9:1 And Saul, still breathing out threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,
9:2 And asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
9:3 And as he traveled, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there flashed around him a light from heaven:
9:4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?
9:5 And he said, Who are you, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. [It is hard for you to kick against the pricks.]
9:6 Arise, and go into the city, and you shall be told what you must do.
9:7 And the men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no one.
9:8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw nothing: so they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
9:9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
9:10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.
9:11 And the Lord said to him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he is praying,
9:12 And has seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hands on him, that he might regain his sight.
9:13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem:
9:14 And he is here and has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call upon your name.
9:15 But the Lord said to him, Go: for he is a chosen instrument of mine, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the sons of Israel:
9:16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name's sake.
9:17 And Ananias went his way, and entered the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me, that you might regain your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
9:18 And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales: and he received his sight, and arose, and was baptized.
9:19 And when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul was for some days with the disciples who were at Damascus.
9:20 And immediately he preached Christ in the synagogues, saying that he is the Son of God.
9:21 But all who heard him were amazed, and said; Is this not the one who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and did he not come here that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?
9:22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived at Damascus, by proving that Jesus is the Christ.
9:23 And after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him:
9:24 But their plot was made known to Saul. They watched the gates day and night to kill him.
9:25 Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down in a basket through an opening in the wall.
9:26 And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple.
9:27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
9:28 And he was with them, freely coming and going in Jerusalem.
9:29 And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed with the Hellenistic Jews: but they attempted to kill him.
9:30 When the brethren learned of this, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.
9:31 Then the church had rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and was being built up; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers.
9:32 And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all those parts, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.
9:33 And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years, for he was a paralytic.
9:34 And Peter said to him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you: arise, and make your bed. And he arose immediately.
9:35 And all who lived at Lydda and Sharon saw him, and turned to the Lord.
9:36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which translated is Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and acts of charity.
9:37 And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died; and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.
9:38 And since Lydda was near to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent to him two men, urging him to come to them and not delay.
9:39 Then Peter arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him into the upper room: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.
9:40 But Peter put them all out, and knelt down, and prayed; and turning to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
9:41 And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.
9:42 And it became known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.
9:43 And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon, a tanner.
10:1 There was a certain man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian cohort,
10:2 A devout man, and one who feared God with all his house, and he gave many alms to the people, and prayed to God always.
10:3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw in a vision an angel of God coming in to him, and saying to him, Cornelius.
10:4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said to him, Your prayers and your alms have come up as a memorial before God.
10:5 Now send men to Joppa, and bring back one Simon, whose surname is Peter:
10:6 He lodges with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.
10:7 And when the angel who spoke to Cornelius had departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier from among those who waited upon him continually;
10:8 And when he had explained all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa.
10:9 On the next day, as they went on their journey, and drew near to the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour:
10:10 And he became very hungry, and wanted to eat: but while they were making ready, he fell into a trance,
10:11 And saw heaven opened, and something descending, like a great sheet, let down by four corners to the earth:
10:12 In it were all manner of four-footed beasts of the earth, and creeping things, and birds of the air.
10:13 And a voice came to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
10:14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.
10:15 And the voice spoke to him a second time, What God has cleansed, do not call unholy.
10:16 This was done three times: and the sheet was immediately taken up again into heaven.
10:17 Now while Peter was perplexed about the meaning of the vision which he had seen, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made enquiry for Simon's house, stood before the gate,
10:18 And called out, asking whether Simon, known as Peter, was lodging there.
10:19 While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, Behold, three men seek you.
10:20 Arise therefore, and go downstairs, and accompany them without doubting: for I have sent them.
10:21 Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him by Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am the one you seek: what is the cause for which you have come?
10:22 And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one who fears God, and who is well spoken of among all the nation of the Jews, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house, and to hear a message from you.
10:23 Then he called them in, and gave them lodging. And on the next day Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
10:24 And the day after they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends.
10:25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
10:26 But Peter raised him up, saying, Stand up; I am also a man.
10:27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many who had come together.
10:28 And he said to them, You know that it is an unlawful thing for a man who is a Jew to keep company, or visit one from another nation; but God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
10:29 Therefore, I came to you without objection, as soon as I was sent for: therefore I ask for what intent you have sent for me?
10:30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago about this hour, I was keeping the ninth hour of prayer in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
10:31 And said, Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered by God.
10:32 Therefore send to Joppa, and ask for Simon, who is called Peter; he is lodging in the house of one Simon, a tanner, by the sea.
10:33 Therefore I immediately sent to you; and you have been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all present here before God, to hear all things that you have been commanded by the Lord.
10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Truly I perceive that God shows no partiality:
10:35 But in every nation the man who fears him, and works righteousness, is accepted by him.
10:36 The word which God sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
10:37 You know that word, which was proclaimed throughout all Judaea, beginning in Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power: how he went about doing good, and healing all who were oppressed by the devil; for God was with him.
10:39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem. And they killed him by hanging him on a tree:
10:40 But God raised him up on the third day, and showed him openly;
10:41 Not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
10:42 And he commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is he who was ordained by God to be the Judge of the living and dead.
10:43 To him all the prophets bear witness that through his name whoever believes in him shall receive forgiveness of sins.
10:44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.
10:45 And those of the circumcision who believed, as many as came with Peter, were astonished because the gift of the Holy Spirit was also poured out upon the Gentiles.
10:46 For they heard them speaking with tongues, and magnifying God. Then Peter said,
10:47 Can anyone forbid water for these to be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?
10:48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to remain for a few days.
11:1 Now the apostles and brethren who were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.
11:2 And when Peter had come up to Jerusalem, those who were of the circumcision party criticized him,
11:3 Saying, You went into the house of uncircumcised men, and ate with them.
11:4 But Peter related the matter from the beginning, and explained it to them in order, saying,
11:5 I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain object descended, like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came down to me:
11:6 When I had fastened my eyes upon it and considered it, I saw four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and birds of the air.
11:7 And I heard a voice saying to me, Arise, Peter; kill and eat.
11:8 But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean has at any time entered into my mouth.
11:9 But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God has cleansed, do not call unholy.
11:10 And this happened three times: and then all was drawn up again into heaven.
11:11 And, behold, immediately three men arrived at the house where I was, sent from Caesarea to me.
11:12 And the Spirit told me to go with them, without doubting. And these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered the man's house:
11:13 And he told us how he had seen an angel in his house, who stood and said to him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, who is called Peter;
11:14 Who shall give you a message, by which you and all your household shall be saved.
11:15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, just as upon us in the beginning.
11:16 Then I remembered the word of the Lord, that he said, John baptized with water; but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.
11:17 Therefore, if God gave them the same gift he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ; who was I, that I could withstand God?
11:18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then God has also granted to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life.
11:19 Now those who were scattered abroad by the persecution that arose over Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews.
11:20 But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus.
11:21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned to the Lord.
11:22 Then news of these things came to the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas to Antioch.
11:23 When he came, and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and exhorted them all, that with resolute hearts they would cling to the Lord;
11:24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith: and many people were added to the Lord.
11:25 Then Barnabas departed to Tarsus, to look for Saul:
11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And it came to pass, that for a whole year they met with the church, and taught many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
11:27 And in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.
11:28 And one of them named Agabus stood up, and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine throughout all the world: and this came to pass in the days of Claudius.
11:29 Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren who lived in Judaea:
11:30 Which they did, sending it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
12:1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to mistreat some who belonged to the church.
12:2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
12:3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. (This was during the days of unleavened bread.)
12:4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of four soldiers to keep him; intending after passover to bring him forth to the people.
12:5 Therefore Peter was kept in prison: but prayer to God was made for him without ceasing by the church.
12:6 And the night before Herod would have brought him forth, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door were guarding the prison.
12:7 And, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the prison: and he struck Peter on the side, and woke him, saying, Arise quickly. And the chains fell off his hands.
12:8 And the angel said to him, Gird yourself, and put on your sandals. And he did so. And he said to him, Wrap your garment about you, and follow me.
12:9 And he went out, and followed him; but he did not know that what was being done by the angel was real; but thought he was seeing a vision.
12:10 When they were past the first and second guards, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city; which opened for them of its own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.
12:11 And when Peter had come to himself, he said, Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent his angel, and has delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.
12:12 When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John, who was also called Mark; where many were gathered together praying.
12:13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a maid named Rhoda came to answer.
12:14 And when she recognized Peter's voice, in her joy she did not open the gate, but ran in, and told that Peter stood before the gate.
12:15 And they said to her, You are mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was so. Then they said, It is his angel.
12:16 But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.
12:17 But he, beckoning to them with his hand to hold their peace, declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Tell these things to James, and to the brethren. Then he departed, and went to another place.
12:18 Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers over what had become of Peter.
12:19 And when Herod sought for him, and did not find him, he examined the guards, and commanded that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and remained there.
12:20 And Herod was highly displeased with the people of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king's chamberlain, their friend, they asked for peace; because their country was fed by the king's country.
12:21 And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal robes, sat upon his throne, and made an oration to them.
12:22 And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.
12:23 Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give God the glory: and he was eaten by worms, and died.
12:24 But the word of God grew and spread.
12:25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their ministry, bringing with them John, who was also called Mark.