen Put to Death

⁵⁴Now when they heard this, they were enraged, and they were gnashing their teeth at him. ⁵⁵But being full of the Holy Spĭrit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of the Almĭghty, and Yĕshūa̒ standing at the right hand of the Almĭghty. ⁵⁶And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Sŏn of Man standing at the right hand of the Almĭghty.”

⁵⁷But they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears, and they rushed upon him with one impulse. ⁵⁸And when they had driven him out of the city, they were stoning him, and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Sha’ūl.

⁵⁹And they went on stoning Stephen as he called upon Yăhwēh and said, “A’dōnai̱ Yĕshūa̒, receive my spirit!” ⁶⁰And falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Yăhwēh, do not hold this sin against them!” And having said this, he fell asleep.

Sha’ūl Persecutes the Assembly

And Sha’ūl had been approving during his execution. And on that day a great persecution arose against the assembly in Yerūshalayim. And they were all scattered throughout the regions of Yehūdah and Shōmrōn, except the emissaries. ^8:2And some devout men buried Stephen, and made a great lamentation over him. ³But Sha’ūl was ravaging the assembly, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.

Philip in Shōmrōn

⁴Therefore, those who were scattered went about proclaiming the word. ⁵And Philip went down to the city of Shōmrōn and was proclaiming Mĕssiah to them. ⁶And the crowds were unanimously giving attention to what was being said by Phillip, while listening to him and observing the signs which he had been doing, ⁷because in the case of many who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice. And many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. ⁸And there was much rejoicing in that city.

⁹Now there was a certain man named Shim‘ōn, who beforehand was practicing magic in the city, and amazing the Shōmrōni̱ nation, claiming himself to be someone great. ¹⁰And they all, from smallest to greatest, had been giving attention to him, saying, “This man is what is called the Great Power of the Almĭghty.” ¹¹And they had been giving him attention because he had for a long time amazed them with his magic arts.

¹²But when they affirmed faithfulness, by Philip proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of the Almĭghty and the name of Yĕshūa̒ the Mĕssiah, they were being immersed, men and women alike. ¹³And even Shim‘ōn himself affirmed faithfulness, and after being immersed, he continued on with Philip. And as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed.

¹⁴Now when the emissaries in Yerūshalayim heard that Shōmrōn had received the word of the Almĭghty, they sent them Peter and Yōḥanan, ¹⁵who came down and prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spĭrit, ¹⁶because he had not yet fallen upon any of them. They had only been immersed in the name of Adŏnai Yĕshūa̒. ¹⁷Then they were laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spĭrit.

¹⁸Now when Shim‘ōn saw that the Spĭrit was bestowed through the laying on of the emissaries’ hands, he offered them money, ¹⁹saying, “Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spĭrit.” ²⁰But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of the Almĭghty with money! ²¹You have no part or portion in this matter, because your heart is not right before the Almĭghty. ²²Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to Yăhwēh that if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you. ²³Because I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.” ²⁴So Shim‘ōn answered and said, “Plead yourselves for me to Yăhwēh, so that nothing may come upon me of what you have said.”

An Ethiopian Receives Mĕssiah

²⁵And so, when they had thoroughly testified and spoken the word of Yăhwēh, they returned to Yerūshalayim. Besides they had been proclaiming the good news to many villages of the Shōmrōni̱m.

²⁶But a messenger from Yăhwēh spoke to Philip saying, “Arise and go south to the road that descends from Yerūshalayim to A‘zzah.” This is a desert road. ²⁷And he arose and went, and behold, there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. And he had come to Yerūshalayim to worship. ²⁸And he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Yesha‘yahū. ²⁹And the Spĭrit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.” ³⁰And when Philip had run up, he heard him reading Yesha‘yahū the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” ³¹And he said, “Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

³²Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this: “He was led as a sheep to slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he is not going to open his mouth. ³³With humiliation a just judgment was denied him. Who will ponder it in his generation? For his life is removed from the earth.” ³⁴And the eunuch answered Philip and said, “Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself, or of someone else?” ³⁵And Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he proclaimed Yĕshūa̒ to him.

³⁶And as they went along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being immersed?” ³⁸And he ordered the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he immersed him. ³⁹And when they came up out of the water, the Spĭrit of Yăhwēh snatched Philip away. And the eunuch saw him no more, but went on his way rejoicing. ⁴⁰But Philip found himself at A’shdōd, and as he passed through he had been proclaiming the good news to all the cities, until he came to Caesarea.

The Conversion of Sha’ūl

Now Sha’ūl, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of Yăhwēh, went to the high priest, ^9:2and asked for letters from him to the congregations at Dammeseq, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men, besides also women, he might bring them bound to Yerūshalayim.

³And it came about that as he journeyed, he was approaching Dammeseq, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him, ⁴and he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Sha’ūl, Sha’ūl, why are you persecuting me?” ⁵And he said, “Who are you, Adŏnai?” And he said, “I am Yĕshūa̒ whom you are persecuting, ⁶but rise, and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do.”

⁷And the men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the voice, but seeing no one. ⁸And Sha’ūl got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing. And leading him by the hand, they brought him into Dammeseq. ⁹And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

¹⁰Now there was a certain disciple at Dammeseq, named Ḥananyah, and Yăhwēh said to him in a vision, “Ḥananyah!” And he said, “Behold, here am I, Yăhwēh.” ¹¹And Yăhwēh said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and ask at the house of Yehūdah for a man from Tarsus named Sha’ūl, because behold, he is praying, ¹²and he has seen in a vision a man named Ḥananyah come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight.”

¹³But Ḥananyah answered, “Yăhwēh, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to your holy ones at Yerūshalayim, ¹⁴and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call upon your name.”

¹⁵But Yăhwēh said to him, “Go, because he is my chosen instrument, to bear my name before the nations, and kings, and the sons of Yisra’ēl. ¹⁶Indeed, I will show him how much it is necessary for him to suffer for my name’s sake.”

¹⁷And Ḥananyah departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, “Brother Sha’ūl, Adŏnai Yĕshūa̒, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spĭrit.” ¹⁸And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he arose and was immersed, ¹⁹and he took food and was strengthened.

Sha’ūl Begins to Preach Messiah

^19bAnd it happened for some days he was with the disciples who were at Dammeseq, ²⁰and immediately he was proclaiming Yĕshūa̒ in the congregations, saying, “He is the Almĭghty Sŏn.” ²¹And all those hearing him had been amazed, and were saying, “Is this not he who in Yerūshalayim destroyed those who called on this name, and who had come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?” ²²But Sha’ūl kept increasing in strength and confounding the Yehūdi̱m who lived at Dammeseq by proving that this Yĕshūa̒ is the Mĕssiah.

²³And when sufficient days had been fulfilled, the Yehūdi̱m plotted together to do him in, ²⁴but their plot became known to Sha’ūl. And they were also watching the gates day besides also night so that they might do him in, ²⁵but his disciples took him by night through the wall. They let him down, lowering him in a large basket.

²⁶And when he had come to Yerūshalayim, he had attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, not trusting that he was a disciple. ²⁷But Bar-Nabba’ took hold of him and brought him to the emissaries and described to them how he had seen Yăhwēh on the road, and that he had talked to him, and how at Dammeseq he had spoken out boldly in the name of Yĕshūa̒. ²⁸Then he had been with them going in, and going out of Yerūshalayim, speaking out boldly in the name of Yăhwēh. ²⁹And he was talking and debating with the Greek Yehūdi̱m, but they had undertaken to do him in. ³⁰But when the brothers learned of it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus.

³¹So the assembly throughout all Yehūdah and Gali̱l and Shōmrōn enjoyed peace, being built up, and, going on in the fear of Yăhwēh and in the comfort of the Holy Spĭrit, it continued to increase.

Peter’s Ministry

³²Now it came about that as Peter was traveling through all those parts, he came down also to the holy ones who lived at Lōd. ³³And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, who was bedridden eight years, because he was paralyzed. ³⁴And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Yĕshūa̒ the Mĕssiah heals you. Arise, and make your bed.” And immediately he arose.

³⁵And all who lived at Lōd and Sharōn saw him, and they turned to Yăhwēh. ³⁶Now in Yafō there was a certain disciple named Tav̱i̱ta’ (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas). She had been full of good works, and charity, which she had been doing. ³⁷And it came about at that time that she fell sick and died, and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an upper room. ³⁸And since Lōd was near Yafō, the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, entreating him, “Do not delay to come to us.”

³⁹And Peter arose and went with them. And when he had come, they brought him into the upper room. And all the widows stood beside him weeping, and showing all the tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them. ⁴⁰But Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body, he said, “Tav̱i̱ta’, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. ⁴¹And he gave her his hand and raised her up. And calling the holy ones and widows, he presented her alive. ⁴²And it became known all over Yafō, and many affirmed faithfulness to Yăhwēh. ⁴³And it came about that he stayed many days in Yafō with a certain tanner, Shim‘ōn.

Cornelius’s Vision

Now there was a certain man at Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian cohort, ^10:2a devout man, and one who feared the Almĭghty with all his household, and he gave many alms to the people, and prayed to the Almĭghty continually. ³About the ninth hour of the day he clearly saw in a vision the messenger of the Almĭghty come to him, and say to him, “Cornelius!” ⁴And fixing his gaze upon him and being much alarmed, he said, “What is it, Sir?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before the Almĭghty. ⁵And now dispatch some men to Yafō, and send for a man named Shimō̒n, who is also called Peter. ⁶He is staying with a certain tanner named Shimō̒n, whose house is by the sea.”

⁷And when the messenger who was speaking to him had departed, he summoned two of his servants and a devout soldier of those who were in constant attendance upon him, ⁸and after he had explained everything to them, he sent them to Yafō.

⁹And on the next day, as they were on their way, and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. ¹⁰And he became hungry, and was desiring to eat, but while they were making preparations, he fell into a trance. ¹¹And he beheld the heaven opened up, and a certain object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground, ¹²and there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air. ¹³And a voice came to him, “Arise, Peter, kill and eat!” ¹⁴But Peter said, “By no means, Sir, because I have never eaten anything common or unclean.”

¹⁵And again a voice came to him a second time, “What the Almĭghty has cleansed, you shall not make common.” ¹⁶And this happened three times. And immediately the object was taken up into heaven.

¹⁷Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in mind as to what the vision which he had seen might be, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having asked directions for Shimō̒n’s house, appeared at the gate. ¹⁸And calling out, they were asking whether Shimō̒n, who was also called Peter, was staying there. ¹⁹And while Peter was reflecting on the vision, the Spĭrit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. ²⁰But arise, go downstairs, and accompany them without misgivings, because I have sent them Myself.”

²¹And Peter went down to the men and said, “Behold, I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for which you have come?”

²²And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and the God-fearing man well spoken of by the entire nation of the Yehūdi̱m, was divinely directed by the holy Messenger to send for you to come to his house and hear a message from you.” ^23aAnd so he invited them in and gave them lodging.

Peter at Caesarea

^23bAnd on the next day he arose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Yafō accompanied him.

²⁴And on the following day he entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. ²⁵And when it came about that Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and honored him. ²⁶But Peter raised him up, saying, “Stand up! I too am just a man.”

²⁷And as he talked with him, he entered, and found many people assembled. ²⁸And he said to them, “You yourselves know how taboo it is for a man who is a Yehūdi̱ to associate with a foreigner or to visit him, and yet the Almĭghty has shown me that I should call no man common or unclean. ²⁹That is why I came without even raising any objection when I was sent for. And so I ask for what reason you have sent for me.”

³⁰And Cornelius said, “From the fourth day until this hour, I was praying in my house during the ninth hour. And behold, a man stood before me in shining garments, ³¹and he said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before the Almĭghty. ³²Send therefore to Yafō and invite Shimō̒n, who is also called Peter, to come to you. He is staying at the house of Shimō̒n the tanner by the sea.’ ³³And so I sent to you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before the Almĭghty to hear all that you have been commanded by Yăhwēh.”

Non Yehūdi̱m Hear Good News

³⁴And opening his mouth, Peter said: “I most certainly understand now that the Almĭghty is not one to show partiality, ³⁵but in every nation the one fearing him and working righteousness, is acceptable to him.”

³⁶“The word which he sent to the sons of Yisra’ēl, proclaiming shalōm through Yĕshūa̒ the Mĕssiah (he is Adŏnai of all)—³⁷you yourselves know the thing which took place throughout all Yehūdah, starting from Gali̱l, after the immersion which Yōḥanan proclaimed. ³⁸You know of Yĕshūa̒ of Netsaret, how the Almĭghty anointed him with the Holy Spĭrit and with power, and how he went about doing good, and healing all who were oppressed by the Accuser, because the Almĭghty was with him.”

³⁹“And we are witnesses of all the things he did both in the land of the Yehūdi̱m and in Yerūshalayim. And they also put him to death by crucifying him on a tree. ⁴⁰The Almĭghty raised him up on the third day, and granted that he should become visible, ⁴¹not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by the Almĭghty, that is, to us, who ate and drank with him after he arose from the dead.”

⁴²“And he ordered us to proclaim to the people, and thoroughly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by the Almĭghty as Judge of the living and the dead. ⁴³About this one all the prophets testify, concerning the forgiveness of sins to be received through his name, by everyone affirming faithfulness to him.”

⁴⁴While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spĭrit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. ⁴⁵And all the circumcised faithful who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spĭrit was poured out upon the nations also. ⁴⁶For they were hearing them speaking with languages and exalting the Almĭghty.

^46bThen Peter responded, ⁴⁷“Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be immersed who have received the Holy Spĭrit just as we did, can he?” ⁴⁸And he ordered them to be immersed in the name of Yĕshūa̒ the Mĕssiah. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.

Peter Reports at Yerūshalayim

Now the emissaries and the brothers who were throughout Yehūdah heard that the nations also had received the word of the Almĭghty. ^11:2And when Peter came up to Yerūshalayim, those who were circumcised took issue with him, ³saying, “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them!?”

⁴But Peter began speaking and proceeded to explain to them in orderly sequence, saying, ⁵“I was in the city of Yafō praying. And in a trance I saw a vision, a certain object coming down like a great sheet lowered by four corners from the heaven, and it came right down to me. ⁶And when I had fixed my gaze upon it and was observing it I saw the four-footed animals of the earth and the wild beasts and the crawling creatures and the birds of the air. ⁷And I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Arise, Peter! Kill and eat.’ ⁸But I said, ‘By no means, Sir, for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ ⁹But a voice from heaven answered a second time, ‘What the Almĭghty has cleansed, you shall not make common.’ ¹⁰And this happened three times, and everything was drawn back up into heaven.”

¹¹“And behold, at that moment three men appeared before the house in which we were staying, having been sent to me from Caesarea. ¹²And the Spĭrit told me to go with them without misgivings. And these six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s house. ¹³And he reported to us how he had seen the messenger standing in his house, and saying, ‘Send to Yafō, and have Shim‘ōn, who is also called Peter, brought here. ¹⁴And he will speak words to you by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’”

¹⁵“And as I began to speak, the Holy Spĭrit fell upon them, just as he did upon us at the beginning. ¹⁶And I remembered the word of Adŏnai, how he used to say, ‘Yōḥanan immersed with water, but you will be immersed with the Holy Spĭrit.’ ¹⁷If the Almĭghty therefore gives to them the same gift as also to us affirming faithfulness to Adŏnai Yĕshūa̒ the Mĕssiah, who was I that I could stand in the Almĭghty’s way?”

¹⁸And when they heard this, they fell silent, and glorified the Almĭghty, saying, “Well then, the Almĭghty has allowed to the nations also the repentance that leads to life.”

The Assembly at Antioch

¹⁹So then those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose in connection with Stephen made their way to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Yehūdi̱m alone. ²⁰But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and were speaking to the Greeks also, proclaiming Adŏnai Yĕshūa̒. ²¹And the hand of Yăhwēh was with them, and a large number, that affirmed faithfulness turned to Yăhwēh.

²²And the news about them reached the ears of the assembly at Yerūshalayim, and they sent Bar-Nabba’ off to Antioch. ²³Then when he had come and witnessed the loving-kindness of the Almĭghty, he rejoiced and was encouraging them all with resolute heart to remain true to Yăhwēh, ²⁴because he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spĭrit and of faithfulness. And considerable numbers were brought to Yăhwēh.

²⁵And he left for Tarsus to look for Sha’ūl, ²⁶and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And it came about that for an entire year they met with the assembly, and taught considerable numbers, and the disciples were first called Messianics in Antioch.

²⁷Now at this time some prophets came down from Yerūshalayim to Antioch. ²⁸And one of them named A’gav̱ stood up and was indicating by the Spĭrit that there would certainly be a great famine all over the inhabited land. And this took place in the reign of Claudius. ²⁹And in the proportion that any of the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the relief of the brothers living in Yehūdah. ³⁰And this they did, sending it in charge of Bar-Nabba’ and Sha’ūl to the elders.

Peter’s Arrest During Passover

Now about that time Herod the king laid hands on some from the assembly, in order to harm them. ^12:2And he had Ya‘aqōv̱ the brother of Yōḥanan put to death with a sword. ³And when he saw that it pleased the Yehūdi̱m, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. Now it had been the days of Unleavened Bread. ⁴And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out before the people. ⁵So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the assembly to the Almĭghty.

⁶And on the very night when Herod was about to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. And guards in front of the door were watching over the prison. ⁷And behold, the messenger of Yăhwēh suddenly appeared, and a light shone in the cell, and he struck Peter’s side and roused him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And his chains fell off his hands. ⁸And the messenger said to him, “Gird yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.”

⁹And he went out and continued to follow, and he did not know that what was being done by the messenger was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. ¹⁰And when they had passed the first and second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened for them by itself. And they went out and went along one street, and immediately the messenger departed from him. ¹¹And when Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I know for sure that Yăhwēh has sent forth his messenger and rescued me from the hand of Herod and all the expectation of the people of the Yehūdi̱m.”

¹²And when he realized this, he went to the house of Miryam, the mother of Yōḥanan who was also called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. ¹³And when he knocked at the door of the gate, a servant-girl named Rōdi̱ came to answer. ¹⁴And when she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her joy she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter was standing in front of the gate. ¹⁵And they said to her, “You are out of your mind!” But she kept insisting that it was so. And they kept saying, “It is his messenger.” ¹⁶But Peter continued knocking, and when they had opened, they saw him and were amazed. ¹⁷But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how Yăhwēh had led him out of the prison. And he said, “Report these things to Ya‘aqōv̱ and the brothers.” And he departed and went to another place.

¹⁸Now when day came, there was no small disturbance among the soldiers as to what could have become of Peter. ¹⁹And when Herod had searched for him and had not found him, he examined the guards and ordered that they be led away to execution. And he went down from Yehūdah to Caesarea and was spending time there.

Herod's Blasphemy And Death

²⁰Now he was very angry with the people of Tsōr and Tsi̱dōn. And with one accord they came to him, and having won over Blastus the king’s chamberlain, they were asking for peace, because their country was fed by the king’s country. ²¹And on an appointed day Herod, having put on his royal apparel, took his seat on the platform and was delivering an address to them. ²²And the people kept crying out, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” ²³And immediately the messenger of Yăhwēh struck him because he did not give the Almĭghty the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died.

²⁴But the word of Yăhwēh continued to grow and to be multiplied. ²⁵And Bar-Nabba’ and Sha’ūl returned from Yerūshalayim when they had fulfilled their mission, taking along with them Yōḥanan, who was also called Mark.

Paul's First Missionary Journey

Now there were at Antioch, in the assembly that was there, prophets and teachers: BarNabba’, and Shim‘ōn who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Menaḥēm who was brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Sha’ūl. ^13:2And while they were ministering to Yăhwēh and fasting, the Holy Spĭrit said, “Set apart for me Bar-Nabba’ and Sha’ūl for the work to which I have called them.” ³Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

⁴So, being sent out by the Holy Spĭrit, they went down to Seleucia and from there they sailed to Cyprus. ⁵And when they reached Salamis, they were proclaiming the word of the Almĭghty in the congregations of the Yehūdi̱m, and they also had Yōḥanan as their helper. ⁶And when they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a certain magician, a Yehūdi̱ false prophet whose name was Bar-Yeshua, ⁷who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence. This man summoned Bar-Nabba’ and Sha’ūl and sought to hear the word of the Almĭghty.

⁸But A’li̱ma’ the magician (for thus his name is translated) was opposing them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. ⁹But Sha’ūl, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spĭrit, fixed his gaze upon him, ¹⁰and said, “You who are full of all deceit and fraud, you son of the Accuser, you enemy of all justice, will you not cease to make crooked the straight ways of Yăhwēh? ¹¹And now, behold, the hand of Yăhwēh is upon you, and you will be blind and not see the sun for a time.” And immediately a mist and a darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking those who would lead him by the hand. ¹²Then the proconsul affirmed faithfulness when he saw what had happened, being amazed at the teaching of Yăhwēh.

¹³Now Paul and his companions put out to sea from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia, and Yōḥanan left them and returned to Yerūshalayim. ¹⁴But going on from Perga, they arrived at Pisidian Antioch, and on the Shabbat day they went into the congregation and sat down. ¹⁵And after the reading of the Law and the prophets the congregation officials sent to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say it.”

¹⁶And Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand, he said, “Men of Yisra’ēl, and you who fear the Almĭghty, listen! ¹⁷The Almĭghty of this people Yisra’ēl chose our fathers, and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm he led them out from it. ¹⁸And for a period of about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness. ¹⁹And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Kena‘an, he caused them to inherit their land about four hundred and fifty years. ²⁰Also after these things he gave them judges, until Shemū’ēl the prophet. ²¹And then they asked for a king, and the Almĭghty gave them Sha’ūl the son of Qi̱sh, a man of the tribe of Binyamin, for forty years. ²²And after he had removed him, he raised up Daυi̱d to be their king, concerning whom he also testified and said, ‘I have found Daυi̱d the son of Yishai̱, a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’”

²³“From the offspring of this man, according to promise, the Almĭghty has brought to Yisra’ēl a Savior, Yĕshūa̒, ²⁴after Yōḥanan had proclaimed before his coming an immersion of repentance to all the people of Yisra’ēl. ²⁵And while Yōḥanan was completing his course, he kept saying, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. But behold, one is coming after me the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’”

²⁶“Brothers, sons of A’v̱raham’s family, and those among you who fear the Almĭghty, to us the word of this salvation is sent out, ²⁷because those who live in Yerūshalayim, and their rulers, recognizing neither him nor the utterances of the prophets, which are read every Shabbat, fulfilled these by condemning him. ²⁸And though they found no ground for putting him to death, they asked Pilate that he be executed. ²⁹And when they had carried out all that was written concerning him, they took him down from the cross and laid him in a tomb.”

³⁰“But the Almĭghty raised him from the dead, ³¹and for many days he appeared to those who came up with him from Gali̱l to Yerūshalayim, the very ones who are now his witnesses to the people.”

³²“And we proclaim to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers, ³³because the Almĭghty has fulfilled this promise to our children in that he raised up Yĕshūa̒, as it is also written in the second Psalm, ‘You are my Sŏn. Today I have brought you forth.’ ³⁴And as for the fact that he raised him up from the dead, no more to return to decay, he has spoken in this way, ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of Daυi̱d.’ ³⁵Therefore he also says in another Psalm, ‘You will not allow your Holy One to undergo decay.’ ³⁶Because Daυi̱d, after he had served the purpose of the Almĭghty in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid among his fathers, and underwent decay, ³⁷but he whom the Almĭghty raised did not undergo decay.”

³⁸“Therefore let it be known to you men, brothers, that through this one forgiveness of sins is being proclaimed to you, even from all which you are not able by the Law of Mōshēh to satisfy justice. ³⁹In this one everyone affirming faithfulness has justice done.”

⁴⁰“Take heed therefore, so that the thing spoken of in the prophets may not come upon you, ⁴¹‘Behold, you scoffers, and marvel, and perish, because I am accomplishing a work in your days, a work which you will never affirm to be faithful, though someone should describe it to you.’”

⁴²And as Paul and Bar-Nabba’ were going out, the people kept begging that these things might be spoken to them the next Shabbat. ⁴³Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Yehūdi̱m and of the God-fearing proselytes followed Paul and Bar-Nabba’, who, speaking to them, were urging them to continue in the loving-kindness of the Almĭghty.

Paul Turns to the Nations

⁴⁴And the next Shabbat nearly the whole city assembled to hear the word of the Almĭghty. ⁴⁵But when the Yehūdi̱m saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, and were contradicting the things spoken by Paul, and were blaspheming. ⁴⁶And Paul and Bar-Nabba’ spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of the Almĭghty should be spoken to you first. Since you repudiate it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we are turning to the nations. ⁴⁷For thus Yăhwēh has commanded us, ‘I have placed you as a light for the nations, that you should bring salvation to the end of the earth.”

⁴⁸And when the nations heard this, they were rejoicing and glorifying the word of Yăhwēh. And as many as had been determined to have everlasting life affirmed faithfulness. ⁴⁹And the word of Yăhwēh was being spread through the whole region.

⁵⁰But the Yehūdi̱m aroused the devout women of prominence and the leading men of the city, and instigated a persecution against Paul and Bar-Nabba’, and drove them out of their district. ⁵¹But they shook off the dust of their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. ⁵²And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spĭrit.

Acceptance and Opposition

And it came about that in Iconium they entered the congregation of the Yehūdi̱m together, and spoke in such a manner that a great number affirmed to be faithful from among the Yehūdi̱m, as well as also of the Greeks. ^14:2But the Yehūdi̱m who were disloyal stirred up and ruined the minds of the pagans against the brothers. ³Therefore they consumed a considerable time there speaking boldly for Yăhwēh, who was bearing witness to the word of his loving-kindness, granting that signs and wonders be done by their hands. ⁴But the multitude of the city was divided, and some sided with the Yehūdi̱m, and some with the emissaries.

⁵And when an attempt was made by both the pagans and the Yehūdi̱m with their rulers, to mistreat and to stone them, ⁶they became aware of it and fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe, and the surrounding region. ⁷And there they continued to proclaim the good news.

⁸And at Lystra there was sitting a certain man, without strength in his feet, lame from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. ⁹This man was listening to Paul as he spoke, who, when he had fixed his gaze upon him, and had seen that he had the courage to be made well, ¹⁰said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he leaped up and was walking. ¹¹And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they raised their voice, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have become like men and have come down to us.”

¹²And they were calling Bar-Nabba’, Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. ¹³And the priest of Zeus, whose Temple was just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds.

¹⁴But when the emissaries, Bar-Nabba’ and Paul, heard of it, they tore their robes and rushed out into the crowd, crying out ¹⁵and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men of the same nature as you, and proclaim the good news to you in order that you should turn from these vain things to a living Almĭghty, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them. ¹⁶And in the generations gone by he permitted all the nations to go their own ways, ¹⁷and yet he did not leave himself without witness, in that he did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” ¹⁸And even saying these things, they with difficulty restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.

¹⁹But Yehūdi̱m came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. ²⁰But while the disciples stood around him, he arose and entered the city. And the next day he went away with Bar-Nabba’ to Derbe.

²¹And after they had proclaimed the good news to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, ²²strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of the Almĭghty.” ²³And when they had appointed elders for them in every assembly, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to Yăhwēh, in whom they had affirmed to be faithful.

²⁴And they passed through Pisidia and came into Pamphylia. ²⁵And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia, ²⁶and from there they sailed to Antioch, from which they had been commended with the loving-kindness of the Almĭghty for the work that they had accomplished.

²⁷And when they had arrived and gathered the assembly together, they were reporting all things that the Almĭghty had done with them and how he had opened a door of faithfulness to the nations. ²⁸And they spent a long time with the disciples.

The Yerūshalayim Council

And some men came down from Yehūdah and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the ‘custom of Mōshēh’, you cannot be saved.” ^15:2And when Paul and Bar-Nabba’ had great dissension and debate with them, they determined that Paul and Bar-Nabba’ and certain others of them should go up to Yerūshalayim to the emissaries and elders concerning this issue.

³Therefore, being sent on their way by the assembly, they were passing through both Phoenicia and Shōmrōn, describing in detail the conversion of the nations, and were bringing great joy to all the brothers. ⁴And when they arrived at Yerūshalayim, they were received by the assembly and the emissaries and the elders, and they reported all that the Almĭghty had done with them.

⁵But some of those from the party of the Perūshi̱m, having affirmed faithfulness, were saying, “Because it is necessary to order them to circumcision besides to keep the law of Mōshēh.”

⁶And the emissaries and the elders came together to look into this matter. ⁷And after there was much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days the Almĭghty made a choice among you, that by my mouth the nations should hear the word of the good news and affirm to be faithful. ⁸And the Almĭghty, who knows the heart, has borne witness to them, giving them the Holy Spĭrit, just as he also did to us, ⁹and he will have made no distinction between us and them, by the faith having cleansed their hearts.

¹⁰Now therefore why do you put the Almĭghty to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? ¹¹But we affirm faithfulness to be saved through the loving-kindness of A’dŏnai̱ Yĕshūa̒, in the same way as they also are.”

¹²And all the gathering fell silent, and they were listening to Bar-Nabba’ and Paul as they were relating what signs and wonders the Almĭghty had done through them among the nations.

Ya‘aqōv̱’s Judgment

¹³And after they had stopped speaking, Ya‘aqōv̱ answered, saying, “brothers, listen to me. ¹⁴Shim‘ōn has related how the Almĭghty first concerned himself about taking from among the nations a people for his name. ¹⁵And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written, ¹⁶“After these things I will return, and I will rebuild the tabernacle of Daυi̱d which has fallen, and I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it, ¹⁷in order that the rest of mankind may seek Yahweh, and all the nations who are called by my name, ¹⁸says Yahweh, who makes these things known from time immemorial.”

¹⁹Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to the Almĭghty from among the nations, ²⁰but that we write to them that they keep themselves from the defilements of idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood. ²¹For Mōshēh from ancient generations has in every city those who proclaim him, since he is read in the congregations every Shabbat.”

²²Then it seemed good to the emissaries and the elders, with the whole assembly, to choose men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Bar-Nabba’, Yehūdah called Bar-Shabba’, and Si̱la’, leading men among the brothers, ²³and they sent this letter by them, “The emissaries and the brothers who are elders, to the brothers in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia who are from the nations, greetings. ²⁴Since we have heard that some of our number to whom we gave no instruction have disturbed you with their words, unsettling your souls, ²⁵it seemed good to us, having become of one mind, to select men to send to you with our beloved Bar-Nabba’ and Paul, ²⁶men who have risked their lives for the name of our A’dŏnai̱ Yĕshūa̒ the Messiah. ²⁷Therefore we have sent Yehūdah and Si̱la’, who themselves will also report the same things by word of mouth.”

²⁸“Indeed it seemed good to the Holy Spĭrit and to us to lay upon you no more burden except these necessities: ²⁹that you keep yourselves away from idol sacrifices, and blood, and things strangled, and from fornication, from which things keeping yourselves free well you will do. Be strong!”

³⁰So, when they were sent away, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. ³¹And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. ³²And Yehūdah and Si̱la’, also being prophets themselves, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with a lengthy message. ³³And after they had spent time there, they were sent away from the brothers in peace to those who had sent them out. ³⁴But it seemed good to Si̱la’ to remain there. ³⁵But Paul and Bar-Nabba’ stayed in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming, with many others also, the word of Yahweh.

Paul's Second Missionary Journey

³⁶And after some days Paul said to Bar-Nabba’, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city in which we proclaimed the word of Yahweh, and see how they are.” ³⁷And Bar-Nabba’ was desirous of taking Yōḥanan, called Mark, along with them also. ³⁸But Paul kept insisting that they should not take him along who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. ³⁹And there arose such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Bar-Nabba’ took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus.

⁴⁰But Paul chose Si̱la’ and departed, being committed by the brothers to the loving-kindness of Yahweh. ⁴¹And he was traveling through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the assemblies.

The Macedonian Vision

And he came also to Derbe and to Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Yehūdi̱t woman who was one of the faithful, but his father was a Greek, ^16:2and he was well spoken of by the brothers who were in Lystra and Iconium. ³Paul wanted this man to go with him, and he took him and circumcised him through the Yehūdi̱m who were in those parts, because they all knew that his father was a Greek.

⁴Now while they were passing through the cities, they were delivering the decrees, which were decided upon by the emissaries and elders who were in Yerūshalayim, for them to observe. ⁵So the assemblies were being strengthened in the faith, and were increasing in number daily.

⁶And they passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spĭrit to speak the word in Asia. ⁷And when they had come to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spĭrit of Yĕshūa̒ did not permit them, ⁸and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.

⁹And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A certain man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” ¹⁰And when he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that the Almĭghty had called us to proclaim the good news to them.

¹¹Therefore putting out to sea from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and on the day following to Neapolis, ¹²and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia, a Roman colony. And we were staying in this city for some days. ¹³And on the Shabbat day we went outside the gate to a riverside, where we were supposing that there would be a place of prayer. And we sat down and began speaking to the women who had assembled.

Lydia Learns The Messiah Has Come

¹⁴And a certain woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of the Almĭghty, was listening, and Yăhwēh opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. ¹⁵And when she and her household were immersed, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to Yăhwēh, come into my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.

¹⁶And it happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a certain slave-girl having a spirit of divination met us, who was bringing her masters much profit by fortunetelling. ¹⁷Following after Paul and us, she kept crying out, saying, “These men are servants of the Almĭghty, Most High, who are proclaiming to you the Way of salvation.” ¹⁸And she continued doing this for many days. But Paul was greatly annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Yĕshūa̒ the Messiah to come out of her!” And it came out at that very moment.

¹⁹But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Si̱la’ and dragged them into the market place before the authorities, ²⁰and when they had brought them to the chief magistrates, they said, “These men are throwing our city into confusion, being Yehūdi̱m, ²¹and are proclaiming customs which it is not lawful for us to accept or to observe, being Romans.”

Paul and Si̱la’ Imprisoned

²²And the crowd rose up together against them, and the chief magistrates tore their robes off them, and proceeded to order them to be beaten with rods. ²³And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely. ²⁴And he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison, and fastened their feet in the stocks.

²⁵But about midnight Paul and Si̱la’ were praying and singing hymns of praise to the Almĭghty, and the prisoners were listening to them. ²⁶And suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains were unfastened. ²⁷And when the jailer was roused out of sleep and had seen the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. ²⁸But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, because we are all here!”

²⁹And he called for lights and rushed in and, trembling with fear, he fell down before Paul and Si̱la’, ³⁰and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

The Jailer Converted

³¹And they said, “Affirm faithfulness to A’dŏnai̱ Yĕshūa̒, and you will be saved, you and your household.” ³²And they spoke the word of Yăhwēh to him together with all who were in his house.

³³And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was immersed, he and all his household. ³⁴And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, having affirmed faithfulness to the Almĭghty with his whole household.

³⁵Now when day came, the chief magistrates sent their policemen, saying, “Release those men.” ³⁶And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The chief magistrates have sent to release you. Now therefore, come out and go in peace.” ³⁷But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us in public without trial, men who are Romans, and have thrown us into prison, and now are they sending us away secretly? No indeed! But let them come themselves and bring us out.”

³⁸And the policemen reported these words to the chief magistrates. And they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans, ³⁹and they came and appealed to them, and when they had brought them out, they kept begging them to leave the city. ⁴⁰And they went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia, and when they saw the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.

Three Shabbats In Thessalonica

Now when they had traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a congregation of the Yehūdi̱m. ^17:2And according to Paul’s custom, he went to them, and for three Shabbats reasoned with them from the Scriptures, ³explaining and giving evidence that the Messiah had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Yĕshūa̒ whom I am proclaiming to you is the Mĕssiah.” ⁴And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Si̱la’, along with a great multitude of the Gŏd-fearing Greeks and a number of the leading women.

⁵But the Yehūdi̱m, becoming jealous and taking along some wicked men from the market place, formed a mob and set the city in an uproar, and coming upon the house of Jason, they were seeking to bring them out to the people. ⁶And when they did not find them, they were dragging Jason and some brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have upset the world have come here also. ⁷And Jason has welcomed them, and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Yĕshūa̒.” ⁸And they stirred up the crowd and the city authorities who heard these things. ⁹And when they had received a pledge from Jason and the others, they released them.

Bereans Testing Paul’s Message

¹⁰And the brothers immediately sent Paul and Si̱la’ away by night to Berea. And when they arrived, they went into the congregation of the Yehūdi̱m. ¹¹Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, because they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so. ¹²Many of them therefore affirmed faithfulness, along with a number of prominent Greek women and men.

¹³But when the Yehūdi̱m of Thessalonica found out that the word of the Almĭghty was proclaimed by Paul in Berea also, they came there likewise, agitating and stirring up the crowds. ¹⁴And then immediately the brothers sent Paul out to go as far as the sea. And Si̱la’ and Timothy remained there. ¹⁵Now those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and receiving a command for Si̱la’ and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed.

Paul Meets The Greek Philosophers

¹⁶Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he was beholding the city full of idols. ¹⁷So he was reasoning in the congregation with the Yehūdi̱m and the proselytes, and in the market place every day with those who happened to be present.

¹⁸And also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were conversing with him. And some were saying, “What would this idle babbler wish to say?” others, “He seems to be a proclaimer of strange deities,”—because he was proclaiming Yĕshūa̒ and the resurrection. ¹⁹And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is which you are proclaiming? ²⁰Because you are bringing some strange things to our ears. We want to know therefore what these things mean.” ²¹(Now all the Athenians and the strangers visiting there used to spend their time in nothing other than telling or hearing something new.)

The Altar To The Unknown Almighty

²²So Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects, ²³because while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘to an unknown Almĭghty.’ What therefore you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you.”

²⁴“The Almĭghty who made the world and all things in it, since he is A’dŏnēi̱ of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. ²⁵Neither is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all life and breath and all things.”

²⁶“And he made from one man, every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined the ordered seasons, and the boundaries of their habitation, ²⁷that they should seek the Almĭghty, if perhaps they might grope for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us, ²⁸because in him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are his offspring.’ ²⁹Being then the offspring of the Almĭghty, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man.”

³⁰“Therefore having disregarded the times of ignorance, the Almĭghty is now declaring to men, that all everywhere should repent, ³¹because he has fixed a day in which he will judge the world in justice through a Man whom he has appointed, having offered a faithful proof to all men by raising him from the dead.”

³²Now when they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some were sneering, but others said, “We will hear you again concerning this.”

³³So Paul went out of their midst. ³⁴But some men joined him and affirmed faithfulness, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.

Aquila Learns Mĕssiah Has Come

After these things he left Athens and went to Corinth. ^18:2And he found a certain Yehūdi̱ named Aquila, a native of Pontus, having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Yehūdi̱m to leave Rome. He came to them, ³and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and they were working, because by trade they were tent-makers.

⁴And he was reasoning in the congregation every Shabbat. And he had been persuading Yehūdi̱m and Greeks. ⁵So when Si̱la’ and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul had been devoting himself completely to the word, thoroughly testifying to the Yehūdi̱m that Yĕshūa̒ was the Mĕssiah. ⁶And when they resisted and blasphemed, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be upon your own heads! I am clean. From now on I will go to the nations.”

⁷And he departed from there and went to the house of a certain man named Titius Eustace, a worshiper of the Almĭghty, whose house was next to the place of congregation. ⁸And Crispus, the leader of the congregation, affirmed faithfulness to Yăhwēh with all his household, and many of the Corinthians when they heard were affirming faithfulness and being immersed.

⁹And Yăhwēh said to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent, ¹⁰because I am with you, and no man will attack you in order to harm you, because I have many people in this city.” ¹¹And he settled there a year and six months, teaching the word of the Almĭghty among them.

¹²But while Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Yehūdi̱m with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him before the judgment seat, ¹³saying, “This man persuades men to worship the Almĭghty contrary to the Law.” ¹⁴But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Yehūdi̱m, “If it were a matter of wrong or of vicious crime, Yehūdi̱m, it would be reasonable for me to put up with you, ¹⁵but if there are questions about words and names and your own Law, look after it yourselves. I am unwilling to be a judge of these matters.” ¹⁶And he drove them away from the judgment seat. ¹⁷And they all took hold of Sosthenes, the leader of the congregation, and were beating him in front of the judgment seat. And Gallio was not concerned about any of these things.

Paul’s Nazarite Vow

¹⁸And Paul, having remained many days longer, took leave of the brothers and put out to sea for Syria, and with him were Priscilla and Aquila. In Cenchrea he had his hair cut, because he was keeping a vow.

¹⁹And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there. Now he himself entered the congregation and reasoned with the Yehūdi̱m. ²⁰And when they asked him to stay for a longer time, he did not consent, ²¹but taking leave of them and saying, “I will return to you again if the Almĭghty wills,” he set sail from Ephesus.

²²And when he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the assembly, and went down to Antioch.

Paul’s Third Missionary Journey

²³And having spent some time there, he departed and passed successively through the Galatian region and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.

²⁴Now a certain Yehūdi̱ named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus. And he was mighty in the Scriptures. ²⁵This man was instructed in the way of Yăhwēh, and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Yĕshūa̒, being acquainted only with the immersion of Yōḥanan. ²⁶And he began to speak out boldly in the congregation. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of the Almĭghty precisely.

²⁷Then when he wanted to go across to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. And when he had arrived, he helped greatly those who had affirmed faithfulness, through Yăhwēh’s loving kindness, ²⁸because he powerfully refuted the Yehūdi̱m in public, demonstrating by the Scriptures that Yĕshūa̒ was the Mĕssiah.

Yōḥanan’s Disciples Learn Mĕssiah Has Come

And it came about that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper country came to Ephesus, and found some disciples, ^19:2and he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spĭrit when you affirmed faithfulness?” And they said to him, “No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spĭrit. ³And he said, “Into what then were you immersed?” And they said, “Into Yōḥanan’s immersion.” ⁴And Paul said, “Yōḥanan immersed with the immersion of repentance, telling the people they should affirm faithfulness to him who was coming after him, that is, to Yĕshūa̒.”

⁵So having heard, they had been immersed in the name of A’dŏnai̱ Yĕshūa̒. ⁶And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spĭrit came on them, and they were speaking with languages and prophesying. ⁷And there were in all about twelve men.

⁸And he entered the congregation and continued speaking out boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of the Almĭghty. ⁹But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the multitude, he withdrew from them and took away the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. ¹⁰And this took place for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of Yăhwēh, both Yehūdi̱m and Greeks.

The Seven Sons Of Sceva

¹¹And the Almĭghty was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, ¹²so that handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out.

¹³But also some of the Yehūdi̱ exorcists, who went from place to place, attempted to name over those who had the evil spirits the name of A’dŏnai̱ Yĕshūa̒, saying, “I adjure you by Yĕshūa̒ whom Paul proclaims.” ¹⁴And seven sons of one Seqēυah, a Yehūdi̱ high priest, were doing this. ¹⁵And the evil spirit answered and said to them, “I recognize Yĕshūa̒, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” ¹⁶And the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaped on them and subdued all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

¹⁷And this became known to all, both Yehūdi̱m and Greeks, who lived in Ephesus. And fear fell upon them all and the name of A’dŏnai̱ Yĕshūa̒ had been magnified. ¹⁸Many also of those who had affirmed faithfulness kept coming, confessing and disclosing their practices. ¹⁹And many of those who practiced magic brought their scrolls together and were burning them in the sight of all. And they counted up the price of them and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. ²⁰So the word of Yăhwēh was growing mightily and prevailing.

²¹Now after these things were finished, Paul purposed, by the Spĭrit, to go to Yerūshalayim after he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” ²²And having sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.

Demetrius the Silversmith

²³And about that time there arose no small disturbance concerning the Way, ²⁴because a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, was bringing no little business to the craftsmen. ²⁵These he gathered together with the workmen of similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity depends upon this business. ²⁶And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that gods made with hands are no gods at all. ²⁷And not only is there danger that this trade of ours may fall into disrepute, but also that the Temple of the great goddess Artemis may be considered as worthless and that she whom all of Asia and the world worship should even be dethroned from her magnificence.”

²⁸And when they heard this and were filled with rage, they were crying out, saying, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” ²⁹And the city was filled with confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the theater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia. ³⁰And when Paul wanted to go into the assembly, the disciples would not let him. ³¹And also some of the Asiarchs who were friends of his sent to him and repeatedly urged him not to venture into the theater.

³²So then, some were shouting one thing and some another, because the assembly was in confusion, and the majority did not know for what cause they had come together. ³³And some of the crowd concluded it was Alexander, since the Yehūdi̱m had put him forward. And having motioned with his hand, Alexander was intending to make a defense to the assembly. ³⁴But when they recognized that he was a Yehūdi̱, a single outcry arose from them all as they shouted for about two hours, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

³⁵And after quieting the crowd, the town clerk said, “Men of Ephesus, what man is there after all who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is guardian of the Temple of the great Artemis, and of the image which fell down from heaven? ³⁶Since then these are undeniable facts, you ought to keep calm and do nothing rash, ³⁷because you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess.”

³⁸“So then, if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint against any man, the courts are in session and proconsuls are available. Let them bring charges against one another. ³⁹And if you want anything beyond this, it will be settled in the lawful assembly, ⁴⁰because indeed we are in danger of being accused of a riot in connection with today’s affair, since there is no real cause for it. And in this connection we will be unable to account for this disorderly gathering.”

⁴¹And after saying this he dismissed the assembly.

The Resurrection Shabbat Meeting

And after the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and when he had exhorted them and taken his leave of them, he departed to go to Macedonia.

^20:2And when he had gone through those districts and had given them much exhortation, he came to Greece. ³And there he spent three months, and when a plot was formed against him by the Yehūdi̱m, as he was about to set sail for Syria, he determined to return through Macedonia. ⁴And he was accompanied by Sopater of Berea, the son of Pyrrhus, and by Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia.

⁵But these had gone on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas. ⁶And we sailed during the days of unleavened bread from Philippi. And we came to them unto Troas, up to five days, where we used up the seven days.

⁷And on the first of the Shabbats, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul was talking to them, intending to depart the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight. ⁸And there were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered together. ⁹And there was a certain young man named Eutychus sitting on the window sill, sinking into a deep sleep. And as Paul kept on talking, he was overcome by sleep and fell down from the third floor, and was picked up dead. ¹⁰But Paul went down and fell upon him and after embracing him, he said, “Do not be troubled, because his life is in him.” ¹¹And when he had gone back up, and had broken the bread and eaten, he talked with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed. ¹²And they took away the boy alive, and were greatly comforted.

Troas to Miletus

¹³But we, going ahead to the ship, set sail for Assos, intending from there to take Paul on board, because so he had arranged it, intending himself to go by land. ¹⁴And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and came to Mitylene. ¹⁵And sailing from there, we arrived the following day opposite Chios. And the next day we crossed over to Samos. And the day following we came to Miletus, ¹⁶because Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus in order that he might not have to spend time in Asia, because he was hurrying to be in Yerūshalayim, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.

Farewell to Ephesus

¹⁷And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the assembly. ¹⁸And when they had come to him, he said to them, “You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time, ¹⁹serving Yăhwēh with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me through the plots of the Yehūdi̱m, ²⁰how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, ²¹thoroughly testifying to both Yehūdi̱m and Greeks of repentance toward the Almĭghty and faithfulness to our A’dŏnai̱ Yĕshūa̒ the Mĕssiah.”

²²“And now, behold, bound by the Spĭrit, I am on my way to Yerūshalayim, not knowing what will happen to me there, ²³except that the Holy Spĭrit testifies earnestly to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me. ²⁴But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, in order that I may finish my course, and the ministry which I received from A’dŏnai̱ Yĕshūa̒, to testify thoroughly of the good news of the loving-kindness of the Almĭghty.”

²⁵“And now, behold, I know that all of you, among whom I went about proclaiming the kingdom, will see my face no more. ²⁶Therefore I testify to you this day, that I am clear of the blood of all of you, ²⁷because I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of the Almĭghty.”

²⁸“Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spĭrit has made you overseers, to shepherd the Assembly of the Almĭghty which he obtained with his own blood. ²⁹I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. ³⁰And from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. ³¹Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears.”

³²“And now I commend you to the Almĭghty and to the word of his loving-kindness, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”

³³“I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothes. ³⁴You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my own needs and to the men who were with me. ³⁵In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of A’dŏnai̱ Yĕshūa̒, that he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

³⁶And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. ³⁷And they were weeping aloud and embraced Paul, and repeatedly kissed him, ³⁸grieving especially over the word which he had spoken, that they should see his face no more. And they were accompanying him to the ship.

Paul Sails from Miletus

And when it came about that we had parted from them and had set sail, we ran a straight course to Cos and the next day to Rhodes and from there to Patara, ^21:2and having found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. ³And when we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left, we kept sailing to Syria and landed at Tsōr, because there the ship was to unload its cargo. ⁴And after looking up the disciples, we stayed there seven days, yet they were telling Paul through the Spĭrit not to set foot in Yerūshalayim. ⁵And when it came about that our days there were ended, we departed and started on our journey, while they all, with wives and children, escorted us until we were out of the city. And after kneeling down on the beach and praying, we said farewell to one another. ⁶Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home again.

⁷And when we had finished the voyage from Tsōr, we arrived at Ptolemais, and after greeting the brothers, we stayed with them for a day. ⁸And on the next day we departed and came to Caesarea. Then entering the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we stayed with him. ⁹And this man had four virgin daughters who were prophetesses.

¹⁰And as we were staying there for many days, a certain prophet named A’gav̱ came down from Yehūdah. ¹¹And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spĭrit says: ‘In this way the Yehūdi̱m at Yerūshalayim will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the nations.’” ¹²And when we had heard this, we as well as the local residents were begging him not to go up to Yerūshalayim. ¹³Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? Because I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Yerūshalayim for the name of A’dŏnai̱ Yĕshūa̒.” ¹⁴And since he would not be persuaded, we fell silent, remarking, “The will of Yahweh be done!”

Paul at Yerūshalayim

¹⁵And after these days we got ready and started on our way up to Yerūshalayim. ¹⁶And some of the disciples from Caesarea also came with us, taking us to Mnason of Cyprus, a disciple of long standing with whom we were to lodge.

¹⁷And when we had come to Yerūshalayim, the brothers received us gladly. ¹⁸And now the following day Paul went in with us to Ya‘aqōv̱, and all the elders were present. ¹⁹And after he had greeted them, he was relating one by one the things which he had done among the nations through his ministry.

²⁰And when they heard it they were glorifying the Almĭghty, and they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are of the Yehūdi̱m of those who have affirmed faithfulness, and they are all zealous for the Law. ²¹And they have been told about you, ‘that you are teaching all the Yehūdi̱m who are among the nations to forsake Mōshēh, telling them not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs.’”

²²“What, then, is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. ²³Therefore do this that we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow. ²⁴Take them and purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses in order that they may shave their heads, and all will know that there is nothing to the things which they have been told about you, but that you yourself also walk orderly, keeping the Law.”

²⁵“But concerning the nations who have affirmed faithfulness, we wrote, having decided that they should abstain from food sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication.”

Paul Joins in the Vow

²⁶Then Paul took the men, and the next day, purifying himself along with them, went into the Temple, giving notice of the completion of the days of purification, until the sacrifice would be offered for each one of them.

²⁷And when the seven days were almost over, the Yehūdi̱m from Asia, upon seeing him in the Temple, were stirring up all the crowds and laid hands on him, ²⁸crying out, “Men of Yisra’ēl, come to our aid! This is the man who proclaims to all men everywhere against our people, and the Law, and this place, and besides he has even brought Greeks into the Temple and has defiled this holy place,” ²⁹because they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the Temple.

³⁰And all the city was stirred up, and the people rushed together, and taking hold of Paul, they dragged him out of the Temple, and immediately the doors were shut. ³¹And while they were seeking to kill him, a report came up to the commander of the cohort that all Yerūshalayim was in confusion. ³²And at once he took along soldiers and centurions, and ran down to them. And when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.

³³Then the commander came up and took hold of him, and ordered him to be bound with two chains, and he was asking who he was and what he had done. ³⁴But among the crowd some were shouting one thing and some another, and when he could not find out the facts on account of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks. ³⁵And when he got to the stairs, it so happened that he was carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob, ³⁶because the multitude of the people kept following behind, crying out, “Away with him!”

³⁷And as Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the commander, “May I say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek? ³⁸Then you are not the Egyptian who some time ago stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?” ³⁹But Paul said, “I am a Yehūdi̱ of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no insignificant city, and I beg you, allow me to speak to the people.”

⁴⁰And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the stairs, motioned to the people with his hand, and when there was a great hush, he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, saying:

Paul’s Defense before the Yehūdi̱m

“Brothers and fathers, hear now my defense to you.” ^22:2And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. And he said, ³“I am a Yehūdi̱, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated under Gamli̱’ēl, strictly according to the Law of our fathers, being zealous for the Almĭghty, just as you all are today. ⁴And I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and putting both men and women into prisons, ⁵as also the high priest and all the council of the elders can testify. From them I also received letters to the brothers, and started off for Dammeseq in order to bring even those who were there to Yerūshalayim as prisoners to be punished.”

⁶“And it came about that as I was on my way, approaching Dammeseq about noontime, a very bright light suddenly flashed from heaven all around me, ⁷and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Sha’ūl, Sha’ūl, why are you persecuting me?’ ⁸And I answered, ‘Who are you, A’dŏnai̱?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Yĕshūa̒ Ha-Natsri̱, whom you are persecuting.’ ⁹But those who were with me beheld the light, to be sure, but did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me. ¹⁰And I said, ‘What shall I do, A’dŏnai̱?’ And Yăhwēh said to me, ‘Arise and go on into Dammeseq, and there you will be told of all that has been appointed for you to do.’ ¹¹But since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Dammeseq.”

¹²“And a certain Ḥananyah, a man who was devout according to the Law, and well spoken of by all the Yehūdi̱m who lived there, ¹³came to me, and standing near said to me, ‘Brother Sha’ūl, receive your sight!’ And at that very time I looked up at him. ¹⁴And he said, ‘The Almĭghty of our fathers has appointed you to know his will, and to see the righteous one, and to hear an utterance from his mouth, ¹⁵because you will be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and heard. ¹⁶And now why do you delay? Arise, and immerse yourself, that you yourself should wash away your sins, as one who calls upon his name.’”

¹⁷“And it came about when I returned to Yerūshalayim and was praying in the Temple, that I fell into a vision, ¹⁸and I saw him saying to me, ‘Make haste, and get out of Yerūshalayim quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ ¹⁹And I said, ‘Yăhwēh, they themselves understand that in one congregation after another I used to imprison and beat those affirming faithfulness to you. ²⁰And when the blood of your witness Stephen was being shed, I also was standing by approving, and watching out for the cloaks of those who were slaying him.’ ²¹And he said to me, ‘Go! For I will send you far away to the nations.’”

²²And they listened to him up to this statement, and then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth, because he should not be allowed to live!” ²³And as they were crying out and throwing off their cloaks and tossing dust into the air, ²⁴the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks, stating that he should be examined by scourging so that he might find out the reason why they were shouting against him that way.

²⁵And when they stretched him out with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman and uncondemned?” ²⁶And when the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and told him, saying, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman.” ²⁷And the commander came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman?” And he said, “Yes.” ²⁸And the commander answered, “I acquired this citizenship with a large sum of money.” And Paul said, “But I was actually born a citizen.” ²⁹Therefore those who were about to examine him immediately let go of him, and the commander also was afraid when he found out that he was a Roman, and because he had put him in chains.

³⁰But on the next day, wishing to know for certain why he was accused by the Yehūdi̱m, he released him and ordered the chief priests and all the Council to assemble, and brought Paul down and set him before them.

Paul before the Council

And Paul, looking intently at the Council, said, “Brothers, I have lived my life with a perfectly good conscience before the Almĭghty up to this day.” ^23:2And the high priest Ḥananyah commanded those standing beside him to strike him on the mouth. ³Then Paul said to him, “The Almĭghty is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! And do you sit to try me according to the Law, and in violation of the Law order me to be struck?”

⁴But the bystanders said, “Do you revile the Almĭghty’s high priest?” ⁵And Paul said, “I was not aware, brothers, that he was high priest, because it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”

⁶But perceiving that one part were Tsaddūqi̱m and the other Perūshi̱m, Paul was crying out in the Council, “Brothers, I am a Perūshi̱, a son of Perūshi̱m. I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead!” ⁷And as he said this, there arose a dissension between the Perūshi̱m and Tsaddūqi̱m, and the assembly was divided. ⁸For the Tsaddūqi̱m say that there is no resurrection, nor an angelic messenger, nor a spirit, but the Perūshi̱m acknowledge them all. ⁹And there arose a great uproar, and some of the scribes of the Perūshi̱ party stood up and were arguing heatedly, saying, “We find nothing wrong with this man. Suppose a spirit or an angelic messenger has spoken to him?” ¹⁰And as a great dissension was developing, the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them and ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force, and bring him into the barracks.

¹¹But on the night following, Yăhwēh stood at his side and said, “Take courage, because as you have solemnly witnessed to my cause at Yerūshalayim, so you must witness at Rome also.”

A Conspiracy to Kill Paul

¹²And when it was day, the Yehūdi̱m formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. ¹³And there were more than forty who formed this plot. ¹⁴And they came to the chief priests and the elders, and said, “We have bound ourselves under a solemn oath to taste nothing until we have killed Paul. ¹⁵Now, therefore, you and the Council notify the commander to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case by a more thorough investigation, and we for our part are ready to slay him before he comes near the place.”

¹⁶But the son of Paul’s sister heard of their ambush, and he came and entered the barracks and told Paul. ¹⁷And Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, “Lead this young man to the commander, because he has something to report to him.” ¹⁸So he took him and led him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner called me to him and asked me to lead this young man to you since he has something to tell you.” ¹⁹And the commander took him by the hand and stepping aside, was inquiring of him privately, “What is it that you have to report to me?” ²⁰And he said, “The Yehūdi̱m have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down tomorrow to the Council, as though they were going to ask somewhat more thoroughly about him. ²¹So do not listen to them, for more than forty of them are lying in wait for him who have bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they slay him, and now they are ready and waiting for the promise from you.”

²²Therefore the commander let the young man go, instructing him, “Tell no one that you have notified me of these things.”

Paul Moved to Caesarea

²³And he called to him two of the centurions, and said, “Get two hundred soldiers ready by the third hour of the night to proceed to Caesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen.” ²⁴They were also to provide mounts to put Paul on and bring him safely to Felix the governor. ²⁵And he wrote a letter having this form:

²⁶“Claudius Lysias, to the most excellent governor Felix, greetings. ²⁷When this man was arrested by the Yehūdi̱m and was about to be slain by them, I came upon them with the troops and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman. ²⁸And wanting to ascertain the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their Council, ²⁹and I found him to be accused over questions about their Law, but under no accusation deserving death or imprisonment. ³⁰And when I was informed that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, also instructing his accusers to bring charges against him before you.”

³¹So the soldiers, in accordance with their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. ³²But the next day, leaving the horsemen to go on with him, they returned to the barracks. ³³And when these had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him. ³⁴And when he had read it, he asked from what province he was, and when he learned that he was from Cilicia, ³⁵he said, “I will give you a hearing after your accusers arrive also,” giving orders for him to be kept in Herod’s Praetorium.

Paul before Felix

And after five days the high priest Ḥananyah came down with some elders, with a certain attorney named Tertullus, and they brought charges to the governor against Paul. ^24:2And after Paul was summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying to the governor, “Since we have through you attained much peace, and since by your providence reforms are being carried out for this nation, ³we acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness. ⁴But, that I may not weary you any further, I beg you to grant us, by your kindness, a brief hearing.”

⁵“Because we have found this man a real pest and a fellow who stirs up dissension among all the Yehūdi̱m throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Natsarim. ⁶And he even tried to desecrate the Temple, and then we arrested him. And we wanted to judge him according to our own Law. ⁷But Lysias the commander came along, and with much violence took him out of our hands, ⁸ordering his accusers to come before you. And by examining him yourself concerning all these matters, you will be able to ascertain the things of which we accuse him.” ⁹And the Yehūdi̱m also joined in the attack, asserting that these things were so.

¹⁰And when the governor had nodded for him to speak, Paul responded: “Knowing that for many years you have been a judge to this nation, I cheerfully make my defense, ¹¹since you can take note of the fact that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Yerūshalayim to worship. ¹²And neither in the Temple, nor in the congregations, nor in the city itself did they find me carrying on a discussion with anyone or causing a riot. ¹³Nor can they prove to you the charges of which they now accuse me.”

¹⁴“But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the Almĭghty of our fathers, affirming to be faithful everything that is in accordance with the Law, and that is written in the prophets, ¹⁵having a hope in the Almĭghty, which these men cherish themselves, that there will certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. ¹⁶In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience before the Almĭghty and before men.”

¹⁷“Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings, ¹⁸in which they found me occupied in the Temple, having been purified, without any crowd or uproar. But there were certain Yehūdi̱m from Asia—¹⁹who ought to have been present before you, and to make accusation, if they should have anything against me. ²⁰Or else let these men themselves tell what misdeed they found when I stood before the Council, ²¹other than for this one statement which I shouted out while standing among them, ‘For the resurrection of the dead I am on trial before you today.’”

²²But Felix, having a more exact knowledge about the Way, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case.” ²³And he gave orders to the centurion for him to be kept in custody and yet have some freedom, and not to prevent any of his friends from ministering to him.

²⁴But some days later, Felix arrived with Drūsillah, his wife who was Yehūdi̱t, and sent for Paul, and heard him speak about faithfulness to Messiah Yĕshūa̒. ²⁵And as he was discussing justice, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for the present, and when I find time, I will summon you.” ²⁶At the same time too, he was hoping that money would be given him by Paul. Therefore he also sent for him quite often and conversed with him.

²⁷But after two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and wishing to do the Yehūdi̱m a favor, Felix left Paul imprisoned.

Paul before Festus

Festus therefore, having arrived in the province, three days later went up to Yerūshalayim from Caesarea. ^25:2And the chief priests and the leading men of the Yehūdi̱m brought charges against Paul and they were urging him, ³requesting a concession against Paul, that he might have him brought to Yerūshalayim (at the same time, setting an ambush to kill him on the way). ⁴Festus then answered that Paul was being kept in custody at Caesarea and that he himself was about to leave shortly. ⁵“Therefore,” he said, “let the influential men among you go there with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them prosecute him.”

⁶And after he had spent not more than eight or ten days among them, he went down to Caesarea, and on the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought. ⁷And after he had arrived, the Yehūdi̱m who had come down from Yerūshalayim stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him which they could not prove, ⁸while Paul said in his own defense, “I have committed no offense either against the Law of the Yehūdi̱m or against the Temple or against Caesar.”

⁹But Festus, wishing to do the Yehūdi̱m a favor, answered Paul and said, “Are you willing to go up to Yerūshalayim and stand trial before me on these charges?” ¹⁰But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Yehūdi̱m, as you also very well know. ¹¹If then I am a wrongdoer, and have committed anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die, but if none of those things is true of which these men accuse me, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar.” ¹²Then when Festus had conferred with his council, he answered, “You have appealed to Caesar, to Caesar you will go.”

¹³Now when several days had elapsed, King Agrippa and Berni̱qah arrived at Caesarea, and paid their respects to Festus. ¹⁴And while they were spending many days there, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying, “There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix, ¹⁵and when I was at Yerūshalayim, the chief priests and the elders of the Yehūdi̱m brought charges against him, asking for a sentence of condemnation upon him. ¹⁶And I answered them that it is not the custom of the Romans to hand over any man before the accused meets his accusers face to face, and has an opportunity to make his defense against the charges. ¹⁷And so after they had come together here, I made no delay, but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal, and ordered the man to be brought.”

¹⁸“And when the accusers stood up, they were bringing charges against him not of such crimes as I was expecting, ¹⁹but they simply had some points of disagreement with him about their own religion and about a certain dead man, Yĕshūa̒, whom Paul asserted to be alive. ²⁰And being at a loss how to investigate such matters, I asked whether he was willing to go to Yerūshalayim and there stand trial on these matters. ²¹But when Paul appealed to be held in custody for the Emperor’s decision, I ordered him to be kept in custody until I send him to Caesar.”

²²And Agrippa said to Festus, “I also would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” he said, “you will hear him.”

Paul before Agrippa

²³And so, on the next day when Agrippa had come together with Berni̱qah, amid great pomp, and had entered the auditorium accompanied by the commanders and the prominent men of the city, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. ²⁴And Festus said, “King Agrippa, and all you gentlemen here present with us, you behold this man about whom all the people of the Yehūdi̱m appealed to me, both at Yerūshalayim and here, loudly declaring that he ought not to live any longer. ²⁵But I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and since he himself appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him. ²⁶Yet I have nothing definite about him to write to my lord. Therefore I have brought him before you all and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the investigation has taken place, I may have something to write. ²⁷For it seems absurd to me in sending a prisoner, not to indicate also the charges against him.”

Paul’s Defense before Agrippa

And Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and proceeded to make his defense:

^26:2“In regard to all the things of which I am accused by the Yehūdi̱m, I consider myself fortunate, King Agrippa, that I am about to make my defense before you today, ³especially because you are an expert in all customs and questions among the Yehūdi̱m. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.”

⁴“So then, all Yehūdi̱m know my manner of life from my youth up, which from the beginning was spent among my own nation and at Yerūshalayim. ⁵Since they have known about me for a long time previously, if they are willing to testify, that I lived as a Perūshi̱ according to the strictest sect of our religion. ⁶And now I am standing trial for the hope of the promise made by the Almĭghty to our fathers, ⁷the promise to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly serve the Almĭghty night and day. And for this hope, King, I am being accused by Yehūdi̱m. ⁸Why is it considered incredible among you people if the Almĭghty does raise the dead?”

⁹“So then, I thought to myself that I had to do many things hostile to the name of Yĕshūa̒ Ha-Natsri̱. ¹⁰And this is just what I did in Yerūshalayim. Not only did I lock up many of the holy ones in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, but also when they were being put to death I cast my vote against them. ¹¹And as I punished them often in all the congregations, I tried to force them to blaspheme. And being furiously enraged at them, I kept pursuing them even to foreign cities.”

¹²“While so engaged as I was journeying to Dammeseq with the authority and commission of the chief priests, ¹³at midday, King, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining all around me and those who were journeying with me. ¹⁴And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Sha’ūl, Sha’ūl, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ ¹⁵And I said, ‘Who are you, A’dŏnai̱?’ And Yăhwēh said, ‘I am Yĕshūa̒ whom you are persecuting. ¹⁶‘But arise, and stand on your feet, because this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you, ¹⁷delivering you from the people and from the nations, to whom I am sending you, ¹⁸to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to the Almĭghty, in order that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faithfulness which is toward Me.’”

¹⁹“Consequently, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision, ²⁰but kept declaring both to those of Dammeseq first, and also at Yerūshalayim and then throughout all the region of Yehūdah, and even to the nations, that they should repent and turn to the Almĭghty, performing deeds appropriate to repentance. ²¹For this reason some Yehūdi̱m seized me in the Temple and tried to put me to death. ²²And so, having obtained help from the Almĭghty, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, stating nothing but what the prophets and Mōshēh said was going to take place, ²³that the Mĕssiah was to suffer, and then first from his resurrection from the dead, he is destined to proclaim light, beside to the people, also to the nations.”

²⁴And while Paul was saying this in his defense, Festus said in a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great learning is driving you mad.”

²⁵But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I utter words of sober truth, ²⁶because the king knows about these matters, and I speak to him also with confidence, since I am persuaded that none of these things escape his notice, because this has not been done in a corner. ²⁷King Agrippa, do you affirm faithfulness to the prophets? I know that you affirm faithfulness.”

²⁸And Agrippa replied to Paul, “In a short time you will persuade me to become Messianic?” ²⁹And Paul said, “I would to the Almĭghty, that whether in a short or long time, not only you, but also all who hear me this day, might become such as I am, except for these chains.”

³⁰And the king arose and the governor and Berni̱qah, and those who were sitting with them, ³¹and when they had drawn aside, they were talking to one another, saying, “This man is not doing anything worthy of death or imprisonment.” ³²And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

Paul is Sent to Rome

And when it was decided that we should sail for Italy, they proceeded to deliver Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan cohort named Julius. ^27:2And embarking in an Adramyttian ship, which was about to sail to the regions along the coast of Asia, we put out to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica. ³And the next day we put in at Tsi̱dōn; and Julius treated Paul with consideration and allowed him to go to his friends and receive care. ⁴And from there we put out to sea and sailed under the shelter of Cyprus because the winds were contrary. ⁵And when we had sailed through the sea along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we landed at Myra in Lycia.

⁶And there the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy, and he put us aboard it. ⁷And when we had sailed slowly for a good many days, and with difficulty had arrived off Cnidus, since the wind did not permit us to go farther, we sailed under the shelter of Crete, off Salmone, ⁸and with difficulty sailing past it we came to a certain place called Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lasea.

⁹And when considerable time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous, since even the fast was already over, Paul was admonishing them, ¹⁰and said to them, “Men, I perceive that the voyage will certainly be attended with damage and great loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.”

¹¹But the centurion was more persuaded by the pilot and the captain of the ship, than by what was being said by Paul. ¹²And because the harbor was not suitable for wintering, the majority reached a decision to put out to sea from there, if somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, facing southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there.

¹³And when a moderate south wind came up, supposing that they had gained their purpose, they weighed anchor and were sailing along Crete, close to shore.

Shipwreck

¹⁴But before very long there rushed down from the land a violent wind, called the northeaster. ¹⁵And when the ship was caught in it, and could not face the wind, we gave way to it, and let ourselves be driven along.

¹⁶And running under the shelter of a small island called Cauda, we were scarcely able to get the ship’s boat under control. ¹⁷And after they had hoisted it up, they used supporting cables in undergirding the ship, and fearing that they might run aground on the shallows of Syrtis, they let down the sea anchor, and so let themselves be driven along. ¹⁸The next day as we were being violently storm-tossed, they began to jettison the cargo. ¹⁹And on the third day they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. ²⁰And since neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small storm was assailing us, from then on all hope of our being saved was gradually abandoned.

²¹And when they had gone a long time without food, then Paul stood up in their midst and said, “Men, you ought to have followed my advice and not to have set sail from Crete, and incurred this damage and loss. ²²And yet now I urge you to keep up your courage, because there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship, ²³because this very night the Mĕssenger of the Almĭghty to whom I belong and whom I serve stood before me, ²⁴saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul! You must stand before Caesar, and behold, the Almĭghty has granted you all those who are sailing with you.’ ²⁵Therefore, keep up your courage, men, because I affirm faithfulness to the Almĭghty, because so it will be exactly as I have been told. ²⁶But we must run aground on a certain island.”

²⁷But when the fourteenth night had come, as we were being driven about in the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors were surmising that they were approaching some land. ²⁸And they took soundings, and found it to be twenty fathoms. And a little farther on they took another sounding and found it to be fifteen fathoms. ²⁹And fearing that we might run aground somewhere on the rocks, they cast four anchors from the stern and wished for daybreak.

³⁰And as the sailors were trying to escape from the ship, and had let down the ship’s boat into the sea, on the pretense of intending to lay out anchors from the bow, ³¹Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, “Unless these men remain in the ship, you yourselves cannot be saved.” ³²Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the ship’s boat, and let it fall away.

³³And until the day was about to dawn, Paul was encouraging them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have been constantly watching and going without eating, having taken nothing. ³⁴Therefore I encourage you to take some food, because this is for your preservation, because not a hair from the head of any of you will perish.”

³⁵And having said this, he took bread and gave thanks to the Almĭghty in the presence of all, and he broke it and began to eat. ³⁶And all of them were encouraged, and they themselves also took food. ³⁷And all of us in the ship were two hundred and seventy-six persons. ³⁸And when they had eaten enough, they were lightening the ship by throwing out the wheat into the sea.

³⁹And when day came, they could not recognize the land, but they did observe a certain bay with a beach, and they resolved to drive the ship onto it if they could. ⁴⁰And casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea while at the same time they were loosening the ropes of the rudders, and hoisting the foresail to the wind, they were heading for the beach. ⁴¹But striking a reef where two seas met, they ran the vessel aground, and the prow stuck fast and remained immovable, but the stern was being broken up by the force of the waves.

⁴²And the soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, that none of them should swim away and escape, ⁴³but the centurion, wanting to bring Paul safely through, kept them from their intention, and commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first and get to land, ⁴⁴and the rest should follow, some on planks, and others on various things from the ship. And thus it happened that they all were brought safely to land.

Safe at Malta

And when they were brought safely through, then we found out that the island was called Malta. ^28:2As well the natives afforded us unusual kindness, because they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold.

³But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand. ⁴And when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they were saying to one another, “Undoubtedly this man is a murderer, and though he has been saved from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live.” ⁵However he shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm.

⁶But they were expecting that he was about to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had waited a long time and had seen nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and were saying that he was a god.

⁷Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us courteously three days. ⁸And it came about that the father of Publius was lying in bed afflicted with recurrent fever and dysentery. And Paul went in to see him and after he had prayed, he laid his hands on him and healed him. ⁹And after this had happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases were coming to him and getting cured. ¹⁰And they also honored us with many marks of respect. And when we were setting sail, they supplied us with all we needed.

Paul Arrives at Rome

¹¹And at the end of three months we set sail on an Alexandrian ship which had wintered at the island, and which had the Twin brothers for its figurehead. ¹²And after we put in at Syracuse, we stayed there for three days. ¹³And from there we sailed around and arrived at Rhegium, and a day later a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli. ¹⁴There we found some brothers, and were invited to stay with them for seven days, and so we came to Rome.

¹⁵And the brothers, when they heard about us, came from there as far as the Market of Appius and Three Inns to meet us, and when Paul saw them, he thanked the Almĭghty and took courage. ¹⁶And when we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.

¹⁷And it happened that after three days he called together those who were the leading men of the Yehūdi̱m, and when they had come together, he was saying to them, “Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people, or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered prisoner from Yerūshalayim into the hands of the Romans. ¹⁸And when they had examined me, they were willing to release me because there was no ground for putting me to death. ¹⁹But when the Yehūdi̱m objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar, not that I had any accusation against my nation. ²⁰For this reason therefore, I requested to see you and to speak with you, because I am wearing this chain for the sake of the hope of Yisra’ēl.”

²¹And they said to him, “We have neither received letters from Yehūdah concerning you, nor have any of the brothers come here and reported or spoken anything bad about you. ²²But we desire to hear from you what your views are, because concerning this sect, it is known to us that it is spoken against everywhere.”

²³And when they had set a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in large numbers. And he was explaining to them by thoroughly testifying about the kingdom of the Almĭghty, and persuading them concerning Yĕshūa̒, from both the Law of Mōshēh and from the prophets, from morning until evening.

²⁴And some had been persuaded by the things spoken, but others had not affirmed faithfulness. ²⁵And when they did not agree with one another, they were leaving after Paul had spoken one last word, “The Holy Spĭrit rightly spoke through Yesha‘yahū the prophet to your fathers, ²⁶saying, ‘Go to this people and say, You will keep on hearing, but will not understand, and you will keep on seeing, but will not perceive, ²⁷because the heart of this people has become dull, and with their ears they scarcely hear, and they have closed their eyes, lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart and return, and I should heal them.’ ²⁸Let it be known to you therefore, that this salvation of the Almĭghty has been sent to the nations. They will also listen.”

³⁰And he remained there two whole years in his own rented place, and had been welcoming all that came in to him, ³¹proclaiming the kingdom of the Almĭghty, and teaching the things about A’dŏnai̱ Yĕshūa̒, Mĕssiah with all boldness unhindered.