God's Vision and the Spirit's Power

1. The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. 2. Hear, heavens, and listen, earth; for Yahweh has spoken: “I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. 3. The ox knows his owner, and the donkey his master’s crib; but Israel doesn’t know, my people don’t consider.” 4. Ah sinful nation, a people loaded with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken Yahweh. They have despised the Holy One of Israel. They are estranged and backward. 5. Why should you be beaten more, that you revolt more and more? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. 6. From the sole of the foot even to the head there is no soundness in it: wounds, welts, and open sores. They haven’t been closed, neither bandaged, neither soothed with oil. 7. Your country is desolate. Your cities are burned with fire. Strangers devour your land in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers. 8. The daughter of Zion is left like a shelter in a vineyard, like a hut in a field of melons, like a besieged city. 9. Unless Yahweh of Armies had left to us a very small remnant, we would have been as Sodom; we would have been like Gomorrah. 10. Hear Yahweh’s word, you rulers of Sodom! Listen to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah! 11. “What are the multitude of your sacrifices to me?”, says Yahweh. “I have had enough of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed animals. I don’t delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of male goats. 12. When you come to appear before me, who has required this at your hand, to trample my courts? 13. Bring no more vain offerings. Incense is an abomination to me; new moons, Sabbaths, and convocations: I can’t stand evil assemblies. 14. My soul hates your New Moons and your appointed feasts. They are a burden to me. I am weary of bearing them. 15. When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you. Yes, when you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood. 16. Wash yourselves, make yourself clean. Put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes. Cease to do evil. 17. Learn to do well. Seek justice. Relieve the oppressed. Judge the fatherless. Plead for the widow.” 18. “Come now, and let us reason together,” says Yahweh: “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; 20. but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured with the sword; for the mouth of Yahweh has spoken it.” 21. How the faithful city has become a prostitute! She was full of justice; righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers. 22. Your silver has become dross, your wine mixed with water. 23. Your princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves. Everyone loves bribes, and follows after rewards. They don’t judge the fatherless, neither does the cause of the widow come to them. 24. Therefore the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, the Mighty One of Israel, says: “Ah, I will get relief from my adversaries, and avenge myself on my enemies; 25. and I will turn my hand on you, thoroughly purge away your dross, and will take away all your tin. 26. I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you shall be called ‘The city of righteousness, a faithful town.’ 27. Zion shall be redeemed with justice, and her converts with righteousness. 28. But the destruction of transgressors and sinners shall be together, and those who forsake Yahweh shall be consumed. 29. For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which you have desired, and you shall be confounded for the gardens that you have chosen. 30. For you shall be as an oak whose leaf fades, and as a garden that has no water. 31. The strong will be like tinder, and his work like a spark. They will both burn together, and no one will quench them.” 1. This is what Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 2. It shall happen in the latter days, that the mountain of Yahweh’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. 3. Many peoples shall go and say, “Come, let’s go up to the mountain of Yahweh, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths.” For out of Zion the law shall go out, and Yahweh’s word from Jerusalem. 4. He will judge between the nations, and will decide concerning many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. 5. House of Jacob, come, and let us walk in the light of Yahweh. 6. For you have forsaken your people, the house of Jacob, because they are filled from the east, with those who practice divination like the Philistines, and they clasp hands with the children of foreigners. 7. Their land is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures. Their land also is full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots. 8. Their land also is full of idols. They worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made. 9. Man is brought low, and mankind is humbled; therefore don’t forgive them. 10. Enter into the rock, and hide in the dust, from before the terror of Yahweh, and from the glory of his majesty. 11. The lofty looks of man will be brought low, the haughtiness of men will be bowed down, and Yahweh alone will be exalted in that day. 12. For there will be a day of Yahweh of Armies for all that is proud and haughty, and for all that is lifted up; and it shall be brought low: 13. For all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, for all the oaks of Bashan, 14. For all the high mountains, for all the hills that are lifted up, 15. For every lofty tower, for every fortified wall, 16. For all the ships of Tarshish, and for all pleasant imagery. 17. The loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be brought low; and Yahweh alone shall be exalted in that day. 18. The idols shall utterly pass away. 19. Men shall go into the caves of the rocks, and into the holes of the earth, from before the terror of Yahweh, and from the glory of his majesty, when he arises to shake the earth mightily. 20. In that day, men shall cast away their idols of silver, and their idols of gold, which have been made for themselves to worship, to the moles and to the bats; 21. To go into the caverns of the rocks, and into the clefts of the ragged rocks, from before the terror of Yahweh, and from the glory of his majesty, when he arises to shake the earth mightily. 22. Stop trusting in man, whose breath is in his nostrils; for of what account is he? 1. For, behold, the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, takes away from Jerusalem and from Judah supply and support, the whole supply of bread, and the whole supply of water; 2. the mighty man, the man of war, the judge, the prophet, the diviner, the elder, 3. the captain of fifty, the honorable man, the counselor, the skilled craftsman, and the clever enchanter. 4. I will give boys to be their princes, and children shall rule over them. 5. The people will be oppressed, everyone by another, and everyone by his neighbor. The child will behave himself proudly against the old man, and the wicked against the honorable. 6. Indeed a man shall take hold of his brother in the house of his father, saying, “You have clothing, you be our ruler, and let this ruin be under your hand.” 7. In that day he will cry out, saying, “I will not be a healer; for in my house is neither bread nor clothing. You shall not make me ruler of the people.” 8. For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen; because their tongue and their doings are against Yahweh, to provoke the eyes of his glory. 9. The look of their faces testify against them. They parade their sin like Sodom. They don’t hide it. Woe to their soul! For they have brought disaster upon themselves. 10. Tell the righteous “Good!” For they shall eat the fruit of their deeds. 11. Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them; for the deeds of his hands will be paid back to him. 12. As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. My people, those who lead you cause you to err, and destroy the way of your paths. 13. Yahweh stands up to contend, and stands to judge the peoples. 14. Yahweh will enter into judgment with the elders of his people, and their leaders: “It is you who have eaten up the vineyard. The plunder of the poor is in your houses. 15. What do you mean that you crush my people, and grind the face of the poor?” says the Lord, Yahweh of Armies. 16. Moreover Yahweh said, “Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with outstretched necks and flirting eyes, walking to trip as they go, jingling ornaments on their feet; 17. therefore the Lord brings sores on the crown of the head of the women of Zion, and Yahweh will make their scalps bald.” 18. In that day the Lord will take away the beauty of their anklets, the headbands, the crescent necklaces, 19. the earrings, the bracelets, the veils, 20. the headdresses, the ankle chains, the sashes, the perfume bottles, the charms, 21. the signet rings, the nose rings, 22. the fine robes, the capes, the cloaks, the purses, 23. the hand mirrors, the fine linen garments, the tiaras, and the shawls. 24. It shall happen that instead of sweet spices, there shall be rottenness; instead of a belt, a rope; instead of well set hair, baldness; instead of a robe, a wearing of sackcloth; and branding instead of beauty. 25. Your men shall fall by the sword, and your mighty in the war. 26. Her gates shall lament and mourn; and she shall be desolate and sit on the ground. 1. Seven women shall take hold of one man in that day, saying, “We will eat our own bread, and wear our own clothing: only let us be called by your name. Take away our reproach.” 2. In that day, Yahweh’s branch will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the beauty and glory of the survivors of Israel. 3. It will happen, that he who is left in Zion, and he who remains in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even everyone who is written among the living in Jerusalem; 4. when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from within it, by the spirit of justice, and by the spirit of burning. 5. Yahweh will create over the whole habitation of Mount Zion, and over her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory will be a canopy. 6. There will be a pavilion for a shade in the daytime from the heat, and for a refuge and for a shelter from storm and from rain.

1. Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, a complaint arose from the Hellenists against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily service. 2. The twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not appropriate for us to forsake the word of God and serve tables. 3. Therefore select from among you, brothers, seven men of good report, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4. But we will continue steadfastly in prayer and in the ministry of the word.” 5. These words pleased the whole multitude. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch; 6. whom they set before the apostles. When they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. 7. The word of God increased and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly. A great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. 8. Stephen, full of faith and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. 9. But some of those who were of the synagogue called “The Libertines”, and of the Cyrenians, of the Alexandrians, and of those of Cilicia and Asia arose, disputing with Stephen. 10. They weren’t able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. 11. Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12. They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, and came against him and seized him, and brought him in to the council, 13. and set up false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the law. 14. For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place, and will change the customs which Moses delivered to us.” 15. All who sat in the council, fastening their eyes on him, saw his face like it was the face of an angel. 1. The high priest said, “Are these things so?” 2. He said, “Brothers and fathers, listen. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, 3. and said to him, ‘Get out of your land, and from your relatives, and come into a land which I will show you.’ 4. Then he came out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and lived in Haran. From there, when his father was dead, God moved him into this land, where you are now living. 5. He gave him no inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on. He promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his offspring after him, when he still had no child. 6. God spoke in this way: that his offspring would live as aliens in a strange land, and that they would be enslaved and mistreated for four hundred years. 7. ‘I will judge the nation to which they will be in bondage,’ said God, ‘and after that will they come out, and serve me in this place.’ 8. He gave him the covenant of circumcision. So Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day. Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs. 9. “The patriarchs, moved with jealousy against Joseph, sold him into Egypt. God was with him, 10. and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. He made him governor over Egypt and all his house. 11. Now a famine came over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction. Our fathers found no food. 12. But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers the first time. 13. On the second time Joseph was made known to his brothers, and Joseph’s race was revealed to Pharaoh. 14. Joseph sent, and summoned Jacob, his father, and all his relatives, seventy-five souls. 15. Jacob went down into Egypt, and he died, himself and our fathers, 16. and they were brought back to Shechem, and laid in the tomb that Abraham bought for a price in silver from the children of Hamor of Shechem. 17. “But as the time of the promise came close which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, 18. until there arose a different king, who didn’t know Joseph. 19. The same took advantage of our race, and mistreated our fathers, and forced them to throw out their babies, so that they wouldn’t stay alive. 20. At that time Moses was born, and was exceedingly handsome. He was nourished three months in his father’s house. 21. When he was thrown out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up, and reared him as her own son. 22. Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians. He was mighty in his words and works. 23. But when he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel. 24. Seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him who was oppressed, striking the Egyptian. 25. He supposed that his brothers understood that God, by his hand, was giving them deliverance; but they didn’t understand. 26. “The day following, he appeared to them as they fought, and urged them to be at peace again, saying, ‘Sirs, you are brothers. Why do you wrong one another?’ 27. But he who did his neighbor wrong pushed him away, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? 28. Do you want to kill me, as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’ 29. Moses fled at this saying, and became a stranger in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons. 30. “When forty years were fulfilled, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush. 31. When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight. As he came close to see, a voice of the Lord came to him, 32. ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ Moses trembled, and dared not look. 33. The Lord said to him, ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you stand is holy ground. 34. I have surely seen the affliction of my people that is in Egypt, and have heard their groaning. I have come down to deliver them. Now come, I will send you into Egypt.’ 35. “This Moses, whom they refused, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’—God has sent him as both a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. 36. This man led them out, having worked wonders and signs in Egypt, in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness for forty years. 37. This is that Moses, who said to the children of Israel, ‘The Lord our God will raise up a prophet for you from among your brothers, like me.’ 38. This is he who was in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel that spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, who received living revelations to give to us, 39. to whom our fathers wouldn’t be obedient, but rejected him, and turned back in their hearts to Egypt, 40. saying to Aaron, ‘Make us gods that will go before us, for as for this Moses, who led us out of the land of Egypt, we don’t know what has become of him.’ 41. They made a calf in those days, and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their hands. 42. But God turned, and gave them up to serve the army of the sky, as it is written in the book of the prophets, ‘Did you offer to me slain animals and sacrifices forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? 43. You took up the tabernacle of Moloch, the star of your god Rephan, the figures which you made to worship. I will carry you away beyond Babylon.’ 44. “Our fathers had the tabernacle of the testimony in the wilderness, even as he who spoke to Moses commanded him to make it according to the pattern that he had seen; 45. which also our fathers, in their turn, brought in with Joshua when they entered into the possession of the nations, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers, to the days of David, 46. who found favor in the sight of God, and asked to find a habitation for the God of Jacob. 47. But Solomon built him a house. 48. However, the Most High doesn’t dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says, 49. ‘heaven is my throne, and the earth a footstool for my feet. What kind of house will you build me?’ says the Lord. ‘Or what is the place of my rest? 50. Didn’t my hand make all these things?’ 51. “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit! As your fathers did, so you do. 52. Which of the prophets didn’t your fathers persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, of whom you have now become betrayers and murderers. 53. You received the law as it was ordained by angels, and didn’t keep it!” 54. Now when they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. 55. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56. and said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” 57. But they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and rushed at him with one accord. 58. They threw him out of the city, and stoned him. The witnesses placed their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59. They stoned Stephen as he called out, saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” 60. He kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, don’t hold this sin against them!” When he had said this, he fell asleep. 1. Saul was consenting to his death. A great persecution arose against the assembly which was in Jerusalem in that day. They were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles. 2. Devout men buried Stephen, and lamented greatly over him. 3. But Saul ravaged the assembly, entering into every house, and dragged both men and women off to prison. 4. Therefore those who were scattered abroad went around preaching the word. 5. Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed to them the Christ. 6. The multitudes listened with one accord to the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard and saw the signs which he did. 7. For unclean spirits came out of many of those who had them. They came out, crying with a loud voice. Many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed. 8. There was great joy in that city. 9. But there was a certain man, Simon by name, who used to practice sorcery in the city, and amazed the people of Samaria, making himself out to be some great one, 10. to whom they all listened, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is that great power of God.” 11. They listened to him, because for a long time he had amazed them with his sorceries. 12. But when they believed Philip preaching good news concerning God’s Kingdom and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13. Simon himself also believed. Being baptized, he continued with Philip. Seeing signs and great miracles occurring, he was amazed. 14. Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15. who, when they had come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit; 16. for as yet he had fallen on none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of Christ Jesus. 17. Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18. Now when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19. saying, “Give me also this power, that whomever I lay my hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20. But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! 21. You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart isn’t right before God. 22. Repent therefore of this, your wickedness, and ask God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. 23. For I see that you are in the poison of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.” 24. Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that none of the things which you have spoken happen to me.” 25. They therefore, when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the Good News to many villages of the Samaritans. 26. But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise, and go toward the south to the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is a desert.” 27. He arose and went; and behold, there was a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship. 28. He was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29. The Spirit said to Philip, “Go near, and join yourself to this chariot.” 30. Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31. He said, “How can I, unless someone explains it to me?” He begged Philip to come up and sit with him. 32. Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this, “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter. As a lamb before his shearer is silent, so he doesn’t open his mouth. 33. In his humiliation, his judgment was taken away. Who will declare His generation? For his life is taken from the earth.” 34. The eunuch answered Philip, “Who is the prophet talking about? About himself, or about someone else?” 35. Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached to him about Jesus. 36. As they went on the way, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Behold, here is water. What is keeping me from being baptized?” 37. 38. He commanded the chariot to stand still, and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, and the eunuch didn’t see him any more, for he went on his way rejoicing. 40. But Philip was found at Azotus. Passing through, he preached the Good News to all the cities, until he came to Caesarea. 1. But Saul, still breathing threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, 2. and asked for letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3. As he traveled, he got close to Damascus, and suddenly a light from the sky shone around him. 4. He fell on the earth, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5. He said, “Who are you, Lord?” The Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6. But rise up, and enter into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7. The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the sound, but seeing no one. 8. Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened, he saw no one. They led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. 9. He was without sight for three days, and neither ate nor drank. 10. Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!” He said, “Behold, it’s me, Lord.” 11. The Lord said to him, “Arise, and go to the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judah for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus. For behold, he is praying, 12. and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in, and laying his hands on him, that he might receive his sight.” 13. But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he did to your saints at Jerusalem. 14. Here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 15. But the Lord said to him, “Go your way, for he is my chosen vessel to bear my name before the nations and kings, and the children of Israel. 16. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name’s sake.” 17. Ananias departed, and entered into the house. Laying his hands on him, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord, who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me, that you may receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18. Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he received his sight. He arose and was baptized. 19. He took food and was strengthened. Saul stayed several days with the disciples who were at Damascus. 20. Immediately in the synagogues he proclaimed the Christ, that he is the Son of God. 21. All who heard him were amazed, and said, “Isn’t this he who in Jerusalem made havoc of those who called on this name? And he had come here intending to bring them bound before the chief priests!” 22. But Saul increased more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ. 23. When many days were fulfilled, the Jews conspired together to kill him, 24. but their plot became known to Saul. They watched the gates both day and night that they might kill him, 25. but his disciples took him by night, and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket. 26. When Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join himself to the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. 27. But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. 28. He was with them entering into Jerusalem, 29. preaching boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus. He spoke and disputed against the Hellenists, but they were seeking to kill him. 30. When the brothers knew it, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him off to Tarsus. 31. So the assemblies throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace, and were built up. They were multiplied, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit. 32. As Peter went throughout all those parts, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. 33. There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years, because he was paralyzed. 34. Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed!” Immediately he arose. 35. All who lived at Lydda and in Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. 36. Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which when translated, means Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and acts of mercy which she did. 37. In those days, she became sick, and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. 38. As Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them. 39. Peter got up and went with them. When he had come, they brought him into the upper room. All the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them. 40. Peter sent them all out, and knelt down and prayed. Turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41. He gave her his hand, and raised her up. Calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43. He stayed many days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon. 1. Now there was a certain man in Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, 2. a devout man, and one who feared God with all his house, who gave gifts for the needy generously to the people, and always prayed to God. 3. At about the ninth hour of the day, he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God coming to him, and saying to him, “Cornelius!” 4. He, fastening his eyes on him, and being frightened, said, “What is it, Lord?” He said to him, “Your prayers and your gifts to the needy have gone up for a memorial before God. 5. Now send men to Joppa, and get Simon, who is also called Peter. 6. He lodges with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the seaside. 7. When the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier of those who waited on him continually. 8. Having explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa. 9. Now on the next day as they were on their journey, and got close to the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray at about noon. 10. He became hungry and desired to eat, but while they were preparing, he fell into a trance. 11. He saw heaven opened and a certain container descending to him, like a great sheet let down by four corners on the earth, 12. in which were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, reptiles, and birds of the sky. 13. A voice came to him, “Rise, Peter, kill and eat!” 14. But Peter said, “Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” 15. A voice came to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed, you must not call unclean.” 16. This was done three times, and immediately the vessel was received up into heaven. 17. Now while Peter was very perplexed in himself what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood before the gate, 18. and called and asked whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was lodging there. 19. While Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men seek you. 20. But arise, get down, and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.” 21. Peter went down to the men, and said, “Behold, I am he whom you seek. Why have you come?” 22. They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous man and one who fears God, and well spoken of by all the nation of the Jews, was directed by a holy angel to invite you to his house, and to listen to what you say.” 23. So he called them in and provided a place to stay. On the next day Peter arose and went out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. 24. On the next day they entered into Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his relatives and his near friends. 25. When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell down at his feet, and worshiped him. 26. But Peter raised him up, saying, “Stand up! I myself am also a man.” 27. As he talked with him, he went in and found many gathered together. 28. He said to them, “You yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man who is a Jew to join himself or come to one of another nation, but God has shown me that I shouldn’t call any man unholy or unclean. 29. Therefore also I came without complaint when I was sent for. I ask therefore, why did you send for me?” 30. Cornelius said, “Four days ago, I was fasting until this hour, and at the ninth hour, I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, 31. and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer is heard, and your gifts to the needy are remembered in the sight of God. 32. Send therefore to Joppa, and summon Simon, who is also called Peter. He lodges in the house of a tanner named Simon, by the seaside. When he comes, he will speak to you.’ 33. Therefore I sent to you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God to hear all things that have been commanded you by God.” 34. Peter opened his mouth and said, “Truly I perceive that God doesn’t show favoritism; 35. but in every nation he who fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him. 36. The word which he sent to the children of Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all— 37. you yourselves know what happened, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; 38. even Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39. We are witnesses of everything he did both in the country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they also killed, hanging him on a tree. 40. God raised him up the third day, and gave him to be revealed, 41. not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen before by God, to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that this is he who is appointed by God as the Judge of the living and the dead. 43. All the prophets testify about him, that through his name everyone who believes in him will receive remission of sins.” 44. While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the word. 45. They of the circumcision who believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was also poured out on the Gentiles. 46. For they heard them speaking in other languages and magnifying God. Then Peter answered, 47. “Can anyone forbid these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just like us.” 48. He commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay some days.

1. My son, pay attention to my wisdom. Turn your ear to my understanding: 2. that you may maintain discretion, that your lips may preserve knowledge. 3. For the lips of an adulteress drip honey. Her mouth is smoother than oil, 4. but in the end she is as bitter as wormwood, and as sharp as a two-edged sword. 5. Her feet go down to death. Her steps lead straight to Sheol. 6. She gives no thought to the way of life. Her ways are crooked, and she doesn’t know it. 7. Now therefore, my sons, listen to me. Don’t depart from the words of my mouth. 8. Remove your way far from her. Don’t come near the door of her house, 9. lest you give your honor to others, and your years to the cruel one; 10. lest strangers feast on your wealth, and your labors enrich another man’s house. 11. You will groan at your latter end, when your flesh and your body are consumed, 12. and say, “How I have hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof; 13. neither have I obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor turned my ear to those who instructed me! 14. I have come to the brink of utter ruin, among the gathered assembly.” 15. Drink water out of your own cistern, running water out of your own well. 16. Should your springs overflow in the streets, streams of water in the public squares? 17. Let them be for yourself alone, not for strangers with you. 18. Let your spring be blessed. Rejoice in the wife of your youth. 19. A loving doe and a graceful deer— let her breasts satisfy you at all times. Be captivated always with her love. 20. For why should you, my son, be captivated with an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another? 21. For the ways of man are before Yahweh’s eyes. He examines all his paths. 22. The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare him. The cords of his sin hold him firmly. 23. He will die for lack of instruction. In the greatness of his folly, he will go astray.